Good night, sleep tight; don’t let the bed bugs bite
While this rhyme has been sung to loved ones since the 1880’s,
the nocturnal creatures it refers to have been feeding on sound sleepers since
the time of the pharaohs.
Sheltering in the nooks and crannies of baseboards, floorboards, or even along the seam of the mattress, bed bugs emerge at night to feed on unsuspecting dreamers. Lured by carbon dioxide and body heat, the little wingless vampires crawl along your body in search of uncovered skin to draw their weekly feast. Ten minutes later, engorged and sated, they return to the shelter of the box spring, or a loose flap of wallpaper, and digest. Take a Deep Look at these bloodsuckers if you dare.
Attack of the body snatchers
The prospect of being fed upon in the dead of night might
make your skin crawl, yet it is a far sight better than what can happen to a
tomato horn worm in broad daylight.
A teeny, tiny wasp – only an eighth of an inch long – will lay eggs just under the hornworm’s skin. The eggs hatch inside the caterpillar and start eating its insides while it’s still alive! Larvae chew their way to the outside and spin cocoons that look like white insect eggs along the hornworm’s back. Weakened, the hornworm soon dies, unleashing 50 or more wasps to parasitize other tomato-destroying caterpillars. Purdue University has produced a brief look at the “alien encounter” for your viewing displeasure.
Photos used with permission from the Galveston County Master Gardener Association
Superhero bugs to the rescue!
For everything that creeps and crawls, there is another
thing that stalks and eats it. Spiders are a formidable foe, ensnaring flies in
sticky webs, chasing down crickets, or ambushing ants.
Whatever the method, most spiders end the fight by injecting venom into their hapless prey through fangs at the end of their “jaws”. All spiders are on a liquid diet – that narrow waist makes it impossible for solid food to pass into their abdomen. Just like in Arachnophobia, these eight-legged predators must pump their prey full of enzymes to suck the resulting juices, leaving behind an empty husk. Fortunately, if you are not a fan of spiders, there are even spider-eating spiders such as the cunningly clever, Portia.
For more spectacularly spooky tales from the creepy crawly world of bugs, join us for Walk in the Woods, October 10, 2019. Registration is required for this FREE lecture. For more information or to register, visit the Walk in the Woods website here.
The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department has a packed schedule this fall with something for everyone. Always wanted to grow your own vegetables or interested in what it takes to compost in your own backyard? Curious about the fascinating world of bugs, bats and birds? If you have been looking to learn more about reducing your water usage, adding native plants to your yard, or you’re ready to recycle the odds and ends around the house, then read on.
Invasive Species Task Force Volunteer Training Saturday, August 10, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) 8801 Gosling Road
Learn how non-native plants are impacting our local ecosystem and what actions you can take to keep them at bay. Dr. Hans Landel from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center will provide training on the identification and removal of invasive plants and the critical functions of native vegetation. Trained volunteers will be able to join the ongoing effort to tackle invasives in our area.
Fall Organic Vegetable Gardening Class Saturday, August 24, 2019 from 9 a.m. to noon The Woodlands Emergency Training Center (16135 IH-45 South)
Beginning and veteran gardeners alike
will gain valuable information at this free, three-hour seminar. Learn about the
latest gardening trends, soil preparation, planting techniques and the best
plant varieties for the area. Join Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agents
Emeritus (retired) Tom LeRoy and Bill Adams as they share their many years of
vegetable gardening experience and expertise. Books authored by both Tom and
Bill will be available. Montgomery County Master Gardeners will be on hand to
answer your gardening questions.
Walk in the Woods Nature Lecture Series: Our Neighborhood Bats Thursday, September 12, 2019 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) 8801 Gosling Road
Join this FREE lecture series, led by Diana Foss from Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department. Diana will discuss habitats, behaviors and
threats to bats living in urban areas. Come learn the benefits bats provide to
The Woodlands and where you can observe bats year-round in the Houston area.
22nd Annual Woodlands Landscaping Solutions Saturday, September 28, 2019 from 9 a.m. to noon The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park
This event is FREE!
Don’t miss this year’s event at its new location—the
Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park. Learn from area gardening and
landscaping experts at over 30 booths. Shop the marketplace. Pick up FREE
plants at the Montgomery County Master Gardener’s pass-along plant booth. Take a composting class. Guest speaker Lauren
Simpson will present, “Gardening for Pollinators” and Tom LeRoy will
present on “Lawn Care”. Enjoy live music by Andy McCarthy, kids’ activities and
food vendors. See you there!
Smarter Choices Seminar: Healthy Landscapes = Healthy Waterways Saturday, October 5, 2019 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Woodlands Emergency Training Center (16135 IH-45 South)
Learn how simple steps can result in greener lawns and healthier waterways. Practical methods for maintaining your lawn and landscape, as well as alternatives to chemical use will be offered.
Walk in the Woods Nature Lecture Series: Vampires, Zombies and Body Snatchers Thursday, October 10, 2019 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) 8801 Gosling Road
Join this FREE lecture series led by Megan McNairn from The
Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department. Megan will dive into the
creepy crawly world of bugs where monsters come to life and ghoulish creatures
go bump in the night.
Pollinator Gardening Saturday, October 26, 2019 from 9 a.m. to noon The Woodlands Emergency Training Center (16135 IH-45 South)
Lauren
Simpson, area pollinator gardening expert, will share her experience of
creating her own suburban pollinator garden. Lauren will offer practical
gardening tips, pollinator information and simple home garden design
strategies. Pollinator gardening resources and research-based gardening
information will be available. Montgomery County Master Gardeners will
answer your gardening questions.
Backyard Composting Class Saturday, November 2, 2019 from 10 to 11 a.m. 8203 Millennium Forest Drive
Learn
how simple and easy it is to turn kitchen waste, yard trimmings and leaves into
rich, handmade compost. Try out the variety of composting tools and equipment.
Find out how compost benefits plants, gardens and lawns.
Our outdoor composting class is taught by
certified, experienced Montgomery County Master Gardeners. Composting
resources, problem-solving, trouble-shooting and tips are provided at each
class. High-quality collapsible compost bins are available for purchase at a
reduced price.
Free class. No registration required.
Drip Irrigation and Rainwater Harvesting Workshop Saturday, November 2, 2019 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Woodlands Emergency Training Center (16135 IH-45 South)
Save water, time and money. Hands-on training teaches you everything you need to know to set up a rainwater harvesting barrel in your yard and to convert automated sprinkler systems to water-efficient drip systems. Additional rainwater harvesting options, such as rain gardens, will be discussed. Sign up for this water-saving workshop today!
3R Bazaar at The Woodlands Farmers Market Saturday, November 9, 2019 from 8 a.m. to noon The Woodlands Farmers Market at Grogan’s Mill (7 Switchbud Place)
Walk in the Woods Nature Lectures Series: An Introduction to Birds of The Woodlands Thursday, November 14, 2019 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) 8801 Gosling Road
Join this FREE lectures series led by Alisa Kline from Buffalo Bayou Park. Explore the vital role that birds play in our community’s ecosystem. Alisa offers tools and techniques for observing birds and behaviors and the benefits of documenting observations through iNaturalist.
Backyard Composting Class Saturday, December 7, 2019 from 10 to 11 a.m. 8203 Millennium Forest Drive
Learn
how simple and easy it is to turn kitchen waste, yard trimmings and leaves into
rich, handmade compost. Try out the variety of composting tools and equipment.
Find out how compost benefits plants, gardens and lawns.
Our outdoor composting class is taught by
certified, experienced Montgomery County Master Gardeners. Composting
resources, problem-solving, trouble-shooting and tips are provided at each
class. High-quality collapsible compost bins are available for purchase at a
reduced price.
