Oh no, these less-than-pretty snakelike galleries are the handiwork of the native holly leafminer.
Holly trees play a significant role in the beliefs and traditions of the season. To the Romans, hollies were the trees of the god Saturn and wreaths of holly were given as gifts during his holiday, Saturnalia. In Celtic legends, the evergreen hollies with their beautiful red berries announced the triumph of the Holly King during winter over the Oak King, who ruled the forest with his green leaves in summer. For Christians, the pointed leaves of holly are associated with the crown of thorns worn by Jesus and bright red holly berries symbolize drops of his blood. For a bug guy, this is the season to marvel at a pair of fascinating flies whose lives are intimately tied to our stunning native holly.
Adult holly leaf miners resemble small houseflies. The male is on the left and the female is on the right, a cute couple. Credit: John Davidson
On my neighbor’s beautiful American holly, red fruits intermingle with deep green leaves. Some leaves have unusual sinuous trails on their surface. Within the trails are the larvae of small flies, the young of the native holly leafminer. Back in the warmth of spring the adult stage of native holly leafminer, a small black fly, pierced the holly leaf with a structure on the tip of its abdomen called an ovipositor. This egg-laying appendage was then used to deposit an egg through the tough leaf surface into the soft tissue beneath. Upon hatching, the tiny larva consumed nutritious cells of the holly leaf and snaked its way through the leaf, enlarging the trail as it grew. In the dead of winter the larva rests, but on warm days during winter and early spring, the leafminer will continue to feed until it completes development and forms a pupa in spring. Before the larva changes into a pupa, it cuts a small window in the surface of the leaf to enable the adult fly to escape.
See the tiny yellow leafminer larva near the tip of the forceps on the inside layer of leaf epidermis. As it feeds within the leaf, it creates a snake-like serpentine mine.
Feeding punctures on the leaf surface made by adult flies may cause leaves to curl.
The emergence of the adult fly is timed to coincide with the appearance of tender new holly leaves in spring. In addition to laying eggs, the female holly leafminer uses her sharp ovipositor to poke holes in the leaf’s surface. These small holes exude droplets of sap thereby providing a source of food for the hungry female. Leaves with many feeding holes are often curled or puckered. A horticulturalist once told me that these holes were caused by holly leaves with sharp spines bumping into one another, but now we know differently. As you gather holly sprigs to decorate your home, don’t worry if a leaf or two bears the serpentine signature of the native holly leafminer. They will not emerge in your home.
Spoiler Alert: Get ready for one more story about a fascinating fly found on holly in next week’s episode.
Acknowledgements
We thank John Davidson for providing the inspiration and images for this week’s episode. The interesting references “Population regulation of the native holly leafminer, Phytomyza ilicicola Loew (Diptera: Agromyzidae), on American holly” by Daniel A. Potter, and “Seasonal allocation of defense investment in Ilex opaca Ation and constraints on a specialist leafminer” by D.A. Potter and T.W. Kimmerer, and the book “Managing Insects and Mites on Woody Landscape Plants by John Davidson and Michael Raupp” were used to prepare this episode.
The acorns weevil’s proboscis is remarkable by any standard.
In forests and landscapes here in the DMV, exceptionally humongous crops of acorns were produced by several species of red and white oaks this autumn. These large acorn crops occur periodically and in many types of plants such uber-productive seasons are called mast years. The exact climatic conditions underlying a mast year are not yet fully understood, but what is well-known is the fact that eaters of acorns including small and large mammals such as chipmunks, squirrels, deer, and bears, and many species of birds such as turkeys, quail, blue jays, and woodpeckers enjoy an autumnal food bounty when oaks go into acorn overdrive. Do any insects take advantage of this bounty? You bet! Enter the amazing acorn weevil.
Legless weevil larvae emerge from circular holes in acorns and enter the soil in advance of winter.
The backstory to this episode begins with Stephanie, collector of native plant seeds, who was on a mission to gather seeds of our native pin oak tree. Soon after the acorns were collected, dozens of creamy, white, legless grubs appeared in the bottom of the collecting bag. At first glance this seemed like some incarnation of spontaneous generation – the appearance of life from non-life. However, on closer inspection, tiny, perfectly circular holes were visible on the hulls of many of the acorns. This was the work of the acorn weevil. Acorn weevils are remarkable creatures noted for their exceptionally long snouts. At the tip of the snout, or proboscis, are jaws that a female weevil uses to cut a hole in the husk of the developing acorn while it is still attached to a branch in the treetop. Into this hole, she deposits eggs that hatch and release tiny grubs which eat the nutritious meat of the acorn. In autumn, when the acorns drop to the ground, fully grown larvae chew small holes in the husk to escape their oaken nursery. They enter the soil and burrow several inches underground to pupate. They may remain in the soil for several years before emerging as adults in spring, with the return of leaves to the oak and the production of a new crop of acorns. Weevils emerge from the soil and climb to the canopy of the tree to feed and deposit a new batch of eggs.
Periodically oak trees produce amazing crops of acorns in seasons called mast years. In addition to many birds and mammals, beetles called acorn weevils take advantage of the bounty. Female weevils deposit eggs inside acorns which hatch into larvae called grubs. Grubs develop during summer and escape in autumn through exit holes and enter the soil to pupate. A year or more later they emerge as adults and using jaws at the tips of their ridiculously long snouts cut holes in acorns, where the next batch of eggs are laid.
To observe these remarkable insects first hand, simply go outdoors to your favorite oak and collect a batch of acorns. According to one account, if you place these acorns in a container such as a pitcher or cooking pot filled with several inches of water and the acorns sink, they are usually intact and unlikely to be infested. Acorns that float have airspace within and are likely to contain weevil grubs or other interesting bugs. Crack a few of these open and observe the grubs inside. If you are really ambitious and desire a glimpse of the bodacious adults, you might try placing infested acorns in a pot with several inches of soil. This will provide grubs with the necessary habitat to complete their circle of life. The pots can be placed outdoors to expose the grubs to natural conditions of temperature and rainfall. Cover the pot with a bit of netting and, who knows, in a few years you may actually capture some fantastic beetles with schnozzolas so enormous, they would make Jimmy Durante jealous, ha cha cha cha.
Acknowledgements
Bug of the Week gives special thanks to Stephanie for providing the specimens and inspiration for this week’s story. The interesting article “The overwintering biology of the acorn weevil, Curculio glandium, in southwestern Ontario” by Hiroko Udaka and Brent J Sinclair was consulted for this episode.
To learn more about acorn weevils, please visit the following websites:
You love your pets, and you know it’s important to keep them safe from pests and parasites. A 2023 report revealed that more than 86 million homes in the United States include pets, with dogs and cats among the most prevalent residents. Love for our furry friends brings us comfort and joy, but keeping them safe and healthy requires a comprehensive approach to pet safety and health.
That approach goes beyond choosing the right food. All too often, pest control is overlooked in the conversation about pet safety. However, it’s an essential part of guarding the well-being of your beloved pets and maintaining a comfortable home that all the residents enjoy.
Catseye Pest Control has been providing safe pest control methods for decades, and that gives us unique insight into the dangers that families and pets may face. Let’s explore the risks and how to handle them in more detail.
Understanding the Dangers
Fleas and ticks are among the most commonly discussed dangers that pets face, but pet owners actually have more to consider. Pests of all types, including fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, other indoor pests, and rodents, can carry pathogens that cause diseases. Common pest-borne illnesses include heartworms, rabies, Lyme disease, and other dangerous conditions.
The risks vary depending on the type of pests involved. That’s why a well-rounded strategy for keeping your pets and your home pest-free is so important.
Fleas and Ticks
Your pet’s fur is an ideal spot for these tiny pests to nestle in and grab a meal. Fleas can be picked up by pets outdoors or inadvertently brought inside by humans on clothing and other items. Your pet may encounter ticks just about anywhere outdoors, including wooded areas, debris piles, and tall, grassy areas.
Fleas and ticks both feed on blood, consuming up to 15 times their own body weight in blood. Due to their small size, puppies and kittens have a higher risk of developing anemia from blood loss. This condition is characterized by a lack of energy caused by a drop in red blood cells.
Additionally, fleas and ticks can both cause excessive itching and allergic reactions. Tick bites can transmit dangerous conditions like Lyme disease, which can cause fever and joint pain. Signs of these pests include:
Fleas: Look for dark specks (droppings or live fleas) or white specks (eggs) in your pet’s fur. Other signs may include excessive licking and scratching, scabs, and hot spots.
Ticks: Spotted by feel or sight, these tiny pests grow larger after feeding. They attach most frequently around cats’ eyes and ears. On dogs, you might find them on your pet’s paws, ears, head, or neck.
Prompt removal and treatment is essential. Additionally, professional flea removal can restore your peace of mind, ensuring that your home is flea-free as quickly and safely as possible.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes bug more than just humans. Female mosquitoes bite humans and animals to feed on their blood. In doing so, they can spread germs to their hosts, including viruses and parasites. One of the primary concerns for pets is the transmission of heartworms. This serious condition can affect pets’ heart, lungs, and blood vessels. It impacts ferrets and other animals as well as dogs and cats. Symptoms may include:
Persistent cough
Decrease in appetite
Increased fatigue
Unwillingness to engage in exercise
Indoor Pests
Other indoor pests can carry fleas, ticks, and mites inside with them. Some, like stinkbugs, can cause digestive problems if your pet snacks on them. Insects to watch out for include the following:
Cockroaches typically stay away from pets but may contaminate surfaces and pet food, which can expose your furry friend to dangerous viruses and bacteria.
Spiders may pack a venomous bite, which can cause pets’ neuromuscular damage.
Ants have been known to bite pets, potentially causing allergic reactions and skin irritation.
Bed bugs can also be problematic, hiding in mattresses, pet bedding, and other areas and feeding on pets, causing itchy welts.
Rodents
Rodents are a widespread pest problem affecting millions of homes every year. Like other indoor pests, mice, rats, and other wild rodents can bring parasites, fleas, and ticks into your home. They can also expose people and pets to dangerous germs through contact with live rodents, droppings, and their saliva. This includes conditions like toxoplasmosis, which can affect the gastrointestinal and nervous systems.
Safe Pest Control Methods
Now that you’ve got a better idea of the dangers that pests pose to your pet’s safety, the need for effective pest control is clear. Five effective pest control methods for pets include:
Regular Grooming
Routine grooming, including brushing your pet, trimming its nails, and bathing it frequently, has many benefits. It decreases shedding and provides an excellent opportunity to check your pets for pests like ticks and fleas.
Preventative Medication
Consult your veterinarian to determine the best options for your pets. Flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives come in various forms, including collars, oral medications, and topical treatments. There is not a one-size-fits-all treatment option. Ask your vet questions about what to do in case of a reaction and how long it takes for the medication to become effective.
Indoor Pest Control
Practicing preventive methods can provide safe and effective indoor pest control. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends trying these types of methods first. This includes taking actions such as:
Promptly picking up pet food after feeding
Storing all food in pest-proof containers
Placing garbage in tightly lidded receptacles and taking it out regularly
Fixing plumbing leaks
Eliminating clutter
Seal Entry Points
You can’t always avoid accidentally bringing pests inside your home. However, you can reduce the odds that they enter your home by inspecting your property and closing off gaps, cracks, and openings to provide some protection. Taking it to the next level, Cat-Guard Wildlife and Rodent Exclusion Systems provide a permanent barrier to protect key areas and provide chemical-free, humane, long-term results.
Professional Pest Control
You may find pet-safe DIY pest control products for pets in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. However, many pests are challenging to thoroughly eliminate on your own. When it comes to pet safety (and humans, too), rely on pet safe pest control from Catseye. We have decades of experience and a commitment to using innovative, safe, and effective treatments that get results.
Safe Pest Control for Cats
Relying on professionals is the safest path you can take. However, you may also explore some cat-safe pest control options.
Indoor Cats and Outdoor Cats
Routinely check your cat’s coat, ears, and paws for evidence of pests. Keep an eye out for excessive itching, skin irritations, or any changes in behavior that may indicate a pest-borne illness. Read all labels of products you choose for use indoors and outside. Cats are susceptible to poisoning from chemicals like organophosphate and carbamate. If your cat is exposed, signs of toxicity include:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Fever
Loss of appetite
Copious salivation
Muscle tremors
Increased heart rate
Catnip and Herbs
Cat-friendly plants can safely help repel insects, keeping your cats and home safer. Examples include catnip, lemon balm, basil, and oregano. Avoid using lavender, which is often included in natural repellent recommendations, because it can be toxic to cats.
Safe Pest Control for Dogs
It’s critical to consult your veterinarian to determine the best ways to keep your pooch safe. A few ideas include the following.
Frequent Walks
Man’s best friend often requires routine physical activity. Some of the ways to protect your dog during walks include:
Avoiding areas with standing water, which can be a haven for mosquitoes.
Using a dog-friendly insect repellent applied to a bandana.
Keeping your dog on a leash to prevent them from getting into nests or fire ant mounds
Talking to your vet about preventatives that protect against parasites, mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks
Regular Inspections
Routinely inspecting your dog for fleas, ticks, and other pests can help eliminate problems before they have a chance to do serious damage. After walks, hikes, or playing outside, be sure to inspect your dog. Pay particular attention to their paws, head, ears, and belly.
Contact Catseye for Safe Pest Control Methods You Can Rely On
Catseye has decades of experience in pest control, giving us unique insight into some of the safest measures available. Pest control for pets is possible when you work with a partner who prioritizes pet safety along with the safety of humans and the environment. Best of all, our methods are efficient, effective, and customized to your unique needs.
Mantie, Slayer of Lanternflies, says “make mine a double” when it comes to eating spotted lanternflies.
Last week we met Dot, the pretty Carolina mantis who celebrated Thanksgiving week in our home by dining on spotted lanternflies. Shortly after Dot’s arrival we discovered a beautiful Chinese mantis in the front flowerbed. Her name and title are Mantie, Slayer of Lanternflies. The Chinese mantis has a fascinating history in our country. Let’s travel back in time more than a century to October 16, 1897 when a Mr. Joseph Hindermyer discovered a large insect “resting on the upper part of his tomato vines” in Mt. Airy PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. Fortunately, Philip Laurent, Hindermyer’s neighbor and a member of The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia recognized this large insect to be a rather extraordinary mantis and later discovered that it was an exotic species known from China and Japan. How it arrived in Mt. Airy remains forever shrouded in mystery, but Laurent noted that a large nursery, Meehan and Sons, in nearby Germantown had procured many plants from China and Japan. Could it be that this marvelous predator arrived as a stowaway, perhaps as an embryo in an egg case on a Japanese maple? Maybe so.
One of my favorite reunion stories involves the Chinese mantis and another invasive pest, the nefarious brown marmorated stink bug. Fast forward a century to the mid-1990’s, when the brown marmorated stink bug arrives in the US less than 60 miles from Mt. Airy in Allentown, PA. The dramatic decline of stink bugs in Maryland and several other eastern states over the last decade is in part related to the fact that several of our indigenous predators, parasites, and pathogens are now using brown marmorated stink bugs as a source of food. Prompted by this discovery, I decided that it was time to have a reunion between these two historical acquaintances from the East – the Chinese praying mantis and the Asian brown marmorated stink bug. Like many reunions I have attended, meeting old acquaintances can be fraught with joy and despair. In the case of the Chinese mantis, the reunion with the brown marmorated stink bug was gastronomic joy. She consumed a dozen stink bugs in quick succession before nibbling only half of unlucky stink bug number thirteen. As for the stink bugs, well, let’s just say their reunion was filled with short-lived despair. You see, the hungry Chinese mantis mercifully devoured the stink bugs head first.
The reunion between two old acquaintances from Asia, the Chinese mantis and the brown marmorated stink bug, was a happy one for the mantis but not so much for the stink bug. My favorite part of this video appears at the end as the fastidious mantis tidies up after her meal. And yes, this is several times life speed.
Stout spines on the forelegs enable the mantis to snare and hold its prey.
We fast forward again to 2023 when we learned in last week’s episode that mantises accounted for almost 200 acts of predation on the dreaded spotted lanternfly over the past couple years. For the arthropod clan this remarkable total was second only to observations of spiders attacking lanternflies. As we saw in a previous episode, large orb weavers, including the black and yellow garden spider, find spotted lanternflies quite delectable. With the Chinese mantis in the garden and lots of lanternflies in the research plot, who could resist the opportunity to see if lanternflies were on the menu for the Chinese mantis? Within moments of placing Mantie in a lanternfly arena, she snatched up one lanternfly with one foreleg and moments later snagged a second one in the other foreleg. In a short suspense, she devoured them both and ate two more before the day was through. No doubt her much larger size, giant toothed forelegs, and ravenous appetite allowed her to surpass her cousin the Carolina mantis in a head-to-head lanternfly-eating contest. There is a curious and inexplicable symmetry that a potent biological control agent, the Chinese praying mantis and two of its historical, ancient Asian prey, brown marmorated stink bugs and spotted lanternflies, would be reunited after a century or so within miles of each other half way around the world. The reunion between the Chinese mantis, the Asian stink bug and now the spotted lanternfly evoke Hannibal Lecter’s famous quote “I do wish we could chat longer, but I’m having an old friend for dinner.”
A very pregnant Chinese mantis recently visited our fading mums. Inside, after showing some interest in our lanternfly colony, we evaluated her zeal for making lanternflies a meal. In an arena filled with a half dozen lanternflies, she snagged not one, but two lanternflies in a flash and proceeded to eat them with gusto. Why settle for one when you can have two, right? After devouring one, she turned her attention to another and dined on leg of lanternfly for a while. Later she took a deeper dive and enjoyed some tender lanternfly entrails. At the end of the feast all that was left of the lanternfly were wings. The fortuitous reunion of an Asian predator and its historical prey helps to squelch crop loss and concerns wrought by invasive insect pests like stink bugs and spotted lanternflies.
Some have voiced concern that these large generalist predators might eat each other and sometimes even eat small vertebrates like hummingbirds. As I watched Mantie eating spotted lantern flies, I munched a sandwich made from leftover Thanksgiving turkey. I mused that, perhaps, me and lots of other fowl-eating humans share tastes in common with the mantis. When all is said and done, it seems like the Chinese mantis is part of the solution to hordes of lanternflies expanding their range, depredation, and nuisance across our land.
Acknowledgements
Several articles including “Buzzwords, A Prayer Before Dining” by May Berenbaum, “Sexual cannibalism increases male material investment in offspring: quantifying terminal reproductive effort in a praying mantis” by William D. Brown and Katherine L. Barry, “Sexual cannibalism in the praying mantid, Mantis religiosa: a field study” by S.E.Lawrence, and “A species of Orthoptera” by P. Laurent were consulted for this episode. The wonderful article “Using community science to identify predators of spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), in North America” by Anne E. Johnson, Alison Cornell, Sara Hermann, Fang Zhu, and Kelli Hoover was used to prepare this story.
A gorgeous Carolina mantis named Dot enjoys an early Thanksgiving feast of spotted lanternfly.
Last week we learned that subfreezing temperatures in the DMV were bringing an end to mischief caused by spotted lanternflies. However, Mother Nature’s chill is not the only thing putting a beat-down on this pest. Early in the invasion of spotted lanternfly in the US we read things like this, “…as with many other insects arriving to the United States from other parts of the world and finding no established natural enemies here, it has become very invasive.” Back then, it seemed like there might be no stopping these grape-killing, honeydew-squirting rascals, but now we know better.
After emerging from an egg case called an ootheca, a tiny Carolina mantis takes its first glimpse of a world full of wonderful morsels to eat. Hopefully, many of these meals will be spotted lanternflies.
A recent publication by scientists at Penn State University summarized observations of acts of predation on various life stages of spotted lanternfly. Arthropods led the carnage with more than 200 attacks by spiders, 196 attacks by mantids, 177 attacks by wasps, 55 attacks by sucking predators like assassin bugs, and another 21 attacks by other arthropods. Twenty some families of birds accounted for more than 500 attacks, with ground dwellers like chickens and pheasants leading the way. Death delivered by members of the cardinal, mocking bird, wren and several other bird clans contributed to the total. Mammals, amphibians, fish and non-feathered reptiles also got into the act accounting for 106 additional observations. Wow! So, when my grandson spotted a Carolina mantis on the window last week, well, we named her Dot (guess why) and just had to invite her in for an early Thanksgiving feast of spotted lanternfly.
The Carolina mantis ranges from southern Canada into Central and South America. Like other mantis species, Carolina mantises eat a wide variety of insects and spiders found in gardens and landscapes. And yes, on occasion the female consumes her unfortunate mate, especially when mantises are raised in captivity. The extent to which this is an artifact of being raised under unnatural conditions is not known, but it is reported that well fed gals are less likely to consume their suitors than hungry ones. We welcomed Dot into our home and noticed that she was rather pregnant and that she appeared to need just a few more meals to finish the job of generating a full complement of eggs. When placed in a small terrarium housing a half dozen lanternflies, she wasted no time mounting an attack. We have all seen those wildlife movies where a cheetah jets after a gazelle but eventually fails in its attack. Well, Dot’s first try on a lanternfly failed when she brushed the lanternfly with her leg and it sprang away. Not one to give up, her second attack scored. Having witnessed other acts of mantis predation, I was not surprised to see her start at the head and work her way down the body to the meatier parts.
Meet Dot, a Carolina mantis that stopped by for an early Thanksgiving feast. We offered her some lanternflies but her first attempt to capture one didn’t go that well. With a little more stealth and a faster strike she scored on the second try. Apparently, the first place to start on a lanternfly dinner is the head just behind the left compound eye. After dinner and before the next escapade, it’s always good to do a little grooming. She reminds me of a cat when she does this. Below the dinner place we can see that not much is left of the lanternfly when she is done. After the feast she returned to the wild to continue her beneficial work.
Our house guest dined for a few days devouring a lanternfly or two each day before we released her in a grove of lanternfly infested trees. Here’s hoping her Thanksgiving feast of lanternflies continues long enough for her to lay a mass of eggs before chilly weather closes the door on her escapades. No doubt her legacy of tiny mantis offspring will help mitigate the mischief caused by spotted lanternflies in 2024.
Acknowledgements
Bug of the Week thanks eagle-eyed Jackie for spotting the hungry Carolina mantis that was the heroine of this episode. The wonderful article “Using community science to identify predators of spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), in North America” by Anne E. Johnson, Alison Cornell, Sara Hermann, Fang Zhu and Kelli Hoover was used to prepare this story.
With their iconic mask-like facial markings, light brown to reddish-brown fur, and banded tails, raccoons are easy to recognize. These critters are known for their destructive tendencies and penchant for getting into garbage, which is how they got the nickname “trash panda.” Additionally, these masked bandits can cause damage to homes and other buildings year-round.
With decades in the pest and wildlife control business, Catseye Pest Control has handled raccoon removal calls during every season. Learn more about raccoon winter activity, including what to expect throughout this chilly season. We’ll provide tips on what to do to prevent raccoons from entering your house and share advice for dealing with the situation if one does make its way inside.
Raccoon Habitat and Activity
Raccoons are common throughout the United States, including here in the Northeast. Unlike other animals, raccoons benefit from the expansion of humans into previously rural areas. These scavengers, or “dumpster divers” as they are sometimes called, enjoy greater access to easy food when humans plant gardens, install bird feeders, and take out garbage. Raccoons are incredibly adaptable and capable of making comfortable homes in various habits, including urban and suburban areas.
Although they can live anywhere, raccoons tend to choose areas like hollow tree cavities, brush piles, sheds, and other manmade structures to make their dens. These animals eat just about anything, from fruits and nuts to insects and young birds. They also scavenge in chicken coops, garbage cans, dumpsters, farmland, and gardens to find food.
Do Raccoons Hibernate?
Many animals, including bears and groundhogs, spend winter in hibernation, which is a deep sleep state marked by a slowed heart rate and lower body temperature. Raccoons do not hibernate. Instead, they enter a state known as torpor. Also referred to as temporary hibernation, this involuntary state lasts for a few hours per day.
Is It Normal to See a Raccoon During the Winter?
Although raccoons don’t truly hibernate, some animals store up enough body fat to spend much of the winter in their dens. These creatures can be active year-round, so it’s possible to see raccoons out during the day searching for food. You are more likely to see them on warmer days when they will be out looking for food before temperatures fall again.
Additionally, it’s not impossible that raccoons will make their dens in your crawlspace or attic.
How to Deter Raccoons from Moving In
Like other animals, raccoons may be attracted to your home or business because they are looking for warmth, food, and shelter during winter. Although no do-it-yourself measures offer a guarantee, taking preventive steps can reduce the likelihood of seeing raccoons in the winter or any other time of year.
Raccoon Exclusion
Close off gaps, cracks, and openings to prevent entry. Raccoon exclusion effectively seals potential entry points to keep wildlife out. Inspect the attic, foundation, and crawl space. Installing caps on chimneys and securing pet doors can be helpful.
Startle Them
Raccoons seek out quiet spaces. Use motion-activated lights and sprinklers outside to startle raccoons and potentially scare them away from your property.
Store Food in Rigid Plastic, Glass, or Metal Containers
Raccoons will seek out food, so they are more likely to enter dwellings and other buildings if they smell food, even if it’s only pet food. Store food items in tightly lidded containers and invest in raccoon-proof garbage receptacles to make your home and property less inviting.
What Should I Do if a Raccoon Is in My Home or Business?
First, if you see a raccoon inside or on your property, don’t panic. Avoid confronting the animal and keep your children and pets away from it. Raccoons don’t attack indiscriminately. However, when cornered, these critters will defend themselves.
Open doors and windows and give the raccoon plenty of space. Hopefully, the animal will decide to be cautious and head for the nearest exit. However, if the raccoon won’t leave or you suspect it has built a den in your attic, crawlspace, or other area, contact Catseye for professional removal.
Raccoon Control and Exclusion Services from Professionals
Dealing with wildlife on your own is rarely recommended. Raccoons can carry dangerous pathogens, including rabies, which causes neurological symptoms and can be fatal if left untreated. The professionals at Catseye have the experience, education, and equipment needed to safely and humanely remove wildlife of all types.
Even better, what if there was a way to stop raccoons from ever entering your home or business at all? Residential Exclusion Systems and Commercial Exclusion Systems provide a safe, humane, chemical-free barrier. These permanent preventive systems provide targeted protection for vulnerable areas, or you can use them to achieve total protection, from the roof to the basement.
Contact Catseye for Peace of Mind in Every Season
Winter, spring, summer, and fall — like so many other pests, raccoons remain active throughout every season. Protect your home or business by partnering with professionals who have decades of experience dealing with pesky problems. Contact Catseye today to learn more or to schedule a free inspection.
Frozen to death on a tree trunk with its beak still embedded in bark, a rapid drop in temperature caught this spotted lanternfly by surprise.
In previous episodes we learned about the introduction and spread of spotted lanternfly in our land, how their sweet, sticky honeydew attracts stinging insects, and why more people witnessed spotted lanternflies this summer and autumn than in years past. As Mother Nature sent a chilly blast to the middle Atlantic region just after Halloween, inquiring minds wanted to know if subfreezing temperatures put an end to the dastardly shenanigans of spotted lanternfly for 2023. Several news outlets report that prolonged temperatures below 28 degrees Fahrenheit are lethal to adult spotted lanternflies, the active feeding stage found on our plants at this time of year. Spotted lanternflies pass the wicked winter as eggs and temperatures must be much colder, in the teens and single digits to put a beat-down on egg survival.
At the base of a tree of heaven, a season of sucking sap and laying eggs ended when local temperatures dropped into below freezing.
To test the notion of a lethal 28-degree boundary, on November 2 Bug of the Week traveled to scenic Mercerville, MD near Antietam battlefield, where temperatures had dropped to 27 degrees Fahrenheit in the wee hours of the morning. There in a small woodlot rife with tree of heaven, a key food plant in the life cycle of spotted lanternfly, hundreds of spotted lanternflies had succumbed to the freeze. Many of the casualties lay scattered at the base of the tree, while higher up the trunk some were frozen in place with their sap-sucking beaks still embedded in the tree’s bark. Ah, but all were not killed by the frigid night. Nestled near the ground of several trees where the huge warm mass of Mother Earth and some insulating vegetation may have provided a thermal refuge, some spotted lanternflies survived. A quick tally of 100 lanternflies on a half dozen trees revealed 66% dead and 34% alive.
In western Maryland where temperatures dropped into the upper 20’s (Fahrenheit) the first week of November, spotted lanternflies were frozen in place on tree trunks. Some died with beaks still embedded in bark while others littered the ground. Further east where lows reached only 30 degrees Fahrenheit, survival was much higher and spotted lanternflies continued their mischief.
While temperatures in the 20-degree Fahrenheit range are lethal to adult lanternflies, much colder winter temperatures must occur before overwintering eggs will die.
Not one to miss an opportunity to delve a little deeper into chilly deaths of spotted lanternfly, we headed south and east to the somewhat warmer realm of Columbia, MD where on November 3 temperatures dipped to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Here lanternflies fared much better with only 22% of lanternflies expired and 78% alive and well out of 200 examined. Of course, some of the mortality observed at the base of trees certainly could have resulted from spotted lanternflies punching their ticket to the great beyond after sucking sap for several months rather than being frozen to death. As scientists like to say, more data from the field is needed to fully understand the relationship between low temperatures and the annual swan song for spotted lanternflies. As temperatures rebounded into the upper 70’s and approached 80 in many locations last week, there was yet another opportunity to stand beneath tree of heaven and experience the honeydew shower of the spotted lanternfly. If this is not your cup of tea, rest assured that a seriously frosty night is just around the corner and it will shut the door on these noisome invaders for this year.
Acknowledgements
Bug of the Week thanks Dr. Shrewsbury for assisting with observations of spotted lanternflies. The wonderful reference “Impact of minimum winter temperature on Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) egg mortality” by Jung-Su Lee, Il-Kwon Kim, Sang-Hyun Koh, Sung Jong Cho, Suk-Jun Jang, Seung-Hyeon Pyo, and Won IL Choi was consulted for this episode.
Frozen to death on a tree trunk with its beak still embedded in bark, a rapid drop in temperature caught this spotted lanternfly by surprise.
In previous episodes we learned about the introduction and spread of spotted lanternfly in our land, how their sweet, sticky honeydew attracts stinging insects, and why more people witnessed spotted lanternflies this summer and autumn than in years past. As Mother Nature sent a chilly blast to the middle Atlantic region just after Halloween, inquiring minds wanted to know if subfreezing temperatures put an end to the dastardly shenanigans of spotted lanternfly for 2023. Several news outlets report that prolonged temperatures below 28 degrees Fahrenheit are lethal to adult spotted lanternflies, the active feeding stage found on our plants at this time of year. Spotted lanternflies pass the wicked winter as eggs and temperatures must be much colder, in the teens and single digits to put a beat-down on egg survival.
At the base of a tree of heaven, a season of sucking sap and laying eggs ended when local temperatures dropped into below freezing.
To test the notion of a lethal 28-degree boundary, on November 2 Bug of the Week traveled to scenic Mercerville, MD near Antietam battlefield, where temperatures had dropped to 27 degrees Fahrenheit in the wee hours of the morning. There in a small woodlot rife with tree of heaven, a key food plant in the life cycle of spotted lanternfly, hundreds of spotted lanternflies had succumbed to the freeze. Many of the casualties lay scattered at the base of the tree, while higher up the trunk some were frozen in place with their sap-sucking beaks still embedded in the tree’s bark. Ah, but all were not killed by the frigid night. Nestled near the ground of several trees where the huge warm mass of Mother Earth and some insulating vegetation may have provided a thermal refuge, some spotted lanternflies survived. A quick tally of 100 lanternflies on a half dozen trees revealed 66% dead and 34% alive.
In western Maryland where temperatures dropped into the upper 20’s (Fahrenheit) the first week of November, spotted lanternflies were frozen in place on tree trunks. Some died with beaks still embedded in bark while others littered the ground. Further east where lows reached only 30 degrees Fahrenheit, survival was much higher and spotted lanternflies continued their mischief.
While temperatures in the 20-degree Fahrenheit range are lethal to adult lanternflies, much colder winter temperatures must occur before overwintering eggs will die.
Not one to miss an opportunity to delve a little deeper into chilly deaths of spotted lanternfly, we headed south and east to the somewhat warmer realm of Columbia, MD where on November 3 temperatures dipped to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Here lanternflies fared much better with only 22% of lanternflies expired and 78% alive and well out of 200 examined. Of course, some of the mortality observed at the base of trees certainly could have resulted from spotted lanternflies punching their ticket to the great beyond after sucking sap for several months rather than being frozen to death. As scientists like to say, more data from the field is needed to fully understand the relationship between low temperatures and the annual swan song for spotted lanternflies. As temperatures rebounded into the upper 70’s and approached 80 in many locations last week, there was yet another opportunity to stand beneath tree of heaven and experience the honeydew shower of the spotted lanternfly. If this is not your cup of tea, rest assured that a seriously frosty night is just around the corner and it will shut the door on these noisome invaders for this year.
Acknowledgements
Bug of the Week thanks Dr. Shrewsbury for assisting with observations of spotted lanternflies. The wonderful reference “Impact of minimum winter temperature on Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) egg mortality” by Jung-Su Lee, Il-Kwon Kim, Sang-Hyun Koh, Sung Jong Cho, Suk-Jun Jang, Seung-Hyeon Pyo, and Won IL Choi was consulted for this episode.
The Constitution State is a wonderful place to live, work, and visit. Renowned for its gorgeous natural surroundings, quality of life, and location as the epicenter of the Northeast’s economy, Connecticut has a lot to offer residents. With its picturesque landscapes, winter, in particular, can have a charm all its own.
However, that appeal quickly loses its luster when rodents move indoors. Mice and rats are particularly notorious for seeking warm, safe shelters from winter’s frigid temperatures and wet, snowy conditions. Seeing or hearing a live rodent scurrying about or seeing telltale signs like droppings and gnaw marks can leave many homeowners feeling a little less enamored with winter’s beauty.
Not only can these critters leave residents feeling unnerved, but they also pose significant health risks and can create property damage. Taking proactive measures now and throughout the year can help with winter rodent prevention and year-round rodent control in your Connecticut home.
Winter Rodent Prevention
The National Pest Management Association estimates that rodents affect more than 20 million homes in the United States every winter. Although they aren’t the only winter pest problem, rodents are one of the top seasonal pest issues. Now is the time to consider some tips that can help prevent infestations before they start.
Safe Pest Control
When it comes to Connecticut rodent control or pest control of any kind, safety should always be top of the list of priorities. Instead of indiscriminately reaching for pesticides, it’s helpful to use a mixture of preventive measures and professional pest control. At Catseye Pest Control, we take safety seriously. We focus on using innovative pest control solutions that provide lasting results while being safe for the environment, people, and pets.
Seal Entry Points
One of the most effective forms of rodent control for your Connecticut home is to stop rodents before they get inside. Walk the perimeter of your home and look for gaps, cracks, and openings. Look at the foundation, around doors and windows, and other vulnerable areas like house corners, soffits, and vents. Mice and rats can squeeze through tiny openings, which is why identifying entry points is so critical.
Seal entry points off with screening, caulk, or permanent barriers like Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems. Taking these steps is kind of like putting up a “No Vacancy” sign for rodents and other pests.
Maintain Your Yard
Making your outdoor space less inviting for rodents can help prevent them from making their way inside. As a bonus, keeping your yard tidy with regular mowing during the growing season reduces potential shelters while ensuring your yard looks neat and tidy. Other helpful outdoor activities to reduce rodent activity include the following:
Trim Trees and Shrubs
Avoid planting shrubs and trees too close to the foundation of your home. Allow a foot or more of space — preferably landscaped with rocks — between your home and your favorite plants. Doing so reduces the likelihood that rodents will move from the shelter of the plants to cross that open space to enter your home.
Because rodents are good climbers, keeping all landscaping neatly trimmed is essential. Trim all tree and shrub limbs to create at least six feet of open space between the tree or shrub and your house.
Clean Up Debris
Rake up leaves and dispose of other yard waste in a timely manner. Debris piles can provide rodents with an ideal spot to call home during warmer months. In turn, it increases the likelihood they may make their way into your home once temperatures fall.
Stash Compost and Birdseed Securely
Rodents will take advantage of every opportunity to scavenge for food. Compost piles can act like a beacon for rodents. Do you have birdseed strewn about the lawn? It’s like a free lunch for mice and rats. Place feeders far from your house and consider switching from loose seed to hard seedcakes, which can produce less mess. Likewise, add your compost to secure vessels that won’t provide rodents with easy access, rather than keeping it in open piles.
Store Firewood Away from the House
Piles of firewood can provide a haven for rodents. Place your main firewood storage 20 to 30 feet from your home and five feet off the ground to make it less attractive to rats and mice. This way, any rodents using the firewood for cover won’t have a chance to search for an opening to squeeze through to gain entry to your home.
Keep a Clean Home
Cleaning won’t guarantee a pest-free home, but it is an integral part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to pest control. IPM methods seek to reduce harm and use as few pesticides as possible. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development notes that keeping your home clean is a powerful preventive tool.
Clean environments cut off rodents’ access to food, shelter, and water and go a long way to preventing them from making your home their home. These additional tips can help:
Store food in Airtight Containers
Rodents have a keen sense of smell, which means food of all types can attract rodents to your home. Keep all food items, including pet food, in airtight, lidded containers made of rigid plastic, glass, or metal to help ward off unwanted critters.
Clean Up Crumbs
Crumbs and spills offer rodents easy pickings as a food source. Wipe down countertops daily. Vacuum and mop floors regularly to cut the food supply off and keep mice and rats out.
Dispose of Trash Properly
Overflowing cans, wrappers littered about, and receptacles that are easy to get into can all beckon rodents and other wildlife onto your property. Inside, keep garbage in rodent-proof cans and routinely empty them to avoid overflow. Outside, use rodent-proof receptacles to keep scavengers out and make your home less appealing to winter pests.
Wash Dishes Promptly
Like crumbs and trash, dirty dishes can attract mice and rats looking for a tasty meal. Rodents aren’t as discriminating about what they eat, which is why they will forage just about anywhere for anything they can find. A sink filled with dirty dishes offers a convenient meal. Promptly washing dishes cuts the food supply off while keeping your home more organized and tidier.
Repair Any Leaks
Even small drips offer a water source for rodents who need to stay hydrated through the winter. Rodents will actively seek out water sources, including water from leaky faucets or leaks in the plumbing line. They will look in crawlspaces, gutter, eaves, and anywhere else. Leaks can also attract other pests and cause water damage, underscoring the importance of prompt repairs.
Regular Inspections Professional Pest Control
Rodents reproduce at a rapid rate. A small infestation can quickly grow out of control, which is why regular inspections are critical. Homeowners can keep an eye out for signs like gnaw marks, droppings, and live rodents. Even better, enlist professionals to provide year-round maintenance and prevention.
Catseye Pest Control’s Platinum Home Protection program takes care of everything and provides a 100% service guarantee. Rodent and pest removal, sealing gaps, environmentally safe perimeter sprays and treatments, and follow up visits are all routine. This ensures that an expert eye watches over your property and promptly takes action before rodents can wreak havoc on your home.
Schedule a Free Inspection with Catseye
For Connecticut rodent control you can rely on, turn to the experts. Catseye has been providing customer-centered pest control since 1987. We prioritize tailoring treatment and prevention plans to each unique home and property, allowing us to achieve maximum effectiveness and safety.
On a dewy morning, male (left) and female (right) carpenter bees await a warm-up from the brilliant autumn sun.
You may have seen the carpenter bee’s hole on the outside of your siding – here’s a look at the brood galleries on the inside.
As record warmth embraced much of the eastern seaboard in recent weeks, children and gardeners reported swarms of “large bumble bees” busily gathering nectar from late season blossoms in flower patches, as well as nature centers and flower beds in residential landscapes. While there is no doubt that many of these bee sightings were indeed bumble bees, this is also the closing act of a fresh crop of carpenter bees as they mob patches of flowers to fatten-up on floral delights in preparation for the upcoming winter. Months ago, busy female carpenter bees devoted weeks constructing galleries in wood, provisioning these galleries with pollen, and depositing eggs within these wooden nurseries. Summer and early fall were a time for young bee larvae to consume these morsels, complete their development, pupate, and emerge as adults. Galleries used as nurseries throughout spring and summer will soon serve as winter refuges for this year’s class of carpenter bees.
Note the shiny hairless abdomen of the carpenter bee.
With a little practice, carpenter bees can be distinguished from their look-alike bumble bee cousins. A carpenter bee’s rump is relatively naked whereas a bumble bee’s butt is usually quite well-cloaked with hair. The head of the carpenter bee is about the width of the thorax, the body segment just behind the head. The head of a bumble bee is noticeably smaller than thorax.
A hairy abdomen is a hallmark of the bumble bee.
Bumble bees have a hairy abdomen, carpenter bees do not. The male carpenter bee has a white patch on his face and the female’s face is entirely black. A male foraged on a lower blossom until he spotted a female foraging just above, and then both appeared to have other business on their minds as they raced away.
Having identified the bee as a carpenter bee, how does one distinguish the guys from the gals? The gender of some carpenter bees such as the large carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica, is easily recognized by the presence or absence of a large white or yellow patch just between their compound eyes: the male sports the white patch, but the forehead of the female large carpenter bee is entirely black. On occasion I have captured large male carpenter bees with my hand to demonstrate that they are not to be feared as they have no stinger, only female bees are equipped with this notable appendage. On one occasion I mistakenly grabbed a female carpenter bee and learned the awesome power of this appendage. If for some strange reason you choose to handle large carpenter bees, please be certain that they are indeed carpenter bees and not bumble bees, and only handle the he bee and not the she bee.
If you want to see a carpenter bee up close and personal you can, but do so only if 1) you know it is a carpenter bee, and 2) it is a male bee, confirmed by the white patch between its eyes. If you try this with a female carpenter bee or a female bumble bee you will have a memorable and painful surprise when you are stung.
One quirky behavior of both carpenter bees and bumble bees comes at the end of the work day. Industrious bumble bee workers usually return to their nest at dusk with the final loads of nectar and pollen to fatten-up any future queens and drones that might still be developing in the nest. But sometimes bumble bees and carpenter bees can be found late in the day or early in the morning resting on a blossom, apparently taking a snooze. With no nest to provision or hungry future royals to feed, it is no surprise to find sleepy carpenters resting on flowers in the early light of dewy autumn mornings. One of their favorite resting spots in my garden is a patch of spotted horsemint. Members of the mint family are renowned for their ability to attract a variety of pollinating insects, in addition to their medicinal qualities. Perhaps, the lazy behavior of my carpenter bees is related not only to the nighttime chill that cools their bodies, but also to some soporific chemical found in the nectar of mint. Who knows? When the killing frost finally puts an end to my autumn bloomers, the last of the carpenter bees will enter the brood galleries not to return until next spring. On a cool autumn morning or a warm afternoon take an early trip to the flower garden to visit the newly minted class of 2023.
Acknowledgements
Bug of the Week thanks Jackie, MPT, University of Maryland Master Gardeners, and the Howard Conservancy for providing the inspiration for this episode. The really cool bee book “The Bees in Your Backyard: A Guide to North America’s Bees” by J. S. Wilson and O.M. Carril was used as a resource for this episode.
