Backyard Orchard News
Where the Bees Are
Do you now where the bees are? On Thursday, May 8 let's all step outside for three minutes...
Honey bees clustering on pomegranate blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Like a Moth to a Flame
Moths. Mother's Day. The two go together like a moth to a flame, so why not have "Moth-er's...
A white-lined Sphinx moth heads for a flower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Side view of a white-lined Sphinx moth. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The Atlas moth (Attacus atlas) is considered the largest moth in the world. Its wingspans can reach over 10 inches long and it holds the record for the largest wing area (62 square inches). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The Lurking Place of the Fairies
Foxgloves are called "the lurking place of the fairies." That could be. Foxgloves are also known...
A Valley carpenter bee appears to be "nectar-robbing," drilling a hole through the flower instead of going into the entrance. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee seeks an entrance into the foxglove. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Look here! An earwig has found a "hidey hole." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
How Tall Is It?
We have this tall plant in our back yard. How tall is it? Tall enough to give weather forecasts....
Honey bee packing a load of blue pollen heading for the tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Young honey bee seeking another blossom on the tower of jewels. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
California Red Scale Crawlers on the Move
California red scale crawlers emerge about 550 degree days (biofix in March, lower developmental threshold of 53oF) after the first flight of males. As you can see on the CRS degree day web page, Kern county passed that point last week, Tulare County crawlers are emerging this week and Fresno scale crawlers are soon to emerge. The first or second crawler generations are the best times to treat with most insecticides, because crawlers are most sensitive at this stage.
See the UC IPM Guidelines for Citrus for more information on treatments.
CRS degree day accumulation for Tulare County