Garden Column for the Salisbury Post

Darrell Blackwelder

April 21, 2005

Now that it’s warm, even hot it seems on some days, there are a number of spring insect pests around the home that are becoming a problem for homeowners and gardeners. Cooperative Extension has received numerous inquiries about a variety of insects. Below are few insects that may be bugging you.

Ground bees-or solitary bees. These are insects boring into clay soils.  They look much like honey bees hovering over the soil. Unlike honeybees or hornets, they are solitary and live to themselves. They are excellent pollinators and not aggressive as are yellow jackets or hornets.  However, they can be a nuisance to homeowners, especially those with severe allergic reactions or small children.  Liquid Sevin or Sevin dust will kill them. 

Carpenter bees-A few carpenter bees are starting to show up in all areas of Rowan County. The initial activity is often by males who are busy buzzing about looking for the lady bee of their dreams.  The males are often territorial and will actually harass people sitting on wooden park benches or on their porches. There is really no pesticide that will give extended protection against these pests.  Once these insects take up residence, they return back each year to extend their family. There are two major problems dealing with carpenter bees: an effective chemical residue that endures throughout the entire period of bee activity, the ability to apply any pesticide to all of the surfaces that need protection, particularly overhead on soffit and fascia boards.  Other than swatting the bees with a badminton racket, your next best option is to apply a pesticide into active tunnels and then seal up the hole.  Dust insecticides, such as Sevin Dust, can be quite effective.

Leaf miners on boxwoods. Leaf miners larvae make boxwoods look horrible by riddling leaves.  Leaves become turn brown and distorted during the summer.  Severe infestations make cause leaf drop. All boxwoods are affected; however, slow growing old English seem to be less susceptible.  American boxwoods are their favorite plant. Leaf miner adults are easy to recognize.  The fly is yellow orange and they tend to "cloud up" when plants are shaken. It is very important to control insects now to prevent re-infestation of the shrub. Merit, permethrin or Conserve will control the adults. 

Tent caterpillars. These hungry larvas spin an ugly web in the crotches in shade trees, especially those in the Prunus sp. Larva venture out during the day to feed and return to the protective web in the evening. Tent caterpillars normally do not kill trees, but are quite a nuisance. I have reports of caterpillars crawling over porches, decks, and one homeowner told me they were even trying to crawl indoors. The best way to deal with these insects is to physically remove the web exposing larva to natural predators such as birds and other insects.  Don't burn the webs while on the tree. Biological pesticides containing BT’s will control them.