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Insects

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September 13, 2023 - Filed Under: Insects, Insect Identification, Lawn and Garden, Plants and Wildlife, Smart Landscapes, Places for Wildlife, Natural Resources

PICAYUNE, Miss. -- School groups, nature enthusiasts and the public can enjoy two fun-filled days of exciting, hands-on learning about the environment, ecosystems, wildlife and insects at the Mississippi State University Crosby Arboretum in Picayune. BugFest offers insect-related displays, interactive exhibits, games and crafts. Biologists, naturalists, entomologists and other experts from Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama will host booths and give presentations on butterflies, bats, caterpillars, beetles, crayfish, ladybugs, hissing cockroaches, dancing praying mantises, native and exotic arthropods and more.

August 28, 2023 - Filed Under: Pesticide Applicator Certification, Insects, Insects-Pests

MISSISSIPPI STATE , Miss. -- A Mississippi State University Extension Service specialist has been elected to the executive board of the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators. Gene Merkl, program manager for pesticide safety education for the state of Mississippi, will serve as president-elect for the nationwide organization. His service on the board is a three-year commitment.

A dog sits in a swimming pool
Horseflies can be a nuisance to people and pets in the summertime. (Photo by CanStock, Inc./imagoz)
July 24, 2023 - Filed Under: Insects, Lawn and Garden, Insects-Pests

If you’ve ever had an encounter with a horsefly, you know they are annoying. If you’ve ever been bitten by one, you know it hurts! So, how can you keep these pesky critters from spoiling your outdoor summer fun? The answer probably isn’t what you want to hear. 

Bats on a tree limb
Bats may look spooky to some, but they perform critical tasks in the environment that help humans, including pollinating plants, distributing seeds, and controlling insect pests.
October 25, 2022 - Filed Under: Insects, Natural Resources, Wildlife, Urban and Backyard Wildlife

Bats have long been associated with Halloween, and this has fostered many myths about them. They may look spooky to some, but they perform critical tasks in the environment that help humans. The 1,400 species that are spread across six different continents serve an important purpose in our ecosystem. They pollinate plants, distribute seeds, and control insect pests, including mosquitoes. Fifteen different species of these small mammals live in Mississippi.

Campfire
Firewood can carry invasive pests and diseases. To avoid spreading these to uninfected areas, you should not move firewood over long distances.
October 6, 2022 - Filed Under: Insects, Insects-Pests, Forestry, Forest Management, Forest Pests

Fall is the perfect time to enjoy fire pits and camping trips! Firewood is a necessity for both activities, so it’s important to know how to properly collect and manage it. Be sure to get your firewood within 50 miles of where you will burn it whether that’s in your backyard or at a campground several miles from home.

Success Stories

Steven Bell stands beside a truck housing a mosquito sprayer.
Insects, Insects-Pests
Volume 5 Number 3

When most people think of mosquito control, they envision a large chemical tank in the bed of a pickup truck.

Spraying chemicals is actually the last resort in integrated pest management (IPM), a scientific process of preventing invasive insects from reaching adulthood. IPM uses environmentally responsible alternatives, such as habitat removal, structural barriers, and larval control, before using sampling and resistance management to determine treatment plans for adult mosquitoes.

Nine men and women stand in front of a metal building.
Insects, Termites, Lawn and Garden, Insects-Pests
Volume 5 Number 2

A dream of the Mississippi Pest Control Association and the Mississippi State University Extension Service is coming true after more than 20 years, thanks to a generous donation by one of Mississippi’s oldest pest-control companies.

A young boy wearing a Mississippi State t-shirt holds a butterfly-like insect out toward the camera.
4-H, Insects
Volume 5 Number 1

Bug Camp is not a place for kids who are afraid of bugs, warns Ryals Strider.

A white sign with dark green lettering reads, “Monarch Waystation: This site provides milkweeds, nectar sources, and shelter needed to sustain monarch butterflies as they migrate through North America. Certified and registered by Monarch Watch as an official Monarch Waystation. Create, Conserve, & Protect Monarch Habitats.”
Wildlife Youth Education, About Extension, Master Gardener, Insects, Lawn and Garden, Flower Gardens, Herb Gardens, Places for Wildlife, The Story of Plants and People, Vegetable Gardens, Urban and Community Forestry, Urban and Backyard Wildlife, Wildlife Economics and Enterprises
Volume 4 Number 2

See what's new in Extension: a new monarch garden, a storytelling series will begin, the Garden Expo highlights Extension education, and Keep America Beautiful recognizes MSU Extension.

Watch

Insectiicide Applications - MSU Extension Service
Wednesday, May 3, 2017 - 4:45pm
Fire Ant Control - MSU Extension Service
Tuesday, April 25, 2017 - 1:45pm
Mulch and Termites - MSU Extension Service
Monday, April 24, 2017 - 11:45am
Farmweek August 19, 2016
Thursday, August 18, 2016 - 7:00pm
Pantry Pest March 8, 2015
Saturday, March 7, 2015 - 6:00pm

Listen

Friday, December 27, 2019 - 7:00am
Monday, December 2, 2019 - 7:00am
Tuesday, November 19, 2019 - 7:00am
Tuesday, October 15, 2019 - 7:00am
Tuesday, August 20, 2019 - 7:15am

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Portrait of Dr. Blake Layton, Jr.
Extension Professor