Monday, February 10, 2020 | Mid-Cities Pest Control
“Love is composed of a single soul
inhabiting two bodies.”
–
Aristotle
Valentine’s
Day has a long and varied history, with its true origins unknown. Not only are
there at least 3 different saints named Valentine/Valentinus upon which the
holiday could have been based, but it’s also
believed that the celebration date being in mid-February was chosen
specifically in an effort to “Christianize”
the pagan holiday “Lupercalia”.
Lupercalia was a fertility festival largely in honor of the Roman god of
agriculture, Faunus. It only seems appropriate then that we turn our attention
to a tiny insect this month that is known for its prolific reproduction and its
impact on agricultural and horticultural plants, the aphid. This tiny
insect also brings with it a particularly unique life cycle which not only
includes reproduction via coupling, but also solitary reproduction, which means
that whether you find yourself in a couple or single this Valentine’s
Day, the aphid fits the bill.
How Many Kinds of Aphids Are There?
Not only are there over 4,000 species
of aphids worldwide, but of those 4,000, more than 250 species feed on
horticultural and agricultural crops. With that kind of diversity, it’s
no surprise that there are a number of different species of aphids in
Texas, the most common of which tend to attack landscape plants. A few of the
most common species are: the Cotton or Melon Aphid, the Green Peach Aphid,
the Crape Myrtle Aphid, and the Oleander Aphid. As you may have
noticed, many aphid species are named after their preferred host plant,
but they all do share the same nickname: “plant lice”.
What do Aphids Look Like?
With so many aphid species
worldwide, it’s little wonder that their physical
characteristics can vary quite a bit from species to species. They can be
pear-shaped, oval, globular, or narrow-bodied and can range in color from
black/gray to red, orange, yellow, green, brown, or blue-green and can
sometimes have markings or appear wax-covered. However, there are a few
characteristics that are true for all aphids: they are small, ranging
from 1/16” to 1/8” long, have
soft-bodies, antennae, and a stylus mouth part used to pierce and suck sap from
plants. Most aphids also have a couple tubes in the rear of the abdomen
(called cornicles) that secrete a type of honeydew called cornicle wax. In
addition, some aphids will have wings and some will not (more on this in the
section “How Does an Aphid Infestation
Happen?”).
How Does an Aphid Infestation Happen?
In order to understand how an aphid
infestation can take hold of your landscaping and garden, you only need to look
at the complex, and uncommon life cycle of this insect that allows this pest to
be quite prolific (they reproduce faster than any other insect). Not only do
many aphids follow a relatively standard life cycle wherein they
reproduce sexually and deposit their fertilized eggs, which will then go
through a basic metamorphosis (overwintering as eggs, growing into nymphs, and
emerging as either winged or wingless adults), but they can also reproduce via parthenogenesis
(reproduction without mating) and will give birth to live female young; these
young are clones of their mother. This variable method of reproduction allows
for generations of new aphids to be born quickly and thus grow
exponentially. Generally, aphids reach sexual maturity in about 4 to 10
days and are then capable of reproducing for about the following 3 weeks (the
average lifespan of an adult is about 1 month); this means that there will be
overlapping generations of these insects reproducing via parthenogenesis. Not
only are the fast-growing numbers a concern for your plants, but they can also increase
the rate at which these pests develop resistance to insecticides.
These insects are still even more
adaptable, sometimes giving birth to winged aphids, which can make an
infestation even more difficult to control. The winged version of this pest
tends to occur for one of two main reasons: the need to travel or as part of the
reproductive cycle for some species. When a plant becomes too crowded with aphids,
the next generation to be born will be winged so that they can move to a new
host plant where there will be plenty of food and space for the increasing
numbers. Though that is the most common reason to see winged aphids,
they are also part of some aphid species’ standard reproductive cycle.
In this case, the pests live on one plant and reproduce on a separate plant, so
they need to have wings in order to move from one plant to the other. Because
of this movement, you can sometimes find yourself tricked into thinking the
infestation has gone away because it’s no longer on the plant you had been
focused on, but in reality the insects have simply moved and will come back in
even greater numbers before you know it.
Are Aphids Dangerous?
Though aphids are not harmful
to humans as they do not bite or sting us, they can be quite devastating to the
plants they reside and feed upon. Their potential for plant damage is
three-fold: damage done while feeding, causal damage, and viral damage.
Damage Done While Feeding: when aphids
remove the sap from the plant tissue (phloem) to feed upon, it not only
inherently weakens the plant, but some species also leave behind toxic salivary
secretions in the plant. These two factors will lead to stunted plant growth,
deformed and discolored leaves/fruit, potential for leaf loss, and can cause
galls to form on the plant.
Causal Damage: it’s
common for aphid species to secrete a sugary substance called honeydew
(or more specifically, cornicle wax) on the leaves and other plant parts of thelir
host plant. This cornicle wax is a prime host for the “sooty
mold” fungus, which colonizes on the
surfaces covered by the honeydew, blocking out the sunlight to that section of
the plant, ultimately preventing it from taking in the sunlight and leading to
plant damage.
Viral Damage: aphids
are a major vector when it comes to spreading diseases among plants. Not only
can they transmit dozens of viruses from a diseased plant into a healthy plant
in only a matter of seconds, they can also host viruses that go through a
latency period within the host insect itself. The transmitted viruses are
acquired instantly on the aphid’s mouth parts when it feeds on an infected plant, and are easily
spread to new plants when the aphid feeds on them for its next meal.
Even worse, many of the diseases these pests can spread are incurable, making
viral damage the most worrisome effect of an aphid infestation.
How can you Prevent Aphids?
When it comes to aphids,
putting in a little advance work to discourage them from making your plants
their home can go a long way to keeping a significant infestation at bay. Here
are a few tips on how to prevent or minimize an aphid attack:
Remove weeds that could be used by the insect for a
reproduction site.
Use insect nets to cover crops.
Avoid excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizer.
Remove any plant residue/waste.
Grow banker/barrier plants around the important plants you
wish to save from damage; these banker plants are plants that are not
susceptible to the viruses aphids carry so when the insect feeds on
them, the virus is safely deposited into a plant it won’t
effect. You can also intermingle plants in your garden that naturally repel aphids
(i.e. garlic, chives, leeks, marigolds, and catnip).
How do you Eliminate Aphids?
If you have found yourself facing an aphid
infestation on your plants, it’s time to give
Mid-Cities Pest Control a call at 1-800-310-BUGS
to get a technician out to combat the issue. Since they can reproduce quickly,
time is of the essence, which means that at the first signs of an aphid
issue, you need to call so that Mid-Cities Pest Control can send out an
experienced technician to evaluate the infestation and determine the best
course of treatment. Since aphids cause damage to the plant, which is ultimately
the vehicle through which the pesticide will reach the insect, it takes a
knowledgeable hand to know how to make treatment effective, and even more so,
to know which products to use to successfully eliminate the target insect.
Though aphids are a wonderfully
unique pest, they are also very dangerous to landscape plants and crops, and
need to be carefully monitored and eliminated when evidence arises that they
have settled on your property. So show your plants some love this Valentine’s
Day and call The Bug Dude at the first
sign of an aphid infestation.
Author
Bio: Alissa
Breach has been gaining knowledge and experience around pest control concerns
over the last 11 years while working for Mid-Cities Pest Control. She has a
creative writing BA from UW-Madison and is always pursuing new and interesting
writing projects.
Thursday, January 09, 2020 | Mid-Cities Pest Control
Around the world people ring in the New
Year with traditions meant to celebrate a fresh start and let go of the prior
year. In Colombia and Ecuador they release the negativity of the prior year
during “los años viejos” where they burn previously made effigies (in the form
of large puppets or scarecrows) of those who have died in the past year or of
people they dislike. Until recently, people in Johannesburg, South Africa,
would throw old furniture out of windows to symbolize the removal of old
problems and the gaining of a fresh start. The people of Denmark utilize old
dishes in their celebrations, breaking these dishes against a friend’s front
door or front step in order to bring them good fortune in the dawning year (in
Denmark, broken glass is a sign of good luck). Closer to home, we often include
in our celebrations a set of New Year’s Resolutions, meant to help us embrace
the idea of “out with the old [bad habits], and in with the new.”
In that spirit of letting go of the old,
we turn to a place often neglected when it comes to that sentiment: the pantry.
Though it may not seem like a priority with the dazzle of the New Year and the
new decade still fresh, with so many people making resolutions around both food
and money, it’s a place you won’t want to forget about lest you find your food
infested with weevils and yourself having to let go of more than just
old food.
How
Many Kinds of Weevils Are There?
Weevils are
actually a type of beetle and in comparison to other beetle groups, are known
to have an exceptionally high number of different species in its family. In
Texas alone, it is believed that there are over 1200 different types of weevils.
Though they all share certain commonalities, and many can become pests
agriculturally (like the boll weevil) or to ornamental plants (like the black
vine weevil), when you are dealing with them in your home the predominant
varieties you will encounter are the rice weevil, granary weevil,
cowpea weevil, and maize weevil.
What
do Weevils Look Like?
With so many different types of weevil
in existence, there isn’t one description that could cover them all. However,
there are certain traits shared by most weevils, especially those listed
above as the common varieties you would find in your home (with the exception
of the cowpea weevil, which lacks the notable snout). Perhaps the most
distinctive characteristic of the adult weevil is its head shape, which
is elongated at one end to form a snout with the mouth at the end of that
snout. They are generally dark brown or black with slender or oval-shaped
bodies, and are quite small, ranging from 1/10th to 2/5ths
of an inch in length. Some weevils are capable of flying (such as the rice
weevil), while others (like the granary weevil) are not. In the
larval stage, they are tiny, white/cream-colored, wrinkled, humpbacked and
legless, with a small, tan-colored head.
How
Do You Get Weevils?
Though there are plenty of weevil
species that can be found outdoors and can make their way indoors through
cracks and crevices, the most common way that these pests find their way into
your home is inside packaged and bulk food items. The eggs arrive in your home
already inside a seed or grain kernel. The adult female weevil will chew
a hole into a seed or grain kernel using her long snout and will then deposit
an egg inside and seal up the opening afterward, keeping the egg well-hidden.
Once the egg hatches, the larva will feed on the meat inside the seed/kernel
until it is fully grown, when it will eat its way out of the grain/seed.
But you won’t have just one weevil
emerging, and it won’t stay as just one generation for long. Not only does
mating often occur within 24 hours of the adult weevil emerging from the
seed/grain, but 1 adult female can lay 300-400 eggs, which can complete a
generation in just 1 month in favorable (warm, damp) conditions; this means
that an infestation can happen quite suddenly. And these pests are persistent,
living as adults for around 7 or 8 months, which means you could be living with
them for quite some time unless you take proper measures.
Are
Weevils Dangerous?
Fortunately, weevils are not a
dangerous household pest. They don’t bite or sting, and they are not toxic if
consumed. They are, however, a significant agricultural pest, doing damage to a
wide variety of crops and stored grain. And on an individual level, they can be
responsible for a great deal of food waste, as well as the unmistakable horror
upon finding these pests crawling all throughout your food; a horror that can
linger for years afterward every time you think about buying that same product
again.
How
can you Prevent Weevils?
There are several important steps to take
to prevent weevils from infesting your food and your home. Following
these preventative measures year-round will significantly decrease the
likelihood that you will find these pests taking over your pantry.
Inspect
bagged and boxed foods before purchasing and do not purchase any items that
have torn or damaged packaging.
Pay
attention to expiration dates on bagged and boxed foods and do not purchase
items past their expiration/best by dates.
Store
dry goods (rice, pasta, flour, beans, nuts, etc.) in glass, metal, or thick
plastic containers with tightly-fitting lids. If this is not possible, store
these goods in the refrigerator or freezer.
Clean
out reusable dry good containers before refilling; do not add new items to the
existing (old) ones.
Keep
the pantry clean and free of food debris and loose food.
Keep
food storage areas dry.
Store
non-food dry goods (pet food, birdseed, etc.) in tightly sealed containers away
from the pantry, ideally in a shed or garage.
How
do you Eliminate Weevils?
Eliminating weevils is essentially
a 3 step process.
Step 1: Remove the infested food
If
you see weevils in your stored foods, immediately discard the infested
food item.
Do
save a small sample of the insects you are seeing in a well-sealed container so
that when you have one of Mid-Cities Pest Control’s technicians evaluate your
home for treatment they can correctly identify the pest for optimal treatment.
Inspect
all remaining food items in the vicinity for possible infestation and discard
any additional affected items. Ideally, you will want to inspect all food items
in the home, but it is especially important to check all items in the same
pantry/cupboard/etc.
Pay
special attention to all grains, flours, seeds, rice, nuts, beans, cereals,
corn, etc.
Step
2: Clean
Remove
all food items from the area where the infested food was found (pantry,
cupboard, etc.) and vacuum all of the shelves, floor, and wall joints. Use the
brush/crevice attachment on the vacuum to get to all areas, especially the
edges of shelves, corners, and all other cracks and crevices.
Note:
a vacuum is by far the best tool for this job as you need to ensure that all
insects/eggs are removed from the food storage area. Cleaning agents, bleach,
etc. will not aid in the removal of the insects.
Always empty the vacuum or discard the vacuum bag
outdoors.
Give
the kitchen a thorough cleaning.
Step 3: Call a Professional
The
danger in a weevil infestation comes from the fact that the eggs are so
tiny and well-hidden that you will end up with hundreds of insects destroying
your food before you even know you have a problem. Even after following steps 1
and 2, there is a good chance that these resilient pests may still be lying in
wait to devour even more of your food. That’s why it’s always a good idea to
call in a professional. The technicians at Mid-Cities Pest Control will
identify the pest from the sample you saved to confirm it is indeed weevils and
then determine the most effective, as well as the safest, method to treat for these
pests so that they do not continue to cause damage to your food stores.
Never
attempt to self-treat for weevils. Since products will need to be put in
areas where food is kept, it is important for your safety to have a professional
do the treating.
Don’t let weevils dampen your New
Year; at the first signs of pests, call Mid-Cities Pest Control at 1-800-310-BUGS and let us help you say “out
with the infestation, in with a fresh start.”
Author
Bio: Alissa
Breach has been gaining knowledge and experience around pest control concerns
over the last 11 years while working for Mid-Cities Pest Control. She has a
creative writing BA from UW-Madison and is always pursuing new and interesting
writing projects.
Friday, December 13, 2019 | Mid-Cities Pest Control
When we think of Christmas time our first thoughts go to the child born in a manger, loved ones, snow, Santa, and the carols we most love to sing. As we immerse ourselves in the magic of the season, we are sure to find animals of all shapes and sizes become part of the yearly yuletide; from reindeer to sheep, and mice to turtledoves, we welcome our furry and feathered friends (or at least their most charming likenesses) into our celebrations. Not too surprisingly though, the insects and arachnids that just a few months prior were central to many a Halloween decoration, are largely left out when it comes to the glory and joy of Christmas. Maybe it’s just too difficult to feel the cozy warmth of Christmas when looking at a spider or see the magic and joy when watching a roach skitter across the floor, even if that roach were wearing a tiny Santa hat and beard, or maybe it’s simply that we haven’t chosen the correct insects to include in our Christmas celebrations.
There is one insect that has had its place
in Christmastime lore, one of the few insects that has had several notable
positive representations in pop culture: the cricket. In 1845 Charles Dickens
published a very popular novella: The Cricket on the Hearth: A Fairy Tale of
Home, the third of his five Christmas books, in which a cricket acts as a
sort of guardian angel to a family. Though Mr. Dickens was certainly writing
about a fairly common cricket in that story, there is yet another cricket that
seems destined to be connected to Christmas: the Jerusalem cricket. Not
only does the name instantly bring up thoughts of the Biblical city and its own
history, but it also brings to mind the city that’s less than 6 miles away and
is infamous especially at Christmas, Bethlehem. But before you start singing “O
little town of Bethlehem,” consider the second reason the Jerusalem cricket
seems destined for Christmas: instead of making a chirping noise like standard
crickets, the Jerusalem cricket makes a sort of drumming noise (perhaps
a “Pa rum pum pum pum”…at least at Christmas) with its body.
Though this insect seems like the best
candidate if one were looking to add to the Christmas animal repertoire, it
faces the same challenges so many insects face: most people do not want to be
around it. Not only is it a strange-looking insect, but it’s large, and the
sight of it actually in your home would probably give you Halloween flashbacks
instead of making you sing Christmas carols. So let’s learn a little more about
this almost-Christmassy insect so you can learn how to avoid an unwanted
Christmas surprise.
Why
are they Called Jerusalem Crickets?
The name Jerusalem Cricket is
actually a bit of a misnomer as they are neither from, nor found in, Israel.
It’s unknown exactly how they received their name, but the most common theory
is that it originated from a misinterpretation of the Navajo name for these
insects (“Skull Insect”) by Spanish priests who interpreted the name as being
related to “Skull Hill,” the place where Christ died.
Even calling them a cricket is a bit of a
misnomer, as they are technically not a true cricket. Yes, they are still in
the same Order as crickets and grasshoppers, but that’s a very broad category
and there are several key differences between the Jerusalem cricket and
common crickets that help to illustrate the naming
confusion: unlike common crickets they are not built for jumping, instead they
are built for burrowing into the soil; and though they are known for their
unique mating song, it’s not the familiar chirping noise, instead the Jerusalem
cricket creates their distinctive drumming sound by bumping the ground with
their body.
In the end, these odd little bugs seem to defy all naming logic, adding even more intrigue
to these unique creatures.
What
do Jerusalem Crickets Look Like?
These strange-looking insects are quite
large, around 2”-2.5” long, and have quite a distinctive appearance. Their
bald, shiny, amber-colored head is one of the most distinguishing features,
being that it is disproportionately large for its body and almost “humanoid” in
shape, with two dark, beady eyes set just below its slender antennae. They also
have very large mandibles (mouth-parts), which are highly effective for chewing
roots, tubers, vegetables, and meat (including other insects), as well as
aiding in soil excavation as they dig through the dirt in their subterranean
world. Their shiny abdomen is ringed tan against dark brown or black. Finally,
its legs, especially its front legs, are stout and spiny and adapted for
digging in soil, not for jumping.
Where
are Jerusalem Crickets Found?
Geographically, Jerusalem
crickets are found in the western United States and parts of Mexico.
Outdoors, Jerusalem crickets generally
spend most of their lives in underground burrows, only coming to the surface at
night to feed on plant matter and insects; however, they can also occasionally
be found making their homes in warm, damp places, generally in a protected area
like a wood or rock pile. After mating, the female will burrow 6”-10”
underground, usually in a protected area like was just mentioned, and will
created a nest there that will house their eggs.
Jerusalem Crickets are rarely found Indoors,
other than in a terrarium as a pet. Due to their preferred habitat and nesting
site, they generally won’t be looking to make your home into their home, and
most likely just wandered in while looking for food.
Are
Jerusalem Crickets Dangerous?
Though they are an intimidating insect to
suddenly find yourself faced with, they are not aggressive and are likely to
simply try to escape if they encounter a threat rather than attempt to attack
or defend. However, their strong, and sizeable,
mandibles are known to deliver quite a painful bite should the Jerusalem
cricket be cornered into a situation where it cannot flee and is forced to
fight. Fortunately, they are not venomous or poisonous, so though the bite will
hurt for a little, it won’t do any lasting damage.
These bizarre insects aren’t even
particularly dangerous to crops, though this is definitely where they have
their greatest potential for threat and damage. Since their diet consists of a
good deal of plant matter, and they live underground, there are many crops,
especially things like potatoes (another nickname for the Jerusalem cricket
is Potato bug after all), that they have the potential to negatively
affect. However, they can only do significant damage in large numbers, and
though they can live for 2-3 years, it also takes about 1-2 years for them to
mature to adulthood, and they are known to have a low rate of reproduction,
making it rare to find an infestation of these insects to the point of causing
severe crop damage.
How
can you Prevent Jerusalem Crickets?
There are two main things to consider when
attempting to prevent Jerusalem crickets from becoming an issue in your
home: 1) how could they get into your home and 2) are there any ideal
burrowing/nesting conditions in your yard that you could reduce or eliminate?
When considering how they could get into
your home, be sure to look for any large gaps that may be present, especially
at door sweeps or window seals, and make sure that any windows or doors that
may be left open have a fully sealed screen over them. Since these aren’t a
small pest like an ant, they will need a much more sizeable opening to enter
your home, one that would be visible to the naked eye.
When considering what could be done to
make your yard less hospitable to the Jerusalem cricket, remember that
they like warm, damp places, and often go for protected locations under rock or
wood piles. Clearing any such piles and keeping your yard free of leaf/plant
debris will go a long way toward making your yard a less ideal home for these
giants. Additionally, keep a close eye on any fruit or vegetable gardens as
these are a potential food source for these insects and could serve to draw
them into your yard when they’re searching for a midnight snack.
Finally, when it comes to eliminating
potential food sources for the Jerusalem cricket, it’s always a good
idea to keep your home as insect-free as possible. By getting on a pest control
service plan with Mid-Cities Pest Control and having a certified technician
maintain a pest barrier around your house you are far less likely to ever have
to face a startling encounter with the Jerusalem cricket inside your
home.
How
do you eliminate Jerusalem Crickets?
If you find yourself facing a problem with
Jerusalem crickets; whether it’s a lone insect that got inside and
reminded you it’s time to get on a pest control service plan, or whether you’re
facing an infestation, the best course of action is to call Mid-Cities Pest
Control at 1-800-310-BUGS and have a
certified pest control technician come out to evaluate your home and yard; they
can provide you with service options to get the issue under control and
maintain a pest barrier to keep your home from becoming a buffet for the Jerusalem
cricket.
This Christmas as you prepare to
gather family and friends together to celebrate the joy and the wonder of the
holiday, don’t worry about having to utter a “Bah, humbug” at any pests finding
their way into your home, give Mid-Cities Pest Control a call and let our
technicians help to make this a very Merry Christmas for all.
“The
Jerusalem Cricket” – Dr. Wayne S. Johnson & Jeff Knight –
University of Nevada, Reno Cooperative Extension.
Author Bio: Alissa Breach has been gaining knowledge and experience around pest control concerns over the last 10 years while working for Mid-Cities Pest Control. She has a creative writing BA from UW-Madison and is always pursuing new and interesting writing projects.
Thursday, November 07, 2019 | Mid-Cities Pest Control
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and
as we look to gather around the table with loved ones and give thanks for all
of the blessings we have received this year, we are reminded of what has made
this all possible: gratitude and the yearly fall harvest. From decorations of
cornucopias to the abundant feast itself, Thanksgiving is all about celebrating
a successful harvest, whether it’s remembering the first miraculous harvest
that would eventually spawn this tradition, or being reminded how lucky we are
to be able to enjoy such a banquet with people we love. Though many of us do
not do the harvesting ourselves, dedicated farmers’ hard work comes to fruition
and provides us with fresh nutritious food that keeps us happy and healthy the
whole winter through, something to truly be thankful for.
But farmers are not the only ones
dedicating their days to harvesting, there is a much smaller, but still very
committed, hard-worker, the harvester ant. These hearty ants spend their
lives harvesting for seeds to feed their colony, so much so that this behavior
became the epitome of what we think of when we think of them. So it is in honor
of all of the successful harvests that this country has seen, and the hard work
put into them that we take a look at the indigenous harvester ant.
Why
are they Called Harvester Ants?
Harvester ants are one of the
most aptly named ant species, as they get their common name from their
food-gathering behavior. Given that their food of preference is seeds, this
means that they are spending their days collecting, or harvesting, seeds (such
as wild sunflower, Johnson grass, burr clover, alfalfa, and even small beans) for
their meals. They will then store this harvest in their nest to be feasted on
by the colony. If their preferred foods aren’t available these resourceful ants
will harvest for dead insects instead of seeds, adding them to their food
stores.
What
do Harvester Ants Look Like?
With 22 species of harvester ant in
the United States, and at least 10 of those found in Texas (the most common
being the red harvester ant), there is a bit of variance in the physical
appearance of the different species of ants. In general, they are either orange
to red or brownish-black, the workers are 1/4” to 1/2” long with 6 legs and
antennae, most species have a 2-segmented mid-section with a pair of spines on
the top (except for red harvester ants which notably do not have spines),
many have square heads, and most have long hairs on their head that form a sort
of “beard”. The “beard” is utilized in excavating nests as a means to push
material from the nest, sort of like a shovel or bulldozer. These large, robust
ants are slow movers, cannot walk up slippery vertical surfaces (such as
glass), and have mouthparts designed for chewing the seeds that form the
primary part of their diet.
In addition to workers (up to 10,000 for
some species), the colony will include a single queen, which can live upwards
of 17 to 30 years (nearly half the life of the colony itself, which tends to
survive for 14 to 50 years). And on a summer afternoon after a rain, the colony
will release reproductive harvester ant swarmers to go about the task of
mating and building new colonies, with the males dying shortly after mating and
the females shedding their wings and digging a burrow to lay the eggs that will
eventually become the worker ants of a new colony.
Though the ants do have a fairly specific
look, the easiest way to spot a harvester ant is by its distinctive
nest. They generally create large mounds, almost 4.5 feet in diameter at times,
with barren vegetation surrounding the nest.
Where
are Harvester Ants Found?
Though harvester ants are still
considered a common Texas ant, they are not nearly as prevalent today as they
were in the first part of the 20th century; this is largely due to
repercussions from the influx of fire ants.
Geographically, harvester
ants are primarily found west of the Mississippi river, though they are
also found in Florida.
Outdoors, harvester ants make
moderate to large mounds (depending on the species) in flat, open, and sparsely
shaded areas or dry, sandy or hard soil, and will strip a large area (3 to 6
foot circle) of vegetation surrounding their nest to prevent shading. They will
also strip the vegetation along their foraging trails that radiate out from
their nest. The nest can be up to 3 feet deep and generally has 1 central
entrance with small pebbles, charcoal, or bits of dead vegetation on the
surface of the mound, particularly around the opening. Often, colonies are
widely separated; however, in cases of heavy infestation, there can be multiple
nests in closer proximity to each other (as many as 80 or more nests per
hectare). These ants have such a strong preference for nest location that they
are known to move the entire mound if there is a change in climate or a drastic
increase in shade.
Harvester ants are rarely found Indoors;
they are not known to invade homes or structures, so if they are seen indoors
it is generally in very small numbers as they have simply gotten lost; they are
not foraging or looking to set up a colony indoors like other ant species.
Are
Harvester Ants Dangerous?
The short answer is “Yes, harvester
ants can be dangerous.” Not only do these ants possess a nasty sting, they
have the added negative of potentially causing costly damage to yards and
rangeland.
Though these ants are not considered as
aggressive as fire ants, they can become aggressive, and will most certainly
bite or sting anything that disturbs their nest, potentially even killing the
offending animal. Their painful, and poisonous, sting is known to last longer
than the stings of other ants and spread along lymph channels, potentially
becoming medically serious. This is in addition to the possibility of the sting
causing a serious allergic reaction, especially in those who are more
susceptible to insect-sting allergies. Even if you do not get stung by these
ants, they are known to be vicious biters.
Fortunately, the ants are large and their
mounds are fairly obvious, so avoiding contact with them is significantly
easier than it is with ants like fire ants. Unfortunately, because their mounds
are large and they not only harvest seeds from the nearby vegetation, they also
clear a significant area of vegetation around their mound itself, they can
cause considerable damage to ornamental lawns and home gardens, and in large numbers
can damage pasture and range land, reducing yield.
How
do you Eliminate Harvester Ants?
Once you have determined that you are
facing a harvester ant issue, the best thing to do is call The Bug Dude
at Mid-Cities Pest Control, Inc. and get one of our certified pest control
technicians to take care of the problem. Not only do we know the best time to
treat the ants, we will also be best able to choose the most effective product
and dosage amount to eliminate the colony that is causing you an issue without
over-treating; this is of particular importance for red harvester ants
which are a primary food source for the Texas horned lizard, a protected
species. Due to this connection with the Texas horned lizard, the harvester
ant should ideally only be treated for minimally and only in cases where
they are a danger to person or property, which is again why it is so important
for these ants to be evaluated and treated by a professional, and not using DIY
methods.
How
can you Prevent Harvester Ants?
Since harvester ants are not an
indoor pest, there are very few preventative measures that can be taken to keep
them from becoming an issue as it’s much more difficult to deter a pest from
enter your yard than it is your home. The two biggest preventative measures you
can take are:
Keep
sources of seeds (such as gardens or bird feeders) to a minimum
Make
your yard less hospitable by increasing shade cover
This Thanksgiving, if you see harvester
ants trying to get in on the holiday celebrations, don’t wait until they
have decimated a large portion of your yard, call Mid-Cities Pest Control at
817-354-5350 and get a licensed technician to evaluate the issue and go over
the best course of action to keep your harvest celebration intact.
Author
Bio: Alissa
Breach has been gaining knowledge and experience around pest control concerns
over the last 10 years while working for Mid-Cities Pest Control. She has a
creative writing BA from UW-Madison and is always pursuing new and interesting
writing projects.
Thursday, October 10, 2019 | Mid-Cities Pest Control
It was a night much like this one, still
and quiet except for the rustling of leaves from the first true breezes of
fall. A glassy sheen leaned in through fluttering window curtains as the light
of a nearly full moon casts broken shadows across the rooms where a family lay
in peaceful slumber,
blissfully unaware of what was creeping ever closer.
Silently, the unknown presence moved
through the family’s home, chaotically searching for what it needed, ever-growing, its
numbers dwarfing that of the family still asleep upstairs. If there had been a
noise, a squeak, a groan, anything to alert to the family to the invasion that
was taking place, they may have stood a chance, may not have been woken so
terribly from dreams so sweet, but the creatures moving through the home,
through the walls themselves were chillingly noiseless.
So the night passed with the creatures
amassing a horde of untold numbers.
The next morning, in the time just before
dawn, when the sky is still murky and the world hasn’t yet taken its proper
shape, the youngest child creeps from their bed and steals downstairs alone.
Their heart is racing from the thrill of sneaking through the empty halls,
racing past any open doors till they get to the kitchen. Holding their breath,
they hear their pulse hammering in their ears as they drop down and peer around
the corner, hoping they are alone, terrified they are about to be caught. A
loud “caw” from a crow on
the patio sends them tumbling to the floor, heart nearly exploding with its
frantic pace. But the emptiness of the kitchen has been verified; or so it
seems.
Tiptoeing to the counter, they see the
treasures they had sneaked down for: Halloween treats of all shapes and sizes.
They open the container with a flinch as its plastic crackles in the stillness
of the heavy morning air. Keeping surveillance on the room around them, they
reach a hand in and grab the sugar cookie they had had their eye on since last
night. Without looking, they bring the cookie up to their mouth, but before
teeth can sink in, they catch a glimmer of movement out of the corner of their
eye. They look all around, but no one is there. The hairs on the back of their
neck stand up as they know that something is moving all around them, something
they just can’t see. Inching away from the kitchen, they bring the cookie up to
their mouth again. And that’s when they see it. The movement is coming from the
cookie itself. Their heart stops. Suddenly there is a glint of movement by the
sink, and on the wall next to their head; the whole kitchen seems to be
undulating in the dim
gray light. They throw the sugar cookie down and scream, running full-tilt up
the stairs and away from the possessed kitchen.
As parents and siblings are roused to
soothe the terrified child, the moving creatures, hundreds of tiny ghost ants
that have built their nest in the cracks of the kitchen, gather around the
discarded cookie, continuing the task of foraging it for food for the ever-expanding colony.
Why
are they Called Ghost Ants?
Unlike the “zombie ant,” another classic
Halloween-appropriate ant species, the ghost
ant doesn’t get its common name from any trauma or behavioral
characteristic; instead, it received a spooky name simply because of its
semi-translucent and spectre-like appearance, which make it difficult to see,
like a ghost.
What
do Ghost Ants Look Like?
Ghost ants are extremely
small, around 1/16” long, and the workers are monomorphic (they are all the
same size). They have a dark brown head & thorax with a pale, nearly
translucent, yellow/white abdomen, antennae, and legs. When their colony is
disturbed they tend to move in rapid, erratic movements, though they can sometimes be found in the more
orderly and linear trail common to other ant species.
Where
are Ghost Ants Found?
Geographically, ghost ants
are found primarily in warm regions, originating in the old world tropics of
Asia or Africa, and spreading from there to places like Hawaii, the Caribbean
islands, Florida, Texas, and various tropical areas around the world. Though
they prefer warm climates, they have made their way as far north as Canada by
sticking to indoor locations, particularly greenhouses.
Outdoors, ghost ants tend to make
their nests in protected places in the soil, in crevices of dead tree branches,
under stones, in leaf piles/debris, in/under logs, in flowerpots, and under
loose tree bark.
Indoors, ghost ants will nest in
just about any protected cavity they can find, such as cracks, spaces between
books, wall voids, behind baseboards, between cabinets, and in the soil of
potted plants. Given the inconspicuous choices of nesting sites, you might be
more likely to encounter the ghost ants when they forage or trail to
water sources; though, these tiny ants will often live up to their haunting
name by keeping themselves hidden from view while on their expeditions by
trailing under carpet edges and along electrical wires within wall voids.
What
do Ghost Ants Eat?
In nature, ghost ants prefer a diet
of the honeydew that aphids make, and will also consume other insects. When
they are interacting with people, however, they are just like kids at
Halloween, and prefer to feast on sweet foods (in the case of ghost ants
this would consist of cereals, sweet cakes, syrup, and raw sugar). Yet, though
they prefer sweet foods, they will also consume foods high in protein or
grease; so virtually any food in your kitchen is a potential meal for a ghost
ant.
Are
Ghost Ants Dangerous?
On an individual level, ghost ants are
not dangerous. They do not sting and very rarely bite. Their bite, if you were
to encounter it, would likely go completely unnoticed as it would be extremely
rare to cause any discomfort or pain, and it carries no health risks.
The primary concern around the safety of a
ghost ant infestation is due to the numbers of ants that can join
together in giant nest sites of thousands, or even millions of individual ants;
they are an ant species known for being able to redistribute themselves quickly
and having no issue with overlapping colonies. Not only is there a significant
risk that these populous ants will contaminate food in your home, which could
at best cost you the price of replacing the food, and at worst cause illness
for you and your family, but there is also an ecological concern at play (as
with most invasive species) that as their numbers grow, they drive away local
species, which can adversely affect the balance of the ecosystem.
How
do you Kill Ghost Ants?
If you have ever killed a ghost ant
by squishing it, you almost certainly noticed the pungent odor that was emitted
upon its death. Much like Odorous House Ants, ghost ants give off a coconut-like
odor when crushed. This odor has led to the ants being called by a different
name in Malaysia: “Corpse Ant,” another fitting Halloween moniker. Not that
killing ants by hand via squishing would ever be the #1 recommended method, but
in this case, you would particularly want to avoid doing it at all, or else end
up stuck with an otherworldly odor.
Much like their namesake, ghost ants
are difficult to exorcise from a home once they have possessed it. Part of the
reason for the difficulty is that their colonies contain multiple queens, so
when a contact insecticide is used, the highly mobile colony can simply move to
a new area and suffer no long-term ill effects. As with most ants, the most
effective method of treatment is via the use of targeted ant baits; however,
with the diminutive size of these ants, it’s especially important to get the
correct dosage and type of bait if you are to succeed in eliminating the entire
colony, and not just the foraging ants. It’s also particularly important to
know where to place the bait, since ghost ants are such good hiders and
have erratic foraging behavior, this can be particularly tricky, and is where
training and years of experience definitely pay off.
If you think you have a ghost ant
infestation, the best way to get it eliminated is to have a licensed pest
control technician out to evaluate and treat using targeted products designed
to exorcise even these spooky pests from your property.
How
can you Prevent Ghost Ants?
Given the difficulties in eliminating a ghost
ant colony once one has been established, it’s highly recommended to invest
in a bit of preventative efforts to keep your home from becoming haunted.
Keep
shrubbery and tree branches trimmed away from your home
Eliminate
any leaf litter and yard debris around your home
Store
firewood or piles of bricks at least 20’ from your home
Keep
mulch (in landscaping) 12” from foundation and less than 2” thick
Make
sure your sprinklers don’t directly spray the foundation
Remove
any moisture sources from around your home
Seal
up any exterior cracks on your home
Stay
vigilant and if you suspect ghost ant activity, do an inspection
Inside:
check all plumbing areas (sinks, toilets, tubs, etc.), carpet edges, around
windows & doors, & electrical outlets (especially in the kitchen &
bathroom)
Outside:
check along foundation walls & sidewalks, turn over any stones, bricks,
logs, debris, etc. on the ground
Don’t let this Halloween become a
stressful story of ghost ant haunting; if you think you are having a
pest problem, call Mid-Cities Pest Control to help you get it eliminated
quickly so you can get back to the fun of costumes, decorations, pumpkin
carving, and bone-chilling frights, and make the only ghosts on your mind the
spectral visages that dominate this holiday season.
Author
Bio: Alissa
Breach has been gaining knowledge and experience around pest control concerns
over the last 10 years while working for Mid-Cities Pest Control. She has a
creative writing BA from UW-Madison and is always pursuing new and interesting
writing projects.
Tuesday, August 06, 2019 | Mid-Cities Pest Control
August has arrived, bringing
with it the sure sign that summer festivities are coming to their close: Back
to School season. Though the heat and humidity of summer are still firmly
entrenched for at least another month, the relaxed summer vibe of vacations and
time off from responsibilities is rapidly giving way to a hectic shopping
frenzy as families rush to prepare for the next school year. Go into any major
store in August and you can’t miss their Back to School section, which is
virtually guaranteed to be constantly teeming with adults and children
erratically making their way through the array of school supplies set out
before them. And if your brave enough to venture into one of these stores over
tax free weekend you are sure to encounter a crowd so dense it’s almost
intimidating. It’s the time of year where you are likely to describe your days
as “crazy” as you try to get everything ready for the coming year.
But your days aren’t the
only “crazy” things propagating this summer, and the Back to School crowds
can’t hold a candle to the erratic movements and dense numbers of the crazy
ants that are invading Texas.
Crazy ants
aren’t a new species of ant for Texas; they’ve been in the U.S. for over 80
years and the Tawny Crazy
Ant was recognized as a unique ant type within the U.S. in 2002,
but they haven’t yet reached the household recognizability of the infamous fire
ants or carpenter ants, at least not until you have experienced a crazy ant
infestation firsthand. Since they are an invasive species, having originated in
South America, and have no natural predators in the U.S., their colony sizes
can grow to overwhelming size, dwarfing the colonies of other ant species that
have become household names. If you think that wrangling children through the
maze of Back to School supplies while navigating their disappointment at
the impending end of summer break has made your life hectic, imagine adding a
house full of ants with a penchant for getting inside electronics to the mix,
and see just how crazy the last month of summer could become.
In the spirit of Back to
School, here is Crazy Ants 101 with
everything you need to know about these prolific pests.
Why are they called crazy
ants?
They are called crazy
ants because they move in a rapid and erratic fashion and do not follow
trails, unlike most ants which are very orderly in their movements.
What do crazy ants look like?
When we refer to crazy
ants in Texas, we are usually referring to the Tawny
Crazy Ant.
There are several different species of crazy ant worldwide, but this is
the one that is proliferating in the U.S. at the moment.
They are small, about 1/8”
long, are uniform in size, have long, coarse hairs on their body, and are
reddish brown (including their legs and long antennae). They are often found in
mass groups so large they don’t even look like ants (more closely resembling
dirt) until you get close enough to see them moving and spot individual ants.
Are crazy ants dangerous?
Since crazy ants are
an invasive species and have only recently been studied in the U.S. their full
impact hasn’t yet been determined. They are not directly harmful to humans;
though they can bite you, the pain is very minimal and fades quickly. However,
due to their extreme numbers and erratic movements, they can be extremely
stressful to be around and can make you feel like you are the one going
“crazy”. They can also cause significant damage within our homes as well as to
livestock and wildlife.
When crazy
ants get indoors, they are often drawn to electrical equipment and
have been known to render these appliances and electronics inoperable due to
their large quantities shorting out the circuits.
Where they are native, they
are known to have caused the death of small livestock animals (by asphyxia) and
to have attacked larger livestock around the eyes and nose, sometimes blinding
them.
Perhaps most telling is that
crazy ants are actually displacing fire ants (and most people want the
fire ants back). Crazy ants produce an acidic chemical that they rub on
themselves as an antidote to fire ant venom and that they can spray at other
insects/animals as a weapon to defeat any competitors that might otherwise have
kept their populations in check. Though many people
would be happy to be free from fire ants, there are ecological consequences,
and crazy ants are a frustrating alternative to their much easier to
treat counterpart.
How do crazy ant colonies spread?
Unlike a great many ants
that create new queens to spread their wings in the spring and take to the air
to establish new colonies, crazy ants do not fly, so their spread across
the U.S. is happening due to people transporting them unintentionally in
materials like abandoned boxes, cars, and potted plants.
Signs of a crazy ant infestation:
Since crazy ants are
known for their giant populations, the first, and possibly only, sign you will
probably see of an infestation are the ants themselves, often in sizable
groups.
Crazy ant prevention and treatment:
Crazy ants are
notoriously difficult to get full control over, and are not possible to
self-treat for. There aren’t any effective over-the-counter products
available to consumers at this time. However, there are several products a
licensed pest control professional can use to eliminate the ant population. The
sooner you get the infestation treated, the more likely you are to see success
with fewer treatments for the ants. When a population has grown to enormous
proportions it becomes difficult to kill every last ant with just one
treatment, and if there are some ants left alive, they will rapidly begin to
rebuild their colony and cause there to be a need for another treatment to
eliminate them.
Due
to their enormous colonies, you are likely to see large piles of dead ants
after your treatment; it’s important to sweep or vacuum up these dead ants so
that the crazy ants can’t use the dead ants as a sort of bridge over any
products that were put down to eliminate them.
Due to the erratic nature of
crazy ants and their habit of not tending to building traditional
nests/piles like most other ants, there is not much to be done for prevention.
However, it’s always helpful to keep the following tips in mind to control ant
populations, and they will assist in the battle against these insanity-inducing
ants:
Remove all harborage areas: fallen tree limbs, rocks, leaf
litter, and anything on the ground that isn’t truly needed.
Reduce humid/wet conditions in and around your home: reduce
irrigation, repair any leaks, improve drainage, etc.
Seal any cracks/crevices around foundation, windows, and doors.
This year, don’t let your
August be made any crazier than it has to be; put your new knowledge to use and
call us out at the first signs of a possible crazy ant infestation.
Author
Bio: Alissa
Breach has been gaining knowledge and experience around pest control concerns
over the last 10 years while working for Mid-Cities Pest Control. She has a
creative writing BA from UW-Madison and is always pursuing new and interesting
writing projects.
It’s that time of year again. Spring has arrived bringing with it warm weather, rain, and humidity. And though this combination makes our trees, grass, and flowers look gorgeous, it is also a perfect recipe for the start of termite season. When the weather hits just right, you can expect to see swarms of winged termites on the wind, which is why they are such a popular topic of discussion every April. Last year we brought you a Termite 101, which let you know all the basics of termite behavior, damage, and treatment. But as with anything that can cause significant damage, there is always extra anxiety, which brings with it a whole host of accompanying fables and misconceptions. So this year we’re going to go over five of the most common termite myths and let you know what is fact and what is fiction…and what is somewhere in between.
Myth #1: If you see a winged ant-like bug in your home this time of year it can only be a termite.
This is definitely one of the biggest misconceptions that we regularly encounter. Though termites are extremely common in April, the mix of warm weather and humidity are also excellent conditions for the arrival of a wide array of pests, including carpenter ant and fire ant swarmers, which are easy to mistake for termite swarmers to the untrained eye. If you take a look at our articles on termites and carpenter ants you can get a better idea of exactly what it is you are looking at, and what you can expect in terms of potential damage as well as treatment options. However, no matter what the pest turns out to be, when you start seeing swarmers (winged ant-like insects), the best course of action is to have a termite technician out to evaluate the situation; it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Myth #2: If I don’t get termites treated the minute I see them they will destroy my house.
This is one of those myths that is based somewhere in between fact and fiction. Though termites will do extensive damage to a home if left untreated, they’re not about to make the structure collapse overnight. This means that you have time to get a technician out there to evaluate the situation, give you treatment options, and then arrange to get it treated; as long as this is done in a reasonable time frame, there’s no need to add stress to an already stressful situation by worrying about every minute that passes. It is true that a quick response is key to mitigating damage, but remember that by the time you see termite swarmers, the colony has already been doing damage for several years, so a few days will not make any significant difference.
Myth #3: The signs of a termite infestation are obvious.
Unfortunately, other than termite swarmers, the signs of an infestation can be very easy to miss. Unlike carpenter ants, which will leave noticeable piles of wood shavings (called frass) when the colony has grown to a sufficient size, termites generally do not leave telltale external signs that they are in your home. The only sign, other than swarmers, that you are likely to encounter are mud tubes, which are basically covered pathways the termites use for transportation. However, these tubes are generally camouflaged against the foundation of your home, making them very difficult to detect unless you know exactly what you are looking for. The only other time you are likely to find out you have an infestation, other than when a termite technician is out at your house and identifies the signs, is when you are doing home repairs or remodeling and discover the wood damage, or the actual termites themselves, in your open walls.
Myth #4: One termite treatment will last the life of your house.
It’s true that termite treatments are designed to last longer than your average pest control service, but they certainly don’t last forever, nor would you want them to. The idea of never having termites again may sound appealing, but the ecological impact of using a pesticide with that long of a life would be disastrous. Ultimately, termites are a part of life, which means that it is impossible to give a 100% guarantee that termites will never return to a structure. Though a professional termite treatment will eradicate the current infestation, termites are prolific and since pesticides can only last so long while still being safe to be used around you and your family, there is always a chance a new colony could find its way to your home in the future. Fortunately, most professional termite treatments come with a warranty and regular inspections, which will aid in keeping your home free from termites, and will give you peace of mind knowing that if they come back, they can be detected early and treated before extensive damage is done.
Myth number 5: I can save money if I just treat termites myself.
When it comes to termites there is no good over-the-counter option. The products needed to treat a termite infestation are significantly stronger than what is safe for use without a license. Additionally, termite treatments involve much more than simply spraying a product around your home. A qualified technician not only needs to assess the source of the infestation, but they will often need to trench, rod, drill and inject in the right areas (usually exterior and interior) in order to eliminate and control the issue. In the end, by attempting to save money up front and treat for termites yourself, you’re almost certain to end up costing yourself much more in the long run when termites do extensive damage to your home because they were not correctly treated and eliminated.
When it comes to dealing with something as significant and potentially costly as a termite infestation, it’s important to know what you’re dealing with and be able to understand fact from fiction. And if you’re ever in doubt, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and call a trusted pest control company to ask for advice rather than simply believing the termite myths that have a way of proliferating. So as spring arrives, know that the staff at Mid-Cities Pest Control are ready and waiting for all of your termite questions.
Author Bio: Alissa Breach has been gaining knowledge and experience around pest control concerns over the last 10 years while working for Mid-Cities Pest Control. She has a creative writing BA from UW-Madison and is always pursuing new and interesting writing projects.
There’s a saying that “everything is bigger in Texas,” and it generally holds true, from the size of the trucks we drive to the size of the pests that lurk in our homes. So it’s no wonder that when you see an insect that looks like a giant mosquito with long, spindly legs, your first reaction would be to assume it’s a Texas-sized mosquito. After all, these pests seem to be just as annoying as their smaller counterpart, constantly invading your space and making it impossible to relax when they are around.
But if you pay attention to these ungainly insects you would quickly realize that they don’t bite, and if you asked around about them you might hear them called “mosquito hawks,” a moniker that implies that the insect is indeed a predator of the hated mosquito. It may then seem tempting to endure the annoyance of these pests at your next outdoor event if it meant a reduction in the mosquito population. Unfortunately, as you would quickly find out, this nickname is little more than wishful thinking, as adult crane flies are not predators (of mosquitoes or anything else). This doesn’t mean, however, that crane flies can’t make themselves into a stress-inducing nuisance, especially in the late winter and early spring when the adults are most active.
Picture this: it’s a beautiful March evening, the air has just the right amount of crispness to it as you come home from work and walk up to your front door where you are greeted by several large, awkward insects flying lazily in your path. You’re familiar enough with them to know that they won’t hurt you, so you breeze past them and into your home, not even realizing that you brought several crane flies in alongside you. The sun is beginning to set so you get right to work starting to cook dinner; you’re keeping it simple tonight: spaghetti and meatballs. As the water for the pasta begins to warm up you notice an insect clumsily hovering around the kitchen floor. You roll your eyes and continue dinner prep. A few minutes later, that same insect is now eye-level and heading straight for the light above your stove. You flick it away with the wave of your wrist and grab the pasta to throw it into the water, sighing under your breath as you hear the crane fly make a light clinking sound as it bumps its way along the stove hood. Now that the pasta is in the water you turn your attention to the insect just in time to see it hit the stove light bulb and come crashing down into your simmering spaghetti sauce, its long legs sinking down slowly into what was supposed to be dinner. With a huff, you toss the bug-laden sauce and begin again. As you slide the new pot of sauce onto the burner you catch another crane fly invading your kitchen space. After a moment, you out-maneuver the bug and catch it, releasing it a moment later out your sliding door. Then, just as you turn back to your food, you watch, horror-struck, as another crane fly bounces its way to the stove light and falls, this time into the boiling water with its nearly-cooked pasta. And, as if in spite, as you stare down at the bubbling water which has now fully consumed the insect, another one flies into the wall next to you, grazing your cheek on its way and making you jump. This propels you into action, hunting down each crane fly that managed to find its way indoors. When the house is finally free from these pests you head back to the kitchen and for the third time tonight, you begin dinner prep, all the while on high alert for any sign of flying pests. A little while later, after food has been served and enjoyed, you hear a soft clink and see yet another crane fly bumbling around; with the evening’s stress pouring over you smash the insect and grumble that you are calling pest control in the morning before you go insane.
But what exactly are crane flies and what can you do to keep them from adding unnecessary stress to your life?
What do crane flies look like?
Crane flies are a large fly with a narrow body about one inch long, six spindly legs which can be twice the length of the body, and two long, slender wings; overall, they look like a large mosquito on stilts. They are generally black, red, or yellow depending on the species.
Are crane flies dangerous?
Adult crane flies are completely harmless; in fact, many species don’t eat anything at all as adults, and the species that do feed rely solely on nectar for their meals.
When are crane flies active?
You are most likely to see active adult crane flies in Texas in late winter and early spring, just before mosquito season hits. Large populations are likely to emerge around a particularly wet winter/spring.
Should I be concerned if I see a lot of crane flies?
Fortunately, the crane flies most often found in Texas are not one of the species known for damaging turfgrass larvae. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make the adult crane flies buzzing and bouncing around your home any less troublesome to your peace of mind. It is no small feat to fall asleep, cook a meal, or just relax with these large insects disrupting the sanctuary of your home.
What can I do to prevent crane flies?
The best thing to do to prevent a crane fly issue is to keep good care of your lawn by practicing good irrigation habits, including not over-watering, and to remove any excess debris in your yard; this will make your yard less hospitable for crane fly larvae.
How can I get rid of crane flies?
If you are being inundated with these oversized insects, don’t prolong the headache and suffering, call to get a pest control technician out to your home to help you create and enact a plan to eliminate the pests.
With the first official day of spring just around the corner, expect to see hoards of adult crane flies emerging and taking to the wind, invariably finding themselves at your front door, and then as an uninvited and unwanted occupant of your home. And as with any pest, early detection and treatment is key to controlling the issue and keeping your stress levels down
(And yes, that crane fly scenario did actually happen to me, and I do consider them my most aggravating nuisance pest in Texas)
Author Bio: Alissa Breach has been gaining knowledge and experience around pest control concerns over the last 10 years while working for Mid-Cities Pest Control. She has a creative writing BA from UW-Madison and is always pursuing new and interesting writing projects.
Thursday, February 21, 2019 | Mid-Cities Pest Control
The season of love
Fills our days with sweet things,
Like chocolates, and flowers,
And big diamond rings.
And with all the romance
A kiss seems just right,
But be careful it doesn’t
Come from a bug in the night.
The Kissing Bug’s name
Might seem tender and sweet,
But its kiss can be deadly,
A fate no one should meet.
Their kiss is a bite,
Not loving at all,
And they hide in your home,
Prepared for nightfall.
And when they attack
You won’t feel a thing,
But you won’t like the damage
These little bugs bring.
While you are showering
You loved ones with care,
Make sure the only kissing
Is the one from your pair.
Fast Facts About Kissing Bugs:
Size: they range from .75” to 1.25” long
Appearance: slightly flat teardrop body, dark colored often with a band of orange or red markings around the ends of its body, cone shaped head, and long, uniformly thin legs
Geographical Location: within the U.S. there have been documented sightings in the entire southern half of the country, with the greatest density being found in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona; Chagas disease became a reportable disease in Texas in 2013 (meaning doctors are required to report incidences when they occur) and saw a significant number of cases in 2016
Diet: they feed on the blood of a variety of animals including wild mammals, domestic dogs, and humans (they get their name from their habit of biting humans around the mouth & eyes)
Habitat: they are often attracted to heat and carbon dioxide, which are indicators of potential blood meal sources; they are also drawn toward lights
Indoors: in cracks and holes within homes and especially in and around beds/bedrooms particularly under or near mattresses or night stands, and near pet resting areas
Outdoors: dog kennels, under porches, under cement, in rock/wood/brush piles, in animal burrows, and in rodent nests
Active Times: nighttime
Dangers: they are a vector for Chagas Disease, with approximately half of the population of kissing bugs being infected with the Chagas parasite
Chagas Disease:
Transmission: the Chagas parasite is transmitted when a Kissing Bug bites a host and then defecates near that bite or when a dog consumes an infected Kissing Bug
Symptoms in Humans: there are 2 phases of Chagas disease in humans, the acute phase and the chronic phase
Acute Phase: lasts for a few weeks or months with symptoms including fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, rash, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting; not everyone infected will develop the acute disease
Chronic Phase: includes cardiac complications (i.e. enlarged heart, heart failure, altered heart rate, cardiac arrest, and death) and/or intestinal complications (i.e. enlarged esophagus or colon, causing digestive difficulties) which may only become apparent decades after the initial infection; approximately 30% of people infected with the parasite are at risk of developing the chronic disease
Symptoms in Dogs: many dogs may be asymptomatic after infection, but for some it can cause severe heart disease and death
Treatment: there are currently no readily available treatment options in the United States (the anti-parasitic medications are only available through the CDC, and is only applicable for the acute phase) and there is no vaccine for Chagas disease
If you see a Kissing Bug: never touch it with your bare hand and thoroughly clean all surfaces the bug came into contact with using a bleach solution
Kissing Bug Control:
If a Kissing Bug infestation is suspected, contact a pest control company to evaluate the situation and treat accordingly. The pest control products needed to deter and kill Kissing Bugs should only be applied by a licensed pest control technician; baits, such as roach motels, are not effective against Kissing Bugs.
Kissing Bug Prevention:
Seal any gaps or cracks around entryways (windows & doors), at walls and roofs, and any that lead into the attic or crawl space
Remove any wood/brush/rock piles near your home
Always use fully intact screens on windows, doors, and attic/crawl space vents
Do not use nighttime lights close to your home if possible; if nighttime lights are needed use lights designed not to attract bugs
Have pets sleep indoors at night
Keep kennels clean and periodically check for bugs
Caulk around opening for plumbing, cables, utility lines, etc.
Repair any cracks in the foundation
Utilize fully intact weather stripping
Don’t let the innocent-sounding moniker fool you, Kissing Bugs are not a pest to be taken lightly. With the high potential for spreading a dangerous disease, these pests have a “kiss” you will want to invest in avoiding this Valentine’s Day.
Author Bio: Alissa Breach has been gaining knowledge and experience around pest control concerns over the last 10 years while working for Mid-Cities Pest Control. She has a creative writing BA from UW-Madison and is always pursuing new and interesting writing projects.
Monday, January 07, 2019 | Mid-Cities Pest Control
Christmas has come and gone and we have officially moved into 2019. It’s time to start putting up decorations and preparing homes for cozy evenings spent indoors as long nights and winter weather settle into Texas. But don’t let the chill in the air trick you into thinking that bugs have all gone dormant. Though it’s true that many pests are inactive this month (in fact, now is the perfect time to protect your trees and shrubs from damaging pests that will resume activity in spring and summer; see our May Blog for more on this), there are plenty that can wreak havoc in your home on a peaceful winter night.
Perhaps the most plentiful of these pests are spiders. With over 900 different species of spiders in Texas, it’s safe to say that they are a pest you will regularly encounter. And though some species are simply nuisances, building webs in seldom used areas in our homes, some carry significant danger to anyone on the wrong side of their bite. So as you venture into attics, crawlspaces, closets, and other out-of-the-way places in your home to put up your Christmas decorations, it’s important to be aware of the hidden danger spiders can pose and take steps to minimize the risk of starting off the new year with a trip to the doctor.
The three spiders that tend to garner the most attention in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are brown recluse spiders, black widow spiders, and wolf spiders. In order to best keep yourself safe from these lurking pests, it’s important to learn a bit more about them so you can spot the danger before you feel the bite.
Fast Facts About Brown Recluse Spiders:
Size: its thin legs extend over an area about the size of a quarter to half-dollar
Appearance: golden-brown color with a dark violin shaped marking on its back between the eyes and the abdomen
Habitat: in and around buildings in warm, dry places, especially in areas that are rarely disturbed
Active Times: most active at night and during the spring
Dangers: its venom causes decay and death of tissue around the bite
How to Avoid: shake out shoes before putting them on, wear gloves when cleaning an area with a lot of cobwebs or where you can’t fully visually inspect
If you see one: try not to disturb it; it will generally only bite when trapped, disturbed or threatened
If you are bitten: seek medical help
Fast Facts About Black Widow Spiders:
Size: female’s body length is about 3/8”; male’s body length is about 3/16”
Appearance: females are shiny and black with a red hourglass pattern on the underside of its abdomen; males are brown and nondescript
Habitat: protected outdoor spaces such as portable toilets and unused sheds, as well as inside buildings in warm, dry places
Dangers: venom of the female spiders causes intense pain within a few hours of biting; the pain is generally in the abdomen and back and can last up to 48 hours; males are not dangerous to humans
How to Avoid: shake out any shoes or gloves kept in storage areas before putting them on, and wear gloves when handling wood piles, mulch, etc.
If you see one: try not to disturb it; it will generally only bite when trapped, disturbed or threatened
If you are bitten: seek medical help, especially if the person bitten is a child, elderly, or has pre-existing health issues
Fast Facts About Wolf Spiders:
Size: 1/2” to 2 inches long
Appearance: hairy and varies from orange-brown to gray and black with a mottled, almost camouflage appearance; it has 2 tiny arm-like appendages in the front of its body in addition to its standard 8 legs
Habitat: generally found outdoors in open, grassy areas, or inside around doors, windows, and in garages, but they can be found anywhere there are insects to feed upon.
Dangers: as with any spider bite there is a possibility of an allergic reaction, but the bite itself is not inherently dangerous, though it can be painful and feel much like a bee sting
If you see one: DO NOT SQUISH IT! If it’s a female, it carries its eggs on its back and when you squish it, you will release those eggs, causing you to now have hundreds of wolf spiders in your home to contend with. And try not to disturb it; it will generally only bite when trapped, disturbed or threatened
Spider Prevention:
Reduce the food source for the spiders; aka eliminate other insects from inside and around your home
Reduce bright outdoor lighting
Be on a regular pest control service plan
Trim weeds, grass, and shrubs around buildings
Seal/caulk openings, cracks, gaps, etc.
Remove any webs and egg sacs when found
Reduce clutter which can be harborage areas, especially in undisturbed areas
Use glueboards to catch and remove spiders, especially wolf spiders
Keep the home cleaned, vacuumed, and dusted
This year, as you wrap up Christmas celebrations and start in on your New Year’s resolutions, consider adding regular pest control to your list and keep yourself safe from lurking spiders.
Author Bio: Alissa Breach has been gaining knowledge and experience around pest control concerns over the last 10 years while working for Mid-Cities Pest Control. She has a creative writing BA from UW-Madison and is always pursuing new and interesting writing projects.