Originally published on March 24, 2018 – Courtesy of Paul Hetzler, CCE St. Lawrence County Pest management used to be a lot simpler, and more effective. For those bothersome vampire problems you had your basic wooden stakes, cheap and readily available. The well-to-do could afford silver bullets, an elegant and tidier solution. And of course,…Continue Reading Managing monsters: Ladybugs problematic for many this winter
Ultrasonic Devices? Ultra-Ineffective
Sometimes I get questions about using ultrasonic devices for coping with pests. “Mrs. Jones uses them and she never sees a mouse!” is often how it goes. I understand the appeal: plug in this thing and my problem is solved. Sure! They also have great marketing campaign: this device will emit a sound you can’t…Continue Reading Ultrasonic Devices? Ultra-Ineffective
Are you ready for fall invaders?
Insects exhibit a variety of behaviors or adaptations that help them to survive the harsh conditions of winter. One that can be quite frustrating to homeowners belongs to the the group of insects we call “overwintering pests.” These organisms survive winter by taking refuge in South or West facing cracks and crevices, which maximizes exposure to the…Continue Reading Are you ready for fall invaders?
Inside-Outs of Dermestid Beetles
After a long, cold winter it seems we skipped spring and jumped into summer! The days are growing longer and May’s flowers are in full bloom. Concurrent with this change in seasons is a programmed response of many insects to emerge from overwintering and start their annual cycle. In some cases, these insects have spent the winter inside…Continue Reading Inside-Outs of Dermestid Beetles
An Unwelcome House Guest: the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
The shield-shaped adult brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSB) are between ½ to ¾ inch long with grayish-brown speckling on the top and bottom. “Marmorated” refers to the light and dark bands along the edges of the body. Now (April – May) is the time that they emerge from their overwintering places in our houses to…Continue Reading An Unwelcome House Guest: the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug