Yellow snake along the trail: Spicebush swallowtail caterpillar, Papilio troilus

 

 

A real geological treasure can be found at Natural Bridge State Park just off of Route 81 near Lexington, VA. Here Cedar Creek wends its way beneath a spectacular dolomitic arch formed when ancient subterranean streams of acidic water dissolved surrounding limestone and created an underground karst cave. Through hundreds of millennia, the cave collapsed and erosion exposed the magnificent arch. While enjoying a hike along gorgeous Cedar Creek, a fellow hiker asked if we had seen the strange yellow snake in a small shrub just a short piece down the river. Never wanting to miss a chance to see a snake, we backtracked to an impressive native herbaceous plant known as small flowered leafcup (Polymnia canadensis). There we discovered what, at first glance, appeared to be a stumpy, banana – yellow snake with large googly eyes meandering along the plant’s stem. Masquerading as a serpent, false eyespots on the body of this trickster have evolved to deceive vertebrate predators like birds. The logic behind this ruse goes something like this. What eats a caterpillar? Birds do. And what eats a bird? Snakes do. So, if you are a caterpillar, looking like a snake might just help scare away a hungry bird, right? Clearly, the “I am a snake not a caterpillar” trick worked well on a human and perhaps this works just as well on other vertebrate predators. 

I usually meet and enjoy spicebush swallowtail caterpillars on spicebush or sassafras trees. Several years ago, I rescued a small spicebush from a construction site and planted it in my back yard. In addition to wonderfully aromatic foliage, spicebush bears gorgeous red berries in autumn that are a favorite with birds. While attracting birds is delightful in its own right, this interesting native plant attracts the magnificent spicebush swallowtail, which uses spicebush as food for its young. After a few years of disappointment, I was rewarded with the appearance of three tiny swallowtail caterpillars hiding in neatly folded leaves. By clipping small notches in the foliage, the first instar larvae bend leaves over to create a tiny refuge. After passing through an ugly duckling phase resembling bird droppings as first instars, caterpillars molt and initiate their art of deception and visual surprises. 

With two large, glistening eyespots, at first glance a spicebush swallowtail caterpillar looks like a snake. This clever ruse may help it escape predation by birds and other predators. Young caterpillars build shelters to avoid detection by clipping and folding leaves. They too have false eyespots and their bodies resemble bird droppings. Yuck!  Older caterpillars sport eyespots on an emerald green background which may turn banana-yellow before they form a chrysalis and emerge as adults. This trickster fooled a human and is thought to fool other predators as well.  

After its first molt, the spicebush caterpillar glistens and its dark brown coloration with brilliant white stripes announces that it is nothing more than a bird dropping. While a dung eating fly might find this attractive, it is unlikely that any self-respecting bird would entertain a bird dropping as a meal. The small spice bush larva has one more bit of visual trickery just in case a nosy predator takes a closer look. When viewed head-on, two beady false eyespots on the thorax and two dashed white lines along the sides create the creepy visage of a viper. As the caterpillar molts and grows, the serpent theme is repeated and enhanced with large vacuous eyespots set in a matrix of serpent green. The last stage of the caterpillar may turn yellow and move from the spicebush or sassafras to form a chrysalis on vegetation nearby before molting to the adult stage. 

If the art of deception fails to fool a predator, the spice bush caterpillar has one more trick up its sleeve. Just behind its head the caterpillar houses a specialized structure called the osmeterium. Usually, this forked orange appendage is tucked beneath the skin out of sight. When the caterpillar is threatened, it extends the osmeterium in the direction of the attacker. This glandular organ is coated with foul smelling chemicals reminiscent of rancid butter. The disturbing visual and olfactory display might be the final deterrent to hungry predators wanting to dine on this beautiful caterpillar. Deception does not end when the spice bush caterpillar transforms to the adult butterfly. Dark colored wings splashed with patches and lines of orange and white are thought to mimic the coloration of the nasty tasting pipevine swallowtail, Battus philenor. A trickster as a youth and a trickster as an adult help the spice bush swallowtail to live another day.       

 Acknowledgements

 Thomas Eisner’s delightful book “For Love of Insects” and David Wagner’s wonderful guide “Caterpillars of Eastern North America” were used as references for this episode. Several other insects including owl, promethea, and Io moths use false eyespots to confuse predators.

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This week a family member presented me with an immature tick (nymph) recently removed from the underside of his arm. A quick microscopic examination revealed the tick was engorged, meaning it had fed long enough to possibly transmit a tick-borne illness such as the Borrelia bacterium which causes Lyme disease. Fortunately, with the help of the microscope and some excellent tick identification information from the Québec National Institute of Public Health (Institut national de santé publique du Québec), even a Bug Guy could inform his kin that a nasty case of Lyme disease was not in his future. And how does one figure this out? Well, here comes TMI. On the underside of a tick, the anus is clearly visible (yes, they also have one). Near the anus, a morphological structure called the anal grove is present. Blacklegged ticks have an anal grove that looks like an up-side-down horseshoe enclosing the anus from above. Other species of ticks, ones that don’t carry Lyme disease, have an anal grove that looks like a right-side-up horseshoe enclosing the anus from below. Conclusion – if the horseshoe is up-side-down your luck has run out. If the horseshoe is right-side-up, your luck hasn’t run out and you won’t be getting Lyme disease. You may contract another tick-borne illness, but not Lyme disease. By the way, Lyme disease is the most common arthropod-borne illness in the US and the incidence of Lyme disease in the US is roughly three times greater than the incidence of ehrlichiosis, another tick-borne illness. 

Could this blood-engorged tick carry Lyme disease bacteria? By flipping the tick on its back morphological structures can be seen. The dark brown circle in the center is the anus (yes, ticks have these too). A faint, right-side-up horseshoe or cup-shaped line called the anal suture below the anus indicates that this is not a blacklegged tick. Concerns about contracting Lyme disease from this tick can be put to rest. That’s good news.

In previous episodes we met blacklegged ticks, the vector of Lyme disease. We also learned about red-meat allergies and ehrlichiosis and the lone star ticks responsible for these afflictions. The message this week is short and to the point. If you discover a tick that has embedded in your skin (in contrast to one still roaming around) do not simply pluck it off and toss it out. A better move is to determine its identity and discover what disease organisms it might harbor. There are several tick-testing services that will identify the tick and perform molecular analysis to determine several important disease agents it may be carrying. Tick identification is available through the University of Maryland, but this service does not test for disease agents. On a recent encounter with a tick, after removing a lone star tick from my waist, I sent it off to a tick-testing laboratory. Within a week, I had results and this little rascal tested negative for the causal agents of Lyme disease, relapsing fever, anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Pacific Coast tick fever, tularemia, and ehrlichiosis. Lucky me. If your report comes back and tests are positive for one or more tick borne diseases, consult your physician and develop an action plan. Several tick-testing services can be found on the internet by simply googling “Tick Testing Services”. They provide step by step directions to prepare your sample for analysis and where to send it.

Just as a reminder, to reduce the risks of becoming a meal for a tick and the unfortunate recipient of alpha-gal, STARI, ehrlichiosis, or other tick-borne illnesses including Lyme disease, remember the word “AIR”. This stands for avoid, inspect, and remove.

“A” – Avoid ticks and their bites in the following ways. When taking Fido for a walk, stick to the path, trail, or pavement. You are unlikely to encounter ticks on non-grassy surfaces. If you enter habitats where wildlife and ticks are likely to be present, such as grassy meadows, borders of fields and woodlands, and vegetation along the banks of streams, wear long pants and light-colored clothing. This will help you spot ticks on your clothes as they move up your body. Be a geek – tuck your pant legs into your socks. Pants tucked into socks forces ticks to move up and over your clothes rather than under them where tasty skin awaits. Apply repellents labeled for use in repelling ticks. Some are applied directly to skin, but others can be applied only to clothing. Don’t forget to treat your footwear, socks, and pant legs. Immature ticks, the rascally and hard to detect nymphs, are a key vector of diseases and these precautions will help prevent nymphs and adults from attaching to your skin. If repellents are used, be sure to read the label, follow directions carefully, and heed precautions particularly those related to children. If your adventures take you into tick territory, consider placing your cloths directly into a clothes dryer rather than a hamper upon returning home. The heat of the dryer will kill hitchhiking ticks that might otherwise escape clothes in the hamper and cause trouble after your return home.

“I” – Inspect yourself, your family, and your pets thoroughly if you have been in tick habitats. Remember to do this when you return from the outdoors and when taking a shower. A thorough inspection may involve enlisting a helper to view those “hard to see” areas around back.

“R” – Remove ticks promptly if you find them. Removal within the first 24 hours can greatly decrease your risk of contracting a disease. If you find a tick attached, firmly grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible using a pair of fine forceps and slowly, steadily pull the tick out. Cleanse the area with antiseptic. The CDC and the Bug-Guy do not recommend methods of tick removal such as smearing the tick with petroleum jelly or scorching its rear end with a match. Cases of some tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease are the most common in children and seniors, so take special care to keep kids of all ages safe when they play outdoors.

Acknowledgements

Bug of the Week thanks Brian for sharing his tick, which served as the inspiration for this episode. To learn more about tick identification and diseases ticks carry, please visit the wonderful resources provided by Québec National Institute of Public Health and the CDC Tick ID website.

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Discover Which Types of Bugs Can Be Found in Your Home’s Gutters and What to Do About the Pests

Insects are far more creative and adaptable than many people realize. When they need to survive, they band together to share resources and make their homes in unlikely spots.  

You may not think of gutters as a hot spot for pests, but you would be wrong. These essential frames channel water away from the roofline and foundation of structures, serving as a simple, yet powerful water management system. By preventing water buildup in vulnerable areas, gutters help protect the structural integrity of buildings.  

So, what happens when gutters become clogged or damaged? The moisture accumulation in the frame provides an ideal environment for many resourceful pests to nest. Bugs in gutters also have easier access to homes and businesses, which is why pest control is essential. Let’s take a closer look at three of the bugs that could be in your gutters and how to get rid of them.  

Carpenter Ants  

When gutters don’t work properly, they have the potential to create significant problems, such as moisture damage and rotting wood. In turn, rotting wood may attract carpenter ants. Although these ants don’t sting, they sometimes bite. Additionally, carpenter ants chew through wood and cause extensive damage to homes, buildings, and other structures.  

Signs of Carpenter Ants  

Carpenter ants are often referred to as “silent destroyers.” Because they tunnel into wood without creating external damage, these insects frequently go unnoticed for a while. If you see large ants (usually 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch) that are black or red, you are likely dealing with carpenter ants. Additional signs include hearing soft, rustling sounds coming from the walls and finding piles of sawdust or wood shavings near wooden structures.  

Carpenter Ant Activity and Habitat  

Carpenter ants build their nests inside wood and typically prefer structural lumber that is soft and moisture damaged. Gutters that aren’t functioning properly create the ideal environment for these bugs. Once they locate wood that meets their needs, they get to work, chewing up tiny bits of wood and discarding it as they tunnel inside and create nests.  

Large colonies can contain up to 10,000 workers and often include sizable networks of tunnels with multiple nests. Left undisturbed, carpenter ants can severely damage structures and compromise their safety and stability.  

Mosquitoes

Clogged gutters create standing water, and that is a mosquito’s dream habitat. Mosquitoes love moisture-rich environments to lay their eggs, which can take as little as five days to hatch and develop into adults. These pests are more than just a biting nuisance. They can transmit dangerous diseases, including Zika and West Nile viruses, which can cause fever, joint pain, and other serious symptoms. 

Signs of Mosquitoes  

Mosquitoes have long, narrow bodies that can grow up to 2 inches long. They have a characteristic buzz that is easy to hear when they fly nearby. Seeing and hearing the bugs aren’t the only signs that you have a mosquito problem. The red, itchy welts left behind by their bites are a sure sign of these insects.  

Mosquito Activity and Habitat  

Mosquitoes can lay eggs — sometimes hundreds at once — in as little as 1/4 inch of water, making gutters an attractive spot. Male and female mosquitoes feed on plants, but females also drink blood from humans and animals to nourish their bodies for producing eggs. When you get bitten, the mosquito also injects you with saliva, which can contain dangerous pathogens.  

Wasps and Hornets 

Use caution while cleaning those gutters out – you might encounter a nasty sting. Hornets and wasps are beneficial insects in the garden because they prey on other pests, including aphids, spiders, and other insects that harm plants. Clogged or unclogged gutters can offer an attractive spot for these pests to create a nest. Some species can be more aggressive than others. Overall, bees, wasps, and hornets account for approximately 500,000 emergency room visits every year.  

Signs of Wasps and Hornets 

These feared insects are typically active during the day, returning to their nests in the evening. Seeing them flying in and out of gutters can be an indicator. Finding a papery, comb-like or smooth nest can tell you definitively that you’re dealing with one (or more) of these insects.  

Wasp and Hornet Activity and Habitat 

The proximity to moisture draws them in, offering easy access to water-dwelling pests that they can use as a food source. Gutters also provide a hollow, protected environment where they can build their nests. The corner of gutters, around brackets, and along the inside are typically favored. Wasps and hornets build nests from wood pulp, giving them a characteristic paper-like appearance. 

How to Get Rid of Pests in Gutters 

Prevention and protection are essential to protecting properties from pests. Gutters present an attractive spot for these insects (and other pests) to access food, water, and shelter. Clogged gutters pose a double threat, with standing water and decaying debris that can act like a beacon. Keeping the gutters clean, maintaining them, and ensuring they are properly installed are essential to preventing bugs in your gutters.  

Contact Catseye Pest Control to Eliminate Unwanted Pests 

For expert pest control near you, turn to the experts. Simply keeping your gutters clear may not be enough to get rid of pests in gutters or eliminate a pest problem. Our licensed, knowledgeable technicians will perform a free, thorough inspection to get to the heart of the problem and create a customized treatment plan.  

Schedule your free inspection online or by phone at 888-292-6894 to get started today.  

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On a recent visit to a spectacular residential garden in Columbia, MD, I was chagrined to see beautiful clusters of columbines denuded of leaves and reduced to spindly blossom-tipped stubs. Swarming about these unfortunate beauties were what at first appeared to be tiny black flies. Upon closer inspection the presence of four wings instead of two confirmed that these were not flies, but primitive wasps known as sawflies. Flies belong to a clan of insects, Diptera, with but one pair of wings and sawflies are part of the bee and wasp clan, Hymenoptera, with two pairs of wings.

Why are they called sawflies? Well, not because you saw them. No, these primitive wasps bear a saw-like appendage on their abdomen used to slice leaves or stems of plants to create a pocket into which eggs are inserted. This particular non-native sawfly has roots throughout much of central Europe and was first discovered in North America in Canada, the year Surfin’ U.S.A. topped the charts in 1963. By 1983 these rascals reached upstate New York and they now occur from the eastern seaboard to the Rockies. Adult sawflies feed on a variety of foods including nectar, pollen, and other insects. Ah, but larval columbine sawflies have powerful jaws to devour the leaves of columbines.

 

Columbines are among the most beautiful perennials to grace natural landscapes and gardens. But trouble is afoot when tiny black wasps called columbine sawflies arrive on the scene. Female wasps use a saw-like appendage to slice leaves and insert eggs into tender leaf tissue. Eggs hatch and tiny caterpillar-like larvae with black heads munch nutritious leaves. As larvae grow and develop, they remove ever larger portions of leaf tissue and may completely defoliate plants. If you discover these rascals on your columbine, pick them off, dispose of them, or feed them to the birds!

Many sawfly larvae resemble caterpillars, the larval stage of moths and butterflies. However, there is an easy way to tell most sawfly larvae from caterpillars. First, let’s have an anatomy lesson. Larval sawflies and caterpillars have a head and three thoracic segments that usually bear pairs of segmented legs. Most caterpillars and sawflies have paired leg-like appendages called prolegs on their abdominal segments. Prolegs help them grasp the plants on which they live and feed. Caterpillars with prolegs have five or fewer pairs and sawflies with prolegs have six or more pairs. By counting the pairs of prolegs, voilà, you can differentiate between caterpillars and sawfly larvae. One more tidbit, prolegs of most caterpillars bear fish-hook-like structures called crochets on their prolegs, while sawfly larvae have naked prolegs. How daring!

Northern states in the U.S. and Canada report a single generation of columbine sawflies annually. At the time of this posting in early June here in Maryland, a second generation of columbine sawflies is well underway. In England, three or more generations occur each year. Densities of these leaf munchers can be so great that columbines are completely stripped of their foliage. Fortunately, columbines have remarkable restorative powers and may be able to withstand severe defoliation. What can be done to mitigate damage caused by these rascals? Here in the mid-Atlantic, check your columbines within the first month that new foliage appears in the spring and then at biweekly intervals. Damage will first appear at the margins of leaves before entire lobes disappear. Larva are easily removed and crushed. For a real avian treat, collect larvae and place them on a bird feeding station where they will be gobbled up by our feathered friends. If touching insect larvae is not your thing, there are several insecticides listed by the Organic Material Review Institute (OMRI) that can bring a rapid halt to shenanigans caused by these columbine devouring critters. Oh, and when using insecticides always be sure to read and follow directions on the label. 

To see a great video of columbine sawflies and how to manage them, please click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtLyWg7hV0o

Acknowledgements

Inspiration for this week’s episode comes from Ron and Leslie for allowing us to visit their garden to watch and study columbine sawflies and from Max who created the awesome video on columbine sawfly management. The enlightening articles “Common Columbine Pests: Columbine Leafminer and Columbine Sawfly” by Susan Mahr, and “Pests of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers” by David V. Alford, were used as references for this story. 

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Bee season has arrived and the flood of pollinators and other beneficial insects in my flower gardens is underway. My bee balms and other monardas are revving up their flower heads in preparation for another busy season serving nectar and pollen. While inspecting my perennials in anticipation of this event, I noticed several bee balms adorned with small necrotic spots and puckered leaves. This was the handiwork of the fourlined plant bug, a bodacious member of the Hemiptera clan infamous for distorting and disfiguring plant parts. Like other true bugs, this rascal has sucking mouthparts that pierce plant tissue and rupture delicate cells. Following the initial piercing by the beak, salivary enzymes are secreted into the plant to digest and liquefy plant tissues in preparation for the big suck. Inside the bug’s head is a tiny pump that is activated after insertion of its needlelike stylets into the plant. Rhythmic contractions of muscles create negative pressure, drawing nutrient rich cell contents into the digestive tract of the beast. One would think this insult was enough, but no, after the bug has removed its beak the lingering digestive action of these salivary enzymes, or pectinases, continue to degrade cell walls, leaving behind unsightly necrotic spots. In addition to leaf distortion and discoloration, dead tissue zones drop from leaves creating a lattice of small irregular holes.

A few weeks ago, tiny red nymphs of fourlined plant bugs hatched from overwintered eggs in plant litter. Their feeding distorts leaves and creates necrotic spots. A very pregnant female will soon deposit eggs in plant tissue. Digestive enzymes secreted into leaves produce dark lesions on leaves that remain long after adults scurry away.

Besides pestering my herbaceous perennials, fourlined plant bug is known to attack more than 250 species of plants including many vegetables, trees, and shrubs. While this may sound like the 11th biblical plague, fourlined plant bugs do their dirty work early in the season and my bee balms and other perennials will surely outgrow these plant bug shenanigans and flower just fine. Most gardeners consider fourlined plant bug damage to be cosmetic and nothing more. To reduce damage caused by the bug, remove old plant debris from the garden in late autumn. Bugs overwinter as eggs in plant rubble so this will reduce the inoculum of colonists the following spring. If retribution is more your style, you can cup your hands around infested leaves, dislodge the bugs within, and simply crush their little bodies or deposit them into a cup of soapy water (their swimming skills are not well developed). Applications of horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps will also bring a swift end to their lives. If using soaps or oils, as with all insecticides, be sure to follow label directions and avoid applications when pollinators and other beneficial insects are present. Directed sprays of water with a garden hose may dislodge these bugs, sending them to the soil where the hungry jaws of ground beetles and other predators await. If bee balms and other pollinator-friendly plants abound in your beds, this week take a peek and look for the handiwork of foulined plant bugs.

Acknowledgements     

The great references “Fourlined Plant Bugs” by Jeffrey Hahn and Suzanne Wold-Burkness, and “Role of Saliva in the Highly Destructive Fourlined Plant Bug (Hemiptera: Miridae: Mirinae)” by Allen Carson Cohen and Alfred G. Wheeler Jr., were used in preparing this episode. 

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Do Not DIY: Dealing with Wasp Nests Requires Professional Help  

Spring and summer are filled with outdoor fun and activities, but warm weather also heralds the beginning of wasp season. Typically stretching from April through October, the months that most people enjoy spending time outside are also ideal for wasps and stinging insects of all types.  

When you’re relaxing outside your home or business and notice a wasp nest, it may be tempting to knock it down or reach for a can of wasp killer. However, removing a wasp nest should never be a do-it-yourself (DIY) project.  

Let’s take a look at how to identify a wasp nest and the potential dangers of trying to remove it yourself. The key reasons for calling for professional wasp nest removal are quite convincing when compared to the consequences of ignoring them.  

4 Reasons to Never DIY Wasp Nest Removal 

Trying to remove wasp nests on your own can lead to discomfort at best and incredibly dangerous situations at worst. No matter what species of wasp is nesting on your property, you shouldn’t ignore these four significant reasons for paying for professional wasp nest removal.  

Wasps Have a Painful Sting 

One misstep or mistake is all it takes to give wasps a reason to sting you. Unlike bees, wasps can sting multiple times, increasing the misery of the encounter exponentially. Wasp stings are notoriously painful and often trigger a significant reaction, with swelling, redness, and localized tenderness. Some people can treat their stings at home with over-the-counter pain relievers and a cold pack. For others, wasp stings can trigger a dangerous — possibly even deadly — allergic reaction.  

Some Wasps Are Social, Others Aggressive, and All Are Protective of the Nest 

The region is home to various species of wasps, and some are aggressive. Others don’t typically bother humans — until they disturb their nests. Once wasps feel threatened, all bets are off. Social wasps can even release pheromones as a distress signal to alert nearby wasps to come and help them. You could realistically end up facing a swarm and get stung by multiple wasps.  

You Could Leave Part of the Colony Behind 

Professionals have the knowledge and experience to know exactly what to look for as well as how to ensure the entire colony is removed. If any members of the colony remain, they will come back and rebuild. Licensed pest removal companies can ensure complete wasp control and nest removal. We have the protective gear needed to avoid contact with wasps and the equipment to remove them from hard-to-reach nesting locations.  

Not All Nests Need to Be Removed 

Wasps can be a painful nuisance, but these insects also play a pivotal role in the ecosystem. Wasps pollinate plants and are predators that perform biological pest control by feeding on other problematic insects. It’s essential to only remove wasp nests if they pose an actual threat to people. Catseye Pest Control’s expert technicians can assess the situation and determine the best course of action to keep people, pets, and the environment safe.  

What Does a Wasp Nest Look Like?  

Different types of wasps create different types of nests. Each typically has a paper-like finish and may be gray or brown, typically with a spherical shape. Common wasps that build nests include: 

• Paper wasps: These nests look papery and are shaped similarly to an inverted umbrella. They are common in wall voids, attics, and eaves. 
• Yellow jackets: These nests are usually round and covered in a papery substance. You might find them in hollow trees, wall voids, underneath porches, in attic eaves, and even under insulation. 
• Mud daubers: These wasp nests look like tubes of mud and are usually small. You might find them in areas like cracks in stone, timber, and masonry around buildings and other structures. 

Is It an Active Nest?  

This is the main question you should consider before even thinking about removing a wasp nest. One way to figure this out is by the size of the nest and the time of year.  

Wasps typically go through four periods throughout the year. In spring, dormant queens emerge from hibernation to lay eggs. This growth period becomes highly active during summer, which is typically considered peak wasp season. In fall, wasps begin dying off, and the queen prepares to hibernate for the winter. If you see a very large nest in spring, it’s likely not active because the colony is just starting to grow at that time of year.  

Watching for wasp activity is another way to tell if the nest is active. Active nests will have worker wasps flying in and out during the day.  

Professional Wasp Nest Removal 

Catseye’s highly trained, licensed technicians start by performing a thorough inspection of the property to locate all nests. Based on their findings, they will create a plan for safe wasp nest removal that is tailored to your unique circumstances.  

Do not attempt to remove wasp nests on your own. Contact our experienced team for prompt, professional service. Our Platinum Home Protection Program provides year-round treatment and preventive services to keep you and those you care about safe. 

Take the first step in eliminating wasps from your property. Schedule a free inspection today. 

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Aficionados of Bug of the Week bear witness to the Jekyll and Hyde nature of this blog. Sometimes we advise eliminating bugs like mosquitos, and sometimes we advocate saving bugs like cicadas – how strange. This week we do a little of both with paper wasps, Polistes spp. Many of us have had the enlightening experience of coming just a bit too close to a paper wasp nest and being rewarded with a memorable sting. I happened upon one such nest cleverly hidden between supports of a pergola and suffered the consequence of getting a bit too close. Nests are typically located beneath overhangs of houses or sheds or in other protected locations. Each nest is initiated in spring by a female wasp called a foundress. The foundress survived the wicked winter in a sheltered spot, perhaps beneath the bark of a tree or a behind a loose piece of siding on a home. 

This covered entryway welcomes not only human visitors but also paper wasps ready to make a home. In one corner a female prepares an anchor for her paper nest. One week later, several cells have been created and the first of her eggs has been deposited. In another corner, two females are a bit further along with nest construction with several cells completed. On a nearby wall a third wasp has laid several eggs. By late summer, nests will bustle with females preparing food for dozens of hungry larval mouths.

In spring, the foundress uses her powerful jaws to gather wood fiber from trees and shrubs. She chews it into pulp and molds the pulp into papery cells. The ever-enlarging nest is shaped like a parasol and suspended by a narrow stalk called a pedicel. After the first few hexagonal cells are constructed, the foundress deposits an egg within each chamber. Eggs soon hatch into legless larvae. Her youngsters have healthy appetites and the queen gets busy hunting food for her babes. Caterpillars are one of the favorite menu items and in this way paper wasps are our allies in the fight against these leaf-munching garden pests. By capturing many caterpillars, paper wasps reduce damage to our valuable crops and landscape plants. 

Paper wasps like this European paper wasp can often be seen gathering wood fibers to build their nests.

After subduing its prey, the paper wasp uses its jaws to slice and dice the victim into a spongy ball. The caterpillar ball is transported back to the nest where hungry mouths await. A high protein diet of fresh caterpillar meat helps small wasp larvae grow rapidly. 

After the prey has been turned into a pulpy ball of flesh, a worker brings the prize back to the nest where nest-mates divvy up the meat to feed developing larvae in their papery cells.

Not all potential foundresses are successful in establishing a colony. Some may join an established nest where they assist the resident foundress in caring for the brood. These subordinates forgo their right to produce young of their own. If some do attempt to lay eggs in the nest, the dominant foundress will find her competitor’s eggs and eat them. Tyranny rules the paper wasp nest! The colony grows as summer progresses and more than a hundred workers may be produced. With the approach of autumn, production in the colony shifts from making workers to making future foundresses and their mates. The new queens and kings that emerge from their cells are a rather lazy lot and spend little time helping with the care of the colony. As workers return to the colony with food for developing larvae, the petulant royals steal and eat the meals. With no more workers being produced and food being diverted to hungry adults, the colony declines. Future foundresses leave the nest to mate and seek protected hibernal refuges. Because of their beneficial nature, paper wasps and their nests should be left alone whenever they do not threaten humans or pets. 

And here is where Mr. Hyde steps in. Recently, a concerned homeowner shared an image of a small wasp nest just under construction in the entryway of a home. As the season progresses and dozens of workers are produced, nests in locations like this pose a threat to folks entering the home. If a foundress starts a nest in a location where people are likely to be stung, surely, you should consider eliminating the nest. Now is an excellent time to do so here in the DMV while the nest is small and few, if any, workers are present. Nests can often be eliminated from a distance with a strong stream of water from a garden hose. This mode of disruption allows the foundress to start another nest anew or perhaps join a different colony. Of course, wasp sprays now or later in the season will also do the trick. 

So, maybe have a look beneath overhangs, in the carport, or at the entryway to your home and eliminate a potential problem now. If you discover a nest out by the barn or in another less worrisome place, maybe watch at a distance the antics of these interesting beneficial insects.

 Acknowledgements

Two marvelous references, “The Insect Societies” by E.O. Wilson and “Biological studies of Polistes in North Carolina (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)” by R.L. Rabb, were used in the preparation of this episode. We thank Anne and Jim for providing the inspiration for this episode.

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Discover Important Information About World Pest Day and Why It Is So Important for Homeowners and Business Owners 

Humans have been struggling with pest control for thousands of years. As World Pest Day approaches on June 6, this is a prime time to honor the professionals who protect our homes, businesses, and other structures.  

Since 1987, Catseye Pest Control has worked tirelessly to provide exceptional service and innovative solutions to keep people, pets, and properties safe and healthy. Our experience gives us a unique perspective and a wealth of industry knowledge about the issues people face every day.  

In honor of World Pest Day 2023, let’s take a closer look at the holiday and its significance. 

What Is World Pest Day? 

World Pest Day launched on June 6, 2017, when the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) joined other global organizations in sponsoring the holiday. Other participants include the Chinese Pest Control Association, the Federation of Asian and Oceania Pest Managers’ Association, and the Confederation of European Pest Management Associations.  

World Pest Day kicked off with a ceremony at the Beijing Hotel. Since then, it has become an essential time to increase awareness and call attention to the threats humanity faces from pests, both large and small. Pest management is essential for maintaining the quality of life for humans, plants, animals, and physical structures.  

Why Is Pest Control Important? 

Pest management has existed for centuries. The earliest records date as far back as 3000 B.C. when Ancient Egyptians used cats to control rodents. By 2500 B.C., the Ancient Sumerians used the first insecticides: sulfur compounds. 

In a span of thousands of years, pest control has come a long way and now does less harm to people, pets, and ecosystems while providing more effective control. In fact, the quality of life that we enjoy today is a direct result of the strides made in effective pest control. Pest management affects everything from crops and agriculture to people and pets. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, which combine prevention and treatment, aim to minimize the risks and hazards for people and the environment.  

Many people are tempted to try DIY practices when experiencing pests or nuisance wildlife in their homes or businesses. However, professionals have what it takes for long-term success. Benefits of professional pest control include:  

Professionals Minimize Your Risk 

Pests can be dangerous. Insects, rodents, and nuisance wildlife can carry infectious diseases like West Nile virus, Lyme disease, hantavirus, and rabies. Coming into contact with saliva, urine, or droppings can expose you to contagions. Additionally, rodents and nuisance wildlife may bite or scratch, particularly if they feel threatened. Pest control professionals handle everything, from identification to removal to cleanup to keep you and the people you care about safe.  

Prevention Is the Ultimate Control 

Professionals assess your unique property and circumstances to see how and why pests and wildlife enter the premises. Proactive services, like bi-monthly visits for inspection and monitoring and exclusion, which seals off entry points, can keep pests under control for good. With professionals on your side, an infestation can be immediately halted before it turns into a large problem.  

Professionals Have Education and Equipment 

At Catseye, providing the best pest management and customer service is what we do. Our trained, licensed professionals stay on top of all the latest technologies, techniques, and treatments. This allows us to provide the best possible pest control services all year long. We have the knowledge to identify pests, and we know where to look for them and how to eliminate them. We can also use our expertise to teach you ways to better protect your home, business, or other property. 

Raising Awareness Through Pest Control Services 

Pest control services rely on several strategies to manage properties. Chemical treatments are among the most effective methods for eliminating many pests, but they can be dangerous when handled incorrectly. Monitoring and exclusion are other strategies that can help control infestations and prevent future problems.  

Catseye provides various options for residential and commercial customers — all designed to minimize the negative impacts on the ecosystem. We specialize in greener, environmentally friendly solutions for homes, businesses, industrial properties, and more.  

Residential Pest Control  

Homeowners and renters deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing their homes are free of common pests like ants, bed bugs, spiders, and cockroaches. We provide a free, detailed inspection of every property, which allows our trained and licensed technicians to identify pests and problem areas. We use that information to create a plan that is tailored to your unique property and circumstances. 

Commercial Pest Control  

Businesses of all types have an obligation to their employees and customers. Remaining pest-free is essential, and Catseye’s commercial pest control services provide year-round coverage for peace of mind. Our Commercial Pest Protection Program covers customers for everything from centipedes and wasps to mice and rats — essentially any pest that invades your property. Our technicians ensure your business will meet and exceed all health standards. 

Exclusion Services 

Keeping rodents and wildlife out of your home, building, or property provides long-term satisfaction and peace of mind. In addition to making minor repairs to seal gaps, cracks, and other openings, Catseye offers our Rodent and Wildlife Exclusion Systems. These permanent barriers provide a permanent solution and targeted protection by physically blocking entry points.  

Take Control of Your Home or Business with Professional Pest Control Services 

World Pest Day calls attention to a global problem that exists 365 days a year. The professionals at Catseye are here to help keep your home or business safe and pest-free. Contact us today for more information about our environmentally friendly services. 

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A week or so ago, a friend asked if mosquitoes would be biting soon. I shared with her that, the week before last, my wife smashed the vanguard of home invading mosquitoes on the bathroom wall. Apparently, biting time is just around the corner. For the last two weeks on an almost daily basis, I have been watching an upside-down garbage pail lid full of leaves and water for the signs of breeding mosquitoes. Last Wednesday my search was rewarded when I discovered several Culex egg rafts and hundreds of tiny mosquito larvae swimming in the human-made mosquito nursery. With temperatures on the rise and showers predicted, blood thirsty female mosquitoes are not far behind. Taking a line from Paul Thomas Anderson’s classic film, “there will be blood”.  

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.   

During the first several days of adulthood, both male and female mosquitoes consume carbohydrate rich food such as plant nectar or aphid honeydew. For male mosquitoes, sweets remain the sole source of food, but the gal has a blood lust. Female mosquitoes use animal blood as the source of protein to produce eggs. The pregnant mosquito lays her spawn in a water-filled container such as a pail or bird bath or in pools of standing water on the ground. Some, like the ferocious Asian Tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, lay eggs near the water line of a container. When the vessel fills with rainwater, eggs hatch and larval development begins. Others, such as the Northern house mosquito, Culex pipiens, lay eggs in clusters called rafts that float on the surface of the water. Each raft can contain more than 150 eggs.  

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 wrigglers 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 warm temperatures predicted, adults will emerge, and yes, there will be blood.  

Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance and several species carry important diseases such as West Nile Virus. West Nile Virus has killed more than 2,600 people in the United States since it was first detected in New York in 1999. While most of us shrug off West Nile virus if we are exposed, it can be severe and lethal to seniors and certain others. Recent research helps explain why this may be so. Our immune system plays a vital role in preventing diseases carried by mosquitoes. Cells lining our skin and mucus membranes bear specialized virus-sensing proteins called Toll-Like Receptors, a.k.a. TLRs. TLRs have the critical function of detecting invaders like West Nile virus. If TLRs detect the West Nile virus, they release additional proteins that stimulate production of chemical communication compounds called interleukins. Interleukins released into the bloodstream marshal cellular assassins called macrophages and direct them to hunt and kill cells infected with West Nile virus before the virus can multiple and make us seriously ill. Researchers have suggested that some seniors and people with compromised immune systems may lack sufficient TLRs and related immune system proteins to thwart the West Nile virus.  

Many species of mosquitoes prefer to feed at dusk and you can avoid being bitten by staying indoors in the evening. Unlike many of our native mosquitoes, the exotic Asian Tiger is a daytime biter, adding hours of entertaining 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 small 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. Many types of moths, flies, and beetles are attracted to light, however, 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 used by hungry mosquitoes to find us. Some mosquito traps release carbon dioxide and will catch many mosquitoes. Female mosquitoes ready to lay eggs are attracted to 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.  

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, aka Bti. Bti comes formulated in doughnut-shaped tablets that can be placed in water to kill mosquito larvae.  

Battalions of biters are about to make their presence known. Snap to it and get rid of those breeding sites. Get ready to protect yourself or to give blood.  

Acknowledgements

 Several interesting articles, including “How the body rubs out West Nile virus” by  Nathan Seppa, “Toll-like Receptor 7 Mitigates Lethal West Nile 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, were consulted in preparing this episode.  

To learn more about the mosquitoes and how to defeat them, please view this video:

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Tigers, perhaps the most iconic and magnificent of all cats, remain in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Russia, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam according to the World Wildlife Fund. While the chance of spotting a tiger in the wild here in the DMV is nil, insect lovers and other naturalists can enjoy more than a dozen species of tiny six-legged tigers in forests, along the ocean and bay, and on riverbanks throughout our region. On a recent trip to the mighty Potomac River in Maryland, a budding seven-year-old naturalist discovered a gorgeous bronzed tiger beetle hunting prey in the sandy soil of a riverbank. We met the beautiful six-spotted green tiger beetle about this time last year along a bike trail not far away.

Tiger beetles are fierce predators as both juveniles (larvae) and as adults. Sabre-like mandibles impale soft-bodied insects and other invertebrates which make the riverbank their home. Most species of tiger beetle larvae spend their youth as sedentary hide-and-wait predators in galleries constructed in soil. When unsuspecting prey pass nearby, larvae pop out of their lair and spear their hapless victim. Larvae enlarge galleries as they grow and develop.

Bronzed tiger beetles dash about a sandy riverbank along the Potomac on a sunny afternoon. A curious tiger stares back at an iPhone before moving in for a closer look. Watch at full speed and then at 70% reduced speed as a bronzed tiger jets away from an annoying stick.

Life along a riverbank is fraught with peril as rivers like the Potomac often flood and submerge adjacent land. For mobile adult beetles, as waters rise, flight or a mad dash can take them out of harm’s way. But what fate awaits soil dwelling beetle larvae when waters rise? Galleries submerged by floodwaters soon become severely oxygen poor and these tiny creatures need oxygen for survival. Scientists have discovered that some species of tiger beetles inhabiting water-logged soils switch their metabolic activity from oxygen-driven to anaerobic metabolism (oxygen not-needed) during times of immersion. In studies, different species of tiger beetles survived 60 to 120 hours of submersion. Yikes! Wish I could hold my breath that long. And when soils become a bit too soggy, guess what, larvae of at least one species of tiger beetle, the hairy tiger beetle, simply move out and find soils with lower moisture levels where they can survive and thrive. Unfortunately, as rivers are dammed and lakes form, riverbanks with just the right moisture levels may be harder to find for tiger beetles on the move. Scientists fear these river-dwelling species may fail in their attempts to relocate to less soggy soils. In several locations, subspecies of hairy tiger beetles have declined dramatically in recent years, likely due to human-made alterations of their habitat. In addition to dams that dramatically alter riparian ecosystems, soil compaction by human foot-traffic along river banks may contribute to the demise of tiger beetles along rivers and lakes. Tread lightly and carefully along riverbanks and try to stick to existing trails rather than blazing new ones, lest we further disrupt habitats of these tiny but magnificent tigers. 

Acknowledgements

Two excellent articles “Movement of Cicindela hirticollis Say Larvae in Response to Moisture and Flooding” by Mathew Louis Brust, William Wyatt Hoback, Kerri Farnsworth Skinner and Charles Barry Knisley, and “Hypoxia tolerance in adult and larval Cicindela tiger beetles varies by life history but not habitat association” by Mathew L. Brust and W. Wyatt Hoback were used to prepare this episode. Thanks to eagle-eyed Abby for spotting a pretty bronzed tiger beetle that provided the inspiration for this episode.

Bug of the Week thanks our regular viewers and sends a hearty welcome to the many enthusiastic new Ze Frank viewers who have subscribed. Please learn more facts about bugs at our blog. 

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