Patty: Yeah I've spent many hours on BugGuide.net and WhatsThatBug.com researching with my kids the various little bugs, insects, and critters found around here. They are excellent repositories but are extremely cumbersome to try to use yourself to ID something. The above pics are the first time I've done so and haven't had a reply yet. Going through thousands of images in each family take forever to ID a spider or whatever, even when bugguide at least starts you out based on a specific shape. Rhizo: Thanks so much! It does appear to be a midge. The Chironomini midge here looks very close to the middle one of mine above. >>> Do you live near a pond or a lake? There is a small estuary about 1 mile (as the wind blows) north of here fed by the San Joaquin River. Other than that, our city is filled with ponding basins everywhere, almost everyone lives within 1 mile of one. Although they are dried up now, the late season rainfall may have left some with enough muck for perfect breeding grounds. Never seen them before but I know much more about them now. I know the city takes action against the throngs of foreclosed homes with swimming pools serving as breeding grounds for insects. That is, unless the skate borders got to them first.

There is no reason to get rid of these beneficial predators just because you fear their 'bite'. They will soon dissipate even before they develop wings, and it is doubtful that you'll come across one again. As adults, they can fly to sources of potential meals and also fly away from the paws of curious children. Teach your children that they should not handle insects or animals of any kind, without permission. Even ladybugs can bite. I've had a praying mantid draw blood. Think of all of the stinging caterpillars!

So even though this is turning into more of a blog than a forum discussion, I thought I'd provide some updates. I was searching the internet for American Hornbeam pests when I found a forum discussion about Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs on another website. Suddenly I remembered that I have had dozens of them over-wintering in my bonsai room, though until recently I haven't gone to much trouble to get rid of them because they didn't appear to be doing any harm to my resident tropicals. Over the past few months though I have reduced their numbers to the point that I only see 1 every other day or so, so there are very few (if any) left at this point. Here is a dead one that I fished out of my humidity tray just a few minutes ago. These insects have antennas, but this one soaked in the water long enough that they have folded down to where you cannot see them. Has anyone had trouble with these insects eating or damaging bonsai leaves in the past? Does anyone know if they are potential bonsai pests? I read online that they could potentially cause damage to houseplants, but no specifics were provided. Also, while searching the tree again for pests, I stumbled upon what looks to be a scale infestation of the bark (only at canopy height, none found lower). I have dealt with scale on Ficus leaves before, but have never seen scale on bark/hardwood. Is this possible? I have posted pictures of what I believe to be scale below, as well as videos of me removing the scale (in hopes that someone can view them and confirm that this is indeed scale). I've also posted pictures of the marking left on the bark following scale removal, and some close ups of the scales following removal. The last picture is a close up (via microscope) of the yellow puss-looking inhabitant found under these shells. Though I am pretty sure that this is scale, I'd really appreciate if someone could confirm! Also, what pesticides are safe to use on Hornbeams? I realize that the safest thing to do is to scrape them all off, but I have little confidence that I can find them all (there are A LOT).

Can anyone ID this graft of mine? It was from a scion exchange, it ripens late May early June in Northern California (ie very early for a plum) and it has a distinct "nose" on every fruit. The flesh is white. Thanks! Carla in Sac