Bugz

[johno]

I don't mind these guys in the garden, as long as I don't accidentally disturb the nest... like last year. They are supreme caterpillar hunters!

[johno]

Not seeing too many of these guys this year. Good to know there's still at least one hive nearby.

[johno]

Talk to the butt...


But seriously, lots of different dragonflies this year. We saw a neon green one, too, but didn't get the camera in time. Here's a blue one:

[grunt]

Johno: Nit picker here = the blue one is actually a damsel fly = note the wings held over the body instead of at right angles to it. I only know the difference because I flyfish, and tie my own flies.

[bunkie]

that's good to know dan! ;D

great pics johno! we haven't seen any dragon flies here yet. still chilly and damp.

[johno]

Now that you point it out, I see the difference. Seems like the dragonfly has a heavier frame, too.

[blueadzuki]

Jun 16, 2010 10:54:18 GMT -5 johno said:

Not seeing too many of these guys this year. Good to know there's still at least one hive nearby.

As I think I mentioned in an earlier thread, sweat bees (that is what the pic is of right, without something for scale referecence it's a bit hard to tell) have set up a permanent hive (defined as one they are in year in and year out as oppsed to one that only goes on season) under the yellow strawberries in one of my pots) I am hoping that this will mean nice big strawberries since all those bees mean that the flowers should not lack for conveniant pollinators.
Actually our garden has a LOT of sweat bee hives around. there are a few more brown bee hives around the edges of the corn patch, hives of the metallic green ones in between the cracks of the flagstones in the side yard (I don't know whether there are a lot of little hives or one really big hive with a lot of entrances. I'm assuming there are at least 2 since there seem to be 2 kinds of bees (all over metallic green ones and the kind with the green thoraces and the yellow and black abdomens) there are also a hive or two of the red ones by the much pile, though I've never been sure if those are sweat bees or very tiny wasps. Oh and a few days ago I saw a Cicada Killer of some sort so that probably has it's burrow somewhere.

[johno]

I believe it's a honey bee, though I'm not 100%. It was the right size - those are leek blossoms. Maybe Hayne or another bee expert can say for sure.

By the way, Dan, I've heard it said that if you don't pick nits, you get lousy.

[blueadzuki]

Jun 16, 2010 23:15:06 GMT -5 johno said:

I believe it's a honey bee, though I'm not 100%. It was the right size - those are leek blossoms. Maybe Hayne or another bee expert can say for sure.

By the way, Dan, I've heard it said that if you don't pick nits, you get lousy.

If it was the right size for a honey bee, then it's definitely not a sweat bee, those are tiny (usually ony about 4-5 mm long). It looks a little grey to be a honey bee though, my money's actually on a leafcutter bee.

[ottawagardener]

I saw a leafcutter bee doing its thing yesterday for the first time. Really fascinating.

[ozarklady]

No honeybee visitors this year!

I only see bumblebees. But, down by the lake I did spot one or two honeybees, so a few managed to survive the severe winter that we had.

I am having a harlequin bug invasion in my brassicas. I haven't found a good organic pesticide for dealing with these.

I did find a wasp, that was hard at work where ever the harlequin bugs were building nests. I disturbed the bugs trying to get a photo, but they all returned in short order.

Here is the wasp on a broccoli that is totally wrecked by the harlequin bugs:



It just looks like a red wasp to me.

What ideas do you all have for dealing with the harlequin bugs?

[grunt]

Spray carefully with some nicotine spray = I know you have the where with all to make it. Just ensure that you don't hit good guys.

[ozarklady]

Sure, I have center ribs, as well as, tobacco that dried green, that are waste any how. And then there is lots of tobacco leaves of the usual kind.
Hey, I think that I even have some rustica...
Would you boil them up, or just soak the tobacco?
Can I also use that on my fruit trees, which are being ate up with worms, and Japanese beetles?

[grunt]

Just soaking will give you lots of nicotine. Boiling it won't hurt, but I understand it smells not very good = I can't tell, my sniffer doesn't. You can use it on anything, but be careful about hitting the good guys, the stuff is very toxic. I would wear some kind of mask to keep from breathing in the fumes. I smoke, but the concentrations you will get from the spray are enough to make you feel very unwell. And cover your arms and hands, your skin will absorb it. If you have a cool period early in the morning, you might want to do the spraying then, as there are unlikely to be any flying good guys around. Dilute what you get from soaking the leaves so that it looks like weak tea for the first application = you can always respray with a heavier dosage if you have to.

[johno]