Insects
Ground Beetles
There are all kinds of beetles found in gardens. One common type are the ground beetles, which as the name suggests, are typically found under leaves or debris, in cracks in the soil, or running along the ground. Most of these are predators, consuming all sorts of other insects including pests. Learn more about these beneficial insects in this article...
Garden Spiders
Creepy, crawly critters abound at Halloween and they’re also common in gardens year round. Spiders are good guys to gardeners, since they feed on other insects. There are just a few main groups of spiders that are commonly found in gardens. To learn more about these fascinating arthropods, read this article...
Green Lacewings
There are many insects in our backyards that can be considered beneficial because they eat other insects. Green lacewings are a common type that are often overlooked, but should be encouraged in the garden as their larvae are important predators of aphids and other small insects. Learn more about these fascinating creatures in this article...
Earwigs
Many people are repulsed by the sight of an earwig and its intimidating back end. But those pinchers are mostly just for show, and these insects won't harm people. They are primarily scavengers feeding at night, but they will eat some living plants and may cause damage at times. To learn more about these "icky" insects, read this article...
Little Green Jewels
Small insects are all around us, but we often don't pay any attention to them unless they are eating up our plants or biting us. There are a number of these tiny animals that are more noticeable than most because of their metallic color. For an introduction to just a few of the common shiny green insects you might encounter in your garden or on a nearby nature trail, read this article...
Spotted Tentiform Leafminer
Have you had people ask what those funny stippled blotches on their apple tree leaves are? When held up to the light, the spotted nature of these mines become apparent, and are a diagnostic feature of the damage caused by the spotted tentiform leafminer. If you want to learn more about this insect pest, read this article...
Gypsy Moth Trapping 2011
Gypsy moth is an invasive insect that is spreading across the state. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture has a program to help slow the spread of this pest that feeds on a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs. Part of that program involves traps to help determine where the moths are. To learn more about the trapping program, read this article...
Gypsy Moth in Wisconsin in 2010
Gypsy moth invaded Wisconsin years ago, and this invasive pest continues to march westward across the state. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection monitors the pest’s population as part of it’s “Slow the Spread Program.” The results of the 2010 trapping season have been announced. Find out more of the details in this article...
White-lined Sphinx
The white-lined sphinx is a common moth that occurs throughout most of North America. The adult is a fairly distinctive heavy-bodied moth with triangular wings, but you may not recognize the caterpillar as the same insect. With a wide host range and considerable variation in color, it may not be quite as easy to identify. To learn more about this charismatic moth – and its immature stage that just might be living in your garden – read this article...
Plum Curculio
Despite its name, plum curculio causes problems on more than just plum trees. This native insect is also a pest of apple, pear, cherry, peach and apricot. If you want to find out what a curculio is and looks like, and the type of damage it causes on tree fruits read this article.
