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 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.

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 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.

A male miller moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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.

Almond moth larvae on peanut husks (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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 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.

Panstrongylus geniculatus (Photo credit: Adrián Afonso)

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.

Garden snails (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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.

Yellow Crazy Ant (Photo credit: John Tann)

There are some 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.

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.

Tribolium castaneum (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

Related articles

• Spider silk may act as pest repellant

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

Great Job, Sean!

If you’ve been following our blog and or Facebook page over the last few weeks, you know there’s been an air of excitement among our All Safe Team. We recently paired up with A Day of Hope Foundation, to donate this year’s Winter Food Drive items to the Domestic Safe House for Women & Children of Marion County.

This drive quickly became personal to us and our customers. Over half of All Safe employees have had or know someone who has been in a situation regarding domestic violence. Many of our customers related to this for the same reasons. So we set our goals high (2,000 items off of the Ocala Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Ctr. Wishlist) and got to work!

How Did We Do?

Well, we blew that goal of 2,000 items right out of the water by collecting well over 4,000 items! Some of our staff (Sean and Adam) used a little friendly competition to accelerate our collections. In a last ditch effort to beat each other, they ended up hitting the stores themselves, searching for more items on the list. In the end, Roxane (Office Manager at All Safe) brought in baby items from her children, giving them both a run for their money.

Here’s how the numbers stacked up:

Overall Collections: 4,660

Top Collector: Sean Robinson 1,480

Adam Mansur – 1397
Roxane Cyr – 1184
Heather Carter – 401
Philip Williamson – 124
Derrick Web – 52
Mike Story – 22

A special mention goes out to one of our customers, Mrs Debbie McPhail for her donation of 123 items!

It Was Worth the Effort

Though we did have some fun with this drive, we never forgot what our real goal was. Domestic violence is on the rise.It takes much strength, on the part of these women, to overcome the amount of mental terror they have endured. The impelling force for us to make this drive such a success was our pure admiration for their courage in the face of such abuse.

Shelters like the Domestic Safe House for Women & Children of Marion County give them the support they need. Their mission is to aid, comfort and empower victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. They become the voice for the victims, and we find that inspiring. Seeing the expressions on the ladies’ faces as they collected the items from the drive made it more than worthwhile.

Let us not forget we could never have accomplished the collections we did without teaming up with a fantastic organization like the A Day of Hope Foundation. Jim Fetsko (Founder of A Day of Hope Foundation) and his wife Lynne, supported the cause with donations tailored towards the children. Steve Robinson is not only the coordinator in our area for A Day of Hope – he and his wife Mary, are also a generous donors for the cause.

Thank you is So Well Deserved

Last, but definitely not least, a well-deserved thank you must go out to all of our loyal customers for the generous spirit you showed – you’re the best! We couldn’t have achieved such success without your support for such a great cause. We sincerely hope your amazing giving spirit gives you pleasure, as doing this Drive gladdened the hearts of our staff. As our valued Office Manager, Roxane Cyr, so well phrased it:

“I am generously blessed to have had the opportunity to work for All Safe for 15 plus years. I am thrilled to be able to bring joy to those who are short on hope. Working at All Safe has given me the opportunity to do for others the way others  did for me while I raised my 3 children on my own. I am truly blessed to have the charitable opportunities that All Safe provides.  We have an awesome crew with somewhat of a competitive nature that drives them to do so well in the events. Kudos to them for all they have done to support the cause. ”

Thank you to all, and sending our well wishes to all those being aided by The Day of  Hope Foundation.

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

Webbing clothes moth.

Clothes-Moths Closet moths are not only annoying, but they can also be highly destructive to clothes, causing hundreds of dollars worth of damage. If left alone, moths can multiply and infest other areas containing fabrics and clothes. Once inside your closet, they can lay eggs that hatch within a very short period of time. The larvae then start to eat through the fabric in your clothes and cause sometimes irreversible damage to your wardrobe.

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

Domestic Violence on the Rise

The cases of Domestic Violence are on the rise. Whether it’s the failing economy, the rise in drug or alcohol abuse, the consequence of having been brought up in violent families, it all translates into many having to seek safety. Shelters are teaming with women and children fighting to overcome the emotional scars from years of fearing and receiving another blow. The longer the suffering goes on, the less self-esteem the victim has left to feel capable of escaping the horror. They really do need our help. The children need to learn how to stop this cycle of violence.

Helping Out Where We Can

As they are being housed, protected, encouraged and helped to build their new life, they have physical needs to be met. That’s where we come in. This is the easiest problem to solve. Many of us have happy homes with more than enough to eat, so here’s how we can show our thankfulness by sharing with others.

As part of All Safe’s continuing effort to give back to our community, we have partnered with A Day of Hope Foundation Florida chapter to donate this year’s Winter Food Drive items to the Domestic Safe House for Women & Children of Marion County.

How You Can Help (and benefit)

Every customers making a donation between now and December 13th will receive  a $5 credit to their account. Simply give your donation to your technicians when they come by for service, or drop your items off at our office.  We’d love to see you!

Here’s What They Need:

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

Grasshopper in Panama (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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

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 a poisonous substance with psychoactive properties that can be harmful to 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. A bufo toad will secrete this toxin when attacked or threatened by 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. Also do not feed your pets outside, because the bufo toad likes pet food.

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, rinse out your pet’s mouth, 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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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  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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

How Can You Get Bed Bugs?

Although bed bugs can be spread a number of different ways, the most common way they’re spread is by direct contact. Bed bugs can easily be transferred from one place to another by coming into contact with any area that’s currently infested, which includes things like clothes, bedding and furniture. Public transportation is a common form of transmission, mainly because there tends to be lots of close contact as well as a large number of people using this form of transportation.

Three Keys to Preventing Bedbugs

Bed bugs can’t magically spread from one place to another, so instead they hitch a ride to their next place of infestation. The following are three things that can help you avoid getting bed bugs:

1. Use a protective mattress cover for both the mattress and the box spring. This helps prevent the bed bugs from ever getting into your mattress in the first place. If you already think you might have them, the light color of the cover will help you to see them better.

2. Reduce any clutter in your home. Too much clutter makes it easy for the bed bugs to find a place to hide. The less clutter, the quicker the extermination process is likely to be. And if you’re like most people, you’ll want these pests gone ASAP.

3. If you think you may have been exposed to bedbugs, carefully check yourself, your clothing and any accessories you have with you before entering your home. Look closely at the seams and folds. Bed bugs are very tiny, with some being translucent making them especially hard to see, so you’ll need to look very carefully. Using a magnifying glass may seem over the top, but is certainly better than the alternative.

Did You Know?

Even though bed bugs are mainly found living in beds, you can also find them in other, less obvious places. This makes it essential that you look in other places if you think you might have a bed bug infestation, i.e. couches. Since bed bugs tend to also like places that are especially warm and lack ventilation, be sure to look closely in these areas, which include things such as light sockets and air conditioners. It’s a good idea to have a professional pest specialist manage your bedbug problem before it becomes even more serious and difficult to address.

Contributed by Shaun Peterson, Pink Inspection Services.

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!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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 ares 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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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 were 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

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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 that 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 the diseases that have had an increase in frequency in the United States.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)”]

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• Mosquitoes carrying Dengue Fever spotted further north on the border

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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 too 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 gathered 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!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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?

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• Scientists Discover New Cave Spider Species with Claws!
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 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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 definitely 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, its bite 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 professional immediately. Their bites can also cause slight 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!

Definitely a nightmare.

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

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

All of us have been sickened by a virus at some time in our life. How about the West Nile Virus? Some people may have, and many don’t even know what it is, or that they have it! It is a virus that is spread through mosquitoes.

How and when it started

It was 1937 in Uganda, Africa when the West Nile virus was discovered.  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 Scientists believe that it is transmitted when a mosquito bites an infected bird and then bites you. West Nile Virus can also be transmitted by blood transfusions, organ transplants and even from breastfeeding mother to child.

Now I know what your thinking, ‘I’ve gotten bitten by plenty of mosquitoes!’ Well, a lot of people who have gotten bitten 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 if  I have West Nile Virus?

Some symptoms of West Nile virus are:

• Fever
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal Pain
• Lack of Appetite
• Muscle Aches
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Rash (in up to 50%) of cases
• 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 you seek medical attention immediately:

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

Treatment and Complications

Because this virus is not caused by a bacteria, it cannot be treated by antibiotics, and there are no known cures or treatments. Hospitalization is required for sever cases.  They will attempt to control the fever and brain swelling to avoid serious complications such as:

• Permanent muscle weakness
• Brain Damage
• Death

Who Are at Risk for More Severe forms of West Nile Virus?

You can’t hurt me!

Ways to prevent mosquito bites:

• Drain stagnant water (perfect mosquito breeding ground)
• Use bug spray with DEET in it.
• Clean out clogged gutters regularly to prevent breeding.
• Have you’re community spray for mosquitoes often.

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!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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 that 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!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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 millions of Americans do. Yes, millions 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 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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

]]> http://allsafepestprevention.com/2012/june-means-june-bugs/feed/ 0 http://allsafepestprevention.com/2012/battle-of-the-bed-bugs/ http://allsafepestprevention.com/2012/battle-of-the-bed-bugs/#comments Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:59:14 +0000 Matt Cohn http://allsafe.mypestprevention.com/?p=2623 I know what you’re thinking, “Don’t say it! Not my bed!”

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 ... » Read the rest

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

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

People often use pesticides and herbicides 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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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 too 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.

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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.

 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.
• Headache.
• 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!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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 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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

These small, spider-like creatures feed on 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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

Related articles

• Household Fleas (moneyexpert.com)

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

Silk Drag Lines

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.

Tiny Tigers

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.

Up Up and Away

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.

Good Spider

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

Nose Plugs Recommended

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.

For Real?

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.

Meet Mobee

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.

Want to make a Robo-Bee of your own?  Watch this!

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

Image via Wikipedia

By: Erik Braunitzer, and courtesy of Douglas Elliman Real Estate Company, agents for Hamptons Homes.

Infestations of bedbugs are becoming prevalent in homes across the United States and Canada. Once they are in the home, the pests are hard to get rid of. The best thing a home owner can due to reduce the risk of the pests is to keep them from getting a foothold in the household in the first place.

Bed Bugs – Recognize the Signs

For many people, the first realization that bed bugs have made their way into the home is the bites that they and their family suffer. If you suspect that the bed bug may be the culprit, inspect the home for the bug itself or other signs that the household pest is in residence.

The bugs hide where they cannot easily be seen, but a careful inspection can usually detect other signs. Reddish or dark brown spots of fecal matter are left behind as the bed bugs come out of hiding. If there is any indication of staining on the furniture or bedding, it’s important that you investigate further to find out where the bugs are hiding.

Bedbugs are tiny, usually no longer than a quarter of an inch. This is what makes them unnoticeable when they are brought into your home. The oval shaped body is flat and they are a reddish brown, and they are difficult to spot as they can hide in the lining of luggage and crevices of furniture.

 How Bedbugs get into the Home

Bedbugs are notorious hitchhikers. They can get on your clothing and you may have inadvertently brought them into the home. Visitors may carry them in, unnoticed, with their luggage. Used furniture is also one of the main means of transportation of bedbugs being brought into the home.

A traveler should always check out the room for bedbugs as they can get into the luggage and clothing.  A large number of homes that become infested have an occupant who has recently spent a night or more in a motel. A careful inspection should be done immediately upon the return to the home. Wash all clothing before putting it away to reduce the risk of the entire wardrobe being infested.

Even riding a subway can be risky when it comes to giving the bedbug a ride into the home. They can jump on your clothing or find their way into the bag that you carry. A used furniture store can harbor them, and even if you don’t buy, you risk the chance of a bed bug landing upon your person and coming home with you.

Preventing Bed Bugs

No matter how careful you are, there is always the chance that you could expose your home from an infestation of bed bugs. Reduce your risks by taking preventative measures.

• Don’t bring used furniture into the home.
• Inspect your luggage and clothing when you travel.
• If you have the slightest concern that you may have been in an area that could harbor the nasty pest, immediately remove and wash your clothing upon your return to the home and inspect any items that you carried with you.

Related articles

• Good Night….Don’t let the Bed Bugs Bite! (environmentalhealthtoday.wordpress.com)

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.

Pit-bulls or Bull-dogs?

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.

Watch Where You Step

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 help the situation either.

In Hot Pursuit

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.

Lived to Have BBQ

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.

If 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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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!

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

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.

What?

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

Bat Scares

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.

Big Eaters

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!

Bats Got A Bum Wrap

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.

White-Nose Syndrone

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com

Aphid Farming

I awoke to darkness. It was comforting. I had lived in these little caves my whole life. These cool sand walls are home. As soon as I woke I was off, rushing to get to work, not even stopping to eat or bathe. I’ll let you in on a secret, I rarely ever bathe.

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.

How Do the  Aphids Benefit?

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.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com