Fire ant home remedy webinar- follow up

It's been two weeks since my webinar on fire ant home remedies.  If you missed it because you had other pressing things to do that day- which I don't know what can be more important than listening to me rattle on about fire ants- the webinar was recorded.  You can find a link to the webinar session here:
http://www.extension.org/pages/66408/dont-bug-me-webinar-series-2013

It's right under the February 1st, 2013 Fire Ant Home Remedy section.

I hope it went well.  I think webinars are much harder to carry off because you have no audience to react with.  I felt like I was droning on and on, but I did give information on all the home remedies I have tested to date.  I also talked about naturally derived methods of managing fire ants.  Give it a listen!

Flea beetles

Flea beetles....part flea, part beetle?  Well, not exactly.  Flea beetles are a type of beetle that have enlarged hind legs and jump when they are disturbed.  The hind legs and jumping motion are similar to that of fleas, hence the name. 

Flea beetles.

Flea beetles come in a wide variety of sizes (but all are still pretty small) and colors.  They have chewing mouthparts and often damage plants by eating foliage.  Damage can be somewhat characteristic- they chew small "shotholes" in the foliage.  Damage is most problematic in seedlings or in crops where you also want to consume the foliage.

Flea beetles overwinter in the adult stage in protected locations, emerging in spring when temperatures begin to warm up.  Since the weather has been rather springlike lately, I've been hearing about people finding these insects in the vegetables.  After mating, eggs are laid around the base of plants or in cracks in the soil.  Larvae feed on root hairs and small roots, but they are not considered to be the damaging stage.

Flea beetle damage.

To avoid flea beetle problems, try planting transplants to avoid the insects attacking seedlings.  You could also try planting a high rate of seedlings and then thin as needed once they are established.  It may also help by adjusting planting times to avoid beetle emergence.  Row cover can be placed over plants to physically block the insects from attacking the plant.  If beetles are already on the plant, they would need to be managed before row cover was utilized.  Vacuuming flea beetles off the plant is another option (and one that can be fun, especially for kids!).

As far as pesticide options, look for active ingredients such as spinosad (a naturally-derived product that works well on foliage feeding insects), azadirachtin (neem), horticultural oils, diatomaceous earth, permethrin or carbaryl.

Don't Bug Me Webinars

So why should you participate in these webinars?  You can learn valuable information about avoiding pest problems from experts all over the U.S.  I'm kicking things off with the February 1st webinar....hope to "see" you there!

Learn How to Manage Ants and Other Pests Via Don’t Bug Me Webinars

Got ants?  Tired of ladybug invasions in the fall?  Brought home bed bugs from your last trip? Alabama Cooperative Extension professionals will moderate a free webinar series that will take on all of these topics. In 2013, most of the webinars will be on fire ants and other invasive ant species.  Other topics for the year include bed bugs and various insects that invade homes each autumn. 

Alabama Extension entomologist Dr. Kathy Flanders says these free webinars are designed for homeowners and the general public.

“We will provide them with sound, research-based management solutions for these pests from some of the best experts around the country,” she says.  “The webinars are specifically for ordinary people who need answers they can use.

“Participating is as simple as clicking on a web link.”

Each webinar will begin at 1 p.m.  Central Time and will last 30 to 45 minutes. 

Flanders says not to worry if you cannot tune in for the live webinar.

“The webinars will be recorded and archived.  If you miss one, you will be able to watch a recording later.” 

The webinars are sponsored by eXtension (www.extension.org) and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (www.aces.edu) .  They are coordinated by the Imported Fire Ant eXtension Community of Practice (http://www.extension.org/fire_ants). 

 First Friday of the Month Spring Series

February 1, 2013. Fire Ant Home Remedies - What Works, What Doesn't  (http://bit.ly/XhpUfT )  Home remedies for fire ant control are dominating the internet. Learn what works and what doesn't. Learn about safe and effective techniques for fire ant management for home landscapes.   Hosted by ACES Regional Extension Agent Dani Carroll.

March 1, 2013.  Ants! Ants! Ants! (http://bit.ly/11bUix0) Tawny crazy ants and Argentine ants don't sting, but their large colonies are definitely annoying.  Learn how these ants live and how to control them.  Hosted by ACES Regional Extension Agent Bethany O’Rear.

April 5, 2013.  You Have Fire Ants Where? (http://bit.ly/VMNRdR) Targeted fire ant management in sensitive and challenging areas including vegetable gardens, fish ponds, compost piles and electrical boxes.  Hosted by ACES Regional Extension Agent Willie Datcher.

May 3, 2013.  Protect Your Loved Ones From Fire Ants (http://bit.ly/UyngQG) Learn safe, effective, research-based methods to protect your family and pets from fire ants.  Hosted by ACES Regional Extension Agent Charles Pinkston.

June 7, 2013. Get Rid of Those Bed Bugs (http://bit.ly/WII3RD) Learn how bed bugs live and get sound, research-based advice on how to get rid of them.  Hosted by ACES Regional Extension Agent Chris Becker.

First Wednesday of the Month Fall Series

September 4, 2013.  Fall - A Good Time to Control Fire Ants with Bait  (http://bit.ly/13g4hAb) Applying fire ant baits in the fall is an effective way to minimize fire ant problems in home lawns and other landscapes.  Learn how to get the most out of your fire ant bait and discuss community-wide fire ant management programs.  Hosted by ACES Regional Extension Agent Sallie Lee.

October 2, 2013. Home Invaders ( http://bit.ly/ZlTVLb) Every fall certain bugs come into our houses looking for a place to spend the winter. Learn what they are and how to evict them. Hosted by ACES Regional Extension Agent Ellen Huckabay.

November 6, 2013.  Keep Ants Off the Thanksgiving Table (http://bit.ly/UG74SV) Learn safe and effective ways to keep ants from invading your house.  Hosted by ACES Regional Extension Agent Mallory Kelley.

As the date for each webinar approaches, watch eXtension’s Don’t be Bugged Webinar Series page  (http://bit.ly/RfFOcy) for more information on that particular webinar.