The Loved & Hated Parsley Worm, Otherwise Known As The Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

Side view of the parsley worm (Black Swallowtail Caterpillar) With the first frost on the horizon, I went out for my final parsley harvest of the season - and much to my visual delight, I found two of these beautiful caterpillars resting on the stems of the plants. Turns out they are actually the Black Swallowtail Butterfly in caterpillar form, appropriately called the Parsley Worm. The caterpillars I photographed here are in their last stages of growth, shortly before starting their 9 to 11 day chrysalis stage. Frequently found resting & munching on parsley, they also enjoy the leaves of carrots, dill, celery & parsnips. Signs of their presence include chunks of leaves missing along the edges. While just a few of these caterpillars pose no major threat to your herbs, many of them can simultaneously eat your plants down to their nubs. Take action when 25% of your plant is damaged. Range map of the Black Swallowtail & a picture in butterfly stage. Eliminating parsley worms can be done by using chemical pesticides or picking them off by hand. However, do not use chemicals if you plan on eating your herbs or vegetables. In these cases, you must remove them physically by hand. Keep in mind that when threatened, these Parsley Worms reveal a forked snake-like small tongue. Though the tongue itself is not harmful, this gland emits a foul odor so you may want to consider handling these insects using gloves. Close up view of the head & neck area. If these little critters are doing no major harm, get up and close and enjoy your time with the beautiful Parsley Worm.

What To Do When Squash Bugs Attack Your Pumpkin Patch?

I am only growing one pumpkin plant this year, so it's imperative I take special care of it. Though it's been a little "slow out of the gate," it's shown good signs of life during the last week or so. Unfortunately that "life" is not just plant matter, but bugs ... big bugs ... I'm talking about the dreaded Squash Bug! In recent days I have seen & identified a few of these creatures, and today when I saw two sets of eggs - I had had enough. It's time for action. Though I'm 99% organic, the ONLY product I ever use is GardenTech's Sevin-5 Dust. I use this powder on rare occasions, like today (16-32 ounces seems to last me a year). According to the label, it's supposed to kill Squash Bugs (I'll post an addendum on this post later to let you know the results). Last evening I studied these bugs - as they relate to pumpkins - and am further devising a game plan to rid these monsters before they put a kibosh to my 2011 Halloween vegetation. So far about 80% of my plant is in good condition. Squash bug damage on a pumpkin plant leaf The most difficult garden pest? Many people consider the squash bug the most frustrating and difficult of all garden pests. For one, there appears to be no universal solution that works for everyone. Secondly, they overwinter extremely well and can return year after year (getting worse each growing season), making it sometimes impossible to ever successfully grow squash, pumpkins or other melons again. Like any pest that multiplies rapidly, early-season or early-plant-stage intervention appears to be the best defense against squash bug infestation & damage. Human versus Squash Bug Unfortunately, manual control may be your best & most effective remedy. Removing each bug by hand (one at a time) and crushing their eggs can help control your local squash bug population, but must be performed on a regular basis to be most effective. Since eggs take at least a week to hatch, egg detection can be performed once-a-week. Mulch and other debris must be kept to a minimum. Squash bugs love to hide, and removing any mulch or other garden debris left lying around keeps them from wanting to hang around. This "hiding" tendency amongst squash bugs can also be used to your advantage. Laying boards or wood around the base of your pumpkins makes a perfect overnight hangout for squash bugs. In the morning, flip the wood over, and you're likely to see many squash bugs huddled conveniently together, perfectly queued for mass extermination. Eggs (& Closeup) As Laid On Leaf Of a Pumpkin Plant The Bitter Truth - You May Need Chemical Intervention Organic methods of controlling the Squash Bug appear to be limited. Yes I found a few "folk remedies" by some wise old gardeners swearing upon their success, and Neem Oil seems to work for some. I did run across this website, which suggested the use of Diatomaceous earth/pyrethrins applications around the base of the plant (the website says it's allowable in Certified Organic vegetable production). If anyone else wants to try this, let me know of your results. If you're going to use insecticides, look for esfenvalerate, permethrin, or carbaryl as the main active ingredient and be sure to spray the under-side of the leaves, as this is where squash bugs do much of their damage. As I mentioned earlier in this article, I use Sevin-5 on rare occasions. Squash bugs are listed as one of 65+ bugs it's said to kill.

Product Review: Dalen Rotating Head Owl (Natural Pest Control)

Walmart webpage description: Dalen's Rotating Head Owl is a chemical-free pest control solution. The hand-painted owl stands 18" tall and is designed to protect gardens, decks, boats and docks from birds and other pests. The head bobbles and turns in gentle breezes. Reason for Buying: We have a terrible problem with grape & berry-eating birds within our community. Last year they devoured the majority of my grapes, strawberries, blackberries & raspberries. I was desperately looking for any alternative way to deter the theft of my fruit. MY REVIEW: Although this is an attractive piece of yard decor, I have two major beefs with this "lemon" -- mechanically, and its ability to deter birds. Mechanical: As advertised, the owl's head very gently spins with the smallest breeze -- for about two days anyway!  Soon I noticed its head no longer spinning, stuck slightly tilted in a sideways position. Upon inspection I noticed a small counterweight on the lower back portion of the head, and when moved slightly the head began spinning correctly again -- for about 2 hours! I have repeated these adjustments several times all with the same repeated result. Pest Control Effectiveness: None. Zero. Birds ignore it like it wasn't even there. Bird's brains may be small but they're not that stupid to differentiate a live owl from a fake plastic one. NOTE: It's possible that the mechanical issues I stated above could affect its ability to deter birds, but I seriously doubt it. Visual Appeal: The only good I have to say (keeping this from getting a failing grade), is that it's a somewhat aesthetically appealing owl. It's size and looks (from a distance anyway) are fairly accurate. It's also a sure conversation starter with strangers. OVERALL GRADE: D- Other observations: These owls come in two versions, one with the rotating head and a molded owl with a still head. If you'd still like to give this 'alternative pest control' solution a try, I'd recommend getting the still head version. It's also about 40% cheaper. NOTE: If I can't figure out a way to get this owl's head to continuously spin correctly, I will permanently glue or otherwise attach its head to the body and use it as a yard ornament.