The Micro-Wasps categories: Micro-Wasps Pollinators Wasps last review date: 2025-09-12 10:15 Micro-wasps feeding on the nectar of a Mariposa LilyPhoto by: D.G. James Biology There are about 20 families that contain micro-wasps, barely visible, without a hand lens or microscope. There are many thousands of species of these micro-wasps and most of them utilize flowers […]
Ichneumonidae and Braconidae: Ichneumons and Braconids categories: Ichneumonidae and Braconidae Pollinators Wasps last review date: 2025-06-17 11:56 Ichneumon wasp (Trogus sp.) (Ichneumonidae)Photo by: D.G. James Biology This group of parasitic wasps comprises many species that target caterpillars, beetles and flies. The Ichneumonidae is the largest family of wasps with more than 24,000 species worldwide, and […]
Scoliidae: Scoliid Wasps categories: Pollinators Scoliidae Wasps last review date: 2025-06-17 11:57 A Scoliid wasp (likely Crioscolia alcione) feeding on nectar and pollen from buckwheat flowers (Eriogonum sp.)Photo by: Jane Abel Biology The family Scoliidae is composed of fairly large, stout-bodied wasps, usually brightly patterned in red and yellow or white, sometimes in combination with […]
Crabronidae: Square-headed wasps, Sand wasps categories: Crabronidae Pollinators Wasps last review date: 2025-06-17 12:01 Pacific Cicada Killer, Sphecius convallis, feeding on milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) flowersPhoto by: D.G. James Biology The Crabronidae is one of our most diverse wasp families, with over 1,200 species in the U.S. and almost 9,000 species worldwide. Most species are also […]
Sphecidae: Thread-waisted Wasps categories: Pollinators Sphecidae Wasps last review date: 2025-06-17 12:02 A sphecid wasp (Ammophila sp.) carrying caterpillar preyPhoto by: D.G. James Biology Sphecids are medium to large solitary digging wasps with about 54 species in our region. They are an extremely diverse group of hunters with great variation in body size and form. […]
Pompilidae: Spider Wasps categories: Pollinators Pompilidae Wasps last review date: 2025-06-17 12:04 A Spider wasp (Episyron sp.) subduing an Orb weaver spider for provisioning its nest.Photo by: Jane Abel Biology Spider wasps are a very diverse family with 300 species in North America. As their name suggests, they specialize in hunting for spiders and rarely […]
Chrysididae: Cuckoo Wasps categories: Chrysididae Pollinators Wasps last review date: 2025-06-17 12:05 Cuckoo wasp (Hedychrum sp.) on Desert Parsley (Lomatium sp.)Photo by: Jane Abel Biology Of the more than 200 species of Cuckoo wasps in North America, most occur in the west. Most species are metallic green, blue green or purple and superficially resemble green […]
Thynnidae: Flower Wasps categories: Pollinators Thynnidae Wasps last review date: 2025-06-17 12:10 Flower wasp: Myzinum sp. (Thynnidae) on RabbitbrushPhoto by: D.G. James Biology Flower wasps are a large family of solitary wasps whose larvae parasitize underground dwelling beetle larvae like scarabs. Most species are small and inconspicuous, but some may be up to an inch […]
Vespidae: Paper Wasps, Yellowjackets, Hornets and Potter Wasps categories: Pollinators Vespidae Wasps last review date: 2025-06-17 12:13 Introduced European paper wasp, Polistes dominula (Vespidae) on RabbitbrushPhoto by: D.G. James Biology Wasps in the family Vespidae are the most dominant generalist pollinators. The social vespid wasps are familiar to most home gardeners and despite their fearsome […]
Wasps: Introduction categories: Pollinators Wasps Wasps Intro last review date: 2025-06-17 12:26 A sphecid wasp foraging on Rabbitbrush, picking up pollen.Photo by: D.G. James Biology Closely related to bees, wasps are important pollinators although their importance varies between family, genera and species. Wasps are carnivorous during their development, only becoming avid sugar and carbohydrate seekers […]
Asparagus: Asparagus aphid categories: Asparagus Asparagus Insects Vegetables last review date: 2026-02-12 08:23 Aphid colony on leafPhoto by: A.L. Antonelli Biology Asparagus aphids are small (1⁄16″), powdery gray to gray-green insects. They may be winged or wingless. They feed in colonies on the ferns of asparagus and are typically found at the base of leaves. […]
Asparagus: Asparagus beetle categories: Asparagus Asparagus Insects Vegetables last review date: 2026-02-12 08:45 Spotted asparagus beetle adultPhotographer unknown. Biology Two species of beetles feed on asparagus. Both are about 1⁄4″ long. The asparagus beetle is blue-black, with yellow and red markings. The overwintering adult beetles feed on emerging spears in the spring, sometimes causing distortion […]
Asparagus: Cutworms and armyworms categories: Asparagus Asparagus Insects Vegetables last review date: 2026-02-12 09:04 Tan armyworm caterpillar Photo by: K. Grey Biology Cutworms and armyworms are the larvae of noctuid moths. These common moths are medium sized with fairly dull coloration. The gray to tan caterpillar are hairless, nocturnal, and generally spotted, striped, or otherwise […]
Beet, Chard: Damping-off categories: Beet, Chard Beet, Chard Diseases Vegetables last review date: 2026-02-27 11:14 Damping-off of cucumber seedlingsPhoto by: R.S. Byther Biology Damping-off is caused by fungi that remain in the soil for long periods of time. Infected seeds decay without germinating. Seedlings may be infected and fail to emerge from the soil. Emerged […]
Beet, Chard: Downy mildew categories: Beet, Chard Beet, Chard Diseases Vegetables last review date: 2026-02-27 11:19 Downy mildew on beet plantsOSU slide library Biology Downy mildew can infect any aboveground portion of beets and Swiss chard. The fungus can infect young cotyledon leaves, causing them to appear yellow, mildewed, and to curl downward. Larger leaves […]
Beet, Chard: Aphids categories: Beet, Chard Beet, Chard Insects Vegetables last review date: 2026-02-27 09:49 Aphid colony on leafPhoto by: A.L. Antonelli Biology Aphids are small, pear-shaped, soft-bodied insects. They may range in color from yellowish to dark green. Aphids typically feed on the underside of leaves, sucking sap from the plant tissues. Aphid feeding […]
Beet, Chard: Beet or spinach leafminer categories: Beet, Chard Beet, Chard Insects Vegetables last review date: 2026-02-27 11:06 Spinach leafminer damagePhoto by: A.L. Antonelli Biology The beet or spinach leafminer is the larva of a small (1⁄4″) gray fly with black hairs. Eggs are laid on the leaves of beets, chard, spinach, and weeds including […]
Bean: Bean aphids categories: Bean Bean Insects Vegetables last review date: 2026-02-16 02:59 Bean aphid on leafK. Grey Biology Bean aphids are small, pear-shaped, dark green to black insects. These soft-bodied insects often feed in clusters on the shoot tips and leaves of new growth. Severe infestations can result in curled or deformed leaves and […]
Bean: Bacterial blights categories: Bean Bean Diseases Vegetables last review date: 2026-02-16 02:43 Halo blight on green bean foliage C. Vanderstoep Biology Three distinct bacterial blights may affect beans in the area: halo blight (Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola), common bacterial blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli) bacterial brown-spot (Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae). Bacteria pathogens require an […]
Bean: Common and yellow mosaics categories: Bean Bean Diseases Vegetables last review date: 2026-02-16 03:30 Bean yellow mosaic virus symptomsR.S. Byther Biology Bean common mosaic and bean yellow mosaic are virus diseases typically transmitted by aphids. The bean common mosaic virus is also seed-transmitted. Typical symptoms of these virus infections include blue-green, green, or yellowish […]