Q: I live in Huntington Beach and have a lot of dead bees on my patio. This also happened last summer. I do not use pesticides, insecticides or herbicides. Thoughts?
A: The death of bees has been a recurring problem for 20 years. In the early 2000s, the colony’s collapse was attributed to a tracheal mite that parasitized European bees. Treatment with an acaricide solved this problem – until the mites developed resistance.
When you see a lot of dead bees in one place, exposure to insecticides is the most likely explanation. While you have no control over what your neighbor does, you can help your local bees. If you must use an insecticide, apply it early in the morning before sunrise or late in the evening after sunset, as bees are only active during the day. That is why when we have Mediterranean fruit fly problem, they spray malathion at night.
If you are using systemic pesticides (watering the soil), wait until the plant being treated has finished flowering before applying. Systemic treatment can harm bees when they visit the flowers of treated plants.
Limit the use of pesticides and fungicides as much as possible. Some pesticides and fungicides labeled separately as safe for bees can be fatal to bees when used together.
Plant a variety of forage flowers for bees and other pollinators. Alyssum, sage, lavender, penstemon, coreopsis, and flowering herbs (especially those with yellow flowers) are attractive and a good source of nutrients for bees. A wide variety of plants that bloom throughout the year provide sufficient nutrition for healthy bees.
Q: My cabbage and broccoli seedlings are attacked by cabbage moth caterpillars even though the seedlings are less than an inch tall and have only two leaves. I did not see any eggs on the leaves and I gently remove the larvae if I see or smell them. Is it possible that the eggs are in the soil I bought or can the eggs be attached to the seeds?
A: Cabbage butterflies lay their eggs under the leaves. Despite their name, they’re not limited to cruciferous vegetables. I have found cabbage looper on sage, basil, lettuce, Swiss chard, and many other purchased plants. Caterpillars are only 1 to 2 inches long, but are voracious eaters and can strip a small plant of its leaves virtually overnight.
I guess it is possible for the eggs to be hiding in the soil, but they are unlikely to be attached to the seeds.
Carefully inspect all purchased plants, paying special attention to the underside of each leaf. Row covers or bells can provide some protection for outdoor plants. Apply a diluted fertilizer when watering new plants to promote leaf formation. This will help the plants survive if a caterpillar infestation goes unnoticed for a day or two.
Q: The birds attacked my fruit while it was still on the tree. Is it still safe to eat?
A: If you harvest the fruit quickly (before it gets dirty) and wash it, you can cut off the damaged part and eat the rest safely.
Have questions? Send an email to [email protected].
Looking for more gardening tips? Here’s how to contact the Master Gardener program in your area.
Los Angeles County
[email protected]; 626-586-1988; http://celosangeles.ucanr.edu/UC_Master_Gardener_Program/
Orange County
[email protected]; 949-809-9760; http://mgorange.ucanr.edu/
Riverside County
[email protected]; 951-683-6491 ext 231; https://ucanr.edu/sites/RiversideMG/
San Bernardino County
[email protected]; 909-387-2182; http://mgsb.ucanr.edu/