'Bugs News

We frequently get questions about the various borate products on the market to control insects around the home. These products are used to control ants , cockroaches and structural pests like carpenter ants , powderpost beetles and dry-rot fungi . General characteristics Borates offer a low toxicity alternative to conventional insecticides, but are slow acting and may take several weeks to be completely effective. Borates are also generally long lasting , if kept dry. And, borates are generally not used outdoors because of they are soluble in water . Borate is primarily an insect stomach poison and fungicide. Stomach poisons must be eaten by the pest to be effective. Borate Products Timbor and Bora Care (and a few others) are products for structural pest control (termites, carpenter ants and wood-boring beetles). Timbor is a powder of 98% disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, a sodium salt of boric acid, and Bora Care is a 40% solution of the same compound plus ethylene glycol . ...

Fleas can be a problem for every dog and cat owner. Adult fleas feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals. While they also bite people, we are not their preferred host. Flea bites cause swelling and itching on both us and our pets. Immature, or larval , fleas look like small white worms. They don't bite but instead feed on hair, shed skin, and dried blood in the animal's bedding. See this page for photos of adult and larval fleas. Below is an inexpensive flea control program that works very well; it can be time consuming but all the steps are important. If you skip any of the steps fleas may be a recurring problem. For methods that are easier but more expensive see flea control at 'Bugs. Inexpensive flea control (1) Vacuum rugs, drapes and furniture thoroughly . Pay particular attention to areas where pets sleep. Discard the dust bag outside because it contains fleas, flea larvae and eggs that may re-infest the house. Vacuuming is an important first step! (2) Treat ru...

Insects that infest our stored foods Now that the cold weather has arrived we can turn our attention indoors and think about getting rid of those pesky "weevils" and moths that are occasionally found in the kitchen and pantry. Did you know that insects consume 10-50% of all stored grain worldwide? Most of the loss occurs in commercial storage but a significant amount also happens after consumers take food home and store it improperly. So perhaps we needn't worry so much about producing more food on the farm but should concern ourselves instead with protecting the food we already have in storage! Here's some basic information about the most common pantry or stored product pests and what you can do about them at home. Keep in mind the following points: (1) Dry pet food is the most commonly overlooked source of infestations. (2) Do not store items longer than about 2 months unless steps are taken to protect it against infestation (see below). (3) Do not store items...

Spider mites can cause extensive leaf damage Spider mites are tiny (1/32") plant-feeding mites (see drawing) that are important pests in both home gardens and commercial agriculture. Even a minor spider mite infestation can do significant damage to plant productivity. Injury is the result of damage to the plant's protective outer layers, the epidermis and cuticle , that occurs as the mites feed. Research has shown that injury to these layers causes excessive and uncontrolled water loss and eventually injured plants dry out and die (see photo of injured leaf below). Experiments Take a look at the photo of the two leaves. The photo was taken during an experiment to determine the effects of spider mite feeding on peppermint leaves. The leaf on the right was infested with spider mites, the leaf on the left was kept spider mite-free with a barrier of sticky material (not visible in this photo). After about 15 days the mites were removed and a variety of measurements were made ...

What is house dust? Obviously the answer depends on where you live and the season of the year. In general, however, house dust is composed of ash, cloth fibers, hair, plant pollen, human and animal skin, soil particles, and fungal spores. In many households, human skin flakes make up much of this flying debris. On average, an adult sheds about 1/2oz of skin every day! What are house dust mites? House dust mites are tiny, nearly microscopic mites that feed on the organic parts of house dust. The mites live in fabric and bedding and for many people go completely unnoticed. For some people however dust mites can cause moderate to severe allergy . The allergy is caused by bits of the mites themselves that become airborne, and mite feces. What goes into dust mites as a flake of skin and hair comes out the other end as an allergen that can stuff up your nose, launch a severe allergic reaction or even trigger asthma . House dust mites are not the only source of allergen in our indoor env...

What are lice nits? As every parent of a school-age child probably already knows head lice are tiny "bugs" that infest the scalp and cause a lot of itching and irritation. They can affect all kids, everywhere, and can be very contagious . They are, however, really (really!) less of a medical concern than many people believe, but that argument is for another blog article. This post is about the eggs , or nits, that lice lay and what exactly the nits look like. Nit is another name for egg . Both head lice and pubic lice (a related species that infests areas of the body where course hair grows like the groin and chest) attach their nits to the hair of their hosts (see drawing above and photo below). The nits are actually glued to the hair shaft close to scalp because they need the warmth and moisture that comes off the scalp in order to develop properly. Nits are attached so tightly that normal washing, combing, or brushing won't remove them. Nits hatch quickly (7-9 ...

What causes scabies and mange? Both conditions are caused by a tiny mite (drawing) that burrows into the skin causing irritation and intense itching. Many mites (tiny, eight-legged animals more closely related to spiders than to insects) cause skin irritations and allergic reactions. These include house dust mites , grocers itch mites , chiggers or red mites , and several different fowl mites . Only one mite, however, actually burrows into the skin. These are scabies , or the human itch, mites . In cats and dogs we use the term mange to describe two different mite infestations. One of the mange mites is the same one that causes scabies in humans. What does scabies look like? Scabies mites are very small (female: 1/60"). They burrow into and feed under the skin. They spend their entire life cycle on the host, but can survive off-host for up to 10 days, if conditions are moist. For this reason the mites can be transmitted by infested clothing, towels, bedding, and so forth....

Pesticides are not all created equal I'm usually not very enthusiastic about insecticides in general and I almost never suggest that you use them indoors. However, there are times when a carefully timed application of insecticide will bring an otherwise out-of-control pest situation back to tolerable levels. Until recently homeowners had relatively few options when it came to safe and effective pesticides for use indoors. The only available pesticides were either a messy, smelly aerosol spray or an equally smelly powdered insecticide . Gardeners have a few more options like insecticidal soap and neem oil (see below) but even here the choices were limited. Fortunately, times they are a changin' (apologies to Bob Dylan). There has been a real movement toward natural pesticides , those derived from natural, not man-made, sources. And, pesticides that are safer for the user and the environment - the so called biorational pesticides . Not all natural pesticides are bioration...

spruce spider mite eggs on arbovitae With spring still a month or so off most people are not yet thinking about landscape and garden pests . However, there are two pests that occur on conifers (evergreen trees and shrubs that bear cones such as pine, fir, and spruce and arbovitae) that deserve your attention before spring weather arrives. Spruce spider mite , Oligonychus ununguis , is the most important spider mite pest of conifers and can severely damage some host plants. If, for example, you've ever seen an Alberta spruce with large patches of dead needles the damage was likely done by spruce spider mites. Spruce spider mite is especially common and damaging on conifers that are drought stressed or, ironically, water logged. Spruce spider mite spends the winter months as a small reddish egg (below) on branches and needles. These eggs hatch in early spring to become the first generation of plant damaging mites. Look carefully with your hand lens in late winter and you'll se...

Regular inspections of the exterior and interior of your house are one of the best ways to protect your investment and avoid costly repairs. Basic home inspections can be done by homeowners themselves and don't take very long to complete. Inspections should be done at least twice a year , once in winter and once in summer. The summer inspection should be done early in the day to avoid the heat of the afternoon when pest insects may go into hiding. Slowly walk around the exterior. Look for evidence of insect activity on the siding and especially the area where the siding overlaps the foundation. If you find large ants "trailing" into or out of the house capture a few for identification. Also check under the house, if possible, for termite and powderpost beetle activity. Anyone who has watched the TV show " This Old House " knows that water damage is far more important than insect damage in most situations. Winter is the best time to inspect for water and m...

White Grub Larva  Photo by Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service, www.forestryimages.org White grub is the common name for larvae of scarab beetles like Japanese beetle , chafers and May/June beetles. White grubs feed on roots of grasses and can do considerable damage to turf grass. Because white grub larvae consume dirt along with plant roots their digestive track (visible from the outside) is usually packed at the back end with soil particles (see photo). Professional turf managers, like golf course superintendents, generally use conventional insecticides such as imidacloprid to manage white grub populations. Homeowners can use less toxic materials because their tolerance for white grub damage is usually higher. Milky spore (milky disease) and entomopathogenic nematodes are two least-toxic choices. See this article about biology and control of white grubs for additional information.

Dust mites feed on the organic part of house dust (often, mostly skin flakes from us!) and then excrete an allergen , a substance that causes an allergic reaction, that can stuff up our nose or even lead to life-threatening asthma. Even if you could eliminate all dust mites, which is unlikely, their allergens would remain in bedding, carpets and other fabrics where dust mites live. When these fabrics are disturbed they release allergens into the air. One of the best ways to prevent an allergic reaction to dust mite allergen is to put a barrier between you and the allergen, especially at night. If the allergen never gets airborne, it can't end up in your nose! Since mattresses and pillows are a prime source of dust mites and dust mite allergen one solution is to cover them in special fabric that separates you from the allergens. Until recently these fabrics were made of plastic and tended to be very uncomfortable. Newer microfiber materials are more "cotton sheet-like"....

adult  European crane fly Crane flies are medium to large insects that resemble large mosquitoes. In fact they are related to mosquitoes as both are "primitive flies"; delicate flies with long antennae. "Higher flies" like house flies tend to be heavier-bodied, stronger fliers with short, bristle-like antennae. Unlike mosquitoes, however, adult crane flies don't feed and are harmless. Crane fly larvae live in the soil and feed on plant roots . Most crane fly species are confined to wet soils but a few have adapted to dryer soils which has allowed them to invade lawns and turf areas. Crane fly life cycle Crane fly eggs are laid in summer and larvae begin feeding on plant roots in fall. Larvae feed throughout winter and spring then pupate (pupae are the stage between larvae and adults) in early summer. Crane fly damage usually first appears during the dry days of summer as irregular patches. Grass dies because crane fly-damaged roots can't supply plants wi...

nicotine (drawing from wikipedia) "A pesticide is a substance that disrupts or kills organisms that we consider to be pests , generally weeds, damaging insects, or microbes that cause disease. Natural pesticides are pesticides that are made by other organisms, usually for their own defense, or are derived from a natural source such as a mineral." from Natural Pesticides at LivingWithBugs.com By this definition nicotine is a natural insecticide . Nicotine is produced by plants in the nightshade family of which tobacco is one species. Tobacco farmers have long-known that an infusion of water and tobacco leaves makes a powerful, and highly toxic, insecticide. In fact nicotine was at one time available as a commercial insecticide product called Black Leaf 40. Imidacloprid (Merit) is a modern insecticide based on nicotine chemistry . Nicotine is a powerful neurotoxin (nerve toxin). At low doses it acts as a stimulant while at higher doses it causes uncontrolled convulsions and...

red area = both subterranean and drywood termites; green area = mainly subterranean termites Termites are the only insects that are able to digest wood (actually cellulose, the "structural" part of wood). Most termite species require either relatively wet wood ( dampwood termites ) or contact with soil moisture ( subterranean termites ). One species, however, the drywood termites , live in colonies that are constructed above ground in dry wood and need no contact with soil moisture. Drywood termites live in warm climates, in both desert and coastal areas. In the US drywood termites are generally found in a band along the southern and coastal states on both coasts (red area in map below). Damage from drywood termites can be extensive and is often hidden inside structural beams, flooring, etc. Because drywood termites lack connection to the soil they can be difficult to detect and treat . Subterranean termites are usually controlled by treating the soil under and around struc...

Where's John Goodman when you need him??? (In case you missed it, John Goodman plays "The Fumigator", a bug exterminator , in the move Arachnophobia, 1990,  about spiders gone wild). While most people refer to companies that provide pest control services as "exterminators", exterminators actually prefer "pest control operator" or "pest control technician". By any name a good pest control company is like a good car mechanic -- when you need one, you really need one . While our main 'Bugs site is dedicated to helping you solve many household pest problems yourself, occasionally you'll need professional help. If you are having trouble deciding if you can do it yourself or if you need help take at look at this page . We've posted some suggestions for screening pest control companies for those (hopefully few) times when you need one, and some additional things to watch out for. Try to avoid the "maintenance treatment" tr...

This post is outdated, it was originally posted in 2007. In some parts of the US honey bees are disappearing. During 2006 many beekeepers reported that the bees from some hives had simply disappeared . When opened the hives were empty and the bees were gone for no apparent reason. Researchers have subsequently determined that these die offs have occurred before but they are not yet able to assign a cause. Some believe it is a disease, some believe pesticides are involved. The condition has been named Colony Collapse Disorder. Beekeepers and farmers who depend on bees to pollinate their crops (mostly tree fruits, nuts and some vegetables) are rightly concerned. In recent years bees and beekeepers have faced a number of new "pests". Varroa mite and tracheal mite are ectoparasites that attack adult and larval bees. Foulbrood is an important disease of honey bees, and Africanized bees , the so called "killer bees", are taking over European honey bee hives in the sou...

Our basset hound Minnie was a tick "magnet" . She went for a walk everyday in a grassy/wooded area near our home and liked to check out all manner of rodent holes and such. If we didn't treat her with a flea and tick medication (see below) she would come home with ticks attached to her head or neck area. Spring and early summer are peak times where we live but others may see peak tick activity in mid to late summer. Ticks (left) are related to spiders. Unlike spiders, however, ticks are ectoparasites of vertebrate animals. This means that they feed o n the blood of animals ranging from snakes to mammals, including us and our pets. Like other blood-feeding invertebrates, for example mosquitoes, female ticks must get a blood meal in order to lay healthy eggs. Also like mosquitoes, ticks can transmit some important human and pet diseases while feeding. Lyme Disease is spread by the bite of ticks as is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and many others. Not all ticks carry di...

I get many questions about the insecticide Timbor . Rather than answer individual e-mails I decided to post a page at our 'Bugs site about using Timbor for structural pests and to add a link here on the blog. Timbor is made from sodium borate crystals (borax). Borates have many industrial uses in addition to their use as insecticides and fungicides . Borate-based insecticides have been around for a long time. They act mostly as stomach poisons, which means they must be eaten to be effective, as opposed to contact insecticides which are absorbed through the insect's cuticle. In recent years a number of new borate products have been introduced as wood preservatives for dry-rot fungi and for structural pests like termites , carpenter ants and wood destroying beetles . Some products are liquids that contain a glycol base which is believed to help the borate penetrate further into wood fibers. Other products, like Timbor, are supplied as nearly pure borate powders which can ...

Roses are one of the most popular cultivated plants for both gardeners and plant pests alike! Pests as different as aphids , black spot fungi and Japanese beetles conspire to steal this beauty from our landscapes. You may decide to just let nature take its course in which case your roses will suffer some damage and may be weaker next year. Some gardeners, however, will decide to help nature along with a little gentle intervention. Here are suggestions for limiting pest damage while not resorting to harsh chemicals. What you'll need: 1 gallon garden sprayer ; a smaller capacity sprayer will do if you have only a few rose bushes fresh insecticidal soap concentrate; not household liquid soap! neem oi l or EcoPCO WPX botanical insecticide Milky Spore microbial insecticide for soil dwelling white grubs a fungicide that contains copper or sulfur, which may or may not be combined with soap Use the garden sprayer to apply all of the garden chemicals. Ins...

Bed bugs are small (~1/4"), reddish-brown, oval, and wingless insects that bite to get a meal of blood much like a female mosquito. Unlike mosquitoes, all stages of bed bug, except the egg, feed on blood. Immature and adult bed bugs are similar in appearance, except of course for size. We humans are the bed bug's favorite host. Bed bugs bite their sleeping hosts at night. Bed bug bites are painless at first but soon a red, swollen area develops that resembles a really bad mosquito bite . Unlike mosquitoes, b ed bugs don't transmit any diseases but the bites can result in both itchy lesions and secondary skin infections. In recent years bed bugs have started popping up in places where they had not been seen in decades. People staying at otherwise clean, well-managed hotels and motels are reporting bed bug bites. What's going on here? A little bed bug history Bed bugs and people have been together for a long time. A closely related species called the bat bug fee...

Yellowjacket wasps are social insects that live in large, highly organized colonies (right). Yellowjacket wasps construct nests made of papery material that are either suspended above ground ( aerial nests , right) or buried below ground level ( ground nests ). Another social wasp, the paper wasp , builds smaller, less threatening nests. Yellowjacket wasp nests may harbor thousands of individual worker wasps by late summer and early fall at the peak of activity. Life cycle of a wasp nest Nest construction begins in the spring when an inseminated queen emerges from winter hibernation. Nests start small but grow rapidly as new workers (sterile female daughters of the queen) are reared. Nests reach maximum size by late summer and early fall. As winter approaches new queens and a few male drones are produced. After these reproductives mate the males die and the newly-mated queens leave the nest. All of the current-year workers abandon the nest and die by the time cold weather se...

Since we get a lot of questions about  electronic pest control    I thought it might be a good time to remind readers what the devices do, and don't do. Marketers of electronic pest control devices (sometimes called ultrasonic pest control, or something similar) claim that these devices chase away insect pests and small rodents with electromagnetic and/or ultrasonic energy. They claim that laboratory tests have proven that the product works but they don't cite any actual studies . The only supporting documentation is testimonial. Scientific studies   I could not find a single published study in any scientific journal that supports the use of electronic pest control devices for household pests like spiders, cockroaches, or rodents. Such a study would be inexpensive to conduct and could potentially add a great deal of credence to their claims. Instead the only evidence given by the marketers is testimonials in which users submit their personal experiences with the pro...

Pubic lice are sometimes called crab lice , or simply " crabs " because of their overall body shape and the crab-like claws on the back two pairs of legs (see drawing right). The claws are adapted to hanging onto the relatively course hairs of the groin, armpit, chest and sometimes eyelashes where these insects live. See this page at our 'Bugs site for a color photograph of a pubic louse shortly after feeding. Pubic lice are very small insects (less than 1/10") that bite to feed on blood. Their bites results in very itchy lesions but pubic lice are not important in disease transmission . Pubic lice eggs are laid on the hair and, like head lice, removal of these eggs, or nits , is important for effective treatment. Treatment should include nit combing and use of medicated lice shampoo or lotion . Pubic lice infestations are highly treatable and should be no reason for panic. Since pubic lice can be transferred during sexual contact, partners of infested individuals ...