San Diego Bug Alert

Insect-related Gifts - Part 2

2008-12-15T12:46:00.000-08:00

Shown: Lucite Ladybug Bracelets - available here.

Today we bring you more ideas for gifts from the world of bugs. They go way beyond that cute dragonfly T-shirt you picked up for your niece. These are gifts that would make any entomologist happy.

1. World Bugs has real insects, tastefully framed for display, available on their website. Our favorite is a collection of green beetles set in a circular pattern, mounted in a sturdy cedar frame between two panes of glass. The product notes confirm that only "A" quality insects are used. The same website offers a variety of bugs, everything from the peanut-head lantern fly to a Tail-less whip scorpion. Check it out!

2. The "Bug Gift Shop" online - in spite of its name - is not a site for buying your favorite bug a gift. Rather, it is an emporium of bug-related gift items. Part of a larger site called "Animal Den," you'll fin dragonfly address labels, plush grasshoppers, lightening bug shirts, and butterfly bracelets, blankets and charms are just some of the items available for purchase.

3. Nature Pavilion carries a nice selection of life insect kits - kits to raise ladybugs, butterflies, or even mealworm beetles - not to mention the once-popular sea monkeys! They also carry insect nets and catchers, plus an amazingly large collection of framed insects, insect paperweights, and keychains. This diverse site offers books, DVD's, nature toys, craft kits, jewelry, clothing, stationery and posters.

4. Looking for something different? Really different? Browse through "Wings in Motion." The site contains over 400 different insect items with pictures and facts. We were fascinated by the

Electronic Butterfly Kits, Twilight Firefly Insect Lighting Effects, and Glow in the Dark Fridge Magnets. This is also the place to go if you are interested in live butterflies for release at a special event.

5. Last but certainly not least, you can create your own insect-related gift at CartoonStock, a site with hundreds of bug-themed cartoons which can be applied to a variety of gifts: T-shirts, tote bags, mouse pads, mugs, greeting cards, business cards, aprons, magnets, etc. For the record, they catalogue cartoons with all kinds of different themes - not just bugs.

Happy shopping!

Insect-related Gifts - part 1

2008-12-11T12:51:00.000-08:00

With the holiday season upon us, our blogs will focus on insect related gifts. In fact, three of the "10 Top Science Toys for Kids" on US News and World Report's list this Christmas are bug-related. We are not selling any of these toys, just making you aware so your options are open to all things buggy. Here are the three toys on a current list:

1. Inflatable insects. We are not sure how these giant inflatable bugs "let kids build their new pets houses and cages" as advertised, but the ladybug, dragonfly, grasshopper, ant, and bee are colorful and fun. According to the copy, they inspire kids to learn more about insects. The blow-up bugs come with a repair kit and activity guide. Ages 3 and up.

2. Big Bad Booming Bugs may be a more interactive toy. It is an electronic observation station that lets kids capture insects and then examine them closely. The kit contains a "scooper," magnifying lens and earphones to let you get up close and personal with bugs. It also comes with information about ants, beetles, and grasshoppers. As advertized, the dome's base surface is sensitive enough that larger insects can be heard walking across it. Information on bugs is included. Ages 6 and up.

3. EyeClops BioniCam is "much more than a microscope." Parents' Choice calls it an "eyeball on a stick." It lets kids zoom in on all kinds of tiny things - including bugs. Photos taken with the camera can also be uploaded to a computer for even closer inspection. Ages 8 and up.

Tomorrow's blog will look at insect-inspired art, home goods and clothing items for the bug lovers on your list.

Quiz Answers: Pantry Pests

2008-12-10T11:58:00.000-08:00

Here are the answers to yesterday's quiz on pantry pests. As the weather gets colder, there are fewer outdoor bugs and our attention is turned to household invaders. But pantry pests can and do infest during all seasons.

1. The best way to find the source of a grain moth infestation is (d) inspect all dry goods. Pheromone traps will catch adult moths and may help you target a particular area, but the best way to find infested product is to look in every bag, box and package - whether opened or not. If you find frass, the silky webbing pantry moths leave behind, discard the dry goods in which the frass is found. Usually one box or bag will contain the primary source, and you will know it when you find it. But secondary sources may be present. Don't stop until all dry goods are inspected. And check also for webbing on the under side of stored canned goods!

2. Cigarette beetles are most commonly found in (c) dog food and paprika. When checking for the source of pantry pests, don't forget the spices and dry pet food. If you have decorative items like wreaths that are made out of natural products, check these too.

3. Pantry moths develop from egg to adult in (b) around 10-14 days, depending on temperature. If you have removed all the adult moths and their larvae, but find more in 10-14 days, there was a source you missed. Check dry goods again, and clean the shelves with a disinfectant cleaner to kill any remaining eggs.

4. Meal worms usually spend the winter (b) as larvae. It is difficult if not impossible to determine what the adult bug will be just by inspecting larvae. And larvae are not commonly susceptible to pesticide sprays. But boric acid will stop them in their tracks. If you find any kind of larvae, clean the area with a good disinfectant cleaner and look for the source. These pests love to hang out in bird feeders too.

5. It is rarely effective to use insecticides against pantry moths because (a) larvae and pupae are not controlled with insecticides. As noted above, larvae crawl right through liquid chemicals. And if the larvae are not controlled, the problem will persist.

6. (B) Larval Indian meal moths leave webbing, or frass. They spin the web as they become fully grown and leave behind silken threads wherever they crawl. This is the frass mentioned above - and is easily noticed as it caused clumping in rice, oatmeal or cornmeal and is sometimes apparent on the outside of a box or bag of infested product. Since the frass usually contains excrement, it should be disposed of immediately.

7. Small, wormlike bugs in the pantry are usually (c) larval moths. But as mentioned, larvae are difficult to identify. Any larvae found should be taken seriously as a pantry infestation. They can (and will!) chew holes through cardboard or plastic packaging materials to get to the food inside. One method of killing pantry pests before they hatch is to store dry goods in the freezer for a couple of weeks. Since the product may be infested when you bring it home from the store, storing it in heavy plastic or glass containers may not be sufficient.

We hope you've learned something useful about common pantry pests. As with all pests, if you cannot solve the problem yourself, contact a pest professional. But in the case of pantry pests, what you can do yourself is really the best solution to the problem.

Tuesday's Quiz: Pantry Pests

2008-12-09T11:05:00.000-08:00

Today's quiz asks you to test your knowledge of common pantry pests. These are stored product pests that infest dry goods in your pantry - including moths and weevils. See how much you know about these uninvited guests.

1. Grain moths often come in pre-packaged food from the store. What is the best way to find the source of infestation?

a. Put out traps.

b. Look in whole grain foods like rice and oatmeal.

c. Call a pest professional to check your cabinets.

d. Inspect all dry goods.

2. Cigarette beetles are a common stored product pest (see illustration above). In which stored products are they most commonly found?

a. sugar and flour

b. cornmeal and oatmeal

c. dog food and paprika

d. rice and coffee

3. Pantry moths develop from egg to adult in about

a. 3-5 days

b. 10-14 days

c. 16-20 days

d. 3-4 weeks

4. How do meal worms usually spend the winter?

a. in hibernation

b. as larvae

c. as pupae

d. under ground

5. It is rarely effective to use insecticides against pantry moths because

a. the larvae and pupae are not controlled with insecticide

b. the moths actually feed on insecticides

c. insecticides have little or no residual effect

d. moths can fly away from the poison

6. Indian meal moths are one of the most common of stored product pests. The "webbing" or silk mat that identifies their feeding area is left by

a. the adult moths

b. the larvae

c. the pupae

d. all of the above

7. Small, wormlike bugs in the pantry are usually

a. parasites that feed on moths

b. undeveloped beetles

c. larval moths

d. worker moths

Answers to today's quiz will be published in tomorrow's blog.

The Superorganism

2008-12-04T08:50:00.000-08:00

We have not actually read the new book on social insects by Hoelldoebler and Wilson, but it is on our Christmas list. The Superorganism: The Beauty, Elegance, and Strangeness of Insect Societies looks to be the latest important volume by these award-winning scientists. Bert Hoelldoebler is Foundation Professor at Arizona State University and has been the recipient of both the Pulitzer Prize and the Leinbniz Prize - Germany's most highly endowed research award. Edward O. Wilson is a Harvard professor with nearly fifty years experience, more than twenty books published, and the recipient of two Pulitzer Prizes and the National Medal of Science. The two have teamed up for the second time to explore the world of insects. Eighteen years ago their book The Ants became the definitive scientific study of these diverse creatures. Their latest book expands our knowledge of social insects - ants, bees, wasps and termites. They are identified as superorganisms because they live in tightly knit colonies formed by altruistic cooperation, complex communication, and division of labor. From a scientific and entomological viewpoint, their Superorganism book brings insight to how transitions between levels of evolution have occurred and how life has progressed from simple to complex forms. On a sociological level, perhaps the two scientists give us food for thought on how we interact and function together as humans.

We would recommend attending a lecture by Hoelldoebler and Wilson tonight, but it takes place in New York City and is sold out. Next best thing: put the book on your Christmas list!

Quiz Answers: Wasps and Bees

2008-12-03T08:50:00.000-08:00

Here are the answers to yesterdays quiz on wasps and bees. Both insects are most often beneficial to yards and the world - but care is required in each case to avoid painful stings.

1. The true statement is (b) all yellowjackets are wasps. Yellowjacket wasps are a variety of "social wasp" often found in southern California.

2. Paper wasps make their nests (d) under the eaves of houses - this is where we most often find paper wasps in the city. In more rural areas their nests may be seen under tree branches or vines - so give yourself credit if you chose (b) in trees.

3. Honey bees are attracted to (a) flowers. If you spot a buzzing insect flying around your picnic table it is probably a wasp.

4. Yellowjackets are attracted to (d) all of the above: soda cans, meat (giving them the common misnomer "meat bees") and other insects - an important part of their diet.

5. Only female bees and wasps can inflict stings because (a) the stinger is a modified egg-laying apparatus. Although it is true that male bees spend most of their time in the hive, and that females are more aggressive, the plain physiological fact is that the stinger is a gender-specific organ.

6. The insect pictured above is a (a) yellowjacket wasp. Note the distinctive markings, narrow waist, and absence of hair (see question 7). The pictured insect is in fact a German yellowjacket queen.

7. Although bees and wasps are often confused, they can be distinguished by the wasp's narrow waist, the bee's thickened hairs, and the distinct markings and coloration of each insect. While honey bees are mustard-colored and black, yellowjackets are usually a brighter yellow - hence the name.

8. Wasps are important to the balance of nature in several ways. They are used in agricultural pest control, as a natural predator for destructive bugs, and they are an important part of the food chain. However, they do not supply foot for other insects, and as far as we know they are not used in drug research. So the correct answer is (a) parasitic wasps are used in agricultural pest control.

We hope you've learned something useful about the flying insects that share space with you here in Southern California. The bottom line is that bees and wasps can inflict painful stings, and should not be allowed to nest on or near homes. They have important roles to play in the ecology, but can pose risks especially to children, pets and the elderly. The best way to eliminate a nest that becomes a threat to your home is to call a licensed professional.

Tuesday's Quiz: Wasps and Bees

2008-12-02T14:26:00.000-08:00

Today's quiz poses questions that will lead to better identification of wasps and bees. How are they different? How do they impact residents of San Diego? Take the quiz and see how much you know about the local buzz.

1. Which of the following statements is true:

a. All bees are yellowjackets.

b. All yellowjackets are wasps.

c. All wasps are yellowjackets.

d. All yellowjackets are bees.

2. Paper wasps make their nests

a. in paper

b. in trees

c. in abandoned rodent burrows

d. under the eaves of houses

3. Honey bees are attracted to

a. flowers

b. meat

c. other insects

d. all of the above

4. Yellowjackets are attracted to

a. soda cans

b. meat

c. other insects

d. all of the above

5. Only female bees and wasps can inflict stings because

a. the stinger is a modified egg-laying apparatus

b. male bees are not allowed outside the hive

c. female bees are more aggressive

d. the stinger usually remains in the skin, and female bees are expendable

6. The insect pictured above is a

a. yellowjacket

b. bee

c. wasp

d. hornet

7. Although bees and wasps share many qualities, they can be distinguished by

a. the wasp's narrow waist

b. the bee's thickened hairs

c. the distinct marks and coloration of each insect

d. all of the above

8. Although wasps do not pollinate nor make honey, they are important because

a. parasitic wasps are used in agricultural pest control

b. social wasps supply food for other insects

c. wasps are used in research for drug studies

d. all of the above

Meat Wasp Attack

2008-12-01T13:24:00.001-08:00

According to a recent article in the La Jolla Light, a small group of children were attacked by "meat wasps" while exploring La Jolla Summit canyon last week. Because the wasps were so aggressive and the children were stung multiple times, it was originally assumed they were attacked by Africanized Honey Bees. Two of the children were taken to Rady Children's and Scripps hospitals for treatment , where they identified the insects as meat wasps.

Apparently, the children stumbled on a hive just before dusk, disturbing the insects and causing them to aggressively defend their territory. Although one 6-year-old was stung more than 50 times, all the children were fine - fortunately, none were allergic to wasp stings. They were able to run to a neighbor's house, who then called paramedics and washed away remaining insects.

The story ends well, but raises a few questions for residents of San Diego County. First, what are "meat wasps"? How common are they? And how might the attack have been prevented?

In the western United States, there are two distinct types of social wasps: yellowjackets and paper wasps. Of the two, paper wasps are much less defensive and rarely sting humans. Yellowjackets can be more troublesome. The term "yellowjacket" refers to a number of different species of wasps. The western yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica - pictured above) is a ground-nesting variety, sometimes called a "meat bee." This is most likely the insect from the La Jolla story. Unlike other local wasps whose nests usually die out by the end of summer, the western yellowjacket continues its life cycle well into late autumn. These pestiferous wasps are the ones we sometimes see at picnics or outdoor eateries, because they are scavengers. They usually nest in hilly areas - often using abandoned rodent burrows for their hives. While they are considered a useful pest because they help naturally control other more destructive insects, yellowjackets will protect their nest if they feel threatened. This seems to be what happened in La Jolla.

The children probably did nothing wrong, but their encounter should serve as a learning experience for others in the area. If your children are playing in a canyon or undeveloped area, be sure they are wearing long pants, long-sleeved shirts and proper footwear. Apply the same precautions to yourself if you are hiking off trail. Be aware of sights and sounds that may indicate hive activity and avoid exploration near possible nesting sites. Tomorrow's quiz will look at the differences between bees, wasps and hornets. Give the quiz a try to test your knowledge of these stinging bugs and learn how to avoid them.

Quiz Answers: Dung Beetles

2008-11-26T10:33:00.001-08:00

Here are the answers to yesterday's quiz on dung beetles. If you missed the quiz itself, you can find it here. A great video on the under-recognized dung beetle can be found here. Enjoy!

1. Ancient Egyptians worshipped the humble dung beetle (scarab) because (d) they believed the sun was rolled across the sky each day by a mythical dung beetle, and buried at the end of each day - only to be reborn the next.

2. Dung beetles are found on every continent except (b) Antarctica. Too cold. Enough said.

3. Female dung beetles lay eggs in (a) dung. In some species, the mom and dad dung beetle roll a perfectly spherical dung ball together, until they find a soft piece of soil in which to bury it. After mating under ground, they prepare the "brooding ball" and the female lays her eggs inside it. Hatching larvae then have plenty of easy access to food (dung).

4. Dung beetles are the farmers' friends. They (a) aerate and fertilize soil, and (b) recycle animal droppings which has the added benefit of (c) reducing the population of flies and other insects which would be attracted to animal waste. So the answer is (d) - all of the above.

5. Dried dung beetles are used by Chinese herbalists for (a) curing many different diseases.

6. Dung beetles have been literary characters in the works of (d) - all listed authors. With an explanation. Aesop wrote the fable, "The Dung Beetle and the Eagle," Aristophanes' play "Peace" features a hero who rides to Mt. Olympus on an over-sized dung beetle, Kafka's character in "The Metamorphisis" is called an "old dung beetle," Poe wrote "The Gold-Bug,"and Wodehouse wrote of the theft of a prized scarab in "Something Fresh." But the Faulkner listed in the quiz is not William but Raymond, an English Egyptologist and philologist, the author of "A Concise Dictionary of Middle Egyptian."

7. As mentioned in question 3 above, dung beetle larvae feed on (a) dung upon hatching from the brooding ball. It is a convenient system, which gives the larvae a storehouse of nutritious food.

8. Dung beetles have the ability to roll balls of dung weighing (c) 50 times their weight. If you have not seen this colorful activity, take a look at another great video here. After learning a bit more about the dung beetle, we hope you give thanks for this humble bug this weekend.

Tuesday's Quiz: Dung Beetles

2008-11-25T10:21:00.000-08:00

Because it is Thanksgiving week, our quiz is centered on one of the bugs for which we might be most thankful: the dung beetle. Perhaps you had not thought to give thanks for these lowly creatures. In a Newsweek article published earlier this year, it is noted that dung beetles, although nowhere near as photogenic as Polar Bears, deserve a place in our hearts. Without them, life would be much smellier. See how you do on this quiz, then find answers in tomorrow's blog.

1. Dung beetles, known to ancient Egyptians as "scarabs," were deified in that culture because:

a. Gold-plated, they became a jewelry item for pharaohs.

b. The shape of the dung beetle was found in astrological formations.

c. Dung beetles were an important part of the Egyptian diet.

d. The way dung beetles roll dung balls reminded Egyptians of the movements of the sun.

2. Dung beetles are found on every continent except

a. Africa

b. Antarctica

c. Australia

d. Asia

3. Female dung beetles lay eggs in

a. dung

b. loose soil

c. seed pods

d. nesting mounds

4. Dung beetles are important to agriculture because

a. They aerate and fertilize the soil.

b. They recycle animal droppings.

c. They keep other insects from overpopulating.

d. all of the above

5. Dried dung beetles (qianglang) are used by Chinese herbalists for

a. curing diseases

b. making poultices

c. an invigorating tea

d. an aphrodisiac

6. Dung beetles have been literary characters in which of the following authors' works?

a. Aesop and Aristophanes

b. Kafka and Poe

c. Wodehouse and Faulkener

d. all of the above

7. Dung beetle larvae feed on

a. dung

b. other dung beetles

c. soft plant matter

d. a special food created and stored by male dung beetles

8. Dung beetles have the ability to roll balls of dung weighing

a. 10 times their weight

b. 20 times their weight

c. 50 times their weight

d. 100 times their weight

Answers appear in tomorrow's blog, along with a link to a dung beetle video.

Cockroach Research

2008-11-24T12:28:00.000-08:00

Cockroaches have survived for millions of years in various forms, with species of roaches today numbering around 4,000. It should not be surprising then that scientists continue to study the resilient cockroach - a pest that seems to be able to adapt and live through whatever nature or humans throw at it. In fact, throwing things at cockroaches is at the core of a new study on how cockroaches keep their predators guessing.

According to a report in Science Daily, when roaches flee from predators they seem to run randomly along one of several preferred escape routes. Their very unpredictability aids their escape from harm. This alone seems intuitive - but these bugs have been studied for many years as a model for understanding animal escape responses. Apparently, cockroaches most often choose an escape path directed at a 90 to 180 degree angle from the attack. Trying to stomp on a fleeing cockroach? This only gives you a slight advantage - they are among the fastest of insects.

In another study, 50 roaches were placed in a situation where they had a choice of three hiding places, each with a capacity for 40 cockroaches. When startled, the bugs ran to two of the hiding places, leaving the third empty. If given a choice that included a shelter that would house them all, they preferred the one shelter and left the other two empty. They seem to use two pieces of information to decide on where to hide: (1) How dark is it? and (2) How many friends are there? We use the term "friends" loosely, as there is no evidence that cockroaches live in social groups.

If you are interested in knowing more about cockroaches and studies about these small creatures, click here for a bibliography of cockroach books and articles.

Mosquito Prevention Checklist

2008-11-21T09:09:00.000-08:00

This checklist is taken from written materials provided by the County of San Diego Vector Control Program. It is a thorough list of things you can do to check your home for mosquito breeding sources. Mosquitos can transmit West Nile Virus and other diseases. Please help keep your neighborhood safe by following these simple directions.

1. Birdbaths: Clean weekly

2. Chain link fence: Cap uncapped fence pipes

3. Containers: Cover or turn upside down

4. Decorative ponds: Stock with mosquito eating fish that eat larvae

5. Drains: Keep outdoor drains flowing freely

6. Dumpsters: Keep covered and remove any water inside or underneath them

7. Faucets and hoses: Fix any leaks

8. Flat roofs: Inspect for puddles after it rains

9. Irrigation: Do not over water, and repair areas with standing water

10. Lawn ornaments: Check for areas that hold water

11. Machinery: Cover and clean any areas that may hold water

12. Playground: Drill drainage holes in tire swings and play ground equipment that holds water

13. Pools/spas: Drain, cover, or stock mosquito fish in unused pools and spas

14. Potted plants: Do not over water and empty saucers weekly

15. Rain gutters: Clean out debris so water flows freely

16. Tires: Dispose or drill holes for water drainage

17. Tool sheds: Eliminate water around foundation

18. Trash cans: Clean weekly and keep covered

19. Unused pipes: Store flat so no water collects

20. Water troughs for animals: Replace water weekly, stock with mosquito fish for larger animal troughs

21. Wheelbarrows: Store upright so water does not collect

See previous blogs for more information on mosquitos and West Nile Virus.

West Nile Virus

2008-11-20T08:13:00.000-08:00

West Nile Virus Cycle - click on image to enlarge

Although the weather is cooling down, the threat of West Nile Virus is still with us. The blog today and tomorrow will largely be taken from a letter sent out by San Diego County's Vector Control Program, part of the Department of Environmental Health. Perhaps you've received a similar letter warning that West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in your neighborhood. Here are some notes from the letter, copied in an effort to better educate our readers and customers - and keep you safer.

West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. The symptoms of WNV include: headache, fever, nausea, fatigue, skin rash or swollen glands. About one in 150 people infected with WNV develop more severe symptoms, such as meningitis, encephalitis, or myelitis. If you think you have symptoms of WNV, contact your healthcare provider.

The best protection against WNV is to prevent mosquito bites and mosquito breeding. To prevent mosquito bites it is very important to use mosquito repellent, avoid going outdoors at dawn and dusk, wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors, and keep door and window screens closed and in good repair.

You can also protect the health of your family, friends and neighbors by controlling mosquitoes and eliminating the places where they breed. Mosquitoes can lay their eggs in as little as a quarter inch of standing water. Look for and remove standing water from your property.

Vector Control Technicians are constantly surveying and treating mosquito breeding sites in San Diego. See our previous blogs here for more information on the Vector Control Program, one of the finest in the country. If you know of any sources of standing water or mosquito breeding sites, including neglected "green" swimming pools, please call them at 858-694-2888. They will send a technician to investigate and treat the site. For more information on mosquitoes or WNV, visit the Vector Control website at www.SDFightTheBite.com or call 888-551-4636.

Tomorrow's blog will give Vector Control's checklist of things you can do to maintain your property and increase personal safety against West Nile Virus.

Quiz Answers: Bees

2008-11-19T08:33:00.000-08:00

Here are the answers to yesterday's Bee quiz.

1. The ancient civilization which used honey as currency and later minted coins with the image of a bee on them was (c) the Roman Empire. Ancient Romans honored the honeybee for its industry. Egyptians and Greeks kept bees anciently, but did not use them as currency.

2. A single colony of honeybees can contain (c) 20,000-80,000 individuals. That's a lot of bees! Consider full capacity at Petco Park is less than 50,000.

3. Their first week on the job, adult worker honeybees (a) clean the hive. The second week they are promoted to feed the young. Third-week bees make and repair wax cells, and graduate their fourth week to guarding the hive.

4. The Australian "karbi" bee uses a form of torture on intruders which was borrowed years ago in the form of the "rack." The correct answer is (b): guard bees latch onto the intruder's limbs and pull - stretching them to their full extent for an hour. Does this make for taller bees? Or fewer intruders? Kind of explains Australian football, doesn't it?

5. Of the 15 states which have identified the European honey bee as the official state insect, (b) Nebraska and New Jersey are the two listed. Complete list: Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. To the best of our knowledge, Utah is the only one to have a minor league baseball team actually named "The Bees."

6. It would take (d) 9-10 bees to equal the weight of one M&M's plain candy. This factoid will not do much for bee control, but it may be a fascinating conversation starter. Or not.

7. A queen bee must eat (d) 80 times her weight each day to produce 2,000 eggs. To put this in perspective, this would be like a 12-year-old human eating 6400 pounds of food. That's a lot of M&M's!

8. Surprisingly, the average life span of a queen bee is (d) 2-8 years. Obviously, after all that food, they must work out.

For an interesting video on the life cycle of bees, click here. Another great video taking you inside the hive is found here.

Tuesday's Quiz: Bees

2008-11-18T08:54:00.000-08:00

This week's quiz takes on your knowledge of bees. See how much you know about these industrious insects, then check your answers in tomorrow's blog.

1. What ancient civilization used honey as currency, then later used the image of the bee minted into coins?

a. Egyptian

b. Babylonian

c. Roman

d. Sumerian

2. A single colony of honey bees can contain how many individuals?

a. 5,00-6,000

b. 10,000-15,000

c. 20,000-80,000

d. 120,000-150,000

3. What do adult worker honeybees do their first week on the job?

a. clean the hive

b. feed the young

c. make and repair wax cells

d. guard the hive

4. An Australian bee, called a "karbi," has an unusual way of dealing with intruders. What do they do?

a. Intruders are stacked in cells where they wait to be eaten by young bees.

b. Guards cooperate to grasp the intruders' limbs and stretch them to their full extent for an hour.

c. Intruders are paralyzed and used like hockey pucks.

d. Guard bees take intruders to the nearest body of water and hold their heads under water.

5. Fifteen of our 50 states hail the European honey bee as the official state insect. Which of the following states are included in these fifteen?

a. California and Arizona

b. Nebraska and New Jersey

c. Oregon and Idaho

d. Hawaii and Alaska

6. How many bees would it take to equal the weight of one M&M's plain chocolate candy?

a. 3-4

b. 5-6

c. 7-8

d. 9-10

7. How much does a queen bee have to eat each day to produce 2,000 eggs?

a. 5 times her weight

b. 20 times her weight

c. 50 times her weight

d. 80 times her weight

8. What is the average life span of a queen bee?

a. 7-8 weeks

b. 3-4 months

c. 10-12 months

d. 2-8 years

Buzzing Off: Bee News

2008-11-17T10:27:00.000-08:00

According to an article in National Geographic' online news section, scientists are hard at work studying bees in order to solve the mystery of why the world's honeybee population is in serious decline. Perhaps you've wished unwanted bee's nests in an attic or shed would buzz off - and of course if they are Africanized, the bees are dangerous and need to go. But U.S. beekeepers began noticing a few years ago that huge numbers of bees are dying off for no apparent reason. These are bees that contribute around $15 billion to the U.S. economy every year, and are necessary for pollinating 90 major crops. So studying the problem and finding a solution are critical to farmers and humankind in general. As zoologist Martin Wikelski puts it, "Everything depends on pollinators."

The key to understanding what's causing the honeybees' decline could be creating tracking tags that are small enough to fit on their backs. Scientists have already created electronic tags that are easily carried by two of the larger bee species. These tiny trackers are about the size of three of four grains of rice, and weigh in at 0.006 ounces (170 milligrams). They are attached to the backs of orchid bees and carpenter bees with just a bit of eyelash glue and superglue. Still smaller tracking devices need to be created to study honeybees, but the team of scientists is hopeful engineers can shrink them by another 40 percent. In the meantime, native wild bees are picking up the slack, helping pollinate crops that were previously pollinated by the vanishing domesticated bees.

We suggest homeowners call in a professional to help with bees nesting in any structures. If Africanized, the bees can be dangerous - especially to children, the elderly, and pets. If it is determined that bees on your property are not Africanized, a bee removal service may be able to keep the nest intact and simply relocate the bees.

Click here for a video on "Disappearing Honey Bees: Beekeepers on What's Happening."

UFI's

2008-11-14T07:42:00.000-08:00

drain fly

fruit fly

Unidentified Flying Insects: Do you have little flying bugs bugging you? Often when we see a swarm of small flying insects in the house, we think swat first and ask questions later. But recognizing the type of tiny fly helps us eliminate the problem. Flying bugs in the house usually don't bite, but they can be a nuisance. This week we highlighted Pharaoh ants - a bug that can have wings and invade homes. Termites also swarm this time of year - looking like flying ants. These bugs require professional help. Here are a few other tiny invaders you might see around the house that don't necessitate a professional, and some hints on how to avoid or eliminate them.

First up: fruit flies. You may have seen them hovering over a bowl of fruit or a bunch of bananas on the kitchen counter. They are about an eighth of an inch long and have red eyes with tan bodies (see the illustration above). Although usually found around ripe fruit, they can reproduce in anything that has a moist film of decaying particles, like drains, garbage disposals, cleaning rags, mops, or garbage cans. As with all flying insects, the best way to eliminate them is to find the source of breeding and remove it. Put that fruit in the fridge - or if overripe, dispose of it in an outdoor bin. Launder mops and cleaning rags, and clean out garbage cans. If some adult flies persist, use a household spray or set up a homemade trap by placing a paper funnel (a rolled piece of notebook paper will do) in a jar baited with a few ounces of cider vinegar. This simple trap will clean up residual fruit flies in a kitchen.

Second UFI: fungus gnats. In appearance, they are very similar to fruit flies, and are often lumped into the same category. They are about the same size, slightly smaller, but are usually gray to black in color. You will most often find them around house plants. Often they fly up from the soil when watering. To control these pests, simply avoid over-watering house plants. Let them dry out between waterings, and clean any dishes under the pots. Do not let water stand in drain dish areas. Usually fungus gnat larvae live in the top layer of the soil. Let this dry out, and the problem is solved.

The third UFI is the drain fly. Larger than fruit flies or fungus gnats, these flying insects look almost like tiny black moths (see picture above). They are fuzzy and have larger wings than the other two bugs. You may find them hanging around the bathroom, perhaps on the shower wall or near the toilet area. Control of these pests is a bit more difficult. The most effective method is to clean the interior of drain pipes with a stiff brush, removing the slime they breed in. An over-the-counter drain cleaner will help, especially if used with very hot water. But these bugs are hard to drown, as they can trap air bubbles and live under water for a day or two.

With proper identification and application of control methods, all these pesky bugs can be controlled. Take a closer look, and rid your home of UFI's.

Quiz Answers: Pharaoh Ants

2008-11-12T09:09:00.000-08:00

Here are the answers to yesterday's quiz on Pharaoh ants. The hope is that in learning more about these difficult pests, we can work together to control infestations and secure homes against invasion.

1. In the human world, polygynous means more than one wife. In the ant world, it indicates (b) colonies have more than one queen. Mature colonies of Pharaoh ants contain several queens, winged males, workers, eggs, larvae, prepupae and pupae.

2. Pharaoh ants are usually very small (approximately 1/16 of an inch long), and yellow to light brown in color. One distinguishing characteristic is the (c) three-segmented club at the end of their antennae.

3. Although Pharaoh ants can be found in apartments, hotels and grocery stores, they are often associated with (a) hospitals. They can be especially troubling in health care areas, as they infest small spaces are are very difficult to eradicate. Unfortunately, they are capable of mechanically transmitting diseases and contaminating sterile materials - making them an especial nuisance in the health care industry.

4. The best way to treat Pharaoh ants is to (c) bait only. For this reason, we recommend you (d) call a pest professional. A successful Pharaoh ant control program will involve intensive baiting using baits that contain insect growth regulators. Unlike the more common Argentine ants, spraying can be counterproductive with a Pharaoh ant infestation. Chemical sprays tend to induce colonies to spread and divide, making control much more difficult.

5. Part of the reason baiting is more successful is that the percentage of Pharaoh ants typically out foraging at any given time is around (a) 5%. That means the best shot we have at control is to use the foraging ants to take poison bait back to the nest.

6. In severe infestations of larger buildings, like warehouses and hospitals, it could take (c) up to a year before total elimination is achieved.

7. A mature Pharaoh ant colony can house (d) up to 300,000 ants. That's a lot of ants. A single queen can produce many hundreds of workers in just a few months. And remember, the colonies of Pharaoh ants often house multiple queens. Unlike many other ants, they breed continuously throughout the year in heated buildings.

Now that you know more about these difficult pests, be aware of the ants around you and be sure to report any suspected infestations of Pharaoh ants before they take over!

Tuesday's Quiz: Pharaoh Ants

2008-11-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

Today's quiz takes a closer look at a rare but difficult variety of ant: the Pharaoh ant. Although most ants infesting San Diego neighborhoods are Argentine ants, we recently identified a colony of Pharaoh ants living in an apartment complex. Here are a few questions to test your knowledge of these tiny invaders.

1. Pharaoh ants are polygynous. What does this mean in the ant world?

a. Worker ants carry both reproductive parts.

b. Colonies have many queens.

c. Queens lay many eggs and then die.

d. Only queens have wings.

2. Pharaoh ants can be identified by

a. their dark, black color.

b. their distinctive odor when squashed.

c. a distinct club at the end of their antennae.

d. a turban-like appendage from which they get their name.

3. Pharaoh ants are often associated with infestations in

a. hospitals

b. apartments

c. hotels

d. grocery stores

4. The best way to treat Pharaoh ants is to

a. spray and bait

b. spray only

c. bait only

d. call a pest professional

5. What percentage of a Pharaoh ant's nest is typically out foraging at one time?

a. 5%

b. 20%

c. 50%

d. 75%

6. In severe infestations of larger buildings, how long might total elimination take?

a. 2-4 weeks

b. 2-4 months

c. up to a year

d. 2-4 years

7. Pharaoh ant colonies are large and very mobile. How many ants might one colony contain?

a. up to 1,000 ants

b. 2,000-5,000 ants

c. 50,000-80,000 ants

d. up to 300,000 ants

For answers to today's quiz, click here.

Good Bug/ Bad Bug

2008-11-10T10:57:00.000-08:00

While researching last week's blogs on "good bugs," the kind that eat destructive bugs in our yards and communities, I was struck by the claim on one website that "If all the good bugs were taken from the earth, mankind could only live for a few weeks." Of course, we depend on good bugs for pollination and balance in the insect world. But in light of this claim, I was interested to read in our Sunday newspaper supplement that the world would be no worse off without mosquitos. They do not fall into the "good bug" category. According to Parade Magazine's Marilyn Vos Savant, if all the mosquitos on earth disappeared other bugs would take their place in the food chain and we would be safer from the diseases spread by these noxious insects. As mentioned previously here, mosquitos are carriers of malaria, encephalitis, yellow fever, dengue fever, meningitis, and - more significantly here in Southern California, West Nile virus.

So how do we maintain a healthy yard, keeping bad bugs at bay while encouraging the good ones? Several approaches can be helpful. First, take precautions in your yard to diminish the favorable habitats of bad bugs like mosquitos. Empty any containers that may have filled with water from the recent rains. Keep pools chemically balanced and keep water off pool covers. Consider obtaining Gambusia fish, for decorative ponds. These "mosquitofish" are often available at no cost through the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health: 858-694-2888. Other ways to safeguard your home against mosquitos: change water in bird baths at least once a week; keep litter and garden debris out of rain gutters; do not over water your yard; fill holes in landscaping left by tree removal; make an inspection of your yard to assure that you do not have standing water anywhere.

Another aspect of maintaining a healthy balance between good bugs and bad bugs is to avoid broadcast spraying, or trying to kill every bug in sight. Customers occasionally call who do not want to see bugs of any kind. Rather than specify an insect which is causing concern, such as cockroaches or fleas, they want us to just "kill everything!" Hopefully last week's series on good bugs will cause homeowners to think twice about those hard-working bugs that keep the planet buzzing. We are not sure about the idea that mankind would only survive a few weeks without good bugs, but we would rather not find out. Help us maintain a good balance by identifying targeting only the harmful bugs. For a list of good bugs in California, click here.

Local Bug News

2008-11-06T13:51:00.000-08:00

Today's edition of the Union-Tribune features an article on Michael Wall, a former entomology curator at the San Diego Natural History Museum who was recently appointed director of the museum's Biodiversity Research Center of the Californias. What makes this interesting bug news is not just Mr. Wall's extensive education and experience in the field of entomology, but the enthusiasm he will bring to the area of biodiversity in San Diego. In the article, he is quoted as saying that bugs "have a special place in my heart." We won't take him too literally, but welcome the focus he brings to the insect populations in the county and the increased awareness the museum hopes to achieve.

Last May, Mr. Wall generated public interest with a BioBlitz in Balboa Park. Experienced scientists and volunteers conducted a 24-hour inventory of species found in the park, with nature hikes, science talks and museum exhibits as part of the day's activities. Another BioBlitz is planned for May 1 & 2, 2009. To visit the BioBlitz website, click here. Also available online is a site specific to the Entomology collection at the Museum of Natural History, which holds over 900,000 labeled specimens. The collection is especially strong in beetles and butterflies, and represents well the bugs of San Diego, Southern California, and northwestern Mexico. To see lists of specific insects in San Diego County, click here for butterflies, or here for spiders. There is also a checklist here that shows spiders of Baja California. If you are interested in California beetles, click here.

From the FAQ section of this terrific website, we have the last word on San Diego's three resident tarantulas. They are not only shy and docile, their venom is considered non-toxic to humans. Local tarantulas are beneficial predators who feed on sowbugs, pillbugs, insects and even other spiders - making these big, scary-looking arachnids actually good bugs! We are grateful to the museum and its staff for supporting such a helpful and informative website.

Quiz Answers: Good Bugs

2008-11-05T12:32:00.000-08:00

This week we have been featuring some of the good bugs that inhabit our yards and neighborhoods. What constitutes a good bug? One that helps pollinate plants or eats the destructive bugs that eat your garden. Monday's blog gave information on ground beetles, one of the unsung heros of the bug world. Today we have answers to yesterday's quiz on good bugs. How did you do?

1. (a) The praying mantis is one of the classic good bugs that works to kill bad bugs in your yard. In fact, they are so good for plantings that you can buy praying mantis egg cases online as a natural garden helper. Known as the "dragons of the insect world," praying mantis have excellent eyesight, heads that can rotate 180 degrees, and quick reflexes - making them formidable predators. They eat moths, crickets, flies, and in the case of females, their own mates.

2. As you may have learned in Monday's blog, ground beetles are good bugs because they (c) eat slugs, among other pests.

3. An average ladybug eats around (c) 5,000 harmful bugs in its lifetime. Technically called lady beetles or ladybird beetles, these colorful garden helpers can also be purchased for release in the yard, either at a local garden center or online. And they are among the cutest of bugs. Definitely good guys!

4. Beneficial nematodes are (a) microscopic parasites. They live in the soil and prey onground-dwelling insects like fleas, ants, termites, and grubs. If you choose to buy beneficial nematodes for your yard, be sure you buy from a reputable supplier. Ask your local garden center what kind of nematode might be most beneficial in your area.

5. Earthworms thrive in (c) moist soil. As for their importance, Charles Darwin noted, "... it may be doubted if there are any other animals which have played such an important part in the history of the world as these lowly organized creatures." They not only aerate the soil by plowing tunnels through which air and water can more easily flow, but leave nitrogen-rich "castings" in their wake, enriching the soil.

6. Of the plants listed, (a) parsley and sage are the most attractive to good bugs. Other attractive plants include clover, foxglove, cosmos, marigolds, and sunflowers.

7. Wasps are helpful because they (b) lay eggs on caterpillars, which hatch to larvae that then eat their host. This colorful process is the featured photo in yesterday's blog. The Braconid wasp is especially good to have in your tomato patch - they are a major predator of tomato horn worms.

Tuesday's Quiz: Good Bugs

2008-11-04T15:12:00.000-08:00

Today's quiz tests your knowledge of insects that can be beneficial around the garden. Some are more familiar than others. The hope is that we'll all take a second look at some of the "good bugs" out there and give them a chance to help the ecological balance in our yards.

1. Which of these is considered a "good bug" - they kind that eats more destructive bugs?

a. Gypsy moth

b. praying mantis

c. aphids

d. mosquitos

2. Ground beetles are "good bugs" because they:

a. aerate the soil

b. pollinate flowers and fruit trees

c. eat slugs

d. help clean stagnant water

3. How many unhelpful bugs does an average ladybug eat in its lifetime?

a. 1,000

b. 3,000

c. 5,000

d. 10,000

4. Beneficial nematodes are what kind of bug?

a. microscopic parasites

b. tiny larvae that eat harmful insects

c. small flying insects that cross-pollinate

d. aquatic insects that filter water

5. Earthworms are some of nature's most efficient composters. In what kind of soil do they thrive?

a. Sandy soil

b. Heavy clay

c. Moist soil

d. Alkaline soil

6. Which of the following are plants that attract good bugs?

a. parsley and sage

b. rosemary and thyme

c. hostas and agapanthas

d. roses and gardenias

7. How do wasps help destroy destructive bugs?

a. They sting grasshoppers and locust.

b. They lay eggs on caterpillars, and the larvae then eat the caterpillars.

c. They build nests near water, then feed on mosquito larvae.

d. They emit an odor that is offensive to slugs.

Good Bugs

2008-11-03T12:40:00.000-08:00

As a follow-up to last week's focus on spiders, this week we'll look at other "good bugs" - those beneficial to gardens. The term "good bug" may seem like an oxymoron until we mention a few by name: lady bug, praying mantis, honey bee, ground beetle. These are bugs you WANT in your yard - bugs that either help plants or eat the bugs that eat plants. Let's start with the most unlikely on the list: Ground beetles.

Ground beetles are from the family Carabidae. Although sometimes confused with cockroaches at first sight, these common beetles seldom invade homes and can be useful in the garden. There are about 2,500 known species of ground beetles in North America. Adults, referred to as "Carabids," can be anywhere from 1/16 to 1-3/8 inches long, flat and elongated with a narrow head and hard wing covers. They are generally nocturnal, running quickly at night and feeing on potentially harmful insects. Usually found under rocks, logs or boards, they love to chow down on slugs, snails, cutworms and root maggots, and the larvae of many harmful insects. The worst thing we can say about ground beetles is that some varieties can produce an offensive odor - garnering them the moniker "stink bug" or "stink beetle."

Pictured above is the ground beetle and larva of the genus Calosoma in the family Carabidae. These beetles are often called "caterpillar hunters." During April of 2005, when there was an abundance of painted lady butterflies in the Anza-Borrego Desert, these beetles were very abundant - feeding off the pupae. For more information and some great pictures of other types of local beetles, see the website here.

If you have an over-abundance of ground beetles, eliminate any debris or rubbish outside where they may hide. Weather strip or seal off openings and crevices in outer walls in order to exclude them from the home. Also, it may be helpful to reduce exposed night lights, as these night-active bugs are often attracted to lights. Try to remember, even though they may not be the most attractive bugs around, they are not harmful. If you find you have more than you can handle, call a pest professional.

Hallowe'en Bug News

2008-10-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

We saved the scariest and most disturbing bug news to share today, in honor of all the little vampires and ghouls out there. This strange but true news comes from Discover Magazine's blog, in an article here. Apparently, scientists have discovered a new tendency in bugs: they crave blood! For mosquitos and bed bugs, this is not unusual. But these are insects that generally have been attracted by sweet substances, and are now looking for salt.

According to the article, research teams studying insects in Peru became puzzled when they were attacked by swarms of tiny bees. The bees were trying to get a taste of their sweat! Animals, and apparently even insects, need salt to maintain water balance in their cells.

Armed with new evidence and theories to test, the scientists baited ants on the Peruvian forest floor with vials of both sugary and salty water, then counted the ant species they baited. Ants living close to the ocean, and thereby near a source of salt, preferred the sugar. Inland ants preferred salt. Further, the scientists found the salt cravings were only seen in vegetarian ants, as carnivorous ants got enough salt from the bodies of their prey. Their report was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Which brings us to vampire moths. In another study, entomologists researched a population of fruit-feeding moths (Calyptra thalictri) which evolved the habit of feeding on blood. These moths, native to Russia, use their long, sharp tongues to pierce human skin now instead of peaches and pears. They have been observed sucking blood from the scientists' hands for more than 20 minutes at a time. According to the Discover article, only male moths engage in blood-feeding. The scientists suspect they are offering the salt from the blood as a gift to females during copulation. Happy Hallowe'en!

More on Spiders - Spooky or Friendly?

2008-10-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

In light of the Hallowe'en festivities all around us, we will share more information on spiders today, with a look at what makes them spooky and how we can focus on their more redeeming qualities. Spiders have amazingly bad press. They have been cast as villains in horror movies, murder mysteries, and even fairy tales! The truth is that most spiders are harmless, and extremely beneficial. Part of the delicate balance of nature, spiders eat harmful and nuisance insects in our yards and homes. As noted in this week's bug quiz, only two varieties of spiders in San Diego County can be considered dangerous: The black widow and the desert recluse. Of those two, the black widow is most common. The desert recluse is, as its name suggests, reclusive - preferring to live in remote and unpopulated areas. Bites delivered by these two spiders may be painful, but reactions vary widely and are most often no more serious than a bee sting. So how can you avoid the scariest spider in San Diego? The more you know about the black widow, the easier it will be to avoid their bites.

Black widow spiders (pictured above) are shiny, black spiders with thick legs and bulbous abdomens, on the underside of which they sport a distinctive red hourglass marking. Females are around 1/2-inch long, males much smaller - around 1/4-inch, with a longer, narrower abdomen and somewhat longer legs. Black widows are shy, preferring to build their webs in dry, protected locations. Outdoors they are most often found in woodpiles, under rocks, beneath benches, under decks, etc. The web of the black widow is thick, sticky and irregular in shape. If you see this kind of web, use care in knocking it down - although spiders typically have eight eyes, their vision is not good, so they are most often alerted by vibrations. If you encounter black widows or their webs inside (very rare) use a vacuum to remove spiders, webs, and egg sacks - then seal the vacuum bag and discard immediately. Like so many other pests, spiders may be looking for harborage as the weather cools down - so inspect doors and screens to be sure your house is secure. And wear shoes outside! If you are seeing too many spiders in the house or yard, call a pest professional. But remember - spiders eat flies, moths and mosquitos, so as long as they are not bothering you or multiplying out of proportion, let them do their job.

Finally, although we don't see a lot of big scary spiders here, you can rely on videos and news reports from around the world to see the kind legends are made of. Check out the photo and article on a bird-eating spider from Australia here. Take a look at a photo and video of camel spiders here. Or check out the truly scary Monster Spider Web found in Texas here. Enjoy!

Quiz Answers: Spiders!

2008-10-29T09:33:00.000-07:00

Pictured: The eyes of a brown recluse spider

Spiders have been big news in San Diego this year. We continue to receive more calls for spiders than usual - indicating a population surge for spiders. Perhaps it is the weather, or maybe more people have been putting out bird seed. Whatever the reason, it is not necessarily a bad thing! The overwhelming majority of household spiders are good for the ecological balance of your yard. Because of the bad press of a scary minority of spiders, it seems the whole group has a bad aura. Here are the answers for yesterday's quiz:

1. The number of spider species that have been identified world wide is (d) 37,000. This is of course an approximate number. But taking that number into consideration, it should become immediately apparent why we are not always able to identify spider samples. What we can do is rule out the most dangerous of local spiders. Which brings us to:

2. The number of spiders in San Diego County which deliver poisonous bites: (a) two. According to the County of San Diego's Pest Management website, "The only poisonous spiders in San Diego County are the Black Widow and the Desert Recluse." From the same source, the Desert Recluse is not the same as the Brown Recluse - and it is found mainly in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, the foothills of the lower Joaquin Valley and areas close to the Mexican border. Check their excellent site here for more information on these two local spiders with attitude.

3. The largest spiders in the world can be found in (c) South America. In fact, South American Tarantulas are about the size of a dinner plate - around 12 inches in diameter, with 1-inch fangs. For a video on these "killing machines" see the video here. The good news? Their sting is usually no worse than a bee sting. There are no reported cases on human death by tarantula!

4. The most reliable distinction between a brown recluse and a wolf spider is (d) the number of eyes. While it is true that the brown recluse has a dark, violin-shaped marking behind the head (on its cephalothorax), many brown spiders, including varieties of Wolf spider, have markings that could be interpreted as looking like a violin. While the 6 eye pattern of the brown recluse is easy to see with magnification, we do not recommend looking closely at the eyes of a live spider! Some spitting spiders do have a similar eye pattern, but do not have a violin. See the photo above for the distinctive eye pattern of the brown recluse. For more on how to identify the brown recluse, visit the website here. To view a map of where brown recluse spiders are found, see here. Note: The city of San Diego is NOT identified as a brown recluse zone on the map.

5. The largest family of spiders is (a) Jumping spiders (Salticidae), followed by Sheet Weavers (Linyphiidae) and Orb-weaving spiders (Araneidae). Using a well-developed hydraulic system which extends their limbs by altering the pressure of body fluid, jumping spiders can jump 20-60 times their body length as they pursue prey. They typically have eight eyes in two or three rows. Tarantulas are the largest of spiders, but not the largest family of spiders.

6. The best way to avoid spider bites is to (b) wear shoes outdoors. Keeping exterior house doors closed is also a good idea, but unless you are able to close even the smallest breaches under doors and around windows spiders are likely to find their way inside.

7. The correct FALSE answer is (b) - all arachnids are spiders. In fact, all spiders are arachnids - but not all arachnids are spiders. One case in point is the Daddy-longleg, which is an arachnid but not a spider.

8. This is a trick question. Remember, this is the Hallowe'en edition of the quiz! Depending on what species of spider you were, and how tall you stand proportionally, you might be able to jump (a)85 feet, (b) 130 feet, (c) 260 feet (best answer) or (d) 350 feet. Remember, there are around 37,000 varieties of spiders in the world, with various abilities. Now that you know a little more about spiders, we hope you will not jump when you see one! For more information in a short video about spiders, click here.

Tuesday's Quiz: Spiders!

2008-10-28T11:22:00.000-07:00

Just in time for Hallowe'en, we present Tuesday's Quiz with a focus on spiders this week. Are they the scariest bugs? Certainly one of the creepiest! Test your knowledge of arachnids today and find the answers in tomorrow's blog.

1. How many spider species have been identified worldwide?

a. 1,600

b. 16,000

c. 3,700

d. 37,000

2. Of the many spider species in San Diego County, how many deliver poisonous bites?

a. 2

b. 4

c. 6

d. 8

3. Where would you find the largest spiders in the world?

a. Africa

b. Australia

c. South America

d. Asia

4. The spider pictured above is a Wolf spider, fairly common in North America and often mistaken for the Brown Recluse spider. What distinguishes a wolf spider from a brown recluse?

a. Brown Recluse are bigger

b. Wolf spiders are nocturnal

c. Brown Recluse have a distinctive marking behind the head

d. Wolf spiders have more eyes

5. The largest family of spiders is

a. Jumping spiders

b. Orb-weaving spiders

c. Trapdoor spiders

d. Tarantulas

6. The best way to avoid spider bites is to

a. Wear strong perfume

b. Wear shoes outdoors

c. Keep doors closed

d. Hang garlic around your neck

7. Which of the following is false?

a. all spiders are arachnids

b. all arachnids are spiders

c. arachnids do not have antennae

d. Daddy-longlegs are not spiders

8. If you were a spider, how high could you jump, proportionately?

a. 85 feet

b. 130 feet

c. 260 feet

d. 350 feet

Quiz Answers: Weird Bug News

2008-10-01T08:27:00.000-07:00

Here are the answers to yesterday's quiz on weird bug news. These are actual news stories we gleaned off the internet - so you know they are true! Have fun reading the answers, and perhaps learning a bit more about the wonderful world of insects.

1. From Liverpool, England, we have a story about a 50-foot mechanical spider, placed on one of the biggest buildings in town by a French arts collective called La Machine. The three-story arachnid is lovingly named (d) "La Princess." We are not sure why they chose the name (we like our fake names better) or the location for this giant bug, but it makes a great photo op (see photo above).

2. From Tokyo, a Japanese monk accidentally set fire to his temple while trying to eradicate (b) hornets. The story, from msnbc.com, reports the Buddhist monk had lit rags attached to a stick and tried to apply it to the hornet nest in the temple - but dropped the torch when the hornets attacked him. So much for attempting your own pest control!

3. From Eagle Rock, California, a school teacher was recently praised by PETA for (a) appointing an insect monitor to prevent the squashing of bugs in the classroom. The teacher, Melodie Conrad, said she is not exactly an insect rights activist, but she wanted to emphasize to the children that there is already too much violence in the world.

4. From New Jersey, another man's attempt at do-it-yourself pest control ends in disaster. According to the story on reuters.com Isias Vidal Maceda was not injured but destroyed 80 percent of his apartment in Eatontown when he attempted to (a) spray for roaches. Although the article does not give details, we suspect Mr. Maceda may have used an over-the-counter bug bomb without turning off pilot lights, or perhaps used too many. Whatever the details, the bug spray reportedly ignited a blast that started a fire in the apartment and caused smoke damage in the apartment above.

5. From Pennsylvania, via an article on the Fox News website, (c) giant beetles from Taiwan were discovered in a postal package. The contents were listed as toys, gifts and jellies - but when the postal workers heard scratching noises coming from inside the box, they became suspicious. The parcel was X-rayed then opened, revealing 26 of the largest beetles imaginable - averaging 5-6 inches in diameter. For the record, it is illegal to ship live beetles into the United States without a permit from the Department of Agriculture, as they can cause a great deal of damage to fruit and vegetable crops.

6. From Brazil, ants have been observed (c) sacrificing themselves to seal the entrance to their nest. A few ants, probably the older ones in the colony, remain outside the entrance to kick sand over the hole until it becomes invisible. Being unable to reenter the nest, these ants die from exposure to the cold. It is apparently a pre-meditated task, performed each night at sunset - whether or not there is a clear danger from predators. The covering of the entrance takes about 50 minutes, as the ants heroically kick sand backwards with their hind legs.

7. According to an article in the Marin Independent Journal, a 250 million-year-old fossilized dragonfly had a wingspan of (b) 28 inches! The article goes on to note that dragonflies can be beneficial to gardeners, feeding on other more harmful garden pests. In case you were wondering, the "dragon" portion of their name comes from the fierce jaws they use to catch their prey. And as mentioned in a previous post, they are the fastest of all insects, able to reach speeds of up to 60 mph.

We hope you have enjoyed this brief detour into the wide world of bugs. More local pest items tomorrow.

Tuesday's Quiz: Weird Insect News

2008-09-30T12:03:00.000-07:00

Today's quiz features odd and interesting news items related to insects from all over the world. So have fun today and look for answers to these questions in tomorrow's blog.

1. A French arts collective recently unveiled their latest creation: a 50-foot mechanical arachnid placed strategically on the side of one of Liverpool's biggest buildings. The three-story spider is called:

a. Big Mamma

b. Spot

c. Ringo

d. La Princess

2. On September 3, a Japanese temple burned to the ground when one of the monks accidentally dropped a torch he had fashioned for the purpose of ridding the temple of:

a. cockroaches

b. hornets

c. spiders

d. rats

3. PETA gave an award to a teacher in Eagle Rock, California last spring for what classroom innovation?

a. appointing an insect monitor to prevent the squashing of bugs

b. a science experiment that led to a humane mouse trap

c. relocating a bee hive that had formed outside the classroom

d. studying the habits of ants in an effort to help them multiply

4. A New Jersey man recently blew up his apartment, destroying 80% of the home. What was he doing?

a. spraying for roaches

b. using fire crackers to scare rodents

c. mixing homemade insecticide in his kitchen sink

d. chasing a rat

5. Customs agents in Philadelphia, alerted by noises inside an overseas package, inspected the parcel and found what inside?

a. Pet roaches from Madagascar

b. Baby mice from New Brunswick

c. Giant beetles from Taiwan

d. Honey bees from Ghana

6. A recent article gives evidence of a variety of ants native to Brazil that have been observed doing something heroic. What are they doing?

a. the ants join together to carry drowning beetles to safety

b. individual ants perform a kind of ant-CPR on the queen if she is in danger

c. several older ants sacrifice themselves by covering the entrance to their nest

d. worker ants form a chain that enables weaker ants to return to the nest

7. A fossilized dragonfly from 250 million years ago was found to have a wingspan of

a. 12 cm

b. 28 inches

c. 15 mm

d. 3 feet

Fire Ants

2008-09-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

As noted in a previous post, Argentine ants are the most common household pests in San Diego County. However, there are about 200 different ant species in California, including the southern fire ant (Solenopsis xyloni) and the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). A recent article in the Riverside Press-Enterprise discussed an infestation of fire ants in Rialto, where these pests have been devouring crops and threatening residents for the last 10 years. Fire ants came to the United States on cargo ships from South America in the 1930's. Today they are a problem that has cost millions in dollars per year, especially in Riverside and Orange counties. The battle against fire ants got tougher after funding for a statewide eradication program was cut in 2003. All of Orange County and parts of Riverside and Los Angeles counties are under a red ant quarantine, limiting the movement of plants and soil in those counties.

Fire ants vary in size, ranging from 1/16 to 1/4 of an inch long, and are yellow to dark red-brown. They have a stinger at the tip of the abdomen. Colonies range in size from 80,000 to 250,000 workers in a single-queen colony. Queens can produce approximately 1,500 eggs per day. They are called "Fire Ants" because of the fiery, painful sting they inflict. The venom on these tiny ants causes painful, itchy welts or blisters. For individuals who are allergic, the bites can be fatal.

Because their nests are so large, sometimes several treatments of insecticide are needed to reduce or eradicate the colony. Baits which contain an insect growth regulator (IGR) and/or a slow stomach poison can also be effective. Here in San Diego, we don't see many infestations of fire ants - but with populations growing nearby, we want to offer suggestions to homeowners that apply to control of all varieties of ants. Here are the basics:

1. Determine what the ants are attracted to and remove the source.

2. Vacuum trails, clean with soapy water or spray with window cleaner.

3. Locate entry points and fill with caulking or petroleum jelly.

4. Place ant bait stations or gel bait labeled for ant control near the entry points.

5. Continue to clean up trails, as baits require time to work.

6. If ant invasions continue, call your pest professional.

More Bed Bugs

2008-09-26T08:23:00.000-07:00

A final word for now on bed bugs, a pest problem that has been increasing exponentially in the last few years here is Southern California. Today we will discuss the intricacies of bed bug control.

Bed bugs are controlled by various methods, We rely heavily on residual pesticides to kill bed bugs in their harborage areas and, hopefully, areas they travel through. We need to identify and treat all these areas because an infested area missed means the bugs will continue to be a problem. Heat is also an immediate killer, though there is no residual mechanism to kill bed bugs that come later. Sometimes mattresses and/or furniture are steamed at about 120 degrees, which immediately kills adult and nymph bed bugs. This may be helpful with mattresses and sofas, but will provide no residual protection from bed bugs that decide to re-infest the mattress. We strongly recommend special mattress covers that seal bed bugs either in or out of a mattress, thereby eliminating the mattress as a source of infestation through the whole process. Although there are some chemicals labeled for mattresses, safety is a first concern, especially where children or the elderly are involved. Thorough vacuuming can also assist in the treatment of infested areas.

Regardless of what techniques are used, multiple trips, inspections, and applications are essential for control. Generally a minimum of three trips is necessary for control in two to three week intervals, with some follow-up after that to ensure no more bed bugs have survived to re-infest the living area.

Bed bug control is unlike any other pest control. It is meticulous, requires several visits, sometimes specialized equipment, and even then the bugs may make a resurgence requiring more visits and treatments. Beware of companies who promise an easy "cure." Bed bugs are a complicated problem, and one that will not be easily solved. As mentioned in yesterday's quiz answers, avoid the problem by avoiding discarded furniture at garage sales and thrift stores. This is a major source of bed bug infestation. For an informational slide show, click here. To go to the San Diego County website on integrated pest management for bed bugs, click here. To contact Centurion Pest Control, visit our web site here.

Bed Bug Quiz Answers

2008-09-25T09:54:00.001-07:00

Due to technical difficulties, the answers to Tuesday's quiz are not being posted until Thursday. Here are the answers and a bit more information about bed bug control:

1. The correct answer to the question about the reappearance of bed bugs in the United States is (d) - no one really knows. Experts have posited that the answer may be a combination of (b) more immigration from countries where bed bugs are common and (c) the reduced use of liquid insecticides, especially the abandoning of the use of DDT in this country. Whatever the reason, bed bugs are on the rise here, with populations doubling every year. This adds up to an expensive problem for homeowners and property managers.

2. The first indication of bed bug infestation is usually the presence of bites on their hosts because (d) they hide during the day and come out to feed at night. In fact, they often come out of hiding during the early morning hours, when people are in their deepest sleep, and as they take a blood meal administer a local anesthetic so that the host does not feel the bite until later - when it begins to itch. Because they are nocturnal, it is difficult to inspect for bed bugs. However, it is advisable when visiting a hotel to check the mattress, box springs, and headboard for signs of their presence. You probably won't see the bugs, but the small egg casings or feces may be visible.

3. Bed bugs carry no diseases that we know of, so the answer here is (d). However, their bites can be painful and very uncomfortable - and if the population is great there may be multiple bites.

4. When looking for bed bugs, check EVERYWHERE! The best and first places to look are the mattress and box springs - but you may find evidence in any of the other locations. The answer, again, is (d) all of the above.

5. Bed bugs cannot live at temperatures (a) above 100 degrees. You may actually be able to kill all existing bed bugs by turning up the heat - but there is no residual for any eggs that hatch. Steam cleaning a mattress at temperatures above 120 degrees is helpful in reclaiming a bed.

6. The best way to avoid bed bug infestations is to (c) avoid used furniture from garage sales, thrift stores, etc. Vacuuming and cleaning are essential in control of these bugs, but won't prevent an infestation.

7. Bed bug-resistant mattress covers are recommended because they (b) starve existing bugs in the mattress and prevent further infestation there. Many people believe they will get rid of a bed bug problem by discarding their old mattress and buying a new one. The problem is, if there are still bugs present in the house - hiding on the headboard or beneath base boards, they will come back to infest a new mattress as well. The best method is to cover the existing mattress - but not with plastic sheeting, with a mattress cover which is labeled as bed bug-resistant. If they have infested sofas or other upholstered furniture, it may be necessary to discard the furniture or at least have it steam cleaned.

8. Bed bugs can go without feeding for (c) 80 to 140 days. Because of their hardy resilience, they are a pest that is difficult to control. In most cases, a professional should be called in at the first indication of bed bug infestation.

Tuesday's Quiz: Bed Bugs

2008-09-23T10:19:00.000-07:00

Last week we visited the topic of bed bugs, so the quiz today tests your knowledge of these blood feeders. Answers to today's quiz will be posted tomorrow, along with more information on bed bug control as it impacts San Diego homeowners and property managers. Here's the quiz:

1. Why have bed bugs made a reappearance in the United States after years of virtual extinction here?

a. a new "super" strain of bed bugs developed

b. immigration from other countries has increased

c. fewer and less effective liquid pesticides are being used

c. no one knows exactly why

2. The first indication of bed bug infestation is usually the presence of bites on their hosts because:

a. bed bugs are too tiny to be seen with the naked eye

b. bed bugs are transparent

c. bed bugs run away from people

d. bed bugs hide during the day and come out to feed at night

3. Bed bugs can be carriers of which of these diseases?

a. typhus and malaria

b. salmonella and plague

c. all of the above

d. none of the above

4. When looking for bed bugs, the best places to look are:

a. on mattresses and box springs

b. bed frames, headboards and wall hangings

c. baseboards, closets, window and door casings

d. all of the above

5. Bed bugs cannot live at temperatures

a. above 100 degrees

b. above 120 degrees

c. below 50 degrees

d. below 60 degrees

6. The best way to avoid a bed bug infestation is to

a. vacuum and clean your home thoroughly every day

b. set off bug bombs in your home

c. do not buy furniture at garage sales or from thrift stores

d. throw away your mattress and sleep on the floor

7. Bed bug resistant mattress covers are recommended because:

a. they kill all bed bugs within a 10-foot radius

b. they starve bed bugs on the mattress and prevent further infestation

c. bed bugs will not go near a mattress cover

d. all of the above

8. Bed bugs can go without feeding for

a. 20-30 days

b. 60-80 days

c. 80-140 days

d. up to two years

Look for answers tomorrow, and more bed bug information in Friday's blog.

Moth Wars

2008-09-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

In the classic Japanese horror flicks featuring Mothra, giant moths cause great destruction. To the right, you see Mothra in her larval form destroying the Tokyo Tower (Mothra, 1961). The film makers got it right in this shot. It is the larval state of pantry moths that causes all the damage.

We have posted information about grain moths here before, but since they were recently featured in an online article - and because they are a year-round problem here in San Diego, we have decided to revisit the topic with additional information and tips on how to get rid of these troublesome pests.

The article posted on recordonline.com discusses the Indian meal moth. A similar pantry pest is the angoumois grain moth. Both these insects infest grain products, their larvae feeding on flour, rice, cornmeal, oatmeal, dried fruits, nuts, bird food and dried pet food, among other pantry items. If you have seen adult moths flying in the kitchen or pantry areas, control can be achieved with careful examination of stored foods - any dry goods you have in the pantry or cabinet areas. Check also bird seed, dry dog food, even fish food and stored spices. When moth larvae feed, they spin webs, leaving behind silken threads where they have travelled. Small particles of food often adhere loosely to the thread, causing the food to clump. Often the webbing left behind is obvious on the packaging. If this webbing is visible, throw out the entire package. The larvae can bore holes through cardboard and plastic packaging materials, so even foods that have not been opened should be examined. Any infested food and packaging should be disposed of in outdoor trash receptacles. If possible, store uninfected foods in airtight glass jars or in the refrigerator or freezer.

As you empty pantry shelves to examine food, remove all food container - even canned goods - and check for evidence of larvae on the bottoms of cans, inside drinking straws, and between stored paper or plastic bags. Remove shelf paper. Clean shelves first with a vacuum cleaner and then with soap and water, or a disinfectant cleaner. Be sure you clean even cracks and corners, as small amounts of flour or meal may have accumulated there as well. A thorough scrubbing of the pantry area, and inspection of all dry goods will usually be sufficient to eradicate the problem. Pesticides are usually not necessary. If adult moths persist, a pheromone sticky trap can help relieve the problem before they lay more eggs. Getting to the source of the infestation is a major part of moth control. If left untreated, this pantry problem can become nearly as big and scary as the moths in the movies. Don't let this happen to you!

Bedbugs, revisited

2008-09-18T08:12:00.002-07:00

Although we have discussed bedbugs in a previous post, it seems like a topic for frequent discussion. With bedbug populations growing each month, these pests have become a major problem for homeowners and property managers. The following is part 1 of a lengthy letter Centurion has sent to property managers who are dealing with this frustrating and expensive problem. The hope is that more information will help all our customers prevent a bedbug infestation.

Up until the last several years, bedbugs have not been a significant problem in the United States. Prior to the mid 20th century, bedbugs were much more common. With the advent of chemicals like DDT and the "generous" use of such pesticides, bedbugs were virtually eliminated and for about the past 50 years very few pest control operators ever saw one. It was hard to get specimens to study because their occurrence was so rare. No one is quite sure why there has been a resurgence of this pest, but it is possibly a combination of more immigration from foreign countries with bedbug infestations, and the Integrated Pest Management practices that minimize the use of pesticides and other chemical treatments. In any event, bedbugs have returned as not only a major pest throughout the United States, but also one of the most difficult pests to treat.

Bedbugs are blood feeders, and prefer humans as their hosts, though some species of bedbugs feed on other hosts. They like to hide in any small hiding place or void that will give them access to the host. They can befound in the joints of furniture, on and in sofas, in the tufts and seams of mattresses (a favorite), in the construction of box spring mattresses, under baseboards, ini picture frames, in small holes in ceilings, in clocks, in light sockets, in bed frames (also a favorite), virtually anywhere they can find a place to hide. They are easily seen by the naked eye, but are flat enough to get through most small openings. This gives you some idea of the scope and of the initial inspection and treatment. Most of the time the bed has to be taken apart, and furniture with drawers need the drawers removed and inspected along with the cabinet itself. Every hiding place has to be identified and treated. What follows is what adds to the difficulty of treatment.

Each female lays about 200 eggs in her lifetime. The eggs are basically "glued" in place in a crack or crevice or other suitable place. These eggs resist chemical treatment and are very difficult to vacuum up. The eggs hatch and the resulting nymphs go through five stages before becoming adults, each stage requiring a blood meal. If conditions are optimal, this can be completed within a month and a half. If not, it may take nearly six months to complete this development. As adults they live about another six months unless food is not readily available, in which case they can survive up to about a hear and a half, waiting to feed.

Monday's blog will continue the discussion with part 2, control and prevention of bed bugs. The more you know, the better prepared you'll be to avoid these difficult pests. To view an informative slideshow on bedbugs, click here.

Preparation for Cockroach Control - or What not to do!

2008-09-18T08:12:00.001-07:00

To the left you see an actual note left by one of our customers who was unable to be there when the technician arrived. She had a serious German cockroach infestation, and wanted us to just spray EVERYTHING! The problem was that she had not done the requisite preparation so that we COULD spray everything that needed to be treated. Dishes and food were in cabinets and in the sink, clutter was everywhere. Her hope was that we could blast the roaches with a magic killing force, and she would clean up afterward. Unfortunately, that is neither safe nor effective - nor legal!

In as effort to better communicate what needs to be done by homeowners and residents with bug problems preparatory to our treatment, here is the list for cockroach preparation and a few explanations.

1. Remove all contents of kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Stack contents in a room other than the kitchen and bathrooms and cover with a sheet, blanket, or similar material. This means the kitchen and bathroom cabinets need to be empty and clean. Food, dishes, pots and pans or other kitchen items should not be stacked on kitchen counters or on the floor of the kitchen. We need complete access to the empty and clean cabinets. Legally and professionally, we cannot spray food or dishes - or anything left in a cabinet. If you decide to leave things in cabinets, there will be no protection against cockroaches in that area. Often customers believe the cockroaches are isolated to one area of the kitchen. This may be true. But to do the best job possible, please let us have access to all cabinet areas.

2. Remove all kitchen drawers from the kitchen and cover. Please make sure that drawers and their contents are clean before returning them. Sanitation is one of the biggest items in cockroach control. Cockroaches can live off the crumbs in a drawer or the grease behind the stove. Thorough cleaning gives them less to eat and fewer places to hide.

3. If closets are infested, remove all items from the floors of closets and push clothes to the center. We will treat baseboards as available throughout the house.

4. If you have a fish tank, please cover it with a towel, sheet, or similar material, and turn off all aeration equipment until the pest control application has dried.

5. Please be prepared to vacate for at least four hours following treatment. Do not return materials to kitchen or bathroom cabinets until the application has completely dried. DO NOT clean out cabinets with wet materials until control has been established to ensure active material is not removed after treatment. You may use a brush or vacuum to remove dead cockroaches. Once the chemical is dry, it is safe to put food and dishes back in the cabinets.

6. Do not expect all roaches to die immediately. Cockroach control is a process. Even after thorough cleaning and pesticide application, you may expect to see live cockroaches for three weeks. Adult roaches will die within a few days, hatch-out will occur in 10-12 days. We use chemicals with excellent residual effect, which will continue to eliminate new hatches and eventually eradicate the problem. If you are still seeing live roaches at the three week point, please call for a follow-up service.

When chemicals are applied according to their label, risks are within limits found acceptable by state and federal government regulatory agencies. Working together, we can solve all kinds of pest problems!

Quiz Answers

2008-09-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's quiz tested your knowledge of fleas. How did you fare? Here, as promised, are the answers to the flea hoppin' quiz:

1. An expert on fleas is known as a (c) Pullicologist. Not in your dictionary? It's not in mine either, but could be worth points on Jeopardy some day. The Spanish for fleas is las pulgas, so the derivation is probably Latin. For the really big money, what exactly does a pullicologist do? Probably scratches a lot!

2. Female fleas lay up to (b) 50 fleas per day. That's a lot of flea eggs. They typically lay four to eight eggs at a time, 400 to 800 total within a typical flea lifetime. Flea eggs usually roll off the host and into pet bedding or other areas where the animal spends time resting. This is why your pest technician may ask about your pet's sleeping areas, in an effort to treat the areas of your house most likely to harbor an infestation source.

3. Diseases spread by fleas include (d) all of these: plague, tapeworm, and murine typhus. Flea bites themselves are usually just annoying, but can cause allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin.

4. The most common type of flea is the (b) cat flea. In fact, it could be called the "universal flea," as cat fleas, or Ctenocephalides felis, will happily feed on cats, dogs, rodents, or humans. You would need a microscope to tell the difference physically between dog fleas and cat fleas - but both will be happy to sample your blood. Dog fleas are rare in California. So-called "sand fleas" are actually crustaceans, unrelated to cat, dog, and rat fleas.

5. Flea eggs hatch in about (c) 10 days. Fleas undergo a complete metamorphosis. The eggs hatch into larvae in about 10 days, and the developing larvae feed on adult flea feces, which contain bits of dried blood. This is one of the reasons vacuuming is a big part of flea control. Depending on temperature, the larvae then molt three times in from seven days to several months. When mature, the larvae spin cocoons in which they pupate. From flea egg to adult flea can be a period of 16 days to a year or more.

7. According to the University of California online Integrated Pest Management guidelines, the best approach to managing fleas is (d) prevention. This means regular cleaning of pet bedding areas, and vet approved topical applications on the pets themselves. The most effective treatments inhibit the growth and/or reproduction of fleas. If fleas become a problem, chemical applications to carpeted areas and upholstered furniture may be necessary. Over-the-counter fogging agents do not have enough residual effect to control an infestation.

8. As indicated in the answer to #6 above, pre-emergent or pupal fleas can lie dormant for (d) up to 150 days. The immature fleas will not hatch until there is warmth, movement and carbon dioxide in the air - these are signals that a host is present. This is why we often experience a major hatch-out of fleas in a house or apartment that has been closed up and left vacant for weeks or months. What this means is that if your home has been sprayed for fleas, while the adult fleas will die within a few days, the pre-emergent fleas will wait for you. The best way to ensure the pupal fleas hatch and die is to vacuum daily after a flea treatment.

We hope this information on fleas and their control is useful in dealing with one of Southern California's most enduring pests.

Tuesday's Quiz: Flea Hoppin'

2008-09-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

Although the cooler weather means fewer fleas, we are still getting plenty of calls for flea control. Here is a quick quiz to test your knowledge of these jumpy, itchy critters. The answers will appear in tomorrow's blog.

1. The official title of an expert on fleas is a

a. Fleaologist

b. Ichthologist

c. Pullicologist

d. Dermatologist

2. Female fleas can lay up to how many eggs per day?

a. 20

b. 50

c. 100

d. 150

3. Diseases spread by fleas include:

a. Plague

b. Tapeworm

c. Murine Typhus

d. all of the above

4. The most common type of flea is the

a. dog flea

b. cat flea

c. rat flea

d. sand flea

5. Fleas have been known to jump up to how many inches?

a. 5"

b. 13"

c. 18"

d. 25"

6. Flea eggs hatch in about

a. 2 days

b. 5 days

c. 10 days

d. flea eggs don't hatch

7. The best method of flea control is

a. vacuuming

b. topical pet applications

c. chemical sprays

d. prevention

8. Pre-emergent or pupal fleas can lie dormant for how long?

a. up to 30 days

b. up to 60 days

c. up to 100 days

d. up to 150 days

Check your answers in tomorrow's blog!

Undercover Bees

2008-09-15T09:06:00.000-07:00

A recent article in Science News describes the latest "Sting Operation" - bees and wasps trained to sniff out illegal and dangerous substances. According to the article by Susan Gaidos, researchers have found that bees are adept at discerning the smell of TNT, methamphetamine and other scents. With similar training, wasps have been used to find bodies in search-and-rescue missions. Bees and wasps may be put to work in sniffing out drugs and bombs at airports and border crossings, military installations and schools. Apparently, it only takes a few minutes of training to replace the bees' natural ability to find pollen with the target scent. The photo above shows a honeybee receiving an odor by sticking out its proboscis - filing away orders for the day.

Chemist Robert Wingo of Los Alamos' Stealthy Insect Sensor Project is quoted in the article as saying, "The general premise is, if it smells, we believe we can train our bees to detect it." Bees are cheaper and quicker to train than dogs, and seem to be able to pick up scents that dogs cannot. In some cases, the bees perform better than lab instruments. How do they do it? Bees and other insects have antennae covered with thousands of microscopic sensors. Even moths can learn and remember a wide range of target odors. Research in insect tracking began in earnest in the 1990's, but the obvious question was how to harness the effect without letting bees loose in an airport or school. Today, portable bomb detectors are contained in units about the size of a shoe box. Inside, bees are kept in tubes and exposed to puffs of air as a video camera monitors the bees' reactions. They have been taught to stick out their tongues when the air puff smells of TNT or plastic explosives. Using the same approach forager bees can detect a wide variety of compounds, including illegal drugs, even when buried with other scents. Other teams of scientists are working with wasps, giving them similar tasks and training. But for now, the real world applications have been few. With further refinement, you may be facing undercover bees at airports and in the workplace soon. Just a matter of getting the bugs worked out!

Bug Bite Prevention

2008-09-12T08:45:00.000-07:00

A recent article in U.S. News and World Report lists recommendations from the U.S. National Library of Medicine on how to safely apply insect repellant. Protective clothing is always a good idea, especially when camping or enjoying the outdoors at dawn or dusk. But these tips on how to apply insect repellant may come in handy for the nature lovers among us.

1. Consider applying insect repellent to clothing to avoid skin irritation.

2. It doesn't take much! Use a minimum amount of repellant on exposed skin, avoiding contact with the eyes. Wash it off as soon as you come inside.

3. Although DEET is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, the article cautions against using such a highly concentrated repellent on children and pregnant women.

4. Be careful to never ingest or inhale insect repellent.

5. Avoid putting a lot of repellent on young children's hands - the danger here is that they may inadvertently rub their eyes or put fingers in mouths.

6. Children under 2 years of age should not wear insect repellent for more than 24 hours.

For more information on bug-repellent clothing, see our previous blog entry here. Another article on avoiding mosquito bites can be found at Newsweek's online site. San Diego Country's Vector Control division has great information on mosquito facts and control here. Although summer is winding down, we have had some humid days and several cases of West Nile virus reported locally. For an update on reported cases of West Nile in San Diego County, click here. Taking reasonable precautions just seems sensible.

House Flies

2008-09-11T14:18:00.000-07:00

Within the last week we've had several calls about large populations of flies in residential areas. Seems like a good time to revisit fly habits and control, with an eye to giving homeowners a few helpful hints.

The "house fly" or musca domestica is one of the most common of the thousands of species of flies. When more than the usual number of flies begin to invade a house, control requires some education and a little detective work. Adult flies are pretty easy to kill with over-the-counter bug sprays or an old fashioned swatter. But the problem will not abate until the source of the flies is discovered and removed. Flies can multiply rapidly because of their rapid development time and the large number of eggs produced - several batches of 100-150 per female. Eggs are laid in warm, moist areas, often associated with decaying organic matter such as manure, grass clippings, garbage, damp leaf litter, or decaying fruits or vegetables. They also appear in great numbers when an outdoor pest such as a rodent has died. Eggs hatch into larvae, or maggots. Fly larvae resist light, and typically burrow into the decaying matter from which they hatched. But in cases where flies are abundant and breeding is undisturbed, the maggots may be obvious. In the larval state, these pests are not even slowed down by the liquid chemicals applied for control of other household bugs. Therefore, control of flies is affected by control of the harborage site where flies are breeding.

The first step in control when flies are invading a house is to check screens and weather stripping on doors and windows. Outdoors, clean up dog feces, rotting fruit, grass clippings, or any other decaying organic matter that may be attracting flies. Homeowners should check garbage cans, cleaning them to remove residual waste. In multiple-unit complexes where dumpsters are used, the dumpster company should be notified if there is fly activity, so a clean replacement can be provided. In both cases, garbage should be bagged before disposal, and cans should be in good repair, with tight-fitting lids. After all these preventive measures have been completed, the residual adult flies can be controlled with fly strips or bug sprays. Again, poor exclusion and/or sanitation are most often the cause of indoor fly problems. Save yourself some frustration by examining the area surrounding your home and eliminating the source of the infestation. For an effective method of killing random flies barehanded, click here. To read an article in Science Daily about how flies react to odors, click here.

Quiz Answers

2008-09-10T08:09:00.000-07:00

Here are the answers to yesterday's insect trivia quiz, interesting if not especially useful tidbits of information to tuck away in your cortex for the next time you appear on Jeopardy. Some of these answers may surprise you!

1. The animal (not just the insect, the animal!) responsible for the most human deaths world-wide is (a) the mosquito. Some of the diseases mosquitos can transmit include malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, and locally West Nile virus (a type of encephalitis). To read more about mosquitos, West Nile virus, and how to avoid mosquito bites, see our previous blogs here. To watch an entertaining video clip from Dirty Jobs on mosquito control, click here.

2. The insect responsible for killing 1/3 the population of Europe in the 14th century was (b) the flea. Fleas - mostly traveling via rats - transmitted Bubonic plague, otherwise known as Black Death, killing millions of people in Europe. Thanks to antibiotics, plague can be treated today, but it has not disappeared from the planet. The World Health Organization still lists 1,000 - 3,000 cases of plague every year. Another good reason to control wild rodents and fleas in urban areas.

3. We are not sure why Pacific Grove, California has a city ordinance making it a misdemeanor to kill or threaten (b) butterflies, but we think it sounds like a lovely place to live. Ladybugs are more useful in the yard, and honey bees are endangered in some areas - but please don't kill the butterflies!

4. Crickets actually have a pair of "ears" on their (c) knees. In fact, another acceptable answer would be (b) elbows - as the "tympanum" or ear is a tightly stretched membrane which acts as a sound receptor on the cricket's front legs. Ears on knees (or elbows if you prefer) enable the female cricket to "hear" the chirping sound made by male crickets rubbing their forewings together to attract a mate. Chirp sounds are different for various cricket species, allowing them to find the right mate.

5. An adult cockroach can live up to (c) one week without a head. In fact, cockroaches might be able to survive headless even longer, but they need a mouth to drink water. Keep this in mind if you have to deal with a cockroach infestation: they need water!

6. An adult bedbug can live up to (d) one year without food. But the food they want is you! This makes them one of the insect world's best survivors. For more about bedbugs, click here.

7. The Michael Phelps of the bug world is (a) the dragonfly. Clocked at speeds from 50-60 miles per hour, they are the fastest of insects. This means that although it may be legal to threaten or kill a dragonfly in Pacific Grove, you would have to catch one first!

Insect Trivia Quiz

2008-09-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

For our quiz today, we have taken factoids from various sources to make up a general pest trivia quiz. Answers to the questions below will be available in tomorrow's blog. Have fun!

1. Which insect is listed as the animal (not just insect!) responsible for the most human deaths world-wide?

a. mosquito

b. flea

c. tsetse fly

d. Africanized honey bee

2. Which insect was responsible for killing 1/3 of the population of Europe in the 14th century?

a. mosquito

b. flea

c. tsetse fly

d. bedbug

3. According to City Ordinance #352 in Pacific Grove, California, it is a misdemeanor to kill or threaten which of these insects:

a. ladybug

b. butterfly

c. dragonfly

d. honey bee

4. Crickets "hear" through their

a. thorax

b. elbows

c. knees

d. all of the above

5. How long can a cockroach live without a head?

a. up to one hour

b. up to one day

c. up to one week

d. up to one year

6. How long can an adult bedbug survive without eating?

a. up to one hour

b. up to one day

c. up to one week

d. up to one year

7. Which insects are the fastest?

a. dragonflies

b. honey bees

c. cockroaches

d. common house flies

Leggy Pests: Centipedes and Millipedes

2008-09-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

Common House Centipede
Millipede
We had a call from a concerned homeowner last week who had encountered a couple of leggy pests in her home. Were they millipedes or centipedes or something else? Without seeing a sample pest, it is difficult to say. Here are some facts to help homeowners not only identify the many-legged insects that sometimes invade, but also keep houses more secure against these infrequent invaders.

First, for purposes of identification, let's look at some of the differences between centipedes and millipedes. Adult centipedes are yellowish to dark brown, often with dark markings, and 1/8 to 6-inches long. They have one pair of legs per body part - usually a total of closer to 30-40 legs rather than the 100 their name implies. Common house centipedes are greyish-yellow with three stripes down the back and very long legs banded with white. Their last legs extend backwards, they move very quickly and they do bite. Unlike millipedes, centipedes do not curl up when disturbed.

Most millipedes are brown or black, and can range in size between 5/8 of an inch and 4-inches in length. They do not have millions or even thousands of legs, although they may appear to have that many. Usually their legs total less than 100. Unlike centipedes, millipedes have multiple legs per body segment, usually 2-4. Their back legs do not extend backward, they move more slowly than centipedes, and the do not bite. Only three species of millipede live in California, the common millipede, the bulb millipede and the greenhouse millipede. Both millipedes and centipedes will not live long indoors - they prefer to be in the yard where there is moisture and vegetation. For this reason, control begins outdoors.

Neither centipedes nor millipedes are dangerous, nor do they carry diseases. Although a centipede may bite humans, the bite is rarely more serious than a bee sting. In fact, centipedes and millipedes are useful in the garden, feeding off other pests. But if you want to control them, the methods are similar. Remove any moist harborage in the area, like wood debris, rock piles, grass clippings, compost and leaf litter. Indoors, dry out any moist areas such as basements or bathroom closets. Rarely is chemical intervention necessary. Remember, if you do see one of these temporary invaders - they will not be able to survive long in your house, and are actually good for the yard. If you want to read more about centipedes and millipedes, click here or call us at Centurion.

Arachnophobia

2008-09-05T08:25:00.000-07:00

Because we've had more calls on spiders than usual this week, we are getting a jump on Hallowe'en by featuring information on spider control today. For all of you who have a touch of arachnophobia, the fear of spiders, be warned! Spiders are not always the bad guys. Fear of spiders may have sprung from myths and legends, or perhaps because of the few spiders that can be harmful. We've noted in a previous post how to recognize and avoid the two spiders in our area which can deliver a poisonous bite - the brown recluse and the black widow. Here's a little more general information on spiders, members of the arachnid family.

Unlike insects, spiders have eight legs and two body parts, a fused head and thorax. There are literally thousands of different kinds of spiders. While spider bites may itch, the vast majority of spiders do not have fangs big enough to puncture human skin. And they will rarely bite unless they feel threatened or trapped. The smallest spiders are around 1 mm in length, the largest can have a leg span of 10 inches! One of the distinctive features of most spiders is their ability to spin webs. Just as there are a huge variety of spiders on the planet, there are also a huge variety of web shapes and sizes. The black widow spins a heavy, irregular, messy-looking web - and prefer to spin their webs in dry, protected locations. For this reason, we advise home owners to remove wood piles, rock piles and other clutter from their yards - and do so carefully, with gloves on. Indoors, spiders, webs and egg casings can be removed with a vacuum - the bag should then be sealed and disposed of.

But what about the spiders in your yard who go about the daily task of catching and consuming flies, mosquitos, roaches and aphids? Do we really want to get rid of them? For many, even though spiders are helpful in the yard, they prefer to dissuade them from a proximity to the house. After you have cleared wood piles, weeds and debris, if spider webs are noticed in the eaves of the house they can easily be knocked down with a broom. Check window and door screens to assure they are in good repair, as well as weather stripping at the base of all outside doors. Keep in mind that most spiders are helpful in the garden and non-threatening. They have even been helpful to scientific studies such as the one shown here, where spiders are observed after they have been injected with various drugs. The resulting webs give us an idea of how chemicals can impair function. To learn more about spiders and how to control them, see the UC Davis web site here (pun definitely intended!). If all else fails, and those spiders are really bugging you, call your pest professional.

Cockroach Quiz Answers

2008-09-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

Here are the answers to yesterday's Cockroach Quiz. How did you do? Hopefully, the answers will help you understand some of the habits and control methods for cockroaches.

1. Cockroaches have (c) membranous wings, whereas beetles have hardened forewings (elytra). This does not mean that all cockroaches or all beetles can fly. If you want to see pictures of the various kinds of cockroaches most common in California, there are pictures and descriptions here. To the best of our knowledge, none of the cockroaches common to San Diego click when disturbed. Beetles, not cockroaches, are related to lady bugs, and feed on plants and fungi.

2. An adult German cockroach can fit through an opening as small as (b) 1/16th of an inch. An immature cockroach can fit through an even smaller opening. Part of exclusion involves sealing cracks and crevices in kitchens and bathrooms, where cockroaches can hide.

3. The egg cases of cockroaches are called (b) oothecae. HEPA (a) is an acronym for High Efficiency Particle Absorber - the kind of vacuum filter suggested for use in vacuuming up roaches to avoid allergic reactions. The pronotum (d) is the shield-shaped section on most cockroaches located behind the head - another way to tell it is a cockroach and not a beetle.

4. German and Oriental cockroaches are the most common varieties seen in San Diego. Oriental cockroaches are (b) larger and darker in color than the German variety. Oriental cockroaches prefer cooler weather and survive well outdoors; American cockroaches can fly.

5. In controlling an infestation of cockroaches, (a) sanitation and exclusion are most critical. No amount of chemical treatment will eliminate a cockroach population without sanitation and exclusion. Keep food in tightly covered containers, clean kitchen and bathroom cabinets and walls, keep trash areas outside clean and garbage cans with tight fitting lids, eliminate piles of newspapers, paper bags, and boxes inside and outside the house, fix plumbing leaks, seal cracks to the outside, and check weather stripping on doors and windows.

6. Monitoring stations are helpful in identifying the origin of a cockroach infestation. It is wise o place monitoring stations in (d) the backs of kitchen cabinets, behind the refrigerator, and in corners of rooms.

7. One of the inherent problems with effective chemical control of cockroaches is (c) cockroaches can develop a resistance to chemicals used frequently or improperly. Cockroaches can actually pass along some resistance to their offspring if liquid chemicals are sprayed too frequently. Integrated pest management involves sanitation and exclusion, and the use of chemical applications used according to label directions.

8. The answer is (d) - all of the above. Cockroaches can carry salmonella, hepatitis or staphylococcus germs. Far from harmless, these invaders can put your family at risk for these and other diseases. If you have an existing problem which you cannot solve yourself, call your pest professional.

Cockroach Quiz

2008-09-02T09:04:00.000-07:00

Today's Tuesday Quiz will test your knowledge of one of our least welcome pests: Cockroaches. If you have been following this blog, you already know how quickly they can multiply. Now try some cockroach questions that may help keep these common pests at bay.

1. Cockroaches and beetles may look alike, but they have different habits and attributes. Which of the following are common only to cockroaches?

a. Cockroaches make a clicking sound when disturbed.

b. Cockroaches are related to lady bugs.

c. Cockroaches have membranous wings.

d. Cockroaches feed on plants and fungi.

2. Cockroaches are nocturnal. They like to hide in narrow, warm, dark places. How small a hole can an adult German cockroach fit into?

a. 1/32 of an inch

b. 1/16 of an inch

c. 1/8 of an inch

d. 1/4 of an inch

3. Cockroaches sometimes glue their egg cases underneath furniture, in appliance motors, or under kitchen shelves or drawers. What is another name for cockroach egg cases?

a. hepa

b. oothecae

c. larvaettes

d. pronotum

4. The difference between German and Oriental cockroaches is:

a. German cockroaches prefer cooler weather and live mostly outdoors.

b. Oriental cockroaches are larger and darker in color.

c. German cockroaches can fly.

d. all of the above.

5. In controlling an infestation of cockroaches, which of these methods are most critical?

a. sanitation and exclusion

b. trapping and baiting

c. exclusion and spraying

d. spraying and baiting

6. Monitoring stations help identify where the origin of an infestation of cockroaches is located. Where is the best place to put monitoring stations?

a. in the backs of cabinets in the kitchen

b. behind refrigerator

c. all corners of rooms

d. all of the above

7. What is one of the inherent problems with effective chemical control of cockroaches?

a. not putting enough chemical in place

b. chemicals evaporate and become useless

c. cockroaches form a resistance to chemicals used frequently or improperly

d. chemicals can't sterilize cockroaches, so they continue to reproduce

8. Which of the following diseases can be spread by cockroaches?

a. Salmonella

b. Hepatitis

c. Staphylococcus

d. all of the above

Answers to today's quiz will be posted in tomorrow's blog.

House Mouse

2008-08-29T08:16:00.000-07:00

Disney and others have given the common house mouse an image as the fast and clever neighbor who is harmless and only wants to share a bit of cheese before running back into his hole to feed his little family. Would that the real mice who harbor in San Diego homes and fields were so innocuous. Happily, they are also not that clever. Rats are much more intelligent than their smaller cousins, and although they do share many traits, managing mice is a bit different.

The house mouse is gray, and weighs one half to one ounce - tiny! Their bodies are usually 3-4 inches long, with a tail the same length. Large ears, small eyes, and a pointed muzzle typify the mouse. A female house mouse can have around eight litters of six or more young. It takes only 35 days for the young females to reach sexual maturity. So populations can grow rapidly!

Signs of mouse infestation are less noticeable than rat infestations. Mouse droppings are smaller, rub marks less visible, and they holes they fit through much smaller. As noted in yesterday's blog, they can squeeze through openings around 1/4 of an inch in diameter. Like rats, mice are more likely to invade as the nights get colder, but unlike rats they are more comfortable living in close association with humans. Unlike another, closer relative, the deer mouse, house mice have not been found to carry Hantavirus. However, they do contaminate our food and can cause damage to home wiring and other parts of the structure. So Mickey has to go.

Control can be difficult, both because of the size of the breeches mice can enter through and because of their rapid reproduction. Still, sanitation, exclusion and trapping can be effective in ridding houses of house mice. While sanitation alone will not solve an existing mouse problem, the lack of proper cleaning is sure to attract them. Keep garbage in tight fitting containers, try not to leave out pet food, and store dry goods in sealed containers. In exclusion, fill any hole where mice might enter. Steel wool is a good temporary barrier, but construction foam is also useful. Check places where pipes and wires enter the house, along the foundation of the house, and check weather stripping at the bottom of all doors. When using traps, if you are dealing with mice rather than rats, glue boards have been found to be most successful. A very tiny bit of peanut butter in the center of the board will help make the trap attractive. For a discussion of other baits, see Monday's blog. When placing traps, put them behind objects, close to the wall, and in a dark corner if possible. By way of note, there are several electronic devices advertised in magazines, which claim to keep mice at bay through Ultrasonic sounds or other means. Be aware that although mice may be initially frightened by these devices, they soon become familiar and will not be a permanent method of exclusion. Obtaining a cat with mouse hunting experience would serve you better.

One last word on rodents and compassion. Although cartoon rats and mice are adorable, and these rodents can make good pets if properly bred and contained, the mice and rats that invade homes in the autumn can bring diseases and should be excluded for safety reasons. If you find your home is infested with these vermin, contact Vector Control and/or a pest professional for help.

Rat Proofing 101

2008-08-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

It is not uncommon in San Diego for homeowners, as they are enjoying a balmy twilight on their patio, to see the shadows of furry creatures skittering along fence lines. Trouble in paradise! Rodents are out there, living perhaps in your neighbor's bougainvillea or in the canyon behind your house. With colder nights coming soon, now is the time to secure your house against these critters.

Roof Rats are the most common home invader in San Diego. They are excellent climbers, often living above ground in trees or in dense ground cover, like ivy. If you see rat droppings around pet dishes or hear noises in the attic at night, chances are good these are evidence of roof rats. The first element of successful rat management is sanitation. Check to be sure lids fit tightly on garbage cans, and if you feed your pet outdoors leave only as much food as the pet will eat at a feeding. Better yet, feed them indoors. To rodent proof your home, check all vents - attic, sub floor, clothes dryer, and rooftop plumbing vents, to be sure they are properly and securely screened. Seal any openings around pipes or cables that go into the house. Cover the chimney with a spark arrester. Repair or replace weather stripping on exterior doors, including garage doors. Check window screens to assure they are in good condition. Trim tree branches and vines away from the house. Since rats are such agile climbers, they often enter attics by climbing trees next to the house. If you have fruit trees, pick the fruit as it ripens - do not let it fall to the ground, where it becomes an attractive nuisance.

The Vector Control Program here in San Diego County will do a free inspection of the outside of your home upon request. If you have seen evidence of rats on the property, call them at 858-694-2888 or send an email request to vector@sdcounty.ca.gov. They also offer a "Rat Control Starter Kit," which contains a bait station, some rat traps, sample hardware cloth, a DVD and a brochure. Visit their site here to find out more. Vector Control is quick to point out they are not a pest control service - so if you need professional help beyond what they can give you, call us here at Centurion.

Although many of the exclusion methods outlined here apply equally to mice, these smaller rodents can squeeze through even tinier openings, often fitting through a hole the size of the diameter of a pencil! So even more care is required in mouse proofing your environment. We'll discuss control of the very common house mouse in tomorrow's blog.

Rodent Quiz Answers

2008-08-27T06:58:00.000-07:00

Here are the answers to yesterday's Rodent Quiz. How did you do? Hopefully the answers will help you protect your home against these unwelcome visitors.

1. Rats have poor eyesight, but they make up for this with keen senses of smell, touch, hearing, and even taste. For this reason, when we set traps they are best placed next to a wall - preferably a wall the target rodent is familiar with. Sometimes the traps are not sprung for a few days, as rats are naturally cautious of any new and unfamiliar object or odor. So the answer is (d) - all of the above.

2. Rats can squeeze through an opening as small as (b) 1/2 inch. Keep this in mind as you look for ways to rat-proof your home. An opening the size of a half dollar can be a thoroughfare for rats. And if rats can fit through a 1/2-inch opening, mice can access a much smaller breech. Check the weather stripping on all your doors!

3. According the the San Diego County web page on rat control, a typical rat will travel up to(c) 300 feet to find food. Think football field. They may live in your neighbor's shrubs and eat at your house. For this reason alone it is a good idea to keep pet food indoors.

4. The best protection against rodent infestation is (c) exclusion. The more proactive homeowners are in sealing and screening vents, doors, and other openings that may invite rodents, the less likely they are to have to do any trapping or baiting.

5. Plague is not a historical disease. And it is not the only disease rats may carry into your home. Among other diseases rats may transmit to humans or pets are, leptospirosis, trichinosis, salmonellosis and ratbite fever. According to PCT online magazine, there are (b) 10-15 cases of plague per year in the United State directly related to rodent exposure.

6. The tendency of rats to avoid anything new in their environment is called (a) neophobia. Answer (d), "zenophobia" is a misspelling of "xenophobia," a related human fear of strangers. The other answers are ringers. Neophobia is peculiar to rats. Mice are much more inquisitive.

7. (D) Rodents are always seeking nesting material. Placing a piece of dental floss or string on the treadle of a snap trap has been found to enhance the likelihood of successful trapping.

8. As noted in the answer to #6 above, mice are naturally more inquisitive than rats (d). Although both are rodents, it is helpful to know some of the basic differences as we try to protect our homes against rodent invaders. As is so often true in pest management, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Tomorrow's blog will give more suggestions for rodent-proofing your house, along with information on free county services.

Rodent Quiz

2008-08-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

Here is a timely quiz, not just because it is the Year of the Rat, according the the Chinese calendar, but because we are at the end of summer here in San Diego. As the nights get colder, rodents look for harborage indoors. The more you know about rodent habits, the less likely you are to find them harboring with you. The answers to today's quiz will appear in tomorrow's blog.

1. Rats make up for their poor eyesight with a keen sense of

a. smell

b. touch

c. hearing

d. all of the above

2. Rodents can squeeze through small openings. How small an opening can a rat fit through?

a. 1/4 inch

b. 1/2 inch

c. 1 inch

d. 2 inches

3. About how far does the average rat travel to find food?

a. 50 feet

b. 50 yards

c. 300 feet

d. 300 yards

4. The best protection against rodent infestation is

a. baiting

b. trapping

c. exclusion

d. electric fences

5. Plague is a rodent-borne disease. How many cases of plague are reported each year in the United States?

a. 1-2

b. 10-15

c. 20-30

d. 50-100

6. Rats are naturally wary of new objects or odors. This behavior is called

a. neophobia

b. odophobia

c. zenophobia

d. exophobia

7. Placing a piece of dental floss on the treadle of a snap trap may be effective because:

a. mice practice impeccable dental hygiene.

b. mice are compulsive collectors of odd items

c. the dental floss gives off a scent which is pleasing to rodents

d. rodents are always seeking nesting materials

8. One difference in the habits of rats and mice is that

a. rats carry fleas, but mice don't

b. mice will not infest a home

c. rats love peanut butter

d. mice are more inquisitive than rats

Again, most of the answers are easily Googled. Try to answer without help. Answers appear tomorrow.

Rat Bait Debate

2008-08-25T10:35:00.001-07:00

Although there is some consensus among pest control technicians about the effectiveness of various baits in attracting rodents to traps, the issue is still up for some discussion. Homeowners may be interested in knowing, if they don't already, that the stereotypical chunk of cheese is not necessarily the best bait to use.

First, a discussion of the traps themselves. At Centurion, we have found sticky traps to be most effective when targeting mice, and snap traps most effective against rats. Mice are often so light in weight that they can take bait from a snap trap without triggering the mechanism. Rats are just big enough that they may be able to escape from a sticky trap. So it is important to determine which size rodent you want to target. The best way to make that determination is of course by visual observation. But if you are hearing noise in the attic, chances are good your intruders are bigger than mice. Rodent control may include using poisonous baits, traps, and exclusion. Since poisonous baits are not only dangerous to use but also may result in rodents dying in wall voids, we believe the most successful approach is with traps and exclusion, or sealing out the unwanted guests. We look for points of entry, then seal or screen those points as a critical step in limiting the number of rodents. Next, the traps are set.

In a recent poll of pest professionals nationwide, a majority of the respondents indicated peanut butter as a bait of choice in setting traps. Whether used in a small amount in the center of a glueboard, or applied to the trigger mechanism of a snap trap, peanut butter is a good choice. Other pest control professionals polled utilized a huge variety of baits, including marshmallows, dried fruit, corn chips, walnuts, chocolate, even dried shrimp or strawberry jam. One professional even mixed up his own bait using molasses and bird seed. The idea is that rodents are always foraging for food. Bait is designed to attract the rodent to the trap - and thus exclude it from the house. Rats and mice eat just about anything. But the debate continues, as some professionals feel bait is unnecessary. It is true that placement of the trap - directly in the area where rodents are most likely to run - is critical. Baits don't always attract rodents, but they are useful in catching them once vermin encounter the trap. So the great bait debate goes on. For more information on rat and mouse control, try taking tomorrow's Rodent Quiz. See how you do, and check your answers on Wednesday. The more we know about what's bugging us, the more effective we will be.

The Great Race

2008-08-22T16:46:00.000-07:00

Cockroaches were in the news again today, as a race between two giant Madagascar hissing cockroaches took place in New Brunswick, New Jersey yesterday. What made it newsworthy was how the roaches were named and how they finished. The New Jersey Pet Management Association included the race as part of their annual clinic and trade show. And the roaches were names John McCain and Barack Obama. According to one news release, McCain "sped to the finish while Barack Obama was reluctant to leave the starting point." There's no guarantee the race is a prediction of things to come in November, but you have to like their style. Madagascar hissing cockroaches get their name their place of origin, the island of Madagascar off the eastern coast of Africa, and from the loud hissing sound they make to scare away predators. They are large in the roach world, up to three inches long, and are sometimes kept as pets. Although they are not a pest control problem here in San Diego, we knew you'd want to know they are doing their part for national politics.

Doing the Math on German Cockroaches

2008-08-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in a previous post, German cockroaches are not actually from Germany, but Asia. In fact, they are closely related to Oriental cockroaches. They are smaller (1/2-5/8 inch long) than some other species of cockroaches, and they live and hide easily indoors. But German roaches have an advantage over other varieties in their ability to reproduce in large numbers. Perhaps this is why they present such a challenge to homeowners and pest control management. In an effort to quantify the biological potential, lets do the math.

A basic formula for estimating how many roaches are produced per year from a pregnant female is to multiply the number of embryos per egg case by the number of egg cases produced per year. For instance, one pregnant American cockroach may have an average of 16 embryos in her egg capsule. If she lays 30 egg capsules, 16X30=480 mature adults in about a year. By contrast, if we start with one pregnant German cockroach that has an average of 30 embryos in her egg sack, and she lays 5 egg case, we would have 30X5=150 mature adults - in three months! If half the adults are female and they all mate, in 6 months we would have 75X30X5 mature adults. The number is now up to 11, 250, in half a year. If half those adults are female... you get the idea. Saving you the math, one pregnant adult German cockroach could multiply into more than 63 million cockroaches in a year, if left unchecked. Potentially, a German cockroach can out-produce an American cockroach by 131,000 times.

Fortunately, we have management techniques to keep up with these common invaders. Insecticides that contain Insect Growth Regulators interrupt or inhibit the life cycle of the insect targeted. Sometimes called "birth control for roaches," these chemicals can be a valuable tool in limiting the biological potential of a cockroach population. If the bug can't reach adulthood, it can't reproduce. When combined with an adult cockroach killer, the results are significant. However, insecticides are most effective in controlling cockroaches when combined with sanitation and exclusion. Baits can also be useful, but are slow-acting and also require thorough cleaning to remove any other attractive food sources which may draw the bugs away from the bait. There is no easy or quick solution to a cockroach problem, but as the numbers indicate the best plan is to attack the problem before it becomes a nightmare - which in the case of German cockroaches, will happen quickly.

Quiz Answers

2008-08-20T12:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's quiz generated some good discussion about ants. Here are the answers to the quiz, with a few explanations.

1. Ants are close relatives of (c) bees and wasps. If you said (d) aphids, you probably remember that there is a connection between ants and aphids, and there is. Ants are attracted by the "honeydew" aphids leave on plants - so they actually protect and care for aphids outdoors. But bees and wasps are the ants' close relatives, belonging to the insect order Hymenoptera.

2. According to San Diego County's website on ants, there are about (b) 200 species of ants in California. The website also states there are fewer than a dozen that are important. We are not sure how that makes the others feel. Among the most common are the Argentine ant, pharaoh ant, odorous house ant, thief ant, and the southern fire ant. To see pictures of each of these for purposes of identification, click here and scroll down.

3. Ant baits attract ants, inviting them to feed on poisonous bait and take it back to their nest. From a recent article on ant baits in PCT Magazine, we learn that the process whereby foraging ants bring food to those back in the colony is called trophallaxis. Workers collect fluids that are stored in the upper part of their digestive system, then regurgitate a portion of the stored food and pass it on to other workers, larvae, and queens. In fact, in some species, there are workers who remain in the nest, with the specific job of storing the fluid so it will be available in times of food shortage. This is the long way of saying the correct answer is (d) - ants eat the bait, then regurgitate it to feed ants back at the nest.

4. The chemical substance ants leave behind in a trail for others in the colony to follow is (a) a pheromone trail. The pheromones ants excrete are hydrocarbons that trigger a response to follow the path to food. Most ants renew the pheromones as long as the food is available. In some species, the ants actually mark trails that no longer lead to food with a repellent pheromone. Cleaning up an ant trail with a household cleaner can actually erase the pheromones and confuse the ants. But if the food remains, they'll be back!

5. Most ants we see walking around are (a) searching for a food source. Ants are always on a mission. The ones we see in our yards and homes are focused on foraging for food and getting it back to the colony. They do not need wi-fi, and have their own GPS.

6. This is a trick question. Give yourself credit for (a), since the ant queen is fed by the other ants. But the best answer is (c) - the queen is more like a slave or a prisoner. She doesn't order the other ants around, and is limited to her egg-laying role in the colony. Not a very glamorous life.

7. The best way to tell if you have Odorous house ants is to (d) squish one and take a whiff. The identifying smell has been described as "rotten coconut." They are tiny, around 3mm in length, dark brown to black in color. Odorous house ants prefer sugary foods and fruits and usually forage in large numbers. These ants are less common than Argentine ants in San Diego, but now you know how to recognize one if you see one.

How did you do? Look for another bug quiz in next Tuesday's blog.

Tuesday's Quiz: Test Your Ant IQ

2008-08-19T08:07:00.000-07:00

We here at Centurion Pest Control think the more people know about bugs, the fewer they'll have to deal with. Hence, a new weekly feature on the blog: Tuesday's Quiz. Each Tuesday we'll test your Ento-IQ, with the answers to the quiz available in Wednesday's blog. You could probably Google the answers in about 5 minutes, but where's the fun in that? Instead, use the 24 hours between questions and answers to think through the questions logically and see how you do the next day. Or maybe use the quiz as a family activity, so everyone in the household gains a little more information about the bugs that bug us. Hopefully, as you learn more about the habits of these pesky invaders, it will help keep them out of your home and back in the wild where they belong.

Since yesterday's blog was on ants, the quiz today will stretch your knowledge of the characteristics of ants. Have fun!

1. Ants are close relatives of which of these bugs:

a. fleas and ticks?

b. mosquitoes?

c. bees and wasps?

d. aphids?

2. About how many species of ants are there in California?

a. 20

b. 200

c. 50

d. 500

3. Ant baits attract ants, inviting them to feed on poisonous bait and take it back to their nest. How do the ants take the bait to their colony?

a. Small particles of bait adhere to their legs and antennae, then transfer to other ants.

b. Foraging ants carry pieces of bait, often bigger than the ants themselves, back to the nest.

c. Like an ant STD, poisonous bait is transfered during mating.

d. Ants eat the bait, then regurgitate it to feed ants back at the nest.

4. Some ants leave a trail for others to follow. What is the name of the substance they leave behind?

a. Pheromone Trail

b. Honeydew Trail

c. Lipid Trail

d. Sweat Trail

5. What are ants most likely doing when they are walking around?

a. searching for a food source

b. searching for a mate

c. searching for their colony

d. searching for wi-fi

6. The "Queen" of the ant colony is...

a. waited on by the other ants, who bring her food.

b. distinguished by a crown-like appendage on the head.

c. more like a slave or prisoner than a queen.

d. too small to be seen by the human eye.

7. The best way to tell if you have Odorous House Ants is to...

a. smell the trail they leave.

b. put out foul-smelling bait.

c. look for an exceptionally large thorax.

d. squish one to find out if it smells bad.

Find answers to the quiz in tomorrow's blog.

Ants Again

2008-08-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

Do you have ants again? Although we've blogged about ants here before, they are such a common problem in San Diego we thought they deserved another look. Among the several varieties of ants in Southern California, Argentine ants are by far the most numerous. First, a little background.

Argentine ants were brought to the United States from Brazil in coffee shipments in the late 1890's. They are prolific breeders, so they quickly established nests across the southern states. They are also relatively aggressive among other insects, very effective in outnumbering and overtaking other varieties of ants. They are survivors! Around your home, you may have multiple colonies containing easily a million or more individual ants. Because all Argentine ants in this country came from the same colonies originally found in New Orleans, they can recognize each other and team up to form super-colonies, causing problems for home owners as they invade in search of food and water.

This tiny terrors can be stirred up by changes in weather. When we experience draught conditions, they may be in the house looking for water. When it rains, their nest may have been disturbed. Or perhaps you just left a crumb on the counter that was particularly attractive. Ants send "scouts" out looking for food. The scouts then make a trail from the nest to the food source - and all the ant cousins follow. Knowing this can help you break the trail and send the ants back outside. Empty trash containers in the house often, use food containers with tight lids, keep pet dishes clean, and follow any trails that may appear until you find the point of entry into the house. Some household detergents or window-cleaning sprays will help erase the scent scouts leave for others to follow. But if you use indoor bait stations, be sure you do not spray detergents or chemicals near the bait, or ants will refuse it. Inspect caulk around sinks and windows, repairing any breaches.

It is impractical to try to eliminate all ants outdoors, but some precautions can help keep them out of your house. Outside, it is a good idea to check for cracks and crevices around the foundations where ants might enter. Caulk here too, as well as around places where pipes or wires enter the house. Avoid planting fruit trees too close to the house, and keep grass and mulch at least a few inches from foundations. Trim tree branches and vines away from the roof. Eliminate standing water and do not keep wood piles next to the house. Ant stakes may be useful as baits outdoors. If you have been diligent in trying to keep the ants out and feel you are losing the battle - you are not alone! San Diego homeowners fight ants year 'round, but especially in summer months. If you can't solve the problem yourself, call in a professional. New products help pest control companies do a better job in stemming the tide of these aggressive and populous pests. To watch a time-lapse video of ants tunneling in an ant farm, click here.

Maggots Made Cute

2008-08-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

The new animated motion picture, "Fly Me to the Moon" is opening in local theaters today. Press releases for the film give mixed reviews, but we have to give them credit for making even the maggots in this fly-boy movie look cute. However, actual maggots are a far cry from the chubby pink images in the film. They are of course, fly larvae, most often found in garbage areas or congregated around decaying matter. If you have ever encountered these small, off-white worm-like crawlers, you may already know that most bug sprays won't even slow them down. This is true for larvae in general. To stop them, find and remove the source. Here are some ideas for around the house and yard:

Empty and clean trash receptacles at least weekly.

Keep doors and windows closed or properly screened.

Use garbage cans with tight-fitting lids, no holes.

Dispose of leftovers in plastic bags, securely tied.

Discard animal droppings as soon as you can, also in plastic bags.

Remove decaying fruit from under trees.

You can call the county department of vector control if you have large numbers of flies around your property and cannot locate the source. Fly strips are a good way to eliminate adult flies indoors. Since flies can carry diseases like dysentery, cholera, pink eye, and even tuberculosis, it is important to address an infestation in a timely fashion. Unlike the cheerful cartoon creatures in the feature film, flies should not be a welcome guest in your home.

Mosquitos in the News

2008-08-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

Mosquitos are making front-page news today in San Diego. The San Diego Union-Tribune features a large article on the increase in "green pools" in the area and how they are breeding havens for mosquitos. Apparently, one side effect of the slump in the housing market and the increasing number of foreclosures is the neglect of neighborhood swimming pools. Without proper care, these pools become green breeding ponds, attracting mosquitos that lay eggs on the surface. Literally working overtime, vector control agents here are doing all they can to keep us safe. Here are some interesting facts from the article.

County environmental health officers have spotted nearly 900 "green" pools since May, using sheriff's helicopters to survey the city from the air. Mosquitos that hatch from these pools are rarely infected with the West Nile virus, but the incidence of birds that have died from the virus in the area has increased. Mosquitos that feed on infected birds and then on humans pass along the virus. What this means is that lowering the number of mosquitos in the San Diego area will lower the risk of human infection. For this reason, the county advises pool owners to maintain a proper chemical balance in their pools. Free mosquito-eating fish are available for ponds or green pools at the vector control office at 9325 Hazard Way, or by calling 858-695-2888. They advise us to use insect repellant containing the active ingredient DEET, wear protective clothing, repair window and door screens, and dump containers of stagnant water. For more information, go to sdfighhtthebite.com or westnile.ca.gov.

American Roaches

2008-08-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

The summer of 2008 has brought the nationalistic fervor of the Olympic Games into our homes as we watch athletes from all over the world compete. But one American team we can't bring ourselves to cheer for is the American Roach - especially if the team shows up in our own home. Common cockroaches in San Diego County include the German cockroach (most common, also known as a "house roach"), the brownbanded cockroach, the oriental cockroach, the smokybrown cockroach, the Turkestan cockroach, and the American. We are highlighting the American Roach today, not because we're hoping he wins gold, but because we have had an increase in the number of calls reporting this particular variety. Pictured above are three stages of the American cockroach, (r-l) the adult, the nymph and the egg sack, or "ootheca." American roaches are larger than the common house roach, typically 1 to two inches in length, and brown in color.

We find more American roaches in downtown San Diego than in other areas - perhaps because the buildings are older or because of the higher concentration of commercial buildings. They are often associated with plumbing problems, as they favor warm, damp locations and are known to infest sewers, storm drains, basements and trash areas. Here are a few ways to limit their access to your home:

Have a plumber check to be sure pipes are in good repair throughout the house.

Check weather stripping around doors and windows, and seal any cracks or openings to the outside of the house.

Keep landscape bushes and vines trimmed, especially near vents.

Store trash in covered containers well away from the house.

Where practical, use gravel around the perimeter of the house.

Store food in insect-proof containers.

Properly dispose of stacks of newspapers, magazines, bags and boxes.

If you find you have an infestation of American cockroaches, clean and dry out areas where they have been seen, and call a pest professional. Baits and insecticides are useful elements in an integrated pest management approach, but must be used with the above suggestions to gain control. To view a video on exotic varieties of cockroaches, visit the Natural History Museum website, here. Or if the Olympics have put you in an international mood, click here to view a "Crazy Japanese Cockroach Commercial."

Flea Cycle Circus

2008-08-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

If the Flea Circus has set up tents in your yard or on your pet this summer, you may feel like you're going in circles! There's a good reason for that - the life cycle of the flea and its resiliency. As shown in the illustration above (click to enlarge), fleas go through five main stages in their development from egg to adult. The female adult flea (#1) can lay ten to forty eggs per day, after a blood meal. That spins out to hundreds of flea eggs over a few month's time. Adult fleas are tiny - 1/8 of an inch long - so imagine how small their eggs are. So small, in fact, that you will have to imagine them, because you won't see these smooth, oval, white eggs roll right off your pet and onto pet beds, favorite sofas, or carpet areas. Flea eggs hatch in two to ten days, into the larval stage (#3). The larvae like to stay in warm, protected environments. Depending on the temperature, they can feed on adult flea feces, which contain bits of dried blood, and crawl around for five to fifteen days before building their tiny cocoons (#4). Within these cocoons, larvae pupate into a stage also known as "pre-emergent adult" (#5). Fleas can stay in this pupal stage for months, waiting until their environment is right before hatching into adult fleas. Warm temperatures, humidity, vibrations, and carbon dioxide in the air trigger the pupae to emerge as fleas, ready to feed. Since the life cycle is extremely variable, lasting from two weeks to two years, flea control can be difficult. The best way to stop the cycle is to use a spray labeled for use against adult fleas that has a good residual, combined with an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR), which keeps eggs from hatching.

To sum up our integrated pest management tips on flea control, pet owners should seek advice from veterinarians regarding topical applications of flea control. Vacuuming thoroughly and regularly helps by removing dead fleas and flea feces, which are a source of nourishment for larval and pupal fleas. Clearing the yard of harborage for urban wildlife that may carry fleas into your yard is also part of the process. If these methods do not control your flea problem, call in a pest professional who can apply a spray that will kill adult fleas and prevent flea eggs from hatching. Even after a professional application, it may take three weeks before the circus closes down and the fleas are evicted from your house.

The Year of the Flea

2008-08-11T09:12:00.001-07:00

According to the Chinese calendar, 2008 is the Year of the Rat - a good year, according to custom, to get married or start a new job - a "good luck" year. But here in San Diego, it is shaping up to be the Year of the Flea - a good year to clear your yard of rodent harborage and treat your pets against these blood sucking pests. Fleas have been problem pests in Southern California for as long as there have been people or animals around for them to feed on. These pests multiply and thrive in our mild climate. Nevertheless, reports of flea infestations were on the decline a few years ago. Part of the reason was the development of new topical applications for use in controlling fleas on dogs and cats. Much more effective than flea collars or dips, these products helped cut flea infestations nearly in half and almost convinced us fleas were on their way out. So why have they returned with a vengeance? Here are a couple of theories.

First, we need to consider where the fleas that torment our pets come from. Usually, dogs and cats pick up fleas when they are outdoors, either in a yard or on a walk. As you can see in the highly magnified picture above, fleas have tiny, velcro-like spines on their legs that help them hitch a ride on Fido or Fluffy. Although dog and cat fleas prefer these animals, they are also carried by rodents, raccoons, opossums and other urban wildlife. If the increase in our flea population is due to an increase in wildlife hosts, the best protection for homeowners is an inspection of yard areas for possible harborage. Keep grass areas well-trimmed, clear out that unattended corner of the yard where weeds grow, remove or trim back overgrown bushes and vines. Look around the yard and determine where rats and squirrels may want to hang out - and clear those areas. Ironically, the Year of the Rat may be the cause of the Year of the Flea.

Another possible explanation for the increase in local flea populations is the question of the effectiveness of those flea treatments we have come to rely on. If you found the application your vet recommended did the trick last year, you may be using old product or need to revisit the issue with your vet. Have fleas grown resistant to your regular control method? Ask the vet to recommend a product that is appropriate for your pet. Then be careful to apply the medication according to label directions for best results. These flea controllers can be very effective, but don't always solve the whole problem. Because fleas can lay up to 40 eggs per day, and those eggs easily fall off the host animal, frequent vacuuming is also essential to flea control. If the problem persists, contact your pest professional. Tomorrow we will continue with a discussion of the life cycle of the flea and how different chemicals work to combat these pesky invaders.

Science Tidbits

2008-08-08T08:58:00.000-07:00

Two items in yesterday's San Diego Union-Tribune are worth passing on. In the science section, a request was forwarded from the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy, asking for photos of local wetlands plants and animals for its website. Specifically, as it applies to bugs, the conservancy is looking for pictures of sand wasps and spittle bugs. Although neither of these are home invaders, spittle bugs can do damage to yard and lawn. Their identifying characteristic is the foamy masses of "spittle" they produce as a way of creating their own moist environment and protecting themselves from predators.

Female sand wasps burrow in the ground. Again, these are not pests you might encounter at home - but they are out and around San Diego County, and their image is being requested. If you encounter either of these bugs and have a camera handy, send your photo to photos@sanelijo.org or email questions to ralph@sanelijo.org

The other item in the Quest section of the paper that relates to entomology is an anecdotal story about the late great scientist, Charles Darwin. Although we are not in the habit of passing on information we cannot substantiate, this was too good to pass up. The story goes that Mr. Darwin saw a beetle as he was taking a walk, paused and picked it up. He spotted another beetle he wanted for his collection and put that specimen in his other hand. As luck would have it, he saw a third beetle. Not wanting to leave it behind, he put one of the insects in his mouth so he could collect his new find. The beetle in his mouth promptly "emitted a noxious spray," causing Darwin to spit it out and drop the other two beetles. According to the article, "Darwin went home beetleless." Sounds like a good idea.

Next week: The Year of the Flea.

Slithering Silverfish

2008-08-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

Silverfish (pictured above) are one of the oldest of insects - older even than cockroaches! They have survived so well because they commonly live about three years, eat just about anything, and can go up to a year without food or water. These slithering pests are survivors. Although they are not harmful to humans, they can do damage to books, papers, some fabrics, and can infest cereals and flour. They are distinguished by their long antennae and a distinctive three-pronged tail appendage. Since they typically hide during the day, we most often see them if they become trapped in a sink or container and can't get out.

These resilient pests can travel long distances to find food, but once a source is located they usually stay close by. Favorite foods include the sizing on books and paper, and the glues and pastes used on wallpaper and labels. They like warm, moist locations - indoors and out. Reducing moisture in suspected or infested areas can make it less habitable, so be sure there are no leaks in sink or tub areas, keep laundry rooms and shower stalls clean and dry. Caulk any holes around pipes that come into the house. Occasionally, move book or magazine collections - checking them for infestation. Keep food in containers with tight-fitting lids. Outside, clean out damp mulch areas . Sanitation is helpful, but won't eliminate these pests once they have established themselves, so the best way to deal with silverfish is to avoid getting them in the first place. If you do find a population of silverfish indoors, use a household bug spray that is labeled for use against this particular pest directly in the area where you find them. Foggers are not very effective against these survivors. For more help, call your pest professional.

Termites R NOT Us

2008-08-06T08:04:00.001-07:00

It seems like a no-brainer: you think you may have termites, so you call your pest control company. But termite control is a separate industry, requiring different licenses, insurance and equipment. Many pest control companies do include termite divisions or subcontract their termite work. At Centurion, we do neither. So why are we blogging about termites? Because we often get questions from concerned homeowners and would like to help.

There are at least 17 different varieties of termites in California. And in case you are wondering, as Noah is in the illustration above, why they are necessary - they make many positive contributions to the world's ecosystems. In fact, they are critical to the survival of the Sahara Desert, where they help reclaim soils damaged by heat and wind. But they don't help the ecosystem of your home if they decide to move in. So here are a few tips and places to go for more information.

Termites swarm in large numbers in warm months, especially early in the autumn here in San Diego. They look very much like flying ants. If you get close enough to examine them, you can distinguish a swarming termite from a flying ant by looking at some key elements. Flying ants have elbowed antennae, thin waists and wings with very few visible veins. Termites' antennae are straight, they have a thick waist and many small veins in their wings. If you see termites swarming near your house, you may want to call in a termite company to do an inspection.

Another sign of possible termite infestation is the appearance of termite droppings inside the house. Often the droppings are on window sills or by door posts. When you see a pile of material that looks like sawdust, clean it up, then find it again in the same place - call in a termite company to do an inspection. If it is addressed quickly localized treatment may be all that is necessary. To learn more about termites here in San Diego County, click here or here. For a referral to a local company we recommend, click here. As a note of interest, the US Department of Energy, in their search for sources of cleaner energy, have done research on using termites to replace fossil fuels through a process called metagenomics. Termites could be more valuable than any of us knew!

Earwigs, Away!

2008-08-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

When Lewis Carroll coined the term "slithy toves," he might have had earwigs (pictured above) in mind. These semi-slimy pests slither and "gimble" through San Diego yards and homes in increasing numbers during the spring and summer months. According to Dr. David Kellum, a County Entomologist, "The rainy winter has caused a lot of plant grownth, and that means there is more food for bugs." Earwigs are easily distinguished from other bugs by "pinchers" near their abdomin. Contrary to the old wive's tale about earwigs entering the brain through the ear canal, these bugs are neither dangerous nor poisonous and can be helpful in the garden as a natural enemy to aphids. They can, however, become a pest control problem if they wander indoors. Here are a few tips for controlling these creepy but mostly harmless bugs.
Earwigs like a moist, dark environment and live on vegetation, like overgrown weeds, fruit dropped from a tree, or some varieties of roots and flowers. They also eat smaller bugs. Clear your yard of wood piles, rock piles, dead leaves and grass clippings. Keep the yard trimmed and the soil cleared, especially within two feet of the foundations of the home. Earwigs love marigolds - so do not plant these next to the house. If you find a large population in one area of the yard, leave a damp, rolled up newspaper near that area. They will often crawl into the newspaper during the heat of the day. In the evening, seal the paper in a plastic bag and dispose of it. Should earwigs invade your home, you may need the help of a pest professional, although they usually die indoors because there is little for them to eat. For earwig control outdoors, check with a good garden shop. They may look creepy, but these southern California pests are not out to get you!

West Nile Warning

2008-08-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

San Diegans love the outdoors. Our temperate weather, beautiful landscapes, and proximity to nature's best venues draw us out - especially at this time of year. But last week the Union-Tribune reported two more cases of West Nile Virus here in San Diego County, and a recent online article posted by the County warns about the arrival of this summer's most unwanted tourists, the mosquitoes that carry this disease. These warnings shouldn't drive us all indoors, but may give us the tools we need to protect ourselves and our families.

West Nile Virus is spread to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Although it is potentially dangerous, only one in 150 people who are infected develop severe illness. Most at risk are the elderly and people with impaired immune systems. Eighty percent of people infected will show no symptoms at all. Symptoms can include fever, head and body aches, nausea, and swollen lymph glands. More serious indications include convulsions, disorientation, vision loss, and even coma. A local West Nile victim shared her experience here in hopes of educating the public about the disease and its effects.

The County's West Nile Virus website gives information on the Vector Control Program's monthly larviside applications at area parks and open spaces where mosquitos are known to breed, as well as listing ways we can protect ourselves against the disease. The first thing homeowners can do, as touched on here in a previous post, is to inspect yard areas for mosquito breeding sources. Drain standing water in unused pools, buckets, flowerpots, bird baths, etc. You might be surprised at the sources in your own backyard. Make sure windows and doors are properly screened, and that the screens are in good repair. If you have an ornamental pond, consider stocking it with Gambusia, or Mosquito Fish. The County advises we limit outdoor activities at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active, use insect repellant, and avoid sleeping outdoors unprotected when camping. Vector Control also encourages county residents to report dead birds. For more information on the Vector Control program, call (858)694-2888 or visit the California West Nile Virus Website.

Mystery Bug Week, Part V: Of Words and Worms

2008-08-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

Fly larva
Moth larva

The mystery in this last Mystery Bug Week post is two-fold. The first mystery is more etymology than entomology. We find our customers would rather say they have "bugs" than "roaches," rather have "mice" than "rats," and rather have "worms" than "maggots." No one wants maggots. We can't blame them! In fact, what most people report as "worms" are some kind of larvae. Doesn't that sound better?

The second mystery is how to tell what kind of larvae they are. In the larval state, most common flying bugs look remarkably similar. There are variations in size, of course, but it is nearly impossible to tell fly larvae (maggots) from moth larvae (see photos above). One simple way to solve the mystery is to take notice of any increase in populations of the adult bug. Have you seen flies or moths buzzing around the house or in the yard? Identifying the adults those worms will turn into is critical in controlling the problem. We have discussed pantry moths in a previous post. They are a stored product pest, so if you consistently see moths in the house the chances are good they are coming from the kitchen or pantry. Find the source, eliminate it, and the problem is solved. House flies are less localized. They could be coming from anywhere - so a bit of detective work is needed to solve the mystery of where they are breeding. Flies need moisture, and usually breed in some kind of decaying matter. Check grass clippings and mulch piles outdoors. Inside, check house plants to see that they are drying out between waterings. Indoors and out, follow your nose. If there is a dead rodent in the wall void or a potato behind the fridge, these would be great sources for breeding flies. Whatever you choose to call the larvae that invade your home, they are a problem that can be solved with a bit of detective work.

Mystery Bug Week, Part IV: Mites Bite

2008-07-31T09:28:00.000-07:00

One of the most mysterious bugs of Mystery Bug Week is the mite. What makes them mysterious? They are the stealth bombers of the bug world - you will never see them coming until it is too late! Note that there is no picture included for identification. This is not because we couldn't find a picture, it is because these tiny invaders are so small and transparent that finding samples in your house is not the most practical means of identification.

First, mite basics:

There are two main varieties of mites, free-living and parasitic.

Free-living mites feed on other tiny insects, plants or dead natural matter. Dust mites fall into this category. They are probably living all around you, but unless you are allergic to them they do no harm and need no control.

Parasitic mites are another issue. We will briefly discuss three varieties, how to know you have them and what to do about it. Scabies mites are a skin condition, usually passed from person to person. This is not a problem pest professionals can deal with. If you have sores on your hands or wrists that itch and don't go away, see a medical professional immediately. These mites tunnel into the skin, so bug sprays are not an option in controlling them.

Rodent mites and Bird mites are a problem we often encounter here in San Diego. They live in and around bird and rodent nests, but are so tiny they can blow through a screened window and attack humans. Like bedbugs, they need a blood meal to live. The first question we ask when customers tell us they've been bit is, "Where on your body are the bites?" The reason for the question is that while bites on the legs and feet generally indicate a flea problem, bites in the joint areas - behind the knees, elbows, at the neck or mid-torso, indicate a bird or rodent mite infestation. The best way to treat these mites is to find the source - locate any bird or rodent population near your house - and remove it permanently. Follow-up measures include thorough vacuuming and application of an insecticide labeled for use against mites. But if the source is not found and removed, vacuuming and spraying will only bring temporary relief. You may not see these tiny mystery bugs - they are typically 1/32 of an inch long and nearly transparent - but you'll know it when they bite. Call a pest professional for help.

Mystery But Week, Part III - Meet the Beetles

2008-07-30T07:13:00.000-07:00

Help! You will certainly have a hard day's night if you discover these mystery bugs in your house. Pictured above, the varied carpet beetle is one of the most common bug samples we have sent in to our office for identification. They will do damage to carpets and fabrics, but can invade food products too. It is the fairly distinctive larvae of these bugs that do the damage - tiny, hairy worm-like creatures. But most often the adult (pictured) is what you will see. The first method of treatment is to find the source of the infestation and either clean or dispose of it. If found on clothing, have the items dry cleaned. It's best not to store natural fiber-items without first having them cleaned. Remove pet hair with a thorough vacuuming will also reduce any possible food sources - disposing of the vacuum bag afterward as a precaution. If the infestation persists, call in a pest professional.

Carpet beetles are so effective they are used in natural history museums to clean animal skeletons. Although these beetles are sometimes used in forensic entomology (calling Gil Grissom), they can cause millions of dollars of damage to natural fibers in homes and businesses. So if you see one of these critters on your carpet - best to not let be!

Mystery Bug Week, Part II: UNWANTED - Dead or Alive!

2008-07-29T08:15:00.000-07:00

Springtail
Most of us have different reactions to different bugs. We wouldn't consider painting cockroaches on the nursery wall, but butterflies are perfectly acceptable. And although we might scream and run at the sight of a spider 10 feet away, we welcome a ladybug lighting on our shoulder. Different people also have different reactions - had the spider sat down beside an entomologist, the bug man might have happily collected it off the tuffet for a specimen. But no one likes their home invaded, whether the bug invaders are dead or alive.

Which brings us to our second installment of Mystery Bugs: Psocids. Psocids (so-sids) fall into the insect category "Occasional Invaders." They are often seasonal (spring and early summer) and usually temporary home invaders. Very tiny (1/32 - 1/4-inch long), they are sometimes mistaken for mites or termites. The most common psocids we see here in San Diego are Springtails (see picture, above). They are usually found outdoors in moist situations, like a patch of ivy in a shady part of the yard. When their habitat dries out, they can invade a house in large numbers. That is the bad news. The good news is they don't live long indoors. So why do these insect lemmings want to squeeze through your window screen and jump around on your counter? They are merely displaced, looking for a new place to call home. We have included a picture of a springtail, in hopes that by identifying this invading bug you will panic less, knowing they are temporary and harmless. The best way to avoid them altogether is to eliminate the source of moisture that sustains them. Keep ground cover trimmed and allow it to dry out between waterings, especially close to the house. Clear out leaf litter and mulch that may remain moist. Make sure potted plants also dry out between waterings. Outdoor populations of springtails can reach as many as 50,000 per cubic foot of soil! Although they don't bite, carry disease, or chew on your furniture, numbers that large can be scary - dead or alive.

Mystery Bug Week!

2008-07-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

Often our blog posts ideas come from things that are going on here at Centurion. Right now there is a bug sample on my desk containing a "mystery bug." One of our customers sent a few bugs in a pill box to the office for identification, and here it is! Blog fodder! This week we will highlight a few of the most common uncommon bugs that show up for identification, hopefully answering a few of your questions and giving you tools to identify mystery bugs yourself.

First, a few tips on getting a good Bug ID. Sometimes we can identify a bug just by asking you a few simple questions over the phone. The classic example is a call we occasionally get for cricket control. Usually the homeowner is being driven crazy by the constant chirping of crickets in the house. Our first question, which may seem insulting, is "Have you actually seen any crickets?" If not - check the battery on your smoke detector. Really. In this case, we have found the mystery bug is no bug at all, but a certain model of smoke detector that sounds remarkably like a cricket when the battery is low. Case solved!

If you have actually seen bugs and would like us to identify them for you, here are some tips on helping us do that. Try to get a good sample, two to three bugs that are not smashed. Dead is fine, smashed is harder. Put the bugs in a sealable plastic bag or other small, SEALED container. And please attach your name and phone number somewhere on the container. This really helps us get the information you need back to the right bug owner.

We have magnifying tools and bug books to help us tell you what exactly is bugging you and how to get rid of it. Occasionally we run into a bug we cannot ID here. The County of San Diego's Department of Agriculture offers a service to identify those rare bugs.

Brown Recluse Spider Black Widow Spider

One more tip: there are thousands of varieties of spiders. Identifying your mystery spider may not be possible. There are two spiders to be concerned with here in San Diego County, the black widow and the brown recluse. We have included pictures of both and links to more information above. Although all spiders are venomous, most do not deliver enough venom to do any harm. Even the notorious black widow's bite will seldom do damage. However, if you experience abdominal pain, muscle cramps, or anything other than localized pain, check with your doctor. For identification purposes, black widow spiders weave webs that are thick and irregular. The spiders themselves are shiny black with thick legs. Females have a distinctive red hourglass shape on the abdomen. But who wants to turn one over to check? The best way to avoid attracting these spiders to your yard is to reduce or remove trash or rubbish from your yard. They are often found in wood piles, old tires or empty containers. Always check items that have been stored in a garage or shed before using - and wear gloves. But check the gloves before you put your hands in them! To see a video on black widows, click here.

Brown recluse spiders can deliver a more serious bite, but are very rare in San Diego County. The spider itself is brown, with a distinctive, dark brown violin-shaped marking near the head. The bite of the brown recluse can cause skin ulceration, and should be checked by a medical professional. There is no mystery about these spiders, but we include them here so you will know how to avoid them and will NOT try to collect a sample for us.

Tomorrow's mystery bug: Psocids!

"Killer Bees" - Part 2

2008-07-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

The term "Killer Bees" is a media label, but it has stuck for good reason. In June of this year, a teenage boy was hospitalized and his dog killed in a severe attack of Africanized Honey Bees they encountered while hiking at a park in Chatsworth, California. The unlucky dog had disturbed a nest of Africanized bees. In an attempt to save his dog, the young man was stung at least 200 times as he carried the dog as far as he could before collapsing. Pets, children and the elderly are most at risk, as they are most likely to be caught by surprise and least able to move quickly in escape. How can you avoid these "killers"? Here are a few tips:

1. Carefully examine the exterior of your house for holes or fissures, and fill them. We have found bees love to invade a house by entering through a hole left by an old cable line. Any gap larger than 1/8 inch can become a problem.

2. Take a look in the attic, especially in places where roof lines meet. Often the builder has left a small gap, just the right size for bees to enter and nest. Fill these holes with construction foam, or screen them with a fine mesh screen.

3. Check your yard for possible habitats. Overturned and abandoned flower pots, old tires or boxes, an abandoned shed, etc. If you see bees going in and out of these areas, DO NOT TRY TO GET RID OF THEM YOURSELF! News reports are rife with people who have been injured by spraying Africanized bees with over-the-counter bug sprays. If there is no current infestation, get rid of items that might be attractive to nesting bees. Clean up piles of junk.

4. Install fine-mesh screen over tops of rain spouts, over attic vents, and water meter/utility boxes.

5. If you do encounter angry bees, take cover in a house or car. Even if the bees follow you in, get shelter to minimize injury. Cover your head with a shirt or jacket - Africanized bees target the eyes, ears, nose and mouth when attacking. If there is no shelter available, you may need to run half a mile to get away - keep running!

6. If stung, remove stingers by scraping them out with a flat object like a credit card or fingernail. Removing stingers with tweezers will likely release more venom. Wash sting area with soap and water and use an ice pack. Get medical attention if breathing is troubled.

7. When hiking or camping, listen and be on the alert. Do not reach into small spaces between rocks or under trees.

8. Don't keep pets tied or tethered.

9. Do not kill an attacking bee. It will release an alarm scent bringing other bees from its colony.

These are a few simple things you can do to protect your environment.

Be aware that swarms of bees, which look like large, football-shaped clusters hanging from trees or eaves are not nests. Bee swarms are scary looking, but will usually move on in a few days. They should not be approached or treated unless they stay in the same place for more than three days - and then should only be treated by a professional. Swarms are not usually aggressive since they are not defending a hive.

Africanized bees are a serious problem. Don't make them your problem! In San Diego County, for more information contact the Department of Agriculture at their toll-free Bee Information Line: 1-800-200-2337.

"Killer Bees" - Part 1

2008-07-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

Most of us grew up with the sage advice to leave bees alone and they would leave us alone. Although mostly true then, since the arrival of Africanized Honey Bees (AHB or "Killer Bees") to Southern California in 1994 that advice needs an update. First, some history: Africanized bees originated, of course, in Africa. They were brought to the southern part of Brazil in the 1950's for research, where they inadvertently escaped and have slowly migrated and spread through parts of North and South America. For a current map of AHB colonized areas in California, click here. To see where they are in the United States, click here. More aggressive and territorial than European Honey Bees, AHB will attack if they feel their nest is threatened. But contrary to popular opinion, AHB are neither bigger nor more venomous than other bees, nor are they distinctive in appearance - in fact they look remarkably like their European cousins. The best way to recognize an Africanized colony is by their aggressive behavior. And then it may be too late! For this reason, nests in the wild here in Southern California should be assumed to be Africanized if not under the care of a beekeeper. What this means to the average homeowner is that extreme caution should be used. Africanized bees attack in larger numbers than domestic honey bees. Also, disturbed colonies may remain agitated for as long as 24 hours! They swarm frequently and nest in areas where European bees usually don't - including small holes near the ground like water boxes, old tires or unused flower pots. If you see a swarm, steer clear and it may move on within a few days. However, if you see bees consistently going in and out of a small hole on the outside of your house it is best to call in a professional. Tomorrow's blog will address some preventive measures and more on California's infestation of "Killer Bees" (video worth seeing!)

Everything but Vampires

2008-07-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's San Diego Union-Tribune had an article on bug-repellent clothing citing its effectiveness against mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies and chiggers - all the blood suckers of summer except vampires - and maybe bedbugs. How does it work? Permethrin, a man-made version of a natural repellent found in chrysanthemums, is used in making the shirts, hats, pants and bandanas. It kills bugs by disrupting their nervous systems. According the the article, clothing permeated with Permethrin works well for up to 70 washings, a good value if you plan a trip to a highly insect-ridden area. The International Journal of Medical Microbiology reported a protection rate of 95.5 percent when using permethrin-treated clothing. Made by Insect Shield, the apparel is expensive, but can be found at local retailer REI or ordered on the web at LL Bean, Orvis, Exofficio, Mad Dog, or Sloggers. Mosquitos and other blood-sucking insects can carry diseases such as West Nile Virus and malaria. As noted in a previous blog, repellent sprays are also effective against bites. For more tips on summer mosquito control, click here.

Butterflies are Free...

2008-07-22T11:23:00.000-07:00

... but moths can cost you! Common pantry pests in San Diego County include Indianmeal moths and the Angoumois Grain moth, stored product pests that can invade dry goods in the kitchen. You may bring them home in a bag of rice or a box of oatmeal from the store. Once in the door they cause all kinds of trouble. We are often asked if the moths in our customers' pantries will also invade closets and damage clothing. The answer is no. Although similar in appearance, clothes moths have different eating and living habits. Grain moths are much more visible - you will see the adult moths in greater numbers, and usually in the kitchen area. But getting rid of them can be time consuming and frustrating. In order to avoid pantry moths, freeze all grain-based products you buy for 4 days before storing them in airtight containers. This is especially important if you buy grain products from bulk bins. Be aware that moth larvae can bore through plastic bags and cardboard boxes.

If you already have an infestation, go through all grain based stored products. This includes bird seed and dog food, spices, nuts, raisins, cereals, pastas, even chocolate - look through everything! If you find webbing, clumping or larvae in a box or bag, throw it out. Clear off pantry shelves and clean with a good disinfectant cleaner or vinegar solution. This process should eliminate most infestations. Occasionally moth larvae still hatch out from eggs left in the cracks and crevices of pantry shelves. If all your grain-based products are in air tight containers, you can safely put out a moth trap , available at some local retail outlets or online here, to catch ambient adults as they hatch.

Cockroach Nation

2008-07-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

A recent news story from Turkmenistan reported that the country's president had fired thirty workers at the main state TV station after a cockroach was seen running across the news desk during a nightly news broadcast. People do get passionate about cockroaches - and not in a good way. The specimen we have pictured below is the most common of roaches, the German cockroach, or Blattella germanica. Not much Germanic about them, these pests actually originated in Asia. They can enter your house in a bag or box from the grocery store, or ride along on a piece of borrowed furniture - and can be devilishly hard to get rid of, especially in multiple-unit complexes. But contrary to the message of this video, control can and should be achieved if pest management techniques and simple housekeeping are used.

Many sprays and baits are labeled for use against cockroaches in California. If you opt for baiting, there are some facts you should keep in mind. Roach baits attract the pests, then feed them a poison which the insect takes back to the nest to share with his friends. Bait should be applied with caution so as not to come in contact with food or dishes. If there are other sources of food readily available to the cockroach, it may or may not eat the bait. And Cockroaches will eat just about anything - garbage, cooking spills, even the grease on a kitchen wall can support life. A more certain approach is to hire a pest professional to apply a contact spray in cracks and crevices in a clean kitchen environment. What this means is that homeowners need to empty and clean kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and remove or cover trash areas before the bug guy is called in. Residual insecticides last for up to two months, continuing to kill roaches as they hatch. Control can take three to four weeks in the case of a serious infestation. One more tip: setting off "bug bombs" is usually a bad idea. Some cockroaches may die, but the ones that survive will hide in unusual and hard-to-treat places. The best tip on cockroaches is to get rid of them before they take over the house!

Fly Bye

2008-07-18T07:04:00.000-07:00

This helpful tip about the common house fly is not for the squeamish, nor for those with serious infestations. If you have a major fly problem, skip to the next paragraph. If you are squeamish, stop here! This tip is for dealing with random flies that dart through the front door, then circle the kitchen like sharks before landing on your clean kitchen counter - twiddling their legs and daring you to find the fly swatter in time. Approach the fly slowly, with hands about 8 inches apart directly above the resting fly, so that when you clap your hands the moment of impact is about 4 inches ABOVE the fly. Here is where the squeamish will still be looking for that fly swatter. 99% of the time, if you have managed to position your hands correctly without disturbing the fly, you will have a squished fly on your hands as soon as you clap! A little-known fact is that flies lift off vertical to the plane on which they are resting - think helicopter rather than airplane. If you clap above the resting fly, you will inevitably need to wash your hands.

Why not just let the fly live? Because you don't know where he's been! If yours is a typical fly, he may have dined last in manure, decaying matter, or any moist breeding ground for bacteria. He carries that with him, regurgitating saliva and depositing waste on that clean counter - or your bologna sandwich. By comparison, cockroaches are sanitary. If you have a serious fly infestation, here are a few tips for solving your problem. First, locate the source of the infestation. Do you have a trash can with grass clippings that has been sitting too long? A compost pile that is not properly covered or screened? A garbage can with a lid that does not fit properly? Most fly infestations can be relieved simply by drying out or removing the source. While insecticides may not kill maggots in a trash container, boiling water will. And if you find maggots indoors, again the source must be located and removed. Follow your nose, and you may find a rotting potato or a dead rodent that is harboring the flies.

Don't let the bed bugs bite!

2008-07-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

When early Americans told their children to "sleep tight," they were being practical. Their mattresses were suspended on a grid of ropes, attached to the bed frame, which kept them off the floor - and marginally safer from the nocturnal bed bug. Although bed bugs are an ancient pest, thought to have been around for thousands of years, they were all but extinct in the continental United States until just over 10 years ago. Today, they are back with a vengeance - doubling every year. Theories on why these nasty blood-suckers have returned include the increase in world travel and a decline in the use of liquid chemicals for pest control. Regardless of why, they have multiplied into a serious problem for homeowners, tenants, and hotel patrons across the United States.

Attracted by warmth and the presence of carbon dioxide, bed bugs sneak out of hiding places in bedrooms or hotel suites to feed - often in the early hours of the morning, before dawn. They pierce the skin of their host with two hollow tubes. While one tube sucks a blood meal, the other injects the bug's saliva, which contains anticoagulants to keep the blood flowing and anesthetics so you won't know what's happening until later, when the bite begins to itch. To watch an informative video from National Geographic, click here.

Treating bed bugs can be difficult and expensive - because they hide in small and varied places. The best protection against these critters is to avoid taking in discarded furniture or mattresses. If you already have an infestation, vacuum furniture and baseboards thoroughly; buy a mattress cover especially designed for sealing bed bugs out; and call a pest professional. For more information on bed bugs, see the University of California's pest management page here. And don't let the bed bugs bite!

Are You a Mosquito Magnet?

2008-07-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

Do mosquitoes and fleas attack you while leaving other family members bite-free? Many have long thought blood-feeding insects show a preference to certain individuals, and now there is scientific evidence in support of that theory. According to a recent article in Newsweek Online, each person's body chemistry plays a part in either attracting these pesky bugs or leaving them cold. Mosquitoes can detect a tasty target from nearly 100 feet away! So what can you do to make yourself less appealing to these unwelcome guests? The article states that scientists have not identified every body chemistry combination that mosquitoes prefer - but indicates they may have a preference for "artificially sweet-scented bodies." They also prefer darker fabrics. So stay away from cloying perfumes, black or blue clothing, and make sure your clothing isn't too tight. And to be really safe, use a Centers for Disease Control-approved repellent, such as DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus or IR3535. Since mosquitoes usually breed in standing water, check your property for spots that are over-irrigated, or containers that collect rain water - keep them empty and dry. If you have a pond in your landscaping, consider stocking it with "mosquitofish" or Gambusia affinis, sometimes available through the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health: 858-694-2888.

Argentine Ants

2008-07-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

Summertime in San Diego means ants are on the move. The most common ant in our area is the Argentine ant, scientific name linepithema humile. Argentine worker ants are 1/16-inch long and light to dark brown. The queens are 1/8 to 1/4 inch long and covered with fine hair. Males are slightly smaller and shiny brown-black. Colonies consist of several hundred to thousands of workers and several queens. They are found throughout the southern United States and California, typically living in nests outdoors and near food sources. They become major pests when they come indoors seeking food or water. The most effective control is accomplished when ant trails are followed to nests and treated with a residual insecticide.

We see infestations of Argentine ants year-round in San Diego, but in the summer they are especially aggressive. The San Diego County Department of Agriculture has good information for homeowners regarding the identification of ant varieties and ant management on their website.