Weeds
Weedy annuals include 3 life-cycle types here in Arizona.
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Each weed species requires a different eradication strategy, weather and time of year also factors into weed control. By knowing the life cycles of common weeds,control will be easier in the future. |
Sow Thistle
Sow Thistle, (Sonchus oleraceus) a native to Europe, is a tall, course annual with milky juice. Sow Thistle is found in cultivated fields, meadows, roadsides and waste places. A perennial reproducing by seed and underground roots. The stems are hollow, smooth and branching at the top. The flower is yellow, dandelion-like.
Redstem Flaree
Redstem Flaree (Erodium cicutarium) was introduced from Europe native to Mediterranean region. Annual or winter annual, reproduces by seeds. Overwinters as rosette and blossoms in early spring. Flowers April to June and is one of earliest flowering plants in spring.Widespread across North America, abundant on Pacific Coast.
A weed in fields and waste places, sometimes lawns, pastures, and on dry soil
Russian Thistle
Russian thistle (Salsola tragus ) was introduced from Russia and is an annual which reproduces by seed. It is a round, bushy, much-branched plant growing 1 to 3-1/2 feet high. The branches are slender, succulent when young, and woody when mature. Russian thistle grows on dry plains, in cultivated fields, roadsides, and waste places, chiefly in grain-growing areas.
At maturity, the plant breaks off at the base and because of its round shape becomes an excellent tumbleweed.
Annual Bluegrass
Annual Bluegrass, (Poa annua L.) a turf grass weed that grows best in cool, moist conditions and rich soil but tolerates a variety of conditions including compacted soils. This weed lives as an annual and perennial. Reproduction by seed and favors golf greens and cool, moist conditions. Annual bluegrass can be controlled with pre- and post-emergence herbicides.
London Rocket
London rocket (Sisymbrium irio L.) is a European native weed belonging to the mustard family,and is one of the first winter weeds to appear in southern Arizona. It is abundant in irrigated land in crops such as alfalfa and small grains, in gardens, citrus orchards, pastures, and along roadsides. London rocket is a bright green fleshy winter annual. The stems branch from the base 1 to 3 feet high. It has a coarse taproot. Small, yellow flowers are borne on slender stalks in small clusters at the stem tip.
What's Bugging the Sun Cities
Windscorpion
Windscorpions, sometimes called sun spiders or solpugids. The body is as much as an inch and a half long, with a pair of heavy pinchers. Windscorpions get the name from their speed and general resemblance to scorpions. They subdue their prey with ther pinchers, which lack poison glands.
Source: Insects of the Southwest
Varied Carpet beetle
Adult carpet beetles are about an eighth of an inch long, and round in appearance. The backs of the insects have much the same color scheme as the larvae. The larvae have small, hairy, soft bodies about a quarter inch long, depending on the instar. The larvae feed on a wide variety of foods, including carpets, furs, woolens, skins, stuffed animals, leather, feathers, silk and many plant products. The adults feed on nothing except pollen and nectar from flowers outside.
In spring and early summer, the adult will lay up to a hundred eggs, usually cemented to the product, or on furs,...
Tarantulas
The Desert Tarantula (Aphonopelma chalcodes)
This is our office mascot, she’s about 9 years old.
Tarantulas are harmless to humans and can be trained as pets.
For details about Tarantulas visit Desert USA.
Syrphid Fly or Flower Fly
Springtails
Springtails are minute insects without wings in the Order Collembola.
They occur in large numbers in moist soil and are found in homes with high humidity, organic debris, or mold.
Homeowners sometimes discover these insects in large numbers in swimming pools, potted plants, or in moist soil and mulch.
They feed on decaying, damp vegetation causing organic material
and other nutrients to return to the soil which are later used by plants. Occasionally, springtails attack young seedling and may damage
the roots and stems. 650 species in North America. Worldwide,...
Pillbug, Sow Bug, Isopod
Sowbugs and pillbugs are the only two crustaceans that have adapted themselves entirely to land. They actually have gills instead of a trachea (insects lungs) with which they breath.
They are also related to snails and slugs.
Sowbugs are virtually the same as pillbugs but have a wider body and cannot roll themselves into a ball. Sowbugs have two appendages that protrude from the rear of the body. They have oval bodies which have 7 overlapping plates, as well as 7 pairs of legs. Head...
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Local Weather
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