Frequently Asked Questions about Insects and Pests

What can I do about the Lady Bugs that have invaded my home?
         The normal "lady bugs" that you find in and around your home in the spring and fall are actually Asian Lady Beetles. In the fall, they search for places to hibernate over winter, so the logical place is somewhere warm...usually your home.  In the spring, the Asian Lady Beetles come out of hiding and migrate back outside.  The easiest way to manage them in your home is to sweep them up with a vacuum.  For more information, you can view this publication from Purdue University on Asian Lady Beetles.   

What is this creature I found on the sidewalk or doorway of our home?

Photo Source: Charles Lewallen 1997-2002

        This is a millipede.  Millipedes have two pairs of short legs on each body segment. There are many species of millipedes, but the ones that commonly invade homes are usually 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches long, gray or brown, and curl up when disturbed.  They like to live in moist wooded areas; so mulch, leaf piles, rocks, woods, etc. provide a great habitat for these little creatures.  Any millipedes that are found indoors can be eliminated by hand collection, vacuuming, or otherwise sweeping them up.  For more information, visit this publication from Purdue University on Millipedes.   

•  What can I do about the moles/voles that have taken up residence under my yard?
         Moles are sometimes a nuisance in your yard with their tunneling and burrowing, but they are also beneficial to your backyard environment. 
         Moles make soils healthier because their tunnels permit air and water to penetrate deeper soil levels. Moles feed voraciously on all types of insects found in the soil, some of which are serious pests of lawns, gardens, and horticultural plants. They are also part of the food chain in the wildlife community, providing food for some hawks, owls, and snakes. And finally, the moleʼs unusual subterranean life provides one of the most fascinating studies found among wildlife.
          There are several techniques you can use to get rid of the moles from your yard.  You can:
              -Trap them
              -Get rid of the grubs in the yard (their food
                     source)
              -Direct removal (catch them in the act of
                     repairing a tunnel and remove them) 
    
          Some poisons/gases or baits may work for you, but they have had mixed results when tested in trials.  For more information, you can visit this publication from Purdue University on Moles. 

My tree is growing these weird things.  What are they?


Photo source: Timothy Gibb and Clifford Sadof, Purdue Entomology

         This "pine cone" happens to be the larva of a bag worm nestled in its cocoon for the winter.  They are most easily taken care of by picking the bags off the tree and putting them in a pail of soapy water.  For more information on bagworms you can check out the Purdue University publication Bagworms .

Photo source: Peggy Sellers, Purdue University 

          This fun sphere on an oak leaf is actually a gall left by a small cynipid wasp.  The adult wasps will lay their eggs on the leaf and the leaf will react to the wasp and create these fun structures around the eggs.  Inside each structure a new cynipid wasp will develop.  These don't really harm the tree, they just don't look that appealing when there are a bunch on your oak leaves.

 Frequently Asked Plant Questions

Why is the black walnut tree toxic to tomatoes?
          Black walnut trees are toxic to tomatoes and many other plants including: asparagus, cabbage, pepper, potato, apple, blueberry, blackberry, azalea, yew, columbine, lily, and petunia. 
          The black walnut tree releases a toxin called juglone from its roots, leaves, nuts, and branches.  The soil directly beneath the tree canopy has the highest concentration of joglone, while the area surrounding the tree has a smaller concentration, but still enough to affect the plant.  Plants affected by the black walnut toxin will show yellow foliage, wilting, and eventually death. 
          For more information, be sure to check out this publication from Purdue University on black walnut toxicity.

What can I do if I suspect that my ash tree has become infested with Emerald Ash Borer?  
          Depending on how much damage the emerald ash borer has done will determine what you should do once you notice something is wrong with your ash tree(s).  If the tree is still healthy (less than 50% of the canopy has been lost) you can probably still save the tree using insecticides; however, if more than 50% of the canopy has been lost, you may not be able to save the tree. 
          Indiana, in cooperation with 12 other state agencies, Ontario, and Quebec, have put together a wonderful website called Emerald Ash Borer University. This website provides the latest information on Emerald Ash Borer including: what the emerald ash borer is, where it is found, methods to protect your ash trees, and much more.

When is the best time to plant my vegetables? 
          Purdue University has a great publication on when to plant your vegetables in your garden. DeKalb County's last freeze date in the spring is usually May 6-15 (zone D)and the first freeze date in the fall is between October 6-15 (zone F).  You will want to follow the recommendations for each of the vegetables you want to plant based on these freeze dates (when you can first start to plant them to the last planting date to make sure you get a harvest before the first killing frost). 

What do I do if my flowers aren't growing?
          The first thing I would suggest would be to get a soil sample done in your gardens. Usually labs will run a test for around $20 and give you feedback on what is in your garden and what type of fertilizer to use. Purdue University has a great publication to show you the steps of taking a soil sample.  
          Next step would be to make sure there are no black walnut trees around because they can leach toxins into the ground that are poisonous to several plants (Black Walnut Toxicty publication).  If there is a black walnut tree nearby, there are still several plant options that you can use.
          There are many more possibilities behind why your flowers are not growing, but those are the first two things I would check when trying to figure out the problem.

Is this plant poison ivy?

Photo source: Sherrie Lowe and Patricia Grace, University of Florida

          These leaves do belong to a poison ivy plant.  Poison ivy can grow as a shrub or vine in Indiana.  It's distinguishing characteristic is the set of tri-foliate leaves  (three-clustered).  For more information on poison ivy and other plants that can cause skin irritation, check out this publication from Purdue University's Weed Science Department on the "Don't Touch Me Plants".   

 What is an invasive plant and what invasive plants are in DeKalb County?
          Invasive plants are plants that grow quickly and agressively, displace other plants as they spread, and are not native to North America.  As of the last survey taken in Indiana in 2007, there are 60+ species of woody and non-woody plants that are invasive; at least 28 of those invasive species are found in DeKalb County.
          For more information on all of the invasive plant species found in DeKalb County and Indiana, and how to get rid of them, you can visit Indiana's "Most Unwanted" Invasive Plant Pests website or the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Invasive Species website.