Pest Identification

Shrew

Shrew (Photo credit: Howlsthunder)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… » Read the rest, shrews voracious appetites, eating up to 90% of their weight in food every

Pink Hibiscus Mealybug

 

Female pink hibiscus mealybug. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)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,… » Read the rest the pink hibiscus mealybug is a powerful destroyer of many common plants found in tropical and subtropical regions of the

Springtails in the Spring Time

English: Orchesella cincta, a common springtail. Photo taken in Ghent, Belgium. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)A pest that can sometimes be damaging to agricultural crops, including tubers such as potatoes and carrots, springtails… » Read the rest 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

The Southern Chinch Bug

Wild Grass in India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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 … » Read the rest

The Coreopsis Leaf Beetle

 

Male and female Dogbane leaf beetles (male on left). Photographed at Winfield Illinois, USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)An herbivorous insect, the coreopsis leaf beetle… » Read the rest 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

The Daylily Leafminer Threat

 

English: A red and yellow Daylily. Daylilies fall into the Hemerocallis genus plants. This color combination is generally called a Red Magic lily. Français : Une fleur d’hémérocalle rouge et jaune. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Daylilies are beautiful, colorful flowers that bring fragrance and beauty to any garden or home. Lately, its survival has been challenged … » Read the rest

Cuddling Up with the Kudzu Bug

 

Kudzu on trees in Atlanta, Georgia, USA Location: Piedmont Park, next to large drainage ditch near railroad track (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Known as the kudzu bug… » Read the rest, 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

Giant African Snails

Snails mating (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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 … » Read the rest

Can’t Identify an Insect? There’s an App for That

 

HTC Aria Android 2.2 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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 … » Read the rest

Are the Ants of Ancient Egypt Hiding in Your Bathroom?

 

Profile view of  a pharaoh ant (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Golden-brown and almost transparent, pharaoh ants… » Read the rest 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