Garden Column for the Salisbury Post Darrell Blackwelder June 8, 2005      We've only had a few days of warm weather and everyone seems to be longing for more of the cooler weather we experienced last week. Warm weather tends to bring out many undesirable insects pests. Below are questions homeowners have posed about insects over the past few days:             Question: What is this strange, white insect floating in the air?  It looks like specks of lint floating around.       Answer: These are wooly alder aphids usually found on the underneath sides of silver maple leaves and possibly on the leaves of other tree species. The insect is really a nuisance sucking plant juices and secreting much honeydew which causes dark, sooty mold. This mold disfigures the surfaces beneath infested trees and can be a royal pain if sidewalks or cars are nearby.  Aphids secret a sticky honeydew that attracts bees, wasps and flies to the sweet liquid. Infested leaves shrivel and eventually drop prematurely. Control of this pest is rarely an option if the trees are large. However, on smaller trees malathion and insecticidal soaps will control the pest. If this is a recurring problem, one should consider removal and planting shade trees other than silver maple.      Question: I have little brown insects with pinchers on their tails. What is this insect and how do I control it?      Answer: The insects are earwigs.  They are problems in weather extremes, when conditions are too wet or dry. Control by spraying outdoors with recommended insecticides every two weeks until control is achieved.      Question: I was pruning my hollies back today and found some type of white, waxy insect blobs on the stems of the holly. They were turning the shrubs leaves black. What are these things and how to I get rid of them?      Answer: What you have described sounds like Japanese or India wax scales. They look like bits of chewing gum stuck to stems of shrubs. They are not noticeable until the stems are exposed. Simply picking them from the stems is one method of removal, however, if this isn't practical; use combinations of horticultural oils and insecticides to kill the insects. It may take multiple applications to control the pest. Don't spray when the weather is excessively hot. Question: May azaleas don't look as green as they were earlier.  What could be the problem?  Answer: Lacebugs are clear winged small insects that feed on azaleas, rhododendron, pyracantha, and other woody plants, causing a blanched or stippled appearance on the upper surface of the leaves. As you notice damage, use insecticidal sprays on the top and underneath the leaves for control.