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The name powderpost beetle is actually a general label used for a wide variety of wood-boring beetles, including true powderpost beetles (Lyctinae), false powderpost beetles (Bostrichidae), and deathwatch beetles (Anobiidae). While the term powderpost comes from the powder (aka frass) these insects leave behind, it is actually their larvae that cause the most damage. These larvae, also known as woodworms, voraciously eat through wood from the inside, creating tunnels (or galleries) inside the wood....

Spiders prey on common household pests such as mosquitoes and flies, making them an important part of your in-house pest control strategy. Most spiders are also quite small, meaning they pose little danger to humans. Overall, finding a spider in your home is an indication of a healthy ecosystem. It’s best to leave spiders be when possible, but how do you know if the spiders you’re seeing are dangerous, and what can you do to keep them outside where they belong?...

The carrotwood became popular because it is an attractive tree. That cannot be denied, providing year-round interest, attractive foliage throughout the year, whimsical blooms that give way to interesting brightly colored, and most of all, it is very easy to maintain. When introduced in Florida, these traits made the plant too attractive. It soon became too popular and an ecological disaster, which led to it having to be prohibited, but oddly enough, it was still available....

The needles are a rich green or green-gray and quite fragrant. The tree is typically planted in late fall. Patient gardeners with enough land to properly host a cedar of Lebanon tree can expect a pyramid-shaped tree for the first 20 or so years that eventually flattens as it ages. Beyond that, caring for a cedar of Lebanon tree is rather straight-forward. It prefers well-drained soil and full sun in order to thrive....

The Alocasia dragon scale is primarily grown for its stunning foliage but does produce insignificant spathe-like flowers in the spring and summer months. Many growers choose to cut the flowers off in order to redirect the plant’s energy back to the foliage, but this is optional. Light Accustomed to the dappled light of the rainforest understory, dragon scale Alocasia does best with bright indirect light. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight as it is susceptible to leaf burn....

In terms of their care, plan to water whenever the soil begins to dry out. Fertilization will generally be an annual task, along with pruning. The shrubs can spread out of their bounds via suckers traveling through the soil. So cut back these suckers if you wish to prevent the shrub’s spread. Moreover, if you live in a climate that has considerable temperature fluctuations, a light layer of mulch around your shrub can help to keep its roots at a consistent temperature as well as to retain soil moisture....

Boxwood is toxic to dogs, cats and horses. When grown as a hedge or formal screen, the primary maintenance for the shrubs will be in regular pruning, though this will not be necessary if you are using them as specimen plantings. Light Boxwoods will take full sun to partial shade, but planting them in an area bathed in dappled shade for the hottest part of the afternoon is preferable. When sheltered by trees, the roots of dwarf boxwoods will profit from the cooler soil temperatures....

Scaevola is a fast-growing plant that is normally planted from purchased nursery seedlings in the spring after soil temperatures are fully warmed, or from seeds started indoors in early spring. Like many Australian natives, Scaevola is a tough specimen that doesn’t suffer from any serious pest, disease, or cultural problems. Plants stressed by lengthy drought may attract thrips, and mealybugs may be occasional nuisances. Avoid spraying Scaevola for insects, as these plants are an important source of nectar for butterflies....

Light Similar to succulents, these heart-shaped hoyas require lots of light in order to grow and thrive indoors. Choose a location for your hoya kerrii that receives several hours of bright, direct sunlight every day. A west- or south-facing window is ideal. If you are lacking in the natural light department, adding a grow light to your setup may be a good idea. A full-spectrum LED grow light is a great choice for hoyas....

North American native woodland plants, mahonias, are easy-to-grow and have an almost tropical look. The fragrant golden-yellow late winter or early-spring blooms are attractive to pollinators like bees and butterflies. The dark bluish-black berries appeal to a range of birds, who might also take refuge in the thick, green foliage. Part of the appeal of these upright evergreen shrubs is that they offer year-round interest and the spiky foliage is deer-resistant....

Light To keep its variegation bright and plentiful, provide your Monstera albo with lots of bright, indirect light. At least six to seven hours of filtered light is recommended. It is important to keep these plants out of direct sunlight as the variegated parts of their leaves are extra sensitive to sunburn. If Monstera albos do not get enough light, they will start to lose their variegation, so they are not good low light plants....

The moon cactus is an albino plant, which means it has no chlorophyll. Therefore, it relies on the rootstock cactus as a food source. There is a parasitic relationship between the upper and lower portions, and if there is an incompatibility between the needs of the host cactus on the bottom and the scion on top, one or both may die. Like many cacti, these plants prefer a drying period between waterings, even to the point where they slightly wilt....

Light Rose campion does very well in partial sun, or in full sun. It can have a tendency to dry out during a hot summer, so consider placing it in a spot with morning sun as opposed to afternoon sun. It will usually not bloom in full shade if it happens to re-seed there, so you can relocate any volunteers to a sunnier spot. Soil While it is not too fussy about soil, like most plants the rose campion does best in soil that is well drained....

Spider plants are moderately fast-growing plants that can be planted at any time as long as they are not exposed to frost. Regular watering is typically the most time-consuming part of spider plant care. Throughout the growing season (spring to fall) also plan to fertilize regularly. And repot your plant as needed once its roots have outgrown the container. Light Outdoors, spider plants prefer to grow in light shade. They can tolerate heavy shade, but their growth won’t be as robust....

The oblong leaves are 4 to 12 inches long, with a leathery dark-green surface. Although it is an attractive tree with dense, full foliage, black sapote is not a particularly good ornamental landscape tree—the bark is easily damaged by mowers and it does not respond well to the fertilizers used on lawns. But mature plants produce a highly unusual fruit with a pudding-like flesh, rich and smooth with chocolatey overtones....

Blueberries include several species of flowering, fruiting shrubs within the Vaccinium genus, all native to North America. Relatives within the Vaccinium genus include the bilberry, cranberry, huckleberry, and lingonberry. Blueberry bushes have pointed, oblong leaves that are leathery to the touch and turn a brilliant red color in the fall. The flowers appear in clusters of small, white, bell-shaped blooms in the late spring, leading to deliciously edible berries that ripen from green to a deep purple-blue....

Borage is a somewhat gangly plant, but you barely notice that because the star-shaped flowers hanging in downward-facing clusters are so vibrant. It also boasts a greenish-gray stem and leaves that are covered in a prickly fuzz, which acts as a deterrent for insects. Planting borage should be done in the early spring. While people do eat the leaves, technically the leaves are mildly toxic both to people and pets....

You will only be able to grow the cassava plant as a perennial started in spring if you live in a warm region like Florida, where it is most similar to the tropical and subtropical climates it is grown in its native habitats. It can take up to eight months to produce a harvest and is an interesting alternative to some of the more common root vegetables. Cassava Plant Care Light Although cassava plants produce their best harvest if they get extended exposure to sunlight, intense direct sunlight can cause leaf burn....