What’s Bugging you? Wasps are bugging us!
During the fall, some species of stinging insects (ex: wasps) become more aggressive. They are preparing their queen for the winter, and are more protective near the hive. This aggravated behaviour is made worse as natural food sources, such as flowers and insects, are depleted with colder weather.
The Wasps are Hiding
Cedar trees and bushes seem to be a favourite for wasps, making it very hard to prune them, if we notice wasps around your trees and shrubs, we’ll have to put off the work until they’ve been eliminated.
Steps to safely remove wasps
We recommend that you call a professional to eliminate them, but you can also do it yourself if you’re so inspired.
Step 1: Protect yourself Step 2: Wait until nightfall (the colder the better, wasps have trouble flying when the temperature falls below 10° C) Step 3: Spray the nest with an insecticide that will kill instantly and has a long spray arc. Be stealthy and spray directly into the wasp hole. Step 4: Get out of the way, some may survive and be very angry! Step 5: Check the nest in a few days, if there’s no activity then you can remove the nest and dispose of it, otherwise, spray the nest again in 3 days and keep spraying every 3 days until the wasps are gone.
Learning Center: Leaf Sheep
Leaf sheep are one of the strangest kinds of animals on the planet. They look like a farm animal, act like a plant, and live in the sea! The little sea slugs are technically animals, but like plants, they get most of their energy from the sun.
When leaf sheep eat algae, they suck out the chloroplasts and incorporate them into their own bodies in a process called kleptoplasty. “This process, which otherwise can only be performed by single-celled organisms, essentially makes them solar-powered slugs!”
The funny little creatures have the face of a cow or sheep, but a back that looks like a house plant. They’re only about 5 mm long and can be found in shallow marine waters in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines.
How Can We Help Your Trees?
Ladybug Arborists specializes in tree care and providing educational information to our customers for the best long-term results. Please reach out if you want to talk trees.
