–by Dr. Jeff Whitworth
Question? What do computer programmers and exterminators have in common?
Answer: They both fight “bugs” for a living!
Month: June 2020
Celebrate National Pollinator Week
–by Frannie Miller
Did you know that June 22 – 28, 2020 is National Pollinator Week. Fun fact is beetles pollinated the first flowers more than 140 million years ago. It is estimated that more than 200,000 animal species serve as pollinators. Insects pollinate our crops and help provide one in every three bites of food. Without them we wouldn’t have chocolate or many other vegetables, fruit such as strawberries, apples or grapes, seeds, and nuts.
What can you do to help make sure the pollinators are around to do their job? Examples may include:
*Create a backyard pollinator garden
*Volunteer to help create a pollinator garden at a local school
*Reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides
*Don’t spray directly on flowers
*Plant pollinator friendly plants such as natives or milkweeds
*Support local bees and beekeepers
*Give bees a nesting place
*Provide a water source for pollinators.
Identify This Insect
–by Frannie Miller
ID to last week’s bug
–by Frannie Miller
Golden dung fly – The golden dung fly is one of the most abundant and familiar flies. These flies can be found on the feces of large mammals, such as cattle, horses, sheep, deer, and feral hogs. They are extremely important in the natural decomposition of feces. These insects have a short life-cycle and are susceptible to experimental variables making them important to science.
New Extension Publication
–by Dr. Raymond Cloyd
Cross-Striped Cabbageworm: Insect Pest of Vegetable Crops
This new extension publication provides information on how to identify and manage the cross-striped cabbageworm, which is an insect pest of cole crops such as broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, turnips, and leafy-green vegetables.
https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/Item.aspx?catId=524&pubId=22647