Monthly Archive June 18, 2021

ByRandy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

Attention, Hornets and Wasps coming!

Spring and summer is stinging season, as the temperature increases, so does aggressive and territorial stinging insects. Here is what you need to know about them.  

First, hornets are social wasps that build their nests anywhere and everywhere in all kinds of different shapes. They are very aggressive if they feel that their nest is in danger -so stay away and avoid making loud noises that will make them emerge and attack. Next, Paper wasps have nests that hang downward and can look like honeycomb pattern usually under a house’s soffits. They are less aggressive but can be hostile if you get too close to their nest. Finally, Yellowjacket, the unprovoked stinging insect most likely to show up at your picnic or barbecue, they are drawn by sugar. They created their nests in attics or soffits or underground and can have thousands of wasps per nest. So what do you do if stung by one or many of these insects, apply ice, use hydrocortisone cream,  take a antihistamine for swelling and a aspirin for pain.

ByRandy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

Chafer beetle, Grubs and Your Yard

Delta lawns are about to be decimated by birds and animals desperately digging for chafer beetle grubs. Damage is done during the grub, or larvae, stage. The grubs feed on the fibrous roots of grass, which crows, raccoons and skunks quickly rip up each spring and fall in search of the tasty pests. Water is key to controlling grubs without pesticides. Microscopic round worms, known as nematodes, are the most effective defence against the chafer beetle. Nematodes—available at garden supply stores—are applied to infested lawns at the end of July when the beetle is beginning its grub stage. Effective treatment involves two weeks of regular watering.

Tips to control chafers

•Increase mowing height to 8-10 cm

•Fertilize twice a year with compost or organic, slow-release fertilizers; leave grass clippings on lawn as natural fertilizer

•Water lawn deeply: 2-3 cm once a week

•Over-seed annually

•Lime in fall and spring Delta

Chafer beetle, Grubs and Your Yard

gogreenpestcontrol.ca insectandrodentexterminators.com Delta Ladner Tsawwassen B.C., Randy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/chafer-beetle-grubs-your-yard-randy-bilesky/?published=t

ByRandy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

Pesticides and Pollinators

A. Avoid applying pesticides to blooming plants, or when conditions favor drift into areas with plants in bloom.

B. If you must spray plants in bloom, select a pesticide that is less toxic to bees (e.g. Bt, insecticidal soap, summer spray oil). Spot spray when possible to limit pesticide exposure risks

C. Apply pesticides only after flower petals have fallen, when plants are less attractive to bees. This will reduce the risk to bees coming in contact with pesticides.

D. Select pesticide formulations carefully to reduce risk. Dust (D), wettable powder (WP), flowable (F) and other formulations that leave visible powdery residues on plants are picked up by bees more easily than emulsifiable (EC) or soluble concentrate (SC) formulation. Follow any specific pesticide label requirements to protect bees.

E. Follow any specific pesticide label requirements to protect bees.

F. Read the package label to see if the pesticide contains a neonicotinoid insecticide with these active ingredients: clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid or thiamethoxam. Use these products after flower petals have fallen because they may be highly toxic to bees for several days after application.

G. Avoid applying these neonicotinoid insecticides by soil drench or tree injection methods to plants known to attract bees. These methods may contaminate nectar and pollen for some time after treatment.

H. If you must use a soil drench or tree injection to apply these neonicotinoid insecticides, do it after flower petals have fallen and use the lowest possible effective dosage to help reduce the risk to bees. Also, try to select an insecticide that offers the shortest persistence in ornamental plants while still controlling the pest.

Pesticides and Pollinators

gogreenpestcontrol.ca insectandrodentexterminators.com Ladner Tsawwassen. Delta. Randy Bilesky CPA RPF BsF

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/pesticides-pollinators-randy-bilesky/?published=t