Bugs by the Yard

Fleas are a common summertime pest, especially with those who have companion animals. This episode, we discuss how to identify and treat for fleas as well as the diseases they vector.

Logo by Natalie Cervantes

Music by Owen Des Bles

Peridomestic?! What's that? Peridomestic is when something lives in or around humans. So this episode, we're talking common cockroaches that you may run into inside or around your home: American, Smokybrown, Turkestan, and German.

Logo by Natalie Cervantes

Music by Owen DesBles

Have you seen these large reddish-brown ants? ...or maybe you have seen the colonies where they clear out vegetation? This episode we'll discuss how to identify these ants, their biology, and why you may want to leave them alone.

Logo by Natalie Cervantes

Music by Owen DesBles

AgriLife Learn Publication on red harvester ants

https://agrilifelearn.tamu.edu/s/product/red-harvester-ants/01t4x000004OUUtAAO

TPWD Horned Lizard Watch Report

https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/pwd_rp_w7000_1442/habitat/

Ant wiki information

https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Pogonomyrmex_barbatus

TPWD Texas Horned Lizard information

https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/thlizard

San Antonio Zoo horned lizard reintroduction program

https://sazoo.org/conservation/texas-horned-reintroduction-project/

Have you been seeing webbing covering branches in your trees and shrubs? If so, you may want to open the webbing and see if you have fall webworms. In this episode, we discuss how to identify webworms and possible management strategies.

Show notes:

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Fall Webworm Free Publication

Texas A&M Forest Service - Forest Health: Fall Webworm

Field Guide to Common Texas Insects - Fall Webworm

Logo by Natalie Cervantes

Music by Owen DesBles

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive beetle that is destructive to Ash trees in North America and can be found in Texas. Check out this episode to learn more about ways to prevent human-mediated spread, and steps you can take to protect your Ash trees.

Texas A&M Forest Service EAB webpages:

• https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/eab/
• EAB Information 1-pager
• Texas Tree Selector
• State Summary of Potential Impacts

EAB Hotline Number: 1-866-322-4512

Logo by Natalie Cervantes

Music by Owen DesBles

Insects communicate in a variety of ways using various types of cues. Listen to find out more about how it is done.

Check out this neat website on the "Songs of Insects":

https://songsofinsects.com/

Logo by Natalie Cervantes

Music by Owen DesBles

Saltmarsh and other hairy caterpillars are common across Texas this year.

Show notes:

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Saltmasrh Caterpillars

Logo by Natalie Cervantes

Music by Owen DesBles

This episode covers typical pest insects that may be found on roses.

Show notes:

Logo by Natalie Cervantes

Music by Owen DesBles

The group talks about what a honey bee swarm actually is and what it means to the colony and to the homeowner.

Texas Apiary Inspection Service list of bee removers - https://txbeeinspection.tamu.edu/bee-removal/

Bee Culture Magazine Article - https://www.beeculture.com/swarm-initiation-a-nurse-bee-hypothesis/#:~:text=This%20quorum%20of%20nurse%20bees,that%20initiates%20the%20swarming%20process.&text=In%20the%20Biology%20of%20the,to%20establish%20a%20new%20colony.

Logo by Natalie Cervantes

Music by Owen DesBles

2024 is a big year when it comes to periodical cicadas with TWO broods emerging in the United States. Illinois seems to be the place to be with both broods in the state and some areas with overlap. This episode will cover information on both periodical cicadas as well as the annual cicadas that we have in Texas.

Show notes:

University of Connecticut - The 2024 Periodical Cicada Emergence

US Forest Service - USDA

Logo by Natalie Cervantes

Music by Owen DesBles