Tim,
that's great! I knew you loved Yucca but had no idea your collection was so big.
They grow well here so I ought to get some. The only one we have now is W's Y. rostrata which she grows in a pot and brings in for winter. --Erik

Hi Barb,

the yucca beetle is this thing...... http://bugguide.net/node/view/37497/bgimage

I wish I knew an easy way to kill them.

Thanks Duncan & Erik!

Yuk, glad I've never seen those!

http://bugguide.net/node/view/37497/bgimage

Found this interesting.
Beetle damage PRECEDES yucca moth visitation: 😯
http://www.jstor.org/pss/3545620

Barb

Hi Barb,

thanks for the Yucca moth/beetle article. The beetles are a big problem in my yard and prevent me from hybridizing yuccas. Some years I'm lucky to get any seeds to develop. I need to find out how to kill the beetles without hurting the flowers or Yucca moths.

The photo didn't show any wings on beetles.
Maybe a sticky petroleum jelly on the flower stems would prevent them crawling up to the flowers.

This is a problem for the scientists!
Barb

Hi Barb,

the beetles do have wings. They typically fly in at dusk.

I know you have tons of yucca flowers but I wonder if there's a way to break the cycle for just one year.
Although your flowers are still lovely and plentiful...but you want to hybridize some.

There must be a fine cloth mesh (like a bridal veil netting) that could be placed over the developing flower spikes, tied at the bottom, to keep the flying beetles out. It's worth a shot.

But then the yucca moths can't get in either 😥

I'm stumped.
Barb

Hi Barb,

I really don't need the Yucca moths......I just don't want to kill them. I need to get my lazy #zz to get some fine netting and protect the blooms!

I want to see the video of you going into the fabric shop and asking for 5 yards of bridal veiling. 😛 😛 😛

my neighbors will think I'm nuts if I cover all my Yucca blooms!

<img src= >

my neighbors will think I'm nuts . . .

Tim My neighbors already think i'm nuts too! Banana tree in the front yard and all . . . - People stop and knock on my front door to ask questions. They say the house is the talk of the town.
We're going to have to kick it up a notch this year. Keep them talking hahaha - Paul

<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/CT/Windsor_Locks.html?bannertypeclick=wu_bluestripes"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/wu_bluestripes_both/language/english/US/CT/Windsor_Locks.gif?ForcedCity=Windsor Locks&ForcedState=CT" alt="Click for Windsor Locks, Connecticut Forecast" height="90" width="160" />

 

Speaking of talk of the town......did you see Bill in the local newspaper a few years back?

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2009/10/10/attleboro/6246745.txt

Speaking of talk of the town......did you see Bill in the local newspaper a few years back?

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2009/10/10/attleboro/6246745.txt

That awesome!!
Paul

That's our boy!

Somebody should tell the newspaper to go back and see all his new palms and greenhouse. 😀

Barb

Thought I had found a yucca beetle...oops, it wasn't one, but looked so similar.
S Q U I S H.

<img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="DSC04624" />
Barb