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Nasty scale insects spell trouble for American beech trees: Beech bark scale, Cryptococcus fagisuga

Uh oh, fluffy white wax on the trunk spell trouble for American beech trees infested with beech bark scales.

Autumn is the perfect season to explore Appalachian hiking trails and enjoy spectacular changes in foliage color as deciduous trees prepare to drop their leaves in preparation of winter’s chill. On a recent adventure to Savage River State Forest in Garrett County, Maryland, the westernmost county in the Free State, Fagus grandifolia, American beech, displayed its full glory sporting leaves of russet and gold. As I walked trails lined with these forest monarchs, I was surprised to see the usually unblemished smooth gray beech bark covered with cascades of fluffy white wax. Flocculant wax on leaves or bark is usually a bad sign, as it signals an infestation of some type of noxious sucking insect pest. Yes, this was indeed the case for our friends the American beech, who are in a mortal battle with an invasive insect pest from Europe called beech bark scale and a cabal of invasive fungal pathogens in the genus Neonectria. Together these aggressive pests cause a slowly developing but often lethal disease known as Beech Bark Disease, or BBD.

Beech bark disease continues its march across eastern North America from its introduction to Nova Scotia more than a century ago. Photo credit: USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station and Forest Health Protection. “Alien Forest Pest Explorer – species map.”

Beech bark scale belongs to a family of sucking insects called Eriococcidae. This rascal was identified as a pest of European beech trees in the mid-1800’s and was introduced into Nova Scotia in the 1890’s. Since then, it has spread throughout the range of American beech trees in eastern North America. Both adult and juvenile (nymph) beech bark scale insects insert tiny sucking mouthparts into nutritious cells beneath the outer bark of the tree. These stylets pierce and kill underlying cells. As thousands of scales feed, tissues beneath the bark die and bark cracks form. This allows the spores of Neonectria to enter the tree, multiply, and produce eruptive bark cankers, further spreading the fungus. The combined injury caused by thousands of scale insects bursting cells and fungi killing tissues beneath the bark eventually girdle the tree, resulting in a spiraling cycle of death that may take several years to kill their host.

White fluffy wax on the trunk of American beech trees is a good indication of an infestation of beech bark scale. Beneath the wax, tiny nymphs dormant throughout late fall and winter will resume feeding and develop into adults in the warmth of spring and summer next year. As thousands of adults and nymphs feed through the bark, their wounds allow fungal pathogens to enter, multiply, and produce a disease called beech bark disease (BBD). Over the span of several years, BBD can be lethal to infected trees.

In a strange evolutionary twist that we have seen in other insects like beech blight aphids and some scale insects, beech bark scales are parthenogenic, meaning female scale insects skip the business of romance and reproduce without the service of males. These nasty girls rule! Inside their fluffy bundles of wax, nymphs pass the winter months and resume development when spring returns. Wingless adults are present in June and July and new batches of eggs are deposited that will later hatch into mobile nymphs called crawlers. Ok, if adults are wingless how is it that they have spread from Nova Scotia in the 1890’s to western Maryland between 2010 and 2015? Tiny crawlers hatch from eggs and become windborne where they join aerial plankton capable of traveling untold distances on currents of wind. These tiny vagabonds may also crawl onto the feet of birds and be transported from one tree to another as birds migrate and stopover on trees along their route. Some evidence points to human-assisted travel as campers move vehicles around the country with nearly invisibly tiny vagabonds hitching a ride.

Not really stabbed twice, but it’s easy to see how the twice-stabbed lady beetle gets her name.

Is there any good news for our imperiled beech trees? Yes! Very cold temperatures around 30 degrees below zero Fahrenheit that occur in parts of the range of American beech can be lethal to overwintering scale insects. But in a warming world, this may not be all that helpful. Variation in susceptibility of beech trees to infestations provides hope that some trees carry genes conferring resistance to the scale insect and that resistant cultivars of beech can be bred. Lady beetles, including the twice stabbed lady beetle (gotta love that name), feed on adult and immature beech bark scales, and several insecticides are effective in killing these noxious pests. Insecticides can certainly help for specimen trees in managed landscapes but this tactic is not a solution for the vast stands of beech trees in natural settings. Perhaps Mother Nature has another trick up her sleeve to help quell this invader from overseas. Let’s hope so, but in the meantime take a moment to visit and enjoy American beech trees, remarkable sovereigns of the forest.

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Shrewsbury for spotting several beech trees in Savage River State Park. Several enlightening references were used to prepare this episode. They include “Beech bark disease in North America: Over a century of research revisited” by Jonathan A. Calea, Mariann T. Garrison-Johnston, Stephen A. Tealec and John D. Castello, “ Beech Bark Disease” by Esther Kibbe and Enrico Bonello, and “Characterization of mating type genes in heterothallic Neonectria species, with emphasis on N. coccinea, N. ditissima, and N. faginata” by Cameron M. Stauder, Jeff R. Garnas, Eric W. Morrison and Catalina Salgado-Salazar.

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Bugs better beware of feisty feather-legged flies, Trichopoda pennipes

 

Notice the feather-like hairs on the hind legs of the feather-legged fly, a native ally in the fight against brown marmorated stink bug.

 

Autumn is a perilous time for many beneficial insects as they strive to collect food reserves to help them survive the approaching winter. In last week’s episode we watched honeybees taking advantage of an unusual source of food, honeydew produced by spotted lanternflies. Premier late season nectar sources for honeybees and many other beneficial insects are native goldenrods, brilliant members of the aster family widely distributed in North America. Rich in nectar and pollen, they help sustain many bees, wasps, and beetles preparing for winter. A few weeks ago, while visiting a favorite patch of goldenrod, I happened across a couple of very cute flies sporting orange and black bodies and feathery hind legs. These belong to a clan of parasitic flies known as tachinids. Some tachinids attack caterpillars, including the nefarious gypsy moth caterpillar, but feather-legged flies have a penchant for members of the “true bug” clan, insects with sucking mouthparts and immature stages called nymphs. Included in this clan are some very bad performers including the brown marmorated stink bug.

Goldenrods are super attractors for many beneficial insects, including feather-legged flies. Flies deposit eggs on many true bugs, like this hapless native leaffooted bug. Eggs hatch and fly larvae bore into the host to develop. With development complete they exit, drop to the ground and pupate in the soil. Adults emerge from the soil to feed, mate, and find new bugs to parasitize. They are known to attack invasive pests, including the nefarious brown marmorated stink bug.

Uh oh, with three tachinid eggs stuck just behind its head, this leaffooted bug is doomed.

As with many other tachinids, female Tricopoda flies seek hosts on which to deposit their eggs. Stink bugs, squash bugs, leaffooted bugs, and other true bugs are on the hit list. Upon hatching from the egg, tiny fly larvae drill their way through their egg shell and then through the outer skin of their buggy host. Inside their host they develop on the bug’s nutrient rich tissues. Once larval development is complete, maggots bore their way out of the host and drop to the soil below. A pupa forms within the skin of the final stage of the maggot and from this puparium the adult fly emerges ready to find food and a mate. As you might guess, hosts usually succumb to this parasitic invasion.

But how do these smallish flies find their hosts? Insects communicate in a variety of ways using sight, sound, and volatile chemicals to find and join other members of their species. Chemicals used for communication by members of the same species are called pheromones. In a series of fascinating studies, Jeff Aldrich and his colleagues discovered how these parasitic flies locate their victims. Many species of true bugs produce pheromones that serve as assembly calls for purposes of mating or defense. Tachinids use these aggregation pheromones for their own mischievous purpose, to find hosts that will serve as food for their parasitic offspring. While this tale may seem a little dark, the good news here is that native Trichopoda flies have joined other allies, including wheel bugs, garden spiders, robber flies, mantises, and wasps to stymie the shenanigans of invasive pests including the brown marmorated stink bug.      

Acknowledgements

The intriguing references “The biology of Trichopoda pennipes Fab. (Diptera, Tachinidae), a parasite of the common squash bug by Harlan Worthley, “Bug pheromones (Hemiptera, Heteroptera) and tachinid fly host-finding” by Jeff Aldrich, Ashot Khrimian, Aijun Zhang, and Peter Sherer, and “Parasitism of the Invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), by the Native Parasitoid, Trichopoda pennipes (Diptera: Tachinidae)” by Neelendra K. Joshi, Timothy W. Leslie, and David J. Biddinger were used to prepare this episode.

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Getting Rid of a Hornet Nest in a Tree

Learn How Pest Control Experts Can Help to Remove a Hornet Nest from Your Property — Including Nests Found in a Tree

Among the most common, territorial stinging insects native to the Northeast are wasps, some species of which are referred to as hornets, like the bald-faced hornet.

Hornets tend to be aggressive, especially towards those who come too close to the colony’s nest.

Unintentional encroachers may find themselves under attack by groups of the stinging pests.

A hornet’s stinger possesses venom that can trigger life-threatening reactions such as anaphylaxis in some individuals — making the idea of a hornet nest in a nearby tree particularly alarming to homeowners and business owners alike.

With the threats hornets can pose to a property, it is important that property owners understand how to identify a hornet nest in a tree and who to contact to have it safely removed.

Identifying a Hornet Nest in a Tree

Hornet nests typically start to appear in April with the onset of warmer temperatures.

When temperatures reach over 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the impregnated queen — the only surviving member of the previous year’s colony, comes out of hibernation and begins building a new nest.

Hornets do not reuse old nests. This is generally because the nests can’t withstand the intense rain, wind, and snow that comes with cold Northeastern winters — they become damaged beyond repair.

The queen uses her saliva and chewed-up wood pulp to construct the new nest, inside of which she will produce the next generation of worker hornets who can then take over expanding the nest.

Hornets tend to build nests at least three feet above the ground. Most can be found established in treetops, canopies, or the eaves of a building.

Hornet nests generally look like upside-down, papery cones with a single round hole serving as the main entrance.

light-gray hornet nest built on brown-colored tree branches with green leaves in background

Some types of hornets, such as the European hornet, which is the only true hornet species in the United States, tend to build nests in wall voids or tree cavaties.

Hornet nests in tree trunks and cavaties are more difficult to spot, but the trees that host such hornet nests are usually dead or dying.

Queen hornets also use deceased or rotting tree trunks to overwinter by burrowing underneath the bark for warmth.

The size of a hornet nest is proportional to the size of the colony it belongs to. Hornet colonies generally include 100 to 800 workers.

Nests can be as small as a softball or can become as large as a basketball, so the sooner a hornet nest is removed, the better.

light-gray European hornet nest nestled in the crevice of brown tree trunk, tree branches with green leaves in background

Dangers of Removing Hornet Nests without a Pest Control Professional

Whether contained deep within a tree’s cavity or hung from its highest branches, hornet nests can be difficult — even dangerous, to reach. Moreover, hornets are overprotective of the colony’s queen and dwelling.

Attempts to remove the nest can instigate a collective attack from the hornet colony. Hornet stingers are long and sharp enough to puncture through most types of cloth, including cotton and polyester.

The insect’s stings are painful and can cause itchiness and swelling around the affected area. In extreme cases, stings from the pest can cause a fatally allergic reaction resulting in anaphylactic shock.

A single hornet can sting multiple times before dying, giving the pest ample opportunity to sting an inexperienced person attempting to remove the nest.

Considering the dangers, untrained individuals should not try to remove a hornet nest. Instead, they are encouraged to contact a licensed pest professional.

An experienced specialist can safely remove the nest and eradicate the pest without endangering themselves or others on the property.

Professional Hornet Nest Removal

A pest expert begins by conducting a thorough inspection of the property in an effort to identify the problem area(s).

Those who choose Catseye Pest Control receive a free, in-depth inspection of their home or business by a trained specialist who then creates a customized treatment plan based on that initial analysis.

Once the situation has been assessed, the pest expert can enact their plan of action. For Catseye technicians, this generally includes a combination of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices.

The IPM solutions used by Catseye technicians eradicate an infestation in an environmentally friendly way.

To remove a hornet nest, Catseye pest management experts have the equipment and education to get rid of it by first vacuuming the hornets out of the nest then dislodging the dwelling from the tree.

Once the nest has been contained and removed from the property, technicians can treat the surrounding area with traps or other barriers to prevent the hornets from building a new nest.

Hornet nest removal is a difficult operation that should only be handled by a professional as untrained individuals risk harming themselves and others if they attempt to address the situation alone.

Regain control of a property in a safe, efficient way with the assistance of a licensed pest expert.

Hornet Nest Removal with Catseye

Removing a hornet nest can be dangerous and ineffective when performed by anyone other than a pest technician.

Without the proper tools or knowledge, the chances of bodily injury and recurrence of the hornet problem increases significantly.

Maintain your safety and sanity by enlisting a Catseye pest management expert to remove a hornet nest from your tree or property. Catseye’s Hornet Nest Removal service ensures the stinging pest infestation is eliminated — leaving you with peace of mind.

To learn more about how Catseye can remove a hornet nest from your tree or property, contact us.

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Mice Infestation Eliminated in Farmington, Connecticut, Home

Significant Mouse Infestation Remedied for New Homeowners with Intense Cleanup, Removal & Cat-Guard Rodent Exclusion Services

Purchasing a new home is a stressful process whether the purchaser is a first-time homebuyer or not.

While moving into a new home and feeling ready to make changes so it feels like your own, it’s possible to discover an issue(s) or unwelcomed visitor(s) that can quickly become a nightmare — especially if the issue is a rodent infestation.  

This is exactly what one couple encountered after purchasing their home situated on 11 acres of land in Farmington, Connecticut, in 2021.

As an interior designer, the wife has an eye for what works in a home and what should be eliminated immediately.

In this case, it was the mice that didn’t belong.

And, as they said in an interview with the New York Times, the couple wasn’t even sure they could live in the house due to the mouse infestation.

This isn’t an ideal situation for any homeowner, let alone for someone who just purchased and moved into a new home.

“The issues that they faced is a reminder why it’s so important to take care of rodents as quickly as possible,” said Catseye Pest Control President Joe Dingwall. “Treatment and damage repairs can become very expensive if it is not done properly or if people wait too long.”

How the Mice Infestation Was Eliminated

To successfully eliminate the rodent infestation, the couple contacted the nuisance wildlife experts at Catseye.

Over the course of 10 trapping visits followed by five days with the Cat-Guard installation crew, Catseye was able to successfully eradicate the infestation — leaving them with peace of mind and a quiet house rid of all the unwanted visitors.

To permanently eliminate the current mice infestation and prevent future infestations, all points of entry used (and potentially used) by the mice had to be sealed.

The points of entry for the mice included:

  • Underneath cedar siding
  • Around bulkhead doors
  • Around the exterior of the brick chimney
  • Around exterior windows
  • Sides of the front doorsteps
  • Around the garage doors
  • Under the roofline drip edge
  • Underneath corner posts

That’s quite a few places for mice to gain access to the interior of the house and garage.

But removing the rodent infestation and eliminating points of entry with Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems is only part of the task.

Catseye wildlife technicians were also tasked with replacing parts of the home and garage that had become damaged due to the mouse infestation.

“During our visit we replaced the damaged and soiled batten insulation with new batten insulation,” Dingwall said. “There was a significant amount of urine and droppings left behind by the mice. The areas had to be HEPA vacuumed and disinfected as well.”

This process allows the Catseye wildlife technicians to safely eliminate the threat of disease or bacteria being left behind by the mice.

What is Cat-Guard?

Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems are a permanent barrier designed to eliminate points of entry that mice, squirrels, bats, and many other nuisance wildlife may use as a way to access a structure.

This service from Catseye is a chemical-free, long-term solution that prevents future infestations.  

Each wildlife exclusion system can be tailored to the unique needs of any home, garage, business office, or any other structure that requires protection — from below-ground to the first floor of the house all the way up to the roof.

Featuring three products, each aspect of Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems has been designed to keep nuisance wildlife outside, without creating an eyesore on the home or office.

Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems consist of:

  • Upper Cat-Guard Wildlife Barrier: From the top of the first-floor windows to the peak of the roof, Upper Cat-Guard shields homes or businesses from nuisance wildlife that may find their way inside through the upper-part of the structure.
  • Lower Cat-Guard Wildlife Barrier: Ensuring there are no openings for critters to make their way into the structure, Lower Cat-Guard protects from the first-floor windows down to the ground.
  • Trench-Guard Wildlife Barrier: Acting as an underground barrier, Trench-Guard ensures that low-clearance areas like decks or sheds are protected against nuisance wildlife.

Our mission is to protect your home and loved ones from the dangers of rodent infestations, as many of these critters tend to carry harmful bacteria and germs.

Mice, raccoons, rats, and many others can also cause significant damage to a structure. While others — like groundhogs, burrow beneath the structure leaving it structurally unsound.

This situation is all too familiar for our clients, as much of the home needed repairs after the mice infestation was dealt with — including brand-new insulation.

For this situation, the Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems were tailored to seal quite a few areas, including:

  • Under the siding with metal
  • Around the brick chimney
  • Flashing on the roof
  • Under the roofline trim boards on gable ends
  • Thresholds

Additionally, garage door gaskets were replaced, small gaps on the upper portion of the home were sealed with silicone, and areas inside the garage were also sealed.

And exclusion is only part of the solution, a total cleanup is an essential step in the process as well.

Catseye technicians also facilitate removing the mice or other critter from the structure, in addition to removing the nests and debris left behind by the rodent.

A thorough cleaning of the affected area — and surrounding areas, is essential as it can help prevent further damage to the property or cause potential harm to loved ones.

A trained and certified Catseye technician will remove damaged insulation, clean and disinfect areas impacted by droppings or urine, remove nests, and install new insulation.

Prevent Infestations in Your Home or Business

The Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems are a long-term solution designed with your peace and wellbeing in mind.

Whether it’s a skunk, snakes, or a family of birds, Catseye will create a customized solution to eliminate the infestation and prevent it from happening again in the future.

To eliminate a rodent infestation of any kind, it’s essential to contact the experts at Catseye today.

A Catseye technician will visit the property to assess the situation and create a customized plan suited to the infestation and the structure.

After Cat-Guard has been installed, you will be left with peace of mind knowing that the property is secure, and that wildlife is being kept outside.

This article appeared first on Catseye Pest

Honeydew for honey bees? Spotted lanternflies, Lycorma delicatula

 

This little honeybee seems to know exactly where the honeydew will appear.

 

Back in September we visited spotted lanternflies as they continued their spread across the eastern United States. In the intervening weeks, several counties in Maryland, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts have reported new breeding populations of lanternflies. Recently, we visited infestations in Maryland and Virginia and were astounded not only by the sheer numbers of lanternflies but also by the gushing volumes of honeydew produced by adult lanternflies feeding on the bark of trees. On a bright sunny day in northern Virginia while admiring a throng of these rascally pests in a stand of Ailanthus trees, we were showered by a steady rain of lanternfly honeydew.

Phloem sap is a rich source of carbohydrates for many types of sucking insects, including spotted lanternflies. Large quantities of sap are processed to extract nutrients and the excess fluid is excreted as a liquid waste called honeydew. With hundreds or thousands of lanternflies feeding and expelling honeydew, one can experience rain on a sunny day while standing beneath an infested tree.

While honeydew sometimes refers to a tasty brand of doughnuts or delicious type of melon, in ento-speak honeydew is the sugar-rich liquid waste of sucking insects like aphids, scales, and lanternflies that squirts from their anus. Honeydew is derived from a vascular tissue of plants called phloem which many sucking insects consume. Earlier this year we met another sucking insect, the cicada, that feeds on a different vascular tissue called xylem. Cicadas process great volumes of xylem fluid and excrete copious amounts of watery liquid waste, creating a gentle shower beneath trees on which they congregate and feed. Previously, we reviewed the serious economic threat spotted lanternflies pose to grape growers, orchardists, and the general public, whose lanternfly-infested trees could be fouled by lanternfly honeydew. Economic losses associated with lanternflies in Pennsylvania are currently estimated to exceed more than 50 million dollars annually and are expected to only increase as lanternflies spread.

 As we stood in a gentle honeydew shower, we were chagrined by the diversity and number of stinging insects taking advantage of the sugary bounty provided by lanternflies. Paper wasps, yellowjackets, and hornets greedily collected and often battled over droplets of honeydew. Some even waited near the rear-end of lanternflies, apparently for fresh deliveries. One happy visitor to the honeydew bonanza was our friend the industrious honey bee. As the day warmed and lanternflies amped up honeydew production, growing numbers of honey bees were recruited to this rich sugar source. This may be some good news for our beleaguered bee friends. There is growing concern that honey bees face a dearth of nectar and pollen food sources, especially late in the growing season in temperate regions of our land.  Perhaps honeydew produced by spotted lanternflies can serve as a novel carbohydrate source for our struggling bees. Wouldn’t it be nice if spotted lanternfly, an invasive pest, provided some lemonade and not just lemons in its new home here in the US?   

Honeydew excreted by spotted lanternfly creates a nuisance around infested trees when stinging wasps and bees gather to collect this sweet source of food. But does this honeydew serve as a useful food resource for honey bees?

Acknowledgements

Bug of the Week thanks Sally, Tim, and Mark for providing inspiration for this episode. Special thanks to the great crew of entomologists at Penn State and Virginia Tech working to quell the spotted lanternfly invasion.  The interesting articles “Scientists Examine Potential Economic Impact of Spotted Lanternfly in Pennsylvania” by Amy Duke, and “Native habitat mitigates feast–famine conditions faced by honey bees in an agricultural landscape” by Adam G. Dolezal, Ashley L. St. Clair, Ge Zhang, Amy L. Toth, and Matthew E. O’Neal were consulted in preparation for this episode.

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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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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