Bats deserve a better reputation. They may be creepy or troublesome when they occupy our attics, but overall they're more pesticide than pest. Not only do they suppress disease-carrying flies and mosquitoes, but they also devour insects that plague our food supply — and without the side effects of synthetic pesticides. The flying mammals thus carry a lot of economic clout … [Read more...]
Stoep Harvest part 11: Companion planting
Many of our readers would have heard of the organic gardening technique ‘companion planting’. Some of you may be confidently planting according to this method; others may be hard and fast sceptics. I imagine there are also some readers who have never even heard of the concept. This final article in the Stoep Harvest series will explain the ideas behind companion planting and … [Read more...]
Stoep Harvest part 9: Pest control
This time on Stoep Harvest we look at pests. Pests come in all shapes and sizes. Large pests may include dogs, cats, birds, porcupines, monkeys, baboons, and even children and their sports equipment! Smaller pests include insects such as caterpillars and beetles. There are even microscopic pests such as nematodes and eelworm that cannot be seen by the naked eye but cause … [Read more...]
Alien bugs are more harmful than they seem
South Africa's regulating authorities need to improve their measures to prevent alien species which can become pests in the agricultural sector from crossing our borders and causing damage. 'The statistics for the past 12 years tell me that introductions of alien insects are taking place at an alarming rate, which points to deficiencies in the regulatory procedures and … [Read more...]
Fragile butterflies have nowhere to go
Anyone who has made their way along the Midlands Meander will know that it is represented by a butterfly. This little guy, known to entomologists as Orachrysopsariadne, is restricted to the Karkloof and Merrivale area because of its life cycle. Like most Lycaenids, its larval stage depends on specific plant and ant species. This fussy eater is extremely vulnerable to … [Read more...]
