All posts in “insect”

I’ve got zillions of these bugs, what are they?

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False Chinch Bugs

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False Chinch bugs are in the Order Hemiptera also known as “true bugs”. False Chinch bugs prefer plants in the Mustard family and especially like London Rocket: a yellow flowered mustard that is very common in our area. Even though they may feed on some landscape plants, False Chinch bugs rarely cause significant damage. Usually the mass migration lasts only one week at most. Prevent entry into houses by making sure screens on windows and patio doors are intact and sealing up other entryways. Homeowners can apply a pesticide around the perimeter of the house to keep the bugs out, but the best approach is to seal them out.

Most destructive insect?

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I’ll would bet that most people would say termites but not so, it turns out to be the desert locust. This locust you may recall is the one from the Bible and can eat its own weight in food a day. It is estimated that a large swarm could eat 20,000 tons of grain and vegetation per day. (“The Handy Biology Answer Book”)

In the U.S. I’m still betting on the termite, estmates suggest over 5 billon in damage each year. Termites are in search of food and when they find it they will eat and eat. 24/7/365 that is their schedule and they won’t waiver unless the building is under water.

What can you do to discourage termites from finding your home as a food source:

  • Check water drip and irrigation systems to make sure they are working properly.
  • Don’t plant plants or trees to close to the foundation of your home.
  • Don’t allow stucco to come in contact with dirt or stone, you need to see the foundation.
  • If you noticed any wood in the ground left over after construction, remove it.
  • Don’t stack wood against the home.
PPMA55_Termites

PPMA King/Queen Sub-termites

 

CDC reported cases of Lyme disease by state

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CDC reported cases of Lyme disease by state or locality, 2003-2012†

 

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks; laboratory testing is helpful if used correctly and performed with validated methods. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, applying pesticides, and reducing tick habitat. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can occasionally transmit other tickborne diseases as well. Check out the CDC site for more information.

Now I want to share something I thought was interesting – I tried to join a certain Arizona Lyme Disease yahoo forum and was denied. They claim that I tried to join before and I don’t recall but I thought they might be interested in possibly preventing the disease with these new tick boxes.  So there you go!

http://www.tickboxtcs.com/Select_TCS_Brochure.pdf

ticks

Bait Box Study by CDC

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