'Bugs News

bed bug Bed bug control with foggers I am occasionally asked whether or not aerosol foggers (flea "bombs") can be used to control bed bugs . The answer is actually pretty simple - there are better ways to control bed bugs ! In fact flea "bombs" don't even work well for fleas. The only really effective way to control bed bugs is to locate and directly treat their hiding places with a residual insecticide. What are foggers? Foggers are pressurized cans of insecticide that release all of their contents as an aerosol mist when the trigger is pressed. They are sometimes called " total-release aerosol insecticides " and are often used to treat indoor spaces for pests like fleas and sometimes flying insects. Do foggers work? In general foggers do not work well, even for their targeted pests. The reason is pretty simple - they don't provide the level of coverage that a carefully applied spray insecticide can achieve. Foggers produce a fine mi

termite worker ("white ant") White Ants = Termites The term "white ants" generally refers to a group of insects that are more commonly called termites (Isoptera), more specifically the term refers to  subterranean termite workers . Worker termites are very pale and delicate, and superficially resemble delicate, white "ants" (see photo). However, termites and ants (order Hymenoptera) are not closely related at all and have very little in common. See the following about Termite Biology and Control for more information about these potentially destructive insects. Termites are fairly primitive insects that live in colonies. Unlike almost every other insects, termites feed on cellulose (wood fiber) with the help of special microbes in their gut. This ability to utilize wood as food makes termites a serious potential structural pest in our homes. While true ants also live in colonies, they are far more advanced than termites in terms of their developmenta

bird/nest mite of hummingbirds Do you experience any of the following symptoms on a daily and/or regular basis? A crawling sensation sometimes accompanied by feeling "pin prick-like bites". Itchy skin, especially at night. Red skin lesions that resemble flea or mosquito bites, while not able to capture an actual bug. Fear that you and your home/office/car are infested with an unseen bug. You repeatedly wash bedding and treat your home with insecticide in an attempt to rid yourself of this invisible infestation. If this sounds like you, first of all be assured that you are not alone - the symptoms are very real and widespread . I am asked about these so-called infestations routinely. The cause, however, is not what you may have been lead to believe . These symptoms are not caused by an insect or mite and no amount of insecticide, whether organic or not, will help you solve this problem . What are so called "skin mites" and "collembola mites"

German Cockroach Do I Need To Use Pesticides Inside My Home? I'm frequently contacted for pest control advice by people who routinely treat their homes, both indoors and outside, with pesticides in order to protect them from "bugs". Often the homeowners don't even know for sure what the target pest is, nor do they really care. These homeowners have been convinced that if they don't do these treatments, or hire a pest control company to do them at monthly or quarterly intervals, their homes will become infested and may even be significantly damaged. It's like changing the oil in your car every 3000 miles, hype that has been promulgated by so called "quick-lube" oil companies, either you pay now or you'll somehow have to "pay-the-piper" later! The Truth In fact, these routine pesticide treatments are rarely if ever needed , and indoor use of conventional pesticides, in single-family homes, is almost never justified. Fre

louse nit and louse Back in 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a new product called Natroba Topical Suspension to treat head lice in both children (4 years of age and older) and adults.  Take a look at this article Head Lice Biology and Control in School-Age Children for current treatment guidelines for parents and schools. The active ingredient in Natroba is spinosad a relatively new type of natural, organic insecticide that has been used in commercial agriculture and home gardens for several years. Spinosad is derived through a fermentation process using a specific microbe that was originally isolated from soil. See Using Spinosad in Home Gardens for more information. Natroba is currently available only by prescription for head lice control. Over-the-counter medications containing permethrin and pyrethrum are still effective against the majority of louse populations but there is some evidence that insecticide resistance to these compounds is increasing. W

yellowjacket nest A new insecticide is available for use in preparing baits for control of troublesome yellowjacket (social wasp) nests on an area-wide basis. The insecticide is called Onslaught Microencapsulated Insecticide . The Onslaught label allows for the insecticide to be mixed with a meat-based bait and dispensed to foraging yellowjackets. The combination should be very effective for area-wide suppression of yellowjacket nests and may even suppress wasp numbers the following year because of the impact it has on queen production. Details regarding bait preparation, dispenser design, the Onslaught label and theory behind baiting can be found at the 'Bugs site here . --------

As a follow-up to the post about the new poison baits that can be deployed to eliminate threatening yellowjacket wasp nests, here are some details. Bear in mind that while certain wasps can be dangerous, especially in late summer and early fall, all wasps are important predators of other insect pests. Only remove those wasp nests that are directly threatening such as nests located near picnic areas or playgrounds. First, take a look at this article about Wasp Removal With Baits at the 'Bugs site for background information. Start your baiting program in mid- to late summer, starting any earlier is probably a waste of time since wasp activity is generally too low for baits to be effective until mid-summer . Poison baits are prepared from some kind of minced meat (canned tuna and canned cat food work well) plus Microencapsulated Onslaught Insecticide. This is the only current pesticide that I'm aware of that permits use for poison baits targeted at scavenger yellowjackets

Very few people realize that a tiny mite that lives in the dust in our homes can cause severe, even life-threatening , allergy symptoms. While most people are unaffected by this allergy, just like most people are not allergic to grass pollen, for those that are it can significantly impact their lives. What causes dust allergy? Allergies to household dust are common and tend to be worse in winter when houses are sealed up tight against cold weather. All allergies are caused by the reaction of our immune system to molecules called proteins that enter through our lungs, digestive system, or skin. If we eat something we are allergic to our body reacts. Likewise if we breath something we are allergic to we experience a range of symptoms from a mildly stuffy nose to anaphylactic shock . An allergy to dust is caused by proteins in the dust that we react to when they enter our lungs. The allergy-producing protein (allergen) is in dust because of a tiny mite, the dust mite , that lives in

Have you ever found small, brown, slow-moving bugs crawling around your house that appear to have a hard-shell ? If you look closely the hard cover appears to be split down the back. These are beetles, probably one of several "stored product" beetles that infest dry foods and natural fabrics. If the beetles appear black, or mottled with red/gray/black, instead of brown they are probably one of the dermestid (Dermestidae) carpet beetles but the brown ones are likely one of the anobiid (Anobiidae) beetles, for example the cigarette or drugstore beetles . If the brown/black beetle has a tan stripe across the back it is probably the larder beetle , another one of the dermestid beetles. These beetles belong to a very large and diverse group of specialist scavengers that feed on dead plant and animal products. They evolved as nature's master "recyclers" that help breakdown and decompose dead plant and animal tissue. If you think about it from the b

Boric acid, or borate salt, is an excellent wood preservative , fungicide (kills rot fungi) and insecticide . It is very low toxicity, has low environmental impact and is relatively cheap. It is an ideal material for treating both hardwood and softwood against attack by fungi ( dry rot fungi ), and insects. The only real downside is that borate compounds are generally water soluble so must be used in dry environments or protected with a finish of some kind that seals them in the wood. Borates are available as dry powders ( TimBor and others) or as glycol-based liquid concentrates ( Bora Care and others). Glycol is intended to improve the penetration of borate into wood fibers but studies have not definitively demonstrated an advantage over simple water solutions. Glycol-based products are also somewhat more expensive than powder forms. Both TimBor and Bora Care should be applied to dry, unfinished wood surfaces with a pump sprayer or paint roller. Two coats are sometimes needed

aerial wasp nest Yellowjacket wasps (social wasps in the family Vespidae) are significant pests in grape vineyards both in terms of the direct damage they do to fruit but also the impact their aggressive, territorial behavior has on vineyard worker productivity and safety. Fruit Damage Most wasp species forage for live prey, mostly other insects, as well as carrion and plant sap. Maturing grapes are a source of plant sap and wasps will tear the outer skin to get at the grape juice inside causing yield and quality losses . Since wasp nests reach their maximum size about the time grapes mature, this damage can be significant in some varieties, in some years. Worker Productivity and Safety The social wasps build large communal colonies (nests) consisting of hundreds to thousands of individual wasps each capable of delivering a painful sting to an intruder. These colonies are built both above ground (aerial nests, see photo), and below ground in abandoned rodent burrows or oth

"Wandering-Type" Spiders brown recluse spider Most spiders spin a web and stay close to the web for much of their lives. A few don't spin webs or don't stay close to the ones they do spin. These spiders are more active hunters and tend to "wander" into homes more often than the less active types. The term "wandering spider" is not a taxonomic classification but rather refers to this more active, hunting behavior . Two wandering-type spiders in particular, the brown recluse spider and the hobo spider , are noteworthy because they may also be venomous. Sticky Spider Traps Sticky spider traps are generally considered to be the best way to reduce the number of wandering-type spiders in homes. Not only are traps effective but since they contain no pesticides they are very safe to use. Sticky traps are very simple, consisting of a cardboard tube that is partly coated inside with a sticky material. The spiders wander into the tube at

mold mite (drawing) Have you ever found tiny white bugs crawling on the kitchen counter or over a sack of pet food, or on your computer keyboard, or in some similar situation? The bugs are too small to see clearly and are often described as "salt" or "sugar" that moves ! If you look very close, with a magnifying glass, you'll probably see long "hairs" from tiny round whitish bodies (see drawing). There are a couple of things that people describe this way but in my experience mold mites (or mould mites) , also called grain mites , are the most common. These tiny mites feed on mold that grows on damp surfaces so are almost always associated with excess moisture and mold growth in one way or another. Their presence in kitchens can indicate a leaky pipe or leaky dishwasher. Mold mites don't bite or cause any real harm but some people will experience an allergic reaction to large numbers of mites similar to dust mite allergy. In fact mold mi

bed bug (drawing) Bed bugs are pretty easy to distinguish from other insects that you may find around homes. First, since bed bugs can't fly they are confined to areas near the floor and often close to places where people sleep. You won't find bed bugs crawling across the floor or flying around a light! Second, bed bugs are large enough to be easily seen, about 1/4" as adults, and are a distinctive chestnut brown color . Take a look at this page for close-up pictures of bed bugs actually feeding. bed bug hiding places, bites Bed bugs hide during daylight hours in cracks and crevices around bedding and in folds of mattresses. These areas will also generally show dark stains caused by their fecal matter (digested blood, see drawings). Finally, bed bug bites look like bad mosquito bites on most people. Some people, however, don't show the characteristic bites and some lucky folks hardly react at all. nearly full grown bed bug ~ 1/4" If bed bugs are f

a thrips next to a leaf vein Have you every felt a sharp pinch while outside during summer only to find a tiny, yellow or black, sliver-like bug when you investigate the bite? These bites are from a tiny insect called a thrips (the name is always plural; one thrips, many thrips). Thrips normally feed on plants with very sharp, knife-like mouthparts but some are predators of other small insects or mites. If they happen to land on us they can bite causing a sharp, stabbing pain. The bites are annoying but completely harmless and are more common in mid- to late summer. Unfortunately, insect repellents don't work against thrips. Continue reading to discover ways to avoid thrips bites at our 'Bugs website . drawing showing feathery wings Thrips can be important plant pests where they damage leaves and in some cases even infect plants with a virus. Greenhouse growers in particular often treat their crops with insecticide to prevent thrips damage. ___________

close-up of springtail/collembola I get questions through my 'Bugs site every week about tiny jumping bugs in people's homes . The questions usually start something like: " I've found tiny jumping bugs on my _____, what are they and what should I do? " Since there are only a few small insects that actually jump or hop when disturbed this question is pretty easy to answer even without a good photo. These tiny critters are called springtails , or collembola , and they are not really insects at all but rather primitive soil micro-arthropods (a distinction that is only of interest to an entomologist!). See Springtails In Homes and Gardens for more pictures and life history. Springtails live in soil where they feed on bacteria, fungi, and occasionally plant roots. They are harmless to plants and even beneficial to healthy soils. Very large populations can build in highly organic soils. They are most often noticed following heavy rains when they are washed

ants feeding on sugary bait Sooner or later almost everyone experiences ant problems in their home or apartment. Ants often invade kitchens first but can spread to other areas of the home as well. They are several different species of tiny black/brown ants that enter homes in search of food and water. Ant colonies can be located in the soil around and beneath the structure but they can also be in the walls and/or ceiling . Ant Colonies and Ant Control All ants live in complex, highly organized colonies where workers gather food and water for the developing young and the egg-laying queen. The trick with any successful ant control program is to use the worker ants to collect food for the colony that has been combined with an insecticide. The bait is fed to developing young and the queen thus disrupting the entire colony. Spray insecticides, on the other hand, do not work well against household nuisance ants because ants can detect and avoid areas that have been treated .

I've just posted incredible close-up pictures of bed bugs in the act of biting and early and late-stage chigger bites at our 'Bugs site . I found these images at the CDC Public Health Image Database . For life history, identification, and treatment of rooms for bed bugs see this page . And, you may wish to visit the main chigger mite page for life history of these biting mites. __________

Kudzu bugs clustered on wisteria. If you live in the south-eastern US you may have noticed a new insect this summer and fall (see photo): the insect is called the kudzu bug ( Megacopta cribraria ) and is characterized by - small, brownish/green in color shaped sort-of like a ladybug not seen prior to about 2 years ago invades homes in the fall congregates on garden plants, and especially, kudzu vine (For those that don't live in the southern US, kudzu is a highly invasive weedy vine, " the vine that ate the south !", that grows everywhere, on everything.) a new and important pest of soybean This true bug (Hemiptera)  resembles a ladybug (a cocinellid beetle ) in size and shape, but not color (see this page for a picture of a real ladybug/lady beetle). Also, you don't generally find ladybugs clustered together like you see in the photo. This a new "lady bug" has some unpleasant characteristics. (1) Feeds on and weakens garden plants as well a

mold/grain mite The tiny white/tan "bugs" that people find swarming over surfaces often turn out to be mold mites (also spelled mould mites). Since the mites are also attracted to warm surfaces they may appear to be infesting electronics like computers and televisions as well. When found in homes mold mites are usually associated with some type of moisture issue which has caused mold growth. The moisture source can be as simple as a leaky pipe or as difficult as a leaky roof or foundation. The mites feed on the mold and populations can grow rapidly. The mites are tiny, and usually white or tan in color, and have very long "hairs", or setae (see photo above). See Mold Mites In Homes for additional life history and control information. Mold mites are sometimes called " grain mites " because they also commonly occur in grain storage warehouses on the surface of grain sacks. The mites are harmless . They don't bite or cause structural damage