Mystery Bug Week, Part V: Of Words and Worms

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

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

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!

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!

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!