Cary, NC

Cary, NC

If you are on the Gaston County area and need help with snakes reach out to Grover Cleveland Barfield he his GREAT

I very much worry about the essential oil so-called natural organic formulae in use now. The vendors claim they are safe, and maybe they are okay for hard-bodied adult insects but I suspect they may be 100% lethal to soft-bodied caterpillars. Can you comment on these formula with respect to this issue?

I am looking for the same answer on EO's

The active ingredient is usually cedar oil in combination with other oils like peppermint.

or press F5

(well F5 for Windows not sure if it is a Mac :)

What is the timeline for the cycle of life?

Any tips for how to attract bats to a backyard (I know houses need 6 hours of sun, 20 feet from trees, etc.)

How can I leave muddy water or small dish for bees without encouraging mosquitoes?

Good question - I have the same question for butterflies

I'll talk a little about bats, but here's a website with some good tips: https://www.batcon.org/bat-house-tips-tricks/

https://www.batcon.org/about-bats/bat-houses/

Can we get a review of the info about commercial applicators not being allowed to spray areas with blooming flowers?

If you change the water for your bees, butterflies every day the mosquito larvae can’t complete the metamorphosis :)

Patricia I keep bird baths in my garden for bees and just empty and refill them every couple of days to prevent problems with mosquitos.

Correct Monica- it is about staying ahead of the mosquito lifestyle so they don't have those few days to reproduce completely!

My neighbor has a service that sprays for mosquitos. Sometimes in the summer the service sprays (including blooming shrubs) and shortly afterwards, we may have a summer storm. This seems to defeat the purpose of spraying as well as carrying the pesticides into the storm drains. Is there any requirement regarding inclement weather and application?

also curious about neighbors commercial company spraying in trees above my blooming plants - how do we understand what they can and cannot do?

Thanks for the info on bats - I have visited the site before but not some of the pages you provided - I am working on putting up my 2nd bat house

I keep seeing posts about neonicotinoids being used on garden center plants, so they will kill pollinators for a little while after purchased/planted. Comments?

I have one rain barrel that is open. Rather than using dunks or any other chemicals, I got 2 gold fish and they have taken care of all the mosquitos for the last 2 years.

Do neonicotinoids affect the larvae of dragonflies?

are these insecticides non-selective? so affects all insects?

Do you feed the goldfish?

Aren't neonicotinoids and pyrethroids nontargeted, broad spectrum insecticides that kill beneficial insects as well as the targeted insect? On flowering and nonflowering plants.

From Sarah Hollis - NCWF - My best recommendation in the meantime is to avoid the box stores until data and regulation of these chemicals improves/exists. With nurseries you are more likely to have access to a professional or, better, the actual person who propagated the seeds and you can ask these questions. Plus they are gardeners themselves. The price is often a bit higher, but you pay for peace of mind and the safety of your resident wildlife.

NCWF is currently pushing for the passage of a bill on this subject: HB828. The Pollinator Protection Act. (Rep. Harrison, Setzer, Ager, Fisher; 7 cosponsors). This restricts the use of neonicotinoid pesticides in North Carolina to protect native pollinating populations except for some key uses. It is still in early stages and still under review how this may pertain to the sale of plants treated with neonics. Click the orange link above for some details about the nature of neonics and their impact.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2021/H828

What other insect larvae do mosquito dunks kill?

http://npic.orst.edu/

Is there a link for the stop light image for the toxicity to bees?

Where is Essential IC3 on the Bee toxicity traffic light?

Thank you Sydney! Very informative.

yes

I mean yes I can see the presentation :)

Can mosquito dunks be used in large water troughs or rain barrels that livestock drink from?

Toxicity to Bees Traffic Light: http://www.ncagr.gov/pollinators/documents/Bee%20Pesticide%20Risk%20Traffic%20Light%203-2-17.pdf

Are pollinator houses effective?

I am interested in mosquitoe control strategies that don't use toxic chemicals or impact beneficial pollinators. I've used dunkers in my little pond. I just got a dynatrap product that uses a LED light with fan and attractant that lures mosquitoes into an attached basin. Anyone know if these devices work, the best times to run it, and what other insects it might trap? I have lots of bushes and mosquitoes.

Bee hotels are pretty effective (mainly used by leafcutter bees and mason bees) but butterfly houses are not effective or rarely are from what I have read

Lots of great questions! I will try to get to a few of them on here.. Mosquito Dunks are advertised as being nontoxic to mammals, since I'm not a toxicologist I can't speak to the specifics.

Thanks Madison - wasn't sure about bees, heard the same thing about butterfly houses not being effective

Unfortunately, essential oils aren't listed on the traffic light so the Essential IC3 product isn't on there.

I second what Madison said. I would only add that they have to be well constructed because often times they don’t take into account the needs of mason and leaf-cutter bees. The tunnels in the bee hotels have to be 10 to 15cm long and diameter 2mm to 1cm. They also need to be easy to clean to avoid parasites so you need the ones that open up. Else you have to discard them every year.

The bug zappers that use a blue light as an attractant are USELESS. Mosquitoes aren’t attracted to the light but beneficial night-time pollinators are. So, bug zappers kill the good guys but not the bad guys.

Does a fountain help deter the mosquitos?

Also make sure any bee houses are sited properly and do not receive afternoon sun or everything will bake. Also think about how you manage your garden to provide natural nesting sites for these cavity nesters...so not cutting everything down in the fall once it's done blooming, but waiting until the spring to allow insects time to emerge.

Yes, they can't breed in moving water. I use water wigglers and solar bubblers.

Inexpensive, solar-powered pumps sit in bird bath and keep water moving and circulating through small filter.

In a small, enclosed space (screened porch), I have used a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol. The spray will kill individual mosquitoes - have to hunt them!

Surely dirt/sand would be a much more ecologically-friendly way to fill a tree hole - fewer chemicals to leach into the ground

please address the question re the essential oils- this the main reason I’m interested in this webinar

But many of our beautiful butterflies need that ground cover....

I used a fan outside on a hot day and it attracted biting flies who were able to fly through the fan breeze and bite me. I think that the fan sent my scent farther away and allowed them to find me.

Nona, they love the ground cover but would probably prefer native ground cover which doesn't get as thick as some of those non-native/invasive species!

https://xerces.org/publications/guidelines/how-to-help-your-community-create-effective-mosquito-management-plan

Agree with Carol Ann - I may have missed it - but are the essential oil treatments safe?

https://xerces.org/publications/fact-sheets/supporting-ecologically-sound-mosquito-management

Tara -- Yes. Native plants are wonderful and preferable. But isn't the point that we want to dry out the ground so the mosquitos can't breed?

How about the essential oil spray that places like Mosquito Joe’s offers?

We live in a wooded area and are planning a backyard wedding next June. What do you recommend for treatment for this one time event? We already employ fans and source control.

Thank you great talk :)

Thank you Gabriela!

so- WHICH- of the pesticides is the safest for bees, butterflies and caterpillers?

Thanks - great presentation

Will we be able to access this great information later?

Thank you, great information and resources shared!

How does garlic based sprays impact pollinators?

HI Sydney - my husband wants to hire Mosquito Joe’s to spray this, but I have two beehives and I’m concerned about anything that could possibly be toxic to them.

https://mosquitojoe.com/services/natural-treatments/#:~:text=What%20is%20it%3F,and%20fleas%20from%20your%20property.

I recently discovered and love the Murphy's Naturals products for personal repellents and incense cones

where do you buy the Murphy’s products, Sonia Estroff?

We used a natural garlic oil spray and seemed to work pretty well.

I ordered online but they are local in Raleigh. I bought one of their bundles to find which products I prefer.

Gabriela could you please repeat what nutrients bees get from the nectar and which from the pollen? Thank you

And what about high wind???

Is this the Murphy's being referenced? https://www.murphysnaturals.com/

The bee traffic light list said imidicloprid is a fungicide, but isn’t it an insecticide?

Rich, yes. I ordered directly from them since wanted them to get the profit vs 3rd party.

Thanks for all the great questions! Please feel free to reach out to us individually as well! Contact info again: Sydney.Ross@ncagr.gov and gabriela.garrison@ncwildlife.org

Sydney's email address to follow up with questions: sydney.ross@ncagr.gov

And gabriela.garrison@ncwildlife.org

Thank you!

None!!!!!

Thank you, Gavriela.

Thank you!

Thank you all so much!

Excellent session. Thank you and have a great afternoon with no bites!

thanks!

Blessings. Thank you.

Thank you

Thanks Sydney, Ganriela, Tara, and Debbie!

Thanks so much!

Thank you very much Gabriela, Tara, Debbi and Sydney!!

thank you!