proactive wood and moisture control
A Strange New Christmas Ornament?
During the Christmas season, bringing in a tree may introduce mantis egg cases, leading to unexpected guests when they hatch indoors. These mantises, harmless but requiring upkeep, can survive on limited food. To avoid this situation, inspect the tree for egg cases before bringing it inside, removing them if found.
Laboratory and Field Evaluations of Food Based Attractants for Monitoring German Cockroaches
At Rutgers University, researchers evaluated various attractants for German cockroaches to enhance sticky trap effectiveness. They tested 18 substances, finding that combinations of apple and blueberry oils, along with commercial roach lure tablets, significantly improved catch rates by over 100%. More research is needed for reliable delivery methods.
Determining the Best Placement for Rodent Devices at Commercial Food Buildings
Research on rodent trap placement in food facilities reveals that conventional spacing, based on outdated standards, lacks sufficient scientific backing. A study assessing building characteristics showed that warmer, sheltered areas attract more rodent activity. This suggests that inspections should inform trap placement to enhance effectiveness and reduce unnecessary bait waste.
How Humidity Levels Impact the Most Common Pest No One Knows They Have
Psocids, or booklice, are small insects that can infest homes and stored grains, causing contamination and damage. Recent research shows that lowering humidity below 50% effectively kills psocids within 16 days, supporting pest management strategies. Psocids are often overlooked, yet nearly all homes inspected in North Carolina had them present.
Dung Beetles as Vertebrate Samplers
Biodiversity surveys are crucial for understanding ecosystem organisms, recording species abundance and diversity to guide conservation efforts. Traditional visual methods can be biased, leading to the development of environmental DNA (eDNA) surveillance. Recent research highlights dung beetles as effective invertebrate DNA (iDNA) samplers, offering improved monitoring of terrestrial fauna.
Take a Quiz to see if you Fear Spiders Like Some Entomologists!
The Ig Nobel Prize awards, particularly Dr. Richard Vetter's recognition for studying arachnophobia among entomologists, reveal that even experts can fear spiders. A survey of 41 entomologists showed varying degrees of fear and negative experiences with spiders, highlighting the paradox of their phobia towards eight-legged creatures despite their expertise with six-legged insects.
