Re: water bugs

Doreen --

I've never heard of anything called "water bug" that would be crawling
around in the garden, not living in the water, so I can't help you there.
 Might I ask, though, why you've decided that they must be eradicated? 
Have you seen them eating anything, or seen the results of their
feasting, or what?  If there's no indication that they're actually doing
any harm, there's really no reason to kill them, is there?

Sorry, but I get edgy at the immediate response of "How do I kill it?"
whenever someone sees an insect or similar creature.  

Dean Sliger
Warren, Michigan, USA
Zone 6B


On Wed, 26 Jul 2000 20:31:59 -0700 Doreen Knihnicky
<knihnick@mail.med.upenn.edu> writes:
> 
> I just moved to a new placed and when I out to my garden after dark 
> what a
> horrible site,water bugs EVERYWHERE. they looked like they were 
> having a
> convention. Can anyone suggest something. I don't like to use 
> chemicals but
> the site of them made me want to going after  the most toxic poison 
> out
> there. a friend suggested boric acid. i haven't tried sprinkling 
> that
> because we have had a lot of rain for the past few days. someone 
> please
> help. And why do they call them water bugs. They look like big ugly 
> roaches
> to me.
> Doreen
> >For the last couple of years, underground critters have arrived in 
> my
> >garden.  We cannot tell for sure if they are pocket gophers or 
> moles,
> >both of whch seem to be in the area.  We bought two of those 
> underground
> >electronic repellers which send out beeps, but I dont think they 
> do
> >anything.
> >
> >My question:  I know they seem to prefer certain plants; a 
> neighbor
> >mentioned that tulips go fast.  I had some which were naturalizing
> >nicely, but they are mostly gone now.  Dianthus have a way of
> >disappearing overnight, leaves and all.  NOW, one of my tree 
> peonies is
> >shriveling.  I havent had the heart to pull it up yet to see what 
> the
> >roots look like, but it was very sudden, so that may be the 
> problem.
> >
> >Can anyone send me lists of plants (such as Dianthus, tulips, I 
> would
> >guess) that are particularly susceptible to underground pests?  I 
> was
> >planning to plant another peony this fall, but now I dont know if 
> I
> >should. I think that many plants could be at risk, but some seem 
> more
> >tasty than others. Any plant names would be helpful.
> >
> >Anelle
> >
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