insects

I learned a new word this week, occultation. Researching it, I found it was an astronomical term describing one object blocking out another from an observer.

Walking down the street yesterday, I saw something wonderful and unusual. There were lady beetles in all stages on sunflowers and weeds along the ditches.

Recently, I wrote that aphids invaded our ash trees, but I’m pleased to report that a battalion of good little buggers came to the rescue.

I’m referring to the syrphid flies, sometimes called flower flies or hoverflies.

In the mountains east of Lake Tahoe, visitors may notice some aspen trees have been defoliated due to an influx of invasive white satin moths.

Sticky, drippy aphid goo covers the plants under my ash trees.

Aphids insert their sucking mouth parts into a leaf and draw the sap out to feed as if they are sucking through a straw.

They pull out so much ‘juice’ from a plant, they can’t absorb it all. The excess is ejected out two pipes on their hind ends called cornicles.

Did you know that approximately one out of every three bites of food you eat depends on the work of a "pollinator?” Bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, and hummingbirds are keystone pollinator species in Nevada, supporting healthy wildlands, ecosystem diversity, and a nutritious food supply.

Soon it will be time to thin excess fruit on fruit trees according to my fruit tree guru, Michael Janik.

He writes “Thinning is an essential step in producing larger, tastier fruit and will also help prevent damage from insects.”

Farmers, ranchers and gardeners everywhere face many of the same challenges: Weeds growing in unwanted places, critters digging holes and insects eating plants. To help producers better understand and overcome these common struggles, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension presents “Weeds, Critters and Insects in the Landscape and Garden,” May 29 at the CVIC Hall in Minden.

When organizers formed the Greenhouse Project 10 years ago in Carson City, their vision was to establish a sustainable program that provided wholesome, natural produce to the community.

What Carson City has benefited from over the past decade is exactly that.

I recently pruned my apple and crabapple trees. It’s easier to prune with no blossoms or leaves. You can see the direction of the branches and buds, and the location of the water sprouts.

The days have been sunny and have me thinking of spring and flowers. In some areas the daffodils are poking up already. I miss color at this time of year. Wouldn’t it be nice to have flowers outside in December? A friend Paul mentioned that witch hazel (Hamamelis) blooms in winter, an unusual feature for a plant, especially in Nevada.

Editor's Note: The following item was written by Emma Doty, Christian Garcia-Perez, and Edwin Vasquez who are Honors Biology students at Carson High School.
Carson High School's honors biology class students recently shared their thoughts on the school's three native habitat gardens that help attract wildlife, expand learning, and benefit the environment.

Greenhouse management was not my career forte. My expertise is in ornamental plants and landscape design. Being involved with the non-profit The Greenhouse Project since its inception has given me a great opportunity to improve my understanding of how greenhouses work.

Proper pruning can be good for trees. However, people often damage trees in the name of pruning. Dr. Alex Shigo, a well-respected tree researcher provides a number of valuable tips in his book "Tree Pruning."

I'm a fan of the Oregon State Extension Service. They have wonderful horticulturists there. I just came across an article by Kym Pokorny titled “What Does That Mean? Experts Take on Gardening Jargon.” Since everyone likes to test their knowledge, see how many of the following gardening words you know:

I recently heard an interesting presentation on National Public Radio on citrus greening, a disease that is decimating citrus fruit trees in Florida and other areas.

I was out watering a few days ago and I noticed yellowjacket wasps crawling on the ground. I mentioned to my friend Will that I thought yellowjackets bite rather than sting. He said he didn’t think so, saying not only did they sting, but they could sting repeatedly. Well, he was right, but so was I.

Carson City/Storey County, NV – University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s fall Grow Your Own, Nevada! Program presents eight classes statewide to help Nevadans get on the path to more sustainable, local, healthy living by growing and preserving more of their own food.

University of Nevada, Reno entomologist Andrew Nuss and biologist Dennis Mathew are looking for a way to stop the spread of mosquito-borne disease. The goal of their research is to identify key mosquito odorant receptors that govern mosquito host-preference for humans and to genetically modify those genes in order to create mosquito strains that avoid biting humans.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Monday has returned. Don’t worry, you’ll find plenty of things all week long to keep you occupied until the weekend returns. The Carson City Library continues its Summer Learning Program with a fun presentation on the butterflies and other bugs you can find in Nevada. Its family day at Carson Lanes, which means bowling is just one dollar per person per game all day long. Warm up those vocal chords for karaoke at the Fox Brewpub: Manic Monday by the Bangles or Monday, Monday by the Mama and the Papas might make for a good song choice.

American’s favorite crop to grow at home is the tomato. Few can resist the delicious flavor of a homegrown tomato.

I’m a lazy gardener. I try to minimize my work load while maximizing aesthetic appeal and practical function. I avoid plants that are needy, like those that need extra fertilizer or pruning or those that are susceptible to insects or disease. I’m not into planting annuals.

Due to the recent flash flooding of the east side of Mason Valley, the Mason Valley Mosquito Abatement District is making preparations to aerial larvicide the large acreage involved.

A healthy lawn involves more than a weekly mowing. Plant roots need oxygen in the soil to grow.

My friend Paul recently asked me to tell him about Milky Spore. I knew nothing about it, so decided to look it up.

Milky spore is a bacterial disease used as an alternative to chemical insecticides to reduce Japanese beetle populations. This microbial or biological insecticide was one of the first registered in the United States in 1948.

Join Nevada Bugs and Butterflies to learn about local insects with pinned insect collections, live native insects, and more!

ALL AGES: Ages 9 and under must be accompanied by a caregiver of at least 13 years of age at all times.

Supplies are limited; register in advance on our website’s calendar (http://www.carsoncitylibrary.org/about/news/calendar-of-events) to reserve your spot!

MINDEN — With increased water in the area from recent winter and spring storms that brought record-breaking precipitation into the area, Douglas County Emergency Management and Mosquito Abatement General Improvement District is expecting more mosquitos in Douglas County this season.

Wendy Hanson Mazet, whose expertise is in horticulture, arboriculture, noxious weeds, vegetable gardening, and low water use gardening offers her expertise if you have any questions about your garden or landscaping. Swing on by if you have questions about any insects, bugs or plants.

Here at your local Cooperative Extension office come learn about the sustainable, local, healthy living practices of growing and preserving your own food. Attend one or all eight program classes offered via videoconference to our Cooperative Extension office.

Wendy Hanson Mazet, whose expertise is in horticulture, arboriculture, noxious weeds, vegetable gardening, and low water use gardening offers her expertise if you have any questions about your garden or landscaping. Swing on by if you have questions about any insects, bugs or plants.

If you would like to visit with Wendy or drop off samples she will be in the Carson City Office this Friday January 6th and Friday January 20th.