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CRAZY ANTS
The Crazy
Ant gets its name from the way it wanders
about randomly. It looks a little crazy, too! The legs
and antennae are much longer than normal in proportion to
the rest of its body. As funny as they may look though,
it's no laughing matter if they get in your home. Crazy
ants will nest in out-of-the-way places like small cracks
and crevices, then roam aimlessly though your home in
search of food. Their favorite foods are proteins such as
animal matter, grease, and other insects. None of those
laying around? That's okay, sweets will do just fine!
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FIRE ANTS
Four separate types of ants are considered Fire
Ants. They get their name from their venom,
which causes a fierce burning sensation. The two kinds we
see most often in South Florida are the Red Imported Fire
Ant and the Fire Ant. Both build their colonies under
ground. When mounds of the red imported fire and are
disturbed, the workers look like they are bubbling out of
the nest. If you see this, consider them armed and
aggressive, and get away from there as quickly as
possible. You'll be quickly out numbered. A large colony
may have between 300-500,000 workers!
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CARPENTER ANTS
The best way to identify a Carpenter Ant is
not by the tool belt around its waist! Actually, they're
rather large... about ¼ to ¾ inch long, and black
with dark red. Although they don't eat wood like
termites, they hollow it out to nest. Any area that had
water damage or is damp is a good place to start looking. Check
for dead bodies or shredded wood fragments that
look like sawdust. And don't forget to look outside. Palm
trees, Pine trees and Schefflera trees are favorite
nesting spots. Limbs that touch the house and branches
that overhang the roof are like and interstate highway
into your home. So call a professional to have the
branches cut back. After all, they are Carpenter Ants,
not landscapers!
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PHARAOH ANTS
Have you ever seen a bunch of light yellowish to reddish-brown
ants lined up around a drop of something. It rather
reminds you of two-for-one day at the All-You-Can-Eat
buffet! Chances are you may have Pharaoh Ants. Nests
are rarely found, but are often located near warm
places in close proximity to water sources. In Florida,
that could be anywhere! They feed on a variety of foods,
including syrup, grease, dead insects, meat, etc. A
colony may house tens or hundreds of thousands of workers
with many queens. Cleopatara would be proud! A word of
caution: Throw out the can of bug spray you keep under
the sink. The only way to control Pharaoh Ants is with
bait.
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DRYWOOD TERMITES
Sleeping in a tent is lots of fun
if you're camping out. If you have Drywood
Termites, you still may camp out, but your
house spends the night in the tent! Drywood swarmers are
usually brown in color. They also have two equal sets of
wings that are twice the length of the body. You may see
telltale signs like wings and pellets lying around your
home. Sound familiar? Have a professional perform an
inspection for. Otherwise, you may have to live in that
tent when they eat you out of house and home!
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ANT OR TERMITE?
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Winged termites are usually, but not always
smaller; about ¼" in length. They appear
to have two body segments, straight antennae, and
two pairs of equally long wings. Ants have three
body segments with a narrow waist, elbowed
antennae and a longer pair of front wings.
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SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES
You've heard of Atlantis, the City
Under the Sea? The dry land version is the Subterranean Termite
colony. These mini cities have their own social ranking
and are self-supporting. Queens and swarmers are
responsible for colonization, workers and nymphs do all
the work (and all the damage). The soldiers protect the
nest from enemies. Although they must maintain contact
with the soil for moisture, it's not uncommon to find
subs in the attic of your home. One sure-fire sign is a
mud tunnel build up the side of the structure. These guys
work fast, so call a professional for an inspection right
away. New technology has made eradicating them from your
home much easier.
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FORMOSAN TERMITES
The new kid on the block is the
Formosan Termite. Though first discovered
in Texas in 1964, it took them until 1980 to make it to South
Florida. Formosans are very aggressive and said to destroy wood
six times faster than other species of termites. As with other types,
they feed on cellulose. These guys have even been known to penetrate
concrete by secreting and acid substance just to get to the wood on
the other side. Talk about tough! Treatment methods are the same as
those used for Subterranean termites.
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CHINCH BUGS
Chinch Bugs are
the vegetarians of the lawn world. Their needle-like mouth parts pierce
the blades of grass and suck the juices out of them. The good news is
that if you don't treat the problem right away, you won't have to
mow the lawn. The bad news is the yellowish patches in your lawn that
eventually turn brown and die. Often times the damage begins along the
edge of a sidewalk or driveway. Then, before you know it, your beautiful
lawn is just a memory. As the saying goes, give them an inch and they'll
take your yard!
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SPIDERS
Over the years, Spiders
have gotten a bad rap. Most are harmless web spinners that feed on
other insects. The Black Widow and the Brown Recluse are
the two to watch. Black Widows have a purple hourglass on
their back and hang upside down on the web. Brown Recluse
have a distinct marking on the back of their head that
looks like a fiddle. They lurk in clustered areas and
bite when threatened. In either case, if bitten, take the
spider with you to the doctor for a positive ID. Your
best bet for getting rid of spiders is vacuuming them up
along with their webs and egg sacs.
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AMERICAN ROACH
What's reddish-brown, capable of gliding,
and is big enough to stand up and salute? The American
Roach of course! Actually, they're about and inch and
a half long, but if you've ever had one coming at you, you'd swear
they were six inches long! Inside they prefer dark and moist
areas. Outside they are common around palm trees, woodpiles, and
down in the landscaping. They're busy, too. Egg capsules are produced
at the rate of about one a week...each on containing 14 to 16 eggs. After
they hatch, which takes six to eight weeks, they can live up
to several years under ideal conditions. Don't worry about keeping enough
food in the house to feed all those hungry mouths. Adults can go two or
three months without food, but only a month without water.
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CAT FLEAS
If you have dogs or cats, chances are
you've had fleas. Although there are many types of fleas, Cat Fleas
are the most common. The preferred host is your dog or cat, but we humans
are not immune to their bite. In order to reproduce, they must have a
blood meal from your pet. So, one of the most important steps to getting
rid of fleas is treating your pet. And since the pupa can lie dormant for
up to nine months, you'll want to vacuum often to pick up the eggs. By the
way, forget the bug bombs. If you're itching to get rid of the fleas, scratch
yourself a note to call an exterminator.
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SILVERFISH
You've probably seen them scurrying around
your bathroom. You know, those little Silverfish. They
set up house pretty close to their food source. That can include paper, cotton,
glue, paste, linen, and more. Plus, they can go for long periods without eating
at all. Usually you'll find them nesting under the carpet, behind
baseboards, under fixtures, and in any crack and crevice. Put away your takle
box and your rod and reel. You'll want some professional help to get rid of
these guys.
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