Outdoor nuisance links

Giant Hogweed

Grass Weeds Identification

Poisonous Plants Database

Proper Use of Insect Repellents

Weed identification from University of Missouri

Frequently Asked Questions

Look in the links above for a specific topic or scan the questions below. Questions are arranged by date so you may want to jump down to the month when you are experiencing trouble. Follow the links within the answers for a complete description of the insect/disease cycle and discussion on causes and control.

Carpenter Bees
Q. 6/11 I have large bees drilling holes in the side of my house. What are they?

A. Carpenter bees drill holes into wood to lay eggs. Larvae hatch and may attract woodpeckers, further damaging the house. Apply a hornet and wasp spray into the hole, fill holes with putty or filler, then treat wood with preservative or sealer. To repel carpenter bees, or to protect buildings that can not be painted, use an insecticide, such as permethrin, at structural rates. Read the label before purchase, use and disposal.

A. Ohio State has done some research on non-chemical sticky patches placed on the back of hats to trap Deer Flies. Deet can also be effective as a repellant but "should not be applied indiscriminately since human allergies can develop."

A. The only carnivorous plants that I am familiar with, pitcher plant and sun dew, grow in bogs and attract insects with a sweet nectar-like substance. Male mosquitoes are attracted to flowers but females, the ones that bite, are attracted to carbon dioxide. Mosquito's are best controlled by eliminating breeding habitat of the larvae. Dump out standing water from outdoor containers including cans, tires and tarps. Clean out gutters, stock fish in ponds, and change water in birdbaths weekly. In shallow ponds and ditches use mosquito "Dunk" larvicide available at local garden centers. Protect yourself and use insect repellents safely. Black light bug zappers do not help prevent mosquito problems. These devices generally kill more beneficial insects than pests. Newer "mosquito traps" designed by the CDC for monitoring, emit CO2.

Q. 9/8 Mosquitoes are breeding in my rain barrel. Is there anything that I can use and still use the water to water my garden?

A. Add a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil on the water surface in the rain barrel. This will suffocate the larvae and will be OK if you use the water for vegetables or plants.

A. This sounds like Oriental Bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus. Cut plants 6" from the ground and treat freshly cut stumps with Triclopyr (Ortho Brush B-Gone) in late summer. Pull seedlings and bag or burn berries. See how to control other invasive plants below. Always read the pesticide label.

Fungus in mulch 1
Q. 6/12 I have some kind of fungus growing on the exterior of my house. It looks like millions of pin-sized, black dots that are raised in texture and grow on the wood siding and the glass windows. It does not wash off with bleach or detergent and if I scrape it with my fingernail, it actually feels like tar. Have you ever heard of anything like this and what can I do to get rid of it??? I would like to paint the house this summer but need to find a way to remove the mold first.

A. What you see on the siding are the spore caps of the artillery fungus. The fungus develops in hardwood or shredded bark mulch when temperatures are between 50 and 68 degrees. The fruiting body points itself at a strong light source, (sun or reflected light from windows, light colored siding or cars) then propels the spore cap up to 20 feet. Remove mulch and replace with bark nuggets, pine needles, redwood or cypress mulch or gravel. Fungicides are not recommended for control. The spore caps are almost impossible to remove without sanding or scraping.

Fungus in mulch 2
Q. My husband went into to the mulch bed to turn on the hose when he stepped in a big pile of yellow goo. At first we thought it may possibly be vomit from a dog. Slowly, every day since then, these patches of bright yellow goo have been continuing to show up in just one of the mulch beds. We have not seen it anywhere else in the yard. It first appears as bright yellow in big bubbly foam like blobs. It shows up only at night, then during the day it turns a beige color, then gray, and then it powders up and hardens, all within 1 to 2 days. Any ideas???

A. Your husband has stepped in a slime mold. It lives on wood and bark mulch, but doesn't really decay the wood. The most common form appears in the evening as a slimy yellow mass about 12" in diameter. (People describe it as looking like something that the dog coughed up.) Each mass is actually one large cell and has the ability to move across the mulch! There is no preventative measure for controlling these annoying growths. But they are most common on newly applied mulch. When they appear, simply scoop them up and throw them away. To avoid them in the future, use a different material for mulch. If you have pine bark, switch to hard wood and vice versa.

Fungus in mulch 3
Q. I have the red cedar chips around all my bushes ...but this "growth" is only in the one spot. It looks almost like it hatched out of a shell. It starts as a white egg like thing close to the surface. Then it springs out like in the picture. Within hours it is deflated and laying on the ground ....Could you tell me what this is? Should I collect all the "eggs" and dispose of them? The bush doesn't seemed to be doing good..(fire bush) is this why?

A. That is a Dog Stinkhorn fungus (Mutinus caninus). The reason for the name should be obvious. They grow in mulch or soil high in organic matter. They cause no harm to plants. The fungus will continue to appear as long as weather conditions are right for fruiting.

Millipedes

Wet weather can create a nuisance of insect-like creatures that live in the soil and mulch. Millipedes are one of these that may move into garages or homes in large numbers when soils become saturated with water or too dry. Millipedes are necessary decomposers, important to natures food chain. They are a temporary nuisance and can be swept aside and placed back in the grass.

A. Bleach is not an herbicide and should not be used as a vegetation killer. First you need to identify the weeds, then choose an herbicide that is registered for that specific weed. The herbicide glyphosate, is a nonselective herbicide, meaning that it will kill all plant material that it comes in contact with. But be sure to read the label. Effectiveness is enhanced by appropriate timing and targeting certain life stages of the plant. Typically plants are most susceptible around time of flowering or late summer to fall. Second, you need a plan for sustained weed control. The use of mulch, and/or pre-emergent herbicides are options that prevent weeds from starting.

Giant Hogweed
8/8 Q. I have a front ditch populated by a number of giant hog weed plants this year. We had one there last year and chopped it down when it got to about 5' and before it had gone to seed. My son experienced skin irritation after that encounter. My older son has chopped and mowed and kept their size down this year but they are still thriving. Is there some help I can get in permanently removing these plants form my property?

A. Giant Hogweed is being surveyed by NYS department of agriculture and markets however, they do not have immediate plans for removing or eradication. In the short term, you will have to take care of this yourself. Glyphosate (Round-Up) is the best chemical for spraying while the plant is actively growing. Glyphosate is a nonselective herbicide and will kill any adjacent plants that it comes in contact with. Giant Hogweed is a perennial so it can come back each year even though the flowers or seeds are removed.

Giant hogweed may cause severe skin irritations. Contacting the sap of this plant may increase the sensitivity of some people's skin to sunlight. Blisters or blotches are likely to develop when sap comes into contact with moist skin in the presence of sunlight. Cutting off the flower heads before they go to seed will prevent the plant from self sowing. If cutting back the plant after seeds have formed, it is important to avoid scattering the seeds. Cut plants after sunset and launder clothing that comes into contact with plant juices. But the roots of the plant may persist and grow. Click on parts of plant in the photo (right) for close ups. Go to Pest Alert for comparison to plants that it may be confused with.

Mexican Bamboo, Knotweed
Q. 8/16 How do I kill bamboo?

A. Japanese Knotweed, aka bamboo, is very difficult to control. Cutting the entire patch, twice a month from April to frost over the course of 2-3 years may give control. Pile cut stems where they will dry out. Digging or pulling out plants once a month can also provide some control over a few years. Better results can be expected when combining the above methods with herbicide sprays. Discontinue digging or cutting in late July, then spray with glyphosate (Round-Up) in late August or September. Best time to spray is when the plant is in the flower bud stage. Always read the pesticide label.

A. Hornets and wasps nest in trees, shrubs or in eves and walls of homes. The nests are seasonal and will die out in fall. They prey on other insects so can be beneficial. I spent last week painting my house, my face inches from wasps at times. I was not stung once. If no one is allergic to bee stings, you can just leave them alone. If control is necessary, spray or remove nests in the evening when temperatures are cool. A strong stream of water from a hose can break apart nests under eves from a good distance. Aerosol sprays formulated for hornets and wasps may also be used. For nests hidden within walls, insecticide dusts will be carried in better than liquid. Up to four applications may be necessary over a two week period. If you have a Honeybee hive, leave it alone if it is not threatening anyone's safety. All bees are beneficial and usually do not bother people if they are left alone. If a honeybee hive is in the walls of a home, you will have to contact an exterminator to remove the bees, honey and comb. Otherwise the honey will mold and possibly stain walls after the bees are killed. More on Stinging Insects.

A. The Allegany mound ant Brachymyrmex depilis or Formica exsectoides will swarm in the summer when reproductive adults are ready to begin new colonies. These swarms may occur after rain storms and may even be synchronized with other colonies.

Fuzzy, Stinging caterpillars
Q. 9/18 My granddaughter has a rash on her hands and arms. She has no known allergies but she has been playing with the caterpillars she finds. Could they cause this?

A. Warn your children to avoid handling fuzzy, stinging caterpillars. Some species have spines or hairs that contain an irritant and cause itching, swelling and/or pain when they penetrate the skin. You can try removing the spines with tape on the area contacted. Check with your doctor for medication to reduce swelling and itching.

This publication may contain pesticide recommendations that are subject to change at any time. These recommendations are provided only as a guide. It is always the pesticide applicator's responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current label directions for the specific pesticide being used. Due to constantly changing labels and product registrations, some of the suggestions given in this writing may no longer be legal by the time you read them. If any information in these recommendations disagrees with the label, the recommendation must be disregarded. No endorsement is intended for products mentioned, nor is criticism meant for products not mentioned. The author and Cornell Cooperative Extension assume no liability resulting form the use of these guidelines.