In article ,
Rusty Mase wrote:

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 11:30:30 -0600, Katra
wrote:

So now what are you using for insect control?
I don't and I have never found it to be a problem. I have lots of
spiders - especially jumping spiders - and they may be helping. I do
use Amdro on fire ants on occassion. Also, I use an aerosol can of
garden spray to control capenter ants where I do not want them.

Ok, so you are a spider lover... ;-)
Then I forgive you for killing innocent geckos. G

I happen to be a spider fan too, and most of my jumping spiders have
dissapeared. But, I still have a healthy population of weavers, or
whatever the are, a largish spiky looking chocolate brown spider that
spins a really big, round and symmetrical web every night, then cuts it
down in the morning. I have to be careful going out into the yard at
night as there are so many of them and they won't hesitate to spin
across a pathway. G Beautiful webs!

I have a lot of spiders and any yard guests that dare to mess with my
spiders gets a chewing out and spider education lecture!


And for the record, I think geckos are cute.
And for the record, I think they are vermin.

To each his own...


This being Texas, we had a bad Palmetto bug problem.
I still have a few but not _nearly_ so many since the Geckos took over,
and I still have praying mantises and assasin bugs, as well as plenty of
ladybugs. I don't mind a few egg cases. :-) They mostly breed in the
attic which is dead space that I don't use. There were a few in the
storage area, but that has not been a major problem.
I ignore Palmetto bugs mostly but take a garden hose to them
occassionally.

Ew!!! I cannot stand those damned things and am glad that my toads have
increased enough to eat the bigger ones, and the geckos help to control
the newborn population! The chickens eat whatever I may chase out during
the day. Too bad the damned things are nocturnal. :-P

Fortunately, most of the ones that I find in the house are quite dead as
the cats get to them first... Cats adore Palmetto bugs. ;-) crunch
crunch


The grasshopper population has also been drastically reduced.
No, they are around but I ignore them

Sorry, they do WAY too much damage to my cannas, and the okra plants in
the spring! I have a couple of yard snakes that I know eat them as i've
caught the snakes with 'hoppers in their mouths which is why they still
get to live here. I have no fear of snakes, but some insect eating
species also eat lizards and toads which is why you may be having a
problem building up your toad population if you have a lot of snakes.

I've had to trap all my ratsnakes and relocate them as they were getting
into the pigeon coop and killing and eating baby pigeons and eggs!

Unfortunately, that has contributed to the current rat problem. I need
to go and buy a bunch of one bite bars.

I hate poison, but there is a time and place for it.


So, do you have any bug problems now that you killed them all?
No and I get lots of bugs outside that I ignore. I do not get many in
the house except for spiders, which I like, and only a few of them.

You have cats. ;-)
Right?


I've been happy too to see the fence lizard and anole populations
increase, as well as toads. :-)

Yes, but I have trouble with keeping up my toads as I am pretty high
and dry. I sometimes have a few that I love to feed Junebugs to on
the porch. They become pets.

So water more, and put out some toad houses.
Upside down, low clay pots with a small entrance in one side in a shaded
spot.
Stacks of limestone rock work too. I have toads living in the holes of
the cinder block raised garden beds.


Predator insects are great, but reptile and amphibians eat a lot more!

I have snakes. Ground snakes mostly and one snake I have an abundance
of is Texas Blind Snakes. I let them live in my flower beds around
the house. Garter snakes, yellow bellied racers and Texas rat snakes
are infrequent visitors to my yard.

Ground snakes are good, but they usually only eat subterranian insects
and earthworms??? AFAIK?
They are death on cutworms.


Rusty Mase

K.

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