March 11th, 2010
This year’s wet winter is causing predictions of major pest infestations this spring and summer, according to the National Pest Management Association (NMPA). Conditions that occurred this past winter will encourage pest reproduction and growth, especially around homes. Despite the cries of “global warming”, over 900 cities in the United States recorded record snowfall and precipitation. In addition, many states recorded record snowfalls, the likes of which had not been seen in decades.
The NPMA recommends homeowners to:
Repair fascia, soffits and rotted roof shingles.
Seal cracks and holes including entry points for utilities and pipes.
Replace weather-stripping and repair loose mortar around basement foundation and windows.
Trim tree branches and shrubbery and keep away from the house.
Screen windows and doors.
Keep basements, attics and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.
Store garbage in sealed containers and dispose of it regularly.
Call a qualified pest professional for additional advice and treatment if necessary.
It is also recommended to do seasonal checks of your home’s exterior, since insects can find the tiniest cracks to invade your home.
Tags: ant, Ants, Corky's Pest Control
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March 4th, 2010
Cornell University researches have discovered a protein that controls renal function in mosquitoes. This protein could possibly lead to the development of a new class of insecticides. They were working with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that frequently transmit dengue and yellow fever. Dengue has no vaccine available and so far the only hope is to attempt to control the mosquitoes.
If they are able to block the function of this protein, the mosquitoes would face many problems including renal failure. They could not urinate, causing fluid and salt overloads to their systems. In addition, they could face a weight gain that could prevent them from flying away. Overall, it would potentially affect their ability to survive.
Tags: bite, Invasive/Exotic Pests, mosquito, West Nile Virus
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February 25th, 2010
Despite years of waging war against mosquito-transmitted malaria, the problem still exists. It is true that it has been pretty well eradicated in the United States, but small outbreaks do happen. Most are related to migrant encampments where the inhabitants have come from Mexico and Central American countries. San Diego County, for example, has had several small outbreaks in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.
While third-world tropical countries are still at the greatest risk, mosquitoes that are known as vectors for the disease exist practically everywhere that mosquitoes are found. Attempts to create a malaria vaccine have not been successful so far, but the work continues. Some calls for the return of the use of DDT have been made, also. But health risks and problems with residual chemicals are also a factor.
While the United States is fairly safe, travelers to other parts of the world should check the Center for Disease Control website for the latest information on outbreaks of malaria.
Tags: bite, disease, Invasive/Exotic Pests, mosquito, West Nile Virus
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February 18th, 2010
A former chief technology officer for Microsoft has developed a laser-powered mosquito blaster. It uses common parts found in laser printers and similar devices, and is said to be capable of shooting down 50-100 mosquitoes per second. This would certainly bring new life to the routine outdoor summer picnic!
Intellectual Ventures, the company developing the project, staged a display with slow-motion cameras which show mosquitoes being lit up by the laser. It appears to cut through the wings or other body parts and the mosquito drops from flight. It can differentiate between larger object such as butterflies and humans so there is no danger of mistaken targeting.
If there is enough demand for the product, it could potentially cost as little as $50.
Tags: bite, Invasive/Exotic Pests, mosquito, West Nile Virus
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February 11th, 2010
Over 200 years ago, the explorers Lewis & Clark had issues with mosquitoes and malaria, although the connection was not known to medical science at the time. In their journals, mosquitoes show up as a problem frequently.
On the Wood River in upper Louisiana Territory in late March of 1804 (north of modern St. Louis), Clark wrote “The musquetors are verry bad this evening.” Spelling was always an issue for both Lewis & Clark. Lewis spelled mosquitoes most often as “musquetoe”, but also “muscatoe” and once got it right as mosquito. Clark had a wider variety including the “musquetors”, “mesquetors”, and “misqutr”.
Malaria was known, but not attributed to mosquitoes. The symptoms were also attributed to many other possible illnesses. The only thing that worked as a cure was bark imported from Peru which contained quinine. Lewis purchsed 15 lbs. in powdered form for $30—quite a sum in those days. He also purchased mosquito curtains, more from their being a nusaince pest since the medical threat was not known yet.
Tags: bite, mosquito, West Nile Virus
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February 4th, 2010
Researchers in Northern Arizona have been trying a wide variety of loud sounds to disrupt the activities of the Ips bark beetles. They tried hard rock music, and even Rush Limbaugh’s talk show played backwords–but those ideas did not pan out.
What did work was the scraping and crunching sounds the beetles make themselves. The sounds were turned into “sonic bullets” and played back to the beetles. The noise made them react in different ways–sometimes even aggressively as males would tear the females apart. Sometimes the females would head toward the speakers instead of seeking males to mate with, so there are possibilities these ideas may work in the forests. Bark beetles have been killing millions of acres of forests in the West each year. An infestation of a few thousand beetles can kill one tree in a matter of days.
Tags: exotic pest, invasive, Invasive/Exotic Pests, plant pests
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January 27th, 2010
Due to recent cold weather, the state Department of Food and Agriculture is delaying the treatment schedule for the San Diego County MedFly quarantine areas. Unfortunately for growers located in these areas, it potentially means they cannot harvest their avocados in the pre-Super Bowl period–the greatest time of demand for the entire year.
The Super Bowl creates a huge demand because of snacks–and avocados have a large market with guacamole dip. Stores regularly stock up in the two weeks before the big game, and then demand goes way down as they sell off any surplus avocados in the weeks afterward.
Currently, about 193 square miles of San Diego County is under quarantine for the Mediterranean fruit fly–the “MedFly”. In the worst-case scenario it has the potential to cause $280 million in damage to the local harvest.
Tags: exotic pest, invasive, Invasive/Exotic Pests, Medflies, plant pests
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January 22nd, 2010
San Diego’s East County eye gnat problem may finally have a solution. A farm advisor with the University of California Extension confirmed the problem was coming from an organic spinach and lettuce farm near Jacumba. It appears the farm was responsible for up to 80 million gnats, and since it runs as an organic operation, the use of pesticides was not considered.
The creative solution was to plant rows of alfalfa and corn in a 100-foot wide barrier around the farm. The gnats are attracted to these crops, and pesticides can be used on them, thus eliminating the gnats before they exit the immediate area of the farm.
Tags: contaminated, disease, exotic pest
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January 14th, 2010
Four more mice were found in a new area of San Diego’s North County that were infected with the Hantavirus. The Hantavirus can be transmitted to humans when they inhale contaminated dust while cleaning up mouse droppings. It creates flu-like symptoms, but in some cases can cause difficulty in breathing and even death.
In the last year, around twenty infected mice have been found in the county, most in the North County area. San Diego County Vector Control officials now routinely monitor for the Hantavirus. It is still a rare occasion when people catch the disease, however.
Tags: contaminated, mice, rodent
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January 7th, 2010
The unpleasant noise made by mosquitoes actually has a purpose–to attract mates. Scientists in England recently completed a study that found the male and female mosquitoes create a harmony that attracts them together. The noise, which drives some people crazy, is created by the motion of the wings in flight. The “harmony” can be adjusted to attract the proper species and mate.
This is little comfort to those people that can’t sleep when they hear the buzz of mosquitoes–they are actually trying to increase their numbers! The study may have some use in creating new types of mosquito traps.
Tags: bite, mosquito, West Nile Virus
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