Entomology
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The cold weather has left many of us stuck inside and given us a chance to catch up on movies or relax by the fire. However, as we battle cabin fever, another critter is trying desperately to seek shelter for herself and her 500 closest friends: the Asian lady beetle. The Asian lady beetle (Harmonia…
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Several species of non-native insects are of concern right now. Two you should be on the lookout for are spotted lanternfly and brown-winged planthopper. Read on for tips on identifying and reporting these pests. Spotted Lanternfly For several years, Georgia scientists have been asking us to keep an eye out for spotted lanternflies. First sighted…
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Written by Joshua Lyon, UGA Extension Agent, Banks County , via the Georgia Green Landscape Stewards e-newsletter. Bee hotels are a popular educational tool that provide pollinator nesting in home gardens, schools, and public landscapes. These structures are designed to provide nesting habitat for solitary native bees like leafcutter and mason bees. While bee hotels…
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Adapted from the UGA Center for Urban Agriculture e-newsletter. Did you know that many of our most important native pollinators nest right under our feet? Ground-nesting bees, which make up the vast majority of wild bee species, build their homes in bare soil, field edges, farm lanes, and lightly disturbed ground. They’re critical for crop…
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by Gabrielle LaTora, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent Ready to become a pollinator pro? If you love pollinators—or want to—this 7-week virtual course will transform the way you see your garden, greenspace, and the tiny creatures that power them. Led by experts in their insect fields, you will learn more, see more, and become a…
Posted in: Conservation, Entomology, Environmental Education, Native Plants, Ornamental, Perennials, Pollinator -
by Gabrielle LaToraAgriculture and Natural Resources Agent Ambrosia beetles are tiny, bark-boring insects that pose a threat to over 100 species of trees and shrubs. We have 173 species of bark and ambrosia beetles in Georgia, with 32 of those species being introduced and non-native. Despite our large number of native species, at least 90%…
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The older I get, the more I realize that the “spooky” motifs associated with Halloween are just normal things we see in nature and agriculture at this time of year. Summer-planted pumpkins ripen in the fall. Bats increase feeding behavior to prepare for winter hibernation. Autumn begins “hooting season” for owls, as they become more…
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by Anne Wiskind, Fulton County Master Gardener Extension Volunteer This article is part of Garden Buzz, a series from Appen Media and the North Fulton Master Gardeners, where rotating columnists explore horticulture topics like herbs, insects, and wildlife conservation. Find all Garden Buzz articles here. The 2025 Great Southeast Pollinator Census (GSePC) is scheduled for August…
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Squash, zucchini, and cucumber are some of the most popular vegetable crops for Georgia home gardeners. Once their big leaves start sprawling and their showy flowers bloom, you know summer has officially arrived. While cucurbit crops are fairly easy to start from seed in the home garden, they are attractive to a variety of insect…
Posted in: Community Gardening, Entomology, Organic, Pest, Sustainable Ag, Urban Agriculture, Vegetables -
Chances are you’ve seen a lady beetle, sometimes known better as a “ladybug,” and could pick one out of a lineup. But how much do you really know about them? Are they all female? Do they eat our plants? Why do they come into our house in the fall? Where do they go in the…
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For several years, Georgia scientists have been asking us to keep an eye out for spotted lanternflies. First sighted in Pennsylvania in 2014, these invasive planthopper insects have rapidly spread across 17 states, including Tennessee and North Carolina. On November 14th, the Georgia Department of Agriculture reported the first confirmed sighting of spotted lanternfly in…