Pestology Blog

2024 marks a significant year for periodical cicadas, with both 13-year (Brood XIX) and 17-year (Brood XIII) broods emerging across Illinois and the Midwest. While they may cause temporary annoyance, cicadas are harmless to trees and humans, providing an essential food source for predators and presenting a unique opportunity for pest control professionals to engage with customers.

Bed bugs have become a widespread nuisance, exacerbated by global events like Paris Fashion Week and the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics. Increased public awareness through viral stories has prompted individuals to learn how to check for and prevent infestations. Educating customers about bed bugs and their prevention is crucial amid rising concerns.

It's common knowledge that insects are attracted to lights, especially at night. As PMPs, you may be even more familiar with this phenomena, using it against pest insects with technology like insect light traps (ILTs). In a recent study, researchers took this behavior and went to figure out exactly what was going on and why this occurs.

Don't believe everything you see on social media. A viral Reddit post claimed that a Sephora moisturizer attracted wolf spiders. Users speculated on its ingredients, but entomology experts debunked the idea, stating that the lotion does not contain spider pheromones. The increase in spider sightings is likely due to cold weather driving spiders indoors, not the body butter itself.

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.

After a long hiatus, NPMA Bugbytes returns with new co-hosts!