- Author: Lauren Fordyce
You've likely come across a bee, wasp, or hornet this summer. While these insects can cause painful stings, and allergic reactions for some, they are not usually aggressive. In the landscape, they can be beneficial by providing pollination to plants and, for some, preying on pest insects. And luckily for Californians, there is no need to fear the Asian giant hornet (now officially renamed to northern giant hornet), also known as the “murder hornet”, since this insect has not yet been found in the state.
While sometimes beneficial, these insects can also create nests in unfavorable locations and become a nuisance around picnics and...
- Author: Michael K Rust
- Editor: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
With the onset of warm weather and outdoor eating, expect an increase in yellowjacket activity (Figure 1). Your local retail nursery and garden center probably carries yellowjacket lure traps, and it's important to know if they work and how to use them. University of California, Riverside entomologists recently tested yellow lure traps (Figure 2) in picnic areas in parks in Southern California and demonstrated that proper use of traps can provide protection of local areas, such as eating areas, in many situations.
Traps don't eliminate large populations but can help reduce numbers of localized foraging workers. Lure traps contain a chemical that attracts yellowjackets into the traps, but the common lure in traps, heptyl...
