What are these craters?

These craters are built by the larvae of the antlion who is also known as a doodlebug. 

With huge claw-like jaws, the antlion sits partially submerged in the sand at the crater bottom and waits for an ant or other insect to fall in the trap.

These pits were found in the dry sandy soil of my barn overhang.

To see an excellent video of an antlion trapping its prey go to Wikipedia.

Japanese Beetles Decline in Numbers in North Carolina

Steve Frank, North Carolina Extension Entomologist, reports that severe droughts the past 3 years have resulted in fewer Japanese Beetles. The beetle depends on moist soil for keeping eggs viable and to allow burrowing of larvae.  Dry weather during this part of the life cycle results in fewer adult beetles.

I have destroyed many plants and trees because they attracted too many Japanese Beetles so I’m thrilled that nature is giving us a break from this pest.

Japanese Beetle eating a hibiscus bloom 

Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti Squash is fun to grow. I started my squash from seeds in late March and planted in the garden in May. Presently I have beautiful plants with hard-to-see green fruits. Last year, the spaghetti traveled like a pumpkin vine around the garden. This year, the fruits are directly under the plants. No fragile vines. I can only assume this is a different variety. 

The squash will be harvested when the color changes to yellow. I’ll post a recipe or two then.

Wildlife in the Garden

Bunny reclining in the clover.

Deer helping herself to Virginia Creeper.

Red-eyed Box Turtle.

Black snakes.

Wood lizard on statuary.

Red Daylilies

 

I have mostly all orange daylilies and a few yellows. For some reason, a plant surprised me last year with red flowers. After it finished blooming, I moved it to a more visible location so I could enjoy the unusual color.

It did not disappoint me this year. As shown above, there are beautiful red flowers on this plant.

 Yellow Daylily

Squash Times 2012

I picked the first squash today. It’s hard to believe the plants were put in the ground a mere 3 ½ weeks ago. 

The first squash bug made its appearance last week. Squash bugs will affect the xylem or water transporting part of the plant and lay eggs under the leaves. The plant will wilt and collapse. The best solution is a generous treatment with Sevin spray.

Refrain from harvesting for 3 days after the Sevin treatment. 

Squash Bug

Squash Bug eggs on underside of leaf

More on the attributes of squash…

All varieties are fast-growing and easy to cook. I started spaghetti and yellow squash seeds in a cold frame in late March (it was unseasonably warm). I can confess now that the yellow squash seeds were leftovers that I found in the potting shed. The spaghetti seeds were recently purchased.

An easy way to prepare yellow squash:

Slice into bite- size pieces, mix with diced onion, toss generously with olive oil, season,  and bake at 400 F for 30 minutes.