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Red-shouldered bug

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Southwest Yard & Garden By Bethany Abrahamson    Every year I see these little characters under my golden rain tree in Albuquerque. Photo credit: Bethany Abrahamson.  QUESTION: How do you feel about those bugs that hang around golden rain trees?   --Sandoval County, NM     ANSWER: I don’t mind them! Red-shouldered or golden rain tree bugs ( Jadera haematoloma ) are some of the earliest bugs I see in my garden, and they remind me that spring is here, even while I’m still bundled up.    Here's a size comparison of some Jadera nymphs, by Marisa Thompson.    In fact, I started this article thinking they were boxelder bugs, but the two are in different genera. Boxelder bugs and red-shouldered bugs have pretty similar life habits and effects on the landscape. So that you can tell them apart: Both boxelder bugs and red-shouldered bugs are red and black with red eyes, but boxelder bugs are found on boxelder ( Acer negundo ), maple and ash...
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Critter Mysteries: Yellowjackets and Cottonwood Leaf Beetles

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by Bethany Abrahamson, with contributions from NMSU Extension Specialists!  QUESTION: W e have a nest of what appears to be very busy yellowjackets on our property.  We experienced a recent hard freeze and some snow, and the soil in my raised beds is frozen solid. Can you share some fun facts about these little fellas? Is the warm weather keeping them active or is this typical for them? -- Kasey M., Sandoval County   Photo credit: Kasey M. Sandoval County  ANSWER: In doing some preliminary research I found the following quote: “yellowjacket colonies do not normally survive the winter and the first hard freeze will eliminate most colonies.” ( via Clemson Cooperative Extension/ ) …which is incredible to see, after the cold snap that we experienced in the area late January (when these photos were taken)! University of Florida also reports that colonies die off in the winter. However,  it does seem like mild winters can allow yellowjackets to overwinter and coloni...
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