USDA seizes more than 1,200 illegal giant snails

USDA seizes more than 1,200 illegal giant snails http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268808/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=I8ykpyfi (from @AP)

Wildlife refuges phasing out GMO crops, pesticides

Wildlife refuges phasing out GMO crops, pesticides http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268808/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=FLy50TeL (from @AP)

National wildlife refuges around the country are phasing out genetically modified crops and a class of pesticides related to nicotine in programs meant to provide food for wildlife.

Woolly Aphids Attacking Apple Tree

Photo: Woolly Aphids on Apple Tree

Photo: Crushed Woolly Aphids on a Napkin

I noticed something that initially appeared to be white fungus on my apple tree.  However, upon closer inspection, I discovered the white fungus was actually woolly aphids!  

Woolly aphids are aphids that feed on the sap of a plant and secrete a substance that resembles white cotton or wool.  Symptoms of feeding may include twisted and curled leaves, yellowed foliage, poor plant growth, low plant vigor, and branch dieback.

I pruned back what I could to slow down the aphid growth, and I will try out a recipe for homemade insecticidal soap on the remaining aphids.  If it ends up being effective, I will share the recipe in a later post.   

Note: To determine whether you have woolly aphids on your tree, all you have to do is rub the white substance.  If a purple stain appears, then you have a woolly aphid problem on your hands; not fungus.  

Spittle Bugs Are Hatching

Photo: Spittle bug hiding in "foam" or "spittle"

Foam or a spittle-like substance has appeared on my strawberries, kohlrabi, fennel, parsley, chamomile, African daisies and calendula, which means the spittle bugs (also known as froghoppers) have hatched.
In its earlier stage, spittle bugs take in the sap from plants and secrete bubbles from its other end to cover itself.  This layer of bubbles provide protection from predators.

Although spittle bugs do feed from the sap of plants, the amount of damage is minimal.  Therefore, insecticide is not necessary when there is only a moderate infestation.  Instead I have been dislodging the "foam" and the spittle bug by spraying the affected plants with a strong jet of water from the hose.  Without its protection of foam, the spittle bug will be exposed to natural  predators and the elements.

Sluggo: Slug & Snail Killer Certified for Organic Gardening

Photo: Monterey Sluggo Snail & Slug Control for Organic Gardening (1 lb) for $8.80

Monterey Sluggo is a cheap and effective way to control the slug and snail problem in your yard.  A little of this stuff goes a long way.  This product is also certified for organic gardening by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), and it is safe to use around pets and other wildlife.   It does not contain metaldehyde (which is toxic to all organisms); instead Monterey Sluggo's active ingredient is iron phosphate, which occurs naturally in soil.  Iron phosphate is also used as an ingredient in fertilizer.

How it Works:
Slugs and snails find Sluggo appetizing, and are attracted to this bait.  After they eat the pellets, they will cease feeding all together.  They will become less mobile, and will eventually die within three to six days.

Caution: Although this product is certified for organic gardening it does not mean it is harmless.  The Sluggo product label does warn consumers that it will cause moderate eye irritation so avoid making contact with your eyes or clothing, and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after use.  The label also warns consumers to avoid contamination of water, food or feed by storage or disposal.

That being said for those of you who are opposed to hand picking snails at night and smashing them *cringe*,  "wasting" beer for beer slug traps, setting up copper barriers and so forth, this is the product for you.

Beer Slug Traps

Turn an ordinary yogurt cup into an effective organic slug trap.  Just dig a hole, and place the empty yogurt cup into the hole.  Make sure the soil line is flush with the top of the cup.  Then pour cheap beer into the cup.  The slugs are attracted to the beer, and unwittingly fall into the cup of beer and drown.  It works!  I have caught some pill bugs (a.k.a. roly polies) too.  You can empty them out weekly, and resupply with new beer.

Get Free Mosquitofish

Photo: Mosquito Fish (Gambusia affinis) by Arizona Aquatics Garden

The dreaded mosquitos are back!  With the rising rates of foreclosures, more swimming pools, spas and ornamental ponds are being neglected, providing mosquitos the perfect breeding ground.  Did you know that mosquitos only need a few tablespoons of water to complete a life cycle?  An unmaintained swimming pool or spa is an ideal source for more than 1 million mosquitos that may go on to become infected with West Nile virus, and infect people within a 5 mile radius!

In order to control the mosquito population, Gambusia affinis a.k.a. "mosquito fish" have been introduced to these isolated stagnant bodies of water.  Mosquitofish are live bearing freshwater minnows related to guppies.  Adult mosquitofish measure 1 to 2 inches in length, and can eat 500 mosquito larvae a day!  They also eat wind-blown organic debris at the surface of the water.

To get free mosquitofish, check with your local Mosquito and Vector Control Associations.
Contra Costa County's Mosquito and Vector Control District are giving away free mosquitofish to its residents.  They are available for pickup at the District's office located at 155 Mason Circle, Concord, CA Monday through Friday (except Holidays).

Contra Costa residents can also report neglected swimming pools here.

If you cannot get free mosquito fish in your area, you can purchase them online at Arizona Aquatics Garden.

Important: Please do NOT release any live mosquitofish in open waters.  It is against the law to do so, and may disrupt the ecological balance in natural habitats.

Nature's Insect Traps

I know someone who used carnivorous pitcher plants to take care of a mosquito problem he had in his apartment.  Pitcher plants have special organs to capture insects, digest them and absorb the nitrogen and phosphorous that they need.  These plants are beautiful, and are a great non-toxic alternative to chemical sprays.  I plan on purchasing some for my home.  

Cabbage Caterpillars Destroying My Collard Greens

Photo of Small White Butterfly (Pieris rapae)

Small Cabbage Caterpillars have attacked my collard greens! The caterpillars have almost completely devoured one of my plants and the others are riddled with holes and covered in caterpillar eggs, larvae and caterpillar excrement! Yuck! Strangely enough I have not found any of these cabbage caterpillars on my crop of cabbage.

Photo of Small Cabbage Caterpillar blending in with the base of the leaf.

Photo of what I think may be cabbage aphids?

Photo of the waste that the small cabbage caterpillars have left behind.

I did some research on organic pest control. These are some of the methods suggested:

• Physically remove caterpillars and drop them in a jar of kerosene.
• Physically remove and crush caterpillar eggs and larvae
• Physically remove affected leaves
• Cover plants with insect-proof netting
• Invite natural predators like birds to the garden by using bird feeders, bird baths, planting dense brush that provide birds security, etc.
• Spray Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally occurring bacterium that only kills caterpillars and not the predatory insects, above and below the leaves.
• Use companion planning methods

I will have to figure out the right combination of methods to get this problem under control. Wish me luck!

Sharp-Tailed Slug Eating Snake

Sample Photo of a Sharp-Tailed Snake

A few years ago, I had the good fortune to come across the endangered sharp-tailed snake while hiking through the Berkeley hills. It was about 5 or 6 inches long and about as thick as a pencil. It caught my eye because although it looked like a worm, it was moving gracefully like a snake. When I took a closer look, I saw its cute, tiny tongue sticking out and confirmed it was a snake.

Later I learned that these snakes only eat slugs or slug eggs. How amazing is that?! I wish I had these little guys in my garden to help control the slug population in my garden.

Emerging Hosta leaves

Last fall slugs or snails stripped my lush hosta plant of all of its leaves overnight. I thought I had lost the entire plant, but yesterday I discovered the first signs of life since the incident.

The Habanero Plant

Featuring Mature Habanero Pepper (in Orange);
Unripened Green Habanero Peppers in Background

Earlier this year (April 26, 2007), I saved some seeds from a habanero pepper that I was using to make a spicy vinegar, and planted them in a container. I watered the soil thoroughly, and covered the container with a plastic ziploc bag to help the soil retain its moisture and create a greenhouse effect. These plants grew without any fuss at all. About seven months later, I have five healthy plants that have several little peppers that are finally maturing.

This is a great plant to have in your garden even if you do not like spicy foods. The habanero plant is aesthetically pleasing all year round. In summer the plants will have pretty white blooms with dark green centers. And in the fall, you will get additional color with these pretty 1" to 1.5" orange peppers. You can just give away the ripe peppers to a friend who will appreciate the spicy fruits or blend the fruits with water to make an organic insecticide.

Habaneros are suitable for container-gardening. My plants are only a foot tall, but the average height is 2-feet tall and the average width is 18-inches. You do not have to water the plant very often. In fact, over-watering the plant may ruin the taste of the fruit. This plant likes full sun, but if you are growing your plant from seed place the young plants in indirect sunlight to avoid frying the plant. I fertilized my plants as soon as they began to bear fruit. I used a low fertilizing solution about once a month.

Caution: These peppers are EXTREMELY HOT. I wouldn't recommend growing them if small children will have access to these plants. I also do not recommend eating the fruit alone or handling the fruit with bare hands. The inside flesh of the pepper is scorching hot, and will remain on the skin for a very long time. It's heat score is rated over 300,000 Scoville Units (COMPARE TO: The Jalapeno Pepper, which is rated around 3,000 Scoville Units).