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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 2011)
«voices ► Bugalicious OREGON'S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE BY LEA N N LO C H E R I’ve been walking through our garden wav ing a broom as I go. Spider webs and their owners are everywhere come late summer and into fall—gardens are busy places for these spinning ladies. I’ve come to expect them in August and September, but not everyone wel comes them as much as I do. Andl have to say, people who scream at the sight of a bug get on my last nerve. People, you do not need to have your yard sprayed at the first sight o f an insect. Unless you know what kind o f bug it is, it’s quite likely it’s a good one— the kind that eats the bad bugs— so let it be and take a few deep breaths. Just had to get that off my chest... Here’s the scoop on spiders: They’re arach nids, not insects. The creatures actively spin ning webs in my garden right now are most likely garden spiders, or orb weavers. They like to spin elaborate webs and often wait right in the center for their next victim— I mean, din ner. Hopefully it’s not my face, but even if I do walk into their webs unknowingly, they don’t bother me: I just like to make sure the little guy isn’t somewhere in my hair. They’re spinning like mad this time o f year, doing a little nesting as the females prepare to lay their eggs in the fall. So there are bugs who do damage in your garden, and there are bugs who eat those dam aging bugs. Our job is to know which are good and which are bad, and help to encourage the good ones to stick around. Here’s a primer. Good bugs in the garden: Ladybugs—They’re not just pretty, they’re also great eaters o f those dreaded aphids. The best way to promote ladybugs in your garden, as well as other beneficial insects, is to not use pesticides. Pesticides can’t tell the difference between pesky and beneficial insects and will simply kill them all. Once we stopped using pesticides in our garden, the ladybug hotline passed along the message there was a nice, big aphid buffet at our place and the ladies came with empty stomachs. You can buy ladybugs at garden centers, but there’s no guarantee they’ll stick around once you open that bag. Hoverflies— Often mistaken for bees, adult hoverflies fly more quickly (or hover) than bees, but their larvae like to eat aphids and scale insects. Munch, munch, munch: Should you see hoverflies, be a happy gardener. Green and Brown Lacewings— Both the larvae and adult lacewings prey on aphids, mealybugs and other small insects: bonus score! Lacewings are about a half-inch long with large, light green or brown wings and antennae. Plant to attract beneficial bugs. O SU ’s De partment of Horticulture has researched what plants attract predators to pests in Oregon. They include cilantro, yarrow, tansy, sweet alys- sum, spearmint, crimson clover and flowering buckwheat. In fact, if you have a bad case of aphids, planting cilantro and sweet alyssum can help to lure hoverflies. SEPTEMBER 2, 2011 Bugs: The Louse That Conquered Napoleons Army & Other Diabolical Insects did just that. “Good god,” “Oh my lord” and “Wow” could be heard as I turned the pages o f Amy Stewart’s latest jaunt with wicked things. (She’s also the author o f Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincolns Mother Csf Other Botanical Atrocities.) I’ve now been schooled in many a gross bug habit, in cluding the likes of the filth fly, death-watch beetle and the scabies mite. If their names make your skin crawl, their habits will really get you going, or fascinate you, especially when it comes to sex. Did you know a female praying mantid will often bite off the head o f the male she’s copulat ing with? Or that the male Australian golden orb-weaver spider can find himself unable to detangle from his mate and will break off a part o f his own sexual organ, leaving it inside the fe male? I can hear you from here: “Wow” is right. Besides the amazing sex stories o f bugs, the book is full o f gross-out tales perfect to share with your preteen niece, which is precisely what I did recently. Stewart has a wry voice and style, making this a great page-turner. I’m still a defender o f bugs, but this Wicked tome has me never wanting to come in contact with a Brazilian caterpillar. Ever. Never. Ever. JM L e A nn L o c h e r is an OSU Extension Master Gardener and gardens with plenty o f hugs and at Speaking of bad bugs, let’s talk Wicked least 2,412 spiders in her North Portland garden. Bugs. There aren’t many books that make me Read more about her explorations at lelonopo. mutter out loud as I read them, but Wicked com or connect at facebook.com/sassygardener. i------------------------------------------------------ .................................................. ......... ■ I t ’s EYES! 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