When I'm out and about in the region, I'm often stopped and asked about the update on the Asian Lady Beetles.

So here goes my prediction and its the same as several weeks ago but even better. Its the same and even better because mainly we haven't had any appreciable amounts of rain. Certainly the drought has affected landscapes negatively, but on the other hand there is a silver lining so to speak for homeowners living near or in wooded areas. The canopy of trees is still stressed and more so as the drought continues. The leaves at the tree tops are dry and crispy. So dry that the aphids that live to suck on succulent leaves at the tree's top are just about non-existant.

That's good news and I say good news for the people I just mentioned living near woods. Two years ago these same homeowners were literally bombarded by Asian lady beetles. When they called to describe that they had hundreds of these home invaders on their windows, I mentioned that if they could count them, they didn't have a problem. I've seen homes where you literally couldn't even see out the windows. Like I've said before, if there isn't any aphids to feed on the tree top leaves, there won't be any Lady Beetles that love to eat those same aphids. I made myself look good last year by predicting the same reduction in beetles but I followed the same sequence of food supply and drought situation to come up with my prediction. Just in case, if the days get cold and the sun shines the next day say around the last week of this month, have the pesticide ready just in case but I think it will be another Asian Beetle free year.