Neat Bug of the Week
This beautiful beetle came in for an ID from the state of Washington . It is called the banded Alder borer and is found breeding in dead ash, oak, alder, and willow.
German Yellow Jacket
Yellowjackets and Hornets
Dry springs and warm summers usually mean lots of german yellowjakets around food and drink. in the late summer. They nest in the ground and other void spaces- and heavy spring rains give wash out many nests. Warm summer temperatures means the colonies will grow fast and have food needs that will force them to scavenge for protein and sugar.
Use tight fitting garbage cans and keep food and drink to a minimium outdoors during daylight hours. Ground nest are best treated with dust- above ground nest that are low enough to cause problems should be treated with a wasp spray See http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG3732.html.
Ground nest
Cicadas
Cicadas
Cicadas are always a singing by late July and are a big part of the August landscape. This is a species of dog day cicada- We will not see the 17 year cicadas in Wisconsin until 2007. For a great site with pictures and sounds of the many species see the University of Michigan site at http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/fauna/Michigan_Cicadas/Michigan/Index.html.
You may find their nymphal skins attached to tree trunks and fence posts.
Cacadas skin
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