Pest Control

CNN. MSN. New York Magazine. Even state health departments. It's on video. Audio. In print.

Everywhere you turn. Everyone you hear is saying that this could be the worst mosquito season in years -- decades -- "ever."

Right now, in many areas, the eggs are just beginning to awaken from their overwintering. A few mosquitoes are beginning to emerge and interrupt our evening activities, but from everything that's being said -- we haven't seen anything yet.

The early spring and the lack of winter in many areas are the greatest causes of the high populations that are expected. Not only are these flying insects annoying, irritating, and itchy when they bite, they can be vectors of very serious diseases, including West Nile virus and encephalitis.

While there is no magic wand of protection, there are ways you can prepare to make it through the upcoming buggiest, itchiest season in years:

• Learn All About Mosquitoes.
• Find out What Devices Really Work -- and what don't, according to university sources.
• Repel mosquitoes before they get too close.
• Modify the environment around your home to help reduce populations.

Some are seeking moisture, others seeking dry. Some are looking for a cooler environment, others want warmth. A few are hoping to find food, and others just end up in your home by complete accident.

Occasional invaders, such as centipedes, millipedes, crickets, pillbugs, and a bevy of others, are those that will enter homes and buildings but prefer to be outdoors. Because these pests don't usually breed or survive well in homes, they are generally more of an annoyance than of any danger. In addition, many tend to be seasonal in nature, with spring and early summer pests currently annoying many homeowners across the U.S.

Centipedes and millipedes are two of the pests that tend to temporarily move into homes in the spring. Although one or two of these arthropods are unlikely to be a problem, they can be very disturbing to some people. Read more about these many-legged creatures and their control.

You may have heard that you can tell the temperature by a cricket's chirp - and wondered if it was true.

According to MSNBC/Science, new research by a British and Indian is proving that the pitch of a tree cricket's song does indeed change with temperature.

The "song" is actually created by the vibrating of the cricket's wings, and tree crickets vibrate their entire wing to make their call. To discover why and how the song changes with temperature, the team used computer modeling to closely examine the cricket's wings.

The resulting findings proved how the pitch changes:

"The body temperature of crickets, as with all insects, depends on the temperature of their environment. In warmer weather they are more active, and bring their wings together more quickly. As a result, the frequency of the vibration increases and the pitch -- the perceptual quality associated with frequency -- becomes higher. The opposite happens in cooler weather."

However, the team never did figure out why.

Photo by Fir0002/Wikipedia

According to a study by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), carpenter ants were found to be one of the most prevalent pests today.

The study, which surveyed U.S. pest professionals, found that 100 percent of respondents treated ant infestations in 2011, and that the most prevalent species found were carpenter ants, odorous house ants and pavement ants. Sixty-six percent of professionals had treated for carpenter ants, 62 percent for odorous house ants, and 59% for pavement ants.

According to the study, most professionals treated several hundred ant infestations, while some treated many more. Infestations were most common in:

• office buildings (88%)
• restaurants (83%)
• apartments and condos (82%)
• single-family homes (80%).

It is common to find carpenter ants in homes and see winged ants in the spring, but before attempting control efforts, it is important to identify the particular species, and to ensure whether the flying "ants" are carpenter ants or termites.

Graphic courtesy of Owl Pest Prevention

The East Coast has been seeing an increase in mice over the last few years. But according to an article in the Newburyport Daily News, no one really knows why.

Sheila Haddad of Bell Laboratories is cited in the article as cited possible reasons as being "the unseasonably mild winter as a potential explanation for this season's sudden rise, a possible decline in predators or a reluctance to deal with the problem before it gets out of hand."

But regardless of the reason, mice and rats can spread disease and damage and should be dealt with as soon as a problem is suspected.

Although few people want bats living with them in their attics or rafters, they can be beneficial for insect control.

In  fact, a recent article on Hobby Farms.com is titled "4 Ways to Attract Bats to your Farm for Pest Control."  The bats eat crops pests, such as the corn earworm moth, and save farmers as much as $3.7 billion each year in pesticides. As a spokesperson for Bat Conservation International also said, this reduces pesticides on produce and in the water table.

The article lists some of the exact opposite methods of exclusion from your home as attracting the creatures to the farms.

We've previously discussed the impact of the mild winter on the early arrival of various pests. The latest of these creeping up in the news are ticks.

• As a CBS21 News stated: "Conditions have been just right for ticks to be out in full force this spring....Ticks can carry many viruses but the biggest concern right now is developing Lyme Disease. While you may not know you've been bitten by a deer tick, the symptoms can be noticeable."
• According to the Ledger Enquirer, Columbus, Ohio, area pest control companies are getting calls "hordes of creatures from mosquitoes and ants to termites and ticks."
• Quoted in  the Duluth Weekly, Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black said, "We are already seeing more insects and pests earlier this year due to the warm winter Georgia has had. Every year, pests cause millions of dollars in damage for our residents and it is important for Georgians to prepare a plan of action to help prevent damage from occurring."

At less than 3/8-inch long, ticks can be difficult to detect, but with a bit of knowledge and foresight, you can protect yourself against these tiny arthropods.

Norway rats and roof rats are fairly common pests in the U.S., particularly in rural or inner-city areas. But if you think you have problems with these typically 10-inch-long rodents, be glad you aren't being subjected to the breed of 3-foot-long, 9-pound giant Gambian rats continuing to invade the Florida Keys.

The problem started in the early 2000s when a breeder released several of the rodents into the wild. An intensive effort was made around 2008 to eliminate the rodents, and the problem was thought to be under control. ... Until recently, when they began reappearing. Although officials believe there are only a few dozen of the giant rats, they breed quickly and, if they are able to invade the mainland, could become a huge problem.

Read more on the topic at:

• Field and Stream
• Local 10 News (video also available)
• Miami Herald

Temperatures of 80-some degrees may be typical weather for the Sunny South, but it is far from normal in the states farther north where the early spring is bringing to life things we would generally not see for another month. While the green grass and flowering trees are a welcome site, the invasion of ants and other occasional invader pests are a great deal less welcome.

Last week it was the flies, this week I'm hearing more reports about ants. And too often, those ants are winged, which is a primary indication of carpenter ant or termite infestation.

There are things you can do yourself to prevent and control pests, or you may prefer to call in a professional. Either way, however, the only way to gain complete control of any pest is identification of the pest so that the treatment can be specifically tailored to its habits, feeding and/or breeding.

If bugs are starting to invade your home, try to capture a sample. Dead or alive is fine, just try to preserve it unsquashed. If consulting a professional, show him or her the sample. If doing it yourself, there are many resources that can be found online, starting with your local university or extension service.

Photo by Richard Bartz, Munich Makro Freak

With spring approaching, you may start seeing swarming insects in and around your home. If winged ant-like insects are among those you see, it can be a good thing. In most cases, the sighting of these winged "ants" in your home indicates the presence of termites or carpenter ants.

So how is that a good thing? Because it is a sign that you may have an infestation that could seriously damage or destroy your home if the colonies are not eliminated. If you hadn't seen the swarm, you would probably not know there was a problem until it became a major issue.

If you do see a winged termite or ant:

1. Sweep  or scoop it up and place it in a container.
2. Call a pest control company, and request an inspection.
3. When the service technician arrives, show him or her the insect to attain an accurate identification.

Before signing a service contract, however, it is recommended that you get three bids. This is because termites can be very difficult to eliminate. In addition, it will ensure that there truly is a problem and that the full extent of the problem is identified.