Fruit From Washington - Beneficial Garden Insects

Fruit From Washington - Beneficial Insects

Fruit From Washington Beneficial and Helpful Predatory Insects And Other Garden Tips

If you don't have a natural affinity for creepy, crawly things, and you are a gardener, then it's time to get acquainted with some of your newest, best friends including ladybugs, lacewings, praying mantis, and yes, even spiders. You might be surprised by how much your plants improve when you encourage these voracious garden residents.

Garden Spider

Garden Spider
(Argiope aurantia)

Bumble bee on crocus flowers Beneficial Insects

Just because a bug is a bug, doesn't mean it is also a pest. In fact, rather than being pests, most insects are actually garden helpers. You don't want to destroy the best fighters in your garden army. Do not go around killing every bug you see. First ask the question, "Friend or foe?"

To increase the effectiveness of your garden fighting force you may need to get reinfocements. Beneficial insects can be purchased in huge numbers from good garden catalogs or home and garden stores. These include lace wings (in larvae form), praying mantis (in egg cases), predatory wasps such as the Trichogramma, and ladybugs (also called lady beetles).

Praying mantis on mullen stalk

Praying Mantis on a Mullen Stalk in September

Spider web on white rose

Spider hatch on pollinator bee block house

Spider hatch on a Pollinator Bee Block House

Besides encouraging the habitation of beneficial insects in your yard and garden, you also need to protect plants, including fruit trees, from the ravages of destructive pests

Apple Maggot can cause the fruit on an apple tree in a yard to be inedible and unsprayed trees pose a very serious threat to neighboring orchards. The primary host for Apple Maggots is Hawthorn and Apple trees although it is reported that Apple Maggots have been found in Crab Apples, Plums, Apricots, Pears, Cherries, and wild Rose Hips. A female Codling Moth can lay over 100 eggs on foliage or on the fruit itself. When the worms hatch they eat into the fruit and destroy it. Other pests and diseases of concern include Cherry Fruit Fly, San Jose Scale, Pear Psylla, Pandemis and Fire Blight.

To obtain copies of related Extension Bulletins contact Kittitas County Cooperative Extension Agency (507 Nanum St., Suite 2), Phone: (509) 962-7507. For more information on Apple Maggot see WSU Extension Bulletin 1928 “Protecting Backyard Apple Trees from Apple Maggot” http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb1928/EB1928.pdf

For more information from the Washington State Department of Agriculture, contact Mike Klaus (509) 225-2609. More information on taking care of fruit trees is available from the Cooperative Extension Agency - Washington State University, Chelan and Douglas Counties - http://www.co.chelan.wa.us/pc/pc8.htm

For more information on Pest Board Rules and Regulations, see Chapter 15.09 RCW HORTICULTURAL PEST AND DISEASE BOARD http://www.leg.wa.gov/rcw/index.cfm?fuseaction=chapter&chapter=15.09

How to Care for Your Backyard Apple Trees and Host Ornamentals to Protect them from Apple Maggot

The Kittitas County Pest Board reminds owners of horticultural property of their legal responsibility to properly care for and treat their fruit trees. If you have fruit trees or host ornamentals growing on your property, the commercial fruit growers in our county are asking for your cooperation in controlling destructive horticultural insects. Every landowner (including the city municipality) has a duty to control pests and diseases on private and public property under the Laws of the State of Washington. There are a multitude of destructive pests and diseases that could potentially attack fruit trees.

Two examples of pests that you should pay primary attention to on apple trees are Apple Maggot and Codling Moth. Before you plant any new fruit trees in your yard, or if you have any existing fruit trees on your property, be sure that you understand and are willing to accept the responsibilities that go along with owning them. You must be able to give them the special attention that they need throughout the year.

The sure way to control pests and diseases on your fruit trees is to spray them with insecticides and other products. This usually requires one early spray plus as many as eight or more cover sprays depending on what products you use.

If you do not have the equipment to do this you will need to hire a reputable pest control spray service. Tree or fruit removal is an additional option. If you do not take care to eradicate pests and diseases affecting fruit trees and host ornamentals that you own, they can spread to a neighbor’s backyard tree or travel to commercial orchards where they can cause serious economic damage.

In order to start your pest control program you need to spray on a regular schedule. You can obtain information on pesticides and timing of sprays from WSU Cooperative Extension Bulletin 1928 titled Protecting Backyard Apple Trees from Apple Maggot. Another option would be to simply not plant new trees and remove existing fruit trees to avoid the costs of purchasing special spray and equipment or having to pay a commercial pesticide applicator several times per season. If you do decide to plant or keep existing fruit trees on your property, be aware of your responsibilities of ownership and take care of your trees.

Sources of House Plans for Toads and Birds

The National Wildlife Federation offers tips on creating backyard or garden habitat for benefiicial creatures. We recommend a look at their helpful suggestions on how to create "a toad abode."

Bluebird House Plans

Build a Bluebird House

For More FruitFromWashington.com on Feeding Birds

Bird Treats by GardenArtisans

Plant Care and Gardening Guides

Blackspot and Mildew Spray • Composting • General Fertilizer Mixture • Manure Tea • Victory Gardens

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Page Update October 8, 2007