Month: September 2025

 

 

Last week we met fierce southern yellowjackets schooling my neighbor on what it meant to get just a little too close to their nest while trimming some grass. This week let’s explore a couple more things about yellowjackets and try to imagine their good side. The inspiration for this episode comes from James Key, an avid naturalist who shot a segment of the video that accompanies this episode.

Spotted lanternflies captured serious attention last month as they took wing in numbers so large that they appeared on weather radar. We know that many predators, including spiders, Carolina mantises, and Chinese mantises, enjoy dining on spotted lanternflies and help contribute to biological control of these dastardly invaders. But did you know that wasps where the second most important group of insect predators attacking spotted lanternflies according to a study by scientists at Penn State?  One of the most common groups of predatory wasps associated with invasive spotted lanternflies are members of the yellowjacket clan. Like bees, paper wasps and hornets, yellowjackets are attracted to copious amounts of honeydew excreted by lanternflies as they feed.

 

 

In addition to sweet carbohydrates in the honeydew, yellowjackets are also intent on gathering protein, a nutrient critical to the production of next year’s queens being produced back in the nest during autumn. Watch as a yellowjacket gnaws off the rear end of a spotted lanternfly and zooms back to the colony to feed rump of lanternfly to the developing brood.

First at normal speed and then at half speed, watch as a yellowjacket removes the rear end of a spotted lanternfly and carries the booty back to the nest. In addition to killing spotted lanternflies, yellowjackets also help reduce populations of native pests like caterpillars of fall webworm. Video by James Key and Michael Raupp

In addition to terrorizing invasive spotted lanternflies, yellowjackets help reduce populations of native pests like the fall webworms which build those nests that will soon cloak terminal of branches of walnuts, crabapples, and more than 100 other species of plants. As with many other insects, yellowjackets have a downside as we learned last week (just ask my neighbor), but an upside by providing biological control of some pests; the natural Yin and Yang of living creatures.  

Next week we will again visit yellowjackets and some of their stinging cousins to see how you might avoid getting stung at your October picnic or game day tailgate.

Acknowledgements

Bug of the Week thanks James Key for providing the crazy, funny video of a spotted lanternfly losing its rearend to a yellowjacket.

This post appeared first on Bug of the Week

Connecticut is known for its beautiful forests, coastal communities, and historic cities, but with that natural beauty comes persistent pest challenges. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station reported that in 2024 alone, more than 3,400 black-legged ticks were submitted for testing, with over 80% carrying the organism that causes Lyme disease.¹ Invasive species like the Asian long-horned beetle, emerald ash borer, and spotted lanternfly add to the state’s growing pest pressures.² 

When pests invade homes or businesses, quick fixes aren’t enough. For more than three decades, Catseye Pest Control has been one of the top pest control companies in Connecticut, delivering award-winning service recognized by the National Pest Management Association’s QualityPro accreditation — a distinction earned by fewer than 3% of pest management companies nationwide. Backed by an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, free inspections, and prevention-first strategies, Catseye is the trusted partner Connecticut residents and businesses rely on for safe, lasting results. 

Why Catseye Pest Control Is the #1 Choice in Connecticut 

With 30+ years of local expertise, Catseye has built a reputation for professionalism, safety, and long-term results. Our QualityPro accreditation from the NPMA demonstrates that our team meets the highest standards for training, safety, and customer service. Combined with our A+ BBB rating, Catseye stands apart from other providers in Connecticut and across New England. 

Unlike companies that rush through service visits, Catseye prioritizes thorough inspections, transparent communication, and solutions tailored to each property. As a family-owned business, we’ve grown from a small operation into one of New England’s leading pest control providers, without losing sight of our customer-first mission.

One of Catseye’s most recognized innovations is Cat-Guard, a proprietary exclusion system developed and refined over 20 years. This durable, chemical-free barrier protects homes and businesses from rodents and nuisance wildlife. Installed exclusively by Catseye’s trained specialists, this permanent solution delivers lasting results no other Connecticut pest control company can offer. 

Our approach blends award-winning service with eco-friendly, pet-safe treatments and comprehensive protection plans designed to eliminate pests and prevent them from coming back. 

Pest Control Services Offered Across Connecticut 

Connecticut pest control companies like Catseye understand what consumers are facing and bring unique expertise to the table. Whether residents have an active infestation or want to explore proactive treatment options, Catseye has the services to address the problem.

Residential Pest Control 

Homes should feel safe, but Connecticut residents face unique pest threats throughout the year, from summer ticks and mosquitoes to rodents seeking shelter during the winter. Catseye begins every residential pest control service with a free inspection of the entire property, including the roofline to the foundation and outdoor spaces, to identify entry points and vulnerabilities. Our licensed technicians then deliver safe, eco-friendly treatments paired with prevention strategies to keep pests out for good. For the highest level of security, Catseye provides long-term exclusion solutions that keep rodents and nuisance wildlife out permanently.

Commercial Pest Control 

Connecticut’s 300,000+ small businesses and Fortune 500 enterprises all share one challenge: maintaining pest-free facilities. Whether it’s a restaurant, healthcare facility, warehouse, or office building, Catseye’s commercial pest control services help clients meet compliance standards and protect their reputations.

Our team provides discreet, regulation-compliant solutions that eliminate insects, rodents, and nuisance wildlife while preventing future infestations. Businesses that want permanent protection can integrate long-term exclusion strategies into their pest control plan, ensuring rodents and wildlife never compromise operations. 

Wildlife Removal and Prevention 

Wildlife such as raccoons, squirrels, bats, and birds can cause serious property damage and health risks. Catseye’s wildlife specialists use humane methods to remove animals safely, repair damage, and implement exclusion strategies to prevent re-entry. 

Unlike temporary sealing methods, Catseye provides a permanent, chemical-free exclusion system available only from our specialists. This advanced solution keeps nuisance wildlife out of Connecticut homes and businesses for years to come, protecting both property and health. 

Year-Round Protection Plans

Pest control in Connecticut is not a one-time fix. Seasonal changes bring new threats, such as ticks and mosquitoes in the warmer months, and rodents seeking shelter during the colder seasons. Catseye’s Platinum Home Protection Plan provides year-round inspections and preventive treatments tailored to these seasonal patterns.

For even greater peace of mind, homeowners can pair seasonal protection with permanent exclusion strategies, ensuring rodents and wildlife stay out while insects are managed seasonally. This layered approach keeps Connecticut families safe in every season. 

Pest Challenges Unique to Connecticut 

In recent years, Connecticut has had an influx of invasive pests, including the spotted lanternfly, Asian long-horned beetle, spongy moth, and emerald ash borer. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection has identified several other insects, including the jumping worm and two-lined chestnut borer, as threats to the state’s forests and trees. 

However, as many of Connecticut’s homeowners and businesses already know, pests aren’t exclusive to the state’s beautiful outdoor spaces. Residential and commercial properties throughout the state are vulnerable to many weather-dependent pests and other regional concerns.

Seasonal Pests 

Warm-weather months bring surges in mosquitoes, wasps, and multiple tick species, including blacklegged, lone star, and long-horned ticks.³ Ticks remain active in temperatures as low as 40 degrees F, which means they can be a concern for much of the year. As cooler weather arrives, rodents such as deer mice and Norway rats move indoors, making local rodent exterminators essential for prevention. Catseye provides both seasonal rodent control and long-term exclusion strategies for complete protection. 

Regional Concerns 

Rodents, including deer-footed mice and Norway rats, are a year-round concern. However, they tend to invade indoor spaces more often in fall and winter when seeking shelter from Connecticut’s winter weather. In urban centers like Hartford and New Haven, cockroaches and bed bugs remain persistent problems. Coastal regions see elevated risks of carpenter ants and termites due to higher moisture levels. Catseye’s prevention-first strategies are designed to address these regional concerns with targeted, effective treatments.

State-by-State Pest Control Expertise 

Catseye serves most of New England, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. From waterfront communities along Long Island Sound to forested inland regions and densely populated cities, our Connecticut team understands the diverse challenges faced by homeowners and businesses alike. Our licensed experts know the regulations, seasonal patterns, and pest behaviors that impact the state, ensuring results tailored to local conditions. 

Why Hire a Professional Exterminator in Connecticut 

DIY pest control products may offer temporary relief, but they rarely solve the root of the problem. Licensed exterminators are trained to identify pests accurately, apply treatments safely, and design long-term prevention plans. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends choosing licensed providers as the safest and most effective option. With Catseye, clients gain the assurance of working with a professional team committed to delivering lasting protection. 

Contact the #1 Pest Control Company in CT 

When pests threaten your home or business, you need proven expertise, not a quick fix. Catseye Pest Control is the trusted choice in Connecticut, backed by 30+ years of experience, QualityPro accreditation, and an A+ Better Business Bureau rating. 

From insects and rodents to nuisance wildlife, Catseye delivers safe, eco-friendly, and effective solutions. Schedule your free inspection today and discover why thousands of Connecticut homeowners and businesses rely on Catseye for long-term protection. Contact the best pest control company in Connecticut to get started. 

The post Pest Control Companies and Exterminators in Connecticut  appeared first on Catseye Pest Control.

This article appeared first on Catseye Pest

Massachusetts may rank among the top 10 best states to live in, but even the best states face year-round pest challenges. That’s why choosing a trusted partner is essential. For more than 30 years, Catseye Pest Control has been ranked among the best pest control companies in Massachusetts, protecting homes and businesses with proven expertise and reliable service. Our licensed professionals deliver safe, lasting solutions designed to meet the needs of every property. 

Why Choose Catseye Pest Control Throughout New England 

Backed by decades of experience, Catseye has built a reputation for tackling the unique pest challenges of New England. Our team doesn’t just respond to infestations, we design prevention-first strategies that safeguard properties long term. 

We are consistently topping lists of the best pest control in Massachusetts, and are also among the select few companies nationwide to hold the QualityPro accreditation from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), the industry’s highest mark of professionalism. This recognition reflects our rigorous training, safety standards, and customer-first approach.

Another key factor that sets Catseye apart is Cat-Guard, the only permanent exclusion system of its kind, available exclusively through Catseye. Developed and refined for over 20 years, Cat-Guard creates a durable, chemical-free barrier against rodents and nuisance wildlife. For homeowners and businesses that want more than seasonal treatments, Cat-Guard provides a one-and-done solution for lasting peace of mind. 

Combined with free inspections, eco- and pet-safe treatments, and year-round protection plans, Catseye stands apart as the region’s most reliable pest control provider. 

Pest Control Services Offered Throughout Massachusetts 

Catseye’s service model is built on customization, ensuring every property receives the right solution. Whether it’s a single-family home in the suburbs, a historic city building, or a large-scale commercial or industrial facility, our team applies decades of expertise to deliver safe, effective, and lasting pest protection. 

Residential Pest Control 

Protecting your home and family requires more than a quick spray. It demands a tailored approach from seasoned professionals. Catseye designs residential pest control programs that address the specific challenges Massachusetts homeowners face, from seasonal insects to year-round rodent issues. These services are built to resolve infestations quickly and provide lasting protection. Our licensed technicians combine safe, eco-friendly treatments with prevention strategies designed around your property’s unique vulnerabilities. For homeowners who want maximum protection, Catseye offers solutions that permanently keep rodents and wildlife outside where they belong. 

Commercial Pest Control 

Pests in commercial and industrial facilities create risks that go far beyond nuisance. They can disrupt operations, compromise health and safety standards, and damage a company’s reputation. That’s why leading businesses across Massachusetts rely on Catseye’s commercial pest control specialists. We provide discreet, regulation-compliant services tailored to industries from food service and retail to healthcare and manufacturing. Our team uses proactive monitoring, targeted treatments, and long-term prevention plans to keep businesses operating safely and without interruption. 

Wildlife Removal and Prevention 

Wildlife intrusions can cause severe property damage and health hazards when left unaddressed. Squirrels, bats, raccoons, and nesting birds often force their way into homes and commercial buildings, leaving behind contamination, structural damage, and fire risks from chewed wiring or insulation. 

Catseye’s licensed wildlife control experts use humane, environmentally responsible methods to remove animals safely and prevent their return. Unlike other providers, Catseye installs an exclusive system that creates a lasting barrier against rodents and wildlife. This permanent exclusion technology, refined for decades, not only prevents infestations but also protects your property’s structure and curb appeal. 

Year-Round Protection Planning 

Pest control isn’t a one-time fix for homeowners in Massachusetts. Seasonal changes create new risks, from ants and ticks in the summer to rodents seeking shelter in the fall and winter. Catseye’s Platinum Home Protection Plan is designed specifically for residential properties, providing regular inspections and preventive treatments that adapt to the season.

For the ultimate protection, Catseye combines proactive service with permanent exclusion methods that seal entry points and stop rodents and wildlife before they can get inside. Together, these solutions deliver the strongest, most reliable year-round defense for Massachusetts homes. 

Common Pest Control Challenges Across New England 

New England’s unique landscape and climate create conditions where pests thrive. Massachusetts alone contains nearly three million acres of forest and more than 1,500 miles of coastline, which means properties sit at the intersection of wooded areas, water sources, and dense urban development. These environments attract insects, rodents, and nuisance wildlife year-round. 

Beyond geography, shifting weather patterns have intensified pest pressures. Warmer winters allow certain pests to survive longer, while extended summers extend the breeding season for ticks and mosquitoes. This combination of environmental factors means Massachusetts homeowners and businesses must contend with a wider range of pest issues compared to many other regions. 

Catseye’s experts understand these challenges first-hand. With decades of experience across New England, our team applies science-based strategies that are specifically adapted to the region’s climate, ecosystems, and pest behaviors. 

Seasonal Pests

While cockroaches and bed bugs remain persistent throughout the year, other pests follow seasonal cycles. Ants, mosquitoes, and ticks are most active during warmer months, creating risks for families spending time outdoors. Ticks in particular have surged in recent years, increasing concerns around Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. 

As temperatures drop in the fall, rodents such as mice and rats look for shelter inside homes and businesses. Once indoors, they can contaminate food, damage insulation and wiring, and spread disease. That’s why many property owners turn to local rodent exterminators for professional help. Catseye provides targeted seasonal rodent control that not only eliminates infestations but also implements preventive strategies to stop rodents from coming back. 

Regional Concerns

The Northeast has always been defined by long winters and shorter growing seasons, but climate change is altering this balance. Warmer winters, wetter springs, and longer autumns have led to earlier pest emergence and prolonged activity periods. For example, mosquito populations are now active earlier in the year, and ticks remain a concern well into the colder months. 

Additionally, coastal areas face challenges from moisture-loving pests such as termites and carpenter ants, while heavily wooded areas often struggle with squirrels, raccoons, and nesting birds. Urban centers like Boston, Worcester, and Springfield contend with cockroaches, rats, and bed bugs on a larger scale. 

By combining localized expertise with modern Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, Catseye addresses these region-specific concerns more effectively than one-size-fits-all solutions. 

Offering State-by-State Pest Control 

Catseye’s reach extends beyond Massachusetts into Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, providing a consistent level of service across New England. Each state presents its own mix of pest challenges: 

• Massachusetts: Rodent infestations in urban areas, tick-borne illnesses in suburban and rural regions, and nuisance wildlife across forests and coastal areas. 
• Connecticut: High rates of termite activity, mosquito-borne illnesses, and rodent problems in older housing. 
• Rhode Island: Coastal properties vulnerable to moisture pests like carpenter ants and mosquitoes, alongside raccoon and squirrel intrusions. 
• New Hampshire: Wooded landscapes with frequent bat and bird nesting issues, plus growing concerns with ticks. 

This regional expertise ensures Catseye technicians can adapt strategies to both statewide patterns and hyperlocal conditions. 

Expert Exterminators in Massachusetts 

DIY sprays and traps may offer temporary relief, but lasting pest control requires professional expertise. Massachusetts properties face some of the highest pest pressures in New England, making it essential to partner with a licensed, insured provider that understands state regulations and best practices. 

Catseye’s exterminators are trained to identify infestations quickly and accurately, implement effective treatments, and put long-term prevention measures in place. By combining eco-friendly solutions with advanced monitoring and exclusion methods, we provide results that protect properties while prioritizing safety for families, pets, and the environment. 

Contact the #1 Pest Control Company in MA 

When pests threaten your home or business, you need more than a quick fix — you need proven expertise. Catseye Pest Control is consistently ranked among the best pest control companies in Massachusetts, backed by decades of experience, licensed professionals, and award-winning service. Our A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau reflects the trust we’ve earned from thousands of satisfied clients. 

From insects and rodents to nuisance wildlife, no challenge is too complex for the Catseye team. Schedule your free inspection today and discover why Massachusetts property owners turn to local pest control experts who deliver safe, effective, and long-term protection. 

The post Top Pest Control Companies and Exterminators in Massachusetts appeared first on Catseye Pest Control.

This article appeared first on Catseye Pest

 

 

Like many of you, the Bug Guy has encountered yellowjackets on more than one occasion. These misadventures often took place while mowing a lawn where native eastern yellowjackets  had set up shop in a subterranean burrow. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet another native yellowjacket, the southern yellowjacket, when my neighbor had the bad luck of hitting an aerial nest of southern yellowjackets while trimming a cluster of ornamental grasses in his backyard. Unlike the hidden buried nest of eastern yellowjackets, this papery nest about the size of a soccer ball was nestled amongst the stems of tall grass. By late summer and early autumn, southern yellowjacket colonies may contain thousands of workers and, under extraordinary circumstances, some nests in the south may persist for more than one year and reach gigantic proportions. There are reports of monster yellowjacket nests in southern states reaching the size of a “Volkswagen Beetle”.

Historically found mostly in the south, southern yellowjackets continue to move north and are now common in the DMV. While trying to trim this patch of grasses, my neighbor disturbed a nest of southern yellowjackets. Hours after he escaped with several painful stings on head, arms, and other unmentionable body parts, these fierce wasps were still ready to attack. Elsewhere, two southern yellowjacket workers tried to dismantle an annual cicada. Their feisty dispositions were apparent as they squabbled over the feast.  As the world warms, don’t be surprised to see more southern species heading north.

When disturbed by a hedge trimmer, fierce southern yellowjacket workers descended on my neighbor and delivered about a dozen memorable stings. Levels of yellowjacket aggression seem to increase during late summer and autumn, when nests have legions of maniacal workers willing to die to defend the colony. If you blunder upon a nest in the lawn or in a bush, walk away as quickly as possible with a minimum of swatting and arm waving. Walking through a bush (no, not one with the nest) may help throw the pursuing workers off your trail and help you escape with fewer stings. When attacking, yellowjackets release a chemical signal called an alarm pheromone into the air. Like a charge call from a bugle, it incites other yellowjackets to enter the fray with deadly intent. The venom of yellowjackets and their kin has evolved to bring maximum pain to vertebrates like skunks or bears that pillage their nests. Encounters with these fierce ladies confirm that their venom brings agony to humans as well. Yellowjackets are capable of multiple stings, but only to a limited extent. Contrary to common belief, they have barbs on their stingers and many lose their stingers and internal organs during a fatal attack. My unfortunate neighbor had several stingers removed from his body after escaping from the attack.

 

 

If you are stung, apply ice to the site of the sting to reduce some of the damage and pain. Sting relieving ointments and creams are available in pharmacies and sporting goods stores and may help reduce the pain and itching. If you know that you are allergic and are stung, seek medical attention immediately. 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, call 9-1-1 and seek medical attention immediately. Desensitization therapy has proven very helpful to many people with allergies to stings of bees and wasps.

 

 

As with other pests like ticks, mosquitoes, and fire ants, southern yellowjackets are expanding their geographic range northward.  In 1984, researchers reported the distribution of southern yellowjackets to include the eastern United States from Iowa, south to Texas and eastward to the Atlantic seaboard. As of this writing, the current distribution reported in iNaturalist includes the upper peninsula of Michigan, upstate New York, and most of Massachusetts. Clearly, southern yellowjackets are firmly entrenched in the DMV. In our warming world, insects with historically southern distributions will continue to make their presence known in more northern realms. 

Acknowledgements

Bug of the Week thanks our neighbor Matt for sharing his harrowing adventure with southern yellowjackets and allowing us to visit his landscape and post his pictures of his attackers and their stingers. Ginny Brace provided the image of the mating pair of yellowjackets. Dr. Nancy Breisch provided expertise and knowledge about stinging insects for this episode. The wonderful articles “Yellowjackets” by Tawny Simisky and Nicole Bell, and “Nesting Biology of the Southern Yellowjacket, Vespula squamosa (Hymenoptera: Vespidae): Social Parasitism and Independent Founding” by John F. MacDonald and R. W. Matthews provided great background material for this episode.

This post appeared first on Bug of the Week

 

 

Last week weather radar stations reported unusual low altitude clutter over several locations in the Mid-Atlantic region. News outlets including the Washington Post proclaimed that “So many spotted lanternflies are out right now, you can see it on radar.” To catch up with this story a bit, this week we will update parts of an episode first published in September 2020. 

Lanternfly adults and their youngsters, called nymphs, remove large quantities of phloem sap from woody plants as they feed. The excess is excreted from their rear end in copious amounts as a sugary waste product called honeydew. More than 100 plant taxa of woody and herbaceous plants serve as hosts for spotted lanternflies. Spotted lanternflies can be severe pests of fruit and shade trees, grapes, and hops. Massive infestations in vineyards have withstood repeated applications of insecticides and still caused the demise of entire vineyards. In home landscapes, hundreds of these rascals have been observed feeding on a single plant, where they rain scads of honeydew onto vegetation and the earth below. As with honeydew produced by other phloem feeders such as soft scales and aphids, the honeydew excreted by lanternflies fouls foliage, fruit, and underlying plants, and serves as a substrate for the growth of a fungus known as sooty mold. Honeydew makes leaves sticky and fruit unmarketable, and sooty mold further disfigures leaves and fruit and may impair photosynthesis. This presents a huge economic problem for growers of apples, cherries, peaches, and grapes. Sweet honeydew and its fermentation products also attract a variety of stinging insects like yellowjackets and paper wasps.

How far do spotted lanternflies move? The immature stages called nymphs don’t move all that far. A clever study conducted by Kelli Hoover and her colleagues at Penn State found that some spotted lanternfly nymphs travel as much as 213 feet in their quest to find a suitable host, but only about half traveled 56 feet. However, studies by scientists in Pennsylvania reveal some of the secrets to the longer distance autumnal movements of adult spotted lanternflies. Thomas Baker and his colleagues at Penn State discovered that slim fancy flyers are primarily unmated females capable of flights ranging from roughly 30 to 150 feet. Their spontaneous flights are believed to be quests to find suitable host plants that will supply sufficient nutrients for them to fatten up and deposit a complete complement of eggs before cold weather puts an end to their mischief. The Penn State team also assessed the flight worthiness of plump yellow-bellied lanternflies commonly found on hosts like tree of heaven. A vast majority of these heavy females had successfully mated but their ability to fly was weak and limited to only about 12 feet when launched into the air.

To see spotted lanternflies in flight and see why they are showing up on radar, please click this here (Courtesy of Cornell Integrated Pest Management). Radar sightings of insects are not all that unusual. Four years ago in 2021, during the emergence of Brood X periodical cicadas, cicadas in flight were captured on radar in the DMV.  Swarms of devastating locusts in Africa and Asia are often tracked on radar. 

While spontaneous autumnal flights have been witnessed on a regular basis, these relatively short distance flights of hundreds of feet likely account for only a minor component of the spotted lanternflies’ prodigious spread in the eastern United States. From their initial discovery point in Berks County in 2014, it has moved more than 650 miles and established populations of spotted lanternflies have been discovered in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and, of course, the District of Columbia.

Spotted lanternflies are on the wing to find new host plants, bringing them in contact with the human-built world where they will wander buildings and benches in search of food. Many will perish of starvation or dehydration on sidewalks and in parking lots. Others will be squashed beneath feet and automobile tires. Some may visit shoppers and diners briefly before flying off, while others will be snared and killed by urban spiders. Before you leave a parking area infested with lanternflies, inspect your car to make sure these clever vagabonds are not hitching a ride with you.

According to entomologist Julie Urban, the most likely explanation for these long-distance peregrinations lies in human-assisted transport of lanternfly eggs. It is believed that spotted lanternflies arrived in Pennsylvania around 2012 from Asia in a shipment of stone products bearing lanternfly eggs, a trip of some 7,000 miles. Unlike many herbivorous insects that lay eggs on food plants for their young, spotted lanternfly mothers often deposit egg masses on human-made non-host objects including stones, cinder blocks, lawn furniture, pallets, and vehicles, in addition to trees. These rather nondescript egg masses are easily overlooked on natural and human-made items and transported inadvertently by road or rail, moving this invasive pest significant distances and accounting for a major component of the long-range spread of spotted lanternflies.

So, how far will spotted lanternfly spread in the US? Based on climatic data from the US and Asia, scientists suggest that much of the eastern United States and portions of California, Oregon, and Washington State have climates suitable for the survival of spotted lanternfly. This is not good news for the magnificent and economically important grape growing regions in our western states. Will spotted lanternflies soon be coming to your neighborhood? Time will tell, but as I have often heard, you can usually bet on the bug.

To learn more about spotted lanternfly please visit the brilliant, fact-packed Penn State Cooperative Extension Website at this link: https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly

Acknowledgements

Bug of the Week thanks Dr. Shrewsbury for spotting and wrangling spotted lanternflies for this episode. Thanks to Jessica Kronzer for providing inspiration for this story. We acknowledge the great work of scientists contributing to our knowledge of this pest, with particular thanks to authors of articles used as references, including Flight “Dispersal Capabilities of Female Spotted Lanternflies (Lycorma delicatula) Related to Size and Mating Status” by Michael S. Wolfin, Muhammad Binyameen, Yanchen Wang, Julie M. Urban, Dana C. Roberts, and Thomas Charles Baker,  “Worldwide Feeding Host Plants of Spotted Lanternfly, With Significant Additions from North America” by Lawrence Barringer and Claire M. Ciafré, “Perspective: shedding light on spotted lanternfly impacts in the USA” by Julie M. Urban, “Dispersal of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) Nymphs Through Contiguous, Deciduous Forest” by Joseph A. Keller, Anne E. Johnson, Osariyekemwen Uyi, Sarah Wurzbacher, David Long, and Kelli Hoover, and “The Establishment Risk of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) in the United States and Globally” by Tewodros T. Wakie, Lisa G. Neven, Wee L. Yee, and  Zhaozhi Lu. Thanks to Brian Eshenaur and the entire team at the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program of Cornell University for providing the updated maps of spotted lanternfly in the US and to the Entomological Society of America for providing the map of the potential distribution of spotted lanternfly in the US.

This post appeared first on Bug of the Week

 

We first visited the Jorō spider in March of 2022 and wondered if there was any chance that it would make its way to the DMV. Little did we know that in September of 2022 two observations of Jorō spiders in eastern Howard County would be reported to iNaturalist. Three years and some 40 sightings later, we know that Jorō spiders are happy and doing just fine in several Howard County locations, including Ilchester, West Elkridge, and Elkridge. A week or so ago, a team of scientists from the University embarked on a mission to access the spread of an awful disease known as beech leaf disease (BLD) that is killing our ultra valuable beech trees in the DMV and eastern US. Their sortie took them to a state forest in eastern Howard County near Elkridge. While searching for BLD, they discovered a remarkable colony of Jorō spiders thriving amongst the beech trees. The recent discoveries of Jorō spiders thriving in Maryland confirms a prognostication made by scientists Davis and Frick that physiological plasticity might allow Jorō spiders to escape the relative warmth of areas it has invaded in the southeastern US and expand its range northward along the eastern seaboard. With Jorō spiders merely 20 minutes away from home, how could one resist the opportunity to visit these amazing predators? The tales of how Jorō spiders and their cousin, the golden silk spider, arrived in the US can be found in previous episodes posted in 2022 and 2024.

However, to reduce some angst associated with a large non-native spider establishing in the DMV, here are a few things you should know. These facts were first presented in a past episode. The bite of the “venomous” Jorō spider will be terrible and painful, right? Nah, according to expert Rick Hoebeke, the risks to humans and pets are small due to the puny size of Jorō’s fangs, which are unlikely to pierce our skin. As you will see in this week’s video, I have visited Jorō and found the large females to be completely non-aggressive.

A secondary forest in eastern Howard County has been colonized by Jorō spiders. Their haphazard webs a littered with the remains of former victims, leaves, and shed exoskeletons. The much larger female Jorō spider dwarfs her mate, positioned just above her. See if you can spot a strand of silk produced by the spinnerets on the underside of her abdomen near the red mound. Relative to my hand, you can see how large and how docile Jorō is. We will wait and see what the Jorō spider means to ecosystems here in the DMV. Maybe they will help other spiders put a beat-down on invasive pests like stink bugs and spotted lanternflies. Video by Mike Raupp and Paula Shrewsbury

These spiders are passive hunters that build enormous webs, larger than a meter in diameter, to capture prey snared in the silk. For arachnophobes these may be scary, but for arachnophiles these are beautiful spiders which may provide important ecosystem services including biological control of crop pests such as brown marmorated stink bugs or spotted lanternflies, with which they have an ancient association in their native range in Asia. Jorō spiders may be likened to Hannibal Lecter “having an old friend over for dinner” when they reunite with the stink bug or lanternfly here in the US.

Large spiders like these may also become juicy prey items for feathered and non-feathered reptiles. As with all non-native species that arrive in our land, it is difficult to predict what impact they will have on our ecosystems but experts suggest that beyond their somewhat scary mien, they may give our indigenous large orb weavers like the black and yellow garden spider, marbled orb weaver, and spotted orb weaver a run for their money. In locations in other parts of the world where Jorō is established, it often becomes the most abundant and dominant orb weaver. What will it mean for our resident spiders and their ecosystems? Only time will tell.

One final tidbit about Jorō comes from Japanese folklore. Jorō is a shapeshifter known as Jorō-gumo.  Jorō-gumo turns into a beautiful woman, seduces men, binds them with silk, and devours them. Yikes! Sounds like a bad date to me.

Acknowledgements

Bug of the Week thanks Rick Hoebeke for identifying Jorō as it arrived in the US and for providing insights into the ways of these large, beautiful spiders. We also thank David Coyle and Bob Bellinger for sharing great images and knowledge of Jorō. Fascinating studies entitled “Veni, vidi, vici? Future spread and ecological impacts of a rapidly expanding invasive predator population” by David R. Nelsen, Aaron G. Corbit, Angela Chuang, John F. Deitsch, Michael I. Sitvarin and David R. Coyle,  “Physiological evaluation of newly invasive Jorō spiders (Trichonephila clavata) in the southeastern USA compared to their naturalized cousin, Trichonephila clavipes” by Andrew K. Davis and Benjamin L. Frick, “Nephila clavata L Koch, the Joro Spider of East Asia, newly recorded from North America (Araneae: Nephilidae)” by E. Richard Hoebeke, Wesley Huffmaster, and Byron J Freeman, and “The Life Cycle, Habitat and Variation in Selected Web Parameters in the Spider, Nephila clavipes Koch (Araneidae)” by Clovis W. Moore ND provided the inspiration for this story and details surrounding the stars of this episode. We thank Dr. Dave Clement, Miri Talabac, and Maddie Potter for hooking us up with the colony of Jorō spiders.  

To see other large orb weavers and to differentiate them from the Jorō spider, please click on this link: https://resources.ipmcenters.org/view/resource.cfm?rid=27877

To hear more about the Jorō spider and calm your fears about Jorō, please click on this link to Jorō guru David Coyle’s take on this spider: https://youtu.be/zhO_bwwg-E4?si=nhd9au-t-HRCmw6b

 This post appeared first on Bug of the Week

Delightful meteorological events mark the transition from summer to autumn in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Fog created by small water droplets suspended just above the ground condense on strands of spider silk as moist air cools. Morning light reveals numerically astounding and perhaps somewhat disturbing presence of spiders whose webs usually go unnoticed in the landscape. On one such misty morning my neighbor’s pachysandra and boxwood plants were festooned with more than a dozen gossamer webs. The webs were not the typical vertical orbs of concentric circle supported by radial strands like those of black and yellow garden spiders, spotted orb weavers, or marbled orb weavers we met in previous episodes. Rather, these webs consisted of horizontal 8 by 12 inch sheets each bearing a small remarkably round funnel at one end. The proprietor of the web, a handsome dappled brown and tan spider, often perched near the mouth of the funnel. My attempts to photograph these beauties were regularly thwarted by the agile spider able to disappear down the funnel in the blink of an eye.

When threatened by a predator or bug geek, the funnel weaving spider can disappear down its funnel in hole in the blink of an eye.

Funnel weaving spiders, a.k.a. grass spiders, are often confused by name with their more famous and perfidious relatives the funnel web spiders.  The bite of the Australian funnel web spider is potentially deadly to humans whereas the bite of Agelenopsis pennsylvanica, the Pennsylvania Grass Spider, is deadly only to their tiny insect prey. It is difficult to image how a human could be bitten by these shy spiders. Despite the ability of the web to capture droplets of fog, silken strands of funnel weaving spiders cannot snare small insects. They lack the sticky polymer found on the bug-catching strands of spider webs like those large orb weavers. Instead of trapping prey, funnel weaving spiders rely on a lightning fast attack and fang-strike to immobilize hapless victims that blunder onto their web. Like many other arthropods including the praying mantis and black widow spider, the female Pennsylvania Grass Spider engages in sexual cannibalism. The she-spider often eats her mate. Why does she do this? Is she grumpy or her suitor’s performance fail to meet expectations? In a clever study scientists discovered that hungry and particularly aggressive females tended to be cannibals. More importantly, the cannibalistic females produced heavier egg cases and the eggs within each case experienced increased success of hatching. If you are female Pennsylvania Grass Spider, it pays to eat your mate. So, for humans on foggy autumn morning enjoy the handiwork of funnel weaving spiders, but if you are a male funnel weaving spider think twice about who you date.    

Acknowledgements

Bug of the Week thanks non-cannibalistic Dr. Shrewsbury for photographing and wrangling spiders for this week’s episode and Dr. Shultz for providing the identification. Thanks to Kaitlyn McGrath inquiry about mysterious webs which provided inspiration for this episode. Two excellent references “Some Commonly Encountered Pennsylvania Spiders” by Steve Jacobs and “Sexual cannibalism is associated with female behavioural type, hunger state and increased hatching success” by Aric Berning and colleagues were consulted.

This post appeared first on Bug of the Week