Monthly Archives: September 2015

Silverfish Trapping Tools

Posted on September 30, 2015 by jjneal

A reader asks: Are there any pheromone laced silverfish glue traps? I know of no traps with silverfish aggregation pheromone. Silverfish aggregation pheromone are non-volatile and have a role in causing silverfish to remain in areas that contain the pheromone.  Silverfish cannot … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior, Biomaterials, Pest Management | 2 Comments

Worse Than Spiders

Posted on September 29, 2015 by jjneal

Some people are deathly afraid of spiders and the fear leads to strange behaviors. Most spiders are harmless. A good whack or sweep with a windshield tool would quickly dispatch most spiders. The gentleman in the video below had the … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, News, Pest Management | 1 Comment

Double Pump

Posted on September 28, 2015 by jjneal

In insects that feed on fluids, the first section of the alimentary canal is often adapted to pump fluids out of the food and into the insect. The robber flies, (Asilidae) feed on other insects by piercing them with sharp mouthparts, … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Environment, Taxonomy | 1 Comment

Living With Green Roofs

Posted on September 27, 2015 by jjneal

Green roofs are roofs that contain a layer of vegetation. The goal is to improve water retention and add an insulation layer to reduce water runoff and energy consumption. Green roofs are limited by weight. Water is heavy and a roof … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Environment, Pest Management | 1 Comment

Scouting Urban Insects

Posted on September 26, 2015 by jjneal

Humans alter the urban landscape with buildings including tall skyscrapers. Skyscrapers made of steel and concrete are new habitats that could be colonized by plants, insects and other organisms. Skyscrapers have steep vertical sides and can offer different microclimates than … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Hard To Live

Posted on September 25, 2015 by jjneal

Japanese biologists* noted a change in the composition of cicada species in Osaka, Japan. In the 1980s and 90s, many of the previously dominant cicada species declined and were replaced by a single dominant species, Cryptotympana facials. What caused this … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Environment | 2 Comments

Beware the Tomato Leaf Miner

Posted on September 24, 2015 by jjneal

The Tomato Leaf Miner, Tuta absoluta, is a pest of tomatoes. It is native to South America where it feeds on tomatoes and other plants in the potato family (Solanaceae). Prior to 2006, this pest was confined to South America. … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Invasive Species, Pest Management, Policy | 1 Comment