APM Entomologist's Blog

Cicada Killers

2011-07-08T14:11:00.000-04:00

It seems like they have arrived earlier than normal, but Cicada Killers are beginning to emerge.

These large wasps emerge in the summer, males first, then females. The males aggressively protect a small patch of ground. I have seen them fly up/out at people, birds, even cars! They are waiting for the females to emerge and want to be the first to mate when they emerge. Even though they put up an aggressive front, they are incapable of stinging. Their 2 inch length and wasp appearance does cause distress in many people though.

The females emerge a week or more after the males and are even larger. They have the ability to sting, but rarely do. They are hunters of cicadas, with the Dog-day cicada being their main target. They will sting a cicada, carry it back (the cicada may be many times larger/heavier than the wasp) and bury it. An egg that will become a male will get one cicada, where a female egg will get 2-3 (since they are larger). When the egg hatches, the larvae has a fresh meal as the cicada is paralyzed by the sting, but not killed. The burying of these cicada creates large, unsightly mounds in lawns.

Treatment strategies are difficult with this insect. The males can be knocked down with aerosols or other residuals, but it is hard to get to all of them and it can look funny to try and chase one down across a lawn. The females are similarly tough to treat, but their burrows can be treated. A dust formulation is the best for these burrows, with the treatment plan designed to kill some of the females as they return to burrows with additional cicadas or to kill the eggs/larvae in the burrow so there are less emerging the following season.

These are a tough insect to deal with when they are in full season. Even though they look like the deadliest wasp around, stings are very rare--there are even some photos on the web that show female Cicada killers landing on peoples' hands. The unsightly mounds can do a number to a lawn as well.

Bed Bugs and MRSA

2011-05-12T13:27:00.000-04:00

Interesting and scary article about MRSA and connections to bed bugs.

I will wait and see if the bed bugs are spreading it through bites or mechanically spreading it--they walk over a surface with MRSA, get it on their body and then deposit it as they go.

It looks like the bed bugs were from residences where the residents had MRSA infections. To me, it looks like the bed bugs are carrying it on their bodies. I would be interested in looking at all the surfaces of these places to see how much MRSA could be found. Also if there were any cockroaches or other insects that may be in contact with it as well.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health/bedbugs-may-play-role-in-spread-of-mrsa-under-some-conditions-study-finds/2011/05/11/AFsehKqG_story.html?hpid=z10

It is scary proposition either way--this was what many in my industry are worried about--bed bugs spreading disease. Up until now we were able to say that no diseases were associated with this pest.

Just another reason to call us at APM when you see any evidence of bed bugs!

Just to freak you out a little....

2011-04-06T22:02:00.000-04:00

Stinging caterpillars falling from trees!!??!!

Check it out:

http://entsoc.org/member-news/stinging-caterpillars-dropping-trees

Just found this website

2011-04-03T17:49:00.005-04:00

I was recently made aware of this website and had to share it:

http://www.japanesebugfights.com

Can't believe I haven't seen this before, I can't stop watching.
From the ones I have seen, the centipede does some damage--they had ones like this out in Hawaii, they are nasty critters.

I guess its alright to do this with insects (and other arthropods)and no one will complain.

New Bug Show

2011-03-29T11:33:00.002-04:00

I'm always looking for cool bug shows on TV. Here is a new one, premiering tonight:

http://science.discovery.com/tv/monster-bug-wars/

I watched an online clip, could do without the added sound effects--mantids don't roar, and grasshoppers don't bleat like a sheep when caught!

Stink Bugs in the news.

2011-03-03T22:17:00.000-05:00

The Brown Marmorated Stink bug is trying to take away media attention from the bed bug.

Good work being done at University of Delaware to fight these annoying pests:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bs-ae-stink-bug-defense-20110221,0,2051209.story

The 80% control quoted in the article is a little misleading though. That seems pretty optimistic for a classical biological control program. The other thing mentioned is 2013 target to test this in the "wild", so we have 2-3 more years before this will have any effect.

I spent two years at the University of Hawaii and there is a lot of history of biological control there. There have been many successes but just as many failures when trying these natural enemies against introduced pests. The wasps will have to survive in these new areas, not attack native insects (especially beneficial insects) and the raising and release of these parasitoids will have to be a multi-state effort. You can't release a few hundred here in Delaware and get effects in all the surrounding states.

I hope this research does lead to these wasps being an effective tool against the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.

Cool video of Altriset-treated Termites

2011-02-28T14:11:00.001-05:00

Just to piggy-back on my last post about DuPont's new product, here is a video created by the University of Florida's Department of Entomology. This video shows the effects of Altriset on termites. You can see the effect it has on their muscles and locomotion. The black line is from a ballpoint ink pen--there is a chemical in the ink that mimics the pheromones they use to mark trails, they will follow a drawn line for a good distance.

DuPont's newest product, Altriset.

2011-02-25T11:50:00.000-05:00

Just attended a DuPont symposium on their new termiticide, Altriset. This is the first termiticide to come to market in 10 years, has a very "safe" label and MSDS and does some interesting things to termites that aid in it protecting structures.

It's toxicological profile is very interesting, it targets a very specific part of the termite's muscles. This limits its effects on non-target animals, including other insects, pets and humans. We just don't have the same "targets" in our bodies that this pesticide attacks. The MSDS is something I have never seen on a pesticide, it has no First Aid requirements for inhalation, skin contact or ingestion. Even boric acid, which many consider "safe", has first aid steps that need to be taken for certain exposures. Also, the label of Altriset has no "signal word", which indicates the relative toxicity or hazard of the product. I have never seen a pesticide without a signal word, which goes to show the safety of this product.

Because it attacks the muscles of the termites, one of the first symptoms of exposure to Altriset is the cessation of feeding. Within hours of exposure, the termites stop feeding on wood--their mandibles are paralyzed first because they are attached to the largest muscles in the insect. The will eventually stop moving, but not until they make it back into the colony and spread the insecticide through contact with unexposed individuals.

The third thing I'll share about Altriset is its performance in the field. It is great to do some of these things in the lab, but in the real world it stands up. The government has tests that all termiticides must pass before being approved, Altriset passed these without problem. In test plots and real world treatment sites, the Altriset is killing termites and lasting in the soil as good or better than every other termiticide available today.

APM has made the move to this great new product. We will continue to provide great service against termites, now with the additional benefits provided by Altriset.

Sad story

2011-02-04T09:10:00.000-05:00

This happened over a year ago, but it looks like the the accused will be held responsible soon. This is a sad story and shows the dangers we have trying to protect peoples' property from pests. An honest, well-trained pest technician can do wonders to preventing pests in and around homes, while things like this happen when pesticide labels are not followed, quick or cheap fixes are done and standards are not followed.

From when I first read about this to today when I read this latest article, my heart breaks for this family and the pain they have and will continue to endure.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51177556-76/nocks-company-court-federal.html.csp

Political rats

2011-02-02T23:05:00.000-05:00

President Obama had a vole run across his feet during a speech outside the White House a while back, but now the British Prime Minister had a rat run across the outside of his residence:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJFsNtKqy-c

Rats taking over City Hall!

2011-01-10T21:45:00.001-05:00

Rainy season in LA causing overpopulation of rats:

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/01/10/la-city-hall-overrun-by-rats/

Has California been lucky?

2010-12-20T20:54:00.000-05:00

California health officials are claiming that they haven't seen the increase in bed bug numbers as has New York and other areas of the country. I don't know if this is true, if they are trying to keep people calm, or what, but I find it hard to believe that there has not been an increase in a state with so much tourism and movement of people.

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=111872&catid=2

Squirrel Surprise!

2010-12-10T14:41:00.002-05:00

Call APM for wildlife issues!

http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-news-squirrel-tiolet-police-backup-story,0,7616555.story

Just in time for Thanksgiving!

2010-11-23T11:44:00.002-05:00

The turkeys are fighting back!

http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/offbeat/staten-island-wild-turkeys-20101122

Problems emerging with bedbug-sniffing dogs?

2010-11-11T20:46:00.001-05:00

According to the following article, there may be some false positives with bedbug sniffing dogs:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/12/nyregion/12bedbugs.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&hp

I think the dogs can be part of a bedbug control strategy, but not the only thing to indicate the presence of bedbugs. I would never make someone pay thousands of dollars just because the dog indicated the possibility of bedbugs. Nothing replaces a complete and thorough inspection. These insects are not microscopic and their droppings are not hard to find.

Waldorf-Astoria in New York City dealing with Bed bugs

2010-11-05T09:06:00.001-04:00

Bed Bugs do not discriminate, they like the top hotels as much as any other places:
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20101104/FREE/101109937

One thing stood out in my mind about this lawsuit though:

The Michigan family had to leave their house for 6 weeks?? This is excessive for any kind of pest control treatment. Heat treatments only take a day or two, fumigation would be 48-72 hours, liquid, residual pesticide applications only require them to leave for a few hours. Maybe they were freaked out, but 6 weeks is a LONG time.

Transit Connect

2010-10-15T23:21:00.001-04:00

We purchased a few Ford Transit Connects this year. The technicians are warming to them, they are a change from a pick-up. I assisted in the design of the lettering/logos. I like the way it turned out. We have gotten leads from people seeing them on the road.

Delaware Home Show

2010-10-15T23:11:00.000-04:00

Getting ready for our 2nd year at the Delaware Fall Home Show.

Come see us at booth 195, Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 11-4.

More Bed Bugs in NYC

2010-10-14T23:10:00.000-04:00

Bed bugs now found in the Lincoln Center in New York City:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/10/lincoln-center-raises-curtain-on-bed-bugs/1

Cool news

2010-10-05T23:02:00.001-04:00

It is always interesting when new species of animals (especially insects!) are found:

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/10/05/5235675-new-species-from-new-guinea

Bad Squirrel

2010-10-04T22:49:00.000-04:00

Another reason to hate squirrels:

http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/Robby-Ginepri-breaks-bone-after-encounter-with-squirrel-100410

Bed Bugs in the news.

2010-10-01T21:17:00.000-04:00

Some recent articles about bed bugs:

Howard Stern's office and limo

Federal Building in DC

Movie Theater in Times Square

Victoria's Secret in NYC

Bloomingdale's in NYC

Macy's in NYC

Apartment in Cockeysville, MD (Lawsuit)

Apartment in Howard County, MD (Lawsuit)

Do you have bed bugs?

Give us a call--1 800 5 NO BUGS

picture from: http://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/bedbugs/bedbugs.cfm

Stink Bug Video

2010-09-27T13:05:00.000-04:00

This is the result of an APM treatment for stink bugs--Dead Stink Bugs!

Give us a call at 1800 5 NO BUGS if you want to see these guys dead at your home too!

Stink Bugs!

2010-09-27T12:40:00.000-04:00

The Stink Bug has returned with a vengeance in 2010!

These annoying insects have come out in large amounts and in a much more wide-spread area compared to prior years. They have made it to Washington D.C. and out towards Frederick, MD. There are a number of newspaper and web articles and TV reports on these invaders this year.

The stink bug that has become a problem in this area is the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål. This stink bug is a non-native species which was accidentally introduced into the mid-Atlantic area. It is believed to have gotten into the country in shipping material. The first area that had these critters was Allentown, Pennsylvania in the late '90s/early 00s.

The reason these insects have become a problem pest is that, unlike other stink bugs, they like to overwinter (hibernate) inside structures, such as houses. They spend the winter in cracks and crevices in and out of the structure, occasionally being found inside during warmer days or due to heating of the house. In the spring, they become a problem again as they "wake up" and look to head back out to reproduce and feed on plants. At this point, homeowners can feel overwhelmed with the number of stink bugs running and flying around inside their homes.

As for treatment, the best time to treat for these pests is in the late summer/early fall as they begin to look for their overwintering sites. If the treatment is timed properly, the number of overwintering insects can be greatly reduced and less will be seen "awakening" in the spring.

APM has a number of effective products for treating in and around homes. We are testing newer products and procedures as well, to provide you with a stink bug-free home!

Here are some pictures (from the University of Florida and USDA) of this pest: