Invasion of the Tent Caterpillars

For years we’ve looked with appreciation at the brigade of alder trees that guards our house from the noise and distraction of passing traffic. Since 2003, though, the gentle budding up of spring has had us recoiling from these stalwart friends, for hanging from their branches are hoards of transparent webbed tents writhing with black-and-orange caterpillars. As summer approaches, the nests are near to bursting, with each ballooning occupant moulting its skin four times to accommodate an increasingly robust girth. more...

Sowbugs

How can I kill the pesky wood lice that breed in my organic compost heap without poisoning the compost that I use in my vegetable garden? There are hundreds of them. There’s no wood here now, though there was an old shed here that we destroyed years ago. The wood lice chew seedlings, plants, etc. more...