Month: June 2023

Flea Control Isn’t a DIY Project

Fleas are more than just an itchy nuisance. These tiny, bloodsucking parasites reproduce quickly, with females laying up to 40 eggs daily. Females often lay eggs on their hosts, including dogs, cats, and birds, and those eggs can easily fall off, which is how infestations spread so easily around a large area.  

The tiny pests can live up to one year, and survive for weeks between feedings, making fleas particularly challenging to get rid of once they arrive. Additionally, although fleas don’t live on humans, they often bite them, typically around the ankles and feet. Flea bites can cause an allergic reaction and potentially spread germs that cause typhus or the plague.  

Because of fleas’ rapid reproduction and far-reaching potential to spread, prompt professional pest control for a flea infestation is essential. While many people think treating their pets is enough, the entire environment requires treatment to ensure thorough removal of all fleas. DIY approaches rarely eliminate all the eggs, leaving you with a new generation that is just waiting to emerge.  

Let’s take a closer look at the types of fleas that are common to the region and the benefits of professional flea pest control.  

Types of Fleas in North America  

Adult fleas are typically no bigger than a grain of rice, with bodies that span 1/8 inch long. They don’t have wings, but these bloodsucking parasites can jump extremely long distances and have the stamina to jump up to 30,000 times in a row if needed.  

Fleas have been around for millennia, with more than 2,500 species in existence. All fleas feed on warm-blooded hosts. However, when fleas invade human spaces, they are usually one of two species: dog fleas or cat fleas.  

Dog Flea  

These fleas typically measure about 1/16 of an inch long, with brown or brownish-black bodies that look reddish-brown after feeding. As the name implies, this flea prefers feeding on canines. However, dog fleas also feed on other animals, most commonly rabbits. These fleas will bite humans as well, potentially spreading germs or tapeworm parasites to them. 

Dog fleas can survive without feeding for months. Additionally, when dogs and rabbits are not available, these fleas will feed on other animals, including birds and humans. A dog flea bite can cause intense itching and bite marks that look like a red dot with a red circle surrounding it. 

Cat Flea  

Out of the thousands of species, the cat flea is the most common type of flea. Although the dog flea is found in the United States, the cat flea accounts for the majority of flea infestations on both cats and dogs.  

Cat fleas look similar to dog fleas, with bodies that range anywhere from 1/32 to 1/8 of an inch long. They may be dark brown or reddish-brown in color, and they lay tiny, oval-shaped white eggs that are typically about 1/64 inch long. After feeding, cat fleas lay their eggs on the host, and they hatch within three weeks or less, beginning the new generation’s lifecycle. Cat fleas can enter homes, businesses, and other spaces on pets, stray animals, and wildlife such as foxes, rats, and opossums. The bites look similar to those caused by dog fleas.  

Professional Flea Control Services 

Flea control isn’t a DIY proposition. If you have pets, you should work with your veterinarian to ensure you are using the best possible treatment for them. Likewise, working with a professional pest control company ensures you effectively eliminate all fleas from the property in a safe manner.  

If you notice your pet is itching more than normal or you find tiny bites that look like a red dot surrounded by a tiny red halo, prompt action is essential. Just treating your pet for fleas is not enough because it is very likely that tiny flea eggs fell off your pet’s body (or the body of another host like nuisance wildlife). This means that flea eggs could be widely dispersed around your property.  

Catseye Pest Control uses a three-step process to eliminate fleas and restore your peace of mind. What can you expect from our flea control solutions for homes and businesses? For starters, we will work with you every step of the way, providing guidance for the actions you need to take both before and after flea treatments.  

Preparing for Professional Flea Control Services 

Cleaning before treatment can help remove fleas and trigger pupae to leave their cocoons. This helps increase the efficacy of the treatment. If you aren’t able to clean and vacuum the entire interior, focus on high-traffic areas, carpeting and floors, pet bedding, and furniture. 

What to Expect During the Visit 

We take an innovative approach to not only eliminate adult fleas, but also prevent reproduction and disrupt development. In doing so, we can eradicate fleas now and help prevent infestations in the future. Our three-step process begins with a thorough inspection of the property. From there, we create a customized treatment plan specific to your unique property. Our flea treatment begins with exterminating adult fleas, but it also includes an insect growth regulator that prevents new fleas from reproducing, effectively disrupting future lifecycles. 

Schedule Your Free Inspection Today 

The faster you get professional pest control for a flea infestation, the better the infestation can be contained. Catseye’s treatment plan is tailored to your unique property and circumstances, and it can also help prevent future infestations.  

Turn to the trusted experts at the first sign of fleas — itching, scratching, tiny bites, or visible eggs. Contact us for more flea control information or to schedule your free inspection today.  

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Invasive species of plants and insects levy billions of dollars of losses to crops, forests, and gardens annually in the US. Some of the most noisome plant invaders of agricultural lands are exotic thistles such as bull thistle, Scotch thistle, and musk thistle. While admiring a gorgeous pollinator meadow in Natural Bridge, Virginia, we were introduced to yet another pretty invasive thistle with the curious moniker of spiny plumeless thistle, Carduus acanthoides. These prickly rascals invaded the meadow and were crowding out flowering native plants, beauties that help support our pollinators and other beneficial insects. On closer inspection, several spiny thistles clearly were suffering from a bad case of blossom rot and defoliation. Tiny beetles behind this mayhem were weevils from afar known as thistle head weevils, Rhinocyllus conicus. How did this saga begin?

Noxious spiny plumeless thistles are native to Europe and Asia and were first detected in the US in Camden, New Jersey, in 1878. Agricultural scientists searched the realms of several invasive thistles and discovered the thistle head weevil, which is native to parts of Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Weevils were introduced into Canada in 1968 with subsequent introductions to California, Virginia, and Montana in 1969 for the purpose of putting a beat-down on several species of non-native thistles. Populations of thistle head weevils from Virginia were then redistributed to other states. As we wandered the meadow, every spiny thistle we encountered was under attack or bore the scars of attack by these small beetles as they munched leaves, defecated, found romance, and laid eggs on the bracts and leaves of developing flower heads. While defoliation caused by adult feeding weakens thistles, the coup de gras comes when adults deposit eggs on developing flower heads, weevil larvae subsequently hatch and then consume reproductive plant tissues before flowers can form and produce seeds. This foils reproduction in infested thistles. Scientists in Oklahoma report that thistle head weevils can reduce invasive thistles by 90% or more in 10 years or less following their introduction to an infested area. Thistle head weevils are prodigious reproducers with each female capable of laying 100 to 200 eggs during her one-year life cycle.

Spiny plumeless thistles, native to Eurasia, have invaded this pretty pollinator meadow in Virginia. But thistles are besieged by small exotic beetles called thistle head weevils, leaf munchers that deposit eggs in developing flower heads. Weevil larvae hatch from eggs and bore through the flower head, eliminating the flower’s ability to produce seeds. Over a period of several years these beetles can dramatically reduce invasive thistle populations in an area. Unfortunately, they also attack thistles native to North America, imperiling some endemic species. Watch as a mating pair is soon joined by other hungry weevils.

We just met thistle head weevils playing the role of Dr. Jekyll. Now let’s meet Mr. Hyde. Following the release of thistle head weevils in North America in the 1960’s, scientists discovered that the host range of the weevil included some 22 species of native North American thistles. Thistle head weevils pose a serious threat to many endemic thistles, including a California native on the federal endangered species list called the Suisun thistle. Since the time of the first introductions of thistle head weevils to the US, and with greater understanding of potential harm the weevil might cause to native thistles, in 2000 USDA cancelled all permits for interstate movement of the thistle head weevil. Nonetheless, for better or for worse, thistle head weevils are here to stay as terminators of noxious invasive thistles. The big “oops” is the thistle head weevil’s ongoing threat to our home-grown native thistles.  

Acknowledgements

Bug of the Week thanks Dr. Paula Shrewsbury for images that served as the inspiration for this episode. The following articles provided interesting facts and information for this story: “Musk thistle weevils take a stand against pasture bullies” by Lacey Newlin, “Rhinocyllus conicus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)” by L. T. Kok”, “Invasive species: What everyone needs to know” by D. Simberloff, and “Rhinocyllus conicus” and “Larinus planus” Integrated Weed Control Program Staff, Washington State University.

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More than 86 million homes across the United States have at least one pet who is a valued member of the household. Keeping your pets happy, healthy, and safe means protecting them from hazards, and that includes pests like insects, rodents, and nuisance wildlife. But is pet-friendly pest control possible?

Absolutely, but it’s essential to talk to pest technicians about your concerns and let them know about any and all pets and livestock on the property. The best course of action is to rely on professionals who have a proven track record of prioritizing the safety of people, pets, livestock, and the environment.

Catseye Pest Control’s modern pest control methods and integrated pest management (IPM) approach do just that and more.

Pest Control Services with Your Needs in Mind

Pesticides aren’t always the appropriate go-to solution. However, when chemical treatments are necessary, the products and application used for that treatment make a significant difference. Today’s household pesticides include low concentrations of chemicals, allowing them to effectively eliminate insects while safeguarding pets (and people). Additionally, the size of the droplets is large enough to prevent it from lingering in the air for extended periods. 

For most pest treatments, it’s best to keep pets, livestock, and people out of the treated area until the treatment dries. This can take one to two hours, but you should talk to your licensed professional for precise guidance on timing based on the treatment they use. 

Catseye’s approach to pest control takes dog safety, cat safety, and the safety of other pets into consideration. Our pet-friendly pest control services include the following: 

Eco-Friendly, Pet-Friendly Pest Control with an IPM Approach 

With an IPM approach, the focus shifts to prevention and maintenance rather than relying heavily on chemical treatments. It begins with a free, thorough inspection of the property that allows technicians to identify what might be drawing pests to the property, how they are getting in, and how to effectively stop them.

We will provide tips on preventing infestations, like securing trash and food items, promptly fixing leaky plumbing, and eliminating standing water outdoors. The inspection also helps our technicians develop a customized treatment plan, which may include making structural repairs, monitoring areas for pests, and using pest products as needed.

Organic and Environmentally-Friendly Services

Modern pest control methods have so many strategies available, including options like biological control. This tactic involves introducing a pest’s natural predators to the area to achieve control without using pesticides. Our environmentally-friendly services target the pest or pests infesting your home, yard, or other area on your property, while allowing us to minimize the use of pesticides.

All our services are safe for pets when you take precautions, as recommended by technicians.

Organic Tick and Mosquito Control: Ticks and mosquitoes are so much more than just outdoor nuisances. These pests pose a significant health threat to people and pets alike. Catseye’s organic tick and mosquito program relies on natural products that are safer for pets, people, and the environment. In addition to providing effective monthly organic treatments around your property, this program also provides tips to help you prevent future infestations.

Wildlife Exclusion Systems: What if you could stop pests from ever entering your property without having to use any chemicals at all? That’s exactly what Catseye’s revolutionary environmentally friendly nuisance wildlife exclusion systems offer. These permanent, chemical-free barriers provide targeted protection to areas that are vulnerable to infiltration by pests like rodents and nuisance wildlife. Each system is guaranteed to provide a long-term solution to protect you, your family, and your pets. 

Platinum Home Protection: Year-round monitoring, maintenance, and prevention is a winning strategy for defending a home against pests of all types. Our Platinum Home Protection includes pest removal inside and outside as well as sealing gaps to prevent pests from finding their way inside. We also perform routine treatments with environmentally-friendly spray to deter pests and prevent infestations. Bi-monthly follow-ups allow us to keep up with any issues. Additionally, we will come to you within 24 hours if you spot a pest in between visits. 

Protect Your Pets and Keep the Pests Outside 

Keeping your pets safe means protecting them from harmful exposure to chemicals. It also requires maintaining a pest-free environment. Insects, rodents, and wildlife can carry dangerous pathogens that could make both people and animals ill.

Choosing the right pest control company can make all the difference in preventing problems. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends looking for a company with the following traits: 

• Licensed by state and/or local agencies and willing to disclose its certification and training requirements 
• Willing to discuss the treatment plan and address any concerns you may have in addition to providing special instructions to keep your pets safe
• Reputable, with an excellent track record for providing efficient care and good customer service 
• Offers a service guarantee and provides transparency about any stipulations related to it 

Catseye Prioritizes Your Interests and Your Pet’s Safety

Our highly trained, licensed professionals are always happy to talk about any and all safety precautions that you should take before, during, and after treatment to safeguard your family and pets. We are always able to provide the label for any products we plan to use for you to review. We strive to provide top-notch customer service and safe, effective treatments that eliminate pests while minimizing dangers.

We take your safety seriously. Contact Catseye today to learn more about our pet-friendly pest control services.

 

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

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

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

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

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

 Acknowledgements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Acknowledgements

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

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

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

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

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

Carpenter Ants  

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

Signs of Carpenter Ants  

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

Carpenter Ant Activity and Habitat  

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

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

Mosquitoes

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

Signs of Mosquitoes  

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

Mosquito Activity and Habitat  

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

Wasps and Hornets 

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

Signs of Wasps and Hornets 

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

Wasp and Hornet Activity and Habitat 

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

How to Get Rid of Pests in Gutters 

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

Contact Catseye Pest Control to Eliminate Unwanted Pests 

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Acknowledgements

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

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