Bug of the Month - Stink Bug

There are three types of stink bugs common in the Maryland and Pennsylvania areas. None of which are harmful.
 

• The Southern Green Stink Bug is bright green and measures 14.0 to 19.0 mm long.
• The Green Stink Bug is bright green with a yellow-orange line and measures 14.0 to 19.0 mm long.
• The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is the most commonly known stink bug that is brownish yellow in color and measures 12.0 to 15.0 mm long.

All stink bugs feed on over 52 plants including; native and ornamental trees, shrubs, vines, weeds, cultivated crops, and wild plants. Stink bugs do not damage anything but seeds in the ground, the younger the seed, the more damage they can cause.

Stink bugs are active in the spring when the temperature is over 70 degrees. Each female deposits up to several thousand eggs usually in mid-late June. The eggs are laid in clusters (averaging 36 eggs) primarily on leaves and stems but also are commonly known to lay eggs in the seals of windows. It takes five weeks for the Nymphs to mature. The stink bug reaches high population levels in September or early October.

There is no way to control the stink bugs due to very high numbers of population that they spread out all over the yard or house. If you see them around your yard, you may prevent them from getting into your home by spraying Lysol in the cracks of your windows during the winter months. This will keep the stink bugs from laying eggs in your home, and may also kill any eggs that they have already laid in the windows.

 

Subterranian Termites

If you see winged, ant-like insects flying around your property, you need to know whether they are ants or subterranean termites. Your house could be in danger. Subterranean termites account for over 2.5 billion in treatments and damage annually. No pest is more threatening to a structure than termites. Even if your building or home doesn’t have termites, you’ll want to know about termites.

 

Usually one of the first signs of infestation is the appearance of swarmers. This is in the spring for many such as eastern subterranean termites found in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Swarmers are termites which are sent out to start new colonies. Swarms usually generate panic calls from homeowners who suddenly see what can be thousands of winged termites appearing in a living room or basement or even outside.

 

Subterranean termites live underground or in protected areas such as wood. There is always at least one queen and many more reproductives may also be present. Most people never see a queen, but may have seen swarmers or workers. The total number of individuals in a colony of subterranean termites may be more than a million. Imagine a million termites attacking your home.

Northwest Termite & Pest has three types of treatment: Liquid treatment of the soil in and around your home, wood treatment, and Advance Bait System.







How does the Advance Bait System work?
The revolutionary Advance Termite Bait System eliminates termite colonies in and around your home and offers advantages to your family with long-term protection of your biggest investment: Your home.

 

 

 

Carpenter Ants

 

Carpenter ants are found in and around homes, most species are black, perhaps with some faintly grayish bands on the abdomen; others may have some brown or reddish coloration along with the black.

 

The carpenter ant's diet includes a great variety of both animal and plant foods. These ants will feed on other insects, both living and dead, and nearly anything people eat.


 

Carpenter ants, will establish nests in a number of different locations, inside or around the house. Indoor nest may be found in hollow doors, window sills, the substructure of porches, roofs, behind baseboards, firewood, shingles, or other natural hollow areas. Outdoor sites include stumps, hollow logs, fence posts, or other similar large pieces of wood.

 

Carpenter ants do not use wood for food, but hollow it out for nesting. These galleries are frequently hollowed in moist or unsound wood, although carpenter ants can burrow in sound wood.

 

Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees resemble large bumblebees, but have very different nesting behavior. They bore long tunnels into wood and divide there tunnels into cells where individual larvae will develop. The typical carpenter bee gallery has an entrance hole on the wood surface. The gallery continues inward for a short distance then turns sharply upward and runs in the same direction as the grain of the wood. The entry hole is 1/2 inch round.

 

Powderpost Beetles

The adults do very little actual damage to wood, serving primarily as a reproductive function. Powderpost beetles larvae cause millions of dollars worth of damage in the United States each year. Powderpost beetles infest flooring, studs, girders, and other parts of buildings, lumber, crating, paneling, furniture, tool handles, gunstocks and many other wood articles. The exit hole is 1/32 - 1/16 inch round.

 

 

Old House Bore

Like the Powderpost the adults do very little actual damage to wood. The larvae of the Old House Bore feed on living trees, logs, and seasoned wood. The adult will emerge from the wood after it has incorporated into a structure. They will not re-infest the wood because of its dryness, but they are great concern to property owners who find them or evidence of their activity. The exit hole is 1/4 to 3/8 inch oval.

 

Cockroaches

There are approximately over 3500 species of cockroaches in the world; around 60 species are in the United States. Cockroaches, especially the German cockroach, are the most commonly encountered and important household insect pest in much of the U.S.

 

Only a few of the cockroach species are found in the northeast, American, Oriental, Brown-Banded, Smokey-Brown and the German cockroach.

 

German Cockroach	American Cockroach	Oriental Cockroach

Cockroaches usually choose to live in protected areas, cracks and crevices which provide a warm and humid environment. The presence of cockroaches is often detected by their damage, or fecal matter. The most common areas of harborage are kitchens, bathrooms, storage areas, garbage areas and unsanitary places.

 

Cockroaches one of the oldest insects-fossil remains date back 200 Million Years. Roaches have six legs, have wings and two antennae, likes bark, damp places with plentiful food supply, feeds on a variety of foods, especially starches and sugar, including bookbinding, photographic film, linens, leather goods, and a numerous food items.

 

It is impossible to list all the places where cockroaches may live and hide, so it is important to have a professional inspect thoroughly and use his or her judgment and experience to find all harborages.

 

Silverfish

Silverfish may be found almost anywhere in a house. However, they usually will be found living close to their source of food. They eat a wide variety of foods containing protein or carbohydrates. Such things as paper, glue, paste, linens or dead insects, and are able to live for a long time without food.

Boxelder Bugs

The boxelder bug is a common pest in the Northeast. They are bright red or black with narrow reddish lines on the back.

 

These insects feed principally by sucking juices from the boxelder tree, but are sometimes found on other plants. Adult boxelder bugs will enter structure in the fall, seeking winter shelter, and finding areas in wall voids and attics.


 

Bees, Hornets and Wasps

 

Ants

Common species in the U.S. include the Carpenter Ant, Pharaoh Ant, Pavement Ant, Fire Ant, Odorous House Ant, Argentine Ant and Thief Ant. When they enter homes, ants look for sweets or substance containing protein.

 

 

When ants find a food source, most species lay down a long-lasting invisible chemical trail for the rest of the colony to find.

 

Ants are social insects that live in colonies that contain up to one million.

 

The Norway Rat

The Norway rat is also known as the house rat. It has a stocky body, Weighing between 12 and 16 ounces. Indoors the Norway rat prefers to nest around the lower floors of buildings, but when populations are large, it will also occupy attic areas. The territories of most rats are between 50 to150 feet of the nest; however, rats will travel 300 feet or more daily to obtain their food and water.

 

Click here to learn more about the rat reproduction cycle.