Everything is in the details, including the genetics of plant crosses and plant disease susceptibility. Here is a tale of two Aesculus and their different genetics and susceptibility to Guignardia leaf blotch disease.

Insects belonging to the Hemipteran family Reduviidae are collectively known as “Assassin Bugs.” The family includes over 190 species in North America and they are all are meat eaters. The common name for the family clearly describes how these stealthy hunters make a living.

Annual Dog-Day Cicadas (Tibicen spp.; family Cicadidae) are starting to sing in southern Ohio. This means their nemesis, Cicada Killer Wasps (Sphecius speciosus), will soon be seen cruising woodlands and landscapes in search of their exclusive prey.

Flatid planthoppers (family Flatidae, order Hemiptera) are relatively small insects with the adults measuring no more than around 1/4" in length. The adults and immatures (nymphs) look nothing alike which can lead to identification issues with connecting one to the other.

Here is your link to the weekly video update (recorded on 06.28.2019) from the OSU Turfgrass Team. Updates are from Dr. David Shetlar, aka The Bug Doc; Dr. David Gardner; Dr. Ed Nangle; Dr. Pamela Sherratt (virtual); Joe Rimelspach; and Michael O'Keeffe this week.

The bladder-like galls produced the Sumac Gall Aphid are becoming evident on the leaflet midveins of its namesake host in southwest Ohio. They currently measure between around 1/4" to 1/2" in diameter and their size coupled with their light green color can make them difficult to detect.

Ailanthus Webworm caterpillars feed exclusively on the non-native, highly invasive, misleadingly named Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima, family Simaroubaceae). The webworms are the larval (caterpillar) stage of a beautiful ermine moth (Family Yponomeutidae). In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful moths found in Ohio.

I post a BYGL Alert each year about Dogbane Beetles because the beetle's light-blending artistry makes it one of the most beautiful beetles found in Ohio. Enjoying these shimmering living gems on their namesake host is the entomology equivalent to "stop and smell the roses."

Fruit cracking of sweet cherries is a problem this year in some areas of Ohio due to prolonged, excessive moisture.

First generation galls produced by the Cypress Twig Gall Midge Fly are nearing maturity and are very apparent on baldcypress in southwest Ohio. The spongy, snow-white galls are most commonly found on baldcypress where heavy galling may occur year-after-year on highly susceptible trees. Galls may also arise to a lesser degree on pond cypress.