No. 18/October 19, 2015

Last Issue for 2015
This is the last issue of the Home, Yard, and Garden Pest Newsletter for 2015. We plan to start 2016 issues around mid-April, depending on how early spring weather breaks, bringing diseases, weeds, and insect pests along with it. This issue includes an index of the articles written in the 18 issues of this year's newsletter.

Plant Clinic Fungi-tastic Season Wrap-Up
It's been an interesting year at the University of Illinois Plant Clinic! With the excessively wet spring and mild summer temperatures, 2015 could be called the Year of the Fungi. Bacterial and viral diseases were less common this year, probably due to the relative lack of heavy summer storms and the wet spring.

The Return of the Unwanted House Guest: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
The brown marmorated stink bug has been present in Illinois for quite some time (feel free to use the search engine on the Hone, Yard, and Garden Newsletter site to read more about them), but in recent years they are becoming much more noticeable in several areas of the state and a real nuisance as well.

Magnolia Scale
Magnolia scale is common this year in the northern half of Illinois and occurs sporadically in the rest of the state. Heavy populations and damage was noticeable in early summer when treatment was less effective than now.

Index 2015
An index to the pests and other topics addressed in the 2015 issues of the Home, Yard, and Garden Pest Newsletter.