No. 2/May 4, 2015
Noxious Weeds
The Illinois Noxious Weed Law, set into Illinois Administrative Code, lists 10 weeds that must be controlled on property owned or managed. These weeds have detrimental effects on public health, agricultural crop production, or animal production. This law is under the direction of the Director of the IL Department of Agriculture.
Exotic Weed Act
The Illinois Exotic Weed Act, also set into Illinois Administrative Code, is managed by the IL Department of Natural Resources. These non-native plants, when planted, will spread by seeds or vegetative propagules (rhizomes, bulbs, tubers, corms, etc.) and naturalize, degrading natural communities, reducing the value of fish or wildlife habitat, and threatening Illinois endangered or threatened species
What's That Yellow Weed in Bloom?
Not everything you see that's yellow this time of year is dandelion, or daffodils or forsythia for that matter. Some other species featuring vibrant shades of yellows are currently or soon will be prevalent in roadsides, fields, and gardens particularly in rural settings.
Modified Growing Degree Days (Base 50°F, March 1 through April 29)
Insect development is temperature dependent. We can use degree days to help predict insect emergence and activity. Home, Yard, and Garden readers can use the links below with the degree day accumulations above to determine what insect pests could be active in their area.
Illinois Invasive Awareness Month Symposium
Join us for the second annual Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month (ISAM) Symposium at the University of Illinois Extension office, in Champaign, IL on Thursday, May 28th from 9:30 am to 4 pm. It will be a great opportunity to learn more about what is happening on the invasive species front throughout Illinois.
Phomopsis Cankers
There are a number of species of Phomopsis fungi which cause cankers on a wide variety of hosts. The most common ornamental hosts include juniper, red cedar, Russian olive, and holly. The cankers usually begin as small, dead areas on the branches and shoots. As the disease progresses, the cankers coalesce until they girdle the branch. All tissue past that point will die, leading to tip blight and dieback.
Insecticides in Bedding Plants
There have been concerns about the use of neonicotinoid insecticides, particularly imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and dinotefuran, in bedding plants purchased at garden centers, and their effects on honey bees and other pollinating insects. Much of this interest was generated by a report by Friends of the Earth of analyses conducted on bedding plants being sold in garden centers in spring 2013 and published later that year.
Eastern Tent Caterpillar
Eastern tent caterpillar has hatched throughout Illinois. They are particularly numerous in southern Illinois, particularly along I-70. Removal of the tents at night or on cloudy days, or the application of an insecticide such as Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Dipel, Thuricide), is recommended at this time to prevent heavy defoliation.