EARWIG FEEDING
The earwigs have been late, but the moist conditions have given rise to high numbers in the southern part of the state. If you are finding feeding on flowers or leaves and no insects are home, suspect earwigs. Here are two pictures of typical damage. See http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/diaglab/hilites/a3640.pdf for background. Remember to drench mulch areas for most effective control. I have had some luck with small tin cans (tuna fish) baited with fish oil and soapy water. Many earwigs fall in and drown.
Phanaeus Beetle
Halictid Bee
JEWELED INSECTS
There are a large number of insects that rival fine pieces of jewelry. The beetle is a type of dung beetle called Phanaeus The bee is a Halictid which is a pollinator that often lives in ground burrows in vertical banks. If you look at insects closely you will often be pleasantly surprised
LEAFMINERS
A number of flies, sawflies, moths and beetles develop inside leaves. They cause two types of damage. The Blotch leafminers leave round tan or brown spots in leaves. If you look closely you can see small waste (looks like pepper grains) in the damaged areas. The other type of mine is called a serpentine mine because it snakes around. A small fly caused this problem on the columbine leaf. In general, leafminer damage is cosmetic. If you are going to stop it you must spray early--when the first little brown spots appear.
LITTLE GREEN WEEVILS RETURN
The Green Immigrant leaf weevil has started to show up. Adults feed on many trees, but poplar, birch and apple seem to be preferred. This insect is noticed because of its bright color. Feeding damage is just little notches on the margins of leaves. Other less impressive weevils will migrate indoors during mid summer. For control see http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wihort/pests/ControlWeevils.htm.
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