'Bugs News

carpenter ant In early spring or late winter people often encounter these large black ants in homes. These big ants are different than the more common small, brown "nuisance ants" that plague kitchens. The big ants are called carpenter ants ( Camponotus spp .) and unlike their smaller cousins, nest above ground in cavities. Nest building and cavity expansion by these large, powerful ants can cause damage if nests occur in our homes. Most of the ants you find in homes are small, less than 1/4", and brown. There are several species of small brown ants that can nest in our home's walls or nearby soil and enter homes in search of food and water (see House Ants for identification and control). Nuisance ants are just that, a nuisance. They won't damage your home and pose no health threat of any kind.  There's another ant, however, that occasionally is found in homes that is much bigger (1/4"-5/8"), darker in color, nests in the walls, floors and c

This is Elizabeth's story about the evils of ticks. Being a member of the Over-Fifty set, it's not every day that I experience something completely new. The other day I found a tick firmly attached to my back. I had never before been bitten by a tick. Found one on my clothes once, plucked more than I care to count off our basset hound (you can really tell when the Frontline wears off), but never been bitten myself. How did I get the tick? Our best guess is that I picked it up from our dog while grooming her. I had had my arms wrapped around her while clipping her toenails and the little bugger must have wandered onto me. We had been walking in the local park that morning, and being a good basset hound, she had her nose buried in many little rodent runs in the tall grass. She probably picked it up there. And I picked it up from her. So what DOES it feel like to be bitten by a tick? Well, it didn't really hurt. Within a short time after grooming the dog, I started

Dust mites are tiny, nearly microscopic mites that live in the organic debris (dust) in our homes. They normally go unnoticed unless we happen to be allergic to their droppings. Proteins in the mite's feces can cause mild to severe allergic reaction in some people. If you are affected by dust mite allergy, here are a few things you can do. First, see your physician or allergist to confirm that dust mite allergen is the cause of your condition. Once dust mites are confirmed take steps to separate yourself from the mite allergens and to reduce overall mite numbers . Do not , however, attempt to control dust mites with insecticide as this will only make your respiratory problems worse. See this article for ways to reduce the dust mite population by controlling indoor relative humidity, removing air-borne allergens, encasing mattresses in allergen-proof covers, and wet-cleaning rooms. Air purifiers (air cleaners) that use HEPA filters may be another good way to reduce air-borne al

Bed bug bites look a lot like bad mosquito bites . Take a look at the lower drawing (left). Bed bug bites will generally be red with local inflammation and swelling. The redness is caused by an allergic reaction to proteins in the bug's saliva; again, much like a mosquito bite. There may be multiple bites in the same area and the bites can occur anywhere on your body.  Bites will usually itch as well. Bed bug bites are self-limiting and there is very little danger of disease transmission associated with these insects, unlike mosquitoes which can transmit numerous deadly diseases. Bed bug bites can be treated with over-the-counter anti-itch medications, or antibiotic lotions if the skin is broken by scratching. If you encounter bed bugs in a motel/hostel/inn or other sleeping establishment you should (1) notify the management so they can take steps to control the infestation, and (2) take care not to transport bed bugs from there to your next destination. Bed bugs can travel wit