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Creature Feature
The spotted lanternfly, despite its name, is not a fly but a type of planthopper native to China. Its preferred host is the tree of heaven, or Ailanthus, but it isn't picky—it can damage over 173 types of crops and ornamental plants. In its native habitat, parasitic wasps keep its population in check. However, in the United States, where it first appeared in Pennsylvania in 2014, the spotted lanternfly has become an invasive menace, spreading rapidly to 13 surrounding states. Interestingly, both tree of heaven and the spotted lanternfly are considered invasive species in several states, though they did not arrive together. Tree of heaven was introduced to the United States in 1784 as an ornamental plant.
The spotted lanternfly thrives best on tree of heaven, and its preference for this host increases as nymphs mature into adults. The first three nymphal stages are black with white dots, while the fourth and final nymphal stage features striking red on the top of the
The yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) originated in Africa, where it evolved from an ancestor that still exists there today. Its ancestor prefers to lay eggs in natural tree holes and to feed on non-human animals. At some point, the yellow fever mosquito became domesticated, breeding in artificial containers close to humans and preferring human hosts. This domestication allowed their introduction into the New World via European ships leaving West Africa with slaves and containers of drinking water also holding immature yellow fever mosquitoes.
Yellow fever existed in Africa before the Europeans arrived and followed them into the New World in the 1600s. Epidemics killed thousands of people through the early 1900s until it was discovered that the yellow fever mosquito was the disease vector. Afterwards, mosquito eradication campaigns and a vaccine developed in the 1930s virtually eliminated yellow fever from the United States. The yellow fever mosquito has been introduced
This month we are addressing a pesky weed, Crabgrass. The two most common species of crabgrass in North America are large (or hairy) crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) and smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum). They are native to Europe and Eurasia and were introduced to the United States in 1849 as a forage crop. Both are now found across the U.S., in Canada, and almost worldwide. The main difference between them is the presence or absence of hairs on the leaf sheath.
These crabgrasses are summer annuals and are common grassy weeds in turf and landscaping. One plant can produce many tillers (branches or stems) that spread from its center. They can survive mowing as low as ½ an inch and still produce seeds. The seeds remain dormant unless the soil temperature reaches 55°F for four to five consecutive days, then they germinate.
Clover mites are a type of spider mite that feeds on grasses and weeds, such as clover. They are relatively large for a plant-feeding mite, and their front pair of legs are longer than the rest, which they hold forward like antennae. Eggs and newly hatched larvae are bright red, but, as they age, their bodies turn dark green. All clover mites are female and develop from unfertilized eggs. Clover mites use vertical surfaces, such as trees and buildings, to lay their eggs and molt.
Clover mites are cool-season mites that become inactive during warm, dry summers. High populations of clover mites can cause lawns and other plant leaves to turn brown and wilt. Structural invasions can also occur, usually in the spring, but also during the fall. They may be stimulated to migrate indoors after heavy rain, excessive heat, or a change in season. Because they leave a red stain when crushed, people may think they’ve been feeding on blood. However, clover mites are plant parasites,
Boxelder bugs are pests of the boxelder tree, a species of maple native to the Midwest. As the boxelder tree was introduced to other areas of the United States and Canada, boxelder bugs followed. The western boxelder bug is present from New Mexico, Utah and Idaho westward to the Pacific coast and up into British Columbia. The boxelder bug is present east of this region in Canada and the United States with some overlap between the two regions. These two boxelder bugs look similar except the western boxelder bug has more red veins on the upper membranous half of its forewings.
Since boxelder bugs prefer to feed on seeds, they are mainly found on female boxelder trees. They will also feed on other maple and ash trees. However, they are not considered major pests because they don’t tend to cause significant damage to valuable ornamentals or agricultural crops. Boxelder bugs are mainly a structural pest in the fall when adults aggregate outdoors on the sunny sides of buildings
Although named the German cockroach, the most widespread cockroach pest in the world probably originated in Southeast Asia and expanded to urban areas through human travel and commerce. The first specimens to be identified may have been from Germany and assumed to be German. However, the fact that cold is a major limiting factor to their survival points to their not being native to Europe.
German cockroaches are domestic pests that rely on humans for food, harborage, and transportation. They are rarely found outdoors and not in wild populations away from structures. Although they have fully developed wings, they do not fly since they are specialized for living with and being transported by humans. They also have certain reproductive traits that allow infestations to grow rapidly. While most cockroach species drop their egg capsules, German cockroach females carry theirs until the eggs are ready to hatch, which helps prevent dehydration and parasitism. Each German cockroach
The fruit fly originated in tropical African rainforests and spread to all the major continents by ship transport. It was first reported in New York State in 1875. By 1915, it was reported from California and was common throughout northern America in 1920. The fruit fly is an effective colonizer due to its short life cycle, high offspring production and its ability to fly several miles per day. It is a frequent pest in food-handling establishments.
Fruit flies are commensal, meaning they strongly associate with people and are highly dependent on human activity. They can use a wide variety of food sources if they contain yeasts from fermentation, which is an early stage of decomposition. This is the main difference between fruit flies and other small pest flies that are attracted to late-stage decomposition caused by bacteria and fungi. Yeasts are necessary for larval fruit fly growth and must be present in their breeding medium. As a result, fruit flies are often a problem in bars
The cigarette beetle is a common stored product pest that has a history of being associated with humans dating back to Egyptian tombs. Although a tropical insect, it has a worldwide distribution considering stored products are normally kept in climate-controlled environments. It is closely related to the drugstore beetle, a temperate stored product pest with similar habits. The cigarette beetle has serrate antennae and smooth wing covers; the drugstore beetle’s antennae end in three-segmented clubs and their wing covers have pitted rows.
The cigarette beetle belongs to the Anobiid family, which also contains wood-boring beetles. Anobiid beetles have yeasts in their digestive tracts that help them consume and survive on foods with poor nutritional quality. The cigarette beetle is the most serious pest of stored tobacco, but also feeds on a wide range of plant and animal-based stored products. It can bore through plastic and cardboard,
Like the Norway rat, the roof rat is an Old World rat native to Asia, specifically the forests of Southeast Asia. It also spread west through human migration, but it arrived in Europe and North America earlier than the Norway rat. Once the more aggressive Norway rat reached the United States, roof rats began to decline. Whereas Norway rats are found in every state, roof rats tend to dominate in coastal cities or along waterways in warmer climates. Although they generally don’t occur more than 100 miles inland, they may be transported inland and establish local infestations.
As their name implies, roof rats are arboreal and are more likely to infest higher structural areas, such as attics, soffits, drop ceilings and upper wall voids. They do very well in neighborhoods with mature landscaping – especially if it includes fruit and nut trees – and easily travel along fences, through trees, on utility lines and rooftops. Roof rats are able to rely on natural food
The spotted lanternfly is a planthopper, meaning it is a type of bug and not a fly. It is native to China along with its preferred host, tree of heaven, also called by its genus name, Ailanthus. In native habitats, spotted lanternfly populations are regulated by parasitic wasps. Both tree of heaven and the spotted lanternfly are considered invasive species in several states. They did not arrive together. Tree of heaven was purposely brought to the United States in 1784 as an ornamental plant. The spotted lanternfly was first noticed in Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, it has spread to 13 surrounding states.
Although the spotted lanternfly has a preferred host, it has a host range of over 173 crops and ornamental plants. It survives best on tree of heaven, and preferrence for it grows as nymphs mature into adults. The first three nymphal stages are black with white dots. The fourth and final nymphal stage has red on top of the body and wing pads. Nymphs start to appear around the