[Image: Scarlet-Bodied Wasp Moth]Bugs, Bugs, Bugs, January, 2009
Well, the year is starting mixed up as usual – warm-to-hot wet weather when it should be cool. And we are beginning to see some of the results of the weather conditions.
1. Strawberry/scarlet-bodied wasp moth—This brightly colored, red-and-blue moth has been observed in great numbers on several trees and weeds that are in bloom already. Although it has the appearance of a wasp, it is a moth and does not sting. The larva feeds on climbing hemp weed. Neither does any damage, but they do concern homeowners when they are seen. The wing margins and veins are black, and the remainder of the wing is clear without scales. The body is bright red with the center region an iridescent blue. They are daytime fliers and can be observed on flowering plants such as Japanese plum blooming now.
2. Bed bugs—These pesky little creatures have been reported from several areas recently. A blood-sucking pest of man, they can be aggravating and a nuisance. Travelers can easily bring them back home when traveling. Any luggage placed in an infested room or home makes a suitable means of transportation back to your house. They are night feeders and attack when the host is asleep at night. They will hide in the folds of the sheets or mattress and box springs, in or on the night stand near the bed, behind pictures on the wall or in cracks and joints on the bed frame during the day. Early detection may be made by inspecting the sheets where they are tucked in for blood fecal spots. Good sanitation and treatment will help to remove this pest problem.
3. Horse-hair worms—These creepy, long, thin nematodes are very beneficial. They are parasites on cockroaches, crickets and grasshoppers. On occasion they are found in massive numbers, but usually they are found individually when we kill or mash an infested roach or cricket. They spiral out of the dead or dying host, and this is what scares many homeowners. They get their name from their size and resemblance to the hairs on the mane of a horse. They are normally 6 inches long but can be 8 to 12 inches in length. When found, they should be released outdoors or back into the yard to resume their good deeds. They are not harmful but when seen can be a concern for the unknowing individual.
4. Spiders, centipedes, millipedes—At this time of year with the weather we are having, many homeowners are finding one or more of these outdoor arthropods scurrying across the floor or up a wall. Primarily a nuisance, spiders and centipedes will sometimes bite if mishandled, and milliped[Image: Centipede, Millipede, Spider]es can excrete a nasty fluid for defense. These pests are entering the home under doors that do not seal properly. At the bottom of most storm doors is a rubber flashing that helps to seal the door and keep critters out. Door jambs that are loose or worn will also allow these creatures to come in. They are being forced indoors by the weather conditions – heat, cold or excessive rainfall. A simple management tool is to make sure your doors seal properly. These creatures will, however, on occasion run in when doors are opened, particularly spiders, which hunt for food near lights left on overnight at entrance doors.
5. Ant samples—Samples of ants for identification require that the sample contains workers. It is impossible to identify reproductive or winged ants that are submitted. Be sure to check the sample before sending it in to make sure workers are included to assist in quick and proper identification and recommendations for management.
6. Small flies—A large number of small flies can invade the home. They can come from overripe or rotting fruits and vegetables, soil of house plants, drains, drain pans under refrigerators, crumbs and moisture that collects under the feet of tables and chairs. When you are bothered by small flies indoors, these are some of the places to check as possible sources of the infestation. In most cases, finding the source and removing it is the best and easiest way to remove the problem.
7. [Image: Stored Product Insects]Stored-product pests—With all the humidity and dampness in homes, we need to check our dry products. Weather conditions can cause these products to absorb moisture and create situations for a series of stored-product pests to become established in our homes. Weevils, beetles and moths have a bad habit of finding these products and building large colonies before they are found. On occasion, we bring them in from the store when we buy food supplies for us or our pets. This can be caused by purchasing these products close to the expiration dates on the package or by their having been stored in a warehouse where an infestation already exist so the fresh products are infested. Always check for leaks or holes in the packaging to reduce potential problems.