The gallinipper mosquito is not your average mosquito. In fact, this mosquito is probably unlike any mosquito you have ever dealt with before. The gallinipper is the “mega mosquito,” an insect twenty times larger than the average mosquito. Some who have been stung report the sensation as similar to the sensation of being knifed. Unfortunately, these bugs are becoming ever more pervasive, especially in Florida.

This mosquito, due to its large size, may also be likely to carry certain viruses such as the West Nile Virus.

Huge Florida Mosquitos: What You Need To Know

After Tropical Storm Debbie, dormant eggs of this type of mosquito reawakened, and thus the population of gallinippers in the area increased. Like most mosquitoes, these bugs often feed between the hours of dusk and dawn, and are attracted by large pools of water. They look for grassy areas with wide, open spaces, which means that most city dwellers are safe from these pests.

How to Control Mosquitoes

There are several steps you can take to control mosquitoes in your environment, as well as to reduce the number of bites you receive during peak season. First, remove any standing water you have near your home, since mosquitoes use standing water to breed. Second, remain indoors as much as possible between the hours of dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most rampant. These pests prefer the darker hours and do most of their biting during this time. Finally, unless you must be outdoors during the hottest hours of the day, wear long sleeves and pants that are light in color to help to reduce the number of bites that you receive.

Pesticides and insecticides to control mosquitoes may also help, especially if you are living in Florida. Many professional insect control services can provide you with the correct information you need to ward off these troublesome, pesky insects.

A citrus and floral-loving insect, the Florida leaf-footed bug is an unsightly pest, causing damage to plants across the United States and Mexico. Although small and delicate, this insect can become a serious pest if not properly controlled, decimating citrus tree orchards and rose gardens. Nine species of the leaf-footed bug have been established in Florida alone, and other varieties can be found in states such as Colorado, Texas, and New York. While this bug does not often invade in large numbers, infestations are not unheard of. Crops that can be destroyed by this insect include grains, some vegetables, and nuts.

Small and delicate, this leaf-footed bug is generally about 3/4 inch in length, and ranges in color from orange to yellow. It may also have small spots covering its abdomen.

Prevention and Removal

Many of the most common prevention methods for the leaf-footed bug include crop rotation and improving the biodiversity of the soil, which is often accomplished by introducing beneficial insects into the region. When present in very small numbers, Florida leaf-footed bugs can often be hand-picked and destroyed immediately.

Of course, in the case of a full-scale infestation, this organic method may be impossible, as large areas would require days of manual labor. Instead, most conventional methods, such as pesticides and insecticides often prove equally effective in destroying the pests. Applying these methods to nearby host plants may also be helpful in preventing and eliminating the insects.

You’ve just started noticing flies in your home unlike any flies you have ever seen before. They are green and blue and shiny, and are much larger than typical house flies. They buzz around your windows and doors and bother you during meal times. What are these bugs, and how do you rid yourself of them? These annoying pests are blowflies. Here are some measures that you can take to rid yourself of them forever.

Blow Flies

Also called bottle flies, blow flies often travel in swarms, but can be found alone searching for food, such as flowers and meat, or for places in which to lay their eggs,  such as in the decaying organic matter of garbage and dead animals. Often, these flies can become a nuisance at a dinner parties.

Top Three Techniques for Getting Rid of the Blow flies

There are no known insecticides or pesticides specifically designed to target blow flies. Although most insecticides may kill, or at least deter the insects, these should only be used as a last resort. Here are the top three ways in which you can control these insects in your home, ultimately removing them from you premises completely:

1. Remove all known blow fly food sources. Reduce or eliminate fragrant flowers in your home. Also, keep foods such as meats and vegetables covered tightly and stored in the refrigerator. Never let food sit out uncovered.
   
2. Reduce waste. When throwing away food scraps, try to remove the garbage from your kitchen immediately. It may be wise to throw away certain foods in the garbage disposal, since this reduces the amount of food wastes sitting in your kitchen garbage. This also prevents blow flies from not only feeding, but also from laying eggs in the area.
3. Check windows and doors thoroughly. If there are cracks in your windows, doors, or walls, these are sure places for flies and insects of all sorts to come barging in without an invitation. Keep all windows and doors insulated and sealed.

Again, it may be wise to attempt pesticide or insecticide control methods, especially if the above preventative methods only temporarily remedy the issue.

Rodent-like shrews are recognized by their mouse-like bodies and long snouts that constantly sniff out their area for food. This small, furry animal is related closely to, and resembles the common mole. Due to their relatively high metabolic rate, shrews voracious appetites, eating up to 90% of their weight in food every day.  If you are having a problem with shrews and are seeking to control them, know that you have options!

Is There a Shrew Roaming Your Home?

The shrew is an active scavenger, spending most of its waking day looking for food in its environment. Their diet consists of mostly vegetation, nuts and seeds, and small insects; however, they can also be found searching through litter and garbage, attempting to fill their rumbling stomachs.

The Signs

Litter scattered from your outside garbage bin may be a sign of a rodent infestation, as well as a shrew problem. If you happen to catch a small, mouse-like animal near or in your home with a long snout and sharp front teeth, this is more than likely a shrew. If you see one, there is bound to be another, and it is best to act upon this issue as soon as possible.

Shrews will often inhabit dirty, littered, stinky areas. This makes tidiness a necessary component of reducing, or preventing, a shrew infestation, as well as other types of rodent and insect infestation.

How to Control a Shrew Pest

Most shrew control methods are similar to that of controlling mice and other rodents, and includes traps and baits. Some of these methods will kill the animal instantly, whereas others will simply trap the shrew, allowing the home owner to release it back into the wild.

Pesticide may work to deter the pest, but often only temporarily. Extermination methods employed by professional pest control services will result in all shrews, rodents, insects, and other pests in being completely removed.

With its first US discovery in the heart of southern Florida, the Pink Hibiscus Mealybug has been causing trouble ever since. Uncommonly known by its scientific name, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, the pink hibiscus mealybug is a powerful destroyer of many common plants found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Its destruction can often be found not only in flowers, but in vegetables, trees, and shrubs.  The economic repercussions of infestation can be devastating for gardeners and farmers, as it can damage a large number of crops in a very short period. Control of the pink hibiscus mealybug can be difficult, yet some simple precautionary methods can be taken to prevent an infestation in the first place.

Identification and Issues

Despite its name, the pink hibiscus mealybug is not limited to the hibiscus flower. In fact, this serious pest can cause damage to citrus trees, avocados, mango, lettuce, and tomato crops. A ravenous eater, hibiscus mealybugs often feed on the soft tissue of many plants and fruits, reducing production yields. They inject a toxic substance into the leaves of flowers, causing the leaves to curl and slowly die. This often results in the death of the entire plant.

Adult female mealybugs are often around 3 mm in length, covered in a waxy coating and are pink in color. When crushed, pink mealybugs excrete a inner pink fluid. The female lays hundreds of eggs in her lifetime, often in host plants and flowers. Adults males, similar in threat, are often smaller than females, and often have a reddish-brown color and two tails. Many mealybugs can be found in gardens or parks where flowers and other ornamentals are in abundance.

Prevention and Treatment

Native natural enemies provide some control for this insect, making soil biodiversity very important for gardeners. By including beneficial insects (as well as plants that encourage beneficial insects), a garden has a better chance at fighting the pink hibiscus mealybug. The ladybug, for example, is a known predator of the mealybug, and will consume all parts of the insect. Many garden centers may sell ladybugs for gardeners. Ladybugs are also natural predators for other soil-crawling, plant-loving insects.

There are no known pesticides to combat this insect. However, there are certain chemical agents that can temporary deter them, most of which can be obtained from pest control services. In Florida, if a mealybug is found on a property, it is recommended that a gardener, farmer, or land owner send these specimens to the Division of Plant Industry for further investigation and study of this insect. These studies may be helpful in determining new modes of control and elimination.

A pest that can sometimes be damaging to agricultural crops, including tubers such as potatoes and carrots, springtails are one of the tiniest macroscopic animals in the world. Although not commonly a destructive pest, this insect can become a nuisance indoors, especially if indoor conditions are damp and cool (such as in bathrooms or kitchens). Springtails can often be found in pools and moist garden and lawn soils. When found on one’s person, springtails may contribute to skin irritation; however, this irritation is often minor and short-lived. Found in an abundance in Florida, this minute, wingless insect can often be controlled using simple methods.

The Life of a Springtail

Over 3,000 species of the springtail exist in the world, with 650 of those species recorded in North America alone. Some springtails appear linear with brownish-yellow bodies, while others are globular with black or dark brown outer shells. The size of this insect ranges from one-quarter of a millimeter to 6 millimeters, depending on the age, species, and sex. The name “springtail” is derived from their literal springing action that allows them to quickly move from place to place. In fact, most springtails can spring forward or upward 4 inches, with some varieties able to go much further!

Springtails do not bite or transmit disease, but they can become a nuisance as they often travel in packs at relatively high numbers. They are attracted to damp environments, and can often be found in bathrooms, kitchens, pools, and damp soil. Also, they have been known to travel via the human body by latching themselves on clothing or skin. In homes where humidity remains high, springtails will often breed in these locations due to the favorable conditions. Their love for humidity makes them especially abundant in southern states, such as Texas, Florida, and Georgia, as well as tropical regions of the world.

Springtails Management

Sometimes springtails are brought indoors through potted plants, so treating these indoor plants with a gentle pesticide or water mixed with dish soap should help in deterring the pest. They are too small to sweep or vacuum, but treating their favorite places with insecticidal soaps or sprays may be helpful at killing, or at least discouraging, the pest. Using pesticides or insecticides indoors should be evaluated and monitored by a professional, as these toxic substances may become damaging to human health if the proper precautions are not taken.

The removal of breeding sites may control a large outdoor springtail population. Reducing compost piles and decaying plant material is  one crucial method for controlling springtails outdoors.  Also, when gardening or caring for a lawn, be careful not to overwater any area, as springtails enjoy damp soils and will breed in these conditions. Insecticide applications should be made in the early afternoon or evening for better results, as this is the time when they are most active.

They’re tiny, sneaky, and cause massive destruction to southern lawns and gardens. Chinch bugs have been “bugging” homeowners for years. As turf and pasture grass pests, chinch bugs drain the sap out of grasses to obtain their nutrients, making blades appear brownish and dead. Although their dietary preferences lie in the grasses of Florida, these hard-to-control insects can also be found in North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. Remaining active during both the winter and the summer, these pests never seems to rest.

Chinch Bug Identification and Life Cycle

The chinch bug is about 6 mm in length and can be found in large clusters in certain areas of the country. Adult chinch bug are often black in color, with white wings and brownish-colored legs and antennae. More often than not, chinch bugs live in grassy areas and particularly prefer to consume St. Augustine grass. This makes them especially problematic in many areas of Florida, where the grass thrives in the tropical climate and remains popular with home owners.

The female chinch bug will lay up to 250 eggs in her lifetime, about 4-5 eggs per day on average. Each egg will hatch within an average of 11 days, especially during the warm and damp summer months. The average life span of a chinch bug from hatching to death is about 49 days; however, this is under controlled conditions and does not take into consideration the use of pesticides, accidents, illnesses, or natural insect predators.

Chinch Bug Control – Not Always as Simple as It Seems

The most popular method of controlling chinch bugs is through the use of pesticides and insecticides. Although there is some concern that chinch bugs may become resistant to overused pesticides, this method is still the one most widely used by gardeners, home owners, and pest control services.

The use of Captiva, a grass genetically altered to be resistant to chinch bugs, is also growing in popularity among land owners. When this grass is installed in a yard or lawn, chinch bugs do not recognize it as safe to eat and will congregate elsewhere for their meals. Also, because of its dwarf profile, this grass is becoming a popular favorite among home owners because it requires less mowing than do traditional grasses.

When infestations occur, there often isn’t any particular spot that can be considered the source of the problem, which makes chinch bugs especially hard to control. Since it may be difficult to casually notice chinch bugs, it isn’t particularly uncommon to notice their presence only after damage has already been done. If you discover signs of chinch bug infestation, such as dead, lifeless grass, contact an insect or pest control service to discuss how to directly and specifically combat these pests.

An herbivorous insect, the coreopsis leaf beetle is anything but friendly. As an agricultural pest, this insect causes of millions of dollars in crop damages each year when its larvae feed on plant leaves. Constant breeding leads to large beetle populations, resulting in the damage of more crops and garden plants.  The official state wildflower of Florida, the orange blossom, is one of the host plants for the coreopsis leaf beetle, and has been decreasing in numbers over the past few years, causing much concern in the state’s community.

The Lifestyle of the Coreopsis Leaf Beetle

Not intentionally mean, the coreopsis leaf beetle simply needs to survive. It does so by feeding on a variety of different plants, including flowers, crops, and grasses. The the beetles enter their larval stage in May, and by mid-June emerge as full grown adults. They are most destructive in their larval stage, as this is when they do the most feeding.

However, adults will often feed for a few weeks before laying eggs and dropping them near host plants. The eggs remain dormant until the following spring, when the larvae emerge and begin a new generation of damage and destruction. Coreopsis leaf beetles may travel great distances in search of food; however, they are usually not far from food sources as they often hatch near the host plants that previous generations have inhabited.

Management and Control

Currently there are no known permanent control methods for the coreopsis leaf beetle, making it one of the most difficult insects to manage. Especially in large numbers, this beetle can be very problematic to farmers and homeowners alike. If you suspect that coreopsis leaf beetles are invading your area, notify local park and wildlife officials immediately.

Using general agricultural pesticides may kill coreopsis leaf beetles at certain stages of their life cycle, but this has not been verified. If anything pesticides and insecticides should discourage the insects from inhabiting and feeding on certain plants, reducing their numbers in specific areas. Introducing predatory insects into the soil as well as using crop rotation may also deter the beetles and reduce favorable environmental conditions.

Daylilies are beautiful, colorful flowers that bring fragrance and beauty to any garden or home. Lately, its survival has been challenged by a very damaging pest, recently discovered in the southern part of the United States. The Daylily Leafminer, a mining insect specifically targeting daylilies, has become an increasingly problematic pest, causing damage to the leaves, causing the plant to eventually die. This is particularly troublesome because the pest can strike at any time under any conditions. What’s a gardener to do?

The Daylily Leafminer

Leafminers are a common nuisance to many plans, yet daylily leaf miners seem to prove even more challenging to deal with. With their insistent growth and their constant movement and reproduction, daylily leafminers can be devastating to many plants, as they are not shy about invading other plants, flower, tress, and shrubs. Most gardeners who use preventative methods in their gardening may not have trouble with these insects. However, for gardeners already experiencing a problem, there are a few things that can be done to remedy their invasion.

Most daylily leafminers have a pale, yellowish body, and measure to about 1/2″ in length; however, some leafminers can be very small – even undetectable. Gardeners seem to discover these flower-loving pests only after damage has been done. Through their feeding and crawling on the leaves, the leafminers kill the leaves, resulting in the plant slowly withering away and dying from disease. Brown and discoloured leaves containing small traces of slime and feces may be signs that the leaf miner has invaded the plant. In the state of Florida, breeding of these insects occurs in late March and goes until September.

 Steps for Leafminer Control

One of the main methods for control, without the use of pesticides or insecticides, involves removing the affected leaves and destroying them. This allows any larvae, eggs, or miners to be destroyed, preventing further reproduction of the insect. Before bringing any new daylilies into the garden, it may be wise to carefully inspect their leaves to note any damage or insect infestation. This will help reduce the likelihood of the insect enter the garden.

Some pesticides and insecticides may be helpful at deterring the insect; however, no formal studies have shown a successful removal of the insect through specific chemical applications. Pest control companies will often know the best routes to combating the insect, especially if a wide-scale infestation has occurred.

Known as the kudzu bug, this insect has spread throughout many southern states of North America and closely resembles the common stink bug. This bug is often mistaken for a beetle, yet most classifications consider it as its own family of insects. Some kudzu bugs are particularly damaging as they tend to feed on cash crops such as soy beans and legumes, along with the more harmless preference for kudzu and wisteria. Due to the threat they pose to the success of a farm or garden, many individuals use both non-chemical and chemical applications to control the presence of this irritating insect.

What are Kudzu Bugs?

Kudzu bugs derive their name from their love of the kudzu plant, a climbing vine native to certain parts of Asia. As an agricultural pest in North America, as well as other regions of the world, the kudzu bug can cause damage to bean plants, as well as soy beans, wisteria, and grains. Sometimes individuals may experience kudzu bug infestation indoors, consuming large amounts of dried bean products in pantries or cupboards. At 1/4 inches long, this insect features a  brownish, olive-green hue, making it an often unrecognizable insect when not looked at up close.

During winter months, kudzu bugs will often seek shelter indoors for survival. This may include homes, as well as other buildings and professional establishments. Kudzu bugs seem to be attracted to white-colored homes and buildings, and will often find their way into homes through cracks or crevices in windows and walls. More often than not, their main source of food will be from the kitchen area of the home, with their favorite food being dried grains and legume products.

Kudzu Bug Control

To avoid having the kudzu bug overwintering in the home, it is advised that homeowners ensure that cracks, crevices, and any other openings in the home be sealed immediately. If found indoors, kudzu bugs should be vacuumed. They should not be crushed or killed any other way, as their inner fluids may stain fabrics or other items in the home. It is wise to use a vacuum that has a cylinder attachment as to avoid crushing this insect with the conventional vacuuming method.

Most store-bought insecticides will kill kudzu bugs almost instantly. When using insecticides, be sure to read the labels carefully, or consult a professional pest control service for help. After the kudzu bugs have been killed, it is important to remove them from the property immediately, as they will start to produce an odor that will attract other pests.

Snails are not the most attractive creatures, and most of us cringe at the thought of these slimy pests crawling through our gardens. Nevertheless, these pests are all too real, and can become a serious problem. The giant African land snail is one of the most destructive, damaging snails found in the southern part of the United States. First discovered in southern Florida in the 1960′s, this slug can consume upwards of 500 different types of plants, making it a serious threat to farmers and gardeners alike.

The Giant African Snail – What to Look For

Reaching up to ten inches in length, the giant African land snail is a fast-reproducing pest that can harm both plants and humans. These snails emit a poisonous substance that can lead to brain and spinal cord inflammation. They can also lay up to 1200 eggs per year, making them even more of a threat. With their ravenous appetites, they can eat their way through anything from last night’s garbage to today’s blossoming garden.

Fortunately, these snails are not common in the United States. However, some giant African land snails have been captured in Florida, and it is unknown whether these snails have laid eggs and reproduced.

How to Fight Back

If you discover giant African snails or their eggs on your property, contact state officials, who can then collect and dispose of the specimens. Giant snails may be controlled, or at least deterred, by pesticides, but most giant land snails are very hardy critters. Therefore, have official pest control services come and deal with the issue.

Giant snails occasionally feed on stucco on houses. Lining stucco areas with insecticides or pesticides may be helpful in reducing snail damage. Also, if these giant snails are causing a nuisance, be sure to seal openings or cracks are in the home to prevent the snails from entering.

Insects are pesky, sometimes dangerous creatures that will crawl their way into your home under the proper circumstances. They seek food, shelter, and moisture, and will go to great lengths to make their stay in your home a permanent one. To determine how to eliminate them you must first identify them. That’s where the 21st century meets entomology, or the study and identification of insects. More and more computer programs and software apps exist to help people identify insects and discover the fastest ways to control those insects.

The Top Five Insect Apps

As with any app, you can install these on your smart phone, tablet, or desktop computer. Below the top five insect apps, which are helpful in identifying insects quickly and easily through pictures, video, and descriptions:

1. Atlas: Insects of World - This app is a quick reference book filled with detailed pictures and descriptions of the world’s most abundant insects. You are sure to find many of the pests that roam your own backyard in this handy reference app.
2. Audubon Insects and Spiders – A Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders - Including descriptions of more than 500 insect types, this app can help you identify bugs that may be invading your home, yard, or garden.
3. Insects Catalog - A smart phone encyclopedia featuring a resource for students of entomology, or those individuals simply interested in insect identification.
4. Insects Pedia - Filled with beautiful, in-depth pictures of many different insects (both beneficial and dangerous), Insects Pedia is a great, simple resource for identifying certain species of insects.
5. Insects World - Entertaining and educational, this app provides over 1,000 videos of various insects commonly (and not so commonly) known. Great for getting an idea of how an insect walks, flies, or eats.

Insect apps are incredibly useful for anyone attempting to control insects in his or her home. Since certain bugs require specific pesticides, it is always best to do your research before applying pest control measures.

Golden-brown and almost transparent, pharaoh ants have increasingly become an indoor nuisance throughout the world. With tiny bodies and a tendency towards erratic behavior, these ants can lay hundreds of eggs in their lifetimes. Often, they target hospitals and other health establishments. Since these ants are native to tropical environments, most pharaoh ants can be found during the heat of summer and in locations that have central heating.

Pharaoh Ant Habits

Mischievous and always on the move, these ants are well-equipped to attack any home containing food and indoor heating. During the cold months, these ants seek heat and shelter indoors, often inside homes.

When a source of food becomes available, such as an open box of cereal or bread crumbs spilled across a countertop, pharaoh ants will quickly swarm around it. Although not as common as black ants, these yellowish-brown insects can wreak havoc in any home where food and warmth are plentiful.

Ways to Control Pharaoh Ants

Pharaoh ant populations can grow rapidly, so if you spot these pests in your home, take action to eliminate them as soon as possible. First, clean every area of the house that contains sources of food, remembering that pharaoh ants will consume both human and pet foods. Be sure to search all areas where food may have spilled or may have been placed and forgotten. Consider placing ant baits around the house as well.

Most baits consist of some type of food to lure insects and an insecticide. One popular bait consists of ground liver and boric acid. Some extermination companies and pest control services will use non-invasive sprays and powders to rid an area of pharaoh ants, along with baits and traps if necessary.

Miller moths exist in large numbers in Colorado and other mountainous regions, and feed on plants and garden flowers. They can be a nuisance in homes, where they seek out windows or other sources of natural light and warmth. In their caterpillar stages they can also damage crops and other plant life. Miller moths emit a slightly unpleasant odor, especially after they die, and this can attract other insects to the home, leading to an insect infestation of larger proportions. You definitely do not want these moths in your house!

Miller Moth Identification and Life Cycle

Miller moths are gray or light brown, and measure approximately 1.5 to 2 inches in wing-span. They are attracted to thick and lush vegetation, including lawns, gardens, wheat, and alfalfa. They are most destructive in their caterpillar stage, as they tend to feed more often in this stage than in any other life cycle stage. Caterpillars generally emerge in early spring, and immediately begin satisfying their ravenous and destructive appetites. In their adult stages miller moths may also be a nuisance in the home, although they do not feed on furniture or cloth, as many other moths do. 

The Best Ways to Control Miller Moths

If you are trying to combat a miller moth infestation, consider releasing natural predators into the area to combat the pest. Garden beetles will search for and consume miller moths, especially during the moths’ caterpillar stage, and birds and bats will also combat the moths effectively. You can attract birds by planting certain pollinating flowers, and can increase the bat population in your area by building a bat house.

To prevent miller moths from invading your home, be sure to check all windows, doors, and walls to make sure that they are well sealed and tightly shut. If miller moths are already in your home, vacuum them up as soon as you spot them. Insecticides are not known to be helpful in reducing miller moth numbers once the moths have already infested an area. However, insecticides may be helpful in deterring them. Always use caution when applying insecticides or pesticides inside the home.

Clover mites are invasive insects, and can become a nuisance in houses, nursing homes, and even hospitals. Although they are typically outdoor insects that feed on smaller insects and various plant life, they can can invade homes in large numbers, inhabiting areas such as beds, curtains, carpets, and pantries. They do not bite or transmit disease; however, in large numbers they can be problematic and prevent the smooth functioning of a home or professional establishment. Learn more about clover mites and what measures you can take to control them.

How Can You Recognize Clover Mites?

Clover mites are tiny, oval-shaped insects with a reddish-brown to pale-orange shells and eight legs. They typically move quite sluggishly. These insects are generally attracted to warm, sunny areas. During autumn and winter months they may seek shelter from cold weather, moving out of their natural habitat and into yours.

Female clover mites can lay up to 70 eggs, often in cracks or crevices in concrete or flooring.  Although they may inhabit pantries and cupboards, they do not attack grain products or other foods. They also do not bite or transmit diseases to humans or animals, making them fairly benign insects. When crushed, they leave a reddish stain on surfaces.

How to Control Clover Mites

As with other home-invading insects, one of the best control measures is prevention. Considering that clover mites love vegetation, it may be wise to remove all weeds, grass, and other plant life that surrounds the perimeter of your home. This distances your home from these and other insects that feed on plant material. Marigolds, roses, and junipers, however, can be planted alongside the perimeter, as these flowers deter mites and other similar insects.

During the autumn months, when mite infestation is often at its highest, consider spraying an insecticide around the perimeter of your home. Spraying the doors and exterior walls may also be helpful. If an infestation does occur, using a safe pesticide may be helpful in decreasing the clover mite population.

Bats are not the most glamorous creatures, nor are they sought-after as pets. However, some home owners and gardeners do seek to attract bats when insect populations have infested their property. Bats are excellent and effective insect predators. Despite the stories of bats being blood-sucking rodents that only come out during Halloween on a full moon, bats can actually be beneficial if properly controlled. By attracting bats to your property you can reduce the number of insects that infest your garden or farm.

Bats and Insect Control

About 70% of all bats are known as insectivores; that is, they obtain their nutrients from insects. Bats find their food through a process known as echolocation, using their larynx to emit sounds and then following the echoes of those sounds. This allows them to discover prey in dark areas that insects and other pests inhabit. Echolocation also allows bats to find their food at night, as this is when many insects are active and other predators are asleep.

Attracting bats is one way to naturally combat pest problems, especially when insects are causing costly damage to crops or land. Many individuals worry that attracting bats will only increase their pest troubles; however, most bats will only feed on insects and cause little trouble to yards. As long as entrance to your home is  properly closed so that bats cannot enter, there is often very little cause for concern. Keep all walls, ceilings, and windows sealed tightly at all times, making sure you are aware of any cracks or openings that may allow unwanted visitors to cross your home’s threshold.

Building a Bat House

A bat house can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. Small bat houses will attract a small number of bats. Large bat houses will attract a larger population of bats. It is wise, and more effective, to attract bats only if you live in the country away from other homes or areas of business.

The first step in building a bat house requires that you find the right location for the structure. Look for an area that receives quite a bit of sun during the day, is near a water source, and is at least 15 feet above the ground. Consider placing the house in a large, tall tree. You also will need these materials:

• Wood
• Primer
• Caulk
• Nails

Read these detailed instructions for building a bat house, courtesy of the National Wildlife Federation. This project usually takes only a couple of hours, and may be ready to attract bats the same day. Another way to attract bats is to plant night-blooming flowers such as moonflower, yucca, and evening primrose.

Almond moths are like teenage boys, always in the kitchen searching for food. They often make their way into dried cereals, powdered milk, and other stored foods, especially in homes with central heating, and will quickly devour pantry contents. Larvae, which cause the greatest damage, feed on stored grains such as wheat and oats.

Almond moths breed quickly in warm, humid conditions, and are prevalent in the southern United States. A female almond moth can lay up to 200 eggs in her lifetime, often laying them on foods such as grains and legumes, so that new moths hatch and feed on household groceries. How can you control these pests?

Controlling Almond Moths

If you have a moth problem in your kitchen, what can you do? Here are some simple steps you can take to reduce almond moth populations.

As with any infestation, it is important to find the source of the infestation. This may mean calling in a professional pest control service to inspect every inch of your house to find vulnerable areas. By finding the source of the problem, such as an unsealed window or a hidden food source, you can stop the cause and gradually eliminate the moths.

Once you find the source, be sure to find and destroy any moth eggs in the surrounding area and throw out all moth-infested foods. If the moths have infested items that you don’t want to discard, you may place the items in a freezer or refrigerator, which will slowly kill the pests.

Some chemical pesticides are also effective, but only when used away from food. Practice safe insecticide methods when dealing with insects by getting advice from a pest control expert.

What has two wings and constantly irritates you during  the summer? If you guessed “a mosquito,” then you’re right. This pesky creature can cause a host of annoyances, ranging from itching and burning to serious diseases such as West Nile virus. What makes these insects most troublesome, however, is their ability to mutate, which makes them difficult to control.

Mutant Mosquitoes

In the mid- 1940′s, the U.S military developed the insect repellent DEET to combat mosquitoes and other pests. This chemical is the main active ingredient in many insect repellents, and it is estimated that more than one-third of Americans are exposed to DEET each year.

What does this have to do with mutant mosquitoes? These small, versatile bugs can adapt to insecticides over time. Due to the wide usage of DEET in the last 50 years, mosquitoes have started to become resistant to its effects. So what does this mean for you?

Creating Mutant Mosquitoes

Researchers hypothesize that creating genetically engineered mosquitoes may be helpful in reducing the numbers of disease-resistant mosquitoes. Although such mosquitoes would still bite and annoy you every summer, they would be less likely to spread diseases such as West Nile virus.

Genetically engineered mosquitoes may also destroy certain families of mosquitoes, according to leading researchers. Some critics suggest that this may raise ethical and environmental concerns.

How to Combat Mosquitoes

Many commercial insecticides can help ward off mosquitoes, at least temporarily. These include sprays for skin, yards, and homes. Certain strong-smelling herbs, such as lavender, rosemary, and sage have been shown to ward off many insects, including mosquitoes.

Wearing white clothing, which reflects light, may also ward off mosquitoes. To prevent bites, avoid going outside during the hours between dusk and dawn, as these are peak biting hours for many species of mosquitoes. Also, wear long sleeves and pants, or at least high socks, to prevent mosquito bites.

Have you ever gone to your pantry and opened up your favorite box of cereal, only to find that something has already beaten you to it? Have you noticed odd, suspicious holes in your cereal and grain boxes, and half-eaten corn flakes lying on your kitchen counter top? Although it may be possible that your roommate, family member, or significant other has been rummaging in the pantry haphazardly, it may also be possible that your home has been invaded by an insect that has a soft-spot for cereal grains.

This insect, called the grain weevil loves cereal. If you have noticed this odd-looking bug in your home, read on to discover more about this troublesome pest.

The Weevil: An Unwelcome Breakfast Companion

There are many different types of weevils, including the rice weevil, the grain weevil, the bean weevil, and the maize weevil. All of these insects are connected by their tastes for cereal grains, including hard cereals such as pasta, boxed cereals, and crackers.

Grain weevils make their way into your home when they sense cereal staples in your kitchen pantry. They can often become serious pests, quickly growing in numbers and destroying your food. Luckily, there are many easy ways that you can protect both your groceries and your home from weevils, and these methods do not always involve insecticides.

How to Get Rid of Weevils

When purchasing food supplies, such as rice or other cereal grains, purchase small quantities that can be used up fairly quickly. Be sure to store these grains in tightly-sealed glass or plastic containers, as weevils can easily chew through cardboard boxes. Keeping your kitchen clean and free from crumbs will also discourage weevils invading your home. On the other hand, a messy kitchen with small amounts of grain hidden in corners or spread out across the floor will encourage them to feed and multiply.

Some insecticides and pesticides may prevent weevils from entering your home, or may help drive them away from your premises. Consult a pest control professional to determine which method is right for you and your specific circumstances.

Woodlice are small, dark brown, beetle-like insects with slightly hard exoskeletons. Like earthworms and ladybugs, they are often considered beneficial because they help to improve soil nutrient content, combat harmful insects, and promote soil health. However, they can also be pests.

Woodlice love moisture, and will seek it out in practically any environment. This can often mean that they make homes, schools, and places of business their targets,and when they are present in large numbers, woodlice can be a nuisance.  They may also invade pantries and cabinets in search of food. Fortunately, woodlice carry no known diseases and do not bite. However, any insect that invades a home can cause problems.

How To Control Woodlice

If you spot these insects, sweep up them up with a broom and transfer them back into the outdoors. Vacuuming them up is also an effective way to reduce their numbers within your home. If you have a nest of these insects in your home that can’t be controlled through these methods, consider consulting a professional to take care of the problem.

Seal cracks in walls or entryways with caulk to prevent woodlice from entering your home. The presence of  woodlice may also be a warning that the dampness levels in your house are higher than normal, as these insects prefer moisture. Reducing the moisture levels in your home and removing standing water can also discourage woodlice from infesting your house.

What is the Kissing Bug?

The kissing bug is a blood-sucking insect that shares its nesting places with rodents, bats, birds, and other wild vertebrates. During the night, while these animals sleep, the insect uses its senses of body heat, sound, and carbon dioxide detection to locate them. Once it finds a host, the insect sees it as a food source, and moves towards it to feed on its blood.

Although the bite of a kissing bug does not instantly kill vertebrate, it can prove to be deadly over a period of time. Kissing bugs are known for carrying Chagas disease, a disease that spreads through blood transfusion and can kill small animals and humans alike, making these insects a very serious threat.

Research shows that as many as 5% of kissing bugs are found inside homes, making humans likely targets during night-time sleeping hours. Since this is rare, but not necessarily unheard of, most information about this insect is fairly sparse.

Campers Beware!

Since kissing bugs often inhabit wooded areas, including areas near caves, bushes, and tall grasses, it is wise for campers and hikers to be aware of these dangerous insects. A night under the stars requires the protection. Therefore, it is wise to invest in a well-sealed tent that prevents insects from entering.

How Can I Protect Myself?

When protecting your home from invading insects, be sure to check for openings anywhere in the walls of your home. Any crack, hole, or opening allows easy access for insects of all kinds to invade your premises. Keeping screens on your doors and windows also protects against kissing bugs, especially if you live in a rural environment.

Certain insecticidal sprays may be used around the perimeter of your home or premises to ward off this type of pest. Most pest control companies can guide you to finding the right method to protect yourself. Always consult a professional before spraying any pesticides inside or around your home to find the safest and easiest way of keeping these insects away from your property.

Feline companions have long been considered mysterious, independent, and elusive. Very rarely do these animals become an invasive nuisance, but when they do, they can be difficult to control, since they are especially clever at escaping traps. Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to reduce the number of stray cats in your area.

The Feline Problem

Cats can be incredibly loving. However, for some people, stray cats can be a nuisance, and many rural areas are infested with cats. Why is this? Is there anything you can do to drive them away from your home, farm, or place of work? Most cats are very stubborn, and will stay where they can to get what they want. There are ways, however, to remove them from your property for good in a humane, natural way.

Often cats invade an area for one of the two following reasons:

• the area is infested with rodents
  
• food and trash is abundant

Cat Infestation: What You Can Do

To look at the above points bit by bit, we have to examine what they mean, how they apply to you, and what you can do to remedy them.

To remedy a cat infestation, it may be wise to seek out professional advice about first getting rid of the underlying cause, if there is one.  If you have an overabundance of rodents in your home, farm, or yard, then cats will more than likely be attracted to that area. Cats seek these critters out for hunting purposes, and will stay as long as there is prey to hunt. By getting rid of the rodents, or other small creatures that cats like to chase and hunt, you may be one step closer to getting rid of cats for good.

Cats are also attracted to food lying around in yards or in trash cans. If you have trash cans that aren’t collected regularly, it may be wise to reduce the amount of food that goes into them. This will reduce the incidence of cats and other animals (including rodents) in your area.

Lizards are truly fascinating animals. These sometimes bizarre creatures are well known for their bright colors, their fantastic senses of smell and taste, and for their finicky palates. Lizards love insects, especially live insects, and will also often devour plants such as dandelion, kale, and millet. Check out the tips below to discover which insects are best for your lizard. You may be surprised to learn that many of them may be found in your own backyard.

The Nutritional Value of Insects

Insects do not exist just to cause humans pain. They actually serve a very important purpose in the food chain. Many animals, including humans, consume insects on a daily basis for nutrition. Insects are high in protein, iron, and B vitamins, all of which supply energy to help maintain the physical body. Luckily, there is an abundance of insects on this planet, so most animals have something to eat everyday.

The Five Best Foods for Your Lizard

Most lizards are small and can be sustained on very little. For example, a bearded dragon may consume 1-3 worms for the entire day, although it may consume more depending on its level of hunger. It is important to not force-feed any animal beyond what its natural hunger dictates. However, when choosing which foods to give your lizard, consider the following options:

• Crickets. Crickets are among the most nutrient-dense of the insects that are easily accessible. Not only can you purchase crickets at practically any pet or reptile store, you may, in fact, have some wandering around your house, place of business, school, or backyard. Crickets are full of proteins and B vitamins.
  
• Worms. Although not attractive, worms play an integral part of any reptile’s diet. These creepy, slimy, and crawly critters provide valuable protein and some dietary fat, which is essential for maintaining the health of any animal, be it reptile or otherwise.
• Beetles. In the wild, reptiles will often eat any insect that is small and non-threatening. Beetles make up the diet of many reptiles, including lizards, and also provide a host of nutrients, such as proteins, vitamin B, and phosphorus.
• Grasshoppers. Again, you may find these lively insects in your own backyard. These critters are packed full of protein, even more so than crickets. When compared gram for gram, live grasshoppers contain almost twice the amount of protein that crickets do. For every 100 grams of live crickets, a lizard will get almost 15 grams of protein!
• Spiders. If you need to get rid of a spider and you own a lizard, then you are in luck. Lizards will consume small spiders whenever the opportunity arises, as these insects are packed full of proteins and dietary fat.

Depending on the species, your lizard may also eat plants. These omnivores aren’t generally finicky, yet still may turn their noses up at certain foods. It is best to give lizards many types of foods, based on their biological needs and wants, and see which foods they prefer.

Snails and slugs are bothersome pests, and can destroy garden flowers, vegetables, and fruits.  While they make elegant side dishes (think escargot), snails destroy natural landscapes and can wipe out an entire season’s worth of effort. Fortunately there is more than one way to get rid of snails in your garden, lawn, or home.

Damage Caused by Snails

During the cold winter months, snails hibernate in garden topsoil. They then come out in spring to find food, which is usually in your garden bed. Snails like to eat leaves, flowers, and some vegetation, and in the process they create unsightly holes in the leaves of many plants and ruin beautiful flowers.

Fruits that are close to the ground, such as strawberries, artichokes, and tomatoes are especially attractive to snails. The time put into these plants can be wiped out in less than an hour by a snail invasion. Snails also leave slimy trails on vegetables and fruits, which is off-putting to many people’s appetites.

How to Get Rid of Snails in Your Garden

To get rid of snails, first remove all places in which they can hide during the day. Snails like to come out at night when it is dark and hide while it is light. Therefore removing stones, boards, and other debris from your yard can discourage these creatures from turning your property into their favorite habitat.

Additionally, snails are drawn to cool, damp areas, so it is important to reduce garden moisture levels as much as you can, while still maintaining a steady supply of water to your plants. A drip irrigation system will also reduce humidity, which can be a huge factor in attracting snail populations.

Plant leafy greens such as cabbage, lettuce, spinach, and kale in pots above ground. Keep the plants high so that snails cannot reach them, and if you do find a snail, pick it off and remove it from the area. Several snail traps exist on the market, and some pest control services may be of help in reducing snail populations in your garden or home. Copper barriers and foil may also be helpful in deterring these pests from entering your garden space.

There some are pests that just won’t leave you alone. No matter how much you fight them, they still seem to persist. They are crazy, highly invasive, and difficult to remove from your home.  The crazy Rasberry ant is one such insect. It loves to reproduce and multiply in homes so that it can feed and live in warmth and comfort. Here are some facts you need to know to about the crazy Rasberry ant so that you can get rid of it for good.

Quick Facts About The Crazy Rasberry Ant

The crazy Rasberry ant is named after Tom Rasberry, who first discovered the ant, and is an invasive insect that has overrun certain parts of South and Southeast Texas. Since the early 2000′s, crazy Rasberry ants have been invading homes and other warm, moist areas in order to grow, eat, and proliferate. They are hard to control with over-the-counter pesticides and are not attracted to ordinary ant baits. They are called “crazy” because of their erratic behavior.

Crazy Rasberry ants are often attracted to electrical equipment, perhaps due either to its strong electromagnetic fields or to the heat produced from its wires. Spaces near such equipment make perfect nesting spots for the ants. Therefore, if you suspect that you have crazy Rasberry ants in your home, check out any areas that have electrical equipment and be sure to treat these areas.

Combating Crazy Rasberry Ants

The only known way to effectively destroy these pests and remove them from your home permanently is to use a professional pesticide called Fipronil. The Environmental Protection Agency granted the temporary usage of this pesticide in 2008 in certain counties of Houston, Texas; however, it is restricted to only seven counties within Houston due to its environmental and health concerns. If you live in the region and call in a professional pesticide service, the service may use Fipronil, but that isn’t guaranteed.

Common pesticides can create temporary buffer zones, but only offer a short-term solution for what may be a long-term problem. One natural way to deter the ants in any given area is to dust the area with strong smelling spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne pepper. These spices are repulsive to many insects, and especially to ants, who often flee from areas containing these pungent aromas.

Dragonflies are beneficial predators that seek smaller insects, and also possess interesting mechanisms that allow them to fly, breathe, and live. Here are five little-known facts about dragonflies, as well as some tips on how to increase the dragonfly population in your area, since these remarkable creatures can be very helpful in the yard and garden.

1. They are beneficial insects.  Dragonflies are natural predator insects that eat pesky mosquitoes, flies, wasps, and other small and potentially annoying insects. Homemade ponds can attract dragonflies into your yard, as dragonflies constantly seek sources of water to breed. If you live in an area heavily populated with mosquitoes, however, you may want to avoid this method of attracting dragonflies.
2. They have unique ways of propelling themselves. Dragonflies breathe through gills located on the sides of their bodies, mainly in the rectum. The water they breathe in can be expelled quickly through the anus, thus helping them to propel themselves quickly and easily at various speeds. Although not the most attractive way of getting from place to place, it is an interesting method of transportation that many entomologists find fascinating.
3. They are fast fliers. Some claim that dragonflies can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour; however, research suggests that most travel at an average of 20-35 miles per hour. These quick speeds help dragonflies attack other small insects, including wasps, bees, and houseflies.
4. They have long life spans. Although smaller species live for only 6 months, larger dragonfly species can live for much longer. In fact, some species of dragonflies can survive five years or more, making them relatively long-lived insects.
5. They have selective attention.  New research suggests that dragonflies have brain cells that allow them to be very selective when it comes to their attention. They can screen out useless information so that they can focus solely on their prey. This type of selective attention, usually found only in primates, can also be helpful to the insects when they are fleeing from larger insects or animals. Not only is this a hunter-mechanism, but it is also a defense mechanism.

The name “dung beetle” probably doesn’t make you think of an insect of intelligence or wonder. However, modern scientists are starting to discover just how remarkable this insect is, as new research emerges showing that it is smarter and more wise about the ways of the universe than we were led to believe. Dung beetles are actually very intelligent astronomers, guiding their ways by the positions of the stars in the Milky Way. Surprising, isn’t it?

The Scientific Ways of the Dung Beetles

Lowly dung beetles maneuver their way around at night, pushing their food supplies to various locations across the earth. Found in every continent but Antarctica, these insects are largely responsible for managing animal waste. While their task may be off-putting, their use of starlight is the main cause of excitement for many insect researchers.

In fact, dung beetles use the light from stars in the Milky Way to navigate towards their destinations. When the stars are not visible, the insects do not know where they are going and become scattered; yet, when the stars shine brightly, the insects move in straight lines to their destinations. Researchers predict that this instinct came about through the process of natural selection, rather than through simple evolution.

More research and experimentation with dung beetles will provide more insight into how we can improve our our technological advances. Researchers predict that more knowledge of this insect may help provide the building blocks for technology that uses replicated sight to process low-light images. It’s exciting to hear that a beneficial insect can be helpful in more ways than one!

Are Dung Beetles Harmful?

Dung beetles are very benign insects that actually work for the good of the earth. They seek out feces of other animals and insects and remove them by feeding on them. Again, that task isn’t very pleasant to most people, but these beetles do serve a positive purpose in nature. It is often unnecessary to seek to remove them from your space if they are present in small numbers.

These beetles do not pose a serious hazard to plants, so seeing them in your garden should not be a cause of alarm. By consuming wastes, dung beetles actually improve the nutrient profile of soil. Some gardeners actually seek dung beetles from various retail outlets and import them into their gardens for better nutrient diversity.

Most healthy individuals respond to an insect bite or sting with no adverse side-effects. However, if you are with someone who has an allergy to a specific type of insect, then knowing the following allergy symptoms may be life-saving.

Five Symptoms of Allergic Reaction

Difficulty talking. Having difficulty talking after an insect bite or sting may be a sign that anaphylaxis has begun or is about to begin. If the impairment continues over the course of five minutes, it is important to seek medical advice immediately to determine the severity of the reaction.

Noisy breathing. This symptom is especially apparent if the person who has been bit or stung usually breathes normally. The inability to breathe deeply, slowly, and quietly may be a sign of an allergic reaction from an insect bite. Staggered breathing is also a sign, and sufferers should seek medical attention.

Swelling of tongue or throat. If body parts start to swell, turn red, and generally look different than normal, it may be a sign of an allergic reaction. Swelling can indicate anaphylaxis from insect bites and stings, so it is best to seek medical advice straight away.

Hives. Breaking out with hives is common for those suffering from allergic reactions to bee stings and wasp stings. Although it isn’t always life-threatening, the severity depends on the individual. That being said, after any breakout on the skin it is best to get in touch with a doctor and pharmacist to treat the condition.

Dizziness. If you or someone you know experiences dizziness, fainting, or collapse after an insect bite or sting, this is a sign of an anaphylactic shock, so seek attention immediately. Mere dizziness can develop into something more serious, especially if the correct precautions are not taken.

Insect allergies are just as severe as food or pollen allergies, and can present a myriad of different symptoms. It is best to speak to your doctor about how an insect has affected or might affect your health. If there are certain insects that have infested your area, you might consider calling in pest control specialists to remove the bugs in order to limit the incidence of possible allergic reactions for you and your family.

People have been seeking safe, natural insect traps for centuries to escape using chemical methods. Although sometimes chemical methods may be necessary, especially during large scale infestations – natural techniques may be helpful when chemical alternatives are not available. These simple, inexpensive techniques can used in the home or in the garden to rid yourself of unwanted critters, even if it’s only temporary so that you can find more conventional means to exterminate completely.

Soap and Water

The soap and water trick is great for attracting flies, mosquitoes, and other small flying insects that invade your home and garden. Simply take a small glass bowl and fill it with 2 cups of fresh water. Add 1 cup liquid dish soap and 1/2 cup of sugar. The sugar attracts the insects to the water, and the soap and water kills the insects by poisoning them or drowning them, or usually both.

Carnivorous Plants & Animals

Carnivorous plants, like the Venus Flytrap, is a “green” way of reducing insects in your garden. By planting carnivorous plants near your garden or home, you are able to use this fascinating plant to consume small insects that may be harming your other plants, or may be bothering you and making a nuisance to you and your family. Be aware that their consumption is not huge.  Consider making welcome habitat for bats and insect-consuming birds.

Spices and Herbs

Cinnamon, crushed red pepper, rosemary, and other strong-smelling herbs and spices seem to have a repellant effect on many insects, including ants, spiders, and fleas. Planting rosemary or sage in the garden may be helpful in deterring harmful insects from attacking neighboring plants in your garden bed.

Honey

This sweet smelling, sweet tasting treat is very attractive to many insects, not to mention many humans. Its stickiness creates a natural trap for insects. Once they are stuck in the honey, you can safely take them away from your property without killing them or spraying chemical pesticides in your home. Honey can be placed on a paper plate in the garden to trap most small insects. It isn’t advisable to use this trick inside the home, just in case your particular insects find some way to use it as a food source.

Finding a reliable pesticide or pest removal company may be helpful if insect infestation has reached large proportions in which natural remedies can’t control.

Caterpillars are funny little insects, slow, slimy pests that crawl their way into beautiful futures as free and flighty butterflies. Most caterpillar facts in books and online provide information about habitat, environment, diet, and butterfly transformations. However, did you know there are many more interesting facts about caterpillars that most books forget to reveal?

Some of these caterpillar facts are fascinating, while others may serve as a word of warning, as there are many caterpillar health effects that often go unnoticed by the public.

Caterpillars Can Damage Health

It’s true: caterpillars may be hazardous to human health. There are certain types of caterpillars that have venom in their hairs that can cause renal failure, dermatitis, and even asthma. Although these health effects are very rare and only occur in certain places in the world, they can be very life threatening if not treated immediately. Skin rashes are the most common health concern from caterpillars; however, even such a rash should be seen by doctor in case it spreads or causes damage to tissues or cells.

Caterpillars Can Damage Your Garden

Caterpillars consume the leaves of a variety of different plants and trees. They can damage gardens, yards, and even farms and city parks. Some species of caterpillars also consume food crops, such as vegetables and fruits, leading to a loss in crop yields. Due to the constant use of pesticides in many areas, many caterpillars have developed resistance to the already-established control services available. Many insecticides, especially those used by professional pest control services, may still help in deterring them in certain regions.

Caterpillars Are Herbivores

Most caterpillars are vegetarians, and restrict their diets to one plant or one species of plants, which can be a problem for gardeners and farmers. On the other hand, some species of caterpillars actually consume the eggs of other insects, making them important predators and helpful in the garden, in some aspects.

Nocturnal Insects

Caterpillars are often nocturnal, and do the majority of their working, eating, and hunting during the night. When it is daytime, they often hide underneath leaves and tall plants. They prefer to be active during the nighttime hours when many other insects are out and about, and when there is less heat from the daytime sun.

Caterpillars Can Be Toxic to Other Pests

Some types of plants have defense mechanisms that cause them to be toxic to certain pests. However, many caterpillars counteract these defenses and are able to consume such plants. They store these toxic chemicals in their bodies without experiencing harm. Caterpillars can then secrete these toxic chemicals to protect themselves from larger predators. Isn’t nature grand?

If these pests are causing problems in your yard or garden, or are affecting your crops, take measures to control them. However, remember that these pests eventually turn into butterflies, which are both beautiful and very helpful for the pollination and the growth of many different plants.

What’s the last thing you want to find when you open your box of cereal? The answer is probably a red beetle. The red flour beetle is a troublesome insect that finds its way into boxed cereal grains, such as flours, ready-to-eat cereals, and pastas, and occasionally into nuts. It devours these foods. This leads to loss of foodstuffs, which can be damaging economically, especially if these beetles find their way into grocery stores or warehouses.

Red Flour Beetles

Red flour beetles thrive in temperate zones, but can also survive in winter if they find a warm, centrally heated area. Most red flour beetles do not bite or sting humans or other animals, despite having a strong mouth and chewing system. They use this system to attack stored grain products, such as cereal and flours, and feed on these foods until they can move on to something else.

Most flour beetles are about 1/8 of an inch long, so they can be hard to spot unless you are trying to see them. They are very long-lived, and may survive for up to three years, depending on their environment and access to food. They are reddish-brown and often do not vary in color. They have small antennae which allow them to navigate their surroundings.

Managing Red Flour Beetles

It is always wise to first locate the food source which red beetles are attacking. Locating and removing this source from the area is the very first thing to do in order to remove the insects. Such sources can include boxed cereals, rice, beans, pet food, pastas, and other grain products. Also, determine whether there are any cracks in windows, doors, or walls, and seal any such cracks in order to prevent the insects from entering your house again.

Rather than using a pesticide or insecticide within your house, it may be better to create a “barrier” around your home by spraying the perimeter of your living area. This will ensure that most insects will not cross this barrier and enter your home, if there is indeed an open area that provides insects immediate access.

There is new research showing that crickets, the insects who hop around and annoy you with their constant chirpy attitude, share an unusual feature with whales and dolphins. Strange as it may seem, crickets and dolphins share one unique ability that separates them from most creatures in the animal kingdom. This feature has to do with their hearing and their ears, which are in a place you would be unlikely to guess.

The Connection between Crickets and Dolphins

Recent news has come to light showing that crickets, along with some other small insects, have eardrums located on their front legs. Noise seems to pass through lipids, or oils and fats located in the insect, to the organs. This new research may show how a cricket knows to jump out of your way when you are walking down a creaky hallway.

Dolphins also promote their own hearing in a similar way underwater. Although they don’t have legs, it is believed that dolphins can access sounds through their lower jaws. Sound frequencies travel through their bodies and promote hearing underwater, so that they can find food and protect themselves from predators. Their quick speed is also very reflective of the speed of most crickets, who often jump from place to place at a very fast rate.

Crickets are omnivorous insects that feed on plant material, both alive and decaying. Some gardeners may find them particularly problematic; however, most insecticides are effective on crickets. Carnivorous animals and insects are also known to eat crickets, so crickets are constantly either seeking food are running away from being food.

People in some parts of the world actually consider crickets a nutritious and delicious food item. In fact, you can find chocolate-covered crickets, fried crickets, and sautéed crickets. However strange this may seem to some, many countries consider this insect a popular delicacy.

Cricket Invasion? 

Crickets mate in summer and lay eggs in autumn. It is best to start early in removing crickets from your area, no matter how small or large the population. Begin in late spring to early summer, as this will prevent the mating from occurring.

As mentioned, introducing insecticides in the area can be an option, as well as introducing carnivorous plants, animals, and insects that feed on crickets.

Rat snake at Mysore zoo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Snakes are annoying and sometimes dangerous pests that can inhabit many different areas inside and outside your home, posing a threat to you, your family, and your pets. The best snake protection methods anyone can employ are preventative measures that stop these pesky critters before they get too close for comfort. More often than not, chemical sprays are used as a last resort, yet they do have their place in rare cases of snake infestation.

What Snakes Like

Why is it important to know the likes and dislikes of snakes? You need to know what conditions they prefer so that you can make your home, and the area surrounding it, as undesirable as possible to snakes.

Snakes often prefer to dwell in cool, damp places, and these places can exist underneath the house, near the garden, or even in the basement. It isn’t uncommon for snakes to hide near refrigerators, or rather under them. As they seek out their next meals, dirty kitchens with food on the floor or unattended on the tables may attract them.

Areas where there are plenty of mice can be very appealing to snakes. Taking care of a mice problem first may drastically reduce the snake population in or around your home. By focusing on the root cause of the problem, such as an overabundance of mice or other rodents, you can greatly help reduce the main problem.

Keeping your yard and home free from trash and other materials may help reduce the snake population, since snakes like to hide under debris. Also, keeping pet food in tightly closed and covered containers will prevent snakes from seeking it out as a food source.

Snake Protection at Its Best

It’s not surprising that by using preventative techniques you can help to reduce the size of the snake population surrounding your home. Sometimes, but very rarely, chemical sprays may be used. These should be  used exactly as directed by the manufacturer’s instructions, since they may cause harm to animals, people, and the environment.

If you do find yourself face to face with a snake, it is important not to provoke it. In the case of snake infestation, which is very rare but can still happen, it may be best to contact your local pest control service. Always keep a lookout for these suspicious characters in your neighborhood while practicing safe prevention techniques.

Female argiope bruennichi spider wrapping its prey in silk in Pisa, Italy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New research suggests that there may be a new, interesting way to use silk – spider silk, that is. Scientists reported in the Journal of Biology Letters that spiders’ webs may actually help reduce the levels of pests in a certain location. The exact reason that such silk serves as an insect deterrent is currently unknown, but there are many strong theories as to why this occurs. Could the answer to your insect problems lie in silk and spiders? Researchers think that the answer is yes.

Spider Silk May Be the Answer to Natural Insect Control

Scientists compared the silk from two different insects, the spider and the silkworm. Each insect’s silk was placed on the leaves of bean plants. Both silks reduced harmful insects dramatically, with the spider’s silk reducing the number of insects near the plant a little more effectively than did the silkworm’s silk. Both silks were able to prevent damage and destruction of plants by protecting foliage and roots.

Researchers don’t have a conclusive reason for this, but one strong theory revolves around insect intuition. Most insects recognize silk as a trap set out by large predators. To prevent being caught and eaten, insects try to avoid such silk at all costs. Although this is a fascinating area of research in plant and insect life and behavior, how does it possibly relate to real-world applications in the agricultural industry, or in individual gardening?

How Do I Repel Insects if I Don’t Have Spiders’ Webs?

Many people can’t go to their local garden supply store and purchase spiders’ webs for their gardens. Most people also cannot direct spiders, or silkworms, for that matter, to gently surround their gardens with webs of silk. While it is interesting, how would one use this research to help protect garden space?

Row covers or garden bed covers made from silk may be an option, yet may also be hard to find in certain locations. These covers are also expensive. Home-made row covers made with silk sheets may be the best option for home gardeners of any kind, especially those who are interested in finding new, innovative ways to keep insects out of their garden beds.

With research still ongoing, it may not be long until synthetic silk products are created to help protect foliage and crops. Until this happens, it is best to keep using established methods of gardening, such as crop rotation, building healthy soil, and if needed, safe pesticides or insecticides, depending on your own unique needs.

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• Spider silk may act as pest repellant

Carpenter ants prefer dead, damp wood in which to build nests, and will sometimes hollow out sections of trees. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Winter is a time when insects have very little activity, both outside and inside the home. However, there are certain winter pests that do pose a problem for many home owners, despite the chilly temperatures outside. One of these insects is the winged carpenter ants, which will find shelter from the cold winter air in a warm home. These ants can often cause problems within the structure of a home, and can also bite skin and can become a nuisance during the holidays.

Ants That Fly

Carpenter ants resemble termites, not only in their physical structure but also in the areas in which they choose to inhabit. They prefer to build nests in cold, damp wood, yet they do not eat wood as termites do. Some carpenter ants have wings, and can fly from place to place throughout the house, jumping from location to location or nest to nest.

During the summer, these ants are happier outside and can thrive in the warm temperatures, so seeing one in the house is usually a sign that it has just flown in by accident. However, since they cannot survive outside in the winter, seeing one in the home usually indicates that there is a nest somewhere within the wood of the home in which they are spotted.

Treating Carpenter Ants

The best method to eliminate carpenter ants in your home during the winter is to use a pesticide or pest control service. This will drastically reduce, if not eliminate, the ant population in your home. Finding a way to seal holes or other entry ways into the home is also another step that should be carried through to reduce the likelihood of ants entering again.

Keeping a clean house with very little food laying out is helpful in reducing ant populations inside your home. Since ants come inside seeking warmth and food, storing your food and your pet’s food safely and securely will prevent them from gaining access to sources of nourishment.

The Pygmy Mole Cricket

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have analyzed the life and behavior of the pygmy mole cricket, an insect native to tropical regions and that resembles common crickets found in the United States. Although they are similar in shape and size, there is one distinguishing characteristic that separates the pygmy cricket from the ordinary cricket – its hind legs actually help it to walk on water and propel itself to dryer locations.

European mole cricket - Male - Dorsal side :: Locality: Castelnau-de-Brassac Tarn , France Français : Courtilière - Mâle - Vue dorsale :: Localité: Castelnau-de-Brassac, Tarn, France (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Researchers refer to the legs on the pygmy mole cricket as “oar like paddles” that allow it to walk, move, and travel on water easily without being caught by the “stickiness” of the water’s surface. Most insects get caught and drown, or become food for fish or birds. The pygmy mole cricket, on the other hand, uses its physiology as a defensive mechanism against the water’s surface and glides easily without worry.

Proteins called “resilin” allow for elasticity in the legs of this cricket, which more than likely accounts for the way it can walk on water. Scientists believe that more research into this protein and other insects that contain it may lead to future development of robotic vehicles that can move across water easily and at a super-fast speed.

Do These Insects Cause Harm?

Usually there is no need to exterminate these insects, as they are generally not problematic. However, sometimes they can be harmful to certain plants, as they do eat leaves. If you own a pool or other large body of water, and large numbers of these insects are invading your space, it may be best to investigate a pest control service or other method to rid your property of these creatures.

For controlling moths, let’s face it, moth balls are a no-go. They can get rid of moths, but they might also drive you away due to their strong and offensive odor. Below are five simple ways to rid your home of closet moths and prevent them from entering your home in the first place.

Five Ways to Get Rid of Closet Moths

• Clean your clothes. For some reason, dirty clothes are just more attractive to closet moths. Keep your clothes clean when you store them in your closet.
• Always use your closet. Moths like to go to areas where there is very little activity, so always make sure you store your clothes in the closet that you use the most. Moths don’t like to be disturbed, so make sure there is always activity around your clothes.
• Spray an insecticide. This may be the least desirable method of getting rid of closet moths, as you have to spray an insecticide in your closet. However, if there are a large number of moths in your closet, this may be the way to go.
• Vacuum. That’s right – use your vacuum! This will effectively get rid of the moths that you see, as well as any eggs you may find hiding in your garments.
• Seal up cracks and small openings. Prevention is the number one way to control closet moths and other insect you may fear getting into your home. Sealing up open areas around the house will ensure that moths will not make their way into your home. Keep the front and back doors open as little as possible, and fix open areas in windows and walls.

Another suggestion is to experiment with a drop in temperature to control humidity as well as heat. Moths love warm, humid conditions, so keeping the temperatures as low as possible in the infested area may help control the population by driving away the moths as well as preventing the eggs from hatching.

The bright leaves of the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) attract insects in the same way that flowers do. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Nature is truly amazing. Many different types of plants exist that derive most of their nutrients not from the soil, but from insects and small animals. Although there are no plants that consume humans or large animals, there are many amazing plants that eat bugs on a daily basis to stay alive. The Venus flytrap is among the most popular of these plants; however, there are many less well-known plants that also eat bugs and insects.

Plants That Eat Bugs

These interesting life forms are probably not found in your typical flower bed, although perhaps they should be. Carnivorous plants are incredibly helpful in the garden because they can combat and control the insect population. Although they are not a substitute for other insect control methods, they should nevertheless be investigated if you are in an area heavily populated with insects.

The Venus flytrap is known as a “snap trap,” and is one of the most famous bug eating plants. Despite its name, the Venus flytrap captures all small insects that come across its path, not just your basic house flies. The plant has tiny hair-like structures that are activated when an insect travels along one of its follicles. Once activated, the flower closes on the fly or small insect. Enzymes are released within the plant, turning the insect into food. This is the main nourishment for the Venus flytrap.

Sundews, which comprise 194 species, also eat bugs. Sundews grow in poor soil conditions, which is the main reason that they have to supplement their diet with insects. This plant also contains enzymes that dissolve insects in order to obtain their nutrients.

A tropical plant called the Low’s Pitcher-Plant also eats bugs. Although this plant may obtain small prey, usually insects, as a food source, most of its nourishment comes from bird droppings or tree shrews. It is unknown as to why or how this plant changed from being a carnivore to something slightly less ferocious.

Can I Grow Carnivorous Plants?

Plants that eat bugs may be very helpful in your garden, yet many people are unaware as to how to grow these plants. The Venus flytrap may be the easiest to grow. Depending on where you live, it may be difficult to locate these plants; however, online retailers are making it easier for individuals to obtain these plants for home use.

Sundews may also be grown at home from seeds or from fully mature plants. Be sure to use other insect prevention and treatment methods if you are experiencing an overabundance of insects in your yard or garden.

Eastern Boxelder Bug (Boisea trivittata) (Photo credit: Futureman1)

The boxelder bug derives its name from the boxelder tree, as this is the main plant around which this particular species of insect likes to congregate. Although not normally thought of as agricultural enemies, boxelder bugs are nonetheless a nuisance for some people due to their high rates of infestation in certain areas of North America. There are many different approaches that you can take to control boxelder bug populations.

Boxelder Bug Control

During the winter months, boxelder bugs are rarely seen as they overwinter (or hibernate) until spring. They may hibernate inside the walls of your home, especially if the house has various cracks around its perimeter. If you are noticing this insect during the spring and fall months each year, it may be a good idea to check your house for easy entrances and places that the bugs may hibernate and reproduce.

Prevention really is key for boxelder bug control, so sealing up any opened areas will go a long way toward reducing bug populations in your home next summer. Often, if the insects have already invaded your home or garden, using an insecticide may be necessary. Spraying an insecticide around the perimeter of your home or garden will aid in protecting against further invasion by other boxelder bugs, while hopefully killing those that are already within the vicinity of your property. Be sure to read the labels of insecticides carefully, as these products can be poisonous and sometimes flammable.

Certain plants such as mint, rosemary, and garlic may repulse certain insects, including boxelder bugs. Although relatively harmless to your garden, sometimes boxelder bugs create a displeasing smell in the area, and stain certain places in your garden and home with their excrement. Again, these things are not harmful, but are often annoying to gardeners and home owners.

What Else Can I Do?

When all else fails, hiring a professional exterminating crew may be necessary to lower the insect population. Boxelder bug control services are commonplace in certain areas of the country, and most companies can easily remove these annoying pests, as well as help you prevent them from coming back during the fall, spring, and summer months.

Mint leaves may be helpful in deterring certain pests, including mosquitoes, from invading your garden. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

SUGGESTED TWEET: (Learn about the top five plants that repel insects.)

The USDA has recently discovered certain compounds in the J. curcas seed that repel mosquitoes, a finding that is leading to a new, natural way of preventing insect infestation in certain areas. There are many different plants other than J. curcas that repel insects of all kinds. These plants can easily be incorporated into any landscape, patio, or garden. Not only are these plants helpful for combating pests that can often bite you or destroy your garden, they are also fragrant and attractive to the eye.

The Top Five  Plants That Repel Insects

Plants that act as pest-deterrents can be grown outdoors or indoors, but most people grow them in the garden. If you have a vegetable, fruit, or herb garden, these plants may be used to discourage harmful insects from destroying your crops. Note that these aren’t treatments for insect infestation; they merely act as preventative measures and discourage certain pests from entering your garden.

1. Marigolds – These beautiful flowers have a specific type of aroma that many insects, particularly mosquitoes, find disturbing. The smell of these flowers can be very offensive to small animals, as well, in the case of animal infestation in your garden bed.
2. Catnip – Although this plant will more than likely attract cats, catnip is also helpful in discouraging mosquitoes from invading your garden. In fact, some estimate that catnip is ten times more effective in warding off mosquitoes than DEET, a common chemical found in most conventional mosquito repellents. Making a tincture of this plant or a strong tea from its leaves, and then spraying the mixture on clothing and skin can provide for a natural, safe mosquito repellent.
3. Mint – This famous digestive aid can be grown to repel ants, cabbage moths, and fleas. Since it is an invasive plant, it is best to grow it in controlled and confined conditions, such as garden pots. Growing mint in a garden bed may be problematic, as it will compete with other plants for space.
4. Rosemary – Rosemary contains oils that also act as powerful insect repellents, especially against mosquitoes. Combining this with catnip and spraying it on the skin or in a specific area may be helpful in keeping mosquitoes and other flying insects at bay.
5. Lavender – Moths, mice, and ticks are often turned off by this herb, so it is best to plant it in beds that see an abundance of these pests.

All of these plants, excluding marigolds, can also be utilized in cooking, giving them double-duty power in your garden and kitchen. Using these plants for natural pest relief or prevention is a great start in keeping your home, garden, and lawn pest free. Remember that an infestation of certain pests cannot necessarily be treated with these plants alone, and depending on your specific situation a professional pest control company may be helpful in treating to the root of the problem.

Diamondback Moth (Plutella xylostella) is one of the genetically modified insects currently being studied. (Photo credit: sankax)

TWEET SUGGESTION: (Genetically Modified Insects – A Pesticide Alternative or Harmful Experiment?)

With many concerned over the use of genetically modified organisms in our food, there is something else that is being introduced into our natural environment – genetically modified insects. GM insects are currently being developed to help kill certain pests that feed on cabbage, broccoli, and many fruits. This may help reduce pesticide exposure to consumers, yet many are against this  technology when it comes to animals and insects. In the long run, will it be helpful or harmful?

What Are Genetically Modified Insects?

Genetically Modified Organisms (or GMO for short) are organisms that have had their DNA altered in some way to bring about a certain outcome. GMO food, for example, is usually altered to contain more nutrients, or to survive frost or certain insects. There is some concern as to whether these foods should be allowed into the food system. Many individuals seek to avoid genetically modified foods by choosing certified organic over conventionally grown crops.

When it comes to insects, many have been genetically modified to produce a certain outcome. This practice usually centers around farming and growing of crops. Genetically modified insects contain alterations to their genetics that make them particularly deadly to harmful insects that feed on certain crops. The company that is planning to release these insects into the wild promotes this practice as a “greener alternative to pesticides and insecticides”.

Are Genetically Modified Insects Harmful to Human Health?

There is very little evidence yet to show whether or not genetically modified insects are harmful to human health, or the health of our natural environment. Critics to GM insects voice the possibility that the eggs of these pests may be laid on certain crops, resulting in the accidental ingestion of these genetically modified eggs by human consumers. Since there is no research to show whether this would be harmful or not, many argue that genetically modified insects need to go through more rigorous testing before being released on a large scale.

The use of genetically modified insects is no doubt an interesting, and controversial subject in today’s agriculture. Most countries have yet to introduce genetically modified insects into our natural environment because experts are unsure as to whether these GM insects will be resistant to certain types of pesticides or insecticides themselves. This is an area of research that is currently in development. With good intentions, there may be a way to help crops survive and flourish by fighting fire with fire, or in this case, beneficial insect with harmful insects.

Negatively stained bluetongue virus caused by biting midges

We all know that tiny insects can be annoying. They flutter near our hair, eyelashes, and faces, causing us to flap our arms violently. Although relatively harmless to humans, such biting midges may be carriers of diseases that affect animals. Not only can animals get sick from biting midges, but they can also suffer serious health consequences and sometimes die.

An Animal’s Worst Nightmare

Midges are tiny insects very similar to gnats. They bite and suck the blood of both humans and animals. There is much concern in the agriculture and livestock communities over the fact that these insects may be carriers of certain deadly diseases, some of which have wiped out large numbers of livestock ranging from deer to cows in various states across the U.S. and have caused farmers to lose thousands of dollars.

The bluetongue virus is the main disease that biting midges carry and transfer to their victims. This deadly disease is hard to treat yet relatively easy to prevent. More than 600 species of midges have been identified in North America alone, making it important for pet and animal owners to become more aware of the insects that inhabit their animals’ surroundings.

What Can You Do?

Unfortunately, there is very little that can be done to reduce populations of biting midges. Insecticides and pesticides have some effect, but offer only minor protection for animals and humans alike. Many experts agree, at least for humans and small pets, that limiting time spent around hot spot areas where gnats and midges congregate may be wise during the spring and summer months.

To limit your animals’ exposure to midges, consider bringing  livestock indoors between dusk and dawn, when midges like to be out. If possible, protect your animals’ living areas with insect nets sprayed with insecticide or insect repellent. Spray the perimeter of the barn or living quarters with repellent as well.

Some vaccines may be helpful in preventing certain types of bluetongue virus, although it should be noted that these vaccines do not protect against less common strains of the virus. Additionally, some countries do not yet have the approval for these vaccines, making it harder for farmers to protect the health of their animals.

Grasshopper in Panama (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

SUGGESTED TWEET: (Grasshoppers in the garden? Try these five simple steps for removing them forever.)

Grasshoppers in the Garden

Grasshoppers may look innocuous, but they can be particularly troublesome in gardens, and can wreak havoc on foliage and flowers, causing easily visible damage.

If you find grasshoppers munching their way throughout your garden, you’ll want to take immediate action to combat the problem. Fortunately, there are ways to remove these garden pests.

Top Five Ways to Get Rid of Grasshoppers

Check out the tips below to find out how to make your garden grasshopper-free.

• Keep chickens. This method may not be practical for urban gardeners, but more and more neighborhoods are allowing backyard chickens for individual households. Not only can you raise your own eggs, but you can also help reduce the pest population in your yard and garden. Chickens, when left to free range, will consume bugs, thus helping to reduce the insect population. Chicken waste material also makes a great compost.
• Plant flowers. A more practical, yet still powerful, method of getting rid of grasshoppers is to plant certain types of flowers and herbs. Marigolds, daisies, dill, and mint will attract beneficial insects that consume grasshoppers.
• Spray insecticides. Speak to a professional about which insecticide or pesticide to use in your specific garden. Using an insecticide will go a long way in fighting grasshoppers, and may also help fight other harmful insects.
• Dust with all-purpose flour. All-purpose white flour may be helpful in killing off grasshoppers. Grasshoppers love to eat their greens, but a dusting of flour on plant leaves may keep them from eating the greens in your garden. Flour becomes gummy in grasshopper mouths and prevents the bugs from eating anything, helping to reduce the frequency of foliage damage to your plants.
• Populate your garden with beneficial insects. Insects aren’t all bad. In fact, some are very helpful in controlling harmful insect populations. Beneficial beetles and spiders in particular are natural predators of grasshoppers. Encouraging birds into your garden may also be helpful in controlling grasshopper populations.

You may also find it effective to simply remove the grasshoppers by hand and destroy them. This isn’t always practical, however, when a full-blown infestation occurs during the heat of summer. Always use your best judgement when it comes to applying the methods listed here, as experimentation is key for getting rid of grasshoppers in your garden.

Emerald ash borer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The ash tree borer is an interesting yet devastating insect that made its way from Asia into North America in the 1990s. This insect, also called the emerald ash beetle,  now infests ash trees across the northern part of the United States and threatens the existence of an estimated 7.5 billion trees.

When ash tree borers are introduced into an area, they create a wake of destruction by feeding on tree leaves. A female emerald ash borer will lay 100 eggs or more in her 2-month lifespan, and more than half of those eggs will be female. As a result, small ash tree borer populations can expand quickly into full-scale infestations. Although ash trees are most affected, all species in the same fraxinus genus can be destroyed by this insect.

The 14 states affected by ash tree borers are:

• Michigan
• Ohio
• Indiana
• Illinois
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Pennsylvania
• New York
• Massachusetts
• Connecticut
• Tennessee
• Kentucky
• Virginia
• West Virginia

Emerald Ash Borer Treatment

An effective treatment for emerald ash borer damage has yet to be discovered, which is what makes this insect so problematic for tree owners and naturists alike. Since the bugs are relatively new to America, scientists are still attempting to find a way to protect ash trees and decrease emerald ash borer populations. Introducing natural predators and sprays into the environment has had little to no effect on emerald ash borer populations.

One insecticide, Imidacloprid, may be somewhat effective at fighting ash tree borers, although it must be used during the spring season. Once the insecticide is poured around an affected tree, the roots of the tree absorb the liquid, but the tree itself remains unharmed. The leaves, bark, and other areas of the tree then emit the insecticide, effectively killing off the borer. Time restrictions are the only downside to this treatment. Scientists hope soon to find an insecticide that can be absorbed at any season.

SUGGESTED TWEET: New “headless” ladybug discovered in Montana.

Scientists have discovered a new insect in Montana. This insect is called the “headless ladybug” because it gives the illusion that its head is detached from its body.

This remarkable ladybug tucks its head inside its throat, making it appear that it is indeed headless. Although scientists have not determined why the bug hides its head, they suspect that it may do so to protect itself against bigger insects. Also, since it preys upon smaller insects, pretending that it is headless may help this ladybug trick other bugs into thinking that it is harmless. Other insects are more likely to approach the ladybug, thus allowing it to catch those insects easily.

Most headless ladybugs, also termed ladybird beetles, are tan in color, unlike the typical red and black spotted ladybugs that most people are used to seeing. Both male and female ladybird beetles have been discovered, each looking rather similar. Most female ladybugs are twice as large as the male ladybugs, making the females easy to identify with the naked eye.

Ladybug Benefits

Ladybugs serve an important purpose here on earth and in your garden. They are beneficial insects that consume aphids, small, lice-like insects that can be harmful to plants. Promoting the arrival and continuation of ladybugs in your yard or garden helps to keep harmful insect populations under control.

Ladybugs also consume insect eggs, and this helps to prevent infestation by new insects. Ladybugs, including the ladybird beetles (or “headless ladybugs”), can live as long as one to two years, depending on specific conditions such as weather, soil, insect population, chemicals, and plant life. Within a year, between three and four generations of ladybugs may be living in the same place.

If you have a large number of ladybugs in your garden or yard, let them serve their purpose as insect destroyers. They do not harm plant life and are solely there to help you bring your insect population under control. If you have a full-blown insect infestation, however, it is always best not only to trust nature, but also to seek professional help.

The common or European toad (Bufo bufo) in the Ukraine. This toad has excellent camouflage abilities. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

SUGGESTED TWEET: (Toxic toads? Learn how to protect your pet from these dangerous amphibians.)

Toxic Toads – What Are They?

If you thought that all toads were the same, then you might be surprised to learn that many different varieties of these amphibians exist. One variety, called the bufo toad, has gained much attention due to its interesting ability to emit poisonous and psychoactive properties by licking other animals and humans. This toxic toad can often be deadly to other creatures, including large dogs, making it an important critter to look out for.

The source of these toads’ deadly emissions lies behind the eyes in the parotid glands, which are located outside of the skin on the back of the neck. These glands help bufo toads ward off predators by producing and secreting a white, toxic substance called bufotoxin. If a bufo toad secretes this toxin and licks another animal, or simply comes into physical contact with another animal, the toxin can enter the other animal and cause lasting damage and possibly even death.

Toxic Toads and Your Pets

Many cases of bufo toad toxicity involving dogs, cats, and other small family pets are reported each year. Affected pets have been attacked after wandering away from their owners, or while simply sitting on the back porch. Controlling toads can be a step in the right direction if you do have pets that like to roam around outside. Keeping an eye on your family pet while taking it outside will also ensure that your dog, cat, or other furry creature remains safe.

Avoid bufo toad contact whenever possible, especially if you are around small pets. The bufo toad secretes its poisonous substances when stressed, so avoid aggravating or harming it in any way. Since toads do serve positive purposes, such as providing insect control in the garden or yard, it is not advisable to kill them. Deterring them from entering your premises is the best option if an infestation does occur.

What Should I Do if My Pet Has Come into Contact with a Toxic Toad?

If you find that your pet has come in contact with a bufo toad, bring your pet indoors and contact your veterinarian immediately, even if the animal does not initially show any symptoms. Symptoms can range from shaking, vomiting, and decreased hunger to coma. Basically, if you witness anything unusual in your animal after it comes into contact with a bufo toad, take immediate action.

Always be aware of your pet’s surroundings. Not only could you save yourself stress, worry, and thousands of dollars in vet bills, but you may also save your pet’s life.

Housing (Photo credit: james.thompson)

Many insects thrive in heat, and with record highs and dry spells throughout the summer, most of them continue to live throughout the fall and winter seasons in some parts of the country. Some insects also reproduce much more during warmer weather, meaning a higher population of those insects in certain regions. This means more insects sticking around your home, both outside and in. More often than not, most insects will creep their way into your home once it starts getting cooler.

Insects in Winter

It isn’t unusual y for a mild winter to follow a hot and dry summer. This usually means more insects will survive to live on during the winter months. Insects in winter will often find their way into your home through an opening on the ground level, and are a nuisance to handle. Certain insects, like grasshoppers, mosquitoes, roaches, ants, and wasps are common insects that will thrive in warm weather and seek shelter in the winter months.

All insects, ants included, tend to make their way into rooms where food is present. Keeping a tidy home is often a good defense for invading insects in winter, yet it is only one part of the solution.

What Can I Do To Protect My Home from Insects in Winter?

There are many ways you can protect your home from an insect invasion this winter.  If you had a somewhat dry summer and are having a mild winter, the first precaution should be to check all rooms for visible holes or cracks. These openings can be an easy doorway for insects to come into your home. Seal these cracks and holes to provide an extra area of security.

When an infestation has already occurred, it may be best to bring a professional to your home to raid the premises. This will often result in the existing insects to die or leave the home. Having someone check your home for any entrances that you do not notice yourself will also help ensure that you can stop insects from coming into your home at the source.

The Take Home

When insects come into your home during the winter months, simply treating the symptoms won’t necessarily take care of the problem. Prevention is key, combined with the correct treatment approach when infestation does occur. Keeping track of all entries into your home and providing an uninhabitable place for them to live are two parts that work together to create a pest free home in the winter months, as well as all year long.

Squash vine borer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Starting a squash vegetable garden is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences for anyone with a green thumb. Not only do you receive pleasure from watching a plant come to life and grow; you are also able to produce fresh, healthy food for you and your family. However, pests such as the squash beetle,  can leave even the experienced gardener in a state of worry and disappointment. Below are the most common ways to prevent and fight squash beetles in your vegetable garden.

What Are Squash Beetles?

Squash beetles are a common pests that attack most plants of the cucurbit family, such as cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, and pumpkin, just to a name a few. The most vulnerable plants seem to be squash and pumpkin, and many gardeners find it hard to control these pests when an outbreak occurs.

The beetles themselves are somewhat flattened in shape, and are often gray or dark brown in color and like to feed on leaves and fruit, which harm the production of the plant. Most squash beetles also lay eggs on the underside of leaves, which quickly hatch, resulting in a takeover of the squash plant. When this happens, it may be wiser to remove the plant from the garden completely. There may be, however, other ways of keeping your plant without having to resort to this method.

Squash vine borer, another common squash pest, may also be a problem in addition to squash beetles. These insects lay eggs within the vines of the plant. The eggs hatch and the caterpillars damage the leaf while making their way to the main stem. Many times this bug is unavoidable, as they are hard to see unless one was to break open and examine each stem of the plant. The squash vine borer has bright orange hind legs, and are often mistaken for wasps.

What Can You Do To Protect Your Garden from Squash Beetles?

When you suspect that squash beetles are feeding on your crop, it is time to take immediate action. There are a number of things you can do, although none of the methods are guaranteed to completely solve the problem. In the case of squash vine borer, the best actions you can take are preventative. Consider the methods below when attempting to prevent, or in some cases fight, squash beetles:

• Insecticide. When you first discover a squash bug on your leaves or fruit, it is best to safely destroy them using an insecticide. Some insecticides only last a few days, so you may need to apply every few days to the plant once the insect is spotted. Speak to a professional about which pesticide or insecticide will work best for your situation.
• Hand removal. One method involves simply removing the beetles and killing them to prevent egg laying and further damage. Plants will have to be inspected daily for this method to be effective at protecting the plant.
• Destroy eggs. Eggs are found on the underside of leaves when squash beetles become a problem. Alongside using an insecticide and hand removal, it is wise to prevent more beetles from being born into the garden. Simply scrape the eggs off the underside of the leaves and crush them. If hard to remove, simply tear the leaf at the affected area and discard.
• Rotate crops. Planting the same family of plants in the same spot season after season encourages the build up of soil diseases and pests. Rotate your crops by planting squash in different areas of your garden each season.

It is always wise to make more than one planting of squash every season so there is more chance of receiving fruit from your labor. Consecutive plantings during a season may also be helpful in continuing your harvest throughout the season. By keeping your soil healthy and being both preventative and proactive, you can ensure that you will have a productive squash garden free from squash beetles.

Mosquito Alert (Photo credit: Travis S.)

Mosquito Bites: Annoying and Sometimes Dangerous

The bite of a mosquito is not only annoying and irritating, it can at times be debilitating. The red, itchy bumps that we experience from time to time, when we don’t take the proper precautions, can be prevented using simple and easy steps. Not only does this protect us from the constant cycle of itching and scratching, which can harm the skin, it also helps protect your health against a wide variety of diseases that mosquitoes carry.

West Nile virus is one of the most common, and most deadly disease that mosquitoes may carry, affecting over 3,000 people in the United States alone in 2012. Symptoms of the disease include abdominal pain, fever, rash, nausea, and in some cases, death. Preventing mosquito bites is one of the best strategies for decreasing the incidence of the disease, most of which can be accomplished by using insect repellant, wearing proper clothing, and avoiding certain environmental factors.

Who’s More at Risk?

When it comes to mosquito bites, everyone is at risk. The West Nile virus, as well as other viruses and diseases that mosquitoes and other insect may carry, vary in intensity depending on the individual.

Pregnant women, the elderly, and young children are more at risk to developing major complications from West Nile. Also, those with weak immune systems should avoid prolonged outside activities. Using the simple tips below for preventing mosquito bites are important for these people, as well as every individual, who cannot avoid outside activity.

5 Simple Tips for Preventing Mosquito Bites

Preventing mosquito bites will not only help in the prevention of the annoying itching and reddening skin, it may also help prevent the incidence of West Nile virus. As mentioned previously, West Nile is a serious illness that can result in major complications, depending on the individual. Following these simple tips will help ensure that you keep yourself safe and relatively pest free while  enjoying the outdoors.

• Insect Repellant. Insect repellant should be your #1 defense against mosquito bites when going outside. Choose safe, non-toxic insect repellants and spray before going outside. Since insect repellant works so well, yet also wears off, it is wise to spray it throughout the day. Spraying insect repellent on the skin is recommended, yet spraying on your clothing will also increase your chances of repelling the pesky insects.
• Wear long sleeves and socks. Although unpractical during demanding physical exertion, long sleeves, pants, and long socks can help prevent mosquitoes from having contact with your skin. Wearing this type of clothing is best when sitting on the patio and in the shade, while also staying thoroughly hydrated. Avoid wearing long sleeves and pants when performing yard work or in the sun, as it can increase the risk for heat stroke. Since mosquitoes are often attracted to dark clothing, try wearing light colored clothing to promote mosquito avoidance.
• Discard standing water in pots or other areas near your home. Mosquitoes breed on water, so it is always wise to discard of any standing water near your home to prevent the spread of mosquitoes in your area. Ensuring good drainage in your garden is important for preventing the growth of mosquitoes, some of which may contain the West Nile virus.
• Ensure all doors are closed quickly during the spring and summer months.
• Stay inside during dawn, dusk, and early evening. These are often the peak time periods in which mosquitoes are out and seeking food.

Ignore the myth that taking certain vitamin supplements, such as vitamin B, can prevent mosquito bites. These claims have not been studied extensively enough to be conclusive in mosquito prevention. Other tips for preventing mosquito bites during the peak mosquito season include installing screen windows or doors, installing a mosquito net or canopy on cribs or patios, as well as avoiding woody areas with tall grass. Using these sensible techniques for preventing mosquito bites will go a long way in protecting you and your family’s health during the spring and summer months.

True Survivors

Aedes japonicus survive through the winter as eggs in the more northern parts of its range. However, it is found throughout the winter as larvae as far north as Tokyo (37° N), the same latitude as Norfolk, Virginia.

The adult female of Aedes japonicus is a medium-sized mosquito being dark- to blackish-brown in appearance, with white scales on the body and legs.

All Day Buffet

Not being concerned with its fashionable cousins, who prefer to dine later in the evening, these hungry gluttons eat all day.  Carl Pierce, Portland, Oregon’s Multnomah County Public Health vector ecologist is researching this mosquito because, as he says:  “We do have some day-biters in this area but adding one more day-biter to the mix that can carry West Nile virus, it has a potential for disease transmission that we’re concerned with. That’s why we’re looking for this guy,” The Rock Pool happens to very good at carrying West Nile virus and Dengue Fever and Encephalitis.

Make Yourself at Home

The Rock Pool larvae are hard to find. They can breed anywhere water collects like coffee cans, birdbaths, gutters, buckets, old wood and tires. Preferred sites usually are shaded and contain water rich in organic matter.

“When that tire fills with water, those eggs can hatch and you have a mosquito problem,” Pierce says.

“Anything that sits in your back yard that can contain water is a potential habitat for these mosquitoes,” warned  Carl Pierce. “So anything you can do to eliminate water in your back yard would really help us to make sure these guys don’t spread out through the county.”

Avoid the Bites

The usual methods to avoid being bitten are still the best. “(I) try to wear longer sleeves when I notice the mosquitoes are out,” says Teri Fisher, a self-proclaimed mosquito hater. “I have put ‘Skin So Soft’ on, but other than that, not much.”

Photo courtesy of Mehmet Karatay

I get upset when I spot a handful of ants in my kitchen. Seeing those little black insects crawling through your sugar or honey can really destroy your appetite! However, compared to the havoc that driver ants can wreak, the trouble that the occasional black ant that creeps into my apartment causes is nothing.

Driver Ant Invasions

Driver ants don’t travel in tens, or even hundreds; they travel in millions! In fact, a single column of driver ants can contain as many as 22 million insects. Astonishingly, these ants are able to coordinate their enormous columns even though they are blind, and communicate through the use of pheromones. Fortunately, driver ants travel at the leisurely pace of approximately 20 meters per hour, and therefore humans can easily avoid them. However, immobile objects, including injured small animals, are at risk since driver ants will mercilessly kill and eat anything in their paths. Driver ant columns that travel through houses can also inflict damage.

Driver ant attacks aren’t particularly pleasant for humans either. These bugs have unusually strong jaws, and their bites are not only surprisingly painful, but they also leave behind two small puncture marks. In fact, if you pull a driver ant in two, its jaws will still remain firmly clamped!

Surgical Driver Ants

The jaws of these insects are so powerful that some East African tribes actually use the ants as makeshift surgical staples. First, they induce the ants to clamp down on both sides of the injury, and then break off the bodies. The ants’ mouths continue to firmly grip the skin, thus closing the wound and allowing it to begin to heal!

Where are you likely to see these remarkable insects? They are native to central and east Africa, and are recognizable not  only for their giant traveling columns, but also for their large body size; male driver ants can be a little more than an inch long, and queen driver ants can reach lengths of nearly two inches!

While I may never enjoy seeing the odd black ant in my cupboard, I definitely prefer them to the sight of millions of driver ants swarming through my house!

The insect world seems to have an endless capacity to produce outrageously bizarre bugs. Multi-legged creatures that, when seen up close, resemble aliens from a science fiction flick abound. What about bugs that spray toxic, boiling hot substances at their predators? Those exist too!

Beetle Combat

In fact, that’s exactly what the remarkable bombardier beetle does when attacked. These critters store two reactant chemicals, hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinone, in two separate reservoirs located  in the rear tips of their abdomens. When menaced, they contract muscles that release the chemicals into a mixing chamber, causing a wild chemical reaction that raises the temperature of the fluids nearly to the boiling point. The beetles then discharge the mixture, covering their assailants with hot, foul-smelling, noxious liquid and vapor.

If you’re actually holding a bombardier beetle when it releases this boiling concoction, you’ll be in for an unpleasant, burning surprise! Your only warning will be a popping sound that the beetle produces right before it sprays. Spraying occurs about 500 times per second, although the total pulse time only lasts for a fraction of a second. Nevertheless, bombardier beetles have astonishingly accurate aim within this short time, and can swivel the spray through 270°! This toxic mixture is often fatal to attacking insects, and is painful to humans.

While it may seem that bombardier beetles have an unfair advantage over their predators, their defense mechanism actually compensates for another weakness: the beetles’ negligible flight capabilities. Unlike many insects, bombardier beetles cannot instantaneously take flight; they must unfurl their wings first.

Spotting Bombardier Beetles

Where are you likely to spot a bombardier beetle? These creatures can be found on almost all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. They prefer grassy or wooded areas in temperate zones, although they will seek out other areas that are moist enough for egg-laying. As carnivores, they hunt other insects, and can most easily be found at night. They’re typically less than one inch in length, and have six legs and two antennae. Bombardier beetles found in the U.S. have blue wing coverings and reddish heads and legs.

I May Have What?

Imagine being contacted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and being told you may be at risk of developing HPS ( a deadly rodent-borne hantavirus) in the next 6 weeks. That’s exactly what happened to an estimated 10,000 people who stayed in Yosemite’s ‘Signature Tent Cabins’ from June 10 through August 24, 2012.

They were also advised to have lab testing if symptoms developed consistent with  the lung disease, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, and asked that their  doctors notify state health departments when test results are positive.

Fatal for Two

Ninety one insulated tent cabins had to be shut down after deer mice found living in the walls. These carry the disease in their feces, urine, and saliva – which dries out and mixes with dust that can be inhaled by humans, especially in small, confined spaces with poor ventilation. Two people died from the virus and four survived it.

Two Other Ways to Catch Virus

When infected mice get in to a food supply and leave behind their droppings and urine, the virus may be transmitted.  Infection can also occur through a bite from an infected mouse. Sufferers experience flu-like symptoms, headache, fever, muscle ache, shortness of breath and cough. Sometimes this progresses to severe breathing difficulties and death.

What Do I Do?

Get a blood test if you suspect you have the virus. There is no cure but early treatment could save your life. Though there are no known cases of the virus being transmitted between humans, it does kill 38% of those it infects.

Don’t let rodent infestations persist in your home, either.  Seal up openings that allow mice to enter, trap and remove existing colonies.  Contacting a professional pest control company is the most dependable way to make sure you and your family are safe.

Related articles

• Update On Hantavirus At Yosemite

West Nile Virus, Swine Flu, Malaria all good reasons to control mosquitoes. So wear your socks for a while and you have the perfect lure.

More Sophisticated Lure

Researchers in Tanzania have chemically reproduced the odor of smelly feet in an innovative new way to fight the spread of malaria in the country.

The scientific team at Tanzania’s Ifakara Health Institute has developed a potent serum –  human foot scented — to lure and kill mosquitoes, which can carry malaria and other diseases.

Related articles

• Mosquitoes carrying Dengue Fever spotted further north on the border

During the three summers I lived in Taiwan, I saw enough strange insects to last a lifetime: enormous cockroaches, larger-than-life golden-orb spiders, and mosquitoes whose bites left huge purple welts, rather than tiny red itchy spots, to name just a few. By far the most memorable creature that I saw there however, was a brown huntsman spider, known locally as a laya.

Frightening Monsters, or Beneficial Pest Removers?

The first time I discovered the laya that lived in the stairwell in my apartment building, I screamed and ran away as fast as I could. I was three floors down before I finally stopped. This gargantuan arachnid was simply to large to be believed! Like many layas, it had body length of approximately an inch, a leg span of approximately five inches, and had a hairy brown body with brown, black, and white markings. Needless to say, its appearance on the wall six inches above my head startled me!

Despite their menacing appearance, however, laya spiders are not quite as threatening as you might think. In fact, some people in Taiwan actually welcome their presence in the home, because they feed on other, more disruptive pests, such as cockroaches and silverfish. They have also been known to feed on skinks and geckos. Unlike many other arachnids, these spiders do not build webs, but rather find their prey through hunting and foraging. When they find their victims, they can rush forward with surprising speed and agility.

With a spider this large however, it’s easy to fear that you might become the prey yourself! Fortunately, layas don’t pose a serious threat to humans. They will bite if provoked, and females particularly will vigorously defend the pillow-like egg sacs that they carry under their bodies and their young, but if left alone, layas are not likely to attack. In fact, most laya bites result from accidental handling. If you do get bitten, the good news is that while painful, the bite should not be life-threatening. Laya bites do not cause necrosis in humans.

Laya Geography

Where might you spot such a colossal arachnid? Layas are found not only in Taiwan, but also in other parts of Asia, some Mascarene and Caribbean islands, the Southeastern U.S., Australia, and Hawaii. They have little tolerance for cold, and therefore exist largely in more tropical climates, where they can frequently be found in houses, barns, sheds, under boards on the ground, and in other sheltered areas.   In cold weather they can be found indoors, under furniture or cabinets, behind wall hangings, and in closets and garages.

Personally, while I did eventually gather up enough courage to walk past the laya that lived in my stairwell, rather than running screaming past it, I’m not sure that I ever really embraced its presence in my apartment building. While beneficial, these are undoubtedly some of the creepier-looking spiders of the world!

Photo courtesy of Didier Descouens

You’ve heard of ant farms and flea circuses, but what about a single beetle so large that you could keep it as a pet? The Goliath beetle is so enormous that many people do just that. This giant of the insect kingdom is arguably the largest bug in existence, in terms of weight and size, and can reach lengths of up to 5 inches and weights of up to 1/5 of a pound!

Your Pet Beetle

Fortunately, these beetles are gentle giants. While this species requires more protein in its diet than other related species, in the wild, these bugs feed on dead plant materials, tree sap, fruits, and animal dung, and and in captivity will consume pellets of soft, dry dog or cat food.

What do these colossal insects look like?  Males are generally either brown, black, and white, or black and white, while females range from dark brown to white. They have two pairs of wings; a first pair, which acts as a cover for the second pair of wings and for the abdomen, and the second pair, which is used for flying. Yes, that’s right, these behemoths can fly! Males also have a Y-shaped horn on their heads, which they use when fighting other males. Females, on the other hand, have no horn.

Goliath Beetle Life Cycle

Because these beetles grow to such remarkable sizes, they take months in order to attain to maturity. When they finally reach their maximum size, they burrow beneath the ground, and envelop themselves in a thin-walled, oval-shaped cell made of soil. They remain in the cell throughout the dry season as they metamorphose into adult beetles. Toward the end of this cycle, in the pre-pupal stage, the cell shrinks, and becomes wrinkled. Eventually, they shed their larval skin, and, over the course of the next few months, reorganize their tissues until they are in the form of an adult beetle. Their wings then expand, and their exoskeleton hardens. Finally, after several months in their cells, they emerge at the start of the rainy season. As adults, they focus their attention on reproduction, and die soon afterward.

Where are you likely to see these remarkable beetles? Unless you live in Africa, you’re unlikely to trip over one of these beasts in your kitchen, since all Goliath beetles are native to Africa.

Unusual Hook-like Front Claws Credit: ZooKeys.com

In case you didn’t have enough reasons to get all squeamish about spiders, amateur cave explorers (called “spelunkers”) in Oregon and California present one more: An entirely new family of spiders called the “Trogloraptor” (sounds like a dinosaur, doesn’t it?) or “cave robber” because of its unique and  deadly front claws.

Scientist are more than usually excited about this new find because while new species of spiders are discovered frequently, this is the first new family of spiders to be discovered in North America since the 1870s!

The spider is about the size of a silver dollar (including the legs, thank heavens) and is reddish brown in color.  With their “fearsome claws”, it is suspected that their hook-like shape helps them snap and trap their prey. Scientists call the spiders “very shy” and when they tried to build a small artificial cave to observe just how the spiders catch prey, the spiders refused to perform and died of starvation.

Unless you are a cave explorer in the Pacific Northwest, you are unlikely to run in to this particular type of spider.  However, as some estimate that only half the existing species have been identified, you could still find your own new species of spider.  If you did, what would you name it?

Related articles

• Trogloraptor, New Family And Genus Of Spider Discovered In Cave
• Trogloraptor spider discovered in US cave
• Scientists Discover New Cave Spider Species with Claws!
• Really, Mother Nature?: Spider With Claws Discovered

How Do I Look?

The Texas Red Headed Centipede has a long black or purple body that is made up of segments. For each segment there is a pair of yellow legs. They can grow to be 12 inches long! That must mean they have a lot of legs! So they are defiantly crawly. Also, the back legs are longer than the other legs and are black. The green-blue pincher on the bottom of the bug confuse predators into thinking the bottom is the head.

A Bite as big as Texas

The Texas Red Headed  Centipede definitely has a Texas sized bite! It can kill small prey and predators. Even though it will not kill humans, it can be extremely painful for up to 2 days. If you have insect allergy’s and are bitten by a Red Headed Centipede contact a medical profession immediately. The bites can also cause light swelling.

Yummy!

The Centipede normally eat moths. They can also eat small arthropods which consist of spiders, butterfly’s, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. When food is captured, it bites his prey and normally after that the small bug dies. Then it’s munch time!

Defiantly a nightmare.

I have seen a lot of bugs in my life but nothing quite as scary as the Texas Red Headed centipede. Me and my family put it in a jar and waited for it to die. I know that sounds cruel, but all of us were to scared to even kill it. Take it from me, this bug is defiantly a nightmare!

How and when it started

It was 1937 in Uganda, Africa when the West Nile virus was discovered. Now, most of the people reading this probably don’t live in Africa so, you’re thinking why does it matter to me? In the Summer of 1999 in New York the virus was discovered in the U.S and ever since then, it has been spreading. Most Scientist believe that you get it when a mosquito bites an infected bird and then bites you. Now I know what your thinking. I’ve gotten bit by plenty of mosquitoes! Well, a lot of people who have gotten bit by mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus, don’t even know that they have been exposed. Few even experience the symptoms.

So how will I know?

Some symptoms that might show you have the West Nile virus are…

• Fever
• Headache
• Rash
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal Pain
• Lack of Appetite
• Muscle Aches
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Rash
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Sore throat

The symptoms usually last from 3-6 days

More severe forms of the West Nile virus can be life threatening. If you experience these symptoms make sure they get attention immediately.

• Stiff neck
• Weakness of leg or arm
• Confusion
• Muscle weakness
• Fainting

Treatment and Complications

Because this particular virus is not caused by a bacteria it cannot be treated by antibiotics. Hospital care ought to do the trick. Now, if you have mild West Nile virus complications are rare. If you have severe West Nile virus the complications could be

• Permanent muscle weakness
• Brain Damage
• Death

You cant hurt me!

Ways to prevent even getting stung by mosquitoes are

• Drain dirty water that may have sat in trash bins or plant saucers. (Mosquitoes breed in dirty water)
• Use bug spray with DEET in it.
• Clean out clogged gutters regularly to prevent breeding.
• Have you’re community spray for mosquitoes often.

I know that after I  read about the West Nile virus, I didn’t feel so sorry for myself. Because now, every time I get a mild virus or a sickness, I know that I won’t have permanent brain damage or even die!

This year I finally had tomatoes in my garden! I am usually the person whose houseplants are drooping, brown, and neglected, so the fact that I had actual, living fruit in my garden was pretty exciting. I had visions of crisp salads filled with ripe red fruits picked fresh from the vine, and yummy drinks made with fresh tomato juice. Imagine my dismay, then, when I discovered that leaves, stems, and even pieces of tomato were being devoured by monstrous green caterpillars!

The enormous beasts crawling over my plants were tomato hornworms, the larvae of hawk moths. These rather fat caterpillars reach lengths of 3 to 5 inches, and have five pairs of legs and an unusual horn at their rear. As their name suggests, they’re eager to munch on your tomato plants, but will just as happily settle for eggplant, pepper, and potato plants. They have large appetites, and will consume leaves, stems, and unripe fruits, causing serious havoc in gardens. Unfortunately, their green color ensures that they blend in very well with their environment, making them difficult to spot.

Tomato Hornworm Control

So, how do you know if tomato hornworms have invaded your garden? Examine the top of tomato leaves for dark green droppings left behind by the larvae. Note any missing or wilted leaves, white cocoons, and of course, any hornworms attached to your plants!

If you do find signs of hornworm infestation, you made find the following helpful:

• Handpicking is often highly effective, although time consuming. If you prefer not to crush the caterpillars, since they are quite large, drop them in a bucket of soapy water.
• Applying Insecticides such as  Bacillus Thuringiensis, or Bt, is generally effective against the critters, especially in cases in which the infestation is very large.
• Tilling the soil at the beginning and end of each growing season is also highly effective in killing larvae.
• Planting marigolds and dill can be helpful since both of these plants often discourage pests from invading the area.

If you see a tomato hornworm that is covered in cocoons and therefore appears to be covered in rice, you’ll actually want to avoid killing the worm. Such cocoons are the pupae of the Braconid wasp. Since these wasps are natural predators of the tomato hornworm, once they hatch, they’ll do your work for you!

Fortunately my tomato hornworm invasion was small, and with diligent handpicking, I’ve been able to keep the caterpillars to a minimum, and have even enjoyed a few fresh tomatoes!

Someone, or something, was viciously cutting down my plants. Each morning, vegetable and flower seedlings lay strewn about, victims of a massacre by some unknown fiend. What was causing such heartless devastation? The culprit, I discovered, was none other than that menace to gardens, the cutworm.

Despite their small size, cutworms can wreak havoc on gardens. The black, brown, grey, green, or yellow striped bodies of these moth larvae reach lengths of only 1 inch, but  they routinely feed on leaves, flowers, vegetables, and attack plants by chewing through stems and cutting off seedlings at the ground level.  They occasionally even consume entire plants, and are therefore not garden-friendly critters. During the day, these nocturnal caterpillars burrow in topsoil. While they occasionally feed underground, they do the majority of their damage at night, when they emerge to prey upon hapless plants.

Protecting Your Garden from Cutworms

So, if you have a garden, how can you prevent cutworms from attacking your precious seedlings? In many regions, cutworm larvae and pupae spend the winter beneath the soil, so farmers who plow during winter months can kill many of these pests. Individuals who have smaller gardens often find that tilling the soil before planting will destroy any larvae in the soil. Those who discover the caterpillars later in the season can still eradicate many of these pests by digging into the soil to a depth of 2 to 3 inches, and manually killing the cutworms.

If you have a large number of cutworms in your garden already, you may find that starving the creatures is effective. Keep weeds down before the growing season, and reduce manure and compost. Doing so can also can not only make it harder for cutworm larvae to find food, but may also discourage adult cutworm moths from laying eggs in the area.

Baits are also often effective against cutworms, specifically baits of sweetened bran mash that contain poison. Make the mash crumbly and thin, rather than lumpy, so that pets and other wild animals will be unlikely to accidentally consume it. Additionally, consider giving your plants aluminum or cardboard collars, as these often serve as effective barriers to cutworm damage.

Don’t let cutworms ruin your garden! They may be mean, but they are not indestructible, as I soon discovered!

As lone star ticks invade the Northeast and chomp on unsuspecting hikers and campers, many individuals who were formerly die-hard carnivores are suddenly changing their ways and turning to vegetarianism. How can a tick turn a life-long beef lover into a person who suddenly feels ill at even the thought of a nice, juicy steak? It turns out that lone star tick bites can actually cause meat allergies!

Lone Star Ticks and Meat Allergies

While the majority of  the more than 1,500 U.S. cases of tick-borne meat allergies are currently centered in Virginia, lone star ticks are prevalent throughout the east coast, and residents of these other infested states are also at risk. Allergy symptoms of those affected range from painfully burning, itching cases of hives to full-blown anaphylactic shock. Startlingly, the symptoms do not manifest themselves immediately after affected individuals consume meat; instead, sufferers begin to experience discomfort from three to six hours after a meal, and may therefore wake in the middle of the night feeling terrible pains.

Avoiding the Bite that Can Ruin Your Summer Barbecues

For those who want to continue to enjoy their hamburgers and filet mignon, the idea of developing such a meat allergy may be quite alarming. So, how can you recognize and avoid these treacherous little allergy-causing insects? These tiny  eight-legged ticks are reddish-brown in color, and females have a single white star-shaped spot on their backs, while males have random spotting on their backs. Lone star ticks have barbed teeth, and tend to have longer mouths than do other tick species.

Protect yourself from these pests by avoiding wooded areas if at all possible. If you are going hiking or will be spending time in an area with many trees or bushes, be sure to use a DEET-based repellent to discourage ticks from attacking you. Remember that while shorts, tank tops and sandals may be cooler and more comfortable in the record heat waves that the U.S. has been experiencing this year, they also leave a lot of exposed skin available to ticks. Wearing long pants, long sleeves, socks, and closed shoes will help to prevent these insects from making a meal out of you! Check yourself for ticks regularly as well.

If you do experience a lone star tick bite, consult your doctor as soon as possible. In addition to causing meat allergies in some, lone star tick bites can also cause rashes, tick paralysis, tularemia, ehrlichiosis, and Southern Tick Associated Illness, otherwise known as STARI.

So, be on the lookout for lone star ticks as you enjoy our time outdoors this month. Don’t let an insect bite ruin your taste for summer barbecues!

Schmidt Pain for Dummies!

Now, just because you are reading this paragraph does not make you a dummy. You just want to learn more about Schmidt Pain. In the 1980′s Schmidt and some of his colleagues decided to answer a commonly asked question. What is the most painful insect sting? The group of men subjected themselves to 78 different types of insect stings. They would record data on the intensity of their pain. Schmidt made a 5 point pain scale. 0 meaning the sting could not even penetrate the human skin. A ranking of 4 would mean that the insect’s sting was the worst. Pain gives you humorous comparisons of the pain he experienced. Enjoy!

Sweat Bee

Rank of Pain: 1.0

How long the Pain lasts: short

How the Sting Feels: Light. It almost feels as if a tiny spark has singed a single hair on you’re arm.

Fire Ant

Rank of Pain: 1.2

How long the Pain lasts: 1-5 minutes.

How the Sting Feels: Sharp and Sudden. Like walking across a shag carpet then reaching for the lightswitch.

Bald Faced Hornet

Rank of Pain: 2.0

How long the Pain lasts: 3-4 minutes.

How the Sting Feels: Rich and slightly crunchy. Similar to getting you’re hand crushed in a door.

Red Harvester Ant

Rank of Pain: 3.0

How long the Pain lasts: 1-8 hours.

How the Sting Feels: Bold. As if someone is using a drill to excavate your ingrown toenail.

Tarantula Hawk

Rank of Pain: 4.0

How long the Pain lasts: 3 minutes

How the Sting Feels: Shocking and fierce. Like a running hair dryer has been dropped into you’re bubble bath.

Bullet Ant  (The Bullet Ant is the ant in the picture above.)

Rank of Pain: 4+

How long the Pain lasts: 12-24  hours

How the Sting Feels: Intense and brilliant pain. Like a 3 inch rusty nail is being stabbed into you’re heel.

Just be Glad…

So next time you get stung by a bee or wasp just be glad you are not feeling the pain of a rusty nail being jabbed into you’re heel. I hope you enjoyed!

Home Sweet Home

Chiggers live around damp areas because in order for them to survive, it must be humid. The larvae live on tips of plants or in gardens because it makes it easier to jump onto their source of food like mice, rabbits, and people.

Whats for dinner?

When the larvae latch onto a source of food, they insert a feeding tube called a stylostome into their prey. Through this “straw” the larvae insert enzymes that destroy host tissue. After the skin surrounding it starts to harden, they feed on the dead tissue. This is what causes the irritation and itching.

A game of hide and seek

Most of the time the places the Chiggers bite you are hidden. It’s just like a game of hide and seek – but not as much fun!  They mostly bite you on your ankles, behind the ankles, on your hips, the armpits, or in the groin area. They may also occur in folds or wrinkles in the skin. So how do you know if you have been bitten? First you will notice the itching, then a red spot will form. This usually happens within a few hours after the bite.

Bye Bye itch!

Because a Chigger bite can cause lots of scratching, it can lead to a bacterial infection. So make sure you treat it right away.  Here are some suggestions I’ve found:

• “Suffocate” the bites: Apply scotch tape to the bite.
• Clean the bite.
• Apply calamine lotion to help with the itching.
• Dab Listerine Mouth wash onto bite. (It may burn but it is worth it afterwards.)
• An ice pack can help soothe the bite.

Last week I rather belatedly began the task of packing away my winter clothes so that I would have space for more space for shorts and tank tops. As I pulled my favorite red wool sweater from the bottom of my bureau drawer, I was horrified to see that a large chunk had been eaten out of one of the arms! I noticed holes in a nice silk shirt and a leather vest too. Who, or rather what, had been eating my clothing?

Attack of the Carpet Beetles

The culprits were carpet beetles, tiny insects that reach lengths of only 1/10 to 1/4 of an inch, but which can do a surprising amount of damage. As their name suggests, they feed on carpets made of natural fibers such as wool, but their tastes are not limited to carpets alone. They will also consume hair, blankets made of natural fibers, animal nests, furniture, clothing, lint, dead insects, dead animals, leather, pollen, pet food, cereals, and other organic materials. They will not, however, feed on synthetic fibers. Unlike moths, which often create small scattered holes in clothing, carpet beetles tend to create larger, more localized holes in clothing.

How, though, do these creatures find their way from their outdoor habitat into places such as my bureau drawer? Some crawl indoors through cracks and crannies, while other hitch rides on flowers. These insects are strongly attracted to pollen, and, due to their small size, often go unnoticed on cut flowers and other pollen-producing plants that end up indoors.

Signs of Carpet Beetle Invasion

If you suspect that you may have carpet beetles in your home, you’ll want to seek out and destroy these bugs as soon as possible. Look for signs of infestation, such as holes in clothing, natural fiber rugs, and other organic materials. Be on the alert for the brown, bristly-looking shed skins of the larvae, and for both the bugs and their larvae.

There are a variety of different carpet beetles, although the three most common are the black carpet beetle, the furniture carpet beetle, and the varied carpet beetle. Black carpet beetles are recognizable by their shiny black bodies and brown legs. Black carpet beetle larvae have shiny, smooth bodies covered with short, bristly hairs, and range in color from tan to black. On the other hand, furniture carpet beetles have white and orange scales with black spots. Their larvae are initially white, but change to dark red or chestnut brown a they age. Finally, adult varied carpet beetles have white, brown, and yellow scales, although these may turn black or brown as the beetles mature. Larvae have alternating light and dark brown stripes, and are covered with thick tufts of hair.

You’re most likely to spot these pests in dark, secluded spots such as attics or closets, and particularly in areas near or under wool carpets, woolen clothing, animal skins, furs, stuffed animal, leather book bindings, hair, silk materials, dried plants, and other goods upon which larvae can feed. Note that it is usually the larvae, rather than the adult carpet beetles, that cause the greatest damage.

Carpet Beetle Control

If you do discover a carpet beetle infestation, thoroughly clean rugs, clothing, draperies, and other possible sources of infestation, since dry cleaning or washing the items in hot water should kill the beetles. If you’re placing garments in storage, be sure to place them in air-tight containers, and consider packing them with mothballs, crystals, or flakes. Vacuum regularly and thoroughly so that you remove any larvae that may be lingering in your carpets. If carpet beetles make their way into large cushions or furniture that cannot be easily cleaned, you may need to have the item treated with gas in a fumigation vault.

Carpet beetles are also susceptible to insecticides, although cleaning is generally the most effective method of removing the pests, especially since pesticides should not be used on clothing. If you have a severe infestation, consider calling in a licensed professional to care for the problem.

My little garden was dying. Petals on my roses mysteriously disappeared, and my rose bushes became mere skeletons of their former selves as their leaves were slowly consumed, with only the veins left behind.

What could possibly cause such damage? The responsible bugs were Japanese beetles, which are among the most devastating pests in the Eastern U.S.  These insects typically emerge in late June or early July, feed on more than 300 different types of plants, and eat flowers and the tissue between the veins of leaves. If you spot Japanese beetles in your garden, you’ll want to take action immediately to remove the bugs.

Spotting Japanese Beetle Damage

So how do you know if you have Japanese beetles in your garden? Look for leaves with a lace-like or skeleton-like appearance, and trees that look as though they have been scorched by fire. Grasses suffering from Japanese beetle attacks lack ability to withstand hot, dry weather, and may have large dead patches. Finally, look for the beetles themselves and for their grubs. Adult Japanese beetles are tiny creatures that range from 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch in length, and have metallic green bodies and copper-colored wing covers, while the grubs are white, C-shaped larvae ranging from 1/16 to 5/4 of an inch in length.

Japanese Beetle Control

Unfortunately, while signs of Japanese beetle invasion are easy to spot, removing the critters from your garden can be much more challenging. However, there are steps that you can take to minimize Japanese beetle damage.

• Handpicking. While this may be one of the most time-consuming ways of removing the beetles, it is also one of the most effective. As you remove the insects, drop them in a bucket of soapy water.
• Trapping. Some controversy as to whether trapping is effective exists; some claim that trapping is incredibly effective, while others argue that the practice attracts more beetles than it kills. Traps work by exuding scents that Japanese beetles find alluring. Once the bugs, drawn by the scents, enter the traps, they cannot leave. Unlike handpicking, trapping takes very little time; when the trap is full, simply discard the trap bag containing the beetles, and put a new bag in place.
• Spraying. Many insecticides currently on the market are effective against Japanese beetles, including botanical alternatives such as Neem, although such products generally need to be reapplied every few weeks or days. All foliage and flowers should be thoroughly treated. As usual, be sure to follow manufacturer’s instructions carefully, especially if spraying a food crop.
• Planting. Certain plants are resistant to Japanese beetle attack, and will actually repel the insects. Planting such trees, flowers, and shrubs in your garden can help to keep pesky beetles out. Such plants include: hickory trees, boxwoods, red maples, junipers, lilacs, and magnolias.
• Using Milky Spore powder. Milky Spore powder is an organic control method that reduces Japanese beetle populations by interrupting the insects’ life cycles. Apply the powder to the garden ground in late July or early August. As Japanese beetle grubs consume the powder, they die, and as they decay, other grubs eat them, and these in turn die as well. Note that while this method may be effective, it does not work instantly, so you may have to take other preventative measures in the interim.

Fortunately, my Japanese beetle invasion was small, so I was able to control the infestation through handpicking. With a little work, you can keep your garden Japanese beetle free this summer too!

When I arrived in Chicago for a visit in the spring of 2007, the first thing I noticed was that a loud buzzing noise filled the air. The city seemed to be suffering from an overwhelming invasion of singing, red-eyed, and locust-like insects. The bugs crunched beneath my feet as I walked through Millennium Park, and dropped onto my shoulders as I strolled beneath tree branches. I was witnessing the return of the cicadas, an event that only occurs once every 17 years!

These remarkable insects were periodical cicadas, some of the longest-lived bugs in the world. While cicadas hatch within tree branches, upon entering the world they almost immediately begin to dig, burrowing themselves underground where they can feed upon the fluids in plant roots. Here, in the dark earth, they spend the majority of their years. When they are finally ready to mate, 17 years later, they emerge in staggering numbers, overrunning the landscape in a manner reminiscent of a biblical plague.

The Cicada Love Song

The high-pitched song that I heard upon arrival was actually the cicada mating call, which the males make by vibrating membranes on their abdomens. Astonishingly, this song can exceed 120 decibels if heard at close range! As a result, many find the cicadas’ songs quite disturbing. Males also tend to group themselves together in order to amplify the sound, since this repels potential bird predators.

Once males have mated, they almost immediately die. Females then depart to distribute as many as 600 eggs each throughout the surrounding trees. Shortly after laying all of their eggs, females also die. The entire process takes about 30 days.

Preparing for Cicada Infestations

The sight of such an enormous number of bugs emerging from the ground all at once is frightening for some, and fascinating for others. So, should you be concerned if you are in an area slated for a cicada invasion? Are there any precautions that you should take? Fortunately, these creatures neither bite nor sting, and cause limited damage to gardens. When females lay eggs, they cut two small slits in tree branches or bushes, and then lay the eggs inside the slits. Therefore, young trees and small bushes do sometimes suffer from cicada invasions, though older trees usually recover quickly. If you wish to protect a bush from cicada attack, wrap the bush completely in insect netting, and be sure to seal up the area around the base.

The 17 year cicadas are only one of many different types of cicadas. Others have 13 year cycles, while still others have multi-year life cycles, but emerge annually. Cicada cycles vary from region to region, so while you won’t be able to observe another such invasion in Chicago until 2021, states ranging from North Carolina to New York along the East Coast are scheduled to experience their next cicada invasion in 2013.

Are there worms in me?

Although this doctor my friend had been seeing was probably exaggerating, not all of us are likely to have worms, it’s said that million of Americans do. Yes, million of Americans. It has been thought, and known, that parasites, or worms, were something people in other countries had to deal with. But they are also something we as Americans are blissfully unaware of.

How would I know if I did have them in me?

That’s a question I keep asking myself. The only way to know for sure is to be screened by a doctor. However, the study I was reading on today said that so many people who feel they are chronically exhausted were actually infested with worms. Why? Because they had worms living in their intestines eating their blood and depriving them of their good nutrients. Of course they were always exhausted!

Now wait a second, don’t turn into a hypochondriac now… I was tempted to do so also when I heard that. Just because you’re tired, does not mean there are worms feasting on you. But it could.

It’s better to prevent, and repel.

So many people don’t realize the risks they put their bodies under when they don’t wash their hands regularly. Worms are transmitting into our bodies through fecal matter. Hence, a half-hearted hand washing, from us or a loved one, could mean worms sliding in our mouths and into our gut.

Also, how many times have you heard to wash, wash, wash your fruits and veggies before eating them? How many people do you think actually do? I know I certainly have my lazy days. This is a huge no, no, no. Parasites could be on these as well, another way to enter into your system.

Meat cooked improperly can also be a way these pests get into your system. Be sure, whether you’re the cook or not, that your food is well done and prepared in a clean area.

I’m freaking out!

I know, me too. Don’t ever go look at pictures of parasites in a colon because you will only have nightmares. Instead, do well to protect yourself and your family. If you really think that you might have worms in you and it’s causing health problem, see your doctor. You can get colon cleanses, and this could help. Check out this website for more information on the different type of parasites, and other ways to protect yourself.

I remember feeling absolutely mortified when my elementary school started instituting regular head checks for lice. The thought that there might be bugs crawling around in my hair was quite disturbing. That year, when I was in fifth grade, my school experienced a lice problem of of such epidemic proportions that the sight of a student scratching his head was enough to make us all feel itchy.

Lice infestations are common among school children, who can easily spread the bugs to the parents, and while the sight of bugs invading our houses might be enough to give many of us a case of the creeps, there is something undeniably more awful about having bugs invade our persons. Common myths often associate lice infestation with uncleanliness, but the unfortunate fact is that anyone can get head lice, no matter how clean the person or the home. So how can you protect yourself? The answer is simple: never share brushes, combs, hats, towels, blankets, or hair accessories with someone who has lice.

What if you suspect that you or your child has head lice? Look for common symptoms such as scalp itch, small red bumps on the head, neck, and shoulders (the bumps may also ooze), and lice eggs, which appear as small white specks that adhere strongly to the ends of hairs. If you examine the scalp carefully, you should also be able to see the lice themselves moving around. They are easiest to spot under a bright light, and with the aid of a magnifying glass. If you find even a single louse or egg, you’ll want to take action immediately.

The good news is that if you do discover an infestation, you can get rid of these nasty little bugs. To treat a lice infestation, take the following steps:

• Use medicinal shampoo. Over-the-counter medicinal shampoos containing 1% permethrin usually kill the lice, although in cases of more severe infestations you may wish to consult a doctor in order to obtain a prescription for a more powerful shampoo. You’ll need to leave the shampoo in for approximately 10 minutes before rinsing it off.
• Remove lice eggs. While the shampoo will kill the existing lice, you’ll want to make sure that you’re not growing new lice in your hair.  Rub olive oil through your hair to make the eggs easier to remove, and then use a nit comb to remove the eggs. Metal nit combs with very fine teeth are usually more effective than are plastic nit combs. Be sure to repeat this process 7-10 days later, in order to ensure that you have removed all eggs.
• Clean all bed linens. Shampoos and nit combs will only be temporarily effective if clothing and bed linens still contain lice. Therefore, it is imperative that you wash these items in hot water as soon as possible.

Summertime can be our favorite time because of the warm weather. But because of the warm weather, it means bugs are plentiful. Ants have found their way into my home. Are they in yours? Let’s address some of these bothersome questions.

Is my house infested?

If a single ant or two roams your counter tops or floors, probably not. It’s normal for these bugs to find their way inside. However, those lone ants are actually scouts sent to evaluate a territory. They use their sense of smell to locate what the colony needs to survive. Should these ants find decent food and water supply, they may set up camp.

How can I prevent them for showing up?

That can be as simple as eliminating these sources in your home that attract ants. And if you see those scouts wandering along your countertops, get rid of them and clean the surface immediately to prevent more ants from following. This can also involve keeping a tidy kitchen. It might not come as a shock to hear that crumbs falling to the floor are like an invitation to ants to set up shop. Spilled liquids, like milk or juices, should be cleaned from counter tops and floors thoroughly as well.

What if my home is already infested?

You can try to use a bait to kill the ants. A popular homemade method that works very well is a mixture of borax and sugar, honey, or syrup. Store bought methods are also effective. Be aware, however, that since baits attract ants, they should only be used if you already have an ant problem. Once the ants are gone, remove the bait from your home. In extreme cases, or if the problem persists, call an exterminator.

Photo courtesy of Thierry Heger

Triatomines, otherwise known as kissing bugs, may sound like friendly insects, but beware! These pests are far from innocuous. Named for their habit of biting on the face and around the mouth, kissing bugs are attracted to carbon dioxide exhaled by humans, and feed on blood.

While their fondness for eating blood in itself makes these insects rather pestiferous, the parasites that they carry are what that make kissing bugs truly dangerous. Many host Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasites responsible for spreading the potentially deadly Chagas’ disease. The parasites live in the intestines of the bugs, and are released when the bugs defecate, as they often do after feeding. If the parasites are able to enter a human’s bloodstream through an open wound, they can infect their victim with Chagas’ disease. Because the bites are often mistaken for spider bites, many individuals are unaware that they have been bitten by kissing bugs until years afterward.

Kissing Bugs and Chagas’ Disease

How serious is the disease? Fortunately, only approximately 10% of those infected exhibit signs of illness. Unfortunately, however, when the symptoms do appear, they can include inflammation of the heart, esophagus, and colon, irregular heart beat, stroke, gastrointestinal disease, and even heart failure. The disease can remain undetected for as many as 20 years, suddenly manifesting itself decades after the initial bite. If caught early, the disease can be treated, but the treatment is quite expensive. In its later stages, the disease becomes difficult or impossible to cure. Both humans and pets can be affected.

Until now, Chagas’ disease has largely affected inhabitants of Latin and Southern American countries. However, recent studies demonstrate that increasing numbers of kissing bugs in the Southern United States are carriers of the Chagas’ parasites. For instance, in the 1960′s, only about 4% of kissing bugs in Tucson, Arizona carried Chagas’ disease, whereas a 2010 examination of kissing bugs in Tucson revealed that as many as 40% carried Chagas’ disease.  While cases of the condition are still rare in the United States, these statistics raise concerns that Chagas’ may become more common in the near future. Some speculate that as global warming continues, carriers of Chagas’ disease will be pushed even farther northward.

Protecting Yourself from the Kissing Bug

So how can you protect yourself? Keeping your home clean is perhaps the most important step that you can take, since kissing bug infestations often occur in unkempt homes. If you are concerned that the insects may have invaded your house, look for kissing bug feces, eggs, and the kissing bugs themselves in an around your dwelling. Kissing bug feces appear as strikes on the walls of infested houses, and are either white or black. Eggs are white or pinkish, and can be seen in the crevices of walls. The bugs are easiest to spot after they’ve consumed a full meal, when they tend to move rather slowly. They also emit a pungent odor when disturbed.

Note that kissing bugs are most active at night when the air is cooler; during the day they take refuge in the burrows of rodents and armadillos, in bat, bird, sloth, and opossum dwellings, and occasionally in human homes.

So, stay safe this summer: avoid the kissing bug!

June Bugs are Destructive Beetles!

These beetles, adult and larval, feed on economic crops and cause some financial loss; however, the grubs tunneling for feed and the adults’ burrowing into the soil each night cause more serious destruction. The tunneling uproots young plants. The many exit holes of the adults and larvae resemble ant hills and mar lawns and golf course greens. They sounds annoying already.

These grubs also sometimes attack vegetables and other garden plants, e.g. lettuce, raspberry, strawberry and young ornamental trees. Plants growing in rows are usually attacked in succession as the grubs move along from one plant to the next.

Those of us who aren’t farmers or gardeners may not care. However, they tend to linger everywhere in the summertime. Why? Because they are capable of multiplying really fast. A female is capable of laying 60 to 75 eggs in two weeks. It is during fall that adult June bugs lay their eggs. These eggs, after around two to three weeks, hatch into larvae, and become very active during spring.

How to Get Rid of June Bugs

To get rid of the bugs, you can try pesticides. If you wanted to go a more natural way, you can try nematodes. If you will be using nematodes, you will have to wait until the time when June bugs lay their eggs. Nematodes are grub parasites. They live inside the bodies of the larvae and eventually kill them. Nematodes can be easily purchased at gardening stores.

Another way is to attract other natural predators – predators like toads and songbirds. Birds and toads love feasting on grubs. Not only will your garden be lively and natural, you also get rid of those pests with the help of the birds.

But you know what bug you never see a child playing with? A tick, and for good reason.

The very sight of a tick makes most of us panic. The very thought of it, even. When I was growing up, ticks were disgusting, yes. But the risk of them carrying diseases was much less intense. Today, ticks can carry diseases that are deadly. Finding a tick on yourself, your child, or even your animal can be very scary.

We hear about it, but what is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by a tick. Tiny deer ticks infected with a spiral-shaped bacterium or spirochete (which was later namedBorrelia burgdorferi) are responsible for the outbreak of arthritis in Lyme. Ordinary “wood ticks” and “dog ticks” do not carry the infection.

The rash that appears after the bite of the tick appears like a bulls-eye if it is Lyme disease. In the early stages of Lyme disease, you may experience flu-like symptoms that can include a stiff neck, chills, fever, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, fatigue,muscle aches, and joint pain. You also may experience a large, expanding skin rash around the area of the tick bite.

That might sound easier said than done since these deer ticks are so tiny. But here’s a few things you can do to protect yourself and your family.

Prevention is key:

• Wear long sleeves and tightly woven clothing that is light in color when walking in wooded areas so the ticks can be seen more easily.
• Wear your shirt tucked into your pants, and your pants tucked into your socks or boots.
• Walk in the center of trails through the woods to avoid picking up ticks from overhanging grass and brush.
• Keep grass trimmed as short as possible.
• Apply tick repellents with DEET to your clothing, shoes and socks before going out. Another tick repellent calledpermethrin, designed to be placed on the clothing can be used alone or in combination with DEET.
• Check yourself, your family, and your pets routinely for ticks, especially after a trip outdoors.
• Shower and shampoo your hair if you think you may have been exposed to ticks.
• Check your clothes for ticks and wash them immediately in order to remove any ticks.

If you are bitten by a tick, the best way to remove it is by taking the following steps:

• Tug gently but firmly with blunt tweezers near the “head” of the tick until it releases its hold on the skin.
• To lessen the chance of contact with the bacterium, try not to crush the tick’s body or handle the tick with bare fingers.
• Swab the bite area thoroughly with an antiseptic to prevent infection.
• DO NOT use kerosene, Vaseline, fingernail polish, or a cigarette butt.
• DO NOT squeeze the tick’s body with your fingers or tweezers.

I said the same thing. I get goose bumps, and cringe at the very idea of bugs sleeping in my bed with me. But here’s the truth, it’s a very real possibility that you could bring bed bugs into your home. Here’s a couple ways how.

• Buying stuffed animals from yard sales or thrift stores.
• Buying used upholstered furniture or mattresses.
• Bringing them home on your clothes.
• Bringing them home in your luggage, this is common if you are a traveler.

It’s a horrifying reality and it’s happening to many families. The worst part still is that once bed bugs infect your home, they are terribly inconvenient to remove.

I once watched a program on television on bed bugs, and how many times they get into a person’s home through refurbished mattresses. There are actually companies that will buy old mattresses and “rebuild” them to make them like new. Or at least that’s what they claim. The program I watched showed that in reality, these companies stripped off the top layer of the fabric and added a new one. In doing so, anything beneath, bodily liquids, dirt, or bugs, were still trapped inside. It was absolutely disgusting. Yet, people were still ignorantly buying these mattresses because (surprise, surprise!) they were incredibly cheap!

I didn’t want to sleep for days after I discovered all of this. Terrified that bugs could be crawling beneath my sheets disgusted me on a level I could not describe to you. But here’s what I learned:

Because bed bugs can follow you through secondhand items, be sure to inspect them. Check used mattresses or upholstered furniture carefully before bringing them into your home. You should also take precautions when heading to a hotel. Check mattress seams for bedbug excrement and place your luggage on tables or dressers instead of on the floor.

I also discovered that bed bugs are most common in crowded lodgings that experience high turnover in occupancy, such as:

• Apartment complexes
• Dormitories
• Homeless shelters
• Hotels
• Military barracks
• Refugee camps

Now of course I’m no expert of the removal of bed bugs. But I did find some ways that you can try to remove them. If you do find some, take heart in knowing that it’s not necessarily because your home is dirty. Bed bugs aren’t picky about their environment. All they need is a warm place to hide. Even the most pristine homes and hotels can harbor bedbugs. Try these tricks to get rid of these pests.

• Vacuuming. A thorough vacuuming of cracks and crevices can physically remove bedbugs from an area. But vacuum cleaners can’t reach all hiding places.
• Hot water. Washing clothes and other items in water at least 120 F (49 C) can kill bedbugs.
• Using a clothes dryer. Placing wet or dry items in a clothes dryer set at medium to high heat for 20 minutes will kill bedbugs and their eggs.
• Freezing. Bedbugs are also vulnerable to temperatures below 32 F (0 C), but you’d need to leave the items outdoors or in the freezer for several days.
• Throw away your mattress. Once infested, it is unlikely you will ever be able to remove all the bugs and their eggs. They will only spread through the rest of your home.

The Sandfly, or Sand flea, usually breeds in damp areas close to a large water sources. Are you thinking what I am? Yes, the ocean! Sand flies are popular on some beaches in the United States, including beaches in Florida and California. You are unlikely to find sand flies that bite away from the beach. Sand flies are difficult to see because they are whitish or translucent in color, they are incredibly small and bury themselves in the sand. Be sure to pack bug spray with you when you go to the beach, and try to remain as clothed as possible.

Counter-top repellents with high concentration of DEET or Picaridin are proven to work, but may not be suitable to some people (e.g. people with sensitive skin and pregnant women.) Some alternative substances that could be of use are:

• Orange Peel
• Any citrus juice
• Eucalyptus oil
• Coconut oil
• Avocado oil mixed with Dettol
• Baby oil mixed with Dettol
• Chinese herbal oil
• Essential lavender oil
• Tea tree oil
• Listerine
• Tiger Balm
• Eucalipto
• Vicks VapoRub
• Vinegar
• Marmite, Promite, Vegemite – anything with high Vitamin B content

Among the viruses that sandflies can carry are Chandipura virus, which as a cousin of rabies, is very deadly. Sandfly bites may leave large, red itchy bumps that may turn into a rash. These bumps are frequently several times as itchy as mosquito bites, and tend to last longer as well. There are a number of remedies for sandfly bites. Below are some of them.

Pharmaceutical remedies:

• Calamine lotion
• Ibuprofen Gel
• Hydrocortisone cream 1%
• Xylocaine gel 2%
• Antihistamine
• Avon ‘Skin So Soft’
• Tea tree oil
• Essential lavender oil

Home remedies:

• Baking soda with water
• Vinegar
• Aloe vera
• Toothpaste
• Onion

People often use pesticides in their homes or yards to control a variety of pests such as insects, weeds and rodents. Pet owners may also apply pesticide products directly to their pets to control ticks and/or fleas.

The truth is, pesticides are used as a poison. Pesticides ingredients are used to kill, control or repel pests. Although these pesticides can be beneficial, they have the potential to hurt your pet if they are not stored and used properly. Which means they can poison us as humans, and our beloved pets as well. How can we protect the ones we love? By taking careful precautions. Here are some safety reminders to keep in mind while using pesticides around your home and yard this summer.

Keep Pets Away from Products

Don’t spray or store cleaning or pesticide products near pet food or water dishes. Make sure animals can’t get at bait products while they are in use. If you accidentally spill, be sure to keep animals out of the area until the spill is cleaned.  Store all products and pesticides where pets can’t get at them.

Keep Products in Original Containers

It is dangerous to put products in food and beverage containers. Containers without tight fitting lids can easily spill, or could  allow your pet get access to the product. If the label tells you to mix a product in another container, use all of the mixture. If you can’t use all the mixture, label the new container for use in the future.

Follow All Label Precautions

Warnings and directions tell you how to use products safely and correctly. This can help you to keep your pets safe. Follow warnings given such as to open windows, wear gloves, and not breathe product dust. Keep pets and children away from treated areas as directed on the label.

Since these little pests require water to breed, they can make summer fun especially difficult if you enjoy swimming. Growing up by a pond, I was accustomed to coming home at the end of the day with my arms and legs covered in giant inflamed bug bites. As a child, I hated the smell and the sting of bug spray. As an adult, I barely tolerate it. So I looked up some other ideas on keeping the mosquitoes away, and enjoying the warm weather.

Use the Right Kind of Repellent

Use sprays or lotions containing DEET at a concentration of 7.5 percent to 100 percent. A 15-percent concentration is recommended for children. A great alternative for DEET-free is Crocodile!®, an all-natural herbal insect repellent. Another option is Avon’s Skin-So-Soft, a weak, short-lasting (less than 20 minutes) mosquito repellent. You can also try Permethrin, an effective pesticide, which should be used on clothing only – never apply to your skin as it is a neurotoxin. My advice is to do some research of your own. Your skin may be sensitive to certain types of sprays or lotions.

Avoid Certain Times of the Day Outdoors

During the early morning, dusk, and evening mosquitoes are most active. Try to plan your activities around those times of the day inside.

Help Control the Mosquito Population

Lower the chances of mosquito bites by eliminating sources of standing water where they may breed. Dump out kiddies pools at the end of the day, buckets, or other small containers of water.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

That can be easier said than done in the summer time, when it’s hot. But in the evening when it’s cool, try to remember to wear a sweatshirt or light jacket.  You could try wearing sneakers to cover your feet instead of sandals.

Keep Up With Your Landscaping

Landscaping can help get rid of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes rest in shaded, protected areas. Remove low-lying brush or vegetation, keep shrubs and trees trimmed and grasses short. This will decrease moisture and increase wind and sun exposure on your property, making it far less hospitable to mosquitoes and other biting insects.

Invest in a Bug Killer

Whether it be a type of candle, light, zapper, or poison, a mosquito killer of some type may be a good investment. Some may feel uncomfortable with a device that kills bugs, so a candle that emits an odor that repels the bugs may be a better option. Citronella candles produce the heat, moisture, and carbon dioxide that draws mosquitoes away from people.

Use Window and Door Screens

And check them for holes and flaws. If you do find holes, screens can be fixed with a little silicone caulk or screen patches, while door gaps can be remedied with weather stripping.

These little bugs are common in the Central America, especially Florida. Drawn to the highways by light and exhaust fumes, Love Bugs adopted their name by the visible in-flight mating of the species. During and after mating, adult pairs remain together, even in flight, for up to several days.

So where do they come from? Starting as a maggot, they feed in moist areas that have a lot of organic matter. They can be found along roadsides and swampy areas, ditches and even in some cases lawns. The larva feed on vegetation in the landscape and, in this way, can be beneficial. Adults feed only on nectar.

Like all bugs, these can be found as a nuisance, too.  Especially since they travel in large numbers. Many drivers find the hood of their car and windshield to be plastered with the bodies of these little flies every Spring and Fall. Because they travel by the hundreds, they can be quite the irritant. So, we want to know, what can we do to ditch these little pests?

Here are a few tricks I found!

• Keep a bucket in your car stocked with a bottle of water, a non-scratch pad, and baking soda. The baking soda is known to make removal of the little critters easier. It’s also gentle on your car.
• Use water and a Bounce® fabric [softener] sheet, it will remove the bugs instantly and not scratch the paint.
• Avoid the peak hours for the flies’ flight, if you are traveling mid-morning or late-afternoon, you are more likely to have the hood and windshield of your vehicle covered with these little pests which leave behind the hard-to-remove remains.

And here’s the good news! Unlike most bugs, Love Bugs don’t sting or bite! More than anything, they’re just annoying, and really love each other.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

These little bugs are common in the Central America, especially Florida. Drawn to the highways by light and exhaust fumes, Love Bugs adopted their name by the visible in-flight mating of the species. During and after mating, adult pairs remain together, even in flight, for up to several days.

So where do they come from? Starting as a maggot, they feed in moist areas that have a lot of organic matter. They can be found along roadsides and swampy areas, ditches and even in some cases lawns. The larva feed on vegetation in the landscape and, in this way, can be beneficial. Adults feed only on nectar.

Like all bugs, these can be found as a nuisance, too.  Especially since they travel in large numbers. Many drivers find the hood of their car and windshield to be plastered with the bodies of these little flies every Spring and Fall. Because they travel by the hundreds, they can be quite the irritant. So, we want to know, what can we do to ditch these little pests?

Here are a few tricks I found!

• Keep a bucket in your car stocked with a bottle of water, a non-scratch pad, and baking soda. The baking soda is known to make removal of the little critters easier. It’s also gentle on your car.
• Use water and a Bounce® fabric [softener] sheet, it will remove the bugs instantly and not scratch the paint.
• Avoid the peak hours for the flies’ flight, if you are traveling mid-morning or late-afternoon, you are more likely to have the hood and windshield of your vehicle covered with these little pests which leave behind the hard-to-remove remains.

And here’s the good news! Unlike most bugs, Love Bugs don’t sting or bite! More than anything, they’re just annoying, and really love each other.

I sat near the campfire,  waving away the swirling smoke, and occasionally roasting a marshmallow or two. The fire crackled and popped, and I felt my shoes, resting on the stone fireplace, becoming a little too warm. My grandfather plucked at his guitar and sang old country songs, while my sister and I stared out over the lake, watching the sun set. My mom dozed lightly in her lawn chair. In the distance I heard my father and my brother-in-law setting up tents for the night.

The peace of the evening was shattered by a sudden gasp from my sister. “SKUNK!” she hissed, pointing. My mother awoke, my grandfather put down his guitar, and we all looked westward and then froze, watching a moving white stripe that stood out against a black background. None of us would ever forget the time, two years previously, when my parents had been sprayed by a skunk. They had smelled for days!

Keep Skunks Away from Your Campsite

Skunks are, in fact, common pests for campers. While skunk bites may not be a big problem, skunk sprays are. In fact, skunks can spray accurately at distances of 10 feet, and slightly less accurately at distances of 20 feet. In either case, a single spray may be enough to make your friends and loved ones avoid you for a while.

However, skunks don’t spray randomly; their scent is their best defense, and they only carry enough scent for five or six uses. After they’ve depleted their supplies, skunks must wait approximately 10 days in order to replenish them. As a result, they save their sprays for times when they’re feeling truly threatened.

Nevertheless, the sight of those small black and white animals can set a camper’s heart thumping! So how can you keep skunks away from your campsite this summer? Try the following:

• Keep food and garbage in tightly sealed containers. Skunks are omnivores, and love to explore your garbage. They’ll also happily munch on sandwiches or snacks left out in the open. So, be sure to keep all food and food waste in containers with closed lids, preferably out of the reach of hungry skunks.
• Sprinkle cat and dog repellent around your campsite. Many pet stores sell granules of cat and dog repellent, and it turns out that these repellents are equally effective on skunks.
• Create a homemade skunk repellent. Mix one quart of water, 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper, and 1/2 fresh  jalapeño pepper in a pot, and boil the mixture for approximately 20 minutes. Then, remove the  jalapeño pepper from the pot, and let the concoction cool. Finally, pour the mixture into a spray bottle, and spray the area around your camp.
• Distribute vinegar soaked rags around your campsite. Ironically for animals that can release such foul odors, skunks are repelled by the odor of vinegar!
• Use lanterns or other lights around the campsite. Skunks are nocturnal creatures, and will avoid well-lit areas.

Grub Prevention 101

• Keep an eye out for the beetles that lead to grubs. Certain varieties of beetles are know to lay eggs that hatch and lead to those nasty grubs. The Masked Chafer and the Japanese Beetle are two beetles known to be especially crippling to lovely lawns.
• If you see these beetles you can attempt to nip the problem in the bud by using insecticides, traps and other tools available at your local gardening / farmer supply store.
• Usually these beetles search for the wettest, plushest lawn to bury their eggs in, so, one option is to make sure your lawn isn’t as nice as your neighbors. The beetles may pass up your sub-par lawn and move on to your neighbors. But, seriously, who wants a sub par lawn?
• If your lawn is at risk for grub infestation (i.e. beetles are present and your lawn is way better than your neighbors), there are insecticides that can be applied directly to your lawn to kill any grubs that may have taken up residence there. These are usually applied around late July, before grubs start to do major damage, but late enough to make sure they have all hatched. If these are applied to early, it is possible that they will not be as effective, considering most of the grubs may not even be hatched yet, and thus will not be as exposed to the poison. Again, these chemicals can usually be purchased at your local garden / farm supply store.
• HB nematodes are also an ally in the grub war.  HB nematodes are know to search out the grubs, and infect them with bacteria, thus killing them. This  is less dangerous to your health than the caustic chemicals normally used in fighting grubs. These little guys can be bought through mail order lawn care catalogs or found online.

Tips/Warnings

• Apply insecticides late in the day, around dusk, unless the packaging says otherwise.
• Water your lawn before applying insecticides, this will help them to work their way to the roots where grubs reside.
• If you have children or pets, make sure to keep them well away from the lawn until insecticides are soaked in enough so as not to pose a threat to health.

They regularly persecute volleyball players, assault hikers, and torment picnickers. In fact, if you’re in the great outdoors, you may be attacked by large swarms of them at any moment. Who are these fiends in bug-shaped form? They are none other than the infamous mosquitoes.

Protect Yourself from Mosquitoes

Unfortunately, while the month of May brings warmer temperatures, it also signals the start of the time when clouds of these insects will quickly surround any individual unfortunate enough to stray near a wooded area. So, are there ways that you can protect yourself? While you may not be able to completely eradicate these pests from your immediate vicinity, there are ways to reduce the number of mosquitoes that attack you:

• Avoid wearing colognes, perfumes, and scented lotions. Humans are not the only ones attracted by pleasant odors! Your wife may like the smell of your aftershave, but  your local mosquito population may enjoy it too. Mosquitoes are also attracted by smells that you may find less pleasant, such as the odor of carbon dioxide from fast breathing and the scent of lactic acid released by sweat glands. Thus, a spectator at a game of softball is less likely to have mosquitoes munching on her than is the pitcher.
• Use an appropriate repellent. Insect repellents that contain DEET are among the most effective in keeping mosquitoes at bay, although they have been known to damage synthetic materials such as nylon, so be careful where you spray. If you’re camping, you’ll want to coat your tent and clothing with a repellent such as permethrin to ward off mosquitoes.
• Wear light, neutral colors. Mosquitoes are often attracted to dark, contrasting colors, while neutral colors, such as tans and whites, blend into the mosquitoes’ natural surroundings. Not only that, but wearing lighter colors will also keep you cooler throughout the day, so that you’ll release less of the sweat that mosquitoes find so tantalizing.
• Dress in long pants and long sleeves. While tank tops and shorts may be comfortable, they also leave plenty of exposed skin that can make a great snack for mosquitoes. If you’re hiking, camping, or otherwise spending the day in a mosquito-infested area, switch to lightweight long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and exchange the flip-flops for socks and shoes.
• Install tight-fitting screens in your windows. The buzz of a nearby mosquito in the middle of the night can be enough to keep anyone awake. Keep mosquitoes out of your bedroom by installing screens in all of your windows. If you’re camping, be sure to check your tent for holes in netting and nylon, and repair any damaged areas.
• Purchase citronella candles. While many scents attract mosquitoes, the scent of citronella actually repels them. So, the next time you host a barbecue on your back porch, you may find that lighting a few of these candles will keep the bugs away.
• Remove mosquito habitats. Mosquitoes love stagnant water! They live and breed near bird baths, septic tanks, pools, ponds, swamps, and other bodies of standing water, both large and small. If you have a bird bath, be sure to change the water at least once per week. Keep the cover to your septic tank covered and sealed, so that mosquitoes can’t get inside and lay eggs. If you have a swimming pool, keep the cover on when the pool isn’t in use, and keep the pool properly maintained. Try stocking your pond with mosquito eating fish. Finally, eliminate all unnecessary sources of standing water, such as water-filled containers.

When you see crickets, beetles, and other insects in your home, is your first instinct to reach for a heavy shoe? If so, then according to one Dutch cookbook, you may be destroying part of a delicious and nutritious meal. The Insect Cookbook, released last Tuesday, contains recipes for such mouth-watering dishes as chocolate muffins with worms and mushroom risotto with grasshoppers.

In fact, the cookbook is part of a growing worldwide trend in insect consumption. While many feel an inherent antipathy towards eating bugs, supporters of entomophagy, or insect eating, argue that bugs not only make for tasty snacks, but are also more  sustainable sources of protein than larger animals such as cows and pigs.

Beef, Pork, or Grasshopper?

According to some estimates, as much as 70% of agricultural lands are currently used to care for livestock. As the human population continues to expand, demand for beef and pork will increase, and many fear that in the near future, the supply will no longer be able to match the demand. In such a case, insects may make for a viable alternative. For instance, a cow requires 1,000 gallons of water in order to produce one pound beef, while in order to produce the same amount of protein, insects only require 1 gallon of water. Insects as food are also more environmentally friendly than pigs, as insect production releases only 1/100 of the greenhouse gases released during pork production. Additionally, unlike larger animals,  insects actually enjoy living in cramped, small spaces.

However, are insects really safe to eat? Surprisingly, more than 1,000 varieties of insects are edible, and pound for pound, they are more efficient sources of protein than either beef or pork. Many are also bursting with nutrients such as zinc, iron, and calcium. Need foods low in carbohydrates? Insects such as termites and silkworms contain almost no carbs. Looking for low-calorie snacks? If you eat 25 crickets, you’ve consumed a mere 60 calories.

Insect Meals Around the World

While for Americans, venturing into the world of insect-eating may be a novel and stomach-churning experience, other cultures have been aware of the benefits of insect ingestion for centuries.  The Chinese have long enjoyed dishes of fried bee larvae, while Brazilians discovered the joys of chocolate-covered and fried ants decades ago. Citizens of Bangkok, Thailand take for granted the dozens of  street vendors in their city offering deep-fried grasshoppers. Perhaps we’ll soon join the rest of the world in enjoying the occasional moth larvae.

Knowing that bugs are healthy is not quite the same thing, however, as feeling ready to eat them. Personally, I’m not sure that I’m ready for a meal of crickets, but maybe someday I’ll be able to get past that creepy-crawly sensation, and try a recipe from The Insect Cookbook.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

That’s not going to be on any Hallmark cards anytime soon.

But, it’s very true. In the spring time, ticks start coming out, and planning their attacks, especially Deer ticks, those Lyme carrying blood suckers. These are the #1 pest to look out for in many areas of the US. Just one bite from an infected tick will transmit Lyme disease to you, a disease that can plague you for years. So, how can you protect yourself and your family? With knowledge!

Where Do Deer Ticks Come From?

In the fall, Deer ticks lay their eggs in sheltered, woodsy areas. Once spring comes, the baby ticks hatch, and gather on blades of grass or similar low objects that can act almost as a dock. They wait for a mouse or other rodent to scamper by, and make their move. When the rodent brushes against the grass or other tick harboring object the ticks transfer into the rodent’s fur, and crawl down to the skin, latching on, and sucking blood from their host. This is where Deer ticks pick up Lyme disease. If a rodent is infected, the ticks will bring the disease into their system.

Once the ticks have grown, they fall off the rodent and start searching for larger hosts to satisfy their lust for blood. Often this turns out to be just another animal, a deer, bear, moose, really anything that lives in the woods and has blood in its’ veins. Occasionally, however, that host turns out to be a human.

What Are the Signs of Lyme Disease?

Early signs of Lyme disease include:

• A rash around the bite area.
• Head ache.
• Fatigue.
• Nausea.

At this point in the progression of Lyme, infection can be stopped and reversed by properly administered antibiotics. If you notice these symptoms, see your doctor as soon as you can.

Advanced symptoms of Lyme disease:

• Heart trouble.
• Soreness and stiffness of the joints.
• Problems related to the central nervous system.

How Can You Keep Yourself From Becoming a Tick Host?

• Tuck in your shirt! By tucking in your shirt it makes it more difficult for ticks to climb up your pants, onto your stomach, the longer they have to travel to reach skin, the greater chance you have of spotting them.
• Avoid tick filled areas. Ticks are often attracted to areas with tall, damp grass and dark wooded areas.
• After coming in from a day outdoors, check yourself carefully for ticks. Stand in front of a mirror and turn 360 degrees, making sure to get a good view of your back. If possible have a friend help you (only if you and your friend are comfortable with this, of course.)
• If you do find a tick who has bitten you, make sure to monitor the bite for any signs of a rash or peculiarity.

By arming yourself with knowledge you can put up a fight against these villains of the forest!

When you see crickets, beetles, and other insects in your home, is your first instinct to reach for a heavy shoe? If so, then according to one Dutch cookbook, you may be destroying part of a delicious and nutritious meal. The Insect Cookbook, released last Tuesday, contains recipes for such mouth-watering dishes as chocolate muffins with worms and mushroom risotto with grasshoppers.

In fact, the cookbook is part of a growing worldwide trend in insect consumption. While many feel an inherent antipathy towards eating bugs, supporters of entomophagy, or insect eating, argue that bugs not only make for tasty snacks, but are also more  sustainable sources of protein than larger animals such as cows and pigs.

Beef, Pork, or Grasshopper?

According to some estimates, as much as 70% of agricultural lands are currently used to care for livestock. As the human population continues to expand, demand for beef and pork will increase, and many fear that in the near future, the supply will no longer be able to match the demand. In such a case, insects may make make for a viable alternative. For instance, a cow requires 1,000 gallons of water in order to produce one pound beef, while in order to produce the same amount of protein, insects only require 1 gallon of water. Insects as food are also more environmentally friendly than pigs, as insect production releases only 1/100 of the greenhouse gases released during pork production. Additionally, unlike larger animals,  insects actually enjoy living in cramped, small spaces.

However, are insects really safe to eat? Surprisingly, more than 1,000 varieties of insects are edible, and pound for pound, they are more efficient sources of protein than either beef or pork. Many are also bursting with nutrients such as zinc, iron, and calcium. Need foods low in carbohydrates? Insects such as termites and silkworms contain almost no carbs. Looking for low-calorie snacks? If you eat 25 crickets, you’ve consumed a mere 60 calories.

Insect Meals Around the World

While for Americans, venturing into the world of insect-eating may be a novel and stomach-churning experience, other cultures have been aware of the benefits of insect ingestion for centuries.  The Chinese have long enjoyed dishes of fried bee larvae, while Brazilians discovered the joys of chocolate-covered and fried ants decades ago. Citizens of Bangkok, Thailand take for granted the dozens of  street vendors in their city offering deep-fried grasshoppers. Perhaps we’ll soon join the rest of the world in enjoying the occasional moth larvae.

Knowing that bugs are healthy is not quite the same thing, however, as feeling ready to eat them. Personally, I’m not sure that I’m ready for a meal of crickets, but maybe someday I’ll be able to get past that creepy-crawly sensation, and try a recipe from The Insect Cookbook.

1. Patch all possible entry points. This can be extremely difficult in older houses, but it is the most guaranteed method of prevention. Even a small hole big enough for a mouse’s head to fit through can turn into a veritable “mouse highway” into your home.
2. Use steel wool to plug all mouse holes. Steel wool blocks the holes and is tough enough so the mice cannot chew through it to reopen their holes.
3. Use a mouse beeper. These devices emit a frequency only mice can hear. It doesn’t affect us or our pets, but it makes things annoying for the mice and, usually, they leave.
4. Keep food stored securely. If there is nothing for mice to eat they will not find your home so welcoming. Make sure all food is stored in airtight containers, strong enough so that mice cannot chew through.
5. Peppermint oil can keep mice away as well. It is such a powerful scent, it overloads the sensitive olfactory senses and they will try to avoid it as much as possible. It is also strong enough to mask the scent of any food in your home. Try dabbing a few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton ball and placing them near any places a mouse may enter your home.
6. Place trash cans as far away from your home as possible. The smell attracts mice and if it is close to your house they can then become curious and enter in.
7. Try using a “Have-a-Heart” trap. These traps are built so mice can get in, but can’t get out. Once you catch a mouse, take him far away from your house and release him. It is recommended to release them over 200 feet from your home.
8. If you have a cat, try placing the kitty-litter boxes near the areas a mouse may come in. Upon entering your home, they will smell the cat urine and usually abandon hopes of raiding your home, choosing to leave rather than risk getting eaten.
9. Poisons are common, but are not recommended. They can be dangerous to those living in your home, and, since they do not work immediately, they poisoned mouse can crawl away and die in an impossible to reach place. They will then decompose there, creating a smell that will linger for weeks. If this doesn’t bother you, then by all means, use a poison.
10. Keep stacks of wood or brush far from your house. These often harbor mice and if they are in close proximity to your house, it can be a temptation for the mice to enter into the warmth and safety of your home.

I walked out of the back door of my apartment building last week, and noticed an odd-looking creature in my next-door neighbor’s yard. This animal was slightly larger than your average cat, and had grayish fur, a pointed snout, and a long, creepy-looking hairless tail that strongly reminded me of a rat’s tail. I had to do a double-take before I could confirm that I was looking at an opossum, right in the middle of the city!

Over the next few days, I saw the opossum several times, and, like most opossums, this one was adept at playing dead. When I walked by, it lay perfectly still, its teeth bared, its eyes half-closed, and saliva foaming out of its mouth. It also smelled terrible.

Bothersome Opossums

Prior to this, I had always assumed that opossums lived only in forests, far from human habitation. However, it turns out that these marsupials frequently venture into densely populated areas. As omnivores, these creatures feed on not only on fruits, nuts, plants, insects, snails, frogs, mice, birds, mice and rats, but also upon items that can be found in garbage cans, compost piles, vegetable gardens, and upon pet food, and are therefore not uncommon in cities. In fact, a few years ago, New York City officials imported opossums to control the local mice population, and soon had to combat an opossum population instead!

Opossums will also occasionally sneak inside houses, and become pests in the process.  They often live under porches, decks, and  steps, and in sheds, attics, garages, and will create messes by leaving behind feces and by building nests composed of sticks and other debris. Note that opossums are nocturnal creatures so you are most likely to spot these animals in the evening, although during cold weather they will occasionally show themselves during the daytime.

Opossum Control

So, if you have an opossum on your premises, what should you do? First, don’t touch the creature. Opossums are not generally vicious unless cornered, although they will hiss, growl and bare their teeth if threatened. However, they do carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, and Chagas disease. They may also be infested with fleas, ticks, mites, and lice.

Be aware that opossums are protected in many states, so you will want to investigate local fish and game regulations before taking any steps to remove the creatures. Removing remove opossums from their premises by using Have-A-Heart and similar traps is legal in some areas, but not in all, and poisoning opossums is illegal in most states.

You can, however, discourage opossums from nesting in or near your home. Cut back overgrown shrubbery, and tree branches that hang over your rooftops. Stack firewood tightly, so that opossums have no space to creep in between logs and nest. Use tight-fitting lids on all of your garbage cans, and avoid placing table scraps in your compost bin.

Prevent opossums by entering your home or shed by closing off potential openings and areas under porches with 1/4-inch mesh hardware cloth. Before you install the mesh, confirm that you will not trap the animal inside. If you have an opossum under your deck, one way to confirm that an animal has left its nest is to place a 1/8 inch thick layer of flour in front of the space that the opossum uses as an entrance. You will then be able to see the animals footprints in the flour once it leaves the nest.

Finally, if you find that you cannot encourage the animal to leave your property, consider calling in a licensed animal control handler to remove the opossum.

Like my sister, you may already be repelled by the inherent sliminess of slugs. However, there are more serious reasons for keeping these creatures away from your garden. They feed on seedlings, herbaceous plants, and fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, artichokes, tomatoes, and citrus fruits, and can cause genuine damage to harvests. Not only that, but the slime trails that they leave behind can also contaminate produce. Unfortunately, the warm winter temperatures of this past year mean that slug populations are likely to be larger than ever.

Keep Your Garden Slug-Free

So, if you have slugs in your garden, what can you do? Here are a few tips for slug control:

• Reduce soil moisture. Slugs require cool, moist habitats. Since these molluscs are composed mostly of water, and produce large amounts of protective mucous, they dry out easily. Therefore, reducing moisture conditions in your garden can also reduce the slug population. Applying a 1 to 3 inch layer of mulch over your garden may create a dryer environment and at the same time keep your plants from drying out.
• Eliminate slug hiding places. Slugs are mostly active at night, and during the day will seek out cool, dark places in which to hide from bright sunshine.  Therefore, removing boards, stones, weeds, low-lying leafy branches, dense ground covers such as ivy, and other debris from your yard can discourage slugs from settling near your garden. Slugs also tend to attach themselves to fences, tree trunks, and walls, so you may be able to eliminate individual slugs by checking these areas regularly.
• Set slug traps. Fermenting liquids attract slugs, so small cups of beer in the soil will often serve as lures for these creatures, which then fall into the cups and drown. This method is recommended only if you have small slug populations in your garden, however. If you have more serious slug infestations, you may need to apply different methods.
• Create slug barriers. Copper flashing makes an effective slug barrier, since the copper reacts with the slime that the slugs produce, causing the slugs to experience mild shocks. Consider placing copper foil around plant or flower boxes and plant pots.
• Use molluscicides and baits. A number of baits and molluscicides currently on the market, such as ammonia spray, are effective at treating slug problems. Note however, that some (although not all) are hazardous to pets. Be sure to follow manufacturer instructions when applying chemicals to your garden.

With a just a few precautions, your garden (and pant legs) can remain slug-free this year! Personally, I’m just glad that doctors no longer attempt to cure peptic ulcers by having their patients swallow whole, live slugs, as they once did in rural southern Italy!

Found in most temperate climates, this paper clip sized spider delivers a powerful bite, 17 times more powerful than a rattle snake bite! Effects include muscle aches, and nausea. Bites also cause a paralysis of the diaphragm, leading to difficult breathing. But, bites are not commonly fatal as many think. Most do not die from bites. However, bites can be fatal in some instances. The elderly, infirm and very young are the most susceptible to the effects of Black Widow bites.

Fortunately, Black Widow Spiders are usually docile and do not attack without provocation.

Those most in danger of attack from Black Widows are insects and male Black Widows. Female Black Widows devour their mates after they have completed the mating ritual! This bizarre and grisly behavior is how Black Widows got their name.

What to do if bitten by a Black Widow

• First, clean the area of the bite with soap and water.
• Next, apply a cool compress to the bite, keeping the area elevated to about heart level if possible.
• Third, apply a mild antiseptic. Bites are susceptible to infection, but an application of iodine or hydrogen peroxide may help prevent this from occurring.
• Attempting to suck out the poison has been proven ineffective.
•  Make sure to contact your physician ASAP! A doctor can administer a drip of calcium gluconate to counteract the effects of the poison.

]]> http://mypestprevention.com/2012/04/dangerous-spider-north-america-3/feed/ 0 http://mypestprevention.com/2012/04/ant/ http://mypestprevention.com/2012/04/ant/#comments Fri, 06 Apr 2012 23:15:33 +0000 Writer, Lisa Mayo http://mypestprevention.com/?p=2525 Saturday’s picnic was plagued by little red ants. As soon as we settled ourselves on a blanket in the backyard, the insects appeared as if from nowhere, crawling over legs, arms, and food. Worst of all, they bit and stung! Despite their tiny size, these insects managed to inflict a surprising amount of pain; with each bite came a sharp burning sensation. 

What were these unusual bugs? They were fire ants! Our lawn had become infested with the creatures, and until the ants were removed, spring picnics would have to be postponed.

I Know It Itches, but Don’t Scratch!

Before we took any steps toward ant extermination, however, we first had to attend to the small, painful red bumps that had appeared on our own and on our children’s arms and legs. Bumps left by fire ant stings will eventually go away on their own, but in the meantime they often turn into uncomfortable white pustules, and the urge to scratch can be almost uncontrollable. Unfortunately, scratching can lead to infection, so we had to find another way to alleviate the itching. Our doctor recommended either antihistamines or a topical steroid cream, such as hydrocortisone,  to reduce the discomfort, and we found that hydrocortisone helped considerably.

Thankfully, no one went into anaphylactic shock. Apparently some people do experience allergic reactions to fire ant stings, and can suffer from severe chest pains, severe perspiration, breathlessness, extreme swelling, stomach upset, and slurred speech. The doctor warned me that if I felt any of these symptoms, or saw them in my family members, I should call for emergency help immediately, since such reactions can be fatal if left untreated.

This Means War, Fire Ants!

Once we had attended to the stings, we next had to consider how to reclaim our backyard. When we next carefully ventured out the backdoor – clothed in long pants, long sleeves, and closed shoes – we found several anthills on our property. We decided to attack the mounds directly, and attempt the drench method, which involves applying a mixture of insecticides and water to the mounds. We waited for a cool, sunny morning, when ants are typically gathered just under the opening of the first mound, and poured our mixture over the opening. We then soaked the area within a 1 foot radius of the mound, using about 1 gallon of water. We repeated the process for the other mounds.

Over the next few days we remained hopeful. Had we seen the last of our stinging friends? Unfortunately, we had not. While the drenching method did appear to reduce the number of fire ants in our backyard, we must have missed a few mounds because the ants did not disappear entirely. Time for a new strategy!

The Final Battle

We decided that our next line of attack would be to use broadcast baits next. On a late Sunday afternoon, when the ants seemed to be most active in the yard, we descended upon them, well armed with our ant-killing poisons. Using handheld seed spreaders, we distributed bait containing slow-acting toxicants over the yard, carefully following all of the manufacturer’s instructions .

It worked! Our backyard is now fire-ant free, and we’re able to enjoy our lawn again. Hurrah for the demise of the fire ants!

Found in most temperate climates, this paper clip sized spider delivers a powerful bite, 17 times more powerful than a rattle snake bite! Effects include muscle aches, and nausea. Bites also cause a paralysis of the diaphragm, leading to difficult breathing. But, bites are not commonly fatal as many think. Most do not die from bites. However, bites can be fatal in some instances. The elderly, infirm and very young are the most susceptible to the effects of Black Widow bites.

Fortunately, Black Widow Spiders are usually docile and do not attack without provocation.

Those most in danger of attack from Black Widows are insects and male Black Widows. Female Black Widows devour their mates after they have completed the mating ritual! This bizarre and grisly behavior is how Black Widows got their name.

What to do if bitten by a Black Widow

• First, clean the area of the bite with soap and water.
• Next, apply a cool compress to the bite, keeping the area elevated to about heart level if possible.
• Third, apply a mild antiseptic. Bites are susceptible to infection, but an application of iodine or hydrogen peroxide.
• Attempting to suck out the poison has been proven ineffective.
•  Make sure to contact your physician ASAP! A doctor can administer a drip of calcium gluconate to counteract the effects of the poison.

Spring has finally arrived, and it’s time to start gardening! Unfortunately however, spring also signals the return of many pest species, including spider mites. These tiny creatures may not reach lengths much longer than 1/25 of an inch, but they can certainly do a lot of damage to your beautiful plants.

Spider Mite Damage

Spider mites feed on a wide variety of plants, including strawberries, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, beans, and corn, and can devastate a garden. How can something so small wreak such havoc? Part of the answer to this question lies in the speed with which spider mites reproduce. Spider mite eggs may hatch within as little as three days, and within five days of hatching, spider mites are sexually mature. When you consider that a single female spider mite can lay as many as twenty eggs per day, and may live between two and four weeks, it’s easy to see why spider mite populations expand quickly.

How do you know if your garden is infested with spider mites? Look for brown or yellow spots on plant leaves, and very fine silk webbing on plants. If you see a plant that you suspect is infested, hold a piece of white paper beneath the leaves of the plant, and tap the leaf with your hand. Look for small, dark, moving specks that appear on your paper. If you see these specks, you have found your spider mites!

Eliminating Spider Mites from Your Garden

Once you have found the source of the problem, the next step is of course to remove the spider mites. Unfortunately, because these pests have such swift reproduction rates, they are able to adapt quickly to pesticides. However, there are steps that you can take to reduce spider mite populations in your garden. Consider taking the following actions:

• Create a moist environment. Spider mites prefer hot, dry conditions, so spray your plants repeatedly throughout the day. If you have outdoor plants, consider placing peat moss between plants to retain moisture.
• Attract spider mite predators.  Predator mites, lady bugs, syrphid flies, and lacewings all feed on spider mites.
• Move indoor plants out of late afternoon sunlight. Since spider mites prefer hot weather, moving your plants to cooler, shaded areas may discourage spider mites from taking up residence in your flower pots.
• Spray plants with an alcohol and water mixture. Rubbing alcohol is poisonous to spider mites, so spraying your plants with a 1 to 3 ratio of water to alcohol is often effective. Spider mites prefer to live on the undersides of plant leaves, so focus your spraying action on those areas.
• Use miticides. Effective chemical miticides do exist, though they generally require multiple applications, especially during hot, dry weather.

Of course, if you have a serious spider mite infestation, you may wish to call in licensed professionals to care for the problem.

These small, spider-like creatures feed blood, and will attach themselves to both human and animal skin. While finding a tick fastened onto your arm or buried in your dog’s fur may be disgusting in itself, there are additional reasons to avoid these animals. Ticks are known disease-carriers, and tick bites have been know to cause Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Q fever, Colorado tick fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Tularemia.

Protect Yourself from Ticks

How can you protect yourself and your pets from ticks? Note the following suggestions for staying tick-free:

• Avoid common tick habitats. Ticks thrive in warm, moist environments, and are frequently found in woods, grasses, leaf litter, and shrubs. If you’re engaging in an outdoor activity such as hiking that takes you into a wooded area, avoid contact with tree branches and other shrubbery that may contain ticks.
• Wear protective clothing. Flip-flops, tank tops, and shorts may be comfortable in warm weather, but they may not be practical if you’re in a tick-infested area. If you’re entering a region that is likely to contain ticks, consider wearing long-sleeved shirts, full-length pants, and socks in order to prevent them from coming into contact with your skin.
• Use an appropriate repellent. Repellents that contain permethrin and DEET can be effective in preventing tick bites. Be sure to treat not only your skin, but also your clothing and any camping gear. As always, carefully follow manufacturer instructions when using repellent.
• Conduct regular tick searches. Ticks love to nestle under arms, behind knees, inside belly buttons, around ears, and in hair, so be sure to check these spots regularly on both yourself and your children. Be alert to the presence of ticks on your pets as well.
• Discourage ticks from establishing themselves in your yard. Regularly clear away leaf-litter and brush from your yard, and place wood-chip barriers between woods and lawns.
• Call in the experts.  If the tick problem in your area is severe, you may consider calling in a licensed pest control company to apply a chemical control agent to lower the tick population on your property.

How to Handle a Tick Bite

What should you do if, despite your best efforts, you find a tick attached to yourself or one of your loved ones? Use tweezers to remove the tick as soon as possible. Pull the tick out using steady, firm pressure, and remember that sudden or jerking movements may cause part of the tick’s head to separate from its body, and that the mouth part of the head may then remain in the skin. If that happens, use the tweezers to remove the remaining part of the tick if possible. Remember to thoroughly clean the area afterwards.

Not all tick bites result in tick-borne illnesses, but if  you experience rash, fever, or other discomfort following a tick bite, be sure to consult your physician. Don’t let ticks ruin your spring! Enjoy the outdoors while taking appropriate precautions against ticks.

The ground floor, where customers can shop for gardening implements and books on horticulture, is fairly unremarkable. Upstairs, however, the ambiance gets undeniably weird. The second floor of the store rather resembles a natural history museum gone mad, with stuffed zebras and donkeys positioned around dining room tables, looking as if they were poised for afternoon tea, stuffed lions perched on bureaus next to stuffed polar bears, and stuffed elephants lounging in corners. Unlike the exhibits in a natural history museum, however, these creatures are all for sale!

Bugs with Herculean Strength

The section that really caught my eye though, as I wandered through this bizarre landscape, was the entomology section. Thousands of butterflies, beetles, and other insects were carefully organized and  pinned in display cases, and many of the bugs were enormous. One in particular was so large and unusual that it piqued my curiosity, and I decided to do a little research.

The insect in question turned out to be a Hercules beetle, one of the world’s largest beetles, and one of the most well-known of the rhinoceros beetles. As adults these giants have been known to reach up to nearly 7 inches in length, and as larvae they may weigh nearly a quarter of a pound! While the size of these bugs is somewhat awe-inspiring, it is their strength that is truly impressive. With an ability to support 850 times their own body weight, these insects are arguably the strongest creatures on earth!

Peaceable Giants

Photo courtesy of Ons at ja.wikipedia

Fortunately, these beetles don’t bite or sting, and they aren’t poisonous or aggressive toward humans. Their dangerous-looking horns are primarily used for digging, although males will use their horns to fight during mating season, and they feed peacefully on tree sap, fruits, and decaying plants. Nevertheless, I don’t think that I would want to see one in my kitchen!

Where might you see Hercules beetles? You might spot them in Central and South America, occasionally in Mexico and the Caribbean islands, and of course, in Deyrolle. Personally, while I found the stuffed Hercules beetles in Deyrolle fascinating, I opted not to purchase one as a souvenir. I also managed to resist the temptation to bring home a stuffed giraffe, since I was fairly certain that it would exceed my baggage allowance on the flight home.

Armadillos and leprosy

Armadillos are one of the few non-human species susceptible to leprosy. Their average body temperature is only a few degrees lower than that of humans, and this relatively low temperature causes them to be unusually vulnerable to the disease, so much so that in some areas as many as one-fifth of the local armadillos carry leprosy. As a result, scientists have been using armadillos in leprosy research for years.

Until recently however, there was little concern that armadillos could transmit leprosy to humans. A recent study conducted by federal researchers, however, demonstrates that armadillos may be responsible for up to one-third of  the 150 to 250 human leprosy cases each year in the United States. While your chances of becoming infected with leprosy through an armadillo are small, you may still want to take common sense precautions.

Take sensible precautions

So how can you avoid catching leprosy from an armadillo? Avoid handling or touching the animals, do not eat armadillo meat, and stay away from souvenirs made from armadillos.

Fortunately, science has come a long way in leprosy research in the past few centuries, and even individuals who contract the disease can be treated and eventually cured through antibiotics. Nevertheless, you may want to steer clear of the armadillo!

While early reports stated it was spider webs that caused the cover, it has now been found that the culprit was drag lines used by Wolf spiders.

Lately, there has been intense flooding in this area of Australia, washing out the habitat of many of these Wolf spiders. The spiders fled to find dry land. It has also been increasingly difficult for them to find prey, thus there has been more rushing around involved just to find a meal. When the Wolf spiders move they often leave behind these drag lines of silk, and this has resulted in the blanket of silk covering Wagga Wagga.

Why are they rushing around to find food? Why don’t they sit in their webs like other spiders? Well, Wolf spiders do not make webs. They hunt at night, pouncing on their prey like little tigers.

It has also been suggested that some of this drag lines covering Wagga Wagga may have been used in “ballooning”. Many spiders use ballooning to travel from one area to another. They release silk, catch a breeze and hold on, flying around Mary Poppins style.

Andy Reynolds, a scientist at Rothamsted Research, says these ballooning lines “can contort and twist with turbulence, affecting its aerodynamic properties and carrying its rider unpredictable distances.”

When they land, the spiders release the lines, and this has been suggested to have contributed to the blanket of silk.

Wolf spiders are not dangerous to humans and commonly eat mosquitoes and other pests, so they are actually beneficial to us. Weather reports have said the floods will be receding soon, and all inhabitants of Wagga Wagga, both human and arachnid will be able to go about their lives as before.

Source: Discovery.com

I remember reading a book when I was a kid about small robots that climbed into people’s noses and monitored their thoughts, sending the information back to the government. What was incredible to me was not that the robots could read thoughts but the fact that they were so darn small.

“There’s no way a robot could be so small that I wouldn’t notice it crawling up my nose!”

Even so, for a long time after that I slept with my face buried in my pillow, blocking my nose, just to be safe.

Now it seems they have created robots practically small enough to do just that.

Well, they can’t read thoughts, but they could in theory fly up your nose.

According to researchers at the Microbotics Lab at Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, their robot bee project can within the next 2 ½ years produce microscopic flying, air vehicles.

Currently, Mobee, as they’ve dubbed him, short for Monolithic Bee, looks more like a miniature brace of scaffolding with wings than a bumble bee, but the project is moving quickly. The difficult part was developing a way to build the Mobees efficiently. Peter Whitney, a graduate student who helped to develop the manufacturing process, stated, “When you want to make a fully integrated device that’s on the scale of 1 or 2 cm, it’s not economical to scale up the computer-chip, integrated-circuit manufacturing technology; it’s just too expensive. On the other hand, trying to scale down traditional manufacturing, you’re sort of in a Swiss-watch situation where you can make tiny components, but then you have to assemble them all together, and that’s a tedious process; so we sort of live in between those two worlds.”

The Process

Possible uses that have been suggested for these mini-bees are military surveillance, crop pollination or scientific use tracking environmental changes.

However, there are many species that are dangerous to you and your property. Here are a few of the more common beetles to keep an eye out for.

• Asian long-horned beetle 

The Asian long-horned beetle is becoming more and more common in the Northeastern US. They feast on hardwoods such as maple, oak and willow trees. These little pests spread quickly and if you should happen to spot them in your area, the government has requested you contact the nearest US Forestry Service station so they can be eradicated.

• Japanese beetle 

These destructive little devils used to torture my poor grandmother’s rose bushes every summer back in Maine. Their network of influence covers much of the eastern seaboard of the US. Originally, as their name suggests, from Japan, they made there way here sometime before 1912, possibly as larvae nestled in with iris bulbs. In Japan they are not destructive as they have natural predators. In the United States, however, there is very little to stop them. Traps and powders designed to kill or capture them can be found in your local gardeners or farmers store.

• Southern Pine Bark beetles

Southern Pine Bark beetles cause massive damage each year to pine trees in the Southeastern US. There are three types of Southern Pine Bark beetle: Southern Pine beetle, LPS Engraver beetle, and the Black Turpentine beetle. This nasty gang, related to the weevil, attack mostly weak pines, thus, the most effective strategy for prevention is to maintain the trees on your property as healthy trees are less susceptible to attack.

• Elm Leaf beetle 

As their name suggests, these beetles commonly attack elm trees. Originally from Europe they were at some point accidentally introduced to the United States. They are a major pest in western states such as Colorado, and while they rarely kill the trees they attack, they can weaken them, leaving them open to attack from other pests. Most sprays prove ineffective and the most common method of attack against them is banding the infected tree with insecticide, that way the larvae are killed off as they descend in the winter to hibernate.

•  Emerald Ash Borer beetle 

This beautiful but deadly beetle attacks, again, as their name suggests, ash trees. They can be found over much of the mid-Western and Eastern US. The Emerald Ash Borer burrows in through the bark leaving a D shaped hole, and proceeds to place its’ larvae in the wood. During their feeding, the larvae damage the phloem and xylem of the tree, two very important aspects responsible for the transportation of nutrients and the absorption of water and nutrients. Very little has been found to stop them, but scientists are working on introducing natural predatory wasps into the effected areas in hopes of controlling the Emerald Ash Borer population.

I have a friend who moved to Australia recently.

We’ve been e-mailing each other to keep in touch, and during his last message, he told me about these crazy bugs, really ridiculous little things, called Bulldog Ants, that he found in his backyard.

Their scientific name is Myrmecia, a broad term describing many different types of ants similar to the ones my friend found near his house. There are close to 90 families of these Myrmecia, and almost every single one lives in Australia. They are one of the most poisonous species of ants in the world, a single bite enough to send a sensitive person into anaphylactic shock. These nasty little guys are known for their aggressive behavior and large, vice grip jaws, which my friend is well aware of.

He decided to set up his BBQ pit in the backyard, and went out to lug a few bricks around to make a base. His mistake was he wore flip-flops. He lifted a pile of bricks and hefted it over to the corner of the yard where he wanted his pit, the armful of bricks blocking his view of where he was walking. He stepped forward boldly, not expecting anything dangerous to be right below his feet. Almost to the corner, his foot sunk into the ground a bit and soon his foot was engulfed in flaming pain, and began to swell almost immediately. Dropping the load of bricks he was carrying on his foot didn’t the situation either.

My buddy shook the ants from his foot and hobbled as quickly as he could to safety, but they kept following him! These ants can track prey from over three feet away, and, in his disabled state, he was unable to get enough distance between himself and the ants for them to lose track of him.

Eventually he got to his house and shut the door, squashing the few that made it in with him. The swelling had started to spread. He quickly enlisted his neighbor to drive him to the hospital and thus was able to receive treatment, reducing the swelling and stopping the oncoming anaphylactic shock.

Fortunately my friend survived his ordeal, but many people have died from encounters with Bulldog Ants. By keeping an eye on the area around your house or apartment, you can avoid stumbling across and aggravating these little terrors.

It this family of ant or another has overrun your house or property a pest control expert can be called to eradicate them from the premises, keeping you and your family safe and comfortable.

Photo by Noel Tawatao, courtesy of www.AntWeb.org

I don’t think I’m alone when I say that I dislike ants. I think my personal revulsion stems from the time when I was about ten years old that I found a few dozen of them that had invaded our maple syrup bottle. Somehow nothing puts you off your breakfast quite like ants with your pancakes.

Exploding Ants

Nevertheless, it’s hard not to be impressed by the capabilities of certain Southeast Asian varieties of carpenter ants.  While most carpenter ants content themselves with hollowing out tunnels in moist, rotting wood, nine species carpenter ants native to Southeast Asia, including Camponotus saundersi, can actually make themselves explode!

These ants have unusually large mandibular glands that extend throughout the length of their bodies, and these glands store a toxic, glue-like substance. When these ants are attacked, they grab on to their enemies, and squeeze their own bodies. As a result, they explode, raining deadly venom upon both themselves and their attackers, and gluing the two together. These ants require very little pressure in order to explode; scientists have even set them off by merely touching them lightly.

What Makes an Ant Explode?

These varieties of carpenter ants explode, not only to kill their attackers, but also to protect foraging territory, even when that territory is hundreds of meters from their nests. Fortunately, while the chemicals that the ants release are often fatal to other insects, they have little effect upon humans, who are too large in comparison to be harmed.

While I still want to keep ants out of my house, I have to say that I’m fascinated that some of them have such remarkable defense mechanisms!

Insects, arachnids, and rodents can be incredibly resourceful. Even after you think you have eliminated the very last one of these creatures from your home, yet one more appears. Fortunately, while the stray ant or spider may enter your home no matter what precautions you take, there is much you can do discourage these pests from making their way indoors, and much you can do to make your home inhospitable if they do enter.

1. Thoroughly seal cracks. Mice can squeeze through openings as small as 1/4 inch wide, and of course insects can sneak in through even smaller openings. Therefore, the first step to keeping pests out of your home is to carefully seal up any openings through which they might enter. Seal around doors, power and cable lines, and vents. Additionally, be sure to seal foundation and exterior wall cracks. If your home has gaps between floorboards and doors, consider installing snug-fitting thresholds.
2. Install window screens. Since pests can creep in through even tiny foundation cracks, an open window is almost an invitation for them to enter. Be sure to fit all windows in your home with screens, and replace any torn screens.
3. Keep your yard tidy. Many pests live in leaf litter, debris, and woodpiles. Mosquitoes, fleas, and other insects are also attracted to standing water. Therefore, it’s important to keep your yard free of debris, and to eliminate any stagnant puddles that collect in your lawn or driveway. Often, after insects have established themselves in a lawn or garden, they will hitch a free ride into a nearby house by attaching themselves to pets, firewood, or clothing.
4. Keep food in sealed containers. Open food containers attract cockroaches, weevils, ants, and other undesirables. Therefore, keeping food in carefully sealed containers will do much to make your home inhospitable to such creatures. Avoid leaving crumbs on counter tops and tables, and clean spills and dirty dishes as soon as possible.
5. Trim trees and bushes that are close to your home. Branches and shrubs that touch roofs, windows, and doors often form walkways for rodents and bugs, allowing them to walk right into your home.
6. Install mesh coverings on attic vent openings. Attic crawl spaces are some of the favorite habitats of mice, raccoons, and squirrels. Not only can these creatures cause damage to your home, they can also bring fleas, mites, and other pests with them. Therefore, prevent such creatures from entering through attic vents by installing fine mesh screens.
7. Eliminate sources of unnecessary moisture. Leaky pipes, damp basements, and standing water can all attract pests. Many insects, including varieties of cockroaches and termites, require moist environments in order to thrive. Fixing leaky pipes, using dehumidifiers, and setting up proper drainage systems can go a long way toward discouraging pests from making your home into their home.
8. Take out the garbage often. Cockroaches in particular love to feast on decaying food, and bags of garbage are especially attractive to them and to other insects. Since many bugs have remarkably strong senses of smell, they will often pick out the aroma of garbage long before you do. Make sure that all trash cans have tightly-closing lids, and be sure to clean all trash cans regularly.
9. Keep your home clean. Insects will nest in both indoor and outdoor debris. Therefore, be sure to keep not only your yard, but also your home clean. Pick up newspapers, boxes, laundry, and other clutter. Remember that some pests are attracted to animal waste, so clean out cat litter boxes regularly, and wash pet beds frequently. Vacuum often.
10. Attract pest predators. If you are troubled by a specific pest, try to attract that pest’s predators to your property. For instance, both bats and birds feed on insects, so building bat or bird nests on your property may help you reduce the number of insects in your area. Bats will even eat scorpions!

How to detect a termite invasion

• A swarm of insects around your home or lawn.
• Any wood in your home that sounds hollow when tapped.
• Mud tubes on exterior walls, on beams or in basements.
• Bubbled paint, this can be caused by termite droppings.
• Wings that have been shed by swarming termites around your home.

Ways to prevent a termite invasion

• Keep wood piles away from the foundation of the house.
• Keep stumps and debris clear from your property.
• Repair any damage to decks or fences, leaving no rotted wood exposed.
• Keep any wood of your home away from soil.
• Remove water sources.
• Repair leaking faucets, hoses or AC units.
• Remove excess mulch from around the foundation of your home.
• Make sure there is no standing water on your roof.

Once termites have decided to make your home their home, it is often very difficult to eradicate them. The most effective way is to hire a pest control professional.

It’s happening again. You just bought new flea collars for both the cat and the dog, and both pets had flea baths yesterday. Nevertheless, Fido is scratching again, and Mr. Whiskers keeps twitching his ears in the way that cats do when they have an itch. The fleas are back!

These pesky insects don’t stop by bothering your pets, either; they are not biased and will bite people and animals alike, since they eat fresh blood, dandruff, grain particles, and skin flakes, all of which they can get from humans. Cat fleas – which can be found on both dogs and cats – are among the most common types of fleas in the United States, and in extreme cases have also been known to transmit plague and typhus. They can cause tape worm if eaten. So, you definitely don’t want to give fleas free reign in your home.

Why Is It So Difficult to Get Rid of Fleas?

Unfortunately, fleas are easier to spot than to remove, partly because of the speed with which they reproduce. A female flea can begin to reproduce within 48 hours of ingesting her first meal of fresh blood, and from then on can lay as many as 50 eggs per day! Thus, if left unchecked, flea populations can quickly grow to unwieldy sizes. Feeling itchy yet?

Often, even flea bombs are ineffective because flea larvae live in areas such as pet beds, lower levels of carpets, and spaces beneath furniture where flea bombs do not reach. Flea larvae are also protected by their cocoons, and may not be killed even if they are within the range of flea bombs. Most disturbingly, flea larvae can live in their cocoons for as long a a year, simply waiting for nearby vibrations to alert them to the presence of a nearby food source, at which point they will emerge.

Make the Itching Stop!

So how can you rid your home of these creatures? Make sure that you attack them on the following multiple fronts:

• Treat the pets. Flea collars, flea baths, flea powders, medications, and topical treatments, such as the popular Frontline (R) brand, can help to kill the fleas that are actually living on your pets.
• Treat the home. Since fleas can nest in bedding, furniture, and other areas throughout the home, just removing the fleas that live on your animals is not usually sufficient. Consider using one of the many sprays, powders and dusts currently on the market. Additionally, your vacuum may be one of your most powerful weapons against fleas. Since flea larvae often emerge from their cocoons when they feel nearby vibrations, vacuuming will often draw them out. When you have finished vacuuming, put the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag, so that the fleas won’t simply crawl out.
• Treat the yard. Use insecticides on your yard, and mow your lawn frequently. Otherwise, your pets may simply bring new fleas indoors.

Be patient, and recognize that it may take up to three weeks before treatments begin to be effective. Remember too that you may need to apply each treatment multiple times. Of course, if you find that your home has an unusually large infestation of fleas, you may want to consider calling in licensed professionals to care for the matter.

You may have thought you killed that nasty cockroach that you found yesterday. After all, you smashed it at just the right angle to decapitate it. How long could a headless cockroach possibly live? Unfortunately, that cockroach might not only be alive right now, but it might also be alive next week.

You Can’t Smother a Cockroach

Why doesn’t beheading kill a cockroach instantly? Partly because cockroaches don’t use their brains for the same functions that we do. In humans, breathing takes place through the nose and mouth, and is controlled by the brain. In cockroaches, breathing takes place through small holes in each segment of their bodies, and is not controlled by the brain. Thus, a headless cockroach can still breathe.  Cockroaches also have extremely low blood pressure by human standards, so they aren’t likely to bleed to death.

You Can’t Starve a Cockroach, and You Can’t Make It Sit Still

Of course, what cockroaches can’t do in that situation is eat. However, these hardy pests can last up to a month without food, so a lack of sustenance won’t stop them for quite some time. Unless they contract a virus or are invaded by mold, they’ll just sit around.

Alternatively, they may stroll around. Insects have nerve tissue clusters distributed throughout their body segments. These nerve tissue clusters are responsible for reflexive actions, which means that the body of a headless cockroach can still have simple reactions, and can walk.

Most disturbingly of all, it’s not just the body that can survive under these conditions. The head can survive for several hours as well. If you feed it, a cockroach head may survive for even longer periods of time.

You Have to Kill the Whole Cockroach

So, the next time you try to kill a cockroach, make sure that you do it thoroughly! Squash it entirely, or use an appropriate pesticide. They are nasty little buggers!

How?

These ants hollow out stems of the Hirtella physophora plant to create galleries. They burrow holes and lie in wait below. When another insect comes along to rest on the stem, they leap out and grab its limbs and antennae, pinning it down while worker ants swarm over the victim, stinging it to death. When the insect is dead they chop it up into small pieces and carry it back to the main nest.

By pulling the natural hairs, hairs that deter herbivores, off the stem they create a pleasant resting area for large insects, a pleasant resting area that is until they are drawn and quartered.

The traps are not normally as strong as they need to be, however, and must be reinforced with a special fungus. The fungus found to be used is not born by the ants and it has been speculated that they farm it.

Why?

Using this method the tree ants are able to capture larger prey than they would normally be able to.

Bats aren’t exactly cute and cuddly. Maybe it’s their tendency to live in spooky-looking caves, their ability to sleep upside-down, or the rumors that they carry rabies, but whatever the reason, bats have gained a reputation as creepy creatures. I admit that my own personal experiences with bats have been somewhat less than positive. When I was eleven, a bat got into my bedroom, and I found it resting on a window sill. I was so unnerved that I ran out of the room screaming. When my grandmother went to in check on the cause of the disturbance, she too ran out screaming a few seconds later! The poor startled bat flew around the room for a few minutes, and fortunately made its way outside before we attempted anything drastic.

Nevertheless, it turns out that bats do have positive characteristics. They help to maintain healthy ecosystems by dispersing seeds and pollinating countless plants. They also feed on other pests, such as mosquitoes and crop destroying insects. As a result, many farmers put bat houses on their property, to encourage bats to take up residence in the area and reduce the local pest populations. In fact, in the Bracken Cave area of central Texas, Mexican free-tailed bats consume up to 200 tons of insects each night in the summer!

What about those rumors that bats are rabid, though? In actuality, only one-half of one percent of bats carry rabies. Most people’s chances of dying from bee stings or lightening strikes are higher than their chances of dying from bat rabies. The very few who do contract the disease from bats often do so because they have handled infected bats directly. In fact, only about one percent of rabies cases are attributable to bats; the remaining ninety-nine percent of cases are attributable to rabid dogs.

Unfortunately, however, bat populations are dwindling. Millions of hibernating bats have been struck by White-Nose Syndrome, a syndrome caused by a white fungus that grows on the faces and wings of infected bats. The presence of the fungus often wakes bats from hibernation, causing them to use valuable stores of fat needed to get them through cold winter months. As a result, bats that emerge from hibernation often starve to death within a short time, and current estimates suggest that nearly half of the U.S. bat population is currently infected. During this Year of the Bat, scientists are hard at work searching for ways to curb White-Nose disease, and hopefully increase bat populations.

By the time I reached the bushes where I work many of my comrades had already started the day’s milking. I went to the nearest aphid and started tickling his belly.

Yep, I’m an ant. I’m an ant, and my profession is aphid farmer.

Why?

The aphids eat saps and juices from certain plants. What they excrete is sweet liquid called honeydew. We ants love it. We carry enormous amounts of honeydew back to our nest every day.

How Does It Work?

By tickling their stomachs with our antennae, we stimulate them and cause them to excrete their honeydew. Many of them get so used to this they cannot excrete by themselves anymore and need us to milk them.

Occasionally, to prevent them from flying away or wandering, we pull off their wings. Usually we just use semiochemicals to prevent wing growth. Semiochemicals also can keep them from walking too much, so we can easily keep track of them. We go to great lengths to keep our precious “cattle” from running away.

When a predator attacks them, we defend our aphids valiantly.

When they have used up all the juice in their host plant, we often carry them to another, juicier plant.

In the winter, my colony even stores their eggs in our nest to keep them warm and safe, carrying them to the surface to begin feeding once they hatch in the spring.

This all may seem like a lot of work but to settle down to a nice bit of honeydew at the end of a long day makes it all worthwhile.

You may not think of the annoying black fly hovering around your head as a the perfect tool for tracking down murderers, but it turns out that investigators around the world are using insects for just that purpose. Just how can bugs help law-enforcement agencies to catch killers?

It turns out that the mere presence of insects at a crime scene can be helpful to detectives.  Bodies attract a variety of pests, and different insects arrive at different points in the decay process. Many of these, particularly blue flies, will lay their eggs in and around crime scenes. Entomologists can then collect and examine newly hatched bugs to determine their ages, and can use the information to give an approximate time of death.

In fact, insects have even been used to identify a crime site after the body has been moved! Not long ago, entomologists working in the British Museum of Natural History in London were asked to assist in an investigation in which the corpse was missing. Upon examining the suspected crime scene, entomologists discovered large  numbers of empty puparia scattered nearby. Tests of the puparia demonstrated that the larvae had eaten substances containing cocaine, and further tests allowed scientists to match DNA from the cocoons to that of a known drug user. As a result of the findings, the murderer was caught and convicted.

So, while those buzzing and biting bugs may simply annoy you most of the time, remember that they have some good uses too. Even insects can sometimes help to make the world a safer place!

“Well, I have to use the bathroom.” My little brother announced and headed across the parking lot to the outhouses.

We turned back to the map, poking here and there, trying to make a decision that would make everyone happy. I saw my little brother kneel down out of the corner of my eye. Seconds later we heard an ear splitting scream, and he fell over onto his side. We all rushed over to him just in time to see a large wasp clamber into a hole in the parking lot, dragging an equally large spider behind it.

“What happened?!” My mother cradled him in her arms, looking for a mark on him that would explain the strong reaction.

“It stung me!” He shouted.

“The wasp?” I asked.

“Yes, the wasp! What else?”

I pulled out my phone and connected to the internet. I had managed to get enough of a glimpse of the wasp to type in a pretty good description. The first result of the search was a bug site that proclaimed “The Top Dangerous Bugs”.

“Guys, listen to this, I know what the bug was. I think he’s going to be fine.” Everyone turned to me.

“Well, what is it?” My dad demanded.

“It’s a tarantula hawk wasp. It has one of the strongest stings of any insect. The sting only lasts for 3 minutes, though, and it doesn’t kill but only hurts. You’ll be fine little bro.” I patted him on the head and walked back to the car to get my backpack, continuing to read.

The tarantula hawk wasp is one of the largest wasps in the world, and certainly one of the most painful. What we saw, the wasp dragging the spider into the hole is part of the egg laying process. The female attacks a large spider, paralyzing it and dragging it to a hole. It then lays its eggs in the spider and then leaves it in the hole. When the eggs hatch they live inside the spider, feeding on the non-vital organs so the spider stays alive and fresh. Once the wasp is full grown it rips through the stomach of the spider and emerges from the hole, and begins its search for a mate to start the process again.

Tarantula hawk wasps can be found practically all around the globe in India, Australia and the Americas. In the Americas, they have been sighted as far north as Utah, USA and as far south as Argentina. Commonly they feed on milkweed flowers, mesquite trees and western soap berry trees. Unless they are provoked they do not commonly pose a threat to humans. My little brother must have really aggravated it to manage to be stung.

Spring and summer are typically the times of year that most people begin to think about keeping pests out of their homes, but it turns out that many pests invade homes in the winter, too! In fact, the National Pests Management Association (NPMA) recently estimated that as many as 21 million rodents seek shelter inside homes during the year’s coldest months.

Some pests enter the home while trying to escape from freezing outside temperatures, but often homeowners themselves are unwittingly responsible for bringing these pests indoors. So how can you make sure that bugs and furry creatures are not on your list of invited guests this January? Note the following household items that can attract creepy critters into your home.

• Christmas trees and firewood. Cockroaches, beetles, and spiders often attach themselves to wood, and can enter the home when you bring in your newly chopped Christmas tree or firewood. The solution? Store your firewood in a closed container above the ground, and limit the amount of wood that you bring into the house. Make sure that you dispose of your Christmas tree before it begins to attract insects.
• Potted plants. When temperatures begin to dip, most people want to bring their delicate potted plants indoors. However, these plants often have mites, aphids, gnats, and other insects living in them. Before you bring the plants indoors, therefore, be sure to spray them with appropriate insecticides, and soak the dirt to kill any insects living in the soil.
• Paper goods taken from the attic. As winter approaches, many people make trips to their attics to retrieve  bulky clothing and holiday decorations stored away during warmer months. However, silverfish often nest in attics, and feed on paper goods, so household items may not be the only things you bring down. To eliminate silverfish, reduce the amount of paper and moisture in your home, and consider using pesticides such as pyrethroids.
• Processed foods. If your cereals, grains, or other processed foods spent long periods of time in the warehouse before they arrived at your home, they may be infested with insects such as Indian meal-moths and saw-toothed grain beetles. Additionally, if these foods are stored in containers that are not tightly sealed, they may attract rodents. Check your foods regularly for signs of infestation, and store them in tightly closed glass and metal containers. Finally, seal small cracks and other openings in the home through which rodents can enter.

Cockroaches that provide power for recording devices? Controlled insects that function as super-spies? They may sound like bugs from a science fiction movie, but in fact, they’re not as futuristic as you might think. Experimenters from Case Western Reserve University are currently developing technology that transforms bugs’ internal chemistry into electricity.

Eat Up So We Can Recharge

How do these cyberbugs work? The process uses the insects’ own feeding actions to create electricity. First, bugs are implanted with biofuel cells to transform the energy into usable power. The cells use one enzyme to break down sugars that the  bugs produce when they eat into two other types of sugar called monosaccharides. A second enzyme then oxidizes the monosaccharides, releasing electrons. Current then begins to flow, creating electricity. So far, experimenters have measured the bugs’ output at 100 microwatts per square centimeter at 0.2 volts.

Ambulatory Surgery

The implants are placed far from the bugs’ internal organs, so the bugs are not seriously damaged by the operation. In fact, bugs implanted with the device often get up and walk away immediately afterward. Going forward, scientists hope to be able to further miniaturize the device so that flying insects will be able to fly normally after implantation. Additional potential developments include sensors that run on very little energy, and may be powered by the bugs’ electricity, and rechargeable batteries for the biofuel cells.

Coughing Cockroach

So what can you do with an electricity-producing bug? One of the many possible applications is the use of bugs to monitor poisonous gas concentrations. A sensor-equipped bug could periodically measure the amount of poisonous gas in a room, and broadcast the results at regular intervals. Who knew that cockroaches might one day be helpful? Even these creepy insects might eventually be put to good use!

‘There shouldn’t be a noise out there at this time of the night,’ I thought.

I cautiousness crept to the door with a rolling pin in hand, prepared for anything. As I reached for the door knob, my heart raced furiously. I pulled the door open quickly and thrust my head out into the night. The site was almost too horrible for words! Bees! Dozens of bees! Dozens of bees crowded around my porch light, buzzing and bumping themselves lethargically against the glass with glazed little eyes and demented expressions trying to reach the warmth.

I ran back inside, locking the door behind me and fired up my laptop to research this new terror.

I found an article that explained it all concisely, laying my fears of a zombee apocalypse to rest.

It turns out there is a certain fly parasite that lays eggs in normal honey bees. The eggs hatch and wreak havoc on the bee’s internal systems feasting on all non-vital organs while taking over motor function. The parasite larvae cause the bee to fly to the nearest light source. Once the bee has died, the larvae finish off the insides and then crawl out into the world, usually from a space between the bee’s head and midsection.

This can give some explanation as to why bee hives have been disappearing lately, but scientists are having trouble discovering where the invasion occurs. They suspect it happens while the bees are out foraging, but more research is needed to confirm this.

Once assured I would not be overrun in my sleep and my brains devoured, I turned the porch light off and went to bed.

World's Longest Insect

I think stick bugs fascinate just about anyone who encounters the little ‘copycats’. This year my friends and me have seen more than usual. I have found the more you know about something, the more you appreciate it. In that vein I would like to educate us all about some little known stick bug facts.

1. Stick insects can ‘give up’ a leg and regenerate their limbs to escape attacks by predators.
Using a special muscle to break it off at a weak joint, they lose a leg but gain their life. Young stick insects will regenerate the missing limb the next time they molt. An adult stick insect can even force itself to molt again to get a replacement leg.

2. Stick insects can reproduce parthenogenetically, meaning no need for males.
Females who have never had a mate produce eggs that become more females. When a male does mate with a female, there’s a 50/50 chance their offspring will be male.  There are species of stick insects where no males have ever been seen.

3. Stick insects look and act like sticks.
Stick insects blend in as they perch on twigs and branches. Some even have lichen-like markings to make their disguise more complete. These clever stick insects imitate twigs swaying in the wind by rocking back and forth as they move.

4. Stick insect eggs look like seeds scattered on the forest floor.
They typically drop eggs randomly on the forest floor, leaving their young to fend for themselves.  Her eggs resemble seeds, so they are less likely to get eaten. Some stick insects hide their eggs, sticking them to leaves or bark, or putting them in the soil.

5. Nymphs usually eat their molted skin.
Once a nymph has molted, it’s vulnerable to predators. The castoff skin nearby is a dead giveaway to enemies, so the nymph will quickly eat the exoskeleton to get rid of the evidence. The stick insect nymph also gets protein from eating its molted skin.

6. Stick insects aren’t defenseless.
Sometimes they will regurgitate a nasty substance so they taste awful to a hungry predator. Others bleed, oozing a foul-smelling hemolymph from joints in their body. Some of the large, tropical stick insects may use their leg spines for defense. Stick insects may even direct a chemical spray to ward off enemies.

7. Stick insect eggs may attract ants, which they then use as babysitters.
Stick insect eggs that resemble hard seeds have a special, fatty capsule called a capitulum at one end. Ants eat the capitulum, and carry the stick insect eggs back to their nests. They toss the eggs onto their garbage dump where they continue to incubate safe from predators. The nymphs hatch and leave.

8. Not all stick insects are brown.
Some stick insects are like a chameleon, depending on the background where they’re at rest, they change color. Stick insects may have bright colors on their wings,  when a predator approaches, the stick insect will flash the wings, then hide them again, leaving the predator confused and unable to relocate its target.

9. Fido is not the only one who can play dead.
A threatened stick insect will abruptly drop from wherever it’s perched, fall to the ground, and stay very still. This behavior is called thanatosis.  A bird or mouse either can’t find them or prefers them alive, so they move on.

10. Stick insects hold a record.
In 2008, a newly discovered stick insect species from Borneo broke the record for longest insect. The Chan’s megastick, Phobaeticus cnhai, measures an amazing 22 inches with legs extended, with a body length of 14 inches.

Whether it would count as a proper engagement ring or not, the diamond weevil’s sparkling scales have been proven to share similarities with real diamonds. The wings of the diamond weevil are covered in shallow indents that hold reflective scales. Past studies have done little to reveal how these scales can shine in such dazzling hues of green, yellow and orange. For years, it has remained a mystery.

Diamonds of a Different Sort

During a recent study of the “diamonds” it was revealed that they are, in fact, chitin in a diamond like crystal structure, optimized to reflect green, yellow and orange light. While true diamonds are made of carbon, other materials can share the same crystal structure. These “fool’s diamonds” are called diamond cubic.

Armor with Bling

What is the purpose of these diamond cubic scales? Even though they are exceptionally small, each scale is around 100 microns long, close to the width of a human hair, they are able to withstand tremendous amounts of pressure and thus serve as armor to the diamond weevil. It is also suspected that by flashing their bling they may be able to attract mates to themselves.

All Bling and No Bam

Diamond weevils are commonly found in south eastern parts of Australia. They can cause significant damage to the plants they eat but are not poisonous and pose little threat to humans.

Destructo Deer of Discrete Decoration Demolition, Inc

Maybe you had a bad year. Maybe the holidays just aren’t all merry and full of cheer. Maybe you can’t afford ‘blackout’ shades, so the glaring lights of your neighbor’s Christmas display won’t keep you awake. What to do?

The Plot vs The Consequences

You thought of complaining about all the singing Santas and the flashing red light on Rudolph’s nose, but who likes to be labeled a Scrooge. You have considered setting your alarm to get up in the middle of the night to sabotage the merry little elves and their tooting little train filled with cheery toys for all good little boys and girls, but what if you get caught? No matter how miserable you are surrounded by all this merry-making on the outside, think of the misery of being a ‘captive’ audience to Santa’s  ‘HO HO HO”S’, while delivering you presents in a cell surrounded by men smelling of merry-making from a bottle.

What a Great Idea (think New Englander to get this pun)

Have no fear, Demolition Deer is here to save the day. This discrete destroyer of all that delights the eyes of the incurably giddy is for hire for a very reasonable fee. A few buckets of creep feed, a handful of corn, throw in a banana peel or two, and you have made a deal with Destructo Deer. Decorations are his specialty. Don’t worry if he’s caught, he’ll never reveal who he is working for. Besides he can always resort to that ‘patented’ deer-in the-headlights’ look to feign total innocence that even The Godfather would fall for.

White-footed ants derive their name from their yellowish-white lower legs, which stand out in contrast to the rest of their black or brownish black bodies. They are small ants, averaging between 1/10 and 1/8 of an inch in length, and have no stinger.

These ants prefer sweet foods, particularly honeydew and nectar, and will often protect insects, such as aphids, mealybugs, and scales, which produce honeydew. However, they will feed off proteins and dead insects as well, and can often be seen foraging in bathrooms and kitchens. When a food source has been located, white-footed ants will leave a chemical trail behind to direct nest mates to the food.

White-footed ants make their nests at or above ground level, and are frequently found in trees, bushes, loose mulch, debris, leaf litter, wall voids, rain gutters, and attics. They seek out nesting sites that are near food sources, are moist and cool, and are in areas not easily accessible by predators.

Population growth of white-footed ants is often explosive; nearly half of their colonies are composed of fertile females, referred to as intercastes, each of which is capable of being inseminated by a wingless male. Colonies are generally not limited to single nests, and it is often difficult to discern where one colony ends and another begins.

While white-footed ants are thought to have originated in Japan, they have since become quite common in Florida, where they are now regarded as major pests.

Damage Signs

White-footed ants do not bite or sting, but are considered pests due to their ability to spread throughout areas in large numbers. Homeowners looking for signs of white-footed ant infestation should be on the alert for ants following chemical feeding trails, which generally lead them to emerge from small openings in walls, such as those for electrical cables. White-footed ants will often follow the same trails for months at a time.

Control

Homeowners looking to prevent white-footed ant invasions should trim any bushes, trees, and shrubs close enough to the home to allow bugs to bridge the distance between the two. White-footed ants are also susceptible to a variety of baits currently on the market. However, because of the large size of their colonies, they are often difficult to wipe out, so homeowners with sizable invasions may choose to call in licensed professionals to care for the matter.

Pyramid ants, named for the pyramid-shaped projection that extends from their thoraxes, reach lengths of merely 1/12 to 1/6 of an inch. They range in color from pale orange to dark brown, and have slender bodies and twelve-segmented antennae. Their diet consists largely of sweet items, such as the honeydew from insects such as mealybugs and aphids, although they are also predators of other undesirable insects such as fire ants.

Photo by April Nobile, courtesy of www.AntWeb.org

Pyramid ant nests are easily recognizable by their entrances, which are centered within small craters or mounds in the sand. These craters are typically 2 to 4 inches in diameter, and are located in sandy, sunny, open spaces, usually near the nests of other types of ants. Common places to find pyramid ants are pastures, lawns, sand dunes, roadsides, fields, near patios, and in scrub. They rarely enter homes.

While pyramid ants often nest near the more troublesome fire ants, the two species forage at different temperatures; pyramid ants are more likely to be found when surface soil temperatures are 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, while fire ants forage when temperatures are below this level. Additionally, while fire ants forage within the soil, pyramid ants forage on the surface of the soil.

Pyramid ants can be found between Maryland to Florida, and as far west as Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi.

Damage Signs

While the mere presence of ants in the home can be bothersome, this particular species of ant only rarely enters homes, and when located outdoors can have beneficial effects, since it preys upon more disturbing species of ants such as fire ants. Homeowners looking for signs of pyramid ant infestation in their yards and homes should be alert to the presence of pyramid ant craters. They are unlikely to find pyramid ants in large groups, but may observe individual ants moving along their foraging trails.

Control

When pyramid ants enter a building, they usually enter through small cracks and crevices while searching for food. Therefore, homeowners looking to prevent pyramid ants from entering their homes should seal up small openings such as spaces beneath doors and windows. Additionally, pyramid ant mounds near the house should be removed. Pyramid ants are also susceptible to insecticides, which may be sprayed directly into the ant nests. Individuals with severe pyramid ant infestations may wish to call in licensed professionals to care for the matter.

Aren't They Festive?

If you celebrate Christmas, and plan on bringing home a fresh cut Christmas tree you might be in for a nasty surprise.  It might have ticks.

WHAT? That’s right.  The Division of Plant Indu

stry at the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services put out a notice about Cinara Aphids infesting Christmas trees.  They say that it’s a very large genus of aphids that live on conifers.

They’re Vegetarians

They are pretty nasty looking, resembling the ticks you find on your dog.  They even swell up like an bloated tick after they’ve fed.  Thankfully, they only feed on pine trees, not you or your pets.  They don’t carry any diseases that can be transmitted to us either… They’re just UGLY!  The DOA doesn’t recommend spraying your tree with insecticides since the bugs aren’t dangerous, and insecticides can be.

“Cinara spp. can be recognized by their large (adults >1mm in length) hairy bodies. Like all insects, Cinara spp. have six legs (and tw

o antennae) as opposed to eight legs on ticks. Their siphunculi are pore-like and located on flattened truncated cones, completely unlike the “tail-pipes” found on many other species of aphids. The mouthparts of Cinara spp. are long, extending ventrally to the abdomen of the aphids. The ultimate segment is long and lance-like.”

They Like To Party

These little bugs can live for several generations on a cut Christmas tree.  They breed QUICKLY and it is possible that there could be hundreds of them on one tree.  But, as soon as the tree starts to dry out they will leave it in search of another host.  Since they only like conifers they won’t be interested in most house plants… but I don’t think I want them wandering around my house!

Sap Sucking Reindeer

I guess you could use a small paint brush and decorate them, maybe a little glitter… or maybe stick tiny Santa hats on their heads…

They could make some funny looking reindeer. But I think I’ll just look VERY closely at the tree I’m buying.  I don’t want to invite these things into MY house! YUCK!

Surinam roaches, or bi-colored roaches, reach lengths of 1/2 inch to 1 inch, and have dark brown or black heads and bodies, while their wings are brown. The shield covering their thorax has a narrow ribbon of yellow along the front edge. While they do have wings, these roaches rarely fly, and are frequently mistaken for beetles due to the way that they move.

Like most roaches, Surinam roaches are omnivores. However, they particularly prefer to feed on plants. Because they flourish in wet weather and require highly moist environments, they rarely enter homes except during rains, and are most frequently found under boards, in barrels, in mulch, in leaf piles, in firewood piles, on or beneath benches, and in crevices in walls. While they do not often leave the outdoors on their own, they do burrow in plants, and humans often unwittingly bring them into homes, malls, and restaurants.

Surinam roaches are unusual in that they can reproduce by parthenogenesis; females to do not require males in order to produce young. Female Surinam roaches deposit eggs in groups of 15, and each group is contained within a case which is glued to the inside of the nest. Eggs then hatch without fertilization from a male.

Surinam roaches can be found in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and other areas with humid, tropical climates. However, no male Surinam roaches exist in the United States; all Surinam roaches in the United States are female.

Damage Signs

Surinam roaches cause the greatest damage to plants, and can cause significant harm in greenhouses, flowerbeds, and yards. Additionally, their mere presence in a greenhouse or flowerbed may be bothersome. Homeowners who discover these roaches in their plants may therefore wish to remove the insects.

Control

Methods for controlling Surinam roaches should begin outdoors, since these insects rarely venture indoors. Homeowners looking to discourage the roaches from damaging plants in their yards should remove dead leaves from flowerbeds, move woodpiles away from the house, and stack all firewood on a rack. Grass and weeds should be kept well trimmed.

Granular baits generally prove effective against Surinam roaches, although multiple applications may be required. Homeowners with severe infestations may wish to call in licensed professionals to care for the matter.

The winter months have arrived, and with them have come colder temperatures and frosts that can damage both gardens and lawns! So, what can you do to ensure that next spring your yard will be green and lush? Here are a few helpful hints.

Prevention

• Water your lawn regularly. While proper watering is vital throughout the year, it is especially important in the weeks before cold season begins. Watering less frequently but more thoroughly trains the roots to reach down to the remaining water in the soil before the next watering.  Shortly before a frost, water especially thoroughly. This warms the soil, and provides the needed amount of water so that the grass can self-regulate the water it takes up.  Never water or run equipment on a lawn that is frozen or covered with frost.
• Provide your lawn with plenty of  nutrients. Nutrients play a key role in keeping lawns healthy throughout the year. Winterize your lawn by providing it with a higher than normal amount of pot ash to aid in root health and growth, so that grasses become more hearty and able to withstand the cold. Failure to  do so can result in heavy damage under frost or freeze.

Recovery

If your lawn has already been damaged by a frost, it can still revive! It only needs water, time, and nutrients.

• Maintain a good watering program. Watering your lawn can not only prevent it from experiencing frost damage, it can also aid in the recovery process. Most lawns require 3/4 inches of water per application, so you will want to set the timer on your irrigation system accordingly. To do so, set up a catch basin, such as a large cup, in the lawn. Keep track of the time that it takes for the cup to fill up with 3/4 inch of water. Now set the timer on your sprinkler for that same amount of time. Keep in mind that different zones of your lawn may require different times.
• Give your lawn time to recover. Remember that it will not recover immediately. Unless severe damage including dead roots and turf has occurred, your lawn should show signs of revival within the first 2-4 weeks following the return of moderate temperatures.
• Apply nutrients.  After a damaging frost the turf is highly stressed and needs fertilizer, just as your body needs vitamins after a flu. Always use low nitrogen or none at all in the lawn during the cold parts of the year, as nitrogen will only encourage top growth, which will in turn “burn” and turn brown in the next cold snap.  Wait use to fertilizer containing nitrogen until the weather becomes warmer.

Repair in cases of severe damage

What if the damage goes beyond what you would normally expect from chilly weather? Even then, there are steps that you can take to repair your lawn.

• Consider re-sodding. If severe damage has occurred with dead areas present you may need to re-sod in the effected areas.  St. Augustine, which is by no means capable of withstanding the cold with ease, can be plugged or sod.  Again, for best results, spring weather conditions are best.  Bahia, on the other hand, is a much heartier turf , and can generally be left alone as it often recovers by itself.  If it does not recover, however, consider over-seeding some or all of the lawn. If you decide to over-seed, wait until May or even June when the average night time temperatures are at 60 degrees Fahrenheit or above, as higher temperatures encourage germination. With varieties such as Zoysia, Centipede, severe winter injury is seldom as bad as it is with St. Augustine and fewer problems should occur.
• Completely cover the ground after repairs are completed. Covering the ground decreases the chances of later problems with weeds. Because this is true, you may prefer to sod, rather than plug, when effecting repairs.

While frosts and freezing temperatures may cause temporary damage, that damage doesn’t have to be lasting. With a little work, your lawn can be green again!

Malacosoma americanum

Tent caterpillars arrive in the spring as the new leaves start to bud. Their favorite trees to build their tents in are the wild cherry, crabapple, plum and peach trees. The caterpillars leave the tent and search the tree for leaves to eat, after feeding they return to the tent to digest their food.

Life Stages

The caterpillar must be warm to digest their food. This makes it necessary to always build their tents where they will get the early morning sun. They grow quickly, and it only takes them 7 or 8 weeks to start spinning their cocoons, and only 2 weeks later the adult moth emerges. As quickly as they mature, their life course comes to an end  after laying her eggs, usually only 24 hours after emerging from the cocoon the female dies, the males live about 7 days. They are seldom seen in the moth stage.

Cause for Concern?

Tent caterpillar numbers vary wildly and when they are in large numbers people often become alarmed. Basically they are just an eyesore and not really a cause for concern. They have defoliated some trees almost completely, but the tree will almost always recover and grow new leaves.

Worker Termites

This Fall has been amazingly warm and it almost seemed like the cold weather was taking a year off, until this weekend. The husband and I decided that it was time to relocate some of the firewood that we have stacked at the back of our property closer to the house.  We want to be able to get to it more easily if/when we get a big storm.

Dissolving Firewood

We got out our old rusty wheelbarrow and started in on the woodpile.  We chose a spot at the back of the house right near the back door.  Out of sight, but easy to get to.

The top of the big pile was nice and dry, perfect for burning. We had taken several loads up the the house within the first half hour.  But, as we got closer to the bottom of the stack we noticed that it was pretty wet.  We had forgotten to get some wooden pallets last spring, so the wood was sitting right on the ground. Not good!

I was the lucky one who picked up that big rotten pine log and had it practically dissolve in my hands. Inside there was a bunch of pretty little tunnels and not so pretty little bugs. Let me tell you, it was gross. The log was full of termites!

Who Knew?

I always thought that termites lived in wood.  I was surprised to find out that they don’t!  Termites build nests in the ground and come “upstairs” to feed on whatever lumber they can find.  Bringing a termite infested log into your home will not cause termites to permanently move into your house.  The queen termite lives in the ground safe inside the termite’s underground nest.  A queen is needed to form a colony and the logs only contain lonely bachelors.

One way that termites COULD infest your house via your firewood is if you stack your wood, in contact with the ground, against the outside wall of your house.  The workers would travel out of their burrow, through the logs and start chewing on your siding.

Now What Do We Do?

Spraying your firewood with any insecticide is not a good idea.  First of all, the spray won’t penetrate the wood enough to kill many bugs.  Secondly, when you burn something that’s been treated with any chemical it will vaporize that chemical and give you a lungful!

Luckily, In the winter termites are pretty lazy.  Insects living in your firewood, outside in the cold, normally take several days to warm up before they become active.  So it’s a good rule to leave your firewood outside and only bring in enough to last you a day or two.

Needless to say, once I found out how termites would like to annex our siding, my husband and I finally got those pallets and moved that wood again.  Farther away from the house!  You almost had us you little buggers.  Now we might have to shovel a little more snow than we were hoping, but at least our house won’t dissolve like a rotten old pine log!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

Worker Termites

This Fall has been amazingly warm and it almost seemed like the cold weather was taking a year off, until this weekend. The husband and I decided that it was time to relocate some of the firewood that we have stacked at the back of our property closer to the house.  We want to be able to get to it more easily if/when we get a big storm.

Dissolving Firewood

We got out our old rusty wheelbarrow and started in on the woodpile.  We chose a spot at the back of the house right near the back door.  Out of sight, but easy to get to.

The top of the big pile was nice and dry, perfect for burning. We had taken several loads up to the house within the first half hour.  But, as we got closer to the bottom of the stack we noticed that it was pretty wet.  We had forgotten to get some wooden pallets last spring, so the wood was sitting right on the ground. Not good!

I was the lucky one who picked up that big rotten pine log and had it practically dissolve in my hands. Inside there was a bunch of pretty little tunnels and not so pretty little bugs. Let me tell you, it was gross. The log was full of termites!

Who Knew?

I always thought that termites lived in wood.  I was surprised to find out that they don’t!  Termites build nests in the ground and come “upstairs” to feed on whatever lumber they can find.  Bringing a termite infested log into your home will not cause termites to permanently move into your house.  The queen termite lives in the ground safe inside the termite’s underground nest.  A queen is needed to form a colony and the logs only contain lonely bachelors.

One way that termites COULD infest your house via your firewood is if you stack your wood, in contact with the ground, against the outside wall of your house.  The workers would travel out of their burrow, through the logs and start chewing on your siding.

Now What Do We Do?

Spraying your firewood with any insecticide is not a good idea.  First of all, the spray won’t penetrate the wood enough to kill many bugs.  Secondly, when you burn something that’s been treated with any chemical it will vaporize that chemical and give you a lungful!

Luckily, In the winter termites are pretty lazy.  Insects living in your firewood, outside in the cold, normally take several days to warm up before they become active.  So it’s a good rule to leave your firewood outside and only bring in enough to last you a day or two.

Needless to say, once I found out how termites would like to annex our siding, my husband and I finally got those pallets and moved that wood again.  Farther away from the house!  You almost had us you little buggers.  Now we might have to shovel a little more snow than we were hoping, but at least our house won’t dissolve like a rotten old pine log!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

Worker Termites

This Fall has been amazingly warm and it almost seemed like the cold weather was taking a year off, until this weekend. The husband and I decided that it was time to relocate some of the firewood that we have stacked at the back of our property closer to the house.  We want to be able to get to it more easily if/when we get a big storm.

Dissolving Firewood

We got out our old rusty wheelbarrow and started in on the woodpile.  We chose a spot at the back of the house right near the back door.  Out of sight, but easy to get to.

The top of the big pile was nice and dry, perfect for burning. We had taken several loads up the the house within the first half hour.  But, as we got closer to the bottom of the stack we noticed that it was pretty wet.  We had forgotten to get some wooden pallets last spring, so the wood was sitting right on the ground. Not good!

I was the lucky one who picked up that big rotten pine log and had it practically dissolve in my hands. Inside there was a bunch of pretty little tunnels and not so pretty little bugs. Let me tell you, it was gross. The log was full of termites!

Who Knew?

I always thought that termites lived in wood.  I was surprised to find out that they don’t!  Termites build nests in the ground and come “upstairs” to feed on whatever lumber they can find.  Bringing a termite infested log into your home will not cause termites to permanently move into your house.  The queen termite lives in the ground safe inside the termite’s underground nest.  A queen is needed to form a colony and the logs only contain lonely bachelors.

One way that termites COULD infest your house via your firewood is if you stack your wood, in contact with the ground, against the outside wall of your house.  The workers would travel out of their burrow, through the logs and start chewing on your siding.

Now What Do We Do?

Spraying your firewood with any insecticide is not a good idea.  First of all, the spray won’t penetrate the wood enough to kill many bugs.  Secondly, when you burn something that’s been treated with any chemical it will vaporize that chemical and give you a lungful!

Luckily, In the winter termites are pretty lazy.  Insects living in your firewood, outside in the cold, normally take several days to warm up before they become active.  So it’s a good rule to leave your firewood outside and only bring in enough to last you a day or two.

Needless to say, once I found out how termites would like to annex our siding, my husband and I finally got those pallets and moved that wood again.  Farther away from the house!  You almost had us you little buggers.  Now we might have to shovel a little more snow than we were hoping, but at least our house won’t dissolve like a rotten old pine log!

Momma Python

When I was a child, I was an odd little girl.  I liked to wade into the local swamps and catch frogs and snakes.  To my mothers dismay, I often brought them home.  She was afraid to look into my closet.  When I got older I outgrew my muddy ways and actually developed a fear of snakes!  To overcome this I bought myself a pet corn snake. That one snake grew into a reptile breeding business. At one point I had over a hundred reptiles in my house.  I was even on the board of the New England Herpetological Society.  Ok, maybe I am still an odd girl.

The Serpent Wears Prada

Keeping all these animals definitely got me over my fear. When I moved out of the city (yes, I had that zoo in a city apartment) I was prepared for the invaders I found in my worn down old country rental.  While I was cleaning the house I found a four foot snake skin inside of the suspended ceiling of my bathroom.  Me, being me, said “Cool! That looks like a black snake!”. I then threw it out and continued cleaning.  I slept like a baby that night.  A few weeks later I found another snake skin stuck to the heel of one of my shoes.  In my bedroom closet.  I guess that poor snake couldn’t find anything else to help him shed his skin.  I think I saw him that summer sunning himself on my driveway.  He was about eight feet long.

Thank Goodness for Winter

Luckily for me I live in the Northeast.  We do have a few poisonous snakes up here, but they are very shy and like their privacy.  We also have cold winters.  Snakes are not active in the winter.  Those rattlers huddle up in their hibernaculums and sleep the season away.  I think these two things helped me survive my crocodile hunter wannabe childhood.

The Story of Mr. Cool

There are a lot of people who also like to keep reptiles.  But, some of them aren’t very responsible about it.  The go to the mall and see a “cool” little ten inch long Burmese python in a cage.  They want it, so they buy it.  Won’t their friends think that they’re cool?

A few months go by and that cute little guy has outgrown the ten gallon tank they bought with it. Mr. Cool find out that it’s a female. Females can get up to 18 FEET LONG and can weigh over 200 pounds!  She’s outgrowing everything!  She’s not eating one mouse a week… She’s up to 4 RATS a week, and she still looks hungry!  He’s considering letting her graduate to rabbits, or even piglets!  Every time she’s fed she gets bigger, but if he doesn’t feed her she gets mad!

Finally Mr. Cool decides that he can’t handle this animal.  He can’t give her away, nobody wants this giant carnivore, they’d rather get a little cute one at the mall.  The zoos aren’t interested, they already have 5 of them.  What to do? Luckily Mr. Cool lives near the Everglades.  That’s like the jungle right?  She’s be happy there.  So, late one night he drives his “classic” car out to the swamp and lets his pet go.  She’ll be ok.

Oh yeah, she’ll be GREAT.  The Everglades are a perfect environment for tropical snakes and other reptiles.  Burmese pythons are at the top of the food chain.  They LOVE it there.  If she follows in the footsteps of the many other “lost” pythons, Mr. Cool’s little snake will get bigger, compete with the local wildlife and produce a lot of young.

Invasion

It’s a big problem down there.  Pythons are breeding like crazy and eating everything.  I’ve even seen pictures of them eating alligators!  Hunters have been hired by the parks service to try to cut down the population, but it’s barely made a dent.

Pythons, unlike our local rattlesnakes, are not afraid of humans.  Why would they be?  They’re the same size as us!  They can climb trees, but the big heavy ones like to travel on the ground.  They are not venomous, but they will grab you with their teeth, then constrict you, or anything else it thinks looks tasty.

When in Doubt…

If you live in Florida, or any other tropical area, there are a few things you can do to minimize the risk. Get rid of hiding places, like trash piles and tall grass.  If you have resident rodents get rid of them and the things that attract them.  Check your house and garage for openings that a snake could squeeze through.  They might try to get into your house if it’s a chilly night, or if you have a pet that he’s interested in.  If you have a wall around your property meant to keep other animals out be sure that there aren’t any holes in it large enough for a snake to squeeze through.  They can also use vines or trees to climb over solid walls.

If you see a large leopard print snake in your yard don’t mess with him.  They aren’t venomous, but a larger snake can send you to the hospital for stitches (at the very minimum).  If you see a snake that you know isn’t venomous and isn’t that big, you can use a broom to herd him into a big trashcan so he can be relocated.

The best advice? When in doubt call animal control.  It’s just not worth it. And if you ever meet Mr. Cool give him a stern talking to!

Pharaoh ants may be tiny, but these pesky insects are capable of creating great havoc. They reach lengths of a mere 1/16 of an inch, and are recognizable by their light yellow or reddish brown color and dark abdomens, as well as by their twelve-segmented antennae, narrow waists with two nodes, small eyes, and single stinger.

Photo by April Nobile courtesy of www.AntWeb.org

The diminutive size of these ants allows them easily to infest a wide variety of places, including kitchens, bathrooms, hospital operating rooms, bakeries, office buildings, and in one instance even a recombinant DNA laboratory. They prefer to nest in warm, dark areas such as near hot water pipes and heating vents. Pharaoh ant nests are very small, and can therefore be tucked away into holes between walls, between sheets of paper, in laundry, behind baseboards, in trash, and in light fixtures.

One reason that pharaoh ant infestations are so difficult to remove is that the ants practice what is known as “budding.” Occasionally a group consisting of queens, workers, pupae, eggs, and larvae will break off from the main group, and form its own alternative colony. These colonies are not hostile to one another, and may often be seen from the outside as merely one giant colony. Thus, when under siege, pharaoh ants can break up many smaller and therefore more difficult to eradicate groups until the danger has passed.

Pharaoh ants feed off honey, shortening, jams, peanut butter, corn syrup, soft drinks, dead insects, toothpaste, shoe polish, and other fatty, oily, and sweet items. They can be found searching for food in toilets, sinks, drains, bedpans, and other unsanitary areas. They communicate using pheromones, and workers who have discovered a food source will leave a chemical trail behind to lead other ants to the source.

While pharaoh ants prefer warmer climates, they can adapt to colder ones by seeking shelter indoors. They are now common throughout the world.

Damage Signs

Pharaoh ants are annoying to many by their mere presence and ability to get into many types of food, but they pose more serious problems as well. Not only can they gnaw through and ruin materials such as silk, rayon, and rubber, but more alarmingly, they can also make their way into hospitals, where they can spread infections such as salmonella, strep, and staph by accessing raw wounds and intravenous drips. Homeowners who suspect that their houses have been invaded by these ants should look for worker ants on their feeding trails, often located on wires or heating pipes extending between floors.

Control

Methods of extermination include bates, such as those made of boric acid and ground liver. However, proper placement of baits is essential; they must be near ant trails and food sources, as otherwise they will have little effect. Additionally, non-repellent rather than repellent baits must be used, as repellent baits may actually make the problem worse. Treatments must be extremely thorough, covering the entire building rather than just single rooms or apartments, and must encompass walls, ceilings, floors, spaces beneath floors, and electrical outlets. Multiple treatments may be necessary. Sprays and dusts are not effective against pharaoh ants, as they will just cause the ants to scatter. Homeowners who have severe infestations may prefer to call in licensed professionals to handle the matter.

Pesky Overnight Guests

Luckily I’ve never seen any in my house, but I’ve read the news stories.  Bed bugs seem to be the new craze with the insect hypochondriacs.  Personally, I’ve never seen a bed bug.  I mean, I’ve found bugs in my bedroom before.  The errant june bug has bounced off my forehead on his way to my bedside lamp.  I’ve had the occasional cricket chirping in my bedroom behind the biggest heaviest piece of furniture I own.  Mosquitoes have squeezed through my window screen and buzzed in my ear in the middle of the night.  Bugs, well… they bug me!  I am not a fan. Although, I do admit that I let spiders live in my house.  I figure that they will eat the mosquitoes, so I let them alone.

But, bedbugs freak me out.  A lot of people think that you have to travel to exotic places and stay in cheap motels to bring these nasty things home.  Or maybe pick up a free couch on the side of the road that is secretly infested with the little buggers.  Ok, both of those things CAN happen… but did you know that bedbugs can travel on peoples clothing?  Maybe your friend has bedbugs in his house but he doesn’t want anyone to know (who would blame him).  Those little pests can hitchhike on your friends pant leg and move in with you! (Now I’m fantasizing about a fumigator in my entryway).

Sneaky Little Buggers

Not everyone is allergic to bedbug bites.  So, if you’re the only one in your family who has those lovely decorative bites don’t be too sure that your room Is the only one infested.  They might be in the other bedrooms to, the only difference is that the person sleeping there might not react to the bites.

The first thing I’d want to do is get the heck out of Dodge.  But, from what I’ve read, you should stay put!  Don’t sleep on the couch!  Moving around or staying at a friends house will most likely just make the problem worse.  Don’t change your routine, don’t move furniture, don’t throw anything away.  This will just spread the bugs around and make them harder to get rid of.

Call The Pros

If you see a bedbug catch it with a piece of clear tape and stick it to a piece of paper.  Save this to show your landlord or the exterminator.  Yes, the best way to get rid of them is to call an exterminator.  You can buy a few bug bombs, but if you want to save your furniture and be certain that they’re really gone, call an exterminator.  It usually takes a few treatments to get rid of all the bugs.  They aren’t just in your bed.  They like to hide in any soft material and even in your walls and electrical sockets!  Most professional bug assassins have a guarantee on their services.  And when it comes to bedbugs, I’d want that guarantee!!

Sleep Tight!

I’m not sure if this research that I’ve done is going to make me feel less itchy tonight… I think I’m going to flip my mattress and check all it’s little nooks and crannies before I go to bed.  Have a good night and don’t let the bed bugs bite! *shudder*

Crazy ants, named for their erratic ways of moving, are approximately 1/10 of an inch in length, and are dark brown or black in color, with an occasional bluish hue. Their twelve-segmented bodies are covered with white bristly hairs, andtheir antennae and legs are unusually long compared to those of other ants.

Photograph by Erin Prado courtesy of AntWeb.org

Crazy ants are omnivores, and feed on fruits, honeydew, other insects, both living and dead, tobacco seeds, plant fluids, and household foods such as vegetables, meats, grease, and sugary items. During the summer months, however, they seek out a high-protein diet, and will avoid sweets.

As extremely hardy insects, crazy ants will nest in both dry and moist climates. They are commonly found in trash, in crevices in trees and plants, in rotting wood, and beneath debris, and in such diverse places as homes, farms, beaches, and even ships at sea. Their nests are often located long distances from the areas where they search for food, making nests particularly difficult to find.

The reproductive process of crazy ants is slightly unusual, as daughters of the queen are the genetic clone of the queen, and sons of the queen are the genetic clone of the queen’s mate. Additionally, unlike many species, crazy ants are capable of reproducing with near relatives, such as siblings, without any negative effects.

While crazy ants are supposed to have originated in either Asia or Africa, they have since spread throughout the world, and are now found in most areas of the United States.

Damage Signs

Crazy ants are considered pests due to their tendency to invade a wide variety of habitats. They also assist in the proliferation of other pests such as mealy bugs, aphids, and scale insects, and can transport pathogenic microbes. Therefore, homeowners who find that their houses have been invaded by crazy ants should take steps to remove the insects. Unfortunately, because the ants tend to forage in areas that are not located near their nests, the nests are often difficult to locate. The easiest method of finding crazy ant homes is to follow workers carrying food back to their nests.

Control

Homeowners looking to prevent crazy ant invasion should keep their homes clean, with food carefully put away in sealed containers, and should seal spaces that the ants could use as entrances by using weatherstripping and caulking. Crazy ants are susceptible to many baits, dusts, and sprays currently on the market, although individuals with severe infestations may wish to call in licensed professionals to care for the matter.

They Run In Packs

After doing a little research, I found out that it is likely that there are more than one down there.  It might be an underground apartment complex!  Well, however many there are, they are damaging my property and they need to go!

Groundhogs are cute chubby rodents who love to dig and chew.  They are herbivorous and they hibernate in the winter.  They build complex systems of tunnels to live, breed and sleep in.  They even dig little groundhog latrines and then block them off when they’re full.  They are kind of like the beavers tailless country cousin.  They can swim, but they prefer a nice grassy field.  They don’t even drink water!  They get all the moisture they need from eating their veggies.

Poisonous Broccoli?

I’ve heard of people setting off stink bombs in woodchuck dens, or shoving big rocks into the openings… But I’ve also heard that this doesn’t work very well.  If I decided to move a boulder into their doorway it’s very likely that they’ll just dig around it.  If I set off a stink bomb there is a chance that they might move out… which will leave a nice house for any homeless skunks, possums, foxes or rats, who have been known to move into abandoned groundhog burrows.  I don’t think rats would mind the stink… but I’d mind the rats!  I also found out that you “can’t poison groundhogs”.  I couldn’t find a reason why… maybe, despite what kids think, it’s hard to make broccoli poisonous.

The only proven method for getting rid of your friendly neighborhood woodchuck is a trap.  You can either use a humane trap or a “body grip trap” which is lethal, like a giant mousetrap.  I would prefer the humane cage trap, but I’m afraid of having to move it after I catch one.  I’d need some pretty thick gloves to move it when it has an angry saber-toothed guinea pig inside who is trying to bite my hands off.

Safe In The Ground… For Now…

According to what I’ve read, my new neighbors are probably hibernating.  I think I’ll call the pros and find out if there is anything that I can do now, or if I have to wait until they resurrect themselves in the spring.

Now, many years later (no, I’m not telling how many) I have a healthy respect for our stinger wielding friends.  I love honey, I burn the occasional beeswax candle, and someday I’d like to have my own hives.  Of course, I plan to make my husband collect the honey… I’m not THAT brave!

Hornets, Yellow Jackets and Wasps, Oh My!

Over the summer we had several yellow jacket, hornet and various wasp nests crop up under the overhangs of our house.  I would wait until it was dark then spray the heck out of them with hornet spray. Then I would run away and look back nervously, looking for the expected angry flock.  I’m sure my neighbors thought I had lost my mind.

Nasty Houseguests

Just this morning I heard on the news about a Miami Florida man who was found dead in his home, surrounded by 60,000 swarming bees.  From what the news said, he had been working on a room in his house and came across a hive of honey bees in the wall.  The bees, angered by his hammering, attacked him and he fell off the chair he was standing on.  Paramedics couldn’t get to him due to the bees, and he died from their stings.

The house that this man was working on was an old house, so it probably had a lot of inviting nooks and crannies for the bees to move into.  But from what I read, it takes a LOT of work to get rid of a hive of honeybees that have moved into your house.

They Like Your Decorating Style and Want To Move In

Despite a rampant urban legend, there are no federal laws protecting feral honeybee colonies.  Honeybees have suffered a lot in the last ten or twenty years due to introduced parasites.  This has reduced their wild population so drastically that farmers have noticed that a lot of crops aren’t being sufficiently pollinated.  So, maybe there SHOULD be a law protecting them, but there isn’t.  Sometimes you can find a local beekeeper who is interested in harvesting the bees for his own use.  If you can’t find someone like that, call the exterminator.

Getting Bees to Move Out is Harder Than Getting Rid Of Your Unemployed College Buddy

Honeybee nests can involve an entire wall in your house, maybe more.  I’ve heard stories of people having to hire electricians and carpenters to rebuild the walls that had to be destroyed in the bee removal process.

If you already have bees living in your house you might think “Why don’t I just plug up the hole?”.  Don’t!  Those bees are tiny, and they’re persistent.  They will find another way out of the hive, and it might be INSIDE your house!

No Room At The Inn!

I guess the best course of action, like with many things, is prevention.  When a bees nest becomes overcrowded they “swarm” and send out scouts to find a new place to live.  This is the reason that beekeepers will split their hives once in a while, it prevents these swarms.  So, check your house.  If there is a gap or hole in your outside wall that is larger than 5/16ths of an inch the bees might like it and move in.

Alright!  Time to walk around outside the house with my can of triple expanding foam and block off any little holes in my siding!  I do NOT want to wake up one morning to the low hum of vibrating honey scented wallpaper!

Norway rats, alternatively known as brown rats, sewer rats, barn rats, house rats, wharf rats, and Hanover rats, are common rodents averaging around 10 inches in length, not including their tails, and weighing from 9 ounces to 1 pound. They have coarse brown, grey, or reddish-grey fur. Nocturnal by nature, these rats have poor vision even in daylight, although they make up for this deficiency through their highly acute senses of smell, hearing and touch. They rely largely on their sense of smell when foraging for food.

As omnivores, Norway rats will eat a wide variety of foods, although they are particularly partial to macaroni and cheese, scrambled eggs, and corn kernels, and are least likely to eat peaches, celery, and beets. They subsist largely on cereals, fish, fruits, nuts, and meats, and get much of their food from human garbage.

Norway rats are often found in cities and near human habitations, where food waste is easily accessible. Their nests, usually created from shredded bits of paper or cloth, can be found in and around stores, homes, sewers, barns, ponds, garbage dumps, docks, woodpiles and basements. They dig burrows, often digging under human-built structures so that the building functions as their roof. They also frequently dig burrows near water, and are adept swimmers.

Today, Norway rats have spread throughout most of the world, and the only places which they do not inhabit are the Arctic, Antarctica, certain areas of New Zealand, and handful of remote islands.

Damage Signs

Like many rodent species, Norway rats are associated with the spread of certain diseases, including Weil’s disease, Q fever, ratbite fever, viral hemorrhagic fever, toxoplasmosis, and trichinosis. Additionally, they can contaminate food, damage crops, and cause structural damage to buildings through their burrowing and gnawing activities. Thus, homeowners who find that their homes are infested with Norway rats should take steps to remove the creatures.

Common signs of Norway rat infestation include soft, capsule-shaped droppings 1/4 inch in diameter and 3/4 inch long, burrows, rat footprints and tail prints, urine stains, and gnaw marks on doors and ledges, and in walls. Additional signs include scratching and squeaking noises, and accumulations of insulation and wood chips as a result of gnawing activity.

Control

Homeowners looking to prevent Norway rat invasion should pay careful attention to sanitation in the home; food should not be left out, but should be stored carefully in metal containers with tight-fitting covers, and clutter in and around the home should be removed. Cracks and other openings larger than 1/4 inch should be sealed or covered with screens in order to prevent rat entry.

Norway rats are susceptible to both traps and poison baits. Homeowners with severe infestations may choose to call in licensed professionals to care for the problem.

A Healthy Fox

We had some excitement around here last week.  My husband came home from walking the dog and said “Call the cops! There’s a rabid fox in the yard!”.  I, being nosy, ran outside to see.  There it was, stumbling around, missing hair and acting strangely.  I grabbed the phone and watched my husband crashing into the woods to follow the fox.

While I was on hold, I anxiously watched the branches moving and listened to the snapping and cracking sounds that my husband was making. “Don’t get close to it!” I yelled.  I don’t think he heard me, he was in hunter mode.

I thought foxes were night owls … Guess not!

He was soon out of sight and I was left holding the phone. What if the fox attacked him? What kinds of diseases do foxes carry? Are they contagious? Did it have rabies? Aren’t foxes supposed to hide during the day?

It turns out that foxes carry several diseases that are contagious to people and pets.  They can carry parasites, along with distemper, mange and rabies.  Contrary to what I thought, it isn’t uncommon to see a healthy fox out during the day (phew!). While foxes are dangerous to small dogs and cats, they are very unlikely to attack a human.  I also found out that foxes are not currently considered a “rabies vector species” (or in English, a common carrier).  Also, a nursing mother fox can look like she has mange. On the upside (other than being cute) a foxe’s urine keeps raccoons out of your yard. Foxes are much less likely to raid your garbage than a more adventurous raccoon.

Public Enemy #1

Eventually the police answered the phone and transferred me to the Wildlife Control Office.  They sent two officers out to our house.  By this time, my husband the tracker, had cornered the fox in our neighbors garage.  When the officers arrived they attempted to contact our neighbors, shut the garage door and had to wait for assistance (and a catch pole).

Even though I knew that they wanted us to go home, I’m was curious and decided to watch this little drama play out.  What did they think was wrong with him? Have there been a lot of reports of sick foxes in the area? What was going to happen to the fox now?

From what they said, this fox had been sighted several times in the last month.  People were calling and reporting a sick, possibly rabid, fox in their yard.  By the time the police arrived the fox was gone. They had been trying to catch him for weeks!  They didn’t think he was rabid, it was more likely that he had a severe case of mange.

“Also known as canine scabies, sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious infestation of Sarcoptes scabiei, a burrowing mite. The canine sarcoptic mite can also infest humans (scabies), cats, pigs, horses, sheep and various other species.”  Eventually the fox loses its hair, and in the winter will freeze to death.  Outbreaks of mange are generally attributed to overpopulation.  Mange is less likely to occur in areas that regularly trap.

I asked the police what they planned to do with the fox. (I could tell they were annoyed with me, but I wanted to know!).  They planned on catching the fox with the catch pole and then destroying him on site.  As we finished talking their backup arrived.  Five officers entered the garage from the side door and they caught the fox as predicted.

As soon as I saw that the fox was caught, I turned and walked away.  Behind me I heard the sound of the officers carrying out the final part of their plan.  I admit, I did gasp like a girl. I thought back to my childhood.  My favorite book was Reddy Fox. I absolutely loved the Fox and The Hound.  Then I snapped back to the present.  This fox was suffering.  He would probably freeze to death this winter. He was most likely carrying a disease that could infect my family.  It has to be done.

Do foxes prefer kibble or canned?

There aren’t many things that you can do to keep foxes out of your yard.  If you have poultry, you build a good solid fence. They do sell sprays and other deterrents that will make your yard unpleasant for foxes.  You can trap them, but it’s not easy (they are known for being smart after all).  A large dog in your yard will make them think twice.  A small dog might just make them a nice snack.

Personally, I don’t mind foxes. I kind of like them.  I am more concerned about the diseases that they carry.  So, I think I’ll go with another suggestion that I found. Feed them.  Mange is found in areas where foxes are over populated, which means that there is a lot of competition for food.  Lack of food makes the foxes weak, which gives mange the perfect host.  So, I’ve decided to put out some dog food for the foxes.  Hopefully their raccoon repelling urine does its job!

Australian roaches are large, reddish brown or dark brown cockroaches, with hairy bodies measuring approximately 1 and 1/4 inches in length. They are frequently mistaken for American cockroaches, but can be distinguished their slightly smaller size, and by a yellow area on their thoraxes and yellow stripes near their wings. Like most species of cockroaches, Australian cockroaches are scavengers, and feed on decaying organic matter, although they are more likely to eat plants than are most other species.

As adept fliers, these roaches are capable of moving quickly. They can scuttle across floors speedily, and are likely to disappear into cracks in walls at the approach of humans. They may be found in homes, as well as in garages, leaf litter, trees, flower, woodpiles, garbage cans, and greenhouses. Warm, moist conditions are preferable to these insects, although they are often able to survive in colder climates by living indoors.

While their name may suggest otherwise, Australian roaches are actually supposed to have originated in Asia. They have since spread throughout many areas of the world, including Australia, and the southern United States.

Damage Signs

Australian roaches are considered pests, and will eat and destroy clothing, chew on book covers, and eat greenhouse plants. They also contaminate food, and spread pathogens. Therefore, homeowners who discover Australian roaches in their homes should take steps to remove the creatures. Common signs of infestation include the above mentioned damage to plants, clothing, and books, and the presence of the insects themselves.

Control

Homeowners looking to prevent Australian roach infestation should remove mulch and woodpiles from their lawns to discourage roach nesting. In order to prevent roaches from entering the house, homeowners should also use screens to cover vents and other openings, and seal cracks and holes in walls.

Australian roaches are susceptible to many chemical treatments currently on the market. Homeowners with serious infestations may choose to call licensed professionals to handle the matter.

"Nom Nom Nom"

I love to sit out on my porch at this time of year.  The air is so cool and “crispy”.  The days aren’t lasting as long as they were a month ago, but it’s so nice out!  I like to sit and watch the various animals busy with their pre-winter preparations.

Bob the Bull-Rat

We have a LOT of gray squirrels around our house and they have been really busy.  They are so intent on their harvest that a few of them have almost run into me on their way back to their storehouses.  I’ve even named one.  His name is Bob.  Why?  He doesn’t have a tail!  It’s the weirdest thing.  He looks like a cross between a miniature bulldog and a sewer rat… cute, right?  Maybe he had a close call with a hawk.  Maybe he had an accident on his little tiny squirrel ATV.  I guess I’ll never know.  He’s so cute, I want to feed him peanuts.

Now You’ve Done It!

So earlier today I was out there, sitting on my porch, and I saw Bob hop by with a giant chestnut in his mouth.  “Awww… Hi Bob!”.  He gave me an annoyed look and continued hopping across the yard with his prize.  Hop, hop, hop… Where the heck is he going?  He bumped his little tailless rump over to and right up my neighbors ornamental cherry tree.  He shimmied up the porch post, grabbed on to the telephone wire (at least I think that’s what it is) and disappeared into the eave!  His storehouse is my neighbors attic!  This is not good.

Squirrels can do a lot of damage to your house, they chew wires, eat though walls and rip up your insulation.   They nest, breed and poop all over the place and they live for about 15 years!  It’s like having a two pound furry teenager with giant teeth.

There’s No Place Like… Your Attic

Did you know that squirrels are territorial?  By this I don’t mean that they protect their territory or patrol like a tiny pack of wolves. But once they decide that a place is their home, they don’t leave.  Ever.  Using a humane trap and relocating them rarely works.  Squirrels have been known to return from being moved to over 10 miles from “their” home.  The only way to really get rid of them seems to be extermination.

I Wish You Were a Rabbit

Now I have a moral dilemma.  Do I tell my neighbors about their uninvited houseguest?  Do I tell them that the only way to get rid of him is by calling an exterminator?  Do I tell them that his name is Bob?

Oh Bob, why couldn’t you have really been a rabbit like your stumpy little bottom suggests? I just need to come to grips with the fact that just because he has a cute little bum doesn’t mean that he’s still not just a wire chewing, insulation soiling menace.  Yeah, I have to tell my neighbors about him.  But I don’t think I’ll mention that I’ve named him.  I live next door to these people.  They don’t need more proof that I’m insane.

Sneaky Little Buggers!

This morning I was given a nasty reminder that I need to make sure to clean the kitchen before I go to bed.  While I was making our morning pot of coffee I noticed that there were little dark grains of “rice” in the pot that I used to make macaroni and cheese last night.  Oh no, we have mice!

Electronic Warfare

Mice seem to move in every fall.  We have a cat, but he’s pretty useless.  We also have a baby, so poisons and floor level “snap traps” aren’t really something that I’d want to use.  In my pre-coffee rodent panic I did order a fancy high tech mousetrap online… but what else can I do to make this invader move next door? (Sorry neighbors, but this is WAR!)

Cat Soon To Be Replaced With Better Mouser

After I finished washing the dishes, and disinfecting anything within an 8 foot radius of the poop pot, I sat down with a nice cup of coffee and started researching.  I found out that cats are NOT the most effective mouse-hunting pet. Dogs are! My cat gave me a doubtful look when I shared this tidbit with him.  It turns out that terriers are better mousers than cats!  Unlike cats, who play with their food, dogs don’t mess around.  They see a mouse and BAM, it’s over.  The only downside is that they don’t eat the mouse like cats usually do.  They are more likely to leave their victim at the scene of the crime.  Our cat has caught 2 mice in his life.  One was dispatched with the help of our pet terrier (proof?).  The second was left as a dismembered gift on our doorstep.

Do You Hear That?

An alternative (or addition) to traps and poisons are ultrasonic devices that emit a high pitched noise.  The noise keeps mice from moving into your house in the first place.  I was worried that something like this would disturb the authorized four-leggers in our house.  But, according to what I read, the noise doesn’t bother dogs, cats, birds or fish.  They do say that if you have a pet hamster you should move him to a room that doesn’t have one of these contraptions.  From what they say, the noise doesn’t travel through walls.  Because of this, you need a unit for each room.  If you do have a pet hamster I would consider keeping his food in a metal container so you can be sure that he’s the only rodent that you’re feeding!

Bah Humbug!

I found out something else.  Mice hate Christmas.  Ok, they hate peppermint oil.  It won’t make a mouse move out, but it will keep mice from moving in!  If you put cotton balls soaked in undiluted peppermint oil around your house, in those little nooks and crannies, it’ll ruin your diet and it will make mice visit your neighbors instead of you.  If you do that when you already have mice, they will just “create” a new exit away from the peppermint and turn your house into swiss cheese.  Not good.

Have you seen Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?  Do you remember when Willy and his Grandpa drank that delicious soda pop, were carbonated, and floated all over the place?  The same thing happens to mice!  Well, they really like the soda, but they don’t float.  They die.  That would be a terrible movie, but it sounds like a nice, safe alternative to rat poison!

Chocolate Loving Mouse’s Nightmare

The one thing I DO like about rat poison is that the mice run outside the house to die.  No stinky dead mice in the wall. (Believe me, it’s disgusting).  I found out that you can make your own non toxic mouse evicting killer.  Mice LOVE chocolate (who doesn’t?) but it makes them very thirsty.  Plaster of paris (or gypsum) is a tasteless powdery cement-like substance (sort of like those popular antacid tablets).  Mix dry plaster and the chocolate together and leave the little tasty bon-bons near your resident mouse’s favorite hangout.  He will have a little chocolatey snack and get REALLY thirsty.  As he’s running outside to get a drink the gypsum will use the water that it stole from his stomach and harden into cement. Bye bye mouse!

Sunshine Vitamin Has Them Playing Taps

My plan, for now, is to wait until my trap arrives in the mail and to keep my kitchen spotless.  I have a jar of peanut butter ready and waiting to be mouse-bait.  I think I’ll crush up some of my vitamin D tablets and mix it into the peanut butter.  Vitamin D is poisonous to mice so it will take care of any bait-stealers who think they’re smarter than I am!

Do you have any ideas I could try to get rid of this little pest?  Do you have any good mouse stories?  Leave me a comment, share your tips… and cross your fingers for me!  I’m signing off.  I have to go scrub the kitchen again…

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Adult Sod Webworm by Svdmolen

Sod webworms begin life in oval, white eggs that change to bright orange or red as they age. The eggs are tiny, reaching only 1/10 to 1/5 of an inch in diameter. After the larvae hatch, they range in color from green to gray to brown to beige, with black or brown heads, and are between 1/3 and 1 inch long. Once they enter the pupae stage, they remain in their small cocoons for between 10 and 14 days, eventually emerging as adult moths that are tan, brown, dull white, or gray, with variously colored patterns. They are easily recognized by two snout-like projections emerging from the tops of their heads.

Adult sod webworms do not eat, and therefore live for only a few days.  Instead, these creatures cause the greatest damage during their larval stage, during which time their diet consists mostly of grasses, although they are also known to feed off wheat, corn, timothy-grass, rye, and oats. They live in tunnels lined with silky webbing in thatch and soil, and are commonly found on steep hills, banks, and other areas that often get little water.

Sod webworms are native to the United States, and are common throughout the country.

Damage Signs

While adult sod webworms may annoy some by their mere presence around picnic areas and barbecues, it is the larvae that actually cause damage. The larvae’s feeding habits can create small, round brown patches in lawn grasses and turf. If the infestation is severe, a number of these small patches may be joined together, creating larger and uglier patches. Damage is generally most severe in early spring and late fall, and during droughts.

Sod webworms are nocturnal, so homeowners are unlikely to spot the creatures, but should instead look for signs of lawn damage, as well as for the small, green fecal pellets that the larvae leave behind. Homeowners can also test for sod webworm invasion by sprinkling a mixture of two tablespoons of dish detergent and two gallons of water over the suspected areas. This solution irritates the webworms, causing them to surface from their tunnels. If between 10 and 15 worms emerge over an area of 9 square feet, action should be taken to remove the worms.

Control

Homeowners looking to prevent sod webworm damage may consider using resistant varieties of turf grass, including perennial ryegrasses, fine fescues, and tall fescues. They should also keep lawns well watered, and avoid mowing grass too short.

Predators of sod webworms include birds, ground beetles, rove beetles, wasps, and robber flies. Attracting sod webworm predators into an area often helps to keep the worms under control. Additionally, they are also susceptible to insect parasitic nematodes and pesticides.

Once damage has occurred, lawns can usually be restored if treated with fertilizer and water.

Cover of Bambi (2-Disc Special Platinum Edition)

Bambi, one of my favorite movies, primed me to romanticize deer. Feeding deer out of my hand in my own yard, has been a dream come true. The drought has brought new challenges, though, as the deer are depending more and more on hand-outs as the foraging becomes futile. The rising cost of livestock feed also makes the huge, hungry herds a strain on the pocket book. When as many as 24 deer arrive at meal time, you can not help but long for a humane method of population control.

Yum Roses

Hungry deer cause another problem, landscaping. They will eat just about anything you purchase and lovingly plant. If your sapling manages to escape being eaten, the male deer will use it to rub the velvet off his antlers causing the bark to rub off also, possibly leading to the death of the tree. Consider another reason deer are now increasingly considered a pest. Though I am not a fan of venison, that is not true of mountain lions, wolves, coyotes etc., who wander into residential areas attracted by deer.

A Dangerous Combination

Automobile versus the deer leaves no one the winner. This problem is exacerbated by mating season (rut) as amorous buck’s testosterone levels rise, the chasing after potential mates leads them across busy roadways. The only winner, if there is a collision, is the buzzard. One and a half million deer-auto crashes kill 150+ people yearly and cost us $1 billion in property damage.

A Welcomed Solution

For all these reasons and more, news of a new birth control vaccine for white-tailed deer brings cheers from many. It is just becoming commercially available in some U.S. states. It is called GonaCon, and may reduce or stop some unwanted behaviors in household pets and farm animals that have not been neutered. It does this by blocking the usual response to testosterone and estrogen surges. It could also be of help with prairie dog, wild horse and feral dog populations.

The superiority of this vaccine, when compared to previous birth control vaccines, is that GonaCon even eliminates the breeding behavior, so the upsurge of autumn deer-auto collisions would stop.

How It Works

The new vaccine causes the body to make antibodies against the hormone that turns on the increased production of the sex hormones. Without that hormone, the body makes little or no estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Both male and female become infertile and the one vaccination in studies with captive deer lasted up to 5 years without a booster. Squirrels, rats, feral swine and wild horses were also used in the study with success.

How do you go about vaccinating the deer in your neighborhood? You don’t. The vaccine is regulated by the EPA and has to be registered in your state, and so far Maryland and New Jersey are the only states that have approved it. When it comes to administering the vaccine it can only be done by a USDA or state game and fish department staff member. One by one they capture, tranquilize and inject deer.

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Mating Mimicry

The poor, beautiful, wild orchid of southern Europe’s dilemma, it needs the bee to deliver its pollen to fellow orchids. What’s the problem, you may ask, bees love to oblige because of flowers’ delectable nectar. This wild orchid has no tasty nectar, so the solution comes in its unique design. It looks and smells so much like a female bee the male bee tries to mate with it. Each specie of this orchid has its own twist to this trickery by having its own disguise and smell.

Fool Me Once, Shame on You…

It does not take the Bee too long to realize he’s been had, just long enough for the orchid to stick a packet of pollen on his body. Off he flies only to be fooled again by the sight and smell of another orchid and in he goes for another unsuccessful mating for him, but very successful pollination for the orchid. This poor Bee falls for this guise over and over until he finally realizes these orchids are not to be trusted. The orchid has gotten what it needs, and the Bee hopefully has learned to be more discerning in his choice of mates, often a difficult lesson for all.

Moral of This Deception

Busy lives can be fun and exciting, the problem when we don’t take time to stop and smell the flowers can be we fail to recognize the real from the silk and may end up nurturing the wrong dreams. Slow down and make sure you are working to fill your own goals and not those of some imposter.
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Florida woods roaches, also known as palmetto bugs, are among the larger species of cockroaches, and typically reach lengths of between 3/2 and 2 inches. They range in color from dark reddish-brown to black, and have wide, glossy bodies. While at first glance they may appear to lack wings, closer inspection reveals tiny wings located just behind the head. They are not flight-capable however, and are in fact more slow-moving than most other roach species.

These roaches have an unusual defense mechanism; when frightened, Florida woods roaches emit a foul smelling, oily substance from glands beneath their abdomens. In fact, when captured and confined within small containers, these bugs have been known to die from their own secretions.

As their name suggests, Florida woods roaches are commonly found in Florida, as well as in the West Indies. They thrive warm, moist areas, and make their homes in mulch, leaf litter, wood piles, under lumber,  and in tree holes. They cannot live in cold climates.

Damage Signs

Florida woods roaches rarely make their way into homes, preferring instead to remain in tropical outdoor surroundings. However, these roaches have occasionally been known to crawl into homes, usually making their way to bathrooms or other damp areas. Homeowners who think that their homes may be infested by Florida woods roaches should examine bathrooms and other such moist areas for the presence of roaches. When the roaches do enter homes, they usually do so through firewood

Control

To discourage Florida woods roaches from creating nests, homeowners should scatter much and leaf piles in their yards. However, these roaches rarely become serious pests, as they prefer to stay outdoors. Homeowners who do have serious Florida woods roach infestations may consider calling in professional pest removal companies to deal with the problem.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

Image via Wikipedia

There is a different pest problem sweeping across the USA. Strange to think of these being pests when we used to admire them as we gazed into the sky delighted to see the prefect ‘V’ formation of the beautiful, honking Canada Geese. Now they are taking over lakes and the beaches, golf courses, parks and airports. What to do? How can we discourage them from crowding and (pardon the pun) befouling our outdoor activities?

Harness That Energy

Many say the perfect solution to this growing concern is the Border Collie. Any who have known a Border Collie will immediately see the brilliance of this idea. One look into his eager eyes tells you you better have something for him to do, or he will take it upon himself to come up with something. If you value your yard, cat, fence, landscaping and especially your kids, you will find him constructive use for his endless supply of energy. Voila! Chase away nuisance Geese.

Experience Necessary

The Border Collie has been bred for centuries to herd sheep. Shepherds utilized the dog’s hunting instincts and control them with voice commands and a variety of signals given with the use of a whistle. All this training insures the safety of the sheep, making it a humane method to get rid of the Geese. With the proper training, the dogs can be told to run straight at the birds, told to turn to the right or left, and to stop abruptly. This makes them perfect for annoying, but not hurting, the pesky geese.

The Border Collie has had incredible endurance bred into them. They herd sheep all day and have done so for centuries. As with any problem persistence is often needed to get it under control. That is one more adjective that describes the Border Collie well, persistent. So while, they may begin their training on sheep, they can quickly adapt their skills to be used on birds.

It’s All In ‘The Look’

Picture those eager eyes sharply focused on the sky, looking for the objective of their training, geese to chase. And chase they will until every last bird has left the area. They do this without harming or even touching the birds. The determined, confident, steely eyed pro does not need to resort to physical manipulation,  he has all the power he needs just because of  his commanding presence.

There Are No Substitutes

People have tried fake coyotes, plastic alligators and swans, gas blowers, loud noises, flashing lights, regular untrained dogs, the geese soon get used to these would-be deterrents, but they never get over the Border Collie’s patrol tactics. It’s that fierce doggy fear-factor that they have down pat. Threaten so convincingly you never have to use violence. Crouch down menacingly, stare the birds straight in the eye, never back down, and those geese will be up in V-formation seeking a safe refuge without Border Collie Patrol. This has worked hundreds of years to control sheep, so the method has been proven.

Either You Got It or You Don’t

If you are thinking ‘My dog could chase geese every bit, as well as, some trained Border Collie.’, you would be wrong. Your dog either does not have that predator instinct, or has one, so strong, he would be out for blood. Then there is the ‘bark factor’ my dog (Colby) definitely knows he is a predator,  just ask that skunk he cornered last night (and yes I know the recipe to get rid of skunk smell, I Googled it last night.) Sorry I digressed, but with my dog it would be a toss up as to which is more annoying, stepping on stinky goose poop or listening to the never ending, excited squeals from my also, very ‘eager’ canine. The Border Collie works silently to frighten the geese, by imitating the methods of the geese natural predators, Coyotes, Foxes and Wolves. I am pretty sure the geese would be ‘ laughing on the inside’ at my dog’s imitation of a wolf. They would know he would soon tire out, and they could return. Not the cool, collected Border Collie, he can be a tireless threat.

The U.S. Humane Society, Geese Peace, and The Coalition Against The Destruction of Canada Geese all back the use of trained Border Collies to humanely control problem geese populations. So Colby, I guess we’ll have to leave it to the professionals to control the Canada Geese, and we can work on ignoring skunks.

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Big headed ants vary in color from yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, and range in length between 1/16 and 1/8 of an inch. Their bodies are covered in long, sparse hairs, and the second segment of their waist noticeably bulges. As their name suggests, many big headed ants have very large heads. Worker big headed ants are divided into two categories, major and minor, and the major workers have heads that are exceptionally large when compared with their bodies. Minor workers, in contrast, have small heads.

Source: www.AntWeb.org Photo by: April Nobile

As omnivores, big headed ants eat a variety of foods, including both living and dead insects, other invertebrates, and common household items such as meat, sweets, grease, and pet foods. They are particularly partial to honeydew excreted by insects such as aphids and whiteflies.

Big headed ants build their colonies under rocks, logs, flowerpots, bricks, and debris. Once established in an area, they will then build foraging tunnels similar to, although more fragile than, those created by subterranean termites. Colonies often have multiple fertile queens, each of which can lay up to 290 eggs per month, and can therefore quickly spread out and grow to become supercolonies.

Although native to southern Africa, big headed ants have now spread to nearly all mild and tropical parts of the world.

Damage Signs

Big headed ants are on the “100 Worst Invasive Alien Species” list because they threaten the biodiversity of their surroundings by harboring insects that decrease plant productivity and by harvesting seeds. They may also chew on electrical, irrigation, and telephone wires. Most homeowners find their mere presence annoying, especially because they often exist in such large numbers.

Homeowners looking for signs of big headed ant invasion should examine their homes for loose piles of sandy soil left behind by the ants, and for the presence of the ants themselves, specifically in bathrooms and kitchens, around doors and windows, and on walkways and driveways.

Control

Homeowners looking to prevent or reduce big headed ant invasions should clear their yards of piles of wood, rocks, and other debris, in order to discourage the ants from nesting. Additionally, they should trim tree branches that come in contact with exterior house walls.

A number of products currently on the market are effective against big headed ants, although it is imperative that lawns and soils around the house be thoroughly treated if the pesticides are to work correctly. Homeowners with large infestations of big headed ants may wish to call in exterminators to deal with the problem.

Ghost ants are diminutive insects, reaching only 1/16 of an inch. Their name derives from their translucent or milky white abdomens and legs; only their heads and thoraxes are dark brown. They have also been know to temporarily take on the colors of the foods that they eat. Although they are often mistaken for pharaoh ants, ghost ants can be identified by the single node in their abdomens. Pharaoh ants, in contrast, have two nodes. When crushed, ghost ants emit a rotten coconut-like odor.

Ghost ants are adaptable, and will nest both indoors and outdoors. They require a great deal of moisture, and outdoor colonies are found most often in plant stems, tufts of damp, dead grass, flowerpots, and spaces beneath debris and loose bark. Indoors, they often settle in greenhouses and in spaces between books, between walls, and between cabinets. They are quite mobile, and will often settle in a particular spot for only a few days or weeks. Colonies frequently break up into smaller subcolonies, so that homeowners who find and destroy a single nest may find that they have not wiped out an entire colony. Individual ants travel between subcolonies, finding their way by using scent trails created between the nests.

The diet of ghost ants consists of sugars, cakes, syrups, and other sweets, as well as of living and dead insects. These ants specifically prefer to eat honeydew  and honeydew producing insects.

Ghost ants can be found worldwide, and are so widespread that it is impossible to determine their place of origin.

Damage Signs

Ghost ants are considered pests due to their frequent presence in homes, and the fact that they feed on household foods. Homeowners who suspect that their houses have been invaded by ghost ants should look for the insects in bathrooms and kitchens, specifically on counters, floors, and sinks. They should also be alert to the smell of rotten coconuts, as this also signals the presence of the ants.

Control

Homeowners looking to prevent ghost ant invasion should focus on keeping their houses clean. All food should be kept in sealed containers, and crumbs should be scrupulously cleaned up. Plants that attract aphids and other honeydew producing insects should be removed. Any conditions, such as leaking pipes, that cause moisture in the home should also be fixed.

Ghost ants are susceptible to a number of insecticides currently on the market, although homeowners with extreme ghost ant problems may consider calling in licensed professionals to deal with the issue.

It is that time of year again. The air is getting cooler, and fleas want more than ever to cuddle up to our beloved furry friends for a  sip of warm blood. Sometimes they even decide  to add us to their menu, causing us irritation and revulsion. What to do? Of course, we could call in our pest control team, and often that is what it will take to get rid of these horrid little blood-suckers, but there are some natural solutions to try first.

The Good Earth

My personal favorite and the  favorite of many who have a house full of warm-blooded pets is Diatomaceous earth (DE).  It also works to kill all insects and parasites. This powder can be bought at garden supply, hardware and feed stores. This powder is made from the microskeletons of diatoms, or algae, from fresh or salt water. Sprinkle this powder on dogs, young or old, cats and kittens. Also, pour it on your carpets and the fleas will die from dehydration.

The DE works by rubbing on the hard exoskeletons of fleas. These minute particles of silicon (sand) clog the flea’s respiratory system and joints. With each tiny flea breath, the silicon wears at the exoskeleton, finally killing the flea by suffocation or dehydration from water loss due to the compromised outer shell of the flea. In no time at all, the little blood-sucker is pushing up daisy’s.

Precautions Even For Nontoxic Remedies

There are some precautions to heed. Wear a mask when applying it to your pets and carpets and when you vacuum it, as well. Also, try to keep your pets from breathing it. It is nontoxic but still not good for lungs. Also, make sure you purchase natural DE, not the type used in swimming pools. Flour grade DE is the best. The swimming pool variety will cause scarring of the lungs. When you apply it to carpets, use a broom to brush it in and do not vacuum for about four days or even a week. Keep reapplying during the infestation. You will see an improvement in a couple of days.

Some suggest mixing together 1 1/2 pounds of diatomaceous earth, 1 1/2 pounds of natural borax and 1 cup of salt to use on the floors and carpets. This mixture will get at all those pests hiding in cracks and crevices, and the salt helps to dehydrate them even faster. Again, be sure to purchase the DE and Borax at a garden store, not at the pool supply departments. You will have to reapply because this method kills the adult fleas only, so you need to kill the newly hatched eggs immediately before they have time to reproduce. Considering these facts should sound down the warning that persistence is called for to eradicate fleas: Just one female flea will produce 20,000 eggs in only three months?’ It can take anywhere from three to six weeks for flea eggs to hatch?

New Control On The Horizon?

Insect Growth Regulators are viewed by some as a better alternative to broad-spectrum insecticides. They are often preferred because they are more selective, less harmful to the environment and more compatible with natural pest control methods. Insects are less likely to develop resistance to IGR’s. There are different types of IGR that disrupt different stages of insect development. Whether these will be economically feasible for further testing and use, remains to be seen.

Worth A Pound of Cure

Preventing a whole-house infestation is the best pet owners can ask for. If you see fleas on your dog, you can add some neem oil to shampoo and thoroughly lather him up. Leave the mixture on your dog for about 15 minutes. Any lather will drown fleas but the neem oil adds a little extra punch and mixed with eucalyptus oil, repels fleas. You can also make an insect repellent out of cedar, tea tree, lavender and citronella oils. Put some of this mixture on his collar, bandana, or dilute it with water and use it to spray on your pet.

Fleas can’t stand the smell of eucalyptus, so dilute the oil and spray it on your dog. Adding the oil to the final rinse of your dog’s bedding, putting eucalyptus leaves under furniture and rugs and adding some to your dog’s shampoo will discourage fleas. For you cat lovers, sorry, your finicky felines can’t tolerate eucalyptus or citrus.

Others recommend making a shampoo using the following essential oils: pine cedar, bergamot, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, juniper or geranium. Learning a lesson from the clever fox who rids itself of fleas by carrying a stick in its mouth as in jumps into the water, it completely submerges itself, the fleas escape by seeking higher, dryer ground so they climb the stick. The fox drops the stick into the water and gets out pest free. Lesson learned the fleas climb higher up the dog as you shampoo so start by making a very sudsy barrier around your dog’s neck to block the fleas. Also lather the face and ears with soap, don’t just rinse with water. Some suggest leaving the lather on 15 minutes, or more, to ensure all the fleas die. Some say adding white vinegar to your dog’s shampoo will prevent fleas as well.

Flea Trap

If you are not sure how bad your flea problem is, you can make your own flea trap to see how many fleas you catch. Put a light next to a shallow dish of warm sudsy water, next to your pets bed. The flea jumps toward the light and lands in the water and is trapped in the suds. This method will only work to get rid of very light flea populations but can be combined with other controls.

Supplement

Some long- range solutions are supplements to add to your dog’s diet. Garlic added to each meal, and sulphur added once a week are said to prevent fleas on your pet. Black Walnut Hulls come in a capsule form and will repel fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. It may take 4 to 6 weeks for these to work so don’t give up keep supplementing.

Let’s not forget fleas are not a trivial problem. The flea consumes 15 times its weight in blood, which can cause anemia in severely infested pets. Some dogs are very allergic to flea bites and may develop hot spots and/or infections.

Housecleaning

Another suggestion is making a floor washing mixture by combining the juice of 4 lemons and the rinds in 1/2 gallon of water and wash the fleas away. They hate the smell of lemons. You can also wash down the walls of the dog house with a salt water solution. Doing this every coupe of weeks may keep the fleas from coming in on your dog.

Avon Calling

The University of Florida did a study using Avon’s Skin-So-Soft, sponging dogs down with it. By so doing, they saw a 40% drop in the amount of fleas on the dog. You can try it by mixing 1-1/2 ounces of bath oil to 1 gallon of water.

Temporary relief can be given your dog by spraying on a mixture of 2 parts apple cider vinegar to 1 part water with a spray bottle. After being sprayed, the fleas  ‘abandon ship’ and run for better smelling quarters, so only use this spray outdoors. If you drench your dog with this solution and comb it through its fur, it should discourage fleas for 3 to 4 days.

Yard Work

You can plant tansy, an herb, outdoors where your dog most often lays down. This will repel fleas. Cedar will also repel them but needs to be replenished often as it looses effectiveness quickly. The best way to get rid of fleas outdoors is to use nematodes. These microscopic parasites kill flea larvae yet are harmless to pets, plants and people. Feed stores usually sell them and will tell you how to use them. Ants and spiders eat flea larvae so whenever possible leave them alone to help control fleas.

One more set of recommendations for flea control starting outdoors. Seal up vents so flea infested rodents don’t contribute to the pest problem. Keep lawns and and weeds trimmed so not to have flea larva’s ideal living conditions near the house, get rid of piles of sand and gravel and keep pets fenced to keep pets away from infested animals.

Another Recipe

Some swear by using 1 cup of aloe vera juice with 1 drop of any essential oil to kill fleas. Others suggest adding cayenne pepper to the juice to kill them. Ground rosemary leaves can be used to repel fleas or use 2 cups of fresh rosemary boiled in water 30 minutes to make a flea dip. Strain the liquid and add it to a bucket with 1 gallon warm water. Soak your dog with this mix and it has the added benefit of being anti-inflammatory, so it stimulates regrowth of fur lost from all that scratching and flea bites.

Not Just For Captain Picard!

Some of our more elite pet owners have put a new twist on tea time by opening up a few bags of Earl Grey and scattering the leaves on their carpet. They vacuum in a few days and claim the fleas are gone. Always toss leaves with your pinky held out with an aristocratic flair, for best results.

Lots of ideas to choose from. Hopefully, by implementing at least some of these options, you and your pets will enjoy a flea-free-fall.

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This case of mistaken identity occurred over 6 years ago, but I thought it was interesting and that it also contained valuable lessons to be learned by all. See if you agree.

Bananas seem innocent enough but its what makes the long trip from Brazil with the bananas, that can ruin your day. The Brazilian Wandering Spider is one of the world’s deadliest spiders, and a British chef was almost killed by one. To make matters worse the spider was later inadvertently freed.

How it All Began

As mentioned earlier, this spider, deadlier than a Black Widow, famed for its speed and aggression, found itself on a ship leaving Brazil and headed for the far less tropic England. It ended up in the kitchen of chef Matthew Stevens’ pub in Bridgwater, Somerset. The spider, despite his name, Brazilian Wandering Spider, did not enjoy the cruise and arrived in a nasty mood. Upon arriving at the quaint English pub, it bit the chef twice on the hand, apparently not adhering to the old adage of  ‘not biting the hand that feeds you’. Maybe it was the English cuisine that often brings criticism from tourists.

How Much Can You Take?

There the spider laid, looking very dead, when our wounded chef decided to use his cellphone to take a picture of his assailant. Unaware that when the spider had fallen into the freezer, was just stunned by the cold and wasn’t really dead after all. Michael then decides to pour boiling water on the stricken spider, thinking this would make certain its demise. He then put the frozen, boiled spider in a jar. Still not satisfied, he put the spider in the microwave and cooked it. All these efforts taken to ‘insure’ the death of this spider should be noted and remembered at the conclusion of this article.

Both Chef and Spider Hospitalized

Finally, Chef Stevens is brought to the hospital, dizzy and shaking and having a very swollen hand. The spider accompanied him to the hospital (it was the least he could do) and by now it was doing fine, suffering no notable ill-effects from being frozen, boiled and microwaved. The spider’s only complaint was the restriction of his ‘wandering’ by the glass jar prison he found himself in.

The mobile phone photograph of the spider was sent to Bristol Zoo where experts identified the spider. Doctors treated Mr Stevens with oxygen and a saline drip and sent him home the next day.

Poor Little Spider?

If you worked in a hospital and saw a jar with a spider in it struggling to get out, what would you do? Would you assume someone was just being mean to the poor little spider and it would be oh, so much happier out in the hospital garden? How many people bring spiders to a hospital in a jar, just on a whim? Few hospitals have a ‘Bring your pet to work day’. At any rate this self-professed ‘Good Samaritan’ set the spider, charged with attempted murder, free thinking, ‘what a lovely garden for the poor upset spider’. Here’s the first lesson, ask before releasing deadly spiders into hospital gardens.

What Were They Thinking?

As inconceivable it is to me that someone who worked in a hospital might not reason there may be a good reason for incarcerating a spider, the statement made by Hospital Officials about the danger posed by releasing of the spider is even more unfathomable. They said the freed spider was unlikely to put anyone at risk because ” it would have died very soon after being released” because of the cold. Second lesson, if your opponent has been put in a freezer until it lies motionless, boiled with hot water and then microwaved and still is alive and well, don’t count on the damp, cold winter of England to eliminate it as a threat once and for all. Is it just me or does that only make sense?

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• This ain’t no eensy weensy spider (oldstersview.wordpress.com)

Florida woods roaches, also known as palmetto bugs, are among the larger species of cockroaches, and typically reach lengths of between 3/2 and 2 inches. They range in color from dark reddish-brown to black, and have wide, glossy bodies. While at first glance they may appear to lack wings, closer inspection reveals tiny wings located just behind the head. They are not flight-capable however, and are in fact more slow-moving than most other roach species.

These roaches have an unusual defense mechanism; when frightened, Florida woods roaches emit a foul smelling, oily substance from glands beneath their abdomens. In fact, when captured and confined within small containers, these bugs have been known to die from their own secretions.

As their name suggests, Florida woods roaches are commonly found in Florida, as well as in the West Indies. They thrive warm, moist areas, and make their homes in mulch, leaf litter, wood piles, under lumber,  and in tree holes. They cannot live in cold climates.

Damage Signs

Florida woods roaches rarely make their way into homes, preferring instead to remain in tropical outdoor surroundings. However, these roaches have occasionally been known to crawl into homes, usually making their way to bathrooms or other damp areas. Homeowners who think that their homes may be infested by Florida woods roaches should examine bathrooms and other such moist areas for the presence of roaches. When the roaches do enter homes, they usually do so through firewood

Control

To discourage Florida woods roaches from creating nests, homeowners should scatter much and leaf piles in their yards. However, these roaches rarely become serious pests, as they prefer to stay outdoors. Homeowners who do have serious Florida woods roach infestations may consider calling in professional pest removal companies to deal with the problem.

Image by CBP Photography via Flickr

The Khapra beetle has been nominated as one of the top 100 worse invasive species in the world. In 1953, it was discovered in California, this lead to an eradication program that cost the government $15 million and lasted 13 years. The beetle can live without food for extended periods of time and survive on low moisture containing foods. It crawls into small cracks and stays there and is very resistant to insecticides. All the aforementioned characteristics of this beetle make it difficult to get rid of. The best control is to keep it from being introduced to pest-free environments. At this time, there are no infestations in the U.S.

Origin and Environmental Needs

The Khapra beetle originates in Burma to west Africa. It is difficult to be sure what countries have the beetle, because if they admit to having them the country may have trade restrictions imposed upon it. Commerce has spread this beetle to countries with like climatic conditions. It is estimated that 67% of the US would have the correct conditions for the Khapra beetle.

The Khapra beetle develops best in environments of 35 degrees Celsius. If the temperature drops or their larvae become overcrowded, they go into diapause. They can survive to minus 8 degrees Celsius in this condition of diapause, where the larvae molt but are otherwise inactive, and stay viable many years this way. They can survive low humidity as low as 2%, but high relative humidity is not well tolerated by them. Their adaptability is further aided by the large variety of stored, dry foods the larvae will eat. They also reproduce so rapidly that large numbers of them can be found on the surface of stored grain bins.

Eradication Methods

The Khapra beetle, in both the adult and larvae stage, are identified best microscopically. The USDA-APHIS inspect warehouses and cargo ships containing shipments from beetle-infested areas. Just before dusk, when the larvae are most active, they check cracks, crevices, behind paneled walls, etc. High concentrations of fumigants, kept high for the whole process, is necessary to penetrate all the beetles hiding places. Surface sprays have to be used, as well. Keeping the area clean and inspection of incoming cargo is needed to avoid infestations.

Newsworthy

All this information helps us to see why the Khapra beetle has been in the news so much lately. When an inspection of some rice from India at an Indianapolis Federal Express center, turned up the feared pest, officials jumped into action. U.S. Customs and Border agents found the beetle in a bag of barley seeds from India. If the Khapra beetle is eaten, it will cause diarrhea and vomiting.  These agents call this beetle “one of the world’s most tenacious and destructive stored-produce pests because of its ability to damage grain.”

“If a Khapra Beetle is hiding in a huge container full of grain coming from an infested overseas warehouse or within a small personal parcel, we’ll find it,” said Carl Ambroson, Acting CBP Director of Field Operations in Chicago. “Every day our CBP agriculture specialists sweep container floors, probe shipments and examine samples using every microscopic tool available. We guard against agro terrorism and bioterrorism while safeguarding agricultural resources from destructive pests and diseases.”

US grain Safe – So Far

These beetles have been intercepted 100 times this year. In 2005 and 2006 only 3 to 6 interceptions were made, and an average of 15 per year from 2007 to 2009. Unlike any other species, grain shipments do not require even a live beetle for the whole thing to be rejected. Fortunately, despite all the interceptions, the Khapra beetle has not made it into US grain supplies.

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• Invasive beetle species reappears at Port of New York and New Jersey (nj.com)

Have you ever resorted to unscrupulous means to get your way? Well, more than likely, a man from the Shenzhen Luosha Engineering Development Company, outdid anything you may have tried.

A VERY Convincing Argument

Think for a moment, what if you wanted to tear down an apartment complex, but the residents wouldn’t sign a compensation agreement? How would you convince them, they would be better off living elsewhere ? I think the apartment dwellers in Shenzen, China found the real estate developer’s message very convincing. Granted, they have not proven who delivered this ‘stinging’ message, but you have to ask yourself, who else would go to all the trouble?

Chinese Proverb: Always Wear Steel Toed Slippers

A sleepy resident turns off the lights hoping for a peaceful nights rest. He wakes up to a horrifying feeling that something is crawling on him. He turns on the light to discover it was a scorpion traipsing across his skin. What happens next is what I always expect to happen when I have found a sole bug in my bed. He looks down to find hundreds of scorpions marching across his floor. I can not even imagine what I would do at this point. Putting on flimsy, little slippers to attack this horrible army, probably would not be my first thought. Steel toed boots would be better, but I hardly ever have them beside my bed at night. Maybe it is time for me to start.

Mysterious Man with Bucket

Our brave resident must have kept his wits about him at least long enough to find out that his neighbors had awoken to the same nightmare. The investigating began, and a witness was found that said he saw the above mentioned man walking from his development office with a bucket. It is really too bad he didn’t have to drive the bucket of scorpions to the apartment building. Just needing to slam on the brakes once could have been the perfect justice. Witnesses also said they saw the man dump the bucket in apartment windows just before the nightmare began. I don’t know much, if anything, about Chinese culture, but I think I would have said  你在幹什麼？ or ‘whacha doing?’.

I Precisely Ordered 110 Pounds of Scorpions…

The report states that 110 pounds of scorpions had been dumped into the apartments. I have a problem with this information. I’m pretty sure I would not have been dutifully picking up these frightening intruders, just so I could put them on a scale to weigh them, so the report would be accurate. My inclination is to squish them so thoroughly that you would have to scrape them off the floor losing most of their internal fluids in the process. There again, I see the need for more knowledge of the culture. Not only that, nothing was said to indicate that anyone moved out. Think of how many pounds of scorpions could be hiding?

Next question left unanswered:  Where do you get 110 pounds of scorpions?

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“

Right from the start, I have to admit this article may be slightly prejudiced in favor of Mightier Mouse, just because I think it is very cute. Well, maybe it is not just that, although it helps, it is also because this new hybrid seems to have outsmarted man. The origins of this superior mouse seems to involve a romance of mice with international appeal. Disney best snatch up the movie rights immediately. Instead of City Mouse meeting Country Mouse, it seem German Mouse met up with Algerian Mouse, and it was love at first sight. That often happens when one travels to an intriguing foreign country.

Just Romance or Planned Superior Race

What ‘G’ mouse and ‘A’ mouse probably did not realize, is that their little romantic liaison had international implications, because their union started a race of  resistant rodents to a common ingredient (warfarin) in rat poison. They had produced a hybrid family, on their own, out in nature, that was  able to produce offspring with beneficial attributes. This is no ordinary hybrid because it can reproduce. That’s not all, the union of these two romantics, of different species, just happened to make for the right novel combination of genomes that makes their young, for at least now, superior to either of their parent’s species. Superior, unless of course, their mom and dad knew what they were doing. Far-fetched, you say, that’s because you have not read what happens when human cells have been injected into animals. I digress, that is a whole other post to come, with that seed planted in your brain, lets get back to Mightier Mouse.

Image via Wikipedia

Mouse After My Own Heart

Seduction is a creative process. I, again, have to admire the intelligence of this traveling Algerian Mouse. If you wanted to ‘wow’ a perspective mate, what better place to do it than in a Bakery! How do we know that’s what this clever tourist did? It was a phone call from a German Baker, to his local pest control company, pleading with help with the infestation of mice in his bakery’s basement, that started the investigation. The company responded by treating the basement with bromadiolone, a very strong version of warfarin, the Mighty Mice just scoffed at the unsuccessful attempt to kill them. Much like when Westley, in The Princess Bride, drank the poison tainted drink and had no ill-effects, because as Westley said:  ‘They were both poisoned. I spent the last few years building up an immunity to iocane powder.’  Big difference being- Westley is make-believe, Mightier Mouse is for real.

Country Mouse and City Mouse

Some of the bakery mice were sent to a lab for genetic analysis. The researchers found that this German’s mice’s DNA had a large portion of it identical to a desert Algerian mouse. This Algerian mouse had already had its genes adapt, or mutate, so they were immune to iocane-I mean warfarin… sorry. The researchers think the Algerian mice mutated because of a vitamin K-deficient diet. Warfarin affects blood clotting as does vitamin K, so the same gene that makes them resistant to warfarin also controls vitamin K in the body.

Scientist say that it is the widespread, and sometimes unprofessional, use of poison that have contributed to the spread of resistant rodents. The novelty of this reported hybridization is that it turned up a beneficial change, where as mutations are usually detrimental to the organism.

Pride Before The Crash

Mightier Mouse, may indeed, be in for a crash. The mutation that makes them superior, mighty, toxin resistant Super Mice, causes humans to suffer from arterial calcification and osteoporosis. Will Mightier Mouse pay for his, possibly momentary, notoriety by succumbing to these crippling health woes? Time will tell, but for now they can revel in their obvious genetic superiority. I picture Westley Hybrid Mouse, challenging Vizzini European House Mouse:

Mouse in black (Westley Hybrid Mouse in disguise):Really! In that case, I challenge you to a battle of wits.
Vizzini (European House Mouse): For the princess? To the death? I accept!
Mouse in black: Good, then pour the wine. [Vizzini pours the wine] Inhale this
but do not touch.
Vizzini: [taking a vial from the mouse in black] I smell nothing.
Mouse in black: What you do not smell is Iocane powder(Warfarin). It is odorless,
tasteless, and dissolves instantly in liquid and is among the more
deadly poisons known to man or mouse.
Vizzini: [shrugs with laughter] Hmmm.
Mouse in black: [turning his back, and adding the poison to one of the goblets]
Alright, where is the poison? The battle of wits has begun. It ends
when you decide and we both drink – and find out who is right, and who is dead.

Biology professor at the University of Indiana, Bloomington, Loren Rieseberg supports these new findings. He says the study  “furnishes exceptionally strong evidence” of hybridization among the mice. He concurs  “that human-mediated changes in selection pressures and dispersal patterns may frequently create conditions where introgression (hybridization) is adaptive.”

“The human factor in this study is quite clear,”  Michael H. Kohn, Department of Organismic Biology, Ecology, and Evolution (OBEE), University of California at Los Angeles concluded. “One of the gravest concerns to conservation of biodiversity is the inadvertent spread of invasive species across the globe. In this study, this test came in the form of our desire to extirpate so-called pest species with poisons, which we use to get rid of microbes, bugs, weeds and even some mammals.”

My conclusion is that, Mightier Mouse best live it up, sign the movie rights, and capitalize on his genetic success while he can. Any day now he just might be playing in a theater near you-either on the screen or scurrying under the seats!

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Like most weevils, grain weevils begin their lives inside foodstuffs. Females drill miniscule holes in grain kernels, and then deposit one egg into each kernel, after which they seal the grain using a gelatinous substance they secrete. After they hatch, young weevils eat and live in their kernels, emerging only after they have reached adulthood. As a result, the legless, white larvae are rarely seen. Grain weevils are commonly found in rye, barley, wheat, oats, rice, and corn, and less commonly in macaroni and cereals. They are fairly prolific, and a single female may lay as many as 200-300 eggs in her short lifetime of only 3-6 months.

Grain weevils are present throughout the world, and are commonly considered pests.

Damage Signs

Foods that have been contaminated will not only contain the weevils themselves, but also may be covered in white, dusty excreta from the weevils. Additional signs of weevil presence include exit holes in grains, as well as holes that the weevils have chewed in boxes and bags containing foods. Grain weevils are hearty eaters, and if not checked will destroy foods and harm crops.

Control

Grain weevils are capable of chewing through both cardboard and plastic bags, so homeowners looking to prevent weevil infestations should carefully seal up their foods in glass, metal, or thick plastic containers, or consider storing food in the refrigerator. Newly purchased groceries should be inspected for signs of weevil presence. Freezing grains for a week may can also kill any weevil eggs already infesting foods. Cleaning storage areas regularly can also discourage weevil invasion.

Homeowners who discover grain weevils in their houses should immediately dispose of all infested foods, completely vacuum shelves and cupboards, and then wipe down the shelves and cupboards with white vinegar. Vacuum bags should be stored as far as possible from the house. Homeowners should be aware that this process may have to be repeated more than once.

Grain weevils are also susceptible to a number of pesticides currently on the market. Homeowners who are experiencing severe or repeated infestations may wish to call in licensed professionals to exterminate the insects.

 

In this blog, we usually discuss insects and mammals we consider to be pests. Granted, having rats in your basement could be as horrifying as having bats in your belfry, but the thought of culturing their little brain cells could make you rethink their usefulness. Then consider lab rats and pet rats and land mine detector rats etc, now maybe you can begin to appreciate the rat and classify it as something more than just a common ( and somewhat disgusting–why can’t they at least grow fur on their tails) pest. How about callings rats ‘purposeful pests’?

Kevin Warwick’s ‘Brainchild’

The image above is actually a picture of a simple wheeled robot being controlled by cultured rat brain cells (please watch the video). This is the ‘brainchild’ (pardon the pun) of Kevin Warwick, a researcher of cybernetics at the University of Reading. He and his team culture the rats brain cells and then utilizes them as the guidance control circuit for robots. When you watch the video you have to keep reminding yourself that it is electrical impulses,  from the robot,  that goes into the batch of neurons,  from the rat’s brain,  that invoke responses,  from the cells,  that turn into commands that direct the robot. In other words, this ain’t no ordinary remote controlled device from Radio Shack. What else makes it extraordinary is these rat brain cells can make new connections,  meaning they are actually learning!

Simple But Learning

The rat brain cells do not make for a robot that can perform complex surgery or anything like that. So far, it helps the machine to avoid bumping into walls. If you are anything like me, even that skill can be appreciated. The coolest part of what this cell control circuit does is that it improves in its wall avoidance skills by learning. Now that is amazing.

Complex Cyborgs

Mr Warwick is sure that these cyborgs are going to become steadily more and more complex,  and he is not talking about the distant future. He says it will be soon. Currently the cultures of neurons contain about 100,000 cells, but only a small number of them are involved in guiding the robot at any given time. Researchers are developing new ways to grow these cultures larger,  make them more responsive, and live longer. Their goal is to develop a cultured system approximately the size of the most simple mammal brain. When they get to that point, the neurons will be able to make the robot perform more complicated tasks.

Nothing Artificial,  All Natural Intelligence

Computer scientists have long been pursuing artificial intelligence. It could be that Kevin Warwick’s use of actual biological brain cells may be the quicker way to reach this end. Warwick and his team are not the only ones working on this type of project, and all those other researchers are also working hard to see how far they can push these systems to perceive and learn. If they are employing actual, biological brain cells, can this really be called artificial intelligence?

Why Not Build a Better Mouse Trap?

In this blog, I have attempted to reclassify rats from undesirable pests, to remarkable suppliers of intelligence. Anyone who has tried to outwit one of these crafty rodents will agree they do have impressive working brain cells. Maybe all I have accomplished is bringing to mind the question:  ‘ With all this incredible knowledge that these researchers possess, why can’t we develop a better mouse trap?’

 

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• Robot Taught to Think for Itself (wired.com)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QPiF4-iu6g

Reports of  people being attacked by foxes are on the rise. These attacks are almost always carried out by rabid foxes. This then means the victim will need to undergo a series of shots to keep the virus from reaching the brain. If it did infect the brain, it would cause  madness that causes extreme thirst and at the same time cause hydrophobia, or fear of water. Then it leads to paralysis and almost certain death. Probably the result of urban sprawl, it is an issue that calls for education. Then you have your nature lovers who delight in befriending wild fox by offering them food and eventually feeding them by hand. On the other side of the coin, there are people paying over $5000 to buy a baby fox (kit) to keep as a pet. They have become popular despite the foxy facts that they smell bad, love to steal and effectively hide your stuff so you will never find it again, and they are the best escape artists ever, so they require large outside enclosures that are ‘total’ enclosures-top, and bottom as well the sides. An interesting fact about fox agility is they can climb across the top of their cage hanging upside down, while crossing the chain link cage.

Fox Facts

They are strikingly beautiful, smart and clever. Despite being more than willing to eat your pet cat, rabbit, or chicken, they do evoke feelings of awe from most. Consider how the fox get rid of their fleas by swimming with their whole body submerged with only their nose above water and a stick held in their mouth. The fleas escape the water by climbing the stick which the fox then drops into the water. The fox climbs out of the water flea free. No need for Frontline or other expensive ‘fleacide’. These guys are clever. We should be impressed.

Not pack animals, the fox lives within a small family group. When their young mature, the vixen (mother) decides which offspring get to stay with the family and which need to leave and start their own family. They communicate using a variety of calls (watch the video for recordings of their sounds). This Spring, my daughter and I went out with a flashlight to try to find the source of this cry we heard coming from the woods. The sound was rather otherworldly, pathetic, wounded and eerie. We never discovered the source and felt a little strange outside in our pj’s, coat and boots. This was not an isolated occurrence, it happened over and over. It always conjured up upsetting imaginings of a poor, suffering animal all alone in its hour of need. Alisa( my daughter) even recorded the sound on her cell phone to ask others if they had any idea what was making the sound. The included video solved the mystery. I recommend listening to it, because if you ever hear this sound in your neighborhood, you will want to know what it is.

Fierce Foxes

Raleigh, NC was the scene of two recent fox attacks. One victim;  a 90 year old woman walking her dog, the other a 48 year old woman who was bitten. In one case, the fox was captured and tested positive for rabies. The police and Animal Control advised the local residents to:

• Keep pets current on their rabies vaccinations.
• Use a trash can with a tight-fitting lid to dispose of garbage.
• Do not feed your pet outside.
• Do not leave pets outdoors alone.
• Report animal bites and any animals acting unusually right away.
• Call your veterinarian if your pet comes in contact with wildlife.

Pet Door Pest

In Vauxhall, England, many residents have complained about foxes being out in their gardens. But when a man got bitten in the face as he slept, it made the news. One enterprising fox used the family’s cat door to enter the house, it then ran upstairs to the man’s bedroom and attacked. A family also reported they felt unsafe in their own yard and could not leave their door open anymore.

Though, some of the residents are very upset and want the authorities to do something, not all feel disposing of the increasingly confident animals is humane, considering animal rights more important than human. The fox needs to be classified as a ‘pest’ to be controlled. In Lambeth, England the council says decreasing fox populations is “expensive, difficult to carry out and rarely successful”. For now, all residents can do is contact the council’s Animal Welfare Officer for advice.

He said: “The most humane and long-term solution to discourage your garden is to remove or prevent access to what attracts them to the area, and that includes only putting out rubbish on the day of collection, not leaving out food, cleaning away fallen fruit trees, and clearing overgrown areas of the garden where foxes can shelter. There are also a number of repellents people can use.”

A Brave Samaritan

In Homer City, Indiana County, a cycling woman saw a fox lying on the bike trail, and she thought it was injured. She got off her bike to check it out, and the fox growled, chased her and bit her arm and held on. She pried it off, held it by the throat, until a Pennsylvania Game Commission officer arrived, 30 minutes later and shot the fox.

About 400 South Carolina residents undergo rabies preventative treatments every year. An example of this is the man in Cherokee County who had a fox bite him on his foot while he sat on his porch. The fox jumped out of the bushes, and he kicked it into the yard, and the fox kept charging him until he was able to kill it. The animal was confirmed to have rabies. People should avoid wild animals acting as tame and tame animals acting as wild. In 2010, there were 106 confirmed cases of rabies in animals here.  There have been 56 confirmed cases in animals, in the state, so far in 2011.

In conclusion, it seems to me that rabid foxes are definitely petrifying; pet foxes are cool but too much work and probably not as happy as their wild cousins; and wild, healthy foxes are industrious, clever and fascinating, as well as very vocal. So how can you classify all foxes as pests? I don’t think you can. People need to take precautions and realize we need to have respect for our wild neighbors.

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Mole crickets have elongated, beady eyes, fore and hind wings, and antennae, and their brown, tan, or whitish bodies are between 1 and 2 inches in length. These insects are capable burrowers, and use their shovel-shaped forelegs to dig extensive tunnels in the earth. They are also adept swimmers and fliers, and males may travel distances of up to five miles during mating season.

As omnivores, mole crickets will consume a wide variety of foods, including beets, strawberries, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, kale, tobacco, sugar cane, tomatoes, turnips, potatoes, spinach, larvae, worms, roots, grasses, carrots, and other vegetables. They spend most of their time in their long and technically impressive tunnel systems, commonly dug in golf courses, fields, and lawns. These tunnels are horn-shaped, and make excellent use of acoustics, amplifying the chirps of the mole crickets in much the same way that a megaphone might. These chirps are most likely to be heard at night, since mole crickets are nocturnal.

Mole crickets can be found on all continents except Antarctica.

Damage Signs

Mole crickets are commonly considered pests due to the damage they incur on crops, plants, and lawns. Above ground, they feed upon seedlings and foliage, often severing younger plants and pulling them into tunnels to be consumed. Under the ground, they eat roots and tubers. Lawns invaded by mole crickets have clearly visible brown, spongy patches throughout. Homeowners looking for signs of mole cricket invasions should look for these spots, as well as for damaged plants, and for the insects themselves. Adult mole crickets may at times seen on driveways, sidewalks, and porches, and near pools.

Additionally, homeowners who find suspected patches of mole cricket activity may douse the areas with soapy water, and watch for the insects to emerge from their tunnels. The emergence of between two and four mole crickets generally indicates a need for corrective action.

Control

Young mole crickets are susceptible to a number of pesticides currently on the market, including Talstar and Asephate. Adult mole crickets are more hardy, however, so homeowners should focus on removing young nymphs before they have time to mature. As always, homeowners should exercise caution when using pesticides, and many may prefer to call in licensed professionals to handle the problem.

Ophiocordyceps verses Cyclops

The ant’s enemy’s name sounds, like something out of Greek or Roman mythology, Ophiocordyceps. That makes me think of Cyclops, who became deputy leader of the X-Men. Scott (Cyclop’s real name) suffered a head injury, thus forever preventing him from controlling his mutant power by himself. While living in an orphanage, he was secretly controlled by his  enemy, the evil geneticist Mister Sinister. This is probably where the similarity between the Thai rain forest villain and the Marvel Universe Super Hero ends. So on to the real monster inhabiting our own universe.

Synchronized Staggering to The Zombie Graveyard

A mind-controlling fungus may not sound as impressive, but this super power villain is for real. This parasitic fungus gains control of its victim (the ant) by filling its head with fungal cells. This sinister Mr Ophiocordyceps forces his subject to stagger over the forest’s low leaves until it comes to the perfect spot to suit him. The fungus has control, so it causes the ant to clamp its jaws to the main vein on the underside of a leaf. This is to become the site for the ant zombie graveyard.

Researchers watched 16 zombie ants bite their last leaf and amazingly they all did so about noontime. “Synchronized arrival of zombie ants at the graveyards is a remarkable phenomenon. It adds a layer of complexity on what is already an impressive feat,” wrote David Hughes, a Pennsylvania State University researcher.  “However, although ants bite at noon, they don’t in fact die until sunset. Likely, this strategy ensures (the fungus) has a long cool night ahead of it during which time it can literally burst out of the ant’s head to begin the growth of the spore-releasing stalk.”

The mind-controlled ants behave in a manner totally out of step from normal. Researchers conclude that their behavior is such for the sole purpose of the fungus to get itself to the perfect spot to release its spores.   As a result, the dead ants wound up on leaves on the north-northwestern side of plants about 9.8 inches above the ground. The ants normally live in the canopies of trees, but they sometimes come down to the ground, where they are invaded by the fungus. Well ants travel on trails. The infected ants appear to be inebriated as they stumble, fall and sometimes convulse before they bite the dust or more accurately, the leaf.

A Look at Mind-Control from The Inside Out

Dissecting 42 infected ants, Hughes and his co-researchers, found that while holding on to the leaf, the ant’s head was filled with fungal cells. The ant’s jaw muscles were atrophied. “In the context of biting, it allows the mandibles, we feel, to work in one direction and one direction only,”states Hughes. “Normally, they open and close, but in this case, they can only close.” This keeps the ant from losing its grip while it is dying. Hughes also thinks the fungus sucks all of the calcium out of the muscles, causing a condition similar to rigor mortise.

Fungi has also been seen to control arthropods, including crickets, bees, wasps and perhaps even spiders. “We are quite confident we could see this and similar phenomenon across a broad range of organisms, because it is such a neat evolutionary trick if you are fungus to use the muscles of an animal to transport you to another environment,” wrote Hughes.  Fungi, otherwise rely on the wind or other less predictable means to disperse their spores.

It would appear that the helpless ant could use a super hero about now. It certainly would be a great job for Spiderman, before he too finds himself victim of Mr Sinister Ophiocordyceps.

Risky Experimenting

His account of an experiment, he and the crew conducted with this bug, begins this way:  “When placed on a table, though surrounded by people, if a finger was presented, the bold insect would immediately protrude its sucker, make a charge, and if allowed, draw blood…This one feast, for which the benchuca was indebted to one of the officers, kept it fat during four whole months:  but, after the first fortnight, it was quite ready to have another suck.”

What Darwin did not know was, this was an assassin bug, so named because it can transmit an often fatal illness, called Chagas disease. It lives near its hosts and often sucks blood from small rodents and bats. Most are found in North and South America. In Latin America, many unwittingly introduce this bug to their home by covering their roofs with palm fronds. The assassin bug’s eggs are on the fronds, when they hatch, the bug falls into the house.

Bug Blood-letting

Going through five nymph stages on their way to adulthood, they drink nine times their weight in blood at each feeding. The more blood an adult female consumes, the more eggs she lays, from one to six hundred in her six month lifespan.

This bug’s bite usually does not hurt. It may feed up to half an hour per bite. A severely infested home may have many hundreds of bugs. In such a home, as many as twenty bugs may be feeding on one person at the same time. That unfortunate individual would lose one to three milliliters of blood each night. White and black streaks running down the walls, in such homes, are actually the bug’s waste products, and signal that this house is badly infested.

A Kiss of Death

This bug is also known as the kissing bug because it prefers to dine near the mouth of it’s victim. It was Carlos Chagas, in 1908, while studying malaria, who decided to see if there were any disease causing protozoan in the assassin bug. He found a parasite that the bug ingests while eating, and it multiples in its gut, and is excreted in its feces. It is not the bite that passes on this parasite, but the feces that gets rubbed into the wound by scratching at the bite, that does. What saves those who live in North America from getting Chagas disease as often as South Americans? It is the fact that the species of assassin bug in North America takes longer to defecate after a meal, and thus is no longer near the wound when it deposits its waste.

A person bitten near the eyes will have a lot of swelling. Bites elsewhere result in small wounds, fever and swollen glands. An individual can die in the early stages of the disease, but most go on to a symptom free stage, followed by extensive damage to the heart, intestines and other major organs, and this damage can cause death. If treated early the parasites can be killed, but there is no treatment for the later stages of illness. There are approximately 300,000 people living with Chagas in North America and 8 to 11 million in Latin America.

Charles Darwin had a number of reported health problems, leading some historians to conclude he may have died from Chagas disease. Others say he had many symptoms before going to Argentina, so they argue against this theory. Authorities would not let his body to be exhumed to test for Darwin’s actual cause of death.

Indian meal moths, alternatively known as North American high fliers, or pantry moths, are small moths reaching only about 3/8 of an inch in length, with an average wingspan of approximately 5/8 of an inch. Their wings are distinctively colored, with forewings that are reddish-brown or bronze on the outer two-thirds, and whitish gray on the inner third, with a dark stripe dividing the two areas. Their hindwings are gray.

These moths begin life in small, whitish, oval-shaped eggs, and quickly develop into whitish, greenish, or pinkish larvae with dark brown heads. Larvae may reach lengths of up to 2/3 of an inch. They seek out and grow in food, and typically infest grains, cereals, dried herbs, pasta, rice, dried fruits, nuts, chocolate, coffee, flour, cookies, and pet food. Indian meal moth larvae are capable of making their way into plastic and cardboard containers, and even occasionally into sealed Tupperware. Once inside food containers, larvae create silken webbing as they crawl, and infested foods will often appear webbed together. After they reach adulthood, the moths no longer eat. They mate, and then live on for slightly less than a week.

Indian meal moths are nocturnal, and, like most moths, are attracted to light. Therefore, they can often be seen fluttering about near lights, with their characteristic zig-zag pattern of flight. Because the lights the moths hover around are often not located near their nests, it is often difficult for homeowners to locate the sources of Indian meal moth infestations.

Indian meal moths can be found throughout the world, and are particularly common in Florida, U.S.A.

Damage Signs

The most common sign of Indian meal moth infestation is the sight of adult moths fluttering around indoor lights. Additionally, while Indian meal moth eggs are very tiny, and may not be immediately spotted in foods, the webbing created by larvae is often visible in infested foods. Larvae generally destroy more food through webbing, droppings, and their general presence than they eat. While the moths are not disease carriers, and eating infested foods is not dangerous, it is undoubtedly unpleasant. Homeowners who suspect that they have an Indian meal moth infestation should therefore examine their cupboards and food containers for signs of larvae webbing, larvae, and moths.

Control

Homeowners who discover Indian meal moth infestations in their homes should take steps to find and discard all foods containing the pests, and then vacuum and clean the appropriate cupboards. The next step is to try to locate the source of the infestation. This may be challenging, as both adult moths and larvae may be spotted in the house far from their central nesting locations. All food should be placed in securely sealed containers, or, better yet, in the refrigerator. Once the source of the infestation has been spotted and removed, the presence of the pests should be significantly reduced.

While pesticides rarely have significant impact upon Indian meal moth populations, pheromone traps are often effective in controlling the moth populations.  Homeowners with large numbers of Indian meal moths in their homes may wish to call in licensed professionals to care for the matter.

Written by Oiwan Lam
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This Australian Native is over 6 inches long and has a frightening amount of sharp spikes all over its body, which is a stylish neon green but it can also be shades of brown. The spines are an impressive half inch in length and stand erect for the greatest impact. There are thousands of different types of stick insects.

Masquerading Masters

They are masters of disguise;  most species look like sticks, but others can look like leaves and some even appear like other insects. These insects have very wide and very flat bodies that from a distance makes them look like a leaf.

The head of the Jungle nymph stick (Heteropteryx dilatata)  has twelve spines in rows of three, and two of the rows are on the very top of the head. The antennae are not incredibly long, and the thorax is lumpy and also has depressions and rows of spines. Their wings are pink, though the female does not have real wings, just buds. The veins of the wings add to the illusion that they are leaves. They have sturdy, spike covered legs. Jungle nymph sticks eat bramble, roses, berries, oak and hawthorn trees.

The Nymph’s Keep Growing

Males mature into adults in about twelve months while female nymph sticks will wait until they are about 16 or 18 months old before they are ready to mate. When they do mate they lay their 1/4 inch, brownish green eggs on trees. These eggs may take up to a year to hatch, and sometimes as long as 15 months before they emerge as a nymph, or the second stage of their lives. Then it may take up to a year to reach the insect stage, shedding their skeleton five or six times. Once adulthood is reached, they no longer molt or grow. They have done a lot of growing before reaching maturity, because the jungle nymph stick is one of the heaviest insects in the world.

Playing Possum Pets and Tea

The male jungle nymph is the only insect that will play possum when it feels threatened. It will actually fall over and drop to the ground, feigning death. They can also defend themselves by pinching their enemy, by snapping the two long sections of their rear legs together to deliver a powerful, barbed pinch.

Many consider the jungle nymph stick as a good pet. It does need to be kept in a warm, humid environment. In Malaysia they are often kept by people who feed them guava leaves and use the droppings to make tea.

Rice Weevil by Olaf Leillinger

Rice weevils are small insects, reaching only 1/10 to 1/8 of an inch in length, and approximately 1/3 of this length is composed of a long, thin snout.  They are typically reddish brown or black, and have four orange or yellowish spots arranged in a cross on their backs. As they are adept fliers, once they have entered a dwelling they are able to disperse easily. They are particularly attracted to lights.

Rice weevils are not picky eaters, and can be found living in and eating eating not only rice, but also wheat, corn, oats, rye, birdseed, beans, barley, sunflower seeds, cashew nuts, cereals, fruits, and even clothing. Larvae, legless, white, and round, develop and hatch within seed kernels or similar substances such as macaroni, and then eat their way out. Larvae reach maturity within approximately one month, and once grown, females may lay as many as four eggs per day over a period of three to six months.  As a result, weevil populations tend to grow rapidly.

Rice weevils are thought to have originated in India, although they have since spread throughout the world, and are now particularly a problem in the southern United States.

Damage Signs

While rice weevils are not dangerous to humans, they are viewed as pests due to their presence in household foods and their ability to harm grain crops. Due to the speed with which they propagate, rice weevils increase their populations quickly. Therefore, individuals who spot rice weevils in their homes should take speedy action to remove the insects. The most common sign of infestation is the presence of the insects themselves in stored foods.

Control

Homeowners who find rice weevils in their homes should inspect all other stored foods for signs of infestation, and immediately discard all food suspected of containing weevils. Additional weevils may escape the inspection, so it is wise to vacuum infected cabinets, and place all food stuffs in securely sealed containers. Additional treatment with sprays or traps may also be necessary, and homeowners with severe infestations may wish to call in licensed professionals to handle the matter.

We have been hearing reports of flooding in one place after another. The heartache of lost lives, homes, and livelihoods, have added more sorrow to the already distressing news. Sindh, Pakistan saw floods in 2010 that at their height, covered  a fifth of the country and left 20 million people seeking refuge. It seems that there was an upside to this disaster.

Eerie Phenomenon

The elders in Pakistan’s Sindh province say they had never seen anything like it. Entire trees fully draped with spider webs, as if some heavenly artist were protecting them from splashes of paint from their artistic endeavors. In an attempt, to escape rising waters, spiders headed for the trees and then totally covered them with their silken gauze. It is beautiful to behold, but esthetics were not the only benefit.

The hungry spiders are definitely a blessing. They have significantly cut down on the number of mosquitoes. This is so welcomed because Malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases were breeding and reproducing in the stagnant waters after the floods receded. Thanks to the great number of web encased trees in Sindh, they have reported fewer cases of malaria.

Virginians Suffer “Tiger Bites”

Sindh residents may be getting some much needed relief from their mosquitoes, but that’s not the case in Virginia. The people are complaining to the local officials, who are, in response, targeting the wrong mosquito. They focus on nearby ponds, puddles, water filled ditches, swamps or marshes, to attack this problem. The trouble is they are fighting the wrong enemy. The Asian tiger mosquito is the villain in this case, and he is not that hard to find, as long as you do not look the same places  the state officials were looking. The hideout and breeding grounds, of this species, are much closer to home.

Identify The Enemy

To conquer your enemy you need to collect information about them so you know where and how to attack. The Asian mosquito is a container breeder. They breed in plastic cups, buckets, trash can lids or trash cans, ceramic or plastic plant trays, ornamental plastic lined ponds, old tires, boats, bird baths, wading pools, rain barrels, plastic toys, glass bottles or jars, clogged roof gutters, corrugated black plastic downspout extension pipes, tree holes etc. They will NOT breed in any water with a dirt bottom. So that leaves out everywhere the state officials were killing mosquitoes.

Shady neighborhoods are their favorite. The water does not evaporate as fast in the shade. A gallon of water in the shade can last for months even without rain, and that is plenty of time for the Asian mosquito larvae to grow into a biting adult. The larvae can mature in as little as a tablespoon of water.

Timid Opportunists

Asian tiger mosquitoes are not lovers of the nightlife or bright sunlight. They have finished their day after dusk. They just stay in a bush until some warm blooded, potential victim happens by. This bug is cautious, so they bite the ankles, and behind the knees, but they are persistent until get their meal.

Asian tiger mosquitoes are a potential health risk. West Nile virus, La Crosse encephalitis and Eastern equine encephalitis are some of the diseases they spread in Virginia. If dengue or chikungunia get imported to the states, they could be spread by these mosquitoes.

New Mode of Attack Needed

A mosquito sitting in a bush will not be killed by truck mounted foggers. That only works for mosquitoes when they are flying. These guys are not too fond of flying. To attack this enemy you may need to call in the professionals, who will spray with a powerful, back mounted fogger, that will penetrate deep into the bushes and kill the insects.

A better, greener way to approach the problem, educate your neighbors. Get people involved in finding containers with water and dumping them and treating them. This could at first be combined with the bushes being sprayed, until the population is under control. This will work if all the neighbors get involved.

APA: Asian Tiger Mosquitoes Cause the Most Mosquito Bites in Virginia. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.vdh.state.va.us/news/Alerts/MosquitoAwarenessWeek/index.htm

Sparrow Wasps

These hornets are about 5 centimeters long and,  seeing them in the sky, you might mistake them for a bird. That is why the Japanese call them sparrow wasps. Imagine walking down the street on a hot day and seeing these monsters buzzing around trash cans looking for fish to feed their young. A trip to a city in Japan,  in the summer, could make this a reality. Being willing to travel to cities, in search of food, has increased the amount of hornet contact with humans and thus the increase of fatalities from stings to 40 per year.

Hornet Horror

Unfortunately this hornet is not only on human’s most dreaded list, but also on the list of the poor honeybee. A single hornet will spy out a bee hive and kill a few bees and then bring them back to their hive to feed their young. After a few more terrifying attacks,  it smears the bee’s hive with pheromones and is this way marks the colony for attack.

About 30 of these terrorist hornets attack the bee hive. They rip off the bees’ heads and throw their bodies on the ground. Disseminating the entire bee population, they move in the hive, and in about 10 days,  they have robbed all the honey and bee larvae to feed their young.

Bee Defense

What’s a bee colony to do to defend its national interests? Masato Ono and some of his colleagues at Tamagawa University found the bees had developed their own brand of ‘Homeland Security’. When a worker bee sees the initial hornet arrive, he lures it into the hive. Then about 500 bees surround the intruder, flapping their wings to generate a temperature of 116 degrees, which is hot enough to kill the hornet. A masterful security approach, though not without risk to the bees. If it reaches a few degrees warmer they will be killed as well. Some do die but their bodies are quickly moved to keep up ‘ project hornet bake’. It takes about 20 minutes to kill the hornet this way. It is the only known example of killing an insect intruder by body heat alone. Now how did they come up with that defense method? Bees certainly are instinctively wise.

Larvae Milk

The next bit of research done on these hornets certainly seems to open up the possibility for commercial use of these horrible hornets. Japanese researchers marveled at the incredible strength of the Asian Giant Hornet. This lead them to test their stomach juices as a possible performance enhancer for athletes. They found that the hornets fly amazing distances in search of food but they are unable to eat much solid food themselves because their digestive tracts are so small. They bring the dead insects for their young to eat. After the larvae eat the hornet taps on its head and the larvae  in return give the hornet a few drops of clear liquid to lap up. This is what the adults use for fuel. The scientists then harvested (not a job for amateurs) this clear liquid from over 80 nests. They gave this liquid to mice and graduate students (hopefully in that order) and found both groups showed reduced fatigue and greater ability to turn fat into energy. ‘ Yak-killer Amazing Fat Burning Energy Drink ‘-I would try it. Apparently I’m not alone.

Naoko Takahashi could be the ultimate spokesperson for this unique drink. She won an Olympic gold medal in Sydney in 2000 and attributes her success to ‘Yak-killer juice’. Being totally natural,  it didn’t violate any performance enhancing rules. So, yes, the commercial entity jumped on this to make a drink called hornet juice ( not very imaginative) to sell to athletes. Apparently no matter how bad unemployment is worldwide they couldn’t get enough larvae tapping, juice harvesters to apply for the milking of killer hornet babies job. So unfortunately, here in [location] you have to settle for a drink of a mix of amino acids that are supposed to mimic the ‘real thing’. I dare you to offer that to a hungry hornet just back from a long hunting trip.

Formosan termites, sometimes referred to as “super-termites” due their remarkable destructive capabilities and the large size of their colonies, are thought to have come to the United States from Taiwan, formerly known as Formosa, and from Southern China. Like most termites, Formosan termites operate on a caste system consisting of king, queen, workers, soldiers, and reproductives, otherwise known as alates. Worker termites provide food for the colony, while soldiers defend the colony, and reproductives breed the colony. Queens, responsible along with kings for starting the colonies, can live as long as 15 years, and can lay as many as 2,000 eggs per day. Given this high rate of reproduction, it is therefore not surprising that a single colony can include several million termites.

Members of the various castes differ in appearance. Soldiers have armored heads, large mandibles, and are whitish in color. Formosan termite colonies have higher than average ratios of soldiers to other caste termites, so the presence of a large number of soldiers can signal that an infestation is due to Formosan termites in particular.  The other most frequently seen caste members, reproductives, are approximately 1/2 inch long, are yellowish-brown in color, and have four translucent, milky wings. They are often found near light fixtures, windows, and spiders’ webs. Both workers and soldiers may live between 3 and 5 years.

The preferred diet of Formosan termites is similar to the diet of other termite varieties. These termites will eat almost all products containing cellulose, including wood, cardboard and paper. They have also been known to eat through lead and copper sheeting, plaster, asphalt, foam insulation boards, and even some plastics. They prefer warm climates, and are commonly found in southern United States. They are unable to hatch eggs at temperatures greater than 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

Damage Signs

Formosan termites are capable of causing enormous damage to structures. Because their colonies can reach such large sizes, a single colony can consume as much as 13 ounces of wood per day, and can cover an area within a 400 foot radius of the nest. These termites can harm boats, buildings, and trees. Homeowners checking for signs of invasion should tap wood and listen for hollow spots, as Formosan termites will often eat through wooden structures, leaving only a very thin surface layer of wood. Such wood may also appear peeled or blistered. Nests can sometimes be spotted between walls or beneath sinks.

Control

Homeowners living in areas in which Formosan termites are known to live should take precautions against infestation, including building with pressure-treated wood, sealing cracks and other small holes through which termites can enter, using soil treatments, fixing leaky pipes and air conditioners, and removing other sources of moisture.

Once established in an area, a colony of Formosan termites has never yet been completely destroyed. Baiting techniques, however, may sometimes prove effective in controlling a population. Homeowners with Formosan termite infestations should contact licensed exterminators to handle the matter.

Sometimes we need some startling numbers and unpleasant pictures to get our attention.  Termites are a problem we know exists but we usually deny that they could be causing damage under our very own roof. This quiz along with the video that gives you the answers is our wake-up call to all homeowners. We can handle the infestation and protect your house but you need to be aware that a periodic inspection could save you money and your investment. It also can give you peace of mind.

Termite Quiz

1.  How much is termite damage costing this country each minute?

A. $755

B. $3000

C. $10,000

2.  How much is termite damage costing this country each hour?

A. $600,000

B. $600

C. $12,000

3.  How much is termite damage costing this country each day?

A. $2500

B. $350,000

C. $14 Million

4.  How much is termite damage costing this country each year?

A. $250,000

B. $15,000

C. $5 Billion

5.  How many times a day do termites eat?

A. Three

B. Zero

C. They never stop eating

6.  Call to get a forecast for when termites are likely to attack your home.

A. True

B. False

7.  How many homes sustain termite damage each year?

A. 600,000

B. 10,000

C. 1 Million

8.  How many termites could fit on a quarter?

A. Not quite one

B. Many

9.  Which states are at a very heavy risk of termite infestation ?

A. California

B. Florida

C. Louisiana

D. Alabama

E. Mississippi

F. Georgia

G. Eastern Texas

H. South Carolina

I. All the above

Watch this video to see how well you did:

Strength in Numbers

Cicadas larvae have mouth-parts used to suck sap from tree roots. The periodic cicadas develop slowly, spending either 13 or 17 years underground. The now adult cicadas all come out from their subterranean environment within a short period of time, protecting most of them from predators. Cicadas are edible and quite tasty,  according to my dogs, who upon hearing them land within their reach,  race to see who gets to eat this delectable treat. There is nothing quite so restful as floating in a pool under the stars,  listening to a screeching cicada, a mad dash, a growl or two, and then the muffled cry of a cicada in my dog’s mouth, quickly followed by this loud crunch, that sounds much like eating a stalk of celery. Celery has never been known to make noise of it’s own volition, nor be out at night singing for a mate. It may be loud to eat but it’s not nearly as disturbing as interrupting a much deserved social life of a cicada that just came up out of the dirt after 13 years of a bleak, sap-sucking  existence.  This mass emergence of crunchy delights in a short time makes it impossible for predators to eat more than a small percentage of the cicadas. The rest are left to reproduce. According to early European immigrants to North America,  Native Americans would roast and eat cicadas. At least by cooking them they don’t continue to ‘sing’ while in your mouth.

Hunt, Capture, Cook

Sparky’s Homemade Ice Cream in Columbia, Missouri is known for their creative ice cream flavors. So when the cicadas loudly heralded their arrival, Spark’s creative juices began to flow. Employees were sent out at night bearing flashlights and a jar, wondering whether the job description, they had merely scanned, had mentioned  ‘nocturnal insect hunts’. They were pretty sure it didn’t mention removing insect’s wings, boiling the bodies to perfection, coating them with brown sugar and milk chocolate, then mixing in a brown sugar and butter flavored ice cream base, but dutifully they did just that.

Cicada College Craze

Columbia is a college town and this probably had a lot to do with the rapid sellout. Though, one would think it close to cannibalism, it was the University of Missouri’s Tiger Beetles that ate the lion’s share. Only a small batch had been made and it sold out within hours. Many were crushed not to have a chance to partake of this creamy cicada crunch creation.

Some of the employee’s comments on the flavor of cicadas include;  cicadas don’t have much flavor, but they do have a crackly crunch;  I think if someone were to try it and not know what it was, they would just imagine it was a nut.”;  one said it tasted like a peanut. None said it tasted like chicken and that’s a good thing,  considering they were in ice cream.

City of Columbia Ceases Cicada Consumption

The store was going to make another batch for the weekend, but a couple of factors lead to a sign being put on the door telling customers it won’t be back until 2024. The first reason for the wait is that these are 13 year cicadas,  so they wouldn’t emerge again until 2024. The second factor involved the the City of Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services. They couldn’t find the proper cooking temperature guidelines for cicadas, only listings for beef, chicken, fish and pork. Apparently the North American Native Indians failed to record the internal temperature reading of a properly cooked cicada. As a result the BCDOPHAHS put the cabosh on the hopping sales of this edible insect concoction. “The food code doesn’t directly address cicadas,” environmental health manager Gerry Worley said. “We advised against it. “The first batch of the ice cream was so popular store employees didn’t even have a chance to put the product in a display case before eager customers scooped it up the night before its official on-sale date. Customers hoping for a crunchy taste “bombarded” the store the next morning, only to be disappointed, said employee Christian Losciale, who was involved in the making of this cicada taste sensation. Sparky’s owner Scott Southwick was surprised by the jumping sales, imagine that. “We thought we’d make a small batch, and it would last forever,” he said.

Now I feel bad that I didn’t take the cue from my dogs and be the first to create my own Seasonal Screaming Cicada Sensation. Maybe now I will be able not to be phased by the nocturnal cicada hunt going on in my own backyard, feeling proud that my dogs did it first.

Dampwood termites are among the larger species of termites, and their long, narrow, oval bodies can reach up to 1 inch in length. Soldier termites, which protect the colonies, have large, reddish-brown heads, large mandibles with many teeth, and light, caramel covered abdomens. Swarmer termites, or reproductives, are darker, ranging in color from light to medium brown, and have dark brown wings that extend past their abdomens.

As their name implies, dampwood termites make their homes only in moist wood. They create nests for their colonies, each of which can include as many as 4,000 termites, by eating their way through the wood and making galleries connected by smooth-walled tunnels. They prefer softer wood, and will attack wood that is in contact with the soil or near water. Outdoors, dampwood termites are frequently found in dead or fallen trees, or in tree stumps. Indoors, they are often found in buildings in which wood is in contact with the soil, or has become damp due to plumbing leaks, poor ventilation, or drainage problems. They are rarely found in houses.

Dampwood termites are found in most West Coast states, as well as in some parts of the Southwest and Florida.

Damage Signs

Dampwood termites pose relatively little threat as pests; if left unchecked, they may cause damage to wood over time, but because they focus their attention on timber that is moist and already possibly rotting, they do not often damage wood that is valuable to people. However, their mere presence in the area may be disturbing to many, especially if they are living in a structure such as a shed or other outbuilding. Homeowners looking for signs of infestation should be on the alert for the presence of termite fecal pellets, which are approximately 1/32 of an inch in length, and are elongated ovals with six flattened sides. Their color generally matches the color of the wood in the termite nest.

Control

Homeowners looking to prevent dampwood termite infestation should any eliminate moist conditions from the home by repairing leaky pipes, gutters, and roofs. Additionally, they should remove scrap wood, tree stumps, lumber, and similar debris around or under the home, as wood that is in contact with the soil will frequently attract the termites.

Dampwood termites are susceptible to many insecticides currently on the market. Therefore, homeowners who discover that they have large dampwood termite colonies in their homes or sheds may choose to call in licensed professionals to spray the area.

Mosquito Head Under a Microscope

Female mosquitoes are  carriers of deadly diseases such as malaria, dengue and yellow fever, resulting each year in several million deaths and hundreds of millions of cases of illness.

Mosquitoes use the exhaled carbon dioxide of human hosts to locate and then bite and subsequently spread disease.  Scientists have long tried to disrupt the carbon dioxide detection mechanism of mosquitoes as a way to help control the spread of diseases they transmit.

Lifesaving Research

Three Classes of  Odor Molecules

Vital Need For Less Expensive Repellents

How To Fool a Mosquito

‘Blind’ Mosquitoes Miss Target

Smoky brown cockroaches are approximately 5/4 of an inch long, and are dark mahogany brown in color. They are closely related to American cockroaches, but can be easily distinguished by their dark, shiny thoraxes, which differ from the light rimmed thoraxes of American cockroaches. They are adept fliers, and have long wings that extend down to the tips of their bodies.

The preferred diet of smoky brown cockroaches consists of plant matter, although they will eat the same foods that other cockroaches do. Therefore, they are common garden and nursery pests. These roaches are most commonly found in warm, moist, dark areas, such as in mulch and ground cover, crawl spaces, sheds, sub-floors, gutters, roof eaves, sewers, and attics, and near fireplaces and drains.

Smoky brown cockroaches are common in southern states such as Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, as well as in southern California, and countries with tropical climates, such as Japan.

Damage Signs

Like other varieties of cockroaches, smoky brown cockroaches feed upon and often inhabit areas filled with trash and decaying food. As a result, these roaches can transmit diseases, and should be eradicated from the home immediately. Homeowners checking for signs of roach invasion should be on the alert for the presence of the bugs in sheds, crawlspaces, mulch, and other areas that attract roaches, and should look for damage to plants in greenhouses and gardens.

Control

Homeowners looking to prevent invasion by smoky brown cockroaches should ensure that attics and crawlspaces are well ventilated, seal up exterior cracks through which roaches may enter, and place screens on all windows and foundation and attic vents. Additionally, they should store firewood as far away from the home as possible, and remove any piles of debris or wood from the yard.

Smoky brown cockroaches are susceptible to insecticides, and power dusting, especially in attics and crawlspaces, is often very effective in removing the insects from the home. However, because these roaches are particularly active, more than one application is generally required. Homeowners looking to remove large numbers of smoky brown roaches from their homes may wish to call in a licensed exterminator.

The common mole is an insectivore, not a rodent. The mole’s primary food is the earthworm.  The rest of the mole’s diet can be millipedes in mulch, ants, pillbugs and other insects found around home foundations, rocks and landscaping timbers. In some areas of the east and Midwest moles can feed heavily on periodic cicada (17 and 13 year locust) for the better part of the cicada’s life span. Mole populations will decrease significantly after cicada have emerged and may not be a problem for 9 to 10 years after that event.

All moles can be damaging but the Eastern mole is by far the most widespread of the six. It is better described as the common or grey mole. It is the strongest of the group and is most often associated with tunnels and or mole mounds by homeowners. The Eastern can be found from the Atlantic to the foothills of the Rockies and from Southern Canada to the panhandle of Florida. Moles are covered by a soft grey coat which often has patches of orange or white. Moles are about the size of chipmunks and can weigh anywhere from three to six ounces and grow to about six to eight inches in length.

Moles have one litter each year with two to six young, litter size depending on the health of the female. Gestation lasts about five to six weeks, litters arriving anywhere from mid April through May. Moles nurse their babies for several weeks. Young moles then expand off the mother’s tunnel system or move above ground to create or find new tunnels for their own use in late April through mid June. There is a final dispersal that can last through late fall and early winter. Since moles don’t hibernate final dispersal can result in severe lawn damage until the lawn surface freezes in winter. Newborn females will mate the following spring and the cycle continues.

Special Characteristics

• Because of specialized bone and muscle design, moles can exert a lateral digging force equivalent to 32 times its body weight. As a comparison, a 150 lb. man would be able to exert a 4800 lb. lateral force.  For moles to dig one meter of tunnel requires between 400 and 4,000 times as much energy as does walking for the same distance on the surface.
• A 5 ounce mole will consume 45 to 50 lbs. of worms and insects per year.
• A mole’s surface tunneling or probes can be dug at about 18 feet per hour. A moles speed through existing tunnels is about 80 ft. per minute.
• Moles contain twice as much blood and twice as much red hemoglobin as other mammals of similar size, allowing the mole to breath easily in its underground environment of low oxygen and high carbon dioxide.

Home owners have tried remedies such as lye, Drano, pickle juice, broken glass, red pepper, razor blades, bleach, moth balls, rose branches, human hair balls, vibrators, ultrasonic contraptions, castor bean derivatives, gasoline and explosives. These and other home remedies have little if any value in controlling moles.

Moles generally are timid animals, easily alerted or frightened by unfamiliar noises. Methodical or constant noises don’t seem to bother them.  Moles are usually active when and where the surroundings are quietest. They may sit motionless in a tunnel for more than twenty minutes when they have been disturbed or frightened.

Lillian Stokes in Animal Tracking and Behavior 1986 states “Moles are believed to remain solitary as adults and avoid contact with other moles. However, there are at least two exceptions. One occurs in the spring, when the males start to move around and leave their range in search of females. They may move about for several weeks, even after all the females in an area have mated. The other exception is that occasionally some tunnels are used by several moles; these tunnels are, in a sense, like highways. This communal use suggests that the social system of moles is more complex than we think.”

Terry Yates & Richard Pederson said  “Moles are probably the least understood major component of the North American mammalian fauna.”

Reasons Moles Are Now a Nuisance

Construction, drainage changes and possibly chemical runoff have caused loss of the mole’s natural habitat – the woodlands.  Most landscaping depends on chemical means of maintaining lawns and beds. These soils are kept rich with chemical nutrients as well as heavy applications of organic materials such as mulch and top soils. Watering or irrigation is common as well as the use of man-made borders, edgings such as timbers and stones are all great environments for worms and insects. This type of landscaping provides a perfect food source (insects) for moles.  Twice as many mole ‘pups’ survive when born in a residential area compared to out in  the wild so they colonize more rapidly in homeowner’s yards.

Experts Say ‘TRAP!’

Eighty years have passed and knowledgeable advice on moles remains the same. When moles are a problem, TRAP! Permanent or deeper tunnels will be the most productive since these tunnels may be used several times daily by the moles. To identify main runways in a yard or area, look for constantly reopened tunnels which follow more or less a straight course for some distance or that appear to connect two mounds or two feeding areas. Main runways will follow fence rows, walkways, foundations, or other man made borders. Rambling tunnels in the lawn are probes of a sort and are quickly constructed by moles at about 15 to 18 feet per hour. They may or may not be reused.

You can trap moles anytime of the year, but early fall and early spring are the most effective times. Populations are normally lower, and damage is most visible then.  Early fall trapping eliminates moles before they move deeper for the winter and begin to reopen old tunnels and dig making new mounds. Trapping in early spring, before new litters are born, prevents a lot of trouble later. Moles may seem to vanish during extended cold or dry periods, but they’ve just gone deeper. And because they’re using fewer tunnels during these adverse conditions, trapping can be very effective, though difficult.

Pesticide manufacturers have in the past targeted white grub as the moles chief source of food,and suggest chemicals control the grubs and as a result will control the moles. Where 80 to 90% of the moles daily diet is met by the earthworm this will not eliminate the mole problem.

Mole Tunnels

Moles are woodland animals in nature, but can quickly colonize and spread through adjacent residential properties. Since they need a well-established tunnel network to survive, the longer they’re allowed to tunnel, the more habituated they become and difficult to control. Moles will jump home range and readily recolonize other existing or deserted tunnels. Moles may leave an area if disturbed but will usually return. Even without disturbance mole activity may last only a week or two in a particular area.

Most experts describe two tunnel types. Surface- (probe or gathering) or deep (permanent or producing. Some of the producers will eventually work around the root balls of the trees and allow access to the biomass throughout the year, as many insects or larvae live off of the root moisture and sap.  A complete tunnel system will always connect a combination of all of the tunnel types as well as one or two areas that can be  described as wet and dry. The wet will hold water and is used during dry periods. The high feeding areas will drain quickly and provide access to food during the wet periods of spring and fall rains.

Studies suggest that the average home-range for a female Eastern Mole is three quarter to one acre. The male moles average was two and a half to four acres in its woodland habitat. The home-ranges may be smaller in residential areas because of a larger supply of bugs. This means more moles to the acre in and around neighborhoods.  The energy required to construct a permanent tunnel system is great. To protect this investment moles scent mark most of the home-range daily as they travel through the system in search of food. It warns other moles that the system is occupied and may advertise a female’s scent when she is ready to mate.

Moles don’t hibernate because they cannot store food or fat. The moles follow worms deep into the ground as both try to avoid freezing. Most of the mole’s deeper tunnels remain comfortable throughout the winter. Winter damage to lawns by moles usually occurs during unseasonably warm periods or beneath the insulation of heavy snow.

Winter damage to existing or old tunnels can be severe. Most surface tunnels, especially main or bolt runs, are continually deepened until the tunnels lie an inch or so into the clay beneath the top soil. During winter rains, the water cannot drain properly through the clay and any freezing will heave the tunnels up as the water expands during freezing. When rains are followed quickly by a freeze, thick ice crystals heave the soil and lay back the sod around the perimeters of the mole mounds.

Deeper mole tunnels can be used by mice or chipmunks once the moles have been removed. This is common when the moles tunnels are around the foundation or in the mulched areas around houses. Ground hornets or yellow jackets often nest in old mole tunnels.

After considering the life and habits of moles is it any wonder that so many residential homeowners are having to battle them for their perfect lawn?

Social Insects

Ants live in organized communities, called colonies. These colonies may contain hundreds to millions of ants. Each ant has a specific job to do. They all depend on each other to accomplish their tasks or they will not be able to survive.

In every colony, there are three types of ants:  queens, workers, and males. The queens are immense compared to the other ants. Their first function is to lay eggs for the colony. A single colony of red ants may have as many as 5000 queens. These queens can live 20 to 25 years and produce tens of thousands of eggs. They have wings only until they mate.

The males hatch in the spring, they mate in the summer, and then they die. That is their only purpose and thus are the shortest lived in the colony. In contrast, the worker ants are all females and preform multiple tasks. These workers build, repair and protect the nest. They also take care of the queens and the brood–the eggs, larvae and pupae. This requires that they gather the food and feed all the members of the colony.

Anthill Climate Control

Ants spend the winter in their nest or anthill. Some species make their nests out of leaves some build nests inside plants some tunnel underground and some have no permanent nests. Anthills built in the shade have to be bigger because the more surface area it has the more of the sun’s heat can be absorbed. The warmth and the humidity have to be carefully controlled so that the brood will develop properly.

It is not only the sun that heats the nest. The ants also provide heat. When the snow melts away from the anthill, some ants leave the nest to go out and soak up the sun’s heat. If it is warm enough, all the ants will come out to sun bathe, even the queens. Before spring, only the workers come out and bask in the sun. They sun themselves until their bodies hit the temperature of 86 degrees F. to 104 degrees F. Then the ants return to the nest and their hot bodies warm up the nest. They also block the entrances with their bodies to protect the nest from the cold outside air.

Mating Flight and Search for Nesting Site

When summer comes, and the day is warm, all the young queens and all the males leave the nest for their mating flight. This is the only occasion that they fly. A queen may mate with one or several males. After they mate, the queens have a lifetime of sperm stored in their bodies. When the flight is over, the males die and the queens search for a nest. Some queens go back to their home nests, others choose to live in another nest and others go and look for a stump to use to create their own community. They no longer need their wings. They either drop off or are  bitten off by the workers. This is one way to know if the queen has mated;  if they have wings they have not mated.

When a red ant queen starts its own colony she does so by boring a hole into a tree stump and then covers it with twigs, dry leaves and pine needles. Then she lays her eggs. Now, she must stay in the nest and care for the eggs so she cannot go out to get food. She absorbs nutrients from the wing muscles she no longer needs and by eating some of her eggs.

The Beginning of a New Colony

Workers are the first eggs to hatch. Immediately, they go out to gather food to feed the queen. They also take care of her by licking her. Now all the queen has to do is lay eggs. Once the workers care for the queen they begin enlarging the nest by digging tunnels and chambers in the dirt. This is where they care for the eggs and larvae until they get older. The larvae and pupae live above the ground on or around the stump in chambers made from plant debris and twigs. These anthills are so well made, with the entrances so skillfully placed, that the lowest chambers continually get fresh air.

The queens usually live in the lowermost chambers of the tree stump. This is where they lay their eggs, about ten a day. The sperm they have stored penetrate the egg as it is being laid. With 5000 queens laying eggs, there are thousands of eggs in the nest. As the eggs are laid they are carried off to special chambers, called nurseries, by the worker ants. These nurseries must be kept at a temperature of 77 degrees F. for the eggs to grow properly. Nurses are worker ants that care for the brood. They take the eggs to different chambers as the temperature fluctuates. They also lick the eggs to keep them clean and moist. The gooey saliva  causes the eggs to clump together, and this makes the eggs easier to carry. The next stage- larvae, need to be kept at 82 degrees F. and in very high humidity. The nurses feed them a special liquid meat paste they receive from the food-gathering ants. The third stage or pupae are taken to dryer and warmer chambers (86 degrees F.). After two to three weeks, the young ants begin gnawing at their cocoon. When the nurses see this they help by widening the hole so the tiny ant can emerge. If the nest is threatened, these faithful nurses will carry these fragile babies to safety. The complexity of the tasks of these worker ants indicates what a wonder these colonies are.

Protectors and Hunters

The Red ant has a poison gland in the enlarged part of their abdomen, called the gaster. To protect their nest or to kill insects for food, they raise up and pick up their abdomens and disperse their poison- formic acid. This toxin was used as an insecticide and an antibiotic. Now that synthetic formic acid is available it can be used as a food preservative and a disinfectant. Poison from one or two ants would not hurt a person but if thousands of ants sprayed the poison at a person that would be enough to asphyxiate them.

Food gatherer ants chew the food and collect the fluid in their crops. If they get hungry, some of this liquid goes into their intestines, to nourish them. If another worker ant needs to eat she taps or strokes the food gatherer ant on the head. They put their mouths together, and the liquid in the food gatherer’s crop is passed to the hungry ant. An ant with a full crop can feed 8 to 10 ants, who in turn share with others. In this way, food from one full crop can feed more than 80 other ants.

Industrious and Clean

The building materials carried by the worker ant may weigh 10 to 20 times the body weight of the ant. They rarely give up. If they cannot move something alone, they resort to teamwork and unitedly they preform the task. They are also remarkably clean. They make sure nothing rots or mildews in the nest. If an ant dies they quickly bring it to a distant cemetery. The hunter ants cover up to 170 feet from the nest in search of food. They can capture thousands of insects each day and bring them into the anthill.

If the nest is disturbed, the workers begin repairs immediately. Each ant has a specific job. Some carry the pupae away, guards protect the openings, and others bring new materials to make the repairs. Some stand motionlessly, their job is to secure the entrances with their bodies to keep the heat and humidity from escaping the nest.

After all this hard work winter comes, and the workers get some needed rest. First, they plug up their entrances to keep the shelter protected from the cold. They all go 20 to 80 inches deep into the anthill. They stay together, motionless, in these lower chambers and tunnels. Spring comes, the sun awakens them, and the hard work begins anew.

Sawtoothed grain beetles are approximately 1/10 of an inch long, have slender, flattened bodies, and are generally brown or reddish-brown in color. Their name derives from six saw-like teeth that extend outward from their thoraxes, giving them a distinctive appearance. While incapable of flight, they nonetheless remain very active. 

Sawtoothed grain beetles eat many of the same foods that humans eat, much to the chagrin of many homeowners, and can commonly be found consuming cereals, dried fruits, chocolate, pasta, nuts, sugars, popcorn, raisins, pet food, and other packaged groceries. Females lay their white, shiny eggs in foodstuffs, so that when they hatch the larvae are immediately able to begin feeding and growing. While the average lifespan of a sawtoothed grain beetle is between six and ten months, some have been known to live for as long as three years. Sawtoothed grain beetles are common throughout the world, although they are most often found in cosmopolitan areas.

Damage Signs

Sawtoothed grain beetles are known as pests worldwide, due to their ability to ruin foodstuffs. They are generally discovered floating in people’s breakfast cereals, or crawling through other eatables. In order to get to food, they will chew through cardboard, plastic, cellophane, and tinfoil. Because they are so flat, they are also able to penetrate food containers by entering through very small cracks. Therefore, homeowners looking for signs of infestation should examine all food containers in their pantries and kitchens.

Control

Insecticides are not particularly effective against sawtoothed beetles, and applying such chemicals in areas used for storing food is not safe. Homeowners who discover sawtoothed grain beetles in their homes should instead remove the insects by vacuuming them up. All infested foods should also be disposed of immediately, and should be placed in heavily wrapped trashbags. Foods not infested by the beetles should be stored in sealed glass, metal, or thick plastic containers. Finally, homeowners should carefully clean up all crumbs, as sawtoothed beetles are quick to spot even the tiniest amount of food.

Tarantula Hawk Wasp Capturing a Tarantula

Their body measures up to two inches. These wasps are tough. They have to be to survive their encounters with tarantulas. The insects are metallic blue-black with wings that are blue-black, orangish or mahogany in color. These wasps have aposematic coloring, which means, it warns its predators. This coloring warns potential predators: ‘this is a meal that would be painful, so why risk it?’. Their claws are hooked so can be used against their prey. These wasps are not terribly aggressive, and rarely sting humans, just do not harass them.  Their exceptionally potent venom makes these one of the most agonizing insect stings in the world. Though the sting causes excruciating pain, it is not lethal. Most predators find this wasp’s venomous stinger, which is 1/3 of an inch long, reason enough to leave them alone. The roadrunner is one of its few real enemies.

Where Tarantula Hawk Wasps Live

Tarantula hawk wasps can be found, from rainforest regions to deserts, from India to Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia and America. About 250 species of these wasps live in South America alone! These insects are active during the daytime of the summer months, looking for their prey on the ground. Tarantula hawk wasps feed on nectar and pollen. They have been known to ‘fly under the influence’ after consuming fermented fruit. These wasps are one of the largest species of pollinators. The larval stages of the insect feed on tarantulas.  This is why the female wasp captures tarantulas.

Search for the Perfect Nursery

After mating the female wasp hunts for a tarantula to become an edible nursery for her young. She tracks down tarantulas or their burrows, using her sense of smell. Once she finds her victim’s shelter she tricks the tarantula into coming out of the burrow, by moving the tarantula’s silk webbing cast at the burrows entrance. The tarantula then believes the web has captured a meal, so it comes out of the burrow to feed. Once the female wasp gets the tarantula out of the burrow, she uses her 1/3-inch stinger to stab her prey. The poison from the stinger, injected into the tarantula causes it to become paralyzed. She then drags her captive all the way to her burrow and lays her egg onto the paralyzed tarantula and then leaves.

Impressive Wrestling Move

If the female wasp encounters a tarantula along her way, she will wrestle it to the ground. She does this by grabbing hold of the tarantula by the leg and flipping it over on the back and then stings it. Eat your heart out Hulk Hogan! It takes only a few seconds for the poison to paralyze the tarantula for life, if you can call it life. In an attack, the wasp uses her antennae to probe the spider, which may raise its front legs and bare its fangs but the tarantula does not always fight back. She will drag it back into her own lair, which becomes a burial vault, lay a single egg on the spider’s abdomen, then plug the chamber. If the wasp succeeds in stinging a male tarantula, she will dig a burrow, drag the paralyzed spider inside, lay her single egg, and seal the chamber. The wasp may drink the body fluids oozing from the spider’s wounds or mouth to replenish nutrients and water she depleted during the attack.

Gruesome Formula and Tragic Slow Death

What makes this so gruesome is the female does not kill the tarantula, instead just paralyzes it. I see where this would provide the very freshest meals possible for their beloved young, but you would like to think maternal instincts included empathy. Not so in Tarantula Hawk Wasp’s moms. Yes, their young lack this attractive quality, as well. Once the egg hatches, the tiny grub, which at first was connected to the spider by the tip of its tail, bends over, attaches its head and begins to suck. It continues sucking until it matures to its final moult. It then rips open the spider’s abdomen, plunges its head and part of the thorax inside, and “feeds ravenously,” as one entomologist described it. Hopefully, at this point, the tarantula is finally dead. Yes, it was a slow, agonizing death that awaited this tarantula/nursery.

Students Hail The Tarantula Hawk Wasp

In 1989, New Mexico chose the Tarantula hawk wasps to be the official state insect.  Students of Edgewood, New Mexico elementary school, elected this wasp from three candidates. I’m sure these children, as well as many others, find the Tarantula hawk wasps to be incredibly fascinating creatures, even if not the best of role models.

Boys Will Be Boys

Male tarantula wasps also lead a life of intrigue. They perform  behavior called “hill-topping”. This is where they perch on taller vegetation or any higher vantage point. They are strongly territorial at these sites. This is for a legitimate reason:  the good view of the surroundings and most importantly, of newly emerged virgin females, which may be ready to mate.  Fascinating, and yet, somehow this behavior does not seem limited to this species.

Brown banded roaches, with an average length of only 5/8 of an inch, are among the smaller species of roaches. They are tan or dark brown, and are named after a pair of light bands that stretch across their abdomens and wings. They have spindly legs, flattened, oval bodies, and long antennae. Males brown-banded roaches are slender, and have large wings that cover their abdomens and allow them to fly, while females tend to be rounder and have smaller wings. Additionally, bands tend to be more highly visible on females than on males.

Unlike German roaches, which they closely resemble, brown-banded roaches require very little moisture, and therefore do not confine themselves to damp areas of houses and apartments. They prefer dark, warm, dry, elevated areas, and are commonly found in closets, behind refrigerators and other appliances, beneath furniture, behind pictures, and in cabinets. As scavengers, brown-banded roaches will eat nearly anything, although they prefer starchy items. They have even been known to feed on nylon stockings.

Brown-banded roaches can be found throughout the Northeastern, Midwestern, and Southern United States, although they are most heavily concentrated in southern states.

Damage Signs

Brown-banded roaches are rarely seen during daylight hours, as they prefer to stay in darkness. Homeowners looking for signs of roach invasion should examine areas of the home in which the roaches are commonly found, and look for discarded roach skins, small, dark droppings, light brown egg capsules, and the roaches themselves.

Cockroaches are capable of transmitting  parasitic worms, human pathogens, and more than 30 different types of bacteria. Additionally, they have been linked to allergic reactions in children, and the onset of childhood asthma. Roaches spend much of their time crawling through sewage matter, and can carry sewage particles to open food in kitchens. They also tend to multiply quickly. Therefore, roach infestations should be addressed immediately.

Control

Homeowners looking to prevent roach infestations should seal cracks and small openings through which the insects can enter the home. Once they are inside, brown-banded roaches can be difficult to eliminate completely, as they will spread throughout the house, rather than remaining within certain areas. However, baits, dusts, insect growth regulators, and pheromone traps often prove effective. Homeowners faced with severe roach infestations should consider calling a licensed exterminator to care for the matter.

Biggest news of the week:  the killing of Osama Bin Laden. Many speculate about how much safer we are now that al-Qaeda’s head man is gone. Insects may not have the ‘charisma’ sought after in the leader of any major cause, but they certainly have the capacity to inflict severe damage on any targeted population. Consider the following facts from experts that understand the potential for insect terrorism and some of the history of use of insects against enemies.

Bubonic Plague and History of Insect Warfare

Siberian tribes tied a naked prisoner to a tree and allowed mosquitoes and other biting flies to deliver as many as 9,000 bites per minute —  sufficient to drain a person’s blood by half in about two hours.  Apaches stake captives on anthills to cause a lingering and painful death. These are not the plots of some sick, horror movies but real history of mankind’s treatment of their enemies. Roman historian Pliny the Elder records that, in the second century AD, inhabitants of the Middle Eastern city of Hatra forced the Roman legions surrounding them to run for their lives by dropping scorpions on them.

Bees and wasps were an essential component of any army’s weaponry in the Middle Ages. In the 12th century, King Henry I of England ordered his men to launch ‘nest bombs’ into the middle of the Duke of Lorraine’s army in Normandy. And by the 14th century, some European armies had even created a huge windmill-like device that propelled the hives. No sooner were armies capable of hurling hives by machine, however, than they had devised a machine capable of throwing the rotting human corpses of victims of insect-born diseases.

The most memorable case of insect terrorism, came in 1343, when the last Mongol emperor, Janibeg, during his siege of Kaffa on the Black Sea, ordered his army to hurl the bodies of his soldiers who had died from the bubonic plague, into enemy territory. Twenty-five million people – more than a quarter of Europe’s population at the time – were killed as a result. The epitome of insect and torture was developed by a 19th-century emir of Bukhara, in today’s Uzbekistan. He threw political enemies into a deep hole covered with an iron grille and filled with sheep ticks and assassin bugs. The bite of the assassin bug has been compared to being pierced with a hot needle.  The injected saliva digested the victims’ tissues until, in the words of the emir’s jailer, “masses of their flesh had been gnawed off their bones.”

Advice For Homeland Security

Jeffrey Lockwood, author of the book Six-Legged Soldiers, was interviewed about the book by BBC Radio. Lockwood describes how a “Terrorist” with a suitcase could bring diseases into a country. “I think a small terrorist cell could very easily develop an insect-based weapon. Using Insects as Weapons of War, said Lockwood, such as Rift Valley Fever or other diseases could be transported into a country by a terrorist with a suitcase.” He said it would “probably be much easier” than developing a nuclear or chemical weapon, declaring: “The raw material is in the back yard. It would be a relatively easy and simple process. A few hundred dollars and a plane ticket and you could have a pretty good stab at it.” He advises, Governments need to have powerful “pest management infrastructure that’s able to absorb and respond to an introduction” of infected insects. ” Trying to stop everything coming in at the border would not work.”, he also said.

Director of the National Center for Biodefense at George Mason University, Charles Bailey, says a terrorist could easily introduce Rift Valley fever, which is similar to West Nile virus but deadlier, to the U.S. with only $100-worth of supplies and a plane ticket from an affected African nation. Insect-borne diseases could also destroy millions of dollars of crops and livestock before they could be stopped. Prof. Lockwood recommends stockpiling vaccines and chemicals to kill various insects. It also needs to reverse a recent cut in funding for research into natural predators for problem insects. Finally, the Department of Homeland Security needs to put a higher priority on protecting the U.S.’s agriculture. A Government Accountability Office report this fall showed that a majority of the inspectors assigned to protect agriculture at the DHS say their ability to do so has been compromised by low morale, equipment shortages, and lack of manpower.

Research, Experiments and Accusations

Seeing the potential, military strategists have been keen to conscript insects during war. In World War II, the French and Germans developed the mass production and dispersion of Colorado potato beetles to destroy enemy food supplies. During the Cold War, the US military planned a facility to produce 100 million yellow-fever-infected mosquitoes a month, came up with an “Entomological Warfare Target Analysis” of vulnerable sites in the Soviet Union and among its allies, and tested the dispersal and biting capacity of (uninfected) mosquitoes by secretly dropping the insects over American cities. During the 1940s, the British Government had begun to look into the possible uses of salmonella food poisoning, carried by flies. In 2001, the Biological Weapons Convention conference issued a report accusing rogue states of operating secret biological weapons experiments, and naming Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria and North Korea as culprits.

The U.S. Government’s interest in using insects as weapons continues. They did research at their biological warfare laboratories at Fort Detrick in Maryland, and in February 1952, during the Korean War, both China and North Korea accused the U.S. of releasing insects infected with plague, among their people. ‘The Americans passionately denied the charges,’ says Professor Lockwood. In 1989, Professor Lockwood suggests, a group of radical extremists – calling themselves ‘Breeders’ – introduced the Mediterranean fruit fly into California with temporarily awful consequences for the state’s fruit and vegetable production.  Professor Lockwood says, that is the shape of things to come.

West Nile Virus and Worse

Terrorists could, with horrible effect, also choose to use infected mosquitoes to spread the deadly West Nile virus. At the time, there were implications in the American intelligence community, that the New York outbreak was a case of bio-terrorism and that the disease had been let loose deliberately by the Iraqi government. It is worth remembering that shortly before the New York outbreak, the Mail published an exclusive account by Mikhael Ramadan – who acted as one of Saddam Hussein’s ‘doubles’ – which suggested the dictator bragged that his secret laboratories had developed a strain of the West Nile virus ‘capable of destroying 97 per cent of all life in an urban environment’. Professor Lockwood is doubtful that the West Nile outbreak was actually engineered by Saddam Hussein, but insists that other governments, including Russia, have been investigating the use of this virus.

Terrifyingly, he also suggests that an even more lethal type of the disease, called Rift Valley virus, could be spread just as easily. Rift Valley Fever is an east African disease which “can cause severe disease in both animals and humans, leading to high rates of disease and death” according to the World Health Organization.  This mosquito-borne disease would make West Nile virus look like a runny nose. Hundreds of thousands of people could get sick, with thousands dying and many more going blind. The livestock industry could lose billions of dollars as animals aborted their fetuses and died from bloody diarrhea. It would cause your brain to become inflamed or your internal organs to hemorrhage. More than 90 per cent of people who contract Rift Valley virus are totally debilitated by the symptoms. ‘Most survive,’ says Professor Lockwood, ‘but the effect on the nation’s health and sense of security would be devastating’.

To battle the threat, the Professor calls for an international stockpile of vaccines and chemicals to kill a wide variety of insects – most importantly mosquitoes.  If that would be enough to deter a terrorist with bubonic plague-carrying fleas from releasing them on the London Underground, or a terrorist group with Rift Valley virus infected mosquitoes from slipping them unnoticed into a country’s water supply, is the frightening unanswered question.

Earwigs are nocturnal insects ranging from 1/2 to 2 inches in length, with an average length of slightly less than 1 inch. They have long, slender bodies,  are brown, reddish-brown, or black in color, and are most easily recognized by a pair of long pincers at the end of their abdomens. These pincers are curved on males, and straight on females. While some species have no wings at all, others possess leathery forewings and nearly transparent hindwings. Most species of earwgs with wings, however, only rarely fly.

The name “earwig” derives from a popular superstition that earwigs crawl in people’s ears, burrow into the brain, and then lay eggs. However, this myth has no basis in fact. Earwigs do prefer dark, moist areas, so it is possible for them to crawl into sleeping people’s ears, but there is no danger that they will bore into the brain or cause any damage at all. Like most insects, earwigs will bite if provoked, but they do not pose any significant health risk to humans. Their scent glands also have a built-in defense mechanism that allows them to produce a bad-smelling, yellowish-brown liquid if threatened, but while this unpleasant, it is not dangerous.

The majority of earwigs are scavengers, living off dead plant and animal matter. Some varieties, including the common earwig, however, are omnivorous, and will eat plant lice, as well as living plants such as clover, grapes, potatoes, roses, beets, dahlias, zinnias, hollyhock, strawberries, sunflowers, and lettuce. They hide in dank places such as bathrooms, areas around sinks, crawl spaces, trash cans, mulch bins, lawn furniture, cracks in window frames, and woodpiles. If disturbed during daylight hours, earwigs will drop to the ground and scurry to the nearest sheltered area. They can be found throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Earwigs are unusual in that females display maternal instincts toward their young, and will defend their eggs from attack, keep them warm, and even clean them. Once their eggs have hatched, adult female earwigs will continue to care for their young through the first molt. Earwigs typically live for one year after hatching.

Damage Signs

Earwigs do not pose a significant threat to humans, although because many find their appearance disturbing, their mere presence in a home can be disagreeable. Additionally, because many varieties of earwigs feed on living plants, the insects can cause damage to crops and gardens. Homeowners looking for signs of earwig invasion should look in dark, damp areas such as crevices, cracks, and crawlspaces, and should be alert to the presence of the insects within the home.

Control

Homeowners looking to prevent earwig infestation should eliminate dampness in crawlspaces, create dry borders around foundation walls, and seal up small openings, such as spaces under doors and cracks in window frames, through which earwigs can enter. Additionally, because earwigs are attracted to lights, it may be wise to reduce the amount of outdoor lighting around the home, or switch to sodium vapor yellow lamps, which are less attractive to the insects.

Once earwigs have established themselves in and around the home, they can be removed outdoors by means of trapping, using oatmeal or bran as bait. Indoors, earwigs can be killed by hand, or removed by vacuum cleaner.

Paleozoic Giants

During the Paleozoic era, giant insects roamed the Earth. The dragonfly’s wingspan of 2.5 feet is just one example of an impressively large ancient insect . “The air’s oxygen content was 35% during this period, compared to the 21% we breathe now”, Kaiser said.

The higher oxygen concentration is the suspected cause behind the huge size of those insects. Not all the Paleozoic insects were that big, but still, “maybe 10 % were big enough to be considered giant,” said Kaiser. The reason some grew so large is both physiological and anatomical:  insects don’t use blood to transport oxygen to the tissues. Air enters and leaves their body through many paired holes called spiracles. “These holes connect to branching and interconnecting tubes, called tracheae,” Kaiser explained.

Insect Tracheal System

While land animals have one trachea, insects have a diverging tracheal system that carries oxygen directly to the tissues and also removes carbon dioxide.  As the insect grows, tracheal tubes get longer to reach peripheral tissue, and get wider or more numerous due to the additional oxygen demands of a larger body. Insects, by closing their spiracles, can limit their oxygen intake and survive with the oxygen they already have in their tracheae. This makes them very resistant to drowning or air pollution. This answered a question I had been wondering about. Have you ever fished a fly out of water, thinking it has to be dead, to have it take off, just as you were about to dispose of it?  Well, now I know why.

Researchers studied the connection between insects’ size, tracheal system and the oxygen concentration in the air. Using X rays “The study found that the tracheae of the larger beetles take up a greater proportion of their bodies, about 20% more, than the increase in their body size would predict,” Kaiser said.

The reason for this is that the tracheal system is not only becoming longer to reach longer limbs, but the tubes increase in width or multiply to take in more air to handle the additional oxygen demands. “When tracheal size is limited, so is oxygen supply and so is growth,” Kaiser explained. From these results, the scientists calculated that beetles could not grow larger than about 15 centimeters. “And this is the size of the largest beetle known: the Titanic longhorn beetle, Titanus giganteus (photo above), from South America, which grows 15-17 cm,” said Kaiser.

Higher Oxygen Concentration

The next issue: why the Paleozoic insects were not limited in their growth by these boundaries? The Paleozoic insects had the same anatomy, including their tracheal system, but were larger. The answer lies in the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere at that time. The insect needed smaller quantities of air to meet their oxygen requirements “The tracheal diameter can be narrower and still deliver enough oxygen for a much larger insect,” concludes Kaiser.

German Cockroach

The German cockroach is one of the most common insect pests that invade homes. German roaches can be found in apartment buildings, restaurants, hospitals, stores and just about anywhere that food is kept. They will eat anything and migrate from one building to the next looking for their next meal. German roaches are known to contaminate food with bacteria. They also can destroy wallpaper and cause certain types of asthma.

Identification

Full grown adult German roaches will grow to be no longer than 5/8 of an inch. They are light brown or tan and they a set of wings, even though they cannot fly. The younger roaches look like smaller adults but with no wings. Parallel lines that extend from the head to the wings, helps identify this species of cockroach, one of 50 found in the United States.

This species of roach is especially fond of warm, moist environments.  Such places as behind sinks and dishwashers make great homes for German roaches. These scavengers will eat whatever food is in their path, such as starches, sugars, grease and proteins. They will consume wallpaper glue and the glue that binds books together. German roaches move about mostly in the nighttime hours and spend the day in whatever crevice or crack that they fit into. Because they have  a wide and flat body, they easily get into the smallest of cracks so are rarely spotted in the daytime.

Growth Stages

The German cockroach goes through three stages of development. First, it is an egg which the female roach lays in an egg capsule that is less than a quarter inch in length. These capsules can contain four dozen separate eggs and the females will produce as many as eight of these capsules in their life. The capsule stays attached to the female until it is time for them to hatch, which takes up to 30 days. The roach, once hatched, will undergo a transformation from a nymph to an adult over many weeks. The average life span of a German cockroach is less than seven months. The females outlive the males by a few weeks.

Dangers of Infestations

Food can be ruined and spoiled by the German cockroach. They secrete a foul smelling substance that infiltrates food and ruins its flavor. Large populations of German roaches can make a building stink from this substance. Bacteria and viruses can attach to German roaches resulting in the spread of such illnesses as diarrhea and dysentery. The bacteria and viruses are carried on the roach’s legs and back, so they end up in the food the roach gets into. The shed skins of these insects and their waste products cause allergic reactions in some people and can trigger an asthma attack in asthmatics, as well cause some types of asthma.

Prevention

To keep German roaches from infesting your home, you will want to repair any leaky water pipes and faucets. Also seal any cracks in the foundation of your house to keep roaches out. Also, there should be no openings around windows, doors and air conditioners for them to squeeze through. Keeping things in your home clean is vital. Not just the surface but also frequently cleaning out under stoves,sinks and refrigerators. Kitchen cabinets need to be cleaned out often. Food spills should be picked up immediately and all foods need to be kept in tight containers. Dirty dishes should be washed and never left overnight. Be sure to keep garbage away from your house. Pet dishes shouldn’t be left with food in them.

Hornets are social wasps, and range in length from 1/2 to 5/2 inches in length. They are often mistaken for yellowjackets, which are in the same wasp subfamily, as some species of hornets have yellow and black stripes similar to those of yellowjackets. However, hornets may also be white and black, brown, or reddish brown, and are typically larger than yellowjackets. Additionally, while hornets feed on leaves, tree sap, and living insects, yellowjackets primarily feed on sugars and carbohydrates, and are therefore often drawn to picnicking sites. As a result, yellowjackets are the more likely of the two to come into direct contact with people.

Each nest is started in the spring by a queen hornet, who uses paper-like, masticated tree bark to create a series of cells, or combs. She then lays her eggs, and once new hornets hatch, they begin adding to the nest, which comes to resemble a teardrop-shaped ball with a single entry point. Nests hang from tree branches, under eaves, and in other sheltered areas. They reach peak population in late summer, at which time a single nest may be home to as many as 700 hornets. In mid-autumn, hornets begin the mating process. Once it is complete, the males die. Some females remain alive for another few weeks, but only the queens, or fertilized females, survive the winter to begin new nests.

There are approximately 20 hornet varieties. The insects can be found throughout North America,

Damage Signs

The most significant threat that hornets pose to humans is their ability to sting. Individuals allergic to hornet stings can experience severe, and possibly fatal reactions if not treated immediately. It is worth noting that not all individuals allergic to hornet stings are allergic to bee stings. While a single sting is unlikely to be deadly to individuals without allergies, the danger comes from the potential for receiving multiple stings. Unlike honey bees, hornets can sting more than once without dying. Additionally, if threatened, hornets can signal the entire nest to attack. In such large doses, the venom in the stings can be deadly, so it is unwise to disturb hornets’ nests. The insects use pheromones to trigger the attack, and some perfumes, which can be mistaken for the pheromones, can send out false alarms to the hornets and cause them to become aggressive.

Homeowners looking to spot hornet invasions should look for nests under tree branches and eaves, and in attics. They should also be alert for the presence of the hornets themselves.

Control

Removing a hornets’ nest is a dangerous process best undertaken by a licensed professional. Homeowners should never attempt to remove the nests without using a wasp suit, and should call in an exterminator rather than try to get rid of the nest on their own.

The Strongest and The Brightest

Now a record entry that you can tell was to the chagrin of many a pest control expert. Who wants to be outdone by a 0.09 inch long, green peach aphid (Myzus persicae). Even it’s name sounds so innocent, who would guess this little guy holds the title for being the most insecticide resistant insect. This Super Bug has been documented as being resistant to 71 different chemical pesticides. Quite a feat I would say.

Next, a category no human nor few other living creatures could compete in:  The Most Bioluminescent. The title goes to (drum roll please) the firefly (Pyrophorus noctilucus). Okay, not much of a surprise but that fact is, it has been documented as having a surface brightness of 45 millilamberts. The light emitted by these beetles is unique as almost 100% of the energy is given off as light. A light bulb’s energy is given off as only 10% light and 90% as heat. We certainly can applaud such efficiency and be a little jealous

The Oldest and The Hottest

The oldest insect ever found is the fossilized Rhyniognatha hirsti, which lived in what is now Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, approximately 410 million years ago. They say that is 30 million years older than any other known insect fossil! The specimen was first described in 1926 by entomologist, Robin John Tillyard (Australia), who thought it to be nothing special, so left it to the vaults of London’s Natural History Museum, UK. There it sat getting older, for about 80 years until entomologists, David A. Grimaldi and Michael S. Engel (both USA) put the fossil under modern microscopes and discovered the creature’s classic insect features, their findings were published in Nature on February 12, 2004. Although wings didn’t survive, its triangular jaw structure is similar to those of winged insects, suggesting that insect flight was 80 million years older than previously thought. The fossil remains at the Natural History Museum, London, UK if you care to visit.

Here’s a record I would have no interest in challenging. The most heat-tolerant animal (thermophile) title goes to Cataglyphis bicolor. This little desert-dwelling scavenger ant forages about in its home, the Sahara desert, at a temperature of over 131 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the hottest desert in the world, reaching temperatures of up to 172.4 degrees Fahrenheit. This ant must subscribe to the motto:  ‘Don’t ever let them see you sweat’ at those temperatures and so little available water, he can’t afford to lose a drop of fluid. Very amazing feat indeed.

Best Developer and The Texas Sized Non-Texan

Who ever brought the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) to Europe 80 years ago, couldn’t have known they would decide to become a record holder. A record holder is what they became with the incredible title of the largest recorded colony of ants in the world. If you ever tried to get rid of ants who have built their mounds on your driveway, by pouring boiling water on them, you will marvel at just HOW large this colony got. Their colony went from northern Italy, through the south of France to the Atlantic coast of Spain. That’s 3,700 miles of ant condos! What human developer wouldn’t be impressed with all that construction taking place. Maybe someone should have boiled some water 80 years ago.

If you read my article last week, you will recall my comment about how proud Texans are about being such a big state. They also like to brag that everything is bigger and better in Texas. Jim Klinger of Coppell, Texas, USA apparently wants to contribute to his state’s notoriety by owning the largest millipede in the world. Now don’t let him try to convince you this giant is a native Texan, it’s really a full grown ( for this we can be grateful) African giant black millipede. This guy is 15.2 inches long and 2.6 inches in circumference and has 256 legs. I hope Jim isn’t planning on breeding a Super Sized Texas Millipede from his record holder.

Big and Toxic and Big and Sweet

Japan has had more than it’s share of miseries lately. Their commendable behavior under these ” trail some” times has been newsworthy. This next record breaker, the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), who is a native of the mountains of Japan, may be indicative of what strengthens the Japanese ability to stay cool in the face of danger and adversity. This is a big hornet, it can grow to be 2.2 inches long and have a wingspan of about 3 inches. Impressive, but here’s the frightening part, it’s stinger is .25 inches long and can fill you with venom that dissolves human tissue. I think I would classify this bug as another natural disaster.

Greece has it’s own claim to fame, other than their philosophers, gyros and contributions to math and science. Argirios Koskos is the proud owner of the largest honeycomb in the world. His beehive produced this 22 lb 14 oz honeycomb during the summer of 2007. Busy bees indeed!

I hope this centipede doesn’t get introduced to that millipede title holder, mentioned above. The giant centipede (Scolopendra gigantea) of Central and South America is the largest of this species, measuring 10 inches long. He’s also known as the Peruvian giant yellowleg centipede. This charming fellow, has modified jaws on its head, which can capture and deliver venom to its prey. This guy has a hardy appetite and isn’t afraid to tackle some good size meals, such as mice, lizards and frogs. Consider this when deciding to explore some cave you happen upon, imagine looking up and seeing 10 inch centipedes hanging upside down from the ceiling, feeding on bats. That’s what some explorer found in a cave in Venezuela. Hopefully this brave individual avoided this centipede’s venom, which is toxic to humans and can cause swelling and fever.

I always knew insects to be amazing but this bunch of title owners has greatly heightened my appreciation for them. I am not the longest, nor have I built the biggest, nor am I the oldest nor the brightest (I’m referring to luminescence), nor endured the hottest work environment. I guess I’ll never make it in the record book but I’m okay with that. I’ll just marvel at those who do.

Mosquitoes go through four stages of life: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. They begin their lives in standing water, where female mosquitoes lay their eggs. They can hatch in bodies of water ranging from salt marshes to puddles. After entering the larva stage, they remain in the water, using a breathing tube, or siphon, located at the tip of their abdomens in order to gain air. At this stage they have long bodies with no legs, and well-developed heads with mouth brushes. They propel themselves through the water by wriggling their bodies, and feed off bacteria, algae, and microorganisms found near the surface of the water.

In the pupa stage, the head and thorax of the mosquitoes are merged, creating what is known as a cephalothorax. The pupae remain in the water, and are much less active than they were in the larval stage, not even feeding. They breathe through a respiratory tube in the cephalothorax, and come to the surface frequently.

After a period of 5-14 days, the mosquitoes are full grown, and leave the water. As adults, they are approximately 3/5 of an inch in length, and have six delicate legs, two transparent wings, and bodies composed of head, thorax, and abdomen. On their heads they possess antennae, two compound eyes, and a mouth consisting of sensory palps and a stinger-like proboscis used for feeding. They live in cool, damp areas near water. Male mosquitoes feed on nectar and sugars, but females require an additional meal of blood in order to gain enough protein to begin the egg-laying process.

Mosquitoes possess an astonishing array of sensors used to locate food. Chemical sensors alert them to the presence of lactic acid and carbon dioxide from distances of up to 100 feet away. Heat sensors allow them to detect the presence of warm-blooded mammals. Visual sensors help them detect moving objects, and spot objects that stand out from their backgrounds. As a result, people are easy targets for the insects, and often find themselves harassed by mosquitoes looking for their next meal.

Mosquitoes are found in locations throughout the world, although they are most prevalent in areas near standing water.

Damage Signs

Mosquito bites, which cause redness, swelling, and itchiness, are common. While these bites often produce no other ill effects, mosquitoes can transmit diseases, including yellow fever, malaria, dengue fever, and encephalitis. This happens when they bite an infected individual, and then spread that person’s disease by biting another, previously uninfected individual. Additionally, mosquitoes congregate in swarms, and often annoy individuals trying   to enjoy outdoor activities.

Control

Methods to control the annoyance caused by mosquitoes include insect repellent, fly swatters, citronella candles, and bug zappers. Homeowners looking to prevent mosquitoes from gathering in or near their homes should empty any unnecessary containers of standing water in their yards and  homes, and install window screens.

Immigration Problems in the Ant World

The fence between Mexico and Texas, to discourage illegal entry into the USA, has been in and out of the news. Especially because Mexicans involved in the drug wars have been going to Houston to purchase the weaponry used in this bloody battle. Thus immigration has become a very hot issue. Humans don’t present the only immigration problem. The trouble is no fence can stop the invasion of the red fire ant from South America,  the aggressive Solenopsis invicta. In 1930 this vicious stowaway boarded a ship in Argentina and debarked in Mobile, Alabama. Not content to just menace the southeastern US, they headed to East Texas and their invasion was only slowed down by the cold, dry climate of the Texas Hill Country.

Messing with Texas

These fierce invaders are a formidable enemy. Armed with back-end stingers and serrated mandibles, they aggressively attack and injure or kill livestock and wildlife, particularly when animals step into or lie down on a mound. Their bites can also cause life-threatening allergic reactions in humans. Just recently I saw a sign posted at a home which read:   HOME SECURITY PROVIDED BY FIRE ANTS. I thought it was funny but these ants can make a beautiful day out in the backyard impossible to enjoy. Farmers have had their mowing, shredding and baling equipment damaged by fire ant mounds. Even Texas native fire ants have been outnumbered and displaced by these foreigners. This is a problem because the native ants seldom bother anyone and they have natural enemies that keep their numbers down.

In the winter, fire ants look for a warm place to settle. Electric circuit boxes are such a place and the ants then have been known to cause shorts that start fires. Texas A&M University researchers say these red fire ants cost Texans about $1.2 billion a year in damage repair and the cost to try to fight them. The defense budget is staggering and, unfortunately, not providing the victory the cost would warrant.

Texas Messes Back

In the early 1980′s Larry Gilbert, professor of integrative biology and lab director, created The University of Texas Fire Ant Research Project. His goal was to find a self-sustaining, biological control method. Using the ants genes, researchers were able to find out where they specifically originated in South America. Then they had to find out who were their enemies. After narrowing it down from a small list, they came up with the perfect ‘ revenger’.

Unlikely Hero

John Wayne made a more glorious ‘righter of wrong’ but could he have tackled fire ants? Not likely. So the tall, handsome type hero had to give way to a gray-brown, gnat-like insect from South America. Not only that but ‘he’ had to give way to a ‘she’. And, most notably, the glamorous ride into town with rapid gunfire and galloping horses, gives way to a more gruesome form of vengeance.

CIA TYPE TACTICS

Intrigue, drugs and mind control are sophisticated methods used by secret agencies to undermined the enemy. They could learn a thing or two from the tiny phorid fly. The female fly carefully sneaks up on a worker ant and lays its egg in its body. This secret agent’s egg hatches, somehow all ready to cooperate with the plot. The larva moves into the ant’s head. This causes the ant to lose control of its faculties, much like mind control, and he wanders off to die. This part reminds me of a scene from an old James Bond movie, the ant’s head falls off. What is left is a shell in which the larva pupates into an adult fly. All this takes place in about 45 days.

Trojan Horse

Scientists decided to collect some red fire ants from their mounds and bring them back to the lab. With what evil end in mind? They put their enemies in a ‘torture chamber’ not to make them talk-they can’t-but to be infected by secret agent lady flies (not spies) who delight in laying their eggs in these terrified captives. Now they return these infected ants to their original colonies where, if they could talk, no one would believe what had just happened to them.

Nuclear Warfare This Isn’t

Researchers can’t be sure just how many ants are dying from this method of control. Projections show that possibly 1% of the ant population is killed where the flies have been introduced. 200,000 to 250,000 fire ants live in a typical colony, so you do the math ( I would but I would probably get it wrong). I do know that’s a lot of ants that will no longer terrorize the Texas countryside. Over time ant populations are expected to decline by 15% a year.

It’s a Hard Life

Just like the Super hero who swoops in and turns the table on the villain, so the tiny phorid fly foils the plot of the villainous red fire ant. Death is not the only deterrent to a battling army. Remember Tokyo Rose? Okay I’m too young too, but I know she championed a psychological warfare against US forces during WWII. Well if you thought that, while you were working, your enemy could implant something into you that would turn you into a zombie until your head fell off and then you became some kind of nursery for the enemy that just killed you producing more enemies to kill off your family and friends, wouldn’t you find your work productivity hampered at least some? You’re not alone. The ants find reports of ‘incoming’ enemy flights or implanted fellow ants in their nest, unnerving, to say the least. So they gather less food, limiting the size of colonies and its ability to form new ones. Thanks to paroling phorid flies, fire ant mounds aren’t as big or numerous, so the alien ants are more equal in number to the native ants.

Victory In Sight?

The phorid secret agent flies have spread over about 160 million acres since the early 1990′s. That’s more than half the fire ant range in Texas. Have we just introduced a new ‘pest’ by bringing the phorid fly here? Scientists say that’s not likely because the fly only attacks their own South American fire ant, so if there were no more left, the fly would die off. Sounds good but I’ve seen too many movies where the monster created turns on their master. Time will tell, but no matter how well the fly does, researchers say there will never be complete victory over the red fire ant, just fewer numbers. No victory parades but perhaps a more peaceful and pleasant picnic in the backyard. Sometimes ‘better’ is all we can hope for.

Pocket gophers, also known as true gophers, are members of the rodent family, and range from 5 to 14 inches in length, not including their tails. They typically weigh about 1/4 pound, and are covered in black, grayish-brown, or light brown fur. Their small heads appear slightly flattened, an effect that is perhaps accentuated by their tiny ears and small eyes. They are also recognizable by the sharp claws on their front feet, and by their four prominent front teeth. The name “pocket gopher” derives from the external, fur-lined pouches they have on their cheeks. They use these pockets to carry food and nesting materials from one place to another.

Pocket gophers are prolific diggers, and spend most of their lives in underground tunnels. They are able to use their lips to close their mouths behind their large front teeth, and therefore are able use their teeth, as well as their sharp claws, to dig without filling their mouths with sand. While their burrows may be only 6 to 12 inches deep, nests and feeding storage areas can be as far as 6 feet below ground. Tunnels are generally 2.5 to 3.5 inches in diameter, and are sealed with earth.

As herbivores, pocket gophers feed on a variety of plants, trees, shrubs, and grasses. They frequently eat plant roots that they encounter in the course of their digs, and will only venture above ground to feed for very short periods of time. They have an excellent sense of smell, which they use to locate their food.

Pocket gophers are found throughout North America.

Damage Signs

Pocket gophers spend the majority of their lives underground, and are therefore unlikely to be spotted by homeowners. Their presence is more easily detectable by the presence of dirt mounds  at the entrances to their tunnels. Unlike mole mounds, which are volcano-shaped, pocket gopher mounds are horseshoe-shaped. An average gopher will dig between one and three mounds per day.

Left unchecked, pocket gophers can cause unsightly damage to landscaping, destroy ornamental plants, and upset irrigation systems.

Control

Homeowners looking to remove pocket gophers from their yards may consider using either traps of toxic bates, both of which have proven effective against the rodents. Homeowners with large numbers of gophers in their yards may wish to call in licensed professionals to remove the animals.

Go to The Ant

For centuries the Tibetan Chinese royalty has used this ant in a tonic to increase their immunity and to relieve arthritis. So Dr John Wilkinson, senior lecturer in Pharmacognosy at Middlesex University, decided to study these ants. He said: “These ants contain a lot of zinc and zinc has been identified for some time as an immune stimulant and an antioxidant. This species of ant seems to act in a similar way on the immune system as ginseng and Vitamin E. This is a very exciting time in medicine. Insects have different compounds in them to plants. Now it is up to researchers to identify the novel compounds in insects and how they benefit health. Insects are potentially a vast new area of medicinal research.”

Bug Drugs Are In

So it is safe to say ‘bug drugs’ will see more use in modern medicine.

In earlier articles we discussed the eating of insects in cultures of Africa, Asia and Australia. According to Dr Wilkinson ant drinks are currently being consumed in California as a hallucinogen and were used in Britain in the Middle Ages as a tonic for general ailments.

It is mainly the elderly Chinese that drink this ant.  They make it into a wine or Chinese beer and also may be eaten with meals.

Move Over Pepsi and Coke

The United Kingdom has brought this drink home.  One UK drink company recently decided the potential benefits of this drink were worth commercializing.

The InterContinental Brands (ICB) company in North Yorkshire, England has manufactured a soft drink, appropriately called, Ant. This drink acts as a stimulant and is selling as an alternative to coffee, tea and energy drinks. I personally like their root beer.

Collette Fellows Smith, an ICB spokesperson said: “The vast history of the efficacy of the Chinese ant as a tonic is well documented in China. People here are beginning to understand its benefits.”

Ant, the drink, is a tonic dose, not a drug and went to market in the UK in 2001.

Yellowjackets have horizontal yellow and black bands across their abdomens, white or yellow faces, long, barbed stingers, and strong mandibles. While they are frequently mistaken for bees, yellowjackets have more slender abdomens than bees and do not have the same dense hair. They are social wasps, and live in colonies composed small workers approximately 1/2 inch long, and a larger queen approximately 3/4 inch long. Only queens survive during winter, living in sheltered areas such as hollow logs, sheds, under porches, and in leaf litter. Once spring arrives, fertilized queens leave their winter homes and begin to give birth to colonies, which in turn begin the work of building nests.

Nests are usually constructed in the ground, often in rodent holes. However, yellowjackets will also build nests in railroad ties, in the eaves of buildings, hanging from tree branches, in attics, and other such areas. Yellowjacket nests are created from chewed up vegetable fibers which are reformed into paper, and have only one entrance hole.  As the summer progresses, the colonies continue to grow, reaching as many as 4,000 to 5,000 members. At the same time, the wasps become increasingly protective of their nests, and therefore more and more aggressive.

The diet of yellowjackets consists of primarily of sugars and carbohydrates, such as fruits, flowers, soda, sweets, and tree sap. Their fondness for sugar draws them to picnicking areas, open garbage cans, and other spots near humans, turning them into pests. They are common throughout the United States.

Damage Signs

Homeowners should be alert to the presence of yellowjacket nests in and around the home, especially in sheltered areas such as under eaves, in attics, and in sheds. As colonies increase in size throughout the summer, the nests also increase in size, and in some cases have even been known to grow to a few feet across. Another sign of yellowjacket infestation is the presence of the wasps themselves; they can often be spotted buzzing around trash cans and flowers.

Yellowjackets are quite aggressive, and will sting multiple times if provoked. Individuals who accidentally disrupt nests should leave the of the area immediately before they are attacked by large numbers of the wasps. Most people find the stings painful and may experience some swelling, but do not suffer any lasting effects. However, some are allergic to the yellowjackets’ venom, and may experience severe reactions. Such persons should seek immediate medical attention if stung.

Control

Yellowjackets are susceptible to insecticides, although cautions should be exhibited in placing the insecticides, so that the insects are not startled. One possible method is to spread insecticide dust on and around the opening of the nest. This should be done at night, when yellowjackets are less active. Homeowners who do not feel up to the task of dealing with the insects themselves, or who have severe infestations, should call a professional exterminator to remove the yellowjackets.

Who Doesn’t Like Chocolate

We spend so much time shooing away bugs we forget to be grateful to them. Think about chocolates, not too long or you’ll be apt to stop reading and search the cupboards to satisfy your craving. If you are dead set against bugs you may be surprised to know ‘no bugs-no chocolate’. That’s not a bribe, it’s a fact. Cacao flowers are pollinated by midges, ants, wild bees and aphids. It is from the seeds of this plant we get chocolate. No bugs, no flowers, no seeds, no chocolate. Maybe you should send a box of assorted to show your appreciation.

Have you ever thought of dinosaurs being bothered by bugs? Insects were on the earth first. Consider the fossil from, they say, 370 million years ago. It’s a dragonfly with wings that spread more than 2 feet wide. Spiders didn’t make big webs to catch their prey because most early insects didn’t fly. Ancient spiders stalked their prey or ambushed them. Dinosaurs went extinct but insects thrive almost everywhere.

Silk Food Wrap

Spider webs can be so pretty, especially when dripping with dew and sparkling from the early morning sun. But spiders don’t own the monopoly on spinning silk. Young caddisflies live in streams so they use their web spinning skills to make nets of silk between pebbles. They catch plankton and other tiny food that drift by. Another use for silk that spiders take advantage of is wrapping their catch in to keep it fresh. They are so clever they also weave warm pouches around their eggs to keep them moist and safe. Kind of like knitting booties but they don’t have to go out and buy yarn.

This is really a neat trick. The diving water spider makes his own individual ‘diving bell’. It’s an air filled chamber that allows this little 8 legged Jacques Cousteau to live under water. He only leaves it to catch tiny fish or tadpoles. If that didn’t impress you, consider the genius of the trapdoor spider. He digs a burrow in the ground, lines it with silk, and then makes a cover out of silk for the opening. He keeps watch from his trapdoor. When an unsuspecting insect happens by,  he quickly grabs it and drags it into the burrow.

Spider Rodeo

Still not impressed? Then let’s hope you love the rodeo. The bolas spider could put many a cowboy to shame. This little wrangler pulls out a 2 inch or so silk thread, adds a drop of gooey stuff on the end and then sits and waits. He holds his lasso in one foreleg, when a moth flies close he throws it. If all goes well, the glue sticks to the moth and he reels in his lunch. Now that is really cool.

Remember those old horror movies – the ones where they would make an insect look huge and they would have us believe it ate a whole city? So with all these nuclear accidents might we see this happen for real? Impossible because their skeleton is on the outside of their body. Even though it worked for the Hulk to burst through his clothes on the way to Super Sizeness,  it doesn’t work with exoskeletons. They would burst open and then you would have a naked, vulnerable insect. So what if the exoskeleton could grow thick and strong enough to support a humongous bug?  It would be too heavy for the bug to be able to move. So relax, your town is safe -  from Super Bugs anyway.

Most fireflies light up yellow, but did you know some are green, blue, or orange?  The male flies over the females flashing his colored light which identifies his species, as well as the height at which he flies, and the pattern of his flight. When the female detects the pattern of her species, she flashes back. Then the romance begins.

Let Us Show Some Appreciation

One small spider can consume hundreds of mosquitoes and other pesky bugs in its lifetime. So think twice before killing the spider that lives in your house – he’s doing you a favor. Do as I say not as I do. A mother wolf spider carries her young, about 100 of them, on her back until they are big enough to hunt for themselves (about a week). Then they jump off and begin life on their own. The oldest living spiders are the female tarantulas and trapdoor spiders. They live about 25 years. Their mates live only a few years, dying soon after they mate for the first time.

Dung beetle, not a particularly grand title for even a bug. Once again we should take off our hats to this useful little guy instead of scraping off our shoes. Their importance wasn’t appreciated until about 100 years ago, when the English brought cattle to Australia. The cattle grazed and pooped to the tune of about 360 million cow patties every day. There weren’t any dung beetles in Australia at the time so the patties just kept piling up. Someone brought dung beetles in from Europe and Africa to save the day. Now with these little sanitary engineers, the dung began to decompose and within a few years Australia began to smell a whole lot better.

We depend on insects in more ways they many even know. Besides pollination of our plants, they also provide chemicals that doctors use to treat epilepsy, stroke, Alzheimer’s and other diseases. They aid in composting and recycling nutrients back into the ground. They are food for many fish, frogs, birds and even humans. We put out cute little hummingbird feeders so we can watch these darling birds dart back and forth filling their massive energy requirements. They owe more to insects for help than they do people. They use silk from spider webs to hold their tiny little nests together. On Sesame Street they would say ‘That’s cooperation!’.

Asian roaches are approximately 1/2 inch in length, are light brown in color, and have two dark lines running down their backs. They are nearly indistinguishable in appearance from German roaches, with the exception of a small groove in the eighth segment their abdomens, and slightly longer, narrower wings. In behavior, however, the two species are quite different. Unlike German roaches, Asian roaches are capable fliers, and prefer to live outdoors, rather than indoors.

Asian roaches prefer to make their homes in dark, moist areas, and can be found in mulched and composted areas, among leaf litter, in thick grass, and in other areas with ground cover. They are typically most active at dusk, although they will fly during daylight hours if disturbed. As omnivores, Asian roaches will eat both plant and animal matter found in these areas.

While they were first discovered in Okinawa, Japan in 1981, Asian roaches have since then made their way to the United States, and in 1986 were first discovered in Florida. They can now be found throughout Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Texas.

Damage Signs

Asian roaches are strongly attracted to light, and are most active in the early evening, so one sign of Asian roach invasion is the sight of the roaches themselves buzzing around TV and computer screens, and around porch lights. They also multiply quickly, and populations of between 30,000 and 250,000 per acre are not unknown. Therefore, homeowners who have Asian roach infestations are likely to spot the bugs flying or hopping around.

Control

Asian roaches are widely viewed as pests, and are capable of transmitting many of the same germs that other roaches transmit, so individuals who find these roaches in their homes should take immediate steps to control the infestation. This is especially important because Asian roach populations increase very rapidly.

Asian roaches usually enter homes through windows and doors, so adding screens to such openings can prevent further roaches from entering the home. Additionally, replacing bright outdoor lights with sodium vapor lamps, which are not as likely to attract the roaches, and removing piles of leaves and other such debris from the yard may deter some roaches from entering the home.

Individuals who find that they already have Asian roaches in their houses may wish to use toxic bait pellets, or to call in a licensed exterminator to care for the matter.

Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

Brown recluse spiders, also known as fiddleback spiders, brown fiddlers, or violin spiders, are 1/4 to 3/4 inch in length, and have a violin-shaped marking that spreads over their combined head and thorax area. Unlike most spiders, which have eight eyes, brown recluse spiders have six eyes: one pair in the front, and one pair on each side. They are generally tan colored, although cream, dark brown, and dark gray brown recluses have been spotted. Their abdomens are covered in short, fine hair that almost looks like fur. Brown recluse spiders typically live between 2 and 4 years, and can survive drought and near starvation conditions for as long as six months.

While most spiders stay close to their nests at night, brown recluse spiders are nocturnal and leave their webs at night to hunt insects. During the day, they prefer to remain in warm, dark, sheltered areas, spinning their irregular webs. They can be found in garages, attics, closets, woodpiles and woodsheds, shoes, and bed sheets, behind baseboards, and in other such areas. Brown recluse spiders use their webs primarily to form egg sacs, and not to capture prey.

Brown recluse spiders are native to southern Midwest United States, including Georgia, Kentucky, and Texas. They have occasionally been spotted outside of the southern Midwest states, but these sightings have generally been due to the fact that the spiders have been accidentally transported across state lines by humans.

Damage Signs

Brown recluse spiders are not aggressive, and will generally flee if threatened. However, if they are pressed against skin, perhaps resting in a shoe that a person tries to put on, for instance, they can bite. They have extremely tiny fangs, so many people initially do not even feel a prick. However, within 2 to 8 hours, the area around the bite becomes inflamed, red, and itchy. Many spider bites heal on their own within a few weeks, but some become worse as time goes on, becoming more painful. Symptoms may include dizziness, vomiting, rash, and fever. In some cases, necrosis, or tissue death, occurs in the surrounding area, and can spread,  leaving scars many inches long. In small children, the bite may even be fatal. Therefore, individuals bitten by brown recluse spiders should seek immediate medical attention.

Homeowners who suspect that they may have brown recluse infestations should examine dark, dry areas that brown recluses are likely to inhabit, and should look for both the spiders and their molted skins.

Control

Homeowners looking to prevent brown recluse spiders from entering their homes should seal up small cracks through which the spiders can enter, and remove clutter in which the spiders may build their nests. They may also put glue boards, which may be used to trap the spiders, in key places throughout the home. Additionally, brown recluse spiders are susceptible to many insecticides currently on the market. Individuals who have severe brown recluse infestations in their homes should consider calling in licensed professionals to handle the matter.

Personally, I think one of the advantages to living on the Space Station would be the absence of creepy crawlers.  As we have noted in previous articles, researchers are definitely not into personal comfort, so they decided to bring a couple of spiders along for the ride.  Strangely, today’s six-legged shuttle passengers get to say they “go where no spider has ever gone before”.  Astronauts Arabella and Anita Arachnid flew to Skylab in 1973!

Scientists thought it would be really great to see how spiders react in weightlessness. Spinning a web could make for an interesting, if frustrating, challenge for spiders in space.  The researchers were mesmerized watching the spiders struggle to make a symmetric web in zero gravity.

It was in 2008 when teachers across the country decided that sending two spiders and some butterflies into orbit on a shuttle mission to the space station was a great way to get students involved in hands-on science.

We are all well aware that space travel has its dangers but I don’t remember NASA or anyone else ever misplacing an astronaut. They accused 2008′s Spider Two ( at least in 1973 they gave them names) of going AWOL.  Really, what would motivate a weightless spider to go anywhere if Earth were out of the question?  The flight director Ginger Kerrick apparently pressed for an explanation.  She was told he was just a backup spider, but try to explain that to some teary eyed second grader back on Earth anxiously awaiting their spider’s return!  Then she was told that this spider had his own contained space on board and he had moved out of that area.  They figured he went out of his bedroom into his living room.  I say he was searching for a little gravity.

Trying to send an optimistic report back home to concerned students, Kirk Shireman, deputy shuttle program manager, said that while only one spider was sighted, that doesn’t mean the other is missing.  ‘We don’t believe he has escaped the payload. I am sure we will find him spinning a web somewhere in the next few days.”  Sure Kirk, with such a fancy job title you should have been able to come up with a more convincing press release.

The rookie Astronaut Sandy Magnus was asked how Spider One was doing?  Here are excerpts of that conversation:

Mission Control: “Is it weaving an organized looking web or is it something neat to see?”

Magnus: “The web is more or less 3-dimensional and it looks like it is all over the inside of the box, more of a tangled disorganized-looking web than a ‘Charlotte’s Web’ kind of web.”

The spiders were returned to Earth when the Space Shuttle Endeavour landed at the end of its 15-day mission late November 2008.

Space exploration dollars well-spent when you consider how many well-paid professionals got involved in this missing spider caper.  What did we learn?  Spiders make better webs when left at home.  Also, that pigs in space are easier to keep track of.

Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

Undertaking Anyone

Okay this may not be the job for everyone but it is a very valuable service.  Job security must be a true high point when thinking of getting into this field.  That is probably not what  Mr. and Mrs. Sexton Beetle had in mind when they decided to choose this line of work.  No they are actually attracted to the putrid smell of the dead.  Now that’s got to be a real plus in this field.  So how do these little guys carry out such an enormous task?

First they smell the unfortunate passing of a mouse, frog, snake, lizard, squirrel, rabbit or anyone else about this size.  You can see why the Sexton Union would have to lay down the law on say burying a moose or similar sized corpse.  They inspect the carcass by walking all over and around it.  Having properly surveyed the job at hand, they crawl under the dead body.  Using their tiny heads and hands they start digging for all their worth.  The male does most the digging.  Before you go all woman’s lib on them you need to know Mrs. SB is pregnant, so please give her a break.  The Mrs. starts tunneling into the carcass to lay her eggs.  They both work steady and hard but are allowed rest breaks from time to time.  Little by little the body sinks into the ground.

Two weeks have past and the Sexton Beetle offspring start to hatch.  If you were thinking what a rotten (pardon the pun) nursery to place your children in, you would be so wrong.  What better way to make your kids well suited for such a lucrative profession than to bring them up in a foul-smelling nursery.  Here there is the obvious advantage of your newborns being able to feed off protein-rich dead flesh walls all around them.  No getting up for those exhausting two o’clock feedings for this otherwise hardworking couple.

Now there is always some scientist who isn’t embarrassed to get paid to watch insects, like the Sexton Beetle, hard at work.  So one such scientist watched two beetles bury a mole 3 inches under the ground in one night.  He calculated that to be the equivalent of two men burying an elephant 20 feet beneath the earth in 12 hours!  Fascinated or bored I don’t know which, he watched them 50 more days.  In that time they had buried 12 bodies of frogs, fish, birds, and quadrupeds.  So much work and so little time.

Apparently there’s no patent for the utilization of smelly nursery’s in bugdom.  Take the dung beetle for instance.  I’ll have to admit I have amused myself watching these little clowns rolling an ever increasing ball of dung down the street.  They make me laugh when they fall over,  much like I have been known to do on my exercise ball.  They do, however get themselves up with greater ease and continue on their journey.  Where are they going?  They are on the way to bury these stinky globes of poop but only after they are sure they have collected enough dung.  Better that than on their way to a covered dish neighborhood block party.  They have considerately rid us of stuff we would have had to scraped off our shoes.  More importantly, to them, they have successfully built a nutritious nursery for the eggs they had placed inside to hatch.

Master Tailoring

Perhaps being an Undertaker or a Sanitary Engineer doesn’t suit you as a life long career.  It doesn’t suit the caterpillar of the American tortoiseshell butterfly either.  He deals in fine fabric, namely silk.  He not only manufactures silk he is so talented that he also designs and makes a warm coat to sleep in.  Probably the first Snuggie ever.  He was just too sophisticated the resort to those silly commercials.

No need of pattern or scissors,  he uses his strong jaws and sharp tiny teeth to make a perfectly straight cut across a leaf.  Then he divides the cut leaf so both sides are the same size and design.  With a stitch so fine you would need a microscope to detect the seam, he sews the two pieces of leaf together to form a small cylindrical shaped coat.

The silk he manufactures comes from a tube in the back of his mouth.  Since he wants his coat to be snuggly and warm he lines it with a thick, soft layer of silk.  Imagine all that for only $19.95!

Farming Fungus

The leaf-carrying ant lives in great numbers in the American Tropics.  These guys don’t work alone.  They quickly march in two columns, one marching to and the other marching from a tree or bush possibly a mile or more from their nest.  Those coming back from the bush are carrying pieces of leaves over their backs.

If you were to watch them closely you would see them use their jaws to cut the leaves into little triangles and with a jerk it is ripped from the plant.  Each ant usually does his own cutting.  On occasion one ant decides he should do all the cutting.  Maybe his feet are tired from all that marching and toting.  Now that’s a real possibility because each ant is carrying a load 4 times it’s weight for a mile or more.  Let’s put this in terms we can understand.  Each day they travel, when calculating ant proportions to humans,  3000 miles.  Would you take a job that required you to walk from New York to California in one day?  That’s everyday carrying a two- or three- hundred pound load on each return trip!  Now maybe rolling around a ball of dung sounds like a better line of work to be in.

Why do these ants work so hard?  Because they are farmers, that’s why.  These leaves feed their mushroom or fungus beds they grow in their nests.  Their feet aren’t the only parts of these farmers that get tired.  Back at the nest with their leaves they chew them with those hard working jaws.  Now that they have shredded them they make the leaves into little balls or pellets.  They press these into the surface of their gardens.  Soon the pellets get covered with a fungus growth of fine white threads.  This fungus produces a liquid that feeds these hardworking farmer ants.

In conclusion, I find the solution to the unemployment problem lies in being willing to do almost anything (and eat or feed our young almost anything).  With further contemplation, I think this may be easier when functioning under the power of instinct rather than reason.

Why to Consider Crickets

The Japanese have all those wonderful vehicles we pay dearly for so we must have respect for their sense of economy and ingenuity. Then maybe we should at least entertain the thought of Crickets as pets.   The Japanese have been hunting them for pets since at least 1000 A.D..  They keep them in cages of wood or bamboo or if they really want to show off their lovely pet they choose a cage of gold. The bedroom is a preferred location for their cricket so they can be serenaded as they fall asleep. The nursery is another favorite place to put these musical creatures as they act as a natural lullaby to, as the term suggests, lull their baby to sleep. All this soothing sound with no need to wind up, plug in, or buy batteries. That is, as long as your bedroom is 80 or 90 degrees because the little musicians like it warm if you expect them to sing. Rather than suffering  in a hot bedroom, you could make your cricket cozy with a little lamp for heat.  At this point you will also need a sleep mask but they say it’s all worth it.

A word of caution is in order here. If you really want the Japanese pet cricket experience, do not settle for the inferior cicada.  This insect is considered to be a ‘vulgar chatterer’ by the Japanese. They would never, ever consider putting a cicada in one of their ornate golden cages. I guess that would be the equivalent of putting a Three Musketeers candy bar in a Godiva Box.  Or maybe it would be more like slipping a CD into your stereo expecting to hear the soothing sounds of Frank Sinatra and instead the jarring sounds of Eminem (who some also consider to be a ‘vulgar chatterer’) emit from your speakers. In other words, just don’t do it.
Maybe you are still thinking the appeal still isn’t there for you. Maybe you prefer your energy-sucking Bose Sound System and don’t mind winding up the Fisher Price Baby Lullaby Mobile with the dangling toys; besides, maybe that’s increasing junior’s IQ. Could be, but is it alerting you to intruders? Security crickets are no joke. That’s another reason the Japanese love their crickets. You see, crickets go along singing their merry song unless a stranger approaches. If that happens, sensing danger, they stop and their silence alerts their master to jump into action.

Now this makes me question one cricket fact I read. When reading about the feeding of your cuddly cricket (apparently an old stinky sock will do, more on that later) they warned you should soak a sponge with water because if you put out a dish of water their little brains aren’t big enough to keep them from drowning. Consider the larger brain of your fearless, faithful defender Fido, who sure is able to lap up water from his bowl without requiring resuscitation, but bounds to the fence ready to ward off any intruder, armed or not. Compared to the silent cricket, who safely hides under his rock waiting for you to protect and defend, who do you think shows the most smarts? Of course once again the cricket gets ranked higher in economy when you consider the high costs of homeowners insurance due to the liability of owning one of those Einstein dogs that insist on taking matters into their own jaws.

More Practical Considerations

Grooming, we already learned, is too dangerous to even be considered for your pet cricket because he would probably just drown in the sink. Shedding is not much of a problem and cleaning the cage is just a once a week thing. If you want baby crickets, take care when cleaning  if you have a girl cricket and a boy cricket.  And yes you can tell who’s of what sex,  but the girl looks more like what you think a boy should look like because of its ovipositor that sticks out like an appendage.   What you have to be careful of, is that the eggs are the same size as their droppings, but the eggs are creamy white, droppings black which all makes sense.  You just may want a little cricket tuning up in the wings, as it were, because Mommy and Daddy are heading for an early retirement.  This is a sad fact to think about when you are bonding with your pet, but he’s only going to be singing you to sleep for about seven months.  So please try to make them happy months for your melodious buddy.

My finicky pooch Colby, who has been known to spit a pricey treat across the room, with all the disgust he can muster, just to make me try harder to please his every whim. Then there’s the grateful cricket, who will eat just about anything you give him.  He’s even willing to sing for his supper.  There is another warning to heed, though.  If, say you were away and the neighbors forget to come over and throw some Cricket Chow in the cage and your cricket family gets hungry…no matter how committed you thought they were to each other, a cricket’s gotta eat.  Yes as charming as you considered your crickets to be, they can become not so charming cannibals if driven to it.

Where do you find Cricket Chow?   It’s sold in pet stores and bait shops.  Apparently, crickets enjoy fishing or why else would they be selling cricket fast food in a bait shop? And I don’t want to think any different.  This would be another plus for you who like a manly, sporty pet.  They also eat plants, dead insects, seeds, paper, old cloth especially if it has been perspired on (so see I wasn’t kidding when I suggested throwing them a stinky sock) and non-citrus fruit or vegetable peelings.
Here’s another advantage of the cricket to your furry friends. Sure, if your dog comes in you can tell if it’s cold outside by feeling its wet nose but can you tell ‘how’ cold it is. Crickets are also known as the “poor man’s thermometer”. You can determine the exact temperature by counting the number of chirps a cricket makes during a 15-second interval, then adding 37 to the number to get the correct temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.  There is a flaw here that I can see. If it’s cold where your cricket is he won’t chirp, so with that formula it would always be 37 degrees.  No wonder only the poor put up with this form of meteorology.  So I figure your dog’s cold nose is just as accurate and usually delivered right to your cheek with enthusiasm and affection.  So dogs win, at least in cold weather, as better weather men.

And Now, a Non-Sanctioned Reason to Own a Cricket

Here’s my DISCLAIMER I wouldn’t even watch a hotdog eat another hotdog if that were possible. In the interest of a full report on why people have crickets for pets, it’s time to discuss Cricket Fights. Now again, to be purely practical, would Michael Vick  have missed one minute of football if he had a bunch of  little cricket houses in his backyard?  Even if he had the toughest, meanest, fiercest, fighting crickets tied outside them I think he would have gotten away with it.  Not that I would approve.
Cricket fighting, though, was an ancient and popular form of entertainment. Crickets were prized as sporting pets.

A person would select the toughest cricket they could find.  Though I didn’t find any info on cricket drugging, I couldn’t help but try to picture a cricket on steroids.  They put it on a special diet of seeds and small insects.  Just before the contest, the cricket would be starved to increase its fierceness (picture a teenager after basketball practice and supper isn’t ready).  Two starving crickets would be placed into a cage so they would fight to the death with the loser being lunch for the victor.  Now I suppose this kind of drama is being played out in most backyards, in one fashion or the other, each day but the ancient Chinese delighted in placing bets on the crickets to heighten the entertainment value.

Today it is still regarded as a sport in modern China. This is a revival of the sport because after the revolution they thought it too ‘bourgeois’ to be betting on hungry bugs.  Apparently now they have no objection to being ‘bourgeois’.  The proof of that is there is now an Association for Cricket Fighting in Beijing. Picture this, or not depending how weak your stomach is, a national tournament with a video camera zooming in and projecting the cricket fight onto televisions so many can view the gore from the comfort of their own home and this time I’m not kidding they really televise these battling beasts.  Once again it sounds economical but I rather pay for popcorn at the movies and I don’t care if you call me ‘bourgeois’.

In Conclusion

Crickets are easy, undemanding (unless you consider they would sing more on a warm tropical island, but I would too for that matter), easy to groom (don’t), smarter security, less of a liability, easier to rehabilitate (or flush) after a fighting career, and all around cheaper. I have been told I am a very practical person. Okay maybe they didn’t know me very well.  When Flicker’s last flick dims to a shadow  I will not be getting a Cricket!  So it is pretty safe to say I am bourgeois and that’s okay by me.

Fascinating Facts

Scientists say that for every person on earth there are one million insects. Why are there so many? Well take the queen termite, she can lay more than 300,000 eggs a day. Take that Kate plus Eight. Who would you say more deserves their own Reality Show?

Arnold Schwarzenegger, in his prime, wowed audiences with his bulging muscles of which the human boasts 600. Impressive? Not compared to some insects who have as many as 4,000. You know he spent many hours at the gym but still can’t match the strength of a bee who can lift 300 times its own weight. That would mean Arnold would have to pick up a 10-ton truck, without relying on special effects!

Have you ever said, ‘I’m as hungry as a horse’? Well better to be that than as hungry as a locust, who eats its own weight every day. Most people lament how easily they can put on weight. Just imagine increasing your weight more than 4,000 times in just 56 days like the hungry silkworm does. All it takes for them are lots of leaves- at least we get pizza, ice cream and the like. Talking about size, can you imagine putting your hand on what you think is your computer mouse only to feel it start moving without your help? Well that’s what it would be like if the Goliath beetle ended up on your desk. He weighs as much as a quarter pounder! Only, that is, if you hold the pickles. If you are in Borneo and decide to toast marshmallows, when you grab for a stick just make sure it isn’t the tropical walkingstick. Not that he wouldn’t work, being a foot long or if you count his legs 20 inches, but it just wouldn’t be nice to get his feet all sticky like that. The opposite extreme is the fairyfly. If you are having trouble threading a needle you may want to put on your specs to make sure one of these little guys isn’t clogging up the hole because they are just that diminutive.

Have you ever tried to run away from an angry Yellow Jacket wasp? I have and trust me you can’t. They can fly 15mph! The only thing that saved me was jumping into the pool and staying submerged until, I guess, they figured I had drowned. I’m glad I never angered a Dragonfly. They can fly 60mph. Another speedy little fellow is the annoying no-see-um midge. They beat their little wings almost 63,000 times a minute. Cockroaches are they fastest running insect at 2.5 miles an hour. If that doesn’t sound fast , that equals 40 body lengths a second. Humans runners cover only 4 body lengths a second.

The United States has been having a pretty cold winter this year. It doesn’t take too much of a dip in temperature to send us humans running for shelter. And, preferably a Starbucks, for a Vente Hot Mocha Latte for relief. Next time you complain you are so cold you think you’re going to die, think of the poor African midge. They dipped this unfortunate little dude into liquid helium at -452 degrees Fahrenheit and he lived!

Did you know that 1/2 of all human deaths throughout history were caused by mosquitoes. They spread many terrible diseases. Malaria kills about one million people each year, which is carried by the female of one species. In 1803, Napoleon had 20,000 of his men killed by the mosquito borne disease, yellow fever, causing his defeat in Haiti. Where can you go to get away from this deadly pest? Unfortunately the answer is pretty much nowhere. Mosquitoes are more places than any other insect. All the way from the hot and humid tropics to the freezing polar regions.

My Personal Most Loathed

I hate hate hate HATE flies! I believe I have every reason to. Just imagine eating with a friend and they ask permission to taste your chocolate mousse or whatever. You graciously agree to allow them to sample your delectable dessert. To your horror, the next thing you know is they have stuck their toes in your chocolate splurge, explaining they have no taste buds in their mouth, but they actually taste with their feet! Suddenly you feel a little ill, but now they are spitting into the mousse because, yes indeed their feet said it was delicious, but they can’t eat solid foods. So they spit on it so their saliva can predigest it into a liquid so they can suck it up and enjoy it. As if that wasn’t enough, they begin to tell you about what a great day they had wandering about, with those same bare feet, through the garbage heap, the dumpster behind the restaurant and even worse, the dog park. He seems almost to brag about being able to carry one million germs stuck all over his hairy legs. All of a sudden my resolution to cut down on sweets doesn’t seem so hard to keep after all. Of course even your most uncouth of dinner guest would never do any of that. Unless that is, you are dining with a fly.

If that scenario didn’t bring you over to my side, consider this. The mother Gal midge fly. She better have knitted all those little booties before she became pregnant. Why? Her cute offspring are actually born inside her body. As with every newborn, they are ravenous! What’s to eat? Mommy’s insides look delicious. In about 2 days there’s nothing left of poor ol’ mom but a hard empty shell. Now that’s gratitude!

Now let’s all say it together! ” I HATE FLIES!!!!!”

Brown widow spiders, alternatively known as gray widow spiders or geometric button spiders, are gray or brown arachnids with orange or yellow hourglass-shaped markings on the undersides of their abdomens, and black and white geometric patterns on their backs. Female brown widows are approximately 1 to 3/2 inches in length, while the males range from 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length.

Like their cousins the black widow spiders, brown widows are venomous. However, while the venom of brown widows is as toxic as the venom of black widows, brown widows inject less venom into their prey and are therefore not dangerous to humans, excepting those who are allergic to spider bites. Most people bitten by brown widows report that the discomfort they experienced was similar to the discomfort they might feel if bitten by an ordinary house spider. Brown widows are generally not aggressive, and will usually flee from humans.

Brown widows prefer to make their webs in sheltered areas such as mail boxes, under eaves, in abandoned vehicles, beneath patio furniture, and in flowerpots. They can be found throughout the Southern United States.

Damage Signs

Homeowners may detect the presence of brown widow spider egg sacs in the home before they detect the spiders themselves. Brown widow egg sacs are tan, are approximately 1/2 inch across, and look like sandspur seeds, or round spiky balls. Brown widows are not known for causing damage to homes or humans, but their mere presence in the home can be bothersome to many people.

Control

Homeowners looking to prevent brown widows from entering their homes should seal up cracks and holes through which brown widows might enter, and remove firewood and unused containers, such as flowerpots, from the area surrounding the house.

Homeowners who find brown widows in their homes or garages should remove the spiders and accompanying webs and egg sacs with a vacuum.  Once the vacuuming has been completed, it is best to place the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag, and then put the bag in an outdoor garbage receptacle. If the infestation is more severe, it may be necessary to use insecticides, or to call in a licensed exterminator.

You just got home after being on a cruise, staying in a 5 Star Hotel  or even from a hospital stay and you didn’t come home alone.  Now what?

HOME REMEDIES TO TRY

When it comes to bed bugs. there really isn’t much you can do to get rid of these unwanted intruders on your own.  Before calling in the professionals some have found limited success with the following home remedies for bed bugs:

a) Rubbing Alcohol-  spraying where bed bugs thrive will kill bed bugs on contact

b) Fruit and Vegetable Insecticides-  using those made with pyrethrins and canola oil can be effective and safe

c) Steam Treatments- small steam cleaners are now popular and can be effective in treating items with less than 1/2 inch penetration

d) Dry Heat- For any item you cannot launder but fits in the dryer, toss it in on high heat for at least 20 minutes

e) Hot Sun- temperatures over 113 degrees are said to kill bed bugs.  So wash and dry clothes and linens at hot wash and dry settings.  If you live in a hot desert climate, you may hang out items in the hot bright sunlight

I hope these remedies help.  Don’t wait too long to call for help, though.  Bed bug infestations can accelerate fast.  The longer you wait the harder it will be to kill them, and the longer you go before your next good night, sleep tight and no worries about letting those nasty bugs bite.

Drywood termites have rounded bodies approximately 1/5 to 1/2 inches in length, and are typically light brown in color. They have three distinct castes: immatures, soldiers, and reproductives, also known as alates. The alates are the only drywood termites that have wings. Their wings range from clear to smoky gray, and have distinctly visible wings. However, alates  are not powerful fliers, and can only travel long distances by allowing themselves to be carried along by air currents. Drywood termite colonies tend to be small, including fewer than 1,000 insects.

As their name suggests, drywood termites are able to survive with very little access to water. They feed on the cellulose found in wood, and are also able to metabolize moisture from the water within wood. Unlike subterranean termites, which make their homes in the soil, drywood termites nest within wood, drilling caverns and clean connecting tunnels throughout dry wood, frequently causing extensive damage. The entrance to these nests can be as small as 1/8 inch in diameter.

Drywood termites can be found in furniture, wood frames, beams, dead wood around houses and outbuildings, and other wooden objects. They prefer hot, dry habitats, and can be found in the far Southern United States.

Damage Signs

The most obvious sign of drywood termite infestation is the presence of fecal pellets approximately 1/25 inch long. Drywood termites keep their tunnels and galleries clean, and will create “kick holes” to remove feces. The feces will then collect in a pile beneath the hole. Drywood termite feces have rounded ends and six concave sides, and are tan or black. Additional signs of infestation include shed termite wings and damaged wood, which will sound hollow when tapped.

Control

To prevent drywood termite infestation, remove firewood, scrap wood, and dead trees from the yard. Make sure that attic and basement vents are screened, to prevent alates from entering the home through these channels. Drywood termites are also less likely to infest wood that has been painted.

Once an infestation is in progress, it is generally recommended that homeowners contact a licensed exterminator in order to remove the termites, as extermination is difficult and often involves fumigation.

Chinch bugs are small insects approximately 1/8 to 1/5 inch in length, and can vary in color from black with white markings to dark red or brown with reddish legs and white markings. They can have either long or short wings. Chinch bugs feed through long, straw-like mouth parts, through which they suck plant juices while simultaneously injecting the plants with chemicals. Their diet consists of  sap from wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, Kentucky bluegrass, turf grass, and other grasses. When plants become dry, chinch bugs will move on to a new food source.

The name “chinch bug” comes from the Spanish word “chinche,” which has come to mean “pest.” This name is fitting, since chinch bugs are indeed pests, often destroying turf grass and other plants through their feeding practices.

Chinch bugs make their homes in turf grass, especially if it has a thick hatch, and in hedgerows, soybean stubble, field mice nests, and under tree bark. They prefer to be in warm, dry, sunny areas, and do not respond well to moist conditions. Chinch bugs can be found throughout the United States, Southern Canada, Mexico, and Central America.

Damage Signs

Areas of dead lawn are often a sign of chinch bug infestation. Homeowners looking to spot the bugs themselves should examine areas of grass at the border between dead grass, which is usually yellow or reddish-brown, and healthy grass, as it is often possible to spot the insects scurrying about in these areas. A second method of spotting chinch bugs is to take a coffee can, remove both ends, push one end into the ground, and flood the can with water. Any chinch bugs in the soil in the can will then float to the top.

Control

Chinch bugs are susceptible to a number of insecticides currently on the market. Additionally, homeowners looking to prevent chinch bug invasion may consider endophyte-enhanced turf grass, which contains fungi that makes it resistant to insect attack.

Millipedes have slightly flattened or cylindrical bodies made up of many segments, and can range from 1/12 of an inch to 11 inches in length. Unlike centipedes, which have one pair of legs per segment, millipedes typically have two pairs of legs per segment. However, despite the fact that the name “millipede” suggests that these creatures have 1,000 legs, in reality, they can have as few as 11 or as many as 750 legs, and most common species have between 36 and 400 legs. They are generally black or brown, although some unusual varieties can be brightly colored.

Not only do millipedes have more legs per segment than centipedes, but they are also move much more slowly. As a result, they cannot depend upon speed to escape from predators, and so if threatened will instead curl up into a tight ball if threatened. A few varieties can also exude poisonous liquids which are harmful to ants and other insect predators, although these substances are unlikely to cause more than mild irritation to humans, unless the poison comes into contact with a sensitive area such as an eye, in which case they have been known to cause conjunctivitis.

Most millipedes feed on decaying organic matter, such as rotting leaves and wood, although some species also eat insects and earthworms as well. They require moist conditions, and can be found in grass clippings, mulch, rotting firewood, or in the ground. Millipedes are adept burrowers, and, moving their bodies in a wave-like manner, will force their heads into the ground to create tunnels. They will generally not stray far into homes, where conditions are too dry for them to exist for any length of time.

Damage Signs

The effect that millipedes have on their environment is generally beneficial, as they break down dead plant matter. However, when they are present in large numbers, they can damage seedlings, ripening fruit, and roots and leaves of plants. Damage signs include plants that have stems that have been stripped of their outer layers, and uneven damage to plant leaves.

Control

Homeowners looking to prevent millipede infestations should remove millipede hiding places such as rotting logs, compost piles, and leaves from the area around the house. In the case of an especially large infestation, homeowners may wish to use insecticides or to call in a licensed pest removal company.

Roof rats, alternately known as black rats, ship rats, house rats, or old English rats, are nocturnal rodents that are approximately 13 to 18 inches in length, including their tails, and weigh between 1/4 and 3/4 of a pound. They have long, scaly tails, large ears and eyes, and range from black to light brown in color. Their abdomens are usually lighter in color than the rest of their bodies. Roof rats are poor swimmers, but they make up for their lack of swimming ability with their remarkable agility and adeptness in climbing. When chased by predators, they will flee upwards if possible.

As omnivores, roof rats will eat grains, meats, fruits, vegetables, and invertebrates, and even paper. They prefer to nest above ground, and can commonly be found outdoors in hollow trees, woodpiles, plants, and garbage. They can be found indoors in attics and hollow walls, and on rafters, pipes, wires, and crossbeams. They can enter houses through openings as small as an inch in diameter.

Roof rats prefer warm habitats, and can be found in most countries with mild weather.

Damage Signs

Roof rats are known carriers of disease, and can transmit bubonic plague, typhus, trichinosis, and other pathogens. Once inside homes, they can also eat and spoil human food, create holes in walls, and gnaw through pipes and wires. They have even been known to start fires when chewing through wires. Signs of roof rat infestation include sounds of chewing and scuffling in walls, oily marks from rat footprints, cylindrical droppings approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch in long, and round one inch wide holes in fruit.

Control

Homeowners seeking to prevent roof rat infestation should mend torn screens in windows, seal small openings or holes, especially in attics, through which the rats could enter, keep tree limbs trimmed so that they are a minimum of four feet from the house, firmly seal garbage cans, and clean up lawn debris. Homeowners who find roof rats in their homes may consider trapping or poison baits to remove the rats. Homeowners who find a large number of rats in their homes may also wish to call in professional pest removal companies.

Crabgrass

Here’s a question we hear all the time….”But do I really need chemicals for crabgrass control?”  The answer is, No. While the best way to kill crabgrass is with herbicides administered by a professional like All Safe Pest Control, the best way to control it is by having a healthy lawn. Here are some ways to promote lawn health — at the expense of crabgrass:

• Fertilize (compost is fine) more heavily in autumn than spring. By autumn, frosts will have already killed any crabgrass.
• Don’t let bare spots remain uncovered for long, else opportunistic crabgrass will take root. In the fall, fill in those bare spots by overseeding.
• When irrigating the lawn, water more deeply and less frequently. Crabgrass is a notoriously shallow weed.
• Mow “high”, leaving the lawn grass at a height of 2 1/2″-3″. This will allow the lawn grass to “protect its own turf” better, depriving crabgrass seeds of the light they need to germinate.

To add to this, we found this little video on Youtube where someone says boiling water can help… Check it out and give us a call anytime to learn how we can help you keep the best yard on your street.

Silverfish, alternatively known as paramites, fishmoths, or carpet sharks, are nocturnal, wingless insects approximately 1/2 to 1 inch in length. They have lengthy antennae, and elongated, flattened bodies with abdomens that become thinner at the end. The name “silverfish” comes from the insect’s typical coloring of silvery-blue, and from its way of wriggling as it moves, which gives it a fish-like appearance. Despite this unusual method of crawling, however, silverfish can actually move quite quickly.

Silverfish feed on materials containing sugars, starch and cellulose, including paper, photographs, mold, book bindings, glue, sugar, coffee, carpet, clothing, hair, and other common household items. They can cause extensive damage within the home, and are commonly considered pests. Silverfish have been known to live for as long as one year without eating.

Silverfish prefer warm, humid habitats, and are commonly throughout Europe, North America, Australia, and Asia.

Damage Signs

Homeowners who have silverfish infestations are likely to spot the insects in areas such as bathtubs, bookcase shelves, basements, sinks, garages, attics, behind baseboards, and other dark, warm, moist areas. Other signs of infestation are holes in wallpaper and clothing chewed by silverfish. These holes are also sometimes accompanied by yellow stains.

Outdoors, silverfish can be found in the nests of other insects and of birds, beneath tree bark, and in the siding of houses.

Control

Homeowners looking to eradicate silverfish from their homes may find that dehumidifiers are helpful, as a lack of moisture in the air will discourage the insects from remaining in the home. Fixing leaky pipes, carefully sealing up food, and eliminating any containers of standing water will also help to get rid of silverfish. Using a narrow vacuum head to vacuum areas around trim, baseboards, and cracks will often remove some of the insects. Additionally, silverfish are susceptible many insecticides currently on the market.

No food for a month–not even a crumb? Roaches can go without eating for a month but will only live a week without water.

Headless Horseman? Err… Horseroach? A cockroach can live a week without its head. It only dies because without a mouth, it can’t drink water.

Cockroaches have at least 18 knees.

Cockroaches are some of the most ancient insects. Fossil records show their relatives have been around, virtually unchanged in appearance, for over 350 million years.

Recent studies have confirmed that cockroaches are a major cause of allergies and asthma. In some inner city areas up to 45% of the children are allergic to roaches, and many of them have developed asthma as a result of constant exposure.

Cockroaches have been found to carry, on their bodies, the pathogens that cause tuberculosis, cholera, leprosy, dysentery, and typhoid, as well as over 40 other bacteria or viruses that can cause disease.

Doctors in some inner city areas report that one-half of the foreign objects they remove from children’s ears are cockroaches.

Cockroaches will feed on people!! They feed at night when people are sleeping, consuming protein materials such as eyebrows and fingernails.

Cockroaches are among the fastest land-moving insects. They are capable of moving 50 body lengths each second! If a human had this potential he could run a 100 yard dash in 1 second, reaching a speed of 200 miles per hour.

Cockroaches can detect changes in barometric pressure, and thus instinctively know when a severe rainstorm is imminent. In Bermuda, about an hour before a downpour, thousands of cockroaches have been observed running across the roads.

Cockroach populations can be huge:

1. in 1965 in Indiana over 6,000 cockroaches were found in a single beer carton

2. in 1947 a 4-room apartment in Texas was treated, and over 100,000 roaches killed

3. in 1967 a treatment killed 133 pounds of American Cockroaches that were living in the cage around a Chicago zoo’s prize gorilla

4. an estimated 1 million or more cockroaches were living in a house in New York, along with a family, 24 dogs, 20 cats, 2 mice, and a parrot. The house was so saturated with roaches that they had flowed out over the lawns, tree trunks, and walls of nearby homes, and into the sewers. This happened in 1979.

Carpenter bees are large black and yellow bees approximately 1/2 to 1 inch in length. They closely resemble bumblebees, but whereas bumblebees generally have some yellow markings on their abdomens, carpenter bees have shiny black abdomens. Male carpenter bees have white markings on their faces, while females do not. Additionally, while male carpenter bees are generally more aggressive than females, only the females possess stingers.

The name “carpenter bee” derives from this species’ method of boring holes in wood in order to create nests. Carpenter bees drill into the wood and create tunnels inside by scraping their jaws against the wood and vibrating their bodies. The entrance holes to their nests are almost completely circular, and are approximately 1/2 inch in diameter, while the galleries inside the wood range from 6 inches to 1 foot in length. Carpenter bees prefer to make their nests in redwood, cedar, cypress, and pine woods. While they most commonly nest in trees, they can also be found in eaves, window trim, siding, patios, telephone poles, and deck furniture.

Contrary to popular belief, carpenter bees do not eat wood. Instead, they feed on the nectar from flowers. Favored varieties of flowers include honeysuckle, blue bonnets, mints, and passion flowers.  Carpenter bees can be found throughout the world.

Damage Signs

While initial damage from carpenter bee drilling is usually slight, the bees will reuse nests year after year, and will continue to drill throughout the years, so they can eventually cause substantial structural damage. Common signs of carpenter bee infestations include round holes drilled in wood, and small piles of sawdust beneath these holes. Homeowners may also see yellow stains in the surrounding wood from bee fecal matter.

Control

Carpenter bees prefer to nest in untreated wood, so painting exposed wood surfaces will sometimes, although not always, discourage bees from nesting in the area. Once an infestation is in progress, treating the nest entrance holes with insecticides or dust is usually effective. Homeowners with particularly large infestations may choose to call in a licensed exterminator.

The name “spider mite” comes from this species’ habit of creating webs very similar to those created by spiders. Spider mites are also arachnids, albeit tiny ones, reaching only about 1 millimeter in length. Their oval bodies have eight legs, and range in color from red and brown to yellow and green, depending upon the species and time of year. Most spider mites change color with the seasons, and toward winter tend to be more orange or red.

Spider mites prefer hot, dry climates, and can most commonly be found on the undersides of the leaves of plants. It is here that they weave their webs, which protect both the spider mites and their eggs from potential predators and from other environmental dangers. Spider mites feed on the fluid from plant cells. They gain access to the fluid by injecting their needle-like mouths into the leaves of the plants, and then sucking out the fluid in the cells. In the process of feeding, they can damage trees, shrubs, vegetable crops, and flowers.

Damage Signs

Spider mites are prolific breeders, and can attain maturity within the space of a single week, so infestations often go unnoticed until they are in full progress. Homeowners who suspect that their yards may be infested should carefully examine the undersides of leaves, looking for mites, mite webs, or mite eggs. Spider mite eggs are surprisingly large compared to the size of the mother, and look like diminutive pearls. Because both mites and their eggs are so small, they can most easily be spotted through the use of a lens.

Plants that have been damaged often have leaves that appear spotted and discolored. Additionally, their leaves may begin to fall off prematurely.

Control

Insecticides often fail to curb spider mite infestations, because the mites breed so frequently and new generations will adapt to insecticides that may have killed their parents. However, the introduction of predatory mite species into the area is often sufficient to control spider mites. Because spider mites prefer dry areas, plants that are frequently watered are also less likely to suffer damage. Finally, homeowners with severe infestations may choose to call in a licensed exterminator.

Scorpions are nocturnal, eight-legged arachnids with elongated bodies and two front claws ending in sharp pincers. Their most distinctive feature is a long, slender tail curving over the back and ending in a venom-filled stinger. Scorpions have two eyes at the top of their heads, and can have an additional four to ten eyes along the sides of their heads. Despite their remarkable number of eyes, however, scorpions actually have poor vision, and rely heavily on their keen sense of touch when hunting. Scorpions are typically between 1/2 and 7 inches in length. Their lifespans vary from 4 to 25 years.

The diet of scorpions typically consists of insects, earthworms, centipedes, and spiders, although some larger varieties of scorpions have occasionally been known to feed off lizards and mice. Because they can store food in their bodies and have extremely slow metabolisms, scorpions do not need to eat very often, and have even been known to survive for as long as a year without food.

Scorpions can survive in temperatures ranging from 68 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit, and can be found in deserts, grasslands, and forests. They are present in all continents except Antarctica. During the day, they seek shelter beneath rocks and logs, in mulch and flowerbeds, and in holes in the ground. Occasionally they find their way into homes as well.

Damage Signs

More than 1,500 species of scorpions exist worldwide, but only 30 or so of these species, including the bark scorpion of Arizona and New Mexico, are deadly to humans. Nevertheless, scorpion stings are quite painful. Sting symptoms in adults  can include high blood pressure, muscle twitching, weakness, increased heart rate, and rapid breathing. Symptoms in children are often more severe, and any child who has been stung should receive medical treatment as soon as possible.

Control

Homeowners should remove trash, logs, boards, and other objects under which scorpions may seek shelter from the yard. Tree branches hanging close to the home should be pruned to prevent scorpions from climbing into the home. Once firewood is brought into the house, it should be immediately placed in the fire, as scorpions will occasionally attach themselves to the wood. Additionally, small cracks and crevices through which scorpions can enter the house should be sealed.

There are a number of insecticides currently on the market that can effectively kill scorpions. However, homeowners who find large numbers of scorpions on their property may wish to call in a licensed professional pest removal company.

Characteristics, Habits, and Geography

Fire ants, also known as ginger ants, are a species of stinging ant approximately 1/16 to 1/4 of an inch in length. They can be distinguished from ordinary black ants by their reddish-brown heads and darker abdomens. As omnivores, fire ants will eat almost any food available, including insects, plants, seeds, mice, turtles, and snakes. Fire ants bite their prey to get a firm grip, and then, using a stinger in their abdomen, inject a powerful venom known as Solenopsin into their prey to kill it. The name “fire ant” derives from the fact that when humans receive this sting they often feel as though they have been burned with fire.

Fire ants are remarkably strong, and can lift up to five times their own body weight. Their eyes, which consist of many different lenses, allow them to see the world almost as if they were viewing their surroundings through a kaleidoscope. As a result, fire ants spot are more easily able to discern movement than they are individual shapes. This means that fire ants do not rely on vision for communication, but instead rely heavily on scent. Fire ants emit pheromones, which other fire ants detect using their antennae. These pheromones can communicate impending danger, indicate the presence of  other fire ants nearby, or urge worker ants to continue working.

Fire ants are typically found near river banks, ponds, moist lawns, or highways. They build their nests under stones, logs, bricks, and similar objects. If no shelter is available, fire ants will construct anthills. These anthills can reach up to 16 inches in height, and the tunnels below them can extend as far as five feet into the ground. Fire ants are generally found in the Southern United States.

Damage Signs

Most varieties of fire ants will not bother humans, but a particular species found in the United States, Australia, the Philippines, China, and Taiwan, known as the red imported fire ant, is an intrusive pest. These fire ants can invade school yards, lawns, homes, and parks. They generally invade in large numbers, so the surest sign of a fire ant infestation is to see the ants themselves.

People stung or bitten by fire ants soon discover that the stings develop into red, swollen, itchy welts. If scratched, these welts can easily become infected. Some individuals are also allergic to the stings, and if stung can go into anaphylactic shock unless treated immediately.

Control

There are a number of baits currently on the market that can be effective in removing fire ants. Homeowners with fire ant infestations can spread poisoned bait around the infested areas. Worker ants looking for food then bring the bait back to their nests, poisoning the rest of the colony. For infestations that are particularly severe, homeowners may wish to call in a licensed pest removal company.

Centipedes are long animals composed of many body segments, each of which usually has its own set of legs. The animals generally range in length from 1 to 6 inches, although some unusual species, such as the Amazonian giant centipede, can be as long as 1 foot. Centipedes have circular, flattened heads, antennae, and long, outstretched jaws. They also have extremely poor vision, and are unable to distinguish much more than the difference between light and dark. In fact, some species of centipedes lack eyes entirely. Most centipedes are brown or red, although the house centipede, a species that lives mostly indoors, is generally grayish-yellow, and has three stripes down its back.

While the name “centipede” may suggest that the animals possess 100 legs, in actual fact centipedes can have anywhere from 20 to 300 legs. The legs closest to their mouths end in sharp claws which contain venom that allows centipedes to paralyze, and then kill, their prey.

Centipedes are nocturnal, and spend their nights feeding on earthworms, insects, and other small prey. Because their exoskeletons lack a waxy covering, centipedes lose water rapidly, and therefore need to live moist areas. Nevertheless, they can be found in some parts of deserts, as well as in savannas, prairies, and forests. They frequently live under rocks and dead wood, in the soil, and in logs.

Damage Signs

While the mere presence of centipedes in or around the home can be bothersome to people, centipedes are also considered pests due to the effects of their bite. While centipede bites are not generally fatal, they are quite painful and can result in fever, chills, swelling, and weakness. Individuals with bee sting allergies also frequently have negative reactions to centipede bites. Fortunately, centipedes rarely enter homes in large numbers.

Control

Homeowners wishing to prevent centipedes from entering their dwellings should seal up small cracks through which centipedes can enter the home. Additionally, removing typical centipede habitats such as stones, boards, and compost piles from yards can discourage centipedes from entering the area. Centipedes are also susceptible to many insecticides currently on the market.

Mice are small, furry rodents that are approximately 5/2 to 7/2 inches in length and weigh on average about 1/2 ounce.  They have large ears, small eyes, and long tails, and can be white, gray, black, or brown. Their diet consists of fruit, vegetables, and grains. While they have poor vision, they compensate for this deficiency with remarkably keen senses of smell, hearing, taste, and touch.

Mice are adept climbers, and can scale almost anything with a rough surface. They can also make vertical leaps as high as 13 inches, and squeeze through openings as small as 1/4 inch wide. They are nocturnal creatures who prefer to stay close to their nests; in general, mice will not stray more than 10 to 30 feet from their habitations. Mice will build nests in almost any available shelter, and if no shelter is available, they will dig burrows in the ground. They are more likely to be found indoors in winter months, when cold weather drives them to seek warmth.

Mice can be found in all parts of the United States.

Damage Signs

Mice can damage crops, gnaw through wiring, and spread disease, contaminate food, and ruin household items with their feces and urine. They also breed frequently, creating as many as 5-10 litters per year. Therefore, homeowners who find that their homes are infested with mice should take action to remove the creatures. As nocturnal rodents, mice are rarely seen by homeowners. Signs of infestation generally include mouse droppings and the sounds of mice squeaking or running.

Control

Homeowners wishing to prevent mice from entering their homes should seal up small cracks through which mice might enter, securely close food containers, and pay careful attention to sanitation. Once mice are in a home, they can be removed through measures such as trapping and poisoning. Homeowners with serious infestation issues may wish to call a profession pest control company to care for the problem.

Carpenter ants are found in nearly all areas of the United States, and are typically 1/4 to 1 inch in length, and black. Their diet consists of proteins and sugary substances such as meats, syrup, honey, and jelly. They are also particularly drawn to honeydew, a sweet, sticky substance secreted by aphids and other insects. They forage for food at night, and are especially active during the spring and summer seasons.

Carpenter ants create nests by hollowing out moist, rotting wood, and creating galleries within. Outdoors, they often nest in rotting trees, tree roots, tree stumps, and logs lying on the ground. Indoors, they can be found any area containing moist, rotting wood, such as around sinks, bathtubs, and dishwashers, behind bathroom tiles, under roofing, and in attic beams. They are most likely to be found indoors in the spring.

Parent carpenter ant colonies occasionally establish multiple nests, both indoors and outdoors. The workers in these satellite nests then transfer back and forth between this nest and the parent colony. For this reason, eliminating a single nest will often not be sufficient to end an infestation.

Damage Signs

Carpenter ants cause damage by digging galleries and tunnels in damp, decaying wood. Unlike tunnels created by termites, these tunnels are smooth and clean, and contain no mud. Homeowners may detect an infestation by spotting the ants themselves, or by noting the presence of small piles of sawdust, or frass, which the ants leave behind.

The extent of the damage caused by carpenter ants varies depending on the length and size of the infestation, although the harm is not likely to be as serious as it would be for a termite infestation of a similar size.

Control

To prevent infestations, homeowners should eliminate any damp conditions that may attract these ants, as well as replace any moist, decaying wood. Firewood should be kept at a distance from buildings, and, if brought inside should be kept in dry areas off the floor.

If an infestation is already in progress, the ants’ nests need to be spotted and destroyed immediately. Homeowners can often find the nests by following worker ants back to their nests. Alternatively, they may be able to spot nests by tapping suspected areas, and then listening for the dry, rustling sound that ant colonies make when disturbed. Once the nests have been discovered, it is usually necessary to call in a professional pest removal service to eliminate the infestation.

House flies are generally 3/16 to 1/4 inches in length, and have two translucent wings and a gray thorax marked with four dark stripes. Their diet consists of rotting organic matter, such as decaying food and flesh, feces, and mucus. House flies cannot consume solid food, so they often predigest their food by first spitting on it to dissolve it. They then ingest the food once it has become liquefied.

Female house flies can lay as many as 3 to 7 batches of eggs in a lifetime, for a total of approximately 500 eggs. Once the eggs hatch, they quickly develop into maggots: short,white, worm-like creatures that feed on rotting organic matter. They exist as maggots for approximately one week, after which they enter the pupa stage of their development. They inflate their skin, which becomes a reddish-brown cocoon. After 4-6 days, they then emerge as fully grown house flies. In this final stage of life, house flies can typically live between two weeks and one month.

House flies tend to gather in large groups, and are particularly active during the daytime. They prefer warmer temperatures, and in colder climates are therefore most likely to be found indoors. Nevertheless, house flies are present in nearly all parts of the world.

Damage Signs

House flies are almost universally viewed as pests. While their mere presence is annoying to most humans, house flies can also cause genuine harm. They are capable of carrying and spreading diseases, such as typhoid, cholera, salmonella, dysentery, tuberculosis, and anthrax, to name just a few. House flies tend to congregate in groups, and will buzz freely around food sources, so their presence is easy to spot.

Control

To prevent house fly infestation, seal up garbage thoroughly. Homeowners who find their garbage infested with maggots should remove the garbage from the home immediately. Additionally, seal up cracks and small spaces through which flies can enter the home. Individual flies can be killed with fly swatters. Homeowners looking to remove larger number of flies may find that fly paper and fly traps are often effective methods of control. Homeowners with more serious infestation issues may wish to call in licensed professionals to spray insecticides throughout the home.

Moles are small, burrowing mammals of the family Talpidae. Typical moles are approximately 6 inches in length, and have round bodies covered in velvety brown, gray, or black fur. They possess tiny eyes almost completely obscured by fur, and are nearly blind, able to discern little more than the difference between light and darkness. Despite the fact that they do not have visible ears, moles make up for their deficiency in vision with remarkably sensitive senses of hearing and touch. They are also excellent swimmers, and can move backwards and forwards with almost equal ease.

Moles use their strong hind legs and broad front feet to dig tunnels in lawns, meadows, and gardens. These tunnels can can be quite long, as a single mole can dig as much as 60 feet in a single day. Moles live and hunt in the tunnels they dig. Their diet consists largely of earthworms, although they will also eat mice, nuts, and a variety of invertebrates.   Moles use a toxin in their saliva to immobilize earthworms, which they then store in tunnels for later consumption. They have excellent appetites, and can eat up to half of their body weight in a single day.

Moles can be found throughout North America, Asia, and Europe.

Damage Signs

Mole tunnels can kill lawns, harm drainage systems, and undermine the roots of plants. Alternatively, however, moles’ tunneling activities serve to aerate and cultivate land. Typical signs of mole presence include small, conical mounds, or molehills, in lawns and gardens.

Control

Moles are susceptible to trapping, smoke bombs, and poisons such as calcium carbide. It is also possible to flush moles out of their tunnels by flooding the tunnels. Homeowners may choose to attempt to remove moles on their own, or may choose to call in licensed pet removal specialists.

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The ladybug (coccinellidae) is a small beetle ranging from 1/250 to 2/5 of an inch in length. Its wing covers are generally red, orange, or yellow, and covered with small black dots, while the rest of its body is black. This bright coloring helps the ladybug to ward off potential predators, which learn to associate these markings with a certain type of toxin released by the ladybug. This beetle feeds on aphids, mites and small insects. It has a lifespan of approximately 3 – 6 weeks.

The ladybug prefers to live in trees, but in the winter months will often seek shelter indoors so that it can hibernate in a warm area. It is generally more drawn to light-colored buildings, especially those with plenty of sun exposure, than it is to dark colored buildings. Throughout the winter it will live on its own body fat, and will reemerge in the spring, eager to return to the outdoors where it can feed on aphids and other small insects.

The ladybug is now common worldwide. It was introduced into North American in 1998, to counteract aphid infestations. The ladybug flourished in the country, and is now itself often considered a pest.

Damage Signs

The ladybug will not damage a home, nor will it injure humans. However, because ladybugs gather in groups, homeowners will typically find their homes infested with not just one, but with many ladybugs. The mere presence of a large group of ladybugs within the home can be annoying to many people.

Control

To prevent ladybug infestation, seal up small cracks, spaces under doors, and tiny other openings through which ladybugs may enter the home. Once a ladybug infestation is in progress, the easiest way to remove the beetles is with a vacuum cleaner. They are also vulnerable to insecticides. Homeowners with severe infestations may choose to call a professional pest removal company.

The black widow spider (Latrodectus) derives its name from the female of the species’ supposed habit of eating the male after mating, although in actual practice few females eat their mates. Full-grown female black widow spiders are typically either shiny black or dark brown in color, and are 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch in length. They are most easily identified by red or red-orange hourglass-shaped markings on their abdomens. Males, in contrast, are about 1/4 of the size of the females, and are generally light brown or gray. They frequently have yellow or orange hourglass markings on their abdomens.

Black widow spiders favor nests in dark, quiet areas that are close to the ground and thus allow the spiders to quickly descend from their webs if attacked. Typical places to find black widow nests include woodpiles, low bushes, basements, crawl spaces, corners of rooms, small spaces behind furniture, and the areas surrounding holes created by small animals. Once a spider has chosen an area to nest, it will weave an erratic, sticky, silken web. It will then hang upside down in the web and wait for unsuspecting prey to wander in. Black widow spiders have poor vision, and thus rely on vibrations in their webs to help them spot prey.

Female black widows lay eggs in pale, pear-shaped sacs, each of which can contain as many as 200 eggs.  A single female may create more than one sac.

Black widow spiders are present in almost all warm regions of the world, including all four deserts in the American Southwest.

Damage Signs

Black widow spiders rarely bite, unless accidentally squeezed or pinched, and only the bite of the female is actually poisonous. When they do bite, females inject a venom called Latrotoxin into their victims. Bite symptoms include muscle and chest tightness or pain, cramping, nausea, restlessness, anxiety, difficulty breathing or speaking, and perspiration.

Fortunately, bites can be effectively treated using injections of preparations such as calcium gluconate. While black widow bites are rarely fatal, individuals who have been bitten should seek immediate medical assistance due to the severity of the symptoms.

Control

Homeowners wishing to prevent black widow infestations should regularly check areas in the home where black widows may nest, as well as intensify lighting in dark corners. Some insecticides can also act to discourage black widow infestation.

The raccoon is a nocturnal, medium-sized animal common throughout North America. It typically is 16 to 28 inches long, weighs between 8 and 20 pounds, and possesses a coat of grayish-brown fur. Its most unusual feature is its black and white facial mask. As an omnivore, the raccoon will eat vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. In spring and early summer it generally feeds off insects, worms, and other animals, although it prefers foods such as fruit and nuts, which are usually only available later in the year. It usually favors fish and amphibians, which are easy to catch, over birds and other mammals that are more difficult to capture.

Common habitats for the raccoon include forests, marshes, and urban areas. In urban areas, the raccoon may upset trash containers, steal food from plants or crops, and establish itself in attics or other unused areas of a home and cause extensive damage. It can also carry rabies. For these reasons, the raccoon is often viewed as a pest.

The raccoon is an intelligent mammal, and has even demonstrated the ability to open difficult locks. While it has relatively poor vision, it also has a remarkably sensitive sense of touch, a broad audio range, and a strong sense of smell.

Damage Signs

Homeowners who find trash cans overturned, or droppings and residue in their chimneys or attics may have raccoons in the area or in their homes. They may also hear the raccoons scratching, growling, or crying.

Control

Many communities have regulations regarding the removal or transportation of raccoons, so homeowners are wise to check with local authorities before relocating or trapping raccoons. Loud noises, lights, and disagreeable odors will often drive raccoons away.

To prevent raccoon damage, homeowners should seal entrances to their homes, and use securely closed metal trashcans. When disposing of meat and other foods that possess scents attractive to raccoons, double bag the trash.

Bedbugs, alternatively known as wall louses, mahogany flats, crimson ramblers, or cinches, are reddish-brown insects approximately 1/4 of an inch in length. When young, they are nearly translucent, but they become browner as they age. They are a rather hardy species, capable of enduring temperatures ranging from 14 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and
able to withstand drought conditions for extended time periods. In extreme cases they have also been observed to survive in atmospheres of nearly pure nitrogen for as long as 72 hours, and to live for nearly a year without eating.

The name “bedbug” derives from this species’ preference for living indoors in beds and other areas where people sleep. They can also be found in luggage, vehicles, furniture, crevices, and in the nests of bats and birds. Their diet consists solely of the blood of warm-blooded animals, and they are generally mobile at night, when they can prey upon their hosts unnoticed. Bugs can enter a home by attaching themselves to pets, clothing or luggage, by migrating from nearby homes, or may be brought in by bats or birds.

Bedbugs are not confined to any particular region, and have become increasingly common in the years since 1995.

Damage Signs

Bedbug infestations are often difficult to detect, because the bugs are both nocturnal and difficult to catch. Common signs of infestation are bite marks, rashes, blisters, blood smears on sheets, and fecal spots. Bedbug detection dogs have also proven to be especially effective in pinpointing infestations.

Control

To prevent bedbug invasion, hang clothes in a closet as far as possible from the bed. Never accept a mattress from an unknown source. When staying in a hotel, always use the luggage rack.

Homeowners who find that they have a bedbug infestation can take a number of steps to kill the parasites, includingwrapping mattresses and pillowcases in plastic, washing and drying all linens, and vacuuming up bedbug eggs. However, the most effective way to remove the pests is to call in a licensed exterminator.

Armyworms go through four stages of life: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. In the larval, or caterpillar stage of development, they grow from approximately one-eighth of an inch, when newly hatched, to two inches, when nearing the pupa stage. In color, larvae are range from greenish-brown to yellow with black stripes. In the pupa, or resting stage, armyworms retire into cocoons in the soil, where they complete their transformation into adult moths. The entire cycle takes place over a period of six to eight weeks.

The name “armyworm” is derived from this species’ eating habits: caterpillars will march side by side to a new food source, devour everything in the area, and then move on as a group to the next foods source. They generally feed at night, and will eat most types of crops and foliage, including small grain crops, beans, clover, tobacco, cabbage, spinach, cucumber, and bluegrass, to name just a few.

These pests are found in nearly all areas of the United States, although the focus of their attacks may vary from season to season. While they may strike at any time, they tend to cause the greatest damage in the autumn.

Damage signs

Armyworm infestations are often difficult to detect before damage sets in, because these creatures act quickly. Caterpillars will migrate to new food sources at night, and once established in an area, can strip an entire crop within just a few days. Webs on trees or plants are one sign of invasion, as are plants that appear frosted, or have brown spots. If the infestation is particularly severe, the foliage in an area may be completely stripped.

Control

Fortunately, armyworms are susceptible to insecticides, many of which are readily available on the market. Homeowners wishing to remove an infestation may choose to spray the insecticides on their own, using due caution, or to call in a professional pest removal company.

The word “armadillo” means “little armored one” in Spanish, and true to its name, the armadillo is well protected by an armored shell that covers its back, sides, head, and tail, as well as the upper parts of its legs. The rest of its body in contrast, is coated with leathery skin and rough hair. Its legs end in sharp, five-clawed toes that are used to dig for food, and to dig burrows in which it lives. Despite its relatively large eyes, the armadillo actually has poor eyesight.

There are approximately twenty different species of armadillos, but the only the Nine-Banded Armadillo (Dasypusnovemcinctus) makes its home in the United States. It does not fare well in cold weather, and is especially common in Texas, although it can be found as far north as Nebraska, and as far east as South Carolina.

Typically 20-42 inches in length, and weighing 12-22 pounds, the Nine-Banded Armadillo possesses deceptively short legs which allow it to jump as high as 3-4 feet straight up in the air when startled, and to move very quickly. Due to the density of its armor, an armadillo will sink in water unless it inflates its stomach and intestines with air, in which case it can float across small bodies of water. If it does sink, the armadillo can remain under water for as long as six minutes.

The armadillo is nocturnal, and begins to hunt at dusk. It feeds mainly off insects, such as ants and termites, and grubs, and occasionally dines on amphibians and small reptiles. It prefers to make its home in damp earth near streams and creeks.

Damage Signs

The Nine-Banded Armadillo can harm gardens and lawns while digging for food, and can weaken the root systems of plants and trees when it burrows. It can also cause damage by digging under driveways, foundations, and other structures. Typical signs of armadillo infestation are holes of 1 to 3 inches in depth and 3 to 5 inches across in lawns.

Control

Homeowners wishing to take preventative measures against armadillo invasion may be wise to fence in their yards. Such fences should be placed at a 40 degree angle to the ground to prevent armadillos from climbing over them.

Armadillos are drawn to soil that possesses insects and grubs, so homeowners may find that insecticides, which remove this source of food for armadillos, are an effective deterrent. Homeowners can also trap, and then remove armadillos. Finally, homeowners with more serious infestations may wish to call a professional pest removal company to take care of the matter.

Characteristics, Habits, and Geography

American cockroaches are among the largest of the common roaches, averaging between one and one and a half inches in length. They are reddish-brown in color, with yellow fringes on the area of the body behind the head. While American cockroaches have wings and are capable of flying, they rarely do so, as they can also run very quickly. They thrive in moist, warm areas such as basements, sewers, and crawl spaces. The preferred diet of American cockroaches consists of decaying organic matter and fermented foods.

These cockroaches dislike cold temperatures, so while they do not generally infest houses in large numbers, cold weather may at times force them to seek shelter inside. Typically, they enter  buildings through small openings such as sewer connections, open spaces beneath doors, or air ducts. Alternatively, roaches may stow away in grocery bags, suitcases, or other items brought into the home.  They typically hide in dark crevices during the day, and emerge at night to hunt for food.

American roaches are found in most U.S. cities, although they are slightly more common in tropical areas, as they find the warm temperatures there particularly preferable.

Damage Signs

The best way to spot an infestation is to find the roaches themselves. Home owners concerned by the possibility of an infestation should examine dark, moist areas such as basements, steam pipes, and crawl spaces at night, using a flashlight. Alternatively, they may be able to flush out the roaches during the day by poking crevices and cracks with a thin tool or a wire. Household chemical sprays that that can be applied to the infested areas and that can flush out roaches are also available on the market.

If left unchecked, roaches can contaminate food, causing food poisoning, dysentery, or diarrhea. They can also cause damage to clothes, wallpaper, and books, as well as create an unpleasant smell in the home or building which they infest. They have also been linked to the onset of childhood asthma.

Control

The best method of preventing a roach infestation is to pay careful attention to sanitation. Seal opened boxes of food, be regular in cleaning dirty dishes, and wipe up crumbs from countertops , as all of these can all attract roaches. Keep garbage in roach-proof containers.

If an infestation is already in progress, insecticides may be successfully applied to areas of roach activity. Alternatively, baits, such as gels or pastes may be used. If the infestation is severe, contact a professional pest control company to remove the roaches.

As with most other members in the termite family, species of Neotermes build networks of galleries that meander through the wood in which they are hidden. Winged termites (also known as “Flying Ants”) leave mature colonies via multiple dispersal flights over “swarming” seasons that can last for several months. Depending on the species, flight may occur in the late spring or summer, or in the late fall or early winter. Flights occur at dusk or at night. Dampwood termites are relatively strong fliers and, like most nocturnal flying insects, are attracted to lights. Porch lights, indoor lights, and video monitors often lure the insects inside, especially when doors and unscreened windows are opened.

Damage

As with most other members in the termite family Kalotermitidae, species of Neotermes build networks of galleries that meander through the wood in which they are hidden. Because of their moisture requirements, structural infestations of dampwood termites are associated with sources of free water. These include wood-to-soil contact, wood exposed to roof leaks, or wooden siding or ornamentation exposed to rainfall or sprinkler irrigation. Neotermes infestations can extend into sound dry wood several meters away from the moisture source.

Control

Eliminating conditions of moisture can help control structural infestations of Neotermes. As with the preventative management of subterranean termites and wood decay, wood-to-ground and wood-to-water contact should be eliminated to prevent colonization by dampwood termites. When untreated wood cannot be removed from a moisture source, chemical treatment may be necessary.

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Characteristics, Habits, and Geography

Subterranean termites are generally 1/4 to 3/8 inches in length, and depending on their form, can be either black or yellowish-brown with wings, or creamy white or white without wings. They live in nests or colonies, which, as their name suggests, are in the soil. The cuisine of these insects consists largely of wood and other materials that contain cellulose, including paper, cotton, and plant products. It is worth noting that they are particularly drawn to the fungi found in decaying wood.

These termites are most likely to emerge from the soil and become visible in areas containing heat, light, and moisture. While subterranean termites do not generally fly long distances, they can easily be blown by the wind into a building, after which they will begin to build a nest.

Subterranean termites are found in the entirety of the contiguous United States. However a subset of the subterranean termite, called the Formosan termite, is specific the Galveston, Texas City, and Beaumont-Port Arthur-Orange county areas of Texas.

Damage Signs

The most obvious sign of termite infestation is the presence of swarming termites themselves. They tend to gather on windowsills or near light. Homeowners who discover discarded termite wings, which are often found near windowsills or cobwebs, should also be alert to a possible infestation. While the presence of swarming termites outdoors is not in itself necessarily cause for alarm, it can indicate the possibility of an attack at some point in the future.

Additionally, wood damage caused by termites is a sure sign of infestation. If the wood in question is moist, decaying, and particularly if it comes into contact with the soil, it may have been damaged by termites.

Control

Chemicals sprayed in the soil can fend off potential subterranean termite attacks for years. Additional control options include foam and baiting systems. As each of the options requires specialized equipment and chemicals, it is recommended that homeowners contact a professional pesticide company to handle the termite removal.