What are those bugs in your milkweed garden? Are milkweed bugs ‘good’ or ‘bad’ bugs? Why are they only on milkweed? If you found long red and black bugs, then you probably found one of two types of milkweed bugs. There are two types of milkweed bugs: Large Milkweed Bug (LMB for short) and Small …
If you discovered a tiny cream-white egg on a milkweed leaf, then you have probably found a monarch butterfly egg. In about 4 days (or less), a caterpillar is going to hatch and soon, you will be watching the life cycle of the gorgeous monarch take place. Raising monarch caterpillars into butterflies is a surprisingly …
My caterpillar hasn’t been moving. What’s wrong? Is it dead? Should I move it to another leaf? Put something else in there? HELP! I’m frantic! I’m in a panic! Okay, it is time to relax! That’s right. Relax. Breathe. Chances are that your caterpillar is ready to molt. Shed its skin and change instars. It …
Ladybug larva has often been confused as a harmful pest, especially when spotted on a milkweed plant. Sometimes the furry ladybug caterpillar gets squished, thinking that it is dangerous to garden plants. Monarch eggs are distinctive from ladybug eggs. Monarch eggs are white in color and laid one at a time. Ladybug eggs, in contrast, …
Ladybugs are beetle members of the Coccinellidae family. There are thousands of species, and it’s easy to confuse the native ladybug with other beetle species. Like the Asian lady beetles and the Japanese beetle. Here’s how to tell them apart: Ladybug vs Asian lady beetle vs Japanese beetle. Asian lady beetles are a type of ladybug …
Even hornets aren’t immune to predation. Many animals and insects feed on hornets from all life stages (from larvae to adults). Here is what eats hornets. Hornets are popular food for many animals. Hornet predators include birds (scarlet tanagers, purple martins, caracara), flies (satellite flies, cannibalfly), and even other wasps (velvet ants, giant hornets). Mammals …
So you have some ants in your kitchen? Most ants aren’t harmful, but they are annoying. Using essential oil to repel ants is a natural and expensive method. Here’s what essential oils repel ants. The best essential oils for ants include cinnamon, lemongrass, clove, peppermint, thyme, patchouli, and cedarwood. Some of these repel ants, others …
If you’re having trouble with too many spiders, you can use essential oils. Essential oils are well known as effective bug repellents. But they don’t work the same on all spiders. And some essential oils don’t work at all. Here are the best essential oils for spiders. The best essential oils for spiders include peppermint, …
Nothing ruins a beautiful day on the patio more than someone getting stung by a wasp. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to scare the wasps away from your patio. In this guide, you’ll learn about the best plants to repel wasps. The best wasp repellent plants include simple flowers (geraniums, marigolds), herbs (mint, basil, …
If you are struggling to repel wasps from your home or garden, you know that this is no easy task. Driving wasps away is especially difficult if you want to do so in a natural manner. Fortunately, certain essential oils can help to repel wasps. The best essential oils to repel wasps include peppermint, clove, …