16
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Is it a good idea and how to introduce frogs in my garden?
Perhaps the first question to ask is "Is this property suitable for frogs?" and following on from that "If it is, why are there not frogs here already?"
I have many, many frogs on ...
- 20.4k
15
votes
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Are these bright orange bugs with beady black eyes ladybugs?
Looks like a red pumpkin beetle Aulacophora foveicollis
- 23.1k
14
votes
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Ants on trees - ok or bad?
The trees have probably got aphids. From the RHS website here:
Ants may be found climbing plants with aphid colonies, they tend the
aphids obtaining honeydew as a reward. The ants will remove aphid
...
- 3,822
14
votes
Ants on trees - ok or bad?
I agree with the other answers, you probably have an aphid infestation.
But rather than spraying your trees to get rid of the aphids, you may try putting a ring of glue on your tree, to get rid of the ...
- 141
11
votes
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Will growing Garlic in a garden keep insects away?
As far as I can tell, there is very little empirical data on garlic and mosquitoes. And all of the studies I have seen show mixed results for ingesting garlic or using garlic as a mosquito repellent. ...
- 9,464
9
votes
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Who/what is eating my mint?
Seems like your culprit is smallish. Candidates would be
caterpillars
Check for their droppings - greenish or blackish "pearls" - or the animals themselves hiding either under the leaves or along the ...
- 16.3k
9
votes
Rollie pollies - are they harmful to vegetables?
The wood at the bottom of the bed looks pretty dark in comparison to the rest of the side. It's most likely that the woodlice are feeding off a decaying box, rather than anything in the bed. They'll ...
- 1,043
9
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My basil is "rotting", here's all the clues I have gathered
Looks like a heavy whitefly aphid infestation - they're usually underneath the leaves and suck the sap within, causing the leaf to shrivel and die. You can't treat with pesticide because it's an ...
- 132k
9
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Ants on trees - ok or bad?
The problem with not treating for aphids is it's likely to get worse, especially with ants warding off aphid predators. With large trees, it's obviously next to impossible to treat for aphids because ...
- 132k
8
votes
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Can rubber gloves spread plant diseases?
It's certainly possible to spread some fungal infections on gardening gloves and tools you may have used. Given you're wearing rubber gloves, after handling diseased plant material, its sensible to go ...
- 132k
8
votes
Killing fruit flies without pesticides?
It's the surface tension in your current setup that keeps the fruit flies safe. Even if they decide to party on the vinegar, they can simply fly away again and take a nice break elsewhere.
But your ...
- 16.3k
8
votes
Killing fruit flies without pesticides?
We make a simple paper funnel by just rolling a sheet of paper into a cone and stapling or taping it. Then we make sure there's a small opening at the bottom. We put this into a tall glass that has a ...
- 2,785
8
votes
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Insect Friend or Foe on Rose, Santa Cruz, California
I'm not an entomologist but by googling, it looks to be a Rose Weevil or Fuller Rose Beetle aka Naupactus (Asynonychus) godmani.
It doesn't look like it's a goodie to have on your roses
The ...
- 23.1k
8
votes
Is it a good idea and how to introduce frogs in my garden?
Be careful to only pick native species.
If you want to introduce toads into your garden for pest control, I have one word of warning for you: make sure to only use a species of toad native to the area ...
- 181
8
votes
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Request for identification of insects on Brussels sprouts
Those „eggs” are not eggs, but cabbage aphids at different stages of maturity. They feed exclusively on brassicaceae, so other non-brassica plants nearby remain safe.
In dry summers they can cause ...
- 16.3k
7
votes
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Found this beetle in a pile of wood chips, harmful to my plants?
Actually, that's a Bess beetle or Patent Leather Beetle (Odontotaenius disjunctus). They eat rotting logs and are beneficial. Put it in the woods.
- 1,585
7
votes
What are these white things on the conifers in my garden?
I think that might be a branch from a Juniperus species, a female, and those are the berries or 'seed pods', example here: Juniper berries (Wikimedia).
Some Junipers have white berries, many have ...
- 132k
7
votes
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Is if safe to use this insecticide (d-Allethrin, Permethrin, Piperonyl butoxide) on my edible herbs?
It's extremely helpful that you included the actual ingredient list in your question, rather than a brandname - thank you!
So you know, I grow anything that I eat organically and this question is one ...
- 18.6k
7
votes
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Is it a good idea and how to introduce frogs in my garden?
We caught a bunch of toads on the roads when I was a kid for a frog jumping contest, and put them in our yard when it was over. We've had toads in the neighborhood ever since.
They poop around the ...
- 18k
6
votes
Accepted
How do I keep house flies away from flowers without harming bees?
I don't think there's much you can do to reduce the presence of the flies (bluebottle type by the look of it). They do pollinate plants to a degree, and they prefer strong smelling plants, ...
- 132k
6
votes
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What's causing discoloration and spots on my Tomato and Bell Pepper plants?
The first and the last pictures look like Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV). The mottling looks like it matches. The others, I'm not sure, but they could just need more of the right nutrients, and they may ...
- 18k
6
votes
Are these spider mites on my indoor eggplant?
Yes, spider mites, and quite a heavy infestation. Next they start floating to other plants. Get the soap and water out quick or throw the plant out.
The key to success with soap is to apply at 5 - ...
- 58.8k
6
votes
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Black beetle identification, crawling on potato plant
Those look like Blister Beetles: http://ipm.ncsu.edu/AG295/pics/fig171.gif
They will chew up the leaves, and not just on your potatoes. They are toxic, so just be careful when treating them! More ...
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6
votes
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What is this yellow and black insect and how to get rid of them?
This is a yellow jacket or wasp which is a member of the Vespula genus.
They build communal nests out of paper but can also build nests inside houses and other places we consider unsuitable.
They ...
- 58.8k
6
votes
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Tips to help an ash tree, trying to grow from the roots of an EAB victim
In addition to the answer already given, the appearance of shelf or bracket fungus on the stump means it's dying, or doomed to die, anyway. The fungal mycelium will have invaded the heartwood of the ...
- 132k
6
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Tips to help an ash tree, trying to grow from the roots of an EAB victim
I agree with the answers from our fellow gardeners Bamboo and Stormy. Grub out the stump now and don't encourage another EAB visit to your neighbourhood. The remnants of the tree will grow until the ...
- 58.8k
6
votes
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Killing fruit flies without pesticides?
Open bowls don't work very well, what you really need is a bottle with a narrow neck, like a wine bottle. You put the bait (your apple cider vinegar or whatever) in the bottle, just a little at the ...
- 132k
6
votes
Are these bright orange bugs with beady black eyes ladybugs?
false lady bugs
Even if insects are found to not be beneficial that does not mean we are relegated to eliminating them ourselves. A little damage is no big deal in comparison to adding chemistry you ...
- 40.2k
6
votes
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Black and yellow insect on lavender
This is a larva of a ladybird (ladybug, Coccinellidae), they are actually good if you want to get rid of Aphids or others leaf suckers. Adult ladybugs are known to eat aphids, and they are often used ...
- 13.1k
6
votes
Is it a good idea and how to introduce frogs in my garden?
Everyone should have some frogs and toads ; unfortunately you will probably not notice a difference in bothersome insects . I have a 10' X 5' pond , then added an 8' diameter one and accidently have a ...
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