August 24, 2005
Insect Information Pages
We have updated our Iowa Insect Information Notes website. The main page has pictures of current insect problems and you can navigate through the site with links on the left-hand side. We are trying to get as many insect pictures as possible on the Web site, so if you have any good insect pictures we would be happy to credit you and put them on the site.
Yellowjacket Wasps
Late summer is the time of year when yellowjacket wasps (commonly called "bees") become most noticeable. Yellowjackets are the size and shape of honey bees (about 1/2 inch long) and shiny black with bright yellow markings. Honey bees are golden brown and fuzzy.
Yellowjacket wasps are social insects. Each colony starts with a single queen in May. The number of wasps in the nest remains very small through the early part of the summer, but reaches a peak population of up to 5,000 wasps per nest by September.
The Other Spring-Flowering Bulbs
Tulips and daffodils are spring favorites of many Iowans. Some individuals, however, are unaware of the wide variety of hardy, spring-flowering bulbs. Little known bulbs, such as snowdrops and Siberian squill, offer exciting opportunities for gardeners. Consider some of the following spring-flowering bulbs when planting this fall.