New FactSheet - Native Trees: Creating Living Landscapes for Birds, Butterflies, Bees and Other Beneficials

Be sure to check out a new Ohio State University Extension's FactSheet entitled, Native Trees: Creating Living Landscape for Birds, Butterflies, Bees and Other Beneficials. This FactSheet can be found online on the Ohioline website at: https://ohioline.osu.edu/ Or, the direct link to the FactSheet is: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5815
Published on
Authors
Amy Stone

Roly-Poly Galls are Rolling Along

The ball-like Roly-Poly galls, produced under the direction of the gall wasp, Dryocosmus quercuspalustris (family Cynipidae), are one of the most unusual galls found on oaks in Ohio. The hollow galls are around 1/2" in diameter and reflect the colors of newly expanding leaves. Indeed, the gall-wasps hijack leaf tissue to form their galls.
Published on
Authors
Joe Boggs

Sticky, Dripping Maples

Late last week, I came across plantings of red maples (Acer rubrum) in a commercial landscape in southwest Ohio that were dripping sticky, sugary, honeydew; the calling card of phloem-sucking insects. A close look revealed the trees were festooned with Calico Scale (Eulecanium cerasorum) and European Fruit Lecanium (Parthenolecanium corni).
Published on
Authors
Joe Boggs

Miner Bees are Major Pollinators. So, Bee Nice.

The majority of bee species nest below ground with around 70% excavating their own nests. Indeed, nesting in the ground is considered the ancestral nesting behavior of all bees. Although there may be some “ground rules” regarding how we refer to these solitary bees, I’m never certain if we should call them, “ground-nesting,” “soil mining,” or something else.
Published on
Authors
Joe Boggs

Drooping Buckeye Leaves: It’s Not Freeze/Frost Damage

There have been numerous reports thus far this season of damage to trees and shrubs attributed to the deep diving temperatures that occurred in December during Christmas week. However, wilted, darkened buckeye (Aesculus glabra) leaves appearing randomly among healthy leaves isn’t winter injury; it’s the handiwork of the Buckeye Petiole Borer (Zeiraphera claypoleana, family Tortricidae).
Published on
Authors
Joe Boggs

Horned Oak Galls are Living Up to Their Common Name

The “horns” that give the Horned Oak Gall its common name are bursting to the surface in southwest Ohio. The horns make the galls look like a miniature version of a medieval martial arts weapon. The woody stem galls were formed under the direction of the gall-wasp, Callirhytis quercuscornigera (syn. Callirhytis cornigera (Family Cynipidae)).
Published on
Authors
Joe Boggs