Lacewings are garden good guys

: I have these pale green, 1/2-inch transparent flying objects that remind me of moths. What are they and are they a threat to my small, young fruit trees?

A: The transparent green moths might be green lacewings, a biological predator in our gardens. They are good guys. Be careful spraying pesticides with this guy around.

Q: I found several vegetable seed packets from 2003 in my desk. Can I still plant them and expect results?

A: It depends on the seeds and the conditions under which they were stored. Generally speaking, if they have been kept dry and at room temperature under the low humidity of our desert many seeds will store for about 5 years with some loss in the germination percentage each year. It is the combination of high temperatures and humidity that reduce the life of stored seeds.

There are some seeds with high oil content, like corn, that do not store well and are lost after about two years. Most likely seeds from 2003 will have a very low germination percentage. If you use them, plant more seeds than you need to compensate for the low germination percentage.

Q: Can you suggest how we might prevent the usual annual onslaught of tomato horn worms?

A: The only thing you can do is to make a note in your calendar for next year to apply an organic pesticide such as Bt, marketed as Dipel or Thuricide, or Spinosad around early to mid-May and apply it early in the morning.

Bob Morris is an associate professor with the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Direct gardening questions to the master gardener hot line at 257-5555 or contact Morris by e-mail at morrisr@unce.unr.edu.