Ants

( Date Added: Tue May 24 2005   Visits: 113)  

Ants have been living on the Earth for more than 100 million years and can be found almost anywhere on the planet. It is estimated that there are about 20,000 different species of ants. For this reason ants have been called Earth's most successful species.

Box Elder Bugs

( Date Added: Tue May 24 2005   Visits: 117)  

DESCRIPTION: This bug is about 1/2 inch long and 1/3 as wide. It is black with three red lines on the thorax, a red line along each side, and a red line on each wing. The wings lie flat on the back when at rest. The young nymphs are red and gray. The population of bugs may number into the thousands.

Chiggers

( Date Added: Tue May 24 2005   Visits: 129)  

Probably no creature on earth can cause as much torment for its size than the tiny chigger. Tiny six-legged chigger larvae attack campers, picnickers, hikers, bird watchers, berry pickers, fishermen, soldiers, and homeowners in low, damp areas where vegetation is rank such as woodlands, berry patches, orchards, along lakes and streams, and even in drier places where vegetation is low such as lawns, golf courses, and parks. They are most numerous in early summer when grass, weeds and other vegetation are heaviest. Chiggers do not burrow into the skin, but insert their mouthparts in a skin pore or hair follicle. Their bites produce small, reddish welts on the skin accompanied by intense itching as irritating as acute cases of poison ivory or poison sumac. These symptoms often are the only way of learning that an outdoor area is infested since chiggers are so small that most cannot be seen without a magnifying glass. Chiggers feed on a wide variety of snakes, turtles, birds, and small mammals as well as humans.

Chinch Bugs

( Date Added: Wed Jul 20 2005   Visits: 97)  

h bugs feed on many kinds of lawn grasses, but St. Augustinegrass and zoysiagrass are favorites. Both the adult chinch bug and the nymph will kill grass by sucking the juices out of the grass blade. At the same time, they inject a poison that causes the blades to turn brown and die. Heavy infestations may completely kill the lawn. These sun- and heat-loving insects seldom attack shady lawns, but once they decide to attack a lawn, they can cover the entire area in several days.

Clover Mites

( Date Added: Tue May 24 2005   Visits: 129)  

Clover mites sometimes invade homes in enormous numbers, in early spring and late autumn, overrunning floors, walls, drapes, window sills and furniture, even occasionally getting into beds and clothing. They may become troublesome in hospitals, nursing homes, apartments, food processing facilities, etc. If crushed, they leave a reddish stain quite noticeable on linens, curtains, walls and woodwork. They are a nuisance by their presence but do not bite humans or animals, transmit disease nor feed on household furnishings or pantry supplies. Skin irritation may be caused in sensitive persons. They live outdoors feeding on various plants.

Cockroaches

( Date Added: Tue May 24 2005   Visits: 118)  

Cockroaches are part of the order DICTYOPTERA and of the sub-order BLATTODEA. They are rather flat insects with quite long antennae and also long spiky legs. Most of them have wings but can only fly when temperatures are quite high. Generally speaking, cockroaches are omnivorous, in other words they will eat anything, including each other if there is no other food source available.

Crickets

( Date Added: Tue May 24 2005   Visits: 105)  

What's that sound? It's a cricket! Are you aware of how a cricket makes music? Have you ever wondered why they were popular pets in China and Japan? Do you know how far a cricket can jump?

Earwigs

( Date Added: Tue May 24 2005   Visits: 113)  

Earwigs may cause alarm to homeowners when discovered indoors. They have a frightful appearance, move rapidly around baseboards at the ground level, and may emit a foul-smelling, yellowish-brown liquid from their scent glands. These creatures, active at night while hiding during the daytime, normally live outdoors and do not establish themselves indoors. They are harmless to humans and animals, although if handled carelessly, the earwig can give a slight pinch with the forceps. Serious feeding damage may occur on flowers, vegetables, fruits and other plants, giving the leaves a ragged appearance with the numerous, small, irregular holes. Also, decomposing organic matter is consumed. They are considered temporary pests in spite of the fact that they sometimes occur in large populations.

Fire Ants

( Date Added: Tue May 24 2005   Visits: 78)  

A fire ant colony consists of three types of ants -- queens, males and workers: Queens -- fertile fire ant females are either winged, future queens that are virgin prior to the mating flight or wingless queens that shed their wings and lay eggs after mating. Most colonies have only one -- mated egg-laying female -- or queen.

Fleas

( Date Added: Tue May 24 2005   Visits: 85)  

Fleas are very important pests in, especially during the months of July through October, but sometimes persist all year when indoors. It is estimated pet owners alone spend over $1 billion each year controlling fleas.