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.

Late summer and fall is the time to be careful about stinging insects. In spring bees, hornets and wasps are pollinators in search of sweets and other carbohydrates. Late in the year they begin to search for proteins such as insects which the place in their nests to feed next years brood. They become aggressive especially around their nests.

Prevention

Never try home remedies for stinging insects. Wear light loosely fitting clothes. DO NOT use perfumes i.e. under arm deodorants etc, when around bees, wasps and hornets. My best advice is leave them alone but if its necessary to remove them call a licensed pest management professional. If you are allergic to bee stings be sure to carry one of the benedryl type treatments with you.

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For additional information 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.

Request a Free Cockroach Control Estimate!

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 scene 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 hour 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

It’s tough to kill bed bugs on your own. Learn how to avoid a bed bug epidemic and rid yourself from unwanted bed bugs.

After you select a licensed, certified pest management professional (PMP) you should:

• Remove clutter as it provides hiding places for bed bugs.
• Wash all bedding in recommended water settings. Place all bedding (sheets, mattress covers, bed spreads etc. in a sealed plastic bag.
• Vacuum and dispose of vacuum bag outside the home or rinse the collection bag before re-installing if possible.
• Empty dresser drawers and closets and wash and/or dry clean according to manufacturers recommendations and then place in sealed plastic bags.
• Do not bring home new furniture until bed bugs are completely eliminated (usually 2 or more treatments by the PMP).
• Consult a PMP before disposing of furniture.

Bud Bug Apartment Dwellers

• The faster you act the better the results will be. When you spot bed bugs immediately call your landlord.
• If your landlord doesn’t take action contact your local Housing Code Authority.
• Don’t try to solve the problem yourself.
• Keep your home clean and litter free.
• Carefully follow the pest management professionals advise and recommendations.

Need professional advice on bed bugs? Contact Doc Pickhardt for more information.
(800) 404-3033
American Pest Control

Known as the Caribbean, brown, hairy or raspberry crazy ant. This new problem has been identified in Florida, Texas and Mississippi.The exact name and classification of this ant is still not known. Standard treatment do not work because of the huge numbers of ants. It has been estimated a single nest underground may be as large as a small house. If you see hundreds of small ants scurrying in erotic directions… It’s time to call a professional.

Raspberry Crazy Ant Infestation

“Doc”
American Pest Control

Usually in my reports about “bad bugs” and trees the culprit is some exotic import. Not this time. A tiny native walnut twig beetle found in California, Arizona, and New Mexico known as “Pityophorus juglanois” was first discovered in 1959 as just another bark beetle, has recently been associated with the death of walnut trees all along the west coast as far north as Washington and Oregon, as for east as Idaho and Utah.

The little critter doesn’t do much harm, but it is suspected it carries a new disease coined “thousand cankers disease.” There is concern that the disease itself is exotic and that it may spread east to the white (English) walnut industry (where our edible walnuts are grown) and to the Black walnut trees of the northeast praised for its wood in veneers and furniture. So far No control is known… Stay tuned.

Millipedes (Parasulus venustus) and other species, there are many; all have 2 pairs of legs on each body segment. A few years ago in the late spring they become so numerous in the mid west so as to create headlines in the papers and head aches for scientist like me. To this day we are not certain what caused the phenomena.

They are occasionally building invaders though its unlikely they multiply in the indoors. If you have a problem with them consider modifying your landscape. They are organic feeders and are especially faun of moist decaying leaves and mulch that is piled to deep against the foundation. Mulch reduces weeds improving soil and benefits plants but too much to close may create millipede and insect problems for your home.

After doing a lecture at a gated community, concerning the care of some “sick” Live Oak Trees (Quercus Virginiana), in the community of Port Charlotte Florida, I was invited to lunch by a county employee. We decided on a well known restaurant in Punta Gorda Florida. About half way thru an excellent lunch I discovered the fly swimming in my gravy!

There are several species of blowflies all have very pretty metallic colored thoraxes of one color or another and are called Black, Green or Blue flies depending on their color.

The blowflies are usually associated with animal manure, and they lay eggs in meat, fish and carrion BUT they are also attracted to garbage including rotting vegetable matter. When found in homes they are usually associated with dead animals in the attic or walls.

In the case of my Blue Bottle fly visitor, I traced him to an often dumped but never washed commercial dumpster outside the restaurant.

- William “Doc” Pickhardt, B.C.A.