Pest Of The Year - What's Buggin' You?

[forester2]

Emerald Ash borer. Now in NYS and will eventually eliminate White Ash, one of our most important forest trees. The good news is that yesterday I was fortunate to witness the planting of the first geneticly modified disease resistant American Chestnuts. Kudos to the American Chestnut foundation and 21 years of research at NYS College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the hard work and generousity of many volunteers especially Herb Darling here in WNY.

 

[DocHeb]

Emerald Ash borer. Now in NYS and will eventually eliminate White Ash, one of our most important forest trees. The good news is that yesterday I was fortunate to witness the planting of the first geneticly modified disease resistant American Chestnuts. Kudos to the American Chestnut foundation and 21 years of research at NYS College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the hard work and generousity of many volunteers especially Herb Darling here in WNY.

See the link at Future of American Chestnut

 

[dave1949]

Emerald Ash borer. Now in NYS and will eventually eliminate White Ash, one of our most important forest trees. The good news is that yesterday I was fortunate to witness the planting of the first geneticly modified disease resistant American Chestnuts. Kudos to the American Chestnut foundation and 21 years of research at NYS College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the hard work and generousity of many volunteers especially Herb Darling here in WNY.

I hope the modified Amer. Chestnut can make a comeback. I know they have been planting a few trial plots around Maine of the early attempt/versions which were a cross between an Asian and Amer. Chestnut. This sounds more hopeful.

I hope the emerald ash borer stays away, but it could be a slim hope if we get several consecutive mild winters. That will be a real mess if it gets into our area. Ash is one the most prolific trees I have, both for growth rate and natural reseeding. We also have many campers/ATV/second home folks that come up from Mass. What are the odds it doesn't get transported one way or another? I would say poor.
Dave.

 

[Ray_Fort_White]

Gopher Tortoise - they're endangered and protected by the government. They dig large 30' long burrows in your yard and pastures. The older burrows collapse and make the ground uneven. Here I am with all these tasty recipes for turtle soup but don't want to go to jail.

Ground wasps too are a pain. They get really angry after the tractor and mower passes over their tiny home. I seem to get stung twice, on average, every time I mow. They sneak up and sting we on the back of my neck.

 

[joncro55]

I am just getting over a horrible chipmunk problem here in New Jersey.

These little pests were running into my garage and getting into the engine of my pick up. They were chewing all of the wires and for about 3 months now on and off I have had a ton of problems with the truck. I just bought some really fine wire mesh to cover some of the places on the truck where I have seen them enter and it has worked like a charm. I havent seen them near my garage at all now in a while.

I think wire cloth and wire mesh are hands down the best source of pest control. I bought mine here in New Jersey through these guys:

Belleville Wire Cloth Co., Inc - Woven Wire Mesh | Wire Cloth | Stainless Steel Wire Mesh | Wire Cloth Strainer

And they had the best price I had seen on the material I was looking for. Good Luck everyone.