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Latin Name: Corythucha elegans
Common Name: Willow lace bug
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This is a native insect in North America.
Biology:
In cold regions the bugs will be dormant through the winter as either adults hidden under crevices in the bark or in piles of fallen leaves, or as eggs laid within the tissues of the leaves of evergreen trees. In the spring eggs hatch, the new nymphs undergo several stages over about a 6 week period, and the winged adults appear. Several generations can be expected each year. They feed by means of a proboscis that is inserted into the leaves and fluids are removed. Extensive feeding leads to chlorosis and a general mottled or stippled look to the leaves, along with heavy accumulations of dark fecal droplets.
Identification:
The presence of lace bugs may be noted by the mottled look to the leaves, along with the insects and the characteristic black fecal spotting on the undersides
Latin Name: Aedes albopictus
Common Name: Asian Tiger Mosquito
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This species is native to Asia but was introduced into Hawaii in the late 1900’s and was found in the continental U.S. in Texas in 1985. It now is found in at least 26 states and as far north as Minnesota and Pennsylvania, south to Florida, and west to West Texas. It also is now found in South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, in Africa and Europe, and in Australia and several major islands of the South Pacific. It’s spread has been tied in some cases to the movement of automobile tires and the larvae living in water in these tires.
Biology:
This serious species of mosquito has been described as the “perfect” vector of mosquito-borne diseases and is known to be able to spread dengue and encephalitis and is capable of vectoring up to 30 different pathogens. It is considered to be a minor threat with respect to Dengue and in fact
Latin Name: Culicoides sp.
Common Name: Biting Midges
Other Names: No-see-um, Punkies, Sand flies, Midgies
Pest Details
Origin:
These are native insects in North America.
Biology:
These tiny flies cause large problems with their biting and blood feeding habits. They are far better known by the name No-see-um, given for their habit of biting and leaving and not being seen by the person who felt that bite. Over 600 species occur in North America. The larvae live in most wet settings, including sand and soils near fresh and salt water habitats, rotting logs, and decaying vegetation, and this diversity makes their control at the source nearly impossible in most cases. In some areas they may be vectors of parasites to poultry, livestock, or possibly to humans. Because of their tiny size they often are able to pass through typical window screens on homes. Their numbers around aquatic areas and beaches can sometimes be extremely
Latin Name: Phormia regina
Common Name: Black Blow Fly
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
The true origin is unknown, as these flies are found throughout the world.
Biology:
This is a large filth fly found in and around structures, and its presence indicates that larval food resources such as animal feces or a dead animal are present. The adult flies often overwinter, commonly within structures, and they may appear within the structure during warm winter days. They are drawn to light, such as windows and doorways. The maggots are commonly found in fresh wounds in humans or animals and are even used in medical maggot therapy. The life cycle from egg to adult fly ranges from 10 to 25 days, depending on temperature, and the maggots pupate in the soil or beneath the carcass they have been feeding on.
Identification:
Despite its common name this species is usually a shining metallic blue color, whereas
Latin Name: Simuliidae
Common Name: Black Flies
Other Names: Buffalo gnat, Turkey gnat
Pest Details
Origin:
At least 255 species of these native insects occur in North America.
Biology:
Worldwide this family of flies is a serious health menace, spreading parasitic filarial worms as they feed on blood that can cause Onchocerciasis, also known as “River Blindness” in Africa. Various forms of this disease are also present in humans in Central and South America and other forms of this parasite and other parasites may infect livestock and poultry, causing major economic losses. Female flies deposit their eggs on the surface of water, on vegetation or sticks near the water, or on empty stream bottoms, usually 200 to 500 eggs per female. The larvae then emerge and attach themselves to substrates where the water is flowing, often in fast-flowing streams, straining food particles from the flowing water. They pupate where
Latin Name: Sepsidae
Common Name: Black Scavenger Flies
Other Names: Ensign flies – due to a black spot near the wing tip on many species.
Pest Details
Origin:
Three or more dozen species of these native flies are found in North America.
Biology:
As their name suggests, the larvae of these flies feed on decaying materials such as plant matter and animal excrement. The adult flies are often found in the vicinity of these food resources and while at rest will often wave or flick their wings intermittently. They may be particularly common around livestock and the abundant fecal material available, and are considered to be important decomposers and recyclers of that waste material. Their presence in a home indicates the presence of some larval food resource that is a sanitation problem to be removed. Because of their association with animal wastes and other rotting materials they may be important as mechanical vectors of bacteria
Latin Name: Hermetia illucens
Common Name: Black Soldier Fly
Latin Family Name: Stratiomyidae
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to North America, and a member of a large family of flies that otherwise are not of any pest significance.
Biology:
This species of fly is often found in structures where the larvae may breed in decaying vegetable or animal materials. They also feed on abandoned bee hives, feeding on the honeycomb and other materials. The larvae then leave the food material prior to pupation, and mature larvae or the large pupae may be found well away from likely sources for them. Dumpsters are a common source of larvae of these flies.
Identification:
The adult fly is a very large fly, up to an inch in length and somewhat narrow bodied. It is shiny black, with a flattened abdomen and with a pair of large, light, clear looking patches at the base of the abdomen. The wings
Latin Name: Calliphora vicina
Common Name: Blue Blow Fly
Other Names: Blue bottle fly, Blue tailed fly
Pest Details
Origin:
The true origin is unknown, as these flies are found throughout the world.
Biology:
This is one of the largest filth flies to be found in and around structures, and its presence indicates that larval food resources such as animal feces or a dead animal are present. The adult flies often overwinter, commonly within structures, and they may appear within the structure during warm winter days. They are drawn to light, such as windows and doorways. The maggots are commonly found in fresh wounds in humans or animals and are even used in medical maggot therapy. The life cycle from egg to adult fly ranges from 10 to 25 days, depending on temperature, and the maggots pupate in the soil or beneath the carcass they have been feeding on. When feeding on a carcass within a structure the maggots often
Latin Name: Piophila casei
Common Name: Cheese Skipper
Latin Family Name: Piophilidae
Other Names: Ham skipper
Pest Details
Origin:
European or Asian in origin, but now found throughout the world.
Biology:
The name “skipper” comes from the ability of the larvae to hop or skip as it moves. They feed on meats and cheeses, and are a serious pest in many parts of the world. They also may be found feeding in cadavers, fungus, dried bones, and many other odd circumstances. The proper storage of meats and cheeses now has resulted in this fly pest being of minor importance in the U.S. The female breeds immediately upon her emergence from the pupa, and lays up to 500 eggs in and around larval food sources. It is the larva which feeds on the meat or cheese materials. Its ability to snap its body into the air to move can allow it to jump up to 10 inches horizontally, although its usual movement is by slowly creeping
Latin Name: Pollenia rudis
Common Name: Cluster Fly
Latin Family Name: Calliphoridae
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
Possibly native to North America, and found throughout the United States, Canada, and in Europe.
Biology:
The pest significance of the Cluster fly is due to the habit of the adults gathering in large numbers within structures, where they spend the winter months. On warm winter days they may awaken and become a nuisance within the structure. They are large flies and poor fliers, and may land on arms or faces as they move about. Once spring warmth activates all the flies they emerge from the structure in great numbers to gather on walls, furnishings, or objects outdoors. When crushed they give off an unusual, sweet odor. The larvae are parasites of earthworms. The female lays eggs in the soil and the maggots seek out earthworms, which they penetrate and live within, eventually killing