Month: October 2021

admin Uncategorized

Invasive Spotted Lanternfly Threatens Forests in the Northeastern United States

Learn About the Spotted Lanternfly, Its Environmental Impact & USDA Efforts to Eradicate the Pest

Residents of the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States may have encountered the invasive pest known as the spotted lanternfly making a snack out of maple and black walnut trees during the 2021 spring and fall seasons, with peak activity from April to November.

Although the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been trying to get rid of the pest since it arrived on U.S. soil in 2014, recent outbreaks in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts — among other states, has caused the organization to intensify its eradication program.

The spotted lanternfly is indigenous to China, India, and Vietnam. It’s invaded other parts of Asia, like Japan and South Korea before eventually landing in the U.S.

Because the insect lays its eggs on hard, smooth surfaces like wood, brick, and stone, the spotted lanternfly is suspected to have entered the U.S. by way of a stone shipment imported from China in 2012.

But the invasive pest went unnoticed in the U.S. until September 2014 when residents in Pennsylvania found an adult spotted lanternfly eating a tree-of-heaven plant — a favorite for the pest.

Now, the spotted lanternfly is invading parts of the east coast — and rather quickly.

Although the pest is harmless to people and animals, the spread has still raised concerns for experts as the spotted lanternflies feed on a range of fruit crops and trees.

This includes hardwood trees like birches and stone fruits such as peaches, apricots, and cherries.

The spotted lanternfly’s expansive diet of plant and tree species can lead to agricultural issues in addition to shortages in the lumber industry for the Northeast.

Should the invasive species make its way across the country, its impact on the environment and economy could be devastating.

To protect the nation’s dense forestry, local, state, and federal organizations are collaboratively redoubling their efforts to quarantine affected areas and eradicate the pest.

three adult spotted lanternflies with black-dotted red and tan wings on brown tree trunk with red markings

Potentially Damaging Effects of Spotted Lanternflies in the Northeast

While the spotted lanternfly prefers to eat and infest the tree-of-heaven, there are over 70 different types of trees and fruit-bearing plants that can sustain this foreign pest.

This includes grapevines, apple trees, peach trees, pear trees, poplars, oaks, and maples.

Both adult and baby — nymph, lanternflies feed on these plants by sucking sap from the stems, trunks, and branches.

In turn, this inhibits plants from photosynthesizing to the point of starvation and eventual death.

The pests also secrete honey dew — a sticky fluid that causes fatal mold and fungal growth on plants.

This black, sooty mold fungus kills plants and contaminates the surrounding soil.

Aside from providing nutrients, the stems, trunks, and branches of plants like apple trees offer perfect surfaces for the spotted lanternfly to lay its eggs.

Spotted lanternfly eggs are laid en masse in brown or light tan sacs. The egg sacs are often found attached to the surfaces of vegetation, like tree bark and even man-made objects such as cars.

closeup of tan spotted lanternfly egg mass attached to a green, mossy tree trunk

Consequently, the spotted lanternfly’s presence in the U.S. is potentially detrimental to the country’s orchards, vineyards, lumber production, and forests.

According to New York State’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) there are confirmed spotted lanternfly populations in the cities and counties of 11 states, namely:

  • New York
  • New Jersey
  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • Delaware
  • Maryland
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Ohio

The spotted lanternfly population in Massachusetts was discovered in a town called Fitchburg in late September 2021, standing as among the most recently found populations of the pest in the U.S. to date.

While Massachusetts has reported sightings of the pest before, the spotted lanternfly population in Fitchburg is also the first piece of evidence that the foreign pest is consistently growing within the state.

Officials from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) predict the state’s agricultural industry would be devasted by the population if it’s not contained and eradicated soon.

Considering these predictions, the possibility of a national spotted lanternfly infestation is cause for serious alarm.

Spotted Lanternfly Quarantining & Eradication Efforts

As the number of high-risk areas increases, local, state, and federal environmental agencies are targeting and quarantining the most affected areas.

Quarantine borders and regulations are enforced on a state-by-state basis. Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia all currently contain quarantined areas.

Residents within the spotted lanternfly quarantine zones are asked to inspect outdoor items that the pest could use as a place to lay their egg sacs.

These items can include but are not limited to patio furniture, vehicles, rocks, trees, and firewood.

If spotted lanternfly egg sacs are found, residents are encouraged to report them to their state’s agricultural officials.

Residents in the New England and Northeastern areas are encouraged to utilize the following resources to report a spotted lanternfly sighting:

Reporting and containing protocols are just two of the first steps initiated by the USDA in an effort to eradicate spotted lanternflies.

As part of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) 2021 Spotted Lanternfly Control Program, experts are utilizing a variety of methods to target the insect and treat infected trees.

female and male USDA experts in neon yellow-colored vests examining a brown tree with a light brown sticky band on its trunk

To protect trees that attract spotted lanternflies, volunteers and experts are applying sticky tree bands around the trunks.

Both sides of these bands feature powerful adhesives that trap spotted lanternflies. Unable to move, the invasive insects are prevented from destroying the tree or congregating to mate and reproduce.

An even more sustainable alternative to the sticky tree bands are reusable circle traps. These are reserved for tree-of-heavens — also known as Ailanthus (A.) altissima, as the plant species is referred to by experts.

The tree-of-heaven is a foreign plant species, and like the spotted lanternfly, it is also native to Asia. The plant was introduced to the U.S. in the late 1700s, but it can reproduce rather quickly and kill surrounding native plants.

The foreign deciduous tree is largely favored by the spotted lanternfly, so to contain the insect, experts are applying circle traps to the trees as a stronger capturing mechanism.

Placed inside the circle traps are vapor-releasing dichlorvos insecticide strips. Spotted lanternflies that are caught in the traps inhale the insecticide and die.

USDA experts are also focused on controlling tree-of-heaven growth within quarantined areas.

The federal organization isn’t concerned with preserving the tree-of-heaven population in the U.S. as the plant species is known for overtaking the areas it inhabits.

By doing so, the plant has the ability to destroy the native biodiversity found in the area.

In fact, since the tree-of-heaven is the preferred host of the spotted lanternfly, the federal environmentalists theorize that eliminating the plant will negatively impact the invasive insect.

But the eradication of both foreign species is a delicate operation. Oversaturating areas where trees-of-heaven grow with herbicides could also destroy the native plant life in those locations.

The USDA has dispatched APHIS employees in addition to state and local environmentalists to spray tree-of-heaven sprouts with diluted herbicide mixes of triclopyr, imazapyr, and aminopyralid.

Treating tree-of-heaven sprouts with diluted herbicides hinders the invasive plant’s growth and keeps the surrounding flora unharmed.

Infested or fully grown tree-of-heavens, however, are to receive undiluted herbicide treatments. Once doused with concentrated herbicide, the invasive plants can then be removed from the premises to protect other neighboring tree species.

The USDA eradication plan includes the process of using insecticides on the spotted lanternfly eggs, nymphs, and adults.

Research has shown that soybean oils can be used as non-toxic insecticides on spotted lanternfly egg sacs. When applied directly to the egg masses, soybean oil causes spotted lanternfly eggs to asphyxiate and die before hatching.

Insect traps have been infused with insecticides such as dinotefuran, bifenthrin, and imidacloprid to be injected into trees or sprayed in specific quantities on surfaces where spotted lanternflies tend to lay eggs or congregate.

By strategically applying these insecticides in predetermined quantities, the chemicals can eradicate spotted lanternflies, yet remain non-toxic to other insects, plants, animals, and people.

How to Identify Spotted Lanternflies

With state and federal officials requesting reports of spotted lanternfly sightings, it’s important for residents in the affected states — and surrounding areas, to know how to identify the foreign pest at each stage of its development.

While not strong flyers, grown spotted lanternflies are easily identifiable by the yellow abdomen and vibrantly colored, bespeckled wings.

The spotted lanternfly’s forewings, or top wings are light tan with black spots. Underneath lie its hindwings, which possesses a particularly noticeable patterning.

The upper half is black and white while the lower portion is a cardinal-red shade, also featuring black spots.

closeup of lanternfly with black-spotted red and tan wings on a spider web, green leaves in background

Freshly laid spotted lanternfly egg sacs appear as light- or brown-colored fuzzy patches. As time goes on, the fuzzy patches will begin to harden and look like caked mud. Cracks form in the patches before the eggs hatch, which typically occurs by May.

After hatching, the spotted lanternfly enters its infant or nymphal stage. In the early nymphal period, spotted lanternflies are mere ¼ of an inch in length, wingless, with black bodies and white spots.

Late-stage nymphs are ½ an inch in length. Their bodies are mostly bright red with white and black spots.

white-and-black-spotted red lanternfly nymph next to white-spotted black lanternfly nymph sitting on brown tree bark

Young spotted lanternflies usually mature into full-grown adults by mid-July and mate until August.

By October, female spotted lanternflies start laying eggs sacs. A single egg sac can contain between 30 to 50 eggs. Typically, a female spotted lanternfly produces one or two egg sacs in her lifetime.

Egg laying can continue until November, but once temperatures begin to drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit adult spotted lanternflies begin to die off.

But the egg sacs won’t hatch until the following spring.

Since spotted lanternfly eggs can overwinter, residents should be on the lookout for the insect’s egg masses.

If found, the USDA asks the location and date of the sighting be reported as soon as possible.

Residents should not, however, take it upon themselves to remove the pest. Instead, they are encouraged to seek the help of an experienced entomologist or pest professional.

This is because complete eradication of the pest involves delicate application of dangerous pesticides. Untrained individuals risk hurting themselves and others if they try to address the situation alone.

Control a Pest or Wildlife Infestation with Catseye Pest Control

Homeowners and business owners shouldn’t have to worry about a pest or nuisance wildlife invading the property.

And although Catseye Pest Control does not currently treat for the spotted lanternfly, our licensed technicians can expertly eradicate many other types of wood-destroying pests, such as carpenter ants, termites, and powderpost beetles.

Clients who choose Catseye can be assured their property is handled with precision and care. Especially as our pest control specialists can eliminate infestations using Integrated Pest Control Management (IPM) methods.

IPM places the safety of people and animals at the forefront of the pest removal program by utilizing organic, environmentally friendly methods to solve pest or wildlife infestations.

Our pest management experts can help homeowners and business owners regain control of their property and sanity. To learn more about how we can best serve you, contact us today.

This article appeared first on Catseye Pest

admin Uncategorized

Just in time for Halloween, spooky spiders invading homes! Wolf spiders, Lycosidae

 

In a basement room, a mother wolf spider carries dozens of spiderlings on her back until they are old enough to fend for themselves.

 

Last week we visited fall field crickets, whose autumnal home invasions provide cheerful chirps useful in estimating temperatures without a thermometer. Over the past few weeks several inquiries have arrived about a different kind of home invader, spiders. Our home has been graced by smallish wolf spiders dashing across the bedroom floor, cruising the bathroom, slipping in the sink, and audaciously reclining on the bed. What’s up with this?

Beautiful wolf spiders tote their egg cases to reduce chances of their young falling victim to predators or parasitoids.

Wolf spiders are among the most important invertebrate predators providing the ecosystem service of biological control by devouring caterpillars, leaf hoppers, lace bugs, and just about anything else they can sink their fangs into. As generalist predators, they eat a broad range of prey and are vitally important in putting a beat-down on insect pests not only in agricultural ecosystems, but also in residential gardens and landscapes. During this growing season as I tended my flower beds and vegetable gardens, as in previous years, I was amazed and pleased at the abundance of wolf spiders dashing through the mulch and hiding beneath stones. As summer wore on, female wolf spiders were regularly seen toting their dazzling white egg cases slung beneath their abdomen. By late summer and early autumn after these eggs hatched, busy mothers toted scores of tiny spiderlings upon their backs, safe from hungry jaws of other ground-dwelling predators.

Big hairy tarantulas can be spooky, as can the wolf spider with its ghoulish fangs devouring hapless prey. Over the last few weeks wolf spiders have invaded my home. Small spiderlings provide morning surprises on the bathroom floor, in the sink, and sometimes on furniture. But these wolf spiders are not to be feared. They are highly beneficial predators of many pests in our gardens and landscapes. Consider catching them in a cup, glass, or other container and freeing them outside away from the house where they will help eliminates pests in your landscape next growing season.

I often liken these voracious invertebrate predators to large meat-eaters like lions, apex predators sitting high atop food webs. To me, wolf spiders are the clear sign of complex and functional garden food webs. An inquisitive neighbor recently asked “Ok, if there is a smorgasbord of excellent food items outside, why do spiders come inside in autumn?” Great question, because my home probably has a bug or two but nothing compared to my garden. A possible explanation lies here. Our resident spider expert explained that as autumn wanes, the bounty of spider prey declines dramatically outdoors as insects and other invertebrates hide in hibernal redoubts or migrate to warmer latitudes. With declining sources of food, these wandering hunters are forced to travel farther to find a meal. Their search may bring them to homes and other structures where faulty door-sweeps, caulking, or weather-stripping allow them to enter and deliver spooky morning surprises.

Spiders and their webs get really big the week before Halloween.

Spider invasions might be terror for arachnophobes, but for bug geeks close encounters of an arachnid kind provide an opportunity to hone one’s spider catching skills. Here’s what we do. Using a drinking glass or, better yet, a dedicated green plastic spider-catching cup, we chase down and corral these rascals. Often, we simply use a hand to usher the spider into the cup, but if touching spiders is not your thing, a tissue or piece of paper may help you guide them into their holding cell. Once captured and admired, they are released outdoors to fulfill their spidery roles of hunting pests in the garden. Of course, closing gaps with caulk and weather-stripping and replacing faulty door sweeps will not only help exclude spiders, but with Old Man Winter just around the corner, these easy home improvements will also help keep those heating bills down.

Happy Halloween from Bug of the Week!  

Acknowledgements

We thank spider-loving Ashley and the inquisitive crew of the Weather Channel for providing inspiration for this episode. Dr. Jeff Shultz provided interesting insights into these home invasions, and the fascinating review “Spiders as biological control agents” by Susan Reichert and Tim Lockley provided background information.

This post appeared first on Bug of the Week

admin Uncategorized

What’s all this chirping about? Ask the fall field cricket, Gryllus pennsylvanicus

 

While some home invaders are unwelcomed guests, the annual visit by field crickets always provides a bit of alright.

While some home invaders are unwelcomed guests, the annual visit by field crickets always provides a bit of alright.

 

In previous episodes we visited rather unsavory home invaders like stink bugs and camel crickets. This week let’s meet a most entertaining and downright amusing visitor, the fall field cricket. Several weeks ago, chirps from the basement heralded the annual invasion of field crickets to my home. Last week at 4:35 am I was awakened by the loud earnest chirping of a field cricket somewhere in the basement. With my sleep seriously disturbed and my cell-phone on the nightstand, I seized the opportunity to see how well chirps of this diminutive troubadour tracked ambient temperature. Here’s how it works. As you know, insects are cold blooded. Their body temperature is more or less the same as the environment that surrounds them unless the insect is basking in the sun or using muscles to elevate its temperature like the dobsonfly we met in a previous episode. Many years ago, a noted entomologist, Richard Alexander, demonstrated a simple relationship between ambient temperature and the how often a cricket chirped. Simply count the number of chirps in 15 seconds, add 37, and you will approximate the ambient temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. With sleep impossible, cell phone in hand, stopwatch enabled, I sampled my cricket’s chirps several times at 15 second intervals over the next few minutes. The average number of chirps per 15 seconds was 40. So, this little guy (only males chirp) reported my household temperature to be 40 + 37, or roughly 77 degrees. A quick check of the household digital thermostat revealed a temperature of 74 degrees. So, the cricket’s estimate was but a few chirps away from being spot on.  

This little field cricket demonstrates his skill at helping humans estimate ambient temperatures. Counting the number of chirps in 15 seconds and adding 37 provides an estimate of ambient temperature. Let’s see how well this works.

filescraper copy 2_2000.jpg

Melodious male crickets bear a multi-ridged structure called the file on one forewing. The opposite forewing bears a hardened structure called the scraper. As wings open and close, the file moves across the scraper creating vibrations, chirps, that resonate from the cricket’s wings.

Although some might think so, helping humans figure out ambient temperature is unlikely the reason why crickets chirp. A few years ago, I tracked two male crickets, one of which was missing a hind leg, and a rather portly female. Never one to stand in the way of romance, I captured the trio and placed them in a small terrarium. Within moments the smaller male, the five-legged fellow named Pete, challenged his cohabitant, Bud, to a duel that resulted in boisterous chirping, snapping of jaws, and grappling with forelegs. The more aggressive Bud soon vanquished his challenger and Pete retreated to a quiet corner of the terrarium. Crickets battle for food and mates and chirping is a part of this. For centuries Chinese gamblers have wagered high stakes on the outcome of cricket fights.  An interesting trick used by the cricket handlers to resuscitate losers of bouts is to shake the defeated warriors and toss them in the air several times. This dramatically reduces the recovery time and allows the small combatants to return to the arena in minutes rather than the regular convalescent period of hours or days. A study published in Nature scientific journal confirmed the success of this therapy in helping defeated crickets regain their fighting spirit. Rather than interrupt Nature’s course, I allowed Pete to sulk in the corner. Shortly after his victory, Bud initiated a series of soft chirps and his efforts were soon rewarded by a visit from the robust female, Wendy.  

What useful information is carried in the male cricket’s song other than the typical male plea for female attention? A fascinating study by two Finnish scientists of the Mediterranean field cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus, found a link between the male cricket’s song and his immune response. Troubadours with a highly attractive song also had superior immune systems. If the ability to ward off diseases due to superior immune function is passed along to progeny, then females that choose a mate with an enhanced immune system may ensure better survival of their offspring. By demonstrating his superior immune system with a song, the male cricket may win the lady.  

One last thought about the cricket and his song relates to Old Man Winter, who is just around the corner. Of course, once winter’s chill arrives in a few weeks and temperatures plummet, crickets will not be chirping at all. Rather than depending on crickets to let you know how cold it is outside, time will be better spent inside pondering crickets and their songs over a mug of steaming hot chocolate. 

Acknowledgements

The following articles were used in preparation for this Bug of the Week: ‘Courtship song and immune function in the field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus” by Markus Rantala and Raine Kortet, “Aggressiveness recovers much faster in male crickets forced to fly after a defeat” by Hans A. Hofmann and Paul A. Stevenson, and “Seasonal and daily chirping cycles in the northern spring and fall field crickets Gryllus veletis and Gryllus pennsylvanicus” by Richard Alexander and Gerald Meral.

This post appeared first on Bug of the Week

admin Uncategorized

Lace bugs help put the “sick” in sycamore: Sycamore lace bug, Corythucha ciliata

 

A beautiful sycamore lace bug seems to stand guard near her recently laid clutch of eggs.

A beautiful sycamore lace bug seems to stand guard near her recently laid clutch of eggs.

 

American sycamore is a magnificent native tree often found growing along streams and rivers. Although it thrives in rich, moist soils, its ability to survive stressful environmental conditions such as poor soils, drought, heat, and pollution has earned sycamore a valued place in cities and residential landscapes worldwide. Here in the DMV by the middle of summer and reliably by the month of October, some sycamores just look sick. Their leaves have turned from verdant green to anemic yellow. This is not just the work of Mother Nature signaling the tree to prepare for winter. Since late spring, many sycamores have had the life sucked out of them by thousands of tiny sap-sucking insects called sycamore lace bugs. We met relatives of the sycamore lace bug in a previous episode of Bug of the Week called “And may all your azaleas be white.”

Oh my, hundreds of sycamore lace bug feeding punctures on the bottom of a leaf translate into a galaxy of white stipples on the upper surface of a leaf.

Oh my, hundreds of sycamore lace bug feeding punctures on the bottom of a leaf translate into a galaxy of white stipples on the upper surface of a leaf.

One leafy subject I examined this week had more than 200 lace bug eggs, nymphs, and adults on the undersides of several of its leaves. Beautiful but pernicious is the adult lace bug. Delicate outermost wings with numerous lacey veins give this bug its common name. And these wings are not just adornment. They can be tilted like a shield to ward off attacks by would-be predators like lacewing larvae or ladybugs. As autumn ends, adult lace bugs find protected places beneath bark or debris on the ground to spend the winter. In spring shortly after new leaves are formed, they return to the foliage and attach small black barrel-shaped eggs onto the leaf’s surface. The highly fecund female can lay more than 200 eggs during the course of her lifetime. Tiny black nymphs festooned with rows of spines hatch from these eggs. Like their parents, lace bug nymphs have a beak used to rupture cells and withdraw nutritious liquid contents. The combined feeding of nymphs and adults results in many tiny white stipples visible on the upper leaf surface. The lower surface of the leaf is a mess of nymphs and adults, shed skins, eggs inserted into leaves, and dark fecal spots – the spoils of the ongoing feast. As numbers of lace bugs grow and successive generations feed on leaves, stipples increase and sometimes coalesce in a way that makes the entire leaf appear yellow or bronze.

White stipples on the upper leaf surface of sycamores may reveal adult sycamore lace bugs on the lower surface. Look for barrel-shaped eggs, spiny nymphs, shed skins, beautiful adults, and nasty tar-like fecal deposits left behind by lace bugs as they feed. Dense infestations may accelerate discoloration and early abscission of sycamore leaves.

Sycamores looking a little yellow and sick? Could be the mischief of sycamore lace bugs.

Sycamores looking a little yellow and sick? Could be the mischief of sycamore lace bugs.

Lace bug development is temperature dependent and, as the world warms and our cities grow hotter, lace bugs may be able to complete more generations each year. If lace bugs and their damage are too great, the sycamore may simply drop its leaves and bring a premature end to the lace bug’s shenanigans. Other factors such as lack of nutrients or water may also cause sycamore leaves to turn yellow and fall, but one sure way to rule lace bugs out or in is to turn the leaves over and inspect them for the telltale signs of a lace bug infestation – lace bugs at all life stages, shed skins, and their fecal deposits. We often lament the fact that so many pests of our forests and gardens, like emerald ash borer, brown marmorated stink bug, and spotted lanternfly, arrived in North America from foreign lands. In the game of global economic tit for tat, our native sycamore lace bug is another example of a pest we have shared with other neighbors around the world, including more than three dozen nations in North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceana, where sycamores are widely planted and now regularly attacked by this insect. 

Acknowledgements

We thank Veronica Robinson and John Neal for providing the inspiration for this episode. The interesting references “Corythucha ciliata (sycamore lace bug)” at the CABI website https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/16264#tosummaryOfInvasiveness, and “Managing Insects and Mites on Woody Plants: an IPM Approach” by John Davidson and Michael Raupp, were used as references for this episode.

This post appeared first on Bug of the Week

admin Uncategorized

What Does a Cockroach Nest Look Like?

Learn How to Identify a Cockroach Nest & the Best way to Safely Remove a Nest from Your Home or Business

Few pests are as universally hated as cockroaches. But its reputation is more than well-deserved.

The invasive pest will eat almost anything — including feces. Cockroaches also tend to carry or spread diseases such as dysentery, cholera, and typhoid fever, which can be quite alarming for homeowners and business owners alike.

Additionally, cockroaches can trigger allergic reactions like asthma and dermatitis.  

The pest tends to live, hide, and forage in groups or colonies for survival. A single colony can have hundreds of cockroaches.  

So, if one cockroach is spotted, it usually leads to the discovery of more — quite a lot more.

A truly frightening thought for anyone if a cockroach is spotted scurrying across the floor.

Even more alarming is how efficiently cockroaches can mate and reproduce. The insect can reproduce quickly and in large numbers.

After just a few weeks an immature cockroach can become a mature adult, ready to reproduce. Depending on the cockroach species, a female can produce between six and 14 ootheca egg capsules.

These oothecas can contain upwards of 40 eggs and can take approximately 28 days to hatch.

A single female cockroach can birth approximately 200 offspring within her lifetime.

Depending on the species of cockroach, that lifespan can be anywhere between 100 days to over a year.

With all the trouble cockroaches cause, it’s important for homeowners and business owners to understand what to do in the event that cockroaches have moved in.

This includes learning about where cockroaches gather and hide after foraging — the roach nest.

But knowing how to find and identify a cockroach nest is only part of the battle.

Contacting a knowledgeable pest control specialist to eliminate the problem helps to ensure that the pest is fully eradicated from the property and reduces the risk of reinfestation.

What is a Cockroach Nest?

Normally, pests that live in colonies can be identified by the nest. Bees, for instance, live in honeycombed hives with a clear hierarchy in which the queen reigns over her workers.

But there is no such hierarchy in cockroach colonies. And a cockroach nest isn’t a single, meticulously constructed entity.

Instead, cockroach colonies are groups or hordes that hide together in a shared space after foraging at night.

The pest is not a truly social insect and is therefore without a queen. Instead, the pest is considered to be gregarious and will congregate during times of rest — typically during daylight hours.

So, rather than a structured habitat, a roach nest tends to look like a messy area cluttered with:

  • Grown roaches: Adult cockroaches retreat to the nest to avoid daylight and predators.
  • Nymphs: Tiny, baby cockroaches which are often light brown or white in color.
  • Oothecas: Although just 1/4-inch in length, these brown, pill-shaped egg cases can hold upwards of 40 cockroach eggs.
  • Molten exoskeletons: Cockroaches shed their hard shells as they grow. Nymphs will shed multiple times until they reach maturity, littering the nest with their molten remains.
  • Droppings: Tiny, oval-shaped specks, cockroach droppings that resemble mouse feces, but can be differentiated by the ridges on the sides.

brown German cockroach nymphs surrounding a light brown cockroach egg case on white floor

Cockroaches form groups by producing chemicals called aggregation pheromones as signals to other roaches.

These pheromones emit a musty odor. If a musty smell or tiny pellet-like droppings can be traced throughout a property or home, it may be a sign of a cockroach nest.

The discovery of a single cockroach nest can possibly lead to a substantial infestation.

Where Are Cockroach Nests Typically Found in the Home?

Cockroaches, even ones of a larger size like the American cockroach, can gain access to a structure through the smallest crevices and entryways.

Points of entry can include cracks in the building’s foundation, piping, siding, and drainage systems.

Once the pest has infiltrated a property, it will look for a place to build a nest or habitat. American roaches tend to create roach nests in basements and crawlspaces.

Because cockroaches prefer secluded areas, the nests are established in places that are typically difficult to see or reach. Within a home or building, roach nests are likely to be found:

  • Behind or inside kitchen appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers.
  • Throughout cluttered and insulated attics or basements with boilers and water heaters.
  • Inside cabinets, especially sink or plumbing cabinets that lead to drainage systems.
  • Within pantries, cupboards, drawers, or other places where food is stored.

In the U.S., the two most common species of cockroaches are German and American cockroaches. German cockroaches are smaller, and typically found in kitchens and bathrooms.

Able to produce six generations per year, this cockroach species is small in size but mighty in numbers.

Cockroaches prefer concealed areas that have easy access to food, moisture, water, and heat. So, finding roach nests isn’t an easy task for the untrained eye.

While roach droppings, musty smells, molten cockroach exoskeletons, and broken oothecas can help lead to the nest, it’s best to call a licensed pest control expert who can locate and remove the nest with ease.

Expert help is especially necessary for cockroach infestations, as do-it-yourself methods are often fruitless.

Untrained individuals who use DIY methods almost always fail to completely eradicate this resilient pest from the property — making reinfestation an inevitability.

With the help of a licensed specialist, individuals won’t have to worry about confronting the nest alone and can rest easy knowing it will be properly removed from the premises.

Eliminate a Cockroach Infestation with Catseye Pest Control

Business owners and homeowners have a lot on their plates but handling a cockroach infestation or removing a nest should never be on their task list.

As disease-carriers, cockroaches present a health hazard to everyone in the home, office, or other building.

Moreover, a cockroach colony and its nest are hard to find and remove completely without expert help.

To ensure the safety of yourself and loved ones, contact Catseye Pest Control to take care of a roach nest or infestation.

Catseye’s Cockroach Removal Program successfully eradicates the invasive pests using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods.

IPM methods allow our pest control technicians to eliminate an issue in a way that is effective and environmentally friendly — and customized to the unique needs of the property.

These methods can leave you with peace of mind knowing that it is safe for children, pets, and guests.

To keep your home or property cockroach-free and get back to enjoying your space without worry or fear, contact us today.

This article appeared first on Catseye Pest

admin Uncategorized

Catseye Pest Control Makes PCT’s Top 100 List of Best Pest Companies in 2021

Learn How Consistent Performance & Quality Customer Service Made Catseye Pest Control One of the Best Pest Control Companies in the Country

Each year, Pest Control Technology Magazine (PCT) releases its ranking of the 100 best pest control companies in the country, known as PCT’s Top 100 List.  

PCT Magazine is the leading business-to-business publication for the structural pest control industry in both the United States and Canada.

Currently, there are over 25,000 pest control businesses in the U.S. alone, so making PCT’s Top 100 List is not only incredibly competitive but also impressive.

Now, in PCT’s 20th year since issuing the first ranking in 2002, the magazine has awarded Catseye Pest Control an esteemed spot in PCT’s 2021 Top 100 List.

This honor speaks to Catseye’s immense growth as a brand and company since the business’ founding in 1987.

Placing in PCT’s 2021 Top 100 List showcases Catseye’s ability to evolve and deliver the high-quality services clients have come to know and expect. 

In the wake of receiving this award, Catseye Pest Control President Joe Dingwall reflects back on the successes of the company and how the staff rose to the occasion during the pandemic in order to be considered one of the best pest control companies in the country.

“Throughout the pandemic, our staff have found creative ways to respond to the needs of our clients. By coming up with new, inventive methods, we’ve maintained our high standards while also prioritizing the safety of our customers and ourselves,” Dingwall said.

Catseye Pest Control’s PCT Top 100-Worthy Customer Service Policy

What truly sets Catseye apart from other companies in the industry is the dedication to offering personalized customer service to each client, ensuring their individual needs have been met.

In accordance with the company’s customer service policy, no matter the type of pest, nuisance wildlife, or service, each client receives a free inspection by a licensed pest control expert.

Once the property is assessed, a customized plan is made to target the issue and stymie any chance of recurrence.

Clients who have been enrolled in the year-round Platinum Home Protection Program are guaranteed a full refund if the technician’s work didn’t live up to expectations. This guarantee attests to the company’s dedication in providing the best solutions and services to all clients.

Thanks to this risk-free service, clients who choose Catseye can feel rest assured that the trained and knowledgeable technicians will work to regain control of the property and help restore peace of mind.

Moreover, clients who desire environmentally friendly solutions can enroll in Catseye’s pest prevention programs, such as Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems, which use non-toxic barriers rather than chemicals to control wildlife infestations.

And unlike the competition, our clients receive their own customer service representative, which makes communication easy, personable, and efficient.

Clients are also given an online account, adding another layer of convenience many of us desire during our busy days.

Through these online accounts, customers can make payments and receive important information like service schedules, updates, and reports on all assignments.

Additionally, a service scan system is installed on the property. Through the Catseye Service Scan System, clients are able to see who serviced the affected area and when.

All information is recorded and automatically uploaded to the client’s account. This added step ensures that the client remains aware of what’s going on, in addition to how the property is being treated.

By communicating and establishing trust with clients, Catseye has been able to create a community built on customer satisfaction and employee interest.

How Catseye Pest Control Acted as An Essential Service During COVID-19

Catseye has ranked multiple times throughout the past decade on the PCT Top 100 List. This accomplishment speaks as a testament to the company’s ability to adapt and develop.

Due to social-distance protocols and stay-at-home orders, businesses faced uncertainty throughout 2020.

But Catseye continued to thrive as technicians worked tirelessly to help ease the minds of business owners and employees.

With the spread of COVID-19, the need to feel at ease and create a safe environment was of the utmost importance.

To do so, Catseye technicians used the ViralGuard service, an advanced disinfecting service that utilizes a disinfectant registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for commercial properties.

This service expands upon the commercial disinfection services by tailoring it to combat SARS-CoV-2, the bacteria responsible for COVID-19.

ViralGuard also protects against other viruses, including E. coli and avian influenza.

Through ViralGuard’s in-depth sanitation treatments using EPA-registered disinfectants, Catseye has been able to help essential services, such as police stations, function safely.

Catseye Pest Control technician wearing fully encapsulated PPE disinfecting a black and white police SUV

These services have also been beneficial for businesses throughout a variety of industries — including hospitality and education.

And, for interior pest preventative services like Cat-Guard, Catseye has found creative ways to limit contact — allowing clients and technicians to remain socially distanced.

Through these solutions, clients have been able to receive regular maintenance and service checkups safely.

Providing high-quality customer service is paramount. It’s about more than maintaining a position on the PCT Top 100 list. It’s also about ensuring peace of mind for everyone our technicians work with.

What Makes Catseye A PCT Top 100 Company?

To be considered a PCT Top 100 company, a pest control firm must display stellar management and business practices.

After being in the industry for over 30 years, elite leadership, customer service, and quality pest control management have become second nature.

But ranking in the 2021 Top 100 List is a particularly noteworthy honor.

“We’ve reached the PCT Top 100 while only being in the New England market for four years. Considering the timeline, that’s a significant accomplishment,” Dingwall said.

But it’s not the accolades that drive the staff.

Rather, this year’s honor attests to the consistent service based on the core values of communication, caring, understanding, and trust.

“It’s the ability to be flexible in order to meet the needs of our customers, community, and employees that are key factors to our growth as a company,” explained Dingwall.

“We’ve developed specialized disinfection services, like ViralGuard and limited the frequency of our interior pest control services with Cat-Guard. All of these adjustments we’ve made out of respect and concern for our staff and clients,” he continued.

The awards serve as recognition for the tremendous efforts that have been put in place to improve services for customers and employees alike.

Receive Professional Pest, Wildlife & Disinfection Services  

Whether it’s a business, facility, or residence, ensuring customers feel at ease in their own space is our top priority.

Each of our services can be tailored to fit the specific needs of the property to ensure the situation is handled properly — whether it’s our disinfection services or the removal of a nuisance wildlife critter.

To learn more about how Catseye can service your property, contact us today.

This article appeared first on Catseye Pest

admin Uncategorized

Beware of zesty drinks! Yellowjackets, Vespula, bumble bees, Bombus, carpenter bees, Xylocopa, and honey bees, Apis, can really spice up soft drinks

 

Uh oh, better check that soda can to see if a zesty surprise awaits inside.

Uh oh, better check that soda can to see if a zesty surprise awaits inside.

 

If this episode of Bug of the Week reads like a public service announcement, well, that’s because it is. While our usual episodes demystify insects and revel in their curious and marvelous behaviors, every now and then something a bit unseemly pops up and warrants attention. In past episodes we have quelled fears of murder hornet invasions in the DMV, provided information to thwart mosquitoes and ticks, and addressed autumnal invasions of stink bugs, spiders, and other creepy creatures. This week we aim to help you avoid a nasty surprise at your October picnic.

yellowj2 copy1500.jpg

Apple sauce in a cup is an irresistible source of sugar for a yellow jacket in autumn.

On a recent outing to a park, my granddaughter was frightened when yellowjackets swarmed her blueberry flavored shave ice. A second unnerving tale arose when a colleague took a swig from a soda can and imbibed a yellowjacket. Fortunately, the angry vespid stung her tongue, not her throat, prior to ejection from her mouth. Lucky her, to only suffer a swollen tongue and not a life-threatening occlusion of the throat. Yellowjackets are among the most aggressive of all stinging insects in the DMV. During late summer and early autumn yellowjackets operate at a fevered pitch as workers try to gather food to maximize the production of brood back at the nest. Unlike the nests of honey bees, yellowjacket nests contain no honey or pollen. These rascals are meat eaters that also gain carbohydrates from fruits, flowers, and sometimes human-made sources. At sunny October picnics and tailgating parties, yellowjackets visit plates and battle you for bites of barbecued chicken. Meaty protein will be taken back to the hive for the developing brood. Yellow jacket larvae are fed meat and carbohydrate rich foods provided by the workers. Natural prey items of yellow jackets are other insects such as caterpillars and beetles that plague garden and landscape plants. In this regard, yellowjackets are highly beneficial.

By late summer and early autumn, colonies may contain thousands of workers and their subterranean or aerial nests can attain the size of a football. Under extraordinary circumstances, nests may persist for more than one year and become enormous. There are reports of monster yellowjacket nests in southern states reaching the size of a “Volkswagen Beetle”. In late summer, back in the nest, the yellowjacket assembly line switches from production of workers to the production of queens and drones. Foraging occurs at a frenetic pace. Queens produced in autumn leave the nest and seek protected locations under tree bark or in other outdoor refuges to escape the ravages of winter before founding new colonies next spring. You can learn a bit more about yellowjackets in a previous episode entitled “Be careful around yellowjackets: Eastern yellowjackets, Vespula maculifrons”. Bumble bees, carpenter bees, and honey bees are also on the prowl for sugar sources during the waning days of autumn. In addition to natural sugar sources, sweet soft drinks are also on the menu. Liquid sugar sources are guzzled and stored in the bee’s specialized honey stomach. Carbohydrate rich liquids are fed to brood, other bees, or turned into honey upon returning to the hive.

October is a month when stinging insects hunt for food. In the wild, caterpillars are a regular source of protein and carbohydrate rich honeydew supplies energy for yellowjacket workers and brood. Human-made sources like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are on the menu and sweet soft drinks are favorite sources of sugar. Soda cans may contain nasty surprises, bees or wasps, so be careful and consider pouring drinks into cups. Open cups provide a chance to look before you sip. For children, consider using cups with reusable straws and tight-fitting lids for soft drinks.

What can you do to avoid confrontations with these stingers? Choose picnic and tailgating spots carefully. Do not set up your picnic near a trash container or dumpster where yellowjackets and bees may be foraging for discarded barbeque or half-full cups of cans of sugary soft drinks. Bring a covered container to stow your trash and to keep hungry foragers away from food scraps and partially filled drink containers. Keep food covered. This reduces recruitment by foragers that accumulate around accessible food sources. Drink from clear bottles or pour drinks into clear cups. This will allow you to observe stinging insects doing a backstroke in your drink before you down them. Bees and yellowjackets often find their way into pop-top cans and can disappear down your gullet without being seen. Instead of canned drinks, try juices in drink boxes equipped with tight fitting straws. These are great for children who often place canned soft drinks down for a while before returning to finish them. Better yet, for your youngsters, pour soft-drinks into one of those cleverly designed drink containers with tight fitting lids and reusable sippy straws (good for the environment too!). If yellowjackets try to sneak a bite of your food, gently brush them away rather than engaging in hysterical slapping and squealing. Quick movements and non-lethal blows can incite painful stings. Oh, and you may have heard that yellowjackets are capable of multiple stings. This is only partially true. Contrary to common belief, some yellowjackets have barbed stingers like our friends the honey bees. Yellowjackets may lose their stingers and be eviscerated in the process. If you are stung, apply ice to the site of the sting to reduce swelling and pain. If you are stung and experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or swallowing, hives on your body, disorientation, lightheadedness or other unusual symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Enjoy outdoor feasts with friends and families on these glorious October days. By taking a few precautions you can avoid nasty surprises from yellowjackets and busy bees.

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Shrewsbury for drinking a yellow jacket and living to tell about it, and Eloise for braving out the feisty wasp’s attack on her shave ice. We also thank Dr. Nancy Breisch for sharing her expertise and knowledge about stinging insects.

This post appeared first on Bug of the Week

admin Uncategorized

Beware of zesty drinks! Yellowjackets, Vespula, bumble bees, Bombus, and honey bees, Apis, can really spice up soft drinks

 

Uh oh, better check that soda can to see if a zesty surprise awaits inside.

Uh oh, better check that soda can to see if a zesty surprise awaits inside.

 

If this episode of Bug of the Week reads like a public service announcement, well, that’s because it is. While our usual episodes demystify insects and revel in their curious and marvelous behaviors, every now and then something a bit unseemly pops up and warrants attention. In past episodes we have quelled fears of murder hornet invasions in the DMV, provided information to thwart mosquitoes and ticks, and addressed autumnal invasions of stink bugs, spiders, and other creepy creatures. This week we aim to help you avoid a nasty surprise at your October picnic.

yellowj2 copy1500.jpg

Apple sauce in a cup is an irresistible source of sugar for a yellow jacket in autumn.

On a recent outing to a park, my granddaughter was frightened when yellowjackets swarmed her blueberry flavored shave ice. A second unnerving tale arose when a colleague took a swig from a soda can and imbibed a yellowjacket. Fortunately, the angry vespid stung her tongue, not her throat, prior to ejection from her mouth. Lucky her, to only suffer a swollen tongue and not a life-threatening occlusion of the throat. Yellowjackets are among the most aggressive of all stinging insects in the DMV. During late summer and early autumn yellowjackets operate at a fevered pitch as workers try to gather food to maximize the production of brood back at the nest. Unlike the nests of honey bees, yellowjacket nests contain no honey or pollen. These rascals are meat eaters that also gain carbohydrates from fruits, flowers, and sometimes human-made sources. At sunny October picnics and tailgating parties, yellowjackets visit plates and battle you for bites of barbecued chicken. Meaty protein will be taken back to the hive for the developing brood. Yellow jacket larvae are fed meat and carbohydrate rich foods provided by the workers. Natural prey items of yellow jackets are other insects such as caterpillars and beetles that plague garden and landscape plants. In this regard, yellowjackets are highly beneficial.

By late summer and early autumn, colonies may contain thousands of workers and their subterranean or aerial nests can attain the size of a football. Under extraordinary circumstances, nests may persist for more than one year and become enormous. There are reports of monster yellowjacket nests in southern states reaching the size of a “Volkswagen Beetle”. In late summer, back in the nest, the yellowjacket assembly line switches from production of workers to the production of queens and drones. Foraging occurs at a frenetic pace. Queens produced in autumn leave the nest and seek protected locations under tree bark or in other outdoor refuges to escape the ravages of winter before founding new colonies next spring. You can learn a bit more about yellowjackets in a previous episode entitled “Be careful around yellowjackets: Eastern yellowjackets, Vespula maculifrons”. Bumble bees and honey bees are also on the prowl for sugar sources during the waning days of autumn. In addition to natural sugar sources, sweet soft drinks are also on the menu. Liquid sugar sources are guzzled and stored in the bee’s specialized honey stomach. Carbohydrate rich liquids are fed to brood, other bees, or turned into honey upon returning to the hive.

October is a month when stinging insects hunt for food. In the wild, caterpillars are a regular source of protein and carbohydrate rich honeydew supplies energy for yellowjacket workers and brood. Human-made sources like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are on the menu and sweet soft drinks are favorite sources of sugar. Soda cans may contain nasty surprises, bees or wasps, so be careful and consider pouring drinks into cups. Open cups provide a chance to look before you sip. For children, consider using cups with reusable straws and tight-fitting lids for soft drinks.

What can you do to avoid confrontations with these stingers? Choose picnic and tailgating spots carefully. Do not set up your picnic near a trash container or dumpster where yellowjackets and bees may be foraging for discarded barbeque or half-full cups of cans of sugary soft drinks. Bring a covered container to stow your trash and to keep hungry foragers away from food scraps and partially filled drink containers. Keep food covered. This reduces recruitment by foragers that accumulate around accessible food sources. Drink from clear bottles or pour drinks into clear cups. This will allow you to observe stinging insects doing a backstroke in your drink before you down them. Bees and yellowjackets often find their way into pop-top cans and can disappear down your gullet without being seen. Instead of canned drinks, try juices in drink boxes equipped with tight fitting straws. These are great for children who often place canned soft drinks down for a while before returning to finish them. Better yet, for your youngsters, pour soft-drinks into one of those cleverly designed drink containers with tight fitting lids and reusable sippy straws (good for the environment too!). If yellowjackets try to sneak a bite of your food, gently brush them away rather than engaging in hysterical slapping and squealing. Quick movements and non-lethal blows can incite painful stings. Oh, and you may have heard that yellowjackets are capable of multiple stings. This is only partially true. Contrary to common belief, some yellowjackets have barbed stingers like our friends the honey bees. Yellowjackets may lose their stingers and be eviscerated in the process. If you are stung, apply ice to the site of the sting to reduce swelling and pain. If you are stung and experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or swallowing, hives on your body, disorientation, lightheadedness or other unusual symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Enjoy outdoor feasts with friends and families on these glorious October days. By taking a few precautions you can avoid nasty surprises from yellowjackets and busy bees.

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Shrewsbury for drinking a yellow jacket and living to tell about it, and Eloise for braving out the feisty wasp’s attack on her shave ice. We also thank Dr. Nancy Breisch for sharing her expertise and knowledge about stinging insects.

This post appeared first on Bug of the Week

(877) 959-3534