‘Beneficials’ Archives
Valley Carpenter Bees and Homeowners (A Love-Hate Relationship)
When my wife and I moved our family from the Seattle are to northern California I was intrigued by what looked to me like large black hairless bumblebees, flying around flowers in the area. It wasn't until a few years later, when I entered the structural pest control industry, that I learned they were female Valley Carpenter Bees. Both [...]
Protect Honey Bee Swarms
Few things are as unnerving as the sight of a Honey Bee swarm. It can be eerie to see thousands of bees hanging from the branch of a tree or some other object. The bees cluster together in a perpetually squirming mass to protect the queen who is at the center. Dozens to hundreds of workers whiz by, barely noticing your presence, as they [...]
How to Keep Garden Pests Under Control Naturally With the Green Lacewing
In any discussion about beneficial insects the Green Lacewing is essential. I found this article on Ezine and decided to include it in the blog as an interest article. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Pest Control Center, Inc. A green lacewing is one of the best-kept secrets in natural pest [...]
Soldier Beetles, or Leatherbacks, are Real Troopers in the War on Damaging Insects
Every spring I marvel at the numbers of insects devoured by soldier beetles, just in my own landscape. Around the world there are about 3,500 different species of these members of the Cantharidae family. They are sometimes called firefly mimics because their color patterns resemble those of fireflies, but without the ability to give off [...]
Honey Bee Moving Day!
If you come accross a swarm, such as the one shown here, don't be alarmed. It's only moving day for a colony of Honey Bees. When a hive becomes too large the queen lays eggs in special brood cells and workers begin feeding the new larvae a special, pollen rich food, called Royal Jelly. This causes them to grow into new queens. One of [...]
Ladybird Beetles, Destroyers of Plant Sucking Pests
Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home…Its an old nursery rhyme that most of us are familiar with. But not everyone knows how truly beneficial the Ladybird Beetle (or Ladybug, as she’s called here in North America) is in the garden. To be sure, large numbers of them can be a nuisance, especially in the spring when they tend to congregate on the [...]
