Probably not, they are more likely carpenter bees looking for some nice soft wood to burrow into. This bee “drills” a hole, usually about ½” in diameter, in places like fascia boards. After she enters the wood she turns at a right angle and chews with the grain sometimes for great distances. When she finally locates the spot she desires, she lays her eggs and stuffs a dead insect in for the prodigy to feed on as it grows old enough to drill its own hole.

If you are having a problem with carpenter bees or any other type of bee feel free to contact us for more information.

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General Pest Information:

Black swarming carpenter ants are usually seen in small numbers, that is, less than 100, and usually appear in the cooler part of a hot humid day. They are attracted to light and are usually found swarming around electric light bulbs or other light sources. The adult winged female is usually larger than the winged male. Placing a low pan of water, such as a pie pan, under the light source will attract the ants that are flying under the light source. The presence of winged carpenter ants is an indication that a colony has established itself in the nearby area. The carpenter ant colony is usually associated with damp, wet wood. In hunting for sources of infestation, pay particular attention to fireplace logs, hollow wood porch supports, or other wood members where moisture may have collected. Most infestations are difficult to find unless the source of moisture is rather evident. Metal flashing around chimneys, vents, roof valleys, and adjoining porches should be checked for leaks. Driving rain can sometimes cause moisture to be absorbed into hollow wood posts of porches, behind loose fitting boards, or un-caulked areas under and around windows, doors and other openings. The nesting area for these ants must be kept damp. Carpenter ants are often difficult to locate, since the point of entry may be quite a distance from the place where the galleries and nesting areas in the wood are located. Carpenter ant infestation is usually established in new locations, either by a fertile queen or through migration of all or part of an existing colony. Houses in wooded areas or in damp, humid locations are most likely to become infested, although they can at times infest dwellings in thickly populated areas of the city. Where an infestation has been established for a long time and the colony has grown to be a large one, usually numbering several thousand ants, structural damage may be extensive enough to require major repairs to the infested areas.

Carpenter Ant Life Cycle:

Carpenter ants prefer temperatures in the normal range of 70 to 90 degrees fahrenheit. A normal period from egg to adult is from 60 to 75 days. This growth rate may be slowed during the winter months. The winged adults are usually observed from the middle of May through summer and fall up to the first freezing temperatures. There may be more than one queen in a colony, especially in large colonies numbering two to three thousand worker ants. These ants may vary in length from 6mm to 15mm long. The colony is usually started by one queen who begins to pick her nest in damp decaying wood, in a hole dug in a tree, in the soil or under a rock. The wood damaged by carpenter ants has a tunneling effect, without the soil or mud placement as with subterranean termites. The tunnels or galleries of carpenter ants are irregular in shape, much like our caverns and caves in the earth, whereas the subterranean termite galleries follow the grain of the wood with a characteristic placement of soil. Branches of trees overhanging at the roof of a building are one common source of infestation. Most of the work in the carpenter ant colony is done by the small sexless workers. Carpenter ants do not feed on the wood that they infest. They only use the wood as a nesting place, from which they scavenge for food. Therefore sawdust will usually be found in the area immediately beneath the infestation. They will eat almost anything preferring liquids or fluids. Other insects, sugar, jelly, fruits, meats, grease, fats, plant juices, are all part of their diet.

How to Control Black-Winged Carpenter Ants:

One of the first things to be considered in carpenter ant control is to find the source of moisture and eliminate it. Carpenter ants have been known to nest in hollow core doors, around warm chimneys, and in the soil adjoining the building. Structural defects allowing moisture to get into the wood should be corrected immediately. Control of carpenter ants can be a very difficult problem if the infestation is enclosed in plastered or finished walls. Dusting powders into cracks and crevices of the walls, plus the use of liquid pesticides are very important. Where the location of the infestation permits, drilling into the infested area and applying a residual pesticide is very effective. Surface application of residual pesticide along baseboards, toe strips, around doorways and ant runways to the outside is very effective. An occasional ant may be observed after this treatment. Unless the source or colony can be found and destroyed, the customer should always be warned that application of residual pesticide is not an immediate instantaneous cure all for carpenter ant infestation. Stray insects from overhanging trees can continue to be an annoyance to the home owner, even though the infestation and colony have been eliminated. In sections where large wooded areas surround the dwelling, the owner should be warned that surface infestations may reappear. For this reason, regular periodic inspections and possible re-treatments are recommended.

Need Additional Help?

If you have any questions or would like further information on this subject, contact Doc Pickhardt of American Pest Control at: info@organicpestcontrolmichigan.com

Are you finding tiny round holes in your wooden furniture or in your hardwood floors? Chances are you have an infestation of Lyctidae or Anobiidrae powder post beetles. If you find sawdust (frass) that is light in color chances are the infestation is active. If the sawdust is a darker color it may be an old infestation. Either way if you notice these tiny holes in your wood floors or furniture it is a good idea to check with a pest management professional to be sure.

If you have any questions or would like further information on Powder Post Beetles contact Doc Pickhardt at: info@organicpestcontrolmichigan.com

Another new (exotic) ant is with us! Well he’s not really that new. The Asian needle ant was first discovered in Georgia in 1932 but the ant’s distinction was patchy for a long time. It only attained pest status about 6 years ago when it was found in South Carolina. Since then it has also been found in Alabama and Tennessee in relatively large numbers.

What Makes the Asian Needle Ant Important?

The ant is important for two reasons. The Asian needle ant sting is similar to a fire ant and it replaces native ant species where it becomes established. The Asian needle ant sting results in mild to intense pain with temporary to prolonged itching, sometimes for several hours. Anaphylaxis shock (extreme allergic reaction) has been documented in some cases.

The Asian needle ant nests are usually small but numerous and found under leaf mulch and nearly all man made objects in yards making control difficult. Research by the National Pest Management Association is currently underway to determine new control strategies including baits to assist in the control of this serious pest ant.

If you have any questions or would like further information on Asian needle ants contact Doc Pickhardt at: info@organicpestcontrolmichigan.com

The drugstore beetle was most likely named as such because it was found infesting early pharmacies where dried herbs and other plants were used to compound medicines. Today they are known as pantry pests eating almost any dry foot product consumed by humans. Unlike many other food pests (excluding moth species) these robust tiny beetles are excellent fliers and move about our homes with ease.

So if you find drugstore pests where you story dry food products be prepared to throw them away. Even then you will likely need the assistance of a professional pest management firm to control and/or eliminate these pests.

If you have any questions or would like further information on drugstore beetles contact Doc Pickhardt at: info@organicpestcontrolmichigan.com

The moth fly, drain fly and sewer fly are really all the same fly, they are hairy, tiny little flies that breed and inhabit our buildings. Although usually thought of as nuisance pests, there have been cases where inhalation of their body parts caused bronchial asthma.

Moth flies appear delicate and fuzzy when seen close up. They are yellow to black in color. Moth flies are poor fliers and are usually found near their breeding sites which include floor drains and any moist organic matter. Treatment usually requires professional help but if you can find the breeding source sometimes sanitation can correct the problem.

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For additional information or to request a free quote to remove moth flies, email Doc Pickhardt at info@organicpestcontrolmichigan.com or call (800) 404-3033.

Types of Cockroaches

There are six important cockroach species and many more that are not usually significant to us.

German Cockroach

The German cockroach (Blattela germanica) is the most important. This cockroach is ½” to 5/8” long, usually tan to light brown with two (2) dark stripes on it pronotum (the area directly behind the head). The female may have an egg capsule protruding from the end of her abdomen, each egg capsule contains thirty to forty (30-40) young which can become adults in only fifty (50) days. No wonder they become so numerous in a short time. They are usually found in kitchens and bathrooms.

American Cockroach

The American cockroach (Periplanta Americana) is quite large measuring 1 ¼” to 2 1/8” long this cockroach is also known as the waterbug or palmetto bug. They are found in the north and in the south where they thrive outdoors. American cockroaches are usually a light mahogany color with a light horizontal stripe behind the head on the pronotum. They prefer dark moist areas near food sources.

Australian Cockroach

The Australian cockroach (Periplantea australasiae), typically grow up to 1 ¼” long. They resemble the American cockroach in size and color but they have pale yellow stripes at the base of the wing pads and the forward margin of the pronotum. It is not commonly found indoors but will invade when temperatures are high, it can be brought indoors on house plants.

Oriental Cockroach

The Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis) grows up to 1” long and is a shiny dark brown or black; it cannot fly and is a poor climber on smooth surfaces. Oriental cockroaches are very susceptible to dehydration and are usually found in basements and crawl spaces.

Smoky Brown Cockroach

The Smoky brown cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa) is 1 ¼” to 1 ½” long and dark uniform mahogany in color, they are found outdoors in the south, hiding in mulch, leaf litter and ground cover. The smoky brown cockroach is sometimes found dead in houses likely due to dehydration. They typically enter homes through attics and other open spaces.

Brown Banded Cockroach

The Brown banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa) average 5/8” long and are similar in size and appearance except they have two horizontal brown bands on their wings. Brown banded cockroaches inhabit homes across the United States. They prefer warm climates but can be found in structures in any area. Unlike German cockroaches, brown banded cockroaches are usually NOT found in kitchens, they prefer furniture, behind picture frames, light fixtures and dropped ceilings.

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For additional information on cockroaches visit our cockroach control page or email Doc Pickhardt at info@theamericanlawnandtreearborist.com for a free estimate.

What used to be a pleasant interlude has become a disaster in many landscapes today. Deer damage many of our beautiful landscape plants by feeding on them especially because of the large herds we now have. They also cause damage by “bedding down” in bushes and cause considerable damage by rubbing the velvet off their antlers after they are fully grown.

Deer are usually nocturnal feeders but often will feed in the daytime. Because deer do not have upper incisors (front teeth) they must tear their food from the plant causing additional damage.

Deer Repellants

In recent years several companies have developed deer repellants some of which are excellent deterrents. They are usually applied by landscapers and arborists using power equipment. If you are already an American Four Seasons client you can easily add deer repellency to your program. If you would like only deer repellency I recommend using our organic treatment 4 times per year.

For a free consulation or to ask Doc a question call or email us today!

American Pest Control

Troy, Michigan
info@organicpestcontrolmichigan.com
800-404-3033

This is the time of the year when lady bugs can become a problem indoors. A rather new exotic insect called the Asian lady beetle moved into homes last fall to over winter in void spaces and attics. Now, since the sun is warming their hiding places, they are trying to get back outside to continue their life cycle.

Basically, these are beneficial insects that feed on aphids and other bad guy bug in the landscape. But when confined in large numbers (usually thousands) the become allergens to sensitive people. If you experience Asian lady bugs in your home this year have your home protected next fall by a professional pest management specialist.

For a free consulation or to ask Doc a question call or email us today!

American Pest Control

info@organicpestcontrolmichigan.com
800-404-3033

The Hawaiian Islands of Maui and Kauai are infested with an extremely invasive ant species known as the “Tiny Fire Ant“. The Tiny Fire Ant lives in areas similar to the red fire ant, but can also live in trees. This makes control a nightmare. I hope this sub tropical species does not migrate to the continental US, we already have enough trouble with our native species.

“Doc”
American Pest Control