I have always been a big reader of books, and nowadays reading is more convenient than ever thanks to eBooks that can be read on whatever electronic device suits your fancy. However, I find that there is nothing better than a new paper book. I love the way they feel and smell, and I love […]
Read A Bookworm’s Nightmare: Book Infesting InsectsRead MoreThe fungus gnat is a small fly that enjoys eating fungus and decaying organic matter that often grows in the soil of these potted plants. There are about 65 different species here in North America, and they are found on all other continents and most of the major islands.
Read Pest Profile: Fungus GnatsRead MoreAs colder weather approaches, some outdoor plants are now getting chilly and need to be brought inside. Although moving plants indoors is great for keeping them alive, this can bring in some unwanted house guests, specifically fungus gnats. The fungus gnat is a small fly that enjoys eating fungus and decaying organic matter that often […]
Read Pest Profile: Fungus GnatsRead MoreSilverfish are in the order Zygentoma. This soft-bodied insect is a voracious feeder on items high in starch, glue, and cellulose. For example, they are common in libraries and museums where paper books and labels are abundant. However, they can also be found outdoors in cool shaded places, such as under leaf litter, under rocks, […]
Read Pest Profile: SilverfishRead MoreScorpions are an arachnid that we commonly deal with in the pest control industry. They are closely related to spiders and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. There are more than 1,500 scorpion species worldwide, but only about 25 of those species have venom strong enough to kill a human. Scorpions often blend […]
Read Pest Profile: Southern Devil ScorpionRead MoreScorpions are an arachnid that we commonly deal with in the pest control industry. They are closely related to spiders and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. There are more than 1,500 scorpion species worldwide, but only about 25 of those species have venom strong enough to kill a human. Scorpions often blend […]
Read Pest Profile: Southern Devil ScorpionRead MoreAlthough the rainbow scarab (Phanaeus vindex) has a colorful, attractive exterior, its habitat is… less than attractive. Commonly referred to as dung beetles, they can often be found rolling around in dung. Despite their affinity for excrement, they have an interesting history as objects of worship in Ancient Egypt and have been made into spectacular […]
Read Pest Profile: Rainbow ScarabsRead MorePest Profile: Red Paper Wasp (Polistes carolina)(Insecta: Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Kristen Stevens, BCE Paper wasps are in the family Vespidae. The red paper wasp Polistes carolina is distributed throughout the eastern and south central United States. It is an elongate, slender wasp that is usually brownish-red with yellow markings. Paper wasps build their nests from saliva […]
Read Pest Profile: Red Paper WaspRead MoreKristen Stevens, BCE We don’t often think of birds as pests, and, indeed, most of them are not. However, there are some birds that can pose public health and damage concerns in addition to being a nuisance. They carry all number of different food-borne illnesses such as salmonellosis, histoplasmosis, campylobacteriosis and some others. Some birds […]
Read Pest Profile: BirdsRead MoreSpp. Reticulitermes virginicus and Reticulitermes hageni Subterranean termites are one of the most common species of termites in the United States. They belong to the order Isoptera and are a small to medium insect. They live in colonies and have a caste system in which each individual within the colony has a specific role. The […]
Read Pest Profile: TermitesRead MoreIdentification Argentine ants are very small, dark, slender ants. These ants are usually found in large colonies which they can form in loose leaf litter, wall voids, cracks in concrete, and under stones or other debris resting on the ground. Habits Like the tawny crazy ant, argentine ants are an invasive species of ant from […]
Read Argentine AntsRead MoreUpon hearing the word “wasp,” many tremble in fear and imagine an angry creature chasing after them. However, this is not the case with the cuckoo wasp. These solitary wasps are brightly colored and found in metallic green, blue or purple hues. Their bodies are full of small pits which give them an almost glittery […]
Read Pest Profile- The Cuckoo Wasp: A Beautiful Parasite (Chrysididae: Chrysis spp.)Read MoreAs summer approaches and beach trips are in the near future, are you or your loved ones nervous about swimming in the ocean because of sharks? According to the Bill Gates Foundation, you need to worry more about stepping into your own backyard! Accountable for over 700,000 deaths worldwide every year, mosquitoes are considered the […]
Read Pest Profile: Mosquitoes – A Look into the Life of our Backyard PredatorRead MoreLiving in the South, getting a termite infestation is not a matter of ‘if’ but a matter of ‘when’. Although getting termites in your home is never a good thing, depending on the type of termite it may go from bad to worse. Our native subterranean termites are known as Eastern Subterranean Termites (Reticulitermes). Like […]
Read Pest Profile: Eastern vs Formosan Subterranean TermiteRead MoreBoxelder bugs (scientific name Boisea trivattata) are named after one of their primary homes, the boxelder tree. They are known to occasionally enter structures during the winter to stay out of the harsh cold. Although a nuisance pest, they are actually native to the United States. They are specifically found in the western and eastern United […]
Read Pest Profile: Boxelder BugsRead More
