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.

In the January 2025, episode of NPMA BugBytes, the team covered monitoring devices in residential areas, resistance development in house flies, and cicadas.

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.

This course covers general insect classification, biology, and important pest groups. Identification, and general control concepts are described for each pest group. Price: $20/$40

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.

Presented by Holly Davis, Ph.D., Kansas State University