Insects

Emerald Ash Borer

Q. I have ash trees on my property that are doing poorly and haven't been healthy for the last few years. Do I have Emerald Ash Borer?

A. Ash trees can be afflicted by many different disease and insect problems, such as anthracnose, verticillium wilt, ash flower gall, rust, ash yellows, and borers. Early infestations of Emerald Ash Borer are very difficult to detect.

Delphinium Disease or Pest

Q. What insect or disease would cause the flower stalks of my beautiful delphiniums to become twisted and their flower buds to curl and blacken?

Fungus Gnats on Indoor Plants

Q. I have noticed tiny dark insects flying around my indoor holiday plants. What are they and will they damage these plants?

Grubs

Q. I had problems with grubs in my lawn this summer. Is there anything I can do this fall, or should I treat the lawn next summer?

Horticultural Oil

Q. What are the current recommendations for using horticultural oil to protect mature trees from insect attack?

When to Use Insecticide

Q. When is the best time of the year to spray my garden for insects?

Using Insecticidal Soap

Q. I have been spraying an insecticidal soap solution on my garden plants and houseplants to control insects. How long does this product last on the plants?

Insecticides

Q. What is the difference between a systemic insecticide and one you spray directly on the plant?

Moths

Insects

Q. Can you help me identify the very large moth that appears just for a day or two on the side of my house at this time of year? And is it harmful?

Controlling Whitefly

Q. I have discovered whiteflies on a few of my indoor plants. What’s the best remedy for controlling this pest?

Controlling Japanese beetles

Insects

Q: How do I control Japanese beetles?

A: The best way to control Japanese beetles is to knock them into a jar of soapy water. Allow them to sit overnight in the water and discard them. Severe infestations can be chemically treated. Please contact Plant Information Service for the most current recommendations. Japanese beetle traps are not recommended, as they will attract beetles from the surrounding area to your garden.

Controlling ants

Insects

Q: Ants are all over my trumpet vine and garden in general. Is there an environmentally safe way to remove them?

A: Wet weather is likely the cause of an unusual pattern of behavior in the ants around your home. Frequently saturated soil drives ants up and out of their colonies. They are attracted to the trumpet vine because it produces abundant nectar. The ants will cause no harm to your plants. A garden hose can be used to spray them off the plants.

Attracting butterflies

Insects

Q: I have a bed of double zinnias in red, yellow, and white colors. Butterflies love the white and avoid the red and yellow flowers – why?

Large wasp-like insects (cicada killers)

bug

Q. We’re seeing very large black and yellow flying insects that look like wasps flying around our yard. They seem to be entering areas with piles of dirt along our walkway. What are they and how do we get rid of them?

Insect leaf damage

Q. I’ve noticed many leaves of my plants look chewed. What is causing this and is there anything I can spray to help my plants?

A. At this time of year, many different types of insects and their larvae frequently feed on the leaves of plants. Without seeing the culprit, it is not possible to determine which insect is causing the damage to your plants. Inspect your plants thoroughly in order to positively identify the insect causing the damage.