Bug Colonies

[5ft Diva]

The other day I was pulling up weeds and came across a ton of potato bugs, ear wigs, ants and some sort of dark brown beetle. I don't know if they are good or bad. Can someone tell me if I need to "nuk" them or let them be, and if I should how? I hate to exterminate them if they're harmless.

[sunrisegirl]

I have heard on the news about the Japanese Beetle that we need to be worried about. I"m not sure exactly what it looks like but I know it's not just plain black. I think it has some yellow or white on it too. I've heard that they live in the ground under plants and then they eat everything that's green. I hope they don't come out here. We just barely put in our back yard and our first garden. I would cry!

[5ft Diva]

I know for sure that it is NOT the Japanese Beetle. I agree w/ you, it would be devastating to some of us if that were to happen, especially after all the grasshopper infestations we've had in the past.

[bookworm]

I'm pretty sure the potato bugs and ants won't hurt anything outside, but I believe earwigs are of the devil. I HATE them. They hurt my corn plants in Grantsville one year, but I haven't had them on tomatoes or flowers before, so I don't know if they hurt them. My hatred is deep-seeded from my childhood, and also because I got bitten by one once, and the summer Katie was born, my home in Gville was infested. I despise them.

Whew. That was cathartic!

We get slugs in our veggie garden- they are pretty wicked, too, but my sons like to salt them.

Here's looking forward to a low-bug year!!!

[5ft Diva]

Thanks for the info.

Salting slugs? I've never heard that one before.

I don't really like earwigs either - what did they do to your corn plants? I find them in my house sometimes and I hate it.

[bookworm]

The earwigs just got in the leaves and munched on the ears of corn- and were a nuisance when I went to pick corn ! We still ate most of it, just the tops were affected.

[5ft Diva]

Good to know. They sure are pesky little things aren't they?