What's bugging the area?
Stink bugs, Japanese beetles, slugs, cucumber beetles, tomato hornworms — do they bug you? Do you enjoy attracting and observing butterflies, bees, fireflies and lady beetles?
Then come and talk with the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Butler County at this year's Butler Farm Show.
“What's Bugging You?” is the theme for the farm show education booth and display sponsored by the Master Gardeners.
The purpose of our educational display is to help the public identify beneficial and harmful insects common to gardens and landscapes. Methods to control harmful insects, such as integrated pest management, and garden designs to promote beneficial insects will be discussed.
The world is full of “good bugs” and “bad bugs.” The good bug, or beneficial bug, aspect of the educational display will focus on pollinators as well as insects that help control the undesirable insects that devastate our gardens.
A “Wheel of Bugs and Garden Questions” for children to spin and learn about these insects provides a fun learning opportunity.
A portion of this year's bad bug display will focus on the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicaluta). This insect is considered a threat to Pennsylvania's agricultural crops and trees.
The spotted lanternfly has been identified in southeastern Pennsylvania counties, and agricultural agents are working to keep this insect from spreading westward. The main weapons used to prevent the spotted lanternfly's devastation are quarantine and public education.
Master Gardeners will show you how to identify the spotted lanternfly as well as its host plant, the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima).
Master Gardeners will be available to answer questions regarding problems with bugs and diseases in your trees, lawns and flower and vegetable gardens. Information about becoming a Penn State Extension Master Gardener will be available.
The farm show is held from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. through Saturday at the Butler Farm Show Complex, 625 Evans City Road, through Saturday. Admission for adults and children 3 years or older is $7 Monday and $8 the rest of the week. There is an additional $4 fee for evening arena events.
The Master Gardeners look forward to meeting you there.
Lisa Marie Bernardo has been a Penn State Extension Master Gardener in Butler County since 2003. Alice Christy has been a Penn State Extension Master Gardener in Butler County since 2000.
