For back issues and other information visit us on the web at www.Pest-Pros.com
In this issue…
1. West Nile Virus
2.
Assassin Bugs
3.
Gophers
4. Subterranean
Termites
5. Quick
Facts
…And yet another disease found in New Mexico, carried by our local pests…
West Nile Virus, or WNV for short, is a potentially serious illness that is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread WNV to humans and other animals when they bite. The more time you spend outdoors, especially in mosquito-prone areas, the more likelihood you could be bitten by an infected mosquito. Pay attention to avoiding mosquito bites if you spend a lot of time outside, either working or playing.
The easiest and best way to avoid WNV is to prevent mosquito bites.
When you are outdoors, use insect repellent containing DEET. Follow the directions on the package.
Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants at these times or consider staying indoors during these hours.
Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flowerpots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in birdbaths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children's wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren't being used.
What a great name!! - "Assassin Bugs" - and these critters really do try to live up to it, by jabbing their sharp mouth into other insects they've captured, and sucking out the juicy stuff inside. In this effort these insects certainly qualify as "beneficial" predators. Unfortunately some of the different kinds are also given other names, and these are far more threatening to us. We call some species Kissing Bugs or Cone-nosed Bugs, because there are a few kinds that feed on the blood of animals rather than on other insects. This interesting family is worth knowing about, and worth being aware of if you live in areas where the kissing bugs are prevalent.
In North America we do have a number of species of kissing bugs that feed on the blood of mammals, and we at least need to be aware of them. We have up to twelve species in the U.S. Some are so adapted to feeding on human blood that they may never leave the homes in those areas of poorly constructed houses where there are abundant hiding places for the bugs to get into where they are not seen. More often, though, they live outdoors and feed on other kinds of animals. They can be a risk to our health due to their ability to transmit a disease called Chagas Disease, which so far still may be restricted to Latin America, and not spread by the bugs in the United States.
In the U.S. we are relatively free of this terrible disease, even though kissing bugs in the U.S. have been found infected with the pathogen. We still do not want to be bitten by these creatures though, as their saliva can cause a variety of reactions in people, ranging from not much at all to potentially life-threatening allergic responses in sensitive people. The more often you are bitten the more of a reaction you may experience, and it could be as serious as swollen tongue, larynx, and trachea and serious difficulty in breathing. More commonly the bite would leave a welt or reddened area of the skin that itched or felt warm to the touch. Some studies indicate that about 7% of people may have that much more serious reaction, even leading to anaphylactic shock, that could come on immediately after the bite, and if you believe you have been bitten by an assassin bug you should consider seeking medical help.
These are not insects to obsess about in the United States, but simply be aware of them, know what they look like, and if you have large numbers around your home learn about their behavior and likely sources so you can eliminate them.
The name "pocket" gopher is given to these animals because they have fur-lined pouches in their cheeks that they use for carrying food. The pouch is NOT used to carry dirt, but the dirt is simply pushed along by the gopher with its front legs. They use their legs and teeth to dig the dirt out to create their tunnels, and then push the excess dirt out through little side tunnels and onto the outside surface of the soil or lawn.
Gophers are rodents, and there are over 100 varieties of them in the United States. They have long, hard front teeth called incisor teeth, they have tiny ears and small eyes, and tiny little tails that act as "feelers" when the gopher runs backward through its burrow system. Gophers are solitary animals, and you never have more than a single adult gopher living and working in a tunnel system. During breeding season males will be allowed into a burrow by a female, and of course the mother cares for the baby gophers until they are old enough to be off on their own. Otherwise, even though you may have many gophers living in your yard, and their tunnels may wander and curve around each other, they do not mix.
Gophers are vegetarians, and live almost entirely underground, feeding on roots of shrubs, trees, or landscape plants as well as plant material they gather during short sojourns above the surface and drag back into the burrow to eat or place in storage chambers. They may even chew on the lower trunks of small trees, girdling the bark and killing the tree. They may feed on lawns above ground, within a few feet of their burrow opening for a fast retreat if danger approaches.
Gophers do not go into hibernation, but instead are active year round. Even when the ground is covered with snow the gophers will tunnel at the surface of the soil, and these surface mounds can be seen easily when the snow melts away in the spring. In warmer weather the main tunnels stay around 4 to 8 inches below the surface, and may include over 800 feet of tunnels for a single gopher. Small side chambers are created for their nest area, for food caches, and for depositing their feces, since they cannot carry this material up to the surface.
If you are bound and determined to try one of the easy ways then go for it. However, experience of many people who have done a lot of gopher control indicates these are intelligent animals that are not easily fooled. You might get lucky, and if you have only a single gopher working its magic in your yard, and you chase it to the surface by flooding its burrow (and your cat picks it off) then success might be in the works for you. Some people claim good results from using gas cartridges too, but overall these methods are not particularly effective.
One other thought too, and that is to remember that just because you have eliminated all the gophers from your property does not mean that new ones won't move in very quickly. They are territorial, and once some ground is rendered free and clear of the competition new gophers may take over the vacated area, even moving into the burrow system left by a departed comrade. Gopher control often needs to be an ongoing process if your dahlias are to survive.
Experienced pest control technicians who have worked with gopher control are probably your best bet for control. They have many options available and know which ones are most effective.
The three principal types of termites in New Mexico are subterranean (nest in the soil), dampwood (infest damp wood), and drywood termites (infest dry wood). Subterranean termites are the most destructive and frequently encountered kind of termite found throughout the state. Although they nest in soil, subterranean termites can attack structures by building tubes that connect their nest to wood in structures. Aerial nests can occur without a ground connection if all castes of the colony are present and moisture is available.
Subterranean termites are social insects that live in colonies consisting of many individuals. The colonies are composed of workers, soldiers and reproductives. The workers, which are about 1/8 inch long, have no wings, are white to cream colored and very numerous. Soldiers defend the colony against insects, like ants, that can attack the colony. Soldiers are wingless and white in color with large brown heads and mandibles (jaws). King and queen termites perform the reproductive functions of the colony. They are dark brown to black in color and have two pairs of wings about twice the length of their body.
Subterranean termites feed on wood or other items that contain cellulose, such as paper, fiberboard, and some fabrics derived from cotton or plant fibers. Termites have protozoa in their digestive tracts that can convert cellulose into usable food.
Subterranean termites nest in the soil to obtain moisture, but they also nest in wood that is often wet. They easily attack any wood in contact with the ground. If the wood does not contact the soil, they can build mud tunnels or tubes to reach wood several feet above the ground. These tunnels can extend for 50-60 feet to reach wood and often enter a structure through expansion joints in concrete slabs or where utilities enter the house.
Termites remain hidden within wood and are often difficult to detect. However, subterranean termites may be detected by the presence of winged reproductives, mud tubes, and wood damage.
Winged termites emerging from the ground out-of-doors near the house does not necessarily mean the house is infested, but it is a good reason to check further. Termites in the wood of homes or other buildings usually come from colonies already established in the soil.
Subterranean termites build earthen, shelter tubes to protect them from low humidity and predation. These tubes are usually 1/4 to 1 inch wide. Houses should be inspected at least once a year for evidence of tubes. If the house has a crawl space, the inside and outside of foundations should be inspected for tubes. If the house has a concrete slab floor, cracks in concrete floors and places where pipes and utilities go through the slab should be closely examined. Cracks in concrete foundations and open voids in concrete block foundations are also hidden avenues of entry.
Subterranean and drywood termites require completely different control methods; therefore, the termites must be correctly identified. A licensed termite inspector is essential in determining the existence, the type and the proper treatment for them.
UNSUBSCRIBE: If you wish to unsubscribe to this e-newsletter, please click here. If you would like to recommend this newsletter to a friend, please click here and give us their email address.