Insects as Pets? A Bizarre New Trend

by Taylor Clark | Mar 12, 2014 | Blog, Pest Identification, Tips

Myrmecia brevinoda (Giant Bulldog Ant, Giant Bull Ant) (Photo credit: Arthur Chapman)

If insects don’t top your list of Cute & Adorable Living Things, you aren’t alone.  However, many people in Asia will disagree with you.  In fact, an increasing number of teenagers and young adults in China and other areas of Asia are beginning to keep exotic insects as pets. Technology is making the trend more accessible to many today, because these exotic insect pets can be ordered online and shipped from other parts of the world.

Giant ants may be the most interesting insect pet in China. Although the trend is quirky and unique, it may not be the safest or healthiest fad to hit modern Asian society.

The Lure of Insects as Pets

According to a number of news reports, Chinese authorities are finding an increase in exotic, foreign insects being shipped through the postal system. Many of these insects are being shipped to teenagers and young adults for use as pets. Because these insects require little care and do not need regular veterinary visits, they seem to be an appealing alternative to dogs, cats, and other domesticated animals.

The thought of keeping an insect instead of a dog, cat, or goldfish may also be psychological in nature. Many young people are growing increasingly independent, seeking to find their own unique place in the world. Keeping an exotic insect as a pet may make them feel that they are different from their peers, who often have traditional pets in their home.

Why Keeping Exotic Insects May Be Harmful

Some species of ants and other exotic insects are invasive pests, often making their way into the wild and leaving destruction in their path. When insects are smuggled into the country via online merchandisers, they can carry disease (harmful to human health or plant life) with them.  Some insects, especially those that aren’t plentiful in one area, have the ability to destroy plant life, thereby damaging the ecological landscape.

If foreign insect species are introduced into a region which lacks certain natural predators, it is likely that the foreign insects will reproduce quickly and easily. This reproduction can threaten both human and plant life, depending on the insect and area of the country.

It is easy to see why authorities are concerned about this increasing trend.  By smuggling living things across borders, officials are unable to prevent the concerning and potentially disastrous consequences.

The Large Milkweed Bug: Friend or Foe?

by Taylor Clark | Mar 5, 2014 | Blog, Pest Identification, Tips

The seed pod of milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The milkweed bug is a colorful beetle that feeds mainly on grains. Its distinguishing characteristics are its long mouth part and its red and black outer colors. Although especially abundant in the south-eastern part of the United States, the milkweed bug has also been seen as far north as Ontario, Canada. Some treatments are available to rid areas of milkweed bugs; however these insects do not generally cause too much trouble in region.

Milkweed Bug: Friend or Foe?

The milkweed bug can be found in many fields, grasslands, farms, and homes across the south-eastern part of the United States, feeding mostly on the milkweed plant. Considering that milkweed isn’t a major food source for most humans, or even animals, the milkweed bug is not considered a major agricultural threat. However, when milkweed becomes scarce, milkweed bugs may feed on nearby plants, seeds, and vegetables. Often, milkweed bugs will feed on the juices within the plants, leeching their nutrients and degrading the plants over time.

Nevertheless, milkweed bugs can be beneficial. The can also become predators, feeding on agriculturally harmful insects. This often happens when their main food source, milkweeds, becomes scarce. Although these insects can be helpful, if they invade your garden in large numbers you may wish to remove them, just in case they cause damage to plants and vegetation.

Control Measures

One of the easiest and most effective control methods against the milkweed bug is pesticides. However, when spraying pesticides near food, seek the counsel of a trusted and professional pest control service. Hand removal of the insects can be helpful and is often recommended, especially in organic circles. If the milkweed bug population in your area is small and isn’t harming your garden, you may find it best to allow them to live and carry out their beneficial duties.

Common Signs of Powderpost Beetle Damage

by Taylor Clark | Feb 26, 2014 | Blog, Pest Identification, Tips

1: The adult beetle burrows hole into wood and lays eggs, carrying fungal spores. 2: The larva feeds on the fungus, which digests the wood, removing toxins 3: The larva pupates. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)  

Imagine grabbing a piece of wood to build your next log fire, only to find that the log crumbles in your hands, disintegrating into nothing but wood fragments and powdery dust. This is often a symptom of powderpost beetle damage.

Common Signs of Powderpost Beetle Damage 

Powderpost beetles mostly damage wood, including wood house walls, firewood, and wood in furniture. These insects are most destructive in their larval stage, when they dig their way through wood surfaces. Common signs of powderpost beetle damage include the following:

• Crumbling or decaying wood. Wood that appears to be turning to dust or decaying for no apparent reason is a common sign of powderpost beetle invasion.
• Tiny holes in wood surfaces. Powderpost beetles create minute holes in wood surfaces. If you notice such tiny holes, your home may have been invaded by powderpost beetles.
• Tiny feces. Be alert for the presence of tiny feces, especially near areas such as wooden porches, window sills, and furniture.

Driving Away Powderpost Beetles

Early detection of powderpost beetles is key to preventing possible infestation and future damage. Regularly monitor wood areas and check for tiny holes caused by the bugs. Adults usually lay eggs in the wood, after which the larvae emerge, subsequently feeding on the wood from the inside out.

Avoid bringing firewood indoors for storage. Instead, bring wooden logs inside only if you will be burning the logs immediately. Check for any insects or insect damage before bringing any natural or organic material indoors to avoid insect issues in the future. Also, avoid bringing in wood that has just been exposed to rain or any other moisture, as powderpost beetles (and other insects) often thrive in moist conditions.

For furniture or other areas in the home, surface insecticides can reduce or eliminate the problem. A professional insect control company should be able to point you toward the right insecticide for your particular needs.

Sooty Mold

by Taylor Clark | Feb 19, 2014 | Blog, Pest Identification, Tips

Schefflera arboricola leaves with sooty mold (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sooty mold is a thin, black layer of film found on the underside of fruit tree leaves, on the skin of fresh fruit, and also on many surfaces in and around the home. This mold grows rapidly following an insect’s attack on a plant, especially after the insect has fed on the leaves of fruit. When insects attack a plant, they often feed on the juice inside the leaves or fruit, extracting as many nutrients as they can in one sitting. What they can’t fully digest or utilize they excrete, often on the leaves or fruit of the plant.

When combined with the sugars of fruit-growing plants, this excrement causes a chain reaction that fosters a breeding site for germs of all sorts. This is when mold quickly forms, causing damage to the affected plant and surrounding plant life. Sooty mold can slowly but surely crawl its way to neighboring plants, potentially destroying harvests. One should always inspect growing fruit trees, plants, or flower beds to see whether this black film has developed. Aphids and whiteflies are common insects that can cause this mold to develop.

Preventing Sooty Mold Problems

When treating any pest problem, it is often wise to treat the root of the problem and not just the underlying symptoms. In this case, the symptom is black mold. Controlling the insects first will cause the mold to lessen and disappear. This is highly favored to prevent future attacks of sooty mold on plants. If mold has developed, a safe insecticidal spray may be helpful in controlling inhabiting insects. This spray can be applied on the upper and lower sides of leaves, on the trunks of trees, and on the insects themselves. Many pest control companies can advise on the proper sprays that can be safely used around plants.

If new leaves appear, spray these leaves with the safe insecticidal spray to prevent future insects from invading. Keep the soil healthy with the proper fertilizer. Healthy soil promotes insect diversity and encourages attracts insects and microorganisms, which are essential for keeping out the unwanted insects that cause sooty mold.

Red Scales

by Taylor Clark | Feb 12, 2014 | Blog, Pest Identification, Tips

ants and red scale insects (Photo credit: sunphlo)

The red scale, also known as the California red scale, is a citrus pest native to southern China. Although especially fond of citrus trees, red scales can also be found on more than 70 other types of plants, most notably pumpkin and potato plants. These insects can significantly decrease fruit production, causing trouble for large-scale citrus growers. Fortunately, pesticides, predator insects, and other biological control methods can help to control these damaging insects.

Red Scale Damage

A female red scale may lay up to 150 eggs in her lifetime, so that a multitude of generations may feed on the same host plant. Nymphs hatch quickly and soon begin to search for areas on a plant or tree in which they can settle and begin their feeding. Often, the nymphs will begin by inserting their mouth parts into the leaves or fruit and sucking out sap. In the process they also insert their saliva into the bark, leaves, or fruit of the plant in question, and unfortunately that saliva is very toxic to and may result in irreversible plant damage.