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Excluding the northeastern and upper midwestern states, scorpions are present across most of the US and just over the border into southwestern Canada. Although they can be found in a variety of habitats, many live in hot and arid deserts. Of the 90 or so species in the U.S., all but four naturally occur west of the Mississippi river with the highest concentration in the desert southwest. Most are terrestrial, living under objects on the ground or in burrows, but some are arboreal, meaning they live up in trees.
Scorpions are predators that may use venom from their stinging tail to subdue prey. Like other venomous arthropods, they may defensively inject venom into people and cause a range of reactions. The only medically significant scorpion present in the U.S. is the Arizona bark scorpion, which occurs in Arizona and the margins of surrounding states into western New Mexico. Because it is an arboreal species, it is more likely to enter homes by crawling over touching plant
Two house mosquitoes (Culex spp.) are present in the United States: the northern house mosquito and the southern house mosquito. The northern house mosquito was introduced from North Africa and is present across the northern US; the southern house mosquito was introduced from Southeast Asia and is present across the southern US. There is a hybrid zone where these mosquitoes meet and are able to produce viable offspring, indicating they are probably subspecies instead of two separate species.
House mosquitoes can vector West Nile virus (and other diseases that may cause encephalitis) from birds to humans and horses. They are more likely to vector these diseases in urban areas because of their preference for living and breeding near humans. Since house mosquitoes overwinter as adults, they are often found in structures during cold temperatures. Females may bite when indoor heating or the weather becomes warm enough. Although they will breed anywhere water is allowed to accumulate,
By Dr. Chris Keefer, technical services manager, Professional Pest Management, Syngenta
The Turkestan cockroach is native to much of the Middle East through Central Asia. It was most likely introduced to the United States in military equipment returning from the Middle East in the late 1970s. Since then, it has become common in southern California and across the southwestern states into Texas where it appears to be displacing the Oriental cockroach. It may occur in other states near military bases or due to its popularity as a live feeder insect for reptile pets.
The Turkestan cockroach is a peridomestic pest, meaning it can live in or around structures. In less humid environments, it tends to be more of an outdoor pest often found in underground utility boxes and hollow block walls. They become more of an indoor pest as heat and humidity increases, or if introduced in potted plants or storage boxes. Because the Turkestan cockroach reproduces relatively quickly for a peridomestic cockroach, it can create large infestations fast.
Moles are small mammals (not rodents) that live underground in burrows and mostly eat earthworms and insects. They are active day or night, tunneling underground to find food. Sometimes, their tunnels breach the soil, especially in the spring and fall, or during rainy periods in the summer, when higher soil moisture pushes their prey up towards the surface. Shallow tunnels create ridges in turf and can injure grass roots, turning the surrounding turf brown. Moles also create hills of soil pushed up from deeper tunnels.
The most maintained turf may have the worst mole problems due to irrigation and fertilization, which promote their food supply. Also, turf located near natural woodlands tends to get populated by moles. Moles spend a lot of energy digging tunnels and are voracious eaters. Their home ranges are larger than most animals that live underground.
Blow or bottle flies are common around most of the world. They serve an important role by quickly consuming organic waste, such as animal remains, feces, and garbage, in the environment. Adults of some species arrive within minutes to the presence of animal remains, where they’ll lay their eggs that hatch into maggots to consume the body. Forensic entomologists are able to use the maggots’ developmental stages to determine a body’s time of death.
Adult blow or bottle flies are around half an inch long and usually metallic, with green being the most common color. Metallic blue, bronze or black are also possible. Outdoors, they often gather on the sunny sides of structures. Their populations can be managed by reducing the amount of animal feces that may be on the property or by keeping garbage contained as best as possible. If a large amount of adults are suddenly found indoors, it is usually a result of an animal dying within the structure.
House centipedes are native to the Mediterranean. They are now found throughout the United States, living both indoors and outdoors. Outdoors, they live under mulch, leaf litter, rocks and logs. Cold weather can push them indoors, where they can survive year-round as long as there is access to moisture. They prefer cool, humid and dark places such as bathrooms, basements and crawl spaces.
House centipedes are nocturnal predators of many different arthropods. They provide the same benefit as spiders by regulating populations of other pests. But they look just as scary or worse than spiders and are probably not appreciated by customers. Because they have front legs modified into what look like fangs to inject venom, there is potential for them to sting people or pets. However, they are not able to penetrate skin easily and, normally, are not defensive unless handled.
The dark rover ant is one of several species of rover ants present in the United States, both native and introduced. It is native to South America, where it survives well in a variety of habitats, especially urban and suburban areas. Although introduced to the U.S. as early as 1976 in Louisiana, it didn’t become widely reported as a structural pest until the early 2000s. It is now mostly found in South Carolina, Georgia and the Gulf states, as well as some urban centers in Arizona and southern California.
Dark rover ant workers are tiny (about 1/16th of an inch), all the same size, and range in color from light to dark brown. They
The use of tamper-resistant bait stations at accounts is a key factor in keeping other rodent control products, such as rodenticides, snap traps, and glue boards, inaccessible to non-targets. Selecting the right bait station is a critical step in implementing proper integrated pest management (IPM). One size does not fit all when it comes to rodenticide stations, which is why there are so many options available to choose from. Make sure you understand the differences and pick a station that best fits your needs.
The first step is to determine your target, as some bait stations are designed specifically for mice while others are for rats. Pest Control Distributors typically offer a range of stations that include general use bait stations and specialty bait stations, including options that are low-profile, undercover, and pre-weighted. Low-profile stations are smaller, thinner stations that do not draw attention and are best for accounts where stations are needed in corners and under