This article deals with creeply crawly gate-crashers and exposes their hide-outs in your home sweet home.
Feed the need
Like humans, pests have basic needs and these include food, water and shelter. We may be tempting the critters with five star digs and bountiful banquets without even realizing it. There’s probably a pest for every nook and cranny in an average home, and some sort of food suited to the pickiest pest palate. Fabric moths snack on your clothes, pantry pests such as flour beetles love flour, silverfish munch on books, and blood-sucking mosquitoes, fleas and bedbugs have a taste for warm human blood. Roaches, ants and flies are the least fussy eaters and would be more than happy to polish off your scraps and garbage.
Pests, problem ‘pets’
Pests aren’t big eaters, individually, because they are small. A stale breadcrumb is a scrumptious supper for a cockroach and a grain of sugar is a delightful dessert for an ant. The problem arises when Mrs Roach makes 150 new baby mouths to feed, or when Missy Ant crawls
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Fly Files: Domesticated House Flies
This article advises against rearing house flies as pets and explores some interesting house fly facts relevant to its control.
Different folks different strokes
Flies are a large and extremely diverse group of insects, including beneficial predators such as the robber flies and hover flies, nectar-feeding pollinating bee-flies and even bot flies that snack on human flesh. The fly group also includes mosquitoes, house flies (discussed here) and other common pest flies.
A filthy stalker
The house fly (Musca domestica) is a common cosmopolitan pest. This domesticated human-loving critter likes to hang out in and around our homes. It is quite the stalker, having followed humans to the farthest reaches of the planet. While it wants nothing more than to share our food and is even content to dine on our scraps, house flies don’t make very good pets for the average homeowner. For one, these two-winged beasties can transmit some nasty stomach bugs such as Salmonella, Shigella and Escherichia that could lay you out for days, or worse. This is also true for most common pest flies except the blood-feeding stable flies, which aren’t disease carriers.
Flies have bad table manners
Flies aren’t finicky feeders and love a varied diet of organic materials such as manure, garbage and your home-made meal, on occasion. Sharing food with a fly wouldn’t be so bad if it didn’t have such unrefined table manners. Flies have an offensive habit of vomiting on their (or your) dinner, then
Different folks different strokes
Flies are a large and extremely diverse group of insects, including beneficial predators such as the robber flies and hover flies, nectar-feeding pollinating bee-flies and even bot flies that snack on human flesh. The fly group also includes mosquitoes, house flies (discussed here) and other common pest flies.
A filthy stalker
The house fly (Musca domestica) is a common cosmopolitan pest. This domesticated human-loving critter likes to hang out in and around our homes. It is quite the stalker, having followed humans to the farthest reaches of the planet. While it wants nothing more than to share our food and is even content to dine on our scraps, house flies don’t make very good pets for the average homeowner. For one, these two-winged beasties can transmit some nasty stomach bugs such as Salmonella, Shigella and Escherichia that could lay you out for days, or worse. This is also true for most common pest flies except the blood-feeding stable flies, which aren’t disease carriers.
Flies have bad table manners
Flies aren’t finicky feeders and love a varied diet of organic materials such as manure, garbage and your home-made meal, on occasion. Sharing food with a fly wouldn’t be so bad if it didn’t have such unrefined table manners. Flies have an offensive habit of vomiting on their (or your) dinner, then
Mosquitoes: A Fatal Attraction
This article will give you the lowdown on the mosquito’s attraction to the human race, why this love is unrequited, and how to avoid donating blood to these leechers.
A one-sided love affair
Mosquitoes have had a thing for humans for thousands of years. The human-loving tendencies of these winged whiners have not been reciprocated however. Despite repeated rejection and death threats, they keep coming back to plant unwanted kisses on us. There being about 3000 species of mosquitoes makes for an interesting range of body-part preferences. The conservative ones stick to a quick peck on the cheek while some exhibit foot fetishes. Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes sneak smoochies at dusk and after dark while Aedes mosquitoes favor public daytime displays of affection. These mini molesters share a common modus operandi – they furtively insert their syringe-like mouths into your flesh and pump in itch-inducing anti-clotting saliva while taking their fill of you.
Mosquitoes aren’t very bright
A mosquito’s itty bitty brain, housed in its teeny tiny head, weighs way less than its 2.5 mg body. It’s not much of a thinker since it has very limited neuronal processing abilities. However, these featherweights are hardwired to
A one-sided love affair
Mosquitoes have had a thing for humans for thousands of years. The human-loving tendencies of these winged whiners have not been reciprocated however. Despite repeated rejection and death threats, they keep coming back to plant unwanted kisses on us. There being about 3000 species of mosquitoes makes for an interesting range of body-part preferences. The conservative ones stick to a quick peck on the cheek while some exhibit foot fetishes. Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes sneak smoochies at dusk and after dark while Aedes mosquitoes favor public daytime displays of affection. These mini molesters share a common modus operandi – they furtively insert their syringe-like mouths into your flesh and pump in itch-inducing anti-clotting saliva while taking their fill of you.
Mosquitoes aren’t very bright
A mosquito’s itty bitty brain, housed in its teeny tiny head, weighs way less than its 2.5 mg body. It’s not much of a thinker since it has very limited neuronal processing abilities. However, these featherweights are hardwired to
Bedbugs: Bloodsucking Bedmates
This article will explain why bedbugs are so good at sucking human blood, how to recognize a bedbug infestation, and how to reclaim your sleep haven from these blood-sucking critters.
Bedbugs are covert operations specialists
Few creatures can match the stealth of the bedbug in extracting a human bloodmeal. Under the cover of darkness, it silently crawls from a nearby hiding place to seek its next victim. A sleeping human, warm and exhaling carbon dioxide, is the preferred fare of this flat, apple-seed-like insect. It painlessly pierces the skin with a syringe-like mouth then proceeds to engorge itself with blood. The victim feels nothing during those few minutes he or she is feasted upon. An adult female can make lots of bedbug babies after a bloodmeal, totaling 400 eggs in a lifetime. Given the right conditions, these offspring become adults in two months.
Recognizing bedbug bites
Bedbugs are fidgety feeders, and usually leave a tell-tale three welt track on the skin of the victim. Unlike flea bites, which have a characteristic spot in the center, bedbug bites look more like
Bedbugs are covert operations specialists
Few creatures can match the stealth of the bedbug in extracting a human bloodmeal. Under the cover of darkness, it silently crawls from a nearby hiding place to seek its next victim. A sleeping human, warm and exhaling carbon dioxide, is the preferred fare of this flat, apple-seed-like insect. It painlessly pierces the skin with a syringe-like mouth then proceeds to engorge itself with blood. The victim feels nothing during those few minutes he or she is feasted upon. An adult female can make lots of bedbug babies after a bloodmeal, totaling 400 eggs in a lifetime. Given the right conditions, these offspring become adults in two months.
Recognizing bedbug bites
Bedbugs are fidgety feeders, and usually leave a tell-tale three welt track on the skin of the victim. Unlike flea bites, which have a characteristic spot in the center, bedbug bites look more like
The Good and Bad of Termites
Is there is such a thing as a ‘good’ termite? This article will reveal the little known good side of these insects, what gets them in our bad books, and how homeowners unwittingly invite termites into their homes.
Most termites are good guys
Termites are the ultimate recyclers.
Over 2000 species of termites can be found between latitude 50°N and 50°S, and more than 90% of these would never consider your home a tasty snack. Some termite species farm their own mushrooms and about half of all termite species actually eat dirt. The rest are miniature wood-digesting ‘machines’ that specialize in recycling of dead trees in forests. A termite first shreds wood with its powerful jaws, and swallows the lot. In its gut, an enzyme-rich soup breaks down the wood fibers and releases energy that the termite uses. The end result is fertile termite poo returned to Mother Nature, and less dead wood lying around that could fuel forest fires.
Termites provide sustenance.
Termites are an important part of the food chain. Ants, birds, geckos, aardvarks and chimps eat them. Some African tribespeople feast on lightly-roasted termites, which have a nutty flavor and are rich in fat. In some parts of Asia, the termite queen is traditionally sought after and eaten live to cure asthma. And a delicious fungus that grows only from mounds of the mushroom-farming termites mentioned above.
Which houses taste good to which termites?
Which termites?
If you are living in the USA, the name of your termite invader is likely
Most termites are good guys
Termites are the ultimate recyclers.
Over 2000 species of termites can be found between latitude 50°N and 50°S, and more than 90% of these would never consider your home a tasty snack. Some termite species farm their own mushrooms and about half of all termite species actually eat dirt. The rest are miniature wood-digesting ‘machines’ that specialize in recycling of dead trees in forests. A termite first shreds wood with its powerful jaws, and swallows the lot. In its gut, an enzyme-rich soup breaks down the wood fibers and releases energy that the termite uses. The end result is fertile termite poo returned to Mother Nature, and less dead wood lying around that could fuel forest fires.
Termites provide sustenance.
Termites are an important part of the food chain. Ants, birds, geckos, aardvarks and chimps eat them. Some African tribespeople feast on lightly-roasted termites, which have a nutty flavor and are rich in fat. In some parts of Asia, the termite queen is traditionally sought after and eaten live to cure asthma. And a delicious fungus that grows only from mounds of the mushroom-farming termites mentioned above.
Which houses taste good to which termites?
Which termites?
If you are living in the USA, the name of your termite invader is likely
Thursday, February 19, 2009
What's Eating (and Killing) My Goji Plants?: Goji Killing Aphids
Summary of PostHow to identify aphid infestations on your potted goji plants. And how to get rid of these pesky sap sucking insects.
The Attack of the Aphids
I started my Goji Berry Germinating Endeavour in the fall of 2008, way before I potted my mint, basil, pepper, strawberry and other plants to bring indoors over winter. Unbeknownst to me, a mama aphid had hitched a ride on one of these plants, into my home sweet home. Aphids have a incredible propensity for making babies. If you were to examine my mama aphid under a very powerful microscope, you could see her baby developing inside her, and her baby's baby developing inside her baby. (Freaky huh?). These ladies don't even need Mr Aphid to reproduce (Nonono, it's not what you think. No lady lovin' - these critters are Asexual. Some aphid life cycle info here). After two weeks I started noticing some tiny yellowish bugs the size of a pin head, on my basil (see aphid enlarged pic at right). I squashed them with my fingers, hoping for the best, but knowing deep deep within my heart that I would soon be facing the challenge of my career.
I am embarrassed to admit, I should have known better being an entomologist and all - Quarantine Quarantine Quarantine. (This means that when one brings potted plants indoors, one should isolate these plants from existing house plants for a week or two until one is extremely sure there are no six legged pests lurking and skulking on the newbies).
Aphid Explosion
Within a month the aphids and their daughters were the majority in my home. I was outnumbered 1000 to 1. They preferred some plants over others, and for a while I thought my goji plants were not going to be harassed. Ah woe!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
What's that Bug eating my Asparagus?
Summary of post
The common asparagus beetle is identified and control measures recommended for the home gardener.
Asparagus Beetles
Yesterday I noticed bugs eating the lovely asparagus in my edible garden. It seemed like they had appeared overnight, out of nowhere. I identified the critters as larvae and adults of the Common Asparagus Beetle (Crioceris asparagi, Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Articles on the asparagus beetles that had great photos that helped me identify the pests were from Garden Gate Mag: Common Asparagus Beetles and the Univ of Rhode Island's Extension Factsheet Asparagus Beetles. I surmised that the overwintering adult beetles that emerged in spring may have been kept in check by the frequent mowings Dad and Spence did before I put a halt to it. (They would keep mowing the asparagus throughout the season). Allowing the asparagus to feather out may have provided more food for the larvae. I counted about 50 on each bush, and about 10 adults.
Controlling Asparagus Beetles
The adults and larvae drown quickly if
The common asparagus beetle is identified and control measures recommended for the home gardener.
Asparagus Beetles
Yesterday I noticed bugs eating the lovely asparagus in my edible garden. It seemed like they had appeared overnight, out of nowhere. I identified the critters as larvae and adults of the Common Asparagus Beetle (Crioceris asparagi, Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Articles on the asparagus beetles that had great photos that helped me identify the pests were from Garden Gate Mag: Common Asparagus Beetles and the Univ of Rhode Island's Extension Factsheet Asparagus Beetles. I surmised that the overwintering adult beetles that emerged in spring may have been kept in check by the frequent mowings Dad and Spence did before I put a halt to it. (They would keep mowing the asparagus throughout the season). Allowing the asparagus to feather out may have provided more food for the larvae. I counted about 50 on each bush, and about 10 adults.
Controlling Asparagus Beetles
The adults and larvae drown quickly if
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Fear of Cockroaches
(Note: I have removed the roach photo originally placed near the beginning of this article because it traumatized roach-fearing folk whom, seeking to fix their phobia, couldn't get past the terrifying roach pic, to read the good stuff. Sorry Nimisha!)
Bugs and I. I have a love-hate relationship with insects. I love most insects and hate some of them.
In fact I am stricken by a malady known as Entomophobia, which is a fear of insects. More specifically, Blattodeaphobia, which is a fear of cockroaches. Not all cockroaches, just one species, Periplaneta americana.
I guess I am Periplanetaphobic.
I've no problems with other insects... unless I think that the critter crawling across my leg is a cockroach. This usually produces reflex scream-leap-flap actions that continue until the critter is positively identified as something other than a cockcroach. That is, Periplaneta cockroach.
This irrational fear of roaches does not befit my job title, which contains the words 'entomologist' and 'Dr'. I study insects and spend a lot of time with them. I have been an entomologist for nine years, not including four years chasing insects and conducting mini insect research projects in my undergrad years (ah the joys of life). You would think I would have gotten over my fear of roaches by now right? Somewhat, yes. But sometimes, when caught unawares and with my defenses down, I realise that the scream-leap-flap reflex lurks still within my psyche.
Take comfort my friends, you are not alone. An insect scientist is among you roach-fearers. I have somewhat managed to overcome my fear of cockroaches and I'll walk you through the process a little further down this post.
Bugs and I. I have a love-hate relationship with insects. I love most insects and hate some of them.
In fact I am stricken by a malady known as Entomophobia, which is a fear of insects. More specifically, Blattodeaphobia, which is a fear of cockroaches. Not all cockroaches, just one species, Periplaneta americana.
I guess I am Periplanetaphobic.
I've no problems with other insects... unless I think that the critter crawling across my leg is a cockroach. This usually produces reflex scream-leap-flap actions that continue until the critter is positively identified as something other than a cockcroach. That is, Periplaneta cockroach.
This irrational fear of roaches does not befit my job title, which contains the words 'entomologist' and 'Dr'. I study insects and spend a lot of time with them. I have been an entomologist for nine years, not including four years chasing insects and conducting mini insect research projects in my undergrad years (ah the joys of life). You would think I would have gotten over my fear of roaches by now right? Somewhat, yes. But sometimes, when caught unawares and with my defenses down, I realise that the scream-leap-flap reflex lurks still within my psyche.
Take comfort my friends, you are not alone. An insect scientist is among you roach-fearers. I have somewhat managed to overcome my fear of cockroaches and I'll walk you through the process a little further down this post.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
The Morinda Study Kick Off!
We have lift off!
Three years in planning and two previous failed attempts at initiating this key weaver ant study culminated in an emotional ceremony on Thursday 5th June 2007 where fresh colonies of the ant were released over two days onto the trees in my study plot. I watched my precious large red ants swarm onto the release platform, immediately and instinctively attacking the mealworms supplied to them, and quickly dispersing via the cotton string bridges to the trees surrounding the release platform. Oh joy!
The purpose of this study is to determine if a favored host plant of this ant (Morinda citrifolia, "noni") mix-planted with Khaya ivorensis, will enhance the establishment of relocated colonies by providing constant and/or more diverse food sources. In other words, I wanted to see if the ants would do better in plots where they had access to both host plant species, compared with plots with only one host plant species.
Easy right?
Nooo....
Three years in planning and two previous failed attempts at initiating this key weaver ant study culminated in an emotional ceremony on Thursday 5th June 2007 where fresh colonies of the ant were released over two days onto the trees in my study plot. I watched my precious large red ants swarm onto the release platform, immediately and instinctively attacking the mealworms supplied to them, and quickly dispersing via the cotton string bridges to the trees surrounding the release platform. Oh joy!
The purpose of this study is to determine if a favored host plant of this ant (Morinda citrifolia, "noni") mix-planted with Khaya ivorensis, will enhance the establishment of relocated colonies by providing constant and/or more diverse food sources. In other words, I wanted to see if the ants would do better in plots where they had access to both host plant species, compared with plots with only one host plant species.
Easy right?
Nooo....
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