Because the weather has been so warm, I checked my pansies for insect infestations which usually happen in late April. A slew of them are having their leaves sucked dry ... gotta mix the insecticidal soap today and spray, spray, spray and spray some more.
Time to check pansies (if you are growing any) for insects
Oy! The bugs may be bad this year!
Something seems to have been chewing on the stems of a couple of them, otherwise the rest seem okay. Actually, I'm having more problems with the aphids on my milkweeds. They're really bad. I shouldn't have a problem like that in January, but I do.
I left the aphids on the milkweed, and now the lady bugs are coming to eat them. I did squish the milkweed bugs, I didn't want them to eat my monarch babies.
Oh, you must be another butterfly gardener! I've got a few chrysalides left (not Monarchs) which I hope will overwinter, but have had several several eclose out of season in the last few weeks, so am beginning to wonder if any will make it to springtime. It gets pretty cold on occasion here (got barely down to freezing last night...we're west of San Antonio), but then there's that all that springlike weather this winter. I saw a Queen a few days ago. Very rare to see one here in winter!
Linda
Yes, I garden for the butterflies and hummers. I had cats on the aristolochia up into December. I hope they found a warm spot out of the wind to overwinter!
You should have seen the poor monarch cats hanging onto the milkweed in the wind! I noticed some yellow butterflies this past weekend. I'll have to pay more attention and see what else is out already.
I'm already worrying about the bugs too. I've got spotted cucumber beetles out now. They apparently didn't ever leave, or die, since it's too warm. I've also seen those horrid milkweed bugs still surviving! Those are easy to step on but the cc beetles fly. Since I too garden for butterflies I am limited to what I can/will use to kill other pests.
What is that you are supposed to use in the dormant season...dormant oil spray?? Anyone ever used this? know what it will kill? The only thing is, my plants aren't really dormant! WHAT season IS this??
I squish the milkweed bugs too but don't know what to spray to kill the cucumber beetles.
I haven't tried the dormant oil spray cause not much is dormant here either.
I found a spray that was supposed to work on the cucumber beetles, but you had to spray it on them and that is sort of difficult. (Worked great on fire ants, though). I came to use the shake the bush and smash them when they try to fly away. Not a hugely effective method, but most sprays don't list cucumber beetles as something it will take care of. Also, it does allow me some amount of revenge!!!
lol shuggins, that is one of my methods too! It works on milkweed bugs too. Along with shaking and smashing, it also requires some arm flinging and clapping since the cucumber beetles fly!
Ok...maybe you can understand this...do you notice the cucumber beetles flying straight AT you?! Not only in my yard but I can be outside at my sons school and here comes one flying right towards my head! Maybe they've spread the word about me?
The revenge of the cucumber beetles, lol, it will be on the evening news: "Man attacked at school by hundreds of green beetles. He fought a valiant battle but eventually the beetles got him down on the ground and squished him."
I found a monarch cat yesterday, he was hanging on in the wind trying not to get blown off the plant. I took a picture but will have to upload it at work, dial up is too slow at home.
I was so disappointed in my lack of Monarch cats and eggs this year. :( I guess the previous year spoiled me.
I was reading in my book "Great Garden Formulas" that planting radishes will attract the cucumber beetles off other plants to the radishes, then you can KILL THEM! muahahaha!! I'm doing this! It says that rattail radishes grow larger, but I'm not sure I actually need large ones.
I have a pack of radish seeds. I will plant them this weekend. It was 80's today but I'm sure we have more cool weather coming and they will still grow.