An almost fully developed dogwood sawfly larva checks out a deck to find the perfect spot to construct its winter refuge in wood. Image credit: Bob Causer
Several small pock marks reveal locations where dogwood sawflies attempted to construct overwintering galleries in a deck. Image: Bob Causer
Herbivorous insects are full of surprises. Who would have guessed that a leaf munching larva spends another part of its life cycle boring in wood to build a place to hang out in winter? Not me, but this is how the dogwood sawfly rolls. A few weeks ago, I received great images of a dogwood sawfly larva and a report that it was gnawing holes in a deck and generating piles of sawdust. Other encounters with sawflies here at Bug of the Week include ones with sawfly larvae munching on mallows, crushing columbines, and ravaging roses.
Sawflies are primitive members of the bee and wasp order of insects known as the Hymenoptera. Unlike their kin, who feast on the flesh of other arthropods or dine on the nectar and pollen of plants, several families of sawflies feed on leaves. One of the favored hosts of dogwood sawfly is grey dogwood, Cornus racemosa, but silky dogwood, Cornus amomum, and flowering dogwood, Cornus florida, are also on the menu. Dogwood sawfly larvae spend their summer devouring dogwood leaves, initially in chummy groups that skeletonize leaves, but as they grow larger, they may eat the entire leaf with the exception of the midvein. Winter is spent as a larva ensconced in a chamber, or “cell”, built in rotting wood or sometimes structural wood including siding, or as in the case of this week’s star, decks.
Early in their development dogwood sawflies like the one on the right are cloaked in white wax. Later they lose their wax. Watch as these snaky sawflies practice their curls beneath a leaf. An almost fully developed larva waves to the camera while searching for another meal. In autumn before leaf-fall, they build galleries in wood to spend the winter. Notches in this deck bear witness to their attempts.
An easy way to tell the difference between caterpillars (the larvae of moths and butterflies) and sawfly larvae, is to count the pairs of appendages called prolegs on their abdominal segments. Caterpillars like the larva on top have five or fewer pairs of prolegs. Sawfly larvae like the one below usually have six or more pairs of prolegs.
In spring, the larvae pupate and adults, resembling small wasp-like insects, emerge to fly and find mates from May through July. Females insert their eggs in the undersurface of dogwood leaves in batches numbering 100 or more. Eggs hatch and larvae consume leaf tissue and develop through several growth stages, or instars, over the summer. With the approach of autumn and imminent leaf drop, large mature sawfly larvae wander from dogwood trees to construct overwintering redoubts in wood. Although many sawfly larvae bear a striking resemblance to caterpillars, larvae of moths and butterflies, most can be distinguished from Lepidoptera larvae by the number of pairs of appendages called prolegs found on abdominal body segments. In addition to three pairs of jointed walking legs on the thorax, most caterpillars have five or fewer pairs of fleshy prolegs on their abdominal segments. By contrast, in addition to the requisite three pairs of thoracic legs, most sawflies bear six or more pairs of prolegs.
Beautiful dogwood sawfly caterpillars assume their characteristic curly pose between bouts of defoliating dogwoods.
As larvae, dogwood sawflies have, quite literally, a colorful juvenile history. After hatching from eggs, larvae are rather translucent yellowish creatures resembling gummy worms. As they develop and molt, specialized glands produce a snowy-white cloak of wax. Fully developed larvae shed the white waxy cloak and assume a dashing color scheme of yellow, white, and black. Why the chameleon routine? Well, some scientists have speculated that the brilliant white coloration and elongated body of young larvae may mimic a bird dropping and reduce the chance of predation. What self-respecting bird eats bird droppings, right? Another hypothesis suggests predators and small parasitic wasps may be unable or unwilling to effectively attack sawfly larvae through their cloak of wax. As dogwoods get ready to shed their leaves in the next few weeks, keep an eye out for these beautiful and interesting creatures.
Acknowledgements
Bug of the week thanks Bob Causer and Virginia Brace for providing images and inspiration for this episode. Thanks also to our friend Jimmy who shared his dogwood and its sawflies. The interesting articles “Be Alert for Dogwood Sawfly” by Joe Boggs, and “Insects that feed on trees and shrubs” by Warren Johnson and Howard Lyon were used as sources of information for this story.
In short, cockroaches will eat just about anything. These opportunistic eaters will munch on any items that are derived from living things. Not only are plants and animals common food sources for cockroaches, but they also love to eat glue, cardboard, garbage, hair, and feces. These pests are also known to eat other cockroaches, dead or alive, which makes properly discarding the insects an important step to the removal process.
Understanding the typical cockroach diet makes it clear why these insects pose such a serious health risk from contamination. It also is essential for figuring out how to prevent infestations by avoiding inadvertently attracting cockroaches to your home or business. Avoidance is a key component in achieving optimal control.
Introduction to Cockroach Dietary Habits
Cockroaches are known as omnivores, meaning they eat plants and animals. Beyond that, they are not picky eaters and have been known to chow down on many unsavory foods like garbage and waste materials.
Overview of Cockroach Species and Their Environments
Although more than 4,000 species are skittering across the earth, only a handful are common in the Northeastern region.
Among them, German cockroaches account for most infestations both in this region and worldwide. These cockroaches have two dark stripes down their backs, which helps identify them. They love warm, humid areas, which is why kitchens and bathrooms are frequently their chosen hiding spots.
The American cockroach is one of the largest of the species and has a reddish-brown body. These cockroaches love hiding in unsanitary spots, including drains and sewers, and they enjoy eating garbage and waste. Their diet and dwelling spots contribute to their ability to contaminate surfaces and potentially spread digestive diseases.
Another pervasive problem, the brownbanded cockroach is among the smallest of the species. They grow no larger than 1/2 inch and scavenge for food just about anywhere. Brownbanded cockroaches can transmit as many as 33 (or more) types of bacteria.
Why Understanding Their Diet Is Crucial for Pest Control
A solid understanding of what cockroaches like to eat and what attracts them allows you to take proactive steps to create a less inviting environment. In turn, it enhances your ability to achieve lasting cockroach control.
What Cockroaches Eat
As mentioned, cockroaches eat plants, animals, and other organic materials. They enjoy a diverse diet, which can make it tricky to identify and eliminate their food sources.
Broad Range of Cockroach Diets
Cockroaches’ favorite foods include starchy, greasy, and meaty options. Although all species will generally eat anything, some are more notorious than others for their unconventional food choices.
For example, German cockroaches love sweets and greasy eats, but they also will eat toothpaste and other organic matter. American cockroaches eat anything, including other insects and plant materials. Brownbanded cockroaches love non-traditional starchy items like book bindings and wallpaper paste.
Common Food Sources in Human Habitats
Given their diverse diet, it’s easy to see why cockroaches tend to hang out in and near kitchens. Some popular food sources include:
Pantry items
Food left out on counters
Dirty dishes
Pet food
Crumbs and spills
Garbage, composts, and refuse materials
Cardboard, newspapers, magazines, piles of paper bags
Factors That Attract Cockroaches to Homes and Businesses
What attracts cockroaches? Like many pests, these insects seek out three main elements: food, water, and shelter. That makes human spaces particularly appealing because they often provide easy access to all three. To make matters worse, some cockroaches are attracted by the pheromones secreted by other cockroaches, which can quickly increase their numbers in a particular area.
Accessibility to Food
Food is largely the biggest attraction for cockroaches. Eliminating access to food in all its forms can make your home or business a less inviting place for cockroaches to call home.
Water and Moisture Sources
Many species of cockroach love moisture-rich environments. Eliminating access to water, such as leaky pipes, saturated plants, and moisture in walls around sinks and tubs, can help reduce infestation risk.
Preventing Infestations Through Proper Sanitation
Although sanitation isn’t an absolute guarantee, it can make a tremendous difference in reducing the risk of infestation. It’s also essential for enhancing any pest control measures you may implement. Cockroaches will be more attracted to bait if they don’t have access to other foods.
Daily Cleaning Practices to Reduce Attraction
Eliminating as many food particles as possible, reducing moisture, and sealing cracks and crevices can make the premises inhospitable for six-legged pests. An excellent daily routine could include activities such as:
Vacuum floors, cracks, and crevices to eliminate crumbs and debris.
Wipe down counters and floors.
Don’t let dirty dishes sit on counters or in sinks.
Clean appliances and periodically clean under them.
Check drawers for any food debris or crumbs.
Promptly clean up any spills.
Use pest-proof garbage and waste receptacles and remove garbage regularly.
Eliminate clutter, such as piles of mail or boxes.
Inspect food deliveries and other items coming into the home to ensure they are cockroach free.
Secure Food Storage Solutions
Food, including pet food, should be placed in airtight, lidded containers. Glass jars, metal containers, and other rigid receptacles offer protection that prevent pests from getting inside. When possible, recycle cardboard boxes and remove them because they are a potential food source.
Advanced Strategies to Deter Cockroach Infestations
Regular cleaning and sanitation are excellent initial steps to preventing cockroaches. However, if you want to increase the effectiveness of these measures, it’s helpful to implement a couple of additional strategies.
Structural Fixes to Deny Access
Seal up cracks, crevices, gaps, and holes in walls, foundations, and other areas to prevent cockroaches and other pests from walking right in from outside. Add weather stripping around windows and doors and inspect all deliveries before bringing them inside. Consider installing an exclusion system, which provides a rigid, permanent barrier to protect vulnerable areas from pests and nuisance wildlife.
Regular Inspections and Early Intervention
Cockroaches often hide around water heaters, inside kitchen cabinets, under appliances, around sinks and bath fixtures, and in crawl spaces. Performing routine inspections can help you spot potential issues early and allow you to gain control before the infestation becomes widespread.
Professional Pest Control Solutions
Cockroaches can be notoriously difficult to eliminate on your own. Partnering with a reputable professional early can help you assess the species causing a problem. Experts can also determine how and why they are coming inside, which can aid you in crafting a thorough plan to eliminate them now and prevent them in the future.
When to Call in Experts
Sure, you can try DIY cockroach control. Many baits and other forms of chemical control are widely available. However, chemical control alone won’t solve the issue. Many of the chemicals that are sold at stores are considered to be repellants, that may only force the cockroaches to other areas of the property. Worse, if you don’t get to the root of the problem, the cockroaches may continue breeding and expanding their reach throughout the property.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Approaches
Professional cockroach control requires a multi-faceted approach that prioritizes prevention and monitoring. IPM checks all the boxes. It allows homeowners and businesses to achieve effective control by implementing preventative measures that create an environment where pests won’t thrive. It includes attention to sanitation and sealing off entry points, identifying the pests and how they are getting inside, and applying appropriate treatment measures.
Contact Catseye Pest Control to Help You Get Rid of Cockroaches
Catseye has decades of expertise and experience in eliminating cockroaches from homes and businesses. We rely on innovative pest control techniques and take an IPM approach that includes customized treatment plans and ongoing monitoring. You don’t have to struggle with cockroaches alone. Rely on Catseye to keep your property pest free. Contact us today for more details or to schedule an inspection.
Encounters with humans often result in lanternflies feeling a little flat. Image: Paula Shrewsbury, UMD
Last week Bug of the Week received a text regarding swarms of spotted lanternflies visiting children and adults at a public park in Carroll County, Maryland. Sure enough, a trip to the park revealed squealing kids, nervous parents, and scores of spotted lanternfly adults flitting about and landing on slides, swings, play sets, and people. While some children screeched and ran, others delighted in the heavily promoted and much-heralded sport of chasing down lanternflies and squashing them. What fun! Ah, but not all children embraced an ant-bully mien. While recording a lanternfly climbing up my leg, a youngster nearby asked if he could have one on his leg, too. Nice to meet a budding entomologist!
As one youngster said, “there’s a thousand of them….” Lanternflies take flight in late summer and autumn. When lanternflies invaded a playground in Maryland some children shrieked and ran while others laughed and tried to catch some. What strange attraction brought lanternflies to playsets, slides, and people remains a mystery. A memorable time was had by all, fearful and fun-loving alike, except perhaps, the lanternflies flattened by sneakers, flipflops, and baseball caps.
Why spotted lanternflies invaded this playground in Maryland remains a mystery. Image: Paula Shrewsbury, UMD
What causes spotted lanternflies to abandon a site and engage in flight, swarming to new locations? Fascinating studies by scientists in Pennsylvania reveal some of the secrets to the autumnal movements of adult spotted lanternflies. Thomas Baker and his colleagues at Penn State discovered that the long-distance airborne lanternflies were primarily slim unmated females. These fliers were capable of flights ranging from roughly 30 to 150 feet. Their spontaneous flights were believed to be quests to find suitable hosts, plants that could supply sufficient nutrients for them to fatten up and deposit a complete complement of eggs before cold weather put an end to their mischief. The Penn State team also assessed the flight worthiness of plump yellow-bellied lanternflies. These females were full of developing eggs. A vast majority of these heavy females had successfully mated but their ability to fly was weak and limited to only about 12 feet when launched into the air. According to lanternfly expert, Dr. Kelly Hoover, spotted lanternflies may undertake long-distance flights when their sustained feeding has depleted resources in trees and they fly to find better quality food resources in trees elsewhere.
On a sunny late summer afternoon in a restaurant park in scenic Rohrerstown, PA, spotted lanternflies were on the wing. They crashed into windows, wandered on sidewalks, and met gruesome ends beneath human feet and tires of vehicles. Wanderers displayed their impressive jumping skills when harassed by a giant finger and one contemplated a trip to New Jersey on the rear bumper of my car.
Since its discovery in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014, spotted lanternfly has established populations in locations more than 600 miles away. New York State Integrated Pest Management Program of Cornell University.
While autumnal spontaneous flights have been witnessed on a regular basis, these relatively short distance flights of hundreds of feet likely account for only a minor component of the spotted lanternflies’ spread through the United States. From their initial discovery point in Berks County, PA in 2014, isolated spotted lanternflies infestations have popped up in midwestern and southern states more than 600 miles away. The most likely explanation for these long-distance peregrinations lies in human-assisted transport of lanternfly eggs. Unlike many herbivorous insects that lay eggs on food plants for their young, spotted lanternfly mothers deposit egg masses on non-host objects including stones, cinder blocks, lawn furniture and vehicles, in addition to trees. These nondescript masses of eggs are easily overlooked on natural and human-made items and easily transported inadvertently by road or rail. Recently, a metal sculpture festooned with spotted lanternfly eggs being shipped from New York to Sonoma, California was intercepted at the border before entering our leading wine producing state. Great work by the California Department of Food and Agriculture at the Truckee Border Station.
Why this particular playground attracted hordes of flying lanternflies remains a mystery. A similar play area less than 300 yards way was devoid of these critters and also devoid of children. Maybe lanternflies just saw the kids having a good time and wanted to join in the fun. Who knows?
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Brian and Jackie for providing the inspiration for this episode and to the children playing at the park who shared their excitement and trepidation. Thanks to Dr. Paula Shrewsbury for providing images of lanternflies. The fascinating articles “Flight Dispersal Capabilities of Female Spotted Lanternflies (Lycorma delicatula) Related to Size and Mating Status” by Michael S. Wolfin, Muhammad Binyameen, Yanchen Wang, Julie M. Urban, Dana C. Roberts, and Thomas C. Baker, and “Spotted lanternfly collective flights in late summer not dangerous to public” by Amy Duke were used to prepare this story. Thanks to Brian Eshenaur and the entire team at the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program of Cornell University for providing the updated maps of spotted lanternfly in the US and to the Entomological Society of America for providing the map of the potential distribution of spotted lanternfly in the US.
Hungry Northern House mosquitoes, vectors of West Nile virus, are thriving and on the hunt for blood.
At only a few millimeters in length, tiny no-see-um midges can carry serious human viruses including the strange sloth fever virus.
Last week news agencies carried warnings about an uptick in mosquito borne diseases following reports that famed immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci recently contracted and survived a bout of West Nile virus. As of August 27, 2024, 289 cases of West Nile virus in 31 states had been reported with Texas, Mississippi, and Nebraska leading the way. Even more disturbing was the recent demise of a citizen in New England from another mosquito borne illness, Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Recent travelers to Cuba have contracted another virus called sloth fever, a.k.a. Oropouche virus, carried by small biting flies called no-see-ums which we met in a previous episode. As record heat continues in our land, generation times shrink for mosquitoes. More mosquitoes are produced in shorter periods of time. Drenching storm systems create abundant breeding sites for aquatic mosquito larvae. Together, heat and rainfall provide the perfect storm for elevating populations of mosquitoes in many parts of our nation. Let’s learn a little more about mosquitoes, the risks they pose, and how to avoid their bites and the illnesses they carry.
Historically, September is the second most common month to contract West Nile virus. Image courtesy of Centers for Disease Control
Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance and several species carry important diseases such as West Nile Virus. According to the CDC, following its discovery in the United States in 1999, more than 59,000 cases of West Nile Virus have been reported and more than 2,900 deaths associated with West Nile Virus have occurred. While most of us shrug off West Nile virus with little or no symptoms, it can be severe and even lethal to seniors and certain others. Researchers have suggested that some seniors and people with compromised immune systems may lack sufficient immune responses to thwart the West Nile Virus.
Watch as a female Culex pipiens form molestus extracts all the blood she needs to produce the next batch of eggs and then scurries away to the shadow of a knuckle to hide. Filmed at twice life speed.
Asian tiger mosquitos are active during daylight hours. They vector important human diseases including dengue, chikungunya and Zika.
Many species of mosquitoes prefer to feed at dusk and you can avoid being bitten by staying indoors in the evening. However, unlike many of our native mosquitoes, the exotic Asian Tiger is a daytime biter, adding hours of itching, scratching, and swatting to days in the garden. Protect yourself from aggressive biters by wearing light-weight, long-sleeved shirts and pants when working outdoors. Certain brands of clothing are pretreated with mosquito repellents such as permethrin. I have worn these in tropical rainforests where mosquitoes were ferocious and they really did help. Many topical insect repellents can be applied to exposed skin before you go outdoors. Some will provide many hours of protection, while others provide virtually none. Some repellents should not be applied to children and you should always help kids apply repellents. Do not apply repellents containing DEET under clothing. To learn more about mosquito repellents, click this link to see repellents recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. For safety, be sure to read and follow the directions on the label of the repellent before you apply it to people or clothing.
If you dine outdoors, place a fan on your patio. The light breeze created by the fan will greatly reduce the number of mosquitoes flying and biting. Many traps are also available to capture and kill mosquitoes. Some rely on a light source to attract blood seekers. However, many types of moths, flies, and beetles are attracted to light. Mosquitoes, unfortunately, do not use light to find their meals and are NOT readily attracted to light traps. One study demonstrated that less than 1% of the insects attracted to light traps were biting flies such as mosquitoes. This study estimated that light traps kill billions of harmless and beneficial insects each year. Actually, blood seeking mosquitoes are attracted to odors emanating from the host. As we move about the earth, we release many odors, including carbon dioxide and lactic acid that are detected and followed by hungry mosquitoes to find us. Some mosquito traps release carbon dioxide and will attract and catch many mosquitoes. Female mosquitoes ready to lay eggs are attracted odors emanating from water sources. A clever trap called a Gravid Aedes Trap (GAT) has been used in community-wide programs in the DMV to reduce local populations of Asian Tiger mosquitoes. Females fly into these traps to lay eggs but never escape. Sounds like Hotel California for these tiny vampires.
Wheelbarrows and pails full of water? Dump them now! They are nurseries for mosquito larvae.
To reduce the chances of mosquitoes breeding around your home, eliminate standing water by cleaning your gutters, dumping your bird bath twice a week, inverting your wheelbarrow and getting rid of water filled containers. If you have an aquatic water garden or standing water on your property that breed mosquitoes, you can use a product containing the naturally occurring soil microbe known as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis a.k.a. Bti. Bti comes formulated in doughnut-shaped tablets that can be placed in water to kill mosquito larvae.
A garbage pail lid full of water becomes the perfect nursery for a crop of Culex mosquitoes. Two egg rafts contain scores of eggs ready to hatch. Nearby, fleets of mosquito larvae called wriggles filter tiny particles of food from the water. In just a few short weeks, this lid will be bustling with fully developed wrigglers suspended beneath the water by breathing siphons. Amidst the milieu, zany mosquito pupae called tumblers bumble about. With continued hot weather and ample rainfall, adults will emerge, and yes, there will be blood.
With continued hot weather and ample rainfall, mosquitoes will be present for several more months. Be on the lookout and take precautions now to avoid being bitten.
Acknowledgements
Several interesting articles were consulted for this episode including “How the body rubs out West Nile virus” by Nathan Seppa, “Toll-like Receptor 7 Mitigates Lethal West Nile and Encephalitis via Interleukin 23-Dependent Immune Cell Infiltration and Homing by Terrence Town”, Fengwei Bai, Tian Wang, Amber T. Kaplan, Feng Qian, Ruth R. Montgomery, John F. Anderson, Richard A. Flavell, and Erol Fikrig, “Density and diversity of non-target insects killed by suburban electric insect traps” by Timothy B. Frick and Douglas W. Tallamy, and “Neighbors help neighbors control urban mosquitoes” by Brian J. Johnson, David Brosch, Arlene Christiansen, Ed Wells, Martha Wells, Andre F. Bhandoola, Amy Milne, Sharon Garrison & Dina M. Fonseca. Information on the geographical and seasonal occurrences of West Nile Virus came from the data rich CDC websites.
To learn more about the mosquitoes and how to defeat them, please view the following video, B.I.T.E. mosquitoes before they bite you!
Have you ever watched a bat fly in the evening sky? It can be a mesmerizing sight. Even better, when you have bats on your property, you can rest assured that you have one of nature’s best pest solutions working for you. Bats eat thousands of insects, including pesky mosquitoes, every night, and they contribute to a thriving ecosystem.
These often misunderstood creatures belong to the family Chiroptera. Translated from Greek, the word means “hand-wing.” This is a nod to these flying mammals’ wing structure, which consists of a membrane that stretches over the bats’ arms and fingers.
Although they play a pivotal role in maintaining outdoor spaces and pollinating plants, bats can turn into a serious problem when they end up in the attic. Explore the different signs of a bat infestation and what you should do if you suspect you have a colony anywhere in your home.
Introduction to Bats in the Home
Bats move indoors for many of the same reasons that other nuisance wildlife move inside — food, warmth, and safety. Manmade structures, which include homes, garages, and outbuildings, among other structures, provide shelter for bats to roost. They also provide a safe spot away from predators for bats to raise their pups.
Understanding the Importance of Bats
What would the world be like without bats? For one thing, humanity would lose a critical source of natural pest control, seed dispersal, and pollination. These often-feared animals save the agricultural industry $1 billion in annual pesticide costs and crop damage in the U.S., according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. They save another estimated $3 billion with the sheer volume of insects they eat that could otherwise harm crops. Bats also play a pivotal role in dispersing seeds and pollinating various plants, including agave, peaches, and bananas.
Why Bats May Choose Your Home
Opportunity and accidental ventures are often the reasons bats end up inside homes. These tiny animals can fit through small openings. When it’s time to find shelter, they will inevitably exploit available spots that give them easy indoor-outdoor access. They may also simply fly in through open doors and windows and accidentally end up where they don’t belong.
Identifying Signs of Bat Presence
Bats are nocturnal and typically most active at dusk and for a few hours after dusk. After feeding, they often return to their roosts to sleep. Under the cover of darkness, they may be challenging to spot, but once you know about the signs of a bat infestation, you may be better equipped to identify (and potentially fix) the situation.
Noises: What Sounds Do Bats Make?
In the 1940s, Donald R. Griffin discovered that bats make ultrasonic sounds to aid with navigation and locating their prey. However, those aren’t the only noises they make. Some of the sounds you might hear include clicking, buzzing, and purring.
Droppings: Recognizing Bat Guano
Bat droppings will often build up in piles beneath the roosting area and their entry/exit points. They look a lot like mouse droppings and are small and dark-colored. However, bat droppings are segmented6 and crumble when rolled between pieces of tissue or paper towels.
Visual Signs: Spotting Bats and Their Entry Points
If you see bats flying around outside between sunset and sunrise, it’s not a sure sign that bats are inside your home. However, it does increase the potential for invasion. Check for scratches on walls and stains near entry points like the roof, walls, and siding.
Common Bat Habitats Within Human Dwellings
Bats can enter openings as small as a half inch in size. Once inside, they often seek dark, quiet spots. Where they end up inside your home may also depend on how they entered, but some of the most common areas include attics, walls, and crawl spaces.
Attics as Prime Bat Habitats
Attics are typically warm and quiet, with minimal human traffic. Dark and confined, these areas are similar to bats’ natural roosting spots, such as caves, which adds to their allure.
Bats in Walls and Crawl Spaces
Another popular roosting area for bats is in structural voids. These spaces lie between the exterior of the building and the interior spaces. They allow bats to remain cozy and unnoticed until someone spots a sign of bat activity.
Other Uncommon but Possible Nesting Areas
Roof voids, behind shutters, inside soffits, and in window dormers are just a few other spots that bats could nest. Other possible sites include inside ridge and gable vents, siding, and chimneys.
Preventative Measures to Secure Your Home
As with other pests, taking a proactive approach is the best way to achieve peace of mind. Additionally, it can save you time and money down the road while keeping your home and everyone in it safe from bats and other wildlife. Wondering how to keep bats out of the attic? Check out some preventative strategies you can implement today.
Sealing Entry Points
Bats can fly right through doors and windows. They can also squeeze through openings from the exterior to the interior, including gaps, cracks, and holes around pipes and utility lines. They can also enter through vents and chimneys. Sealing these areas up and closing holes and gaps with caulk can help prevent bats and other pests from coming into your home. Since bats are federally protected, we strongly discourage anyone from trying to seal bats out themselves. Without training and licensing, homeowners could kill these beneficial animals as well as put themselves at risk of encountering live bats or their guano.
Another option is installing a rodent and wildlife exclusion system. Cat-Guard is a three-part system that features rigid barriers that can be used alone or together to provide safe, humane, long-term pest prevention. Catseye Pest Control doesn’t harm the animals and we seal the structure and safely/humanely evict them during the times of year that will not interfere with their birthing or hybernating patterns
Environmental Modifications to Discourage Bats
Making your home less attractive as a potential nesting site can aid in both prevention and control. Installing flashing and screening over chimneys, vents, and openings can help prevent bats from entering. Other modifications to consider include the following:
Swap out the light bulbs you use outdoors for warm-toned LED bulbs and yellow “bug lights” to reduce the attraction for insects.
Trim shrubs and tree limbs away from the exterior of your home to prevent easy access.
Remove possible food sources, including compost and improperly stored garbage, both of which can attract insects.
Reduce exterior clutter.
Maintain a well-lit exterior to repel these darkness-loving animals.
Ongoing Monitoring and Maintenance
Monitoring the situation and regularly performing necessary repairs to prevent easy access for bats can help provide ongoing control. Routine inspections can also alert you to potential intrusions before bats have a chance to set up their nests.
Professional Help and Its Importance
Bat removal isn’t a DIY project. You can try opening doors and windows to allow them to fly out, but how will you know they didn’t leave their young behind? Bats are protected by many federal and state regulations that govern how and when you can evict these ecologically important mammals.
Benefits of Hiring a Bat Removal Specialist
Bats pose a safety risk for humans and pets. Contact with their droppings could expose you to histoplasmosis, a serious respiratory disease. Additionally, a bite or scratch could potentially transmit rabies, which underscores the importance of professional bat control.
Allowing experts to take the lead removes the risk to you and your family. Additionally, bat removal specialists have the training and equipment to safely and effectively perform bat removal, disinfection, cleanup, and exclusion.
Finally, professionals understand federal, state, and local regulations. Working with bat removal specialists ensures you achieve peace of mind, restore your home, and comply with all legal ordinances.
What to Expect During Professional Bat Removal
Professionals will begin by inspecting the property and identifying where bats are roosting, how and where they are entering the premises, and the type of bats inhabiting your home. Using that information, licensed and certified technicians will create a plan. Each customized treatment plan outlines strategies to remove the bats and prevent them from returning while complying with all regulations and protections.
Timing matters, as well. From May through June and from August on, technicians can seal the area bats inhabit and install an excluder. This funnel-shaped device lets bats exit but prevents them from returning. Once all bats have been evicted, technicians remove the device and seal the entry point.
However, in June and July, when bats have babies and raise their young, technicians won’t be able to perform any exclusion or removal.
Ensuring Complete Removal and Cleaning
When you rely on reputable professionals, you can rest assured that all bats will be evicted safely. Likewise, wildlife cleanup services will clean and disinfect all affected areas, leaving them pristine and safe for you and other inhabitants to explore.
Contact Catseye Pest Control for Professional, Humane Bat Control
Dealing with bats in the attic, crawl space, walls, or any other area of your home can pose a real challenge. Not only can it be a nuisance, but bats could also pose a health threat. Additionally, they are protected species, requiring careful removal and handling. Catseye has decades of expertise and knows how to handle bat removal using legal, safe, and humane methods. Technicians can walk you through preventative measures and aid in exclusion to keep your home bat-free for good.
With effective hotel pest control, you can give pests the boot and hang up the “No Vacancy” sign for rodents, cockroaches, bed bugs, and other creepy crawlies.
If guests see pests or you experience a full-scale infestation, it can have a detrimental impact on the business. Additionally, because many pests carry various diseases and can contaminate surfaces, they pose a real health risk for guests and employees that goes beyond the “gross” factor.
As industry leaders in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, Catseye Pest Control has successfully battled pests in hotels for decades. Let’s explore the unique challenges that hotels face, the potentially devastating effects of an infestation, and the important role of managing pests in hospitality businesses.
Introduction to Pest Control in Hospitality
In the hospitality industry, businesses like hotels and restaurants have what is called a duty of care. This duty refers to the establishment’s responsibility to provide guests with sanitary, safe accommodations. This goes beyond providing clean linens and promptly repairing any plumbing or structural issues. It’s a duty that extends to maintaining a pest-free environment.
The Importance of Pest Management in Hotels
The stakes are too high for anything but the best proactive approach to hotel pest control. Managing pests in a hospitality setting is much more feasible when the focus is on prevention. Starting with keeping pests out in the first place helps in various ways, including:
Protecting the health and safety of guests and employees
Preserving structural elements
Reducing the likelihood of monetary losses (fines, penalties, lawsuits)
Safeguarding the brand name and reputation
Common Challenges in Hotel Pest Control
A hotel setting comes with a high volume of people coming and going. Guests enter and exit at all times of day, not just at check-in and check-out. That translates to many doors opening and closing, potentially allowing pests to slip right in with them.
Additionally, many pests — including bed bugs — can hitch a ride on luggage, clothing, people, and pets. That means guests and employees could easily inadvertently bring critters into the building with them. When you consider the square footage of the hotel and the number of individual rooms and shared spaces, it’s easy to see the unique challenges these businesses face.
Common Pests in Hotel Environments
Like most manmade structures, hotels must diligently work to avoid ending up with any number of pests. Thanks to frequent room turnover and easy access to food and shelter, these properties are particularly vulnerable to bed bugs, rodents, and cockroaches. Let’s explore each of these pests in more detail.
Bed Bugs: Detection and Prevention
Hotels are consistently among the top three locations pest professionals treat for bed bugs. Data from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) shows that bites are the most common sign of a bed bug infestation. Some people experience an immediate reaction, while others may take up to three days to see welts or other evidence of bites. Using protective encasements for mattresses and boxsprings can help prevent infestations. Additionally, it’s essential for hotel staff to routinely inspect rooms to look for signs of bed bugs. This includes:
Presence of live and dead bugs
Reddish-brown or red spots on bedding, mattresses, baseboards, and walls
Evidence of molted skin
Presence of sticky white eggs or eggshells
Mice and Rats: Signs and Control Strategies
Mice and rats can be a real nuisance. These critters can squeeze through tiny openings, making it easy for them to travel from room-to-room, wreaking havoc as they go. Not only do they leave messy (and potentially disease-riddled) droppings behind, but rodents also gnaw on just about anything. They will eat through improperly stored food, chew on woodwork, and gnaw on wires. Regularly watching for signs of activity is imperative, including:
Droppings and urine stains
Smudges or dark marks on baseboards
Squeaking or skittering noises, particularly at night when rodents are more active
Gnaw marks on packages, walls, structural elements, and wires
Cockroaches: Health Risks and Elimination
Cockroaches are among the most dreaded pests because of their association with unsanitary conditions and their ability to spread dangerous pathogens. Cockroaches can carry the germs that cause E. coli, salmonella, and listeria, and they often trigger or worsen allergies and asthma symptoms in vulnerable guests.
Cockroaches are often attracted to decaying food and organic matter, making proper food storage and garbage disposal critical practices. Regularly inspecting dark, moist areas is essential for detecting these insects as early as possible, making control easier. Seeing live and dead bugs or droppings that look like coffee grounds are the most common signs of these pests.
Elimination is possible by taking proactive steps, such as:
Strict sanitation procedures
Storing food in pest-proof containers and taking garbage out regularly
Working with local pest control companies for professional rodent control
Other Common Pests in Hotels (Ants, Flies)
Flies are attracted by delicious aromas, and they can hitch a ride on people and luggage or fly right in through the front, back, and side doors. Other common invaders include ants, spiders, fleas, and termites. As with other pests, hiring experts to perform regular inspections and keep an eye out for signs of pest activity is the key to identifying an infestation early. In doing so, hotels can also get ahead of the problem before it has a chance to become widespread.
Risks Posed by Pests in Hotels
Bed bugs alone can cost hotels more than $20,000 per incident, when you factor in replacement costs, treatment costs, repairs, and liabilities. A reactive approach to bed bugs, rodents, cockroaches, and other common pests can take a huge financial toll on the business. The cost of pest removal and control is only one small consideration. Other factors include the risk to guest health and safety, potential damage to the brand’s reputation, and possible fines or costs of litigation.
Impact on Guest Health and Safety
Aside from the “ick” factor, pests also introduce physical risks to the health and safety of guests and employees. For example, rodents carry various diseases, including salmonella, tularemia, hantavirus, leptospirosis, and the plague — all serious infections that could lead to severe illness. Similarly, cockroaches contaminate food and surfaces, potentially spreading illnesses like staphylococcus, streptococcus, dysentery, and typhoid fever.
Additionally, pests like ticks and mites could piggyback their way into the hotel, hitching a ride on rodents and nuisance wildlife. Rodents, termites, and other invaders may cause structural damage or gnaw on electrical wires, as well, which could pose a fire or safety risk.
Damage to Reputation and Reviews
Word of mouth can be a powerful marketing tool. According to research from Nielsen, 88 percent of people worldwide trust recommendations from family, friends, and acquaintances more than other forms of advertising. That is fantastic news when everything goes well, and guests have a great experience. However, it also increases the potential fallout when guests have a poor experience.
The iconic Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City faced this scenario back in 2010 after a guest was bitten by bed bugs. Not only was the hotel hit with a lawsuit for the guest’s medical expenses and distress, but the prestigious hotel’s reputation was also negatively impacted. The incident proved that even the most luxurious hotels can suffer the ripple effects of pest problems.
Legal and Financial Repercussions
Like all businesses in the hospitality industry, hotels have a legal obligation to provide guests with a clean, hygienic, and safe environment. Managing pests and pest prevention in hotels is a requirement for the establishment to fulfill its duty of care to its patrons. A single infestation could leave hotels vulnerable to liabilities and damage inflicted by affected guests. Additionally, failing to comply with state and local regulations and ordinances could result in penalties, fines, and potential closure.
Implementing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program
Think of integrated pest management (IPM) as the hotel’s first line of defense. This multi-faceted strategic approach focuses primarily on prevention first and treatment only as needed. It’s a popular, modern approach to pest control because of its efficacy while minimizing the need for chemicals. For these reasons, it’s also better for people and the environment.
The principles of IPM in hotels include focusing on pest prevention, implementing inspection and monitoring, and managing pest control appropriately.
Step 1: Prevention — Building Maintenance and Sanitation
Keeping up with routine maintenance, including promptly fixing leaks and sealing cracks and crevices, is only one piece of the preventative puzzle. Implementing strict sanitation protocols is essential. This includes the following:
Eliminate clutter and maintain organization throughout the premises.
Regularly remove trash from indoors.
Keep landscaping manicured and trimmed away from the building’s exterior.
Maintain high cleaning standards in rooms, shared spaces, dining areas, and food storage areas
Step 2: Monitoring — Regular Inspections and Reporting
Housekeeping, maintenance staff, and other employees must be well trained in the signs of a possible infestation. Routine inspections can spot pests early, which can help prevent them from becoming widespread throughout the entire hotel. Additionally, performing regular inspections empowers the hotel staff to note possible problem areas and fix them before pests have a chance to invade and take over.
Step 3: Response — Effective and Timely Pest Treatment
Acting on the adverse events noted during an inspection is imperative. That could mean anything from promptly sealing areas where pests enter the building and installing Rodent and Wildlife Exclusion Systems to calling professionals for treatment.
Step 4: Documentation — Record Keeping and Compliance
Maintaining accurate and up-to-date records of all actions is an excellent tool to help you measure success. This should include any chemical or non-chemical control methods, treatment applications, and inspection dates. It may also include recommendations for future prevention and other strategies that could help with hospitality industry pest management protocols.
Staff Training and Guest Communication
Hotel staff are often the eyes and ears of the operation. Training all employees to look for signs of pests can help improve their responsiveness to problem situations. It also empowers them to take an active role in preventing pest activity and aids them in responding to guests’ questions more readily.
Educating Staff on Pest Prevention Techniques
Your staff must know about the hotel’s approach to IPM, the signs they should look for, and when and how they can report issues. Other ways to involve employees include teaching them about prevention, how to inspect hotspots like storage rooms, and the importance of reporting and documentation.
Protocols for Handling Guest Reports of Pests
Having a guest encounter pests is the last thing any hotel wants, but it can happen. How the report is handled can make all the difference in how guests feel when they leave. They need to feel as though their concerns are being taken seriously and the hotel is taking swift action. Employees should have straightforward instructions on how to respond, with the initial goal of calming and reassuring guests treated as a top priority.
Communicating Proactively with Guests About Prevention Efforts
It’s essential to establish the protocols that work best for the brand and the business. Additionally, it’s critical to communicate proactively with guests so they know everything the hotel is doing to keep the premises free of pests.
Professional Partnerships in Pest Control
The hotel business is ultra-competitive, and it only becomes more so as new venues open for business and the industry evolves.19 Partnering with a reputable pest control company is essential to supporting the business in its efforts and ensuring prompt responses when treatment is needed.
Choosing the Right Pest Control Service
Look for a local company that specializes in IPM and provides the ultimate experience in customer service. Catseye has decades of experience and a drive to offer an incredible customer experience to all of its clients. Other elements to consider include:
Company’s level of expertise
Licensed and trained technicians
Reporting systems that make ongoing monitoring easier
Stellar reputation and commitment to utilizing innovative treatment solutions
Benefits of Ongoing Professional Support
No matter how closely hotel staff monitors the property, having an expert conduct regular inspections can help businesses stay abreast of potential issues. With so much at stake, including financial repercussions and the brand’s reputation, additional professional support can make all the difference.
Learn more about Catseye’s hotel pest control services or contact us today to schedule a free inspection.
This gorgeous adult Glenurus antlion made a surprising guest appearance on a window screen. Image credit: Ken Paynter
Conical pits in dry soil spell danger for ants and other small ground-dwelling arthropods. Death awaits at the bottom of the antlion’s pit.
Some of you may recall a memorable desert scene from George Lucas’s Return of the Jedi were a terrifying multi-toothed creature called a Sarlacc inhabited a pit on Tatooine and dined on hapless Jedi Knights. Each year miniature versions of Sarlaccian pits appear in the dusty desert beneath the overhang of my tractor shed. These craters, ranging in diameter from the size of dimes to larger than quarters, mark the killing field of antlions, the larval stage of nerve-winged insects (Neuroptera) known as Myrmeleontidae. One of my curious pastimes is to watch ants, beetles, and other small ground dwelling arthropods stumble into the craters and tumble down the slope. At the base of this cone of death lies the ferocious predatory antlion.
Wicked jaws of the antlion larva capture victims and drain their blood. Jaws are also used to construct the antlion’s pit and flick sand to capture prey.
The antlion larva, affectionately known as a doodlebug, constructs its funnel-shaped trap by backing into sandy soil and carefully flicking soil particles with its mouthparts until a symmetrical pit forms. Small ground-dwelling arthropods like ants fall into the pit and tumble to the bottom. At the base of the pit just beneath the sand, the antlion awaits its prey. Sensing that someone has dropped in for dinner, the antlion flicks sand particles upward until the victim tumbles to the bottom of the pit where the ill-fated quarry meets a lethal embrace with powerful jaws of the antlion. The victim is often dragged entirely beneath the sand as the antlion enjoys its feast. Jaws of the antlion bear a groove used to channel blood from the living victim to the belly of the beast. After consuming the liquid portion of the prey, the antlion tosses the carcass from the pit with a snap of its head. Occasionally a large or lucky potential victim will evade the first strike and attempt a desperate scramble for freedom up the slope. To foil the escape, the antlion again flicks sand from the base of the cone towards its prey. The displacement of sand creates a Lilliputian avalanche carrying the prey down slope into the grasp of the antlion.
In the dry soil beneath the overhang of a shed, small pits in the soil mark the kill zone of antlions. Watch as an antlion larva disappears beneath the earth. Once buried it constructs a conical pit to trap its prey. Among the carcasses of a beetle and a daddy-long-legs, a hapless ant attempts a desperate scramble out of the antlion’s pit, all to no avail. Soon the ant will be pulled underground and drained of its blood. The ant’s carcass will be added to those of other victims near this pit of despair. The beautiful adult stage of an antlion is often mistaken for a dragonfly or other winged insect.
Adult antlions sometimes frequent vegetation in my garden. Females will find mates and return to dry sandy soils around my home to lay eggs in the soil.
Adult antlions are rarely seen, but are often mistaken for a damselfly or dragonfly. Feeding habits of these beautiful creatures are largely unknown other than that they consume soft-bodied insects and pollen. They are often attracted to outdoor lights at night. These delicate insects lay eggs in sandy soil where eggs hatch into subterranean monsters. Upon completing development, antlions spin silken cocoons in the soil where the transformations from larva to pupa to adult takes place. So, while hiking in the desert, if you come across a deep conical pit, stay well back from the edge lest you tumble in. You never really know what waits at the bottom.
Acknowledgements
References for this Bug of the Week include “Effects of slope and particle size on ant locomotion: Implications for choice of substrate by antlions” by Jason Botz, Catherine Louden, Bradley Barger, Jeffrey Olafsen, and Don Steeples, and “Immature Insects” by Frederick Stehr. The inspiration for this Bug of the Week came from Ken Paynter who shared the wonderful image of Glenurus with us.
This pretty Ptilothrix bombiformis took a time-out from the business of gathering food for her young to glam for the bug geek with a camera.
In 1966 during the construction of the planned city of Columbia, MD, a 27-acre reservoir named Lake Kittamaqundi was created from several unnamed tributaries of the Little Patuxent River. In the intervening decades, along the banks of Kittamaqundi patches of marshmallow, Althaea officinalis, put down roots and now show off their dazzling floral displays, five large petals dressed in shades of white, lavender, pink, and purple. From June into early autumn, marshmallows and other members of the hibiscus clan are visited by Ptilothrix bombiformis, an apid bee that specializes on members of the mallow clan. An encounter with this charming bee began on a sunny morning while walking along a trail that circumnavigates the lake. My eagle-eyed companion noticed several small bees darting in and out of turreted pencil-sized holes in the hard clay soil on the bank of the lake. These cute bees, Ptilothrix bombiformis, are unique in that they are one of only two species in the genus Ptilothrix found in the US. Ptilothrix bombiformis occurs mostly in the eastern half of the US and its sister species occurs in Arizona and New Mexico.
A Ptilothrix bee begins to build her nest by wetting hard mud and digging with jaws and legs. Off she goes to get more water for softening the soil. She regurgitates water to moisten the soil and work it into a turret for her nest. Beneath the earth, water is mixed with soil and mud pellets are removed to enlarge the gallery. Then off she goes to visit mallow blossoms for nectar and pollen. She returns to her nest with provisions to sustain her brood as they grow and develop underground.
Piles of irregularly shaped mud pellets surrounding a turreted hole in the ground mark the nest site of Ptilothrix bombiformis.
These industrious bees construct nests in soil. To excavate galleries in hard-packed earth, females land on the surface of the lake, imbibe water, fly back to the nest site, and regurgitate the water to moisten and loosen the soil. During nest construction the area around each gallery is littered with an array of small mud pellets deposited by the bee as she removes soil to construct the subterranean nursery for her young. Watching these clever bees roll mud balls with their hind legs out of the gallery is highly entertaining. In a nearby patch of marshmallows, mothers gather nectar and pollen to provision their nest with pollen cakes for their young. After providing sufficient food for their brood, the female bee seals the gallery with a plug of mud to prevent parasites and predators from entering the nursery and devouring her youngsters. Ptilothrix bombiformis has taken advantage of human-made features such as the aforementioned shores of Lake Kittamaqundi and roadways passing through marshlands as favorable habitats to construct their nests. Ornamental members of the mallow clan, including Rose-of-Sharon found in residential landscapes are used as sources of nectar and pollen. These behaviors provide opportunities to meet these bees. With some luck and a little nature-focused attention, you may catch a glimpse of these mellow mallow bees in the blossom of a hibiscus or busily tending their pellet-strewn nest sites along the banks of a lake or trails through a marsh.
Acknowledgements
Once again, we thank Sam Droege for generously taking time to identify Ptilothrix bombiformis and share his wisdom about these beauties. Information about the bees featured this week came from Joseph S. Wilson and Olivia Messinger Carril’s amazing book “The Bees in Your Backyard”, and “The Biology of Ptilothrix bombiformis (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae)” by Richard W. Rust. Many thanks to Professor Shrewsbury for spotting the nest site of Ptilothrix bombiformis and providing video for this episode.
Look who is recycling a dead tree of heaven branch – a family of bess beetles.
Two weeks ago, while moving some decomposing logs, I encountered almost mature larvae of bess beetles. Now this may not seem exciting to you, but I have not witnessed these alive in the wild for more than three decades. So, to share this rather unusual event, we will revisit a popular episode from the days of covid in 2020 with the addition of a new video and one new image. Hope you enjoy the episode.
While clearing some logs in Washington County, MD, I encountered a family of bess beetles. One adult and several almost mature larvae were recycling a decomposing tree of heaven branch. Look at the size of the larval galleries in the wood. Don’t worry, after recording the happy family, the branch was returned and the beetles resumed their ecosystem service of repurposing dead wood.
These powerful jaws can gnaw through even super-tough wood like oak.
This week we meet one of Mother Nature’s champion recyclers, bess beetles, whose mission it is to repurpose tough wood fibers into cute beetle larvae. During the past week or two while wandering wooded trails, I have enjoyed several encounters with magnificent bess beetles as they scurried about the forest floor. Coincidentally, several images of bess beetles have arrived in my mailbox from other folks curious to learn about these lumbering beauties. Bess beetles are also known as the horned Passalus and as patent leather beetles by virtue of their shiny black color (young adults have deep red/brown coloration that darkens to black) and notable horns. These powerful beetles are important participants in the great circle of life. No, they do not occupy an exalted place at the top of the food chain like Mufasa, the Lion King. They sit near the bottom of the heap along with fungi and bacteria, where they help decompose fibrous wood. Adult bess beetles use strong jaws to gnaw and ingest wood. After being processed in the beetle’s digestive system and deposited back in the wood, the microbe-packed droppings, a.k.a. frass, are consumed by bess beetle larvae. The microbes contained in the leavings of the adult beetles are particularly important for young larvae that require parental microorganisms to help them digest wood. Tough plant tissues such as lignin and cellulose are indigestible to us, but the gut microbiome of the bess beetle and resident microbes found in decaying wood enable bess beetles to capture nutrients as they recycle tough plant polymers.
Bess beetles are among the champion recyclers of the insect world. A remarkable microbiome in their gut enables bess beetles to breakdown tough polymers found in wood and extract nutrients locked up inside. Now is a great time to observe bess beetles as they scramble across the forest floor or recycle wood beneath the bark of fallen trees.
Dilemma for a bess beetle at a picnic, “Do I go for the hamburger bun or find a dead tree to eat?” Image credit: Ashley May
Upon plucking a bess beetle from the forest trail, I was intrigued to hear it squeak. Bess beetles are able to produce sound by rubbing their wings across a rasp-like structure on the upper surface of their back just beneath the hard wing covers. This form of sound production is called stridulation. Many beetles, such as the big Bornean beetles we met on February 19, 2024 in “Picking up good vibrations”, stridulate. The larvae of bess beetles are somewhat unique in that they also stridulate by rubbing together two sections of their legs. Several authors suggest squeaking sounds enable both larvae and adults to communicate with others in the decomposing wood. One account indicates that larvae follow the calls of adults in the colony. Perhaps this is a way for parents to assist their babies in discovering food or maybe it conveys a message akin to “eat your vegetables.” Other scientists believe the calls may frighten would-be predators. To learn the true nature of the call of the bess beetle, I made a recording of the sound. By playing the sound backward at very slow speed, the beetles could clearly be heard trilling the Gershwin classic “summer time and the livin’ is easy.” I guess summer must have arrived.
Acknowledgements
Bug of the Week thanks Ashley May for inspiring this episode and providing the nice image of a bess beetle that apparently joined her picnic. Dr. Shrewsbury helped wrangle bess beetles in the wild. Information for this Bug of the Week came from two fascinating papers “Gut anatomical properties and microbial functional assembly promote lignocellulose deconstruction and colony subsistence of a wood-feeding beetle” by Javier A. Ceja-Navarro, Ulas Karaoz, Markus Bill, Zhao Hao, Richard A. White, Abelardo Arellano, Leila Ramanculova, Timothy R. Filley, Timothy D. Berry, Mark E. Conrad, Meredith Blackwell, Carrie D. Nicora, Young-Mo Kim, Patrick N. Reardon, Mary S. Lipton, Joshua N. Adkins, Jennifer Pett-Ridge, and Eoin L. Brodie, and “Observations on the life history of the horned Passalus” by L.E. Gray.
In the wild, squirrels play an important environmental role and are often referred to as one of nature’s essential gardeners1. These members of the Sciuridae family, which includes other small and medium-sized rodents, spread nuts and seeds with their playful activities. When left buried and forgotten, these elements grow into new plants and trees2, replenishing nature and contributing to a healthy ecosystem. They even have their own holiday, National Squirrel Appreciation Day, which falls on January 21.
Despite their many benefits, squirrels can pose a risk to human health and safety and the structural integrity of your home. Catseye Pest Control has helped homeowners learn how to keep squirrels away from their homes for decades and understands the challenges of human-squirrel interactions.
Explore the importance of squirrel-proofing your home and garden and get tips on how to deter these inquisitive critters below.
Introduction to Squirrel Deterrence
Like any wild animals, squirrels love to scamper around in nature, and it may not be possible to completely prevent them from scampering around your property. However, it is within your power to make your home less attractive to them as a living space. In turn, you can take steps to reduce their negative impact, which can range from minor annoyances like knocked-over bird feeders to serious issues like health risks345.
Why Keeping Squirrels Away Matters
With their bushy tails and climbing hijinks, squirrels can be a lot of fun to watch in the wild. However, when they decide to set up shop on your property, they can cause significant damage. From digging up your garden to chewing holes in siding to gnawing on wires, squirrel activities can turn into more than just a nuisance.
Common Issues Caused by Squirrels
Notoriously, squirrels love raiding easy access birdfeeders. Although it can be aggravating, this habit is the least of the trouble squirrels can cause. Other common challenges associated with squirrels in the house include:
Gnawed electrical wires (indoors and out) can cause electrical fires.
Chewed insulation can hamper homes’ energy efficiency and send energy costs soaring.
Structural damage could include gnawed siding, walls, beams, and other architectural elements.
Loss of garden crops could result from squirrels foraging.
Urine and droppings cause germ-filled messes, particularly indoors.
Potential contamination of surfaces could spread diseases like tularemia, plague, and typhus6.
Spread of secondary pests like mites, ticks, and parasites is dangerous for inhabitants.
Understanding Squirrel Behavior
When you understand how squirrels typically behave and what attracts them, you can better deter them and keep them away from your home and garden. In the wild, they can live as long as six years and often choose sheltered areas like hollow tree trunks to build their nests7. However, they can also be very opportunistic and take advantage of readily available food, water, and shelter.
Additionally, squirrels tend to be social8. That means if you have one squirrel nesting in your home, you may very well have several others living there, as well.
What Attracts Squirrels to Homes and Gardens?
Outdoors, the scent of food, including fruits, vegetables, and plants like daisies and tulips, can be a powerful lure9. Birdfeeders and fallen seeds and nuts also attract these rambunctious rodents, as do water sources and the allure of safe shelters, including overgrown lawns and shrubbery.
Squirrel Feeding and Nesting Habits
Squirrels eat more than just nuts and seeds. These fluffy-tailed home invaders also eat fungi, fruits, small insects, young snakes, eggs, insects, and caterpillars. To protect their food sources, they often bury their food to ensure they have nourishment once the weather turns cold. They typically nest in tree branches and cavities during warm weather. However, once the temperatures dip, they often start moving indoors to get warm and cozy for the winter10.
Natural Deterrents and Repellents
Squirrels have a keen sense of smell, which can work in your favor when employing natural repellents. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that squirrel repellent methods are a temporary fix. Keeping squirrels away permanently will require a layered approach and professional expertise11.
Using Plant-Based Repellents
Using plants, powders, and sprays made with scents that squirrels hate can help keep them away. For example, you can use ground cinnamon or fresh garlic around gardens, property perimeters, and bird feeders. Sprinkling mothballs, which contain naphthalene, or strongly scented laundry products can send squirrels scurrying. However, once the scent fades or gets rained away, they are likely to return.
Benefits of Predator Scents
Squirrels use their keen sense of smell as part of their strategy to evade predators. Homeowners can use that to their advantage by applying products that mimic the odor of predators’ urine. Predator scents effectively warn the rodents to stay away from the property.
DIY Squirrel Deterrent Recipes
Ready to try your hand at a homemade squirrel deterrent? Make a DIY spray by combining the strong scents of pepper, cinnamon, garlic, and apple cider vinegar and spray it in squirrel hotspots. Another popular DIY solution combines water with cayenne and a few drops of dishwashing liquid12.
Physical Barriers and Modifications
Although natural remedies and DIY deterrents may provide temporary relief from squirrel activity, strategic modifications can have lasting effects. For example, you might consider installing rodent and wildlife exclusion systems like Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems for targeted or whole-home protection that incorporates a rigid, chemical-free barrier. Sealing entry points, being mindful about gardens and feeders, and using fencing to your advantage can also help keep squirrels away.
Securing Entry Points to Attics and Basements
Trim shrubs and tree branches away from your home and thin out any dense shrubbery near the foundation to help eliminate easy access. Routinely inspect the perimeter of your home and seal up any holes that squirrels may be using to enter and exit — but only do so after removing the squirrels from inside13.
Squirrel-Proofing Bird Feeders and Gardens
Buying squirrel-resistant feeders is a step in the right direction, but it’s only one of the many strategies you can use. Other ways to hamper squirrel activity include the following1415:
Move feeders at least 10 feet from the closest spot they could jump from to gain access.
Add baffles or a slinky to bird feeder poles to discourage squirrels from climbing up them.
Swap your birdseed to a blend that includes safflower seed and milk thistle, which are less appetizing to squirrels.
Try hanging a bar of strongly scented soap like Irish Spring near feeders and gardens to help repel squirrels and other foraging rodents.
Sprinkle cayenne pepper or chili pepper flakes on the ground in the garden or in bird seed.
Add row covers or bird netting to gardens to protect your crops without hampering sun exposure.
Install motion-activated sprinklers, which will startle curious invaders and encourage them to stay away.
Using Fencing and Netting Effectively
Row covers and netting can protect crops. Metal fencing, which should be buried a minimum of six inches into the ground, can also help keep squirrels out of protected areas16.
Habitat Modification to Discourage Squirrels
Taking a proactive approach is critical to preventing squirrels from moving into your space. Three easy ways to do so include eliminating food sources, tidying up the landscape, and securing garbage and compost.
Removing Food Sources
Squirrels will take advantage of easy access. Picking up fallen fruit, seeds, and nuts and taking care to ensure food items are stored properly can help mitigate the risk17.
Altering the Landscape to Reduce Attraction
Keeping landscaping trimmed and tidy can reduce potential shelters and nesting sites. Additionally, planting natural repellents like marigolds, daffodils, peppermint, and mustard can help make your property less attractive18.
Tips for Garbage and Compost Management
Unsecured garbage and compost piles can be like an all-you-can-eat buffet, not only for squirrels but also for other rodents and wildlife. Choose wildlife-proof receptacles with tight fitting lids and place compost bins on a cement pad to eliminate burrowing nuisances19.
When to Get Professional Help for Squirrel Removal
Modifying habitats and relying on DIY deterrents won’t always get the job done. These agile creatures play a beneficial role in the environment and pose a risk if they defend themselves by biting or scratching you. Don’t try to eradicate a squirrel problem on your own. Instead, lean on professionals who can inspect your property, assess the situation, and devise the most effective removal, sanitation, and prevention program for lasting success.
Contact Catseye today to partner with industry leaders with the expertise needed to remove squirrels from your home and prevent them from returning.
