Posted on May 31, 2011 with No Comments
I have long admired the outdoor scenery that surrounds the office of JP McHale Pest Management. Impressive rock formations that allude to our valley’s glacial history are evident all around. To compliment this topography are large oak trees representing several different species, sassafras, maples, and even a few quaking aspens. The forage produced by these trees provide for chipmunks and squirrels, of which we have the black variety, and a number of bird species. A nearby right of way yields ecological contrast, with low growing grasses and herbs shifting the dominant vegetation from forest to meadow. This week we were visited by a splendid product of the nearby forest – a Luna Moth.
The Luna Moth is one of the largest moths present in the northeast. This species can produce two generations per year, with the first adults emerging in May and the second generation arriving around August. Over its entire range in the US and Canada, caterpillars produced by this species can feed on a number of host plants, including birch, alder, persimmon, sweetgum, hickory, walnut or sumac. Locally, however, Luna moth caterpillars probably specialize on one host plant, and will feed gregariously for the first two-to-three of five developmental stages.
After the caterpillar has consumed enough foliage, it will form a cocoon where metamorphosis will take place. For the next two weeks the caterpillar will undergo changes and eventually emerge as a moth with crinkled, soft wings. Adult moths find a vertical surface where they stand and pump hemolymph (insect blood-like circulatory fluid) through veins to inflate or expand their wings. After approximately two hours the moth will be ready to fly.
Adult Luna moths do not feed, rest on vertical surfaces during the day, and live for approximately one week. At night, Luna moths are attracted to lights and can damage their wings or expend all their energy in this pursuit. This has led many scientists to recommend turning off outside lights unless they are absolutely necessary, as this attractive nuisance reduces the mating potential for moths and other insects.
As you can see from the pictures, our visitor was a male Luna moth. Moths and other insects communicate with volatile chemical pheromones, which are typically emitted by females and received by males. For many insect species, males can be differentiated externally from females by the shape of the antennae. Plumose or feathery antennae are often indicative of a male, as this structure increases the surface area and number of receptors that can be used to locate females. Keep an eye out this summer for Luna moths and other brilliant creatures of our northeast forest!
Posted on May 16, 2011 with 1 Comment
Alas, spring is here! After a long, cold winter followed by March and April rains, the world is turning green and flowers are blooming. Birds are singing and, oh yes, the bees (and our phones) are buzzing. For homeowners, spring is an epic battle against invading hoards of insects – armed and ready to take up residence in our homes. Lingering problems with carpet beetles and clothes moths become evident, while termites and ants swarm in huge numbers. Meanwhile, as the weather warms up outside, carpenter bees emerge from their overwintering sites and make ready for a new year.
Male Carpenter Bee; Photo Credit: Marvin Smith
The eastern carpenter bee is a robust insect measuring up to one inch in length. In coloration and size they resemble bumble bees, but have a shiny black abdomen with few yellow hairs. Carpenter bees drink nectar and are considered important pollinators of open-faced flowers. Males are aggressive toward approaching objects – including humans – and are distinguished from females by a yellow patch on their face. Unlike females, the male carpenter bee is incapable of stinging. Therefore, problems with carpenter bees are most often associated with their propensity to form nests in structural or decorative softwood around homes.
Picture Credit: FloridaBugs.cm
Female carpenter bees bore a perfectly round hole into wooden shakes, eves, porch ceilings, window sills, beams, rafters, fences doors, and lawn furniture. After excavating a depth equal to her body length, she will make a 90 degree turn and continue boring with the grain of the wood. The resulting gallery is on average four to six inches in length. Using wood shavings and oral secretions, a mated female will partition individual cells in the gallery and place an egg provisioned with a pollen/nectar pellet inside. In the summer, a new generation of bees will emerge, feed, and then overwinter in their birth nest. At no time do carpenter bees eat wood; they simply excavate tunnels for nest construction.
Because the eastern carpenter bee is faithful to its birth nest, this can result in significant damage when bees return to the same site year after year. Bees will either extend the length of current galleries, or create new ones in the same piece of wood or structure. Complex galleries can extend up to ten feet in length, and reduce the structural integrity of wood. In some cases, woodpeckers will attack infested wood to feed on the larvae. This compounds the damage imposed by bees and often requires replacement of the building material.
What can you do? Exposed bare wood, particularly in sunny areas, is susceptible to carpenter bee attack. Staining and painting will make wood less attractive to carpenter bees. If a piece of wood is continually attacked, consider installing screening or flashing on the wood, and then painting. Homeowners can also place a highly acceptable piece of bare wood somewhere on the property to attract bees and keep them away from more valuable pieces. Ideally, this wood should be placed in a sunny spot with the grain of the wood parallel to the ground.
What can we do? As certified applicators, we use low-risk products with long residual to eliminate existing bees and prevent new adults from emerging. We make recommendations about how and when to plug up holes to prevent future infestations. In collaboration with our EnviroCare division, we can preclude infestations using exclusionary tactics. Our knowledge of bee biology and behavior allows for the strategic placement of flashing to inhibit female nesting. Contact us today if you have or suspect carpenter bees!