Article: 'POPCORN' INSECTS INVADE AREA NATURAL ENEMIES BEST AT CLEARING EGG SACKS

THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM THE PRINTED VERSION.

It looks like popcorn, but it signals an insect invasion. Silver maple trees across Northwest Indiana are being attacked this year by an insect called the cottony maple scale - a normally inconspicuous bug that lays sacks of eggs resembling popcorn or cotton balls.

"There's a lot of it out there," said Mark Kepler, Lake County agricultural agent for the Purdue Extension Service.

"We started getting calls last week, and it seems to be widespread."

Matthew Dickey, director of environmental services for the Portage Parks and Recreation Department, said the last such outbreak in Portage was about 15 years ago.

When the ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!