Have you ever walked by a bush and saw what looked like spit all over it? Ewww! Gross! Well, it probably is not spit but a bug called the Froghopper, or Spittle Bug. The Spittle Bug nymph ( or immature stage) feeds on the sap of the shrub and create the spittle which covers them while they feed.
Spittle Bug eggs usually hatch in May and you will see this distinctive foam all over the plant shortly after. You can usually find the adults in late summer, July and August, when the nymphs mature. Adults do not make the spittle and generally, unless weather conditions are favorable, they rarely have more than one generation per year. The adults lay eggs that overwinter and the cycle repeats the following year.
Spittle Bugs, while are not directly necessarily the cause of plant mortality, they do vector (or attract) fungal and bacterial disease that can cause stem or branch die-back (flagging).
The first level of defense is to wash off the plant foliage when you see the distinctive markings of the Spittle Bug with a hard blast of water. (This my favorite and lazy person’s way to initially treat lots of bug issues!) I suggest do the water blast for 2 to 3 days in a row and then watch the plant for a few days before going to the next level of control if needed. This is called IPM or integrated pest management. (Or you could call it smart and lazy and cheap!)
The next level of control would be to apply a systemic insecticide like imidacloprid. Systemic means when applied either on the foliage or through the root system the insecticide is moved thorough the plant’s vascular system, protecting the plant from the inside out. Depending on the method of application and a few other factors this control method could last a few weeks to a year.
Give us a call here at Perfection Landscape if you need help doing this and we can do it for you.
We like to feed our humming birds. I’ve always just put some sugar and water into our hummingbird feeder and shook it up until it dissolved and they seem to like it. HOWEVER, recently the boss ( who is kinda getting into cooking lately) decided to try a hummingbird food recipe. He cooked it up and the birds have been flocking to the feeders! I could only capture 1 or two in the frame of the picture, but there are now usually 4 or 5 hummingbirds at any given time.
Try this recipe. It’s easy!
Nectar for the Birds 1 part sugar to 4 parts water Place the water in a sauce pan. Stir the sugar into the water while bringing the mixture to a boil. Apparently the boiling removes any chlorine and kills mold or yeast spores that might be in the sugar.
Boil for two minutes, no more. More will change the dilution ratio and won’t be as attractive to the birds. No need to add the food coloring. It is not necessary to add the food coloring and it may even be harmful to the birds. Cool the solution to room temperature and fill your feeder only part way so it wont spoil before they finish it. Store extra nectar in your fridge. Try it your birds will LOVE it.
Today has been a lot warmer than last few weeks. Even though at home, the pond started to freeze again when I left for work this morning, when I got to Oak Hills at the job, I was working in a t-shirt! unlike the previous days when I was bundled up with several layers! Today, my hubby put out a new LARGE bird seed block on the ground and a large hanging bird seed brick. Both just outside our bedroom window. A cat TV special for our kitties, Rocky and Romeo. They love to hang out on the hope chest by the window and watch all the birds. And there were LOTS of birds. I never counted less than 12 each time I looked. There were at least 4 different kinds as well. I need to get out my bird ID book and learn exactly who is hanging out there. Make sure you feed your birds. They will love you for it.
Perfection Landscape’s September 2012 Newsletter Get started on your fall garden tasks. Lots of tips to get you through. AND, did you ever have problem with Ants? Get our tips on controlling ants in and around your home.
Ya know, you aren’t getting any younger. What will you leave as your legacy? Check out our march 2012 newsletter. and maybe get some help with that.
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