All the Dirt on Gardening

Emerald Ash Borer - NH Bug s The Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, reported that the Emerald Ash Borers have been found here.  Eric Rebek, Extension Entomologist, reports. "Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, an invasive wood-boring beetle that has killed hundreds of millions of North American ash trees in the United States and Canada, has been recovered from a monitoring trap in Delaware County. This catch represents the first official record of this devastating insect in Oklahoma.  Life Cycle  The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) notified me of the find on October 13, and the identity of the specimen was subsequently verified as EAB. Information for sharing with the general public was made available by ODAFF and can be found at http://www.forestry.ok.gov/eab. Emerald ash borer belongs to a group of woodborers known as flatheaded borers. The adult beetles are often shiny and brilliantly c...

Australia Dept of Agriculture & Food It's mite season, ladies and gentlemen, and they are causing wide spread itching. There are two types that are causing the most trouble: 1) straw itch mites and 2) oak mites. Don't ignore the symptoms, the Australian Dept. of Agriculture and Food points out, " In severe cases of mite attack, victims have reported headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, mild diarrhoea and joint pains." Prevent oak mite bites  If you see brown and crusty edges on oak tree leaves, be aware that mite activity is possible. Don’t sit under oak trees or on nearby lawns. Illinois Dept of Public Health . Prevent straw mite bites by avoiding straw bales 1. Straw itch mites are the topic of this week's entomology pest alert from Oklahoma State Univeristy.. Here's the link -  http://entoplp.okstate.edu/pddl/2015/PA14-43.pdf US Pharmacist dot com "These mites are associated with stored commodities including hay and have been commo...