And just like many of their insect brethren, these pests come with their own set of bizarre but true facts.  Here is a quick guide:

Boxeler Bugs:  They get their common name from the fact that they are often found on and around boxelder trees. This species is native to the western states, but can be found from eastern Canada throughout the eastern United States, and west to eastern Nevada, wherever boxelder trees are found. These bugs are nuisance pests in and around homes from fall through early spring.

Weird but true: Entomologists have observed that these bugs prefer to develop on and feed on the leaves, flowers and seeds of female boxelder trees. Although these bugs tend to enter homes in droves and can be alarming to homeowners, rest assured they do not reproduce while they over-winter in your home!

House Centipedes:  Many homeowners have undoubtedly seen these scurrying in and out of shower and bathroom sink drains, their numerous legs making them look more menacing than they are. Centipedes are sometimes called “hundred-leggers” because of their many pairs of legs, but they can actually have anywhere from 15-177 pairs of legs, depending on the species. Interestingly, centipedes always have an odd number of pairs of legs. 

Weird but true:  A centipede’s front legs aren’t made for walking, instead they actually form into venomous fangs, which they then use to inject venom and paralyze their prey. These specialized “leg fangs,” or forcipules are unique to centipedes.

Earwigs:  They got their name from the myth that they crawl into sleeping people’s ears and tunnel into their brains; a myth that is still sometimes perpetuated today. Earwigs are not dangerous to humans, but their appearance can be alarming. These pests mainly live off dead plant and animal matter while some species will eat living plants and fruit. There are 25 types of earwig species in the U.S. 

Weird but true: Male earwigs find mates using their sense of smell.  Once coupled with a female, the male uses their long cerci, which look like pincers, on their backsides to attach himself to her. Undisturbed, the earwigs can stay in this mating position for hours.

House Crickets:  They are active at night and usually hide in dark warm places during the day.  If homeowners don’t see them, they will definitely hear their loud chirping, which is caused by rubbing their front wings together to attract females. Clothing and carpets can become damaged when house crickets enter homes. They typically feed on the surface, leaving the area roughened from pulling the fibers loose while eating.

Weird but true: Many cultures have incorporated crickets into their folklore and mythology. For example, Brazilians believe that cricket songs are signs of impending rains, while some Asian countries believe crickets bring good luck and are kept as house pets in cages. 

Ladybugs:  Many ladybug species are considered important beneficial insects because they voraciously consume plant-feeding insects, such as aphids, mealybugs, mites, and scale insects, which harm crops and plants in gardens. Only three out of 475 ladybug species in the U.S. are not beneficial and are considered destructive because they feed on plants.

Weird but true: They may look cute, but ladybugs can become vicious if food is scarce resorting to cannibalism. If stronger, a hungry ladybug may turn on weaker (soft-bodied) members of its species.  Newly emerged adults or recently molted larvae are most at risk.

Millipedes:  They are sometimes called “thousand-leggers” because of their many pairs of legs, but they can actually have anywhere from 30-90+ pairs of legs, depending on the species. The leggiest species boasts 333 pairs of legs. Some millipedes excrete a smelly fluid that can be toxic to small animals and pets and can cause blistering on humans.  They can’t survive indoors for long, but are found under trash, in piles of grass clippings, flower-bed mulches, piles of leaves, etc.

Weird but true: According to fossil evidence, millipedes may have been the first animals to breathe air and make the move from water to land. In fact a fossil of a millipede found in Scotland dates back 428 million years!

Pillbugs & Sowbugs:  Commonly referred to as “rollie-pollies,” these nuisance pests are the only crustaceans that have become completely adapted to living on land. Pillbugs prefer moist locations, eat decaying vegetable material and are most active at night.

Weird but true: As moisture is very important to a pillbug’s survival, Mother Nature has ensured that the bug can take in water from both ends. Although they tend to drink water through their mouthparts, pillbugs can also drink through their rear ends using special tube-shaped structures called uropods. (Source: Colorado State University  Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management)

Silverfish:  They are so named due to its silvery, metallic appearance and fish-like shape and quick movements. They tend to hide their presence from humans, which means any damage they have caused could go unnoticed as well. Silverfish tend to feed on paper items, glue, clothing and food items, such as flour and rolled oats, which make them more than a mere nuisance pest.

Weird but true: The courting and mating ritual of the silverfish is quite prolonged as it consists of three phases.  During phase one, the male and female face each other, touch antennae, back off and repeat. During phase two, the male runs away while the female chases him. Finally, during the third and final phase, they line up side-by-side, head to tail and complete their mating ritual.

Springtails:  These pests common name comes from the fact that most species have a spring-like structure that allows them to jump several inches. Springtails are nuisance pests that are attracted to areas of high moisture. Springtails are found year round, but because of a special protein that acts like anti-freeze, most springtails are able to survive in cold winter temperatures.

Weird but true: Springtails are very dependent on temperatures and moisture and may experience periodic population explosions, alarming anyone who sees a large swarm of these pests. Sometimes springtails may be seen on the surface of puddled water in such large numbers resembling a raft of floating bug bodies.

Sting Bugs:  This insect, notorious for its “smelly” reputation, earned its name from its tendency to release an odor when disturbed or when crushed. Stinkbugs pose no threats to humans, although their presence in the home can be unnerving.  These pests are mostly problematic for farmers as they attack a variety of crops.

Weird but true: The brown marmorated stink bug, native to Japan, China, Taiwan and South Korea, was first discovered in the U.S. in eastern Pennsylvania in 1998. It’s believed these invasive species smuggled themselves into the country in shipping crates.

For more information visit www.pestworld.org

U.S. scientists have discovered a new deer tick-borne disease in humans, with the viral-like illness sharing similarities both with Lyme disease and relapsing fever infections.

The as-yet unnamed ailment is one of five caused by the Borrelia miyamotoi pathogen carried by blacklegged ticks, said Dr. Peter Krause, senior research scientist at Yale School of Public Health and lead author of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Thursday.

A distant relative of Lyme, the bacterium was first found in ticks in Japan in 1995, and then was identified by Yale researchers in Connecticut in 2001 and again in Russia in 2011, the study said. The illness also can resemble another disease caused by a bacterium in the Borrelia family transmitted by ticks and body lice that is marked by repeated episodes of fever.

The study published Thursday by Yale, New York Medical College and other institutions is the first to describe the unique type of Borrelia bacterium that causes the disease and to detail its symptoms.  The study said blood tests identified Borrelia miyamotoi in 18 human patients in southern New England and neighboring New York in recent years. Symptoms of the resulting illness can include fever, muscular aches and pains, headaches and fatigue, with a small portion also developing a rash such as with Lyme disease.One complication experienced by multiple patients, however, was repeated episodes of fever – a significant difference from what has been reported by people diagnosed with Lyme disease, said Krause.

“We think that if this organism is untreated it probably would lead to relapsing fever,” Krause said in a phone interview.  The new study found that patients who were not treated with antibiotics after a first bout of fever could see their body temperature spike again after a week or two.  Drugs such as doxycycline and amoxicillin, effective in combating Lyme disease, seem to clear symptoms and the infection, Krause said.

Borrelia bacteria are found wherever deer ticks and Lyme disease are found, with most occurring in the U.S. Northeast and the northern Midwest. Ticks infected with the bacteria also were found in the far western United States, he added.  The disease tends to occur in late spring, summer or early autumn, and experts say that lab testing is required to confirm its presence.

Fortunately, there are steps homeowners can take to prevent pests from coming indoors on firewood, foliage and family pets, or from gaining entry through small cracks and crevices in a home’s exterior.

To deter these unwelcome houseguests, the National Pest Management Association encourages homeowners to install door sweeps on exterior doors and repair damaged screens. In addition, it’s important to screen vents and openings to chimneys, and keep attics, basements and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry. We have installed hundreds of chimney covers that not only prevent animals from entering your chimney but also keep water out, preventing costly masonry repairs.

If you hear an unwanted guest in your attic, call us for a free inspection and a permanent solution for keeping the wild  out of your life.

If you’ve got the Creepy Crawlies, and things that go Bump in the night, you better call the folks at Dewey Pest and Wildlife!

It could be you have mice or Flying Squirrels! 

Field mice are coming in and will nest in attic spaces, which to them are like big hollow trees.   Often hearing noises like marbles rolling across the ceiling are indicative to a mouse infestation.  The mice will bring in acorns and roll them across the ceiling!  Mice are great climbers and gaining access to the attic is no problem for them.  They can squeeze into a hole the size of a dime!!!

If the noise is louder, the culprit may be flying squirrels!  Yes, we do have Flying Squirrels in Massachusetts.  However, they don’t actually fly; they glide from tree tops.  Flying squirrels are chipmunk size animals that are nocturnal, meaning active at night.  In the winter they become very social.  They may visit a house in great numbers, creating a very loud disturbance late at night.  We have excluded up to 20-30 Flying Squirrels from one house!

So if you’re hearing noises at night be sure to call us and set up an inspection, so you can regain your sleep at night.

Tapio Kujala, t.alley79, has won the grand prize of $1,000 for his photo submission of a carpenter ant.

Tapio found the carpenter ant in mid June at the base of a tree in his own backyard. It was the first time he noticed this species of ant in his neighborhood, so he wanted to photograph it in action. Placing the carpenter ant on rope from his cat’s scratching post, Tapio was able to snap a few stunning photos before releasing it back into the woods behind his house.

To enter the contest, photographers – amateur and avid alike – submitted their favorite pest photos to the PestWorld Photography Contest group on Flickr. All entries were judged on criteria including originality and creativity, adherence to creative assignment and overall appeal.

The NPMA received more than 490 striking pest photos from talented photographers around the world. The top ten finalists can be viewed here.

Thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations to Tapio. We look forward to receiving some more superior submissions next year!

For more information, visit www.pestworld.org.

By Marc Santora

After the death last week of a third person exposed to the deadly mouse-borne hantavirus, public health officials were expanding their warning to include more than 22,000 visitors to Yosemite National Park.

boston.com

The Norfolk County Mosquito Control will increase mosquito spraying in parts of Quincy after a mosquito tested positive for West Nile virus on Tuesday.

The mosquito is the first of the season to test positive for the virus in Quincy. Although the mosquito is more likely to bite birds than humans, the city is taking precautions to be more aggressive with their early morning fogging.

“They do the early morning fogging from the trucks on Thursday mornings, [and] that has been going on all summer long, based on resident complaints or their own surveillance of areas they feel have higher than usual populations of mosquitoes,” said Cindy DeCristofaro, chief sanitarian for the Quincy Health Department. “Now, they will be doing a more aggressive spraying in and around the area that the positive mosquito was found in the northeast beach area.”

Last year, 12 mosquitoes in Quincy were found to have West Nile virus during testing, which occurs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. This year, the state has reported 109 West Nile virus-positive mosquito pools from nine counties, including six from Norfolk County

Although fewer mosquitoes have tested positive this year, the sign of the disease means that residents should practice increased precaution when outdoors, health officials said.

“It is definitely sends [a warning] flag and it just reminds everybody that they should just be aware and take the normal precautions,” DeCristofaro said.

Precautions including avoiding outdoor activity from dawn to dusk, using a mosquito repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, fixing any screens in your home, and making sure there is no standing water where mosquitoes can hatch eggs.

DeCristofaro said residents can check for updates through public service announcements on public access television, and can find translated information at the Health Department.

By Wicked Local & The Easton Patch

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced that Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) has been detected in mosquitoes in Massachusetts for the first time this year — including Easton — in testing done at the State Laboratory Institute. The mosquito samples were collected on July 9 in the town of Easton in Bristol County.  Two of the four positive mosquito samples are in a mammal-biting kind of mosquito, a point of particular concern to health officials.

“Today is our first indication this year that EEE is circulating in our environment, and it’s circulating early,” said DPH State Epidemiologist Dr. Al DeMaria “This is also an important reminder for individuals to take simple, common-sense steps to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes.”

EEE claimed a Raynham man last year, and has been found in this region the past several years, usually late July and August. 

With these findings, DPH officials are raising the threat of mosquito-borne illness in the towns of Easton, Raynham, and Taunton from “moderate” to “high”, which will prompt immediate discussions with other state agencies and local officials about necessary and appropriate mosquito control activities in those towns. State officials are recommending that the communities designated as “high” risk curtail evening events for the remainder of the summer.

The seven communities that are contiguous to these three towns remain at “moderate” risk at the present time; however state officials will closely monitor mosquito activity in those areas throughout the remaining mosquito season. These cities and towns include Bridgewater, Brockton, Mansfield, Norton, Sharon, Stoughton, and West Bridgewater. DPH recommends that communities designated as “moderate” or “high” risk actively educate the public about the importance of personal protective measures and work closely with their local mosquito control projects regarding ground spraying of pesticide.

No matter where they live, individuals should continue to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites and the illnesses they can cause, including:

Avoid Mosquito Bites

Apply Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] or IR3535 according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.

Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning.

Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home

Drain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently.

Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Protect Your Animals

Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools – especially after heavy rains. Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out at least once a week during the summer months to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. If an animal is diagnosed with WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to DAR, Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795 and to the Department of Public Health (DPH) by calling 617-983-6800.

I received a call from an owner who lives with his wife in a loft style condo in Salem, MA.  He said he had longhorn beetles coming out from a wall next to a window.  I asked if he had a sample, which he did and we picked it up for identification. 

Well it had me stumped, it wasn’t a local beetle and I had a hard time looking it up.  The owner said he thought it was an OAK borer, but no, it wasn’t.  I sent along a picture to a friend of mine, Kevin Moran, who is a BCE entomologist and he thought it might be a eucalyptus borer!  This was definitely not a local bug!  Well Kevin wanted a real sample and I sent him over 2 nice specimens.  I called the client and made preparations for a visit to his home.  When I entered his home the first thing I noticed was a huge cat perch (condo) that stood about 7 feet tall.  The entire structure was supported by tree branches, 4-6 inches in diameter.  I asked him what king of wood it was, but he didn’t know and placed a call to the people who made the perch.  It was eucalyptus and the branches had many exit holes from the borers.  I gave him information about fumigation, as the perch needed to be treated to prevent any borers from escaping.

I called the USDA who had the Plant Protection people contact me about the perch and the Mass state entomologist wanted a sample as well. 

The borer poses no threat to Massachusetts but if the perches are sold in California, it could pose a big problem.

This is a classic example of how invasive species are introduced.

Spring is time for blooming gardens, warmer temperatures and unfortunately, the return of indoor and outdoor pests.
Some insects present only a minor concern and then there are those that can cause serious problems and nearly always require a professional’s attention.

“There are pests that are on the property, and then there are another set of pests that invade the house,” said board-certified entomologist Lynn Frank of Suburban Exterminating in Long Island, New York. “And then there is the wood-destroying insect that everyone worries about.”

Found in every state but Alaska, termites cost homeowners an estimated $5 billion annually for repair and control measures, Frank says.

“Most people wait until they see a termite swarm before they call,” said Frank. “And by then it’s an expensive proposition.”

While there’s no guarantee against pests — especially something like wood-destroying insects —there are some preventative measures that homeowners can take:

•Make sure any wood on the exterior of your home is finished, painted or treated — making it less attractive to wood-destroying pests and bees looking to nest.
•Get rid of any compacted earth or piled wood near your home that could attract pests, especially termites.
•Seal all cracks and holes that would give insects access to the inside of your house. Check crawlspaces, along the foundation and any exterior vents.
•Check the exterior of your home often for wasps. They like to build nests under eaves, underneath tables or even in barbecue grills.
•Keep food in sealed containers and keep your kitchen clean. Rotting fruit, dropped crumbs or even pet food can attract ants, flies and rodents.

But if you do happen to have some unwelcome pest visitors — and you may at this time of the year — it’s best to call in the pros sooner rather than later.