Boxelder bugs and stink bugs are occasional indoor pests, most often noticed in fall and winter when cooler weather drives them to seek shelter. While they can be annoying, neither insect reproduces indoors or causes structural damage, and both are best managed with prevention and gentle control rather than pesticides. Boxelder bugs are dark gray […]
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Murderers lurking in garden shadows sounds like something out of a gothic novel. And certainly not something you’d think you’d want roaming around on your tranquil piece of land, but if they’re of the insect type, you definitely do. Meet the assassin bugs. These aptly named beneficial insects are voracious predators of a wide variety
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First, you see them, then you don’t. The glossy new leaves on your dwarf fruit tree vanish overnight. The mahogany-colored foliage on your prize rose is suddenly shredded. Even the tough, leathery leaves of a California live oak show heavy chewing. A closer look reveals little more than ragged leaf edges and missing tissue. Chances
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Ants marching up and down the trunk of an otherwise healthy-looking fruit tree? Branches or stems that look bumpy and shiny, as if coated with sugar water? These clues often point to a scale insect infestation. Click here to learn more about managing scale.
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Praying mantids are among the most unusual and efficient insect hunters you may encounter. The name mantis comes from Greek, meaning “prophet” or “soothsayer,” inspired by their prayer-like posture. They hold the front of their body upright with enlarged forelegs folded together. The European mantid (Mantis religiosa) is most often seen in gardens, while the
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Have you ever leaned in to smell a beautiful rose, only to have an earwig dart out of the bloom? Unpleasant, yes—but despite old myths about earwigs crawling into ears, these insects are far less sinister than their reputation suggests. Understanding their habits can help you decide whether they are a problem or a tolerable
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It’s the chilly time of year when gardeners look ahead to spring—starting cool-season vegetables, finishing pruning chores, and finally paying attention to long-neglected houseplants. Taking a closer look at indoor plants can sometimes reveal more than dust, and one common winter surprise is mealybugs. How to Recognize Mealybugs Plants Commonly Affected What They Are and
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Silverfish are small, wingless insects that sometimes turn up inside homes, especially in older houses. They are silvery-gray, carrot-shaped, and move quickly when disturbed. While their sudden appearance can be unsettling, silverfish do not bite, sting, or spread disease. From a household perspective they are mainly a nuisance pest, feeding on starchy materials such as
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Enjoying your houseplants but noticing some small flies zipping around the soil? They may be fungus gnats. These dark, delicate-looking flies look similar to mosquitoes. They’re attracted to light, so you first might notice these pests flying near windows indoors. Check your plant pots. If the soil in the pots is overly moist, fungus gnat
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The mere sound of their name produces the ewwww factor – cockroaches! These insects thrive in both indoor and outdoor environments where there is food, water, and shelter. During the day, roaches hide in dark, moist areas like cracks, water meter boxes, sewers, and crawl spaces. They come out at night to feed. Good sanitation
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