|
| Welcome to the Big Bug Hunt 2017 international research project newsletter!
|
The Big Bug Hunt relies on accurate reports from gardeners across the
country to track when and where bugs appear and spread. Our identification guides
are a great way to check what you’ve seen. But letting us know when you
saw your bug could help to further improve the accuracy of your report.
Big Bug Hunters can now do exactly that. Go to www.BigBugHunt.com
as usual to report your bug. Let us know what you saw and which plant
you saw it on. You now also have the option to add the date you spotted
your bug from a drop-down list. Or just leave it set to ‘today’.
Our researchers have confirmed that knowing the date that a bug
appears is crucial in predicting how it spreads. This may be a very
simple addition, but it will significantly improve the final pest
warning system under development. Take a look for yourself – and please
keep your reports coming!
|
 |
Leave My Legumes Alone!
Keep your peas and beans in fine fettle this summer with our free,
downloadable guide to common legume pests – and what to do about them! Download our free guide here.
|
|
Your FAQs… Answered
Q. How do I report a bug that isn’t listed?
A. Simply type in the name of any bug you want to report. Every bug matters, even the ones we don’t currently list.
Q. Which bugs are most important to report?
A.
All of them! We’re especially keen to hear about the first time you see
a bug in your garden as this gives an idea of how they spread through
the country.
Q. Should I keep reporting a bug if I’ve already reported it?
A. Yes please! Knowing how long it stays in your garden is also useful information for our data analysis team.
Q. When will the pest prediction service launch?
A.
We’re now in our second year of data crunching. It will take ongoing
research but we’re already seeing significant patterns in how some pests
spread. Common pests such as aphids are the most likely to give us our
first results.
Q. I’m impatient. How can I speed things along?
A.
We are too! The best way you can help is to spread word about The Big
Bug Hunt, so that others can also tell us about the bugs they’re
finding.
 |
|
Ones to Watch
Here are four bugs you’ll definitely want to welcome into your garden: |
 |
Hoverfly
Great because: Helps to pollinate crops and feeds on aphids
Find out more...
|
 |
Lady Beetle
Great because: Keeps aphids and other pests in check
Find out more...
|
 |
Bumblebee
Great because: Pollinates many vegetables and fruits
Find out more...
|
 |
Lacewing
Great because: Feeds on many soft-bodied pests such as whitefly
Find out more...
|
|
| Learn more about these and other pests, plus beneficial bugs here.
|
| |
| Thanks for connecting with us. If you have any further questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to get in touch via our contact form.
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment
Authors of comments and posts are solely responsible for their statements. Please email MiddletownInsider@gmail.com for questions or concerns. This blog, (and any site using the blogger platform), does not and cannot track the source of comments. While opinions and criticism are fine, they are subject to moderator discretion; slander and vile attacks of individuals will not to be tolerated. Middletown Insider retains the right to deny any post or comment without explanation.