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Pests

All articles tagged with #pests

Cardboard Draws Roaches: Simple Steps to Keep Them Out
wellness12 days ago

Cardboard Draws Roaches: Simple Steps to Keep Them Out

Cardboard boxes are a common roach shelter because they provide food and water (when damp), absorb odors, and offer hidden harborage in grooves—making them attractive to cockroaches like American and German species found in homes. These roaches can carry pathogens and worsen allergies, especially in children. To prevent problems, inspect and discard damp cardboard, seal cracks, keep areas clean and dry, store boxes properly, and seek pest-control help if an infestation grows; accurate species identification helps target treatment.

August Guide: Deep Water, Sun, and Light Touches for Crape Myrtles
gardens17 days ago

August Guide: Deep Water, Sun, and Light Touches for Crape Myrtles

In August, crape myrtles should stay healthy with deep, infrequent watering during extended heat, 6–8 hours of sun, and minimal intervention: avoid major pruning in the heat, deadhead only if you want a possible extra bloom flush, and monitor for pests such as aphids, Japanese beetles, bark scale, and sooty mold. Maintain steady watering and a mulch layer to conserve moisture, skip late-summer fertilizing, and reserve significant pruning for dormancy in late winter to help plants finish their summer display strong.

Spiders at home aren’t threats—they’re allies in pest control
lifestyle1 month ago

Spiders at home aren’t threats—they’re allies in pest control

Spiders indoors are common and generally harmless, often serving as natural pest controllers by eating insects like mosquitoes. Bites are rare, and many species avoid humans, so killing them can remove a valuable predator from your home. If you really can’t stand a spider, gently capture and release it outside, but otherwise adopting a live-and-let-live approach supports a healthier indoor ecosystem—evidenced by a survey of 50 North Carolina homes where every house had spiders.

USDA: Flesh-eating screwworm found in Texas calf, containment zone established
health3 months ago

USDA: Flesh-eating screwworm found in Texas calf, containment zone established

The USDA confirmed a New World screwworm infection in a 3-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, and launched a 12-mile infested zone with quarantines, border traps, and an Incident Command Team to eradicate the parasite; a sample is being validated by the NVSL, and authorities note thousands of cases in Mexico and the potential risk to livestock and rare human infections.

Researchers Trace North Carolina’s Blueberry Troubles to a Longhorn Beetle
biology3 months ago

Researchers Trace North Carolina’s Blueberry Troubles to a Longhorn Beetle

North Carolina State University researchers confirmed Prionus imbricornis as the beetle driving blueberry losses in North Carolina—the first verified NC sighting—with larvae that feed on roots. Traps across six farms captured over 5,000 beetles and genetic sequencing linked the larvae to the adults. The findings, published in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management, should improve pest identification and help guide future control efforts, though effective treatments and timing remain under study as North Carolina remains a major blueberry producer.

"Unlocking Your Garden's Potential with a Game-Changing Kitchen Ingredient"
gardening2 years ago

"Unlocking Your Garden's Potential with a Game-Changing Kitchen Ingredient"

Ginger, known for its antimicrobial properties, can be used in gardening to combat root rot, fight pests, and act as a natural fertilizer. To incorporate ginger into your garden, make ginger water by boiling grated ginger root and mixing it with water. Use this ginger water to water your plants, directing it around the roots. The leftover ginger peels can be added to your compost pile in moderation.