Tag Archives: Pests

Those Lubber Grasshoppers Again

Posted on by rhondacarrier

They are back so I have started checking my garden each night for new clusters of lubber grasshoppers (Romalea microptera). The black nymphs are found in groups on leaves or darting in clusters on the ground. They look innocent now standing in their rows on the leaves but each will grow into an adult 6-8 cm (2 – 3 inches) in length. The adults many vary in color but the ones in my yard tend to be green with yellow markings. Apparently the striking colors are a warning to predators.

Their bright color pattern is a warning to predators that the lubber contains toxic substances. Indeed, there are several records attributing the demise of individual birds to failure to exercise caution when selecting prey items. Also small mammals such as opossums have been known to vomit violently after ingesting a lubber, and to remain ill for several hours. However, shrikes are reported to catch and kill lubbers.

Luckily, not all of the nymphs survive to become adults, but even a single adult can eat through a vegetable garden or flower bed. They are nasty – even if the adults are usually found just one at a time, so I continue my nightly check for new batches. View this University of Florida IFAS site for information about controlling the lubbers.

Eggplant Curry Coming Soon

Posted on by rhondacarrier

Eggplant flowerTonight we had dinner at TC Choy’s Asian Bistro on 301 South Howard Ave in Tampa. I tried the eggplant curry with “braised Chinese eggplants, bamboo shoots, wood- ear mushrooms in spicy sauce”. Delicious.

I’ll be making my own eggplant curry soon. My eggplants are starting to bloom, so we should have fully formed eggplants in a short time. Aren’t the flowers beautiful? I was worried a week ago when I found leafminers in some leaves but I was told that the eggplant would fully develop before the leafminers did any serious damage. The easiest control was simply to remove infected leaves, so the leafminer larvae didn’t develop into adult flies that would lay more eggs in the leaf tissue. That simple – and non-chemical – control method seems to have worked.

I have a new problem. Something is eating the new leaves and I have no idea what it is. There isn’t any sign of the lubber grasshoppers, so something smaller is eating the edges while I’m not looking. Hopefully the large, fully developed leaves will last long enough for the eggplant to develop.

I’ll keep an eye on them to see if this is developing into a problem that will stop the development of the eggplant. After all, we are waiting for eggplant curry.

Lubber Grasshoppers Abound

Posted on by rhondacarrier

Backyard They aren’t gone. They aren’t even close to being gone. I hadn’t seen lubber grasshoppers in several days — because I was looking in all the wrong places. I kept an eye on the new citrus trees and the lilies but today I saw a flicker of movement near the Italian cypress trees. When I looked closer, it was full of lubber grasshoppers. I wouldn’t have thought the small, sparse leaves would provide enough nourishment but then I’m not a grasshopper, so what do I know.

I sprayed pesticide and mashed and squished as many as I could see and reach. Then, as I was coming back to the deck, I realized the ferns were hopping with lubbers also. More spraying, mashing, squishing.

Supposedly they are good for the environment because the birds love to eat them. I’m trying to help the butterflies and know that the birds love the oak and magnolia but do I need to provide grasshoppers too? I’ve drawn the line and decided that I don’t. I don’t want my citrus and other plants devoured. I’m sorry to take a link out of the food chain but what to do?

Growing Lubber Grasshoppers

Posted on by rhondacarrier

My backyard is hopping with lubber grasshopper nymphs. Are these the ones I missed when I tried to capture them with my bucket of soapy water or have others moved in from the vacant lot next door? They are definitely a size larger than those I saw the other day, so if they are “my” grasshoppers, they have molted at least once since I last saw them. There wasn’t much I could do today except possibly engage in a vigorous grasshopper-stomping dance but I decided that was futile. They were mainly on some weeds in a corner, so I left them to happily munch away.

Florida Friendly Garden

Posted on by rhondacarrier

9 Principals of a Florida Friendly Yard

  1. Put the right plant in the right place.
  2. Water efficiently.
  3. Reduce storm water runoff.
  4. Use mulch.
  5. Recycle.
  6. User fertilizer appropriately.
  7. Provide for wildlife.
  8. Manage yard pests.
  9. Protect the waterfront.

My goal is to have a Florida friendly garden, but how am I doing?

I’m trying to put the right plants in the right place, but I’m just beginning to learn which plants are right for the soil type, shade/sun in my yard, and the climate of Florida. I have only put in a few plants so far, not enough to have made many mistakes. My front yard is mainly covered in mulch, and I haven’t done anything to the large empty back yard. Small palm sprouts are peeking through the ground, but I don’t want a yard full of volunteer palms, so I need a plan. I observe neighborhood gardens, talk to people, and watch when various plants are on sale at the garden centers to become more knowledgable about Florida friendly plants and environment.

I have an irrigation system, but the control panel was not working when we moved in and it is still not repaired. My goal is to establish plants that only need natural water. I have controlled watering so far using a hose for new plants that I have put in. I will probably install rain barrels to help manage water and runoff more efficiently.

I’m using mulch, but not the recommended organic mulch (pine bark, pine straw/needles, Eucalyptus, Malaleuca, recycled mulch, unfinished compost or Cypress) so I will have to reconsider my current products. (I found out later that the mulch is Eucalyptus and Cypress.) I don’t have a compost center set up yet either. I’m hoping to include worms in a composting system.

I follow directions for fertilizing the few plants that I have. I’m very concerned about excess fertilizer in the ground water, so I am being very careful not to use too much.

I am not providing for wildlife yet, although I have plans for a butterfly garden. I am trying to avoid using chemicals, so I am digging up those pesky weeds that were the only ground cover in the yard, but I haven’t had to manage any pests other than a few ants in the house.

My favorite Japanese gardens are over 800 years old and are still being modified and improved each year. I’ll take time to try to learn what I need to know to plan a successful Florida friendly garden.