A Stab of Stink

Could this truly be "The Year of the Stinkbug"?

Someone at last meeting made the declaration and described them as a black and red, shield-shaped beetle. Yep, they do seem to be everywhere!

Here are some on my Cranesbill geranium (making more beetles...).

Question: Are they a problem and why are there so many?

A quick search for stinkbug comes up with a number of brown beetles. But, Iowa State University's Bugguide.net helped me identify it: Cosmopepla lintneriana is also known as the "Wee Harlequin Bug" or "Twice-Stabbed Stink bug".  


Local gardener bloggers have written about them and given some good advice:


1. Once-Edmonton-resident, The Home Bug Gardener, has beautiful high resolution photos including newly hatched beetles and nymphs.  He also states "it is a host generalist, but feeds almost entirely on seeds. So, finding them on your peas is not good, but on your garden flowers, not so bad."

2. Shirley's recent post suggests our relatively mild winter may be one reason why there are so many. 

3. Rob Sproule's "Stink Bus" article is short and to the point on how to limit damage and control.

Both Shirley and Rob Sproule mention they can likely be controlled with non-pesticide means.  They also apparently bite!  And, of course, stink.

Conclusion: As they only seem to be bugging my perennial flowers, I'm going to let them be.

Are they a problem for you? 

PSA:(That Rotten) Apple-Maggot

Almost every one of our speakers in the past 12 months has mentioned a rising pest in the city: The Apple Maggot.  One has gone so far to say he's not interested in growing apples because of the likelihood of infestation.

Adult Apple Maggot Fly from Planet Natural

So, what is a gardener who loves apples to do?

Planet Natural's "Apple Maggot", Rob Sproule's "Apple Maggots 101", and University of Minnesota's "Apple Maggot: IPM for home growers" all have plenty of information about this insect and have devised approaches to manage it by interrupting its life cycle.

Tips include:

1. Set up apple maggot traps right after bloom time - trap the adults before they lay eggs on the apple fruit

2. Clean up apples right when they fall and do not compost them - prevents the pupae from leaving the apples, overwintering, and becoming adults.

Do these and convince your neighbours to the same, and we'll all get fewer of these:

Apple Maggot in Apple from Planet Natural 

Scarlet Lily Beetle Sighted!

Alas!  The Scarlet Lily Beetle is back to strike again!

At the May meeting, Audrey bemoaned the pests' damage to her lovely martagon lilies and Erica had to sing a requiem for her oriental hybrid.  They found these beasties to be fast, flipping and falling on the backs so their dark bellies blended with the dirt.  

Here's a reminder of what they look like and what to do from our article last year Pest Alert: Scarlet Lily Beetle: 

The Scarlet Lily Beetle has reared its black head (on bright red body) in Edmonton.

At last night's meeting, Margaret brought this to our attention and shared a pamphlet on this voracious pest. 

It's here in Edmonton, but hasn't been listed on The City of Edmonton's Pest Management - Insect Identification & Advice site.  The City of Calgary, however, has identified it as a common insect pest that is high risk.

Photos from the City of Calgary's site show it at different stage of its life cycle:

Adult lily beetle on lily flower.

Lily beetle larvae on underside of leaf. 

Lily beetle eggs on underside of leaf.

Wikipedia indicates there are no natural predators or parasites for the Scarlet Lily Beetle in North America.  Until pesticides that are also safe for bees and other insects are developed, crushing the beetle (at all stages) or hand-picking and drowning the adults are perhaps the best choice for population control. 

Stay vigilante and may your lilies bloom bright!

For more information and links to other resources visit The City of Calgary's "red lily beetle" site, Lily Leaf Beetle Tracker, and Alberta Regional Lily Society.  

Give Bad Bugs the Boot

or How I Learned to love my Fairy Ring! 


Lorraine Taylor, Horticulturalist and Conservation Coordinator with the County of La Ste.Anne, talked to us about smart approaches to dealing with pests -- how to avoid, how to combat, and how to manage expectations. The latter being: While there are many pests, they can be insufferable or tolerable. 

As she clicked through a slide presentation of photos that showed pests and pest damage, she spoke of "smart ways to figuring out the problem".  The primary problem.  Her example was moss growing in the grass.  Before piling on chemicals to try and get rid of the moss, she suggested going deeper, considering is it too shady, the wrong pH, or the soil too compact for grass to happily grow?  To "step back and look at the big picture" and to ask questions. Finally then deciding if the damage warrants control. 



She gave a special thanks to Doug Macaulay, answered our questions and shared some stories.  She reminded us the richness and perils of internet searches (the most exotic may show up in searches, your bug is likely something more common). 

As for Edmonton next year, she predicts we'll likely see more: 
- Forest Tent Caterpillars
- Aphids 
- Apple Maggots

Unfortunately, we ran out of time to see all the specimens she brought for us.  But she did leave us with some principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and a list of resources. 

Thank you, Lorraine Taylor! 

Pest Alert: Scarlet Lily Beetle

The Scarlet Lily Beetle has reared its black head (on bright red body) in Edmonton.

At last night's meeting, Margaret brought this to our attention and shared a pamphlet on this voracious pest. 

It's here in Edmonton, but hasn't been listed on The City of Edmonton's Pest Management - Insect Identification & Advice site.  The City of Calgary, however, has identified it as a common insect pest that is high risk. 

Photos from the City of Calgary's site show it at different stage of its life cycle:

Adult lily beetle on lily flower.

Lily beetle larvae on underside of leaf.

Lily beetle eggs on underside of leaf.

Wikipedia indicates there are no natural predators or parasites for the Scarlet Lily Beetle in North America.  Until pesticides that are also safe for bees and other insects are developed, crushing the beetle (at all stages) or hand-picking and drowning the adults are perhaps the best choice for population control. 

Stay vigilante and may your lilies bloom bright!

For more information and links to other resources visit The City of Calgary's "red lily beetle" site, Lily Leaf Beetle Tracker and Alberta Regional Lily Society.