Insects, Wasps and Other Pests

Pest control is the management of undesirable organisms that spoil crops, damage property or cause discomfort. The best approach is prevention by removing the conditions that favor pest growth.

Some pest control is done through biological methods such as predation, herbivory and parasitism. Chemicals like pheromones or juvenile hormones can also be used. Click the Website to know more.

Insects are the largest group of animals on Earth. They have a wide variety of shapes, sizes and habits. Insects are found in a variety of habitats, including cold climates, rain forests and deserts, as well as in caves and freshwater lakes.

In general, insects have special mouthparts to do specific jobs. For example, some eat nectar by using mouthparts that form a tube (proboscis) to suck liquid; others have chewing mouthparts to eat leaves and other plant parts. Most insects also have two antennae, which can detect sounds and vibrations and are a clue to their species. In addition, many insect species have wings.

Many insects live alone or in pairs, but some are social animals such as ants and bees that live in highly organized colonies with distinct jobs for each individual. Some are parasites, living on or in the body of another animal and getting all their food from that host.

Some insects damage plants. For instance, thrips can cause distorted growth and holes in leaves and fruit. In addition, root-feeding insects like wireworms and white grubs can damage or kill vegetables, fruit and other crops when they occur in large numbers.

Other insects are beneficial. Some are pollinators that move plant pollen from one flower to another; other insects scavenge dead animals and debris and break them down into simpler materials that can be used by primary producers. Then there are insects that prey on pests, such as the greenfly and cabbage maggot.

Some organic insecticides are available that do not harm beneficial insects or other arthropods and can be applied with confidence to home gardens. However, most chemical pesticides must be used sparingly to avoid damaging the overall health of a garden ecosystem. Examine your vegetable, fruit and ornamental plants weekly throughout the growing season. Look for insect excrement, damaged leaves and fruit, twisted or deformed stems and other signs of infestation and damage.

Rodents

Rodents (Mice, Rats) are a serious pest when they live and breed in homes, businesses and buildings. They contaminate food with their urine and droppings and damage property with their gnawing. They can cause fires by gnawing on gas lines and electrical wiring. Rodents spread diseases and carry parasites that can cause illness. Their constant gnawing causes property damage and chews through materials including wood, insulation and paper products.

Rodents are omnivorous and can thrive on almost any type of food available. They are prodigious breeders and can quickly multiply to create large populations within a home, business or apartment complex. Generally, rodents live in small societies with multiple social ranks and roles. Mating systems can range from monogamy to polygyny or promiscuity. They are active during the day and nocturnal, though some species hibernate.

Despite their many variations, rodents share several morphological characteristics including cheek pouches for transporting food, short limbs, and tails that are used as a means of balance or to help them navigate. They have a highly developed vomeronasal organ that allows them to communicate via pheromones. They can be arboreal, fossorial, saltatorial/richochetal or semiaquatic, and they use a combination of spatial cues such as vegetation cover, weather conditions, and light intensity to determine the relative risk of predation for their environment.

Using an integrated pest management approach with sanitation, exclusion and lethal control is the best way to prevent infestations. During your inspection, check for signs of rodents such as scratching noises, tracks, gnawing marks and urine (using a black light). Store all foods in rodent-proof containers and keep garbage areas clean. Also, inspect nooks and crannies to make sure they are not becoming rodent dens.

Mosquitoes

The tiny, mosquito-like insects that buzz in the air and swoop down on unsuspecting humans and animals are actually members of the order Diptera, the true flies. Mosquitoes (Culicidae) have slender segmented bodies, two pairs of wings, long many-segmented antennae and mouthparts that form a piercing-sucking proboscis. They feed on nectar and other plant sugars, although only females have the mouth parts needed to draw blood. Mosquitoes use a combination of exhaled carbon dioxide, body odors and movement to home in on their victims. Their mouthparts pierce skin to inject an enzyme that inhibits blood clotting, then suck the blood through a tube-like apparatus. Females need the blood to produce eggs.

Mosquitoes can carry and spread pathogens that cause diseases such as dengue fever, Zika virus and malaria. Most species, however, are not disease-spreading pests. They are important micropredators, feeding on birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and frogs. They also serve as food for other critters such as dragonflies, bats and dragonfly larvae.

All mosquitoes need water for breeding and resting, so effective control involves eradication or treatment of standing water sources on your property. Some adulticide spraying to kill mosquitoes is needed as well.

To reduce the need for spraying, you can remove or empty containers such as rain gutters, buckets, old tires and toys that hold standing water around your home. If you collect rainwater in barrels or other containers for garden irrigation, cover them with screens to keep mosquitoes out. Removing or draining areas that become flooded during heavy rains will also help reduce mosquito breeding sites. Microbial insecticides such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis or Bti products can be used in outdoor ponds, swimming pools and water troughs for horses to control mosquitoes without harming other wildlife. They are available as “dunks” and granules at many retail stores, garden centers and on-line garden suppliers.

Wasps

Wasps often disrupt backyard barbecues and outdoor events with their buzzing and stinging, but these insects are more than just nuisance pests. They are natural pollinators and predators of many crop-eating insect pests. In addition, some parasitic wasps kill caterpillars that damage crops. As the summer heats up, wasps can be found establishing their nests in the ground or high up in eaves or tree trunks. Depending on the species, wasps either fly around solo (solitary wasps) or live in colonies with a queen (social wasps).

Although most people consider wasps annoying, they are important members of the ecosystem and provide several benefits to humans. They help pollinate plants, and some species of wasp can facilitate plant cross-pollination by transferring pollen between flowers. Wasps also feed on insects, which can help control pest populations.

For example, a recent study** discovered that common wasps were effective predators in managing pests of two high-value crops—maize and sugarcane—in Brazil. The researchers suggest that the use of these natural enemies may be more sustainable than relying solely on chemical pesticides.

As part of a biocontrol strategy, farmers could increase the population of local wasps in greenhouses, which are closed environments that keep these insects inside. This would allow the growers to take advantage of natural predators while maintaining a safe environment for their workers and other beneficial insects.

To manage wasps around the home, it is recommended to keep trash cans tightly closed and to avoid putting out sugary drinks and other attractants. In addition, homeowners can seal holes in the foundation, gaps around doors and windows and rotting wood in and around the home. If a wasp’s nest is found in or around the house, it is best to call a professional pest control company. They will be able to identify the type of wasp and recommend a course of action.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are one of the most difficult household pests to eradicate. They reproduce quickly, a single female producing up to five adhesive eggs in a day that hatch in about a week. Eggs and newly hatched nymphs are translucent and fit well in cracks and crevices, making them hard to spot. The insects are active at night and seek warm hosts to feed. They leave their hiding places when the lights are on, moving to beds and other upholstered furniture, along with baseboards, nightstands, curtains, couches, picture frames and electrical outlets. They are also found in door and window nooks, wood molding, closets, clothing, book bindings and clocks.

Treatment is most effective when conducted early, before a large infestation develops. It’s also less costly than treating a widespread infestation. Because the bugs are so good at hitching rides on people’s clothes and luggage, it’s important to follow proper precautions when staying in hotels and other infested sites. That means checking shoes upon leaving, washing and drying clothes in a hot dryer before taking them home, and placing suitcases on a raised stand to make it harder for the bugs to crawl inside.

There are several products EPA-registered to control and kill the pests. Most contain either pyrethrins or pyrethroids, which are forms of botanical insecticides extracted from chrysanthemum flowers and synthetic chemicals. These compounds both kill the insects and flush them out of their hiding spots to exterminate them. Nevertheless, some strains of the bugs have developed resistance to these chemicals.

If these treatments fail, a professional may recommend whole-house fumigation. During this process, the house is sealed under a tarpaulin and an odorless lethal gas is pumped in. It can take an entire workday or longer and you must leave your home until the extermination is done.