Browse Weeds, Diseases and Pests Stories - Page 46

Just shy of a year from when it was first spotted in northeast Georgia, the insect now commonly called the “kudzu bug” continues to mystify homeowners and agricultural researchers.

Almost every year in late summer, caterpillars invade turfgrass across Georgia. Damage to established turf is mostly aesthetic, but newly planted sod or sprigged areas can be severely damaged or even killed.

Thousands of broken trees line the banks of the Chattooga River. The dead, gray stabs were once evergreen monsters offering shade to trout and picturesque views to visitors. These Eastern hemlocks are native to north Georgia, but they are dying rapidly.

It’s that time of year again. School is back in session, football is around the corner, fall harvesting will begin, and it’s time to fight fire ants.

Many home landscapers and gardeners see pests eating their azaleas or tomatoes and immediately grab a chemical pesticide for defense. A University of Georgia expert says using a combination of pest control methods is a better option for your plants and the environment.

University of Georgia entomologist Marianne Robinette gently places Rosie the tarantula in the student’s hands. Rosie has been traveling from middle schooler to elementary students for the past few hours, stopping for the occasional break in her plastic terrarium.

Several years ago, pigweed found the weakness and breached the defense that Georgia cotton growers used to control it. It now threatens to knock them out, or at least the ones who want to make money.

A recent report in the journal Pediatrics suggests a possible link between organophosphate pesticides and increased risk of children developing attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The report has some parents wondering if they should stay away from the produce aisle in the grocery store. University of Georgia experts say to learn the facts, thoroughly clean all produce and feed healthful fruits and vegetables to children.

Spring rains and summertime heat have sparked insects and lawn diseases across the state. That may send some landscape lovers looking for someone to apply a few chemicals to protect their interests.

Most gardeners view rainfall as a good thing. But too much of a good thing, namely rain, can be bad.