Written by: Mary Wang, Colorado Master Gardener Apprentice, Class of 2022
Today I noticed the leaves on trees in my neighborhood are turning from a deep summer green to yellow tinged with red. As I get ready for work the mornings are darker as are the early evenings. While the temperatures here in Pueblo remain warm and the days sunny, the night temperatures are dropping into the fifties. Fall and winter are again approaching, and human activity will start to move indoors where it is warmer, and more hospitable. Humans are not the only organism that appreciates a warm and hospitable environment, many other creatures also migrate into warmer spots for winter and that migration often brings them into our homes. While winter is not the only time “bugs” move indoors they become noticeable as the weather cools and we spend more time inside. Doors and windows are no barrier to “bugs”. These little creatures find all the gaps and crevices in our houses which can make entry especially easy for them, and when they enter in large enough numbers, they can make home life unpleasant. Many, many insects find their way indoors and most do not become problem pests. However, some do.
Bedbugs love a nice home environment and are increasing in numbers. They travel from place to place hitching rides in our personal belongings – hiding in our furniture, linens and bedding. They are a small, flat bodied, blood sucking insects. Their presence can be detected by dark spotting in places they hide such as wallpaper and mattresses, by small rust colored stains from their secreted fecal matter or by molted exoskeletons. Their bites are identified by inflamed areas on the body that itch, they do not usually pose a serious health risk. Infestations are controlled by insecticidal spraying.
Figure 1: Bed bug Gary Alpert, Harvard University, Bugwood.org
Many species of carpet beetles enjoy the taste of natural home goods. They usually fly in from outdoors where they mainly live and breed. They scavenge on both plant and animal materials and so they can damage woolen clothing, furniture, stuffed animals and furs. While most carpet beetles breed outdoors, indoor populations can develop in fluff and dust containing human detritus which accumulates under furniture and in undisturbed corners. Carpet beetles don’t grow quickly and can take from several months to a year to develop depending on their diet. The carpet beetle larvae develop more slowly on grain-based diets then on diets consisting of animal materials and so they are not as commonly found in pantries as other insects. Most carpet beetles can be controlled by non-chemical methods. To address a carpet beetle infestation, you need to have evidence that they are around. Look for the shed skin of larvae in materials they commonly enjoy. If a material is heavily infested it is best to just throw it away. Some other ways of treating the problem include heating, freezing and fumigation. If the material can withstand heat of 130 degrees F then heat it to 130 degrees for at least 20 minutes. The longer you heat the material the better as it can take a while for the inner temperatures of larger items to reach 130 degrees. Deep freezing small items to temperatures of less than 0 degrees F for 3-4 days is another possibility. If fumigation is necessary items such as clothing can be stored with Paradichlorobenzene (PDB) “moth balls” while larger furniture items will require removal and treatment by professionals.
Figure 2: carpet beetle Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
The subject of science fiction horror and a common household pest we are all familiar with is the fly. The fly that is most typically observed in houses during colder months, September-April, is the Cluster fly. Cluster flies live and breed outdoors during the warmer months; where they lay their eggs in the soil and after the eggs hatch the maggots feed on earthworms. As the weather cools in the late summer and fall months the flies can be found climbing upwards on the walls of sun-soaked buildings, seeking crevices which allow them to move inward. They then spend the winter indoors in clustered groups behind walls and other safe protected places. In the spring the hidden flies become active again and emerged. At this time, they will either leave the building or become trapped inside and die. A simple way to prevent these flies from becoming a household pest is to keep them outside. To do this you need to use screens on your windows and repair them when necessary. You also should caulk holes and cracks in outdoor walls, especially those that get the most sunlight. If the flies do become troublesome indoors the exterior walls of your house can be sprayed. Do this in late summer and if the weather stays warm later than usual again in late fall. Heavy frosts will kill the outdoor flies so fall spraying may not be necessary. The existing effective sprays for cluster flies are only for use by trained professionals.
Figure 3: Cluster fly Mohammed El Damir, Bugwood.org
Last but not certainly not least is another literary subject, the cockroach. The cockroach is an insect for the ages; fossils of cockroaches have been found that date back 200 million years. They are an extremely adaptable creature surviving in a wide array of environments and developing tolerance too many of the poisons used to control them. While I admire cockroaches from this perspective, I have a very low tolerance for them in my home. They can leave foul odors caused by their salivary secretions and excrement. Many people develop allergies to their shed skins. They feed on filth and can then transfer it from their bodies onto food and utensils and so spread diseases. The problem cockroaches in Colorado are; German Cockroach (Blatella germanica), Brownband Cockroach (Supella longipalpis), American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana), and Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orientalis). German cockroaches are the most common species found here and the most difficult to control. They prefer to be close to moisture and food and are found in crevices and cracks in kitchens and bathroom areas. With a large infestation they are also found in non-food areas within a building. The smallest species of cockroach you will find in the home is the Brownbanded cockroach. They like higher temperatures and will be found spread throughout a building. The biggest species of cockroach in Colorado is the American cockroach which as an adult can measure one and 3/4 of an inch in length. They enjoy spending their time in dark moist areas such as sewers, basements, and garbage cans. Oriental cockroaches are a more sociable group. Clusters of them may be found in moist dark sites such as storm drains, floors, plumbing fixtures, and water meter boxes.
Because cockroaches are active at night it’s sometimes difficult to spot them in the house unless you have a large population. In order to determine if you have an infestation check in areas you think they may be hiding for droppings or shed skins. You can also use sticky traps. These traps should be placed in corners where you suspect there are cockroaches and checked after a few days.
Control of cockroaches requires several steps. First you need to make sure you thoroughly clean and maintain your house. Keep food in tightly closed containers that includes pet foods. Any foods that spill should be immediately cleaned up and sink areas should be kept clean and dry. It is also a good idea to store recycling outdoors. Any cracks in floors or walls should be filled, pipes should be caulked and sewer drains screened. If you are moving things into your house from outdoors or from another building check them for signs of cockroaches. In conjunction with proper sanitation there are several chemical methods that can be also be used for control. There are sprays, dusts and baits. When using any of these products always read the directions and warning label before applying. These methods are effective only sanitation of the home is ongoing because if there is access to water and food the roaches will keep coming back.
Figure 4: cockroach Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
References:
- Household Insects of the Rocky Mountain States Bulletin 557A, Colorado State Extension, January 1994, Whitney Cranshaw Dept. of Entomology Colorado State University, Mike Brewer, Dept. Of Soil & Insect Sciences, University of Wyoming, Scott Armrest, Rid*A*Pest Exterminators, Littleton, CO., Sherry Lajeunesse, Dept. of Entomology, Montana State University.
- www.britannica.com/animal/insect, Vincent Brian Wigglesworth, Updated Sept. 15,2022.
- Colorado Bug Mugs An Entomology Resource for Colorado Extension Offices, Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Frank Peairs, Colorado State University, Sept.22,2009.
- www.phidenverhealth.org/clinics–services/disease–investigations/
resources–education/bed–bugs