Disclaimer September 2010 - ncipmc.org · This one-eighth of an inch long, brownish-black ant can...

• Thispublicationisinformationalandisintendedasaguideonly.Alwaysreadandfollowallcurrentlabelinstructionsforpesticides.Whenpesticidesareused,itistheapplicator’slegalresponsibilitytoreadandfollowdirectionsontheproductlabel.Notfollowinglabeldirections,eveniftheyconflictwithinfor-mationprovidedherein,isaviolationoffederallaw.Itisalsothelegalresponsibilityoftheapplicatortoensureallnecessarylicensesareobtainedbeforeanapplication.Contactyourstateregulationauthorityforfurtherinformationonlicensingprocedures.

Disclaimer September 2010

2 310INCHES

• ThispublicationwasproducedanddistributedbytheIllinoisDepartmentofPublicHealththroughaEnvironmentalJusticeChildren’sHealthgrantissuedbytheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency.InformationpertainingtospecificpestswasobtainedfromtheHandbookofPestControl,EighthEdition,Mallis,ArnoldandtheIllinoisDepartmentofPublicHealthpestsfactsheets.

• Formoreinformationregardingthispublication,contacttheIllinoisDepartmentofPublicHealth,

DivisionofEnvironmentalHealth,525W.JeffersonSt.3rdfloor,Springfield,IL62761,dph.ipm@illinois.gov,(217)782-5830,TTY(hearingimpaireduseonly)(800)547-0466.

• Coverphoto:Odoroushouseant(Tapinoma sessile)JosephBerger,Bugwood.org

Publication Information

• Curt Colwell,Ph.D.,IllinoisDepartmentofPublicHealth

• Derrick Pehlman,IllinoisDepartmentofPublicHealth

Authors

Photo Credits• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/-4,5,10-12,14-16,18

• R.J. Bauernfeind, Kansas State University: www.ksre.ksu.edu/hfrr/extensn/POW/2003/June_4.htm-24,25

• University of Minnesota Extension: www.extension.umn.edu/.../images/fruitfly.jpg-50,51

• Pest and Disease Image Library: www.padil.gov.au/viewPestDiagnosticImages.aspx?id=770-62

• University of California, Davis - 114,115

• U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov-116,117,119,120

• Tom Murray, Illinois Department of Natural Resources - 121

• Iowa Department of Public Health: www.idph.state.ia.us/hcci/common/pdf/headlice_brochure.pdf-108,109

• U.S. Public Health Service courtesyof Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management: http://icwdm.org/-122

• Insect Images:www.insectimages.org,www.bugwood.org:• R.Werner,USDAForestService-1• JosephO’Brien,USDAForestService-2• ClemsonUniversity,USDACooperativeExtensionSlideSeries-3,19,41,42,55,60,61• JosephBerger-6-8,27,34,43,44,53,63,71,74,75,79-81,83-87,91,95,99113

Photo Credits continued• R.Werner,USDAForestService-1• JosephO’Brien,USDAForestService-2• ClemsonUniversity,USDACooperativeExtensionSlideSeries-3,19,41,42,55,60,61• JosephBerger-6-8,27,34,43,44,53,63,71,74,75,79-81,83-87,91,95,99113• WhitneyCranshaw,ColoradoStateUniversity9,28,30,47,48,49,66,68,88,93,101,106• GaryAlpert,HarvardUniversity-13,17,23,32,56,57,64,76,92,94,96,107,112• JohnnyN.Dell-20,36,38,54,89• TimothyHaley,USDAForestService-21• DavidCappaert,MichiganStateUniversity-22,31,77,82,97,98,118• JimBaker,NorthCarolinaStateUniversity–26,35• RussOttens,UniversityofGeorgia–29• JerryA.Payne,USDAAgriculturalResearchService–33• HowardEnsignEvans,ColoradoStateUniversity-37,39• RonaldF.Billings,TexasForestService-40,78• SusanEllis-45,46• SanfordD.Porter,USDA-ARS,CenterforMedical,AgriculturalandVeterinaryEntomology–52• FrankPeairs,ColoradoStateUniversity-58,104• NatashaWright,FloridaDepartmentofAgricultureandConsumerServices–59• JosephLaForest,UniversityofGeorgia–65• PestandDiseasesImageLibrary–67• FloridaDivisionofPlantIndustryArchive,FloridaDepartmentofAgriculture&ConsumerServices–

69• SturgisMcKeever,GeorgiaSouthernUniversity-70,72,73• JamesYoung,OregonStateUniversity–105• WilliamM.Ciesla,ForestHealthManagementInternational–100• ScottBauer,USDAAgriculturalResearchService-90,103• MerleShepard,GeraldR.Carner,andP.A.COoi,InsectsandtheirNaturalEnemiesAssociatedwith

VegetablesandSoybeaninSoutheastAsia–102• MatPound,USDAAgriculturalResearchService–111• JimOcci,BugPics–110

ANTSCarpenter, Odorous House, Pavement, and Pharaoh

COCKROACHESAmerican, Brown Banded, German, and Oriental

BEES & WASPSHoney Bee, Bumble Bee, Carpenter Bee, Paper Wasp, Yellowjacket, Hornet, Mud Dauber, and Cicada Killer

FLIESHouse, Blow, Flesh, Stable, Cluster, Fruit, Phorid, Drain, and Fungus Gnats

CommonPestsFoundinSchoolsandDayCareCenters:MidwestRegion

STORED PRODUCT PESTSGrain Beetles, Flour Beetles, Drugstore/Cigarette Beetles, Weevils, and Indian Meal Moth

SPIDERSBrown Recluse, Black Widow, Cobweb, Cellar, Orb Weaver, Funnel Web, Sac, Woodlouse, and Wolf

OCCASIONAL INVADERSTermites, Woodlice, Millipedes/Centipedes, Clover Mites, Springtails, Earwigs, Crickets, Boxelder Bugs, GroundBeetles, Lady Beetles, Bed Bugs, Head Lice, Ticks, and Fleas

MAMMALIAN PESTSHouse Mouse, Deer Mouse, Norway Rat, and Bats

General DescriptionWhileantscontributepositivelybyconditioningthesoilandpreyingupontermites,caterpillarsandotherpests,antsthemselvesoftenbecomepests.Theirnestsandmoundsareconsideredunsightlywheretheyarenotwanted,andantnestsinstructurescandamageproperty.Antsconsumeandcontaminatefood,andsomespeciesstingpeople,petsandlivestock.

Likeallinsects,antshavethreebodyparts:head,thoraxandabdomen.Attheant’swaist(betweenthethoraxandabdomen)isoneortwoexpandedsegmentsknownasnodes.Thenumberandshapeofthesenodesareusefulfeaturesforidentifyingantspecies.Antsalsohave“elbowed”antennae;ajointatthemiddleofeachantennaallowsittobendlikeanelbow.Thewingedformofantshavetwopairsofwings,withtheforewingslongerthanthehindwings.

Antsaresocialinsectsthatliveincolonies.Theycooperatewiththeirnestmatestomaintainacastesystemofindividualsthatperformspecifictasks.

Anantdevelopsthroughegg,larval,pupalandadultstages.Thewhite“anteggs”carriedbyworkerswhenanantcolonyisdisturbedormovingarenottheeggsbutthepupalstageofcompletemetamorphosis.Anteggsarealmostmicroscopic.Thelarvaethathatchfromthemarehelpless,grub-likeyoungthattheworkersmustfeedandcarefor.Alarvagrows,entersthepupalstageandlateremergesfromitscocoonaseitheraworkerorreproducer.

General ControlOftenthefirstreactiontoseeingalineofantstrailinginsidethehomeistograbacanofpesticideandspraythem.Thisstrategyusuallyresultsinafewdeadants.Unfortunately,ittreatsonlythesymptomsofanantprob-lem.Routinesprayingofantsandtheirtrailsrarelyprovidesthecure,sincetherearealotmoreantswherethosecamefrom.

Formostintegratedpestmanagementprograms,includingthoseforants,exclusionisthefirstlineofdefense.Thisinvolvestakingstepstopreventpestsfromenteringthestructure.Mostoften,antsnestoutsideastructureandmakeperiodic“raids”indoorsinsearchoffood.Sometimestheyenterthestructureandestablishnestsinsideit.Inspectforantentrypointsaroundthefoundationoutside,andinsidecrawlspacesandbasements.Applyasealant,suchassiliconecaulk,togapswhereantsareenteringthestructure,andtopotentialentrypoints.

Anothermanagementtoolissanitation.Forantmanagementthismeanskeepingvegetation,mulch,landscapetimbers,firewoodanddebrisawayfromthestructure’sfoundation,astheseitemsharborantsandsomeinsectsantsfeedon.Moisturealsoattractsinsects,soleakyfaucetsandpipes,faultygrades,cloggedguttersanddownspoutsshouldberepaired.Antsusuallyenterstructuresinsearchoffood,sosanitationindoorsmeanskeepingfoodstightlysealed.Makingfoodunavailabletoantsnotonlydiscouragesthemfromestablishingtrailsintoastructure,butmakesthemmorelikelytoacceptbaits.Conventionalpesticides,suchasliquids,dustsandgranules,canbepartofanantmanagementplan.Alwaysreadthelabelandfollowlabeldirections.

General DescriptionThetypicaladult,knownasa“worker”ant,isblack,winglessandvariesfromone-fourthofaninchtoone-halfofaninchinlength.Thesizeandcolorofcarpenterantsvaryconsiderablybetweenspeciesandevenbetweenantsfromthesamecolony,sothesefeaturescannotberelieduponforidentification.Instead,lookfirstforthecarpenterant’ssmoothlyroundedthorax(viewedfromtheside)andsinglenode(thesmalltriangularconnectionbetweentheabdomenandthorax;someantshavetwonodes).Carpenterantnestsconsistofsmooth,cleantunnelsandexcavationsinwoodthatrunwithoragainstthegrain.Incontrast,subterraneantermitetunnelsarelinedwithamud-likematerialandalwaysruninthesamedirectionasthewood’sgrain.Acarpenterantcolonyisoftencomposedofaseriesofnests.Themainnest,orparentnest,isusuallylocatedoutdoors,ofteninwoodpiles,logs,stumps,ortrees,sometimesseveralfeetabovetheground.Thenestcontainsthequeen,someworkers,larvaeandpupae.Itmaybejoinedbysub-nests,orsatellitenests,containingworkers,andolderlarvaeandpupae.

Carpenterantsarefastmovingandstoponlytofeedorsharefoodwithotherants.Theyaremostactiveatnight.Workersemergefromthenestabout15minutesaftersundown.Likeotherants,theyfollowchemicaltrailsinsearchoffood,sometimeshundredsoffeetfromthenest,andoftencreatepermanent,well-beatentrails,likecowpathsthroughthegrass.Acolonymayusethesamepathfromyeartoyear.Eachyear,carpenterantsbecomeactiveinthespring(MarchtoApril)andremainsothroughearlyfall(SeptembertoOctober).Amaturecarpenterantcolonyusuallyreleasesreproductiveindividuals(wingedswarmers)inthespringtime.

CARPENTER ANTS (Camponotus spp.)

General ControlMethodsofsanitationandexclusioncanbeemployedtohelppreventcarpenteranthomeinvasionsortosupplementcontrolofexistinginfestations.Carpenterantsrequirewoodandmoisture,soeffortsshouldbemadetoreducethesearoundthehome.Stumps,logsandwoodpilesshouldbeeliminatedormovedasfarawayfromthestructureasispractical.Openingsintothestructure--thatis,cracksinthefoundation,gapsarounddoorsandwindows,andspaceswhereutilitylinespenetratethestructure--shouldbesealed.Also,correctmoistureproblemsthatoccurfromgradesslopingtowardthefoundation,cloggedgutters,leakyplumbingandfaultysealsaroundchimneys,skylights,doorsandwindows.Overhangingtreebranchesshouldbecutbacktopreventthemfromcontactingthestructureandprovidinganeasyaccessrouteforants.

Locatingthenest(s)iskeytocarpenterantcontrol.Applyingpesticidesaroundaninfestedstructure’sfoundation,orintotheopenspaceinanattic,usuallyprovideslittleornocontrolandunnecessarilyexposesnon-targetedorganisms(includingpeople)topesticides.Forpermanentcontrol,nestsmustbetreateddirectly.Thismayrequiredrillingintovoidsinwalls,doors,windowframes,etc.,toallowdustorliquidinsecticideinjectionintothenest.Baitformulationsalsoareavailableforcarpenterantcontrol,thoughtheymaybeaslowerandlesseffectivemethodcomparedtofindingandtreatingthenests.

CARPENTER ANTS

CarpenterAntdamageandfrass.

(Camponotus spp.)

BlackCarpenterAnt-1/4”to1/2”

RedCarpenterAnt-1/8”to1/4”

General DescriptionThisone-eighthofaninchlong,brownish-blackantcanbeconfusedwiththepavementantuntiltheodoroushouseantiscrushed,releasinganodorsimilartorottencoconut.Inrecentyearsithasbecomeanincreasinglycommonhouseholdinvader.Nestsarefoundunderrocks,boardsandotherdebris,andinfloorandwallvoids.Theseantswillmoveindoorsduringrainsandinthefall.Theyfeedonsweets,honeydew,plantandfruitjuices,meatanddairyproducts.

ODOROUS HOUSE ANT (Tapinoma sessile)

General ControlSeegeneralcontrolofantsatthebeginningofthissection.

ODOROUS HOUSE ANT (Tapinoma sessile)

General DescriptionPavementantsaredarkbrown-blackandaboutone-sixthofaninchlong.Theyforage30feetormorefromtheirnestinsearchofavarietyoffoods,includinggreaseandoils,seeds,sweetsandhoneydew(thesugarywasteofaphids).Theyareoftenseenindoorsafterheavyraindrenchestheirundergroundterritories.Probablythemostcommonantinstructures,thepavementant,issonamedbecauseitexcavatesanundergroundnestandpushesthesoilintoconicalmoundsalongrocks,concreteslabs,sidewalksanddriveways.Nestsalsocanbefoundinlogs,mulch,wallandfloorvoids,andinsulation.

PAVEMENT ANT (Tetramorium caespitum)

General ControlSeegeneralcontrolofantsatthebeginningofthissection.

PAVEMENT ANT (Tetramorium caespitum)

General DescriptionThetiny(one-twelfthofaninch)pharaohantisyellowtoreddish-brown.Itisnearlyidenticaltothethiefant(Solenopsis molesta).However,thepharaohhasan“antennalclub”consistingofthreeexpandedsegmentsontheendofitsantenna,whilethethiefanthasatwo-segmentedantennalclub.Pharaohantnestsarelocatedinfloorvoids,wallsandceilings,andtheyofteninfestlargebuildings.Inhospitals,theseantsposeahealthriskbecausetheycancarryinfectiousbacteriafromthewarm,moistareastheyinhabit.

PHARAOH ANT (Monomorium pharaonis)

General ControlThecoloniesofthisantdonotspreadbyswarming,butinsteadby“budding,”whichisthebreakingapartandestablishmentofsub-coloniesinnewlocations.Thisprocesscanbetriggeredwhenthecolonyisstressedbytheapplicationofrepellentliquidordustpesticides.Coloniescanbeverylarge,somecontainingmorethan100,000ants.Duetothefactthatthecolonymaybudifstressedbyanapplicationofainsecticideormayquitforagingafteranapplicationgivingafalseimpressionoferadication,baitingisthepreferredmethodofcontrolforpharaohants.Severalbaitsshouldbeusedtoseewhichonethecolonymayprefer.Pharaohantsnotoriouslyuseplumbingpipesandelectricalwires,thereforebaitinginthoselocationsisessential.Eachanttrailfoundcouldbetoaseparateantcolony,sobaitingeachtrailanddiagrammingantlocationsisveryimportantintheeradicationofpharaohants.

PHARAOH ANT (Monomorium pharaonis)

General DescriptionExceptforsize,allcockroachesarerelativelysimilarinshapeandappearance.Theyaremostactiveatnightandstayinthedarkwheneverpossible.Whentheyareseenintheopenorinlight,itoftenmeansthatalargeinfesta-tionispresent.Cockroachesdonotuniformlyinfestastructureorroom.Theyseekhidingplaces(harborage)suchascracksandcreviceswheretheirbodiescantouchsurfacesbothaboveandbelow.Knowingthebasicbiologyofcockroachesgivesthepestcontroltechnicianimportantcluestothesourceandlocationofacockroachinfestation.Byconsideringtheirhabits,onecanincreasetheeffectivenessofacockroachmanagementprogram.

Likeallinsects,cockroacheshavethreebodyparts:head,thoraxandabdomen.Particularattentionmustbepaidtothecolorofthethreebodypartsinordertoproperlyidentifythespeciesofcockroach.Cockroachesaregregarious.Theycongregateandtolerateeachotherbutarenottrulysocial,e.g.,likeantsandhoneybees.

Acockroachundergoesgradualmetamorphoseswiththreedistinctstages:egg,nymphandadult.Youngcockroachesgrowandmolt(shedtheirexoskeletons)anddevelopintoadults.Thetimeittakestogofromeggtoadultvariesbetweenspeciesandisinfluencedbyenvironmentalconditions.Whileadultsofmoststructure-infestingspecieshavewell-developedwings,mostareincapableofflight.

COCKROACHES

General ControlPropercontrolofcockroachesisspeciesdependent,andcontrolpracticesforthecommonstructureinfestingspeciesarefoundonthefollowingpages.Theycanbedividedintotwogroups,basedonhowtheyaremanaged:smallercockroachesincludeGermanandbrown-bandedcockroaches;largercockroachesincludetheOrientalcockroachandtheAmericancockroach.

1)ManagementofSmallerCockroaches-Germanandbrown-bandedcockroachesareresponsibleformostpestcomplaintsandpesticideuseinpublicandcommercialbuildings,withtheGermancockroachbeingbyfarthemostimportantstructure-infestingcockroach.Controlsuccessdependsnotonlyoninsecticides,butonattentiontogoodmaintenanceandhousekeepingpractices.Cockroachesandtheireggcapsulesareoftenintroducedintobuildingsinpackagingandboxes.Consequently,bothpestcontrolstaffandbuildingmanagementmustunderstandthataneffectivecontrolprogramshouldincludemonitoringandinspection.

2)ManagementofLargerCockroaches-Althoughtheseinsectsmaytravelalongpipesthroughoutabuilding,inmostpartsofthecountrytheylivemainlyatgroundlevelorbelow.Preventionandtreatmentshouldfocusonwarm,moistareassuchasbasements,boilerrooms,steamtunnels,pipechases,sumps,elevatorandsewershafts.

COCKROACHES

General DescriptionAdultAmericancockroachesarelarge(11/3to11/2inches)reddish-browninsects.LargepopulationsofAmericancockroachesliveinwarmmoisthabitats.Theyareoftenfoundinboilerroomsorotherharboragewithwaterheaters,floordrains,watersumpsandbasementswheretheseconditionsprevail.

AMERICAN COCKROACH (Periplaneta americana)

General ControlInspectareasofhighhumidityandmoistureproblems,forexample,aroundleakingpipes.Placestickytrapsintheseareastocaptureandmonitortheroachpopulation.

HabitatAlteration:Caulkcracksaroundpipesandotherareaswheregapsoccuringroundlevelwalls.Stopwaterleaks,screenequipmentoverflowdrains,andtakeexcesswaterawayfrombuildings;keepdraintrapsfullofwa-terorcapped.Removerottingleavesfromwindowwells.Replacemulcharoundthefoundationwithgravel.Keeptrashcontainerstightlycoveredandawayfrommoistareas.

Baitingcanbeeffectivewhenproperlyplacedinappropriatequantities.Particularattentionmustbepaidtopesticidedegradationinareasofhighmoisture.Ifcockroachesareenteringfromtheoutdoors,aninsecticidecanbeusedtoestablishperimeterbarrier.Pesticidesalsomaybeusedasacrack-andcreviceapplicationtocockroachharborageareas.

AMERICAN COCKROACH (Periplaneta americana)

General DescriptionThebrown-bandedcockroachhasbecomelesscommonthanotherdomesticcockroaches,thoughlargepopulationscanresultwherefavorableconditionsexist.Adultbrown-bandedcockroachesareaboutone-halfofaninchlongandhavetwotransverselightbandsnearthehead.

BROWN-BANDED COCKROACH (Supella longipalpa)

General ControlBrown-bandedcockroachesaretypicallyseeninkitchensandotherroomswheretemperaturesareelevated.Theycanbefoundaroundhighcabinetsandnearstovesandotherheat-producingdevicessuchasrefrigeratormotors,electricclocks,lighttimers,televisionsandradios.

Successfulmanagementreliesonseveralmethodsofcontrol.Inspectiontoincludemonitoringtrapstofindroachesandtheirharborageareasshouldbeperformedfirst.Habitatmodificationandharboragereductionincludessealingareaswheretheroachesarehiding,removingharboragesuchascardboardboxes,anddiligentsanitarypracticestoremovethefoodandwaterrequiredforcockroachdevelopment.

Ifpesticidesareused,oneshouldconcentrateonmonitoringthecockroachpopulationanddeliveringpesticidesintoactiveharborageareasratherthanbaseboardspraying.Usingbaitsorgelsor,insomecases,crackandcrevicepesticideapplicationcanbeeffective.

BROWN-BANDED COCKROACH (Supella longipalpa)

General DescriptionTheGermancockroachadultisone-halfofaninchlongwithtwoblackstripesonthepronotum(shield-likepor-tionbehindthehead).YoungGermancockroaches(nymphs)arebrownish-blackwithapalebrownbanddownthemiddleoftheirback.TheGermancockroachisnotonlyoneoftheforemostindoorpestsbuthasprobablyaccountedforthegreatestnumberofcontrolfailuresamongstructuralpests.Itismostsuccessfulatinfestinghumanhabitationandinwithstandingincompletepestcontrolprograms.Germanroachesaremostactivejustbeforedawnandafterdarkandprefertoharborinthesmallestspacesinwhichtheycanfit.Inschools,Germanroachesareoftenfoundinkitchens,studentorgymlockers,andloungeareas.Theyareoftenintroducedonfoodandpackagingdeliveredtoschoolkitchens,butalsoarrivefrominfestedhomesbyhitchhikinginstudents’bagsandcoats.

GERMAN COCKROACH (Blattella germanica)

General ControlInspectiontofindtheroachpopulationiscriticaltoroachcontrol.Habitatandharboragereductionshouldincludesealingareaswhereroachesharbor,removingfavoredmaterialssuchascardboard,andsanitarypracticestoremovetheroaches’foodandwater.

Ifpesticidesareused,oneshouldconcentrateonmonitoringthecockroachpopulationanddeliveringpesticidesintoactiveharborageareasratherthanbaseboardspraying.Usinggelbaitsandcrack-andcreviceapplicationswithpesticidesincludingdustformulationsareeffective.

GERMAN COCKROACH (Blattella germanica)

General DescriptionTheOrientalCockroachisoftencalledthe“waterbug.”Adultsaredarkbrownorshinyblack.Thefemaleisslightlylongerthanthemale,about11/4inch.Unlikeotherdomesticcockroaches,thefemalehasonlyshort,triangularwingpads,whilemaleshavewelldevelopedwings.However,neithersexcanfly.Orientalcockroachesfavorcrawlspaces,cracksandmulcharoundbuildingfoundations,theundersidesofstoopsandsidewalks,basementsandothermoistplaces.Theyfrequentlyliveinfloordrainsthatleaddirectlyoutside.TheOrientalcockroachprefersstarchyfoodsandwilllivewheregarbageaccumulates.Theytoleratecoolertemperaturesandcansurviveoutdoorsaroundstructures.

ORIENTAL COCKROACH (Blatta orientalis)

General ControlInspectareasofhighhumidityandmoistureproblems,forexample,aroundleakingpipes.Placestickytrapsintheseareastocaptureandmonitortheroachpopulation.Caulkcracksaroundpipesandgapsingroundlevelwalls.Stopwaterleaks,screendrainsandpromptlyremoveexcesswaterandgarbagefrombuildings.Keepdraintrapsfullofwaterorcapped.Removerottingleavesfromwindowwells,andreplacemulcharoundthefoundationwithgravel.

Baitingcanbeeffectivewhenproperlyplacedinappropriatequantities.Particularattentionmustbepaidtopesticidedegradationduetomoisture.Ifcockroachesareenteringfromtheoutdoors,aninsecticidemaybeusedaroundtheperimeterofthefoundation.Pesticidesalsomaybeappliedtocracksandcrevices.

ORIENTAL COCKROACH (Blatta orientalis)

General DescriptionOfallinsectspecies,thehoneybeeisperhapsthemostbeneficial.About200millionpoundsofhoneyisproducedcommerciallyeachyear.Butthehoneybeemakesitsgreatestcontributionbypollinatingplants.Morethanonehalfofallfruitandvegetablecropsarepollinatedbyhoneybees.Waspscontributebypreyingonmanypestinsectsharmfultocrops.Withoutbeesandwasps,ourmenuwouldbeverylimited.Unfortunately,beesandwaspscanbeathreattohumanhealth.Eachyear,50to100peoplediefrombeeandwaspstings.Mostdiefromanallergicreactiontothevenomwithinonehourofthesting.Aboutonepercentofthepopulationisallergictobeeandwaspvenom.Thoseallergictostingsshouldcarryemergencykitsasdirectedbytheirdoctors.

Thoughrelated,beesandwaspsdifferinimportantways.Mostwaspshaveanarrow“waistline”wherethefrontportionoftheabdomentaperstoasmalltubeasitattachestothemiddlebodysectioncalledthethorax.Beesdonothavethisnarrowingoftheabdomen.Anotherdifferenceisthatbeesfeednectarandpollentotheiryoung(larvae),whilewaspsfeedtheirlarvaeinsectsandspiders.Yellowjacketsandhornetsalsoscavengefoodinclud-ingfruit,sweets,meatsandcarrion.

Onethingbeesandwaspshaveincommonisthatsomespeciesaresolitaryandothersaresocial.Asolitarybeeorwasplivesalone,makingitsownnestandraisingitsownlarvae.Individualsofsocialspecieslivetogetherincoloniesconsistingofmany“workers”andoneormore“queens.”Thesespeciesshouldbeconsideredagreaterthreattohumansthansolitaryspecies,becausesocialspecies,suchashoneybeesandyellowjackets,defendanentirecolonyandhavemoreindividualsavailabletodoso.

BEES AND WASPS

General ControlThemostimportantelementofwaspandbeecontrolistodestroythenest.Aerosol“waspandhornet”sprayscanbeusedtoknockdownbees/waspsaroundthenest.Smallamountsofpesticides(dustandwettablepowderformulationsworkwell)appliedintothenestsofcarpenterbeesandcicadakillersprovidegoodcontrol.Nestsofmuddaubersalsocanbetreatedthiswayorbysimplyscrapingthemoffstructures.Insomecases,attemptingtodestroyanestbecomesagreaterhealthriskthansimplytoleratingandavoidingit.Butnests,especiallythoseofsocialspecies,shouldbedestroyediftheyarecloseenoughtohumanstoposeastingingthreat.Thenestsofhoneybees,bumblebees,yellowjacketsandhornetsshouldalwaysbeapproachedwithcaution,preferablyatnightwhenmostoftheworkersarepresentbutreluctanttofly.Trynottocarryalight,aswaspsandbeesmayflytowardit.Instead,setthelightasideorcoveritwithredcellophane(insectscannotseeredlight).Ifthereisdirectaccesstothenest,afast-actingdustorwettablepowderformulationcanbeapplied.Ifpossible,injectthematerialintothenest.Ifyoumustapproachthesenestsduringdaytime,aquickknockdownaerosolcanbeusedtokeepthebees/waspsatbay,whileyoutreatthenestasabove.Heavyclothingora“beesuit”canbewornforaddedprotection.Also,bemindfulthatnestsmaybelocatedseveralfeetawayfromthepointatwhichthebees/waspsareenteringthestructure.Simplyapplyingpesticidesintoentranceholesmaynotbesufficient.Itmaybenecessarytodrillintothestructuretoenableinjectionofpesticidesdirectlyintothenest.Entranceholesshouldneverbeplugged,evenaftertreatment,becausethebees/waspswilllookforotherwaystogetoutofthenestandhavebeenknowntochewtheirwayintolivingquarters,endangeringpersonsinside.Useextremecautionwhenperformingbee/waspcontrolfromaladder.

BEES AND WASPS

General DescriptionThehoneybeeisahalf-inchlong,hairy,honey-browninsect.Theyshouldnotbeconfusedwithyellowjackets,whichareblackandbrightyellowwasps.Honeybeesliveinextralargecoloniesofupto50,000individuals.Theircoloniescangrowthislargebecausetheysurvivewinter,eveninnorthernstates.Thenestconsistsofseveraltiersor“combs”madeofbeeswax.Itislocatedincavitiesoftrees,rockformationsandbuildings.Inspring,acolonymayproducea“swarm.”Thisoccurswhenanewlyproducedqueenfliesoffwithabouthalfthecolony’sworkerbeestoestablishanewcolony.Theseswarmsoftencometorestontreesandhouseswhilescoutbeessearchforagoodspotforanewnest.Ifpossible,suchswarmsshouldbetolerated,astheyareintransitandusuallyleavewithintwotofourdays.

HONEY BEE (Apis mellifera)

General ControlHoneybeesarebeneficialpollinatorsandshouldbeleftaloneunlesstheirnestsareinconflictwithhumanactivity.Ifhoneybeesnestinthewallsofahome,theycanberemovedorkilledifnecessary;however,itisadvisabletoopentheareaandremovethehoneyandcombsbecauserodents,insectsandfungiwillbeattractedtothenest.Afterremoval,thecavityshouldbefilledtopreventfutureswarmsfromcreatinganest.Youmaywanttoseektheassistanceofaprofessionalbeekeeperorexterminator.Youcanpreventswarmsfromnestinginwallsbypreventivemaintenance.Honeybeeslookforanexistingentrance,soperiodicinspectionandcaulkingisallthatisnecessarytopreventthemfromoccupyingspacesinwalls.

HONEY BEE (Apis mellifera)

General DescriptionBumblebeesarerobust,fuzzyyellowandblackstripedinsectsone-halfofaninchto1-inchlong.Bumblebeenestscancontainaround200bumblebeesandarefoundinoldrodentburrows,underporches,inwallvoids,landscapingtimbers,pilesofgrassclippingsanddensethatchesoflonggrasses.Bumblebeescanstingmorethanonce,andtheirstingisoneofthemostpainfulofNorthAmericanstinginginsects.Bumblebeesarebeneficialpollinatorsandshouldbeleftaloneunlesstheirnestsareinconflictwithhumanactivity.

BUMBLE BEES (Bombus spp.)

General ControlIfbumblebeesnestinwallsorotherconfinedspacesofabuilding,theycanberemovedandthebeeskilledifnecessary.Nestcavitiesshouldbefilledtopreventbeesfromusingtheminthefuture.Youmaywanttoseektheassistanceofaprofessionalexterminator.Removingleaflitterandgrassclippingsaswellasfillingholesandburrowssonestscannotbeestablishedwillhelppreventunwantedencounterswithbumblebees.

BUMBLE BEES (Bombus spp.)

General DescriptionTheeasterncarpenterbee(Xylocopa virginica)isabumblebeelook-alikethathasashiny,allblackabdomen,whereasthebumbleBee’sabdomenisfuzzy,blackandyellow.Easterncarpenterbeesarebetweenone-halfofaninchtothree-fourthsofaninchlongandsolitary.Femaleschewone-halfinchdiameterholesandboretun-nelsthatrunseveralinchesintothewood.Eggsarelaidinsideandtheresultinglarvaedeveloponamixtureofpollenandnectar.Malesguardthenestbybuzzingintruders,buttheirdefenseisabluff;malebeescannotsting.Femalecarpenterbeescanstingbutrarelydo.

CARPENTER BEE (Xylocopa virginica)

General ControlDamagefromnumerouscarpenterbeesdrillingintowoodensurfacessuchaswindowsills,woodensiding,eaves,deckrailings,outdoorfurnitureandfencescanbesignificant.Carpenterbeeswillattackpaintedorstainedwoodsurfacesthoughbarewoodispreferred.Theburrowsofcarpenterbeescanbetreatedwithappropriately-labeledinsecticidedust,aerosolsorresidualliquidsunderpressure.Allentryholesshouldbefilled,e.g.withwoodputty.

CARPENTER BEE (Xylocopa virginica)

General DescriptionPaperwaspsareperhapsthemostcommonwaspsaroundstructures.Theyalsoareknownas“umbrellawasps”becausetheirnestslooklikeumbrellashangingupside-downfromeavesandoverhangs.Therearemanyspecies,butthetypicalpaperwaspisuptothree-fourthsofaninchlong,reddish-brownincolorwithalong,cy-lindricalabdomen.Apaperwaspnestisasinglecombofhexagonalcellsmadeofapaperymaterialthewaspsformbychewingwoodandmixingitwithsaliva.Largernestscanharborasmanyas75paperwaspsincludinglarvaeandpupaedevelopingwithinthecells.

PAPER WASPS (Polistes spp.)

General ControlSeegeneralcontrolofwaspsandbeesatthebeginningofthissection.

PAPER WASPS (Polistes spp.)

General DescriptionNotoriouslyaggressive,thehalf-inchlongyellowjackethasashinyyellowandblackmarkedabdomen.Oftenmistakenlycalled“bees,”yellowjacketsareinfactwasps.Theyconstructpapernestsuptoseveralfeetacrossthatcontaincombsarrangedlikethefloorsofabuildingcoveredbyapaperyenvelope.Asmanyas3,000(manymoreinwarmerstates)canbepresentintheyellowjacketcolony.Nestsoftheeasternyellowjacket(Vespula maculifrons)arelocatedintheground,whiletheGermanyellowjacket(Paravespula germanica)nestsincavitiesincludingcrawlspaces,atticsandwallvoids.Adultsconsumenectarandsweets,butfeedtheirlarvaeoncapturedinsects.Whentemperaturescoolinlatesummer,yellowjacketnumberspeakjustastheirinsectfoodsupplybeginstodecline.Theyscavengemoreaggressivelyatthistime,takingfoodfromtrashcontainersandpicnickers.Whendisturbed,yellowjacketscanstingrepeatedly.

YELLOWJACKETS (Vespula and Paravespula spp.)

General ControlSometimes,yellowjacketsnestinvoidssuchasvents,attics,crawlspacesorhollowwalls.Destroyingnestsintheselocationscanbedifficult,oftenrequiringtheservicesofpestmanagementprofessionals.Also,beawarethatnestsmaybelocatedseveralfeetawayfromthepointatwhichthewaspsareenteringthestructure.Simplyapplyingpesticidesintotheentranceholesmaynotbesufficient.Itmaybenecessarytodrillintothestructuretoenableinjectionofpesticidesdirectlyintothenest.Entranceholesshouldneverbeplugged,evenaftertreatment,becausethewaspswilllookforotherwaystogetoutofthenestandhavebeenknowntochewtheirwayintolivingquarters,endangeringpersonsinside.Also,useextremecautionwhenperformingbee/waspcontrolfromaladder.

YELLOWJACKETS (Vespula and Paravespula spp.)

General DescriptionTheso-calledbald-facedhornet(Dolichovespula maculata),isaboutthree-fourthsofaninchlong,blackandwhite,withawhiteface.Thishornetisactuallyalargeryellowjacketspecies.Itsnestisthefamiliarbasketballsizepaperyovalhangingfromtreelimbsandsometimesstructures.Coloniesarerelativelysmall,containingasmanyas700wasps.

AnevenlargerwaspistheEuropeanhornet(Vespa crabro).Thisisatruehornet,morethananinchlongandreddish-brownincolorwithdullorangestripes.Nestsoccurintreesandinatticsandwallvoidsofstructuresnearforestedareas.

HORNETS (Dolichovespula maculata and Vespa crabro)

General ControlSeegeneralcontrolofbeesandwaspsatthebeginningofthissection.

HORNETS (Dolichovespula maculata and Vespa crabro)

General DescriptionMuddauberwaspsarenamedfortheirhabitofconstructingtubularnestsofmudplasteredontheexteriorsurfacesofstructures.Insidethenest,thesewaspsplacespiderstheyhaveparalyzedbystinging,asfoodfortheirlarvae.Muddaubersaresolitarywaspsaboutthree-fourthsofaninchlong.Acommonmuddauber(Sceliphron caementarium)isbrownish-blackwithyellowmarkings.Itsnestsareabout2incheslong.Organpipemuddaubers(Tropoxylon spp.)areblackandconstructneststhatcanbeafootlongandresemblethepipesofapipeorgan.Thebluemuddauber(Chalybion californicum)isashiny,darkbluewaspthatlaysitseggsinthenestsofothermuddaubers.

MUD DAUBERS (Sphecinae)

(Sphecinae)MUD DAUBERS

General DescriptionUpto1½incheslong,thisisthelargestwaspintheMidwest.Cicadakillersaremostlyblackwithyellowmarkingsontheabdomen.Thissolitaryspeciesnestsinsmallburrows.Thefemalesearchestreesforacicada,stingsitandtuckstheparalyzedcicadaunderherbody.Thewaspeitherdragsthecicadatoitsburrow,orlaunchesitselffromatreeandglidesbacktotheburrow.Inside,itlaysaneggonthecicada,thencoverstheburrowwithsoil.Thestinglessmaleguardsthenest.Larvaeconsumetheparalyzedcicadaandemergeasadultwaspsthefollowingspring.

CICADA KILLER (Sphecius speciosus)

General DescriptionThehouseflyandothertypesof“filthflies”canbecomenuisancepests,butalsoareimportantfortheirpotentialtoharmhumansandanimals.Houseflies,forexample,canspreaddiseasessuchasfoodpoisoninganddysentery.Flies,includingstablefliesandmosquitoes(whichalsoareclassifiedasflies,orDiptera),caninflictpainfulbiteswhilefeedingonthebloodofhumansandotheranimals,andsomespeciestransmitdisease.

Thehabitsoffilthfliesfavorthespreadofbacteriaandotherdisease-causingorganisms.Filthfliesoftenfeedandlayeggsongarbage,manureandcarrionbeforecontaminatinghumanfoodsandfoodpreparationsurfacesbylandingonthem.Whenfeeding,housefliesregurgitatetheirstomachcontentsontofoodtoliquefyitbeforeingestingit.Theyalsocontaminatefoodandsurfacesbydefecation.

TheorderDipteraiscomposedofthe“trueflies,”oneofthelargestgroupsofinsects.Dipterameans“twowings.”Trueflieshaveonlytwowings(onepair)insteadoffourwings(twopair)foundinmostothertypesofwingedinsects.Allfliesareattractedtomoistorganicmaterialuponwhichtheylaytheireggs.Thishabitmakesfilthfliesvaluableasscavengers,butalsobringsthemincontactwithhumans.

Filthfliescanbedividedintotwogroups,determinedbytheirappearanceandfoodpreferences.Filthfliessuchasthehousefly,blowfliesandfleshflies,arerelativelysmall,soft-bodiedinsectswithlargeeyesandarestrongfliers.Otherfilthflies,suchasdrainflies,fruitfliesandphoridflies,aresmallerwithmoredelicatebodiesandlegs.

General ControlThemosteffectivemeansofcontrollingfliesistoidentifytheflytoenablelocationandeliminationofitsbreedingsites.Withoutpropersanitation,effectiveflycontrolcanbedifficulttoachieve.

Temporarycontrolcanbeachievedusingdevicessuchaslighttrapsorasimpleflyswatter.Physicalbarrierssuchasscreeningwithscreensofnotlessthan16-mesh,andensuringdoorsarekeptclosedtopreventfliesfromenteringstructuresinthefirstplace,arecriticaltoflycontrolinsidebuildings.Properlyinstalledandworkingairgatesalsocanbeeffectivebarrierstokeepfliesoutofstructures.Properlystoringfruitsandvegetablesandkeepingfloordrainscleanwillhelppreventinfestationsofsmallflies,e.g.,fruitfliesanddrainflies.Dumpsterareasshouldbekeptcleanandfreeofdebrisandspillage.

General DescriptionThecommonhouseflyisdullgray,one-fourthofaninchlongwithfourdarkstripesonitsmiddlesection(thorax).Housefliestypicallylayeggsonanimalfecesandgarbage.White,leglessmaggots(thelarvalstage)hatchfromtheeggsandgrowtoaboutone-halfofaninch.Whenfullygrown,maggotscrawlawayfromtheirfoodsourcetoundergopupation.Theyformadarkbrowncocoon,knownasapuparium,andlateremergeasadulthousefliesthatcanflytwomilesormoreinsearchofsuitableegg-layingsites.

HOUSE FLY (Musca domestica)

General ControlEliminateflybreedingsitesbylocatingtheattractingmaterial.Housefliesareattractedtogarbageandmanureandthebreedingsitemaybelocatedoffthepremises.Propersanitationofdumpsterandtrashareascanhelpreducethenumberofhousefliesattractedfromoffsitebreedingareas.Barrierssuchasscreeningnotlessthan16-mesh,andtight-fitting,self-closingdoorsthatarekeptclosedwhennotinusehelppreventfliesfromenteringstructures.

Inadditiontoflyswatting,mechanicalflycontrolincludestrappingwiththeuseofstickyflypaperandultravioletlighttraps.Tobeeffective,lighttrapsmustbeproperlyplaced.Lighttrapsshouldbeplacedwheretheycannotbeseenfromoutsidethebuilding,nomorethan5feetabovethefloor,andawayfromcompetinglightsourcesandfoodpreparationareas.

Whiletheuseofpesticidesisusuallynotthebestmeansofmanagingfilthflyproblems,sometimeschemicalcontrolcanbeavaluablecomponentofanintegratedflymanagementprogram.Oftenthistypeofcontrolprovidesonlytemporaryrelief,however,andcannotbereliedupontoeliminatetheproblem.

HOUSE FLY (Musca domestica)

General DescriptionBlowfliesarenamedbecausetheirlarvaedevelopinsidethebodiesofdeadanimals,causingthecarriontohaveabloatedappearance.Theyalsoareattractedtogarbage.Blowfliesareaboutone-fourthofaninchlongorslightlylargerwithshinyblueorgreencolorresemblingcoloredglassbottles,thoughsomespeciesareshinyblackorbronze.Theyhavebeencalled“bottleflies”becauseofthis.Largenumbersofblowfliesindoorsusuallyindicatesthepresenceofadeadanimalsuchasamouseorbirdinsidethestructure.

BLOW FLIES (Calliphoridae)

General ControlEliminateflybreedingsitesbylocatingtheattractingmaterial-carrionand/orgarbageforblowflies.Properinspectionandcleaningofdumpsterandtrashareascanhelpreducethenumberofblowfliesattractedtothesite.Barriers,suchasscreeningnotlessthan16-mesh,andtight-fitting,self-closingdoorsthatarekeptclosedwhennotinuse,helpreducethenumberoffliesinsidestructures.

Inadditiontoflyswatting,mechanicalflycontrolincludestrappingwiththeuseofstickyflypaperandultravioletlighttraps.Tobeeffective,lighttrapsmustbeproperlyplaced.Theyshouldbeplacedwheretheycannotbeseenfromoutsidethebuilding,nomorethan5feetabovethefloor,andawayfromcompetinglightsourcesandfoodpreparationareas.

Whiletheuseofpesticidesisusuallynotthebestmeansofmanagingfilthflyproblems,sometimeschemicalcontrolcanbeavaluablecomponentofanintegratedflymanagementprogram.However,thistypeofcontroloftenprovidesonlytemporaryreliefandcannotbereliedupontoeliminatetheproblem.

BLOW FLIES (Calliphoridae)

General DescriptionAppropriatelynamed,fleshfliesusuallyseekcarrionorscrapsofmeatonwhichtolaytheireggs.Likehouseflies,adultfleshfliesaredark-colored(grayorblack).Commonspecieshavethreedarkstripesonthethorax.Theyareslightlymorethanone-fourthofaninchlongandhaveacheckerboardpatternontheabdomen.

FLESH FLIES (Sarcophagidae)

General ControlEliminateflybreedingsitesbylocatingtheattractingmaterial.Propersanitationatdumpsterandtrashreceptaclescanhelpreducethenumberoffliesthatareattractedtothesite.Barrierssuchasscreeningnotlessthan16-mesh,andtight-fitting,self-closingdoorsthatarekeptclosedwhennotinusewillreducethenumberoffliesthatenterstructures.

Inadditiontoflyswatting,mechanicalflycontrolincludestrappingwiththeuseofstickyflypaperandultravioletlighttraps.Tobeeffective,lighttrapsmustbeproperlyplaced.Theyshouldbeplacedwheretheycannotbeseenfromoutsidethebuilding,nomorethan5feetabovethefloorandawayfromcompetinglightsourcesandfoodpreparationareas.

Whiletheuseofpesticidesisusuallynotthebestmeansofmanagingfilthflyproblems,sometimeschemicalcontrolcanbeavaluablecomponentofanintegratedflymanagementprogram.Oftenthistypeofcontrolprovidesonlytemporaryreliefandcannotbereliedupontoeliminatetheproblem.

FLESH FLIES (Sarcophagidae)

General DescriptionThestableflyisaaboutone-fourthofaninchlongandgraywithfourdarkstripesonitsthorax(behindthehead).Thisflylookslikeahousefly,exceptforthepointedproboscisbeneathitsheadthroughwhichitsucksblood.Theyaremostabundantinlatesummerandfall,andwillflyseveralmilestobitelivestock(hencethename),petsandpeople.Theytypicallybiteinearlymorningorlateafternoonandoftenattacktheankles,inflictingasharp,stabbingpain.Stableflieslayeggsinpilesofrottingvegetablematter,suchashaystacks,grassclippings,manureandvegetationalongshorelines.Liketheadults,stableflylarvaearenearlyidenticaltothelarvaeofhouseflies.

STABLE FLY (Stomoxys calcitrans)

General ControlArea-widecontrolofbitingfliescanbedifficultduetothehiddenhabitatsinwhichthelarvaearefound,andbecausesomeadultbitingfliesflymilesfromtheirlarvalhabitats.Nevertheless,sanitationcanbeanimportantmeansofcontrollingsomebitingflies.Thelarvaeofstableflies,forexample,developinpilesofdecayinghay,strawandothervegetation,includingmanurecontainingplantmatter.Thesepotentialsitesforlarvaldevelopmentshouldbeeliminatedwherepractical.Barrierssuchasscreeningnotlessthan16-mesh,andtight-fitting,self-closingdoorsthatarekeptclosedwhennotinusewillhelpreducethenumberoffliesenteringstructures.

Whiletheuseofpesticidesisusuallynotthebestmeansofmanagingfilthflyproblems,sometimeschemicalcontrolcanbeavaluablecomponentofanintegratedflymanagementprogram.Thistypeofcontroloftenprovidesonlytemporaryrelief,however,andcannotbereliedupontoeliminatetheproblem.

STABLE FLY (Stomoxys calcitrans)

General DescriptionNotassociatedwithfilth,thesefliesareunusualinthattheylayeggsonearthwormswhichthelarvaeconsume.Inthefall,adultclusterfliesbecomepestswhentheyinvadehomes,especiallyattics,forawarm,shelteredspotinwhichtospendthewinter.Theyresemblehouseflies,butholdtheirwingsparalleltothebody,notinatriangularconfigurationashousefliesdo.Clusterfliesareapproximatelyone-fourthofaninchlong,coveredwithfinegoldenhairs,andhavenostripesonthethorax.

CLUSTER FLIES (Pollenia spp.)

General ControlUnlikeotherfilthflies,theprincipalmeansofcontrollingclusterfliesisexclusion,thatis,sealingbuildingstopreventtheirentry.

CLUSTER FLIES (Pollenia spp.)

General DescriptionAlsoknownasvinegarflies,fruitfliesareattractedtosweetorfermentedliquidssuchasliquor,syrup,sodapopandvinegar,inadditiontoripening/rottingfruit.Femaleslayeggsinandaroundthesematerialsuponwhichtheirtinylarvaefeed.Thegnat-sizedadultsareuptoone-eighthofaninchlongandtypicallyhavetan-coloredbodiesandredtobrowneyes.

FRUIT FLIES (Drosophila spp.)

General ControlProperlystoringfruitsandvegetablesespeciallyduringsummerandearlyfallcanreducethechancesofhavingfruitflies.Storingmopsandragscleananddry,andcleaningoutdrains,garbagedisposalsandtrashreceptaclesalsowilleliminatefruitflybreedingsites.Ittakeslessthanaweekforafruitflytodevelopfromeggtoadult,soproblemscanquicklyarise.

FRUIT FLIES (Drosophila spp.)

General DescriptionAlsoknownashumpbackedfliesbecauseoftheirarchedthorax,phoridsaretiny,dark-coloredflies.Theirlarvaefeedonawidevarietyofdecomposingorganicdebrisofplantoranimalorigin.Ifsuitablematerialsarepresent,hugepopulationsofphoridfliescanbuildupquickly.Sourcesofinfestationincludeliquefiedgarbage,sewageandcarrion,oftenhiddeninplacesdifficulttoinspectandaccess.

PHORID FLIES (Phoridae)

General ControlEliminateflybreedingsitesbylocatinganddiscardingtheattractingmaterial.Inspectandsanitizetrashreceptaclesandcollectionareas,floordrainsandbrokenfloortiling,andremoveaccumulationsofliquefiedorganicmaterial.

PHORID FLIES (Phoridae)

General DescriptionAboutone-eighthofaninchlong,adultdrainfliesareslightlylargerthanothersmallfilthflies.Theirbroad,hairywingshavegivenrisetoanothername:mothfly.Theyalsohavebeencalledsewerflies,becausetheyinfestrawsewage.Drainflyadultsareoftennoticedrestingonbathroomwalls.Thelarvaesurvivesubmergedinthegelati-nousmuckthataccumulatesinfloor,sinkandtoiletdrains,byextendingtheirbreathingtubestothesurfaceforair.

DRAIN FLIES (Psychodidae)

General ControlToeliminateinfestations,drainsandtrapsshouldbecleanedwithawirebrushand/orabacteriaorenzyme-containingdraincleaner.

DRAIN FLIES (Psychodidae)

General DescriptionFungusgnatsaredelicate,long-leggedfliesthatlookliketinymosquitoes.Thelarvaeoffungusgnatsliveinmoistplaceswheretheirfoodoffungusgrows.Indoorinfestationscanbeassociatedwithpigeondroppingsandwithover-wateredpottedplantswherefungidevelop.PigeonorbatdroppingscanharborHistoplasmafungiandotherdisease-causingorganisms.Professionalconsultationisrecommendedwhenremovingabuildupofdrop-pings.

FUNGUS GNATS (Sciaridae and Fungivoridae)

General ControlEliminateflybreedingsitesbylocatingandremovingtheattractingmaterial.Moistureproblemsshouldalsobelocatedandeliminatedasmoisturecontributestofungalgrowth.Donotoverwaterhouseholdplants.

FUNGUS GNATS (Sciaridae and Fungivoridae)

General DescriptionManykindsofmothlarvaeandbeetlesattackcerealproducts,flourandotherdryfoodsderivedfromplants,aswellassomestoredfoodsofanimalorigin.Flourbeetles,sawtoothedgrainbeetlesandIndianmealmothsaresomeofthemorecommonones.Theseinsectscanbefoundinopened,andsometimesunopened,packagesorcontainersofgrainorotherplantmaterial,andincracksandcrevicesofcabinetsorcupboards.Inschoolsorotherpublicbuildings,infestationsoftenoriginatefromfoodpackagesbroughtintothestructure.Manypantrypestsarecapableofflying,thereforetheymayenterbuildingsthatway.Onceinside,theseinsectscanspreadtootherfood.

Theyoung(larvae)andsomeadultstoredproductpestsfeedongrains(e.g.,rice,barley,corn,wheat),grainproducts(includingoatmeal,cornmeal,pasta,breakfastcereals,flour,cakemixes,pancakeflour,anddrypetfood),nuts,driedfruits,andotherdryplantmaterial(evendriedflowerarrangements,ornamentalcorn,andseeddisplays),birdseedandpetfood.Severaltypesofbeetles(cigarettebeetles,carpetbeetlesandothers)alsowillfeedonspicesandevendrugs.

Alllifestages(egg,larva,pupa,adult)maybepresentsimultaneouslyininfestedproducts.Theadultbeetlesandmothsarefrequentlyseenincupboards,oncountersandcabinets,andaroundwindows.Beetleinfestationsoftencanbeidentifiedbythepresenceofoldlarvalskinsinthestoredproduct.Indianmealmothlarvaespinwebbingontheinfestedproductandmaturelarvaefrequentlycrawlawayfromtheirfoodsourcetocompletedevelopmenttotheadult.Thesedispersinglarvaeareoftennoticedcrawlingacrosswallsandceilings.

STORED PRODUCT PESTS

General ControlInspectionsforpantrypestsareessentiallythesameasforkitchen-infestingroaches.Besuretocheckpackagesofcerealproductsanddiscardinfestedmaterials.Sanitationistheprimarymethodofpopulationreductionwhereinfestedstoredproductsarefound.Insomecases,crack-and-creviceapplicationofinsecticideslabeledforuseinfood-handlingareasmaybebeneficial.Re-inspectproblemareasfrequently.Ongoingmonitoringandinspectionplansshouldbeputintoeffectinallkitchensandfoodstorageareas.Acompletepestmanagementprogramisrecommended.Communicationwithstaffisimportant.Cleaningandsanitationproceduresshouldbemonitoredconstantly.

STORED PRODUCT PESTS

General DescriptionTwoofthemostcommongrainbeetlesarethesawtoothedgrainbeetle(Oryzaephilus surinamensis)andthemerchantgrainbeetle(O. mercator).Virtuallyidentical,SawtoothedandMerchantGrainBeetlesarearoundone-tenthofaninchlongwithflattenedbodieswell-adaptedtocrawlingintotinycrevices.Thename,Sawtoothed,isderivedfromthesaw-likeprojectionsofthethorax.

Thelarvaeofbothspeciesarelessthanone-eighthofaninchlongandfeedonbrokengrainandproductsmadefromprocessedgrain.Thelifecycle(egg,larva,pupaandadultstages)isshort,producingsixtosevengenerationsayear.

GRAIN BEETLES (Oryzaephilus spp.)

General ControlThoroughinspectionisneededtodiscoverthesourceofgrainbeetleinfestations.Problemareasshouldbeinspectedfrequentlytodiscoverstoredproductpestsbeforeinfestationsflourish.Spilledfoodandgrainproductssuchasflourandcerealbehindandundershelvingcanbeasourceofinfestation.Sanitationandproperstorageofgrainproductshelppreventandcontrolgrainbeetles.Temperaturesbelow0Ffor24hourswillkillallstagesofgrainbeetles.Althoughdetectionandeliminationofinfestedproductisthekeytocontrollingtheseandotherstoredproductpests,crack-andcreviceapplicationsofappropriatelylabeledinsecticidesaresometimeswarranted.

GRAIN BEETLES (Oryzaephilus spp.)

General DescriptionTwoofthemostcommonlyfoundflourbeetlesaretheconfusedflourbeetle(Tribolium confusum)andtheredflourbeetle(T. castaneum).Virtuallyidentical,theconfusedandredflourbeetlearearoundthree-sixteenthofaninchlongwithflattenedbodieswell-adaptedtocrawlingintotinycrevices.

Thelarvaeofboththeconfusedandredflourbeetlearelessthanone-eighthofaninchlongandfeedonflourandfoodproductsmadefromgroundandprocessedgrains.

FLOUR BEETLES (Tribolium spp.)

General ControlFlourbeetlesfeedonalmosteveryfoodconsumedbypeopleandtheirpetssoonemayencounterthesebeetlesmorethananyotherstoredfoodpest.Thoroughinspectionisrequiredtodiscoverthesourceofflourbeetleinfes-tations.Sanitationandproperstorageoffoodisnecessarytocontrolflourbeetles.Itemsshouldbeinspectedforinfestationbeforebeingstoredinthefacility.Temperaturesabove120Fforseveralhourswillkillflourbeetles.

FLOUR BEETLES (Tribolium spp.)

General DescriptionBoththedrugstorebeetle(Stegobium paniceum)andcigarettebeetle(Lasioderma serricorne)areone-eighthofaninchtoone-tenthofaninchlong,bullet-shapedandbrownincolor.Thecigarettebeetletendstobelighterincoloranddoesnothavelinesofpitsonitswingcovers.Bothspeciesarecapableofflyingconsiderabledistances.Thelarvaeofbothbeetlesarelessthanone-eighthofaninchlongandconsumeawidevarietyoffoodsincludingflour,meal,breakfastfoods,condiments,spices(e.g.,pepper,paprika),tobaccoanddrugs.

DRUGSTORE & CIGARETTE BEETLES

General ControlThoroughinspectionisnecessarytodeterminethesourceofgrainbeetleinfestations.Sanitationandproperstorageofgrainproductsisnecessarytocontrolthebeetles.Infesteditemsshouldberemoved.Screeningorotherphysicalbarrierscanhelppreventthebeetlesfromflyingintothefacility.Incomingfooditemsshouldbein-spectedforinfestationbeforebeingstoredinthefacility.Althoughdetectionandeliminationofinfestedproductisthekeytocontrollingtheseandotherstoredproductpests,crack-andcreviceapplicationsofappropriatelylabeledinsecticidesaresometimeswarranted.

DRUGSTORE & CIGARETTE BEETLES

General DescriptionTheblackcarpetbeetle(Attagenus unicolor,alsoknownasA. megatoma)isconsideredbothafabricpestfeedingonwoolens,andastoredproductpestthatinfestsbothplantandanimalproducts.Thelarvaisuptoone-fourthofaninchlongandcarrot-shapedwithafanoflonghairsonthetailend.Adultsareaboutone-eighthofaninchlong,darkbrownorblack,brownlegged,bullet-shapedbeetles.

Relatedspeciesknownascabinetbeetles(Trogodermaspp.)aresimilarinshapeandcolorbutoftenhavesomefaintmottlingontheirwingcovers.However,theyfeedalmostexclusivelyonplantproductssuchaslivestockfeed,petfoodandgrain.

BLACK CARPET & CABINET BEETLES

General ControlIdentificationoftheadultsandlarvaeoftenrequirestheservicesofaknowledgeablepestmanagementprofessionaloranentomologist.Knowingthepestanditshabitscanprovidecluestohelplocatethefoodsource(s).Trapscanbeusedtoidentifynewinfestations,topinpointsourcesofinfestationandtomonitorpestactivity.Whenafoodsourceisdiscovered,itshouldbediscarded.Theuseofpesticidesforcontrolofblackcarpetbeetlesorcabinetbeetlesissometimeswarranted,butsanitation,i.e.,removalofthefoodsource,ismostimportant.Pesticidesshouldnotberelieduponastheprimarymeansofcontrollingstoredproductpests.

BLACK CARPET & CABINET BEETLES

General DescriptionBoththericeweevil(Sitophilus oryza)andthemaizeweevil(S. zeamais)areapproximatelyone-eighthofaninchlonganddullreddish-browntodarkbrownincolor.

Bothspeciesarecapableofflyingconsiderabledistances.Bothlarvaeandadultsfeedonwholegrain,cereals,seeds,fruitsandpasta.

WEEVILS (Sitophilus spp.)

General ControlInspectforandeliminateinfestedfooditems.Sanitationandproperstorageofproductsiskeytocontrollingandpreventingweevilinfestationsinfoodproducts.Infesteditemsshouldbediscarded.Screeningorotherphysicalbarrierswillhelptopreventweevilsfromflyingintothefacility.Fooditemsshouldbeinspectedforinfestationbeforebeingstoredinthefacility.Smallamountsofinfestedmaterialcanbefrozenat0Fforsixdaystokilltheweevils.

WEEVILS (Sitophilus spp.)

General DescriptionTheIndianmealmoth(alsospelled“Indianmeal”moth)isaslendermoththatfoldsitswingsoveritsabdomenwhenatrest.Itisapproximatelyfive-eighthsofaninchlongwiththeouterhalftoone-thirdofthefrontwingcov-eredwithreddish-copperscales,thoughtheyareoftenrubbedaway.Themothtypicallyfeedsongrainproducts,driedfruits,seeds,nuts,powderedmilk,chocolate,candies,dogfood,andbirdseed.Thelarvaearecaterpillarsaboutone-halfofaninchlong,rangingfromadirtywhitecolortobrown,sometimeswithapinkishorgreenishtinge.Theyproducesilkenthreadsthatarevisibleonthefoodsource.

INDIAN MEAL MOTH (Plodia interpunctella)

General ControlIndianmealmothcaterpillarsfeedonvariousfooditems,andthesourcesofinfestationscanbedifficulttodetect.Sanitationandproperstorageoffoodproductsareimportantpartsofpreventionandcontrol.Foodsshouldbeinspectedforinfestationbeforebeingstoredinthefacility.Temperaturesbelow0FforsixdayswillkillIndianmealmoths.

INDIAN MEAL MOTH (Plodia interpunctella)

General DescriptionItcanbesaidthatnoother“bug”generatesasmuchfearasthespider.Thefearofspidersranksasoneofourgreatestphobias,alongwiththefearofsnakes,heightsandpublicspeaking.Manyspecieslieinambush,hiddenincracks,crevicesandholes,orcamouflagedonvegetation,waitingtostrikeatinsectsthatventuretooclose.Otherspiderswaitforpreytobecomeentangledinwebstheyconstructofsilkproducedfromspinneretslocatedontheendoftheabdomen.Thisaddstothecreepinessthatmanypeoplefeeltowardspiders.

Spidersilkisthestrongestfiberinnature,fivetimesstrongerthansteel,yet30timesthinnerthanahumanhair.Differentspidersusesilkindifferentways:forwebsorretreats,tosubdueandwrapprey,tolinetheirnestsandnurseries,andtoformeggsacs.Silkalsoisusedformovement.Somespidersuse“draglines”todropdownfromaceilingoraleaf.Manyspiders,especiallyyoungonesknownas“spiderlings,”arecapableof“ballooning.”Aballooningspiderextendsalonglineofsilkthat,likeakite,enablesittobecarriedaloftonwindsthatcantransportthespidertoplacesmanymilesaway.

“Spinnerets,fangsandeightlegs”wouldbeagoodanswertothequestion“Whatarethecharacteristicsofaspider?”Foranotherspecialcharacteristic,wecansimplylookintothespider’seyes.Mostspidershaveeightofthem.Thesizeandarrangementofaspider’seyesarekeytoitsidentity.Anotheruniqueanatomicalfeatureareaspider’spedipalps.Therearetwooftheseappendagespositionedjustoutsidethefangs.Theyaresensorydevices,perhapslikeourtongueortheantennaeofinsects.Butamalespideralsousesitspedipalps,whichcanlookalittlelikeminiatureboxinggloves,incourtshipdancesaswellastoinsertspermintothefemale’sbodyduringcopulation.

Spidersarenotreallybugsnoraretheyinsects.Butlikeinsectstheyarearthropodsrelatedtocrabs,lobsters,shrimpandsimilarorganisms.Specificallytheyarearachnids,whosecloserelativesincludemites,ticksandscorpions.Unlikeinsects,spidershaveatwo-partbody,acephalothoraxandabdomen.

SPIDERS

General ControlAsformostpests,effectivespidercontrolbeginswithidentification.Withspiders,identifyingthespeciesmaynotbenecessary,butitisimportanttoknowwhetherthespiderisahuntingspiderorwebhangingspider.Spidersthatcatchpreyinwebsareusuallyfoundinorneartheirwebs.Theseincludecellar,cobweb,orbweaverandfunnelwebspiders.Oftenthesespidersaremoreeasilycontrolledthanspidersthatroaminsearchofprey.Controlcanbeassimpleasdestroyingthewebsandsquashingthespiderwithaflyswatter,newspaperorshoe.Avacuumcleanerworkswelltooandleaveslessmess.Vacuumingspidersandtheirwebsisagood,non-toxicmethodthatalsocanbeusedonhuntingspiders,ifyouarequickenough.

Installdoorsweepstokeepspidersfromenteringbeneathdoors.Trytokeepdoorsandwindowsscreenedandshut.Minimizelightingthatisvisiblefromoutsidebecauselightsattractinsects,andinsectsattractspiders.Ifyoumusthaveoutdoorlighting,useyellow“buglights”orsodiumvaporlightsinsteadofwhitelightsandmercuryvaporlights.Stickytrapscanhelpcatchandmonitorhuntingspiders.Pesticidescanbeeffectiveagainstspiders,butinmanycasescontrolisnotachievedbytheuseofpesticidesalone.Aswithmanypests,thegreatestdegreeofcontrolresultsfromthecombineduseofseveralcontrolmethods,thatis,integratedpestmanagement.

SPIDERS

General DescriptionTruetoitsname,thebrownrecluseisbothbrownandreclusive.Thebodyoftheadultislightbrown,exceptforadarker,violin-shapedmarkingontheback,immediatelybehinditseyes.Thismarkhelpsidentifythespider,thoughitdevelopsasthespiderdoesandisnotpresentinyoungerbrownrecluses.Amoreimportantidentifieristhenumberandarrangementoftheeyes.Unlikemostspidersthathaveeighteyes,brownreclusespidershavesixeyesarrangedinthreepairs.Notealsothatthelegsofabrownreclusearenotspinyorbandedlikethoseofmanyotherspidersitisoftenconfusedwith.Brownreclusesaremostactiveatnight.Duringthedaytheyrestinhiddenlocationswithinthestructurestheyinfest.Whilefemalesbuildflat,sheet-likewebs,or“retreats,”andaremoresedentary,thebrownrecluseshouldbethoughtofasahuntingspiderbecausemales,inparticular,roaminsearchofprey.

BROWN RECLUSE SPIDERS (Loxosceles reclusa)

General ControlSuccessfulbrownreclusecontrolrequiresanintegratedmanagementplanthatutilizesseveralcontrolmethods.Plansemployingonlyonemeansofcontrol,suchassprayingbaseboards,willfail.Removingclutter,usingstickytraps,andcloseinspectionofmaterialscominginandoutofthestructurewillhelpcontrolthebrownrecluse.Pesticidesareoftenanecessarypartofbrownreclusemanagement.Applicationsshouldbetargetedoncracksandvoidswherethebrownrecluseareknownorsuspectedtobe.Alargervolumeofpesticidesmaybecalledforininfestedcrawlspacesandattics,oraroundfoundationperimeterswherebrownreclusearefoundlivingaroundastructure’sexterior.Encapsulatedformulationsofresidualpesticidesareeffective.Dustformulations(pesticidesinpowderedform)alsoaregoodfortreatingspacessuchaswallvoids.

BROWN RECLUSE SPIDERS (Loxosceles reclusa)

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General DescriptionAdultfemalewidowspidershavebodiesuptoone-halfofaninchlong.Muchsmallerarethemaleblackwidowsandimmaturefemalesthataregraytobrownwithspotsandstripesofred,orangeand/oryellowontheuppersurfaceoftheirabdomens.Thusnotallwidowspidersareblack.ButintheUnitedStates,adultfemalesofthethreemostcommonwidowsarealmostalwaysashinyblack.Thefamiliar“hourglass”markinglocatedontheun-dersideofthefemale’sbulb-shapedabdomenisbrightredorred-orange.Innorthernblackwidows(Latrodectus variolus),theupperandlowerhalvesofthehourglassareseparatedintotworedspots,whilethemarkingonthesouthernblackwidow(L. mactans)isrepresentedbyasingle,red,hourglass-shapedmark.Thereis,however,considerablevariationamongindividualwidowspiders.Somehavenohourglassmarkings.Mosthaveasmallerredspotnearthetipoftheabdomen.Theremaybealineofredspotsontheuppersideoftheabdomen,andnorthernwidowsoftenhavewhitestreaksonthesidesoftheirabdomens.

BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS (Latrodectus spp.)

General ControlControllingblackwidowspidersalsoinvolvesinspectingstructuresandoutdoorareasforthepresenceofthespi-dersandtheirwebs.Thisisbestdoneatnightbecauseblackwidowshideduringthedayandhangintheirwebsatnight.Likeothercobwebspiders,blackwidowscanbedispatchedbyvacuuming,ifcareistakennottoreleasethespiderswhenemptyingthevacuumcleaner.Smashingthemwithflyswatters,boardsandshoeswillworkasthespidersarenotaggressiveandcannotrunawayfast.Treatingthemdirectlywithacontactpesticideisanotheroption.Lastly,applicationsofresidualpesticides,suchaswettablepowdersorencapsulates,tocrawlspacesandaroundfoundationsalsocandetertheseandothertypesofspiders.

BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS (Latrodectus spp.)

General DescriptionThebulbousabdomenandmuchsmallerheadsectionofthecobwebspidergivesitacharacteristicspidershape.Thegroupincludesmanymedium-sizespecieswithbodiesuptoone-halfofaninchlongthatareblacktobrownincolorwithvariouspatternsandmarkings.

Cobwebspidersarealsoknownascomb-footedspidersbecauseofcomb-likebristlesonthelastsegmentsoftheirhindlegs,whichareusedtowrapprey.Thesespidershanginirregularlyshapedwebsthatareusuallypositionedclosetothefloorinmoistcrawlspaces,basementsandgarages.Ifonewebisunproductive,thespiderwillbuildanothernearby,leavingtheoldwebtogatherdustandbecomea“cobweb.”Widowspiders,suchastheblackwidow(Latrodectus mactans),arecobwebspiderswithbitesthatcanbedangerous.Butwhilethecobwebspiderstypicallyfoundinhomesmayresemblewidowspiders,theirbitesarenotdangerous.

COBWEB SPIDERS (Theridiidae)

General ControlControllingcobwebspidersbeginswithinspectingstructuresandyardsforthepresenceofthespidersandtheirwebs.Thesespiderscanbedispatchedbyvacuuming,ifcareistakennottoreleasethemwhenemptyingthevacuumcleaner.Smashingthemwithflyswatters,boardsandshoeswillwork,asthespidersarenotaggressiveandcannotrunawayfast.Treatingthemdirectlywithacontactpesticideisanotheroption.Lastly,applicationsofresidualpesticides,suchaswettablepowdersorencapsulates,tocrawlspacesandaroundfoundationsalsocandetertheseandothertypesofspiders.

COBWEB SPIDERS (Theridiidae)

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General DescriptionThesespidersaresometimescalled“daddylong-legs”becauseoftheirlong,delicatelegs.Theirtinybodiesareusuallynomorethanone-fourthofaninchlong.CellarSpidersaremostoftenseenhangingupsidedowninsheet-likeorirregularly-shapedwebsincornersoftheceilingorfloor.Thewebscanquicklyaccumulateandbecomeunsightlynuisancesincellars,basementsandcommercialbuildingssuchaswarehouses.

CELLAR SPIDERS (Pholcidae)

General ControlThesespidersareharmless.Theycanbedispatchedbyvacuumingsincetheyareslow-movinganddelicateinnature.Smashingthemwithflyswatters,shoes,newspapersandtissuesisalsoeffective.

CELLAR SPIDERS (Pholcidae)

General DescriptionFormanyofusanorbweaverspidercomestomindwhenwethinkofspiders.Theorbweaversareusuallylarge,colorfulspidersthatspintheclassicspiderwebwithsilkenspokesheldtogetherbyconcentricringsofsilk.Thesearethespidersofimagination,Halloweenandhauntedhouses.Yettheyarealmostalwaysfoundoutdoors.Thelargewebsofmanyorbweaversareoftenfoundintallvegetationorattachedtoporches,barnsandotherstructures.Thespidersitsinthemiddleofitsweborhidesnearby,waitingforthewebtovibrate,signalingtheentanglementofaninsectwhichitwillquicklywrapinsilk.Largeeggsacsareproducedinthefall.

Thisgroupincludesthegardenspiders(Argiopespp.),withstrikinglycoloredblackwithyellowororangemark-ings,andtheirbodiescanbeaninchlong.Theirwebsmayspan2feetormoreindiameter.Alsoincludedarethespiny-backedspiders(Micrathena spp., Gasteracantha spp.)foundintheforestandgarden.Theyareoftenbrightlycoloredandhavespike-likeprojectionsontheirabdomens.Bitesfromorbweaverspidersareuncommonandsimilartoabeesting.

ORB WEAVER SPIDERS (Araneidae)

General ControlControllingorbweaverspidersinvolvesinspectingstructuresandyardsforthepresenceofthespidersandtheirwebs.Orbweaverscanbedispatchedbyvacuumingandsmashing,asthespidersarenotaggressiveandcan-notrunawayfast.

ORB WEAVER SPIDERS (Araneidae)

General DescriptionThoughtheyoccasionallywanderintostructures,funnelwebspidersaretypicallyfoundaroundthefoundationofhomes,ingrassesandbushes.Theyremainhiddendeepinsidefunnel-shapedwebsthatarequitenotice-ableondewymornings.Unlikemanyotherweb-buildingspiders,funnelwebspidersarefastrunners.Whenaninsectoranotherspidercomesnear,thefunnelwebspiderdashesouttosubdueitsprey.Thisgroupincludesmedium-sizedspeciessuchasthegrassspiders(Agelenopsis spp.),usuallyfoundoutdoors,andhousespiders(Tegenaria spp.)whichoftenoccurindoors.grassspidersareoftenbrownwithdarkstripesontheirbacks.Thisandtheir“creepy”appearancemaybewhytheyaresometimesmistakenforbrownreclusespiders.

FUNNEL WEB SPIDERS (Agelenidae)

General ControlFunnelwebspidersarepronetoenterstructuresinthefall.Tohelppreventthis,checkthefoundationforcracksandholes.Alsocheckvents,aroundwindowanddoorframes,andforgapsaroundutilityandcablelines.Sealthesepotentialentrypointswithcaulk,expandablefoam,concreteorsimilarmaterials.Inspectaroundastructure’sfoundationforthepresenceofthespidersandtheirwebs.Applicationsofresidualpesticides,suchaswettablepowdersorencapsulates,aroundfoundationsinlatesummerorearlyfallcanhelppreventthesespidersfromenteringastemperaturesfall.

FUNNEL WEB SPIDERS (Agelenidae)

General DescriptionThesearesmalltomedium-sizedspidersthatmake“sacs”-tubularwebsabout1-inchlong,typicallypositionedbetweenangledsurfaces.Thesacsareusedas“retreats,”thatis,thespidersrestinthembydayandemergeatnighttowanderinsearchofprey.Theretreatsmaybeabandonedafteronlyoneday’suse,sohouseholdinfesta-tionsofsacspidersareofteneasilyidentified,evenwithoutseeingthespiders,duetotheprevalenceofsacsarounddoorandwindowframes,incorners,andwherewallsandceilingsmeet.Yellowsacspiders(Chiracan-thium inclusumandC. mildei)arethemostcommonspeciesindoors.Theirbodiesareaboutone-fourthofaninchlongand,includinglegs,thespidersarelessthanthesizeofaquarter.Theyareapaleyellowishcolor.Yellowsacspidersarefast-running,nocturnalhuntersthatcanbefoundfromfloortoceilinginstructuresandwilldroponalineofsilkwhendisturbed.Theyoftenenterhomesastemperaturesdropinthefall.Becausetheyarecommonindoorsandmaybiteinstinctivelywhentouched,yellowsacspiderbitesmaybemorecommonthanbitesfromanyotherspiderintheUnitedStates.Thebiteisoftenfeltasasharppain.Localizedrednessandswellingtypicallydevelopanddissipatewithintwohours.Ablisterlikesoremayappearatthebitesite.

SAC SPIDERS (Miturgidae)

General ControlInspectthefacilityonaroutinebasisandsealallcracks,repairscreensandensuredoorsweepsareinstalledproperlytopreventthespiderfromenteringthefacility.Monitoringtrapscanbeusedtocatchthespiderswhentheyareenteringstructuresorhunting.Pesticidescanbeeffectiveagainstspiders,particularlywhenappliedaroundfoundations,butinmanycasescontrolisnotachievedbytheuseofpesticidesalone.

SAC SPIDERS (Miturgidae)

General DescriptionThisspiderissometimesmistakenforthebrownreclusespider,thoughthereisonlyavagueresemblancebetweenthetwo.Butlikethebrownrecluse,thewoodlousespiderhassixeyesandismostactiveatnight.Ithasaone-halfofaninchlongbody.Thelegsarereddish,theabdomenisgray,andthefronthalfofthebodyisadarkreddish-brown.Ithaslong,sickle-likejawsforfeedingonwoodlice(alsoknownaspillbugsorsowbugs)whichithuntsunderrocksandlogs.Whilethisspidermaybecomedefensivewhenthreatened,bitesusuallyresultonlyinrednessaroundthebiteandproducepainthatlastsforlessthananhour.

WOODLOUSE SPIDER (Dysdera crocata)

General ControlInspectstructuresonaroutinebasisandsealallcracks,repairscreensandensuredoorsweepsareinstalledproperlytopreventthespiderfromentering.Monitoringtrapscanbeusedtocatchthespidersastheyenterandwhentheywanderinsearchofprey.Applicationsofresidualpesticides,suchaswettablepowdersorencapsulates,aroundfoundationscanhelppreventthesespidersfromentering.

WOODLOUSE SPIDER (Dysdera crocata)

General DescriptionAnylarge,hairyspiderintheeasternhalfoftheUnitedStatesismorethanlikelyawolfspider.Thesespidersmaygrowtohavebodiesoneinchlongwithalegspanof2ormoreinches.Theyaregenerallyblackorgrayincolor,butsometimesreddish-brownortan.Twooftheireighteyesareoftenlargerthantherest.

Wolfspidersareactivehuntersthatsearchforpreydayornight.Someburrowandothersrestinsilkenretreatsbeneathrocks,logsandvegetation.Femalesattachtheireggsacstotheirspinneretsandcarrythespiderlingsaroundaftertheyhatch.Aswithotherlargespiders,thebiteofawolfspiderislikelytobefeltbutisnotconsidereddangerous.Bitesfromtheseandotherlargespidersareuncommon.

WOLF SPIDERS (Lycosidae)

General ControlInspectthefacilityonaroutinebasisandsealallcracks,repairscreensandensuredoorsweepsareinstalledproperlytopreventthespiderfromenteringthefacility.Monitoringtrapscanbeusedtocatchthespiders.Ifwolfspidersarefrequentlyfoundindoors,pesticidescanbeappliedtoareassuchascrawlspacesandbasements.Microencapsulateformulationsworkwellagainsttheseandotherspiders.

WOLF SPIDERS (Lycosidae)

General DescriptionOccasionalinvadersareinsectsandotherarthropodsthatsporadicallyenterstructures,sometimesinlargenumbers.Byfarthemostcommonproblemwithoccasionalinvadersisthattheybecomeanannoyingnuisance.Somecanbite,pinch,secretefoulodors,damageplants,stainindoorfurnishings,anddamagefabrics.Evenaftertheyaredead,theproblemmaycontinue.Thebodiesofdeadinsectscanattractotherpeststhatfeedonthemandtheirbodies;andshedskins,secretionsandfecesofpestscancauseallergicresponsesandtriggerasthma.

Whetherthey’reinsects,mitesorarthropods,occasionalinvaderstypicallyliveandreproduceoutdoors.Theyinvadestructureswhenconditionsindoorsarebetterforthemthanoutdoorconditions.Itisimportanttoknowtheconditionsthatpromptinvasionsofunwantedpests.Byalteringenvironmentalconditionswecanmakestructuresinhospitabletopests-animportantcomponentofintegratedpestmanagement.

OCCASIONAL INVADERS

General ControlExclusionisthefirststeptopreventoccasionalinvaders.Excludethembyusingcaulk,concrete,screenorhard-warecloth(lessthanone-eighthofaninchmesh)tosealcracksandgapsinastructure’sexterior.Entrypointsareoftenpresentinfoundationwalls,undersiding,aroundwindowsanddoors,vents,soffits,andwhereutilitylinesenter.Aplant-freebandofrock,gravelorotherinorganicmaterialextending2feetto4feetoutfromthefoundationessentiallyputsabarrierbetweenoccasionalinvadersandthestructure.

Leakypipes,faucets,misdirecteddownspoutsandfaultygradesalsocanprovidemoisturethatattractsnotjustoccasionalinvadersbutalsootherpestsincludingtermites.Theenvironmentaroundastructurealsocanbema-nipulatedbyreducingoutdoorlighting.Mercuryvaporlightsandwhitelightscanbereplacedwithsodiumvaporlightsorlow-wattageyellow“buglight”bulbslessattractivetoinsects.

Variousmechanicalcontrolsalsocanbeemployed.Whenpestsenterinsignificantnumbers,itisbesttoremovethemwithavacuumcleaner.Aftervacuuming,sealtheminbagsanddisposeofthempromptly.Trapsareanotherusefulmechanicalcontrol.Insectmonitors,orstickytraps,canbepurchasedatlocalhardwarestores,homeandgardencenters,fromsomepestcontrolsuppliers,orthroughtheInternet.Stickytrapsaresimplycardboardwithanadhesivethatpestssticktowhenwalkingacrossthem.Whenpositionedindoorsatlikelyentrypoints,oneithersideofdoors,forinstance,theycanhelpmonitorforpestintrusions.Whennumerouspestsarecaughtonstickytrapsinthegarage,forexample,itmaybetimetoapplyadditionalmethodsbeforethingsgetworse.

Chemicalcontrolwithpesticidesalsocanbeintegratedintopestmanagementplans,butconsiderusingpesticidesonlyafterothermethodshavefailed,andwithapreferenceforproductsthataretheleastharmfultohumanhealthandtheenvironment.

OCCASIONAL INVADERS

General DescriptionTermitesareoftenconfusedwithantsbecauseoftheirsimilarappearance.Workertermitesarewingless,lightcolored,aroundone-eighthofaninchlong,withtheabdomenbroadlyjoinedtothethoraxandtheantennamadeupoftinybead-likesegments,not“elbowed”aswithants.Reproductivetermites,alsoknownas“swarmers,”arewinged,withallfourwingsbeingaboutthesamesizeandshape(comparedtotheshorterhindwingsofants).Mostpeoplearefamiliarwiththeextensivedestructionthattermitescancausetowoodenstructures.Termitesalsocandamagestructuralwoodinsteelandconcretebuildings,suchastrimormolding,paneling,furringstrips,doorandwindowframes.Storedfiles,stackedbooks,oranyothercellulose-basedmaterial(suchasfiberboardsheathingorinsulationpanels)alsomaybeattacked.Mosttermiteproblemsinlargebuildingsinvolvesubterraneancoloniesthatpersistforyearsonburiedwoodandconstantlyexploreupwardsfornewsourcesoffood.Thesecoloniesareoftenanuisancenotbecauseoftheactualdamagetheycause,butbecauselargenumbersofwingedswarmersperiodicallyfindtheirwayintooccupiedspaces.

SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES (Rhinotermitidae)

General ControlAlthoughextremelydisruptive,swarmersareharmless,donotbiteorcarrydisease,andcannotdamagewood.Swarmingtermitesshouldbecontrolledwithavacuumratherthanaspacespray,thoughsprayingmaybeunavoidableinsomecircumstances.Thearrivalofswarmingtermitesshouldbegreetedwithatermiteinspectionfromapestmanagementprofessional.Termitedamagecanbecomeextensivesoroutineinspectionstodetectinfestationsearlyisadvisable.Onceworkertermitesarefoundtobefeedinginsideastructure,theapplicationoftermiticidestothesoilaroundthestructure,and/orinbaitform,arenecessarytoprotectthestructure.

SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES (Rhinotermitidae)

General DescriptionAlsoknownas“isopods,”thesecreaturesarenotinsectsbutcrustaceansmorecloselyrelatedtoshrimp,crabsandlobsters.Mostisopodsaregraytobrownincolorandaboutone-fourthofaninchlongwithsevenpairsoflegs.

Pillbugscanrollintoaballwhendisturbed.Sowbugshavetwotail-likeappendagesthatformatubetosuckupwaterandareunabletorollintoaballwhendisturbed.Likemanyoccasionalinvaders,isopodsneedlotsofmoisture.Theyliveindampplaces-underrocks,logs,leavesandmulch-wheretheyfeedmostlyonrottingplantmatter.Moisture-seekingpillbugsandsowbugsinvadestructuresbutdonodamageindoors.

WOODLICE (Isopoda)

General ControlTopreventinfestation,sealcracksinthestructure’sfoundation,installdoorbrushestofillgapsbeneathdoors,andcorrectmoistureproblems.Asmuchasispractical,reducemoistureandvegetationaroundthefoundation.

WOODLICE (Isopoda)

General DescriptionWhilemillipedesdon’thaveathousandlegsasthenamesuggests,theydohavetwopairsoflegsperbodyseg-mentdistinguishingthemfromcentipedes,whichhaveonepairpersegment.Bothcreaturestypicallyhave30ormorepairsoflegs,areyellow-browntoblackincolor,andaboutaninchlong.Mostmillipedesarecylindrical,slow-movingplant-feedingcreaturesthatcancurlupandreleasefoul-smellingsecretionswhendis-turbed.centipedeshaveflattenedbodiesandtypicallymovefaster.Onespecies,thehousecentipede(Scutigera coleoptrata),isanexceptionallylong-leggedfast-runningpredatorofinsectsandspiders.Centipedesalsopos-sessappendagescapableofinjectingvenomintotheirprey,likethefangsofspiders.Whilemostcentipedesaretoosmalltopenetratehumanskin,thehousecentipede,aswellaslargerdesertandtropicalspeciesscolopendra spp.,caninflictwoundssimilartobeestings.Bothmillipedesandcentipedesliveindampplacessuchasunderrocks,logs,leavesandmulch.Whenconditionsaren’tsuitableinthewoodedareaswheretheyareabundant,millipedessometimesembarkonmassmigrationsandenterhomesinlargenumbers.Theyenterinsearchofmoisture,foodandshelter.Butlikesowbugsandpillbugs,theyoftendieindoorsbecausemoistureandfoodsourcesareinsufficient.Incontrast,thehousecentipedecanliveandreproduceinmoistbasements,cellars,crawlspacesandbathroomswherespiderandinsectpreyareplentiful.

MILLIPEDES & CENTIPEDES (Diplopoda & Chilopoda)

General ControlExcludethesemulti-leggedpestsbyinspectingandsealingfoundationcracks.Forcentipedes,itcanbebeneficialtocontrolthespidersandinsectstheyfeedon.Moisturecontrolindoorsandaroundthefoundationisalsoimportantincontrollingtheseandotheroccasionalinvaders.

MILLIPEDES & CENTIPEDES (Diplopoda & Chilopoda)

General DescriptionIfyousuddenlydiscovertiny,grayish-whitebugsinyourfacilitythatjumpwhenapproached,chancesareyouhavespringtails.Growingtolittlemorethanone-eighthofaninchlong,theseprimitiveinsectscaneasilypassthroughfoundationcracksandgaps.Andlikesomanyotherinvaders,moisture-orthelackofit-cantriggerspringtailinvasions.

Theseprimitiveinsectscanbeamazinglyabundantinsoilandothermoistsubstrates;tensofthousandscanbepresentpercubicfoot.Theirdietincludesalgae,bacteria,fungianddecayingplantmatter.Whensoilaroundfoundationsbecomessaturatedwithwater,springtailsmayfloodthroughfoundationcracksandintobasementsandcrawlspaces.Thiscanoccureveninwinterwhenmeltingsnowfloodsthesoil.Theyalsoenteralongpipesanddrains,andinpottedplantsbroughtindoors.Theycanclimbfoundationwallsandareattractedtolights.

SPRINGTAILS (Collembola)

General ControlAlthoughspringtailsmayenterhomesinlargenumbers,theyusuallydieindoors,lackingsufficientmoisture,humidityandfoodforsurvival.Removethemwithavacuumcleaner.Sealingfoundationcracksandgaps,correctingmoistureproblems,andnotoverwateringplantswillhelppreventspringtailinvasions.

SPRINGTAILS (Collembola)

General DescriptionEarwigsarebrown,flat-bodiedinsects,uptothree-fourthsofaninchlong.Ontheirtailendsarepincer-likeappendagesusedforcapturingprey,defenseandmating.Earwigscanbiteandpinchpeoplewhohandlethem,butareotherwiseharmless.Theirabilitytoborethroughtheearstolayeggsinsideaperson’sbrainisapopularmyth.Earwigsaremostactiveatnightandareattractedtolights.Theyrestinmoistcracksandcrevicesbyday,comingoutatnighttofeedonawidevarietyofitemsincludingmold,fungi,algae,plants,insects,spiders,fruits,vegetables,meatsandgarbage.

EARWIGS (Dermaptera)

General ControlEarwigsabandondrought-strickengroundtoenterstructuresinsearchofmoisture.Toavoidinvasions,reduceoutdoorlightingaswellasmoistureandvegetationaroundthefoundation.Foundationperimetertreatmentswithresidualinsecticidesand/orbaitslabeledforearwigcontrolcanhelpreduceEarwigpopulations.

EARWIGS (Dermaptera)

General DescriptionThechirpingcricketismusictosomeears(especiallythoseoffemalecrickets),butannoyingtoothers.Cricketshideincracksandvoidsintheground,aroundfoundations,inwoodpiles,underrocksanddebris,andbecomeactiveatnighttochirp(malesonly)andtofeedonavarietyoffoodsincludingplants,fruits,vegetables,andotherCrickets.

Commonlyfoundindoors,thehousecricket(Acheta domesticus)istanincolorandisuptoaninchlong.Capableoflivingandreproducingindoors,housecricketsareoftenfoundinthewarmestpartsofthehouse.Theywillconsumehumanandpetfoods,areattractedtofermentingliquids(vinegar,beer,etc.),arecommonaroundtrashdumps,andoccasionallydoincidentaldamagetofabrics.Theyareattractedtolightsatnight.Fieldcrickets(Gryllusspp.)arelargerthanhousecrickets(upto11/4inches)andareblack.Theydonotreproduceindoorsandaremostoftenencounteredaroundfoundations,insheds,garagesandgardens.Theywilldamagegardenplants,cropsandfabrics.

CRICKETS (Gryllidae)

General ControlMosthouseandfieldcrickethomeinvasionsoccurinfallwhentheinsects’foodresourcesdryupandtemperaturesdrop.Sealfoundationcracksandgaps,andinstalldoorbrushestopreventcricketsfromenteringgapsbeneathdoors.Othercontrolsincludereducingvegetation,leavesandmulcharoundthestructureand,inearlyfall,treatingfoundationperimeterswithresidualpesticideliquidsorcricketbaits.

CRICKETS (Gryllidae)

General DescriptionAdultboxelderbugs(Boisea trivittata,alsoknownasLeptocoris trivittatus)areaboutone-halfofaninchlong,ovalinshape,blackincolorwithred-orangemarkingsincludingthreestripesbehindthehead.Nymphs(young)havered-orangebodieswithblackwingpads,andareoftenfoundwiththeadults.Boxelderbugsarefoundontrees,rocks,woodpilesandstructuresinautumnwhenthebugsaggregatebeforeseekingshelterforthewinter.Largenumberscanbeseentakinginthesunonwarm,exteriorwalls,and/ortryingtoenterstructuresbeneathsiding,aroundwindowframes,vents,andanyothercracks/gapsinthestructure.Bugsthatgetinsidewillspendthewinterinwallvoids,windowframes,attics,basementsandotherprotectedspots.Whiletheymaylookmenacing,boxelderbugsrarelybite.However,theirfecescanstainfabrics,wallsandcarpets,andsmashedbugsemitafoulodor.Long,warmautumnsandmildwintersgiverisetolargepopulationsofboxelderbugsinspring.Warmedbythestructure’sheat,thebugsemergesluggishlyonwarmdaysinlatewinterorearlyspringtoseektheirfavoritefood:juicesfromtheleaves,twigsandseedsofseed-bearingBoxelderTrees.Whileboxelderbugssometimesfeedontheseedpodsandfruitsofothertypesofplantsandtreesincludingmaples,occurrencesoflargenumbersofthebugsareusuallyassociatedwithboxeldertrees.

BOXELDER BUG (Boisea trivittata)

General ControlWhenboxelderbugscongregatearoundstructuresinfall,theyshouldbedispersedbecausethebugsreleasechemicalscentsthatattractmoreboxelderbugstothesite.Awaterhoseorpumpsprayerwillworkforthispurpose,applyingwater,insecticidalsoap,orpesticide.Sealingcracksandgapsinastructure’sfoundationandexteriorwallscanhelpkeepthebugsout.

BOXELDER BUG (Boisea trivittata)

General DescriptionStructureswithbrightlightsvisiblefromoutsideatnightarelikelytoattractthesesix-leggedvisitors;andlargerstructures,suchascommercialbuildingsthatareoftenwell-lightedatnight,areparticularlysusceptibletoinva-sion.Therearemanyspecies,butthegroundbeetlesmostcommonlyattractedinlargenumbersaredulltoshinyblack,aboutone-halfofaninchlong,andsomewhatflatinshape.

Thesebeetlesarestrongfliersthatenterstructuresthroughopendoors,windowsandvents,gapsbeneathdoorsandsimilaropenings.Bydaytheyarefounddeadofexhaustionorrestingamongthesurroundinggroundcover,mulch,rockanddebris,orinsoilandpavementcracks.Largergroundbeetlescanbite,pinchingtheskin.Somereleasefoul-smellingdefensivesecretions,andsomespecies,knownasbombardierbeetles(Brachinusandothers),releaseirritatingchemicalsthatexplodewithapoppingnoise.

GROUND BEETLES (Carabidae)

General ControlThebestmethodofcontrolisexclusionandtoreducenightlightingbyshadingorswitchingofflightsvisiblefromoutdoors.Treatmentswithliquidresidualpesticidesaroundthefoundationperimetercanbeeffectiveagainstgroundbeetlesifreducedlightingandexclusionfail.

GROUND BEETLES (Carabidae)

101 102

General DescriptionThegroupofinsectsknownasladybeetles,ladybirdbeetlesorladybugs,includesseveralspeciesthatarriveatstructuresinthefall,ofteninlargenumbers,intentonspendingthewinter.Ladybeetlesarebeneficialbecausetheyconsumelargenumbersofinjuriousplantpestsincludingaphids,mealybugsandscaleinsects.Thereareseveralspecies;roundoroval-shapedbeetles,aboutone-fourthofaninchlong,yellowtoredincolorwithblackspots.

Onenativespeciesthatoftenentershomesisthespottedladybeetle(Coleomegilla fuscilabris).Itisanoval,pinkish-redbeetle,usuallywithtenblackspots.Theconvergentladybeetle(Hippodamiaconvergens)iscommonlysoldasabiologicalcontrolagentforreleaseingardens,thoughoftenineffectiveduetoitshabitofmigratingfromthereleasesite.Adultsareuptoone-fourthofaninchlong,yellowtoorangeincolorwithupto13blackspots,andwhitelinesthatconvergebehindthehead.TheAsianladybeetle(Harmonia axyridis)wasthoughttobeofsuchvalueasapredatorthatitwascollectedinAsiaandintroducedacrosstheUnitedStatesovermanyyearstocontrolpestsinorchardsandothercrops.Whendisturbedorcrushed,thebeetlessecreteafoul-smelling,orange-coloredfluidfromjointsintheirlegsthatcanstainfabricsandotherhouseholditems.

LADY BEETLES (Coccinellidae)

General ControlLadybeetlesoftenwillsettledownforthewinterbeneathsidingandshingles,inattics,soffits,porches,garages,wallvoids,windowanddoorframes.Ownersofhomesatriskshouldsealtheseharborageswhenpractical.Prop-erlytimed,preventivetreatmentofexteriorwallsandsurfaceswithliquidresidualpesticidesmaybeofvalue,butisbestdonebypestmanagementprofessionals.Oncethebeetlesappearindoors,collectthemusingavacuumcleaner.

LADY BEETLES (Coccinellidae)

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General DescriptionThebedbugiswingless,onlyaboutone-fourthofaninchlong,andflattofitincracksandcreviceswheretheyhidebyday.Atnight,bedbugsseekwarmbodies,leavingtheirhidingplacesinmattresses,boxsprings,bedframes,nightstands,curtains,couches,wallvoids,behindbaseboards,carpetedges,door/windowframes,pic-tureframes,peelingpaintandwallpaper.Thebug’sbeak-likemouthpartspainlesslypierceitsvictim,injectsalivaandsuckupthehost’sblood.Duringthethreetofiveminutesittakestocompletefeeding,thebugelongatesandbecomesreddishbrown.Itthenretreatstoitshidingplaceforafewdaystodigestthemeal.Reactionstobedbugbitesvaryamongindividuals.Thosewhoarebittenusuallydon’trealizeituntilthebodyreactswithinflam-mationandswellingaroundthebite,alongwithintenseitching.Whilepathogenshavebeenisolatedfrombedbugs,theyapparentlydonottransmitdiseasestohumans.

BED BUG (Cimex lectularius)

General ControlWhenbedbugsaresuspected,athoroughinspectionshouldcommenceinareaswherepeoplesleeporrest.Checkallpossiblehidingplaces,mindfulthatbedbugscanfitintoanytinycrackorcrevice.Oncebedbughide-outsarediscovered,anon-toxicsolutionistosimplyvacuumthemanddisposeofthebaginasealedgarbagebagortrashcontainer.However,vacuumingaloneprobablywillnoteliminateallbedbugsfromthepremises,butcansupplementpesticidetreatments.Pesticideslabeledforbedbugscanbeapplieddirectlyintocracksandcrevicesharboringbedbugs.Spacetreatments(“fogging”and“bugbombs”)areineffectiveagainstwell-hiddenBedBugs.Heattreatmentscanbeeffective,butprovidenoresidualeffect.Bedbuginfestationscanbeverydifficulttotreatandusuallyrequireaprofessionalpestcontrolservicewithexperienceinbedbugcontrol,aswellasthecooperationofresidentsandbuildingmanagementtoprepareroomsfortreatment,andtopromptlyreportbedbugactivity.

BED BUG (Cimex lectularius)

General DescriptionTheheadlouseisapproximatelyone-tenthofaninchtoone-eighthofaninchlong,palewhiteincolor,andismostcommonlyfoundinthehairabovetheearsandonthebackoftheneck.Theearliestandmostcommonsymptomofheadliceinfestationisitchingaroundtheearsandatthenapeoftheneck.Headlicecanbepassedfrompersontopersonthroughdirectcontact.Theyalsocanbetransferredindirectlywithclothingandpersonalitems,forexample,wheninfestedhairbrushesorcombsaresharedorwheninfestedbedding,towelsorshowercapsareshared.Thelifespanofanadultlouseonahostrangesupto30days.Offthehost,anadultheadlousecanliveuptofourdays.Youngliceor“nits”willremainaliveoffthehostforupto10days,butwillnothatchatorbelowroomtemperature(68°F).

HEAD LOUSE (Pediculus capitis)

General ControlSpecialfine-toothcombs(Nitcombs)arereadilyavailableandcanbeusedtoscrapenitsandliceoffthehairshaft.Bothprescriptionandover-the-counterremediesareeffectiveintreatingheadlice.Aproduct’slabelshouldbethoroughlyreadandfollowedtopreventoverexposure.Itisalsoimportantthatpregnantwomenandinfantsbetreatedunderthedirectionofaphysicianbecauseofconcernsaboutpotentiallyadverseeffects.Fumigatingroomsandusinginsecticidalspraysonfurnitureandcarpetsarenotrecommendedtokillheadlice;thoroughvacuumingofhousesandroomsinhabitedbyinfestedpersonsissufficient.Exposingliceandnitstotemperaturesabove125°Ffor10minuteswillkillthem.Mostpersonalarticlesofclothingandbeddingcanbedisinfestedbymachinewashinginhotwateranddryingforatleast20minutesusingthedryer’shotcycle.

HEAD LOUSE (Pediculus capitis)

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General DescriptionAlthoughticksarecommonlythoughtofasinsects,theyareactuallyarachnidslikescorpions,spidersandmites.Allmembersofthisgrouphavefourpairsoflegsasadultsandhavenoantennae.Adultinsectshavethreepairsoflegsandonepairofantennae.Ticksareamongthemostefficientcarriersofdiseasebecausetheyattachfirmlywhensuckingblood,feedslowlyandmaygounnoticedforaconsiderabletimewhilefeeding.Tickstakeseveraldaystocompletefeeding.

Theyhavefourlifestages:egg,six-leggedlarva,eight-leggednymphandadult.Aftertheegghatches,thetinylarva(sometimescalleda“seedtick”)feedsonanappropriatehost.Thelarvathendevelops(molts)intothelargernymph.Thenymphfeedsonahostandthenmoltsintoanadult.Bothmaleandfemaleadultsfindandfeedonahost,thenthefemaleslayeggssometimeafterfeeding.Althoughatleast15speciesofticksoccurinIllinois,onlyafewarelikelytobeencounteredbypeople:theAmericandogtick(Dermacentor variabilis),lonestartick(Amblyomma americanum),andblacklegged(deer)tick(Ixodes scapularis).

General ControlGrassshouldbekeptshortandbrushtrimmedbackawayfromstructures.Thebestwaytoprotectyourselfagainsttickborneillnessistoavoidtickbites.Thisincludesavoidingknowntick-infestedareas.IfyouenteranareainhabitedbyTicks,wearprotectiveclothingsuchaslong-sleevedshirtsandlongpants,andapplyinsectrepellentcontaining10percentto30percentDEET.Checkyourself,childrenandpetseverytwotothreehoursforticks.Removeimbeddedtickspromptlybygrippingthemwithforceps(e.g.,eyebrowtweezers)asclosetotheskinaspossibleandpullingthemoffslowlybutfirmly.Washthebiteareathoroughlywithsoapandwaterandapplyanantiseptic.

Blacklegged (Deer) Tick

Lone Star Tick

American Dog Tick

General DescriptionFleasaretypicallyreddish-brownandaboutone-eighthofaninchlong.Thebodyisflattenedfromsidetosideandithaslongclawsonitslegs-bothareadaptationsfortravelingbetweenhairshafts.Somefleasalsohavespinesontheirmouths,legsandbackstohelppreventthemfrombeinggroomedoff.Catfleas(Ctenocephalides felis)aremorecommononcats,dogsandhumansthandogfleas(Ctenocephalides canis)andhumanfleas(Pu-lex irritans).Eachhasapreferredhost.Thehumanfleaprefersthebloodofhumansandpigs.Catanddogfleasprefercatsanddogs,thoughchildrencanbecomebittenwhensleepingorrestingwithpets.OtherfleaspeciesoccasionallyencounteredbyhumansincludetheOrientalratflea(Xenopsylla cheopis)andthenorthernratflea(Nosopsyllus fasciatus).ThesefleasliveonNorwayratsandroofrats,andarecapableoftransmittingplagueandmurinetyphustohumans.

FLEAS (Siphonaptera)

General ControlKnowingtheflea’slifecycleiscriticaltosuccessfulmanagementoffleainfestations.Controlmeasuresshouldfocusonwherefleasarefoundandwheretheyaresuspectedtobe.Adultfleasarefoundontheirhosts,sopetsshouldbetreated.Newlyemergedadultfleas,fleapupaeandlarvae,arefoundwhereinfestedanimalsrestandsleep.Theseshouldbewashedregularlyandcarpeting,rugsandfurnitureshouldbevacuumedthoroughlyandfrequently.Promptlydisposeofvacuumcontentsinasealablecontainersuchasaplasticbag.Aftervacuumingandcleaning,pesticideslabeledforfleacontrolcanbeappliedasspottreatments.Fleaproblemscanbechallenging.Completecontrolrequiresknowledge,attentiontodetailandperseverance.Thoseunwillingorunabletoconductacompletefleapreventioneffortshouldconsiderhiringapestmanagementprofessional.

FLEAS (Siphonaptera)

General DescriptionMammalssuchasmice,rats,bats,raccoons,squirrels,etc.,occasionallybecomepests.Theycanbeveryde-structivetopropertyandcancarryanumberofdiseases.Extremecaremustbetakenwhendealingwithmam-malianpests.SomespeciesareprotectedbylawandpermitsorspecialtylicensesfromthestateDepartmentofNaturalResourcesorU.S.DepartmentoftheInteriorarerequiredtoremoveoreradicatethem.Diseasessuchashistoplasmosisandraccoonroundwormalsocanbeacquiredfrompathogensfoundinthepests’fecalmatter.Thusthepropercleanupoffecescanbejustasimportantaseradicatingthepestitself.Parasitesthattransmitdiseaseandlivein/onthepeststhemselves,suchasfleasonratsthatcarryplagueandtyphus,canbefataltohumans,thereforenestingmaterialsmustberemovedwithcare.

Alwayswearintactrubberorplasticgloveswhenremovingdeadrodentsandwhencleaningordisinfectingitemscontaminatedbyrodents.Soakorspraydeadanimalswithadisinfectingsolution(threetablespoonsofbleachpergallonofwater,oracommercialdisinfectantcontainingphenol)untilthoroughlywet,thenplaceinaplasticbag.Ifpossible,useashoveltopickupanddisposeofdeadanimalsintotight-sealingplasticbags.Thebagshouldbesealedandplacedinsideasecondbagbeforediscardingintrashcontainerswithtight-fittinglids.Afterhandlingdeadanimals,cleancontaminatedobjectsandthoroughlywashglovedhandsusingageneralhouse-holddisinfectantorsoapandwater.Removeglovesandthoroughlywashyourhandswithsoapandwater.

MAMMALIAN PESTS

General ControlExclusionisthebestwaytocontrolmostmammalianpests.Sealanyopeningslargerthanone-fourthofaninchtoexcludethem.Openingswhereutilityconduitsenterbuildingsshouldbesealedwithmetalorconcrete.Equipfloordrainsandsewerpipeswithtight-fittinggrateshavingopeningslessthanone-fourthofaninchindiameter.Doors,windowsandscreensshouldfittightlyandchimneysshouldbecapped.Soffitsshouldbeinspectedandmaintainedingoodrepair.

Poorsanitationandthepresenceofgarbagehelpmammalianpestssurviveinresidentialareas.Goodsanitationwilleffectivelylimitthenumberofmammalianpeststhatcansurviveinandaroundfacilities.Thisinvolvesgoodhousekeeping,properstorageandhandlingoffoodmaterialsandrefuse,andeliminationofshelter(harborage).

Trappingmammalianpestscanbeveryeffective.Ifyouwanttotrapmammalianpestsotherthanmiceorrats,pleasecontacttheIllinoisDepartmentofNaturalRecoursesforapermitandlicensingrequirements.Rodentbaitsshouldbeusedasasupplementtotrapping.Ifthereisarepetitiveneedforrodentcontrol,itislikelythatsanitationandrodent-proofingshouldbeimproved.Rememberthatrodentbaitsarepoisons.MakesuretheyareregisteredwiththeU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyandalwaysfollowthelabelinstructions.Ifbaitsareusedindoors,besuretheyarelabeledspecificallyforinterioruse.Rodenticidebaitsshouldbeplacedinareasinaccessibletochildren,petsandnon-targetorganisms,and/orintamperresistantbaitstations.

MAMMALIAN PESTS

Habitatandfoodpreferencesvaryamongourcommondomesticrodents.Therefore,itisimportanttoproperlyidentifythepestinvolved-whetheraNorwayrat,housemouse,ordeermouse.Oftenyouwillnotseetherodent,andmustidentifyitfromevidenceleftbehind,suchasdroppingsandgnawmarks.

DOMESTIC RODENTS

Mouse Roof Rat

Norway Rat

DOMESTIC RODENTS

General DescriptionHousemicearegrayorbrownrodentswithrelativelylargeearsandsmalleyes.Anadultweighsaboutone-halfofanounceandisabout51/2to71/2incheslong,includingthe3to4inchtail.Althoughhousemiceusuallyfeedoncerealgrains,theywilleatmanykindsoffood.Theyeatoften,nibblingbitsoffoodhereandthere.Micehavekeensensesoftaste,hearing,smellandtouch.Theyareexcellentclimbersandcanrunupanyroughverti-calsurface.Theywillrunhorizontallyalongwirecablesorropesandcanjump13inchesfromthefloorontoaflatsurface.Theycanslipthroughacrackthatapencilwillfitinto.

Inasingleyear,afemalemayhavefiveto10littersofusuallyfiveorsixyoungeach.Youngareborn19to21daysaftermating,andtheyarematureinsixto10weeks.Thelifespanofamouseistypicallynineto12months.

HOUSE MOUSE (Mus musculus)

General ControlEffectivemousecontrolinvolvessanitation,mouse-proofconstructionandpopulationreduction.Thefirsttwoareusefulaspreventivemeasures.Whenamouseinfestationalreadyexists,someformofpopulationreductionisalmostalwaysnecessary.Reductiontechniquesincludetrappingandbaiting.Properplacementoftrapsandbaitstations,andthedistancebetweenplacements,areimportantconsiderations.Foreffectivecontrol,baitsortrapsmustbelocatedwheremiceareliving.Useoftamperresistantbaitstationshelpspreventaccidentalpoisoningofchildren,petsandotheranimals.Placebaitstationsnexttowallswiththeopeningsclosetothewallorinotherplaceswheremiceareactive.

HOUSE MOUSE (Mus musculus)

General DescriptionDeermicearerodentswithrelativelylargeearsandlargeeyes.Theyareslightlylargerthanthehousemouseandhavehairy,bi-coloredtailsthataredarkontopandwhiteontheunderside.Thebellyandfeetofthedeermousearepurewhite,butthehead,backandsidesvaryfromgreytobrown.Deermicearenocturnalandprimarilyfeedonseeds.Inthewildtheycanbenumerousandoccupyawidevarietyofhabitats,butareseldomseen.Whentheyenterstructures,Deermicecanbequitedestructivetoupholsteredfurniture,shreddingfabricandstuffingtomakenests.Inasingleyear,afemalemayhavethreeorfourlittersofthreetosixyoungeach.

Throughtheirurine,fecesandsaliva,deermicecantransmithantavirus,apathogenthatcanproduceaserious,life-threateningillness.Whenenteringstructurescontaminatedwithdeermouseexcreta,precautionsshouldbetakentoavoidcontactwithdeadmiceandtheirexcreta,andtoavoidinhalingairbornehantavirusparticles.Keepinghomesandbuildingsrodent-freeisespeciallyimportantinruralandlessurbanizedareaswheredeermiceareprevalent.

DEER MOUSE (Peromyscus maniculatus)

General ControlEffectivemousecontrolinvolvessanitation,mouse-proofingandpopulationreduction.Reductiontechniquesincludetrappingandbaiting.Properplacementoftrapsandbaitstationsareimportant.Placethetrapswiththetriggersidenexttothewalls.Placebaitstationswiththeopeningsclosetoawall.Theuseoftamper-resistantbaitstationshelpspreventaccidentalpoisoningofchildren,petsandnon-targetanimals.

DEER MOUSE (Peromyscus maniculatus)

General DescriptionTheNorwayrat(alsocalledthebrownratorsewerrat)isadestructivepestfoundinurbanandsuburbanneighborhoods.Theserodentseatandcontaminatefood,damagebuildingsandotherpropertybygnawingandburrowing,andcanspreaddiseasesthataffectpeopleandpets.Norwayratsarehusky,brownishrodentsthatweighabout11ounces.Theyareabout13to18incheslongincludingthesixto81/2inchtail.Theirfuriscoarseandmostlybrown,withscatteredblackontheuppersurfaces.Theundersideistypicallygreytoyellowish-white.Ratshavelittersofsixto12pups,whichareborn21to23daysaftermating.Youngratsreachreproductivema-turityinaboutthreemonths.Breedingismostactiveinspringandfall.Theaveragefemalehasfourtosixlittersperyear.Ratscanliveforupto18months,butmostdiebeforetheyare1yearold.

NORWAY RAT (Rattus norvegicus)

General ControlGoodsanitationwilleffectivelylimitthenumberofratsthatcansurviveinandaroundafacility.Thisinvolvesgoodhousekeeping,properstorageandhandlingoffoodmaterialsandrefuse,andeliminationofrodentshelter(harborage).Sealanyopeningslargerthanone-fourthofaninchtoexcludebothratsandmice.Openingswhereutilityconduitsenterbuildingsshouldbesealedtightlywithmetalorconcrete.Equipfloordrainsandsewerpipeswithtight-fittinggrateshavingopeningslessthanone-fourthofaninchindiameter.Doors,windowsandscreensshouldfittightly.Exclusion,sanitation,trappingandbaitingarethemosteffectivecontrolmethods.Ifthereisarepeatedneedforcontrol,itislikelythatsanitationandrodent-proofingshouldbeimproved.

NORWAY RAT (Rattus norvegicus)

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General DescriptionSpeciesmostcommonlyfoundinstructuresincludethelittlebrownbat(Myotis lucifugus)andbigbrownbat(Eptesicus fuscus).Thesespecieshaveawingspanoflessthan12inchesandweighone-halfofanounceorless.Midwesternbatsfeedexclusivelyoninsects,consumingmanypestspeciessuchasnight-flyingmoths.Thoughconsideredbeneficialanimals,batscanposeathreattohumanhealth.Histoplasmosis(adiseaseassociatedwithbatguanoandbirddroppings)andrabiesarethemostimportantdiseasesassociatedwithbatsintheMidwest.Rabidbatsmayexhibitnoobviousabnormalities,soallcontactwithbatsshouldbeavoided.PeopleshouldNOTbeallowedtooccupyaroominwhichbatsarefound,untilitiscertainthatnobatsremainintheroomandithasbeensealedtopreventtheirre-entry.Oflessimportancearebatparasites.Fleas,lice,mitesandbatbugsinfestbats,birdsandotheranimals,andoccasionallyattackhumans.

BATS (Chiroptera)

General ControlItisunlawfultoharmorkillabat.OnlyunderspecialcircumstancesarepermitstokillbatsgrantedbytheIllinoisDepartmentofNaturalResources.Exclusionremainsthebestwaytopreventandcontrolbatsinastructure.Batscanbeexcludedbysealingexterioropeningslargerthanone-halfofaninch,usingexpandablefoam,plywood,mortar,metalflashing,steelwoolorone-fourthofaninchmeshscreenornetting.Makesuredoors,windowsandventshavescreensandaresecurelyframed;chimneysarecapped;andgapsaroundutilitylinesareplugged.Althoughexclusionisthebestwaytoridstructuresofbats,knowledgeandtimingarecriticalforeffectivebat-proofingandtoavoidtrappingbatsindoors.Especiallyinolderconstruction,theremaybeseveralbatentrypointsthatcanbedifficulttodiscover.Forthesereasons,batexclusionmaybebestlefttoprofessionals.

BATS (Chiroptera)

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