This show about our garden is a “repetey” from a couple years ago. Some things neve
r change, except, we have started using neem oil as a repellant and it is an effective organic way to deal with troublesome insects. Neem oil is derived from the seed of the Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) native to parts of India. It is related, by the way, to the chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach), an exotic found all over urban southeastern Arizona in old landscapes. I’ve read that a pesticide can be made from its berries and seed as well. It might be well worth doing some homework if you have a chinaberry in your neighborhood and troublesome insects in your garden.
The pesky insects found around our home and garden and that are the stars of this show are the rose chafer (Macrodactylus uniformis), the squash bug (Anasa trista), and the harlequin bug (Murgatia histrionica). Now you know.
