Tag: Pest Control

In the Garden

Live and Learn.

Becky

Always Google first. I should know this by now! But seriously, what was I to think when I saw this guy in my garden?

hornworm
photo credit – Berkshire Botanical Garden. I was too freaked out to take a photo of mine.

My first inclination, when I saw this horn worm festooned with white eggs was, “Get it off get it off get it off!” And sadly, that’s what I did. Turns out, mutant horn worms are actually a good thing.

After googling, I discovered that the horn worm clinging to my bell pepper plant was actually playing host to Braconid Wasp eggs, which would have eventually killed it. Once the eggs hatched, the resulting wasps would have done the same to all his friends. Oh well. Live and learn!

Definitely the strangest thing I’ve seen in my garden this season. What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen in yours?

Around the House

Hometalk DIY Pest Control Roundup!

Becky

I’m always in a bit of a quandary when people ask me, “What’s your favorite season?” There is something I like (and dislike) about every season. I think they are all my favorite for one reason or another.

In winter it’s that first glittery snowfall I adore. Spring, the smell of flowers wafting in the air. Autumn’s crisp, sunny afternoons can’t be beat. And summer – the thick green foliage, the veggies and fresh fruit, ice cream, sprinklers, What’s not to love about summer?

Oh yeah. The bugs. Creepy crawlers. Hungry critters. I could do without the mosquitoes, veggie eating slugs, home invading ants, and garden ravaging deer that come along with the summer months. and I get the impression I’m not the only one!

Well, the good folks at Hometalk asked me to browse through the posts on their site, and pin a collection of bug and critter control Hometalk posts. I found some great ones, all of which approach bug and critter control from a more natural, DIY perspective. I invite you to check them out! You’ll recognize some posts from my blog, along with posts from other great bloggers on Hometalk as well.

19 DIY Pest Control Projects on Hometalk

Do you have a DIY bug trap to share? Have you had a critter control success story in your garden this summer? Share them on Hometalk! There is a friendly Hometalk community waiting to read your post! Let me know about it too…I’ll include it on my pinboard!

Around the House, Featured, Recipes

Never Failed Me Yet Ant Bait

Becky

It’s that time of year. Sometimes they show up, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they are big, sometimes they are small. Sometimes there are many, sometimes just a few. But mercifully, no matter how many of these little darlings decide to show up in my kitchen in the spring, I only need to see them for about one day out of 365. Once I put out my delicious ant buffet, they are so “satisfied” they never come back. At least until next year.

Ant Bait Continue reading “Never Failed Me Yet Ant Bait” →