GreenMethods.com
Archived Bug Blog Entries

The design is brilliant. Nearly impossible to replicate. And tampering with it, well that’s just plain dangerous. The names have been made up, but the activity goes on and on. In the garden, the greenhouse, the field, everywhere. She’s workin’ hard.

Creeping along silently, the spotted plant bug nymph crept closer to the garden rows. Sensing the air, tasting his way to the goodness of the garden, the plant bug moved in for the kill.

Continue reading “The Garden Wilds” »

It’s March in Lodi, California (elevation 52 ft.) and the well-mated matriarch ladybugs from last year are busy feeding and laying eggs. It is here that our story begins.

Two of a large cluster of orange, football-shaped eggs begin to hatch. The tearing and ripping and stretching of the egg cases looks terribly painful and undeniably laborious but it isn’t. It’s just a-day-in-the-life for ladybug larvae. Two tiny little larvae-call them Jeanne and Mary-complete their hatching struggle and venture forth with only each other for support. At this point they’re very small and mostly black in color. And very hungry. Both young ladies are mostly defenseless and uncertainty creeps into their heads. It is quickly discovered, though, that the Lodi farmer’s field where they begin their lives-the one next door to a large packing plant-yields food for our two newborns: aphids. Mary notices them first and begins her voracious feeding. Jeanne, curious, waddles over to Mary and joins her.

Continue reading “California Girls” »

Narrator:

A group of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri beetles are being transported by a common courier to an interiorscape firm for release in a bank’s interior plantscape. The beetles are not yet happy about this turn of events in their lives.

Continue reading “Who’s Ojectionable?” »

Norman was small for his age. This didn’t bother him, though. Norman was as tough as nails and ready for anything. And, as Norman would soon discover, his anything was just around the corner. But before I get into that, let’s back up a little.

Norman was a parasitic nematode. As a member in good standing of the Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Clan or Hb Clan for short, Norman was automatically given due respect in his neighborhood (or ‘hood as Norman used to say). The Hb Clan was well known for it members’ agility, strength and versatility. The Hbs all wore tough leather-like jackets; and all were Fonzi-cool.

Continue reading “Norman Comes of Age” »

The grower added water to his sphagnum peat-based soilless media, unaware that the water was giving life to more than just his transplants. Deep within the pots, life of a different kind was forming.

As the invigorating water splashed down upon her, she could feel its life-giving magic going to work. From an egg, through a complete metamorphosis, Gnatasha became, at last, a full-fledged larva.

Continue reading “The Adventures of Gnatasha and Lindy” »

I’m a little parasitic wasp. If you want to get technical about it, my Latin name is Encarsia formosa; most of my friends, though, just call me Encarsia. You may have heard of me. I’m an interesting gal who’s had an interesting life and I’ve much to share. So where do I begin? I know, let’s start with my childhood.

I grew up in the South-side of the greenhouse. It was a pretty rough neighborhood, but I managed. Between us wasps, the ants, and those whiteflies, a day didn’t pass without something foul goin’ down. It all began with my ma, a bench-wise woman of the crops who abandoned me at birth. I still love her, all the same. I don’t know why I defend her, what with leaving me and all. I guess I’m just the sentimental type. It had happened to all my girlfriends as well so we could all relate. Their support and understanding has made me feel sorry for ma — instead of being cold and angry.

Continue reading “Growing Up with Bob” »