Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Garden friend or foe
Ingrid Hoff, an entomologist gave a great talk at the Proven Winners Extravaganza about bugs to squish and not to squish!
The Lacewing larvae is like a little aphid-eating lion! Do NOT squish this wonder bug.
Aphids – yellow
Aphids come in a variety of colors and they are NOT our friends.
Another squishable is the Emerald Ash Borer which has destroyed multiple millions of Ash Trees.
It may be pretty but it is extremely destructive. For more information click HERE. If you have EAB and want to treat for it, I would suggest calling on an Arborist. You can consult with Faith Appelquist of Treequality. Check out this video from my show Dig In Minnesota:
While this guy looks like he should be squished…
and, it’s true, he/she may eat some of your plants… When you see what this caterpillar becomes, I think you’ll find it worth it! The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. There are a few types of Swallowtail including the Black Swallowtail.
One more definite squishable is a fairly new introduction to Minnesota and quite unwelcome. The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug:
This little horror will eat your vegetables, your fruits and your ornamentals. Oh, and it will also invite itself into your home for the winter. Squish with care as the name implies, it stinks!
BugGuide.net has a host of bugs to help you identify what’s in your yard and it’s just packed with all kinds of information!
I talked with University of Minnesota Entomologist, Jeff Hahn, about Integrated Pest Management on Dig In Minnesota: