When it gets warm in the garden, the garden pests ? worms, bugs and beetles ? begin to feed and become a nuisance. Iowa State University Extension specialists offer a variety of ways to control some of the more common garden pests. Vegetable gardeners with questions about the management of other pests may contact the experts by emailing or calling the ISU Extension horticulture hotline at hortline@iastate.edu or 515-294-3108.

How can I control squash bugs?

Squash bugs can be serious pests of summer and winter squash. Squash bugs have piercing-sucking mouthparts. Heavy feeding causes entire leaves to wilt, turn brown and die. Several methods can be used to control squash bugs in the garden. Brick red egg masses on the undersides of leaves and squash bug adults can be removed by hand. Adults can also be trapped under boards or shingles placed under the plants. Turn the objects over daily and collect and destroy the hiding squash bugs. Small, immature squash bugs (nymphs) can be controlled with insecticides, such as Sevin, permethrin or insecticidal soap. Sprays are generally more effective than dusts. If the squash plants are blooming, spray in the evening after the honey bees have quit foraging for the day. In fall, remove and destroy garden plant debris to deprive squash bugs of overwintering sites. (photo by Whitney Cranshaw, images.bugwood.org)

There are tiny holes in the foliage of my eggplants. What should I do?

The tiny holes are likely due to flea beetles. Flea beetles are the most common pest of eggplant in the home garden. Adults are tiny, shiny, black beetles. They possess large hind legs that enable them to jump. Flea beetles eat small, round holes in the eggplant foliage, resulting in "shothole" damage. Minor flea beetle damage will have little effect on crop yields. If significant damage begins to appear, treat plants with an insecticide. As always, carefully read and follow label directions when using pesticides.

How can I control Colorado potato beetles?

The Colorado potato beetle is difficult to control. Hand picking has been used since before the development of modern pesticides. Hand-pick beetles, eggs and small larvae from infested plants as soon as possible (practical for a few insects on a few plants, but impractical for larger gardens). It's especially important to remove overwintering beetles that appear on young plants in spring.

In large gardens, insecticides are often the best option. When insecticides are necessary, consider timing, coverage and insecticide choice. Timing is critical. Small larvae are much easier to control and spraying when the larvae are small is much more effective than spraying when the larvae are large. Early treatment is also necessary to prevent crop loss. Complete and thorough coverage of infested plants is necessary for good control. Control is generally more effective with liquid sprays than with dust applications. (photo by Whitney Cranshaw, images.bugwood.org)

Because of decades of repeated insecticide use, the Colorado potato beetle is resistant to many widely used garden insecticides, such as Sevin. The first-choice products are the synthetic pyrethroids, such as permethrin, cyfluthrin and esfenvalerate. Look for products labeled for use on potatoes in the home garden and apply according to label directions. Spray early and spray often. Biorational pesticides, such as spinosad, Bt tenebrionis and Neem (azadirachtin) are only effective on very young larvae.

How do I control cabbageworms?

Cabbageworms are greenish caterpillars that eat large, irregular holes in the foliage of cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussel sprouts. Cabbageworms can be controlled with biological or chemical insecticides. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a biological insecticide (a bacterium) that specifically targets caterpillars. Bt products include Dipel, Thuricide and others. Home gardeners can also use chemical insecticides, such as permethrin (e.g. Eight) or carbaryl (e.g. Sevin).

There are large green caterpillars with horn-like projections on my tomato plants. What are they and how can they be controlled?

The large green caterpillars are tomato hornworms. Tomato hornworms can be 4 to 5 inches long and nearly as big around as your thumb.

Tomato hornworms feed on the leaves and fruit of tomatoes and other vegetables including eggplant, potatoes and peppers. They can quickly defoliate portions of a plant, reduce its productivity and heavily damage the fruit.

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AMES, Iowa - With the weather forecast of temperatures in the mid-to upper 90s and heat index expected to top 100 degrees in Iowa this week, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension beef veterinarian Grant Dewell reminds beef cattle producers that preparing for these weather conditions is vital to maintaining herd health.

Here are five steps to avoiding heat stress in your herd.

Plan ahead. After cattle get hot, it's too late to prevent problems.

Don't work cattle when it is hot. Finish working cattle before 9 to 10 a.m. in summer, and remember that during a heat wave it's best to not work cattle at all.

Provide plenty of fresh, clean water. When it's hot and humid, consuming water is the only way cattle can cool down. Make sure the water flow is sufficient to keep tanks full, and ensure there's enough space at water tanks (3 inches linear space per head). Introduce new water tanks before a heat event occurs so cattle know where they are.

Feed 70 percent of the ration in the afternoon. Heat from fermentation in the rumen is primary source of heat for cattle. When cattle are fed in the morning, peak rumen temperature production occurs during the heat of day when they can't get rid of it. By feeding 70 percent of the ration in late afternoon, rumen heat production occurs when it is cooler.

Provide ventilation, shade and/or sprinklers. Environmental temperatures compound the heat load for cattle during a heat wave. Remove objects that are obstructing natural air movement. Indoor cattle will benefit from shade provided by the building as long as ventilation is good. Outdoor cattle will benefit from sprinklers to cool them off. Make sure cattle are used to sprinklers before employing them during a heat wave.

Factsheets on dealing with heat stress, resources and ISU Extension staff who can help are available on the Iowa Beef Center (IBC) website. Dewell offers more details on heat stress in a longer article on the ISU Veterinary Medicine Beef Extension website. Keep an eye on the 7-day heat stress forecast for your area at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service website.

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AMES, Iowa - Iowa's 17 and younger age group decreased according to 2010 census results. According to the Community Vitality Center report, "Population 18 and Older and 17 and Younger in Iowa's Counties, 2000 - 2010," Iowa's youth population has decreased by 5,645 in the last decade.

According to Sandra Burke, assistant scientist in economics, some counties have experienced significant growth in the youth population even though Iowa's overall youth population decreased by 0.8 percent in the last decade.

"There has been a reshuffling across the state as to where youth are located. There has been a surge in the most urban counties and a decline in the more rural ones," Burke said. "This distinctly impacts schools because a lot of community activities revolve around the school. It's where children are during the day, and many activities and sports take place during the evenings."

Burke credits fewer births as the main reason for the youth decline in the state, but outmigration and the ongoing recession also aided in the decline.

"The recession colors everything for every age group. It affects older people trying to retire or keep their jobs and it affects younger people trying to get jobs. In a recession, people typically delay marriage and they delay having children. There were three to four years of recession prior to the 2010 census that help account for fewer births," Burke said.

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AMES, Iowa -- Iowa is facing its third significant flooding situation in five years, which again raises the possibility of stored grain being inundated with floodwater. With only a few exceptions, flood soaked grain is not useable for feed or food. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey reminded farmers in a June 21 news release that grain impacted by flood waters, whether in the field or in a bin, is considered adulterated and cannot be used for feed or food.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship warning states, "The grain impacted by flood should be destroyed and not blended with uncontaminated grain. This warning does not apply to immature crops that have been flooded before producing grain."

Northey said there is the potential for a wide variety of contaminants to enter grain through flood waters, so any corn or soybeans that have been submerged are considered adulterated and must be destroyed. "It appears that most of the stored grain has been moved out of areas threatened by flooding, but we wanted to alert farmers and elevators so they can still move grain if necessary," he said.

Before being sold, the grain must be reconditioned with the written consent of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Missouri River flood waters are considered contaminated and not likely to create situations where grain can be salvaged.

Flood damaged grain is considered adulterated under Chapter 198.7 of the Iowa Code. The Code prohibits the manufacturing or distribution of any food or feed from ingredients that are adulterated.

Charles Hurburgh, Iowa State University professor in charge of the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative, reminds farmers that flooding affects both the stored grain and the storage structures. The best option is to move the grain before the flood reaches the bin, and stop using underfloor conveyors and legs once the water starts entering the pits.

"Water coming up from tiles and pits is just as suspect because storm and sanitary sewers are usually compromised in floods," Hurburgh said. "Even field tile water may contain high chemical levels and other contaminants."

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