Autumn weather brings falling leaves, Friday night football, corn and soybean harvest, and a few insect pests that create quite a stir around the house. By now we are usually overrun by the Asiatic lady beetles that bombard the outside of our homes and eventually find safe passage into the external cracks and crevices in the siding, foundation, windows and attic spaces. So far (as of this writing), the lady beetles are a "no-show" for 2009. But as harvest progresses into this year of late planted and a slowly maturing soybean crop, we have already been reminded that there are a few other bugs out there that can add to our misery.

Soybean aphids on the other hand really must have enjoyed the weather conditions for 2009. A wet spring and summer played well into their survival scheme and resulted in aphid populations so high that even some regional major league ballgames were delayed as the pests flew (more like drifted) around their heads, got into their eyes, and eventually left their sappy residue behind as extra evidence of their brief appearance. The revealing detail is the general association between the lady beetles (not present) and the aphids (in plague-like numbers). Basically, the adults and larvae of ladybug-like bugs are supposed to feed on the aphids and help keep their populations in check. Where were all the lady beetles in 2009? Answer, not sure.

Nature usually does a good job in balancing insect pest populations. When one insect (serving as prey) bounds, the resulting predatory insect soon benefits by the bounty provided and rebounds to keep populations in check. This fall may be a bit of a mystery for us as we try to analyze what is going on with "bug" populations. As a much too vivid reminder to some, the Japanese beetle populations seemed to have partially subsided from previous years. While others (farther west and southwest in the county) claim Japanese beetle populations are as bad as ever, maybe even worse.

The solution? Before we break out the insecticide, give nature a chance. Yes, insecticides can be a valuable tool when used according to the label to preserve crops, gardens, and lawns, but given time; nature usually makes it or gets it right.