Allegheny mound ants often construct large nests that act as a solar harvester to heat the colony. The top of the mound is thatched with a ‘roof’, making it a formidable home. This species is reported in the United States and eastern Canada.

 

A few years ago, I was on an early morning hike in a local Ohio hardwood forest. Surrounded by gigantic sugar maples and stately beech, I felt like I was being hugged by friendly giants. As I continued to meander up the trail, I came across a tree I didn’t recognize. With a relatively short & stocky trunk, large, broadly spreading branches, and a distinctly corky bark, the tree appeared to be taking advantage of a large gap in the canopy. I ambled over for a closer look.

 

I was thrown...

On Tuesday, September 17, Farm Science Review's Gwynne Conservation Area is teaming up with the North American Pawpaw Growers Association to bring you a fun-filled day packed with informational talks and demos focused on Eating Wild! From growing pawpaws and native hops to foraging safety and toxic plant identification, you’re sure to leave equipped with new knowledge and skills.  And be sure to join us at the Cabin at Noon for a pawpaw pulp processing demo and pawpaw ice cream social!

Keep your eyes peeled for adult Wheel Bugs (Arilus cristatus, family Reduviidae) if you’re working among the branches of landscape trees and shrubs. The bugs are highly beneficial. They use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract the essence-of-insect from soft-bodied prey such as caterpillars and sawfly larvae. However, they may occasionally use their insecticidal equipment to deliver painful bites to people.

Few carnivorous insects can match the amazing acrobatics and brutal predatory proficiency of robber flies (family Asilidae) in their pursuit of prey. Adults of all species are predators and will attack a variety of insects; even "armed" prey like wasps.

Check out the latest Turf Team Times.

With recent cloudy and rainy weather, northern Ohio has seen an increase in the occurrence and pressure of the disease known as Downy Mildew (DM) of cucurbits.

This season, we’ve observed some expansion of the BTM hot spots. Whether this is due to natural spread, or the discovery of undetected infestations is not known. However, owing to BTM’s multiple generations, damage is rapidly ramping up to produce some dramatic impacts and questions about BTM management.

Whether you're a professional in horticulture, agriculture, or simply a passionate gardener, this workshop offers something for everyone. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to expand your knowledge and sharpen your diagnostic skills alongside experts in the field.

An unusual find of leaves of a common hackberry tree covered with a layer of honeydew and sooty mold was discovered in NW Ohio. Upon investigation, it was determined that the leaves were infested with mulberry whitefly and a woolly aphid which was the most likely culprit of producing the sticky mess.