deer

QuestionStephen: Do you have any info on what varieties of flowers that deer will not eat? My wife is getting frustrated with replanting her flower garden with flowers that people say deer will not eat. Than

raccoons in a vaulted no access ceiling

QuestionHello, We moved into a home 20 years old in July of 2010. Early this year I heard noises like a creaking floor in the dining room. Always the same area. Approximately 2 wks. prior to Easter I smelled an awfu

Butterfly Bush Insects

QuestionMy Butterfly bush has the leaves all lacey. New this year. What can I use that will not harm the birds and butterflies? AnswerJean, There are a number of things that could cause this from insec

garden worm

QuestionI found a one inch long worm, hammer-headed, light brown with a black stripe running the lenght of it on its back. It also has a wider black ring around the neck(? behind the head). What have I found a

houseplant pests

Questioni think my ivy may have multiple pests. one i think may be silverfish.. they are shiny and barely visible to the eye. when i did finally spot them they moved quickly in the soil. although i havent seen any f

bathroom bug - can you identify

Question bug I am writing from Santa Barbara, CA. I moved my current apartment a few months ago. Today I noticed many tiny bugs in one of the bathrooms. These are ~1mm in length. Can you please help me identify them

red larvae( ?) in grass

QuestionWhile transplanting some flowers into a new garden, i dug up a huge mass (thousands) of tiny (1/2 the size of the head of a pin)dark red, round eggs. At least I think they are insect eggs. Any ideas? They we

English Holly Disease

QuestionMy two English Holly Bushes have developed small white powdery spores on the underside of the leaves. Some of the leaves have withered. Can you advise on the problem and advise a remedy. Thanks. AnswerJohn,

webs on trees

Questionhello i am in the UK recently i have seen two examples of what i can only describe as huge areas of webs on trees - example one was in the lake district on the back of skiddaw, a tree seemed to be moving fro

Insect problem - Kent, U.K.

QuestionHi there I hope you can help with what is becoming an increasingly annoying problem! We have recently had these flying insects invading our home. They look a lot like mosquitoes: same size, roughly same bod

Spruce insect pests

QuestionHello. I have 7 Colorado Blue Spruce in our yard about 1 1/2 hours north-east of Toronto, Ontario. The trees are approximately 6 feet tall now. They are all being attacked by some kind of caterp

cicada killer wasps

QuestionI live in the north central part of South Carolina. Every spring (May and June) we have these wasps to appear and they work largely in flower beds around the front door. They are a nuisance since they are bu

Catawba worm

QuestionRecently a Catawba worm landed on my neck. I immediately swiped it off but it left a very irritating rash. Is this normal? It happened last year on the other side of my neck. Are they poisonous? AnswerMelis

HIBISCUS PEST THAT BITE

QuestionTHIS IS THE 2ND YEAR THAT I HAVE PURCHASED HIBISCUS FLOWERS FROM SAMS CLUB AND ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR, AFTER THE FLOWERS STARTED TO BLOOM, WE HAVE GOTTEN A FLYING PEST IN OWN HOUSE,THATS NON VISIBLE, BUT THEY

insects that follow the light into your house

QuestionI live in SouthTexas. What is the name of the insect I try to describe here:it is about the size of a Mayfly,very dark black in color--often with 2-4 white spots on its body,has one leg that is bent wh

Worms in the trunk of lilac

QuestionI have lots of little holes in the trunk of my lilac and I am told they are worms & I need to get rid of them. I am in Ontario where pesticides are banned. How can I get rid of them? AnswerDawn,

garder snakes

QuestionDear Jack: Dont if you have any expertise on garder snakes but I am trying to find ways to eliminate or discourage garder snakes from coming into our yard. My wife is very afraid of snakes and we cant

pine sawyer beetle

QuestionMy wife and I were watching TV when this giant beetle comes strolling across our living room carpet. Im not afraid of bugs but this thing was huge! I trapped him in a glass and walked about a 1/4 mile down t

leaf galls

QuestionI have a maple infected with leaf galls, I want to replace it with a Japanese maple will it too become infected or can I treat the ground with something? thanks jo AnswerJo, There are lots of different thi

moles tunneling and in my shed

QuestionI have a huge hole, about 18 inches wide in front of my shed, and large sections of the shed have been scratched away. I saw the large animal, it wasnt a mole, but Im not sure what it was, going over t