Q: In the winter, leaf-footed bugs hide under piles of wood, fruit shells, and any other debris you have laying around. Sweep up any debris near your gardening area. Also seal up any nearby buildings to ensure that the cold takes care of most of the bugs.  If you have a barn or shed nearby, remove as many hiding spots as possible. Cover any cracks or other openings the bugs can get into. Bugs can also hide on or in plants like palms, juniper, and citrus trees. Check the leaves regularly. Weeds are a food source for these pests. Adult leaf-footed bugs feed on winter weeds like thistles when they emerge from hiding. Pull up the weeds as soon as possible and maintain your planting area regularly. To keep weeds from growing, mow grassy areas before they grow long. Also, you can try spraying a safe weedkiller. This is important to do if you have trees that grow fruits, like citruses or pomegranates. Use pruning shears or a saw to remove excess branches. Leave space between the lowest branches and the ground so the bugs have less of a place to hide.  Regular pruning also makes spotting and catching the bugs a lot easier. Remember to wear gloves, goggles, and any other safety gear you need while pruning. Some helpful creatures eliminate leaf-footed bugs naturally. Tiny wasps, tachinid flies, birds, spiders, and assassin bugs all do this. If you can, make sure these creatures can access your plants. Avoid destroying their eggs when you clean your plants or spray chemicals.  Check the eggs carefully before removing them. Assassin bug eggs, for example, look similar to leaf-footed bug eggs, but are more rounded and have a white cone on top. Also be careful when removing insects. Assassin bugs, for instance, are light-colored without a white marking or leaf shape. Row covers are pieces of fabric you spread over plants to protect them. Install these covers in the beginning of spring. Leave the covers in place for at least the first 2 months of spring in order to guard against leaf-footed bug eggs. These covers work best for self-pollinating plants such as tomatoes.  These covers keep out bugs that pollinate other plants, so use them sparingly. Check your plants often for bug infestations. The covers can trap in other pests like aphids if you are not careful. Permethrin and similar insecticides or insecticidal soaps are useful for controlling leaf-bug infestations. Spray the pesticide early in spring, right after the eggs begin to hatch. Insecticides are most potent on the orange-bodied young leaf-footed bugs you see clustered on your plants during this time.  Insecticides also eliminate helpful insects such as bees, so use them sparingly. Read the insecticide label for usage instructions and wash any fruit before consuming it.
A: Clear out woodpiles and other winter shelters. Remove any weeds near your garden. Prune trees so the branches are off the ground. Save any beneficial bugs in your planting area. Spread row covers over self-pollinating plants. Spray safe insecticides if you have no other choice.

Q: Cleaning a sunfish, or any fish, can get messy. Put newspaper down in the area where you will be cleaning the fish. The natural slime of the fish sticks to the newspaper, which helps it stay in place as you clean. Be absolutely sure that the sunfish is dead before you begin cleaning. You can buy a fish scaler to remove the scales. If you don’t have a fish scaler, find a sharp knife with a serrated edge. You can use a knife to remove the scales and carry out the rest of the cleaning process. You can find a fish scaler at places like Bass Pro Shop, or at many supermarkets, like Walmart. Use your tool to begin removing the scales. Hold the fish with the hand you won’t be cutting with. Work from the tail to the head as you remove the scales. Slide the knife back and forth repeatedly, from the tail to head. You do not have to cut deeply. Continue to remove the scales until the skin is smooth.
A: Prepare the area. Choose a tool. Remove the scales.

Q: Most couples can safely try to conceive on their own for up to a year before consulting a doctor; however, in certain cases you should see a physician before attempting to have a child.   If you're over 35, fertility does decrease during this time. You are also at increased risk for a miscarriage or other complications during pregnancy. If you're over the age of 35, make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor will perform a basic exam and talk you through some of the unique risks and challenges you face getting pregnant at your age. They may also provide you some tips on how to conceive safely.  If you have a condition that inhibits fertility, like PCOS, you should make an appointment with your doctor. They can provide you with insight on how to get pregnant safely. You should also see a doctor if you suspect you have a fertility issue. For example, if your menstrual cycle is inconsistent, you may want to have your doctor perform some tests to assess your fertility.  If you discover you have a fertility issue, do not panic. Many fertility issues are treatable with medication or surgery. You doctor may recommend you see a fertility specialist, depending on your issue. Many couples are able to overcome fertility issues and go on to have healthy babies. Sexually transmitted infections are diseases transmitted through sexual intercourse. STIs can affect fertility in both men and women if they go untreated. If you and your partner have not already been tested for STIs, get tested before attempting to conceive. Most STIs are curable and you should make sure you're STI-free before trying to have a baby. If you're in your early 30s, seeing a doctor is not necessary unless you've been trying for a baby for over a year; however, many couples find it helpful to talk to their doctor ahead of time. Preconception planning allows your doctor to assess your overall health and give you advice on how to best conceive.  Your regular doctor may be able to give you a preconception planning appointment; however, they may also refer you to a gynecologist or OBG/YN. At a preconception appointment, you will get a basic physical exam and your doctor will ask you about your lifestyle and medical history.  Your doctor will then recommend any changes you can make to have a healthier overall lifestyle, increasing your chance of getting pregnant. For example, your doctor may suggest a slight change in your eating or exercise habits.  If you or your partner has a health issue, preconception planning can be particularly helpful. Some medications can reduce fertility. Even vitamin supplements may have some affect on your hormones, decreasing your chance at conception. Go through your medicine cabinet and review all the medication you take regularly, including over-the-counter pills. If you notice anything on the label about a decrease in fertility, consider switching to a different type of medication. When trying to conceive, you should ask your health care provider before trying any new medications. Even over-the-counter medications may interfere with conception or cause complications after a baby is conceived.
A: See a doctor before trying to conceive under certain circumstances. Get screened for sexually transmitted infections. Consider preconception planning. Review your medications.

Q: Geckos should be supplied with a dish of water that they can drink. Make sure that the water is replaced and the dish cleaned on a regular basis, ideally every day. Provide tap water treated with Reptisafe, tap water left out for 24 hours, or spring water. Never distilled as this lacks minerals. If your tap water doesn’t contain chlorine (which is the case in countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany)it can be given to your gecko as it is.  This water should not be very deep, so that there is little chance of the gecko drowning in it.
A:
Give your leopard gecko water.