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by Rett Davis | |
Gardening Q&A by Rett Davis appears in
Alamance County's daily newspaper, The Times-News,
every Sunday in the Accent section. Each week's installment is
posted to this
website, beginning with January of this year. Scroll to the bottom of
this page to navigate to other Gardening Q&As. Please contact
Rett via e-mail with questions
or
comments in regard to this column.
Question:
While pruning my shrubs this week I was stung by something. I never saw and insect. What could have done this?
Answer:
At this time of the year I would be very suspicious of the stinging caterpillars. These caterpillars have rather bizarre appearances. Most are quite colorful and attractive. Because of their stinging hairs some local species are known as "asps". The spines on these caterpillars are connected to poison glands. They will produce a painful reaction when touched. I can attest to their pain and discomfort. I have been known to conduct tests, in the name of science, to validate that their stings are painful. Fortunately, these stinging caterpillars are not abundant. There may be only one on a plant but I have seen saddleback caterpillars and hackberry leaf slugs in masses. At this time of the year, if you see these beautiful creatures, leave them be. They cause no significant injury to your plants and will be gone in a few weeks.
Question:
Everyday I am killing wasps in my house. Where are they coming from?
Answer:
As it gets cooler the "Polistes" or paper wasps colonies begin to die out. When this occurs, the current crop of queens begin to bail out of the nest in search of a place to spend the winter. The workers die off. These wasps tend to orient themselves to vertical structures such as chimneys, cell towers, and utility poles. They will enter homes through the gable vents, soffit vents, and chimneys. Once inside they will migrate into the home and bounce off windows, ceilings, and light fixtures. Fortunately, they are not defending a nest and therefore are not chasing you down to sting you. Since they are not in an aggressive mode, I have time to find the fly swatter. But knowing that it is never where it is supposed to be, a rolled up newspaper works just fine. Spraying to prevent their entry is futile and unnecessary use of pesticides. Fogging inside the house is not much value either. However, if there was significant wasp activity in the attic, this may be an option. I would pay attention to items such as shoes and clothes left outside, shake them before bringing them indoors. Cold weather will eventually put an end to all wasp activity. But that is 4-6 weeks away.
Question:
I am really paranoid of spiders at this time of the year. Every morning I run into a spider web while taking out the trash or putting the dog in his pen. Are these spiders poisonous?
Answer:
They are dangerous if you are a moth or anything else that gets caught in their web. Although they are big and colorful, this does not mean that are extremely poisonous and will bite you. Keep in mind that all spiders are venomous. How else can they kill their prey? The most popular spider at this time of the year is the black and yellow garden spider or Argiope aurantia. This "writing spider" makes a zig-zag pattern in the middle of her web. No matter how many times you knock the webs down, they will only be rebuilt the next night. They are fascinating creatures to watch. You options include avoiding them by making your spouse put the dog up, ducking underneath the webs, or holding a stick in front of you as you walk. As colder weather arrives, they will disappear.
Question:
When should I take up my hummingbird feeders?
Answer:
Don't take them up at all. Hummingbirds will be around for another couple of weeks before they start their fall migration. Your feeders are not enough to keep them from heading south. They know better. But what many folks don't know is that other species further north of us will be visiting us this winter. My ornithologist friends tell me we can have at least 5 different species visit us throughout the winter. So leave the feeders up, keep them full, and keep a bird field guide book nearby to identify our winter guests.
SOUTH ANNEX SCHEDULE
Roger Cobb, Agricultural Extension agent, will be at the Southern Annex office this coming Thursday from 8 until 11:30. Visit him at this office on the corner of Snow Camp Rd. and Bethel South Fork Rd. Roger enjoys identifying weeds (both pond and field), answering questions about field crops, fertilizers, and interpreting soil tests. Drop by an pay him a visit!
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