Pests to Watch For in Denver in July

As summer enters full swing in July, the peak period of bee migration arrives.

When a beehive becomes too crowded, the old queen and about half of the hive will form a swarm and start the search for a new home.

These swarms are generally docile but can be alarming due to the sheer number of bees in the swarm. However, it’s still generally a good idea to keep one’s distance from a swarm in order to avoid making the bees feel threatened.

Whatever you do, PLEASE don’t spray the swarm with insecticide, water, or anything else in an attempt to get them to leave. Swarms will eventually depart on their own, once the scout bees return with news of having found a suitable location for the new hive.

Denver Area Bee Removal

It’s our hope they find an empty beekeepers box or a hollow tree to establish their new home. But unfortunately, bees sometimes find the empty spaces in the walls of your home and begin building a hive inside.

On these rare occasions, the colony must be eliminated as soon as possible. And it’s not just us saying that. The Colorado State University Extension Office’s website says: “If allowed to develop, large amounts of wax and honey can be produced which ultimately damages the building when the hive dies out or when the combs melt due to extreme heat.”

It’s important we all do what we can to ensure bees survive and thrive here in Colorado. Our farmers depend on them to pollinate their crops. And without bees, your garden wouldn’t produce fruits and vegetables either.

There are also a number of other insects on the The Colorado State University Extension Office’s extremely handy calendar listing all the pests in the Denver area you should keep an eye out for around your home and garden in the month of July.

The other pests to watch for in July include:

Household Insects

• Strawberry root weevils: Migrations into homes accelerates.
• Sun spiders (wind scorpions): Peak period of indoor migrations.

Tree/Shrub Insects

• Peach tree borer: Egg laying typically begins. Preventive sprays should be made at this time to kill newly hatching larvae.
• Elm leaf beetle: First generation larvae become full-grown and move down trunk to pupate.
• Black vine weevil: Adult leaf notching injuries are obvious on euonymus and rhododendron.
• Leafcurling aphids: Most species have departed from overwintering host trees and shrubs.
• Cooley spruce gall adelgids: Peak period of emergence from galls and migration to Douglas-fir alternate host.
• Pinyon pitch mass borer: Adult emergence continues and egg laying begins.
• Codling moth: Flights and egg laying of the second, most damaging, generation ofte n begin at this time.
• Leafcutter bees: Characteristic cut leaf injury begins to appear on rose, lilac and other susceptible hosts.
• Apple maggot: Expect the emergence of adult flies and onset of egg laying. Monitor flights with sticky traps.

Garden Insects

• Mexican bean beetle: Larvae begin to damage beans.
• Colorado potato beetle: Peak period of larval injury. End of first generation.
• Tobacco budworm: Early evidence of injury to flowers may be present.

Lawns

• Sod webworms: Watch for damage to turf grasses by the second generation larvae.

Miscellaneous

• Honey bee swarms: This is commonly a time for peaks in swarming in sunny afternoons.

 

 

Tree/Shrub Insects

• Codling moth: Second generation continues to lay eggs. Monitor flights with pheromone traps.
• Elm leaf beetle: Second generation egg laying and hatch often occurs in late July.
• Cooley spruce gall: Abandoned galls become dry and very conspicuous.
• Pearslug: Larvae damage plum, cotoneaster.
• Elm aphids: Stages on leaves excrete large amounts of honeydew.

Garden Insects 

• Tomato hornworms: Peak damage by larvae occurs over the next month.
• Potato/tomato psyllid: Symptoms may begin to appear on potatoes and tomatoes.
• Mexican bean beetle: Larvae begin to damage beans.

Here at Pure Pest Co. we’re always ready, willing, and able to help keep your home pest free. Give us a call at 720-325-4500 or contact us through our website to schedule your service today!