Plant Diseases

• Please see the article in this issue by Christine Englebrect about two possible fungal diseases of spruce that the clinic has received samples of lately – Stigmina needle cast and sudden needle drop.

Insect Pests

• Carpet beetle larvae. We have recently received samples of carpet beetle larvae. Many people don't know that these are a larger pest of wool clothing in Iowa than clothes moths.
• Larger yellow ants. The brief warm weather in January caused the larger yellow ants to become active in homes. We received samples from concerned homeowners about these harmless ants.