We are in the late-summer-to-early-fall season when bugs seem to proliferate in our landscapes and gardens. A few species, such as the fascinating Hickory Horned Devil, really catch the attention of southern gardeners each fall. Other common late-season insects are fall webworms and bark lice, with their silky strands like "angel hair" covering the bark of trees. The other day I was thinking about the different reactions to insects when one of my daughters and a friend showed up holding some insects they had captured in their bare hands. Totally unsqueamish, they were displaying their prizes for all to see. To them bugs are fascinating mini-robots. They are aware of the few "don't touch" creepy-crawlies but know the rest are not to be feared.

There are a number of misconceptions when it comes to controlling insects around the home and landscape. For some gardeners, the only good bug is a dead bug! Actually less than 3 percent of all insects are considered pests. The rest are either beneficial or harmless. Insects are part of a complex and interrelated ecosystem. A spray applied to destroy a pest may well be destroying beneficials as well. Remember that when you kill a beneficial insect you inherit its job. While I'll grant you southern gardeners that an insect doing the backstroke in your mint julep is alarming, I assure you the bug is in more distress than you! We live in an environment full of bugs and it is unrealistic to think it can be made "bug free" without serious consequences.

Another misconception is that the presence of a bug on my plant warrants a spray application. Even the presence of a true pest is not enough to warrant taking action to control it. There exists a "threshold level" for various plants and pests at which control is deemed necessary. Minor damage usually does not affect production (fruits and vegetables) or ornamental value. Plants were living with these pests long before we decided to make a garden out of the place and showed up with our spray solutions.

Before resorting to control measures, we need to get help in identifying the suspect. Then determine if and when a spray is needed. In my next column, I'll continue these thoughts on misconceptions about insects and discuss some tips for managing the ones that really warrant control. See you later!

I was visiting with a gardener who was frustrated because he wasn't having any luck controlling an insect problem. It turns out he was using a product not registered for use on that particular insect. Some gardeners use whatever product they happen to have around to control whatever pest happens to be plaguing them.

Using the correct product is important. Pesticides are divided into groups including fungicides (for disease control), insecticides (for insect control), and herbicides (for weed control). Each product has a select group of pests against which it is effective. Additionally, some products prevent insect or disease problems, while others alleviate problems that have already begun. Some products remain effective for weeks after they are applied, while others last only a few hours or less. Certain products are labeled for use on edible plants while others are restricted to ornamentals. Products also differ in terms of toxicity to people, beneficial insects, and various pests. For best results -- and to protect yourself -- select a product that's appropriate for the pest and the plant being attacked. Your County Extension office and local nursery professional are two sources of help for making a good decision. By making an informed decision you can get the most benefit with the least risk.

Another misconception is that "if a teaspoon of pesticide is good, a tablespoon will be better." Failure to apply pesticides in accordance with the label is both illegal and unwise. Using less of the product than recommended can waste time and money, may result in poor control, and can contribute to development of resistance in the pests. Overdosing can burn plants, increase health risk to people and pets, and potentially damage the environment.

A third point of confusion concerns organic (or natural) products. Many gardeners fail to use proper precautions when mixing and applying these products because they assume that "organic" means "safe." Organic products (like their synthetic counterparts) vary greatly in their toxicity to people, pests, and beneficial insects. Nicotine sulfate (an organic product now seldom used) is among the most acutely toxic products available over the counter; rotenone is very toxic to fish; Bacillus thuringiensis or B.t. can unintentionally kill butterfly larvae (caterpillars); and insecticidal soap (not truly organic, but one of the lowest toxicity pest control options) can destroy ladybug and lacewing larvae as well as other soft-bodied beneficials.

Organic controls offer many benefits, such as a tendency to break down quickly in the environment, and they often are the safest option. But, like all products, they must be used with caution and only when necessary.

Remember that your garden is also a zoo. Identifying your pest and using the least toxic strategies to manage pests can help you get the most out of your landscape and garden while reducing the risks to you and your environment.

Skip Richter has been an avid gardener in the south and southwest for 30 years. He appears on local radio and television gardening shows, and writes a weekly newspaper gardening column. He has trained Master Gardeners in several Texas county programs, as well as at state and national conferences. He is the county extension agenc for Travis County, TX