Browse Ants, Termites, Lice and Other Pests Stories - Page 6

Backyard squash growers may not agree on which variety is best, but they do agree on one thing – squash vine borers are the enemy.

Last month, a Jefferson County woman died and her three grandchildren were sickened after a pesticide, labeled for agricultural use only, was used to kill insects inside their home. Unfortunately, this tragic story now serves as an opportunity for University of Georgia Extension agents like myself to stress the importance of following label instructions on pesticides and other chemicals.

Feral hogs may be prime prey for hunters, but to Georgia farmers they’re the ultimate predator. They destroy farmland, eat away at a farmer’s crops and drastically reduce potential profits.

Homeowners who tackle termites may think the tiny insects spend their days eating wood. But a University of Georgia entomologist says 80 percent of the time they do absolutely nothing.

Growing a vegetable garden consists of more than just keeping the plants healthy. It’s also about making sure the weeds don’t take over.

Tired of watching carpenter bees slowly gnaw through the wood on her porch, Deborah Harris bought a trap as an alternative to spraying pesticides. The traps can be bought at craft shows or online or, if you’re handy, made at home.

The University of Georgia Bug Dawgs of the UGA Entomology Department will host the 29th Annual Insect Zoo Open House on Friday, April 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the Miller Plant Science Building on the campus in Athens.

The Entomological Society of America’s Southeastern Branch presented University of Georgia entomologist Nancy Hinkle with its 2014 Recognition Award in Urban Entomology.

This winter’s unusually cold temperatures may have people wondering — or hoping — that Georgia’s insect populations will shrink this spring. That’s just wishful thinking.

When we think of invasive species we usually think of insects, plants and animals that have been shipped to Georgia from another part of the world, but it’s a two-way street. Georgia’s native plants and insects can be just as devastating overseas if they take root in a foreign ecosystem