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INSECTS SPECIAL EDITION
Dear gardening friends,

We hope you are enjoying summer's abundance - fresh garden-grown food, flowers, or simply a nice comfortable spot in the shade of your favorite tree. This is the time of year when we receive a lot of questions about insects -- the good and the bad (and the vast majority of them are good!). We're here to help you understand what you're finding in your landscapes, manage pests in ways that minimize risks to you and the environment, and find comfort in understanding what's normal and not harmful. Remember to visit our website and social media, Maryland Grows blog, and Ask Extension if you have questions.

Happy gardening!
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Insect ID
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How to Identify Skippers (and Other Butterflies) Using iNaturalist
Are you curious to know what butterflies and other insects are in your garden this month? Assistant Professor of Entomology Dr. Anahí Espíndola walks through an example of how you can use iNaturalist to find insect observations in Maryland. You can add your own observations too!

Moth-like insect
What is This Insect?
Does anybody know what this insect is? Our grandsons (6 and 8 yrs old) are budding entomologists.


Pest Patrol
Scales on crepemyrtle
New Pest of Crapemyrtles

Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (CMBS) is an exotic new pest first confirmed in Maryland in 2020. Feeding by this insect produces copious amounts of honeydew and sooty mold on its primary host plant: crapemyrtles. Other potential host plants are boxwood and fig.


Spotted lanternfly trap
How to Build a Spotted Lanternfly Circle Trap

Findings of invasive Spotted Lanternfly (except in Cecil and Harford counties) should be reported to the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Learn how you can build a circle trap to catch the nymphs and adults (both may be present at this time of year).

Caterpillar with parasitoid eggs
Biological Pest Control: Parasitoids
Parasitoids are "good ones" in our gardens. Learn about what they do and how their intriguing life cycles help us with pest control.
National Moth Week Recap
Moth flying near flower
National Moth Week is held annually during the last week of July. Read our recent blog post showcasing a few of Maryland's moths and the array of fascinating (and beautiful!) adaptations in their adult and caterpillar forms.

Fall Vegetable Gardening - What About Bugs?
Floating row cover
Once it gets cool outside, insect pests are less of a problem, but while it’s warm, your crops may be invaded. Cabbage family plants, for example, are great favorites of harlequin bugs and various caterpillars. The simplest way to deal with these pests is using row cover. The supports you set up can do multiple duty: lightweight row cover and shade cloth, and then a heavier row cover to take your vegetables into the winter.

Upcoming Free Seminars
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Grow It Eat It Garden: "Time for Tomatoes"
August 20, 2022 | 10-11 am
In-person | Baltimore County Agricultural Center

Discover how to select from the many varieties of tomatoes, their growing patterns, site selection, disease and pest management and fertilization for the best tomato yields in your home environment. Rain Plan: light rain in garden, heavy rain cancels this session.

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HUGELKULTUR for run-off management and soil enhancement
September 10, 2022 | 10-11 am Zoom + In-person | UME Calvert County Community Resources Building

Learn the basics of Hugelkultur, a type of raised bed using organic materials found onsite. This method of gardening improves soil fertility, water retention, soil warming, and can increase the surface area of your garden without increasing square footage.

GARDEN TIPS & TASKS


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