What Do Odorous House Ants Eat? Understanding Their Diet and Behavior

What Are Odorous House Ants and What Do They Eat? 

Odorous house ants can be found across the United States, with a range that extends into Canada and Mexico. These tiny ants typically measure 1/16 to 1/8 inch long and have brown or black uniformly colored bodies. However, the most distinguishing characteristic of these pests is the distinct odor they exude if crushed. It’s a smell somewhere between rotting coconuts and blue cheese. 

Although they don’t pose a serious public health risk, odorous house ants can contaminate surfaces and all the foods they touch. Understanding the odorous house ant diet and their behaviors are the first steps to effectively preventing them, saving yourself and your family from their particularly smelly invasion.

Primary Components of the Odorous House Ant Diet 

Cutting off their food sources can help reduce the odds of ending up with an odorous house ant infestation. So, what are some of the main foods that attract these ants?

Sweet Foods and Sugars 

Odorous house ants are one of several species that are often referred to as common ants or sugar ants. That’s because they love eating sweets, including honeydew, a sugary substance that aphids secrete. Other preferred sweets include: 

• Sugar 
• Honey 
• Corn syrup 
• Maple syrup 
• Jams and jellies 
• Cakes, cookies, candy 
• Fruit 
• Nectar 

Protein Sources 

Sweets aren’t the only food items that attract these pests. They also eat meat, pet food, dead insects, and other protein-rich foods. 

Greasy and Fatty Foods 

Greasy, fatty, protein-rich foods can attract these ants. Foods like peanut butter and grease provide a dense protein source to support their development. 

Attractions for Odorous House Ants 

Understanding what odorous house ants prefer to eat is only part of the solution. It’s equally important to recognize how those foods could attract ants to your home.

Crumbs and Spills 

Crumbs and spills can be like an all-you-can-eat buffet for odorous house ants and other pests. Check cabinets, counters, sinks, floors, and other surfaces for evidence of food residue. Even relatively small amounts can provide sustenance for these pesky ants. 

Improperly Stored Foods 

Kitchens and pantries are popular spots for odorous ants to infest. Food that has been left out or not sealed in airtight containers can attract them in droves. 

Odorous House Ant Behavior 

Odorous house ants are known to establish multiple colonies, often entering homes and other buildings through tiny openings as they forage for food. Learning about their behaviors can help identify these ants and aid in creating a strategy to manage them. 

Foraging Habits 

These ants are notorious for continually foraging, both day and night. They establish scented foraging trails, which can help attract more ants to the area. These trails are often hidden from view in areas such as underneath carpeting, around door frames, and along the edges of siding. This foraging behavior often brings those nesting outdoors inside during warm weather months as they seek additional food sources. 

Nesting Behavior and Proximity to Food 

Odorous house ants nest inside structures and outdoors. Outside, they often choose areas like rock or mulch beds, wood piles, and under objects. Indoors, they tend to choose areas near moisture, warmth, and food sources. 

How to Best Prevent Odorous House Ant Infestations 

Working with professionals can help jumpstart your preventative measures. Expert technicians can provide a thorough inspection, identify potential entry points, and provide advice tailored to your unique home. Consider scheduling an inspection beginning the process. 

Because they often establish multiple nests with multiple queens and many workers, controlling an infestation once it starts can be particularly challenging. Taking a proactive approach and implementing a preventative strategy offers a more effective way to keep odorous ants out of your home. 

Eliminate Food Sources 

Once you restrict the food available to these ants, your home will become a lot less attractive to ants and other types of pests. A few ways to accomplish that include the following: 

Keep Surfaces Clean 

Avoid letting messes pile up or leaving crumbs and unwashed dishes in the kitchen. Wipe down counters and other surfaces daily, wash used dishes promptly, and sweep or vacuum frequently to reduce spills and crumbs. 

Proper Food Storage 

Use metal, glass, or hard plastic containers with airtight seals to keep ants out of your pantry. Storing food properly, including pet food, can help minimize the chances of an infestation by eliminating ants’ access to food sources. 

Address Entry Points 

These ants can get in through tiny openings. However, if you can trace their activity back to one point or spot it during an inspection, you can seal up cracks, gaps, and holes to create a more pest-proof home. Another option is installing Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems, which are permanent, chemical-free barriers that provide targeted protection. Additionally, trimming trees, shrubs, and other plants away from the exterior of the house can give odorous ants fewer ways to sneak inside your dwelling. 

Consult with Professional Pest Control Solutions 

It may be tempting to try to treat or control an odorous house ant infestation on your own. However, their habit of establishing multiple, interconnected colonies can make DIY measures ineffective. Partner with industry-leading professionals who provide exceptional service throughout the region to gain control of your home. Contact the Catseye Pest Control team today to learn more about our services.

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As chilly weather continues to plague much of the country including the DMV, we continue our adventures in the Belizean rainforests with eighteen adventurous students from the University of Maryland eager to explore the mysteries of Mayan culture and learn about fascinating creatures and plants in tropical ecosystems. In recent weeks we visited busy stingless bees pollinating bananas and fearsome assassin bugs patrolling vegetation in search of prey. This week, let’s get up close and personal with some nocturnal rulers of the epigeal realm.

While prowling around a landscape near Clarissa Falls, Belize we happened upon a golf ball sized hole in the ground. Using a time-honored trick to “fish” for tarantulas, we inserted a slender twig into the burrow. A large and beautiful red-rump tarantula emerged from her den to investigate the intrusion. Her glorious appearance provided students with an opportunity to see this magnificent rainforest predator up close.  She obliged us with a short capture showing no inclination for aggression whatsoever and glammed for the cameras as we examined her impressive powerful fangs. After a brief photo shoot, we returned her to her lair. While holding a large spider seems a bit extreme, we have visited red-rump tarantulas on previous trips to the rainforest and some bold students have had the opportunity to hold these marvelous hunters.

Using a time-honored trick of tarantula wranglers, we were able to coax a gorgeous red rump tarantula from her subterranean home by teasing her with a small twig. Once she emerged from her gallery, it took a minute or so to corral her and gently pick her up. Students were interested to see her magnificent fangs and this gentle giant seemed happy to oblige. After glamming for the students and posing for pictures, we thanked the tarantula, bid her adieu, and returned her to her gallery.

Much lore and misinformation surround these fascinating predators. Tarantulas are named after Taranto, a city in southeastern Italy on the Ionian Sea. In the 15th through 17th centuries, legends told of the fearsome bite of the Italian tarantula that caused a condition known as tarantism. Tarantism was manifested by heightened excitability, restlessness, and sometimes an irresistible urge to dash about. Legend had it that the disease could only be cured by listening to lively frenetic music, called the Tarantella, or by engaging in a frenzied whirling dance that could last several days – shades of Saturday Night Fever. The culprit behind this mischief was actually a wolf spider, Lycosa tarantula, locally known as a tarantula. Wolf spiders belong to a family known as Lycosidae. True tarantulas such as the ones we encountered in Belize belong to a family of large hairy spiders know as Theraphosidae. These unusually large spiders sometimes measure almost a foot from tip to tip of their extended legs. They have remarkable longevity and can live in excess of thirty years. Their bite is memorable by virtue of some very large fangs hidden beneath the head of the spider. Fortunately, the bite of the red rump tarantula is not very venomous and usually results in a bit of localized swelling, pain, and itching rather than a wretched death.

This beautiful tarantula seemed as curious about humans as humans were about it.

Tarantulas have one of the most interesting mating rituals of any animal in the rainforest. The male tarantula is much smaller than his mate and to successfully sire a brood of young, he places his life at risk in the presence of a potentially hungry female. To complete his task, the male tarantula constructs a thin web on which he deposits sperm. Small leg-like appendages called pedipalps located near his jaws are used to pick up the sperm and carry it about. When he encounters a potential mate, he busts his best move which may include drumming, waggling of legs, and other gambols. This dance helps his mate recognize her suitor as a member of the same species. We all know how disagreeable it is to misidentify members of another species when we are searching for a mate. With the preliminary introductions out of the way, the male warily approaches the female and does his best not to get eaten. The male tarantula is equipped with special claws on his front legs that help him grasp the female while he uses his pedipalps to carefully place sperm into a pouch on her underside. Sometimes the male escapes this romantic encounter, but sometimes he does not and becomes dinner instead. 

The female tarantula lays several hundred eggs in a silken ball. These eggs are stored in the burrow and tended until they hatch. These large juicy arthropods would seem like a tempting meal for other predators in the jungle. However, in addition to sharp fangs, the tarantula has another potent defense. The abdomen of our tarantula was covered with a dense coat of hairs known as urticating hairs. When the human encounter became just a little too unsettling, the spider raised its abdomen and expelled hairs by rubbing them off with the hind legs. These irritating hairs can lodge in the eyes or nasal passages of a would-be predator and thereby thwart an attack. On several visits to the Belizean rainforest, we have encountered tarantulas, enjoyed their company, and returned them to their galleries. However, due to habitat destruction and collecting for the pet- trade industry, tarantulas in the genus Tliltocatl are threatened and are now protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora laws. These regulations prohibit the international trade of more than 34,000 species of wild animals and plants to prevent their extinction.

Reference

We thank Drs. Dan Gruner and Paula Shrewsbury and the hearty crew of BSCI 339M: Tropical Biology and Maya Culture for providing the inspiration for this episode of Bug of the Week. Special thanks to Mary Lanahan, Rayleigh Graves, and Paula Shrewsbury for providing images and videos used in this episode. Much of the information for this Bug of the Week came from Jerry G. Well’s delightful book “The Guide to Owning a Tarantula”.

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Eeek! You’ve seen a mouse or signs of a mouse infestation. Should you get some mouse traps and repellents or try some other mice infestation solutions? Discover why mice are such a serious issue when they infest homes and other buildings, along with tips for prevention and effective elimination.

Introduction to Mice Infestations 

Where there is one mouse, there are almost surely more, and mice infestations can be tricky to handle. Unless you get to the root of the problem, you could be dealing with these critters for far longer than is necessary or safe. Even in the short term, these tiny rodents can cause some big problems. 

Why Mice Are a Problem in Homes 

A mouse in the house can pose several significant problems, one of which is the potential for property damage. Mice love gnawing on everything, including wiring, insulation, and even siding. 

These curious little pests are notorious for leaving messes behind. Not only can they break into your pantry, but they also leave droppings practically everywhere they go. In both cases, one of the major concerns is the potential for contamination and the spread of germs and pathogens. Mice can spread dozens of potentially serious diseases, including: 

• Hantavirus 
• Salmonella 
• Tularemia 

Importance of Addressing Infestations Quickly 

The longer mice are allowed to run freely, the more damage they can do. Additionally, mice are known to reproduce rapidly. House mice, for example, can have as many as 35 babies per year, giving birth as frequently as every three weeks. With that in mind, it’s easy to see how even a relatively small infestation can quickly grow out of hand.

Identifying a Mouse Infestation 

Most mice are nocturnal and more active from just before sunset to a little before sunrise. Seeing live mice is a definitive sign, but it’s not the only one. In fact, you may see other common signs before you ever spot a mouse in action.

Common Signs of Mice in Your House 

Mice constantly gnaw on things, producing marks that can be smooth or rough. You might notice these marks on wood, drywall, plastic, and wires. Other signs of mice include:

• Droppings: Mouse droppings are usually small, up to 1/4 inch long, and appear like dark grains of rice with pointed ends. 
• Damaged Items: If you start noticing pantry items and other goods with unexplainable damage, you may have a mouse problem. 
• Tracks and Marks: As they scamper about, mice can leave oily-looking marks on walls and tiny prints with four toes in front and five toes behind. 
• Odor: An ammonia-like smell may signal a large infestation. 

Areas Where Mice Typically Hide 

With their ability to fit into small spaces, these adaptable, curious creatures can infiltrate virtually any area. Some common hiding spots include:

• Attics 
• Basements 
• Crawl spaces 
• Wall voids 
• Cabinets 
• Under large appliances 
• Closets 
• Garages and sheds 
• Inside insulation, boxes, and debris piles 

DIY Methods for Getting Rid of Mice 

Okay, you have confirmed you have a mouse problem. Now what? If you want to try to remedy the situation on your own, there are a few tactics you can try. It’s important to note, however, that eliminating mice can be very challenging, particularly with DIY approaches. 

Using Mouse Traps 

You might consider one of two traps: humane traps and snap-and-glue traps. The old snap-and-glue styles are rarely effective because adult mice can quickly learn to avoid them. Humane traps allow you to catch and release mice — preferably far from your property. The team at Catseye Pest Control can help determine the best type of trap and place the mouse traps in high-traffic areas like along walls and baseboards and behind garbage cans or appliances. 

Natural Repellents for Mice 

Some essential oils can act as a natural repellent, including clove and peppermint. Place several drops on cotton balls and place them in areas that mice frequent, including cupboards and behind appliances. Planting lavender or mint around the building can also help ward them off. Other anecdotal remedies include cayenne pepper, mothballs, and ammonia. 

Store-Bought Repellents 

Electronic repellents, including ultrasonic devices, are another option. These options are typically safe for use around children and pets, but their effectiveness varies. Sprays and pellets can be helpful, but like natural remedies, they don’t often get to the root of the infestation.

Professional Pest Control Options 

Although DIY mice infestation solutions may be tempting to try, you may reach a point when it’s no longer enough and you need a professional. Always consider the company’s reputation and approach to professional mouse control and check their credentials before partnering with them. 

When to Call a Professional Exterminator 

Everyone has a different tolerance threshold. Ideally, you might consider calling for professional mouse control services as soon as you notice signs of an infestation. The quicker you can eliminate the mice, the easier it will be to regain control. If you decide to try DIY methods and still have mouse activity, call a pro to come and inspect the property and assess the situation. 

What to Expect from Professional Mouse Removal 

The trained and licensed pest control professionals at Catseye can assess where, why, and how mice enter the building. They can identify the species and provide targeted treatments to ensure the infestation gets cleared up quickly and effectively. What’s more, professional mouse removal helps keep the people and pets in the home safer. Pest control professionals have the right equipment and expertise for the job. They can also guide you in preventative steps to avoid future infestations.

Preventing Mice from Returning 

At the heart of the most effective pest control plans is a thorough strategy to prevent pests from returning or ever getting inside. Eliminating existing pest is a given, however, our team at Catseye Pest Control wants to ensure that you do not see any reoccurring pest issues. Taking a proactive approach can help safeguard properties and your peace of mind.

Sealing Entry Points 

Mice can be like little magicians, breaking into seemingly impossible spaces by fitting through holes as narrow as a dime and cracks about the width of a pencil. Check everywhere, including inside and under cabinets, around vents and pipes, and around utility lines that run from the outside. Also inspect areas where the floor and wall meet, around rooflines and soffits, and around the foundation.

Seal small openings with steel wool and spray foam or caulk. For larger ones, consider screening, metal sheeting, or hardware cloth to prevent mice from entering or reentering the premises.

Maintaining Cleanliness and Proper Food Storage 

Cut them off from one of their main attractants (food), and your property will look a lot less appealing. Outside, make sure you use pest-proof garbage receptacles with tight lids. Also move composting bins 100 feet or more from buildings, keep grill areas clean, and move bird feeders away from homes and structures. Inside, practice sanitation and food storage strategies such as: 

• Keeping all food (including pet food) sealed in tightly lidded containers 
• Washing dishes and cleaning spills immediately 
• Disposing of trash regularly 
• Vacuuming and mopping floors to eliminate crumbs and residue 

Yard Maintenance Tips to Keep Mice Away 

Keeping mice out of the yard can help prevent them from making their way indoors. Consider taking the following proactive steps: 

• Remove hiding spots by keeping the grass mowed regularly and cleaning up debris piles, including leaves and wood piles.
• Cover possible burrow openings to underground nests with rocks and watch to see if they reappear, which indicates mice in outside areas. 
• Move woodpiles so they are a foot or more above the ground and at least 100 feet from buildings. 
• Trim shrubs and tree limbs near buildings to avoid providing mice with a runway and easy access. 

Contact Catseye Pest Control to Keep Mice Out of Your House for Good 

Knowing how to get rid of mice in the house is only one part of the equation. Putting that knowledge into action and dealing with infestations as quickly as possible are essential steps for keeping everyone healthy and safe. The single most effective mice infestation solution is prevention, followed closely by professional mouse control. Contact Catseye Pest Control today to get started.

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Last week we traveled to the rainforests of Belize to meet beguiling stingless bees. This week we continue our adventure in the rainforests of Belize where we meet two members of the assassin bug clan. In some of the most-watched previous episodes, we saw a ferocious assassin bug called the wheel bug dispatching stink bugs and impaling caterpillars with its terrifying proboscis. While strolling through an orchard at the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society we came upon a magnificent plantation of Inga trees. These beautiful trees, native to the American tropics, are favorites among foresters and coffee plantation owners by virtue of their rapid growth, delicious edible fruit, and ability to improve poor soils with magical nitrogen-fixing properties. In addition, some species have extrafloral nectaries, small glands that produce sugar-rich nectar to attract beneficial insects. Not only do these nectaries deliver an element of protection to Inga but they also provide a modicum of pest control to crops like coffee trees growing nearby. Despite their admirable growth characteristics and ecosystem services, Inga trees are not immune to their own pest problems. On several of the Inga trees patches of flocculant white wax coated the undersurfaces of leaves. Coatings of white wax are a telltale sign of sucking insect pests like scales, whiteflies, aphids, and mealybugs. We found oodles of white wax, but search as we might all the wax-producing insects had vanished. Roaming around the leaves were several pretty pale green, long-legged bugs with rows of black spots along their backs and patches of yellow-orange adorning heads, legs, and derriere. We could not pin down the identity of this beauty, but it had a strong resemblance to assassin bugs in the genus Zelus we met in a previous episode.

See the dense forest of tiny hairs on the forelegs of this assassin bug. Like biological Velcro they help the bug snare its prey. And look at that terrifying hooked beak, perfectly designed for impaling its victims. We found this gorgeous predator wandering the rainforest floor perhaps in search of a tasty invertebrate for lunch. On the leaves of a nearby Inga tree, other pretty assassin bugs rested amidst the waxy remains of a disseminated colony of sucking insects. As we tried to record this predator, it did its best to escape the nosy lens of the camera. 

Nearby, at the edge of the Inga orchard, a brilliant red assassin bug in the genus Saica prowled the leaves and grasses on the ground looking for something to stab with its extraordinary beak. Little is known about the feeding habits of these slender legged assassin bugs. Some of their relatives prey on spiders and other ground dwelling invertebrates. These assassins amble about on middle and hind legs thereby freeing up their front legs to capture prey. Their modified prey-capturing legs are called raptorial legs. The upper segments of the assassin bug’s forelegs were festooned with hundreds of small prickly hairs designed to help grasp hapless victims destined to fill the belly of the beast. But as I had a closer look at this tiny terror, I marveled at its beak, the business end of the assassin bug. Unlike other assassin bugs I know that have powerful but unremarkable beaks, this one had a baleful hook at the tip of its proboscis. All the better to impale and subdue its prey I suppose. So many tiny wonders are to be found in the tropical rainforests of Belize.        

Acknowledgements

We thank Drs. Dan Gruner and Paula Shrewsbury and the hearty crew of BSCI 339M: Tropical Biology and Maya Culture for providing the inspiration for this episode of Bug of the Week. The fascinating references “Saica Amyot & Serville, 1843 (Reduviidae, Emesinae, Saicini): taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis with morphological characters” by Valentina Castro-Huertas and Maria Cecilia Melo, “Extrafloral nectaries of associated trees can enhance natural pest control” by M.Q. Rezende, M. Venzon, A.L. Perez, I.M. Cardoso, and Arne Janssen, and “Evolution of the assassin’s arms: insights from a phylogeny of combined transcriptomic and ribosomal DNA data (Heteroptera: Reduvioidea)” by Junxia Zhang, Eric R. L. Gordon, Michael Forthman, Wei Song Hwang, Kim Walden, Daniel R. Swanson, Kevin P. Johnson, Rudolf Meier & Christiane Weirauch, were consulted to prepare this episode.

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Pests in food establishments increase the risk of spreading foodborne illnesses that put diners’ health and safety at risk. The negative ripple effects can have damaging effects on a restaurant’s reputation and the business’s bottom line. To keep pests off the menu, it’s critical to develop solid restaurant pest control strategies and preventative measures.

Why Pests Are a Major Concern in Restaurants 

Restaurants are particularly appealing to pests because they have everything pests are looking for: access to food, water, and shelter. Infestations pose a threat to public safety, which is why restaurant owners and staff must work double-time to protect the premises. Otherwise, the long-term impact of pests in food establishments can have devastating effects on the business. 

The Impact of Pests on Customer Safety and Business Reputation 

Research suggests that more than half of all restaurant patrons will write negative reviews or social media posts after seeing a pest while dining. Additionally, seeing multiple pests or seeing pests near their food increases the odds that customers will never return.

Although the impact on the establishment’s reputation can be harmful, it’s even worse that pests literally put your employees and customers at risk. Pests can carry dozens of different pathogens, potentially contaminating preparation surfaces and the food itself. 

Common Pests Found in Restaurants 

Although restaurants can end up with any number of pests, three culprits stand out as the most common offenders. Explore each of these pests in a bit more detail to ensure you and your employees know what to look for and how to respond.

Rodents (Mice and Rats) 

Rodents are clever critters that are capable of slipping into restaurants through open doors as well as tiny cracks and gaps. Mice and rats can contaminate food and other surfaces with germs that cause Hantavirus and lymphocytic choriomeningitis. 

Cockroaches 

Cockroaches, including German, brown-banded, and American cockroaches, can be incredibly challenging to control. Cockroaches emit pheromones that attract more insects to the area, and they can easily enter through plumbing, exhaust vents, and incoming supply shipments. These pests seek out tiny cracks and crevices for shelter and reproduction, making it easy to contaminate utensils, surfaces, and equipment with harmful pathogens such as those that cause plague, salmonella, cholera, and more. 

Flies 

Flies, including house, drain, and fruit flies, leave feces everywhere they land. This poses a high risk of contamination of food and kitchen equipment with germs that can spread salmonella, E. coli, dysentery, typhoid fever, and more. 

Why Restaurants Are Vulnerable to Pest Infestations 

Restaurants are highly attractive sites for pests. In addition to offering up ample sources of food and water, they have plenty of spots that are suitable for insect and rodent nesting. Restaurants also have doors that frequently open, incoming shipments, and other areas that provide easy access. 

Abundant Food Sources 

Pantries, refrigerators, and freezers that are filled with ingredients are only a few of the food sources in restaurants. One of the biggest attractants comes from food waste — spills, crumbs, and mismanaged garbage filled with discarded food matter. 

Warm, Moist Environments 

Debris and moisture can accumulate where drains and floors intersect. Plumbing leaks and dark, damp spaces, including storage spaces and areas beneath or behind equipment, can also attract various pests. 

High Traffic and Access Points 

Restaurants can be like a revolving door of foot traffic, with patrons entering and exiting frequently throughout the day and night. Each time the door opens, a pest could theoretically slip through and wreak havoc. Other access points may be less obvious. Examples include air ducts, delivery and supply zones, unsealed areas in ceilings and walls, gaps and cracks around utility lines, and vents. 

Strategies to Prevent Pests in Restaurants 

To win the fight against pests, restaurant owners and employees must take proactive steps. A few of the key strategies for preventing pests include the following: 

Proper Food Storage and Handling 

Maintaining strict food handling and storage protocols is necessary to pass health inspections. Storing food properly, including in airtight containers, can also reduce the risks of attracting pests. 

Maintaining Cleanliness 

Sanitation is critical in maintaining a healthy, pest-free restaurant. Cleaning spills, regularly sanitizing behind and under equipment, and sweeping/mopping floors and counters daily can help reduce the restaurant’s pest appeal. Other actions include thoroughly cleaning the following: 

• Appliances 
• Food contact surfaces 
• Walls 
• Storage cabinets 
• Floor mats 
• Seats and tables 
• Counters 
• Cutting boards 
• Service areas 

Regular Inspections and Monitoring 

The sooner you spot pest activity, the faster you can gain control of the problem. Regular inspections and monitoring pest-prone areas can help catch infestations before they become widespread issues. It’s also the key to shifting strategies that don’t work to ensure maximum effectiveness. 

Sealing Entry Points 

Blocking access can go a long way to preventing pests in food service environments. Some tips include: 

• Seal gaps, cracks, and openings 
• Inspect packages and deliveries
• Ensure doors and windows close tightly; install weather stripping as needed 
• Replace broken windows, using tightly fitted mesh screening for windows you open

What Are Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Strategies 

Integrated pest management (IPM) strategies focus on prevention, first and foremost. IPM for restaurants relies on four primary steps: inspection, identification, treatment, and ongoing partnership with pest pros. This approach advocates for the use of chemical control as needed, with steps like exclusion and other forms of control prioritized. 

Importance of Health and Safety Compliance 

Pest control makes up about 20% of inspections, which means remaining pest-free is a high-stakes proposition. Remaining within state and local health codes is essential to maintaining a thriving business. 

Meeting Regulatory Standards 

Although the standards vary from state-to-state, restaurants must have established protocols for managing and preventing infestations. It’s also critical to have documentation of all service visits, inspections, corrective measures, and pesticide use. 

Avoiding Fines, Closures, and Damaged Reputations 

Failing to meet established health codes and regulatory standards can have costly repercussions. Maintaining a pest-free restaurant can help avoid forced restaurant closures, fines, and the potential loss of business.

When to Call Professional Pest Control Services 

Keeping your restaurant pest-free requires constant diligence and proactive monitoring. While the day-to-day operations and preventative strategies require employee training and involvement, partnering with reputable professionals from the beginning is essential. Routine professional pest management services provide regular inspections and expert support in preventing and controlling pests in the event of pest sightings.

Recognizing Signs of Severe Infestations 

Ideally, the restaurant already works with pros for regular inspections and treatments. If not, it’s critical to contact the experts at the first sign of any infestation, which could include: 

• Strong odors (musty or like decaying food) 
• Sighting of live pests 
• Droppings in and around sinks, cooking equipment, storage areas 
• Damaged food packaging 

Contact Catseye Pest Control to Help Keep Your Restaurant Pest Free 

When you choose a pest control professional to partner with, it’s vital to select one with a great reputation and a dedicated IPM approach. Catseye Pest Control has been a regional industry leader since 1987. We have earned a solid reputation with our commitment to excellent service and state-of-the-art pest control and prevention services.

Let licensed, experienced experts support your restaurant’s pest control strategy, leaving you with more time to handle other aspects of the business. Contact Catseye today to schedule a free inspection to begin protecting your restaurant from pests. 

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In the last episode, we visited non-migratory monarch butterflies enjoying benign temperatures in Florida while many of us shivered under bone chilling weather in other parts of the country. This week we head further south to Belize to visit amazing stingless bees in the tropical rainforests of Belize. Let’s go!

While visiting the Toucan Research Ecology and Education Society, we stumbled on a young banana tree in its blooming glory. There, amongst the blossoms, a bevy of stingless bees were busily pollinating a remarkable blossom. For many, the notion of stingless bees is an alien concept. I once had a viewer comment that these could not be bees because they did not sting. Well, a large clan of bees belonging to the tribe Meliponini are true bees with a wide distribution around the world. They live in colonies and make honey. Although they do not sting, they have other defenses which we will visit below. Typical nesting sites for stingless bees include tree hollows and crevices in the ground. Often these hollows have rather large openings. To limit access to the colony and facilitate defense, these large openings are narrowed to trumpet-shaped entrances constructed with a sticky substance called propolis, a mixture of wax and other materials. This creates a defensible portico where ants and other nest raiders, those that would love to enter the colony and plunder the honey, pollen, and baby bees inside, can be repelled.

In addition to natural cavities, stingless bees take advantage of human-made structures to build their nests. While visiting Mayan ruins at Xunatunich and the Jaguar Preserve in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, we discovered several colonies of stingless bees occupying cinder block walls of a building where small cracks in the mortar provided perfect entryways to the hollow cavities inside the walls. One colony in a cinder block wall was comprised of stunningly beautiful delicate bees in the genus Tetragonisca known locally as mariolas. They went about their business seemingly oblivious to students and a bug geek with a camera. However, a second darkly colored species of Trigona was not nearly as docile. The nest entrance was guarded by several workers that watched carefully and mounted a surprising attack when humans ventured too close. The assault consisted of dozens of workers flying into faces and hair of the nearby humans. They seemed to pay special attention to eyes, noses, and ears. Although they lacked stingers, their annoying bites were very persistent, forcing the intruders to vacate the vicinity of the hive. In his book “The Insect Societies”, E.O. Wilson describes accounts of stingless bees attacking human intruders. Some species eject an irritating liquid that causes a burning sensation to skin. This trick has earned them the local name of cagafogos, or “fire defecators”, in Brazil. So potent is this defense that it may dissuade very aggressive attackers like army ants from entering nests.

Bananas are one of my favorite fruits. And in the rainforests of Belize native stingless bees pollinate this non-native plant in addition to myriad native plants with which they evolved. Worker bees gather sweet nectar and rich pollen and return it to the hive to feed the queen and bee babies. When their work is complete and pollination is accomplished, the banana says goodbye to the blossoms and the bees.

A visit inside a stingless bee colony would reveal the queen busily filling brood cells with eggs, most of which will become workers. The life of a worker bee is a predestined regimen of tasks that change as the bee ages. For the first several days of life, worker bees are craftsman shaping and forming the basic building materials of the colony, wax and a wax-like material called cerumen. After a week or so and for several weeks thereafter, workers stock cells with food and have the heady assignment of feeding the queen. About this time, they also begin to produce wax to build the many structures of the nest. Soon workers enter guard duty at the nest entrance. Shortly thereafter, they take on the assignment of collecting nectar and pollen for the hive.

Typical nesting sites for stingless bees include tree hollows and crevices in the ground. In addition to natural cavities, stingless bees take advantage of human-made structures to build their nests. While visiting Mayan ruins we saw a colony of Trigona bees nesting in a crack in a palace wall. At the Jaguar Preserve in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, we discovered several colonies of stingless bees occupying cinder block walls of a building where small cracks in the mortar provided perfect entryways to the hollow cavities inside the walls. To limit access to the colony and facilitate defense, trumpet-shaped entrances constructed with a sticky substance called propolis create a defensible portico to repel ants and other nest raiders.

Worker bees are common visitors to many kinds of flowering plants in the Belize and many other Central American rainforests. I have captured some species and gently rolled them between two fingers. Don’t ask why I did this, but they emitted a pleasant floral odor before I released them. For centuries, ancient Mayans maintained colonies of stingless bees to produce honey used for sweetening foods and to produce a fermented drink similar to mead. Unfortunately, with the introduction of Africanized bees and domestic honeybees, the number of colonies of stingless bees has declined dramatically and husbandry of stingless bees is becoming a lost art. In addition, fragmentation and loss of natural forests in Central and South America threaten many species of marvelous stingless bees and the tropical plants they evolved to pollinate.

Acknowledgements and References

We thank Drs. Dan Gruner and Paula Shrewsbury, the hearty crew of BSCI 339M: Tropical Biology and Maya Culture, and our fearless guide, Wilford, for providing the inspiration for this episode of Bug of the Week.  The fascinating book “The Insect Societies” by E.O. Wilson, and the articles “Behavioural and developmental responses of a stingless bee (Scaptotrigona depilis ) to nest overheating” by Ayrton Vollet-Neto, Cristiano Menezes, and Vera Lucia Imperatriz-Fonseca, and “Maya Beekeeping Tradition Fades” by Stefan Lovgren were used as references for this Bug of the Week.

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A few weeks ago, we visited migratory insects that employed a “get out of town” strategy to avoid chilly temperatures. Among the most beloved of all of these vagabonds is the iconic monarch butterfly. We learned of the dramatic decline of migratory eastern and western populations of monarchs due to habitat destruction, pesticides, and global climate change in their overwintering refuges abroad and here in the United States.  On December 10, 2024, the US Fish and Wildlife Service posted notice of its intent to seek protection of monarch butterflies under the endangered species act. The Fish and Wildlife Service has created a dynamite collection of resources to inform federal, tribal, state, and local governments, farmers and ranchers, managers of rights-of-way, home gardeners, educators, and international stakeholders on ways to help protect and conserve these remarkable insects.

Not all populations of monarchs are migratory. Unlike some North American monarchs that summer in northern latitudes and migrate to moderate southern locations to overwinter, several populations of monarchs abandoned their inherent migratory life styles in warm places like Florida and Hawai’i. In these locations benign temperatures with ample rainfall produce flowers with nectar for adults even in winter. A season-long supply of milkweeds for caterpillars enables monarchs to remain at home year-round completing multiple generations each year. In Jacksonville, Florida, a week before Christmas small twigs were decorated with gorgeous chrysalises soon to become striking monarch butterflies ready to celebrate the holidays.    

While lamenting the seasonal absence of monarchs in my Maryland garden, I was able to have one last visit with these royals on a post-Thanksgiving trip to Jacksonville, Florida. In parts of Florida and other southern states, non-migratory monarchs have taken up permanent residence in locations where milkweeds and other flowering plants flourish year-round. In a previous episode we met another population of non-migratory population of monarchs on the big island of Hawai’i.  Elsewhere, other populations of non-migratory monarchs reside in far-flung lands including Pacific and Caribbean islands, countries in Europe, Central, and South America, Morocco, Australia, and New Zealand. A fascinating study revealed differences between migratory North American monarchs and non-migratory monarchs in Costa Rica. Costa Rican monarchs are descendants of migratory ancestors from North America. Scientists discovered that Costa Rican monarchs had significantly smaller forewings than their North American kin. Large wing size in North American monarchs is likely under strong selection and maintained to ensure success for monarchs destined to migrate hundreds or thousands of miles to overwintering sites. Through time, morphological traits such as long wings that support long distance migration apparently dwindled in non-migratory populations of monarchs.

We all have a role to play in preserving our iconic monarch butterflies. The US Fish and Wildlife Service recommends that home gardeners plant pesticide-free, regionally native milkweeds and native nectar plants in their landscapes. Also, select a montage of pollinator attractors that bloom season-long to provide a continuous source of nectar and pollen for butterflies. Even if you have a small patio or balcony, you can enjoy supporting monarchs by using pollinator attractors that thrive in planters and containers. Many are already engaged in helping to preserve our iconic migratory monarchs. Here’s hoping more will join this effort in 2025 and beyond.

Bug of the Week wishes everyone a joyous New Year.

Acknowledgements

The information packed article “Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Endangered Species Act Protection for Monarch Butterfly; Urges Increased Public Engagement to Help Save the Species” by Melissa Clark provided great insights into actions we can all take to help conserve monarch butterflies. “Seasonal plasticity in morphology and metabolism differs between migratory North American and resident Costa Rican monarch butterflies” by Ayşe Tenger-Trolander, Cole R. Julick, Wei Lu, Delbert André Green, Kristi L. Montooth, and Marcus R. Kronforst helped us understand how evolution shapes morphology and physiology on migratory and non-migratory populations of monarch butterflies. Special thanks to the Shrewsbury clan for providing habitat for monarch butterflies that served as the inspiration for this episode. You can learn more about protecting and enhancing pollinators in urban landscapes at this website: https://www.canr.msu.edu/home_gardening/uploads/files/pollinators/protectpollinatorsinlandscapes2019-web.pdf

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If you want to win the fight against pests, you need a strategic, proactive approach. That’s just one of the reasons year-round pest prevention and control is so important. Explore winter pest control tips and details about pests that are active in winter to better protect your property in every season. 

Common Misconceptions About Winter Pests 

Many people believe that as the temperature drops, pests die off, hibernate, and stop causing problems. Unfortunately, even though some pests are more active during warmer weather, others simply move indoors and remain active all winter long.

Myth: Pests Are Only a Problem in Warmer Months 

Although you’re far less likely to have to deal with mosquitoes in winter, some warm-weather pests will emerge on warm winter days. Ticks are a prime example of typically “summer” insects that can still cause problems during the winter, particularly on days when temperatures are above freezing. Other pests, including cockroaches and ants, either move indoors or simply remain inside throughout the season. Rodents start becoming a problem for many property owners as the temperatures dip during fall and winter as they seek warmth, food, and shelter. 

Importance of Winter Pest Awareness 

The more you know, the better prepared you can be to maintain a pest-free home. Winter pest awareness is the key to preventing problems and guiding your preventative strategies for a pest-free season. Many winter pests, including rodents, can pose a health risk and may damage your home, underscoring the importance of preventing infestations. 

Pests That Remain Active in Winter 

Birds often fly south, and many flying insects either relocate or hibernate until spring. For other pests, however, winter is business as usual.

Common Winter Pests 

Rodents, including house mice, deer mice, Norway rats, and roof rats, are among winter’s most common home invaders. These critters can easily enter through even relatively small gaps and cracks and typically do so in search of food and a cozy spot to nest for the winter. In addition to rodents, other common winter home invaders include: 

• Ants 
• Bed bugs 
• Beetles, including stink bugs 
• Box elder bugs 
• Centipedes 
• Cockroaches 
• Silverfish 
• Spiders 

Hidden Infestations 

Pests seeking indoor lodging for winter typically find out-of-the-way spots to hide. Attics, basements, crawl spaces, and wall voids — all areas you rarely inspect —can provide cozy nesting locations. They can also conceal infestations, allowing the pest population to continue growing unchecked. 

Why Homes Become Pest Havens in Winter 

Cold temperatures force many pests, including insects, rodents, and nuisance wildlife, to alter their typical behaviors to survive. For many, that means finding warm, cozy spots to spend the season. For others, easy access to food and water drives pests indoors. 

Shelter and Warmth 

You aren’t the only one who wants to come in out of the cold. Finding warm shelter from winter’s weather and other predators is a major factor in why many pests invade human spaces. 

Access to Food and Water 

Whether snow blankets the ground or not, outdoor food and water sources are usually in relatively short supply. To survive, pests like rodents and cockroaches seek human spaces with easy access to crumbs, garbage, and moisture.

Benefits of Year-Round Pest Control 

Instead of viewing pest control as a response to existing infestations, it’s better to consider it a proactive step in maintaining a pest-free environment. You could use pest control as a season-specific way to control problems. Better yet, with year-round pest control, you can get a better handle on stopping problems before they start and catch issues before they become widespread. 

Proactive Prevention 

Research suggests that homeowners only see about one-tenth of the pest activity actually occurring in their homes and on their properties. With year-round pest control, you can: 

• Disrupt breeding cycles 
• Create protective barriers around the home and property 
• Use effective preventative steps customized to your home’s seasonal challenges 
• Lower overall pest activity 

Avoiding Larger Problems 

Year-round pest control services increase the odds of catching an infestation early. Many insects and rodents breed quickly, which means undetected pests can rapidly increase their populations when left unchecked. The larger the infestation, the trickier it can be to control. 

Health and Safety 

Bed bugs, rodents, cockroaches, and other winter pests can be problematic. Rodents and cockroaches are notorious for carrying disease-causing germs. Bed bugs and spiders can leave little bites and trigger allergies. A healthy, safe winter season starts with a pest-free home. 

Winter Pest Control Tips 

Winter pest control is absolutely essential. Although professional services play a big role in keeping your property pest-free, there are also several steps you can take to maintain a healthy home. 

Inspect and Seal Entry Points 

Insects, rodents, and nuisance wildlife often enter through uncapped chimneys, open vents, and gaps and cracks in foundations, walls, rooflines, and around windows and doors. Seal small openings with steel wool and caulk or cover them with metal sheeting or Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems, which offer permanent, chemical-free barriers. Cap off chimneys, add screening to vents, and install door sweeps and caulk around windows as needed. 

Maintain Cleanliness 

Keeping a clean, tidy home reduces food sources and hiding spots. Wipe down the counters and frequently vacuum floors to get rid of crumbs. Clear out clutter and wash dishes promptly to make your home a less appealing winter vacation spot for pests. 

Monitor for Signs of Pests 

Keep an eye out for any signs of pest activity. The sooner you catch them, the faster you can eliminate the problem.

Utilize Professional Services 

Let the professionals do the heavy lifting. When you work with a trusted pest control company, you can rest assured that experts will be working on your behalf all year long.

When to Call a Professional 

Most pest problems can’t be safely and effectively handled as a do-it-yourself project. Calling professionals to help remove the pests and create a preventative strategy can make all the difference in winter and beyond. 

Signs of a Persistent or Severe Infestation 

Where there’s one pest, there’s usually more. If you see live insects, rodents, or animals or evidence of their presence, you likely have a more widespread problem than you think.

Benefits of Professional Winter Pest Control Services 

The pros have the training, experience, and equipment needed to get to the heart of the problem. They can also effectively remove all pests while keeping your home and family safe. 

Contact Catseye Pest Control for Assistance Keeping Your Home Pest-Free this Winter 

Don’t let pest problems leave you feeling frozen in fear. Partner with industry-leading experts to prevent pests from moving into your home in winter and every other season. Our licensed, experienced technicians will perform a thorough inspection to assess potential entry points and develop a customized plan for year-round pest prevention and control. Contact Catseye Pest Control today to learn more or to schedule a free inspection. 

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Roughly 21 million American homes deal with mice every year. Learning why mice typically move into human spaces and the most common mouse entry points can help you keep them out of your home for good. Explore these details and tips for preventing mice from entering your home to ensure some mouse-free peace of mind.

Why Understanding Mouse Entry Points Matters 

When you know where mice might enter your home, you can seal up potential entry points and block them from ever breaking in, which is one key to keeping your property and everyone in it happy, healthy, and safe.

The Risks Associated with Mice in Your Home 

Mice have voracious appetites, often eating up to 20 times daily. This means they will immediately start invading your pantry and so much more. Mice will gnaw on just about anything, including insulation, structural elements, and even wiring. Over time, infestations can lead to damage throughout your home and an increased risk of electrical shorts. Additionally, these messy and inquisitive critters can contaminate your home and expose you and your family to health risks, including:

• Allergies and asthma 
• Salmonella 
• Leptospirosis 
• Rat bite fever 
• Hantavirus 
• Ticks, fleas, mites, and other secondary pests carried in by mice 

Common Entry Points for Mice 

No matter how hard you try to eliminate an infestation, if you don’t address (and monitor) potential entry points, you will still struggle with mice. You could be looking for signs of mice in the attic when, in reality, they are actually getting in somewhere else entirely.

Mice are excellent climbers, jumpers, and swimmers. Not to mention, they can wriggle their way through openings as tiny as the width of a dime. Explore some of the most common areas where mice enter homes so you can better guard against these agile invaders.

Gaps and Cracks in the Structure 

Think of mice as little Houdinis. They can slip through seemingly impossible spots to seek out food and shelter. Gaps, cracks, and holes in foundations, walls, floors, and around doors and windows can leave your home vulnerable.

Utility Lines and Vents 

The opening around utility lines may be just enough to let these scampering scoundrels inside. They may also exploit the openings provided by vents, along with gaining entry via the chimney. In rare instances, mice can even crawl through pipes and sewer lines, although this is typically a last resort option. 

Garage and Basement Entry 

Every time your garage door opens and closes, it could potentially be welcoming in mice. Additionally, any gaps below the door’s seal can also give them easy access. Spots underneath decks and porches are often overlooked danger zones. In short, any openings could lure mice (and other pests) directly into crawl spaces and basements. 

Mouse Behaviors That Lead Them Indoors 

Now that you know a little about how mice often get into homes and other buildings, let’s dive a little deeper into why they want to be inside. 

Seasonal Patterns 

Mice are active year-round. However, many homeowners notice an uptick in infestations during fall and winter when mice seek out warm, cozy spots to settle in and nest. They often breed in late winter and spring, with populations soaring throughout the warmer months. As their food options dwindle outdoors in fall, they often seek food indoors. 

Food and Shelter Preferences 

Mice are surprisingly versatile eaters. As omnivores, they consume both meat and plants, with a strong preference for fruits, seeds, grains, and carbohydrate-rich foods. However, their diet extends to whatever they can scavenge, including crumbs, chocolate, and even garbage. When it comes to shelter, mice seek warm, quiet, and hidden areas, making spaces like attics, wall voids, basements, and behind appliances particularly attractive. 

Preventing Mice from Entering Your Home 

A proactive approach to mouse control will always be more effective than waiting until you have a problem to take action. Luckily, there are many ways you can fortify your home against mice and prevent them from becoming uninvited houseguests.

Sealing Entry Points 

If you prevent mice from being able to easily enter the premises, you will lower your risk of an infestation significantly. Install door sweeps, apply weatherstripping around windows, add screening to vents and chimneys, repair damaged window screens, and seal up any cracks. A combination of caulk and steel wool can be effective. Installing Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems is another ideal option for providing a permanent barrier and humane, chemical-free protection.

Removing Attractants

Mice have a keen sense of smell and a strong motivation to find food. Regular cleaning, including sweeping or vacuuming and wiping counters to eliminate crumbs can help. Similarly, it’s essential to store food (including pet food and bird seed) in airtight containers and reduce clutter, which could provide prime hiding spots.

Using Deterrents 

In addition to eliminating their options for food and shelter, you might try some DIY deterrents. For example, natural repellents like peppermint essential oil on cotton balls use their sharp sense of smell against them, warding them off. Ultrasonic devices that emit sounds that rodents don’t like may also help deter mice. 

When to Call Professional Pest Control 

Mouse control is not a DIY project. While homeowners can do a lot on their own to minimize the risk of infestations, it’s essential to call for professional help ASAP if you suspect mice have invaded.

Recognizing Signs of a Severe Infestation 

Mice are typically more active at night, which means you might not see them at all. However, if you do catch a glimpse of a mouse, you can assume that there are many more in hiding. Other signs include: 

• Droppings on floors, near food storage areas, cupboards, drawers, and under sinks 
• Damaged food packaging 
• Shredded insulation, paper, plant matter 
• Gnaw marks on walls, floods, and other items 
• Stale odors coming from infrequently trafficked areas 

Benefits of Professional Help 

When you work with professionals, you can rest assured that you’re getting to the root of the problem. Pest control professionals undergo extensive training, which helps them identify the species infesting your home and how and why they are getting in. They use this information to create an effective treatment plan to get rid of mice once and for all. Plus, pros have the equipment needed to ensure rodent problems are dealt with safely, keeping you and your family protected. 

Contact Catseye Pest Control to Keep Mice Out of Your House 

Partner with industry leading professionals to keep your home mouse-free year-round. Catseye’s expert technicians will guide you through the entire process. From the initial inspection to providing tips for preventing mice from entering your home in the future, we are here for you. Contact Catseye Pest Control to learn more or schedule a free inspection to get started. 

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Each year as we put the finishing touches on our holiday tree, a serious debate arises regarding the quantity of tinsel necessary to complete the task. During this year’s deliberation, I pondered the murky origins of tinsel. To some, the silvery strands of unknown composition evoke images of glistening icicles or shimmering crystals of frost on evergreen branches. But how did tinsel become part of a holiday tradition in so many households?

To aficionados of arachnids, the tradition of festive tinsel has several different origins. One Christian story tells of Mary’s harrowing escape from Roman soldiers as she and Jesus hid in the hills near Bethlehem. With Herod’s legion in hot pursuit, Mary entered a cave seeking refuge. Spiders quickly sealed the entrance with silk and when soldiers arrived and saw the undisturbed webs, they disregarded the cave as a hideaway and continued their search elsewhere. Often-maligned spiders saved the day! Since that time, tinsel has been strung on Christmas trees to represent a glistening spider web and to commemorate the spiders’ miraculous deed. Other tinsel legends from Germany and the Ukraine tell of spiders escaping the lethal brooms of housekeepers by hiding in dark corners of the home during preparations for holiday celebrations. After exiting their redoubts on Christmas Eve, spiders excitedly explored the evergreen trees that had been brought inside and then left behind glorious cloaks of gossamer webs. When Father Christmas arrived that night and saw the gray spider webs, he miraculously changed them into sparkling silver strands, much to the delight of families who viewed the trees on Christmas morning. Since that time, tinsel has been strung as a symbol of the remarkable event.

Watch as the beautiful spined micrathena carefully places each strand of silk in her gossamer web. 

Many spiders survive winter’s chill as eggs protected in silken sacs. If the spider’s last haunt was a spruce or fir, then egg sacs may enter homes as stowaways on Christmas trees. In the warmth of holiday homes, eggs hatch and humans may be recipients of dozens of unexpected visitors in, on, and under the Christmas tree. If you discover a spider egg sac on your Christmas tree or fresh evergreen boughs, simply pluck off a small piece of the infested branch and place it along with the egg sac outside on a shrub. This will allow the spiders to hatch just in time to deliver a deferred holiday gift of pest control in your garden.

Other common visitors that may enter homes with holiday greenery include egg cases of praying mantises such as those of the Carolina mantis, European praying mantis, and Chinese praying mantis. In temperate areas like the DMV, these apex predators spend the winter as eggs in Styrofoam-like masses called ootheca. In spring when temperatures warm and prey are once again abundant, mantis eggs hatch and hungry nymphs get busy ridding your farm, garden, or flower bed of pests. For a bug geek, the notion of hundreds of tiny mantises hatching on a holiday tree might bring an unusual kind of holiday cheer, but for most folks, all those tiny mouths to feed might be somewhat overwhelming. So, before you choose a holiday tree or other greenery to bring into your home, do a quick inspection and remove any mantis egg cases and leave them outdoors where they will provide pest cleanup in spring.

 

Several insects and arachnids spend the winter on greenery that you might bring into your home. When you choose your holiday tree, inspect it before you bring it indoors. Look for egg cases of Chinese praying mantises, Carolina mantises, and European praying mantises. Egg cases like this one of the basilica spider may be on a thread of silk or some may be small white fluffy wax tufts on branches. If you live in a region with spotted lanternflies, scrape off egg masses on the bark and destroy them. Some sucking insect pests with white wax, like adelgids on Douglas firs or pines and tiny white scale insects on needles, will not survive in your home and will not cause problems.

In areas invaded by spotted lanternfly, we know that adults lay eggs on many types of trees and structures. Scientists at Penn State recommend inspecting the trunks of holiday trees and scraping off any egg masses of lanternflies lest they hatch in the warmth of your living room and bring some holiday mischief to your home. Other lanternfly relatives, sucking insects such as scales on pine needles and adelgids on branches and bark of pine and spruce, may also accompany greenery into your home. They can be recognized by the white wax that covers their tiny bodies. Even if these insects enter your home, the conditions inside your house are not likely to support their establishment or survival.     

Bug of the Week wishes one and all a joyous Holiday season and a wonderful New Year!

 

 

Acknowledgements

We thank Jason and our friends at the Weather Channel for providing the inspiration for this episode. The interesting article “Insects on Real Christmas Trees” by Michael J. Skvarla was used as a reference.

To learn more about spiders and associated legends and stories of Christmas, please visit the following website: http://www.willowmoonmarket.com/legends.html#Tin

To learn a bit more about dealing with insects and spiders that enter your home in winter, please click on this link for a story on the Weather Channel, and visit the following website:  https://extension.psu.edu/insects-on-real-christmas-trees

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