Wooly Alder
White fuzzy critters on maples leaves and shiny stick spots or residue under trees are cause by the wooly alder aphid. These aphids start the spring on maple and some will migrate to alder by the end of the month. Severely infested trees may show yellow leaves but this insect rarely causes enough damage to require treatment. It should come under natural control in a week or two. ( aphid photo- Ken Williams UWEX, and Mike Ranking UWEX)
Alder Aphid Residue
Earwig Damage
Flower petals being chewed on- Marigolds being eaten- suspect earwigs. We are seeing a bumper crop in the southern part of the state. It is best to treat the mulch they hide in during the day for best control. See http://cecommerce.uwex.edu/pdfs/A3640.PDF
Earwig Damage
Painted Lady
Caterpillars on Stinging Nettle
We will be treated to an explosion of both Painted Lady and Red admiral butterflies. Painted ladies feed on thistle and red admiral feed on stinging nettle as caterpillars. I have had a number of calls about the spiny worms feeding o these weeds. We see this explosion every 7-10 years. ( nettle photo – Robert Wakeman)
Red Admiral
Defoliated Bur Oak
The dry spring weather has allowed Gypsy moth populations to explode- A State park campground has been closed in the Wisconsin Dells area- This is a defoliated bur Oak on the West side of Madison. The caterpillars are now crawling down the tree looking for more to eat- It is too late to treat the larvae- but oil treatment for egg masses should be considered before next spring See http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wihort/gardenfacts/X1063.pdf
Gypsy Moth Caterpillars
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