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rodents

Is there a single standard rodent Behavior?

Rodents are such diverse creatures. More than half the mammals on earth are rodents. Think about all the different types: Rabbits, mice, hamsters, those giant ones in South America, beavers, moles and guinea pigs. That’s a small sample from a much longer list.

What single behaviour do they all share? Actually there are many different behaviors that all rodents do such as seek a mate, breed, find food, go to the toilet and make nests.

One thing that is very rodent like and that they pretty much all do is this; they nibble. In fact they are very well adapted to the act of nibbling. The very word “rodent” acknowledges what makes them some of the best nibblers in the world – their teeth.

The “dent” in rodent comes from “dentures”, meaning teeth. The “ro” part probably means “long” in some ancient language.

The best of the rodent nibblers is of course the cute and hard working beaver. They can fell whole trees with those front teeth of theirs.

This nibbling behavior can cause damage to property in some cases, such as if the rodents are living in close proximity with humans. In these cases steps can be taken to control the rodents or remove them from the living space.

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crickets insects

Why do field crickets appear to be attracted to buildings?

Field crickets are most commonly found in fields, pastures, meadows, along roadsides, and in yards where they feed on plants.  In some parts of the United States they can even damage crops like alfalfa, cotton, and strawberries.  During the spring and summer months they are far more common in the northern parts of the United States, however, in the fall they can be found everywhere though with some rarity in the southeastern states.

Like other insects, field crickets are attracted to light.  Which may be why they appear to be attracted to buildings.  During dry springs and summers, you may notice more crickets, which means more crickets attached to the light.  The reason for this is during those dry seasons there is a good chance that there will be less fungal diseases among the crickets’ eggs and nymphs.

To reduce the number of crickets around a building be sure to cut weeds back, remove firewood, brush, and bricks.  You can also reduce the lighting outside by turning off unnecessary lights at night or by changing them to a less attractive yellow light, as crickets appear to be more attracted to white, neon, and mercury vapor lights.  The number of crickets attracted will be much larger in the fall during their mating season.

By Tonya Fredrickson © 2016

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Categories
mice rodents

How long does it take for a rodent such as a mouse to become sexually active and to begin reproducing?

The research facility mouse is a productive raiser. It’s actually high fruitfulness can be used effectively, however it can likewise be a wellspring of disappointment when controlled proliferation is sought. The mouse achieves sexual development by six weeks of age and litter mates must be isolated at this point to forestall accidental inbreeding. The research center rodent (has a regenerative science fundamentally the same as that of the mouse and all data thus is appropriate to either species unless generally shown. Female mice are just responsive to male mice while they are in estrus.

Mating by and large happens inside 24 hours of presenting a male and an in estrous female mouse, however the female is most responsive amid the initial couple of hours. There might be visit, short sexual intercourses before satisfactory intromission and discharge happen. Mice have sexual intercourse by having the male mount the female from behind while she is in an ordinary standing position. The emissions of the embellishment sex organs in the male will frame a waxy hardened module the vagina of the female. This attachment may drop out following 24 hours. Perception of this module the vagina or in the confine can be utilized as a sign that mating has happened. The genuine mating may not be seen as it regularly happens around evening time. Thusly, contingent upon when mating happens, preparation of the egg may happen at whenever inside the 24 hours of estrus. Treatment happens in the proximal oviduct ampulla. The developing life moves down the oviduct 18 after 22 hours and it is 68-72 hours after treatment before it enters the uterus. Implantation may not happen until day 5. Implantation can be deferred much more if the dam is lactating vigorously. Deferred implantation does not happen in the rodent. Physical incitement of the cervix and vagina is fundamental for luteal advancement and support of pregnancy. This is essential if manual sperm injection is performed.

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Categories
rodents

Is dry ice an effective way to kill rodents out in the open?

Dry ice is a solid form of carbon dioxide that has a surface temperature of -109 degrees Fahrenheit.  If used as a form of rodent control, it will replace the oxygen levels with carbon dioxide and suffocate the animals.  The use of carbon dioxide in this manner can cause symptoms of shortness of breath, however, death should be relatively quick and humane.

To use dry ice as a method of rodent control the material is placed into the animal’s tunnels, which are then sealed with dirt or other material.  As the dry ice “melts” it reverts back to the gaseous form of carbon dioxide, filling the tunnels and eliminating the rodents.

While dry ice will probably never replace poisons it is a valid form of removing rodents in tight areas.  And as started before dry ice is a much more humane way of dealing with rodents rather than using a drawn out poison.

Recently several cities have decided to do a test run of using dry ice to combat rodent problems.  Cities like Chicago started using dry ice in rat burrows.  The city reports that it is cheaper than poison, more effective, and safer as it can be more controlled so it does not affect small pets and birds.

Tonya Fredrickson © 2016

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Categories
insects

Spiroplasma: A Biotic Approach to Controlling Pests

These days, people are more concerned than ever about how chemicals are affecting our environment and our indoor living spaces.  Researchers are now investigating  the possibility of being able to control pests on our crops and in our homes without using harmful chemicals, One of these avenues of research is that of the bacteria known as Spiroplasma.

Spiroplasma is one of a group of bacteria that live on or inside various plants and insects. They are unique in that they have no cell walls, and generally live on or in their host without causing harm. However, researchers have noticed that if a different type of species of Spiroplasma is introduced into a host such as a tick or other arthropod, that it has the effect of being killing the male of the species. The females of the species serve to transmit the bacteria without being affected by it.  The potential uses for this “male-killing” bacteria are many. Populations of crop damaging and disease carrying insects could be reduced not only by eliminating the males of the group but also by inhibiting the reproductive cycle.  Since the bacteria are species and gender selective, other plants and creatures are not affected.

More research is being conducted into the safety, efficiency and cost of using Spiroplasma as a method of controlling and managing pests. If safe and cost-effective, it would be a valuable asset in reducing the number of chemical agents in our food, water,  homes, and the environment while eliminating invasive pests.

By Michelle Hawley © 2016

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Categories
insects

Can dry ice be used to kill insects?

As an attractant Arthropods looking for warm-blooded creatures that transmit CO2 through breath are pulled into this gas. Dry ice is a strong type of this gas can be regularly obtained locally from organizations that offer packaged gas and welding supplies. While setting it on the ground on a surface like a board, gas radiated will draw in ticks. At the point when hung in a work pack in a Malaise trap, CO2 is appealing to gnawing flies like steed and deer flies. As an anesthetizing operator CO2 in pressurized barrels can be utilized to immobilize creepy crawlies. The gas can be utilized when sorting live examples from field-gathered junk and is perfect for use in close-up photography in indoor settings. Presenting bugs to CO2 too long will, be that as it may, execute them.

As an executing operator, putting a piece of dry ice in a Styrofoam cooler makes a thought field cooler that can slaughter creepy crawly examples promptly. Pheromones Chemicals those arthropods create that behaviorally affect different arthropods are called pheromones. Some of these are presently monetarily accessible to be utilized as a part of traps to draw in creepy crawlies. A large portion of these are sex attractants which are delivered by one sex to draw in the other sex. Some are nourishment attractant aromas, for example, botanical fragrances. Traps regularly fuse a stick material to trap creepy crawlies for populace observing purposes, however aromas can likewise be utilized as a part of live traps to gather quality examples. We can utilize pheromone fascination without purchasing artificially fabricated items, as well. On the off chance that we are sufficiently fortunate to bring a silk moth up in imprisonment, keep the females in a screen enclosure to draw in extra male examples.

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Categories
insects

What is the Schmidt Sting Pain Index (SSPI)?

In the mid 1980’s Justin Schmidt and his friends decided to do research about painful stings. Slightly more than 78 different types of hymenopteran species were used for recording data on intensity and duration of the pain.

Justin created a scale based on the pain of a sting which consists of 5 points from 0 to 4 and it doesn’t penetrate into the human skin if it is 0 . Whereas the most painful sting scale level is 4 and is very dangerous too.

The pain level rating 1 species is Sweat bee and it characteristics are light and fruity. It’s tiny barb is the size of a single hair in our arm.

The pain level rating 2 is Fire Ants and it’s pain duration is from 2 to 5 minutes. The characteristics of this sting is sharp, mildly alarming and easily reaching the light switch.

For even more information on the Schmidt Sting Pain Index please see the resource at http://www.compoundchem.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/The-Schmidt-Insect-Sting-Pain-Index.pdf

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Categories
insects mites

The Varroa Mite:  Why it’s bad and what you can do about it.

The Varroa Mite is a parasite that attacks bee colonies, honey bees to be more precise, it weakens bees by sucking the fluid from them that would be considered their blood.  This effects the bees in ways that can cause them to have deformed wings, and various other issues.  However, a bad infestation in a bee colony can lead to the death of the entire colony.  This has effected he beekeeping industry in various parts of Canada and the United States.

To counter a Varroa Mite infestation there are several options available.  There is the option of using chemicals in the form of miticides, these can be found in both naturally occurring or synthetic chemicals.  One example of a synthetic chemical is Fluvalinate, which is sometimes packaged as strips that resemble bookmarks that are saturated with the chemical.  These strips are then hung in specific chambers of the hive so the bees will easily come into contact with the chemical.  An example of a natural occurring chemical is powdered sugar, yes the same kind of sugar found on funnel cakes at the state fair minus any added corn starch.  To accomplish using powdered sugar you simply dust the bees with the substance.

There are also non-chemical ways to control Varroa Mites.  Such as having a mesh floor in the hives, mites sometimes fall off bees and if the mesh is the right size they will simply fall through and be unable to climb back up and infect another bee.  There is a method that uses heat, the hive is heated to a specific temperature for some time, this results in the mites falling off the bees, this method is good to combine with the mesh floor.

Tonya Fredrickson © 2016

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Categories
bees insects

When should a beekeeper be called during insect control and why?

It is said that Bee stings are the largest killer of humans in the United States, and people of many age groups become victim of bee venom and every year not less than a 100 people die every month due to venom from various insects and bees. Apparently many do not take precautionary measures nor do they call the pest control for proper steps to clear off for safety. But one more important thing is to be kept in mind is to have a beekeeper around to manage and to properly guide as to how bees can be controlled. A beekeeper is a professional in Apiculture and even knows deep about many bees and their details as to how good their honey is and also about its venom and to know if it is deadly or is potential to take human life. If the bee which is to be controlled of a good breed and can be accumulated in a area to be bred in Apiculture methods it could be mutually beneficial to the person and to the beekeeper. When bees are disturbed they often become angry and can sting whatever comes near them so a beekeeper is very necessary to be around in order to properly guide which poison or as to how to distract the bees and control them in order to not destroy their existence nor get a sting in return.

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Categories
insects rodents schedules

Importance of regular pest control inspections

Controlling pests has always been a matter of paramount importance since the beginning of colonial life. People have always been keen to keep their home free from a variety of pests including roaches, spiders etc. There are a variety of reasons for this being an obsession. Aside from the damages done to properties and resources, pests also spread deadly diseases including the deadly malaria and any disease that has an insect as the vector. In a year more than 5000 people are hospitalized in USA alone following insect stings. Pests are the bane of human existence since the medieval times itself where the spread of plague were rampant. Pests contaminate everything including the groceries and kitchenwares which is not very easy to recognize and prevent.

This is where regular pest inspections come into play. By regularly inspecting our surrounding through professional help, we are saving ourselves from a lot of worry and suffering when the problems actually surface. As pests also degrade wood and timber, it also saves money as only a fraction  of the repair cost would be needed to prevent the pest problems than actually curing it.Inspections should be done either every six months or once a year. It is something most of the people overlook and considered a waste of money. As the old adage goes, prevention is better than cure

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