One of the best performers in my flower bed is a raucous native plant known as cup plant, Silphium perfoliatum, a premier attractor of insects to the garden. Extravagant floral displays provide nectar and pollen to a wide variety of bees, butterflies, and wasps. Nutrients coursing through vascular vessels support several species of sucking insects including leafhoppers, treehoppers, and aphids. And where there are abundant juicy prey items, there are predators, lots of them.
The featured insect this week is the brown ambrosia aphid, whose populations have exploded on my cup plants. As the name implies, this aphid is found on a wide variety of plants in the Asteraceae family including black-eyed Susan, coneflower, and sunflower in addition to cup plant. Like many of their kin, in summertime these gals are parthenogenic, like the Amazons in Greek mythology, an all-female society reproducing without the assistance of males. One of the most fascinating behaviors found in aphids on my cup plant and other Uroleucon aphids is a synchronized twitching response when the colony of aphids is disturbed. On several mornings last week when visiting the cup plant with a cup of coffee in hand, I was greeted by mass displays of dancing aphids as I approached the plant. Clever studies of a related species of Uroleucon revealed a synchronous “collective twitching and kicking response”, a.k.a. “CTKR”, when an object like a pencil or a predator like a lady beetle was in visual range of the colony. Gentle vibrations of the substrate upon which the colony rested also evoked the CTKR. These coordinated defenses reduced successful attacks by tiny parasitic wasps that use aphids as hosts for their young.
Gentle taps on the cup plant leaf sends the colony of brown ambrosia aphids into paroxysms of synchronized twitching. This behavior may ward-off attacks by tiny parasitic wasps or small predators.
While collective twitching proved effective against some enemies of aphids, colonies of aphids on my cup plant are now besieged by legions of hungry lynx spiders, lady beetles, flower flies, long-legged flies, and lacewings. The synchronized defense of hapless aphids can’t stop these fierce tiny predators from taking their toll. While this is bad news for the aphids, this is good news for my garden. The aphids have become a feeding factory for many species of predators that will move on to other plants in my landscape once the brown ambrosia aphids are kaput, all part of Mother Nature’s plan for a more sustainable landscape.
Acknowledgements
We thank Drs. Gary Miller and Jeff Shultz for identifying prolific brown ambrosia aphids and the cool male lynx spider, respectively. Dr. Paula Shrewsbury created this story by planting silphium and identified the pretty polished lady beetle. The fascinating account of defensive behaviors in aphids entitled “Collective Defense of Aphis nerii and Uroleucon hypochoeridis (Homoptera, Aphididae) against Natural Enemies” by Manfred Hartbauer was consulted to prepare this episode.
Learn More Information About Where Ticks Live & How to Protect Your Property
As the temperature outside warms up, tick season kicks into high gear. These tiny pests often hijack summer fun as more people and pets spend time enjoying the great outdoors. Camping, hiking, gardening, walking, and hanging out in parks are all beloved summer activities that increase the odds of discovering ticks on your skin, clothing, and pets.
Additionally, the number of ticks carrying dangerous illnesses is growing each year, increasing the threat of Lyme disease, Powassan disease, tick-related meat allergies, and more.
Tick Habitats & Facts
For much of the country, including the Northeast, tick season kicks off in March and runs through the fall until temperatures drop below freezing. Learning where ticks live is a good first step toward protecting yourself and the people you care about from these unwelcome parasites.
Hundreds of different species of ticks live around the globe, with approximately 90 of those species located in the United States.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) point out that only a few species bite people and pose a risk of transmitting diseases. The CDC created a map to illustrate where some of these problematic ticks live, although it’s important to note that some species can be found outside the areas where they normally live as the pest spreads to new areas.
American dog tick:These ticks live throughout most of the S. east of the Rocky Mountains. Sometimes called wood ticks, these ticks typically bite more during spring and summer.
Black-legged tick: Commonly referred to as the deer tick, it can be found on the East Coast. These ticks typically bite in spring, summer, and fall, although they have also been known to search for hosts during warm winter weather.
Brown dog tick:These ticks can be found throughout the entire country. They commonly bite dogs but have been known to bite humans too.
Lone star tick: This aggressive tick was once found primarily in the south but is now spreading throughout the East and Northeast.
Asian longhorned tick: This invasive tick species has been found in 14 states, most commonly along the eastern Atlantic coast.
Do Ticks Live in Trees or Grass?
Ticks don’t live in trees. There’s a common misconception that people can unwittingly be exposed to ticks that fall from trees.
However, ticks don’t jump, fly, or drop from above. If you find a tick on your arm, neck, or head, it’s far more likely the tick climbed up your body.
These pests are ground-dwellers who like warmth and humidity.
Some ticks, including the American dog tick, prefer living in tall grassy areas. Others, such as the lone star tick, live in wooded areas with underbrush. Deer ticks thrive in grass and leaf debris. A select few tick species, such as the brown dog tick, prefer indoor environments like dog kennels, furniture, and the spaces between walls.
A tick will wait for a host by perching on the tips of grass blades, shrubbery, or other low-lying surfaces. Factors like body heat and breath alerts ticks to the presence of animals and people. Once a potential host brushes up against the area where the tick waits, it climbs on and makes itself at home.
It’s important to note that some critters, like the white-footed field mouse, are known to carry ticks. This mouse species are terrific climbers and swimmers, which can be quite problematic for property owners.
White-footed mice, like many other mice species, play a key role in the transmission of Lyme disease. Once a tick becomes infected with the virus, it can become passed to people and animals through a tick bite.
And thanks to nuisance wildlife, ticks are able to travel much faster than on their own and can reach their new host with ease.
Tick Life Cycle
The tick life cycle can last two to three years, depending on the species. Most tick species have four stages of life: egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph, adult.
For the tick to progress from stage to stage, it must feed on a host, which can include mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Some species, including the brown dog tick, prefer feeding on the same type of host at each stage of the life cycle. Others, including deer ticks, choose different types of hosts at different life cycle stages.
Eggs are laid by the thousands in sheltered areas with leaves and brush on the ground. Once the eggs hatch, the six-legged larvae feed on small hosts like birds and mice. Larvae tend to stay low to the ground where there’s plenty of shade and moisture to provide shelter and hydration.
As the ticks grow into nymphs and eventually adults, they begin to look for larger hosts to feed upon. After the ticks have their fill of their hosts’ blood, they will detach from the hosts and return to their habitats until they need another feeding.
This cycle continues for the rest of the tick’s life cycle.
How to Keep Ticks Away from Your Home
Ticks are more than just a nuisance — they are a menace and pose a real threat to humans. The CDC estimates that more than 475,000 Americans are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, and tick-borne diseases are continuing to spread.
Ticks can carry parasites, bacteria, and viruses that are passed on to those who are bit, like humans, animals, even livestock.
Protect Yourself from Carrying Ticks Home
While you are outdoors, there’s a chance that you could end up with a tick bite. The rising number of tick-borne diseases emphasizes the need for prevention and protection. While enjoying the outdoors, protect people and pets with these tips:
Cover up with clothing that covers the arms and legs. Tuck pants into socks, then minimize openings and gaps between clothing and skin.
Wear light-colored clothing that helps make ticks more visible.
Use insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, or a repellent containing a minimum of 30% oil of lemon eucalyptus.
Walk in the center of paths and trails, keeping away from underbrush, shrubs, and tall grasses where ticks may wait for their next victims.
Check clothing, skin, and hair on humans and pets to spot ticks before they have a chance to bite and transmit diseases.
Protect Your Outdoor Space
Having a deeper understanding of where ticks live can help you better manage a property. Make outdoor spaces less hospitable for ticks with these tips:
Clear dead leaves and debris.
Mow the lawn regularly and clear brush from around the edges of buildings and the lawn.
Stack wood in a dry area to discourage tick-carrying rodents from moving in.
Install fencing to keep wildlife, like deer, out of the yard.
Keep all outdoor living equipment, playground equipment, patios, and decks clear of the edges of the yard and tree cover.
Even after taking precautions, you will still need professional help to deal with a tick infestation.
Catseye Pest Control has a one-of-kind Organic Tick & Mosquito Control program designed to inspect, treat, and revisit properties monthly during tick season. Our priority for customers is to get rid of ticks and keep them away from homes, businesses, people, and pets.
This helps to create a relaxing atmosphere so that outdoor living spaces can be enjoyed.
Contact us today to learn more about tick control or to schedule a free inspection.
One gardening legend has it that peonies don’t flower without the assistance of ants. Well, the editors of the Old Farmer’s Almanac recently busted the myth that ants “tickle the buds” to get peonies to blossom. As they point out, peonies definitely will bloom just fine in the absence of ants. Well, if ants are not helping the buds open, what are they doing? A closer look reveals that plants are clever. They have evolved astounding arsenals of sophisticated defenses to thwart hungry jaws of caterpillars and beetles and the sap-sucking beaks of aphids, scale insects and their kin. Tough leaves, rugged bark, spines, thorns, hooked hairs that snare trespassers, and a veritable warehouse of noxious chemicals designed to poison herbivores protect leaves, stems, and roots of plants. But one of the most elegant defenses in the plant-world involves bodyguards. Yes, plants “hire” insects to protect their tender tissues from ravages of hungry herbivores.
In previous episodes we met Pseudomyrmex ants, protectors of the bull-horn acacias in which they live. You may recall that at the base of acacia leaves specialized glands called extrafloral nectaries produce sugar-rich nectar, the source of carbohydrates for the ant colony living in the tree. In return for nectar and other nutrients provided by acacia, ants protect their host trees in a deal crafted eons ago by Mother Nature. While fooling around with acacia ants, I learned how potent their defense can be when one delivered a memorable sting. Many trees and shrubs commonly found in our landscapes, including cherry and peach trees, have similar extrafloral nectaries that attract ants and so do the peonies that grow in our gardens. In addition to defense, scientists hypothesize that nectar produced by these glands may simply be a waste product excreted by the plant. Another possibility is that nectar produced by glands on the plant but away from flowers, may lure ants away from blossoms where they might rob floral nectar used to attract pollinators vital for the plant’s reproduction.
To explore the defense hypothesis, I placed a rather large eastern tent caterpillar on a leaf close to several carpenter ants dancing about on a flower bud. As you will see by watching the video, the ants wasted no time attacking the intruder and chasing it from the peony. Just what you would expect any good bodyguard to do. Although ants might not be needed to tickle open the buds of peonies to help them bloom, perhaps by keeping bud and flower-munching insects off the plant, they still play an important role in helping peonies thrive and bring their elegant displays to our gardens.
Do ants really protect peonies from herbivores? Watch as carpenter ants on the flower bud and leaves show an intruding caterpillar the way off the peony plant, taking the valiant defender with it. With the intruder gone, looks like mission accomplished by peony protecting ants.
Acknowledgements
Bug of the Week thanks Dr. Shrewsbury and the editors of the Almanac for providing the inspiration for this episode. The encyclopedic “Insect Ecology” by Peter Price, Robert Denno, Micky Eubanks, Debby Finke, and Ian Kaplan and was used as a reference for this episode.
Learn About the Alpha-gal Allergy, how it Relates to the Lone Star Tick & How to Protect Yourself from Tick Bites
Tick-borne diseases are a major health concern, and it’s important to be aware of a relatively new one that is particularly dangerous: lone star tick meat allergy. Imagine developing mysterious allergy symptoms practically overnight, only to learn that there’s a tick that makes you allergic to meat — possibly for years or longer.
This is exactly what can happen after getting a lone star tick bite.
Scientists first noticed the phenomenon back in 2006, but it wasn’t until 2012 that it became clear that this new allergic reaction was caused by the lone star tick and its bite. This tiny pest was once common predominantly in the southern United States, but the species has since spread throughout 39 states, including those in the Northeast like Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
Lone star ticks are small, typically measuring one-half inch after feeding. Females have a single, distinctive white spot on their backs, while males may have several spots on top of their bodies. These pests are known to be aggressive when it comes to biting humans, and their bite can lead to what is becoming known as lone star tick meat allergy, or alpha-gal allergy or alpha-gal syndrome.
The Alpha-Gal Allergy
Anyone can get alpha-gal syndrome, which is also commonly referred to as an alpha-gal allergy or a tick bite meat allergy. Experts believe that up to 3% of Americans may have an alpha-gal allergy — a number that could very well grow as the lone star tick continues to spread.
This serious allergic reaction occurs after eating something that contains alpha galactose or “alpha-gal,” which is a sugar molecule found in the cells of many mammals.
Meats like beef and pork contain alpha-gal, and it’s also found in products made from mammals, including milk, gelatin, and possibly some vaccines and medications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Humans, birds, fish, and reptiles don’t contain alpha-gal.
What is an alpha-gal allergy, and how can a lone star tick bite trigger it? The complex process behind the syndrome can be life threatening.
It is believed that the condition begins after a lone star tick bites an animal host. When feeding on the animal, the tick ingests alpha-gal. Then, when the tick bites a person, it transfers alpha-gal into the bloodstream.
If people are sensitive to the substance, they may develop an allergy that causes a reaction when they’re exposed to or ingest products that contain alpha-gal.
Symptoms of a Lone Star Tick Meat Allergy
The CDC cautions that symptoms typically occur within two to six hours of being exposed to or eating products that contain alpha-gal, and the reaction can be serious or even life-threatening. According to the Mayo Clinic, some signs and symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome include:
Itchy skin, eczema, or hives
Sneezing and/or runny nose
Shortness of breath or wheezing
Stomach upset, including pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Headaches
Swelling in the face, lips, throat, or tongue
People also face the potential risk of a life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis, which is a severe reaction with symptoms like trouble breathing, a weak and/or rapid pulse, dizziness, or fainting. If someone shows signs of anaphylaxis, it’s critical to call 911 and seek help immediately.
What to Do if You Think You Have an Alpha-Gal Allergy
If you have symptoms of a food allergy after eating — even if it’s up to six hours after eating, it’s important to see a doctor.
Doctors can help treat and manage alpha-gal syndrome. Some people may have to avoid eating the meat of most mammals, including beef, venison, pork, and lamb.
A medical professional may also recommend avoiding other foods that contain alpha-gal, such as gelatin and dairy products. Additionally, it will be important to try to avoid future tick bites, which could reactivate an alpha-gal allergy.
How to Protect Yourself from Lone Star Tick Bites
The tick/alpha-gal syndrome connection isn’t the only reason to actively protect yourself from tick bites. These pests can also transmit other diseases, including ehrlichiosis and southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), both of which have symptoms that include muscle pain and fever.
Like the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That’s especially true when it comes to preventing lone star tick bites.
Avoiding wooded areas with brush, tall grass, and using insect repellents with at least 20% DEET concentration can help to prevent tick bites. Additional tips to protect yourself and your family include:
Treat clothing with 0.5% permethrin or buy gear that is pre-treated.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks when exploring any grassy or wooded areas.
After being outside, make sure to thoroughly check clothing and your skin for ticks.
Shower as soon as possible when moving indoors to help get rid of ticks that aren’t attached yet.
Remove any ticks that are attached, ideally using fine-tipped tweezers and a smooth motion to pluck the tick away from the skin.
Tick seasons seem to get worse every year. Tick-proofing your home turf can provide extra peace of mind and help protect everyone not only from lone star tick bites, but also from the bites of other ticks that can also transmit diseases.
Preventing tick infestations starts with working with a trusted pest control specialist. At Catseye Pest Control, we offer a safe, effective treatment process to kill existing ticks and prevent them from entering your property in the future.
Our one-of-a-kind organic program is safe for those on the property of your home or business — including people and animals while eliminating the threat of ticks.
To learn more about our three-step tick control process, contact us today to speak with an expert who can help you take critical steps to protect your family from tick-related illnesses.
Learn What Attracts Mosquitoes & How to Prevent the Pest from Taking Over Your Property
Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance — they are actually among the deadliest animals on earth, causing anywhere from 700,000 to one million human deaths every year. Around the world, 3,000 different species of mosquitoes serve as a nuisance and spread more diseases than any other creature on the planet!
These tiny killers carry and spread dangerous diseases such as malaria, West Nile virus, and yellow fever, among others. Even when they don’t make people sick, one bite can cause itching and discomfort that lasts for days.
With hot, humid summers and ample bodies of water, the Northeastern United States is one of the worst regions for breeding swarms of these pests.
In the New England area, at least four species — Eastern tree hole, Northern house, Asian tiger, and Yellow Fever mosquitoes, annoy and bite residents. One of the most effective ways to control them is to understand what attracts mosquitoes to people, homes, and other spaces.
That knowledge is the first step in keeping these potentially dangerous pests away from homes and businesses.
What Attracts Mosquitoes to People?
Although male mosquitoes only feed on nectar, females feed on blood from people and animals. Some people may think they are a magnet for mosquitoes — and they may be right, but what attracts mosquitoes to people and surrounding properties is a combination of complex factors.
Mosquitoes locate their victims in a few ways, including by following the carbon dioxide trails produced by animals and people. The pest also uses receptors to seek out hosts using factors like smell, heat, and perspiration.
Genetics can play a huge role in making certain people more susceptible to mosquito bites than others. People with high levels of cholesterol, steroids, and certain acids — including uric acid, tend to attract more mosquitoes.
Likewise, our bodies produce certain chemicals in some conditions. For example, high metabolisms, of you are pregnant, have a warmer than normal body temperature, or are exercising, the body will produce certain chemicals that mosquitoes find attractive.
Smells are a major factor in what attracts mosquitoes to people. These tiny pests are drawn to sweat and the smell of human skin, although they also love perfumes, floral-scented body products, and deodorants. In terms of diet factors, they are more likely to be attracted to people who eat and drink certain foods, including bananas, avocados, beer, salty foods, and sugary treats.
What Colors Attract Mosquitoes?
Did you ever wonder what colors attract mosquitoes? The color of food resources provides mosquitoes with localization and recognition capabilities. Some insects first look for carbon dioxide in the air and then move toward specific colors.
The colors that attract the pets are long wavelength colors, including orange, red, black, cyan, and some floral patterns that include these colors.
Low wavelength colors such as purple, green, and white tend to be less attractive to the pest.
To avoid attracting mosquitoes, stick with wearing light and/or neutral colors. Keep in mind that mosquitoes can bite right through tight clothing. To avoid attracting them, experts always recommend wearing light, loose-fitting clothing when spending time in mosquito-prone areas.
What Attracts Mosquitoes to Homes?
Mosquitoes are attracted to more than just people.
Nectar and water are two major attractions that could be driving mosquitoes directly to your doorstep. Standing water is one of the biggest potential offenders. Did you know that mosquitoes spend about three-quarters of their lives in water? And they don’t need much water to breed and lay their eggs. In fact, they can do so in water as shallow as the film in the bottom of a cup.
Potential sources of standing water include birdbaths, buckets, flowerpots, a garbage can lid, and wheelbarrows. Clogged drains and gutters can also trap water and provide pests with a combination of water and an ideal shelter from the wind.
Yard debris is another attraction. Because mosquitoes prefer shielded, cool shelters that provide them protection from the sunlight, debris piles, overgrown weeds and grass, shrubbery, and compost piles all serve as invitations to mosquitoes to take up residence.
Keep grass mowed regularly and make sure shrubs and trees are trimmed to minimize the availability of spaces mosquitoes like to make their home. Also, remove yard debris and ensure compost piles are contained in receptacles with tightly fitting lids.
Male mosquitoes feed on nectar, which comes from flowers, so floral scents tend to attract mosquitoes. That means lots of gorgeous flowers around a home or business could be increasing the number of mosquitoes that are attracted to the property.
That doesn’t mean everyone should get rid of all their landscaping, however. Instead, plant shrubs, flowers, and greenery that doesn’t produce heavy, perfumed aromas. Planting flowers with strong scents farther away from living or gathering areas may also help.
How to Prevent Mosquitoes with Catseye Pest Control
Understanding what attracts mosquitos to homes, people, and other living things is only half the battle. If you have tried cleaning gutters, minimizing flowers, getting rid of standing water, and wearing light clothing, but you’re still struggling with mosquitoes, it may be time to call in professional help.
Our pest and nuisance wildlife control will visit your home or business and provide a free inspection that can be used to create a plan that is tailored precisely to the property. Using environmentally friendly, organic products, we can effectively help keep your home, business, family, friends, and pets safe during mosquito season.
Ready to take control? Contact Casteye for a free inspection today to prevent mosquitoes from biting into your outdoor fun.
Last May in 2021 cicada lovers exulted in the arrival of billions of periodical cicadas in the eastern United States. By mid-June as the party wound down, they bemoaned the fact that in most of the DMV these strange and magnificent creatures would not return until the spring of 2038. But guess what, last week on an early morning walk on a trail in Columbia, MD, I was surprised and delighted to encounter a freshly molted male pharaoh periodical cicada, Magicicada septendecim, scaling a gnarly ancient red maple tree. Nearby beneath the same tree, a second male dodged running shoes and bicycle tires roaring down the asphalt. My sightings mirrored reports of cicada sightings in more than a dozen states in the eastern half of the US. These off-cycle sightings of a few periodical cicadas are part of the ongoing mystery surrounding one of Nature’s most magical creatures. Before local cicadaphiles get their hopes up too high and cicadaphobes start packing to leave town, please know that this is not the full-blown cicadapalooza of 2021. Brood X cicadas will be seen throughout the land but at densities many orders of magnitude less than those seen last year.
Against the background calls of Canadian geese and mallard ducks, a male Brood X cicada scales an ancient maple tree in the early morning light. Watch as this lonesome bachelor avoids entanglement in a spider’s web. Instinct drives his quest to find a mate. Little does he know that his chances of passing along his genes to the next generation are between slim and none.
Cicada experts call sightings of a few cicadas in “off” years, cicada “stragglers.” Stragglers are periodical cicadas that emerge in years prior to or after the year that massive numbers of their broodmates are expected to emerge. Often, 17-year cicada stragglers emerge four years prior to their expected emergence date; however, it is possible for periodical cicadas to emerge between 8 years earlier or 4 years later than expected. Based on historical data, researchers can associate stragglers with their massive parent brood. The map accompanying this episode provides scientifically vetted accounts of actual sightings of periodical cicadas in our region this spring. This wonderful event has entomologists eager to add new information to our knowledge of these inimitable creatures. Experts believe that part of the straggling phenomenon is genetic while environmental factors, such as the quality of the host tree immature cicadas dine on while underground, contribute to the appearance of stragglers. Sadly, densities of stragglers in an area rarely achieve a quorum great enough to overwhelm hungry predators and other foes, and their unfortunate off-cycle appearance leads to oblivion for their progeny.
Cicadaphiles, don’t despair, as this spring provides one more chance to enjoy cicadas and to help scientists learn more about these creatures. You can participate in the highly successful community science project that resulted in hundreds of thousands of data points last year by joining the Cicada Safari. To be part of the action, go to the app store on your cellular phone and download the Cicada Safari app. It is free and very easy to use. Download, register, and start snapping pictures of cicadas. Easy as pie. Cicada geniuses will vet your images and add them to a growing data base designed to demystify the seasonal phenology and distribution of these charismatic creatures. On this Memorial Day Holiday and over the next several weeks as you enjoy parades, cookouts, and adventures in the great outdoors, keep your cell phones handy, eyes open and ears on the ready, and snap some shots of straggling Brood X cicadas.
Acknowledgements
We thank Dr. Gene Kritsky of Mount St. Joseph University for providing the nice map of recent cicada sightings and for providing inspiration for this episode. To learn more about magical periodical cicadas, please visit the fabulous repository for all things cicada at Cicada Mania and search the archives at Bug of the Week for “cicada.” To read John Kelly’s take on tardy cicadas here in the DMV in the Washington Post, please click on this link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/05/22/cicadas-emerging-broodx/. The wonderful fact-filled review of cicada biology and ecology, “Advances in the Evolution and Ecology of 13- and 17-Year Periodical Cicadas” by Chris Simon, John R. Cooley, Richard Karban, and Teiji Sota was consulted for this episode.
In a previous episode of Bug of the Week back way back in 2011, we visited monarch butterflies that debuted in my flower garden in mid-June. Fast forward to 2022 when a Bug of the Week enthusiast announced the arrival of a monarch in her yard the second week of April. Thinking this early appearance was somewhat anomalous, I congratulated her on her good fortune and wondered what meteorological mystery might have promoted such early arrival of this voyager from down south. Problem was milkweeds here in the DMV were not even close to providing food for monarch caterpillars in early April. No telling what happened to that premature wanderer.
Well, almost two weeks ago in early May, a beautiful female monarch discovered my small patch of butterfly weed and bestowed more than a dozen eggs to several sprouts over a few days. At last count, fourteen small caterpillars were enjoying milkweed leaves to get nutrients and hopefully a sufficient dose of cardiac glycosides to thwart predators. In previous episodes we delved into clever defenses of monarch caterpillars and butterflies acquired from noxious chemicals found in leaves of milkweeds on which they dine. My observation of a female monarch and her caterpillars is not the first report of this iconic butterfly moving up the East Coast this spring. Journey North, a really cool migrant-tracking website, recently reported monarch adults in New Jersey and caterpillars in other locations in Maryland and Pennsylvania. What surprises me is how early monarch caterpillars arrived in my garden. Historically, eggs and larvae don’t usually appear at my home until June or July. Perhaps this is just another indication of how our ever-warming world affects the plants and animals.
Friday May 13th was a lucky day when this pretty monarch female stopped by my small patch of butterfly weed. Watch as she curls her abdomen and deposits an egg. Within days the egg hatched and a very tiny caterpillar just a few millimeters long began to dine on milkweed leaves. As the caterpillar grows, it eats more each day. One week after hatching the half-grown caterpillars make leaves disappear very fast. At last count, more than a dozen caterpillars of various sizes are dining on milkweeds in the milkweed patch.
While western populations of migratory monarchs enjoyed an unexpected, remarkable rebound last winter, in January Monarch Watch provided a rather gloomy projection of the population size of eastern migratory monarchs overwintering in Mexico. Continued exceptional drought west of the Mississippi and extreme heat in other parts of our land could spell trouble for milkweeds that monarchs depend on for food. Trouble, too, for adult butterflies and their young, which are imperiled by high temperatures. In the short run, we can do our part for monarchs by providing appropriate food for adults and their young by planting regionally native milkweeds for caterpillars and nutritious nectar sources for adults. Studies by Adam Baker and Daniel Potter discovered that garden design can play an important role in monarch conservation. Milkweeds with adult nectar sources nearby, planted along perimeters of gardens or relatively isolated from other non-host plants, were those most likely to have monarch eggs and caterpillars compared to milkweeds mixed with or hidden by other vegetation. In the long run, not only for monarchs but for all living things, we better find ways to cool this planet down.
Acknowledgements
Bug of the Week thanks Aimee for sharing her monarch sighting that served as the inspiration for this episode. Paula Shrewsbury provided video content. The fascinating article “Configuration and Location of Small Urban Gardens Affect Colonization by Monarch Butterflies” by Adam Baker and Daniel Potter provided several cool insights into monarch behavior. The following article from the University of Maryland IPM newsletter provides more detail on monarch conservation methods in the “Beneficial of the Week” article on page 8: https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/2021-09/21Sep03L.pdf
Get Familiar with the Signs of Rats in the Yard & What to Do About the Pesky Critter
Rats! Although some may find the fur-covered critter to be cute, they can actually cause a substantial amount of damage to our landscape, homes, businesses, and other structures found on the property.
The invading nuisance wildlife critter will burrow into any earthen area that is close to food, but rats prefer fertile soil, which is why gardens and yards are attractive. After all, these areas often feature water, access to food, and safe areas to create nests.
Unfortunately, these unwelcome visitors don’t just wreak havoc on grass and landscaping. They can also cause severe structural damage by burrowing beneath structures, chew through pipes and electrical wires, contaminate food, and spread diseases like leptospirosis.
The Norway rat is among the most common species found throughout the New England area, but most rats share similar characteristics, including strong teeth and surprisingly dexterous paws.
Rats are nocturnal, so you may not see them, but it’s possible to see signs of rats in your yard. If you suspect you have found a rat burrow in your yard, it helps to understand what you’re looking at, how to approach eliminating rat burrows, and getting rid of the rodents permanently.
Why Rats Burrow in Yards
These pests can create burrows anywhere from one-foot to six-feet deep. The nests often have one main entrance and a couple of other entrances that are more concealed and harder to spot.
In most cases, there are three burrows per rat family. In most rat families, there are six to eight members. These facts help professionals give reasonably accurate estimations of rat populations based on the number of rat burrows found.
So, this means for every three burrows, there is likely to be eight rats who call it their home.
What tempts rats to burrow in yards and gardens? Rats require easy access to water and a steady supply of food. The nuisance wildlife critter can eat as much as two ounces of food per day. Their diet consists of carbohydrates, animal-based protein, and fat.
So, if you only have fruits and vegetables in your garden, rats will likely move on to another spot where fats and proteins are found.
A compost pile that only has garden scraps won’t sustain them long-term, but a compost pile with fats, meats, grains, and oils, is likely to attract these vermin.
Monitoring compost piles and keeping compost contained in a metal or durable plastic containers can help. Being careful with trash storage and securing it in durable cans with tightly fitting lids is essential.
Additionally, any food that you put out to feed birds, chickens, rabbits, or other animals can nourish rats and encourage them to set up their new homes close by.
Signs of Rats in Yards
Rat nests and burrows are frequently located in dense vegetation or under bushes and shrubbery. The animals may also nest beneath a porch, under a deck, inside a shed or barn, or even near the foundation of the home.
The size of the opening can help differentiate rat burrows from other animal nests. Most rat burrows have openings with a diameter between two and four inches with smooth walls and fresh dirt around the outside of the opening.
If you’re checking for signs of rats in your yard, start by inspecting areas where rodents would be undisturbed by humans. Visible rat burrows in yards are only one potential sign of a rat infestation. Others include:
Greasy tracks: Rats tend to create paths in the grass by running in the same areas repeatedly. They also leave rub marks or smudges that appear greasy along the foundation of the structure.
Strong smells: Rats leave pheromones behind on their tracks. Additionally, they often urinate on the paths created and drag themselves through that urine. If you notice a musky, strong odor, it could be a sign of rats.
Hair: Bits of tan, black, or gray hair might be left behind by shedding rats as they squeeze through tight spots or run against walls and hard surfaces.
Droppings: Rat droppings look like seeds. The color can vary, depending on the rats’ diet.
Eliminating Rat Burrows
Properties with active rat nests and burrows nearby, may also have to deal with rats trying to access the home. Rats are excellent climbers and can enter through wiring and HVAC systems, among other entry points.
And if rat burrows are found on the property next to your own, or one structure on the property — such a shed, it is likely that other structures or yards will have rats. This is a common issue as rats are known as a region or neighborhood problem, as opposed to a single-structure problem.
Nearby nests may also expose the plumbing and wiring to rats’ relentless gnawing.
Homeowners might choose to trap or bait rats on their own to eliminate the rodent before destroying the rat burrows. But it’s important to know to truly eliminate the issue, a trained professional is needed.
To help rid the property of this rodent, start by removing access to food and water. Make sure trash and compost receptacles are sealed and trim all vegetation as low as possible.
Once the burrows are free of any rats and animals, fill it with sand or dirt and seal the entryways using materials that rats can’t chew through. Make sure all the rats are out of the hole first, or you will end up with a strong, off-putting odor as their bodies decompose.
The best time to start watching for signs of rats in the yard is in early spring. Continue monitoring throughout the spring, summer, and fall — particularly if you have a garden or compost pile that provides a readily available food source.
But without expert help, homeowners or property owners are likely to make the issue worse or encounter a rodent infestation in the future. An infestation that isn’t taken care of properly could lead to an infestation of the home, business, or other structure on the property.
A true nightmare, especially when we consider each burrow could be a home to approximately eight rats. So, a property with multiple burrows will have a significant issue on their hands.
When to Call a Professional
If you have tried eliminating rat burrows on your own without success or you simply don’t want to use DIY tactics, the experts at Catseye Pest Control can help.
Our nuisance wildlife and pest control technicians have the skills needed to remove existing rats, eliminate rat burrows, and prevent future infestations.
Our Rat Control and Exclusion program tackles the issue in three phases: removal, clean up, and exclusion.
First, we find the source of the infestation and repair any damage the rats have caused. We then clean up droppings and messes before installing a permanent exclusion feature to protect your home or business from future rat infestations.
Don’t let signs of rats in your yard become an out-of-control rat infestation.
Catseye has provided the Northeastern United States with the industry’s only premium pest control, wildlife control and removal for nearly three decades. Contact us today to speak with one of our knowledgeable professionals and schedule a free inspection.
With the return of warm weather this week, a golden opportunity arose to get up close and personal with one of my favorite spring insects, plasterer bees. We met plasterer bees in a previous episode at the onset of our seemingly-unending COVID adventure. Those very cute ground nesting bees were Colletes inequalis, a sister species of this week’s star, Colletes thoracicus. Along with beetles, flies, and butterflies, bees are among the premier pollinators on the planet. Plasterer bees are some of the very first native pollinators to appear each spring. The moniker “plasterer bee” stems from the intriguing behavior of building brood galleries in the ground and then coating the interior surface of their burrow with a thin, glossy, translucent material produced by a gland in their abdomen. Plasterer bees use their tiny mouthparts to remove the soil while constructing their galleries. The excavation is accompanied by a buzzing sound that may help loosen particles of soil and aid in the digging process. The bee’s mouthparts also act like a mason’s trowel to spread the glandular secretion on the inside of the burrow. When it dries into a cellophane-like coating, interior chambers are cleverly waterproofed.
Plasterer bees are relatives of honey bees and bumble bees but, unlike their cousins, these bees are solitary. Rather than living in a communal nest, each female plasterer bee constructs a subterranean gallery of her own to serve as a nursery for her brood. Burrows are provisioned with a semi-liquid concoction of nectar and pollen from flowering plants that bloom early in the spring. This yummy delight is food for bee larvae that develop during the summer and fall within the galleries. Plasterer bees emit a delightful citrus-like odor when handled. This odor is a pheromone produced by a gland in the head of the bee. The pheromone contains linalool and other aromatic compounds that may help plasterer bees find nesting sites, food sources, or potential mates.
What’s better than the arrival of plasterer bees? When else do you have a chance to lay down in the grass surrounded by hundreds of docile, swarming, solitary bees? Stingless males emerge first from their subterranean nurseries and cruise just above the grass hunting for a mate. They search on the ground among plants and enter burrows to find that special someone. When a female emerges from her gallery, males tussle with one another, vying to be the father of her young. After making her choice and growing tired of the mob, the female flies off with her suitor. Lucky bee. Video credit: Paula Shrewsbury and Michael Raupp
Although they are not considered social insects, large numbers of plasterer bee galleries are often abundant in close proximity. Plasterer bees prefer to nest in sunny locations with sandy soils and thin vegetation. The removal of several large Leyland cypress trees from my yard a few years ago created a sufficiently thin patch of yard where hundreds of plasterer bees have set up shop. On sunny afternoons in early May, protandrous (meaning males appear first) bees burst from subterranean nurseries and cruise the landscape awaiting the arrival of potential mates. As you will see in the video, hundreds of these hopeful suitors zoom inches above the lawn searching for nubile females. Swarming bees over grassy areas can dismay golfers, homeowners, and lawn care companies, however fear and worry over painful encounters are unwarranted. While filming this episode in a prone position on my belly, hundreds of male bees buzzed around. Unlike yellowjackets, baldfaced hornets, and other stinging terrors, plasterer bees are docile and extremely reluctant to sting. Remember, each female bee is a mother and to risk her life by stinging a human could mean instant curtailment of her reproductive potential should she die in the encounter. Over large areas of a balding zone in my yard, several burrows now occur in each square meter of ground. The plasterer bees were not responsible for the thin turf, they simply colonized areas where the turf was naturally thin. If you don’t enjoy a yard full of ground nesting bees, experts suggest that increasing the density of grass by over-seeding and judicious irrigation will help reduce the abundance of bees.
If you see swarms of small hairy or metallic bees constructing burrows or emerging from galleries in your garden or lawn, please resist the urge to treat them with insecticides. Several species of native pollinators including anthophorid bees, yellow-faced bees, andrenid bees, and halictid bees, as well as plasterer bees, nest in the ground. Enjoy these beauties and give them a break. They pollinate plants and keep our planet humming.
Acknowledgements
Bug of the Week thanks native bee guru Sam Droege for helping to identify bees seen in this episode. The wonderful article “Ecology, Behavior, Pheromones, Parasites and Management of the Sympatric Vernal Bees Colletes inaequalis, C. thoracicus and C. validus by S. W. T. Batra was used as a reference.
After clearing some land last week in tick territory, I returned home to find two ticks embedded in my left shoulder. Fortunately, they were easily removed with forceps and having fed for only a few hours, my risk of being infected with a tick-borne illness was exceedingly small. So, with the return of temperatures in the 70s and 80s over the past couple of weeks here in the DMV, reports of ticks attached to humans and pets is on the rise and will continue to increase over the next several months. Let’s dive into the business of climate change and range expansions first. Ticks and insects are cold-blooded, ruthless maybe, but in the biological sense they are largely dependent on ambient temperatures found in their environment to support physiological processes like growth, development, and movement. During winter’s chill in the Washington DC – metropolitan region, with temperatures in the 30-degree Fahrenheit range, it is simply too cold for ticks to move about seeking blood meals from warm-blooded hosts. As temperatures rise in late winter and spring, ticks awakened from their chilly torpor to quest for the blood of animals. Blood provides the protein and other nutrients necessary for ticks to grow, develop, and reproduce. As our world warms, spring’s warmth arrives earlier and autumn’s glow often lasts past Thanksgiving here in the DMV. The lengthening of the warm season provides ticks with more days to be active and to acquire these vital blood meals.
In addition to limiting mobility, cold temperatures can be lethal to ticks just as they are to other forms of life. A very cool laboratory study by Dr. C. S. Burks and colleagues found that 2 hours of direct exposure to temperatures below 7° Fahrenheit proved lethal to lone star tick immatures (nymphs) and adults. Part of this study, conducted in the winter of 1993-1994, also found that these low temperatures did not occur on the forest floors in Ohio, lucky for those ticks back in the day. Leaf litter on the forest floor and snow cover provide insulation for overwintering ticks, enhancing their survival even on very cold nights. The large mass of the earth itself provides a thermal refuge for creatures on the ground and just inches below the soil surface. Nonetheless, lone star ticks have expanded their range further northward over the last seven decades from their historical northern limit of Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey to historically cooler northern realms including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. This pattern is predicted to continue, or perhaps accelerate as greenhouse gas emissions continue to trap solar energy and warm our planet. A recent study by Dr. R. K. Raghavan and colleagues suggests that future conditions associated with climate change may make maritime regions of Canada climatically suitable for survival of lone star ticks.
Another tick-related story which surfaced last week dealt with folks who had developed an allergy to eating red meat after being bitten by a lone star tick. A friend and colleague developed the red meat allergy known as alpha-gal syndrome after a close encounter with this tick. Let’s dive in and see what this strange sounding syndrome is all about. Alpha-gal syndrome is a human’s immune response to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal). Alpha-gal is a carbohydrate molecule found on the surface of muscle cells of many types of wild mammals including mice and rabbits, but also on mammals whose flesh we regularly eat like cattle and pigs. When a lone star tick dines on blood of one of these feral or domesticated animals, it ingests the alpha-gal molecule. When the tick feeds again, maybe on you, it injects saliva laced with alpha-gal. Your body’s powerful immune system recognizes this foreign compound and mounts a potent immune response to it. The immune system produces a library of cells ready to produce antibodies to attack alpha-gal the next time it enters your body. Unfortunately, this may happen when you bite into a juicy burger or pulled-pork sandwich. This second exposure can trigger an allergic reaction that can cause hives, itching, swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat, wheezing, shortness of breath, runny nose, sneezing, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. In severe cases, a person may suffer anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal allergic reaction. Often the reaction does not occur until several hours after the meal. Alpha-gal syndrome is found in many parts of the world including Europe, Asia, and Australia, but it is particularly common in the southeastern United States and now is spreading to other parts of the country. Contracting alpha-gal does not relegate one to a meatless existence. Fish, shellfish, poultry, and other non-mammalian meat sources lack the alpha-gal molecule and may be consumed without fear. A recent study revealed one more piece of disturbing news regarding ticks and alpha-gal. The alpha-gal antigen has also been discovered in the saliva of notorious black-legged ticks implicating them not only as vectors of Lyme disease, but also as potential culprits in the red-meat allergy. Yikes!
Content to chill out on my arm, a female lone star tick makes a mad dash under the probing lens of the camera. Unfed ticks are wafer thin, but after feeding for several days their body weight may increase 200 times. Female ticks convert protein from the blood meal into thousands of eggs.
Reports indicate that the red-meat allergy may decline in time in some individuals. Does the bite of lone star tick mean you are doomed to this allergy? Absolutely not. I have been bitten by lone stars on several occasions and still enjoy a burger now and again with no problem. As with other allergies, individual reactions are complex and may differ from one individual to another. In addition to alpha-gal, lone star ticks transmit several illnesses including Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness (STARI), which has been associated with the bacterium Borrelia lonestari. Symptoms of STARI include a rash, fever, fatigue, and pain in muscles and joints. A second disease spread by the lone star tick is ehrlichiosis. Ehrlichia bacteria produces nasty flu-like symptoms including headache, joint ache, fever, fatigue, muscle ache, confusion, and several other disheartening symptoms.
To reduce the risks of becoming a meal for a tick and the unfortunate recipient of alpha-gal, STARI, ehrlichiosis, or other tick-borne illnesses including Lyme disease, remember the word “AIR”. This stands for avoid, inspect, and remove.
“A” – Avoid ticks and their bites in the following ways. When taking Fido for a walk, stick to the path, trail, or pavement. You are unlikely to encounter ticks on non-grassy surfaces. If you enter habitats where wildlife and ticks are likely to be present, such as grassy meadows, boarders of fields and woodlands, and vegetation along the banks of streams, wear long pants and light-colored clothing. This will help you spot ticks on your clothes as they move up your body. Be a geek – tuck your pant legs into your socks. This forces ticks to move up and over your cloths rather than under them where tasty skin awaits. Apply repellents labeled for use in repelling ticks. Some are applied directly to skin, but others can be applied only to clothing. Don’t forget to treat your footwear, socks, and pant legs. Immature ticks called nymphs are a key vector of diseases and these precautions will help prevent nymphs and adults from attaching to your skin. If repellents are used, be sure to read the label, follow directions carefully, and heed precautions particularly those related to children. If your adventures take you into tick territory, consider placing your cloths directly into a clothes dryer rather than a hamper upon returning home. The heat of the dryer will kill hitchhiking ticks that might otherwise escape clothes in the hamper and cause trouble after your return home.
“I” – Inspect yourself, your family, and your pets thoroughly if you have been in tick habitats. Remember to do this when you return from the outdoors and when taking a shower. A thorough inspection may involve enlisting a helper to view those “hard to see” areas around back.
“R” – Remove ticks promptly if you find them. Removal within the first 24 hours can greatly decrease your risk of contracting a disease. If you find a tick attached, firmly grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible using a pair of fine forceps and slowly, steadily pull the tick out. Cleanse the area with antiseptic. The CDC and the Bug-Guy do not recommend methods of tick removal such as smearing the tick with petroleum jelly or scorching its rear end with a match. Cases of some tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease are the most common in children and seniors, so take special care to keep kids of all ages safe when they play outdoors.
If you discover a tick that has imbedded in your skin and you wish to determine its identity and discover what disease organisms it might harbor, there are several tick testing services that will identify the tick and perform molecular analysis to determine several important disease agents it may be carrying. On a recent encounter with a tick, after removing a lone star from my waist, I sent it off to a tick-testing laboratory. Within a week, I had results and this little rascal tested negative for the causal agents of Lyme disease, relapsing fever, anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Pacific Coast tick fever, tularemia, and ehrlichiosis. Lucky me. If you find an embedded and engorged tick, consider sending it to a tick-testing lab. If it tests positive for one or more tick borne diseases, consult your physician and develop an action plan. Several tick testing services can be found on the internet by simply googling “Tick Testing Services”. They provide step by step directions to prepare your sample for analysis and where to send it. Tick identification is available through the University of Maryland, but this service does not test for disease agents.
Around the home, reduce habitat for small mammals that serve as the blood meal for ticks and the source of disease-causing bacteria. Remove piles of brush, unstacked wood, and rubbish that serve as a refuge for rodents and other small mammals. Mow and remove unkempt grasses, weeds, and other vegetation at the edge of the lawn. Mulch beds that border the transition zone between lawn and forest edge. By opening up these areas, raptors and other predators may more easily spot and remove small mammals. Design patios and play areas for children away from forest edges where ticks are more likely to be found. If you follow these precautions, you can greatly reduce the risk of encountering ticks and associated illnesses, while still enjoying the great outdoors.
Acknowledgements
Bug of the Week thanks Bill Gimpel, Kevin Ambrose, and Livia Albeck-Ripka for providing inspiration for this episode. The fascinating articles “Current and Future Distribution of the Lone Star Tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae) in North America” by Ram K. Raghavan,A. Townsend Peterson, Marlon E. Cobos, Roman Ganta, and Des Foley, “ Range Expansion of Tick Disease Vectors in North America: Implications for Spread of Tick-Borne Disease” by Daniel E. Sonenshine, “Population and Evolutionary Genomics of Amblyomma americanum, an Expanding Arthropod Disease Vector” by Javier D. Monzo´n,Elizabeth G. Atkinson, Brenna M. Henn, and Jorge L. Benach, and “The role of direct chilling injury and inoculative freezing in cold tolerance of Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor variabilis and lxodes scapularis” by C. S. Burks, R. L. Stewart, G. N. Needham, and R. E. Lee, and “Discovery of Alpha-Gal-Containing Antigens in North American Tick Species Believed to Induce Red Meat Allergy” by Gary Crispell, Scott P. Commins, Stephanie A. Archer-Hartman, Shailesh Choudhary, Guha Dharmarajan, Parastoo Azadi and Shahid Karim were used to prepare this episode.