Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, has been discovered in a small area of Chicago. It is located in a six square block area in the Ravenswood area of Chicago. This insect is native to China, Korea, and Japan. The latitude of its distribution in the Far East corresponds in North America as running from Cancun, Mexico to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The only other place where it has been found in trees in North America is in Amityville and Brooklyn, New York, both on Long Island, where it was found in August, 1996.

Asian longhorned beetle tunnels into not only dead and dying trees, but also attacks apparently healthy trees. It prefers maple, poplar and willow, but also attacks horse chestnut, mulberry, plum, pear, black locust, elm, chinaberry, citrus, birch and rose of Sharon. Among the maples, Norway, sugar, silver and sycamore maple are the most common hosts. Adult Asian longhorned beetles are shiny black and about one inch long with about 40 irregular sized and shaped white dots on the wing covers. They have long antennae that are at least as long as the body and black and white banded. Adults are present form August through October in China, peaking in July. They have been reported as early as mid-May by New York residents.

Adult beetles feed on the bark of twigs and small branches after emerging. They may migrate as much as six-tenths of a mile in search of host trees. Females chew a three-eights inch diameter pit through the bark and then lay an egg in each pit. Individual adults live for several weeks with each female laying 25 to 32 eggs. The hatching larva tunnels just under the bark in the cambium. Older larvae tunnel deep into the tree at an upwards angle with larval tunnels being four to six inches long. Larvae push frass consisting of wood fibers and feces out of the tunnels. This results in piles of sawdust below active tunnels. The larvae spend the winter deep in the tree, tunneling and feeding again the spring before pupating in late spring or summer in the larval tunnel. Adults emerge from the tree through one-quarter to one-half inch round holes. Most life cycles last one year, although some last for two years.

Damage consists mainly of weakened branches that break off during heavy winds. Attack for several years could cause the death of branches, limbs or entire trees. Although many insect borers and the yellow-bellied sapsucker make one-quarter inch diameter holes in trees, emergence holes approaching one half inch are uncommon. Cottonwood borer makes this size of hole in cottonwood and other poplars, but it is uncommon in Illinois. Carpenter bees make holes this big, but normally attack lumber or the cut end of logs. The shallow egg-laying holes made by the females are similar to those made by woodpeckers searching for insect larvae in or under the bark. However, these beetles make round holes that are similar in diameter whereas woodpeckers tend to make jagged holes of various sizes.

Control is difficult due to the extended adult emergence period. Insecticide treatment would involve several applications, is not practical and may not be very effective. This beetle is eliminated in infested areas by cutting down all infested trees and chipping or burning them. Areas where the beetle is found are placed under quarantine that prohibits the movement of host species firewood, logs, green lumber, stumps. roots, branches and debris of one-half inch or more in thickness out of the area.

Beetles or wood with likely damage should be submitted to the Plant Clinic, 1401 St. Mary's Road, Urbana, IL., 61802 or your local Extension office for their forwarding to the Plant Clinic for positive identification.

Source: Philip Nixon, Extension Entomologist, University of Illinois

The adult flight of southern white chafer peaked during the last weekend in June at the Morton Arboretum in northeastern Illinois. In central Illinois, adult annual white grub numbers are very high in some areas but may still be climbing in others. Japanese beetle adults are very numerous in central Illinois and becoming more numerous each day.

Even though the adults of white grubs are numerous, preventive treatments at this time may not be warranted. In many areas of the state, heavy rainfall has kept non-irrigated turf very green and attractive to egg-laying beetles. If this continues for the next two weeks, the resulting white grub larvae may be spread over such large areas and thus so thinly, that few areas will have high enough numbers to show turf dieback this fall. In addition, damp soils in the past have resulted in smaller grub numbers, apparently due to the grubs dying from fungal diseases.

Applications of imidcloprid (Merit, Grubex) or halofenozide (Mach 2) may not be cost effective this year. It may be more economical and environmentally sound to wait until early August to scout and treat areas that have damaging grub numbers. At that time, use shorter acting insecticides such as trichlorfon (Dylox), bendiocarb (Turcam, Intercept) and diazinon.

Source: Philip Nixon & David Robson, University of Illinois

August

• Monitor for pests (annual white grubs mid-August thru September) (sod webworm)

• Irrigation (as needed)

• Prepare for seeding, overseeding (optimum time)

• Seeding - latter half of month (optimum time)

September

• Overseeding & establishment (optimum time) - first week

• Fertilization (key time) - first 2 weeks

• Cultivation (aerifying, spiking, slicing) - lawn should be actively growing

• Postemergence broadleaf weed control to actively growing weeds (optimum time)

Frequently Asked Questions about African Violets
http://www.avsa.org
Having problems with your African violets. Check out the African Violet Society of America's website–African Violets Online.

Fall Fertilization

Think about fertilizing your trees and shrubs this fall. Fertilizing in the fall provides nutrients that are absorbed by plants and stored until they are needed for growth. Root growth continues well into late fall, so does nutrient uptake. Fertilizer should be applied within the plants dripline.

The Internet Gardener

This monthly guide to garden-related sites on the world Wide Web cost $19.98 for an annual subscription. Or send a self-addressed stamped envelope for more details. The mailing address is Box 534, Scarsdale, NY 10583; the WWW address is www.internetgardener.com.

Spira-Stake for Support and Feeding of Tomato Plants

This innovative spiral-shaped stake is hollow, allowing you to water and fertilize easily, through the opening at the top. The marketer claims that, owing to the unique shape of the stake, you'll need no support ties. And storage space is minimal. The price: $16.90 each, postpaid; there is a discount for quantity orders. To learn more, call 888-650-3736 or visit the WWW site www.spira-stake.com.

Self-Sticking Foam Tape for Plant Ties

The Crowell Corporation (P.O. Box 3227, Newport, DE 19804-0227, phone 302-998-0557) recently announced a new product: 5/8" wide green foam tape for use as plant ties. "You simply unroll and tear off what you need. For small delicate plants, such as orchids, you simply fold the product in half and press. For large plants, such as tomatoes and roses, make a loop with a twist and press the foam surfaces together. This tape has a self-sealing adhesive on the foam surface which when pressed together only sticks to itself." For availability and pricing information, contact Robert Adelman at the address given above, send an e-mail inquiry to sales@crowellcorp.com or visit the website www.crowellcorp.com

Funnel Web Spiders

Yews, junipers and turf areas commonly have large spider webs on them at this time of year. These webs usually consist of a tube or funnel, where the spider sits and a large, flat, 6-inch wide sheet web with silk strands spun above it. Flying insects are knocked out of the air when they fly into the overhead silk strands and fall onto the sheet web. When this occurs, the spider runs out of its tunnel, captures and bites the insect and hauls it back into the tunnel to feed on the hapless victim. The spider itself is a funnel web spider (family Agelenidae) and is typically brownish with a 1 to 1-1/2 inch leg span. Although they are quite large, these spiders are not dangerous and very unlikely to bite. If a bite does occur, the reaction will resemble a mosquito bite. These webs are quite noticeable in the early morning when they are covered with dew and glisten in the sunlight. These spiders are beneficial because they eat many flies and other bothersome insects and control is usually not needed.

Annual Cicadas

Annual or dogday cicadas have emerged and their singing can be heard in the evening throughout Illinois. These cicadas are different from the periodical cicadas. Annual cicadas are about 2 inches long and greenish or brownish in color. They live on tree roots as nymphs for 2 to 5 years, with some adults emerging every year.

Males sing in the evening to attract females for mating. Females insert their eggs into the twigs and branches of trees, but are not numerous enough to cause significant egg-laying damage like the periodical cicadas. The eggs hatch in several weeks and the nymphs drop to the ground where they burrow into the soil to feed on tree roots. Due to their relatively small numbers, control of annual cicada is not needed.

August Outdoors

Radish, lettuce, spinach and green onions can be planted in late August for a fall harvest.

Flying white moths around cabbage plants indicate cabbage worms will soon be feasting on your cabbage. Use Bacillus thuringiensis to control.

Check sweet corn for peak quality by puncturing kernels with a fingernail. If the kernels ooze a milky juice; harvest. If the liquid is watery; wait a few days. If kernels are tough; you are too late.

Sweet corn is usually ready to pick about twenty days after the first silks appear.

Harvest onions when the tops have browned and started to fall over. Pull them and dry outside in the sun for a week or two.

Start a compost pile. Booklet available. Give us a call.

Improve your soil. Sow a green manure crop of oats, rye or ryegrass in harvested garden area. Factsheet available.

Sow greens, lettuce, radishes and turnips for fall harvest.

Watch zucchini squash! In hot weather squash is ready to pick four to eight days after flowering.

Dip summer squash blossoms in a batter and fry. They are edible.

Provide water for insect eating birds.

Seed lawns in late August. Less competition with annual weeds at this time of year.

Water your lawn if after walking on it there is a footprint or the grass does not spring back.

Plant autumn crocus and colchicum for fall blooms.

Purchase garden supplies before they are removed from the shelves in the fall.

Pot up tulip bulbs late in the month to be forced for Christmas bloom.

Order spring flowering bulbs.

Cut back bleeding hearts when foliage yellows.

Divide bleeding hearts. Information available.

Watch for leaf scorch on trees during hot and dry weather; browning along edges of leaves; control by watering trees.

Falling clusters of leaves attached to short twigs are a result of squirrel or insect activity.

Squirrel Problem! Trim tree branches back six to eight feet from buildings to prevent access to roofs. Close openings to attics and other building areas.

Before using a pesticide identify the insect and try non-chemical controls.

During hot, dry weather, water plants a few hours before applying pesticides to avoid burning the leaves.

Yellowjackets spoiling your picnic or making your walk to the garbage can a battleground? Factsheet available.

August Indoors

Use your aquarium water to fertilize your houseplants. Fish fertilize the water naturally.

Check houseplants for insects.

Going on vacation? Water plants just before you leave and group outside in a shady spot or make a large greenhouse by putting watered houseplants in the bathtub and taping plastic sheeting to walls and sides of tub.

September Outdoors

Sow a fall cover crop at least 4-6 weeks before hard frosts. Annual rye can be sown at a rate of 1-2 pounds per 1000 square feet.

Have your soil tested. Soil testing labs are less busy in the fall. Soil test booklet available.

Start a compost pile. Compost factsheet available.

Start worm composting indoors. One thousand worms will decompose 2-3 pounds of food scraps per week. Worm Composting factsheet available.

Harvest winter squash. Cut with a piece of stem attached. Discard any with soft spots. Will keep for 3-4 months stored in a cool basement.

Plant radishes, lettuce, kale and spinach for fall harvest.

Take your family to a nearby orchard to pick apples. Free listing of Pick Your Own orchards available.

Harvest sunflower seeds when seeds are firm. Cut the head leaving 8-12 inches of stem. Hang heads in a dry area to finish ripening.

Herbs can be dried in the microwave. Place herbs between two paper towels and microwave for one minute. Let cool and check if leaves are crisp. If not microwave a few seconds until crisp. Store in jars in dark, cool place.

Plant pansies as weather cools.

Divide daylilies. Factsheet available.

Seed bare spots in your lawn in early September.

Plant trees and shrubs. Factsheet available.

Plant lilac bulbs for spectacular blooms next year. Cover plantings with mulch after ground has frozen.

Transplant trees & shrubs. Factsheet available.

Save seeds from mature, non-hybrid flower heads. Place seeds on newspaper. Turn often as they dry. Place in glass jars and store in cool place (40-50°F).

Plant chrysanthemums in containers for fall color.

Paint wooden fences. Cool, dry, fall days are ideal for painting.

Control broadleaf weeds in your lawn such as chickweed, clover, dandelions and plantain.

Make original stationary by enclosing plants with interesting foliage, shapes and colors between two transparent sheets to protect the bed of the copier. Duplicate on a copy machine like any other document.

September Indoors

Force spring flowering bulbs indoors for holiday blooms. Factsheet available.

Wash windows so indoor plants will receive maximum light during winter.

Bring houseplants back into indoor environment before temperatures go below 55°F. Drastic changes in environment for houseplants can cause leaf drop.

Check houseplants for insects and diseases before bring back indoors. Isolate them from other houseplants for 2-3 weeks.

The Heat Is On!

August is peak gardening time in Chicago. People are busy harvesting summer's bounty, weeding and replanting for the fall garden season. August is also the most dangerous month for the Chicagoland residents. Record high temperatures have been recorded during August and numerous deaths have been attributed to the heat. Try to plan your gardening when the day is coolest.

Heatstroke and heat exhaustion can strike anyone during extremely hot and humid weather. Signs of heat-related illness may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, delirium and a body temperature of more than 102°F.

A victim of heatstroke or heat exhaustion may or may not be sweating. Even a few minutes of high body temperature can lead to liver damage, kidney damage and/or severe brain damage. Hypertension medication increases the risk of heatstroke.

Emergency Treatment

• Summon emergency medical assistance immediately.

• While you are waiting for emergency care, cool the person as best you can.

• Move the person to a cool, shady place, of course air conditioning is best.

• Cover him/her with damp sheets, paper towels, newspaper, whatever is on hand. Do not use ice water. Ice water creates a drastic change in temperature, which may create other problems.

• Direct air onto the person, using whatever you have, i.e., electric fan, fanning with your hands or newspaper, just keep air circulating.

• If possible, monitor the person's temperature with a thermometer.

• Stop attempting to cool the person when body temperature returns to 98.6°F.

• Give the person plenty of cool water to drink, do not give salt water, alcoholic beverages, or any medication. The paramedics will do this if it is necessary.

A large selection of cut flowers can be found at the 1998 Chicago's Farmers' Markets. When a flower is cut and placed in water it is still a living thing. It still needs food and water. Because the flowers at the Farmers' Markets are so fresh, with a little care you can enjoy their beauty for as long as a week to 10 days.

Professional florists keep cut flowers at peak quality by employing a number of tricks-of-the-trade. Also having a basic understanding of the botanical structure of flowers will help. Many types of flowers have their own system of conducting water into the stem so pre-treatment may vary from flower to flower. These techniques are called "conditioning." Here are a few "conditioning" tricks to keep your cut flowers looking bright and beautiful much longer.

• Select flowers with buds that are tight but beginning to open.

• Take a jar or small bucket of water with you. When a cut stem is left exposed to the air it will begin to heal, sealing off the cut so the blossom can no longer get water. As a result the flower will quickly wilt and die.

• If your flowers must be without water for a period of time, they can be refreshed. Fill the sink with cool water and re-cut stems underwater to get the flow of water going again. Using a sharp knife or shears, cut an inch or two away at a forty-five degree angle. This creates a greater surface area so as much water can be absorbed as possible.

• Remove flower leaves from each stem. Submerged leaves quickly rot in the water and will support the growth of bacteria and algae which hampers water uptake.

• Mix cool water with a commercial flower food, fill a clean vase and arrange the cut flowers. Flower food contains a type of sugar similar to that which flowers naturally create by converting sunlight to glucose during photosynthesis.

• If you do not have flower food try adding a teaspoon of sugar and an aspirin to a quart of water. The sugar acts as food while the aspirin increases the acid level of the water, making it easier for the flowers to drink. Or use one-part lemon-lime pop to three parts water, which provides both sugar and acid.

• Change the water as soon as it starts to look cloudy. Cloudy water is a sign of bacteria growth which will quickly kill the flowers. Always wash the vase with hot soapy water and a few drops of chlorine bleach. Rinse well.

• Place the vase away from heat sources, such as the television, fireplace or cooking stove. If however, you want the buds to open quickly, place the flowers in direct sunlight. The water depth should be half way up the stem length.

• If you are gathering flowers from your own garden, cut them during the late evening or early morning. They will be at their peak and last much longer.

Special Care for Some Cuttings

• Crush the lower inch of stems of woody branches such as dogwood, forsythia, crabapple and other flowering trees. A vertical cut about an inch up the stem will allow more water to be drawn up the stem.

• Some flowers exude a milky substance when cut. This substance is actually nutrients. To prevent this nutrient loss, light a candle and burn the tip of each stem. The flower will still be able to take up water through the side of the stem. Hollyhocks, zinnias and sunflowers benefit from this treatment.

• Hollow stem flowers such as amaryllis, lupine and delphinium, need water inside the stem. There are two methods of achieving this: 1) pour water into the stem and stuff a couple of cotton balls just inside the opening, 2) or pour water into the stem, hold your finger over the opening and quickly place the flower into the vase of water, then remove your finger once the stem opening is under water.

• Flowers that grow from bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and crocus should have the thick fibrous tip removed so water can be drawn into the stem.

When to Gather Fresh Flowers

According to Ron Wolford, Horticulture Educator, each type of flower has a proper stage of development or maturity for cutting. For most flowers the time is just before they are fully open or mature. That is, the blooms are more developed than tight buds but not so old that they are starting to deteriorate. Examples of this category include baby's breath, chrysanthemums, carnations, pinks, cornflowers, cosmos, dahlias, delphinium, geraniums, nasturtium, sunflowers and snapdragons.

Other flowers keep best when cut in the bud stage or when starting to open. Daffodil, iris, peony, poppy and tulip are examples. Gladiolus may be cut when the two lowest buds are open. Still other flowers last longer and keep best when fully open at cutting time; examples are daisy, marigold, orchid, violet and zinnia.

Your Triglyceride Level and Heart Disease

Researchers have discovered that a high level of triglycerides in your blood stream can increase your risk of heart disease. Your blood carries several different types of fat-carrying cells. They are present in many shapes and sizes. Some are thick and dense (HDL - good cholesterol) and some are light and fluffy (LDL - the bad stuff).

If you have high blood cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels are usually the only fat particles measured. There are many other particles in the blood left unmeasured. Among them is triglycerides. New research suggests that they can also give important clues to risk of heart disease and stroke.

How are triglycerides measured? Your overall cholesterol level is based on a deciliter of blood. A level of 200 mg/dl of blood is considered to be normal. Closer examination of the fat particles present will reveal a ratio of HDL, LDL, VLDL (also bad) and triglycerides. Triglyceride levels below 250 mg/dl of blood are considered normal. Borderline high is 250 to 500 mg/dl of blood.

Changes in lifestyle can keep triglyceride levels low. Quit smoking, lose those excess pounds, eat less fat and fried foods and increase walking and exercise in general. If none of these work to lower your triglyceride levels, there are drugs to lower your blood levels. See your doctor for a cholesterol test. Remember to fast for 12 hours before the test.

Freezing Blueberries

1. Sort through berries, removing any crushed or damaged fruit.

2. Wash under cool running water and allow to drain for a few minutes.

3. Fill a zip-closure freezer bag with berries, all the way to the top. Gently squeezing out as much air as possible, zip the bag closed.

4. Label and date the bag, store in the freezer for up to one year or at the top of your refrigerator freezer for 6 to 8 months.

You Say Tomato...

If there is a summer favorite, it must be tomatoes. Vine ripened tomatoes smell like tomatoes. Winter tomatoes are harvested while still green and just do not develop the goodness as in a summer tomato. Tomatoes are an excellent source of antioxidants, Vitamins A and C and the bio-active compounds lycopene and coumarin, both of which have been found to fight cancer. Choose tomatoes that are firm and heavy. Allow them to sit on the counter at room temperature until fully ripe (a day or so) then eat or refrigerate for later use.

• Almonds are high in calcium. A 3/4 cup serving contains 282 mg calcium compared to 300 mg in an eight-ounce glass of skim milk. Adding almonds and other nuts to your diet is a good idea. Remember...variety is the spice of life.

• The bran in brown rice helps to lower cholesterol and reduce blood pressure. When research subjects at Tufts University Medical Center in Boston consumed 20% of their total daily calories as rice bran oil, average LDL levels dipped 20%. White rice does not contain bran.

• You should not stretch cold muscles. Stretch before and after exercising, but don't stretch cold, tight muscles. Warm up first with five or six minutes of gentle exercise, such as jogging in place for 5 minutes or do 50 jumping jacks. When you've begun to perspire slightly or feel warm, it is safe to start stretching. Otherwise, you may cause microscopic tears in your muscles, which can be very painful.

• Raw meat juices can contaminate fruits. At the grocery store make sure the bagger packs raw meat and poultry separately from fruits and vegetables. That way the meats' juices (which may contain disease causing bacteria) will not drip on the produce. Cross contamination can cause food poisoning if you don't wash the produce well before eating it raw.

• Canned vegetables and fruits are as good for you as fresh. One reason is they are processed within hours of being picked, while their "fresh" counterparts may sit on the road or at the store, unrefrigerated, losing nutrients, for weeks before you get them.