Nathan Riggs
SPECIALTY: Bugs
ABOUT:
Nathan Riggs is a SAWS project coordinator and licensed irrigator who also happens to have a degree in entomology from Texas A&M University. Yes, Nathan’s a bug expert, and not just on water bugs! When he’s not hard at work on SAWS conservation projects, he enjoys a wide variety of interests including: landscaping, hiking, photography of flowers, insects and other critters, and planning his next adventure with his son, John, and daughter, Olivia.
Related Article
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Crawling critters creeping you out?
Let’s delve into the terrifying tales of some of nature’s wicked winged and other things. The end of October signals cooler weather and brings with it the notion of all things creepy, crawly, scary, and funny! Bugs and other critters are surrounded by a haze of myths and fear-generating stories that are passed down through […]
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Look Out for These Lawn Party Crashers
White grubs can be a real nightmare for homeowners who value a showplace lawn. Checking the lawn for signs of damage will help you manage infestations. One of the signs that the turf growing season is in full swing is the incessant sound of male June beetles crashing into the lit windows of your home […]
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Leave Clippings and Leaves on Your Lawn
Blowing grass clippings and leaves into the street may be simpler and save time, but these materials can clog stormwater drains, harming rivers, streams and neighborhoods. A sure sign of spring, summer or fall is the presence of bags full of leaves or lawn clippings on the curb or an organics (green) receptacle full of […]
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Minimizing Lawn Disease in the Fall
Crisp autumn air is a welcome relief — unless you’ve been overwatering your lawn. Cooler temperatures and increased moisture make your grass susceptible to fungal disease. Cooler temperatures and increased rainfall multiply the chances of disease problems in local lawns. Bermuda, zoysia and St. Augustine grasses can be susceptible to fungal diseases if the following […]
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A Chant For Ants
There are a few species of ants that haven’t endeared themselves to humans. But most of them go about their daily lives completely out of sight. According to most experts, there are more than one million identified species of insects on Earth, and these experts estimate there may be as many as 30 million species […]
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Weeds Gone Wild? Quit Watering.
In winter, grass and plants are not actively growing. But winter weeds like dandelions and henbit are multiplying with every drop of water they get. A quick show of hands please: who has been running the irrigation system at least once a week during winter? Now ask yourself why — because dormant grass doesn’t grow. […]
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It’s Time for Your Irrigation System’s Annual Physical
An in-ground sprinkler system has a brain, heart and circulatory system that must be maintained for good health. Schedule a checkup and get a little cash back in your pocket. When you go to the doctor, the heart, brain, and circulation are all evaluated to make sure everything is in good health. Think of your […]
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Managing Pests the Eco-Friendly Way
More than 98 percent of the insects in your landscape are either beneficial or benign. For the remaining 2 percent, there are ways to manage these pests without harming the rest. Anytime there is a beautiful landscape on display, there are insects lurking in the background to take advantage of opportunities for food and shelter […]
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Six Steps to Your Irrigation System Design Rebate
Itching to make changes to your irrigation system? Or considering ditching it altogether? We can help you do that — and put a little extra cash in your pocket! If you have been considering some changes to the irrigation system at your home, or even permanently shutting down the system and getting rid of it, […]
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Tackle Irrigation System Changes Now
October and November are the ideals months of the year to make some or all of your irrigation system a thing of the past or upgrade it to boost efficiency. For many people, the idea of change can be unsettling, scary or down right harrowing. However, sometimes change can be a good thing and bring […]
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Winter Watering Makes Your Sewer Bill (and Weeds) Grow
Wouldn’t it be great if you had a say in how much you’re charged for your monthly sewer service? Wait a minute, you actually do! Ok everyone, let’s have a show of hands to see how many of you run your irrigation systems at least once per week during the winter? Now, ask yourself why? […]
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Help Monarchs Make the Journey
October marks the peak of the monarch migration southward through Texas and on to Mexico for the winter. There are several ways you can help them along their journey. Texas is known for its wide open spaces, diverse ecosystems, wildflowers and wildlife. And the wildlife can range from the largest mammal to the smallest insect. […]
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Chinch Bugs: Your Lawn’s Worst Enemy
The heat and high temps of late summer aren’t the only culprits that take a toll on your landscape. If your St. Augustine lawn is looking sad and jaundiced, it may be under attack. The calendar may indicate fall is near, but hot summer temperatures continue to linger. And, that can create water stress for […]
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Get Paid to Retire Your Irrigation System
Sprinkler system running up your water bill? Consider ditching it with our Irrigation Design Rebate and add a little cold hard cash to your pocket. Irrigation systems represent a convenient avenue by which homeowners and business owners can apply water to their landscapes on a regular basis to keep them healthy and maintain their appeal. […]
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The Natural Remedy for Ants in Your Plants
Fire ants have been the bane of landscape enjoyment for many years in Texas. Fear not, there’s an easy and effective three-ingredient remedy you can concoct at home. Temperatures are warming, plants are blooming and the urge to use SAWS’ WaterSaver Coupons is strong! With those good intentions to save water comes the need to work the […]
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Butterflies and Bees Aren’t the Only Flower Pollinators
Don’t be so hasty to shoo away those beetles, flies and wasps you see in your garden. They’re helping your flowers produce seed for the future! With spring in full force and flowers aplenty, it’s a real pleasure to watch the butterflies and honeybees at work, moving from flower to flower sipping nectar along the […]
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Winter Watering – How Much Is Enough?
While there’s no perfect answer to how much you should water in winter, there are some key conditions and observations to consider. As homeowners watch their landscapes enter winter dormancy, many wonder, “How much do I need to water my landscape this winter?” While there’s no perfect answer, there are some key conditions and observations […]
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Tarantulas and Trapdoor Spiders: The Not-So-Terrible Truth
With the recent rainfall and onset of cooler temperatures, many San Antonio neighborhoods are seeing an increase of arachnids in their gardens. Late summer and fall in San Antonio marks a time when cooler temperatures filter in, beautiful days with high skies bring smiles to our faces, and the tarantulas and trapdoor spiders go roaming […]
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Releasing Ladybugs in Your Landscape
Ladybugs are predators — they feed on other insects to survive. If you’re releasing them in your landscape to control insects, follow these tips to help them do their job well. Many gardeners and landscape enthusiasts love to incorporate ladybugs (lady beetles) as a biological control strategy in their integrated pest management program. However, there are […]
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How To Rid Your Plants of Ants
Got ants in your plants? There are three simple ingredients you can mix to create an effective and natural treatment for fire ants. Temperatures are warming, plants are blooming and the urge to participate in the SAWS Landscape/Patioscape Coupon program is strong! With those good intentions to save water comes the need to work the soil, remove […]
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Six Steps to an Irrigation Design Rebate
Got an irrigation system? If you’ve been pondering making changes to it — or getting rid of it altogether — now is the time. You may qualify for our irrigation design rebate to help offset some of the cost. If you’ve been considering making some changes to your home irrigation system, or even permanently getting […]
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Winter Watering Grows Your Sewer Bill, Not Your Grass
It’s winter and your lawn is dormant – so why is your irrigation system running? Using extra water outdoors now only makes your sewer bill bloom later. OK everyone, let’s have a show of hands to see how many of you are currently running your irrigation systems at least once per week? I’m asking because […]
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Plant Cool Season Herbs for You and the Butterflies
For enthusiasts who love to grow their own herbs and attract butterflies to their gardens, several cool season herbs can be used as food plants for you and many common butterfly caterpillars. Herb gardening is wildly popular among enthusiasts who like to eat what they grow or who enjoy the pleasant aromas of fresh herbs […]
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Chinch Bugs: No Easy Fix
The heat and high temps of July and August aren’t the only culprits that take a toll on your landscape and lawn. If your St. Augustine grass is looking sad and jaundiced, it may be under attack. Summertime in San Antonio means a lot of different things to people — grillin’, fun in the sun, […]
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Tiny Soil Worms to the Rescue!
Got white grubs, fleas and fungus gnats? Get beneficial nematodes. They’ll attack these insect pests, but are harmless to humans, plants and pets. Spring is well underway and warm temperatures are getting many insects into the swing of their life cycle. For fleas, white grubs and fungus gnats, the crucial part of the life cycle […]
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Pest Insects in the Landscape
Only two percent of insects are actually pests. We’ll introduce you to a few that have a negative impact on your landscape. Scientists state that 98 percent of known species of insects are considered beneficial in the landscape as pollinators, decomposers of organic material and predators that feed on other insects. The remaining identified insect […]
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Monarch Butterflies are On the Move!
Migrating monarch butterflies have been spotted in San Antonio on their way to the oyamel forests of Michoacán, Mexico for winter hibernation.
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Five Things You Need To Know About Releasing Ladybugs in the Landscape
Ladybugs make for great natural pest control in your landscape since they feed on other insects to survive. But before you set them free to feed, follow our five tips for a successful release. Many gardeners and landscape enthusiasts love to incorporate ladybugs (lady beetles) as a biological control strategy in their integrated pest management program. […]
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Pest Patrol: Abolish Those Aphids
Aphid populations can increase rapidly on a plant. Luckily, there are six simple ways to control them. Summertime can be a great time for outdoor fun — sun, sand, games and enjoying the landscape you’ve worked hard to cultivate and nurture. However, summer can be a stressful time as well, particularly for your plants. Heat, […]
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Orange Oil, Vinegar and Dish Soap: Partners in a Natural Herbicide
Weeds are a part of life when you garden, but constantly pulling them doesn’t have to be! Try this simple and natural recipe for killing weeds. Weeds are a part of life if you garden or tend a landscape. Sometimes, it takes just as much time to pull weeds as it does to plant the […]
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Garden Pest Avengers
Got white grubs, fleas and fungus gnats?? Get beneficial nematodes. They’ll attack these insect pests, but are harmless to humans, plants and pets. Spring is well underway and warm temperatures are getting many insects into the swing of their life cycle. For fleas, white grubs, or fungus gnats, the crucial part of the life cycle […]
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Get Your Irrigation System in Shape for Summer
Get your irrigation system into great shape for the summer season and you’ll see a smaller waistline on your water bill! Irrigation systems represent a convenient avenue by which homeowners can apply water to their landscapes on a regular basis to keep them healthy and maintain their appeal. However, any homeowner with an irrigation system […]
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How to Get Rid of Fire Ants in Your Plants
Got ants in your plants? There are three simple ingredients you can mix to create an effective and natural treatment for fire ants. Temperatures are warming, plants are blooming and the urge to participate in the SAWS Landscape/Patioscape Coupon program is strong! With those good intentions to save water comes the need to work the soil, remove […]
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San Antonio: Champion City of the Monarch Butterfly
Pledged to become a champion for monarch butterflies, San Antonio has taken the lead in becoming a place where monarchs can live, breed and feed along their migration path from Mexico to the U.S. in late spring and then back to Mexico in mid-fall. In December 2015, the National Wildlife Federation named San Antonio the […]
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It Pays To Have Your Irrigation System Checked!
If you have an irrigation system that no longer functions, or you don’t want the hassle of maintaining it, consider removing it completely — you just might get some money back! When you go to the doctor, your heart, brain and circulation are all evaluated to make sure everything is in good health. Think of […]
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Don’t Let the Notion of Irrigation System Changes Give You the Creeps!
The weather is changing and your landscape doesn’t have that unquenchable thirst for water as it did in the summer. October marks the time of year to make some or all of your irrigation system a ghost of the past. For many people, the idea of change can be unsettling, scary, or downright harrowing. However, […]
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Cool Season Herbs for You and the Butterflies!
Some of the cool season herbs can be used as food plants for many common butterfly caterpillars. Popular cool season herbs that double as caterpillar foods include parsley, fennel, dill, mint and rue. Herb gardening is wildly popular among enthusiasts who like to eat what they grow or who enjoy the pleasant aromas of fresh […]
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Overwatering Your Lawn Means More Bugs!
Keeping a beautiful landscape in South Texas requires a delicate balance of water, nutrients, sunlight and the right plants to make everything work in harmony. If any of these facets increases or decreases, harsh changes can occur to the landscape very quickly. Take water for instance. The right amount of water promotes plant growth without […]
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Summer Landscape Watering: How Much is Enough?
As hot weather sets in and homeowners watch their landscapes wither into summer dormancy, many ask: “How much do I need to water my landscape this summer to keep it alive?” While there is no perfect answer, ask yourself the following questions: Is it raining on a regular or semi-regular basis? Normally, a good summer […]
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Fall Webworms
As spring turns into summer, shade trees are full of leaves and pecan trees are working overtime to produce a pecan crop for fall. Unfortunately for local homeowners and pecan growers, there is a vile enemy that always appears: the dreaded fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea). Fall webworm moths lay their eggs on the underside of pecan, […]
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Butterfly or Moth? Can You Tell the Difference?
Butterflies and moths are sometimes confused with one another. There’s one easy way to tell them apart: look at the antennae. Butterfly antennae will end with either a knob or a hook, while moth antennae end in a point or with a feathery appearance. Butterflies rest at night and fly during the day, while most […]
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Insects in the Landscape: Decomposers of Organic Matter
The final installment in our four-part series on the insect roles in the landscape will cover a topic that isn’t necessarily recognized as a role that insects play – breaking down organic matter and facilitating its return to the soil as nutrients. Sure, we think of fungi and bacteria that grow on dead trees and plants and break them […]
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Wild for Wildflowers!
Thanks to wonderful rains last fall and early this spring, wildflowers across South Texas are producing one of the most spectacular displays in recent years. Texas is known far and wide for its vast fields of bluebonnets (the State flower) and colorful palates of yellow, pink, purple, orange, red and white flowers from March through […]
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Insects in the Landscape: Pests
Last time we talked about the importance of insects as predators in the landscape. This third article in the series talks a little about the two percent of all insect species that are considered pests in some way. Although they damage plants, trees and buildings, bite humans and animals, and spread diseases and pathogens, we’ll […]
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Insects in the Landscape: Predators
In a previous article, we reviewed the importance of insects as pollinators for flowers, fruits and other plants in the landscape. This time we’ll take a look an often overlooked benefit of insects — their role as predators by feeding on insects that cause damage to your favorite plants. While some of these helpful insects have a […]
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Insects in the Landscape: Pollinators
There are more than 1 million species of insects identified on Earth, and scientists believe there are millions more that are still undiscovered. Within these species, experts agree that 98 percent of insects are considered to be beneficial or benign in some fashion, with the remaining two percent considered to be pests that cause damage or disease. […]
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Leaf My Plants Alone
Anyone who lives in South or East Texas where deep sandy or sandy loam soils exist knows about leaf cutter ants (Atta texana). Sometimes called cut ants or parasol ants, leaf cutter ants strip the leaves from plants and vegetables including roses, crepe myrtles, hawthorns, fruit trees, beans, squash and pine trees. They work quickly and steadily […]
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Managing Pests the Eco-Friendly Way
Anytime there is a beautiful landscape on display, there are insects lurking in the background to take advantage of opportunities for food and shelter among the plants. For some, insects are unwelcome visitors to the landscape and must be removed. For others, insects are a reflection of the natural order and balance in the environment […]
