St. Andrews Subdivision

Lawn Care

Fire Ants

Fire ants move from treated yards to untreated yards. A coordinated attack by neighbors works best. Baits are most effect in the Spring and early Summer. Check out http://msucares.com/insects/fireants/insecticides.html

Biting Black and Sand Flies

Simuliidae. Members of this family are small (1 to 5
mm) stout-bodied flies with a humpbacked appearance and
have been referred to as black flies, buffalo gnats, or turkey
gnats. The name “black fly” may be misleading because
color can vary from black to gray, and in some cases the
flies are yellow. The mouthparts in the female are blade-like
and piercing while those in the males are rudimentary.
These flies are active during the day, and their mere presence
can be annoying; however, the major damage is their
blood-feeding habit.
The black fly life cycle begins when eggs are deposited
on logs, rocks, or solid surfaces in flowing streams. Larvae
attach themselves to rocks or vegetation with a posterior
sucker. The length of the larval period varies depending on
the species and the larval environment. The adults, which
emerge after pupation, are strong fliers and may fly 7 to 10
miles from their breeding sites.
Ceratopogonidae. These are often referred to as
“punkies,” “no-see-ums” or “sand flies.” The adults are
small (1 to 5 mm) bloodsucking flies similar to the
Simuliids. The bite can be very irritating and one would
think that the bite was from a much larger insect. The irritation
resulting from the bite may last for several days.
Breeding sites can range from aquatic to semi-aquatic, and
in some situations, they will use soils that remain moist for
extended periods of time. These sites might include fresh
water (ponds, streams, tree holes, etc.), salt water, moist
“leaf mold,” plus other decaying vegetation. A common
species along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts is Culicoides
furens.
Management Guidelines for Simuliidae and
Ceratopogonidae. Chemical control around the home may
be accomplished with repellents or space sprays. The most
widely used repellent is DEET, which is available as a liquid,
aerosol, lotion, and cream. When applied properly to
the neck, face, arms, ankles, and other exposed skin surfaces,
DEET will provide protection from fly bites for 2 to
12 hours. If desired, old clothing may be sprayed with repellent
to provide added protection. Do not apply repellants to
eyes, lips, or other mucous membranes.
Space sprays may be used to kill flies present at the
time of treatment. The major advantage of space treatmentis quick application, immediate knockdown, and relatively
small amounts of materials required for treatment. Space
sprays are most effective indoors. Insecticide particles disperse
rapidly outdoors and may not kill many flies.

Mole crickets

We all love a lush, healthy lawn. It takes a lot of effort to get any lawn to a point of satisfaction and keeping it that way takes even more work. Sometimes, however, your lawn can become a battleground between you and a host of insects.

The mole cricket is one such insect that is all too familiar to many South Mississippians. This pesky insect feeds on grass roots, especially in areas with sandy soils along the Coast. Mole crickets definitely are not some of nature's most elegant insect specimens. Adults are odd-looking light brown crickets often tinged with a green color. The front legs are short, flat, and shaped like miniature shovels well equipped for digging up your yard. The immature insects, or nymphs, look the same. They are just much smaller. Both, however, feed on the grass roots.

Simply walking across your grass can tell you if you have an infestation. The sod will have an unusual fluffiness to it. Closer examination will reveal holes in the ground about the size of a pencil. Small burrowing trails and damaged roots can also be seen. Their burrows look like small mole runways.

There is an easy way to confirm the presence of mole crickets in your lawn. Mix about one ounce of dishwashing liquid to one gallon of water. Pour the sudsy liquid slowly over about four feet of the suspected area. If the critters are there, they will crawl to the surface.

The key to any management program is scouting for the insects early in the year. Waiting too long to begin treatment will only cause mole cricket numbers to be too high to handle effectively.

Mole crickets can be controlled using an insecticide containing the active ingredient acephate. It is important NOT to water the treated area for at least 24 hours after application. Read and follow any pesticide label carefully.

Remember, now is the time to begin scouting your lawn and garden for insect and disease problems. The earlier you can get a handle on a disease or insect problem, the happier you will be.

Coast resident Chance McDavid is an avid gardener, weekly newspaper columnist and Area Extension Enterprise and Community Resource Development Agent.

Links

Mississippi State Extension Services
Leaf composting guides
The Trolling Dearfly Trap
More on Dealing with Yellow and Deer Flies