Transcript Troublesome Pests

Troublesome
Pests
In School
Buildings
IPM in Schools Program
Contact: Jean Ciborowski, 651-297-3217
Minnesota Department of
Agriculture
Funding provided by the
MN Future Resources
Fund as recommended
by the Legislative
Commission on
Minnesota Resources
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Structural or Indoor Pests in
Minnesota Schools
Spiders
 Cockroaches
 Other:
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Ants
Flies
Mice/Rats
Wasps
Headlice
Silverfish
– centipedes, crickets,
boxelder bugs,
aphids, millepedes,
bats, fruit flies,
shrews
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Sanitation – any pest, all pests
Sweep and mop floors
 Drain all sinks and remove any food debris
 Vacuum and/or mop classrooms daily
 Periodically, clean food prep areas thoroughly
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– drains, vents, deep fat fryers and hard-to-reach areas
Remove all food garbage from building daily
 Rinse recycling materials
 Seal garbage in bags before placing
in dumpster
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Outdoor Waste Management
No garbage on ground
 Place dumpsters upwind of outside doors, kitchen or
cafeteria especially
 Remove wastes from site weekly
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– Twice/week during warmer weather (insects breed faster)
Close lids
 Clean containers regularly
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High pressure water or brush and soapy water.
Borax and water to eliminate odors
Hose or scrub out dumpsters with drains
Flies can develop in soil soaked with dumpster rinse water
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If Chemical Treatment Is Needed
Follow EPA approved label directions
 Use Personal Protective Equipment as
noted on label
 Maintain a file of labels and MSDS
(material data safety sheets)
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Ants
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In food areas, contaminate food; other areas, nuisance
– If not migrating into building, not detrimental
– If high numbers foraging into building, locate and treat outdoor
nests
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Differ in habits and food preferences
– May build nest in soil, rotting wood, concealed areas
outdoor or in buildings
– Feed on starches, meats, fats or sweets
 Honeydew from houseplant pests
– Baits tempt workers into returning to nest with
poisonous food
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Identify type to determine biology and most
effective method of management
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Ants in Minnesota schools
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Cornfield
– lt to dk brown, workers ~ 1/10 “ long; very abundant outdoors
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Field Ants
– Black, brown, red, or combo, workers ~ 1/8 to 1/4’” long
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Pavement Ants
– Reddish-brown to black; workers ~ 1/8 inch long
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Thief Ants
– yellow to light brown;
– workers ~1/20 “ long tend to curl up when die
– ID important; confused for Pharaoh ants
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Pharaoh ants
– light yellow to red
– ~ 1/16 “ long
– thorax on workers darker colored
Photo by Jim Kalisch. UNL
Entomology
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Can nest in any heated
building; most
commonly found in
hospitals, nursing homes,
schools, and apartments.
Persistent numbers of
very small ants in winter
likely Pharaoh
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Pharaoh Ants
Photo by Jim Kalisch. UNL
Entomology
Do not survive outdoors.
– Nest in small spaces often near dark, warm sites near
moisture source; very difficult to find.
– Produce new nests by budding. When colony too
large or under stress, moves to new site
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Photo by Jim Kalisch. UNL Entomology
Managing pharaoh
ants usually requires
experienced pest
control company
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Insecticides and household cleaning products can
cause budding, create new colonies.
– Use of baits preferred, but homeowner products may
not be effective
– Professionals have experience and more effective
products
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Ways to Reduce Ant Problems
Weather strip around doors and windows
 Always carry caulk on inspections
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– Use mildew resistant caulk in moist areas
– Begin caulking at access point of current ant
trail
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Vacuum ant trails
– Vacuum up a tbsp corn starch to kill ants in bag
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Spray with detergent and water
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Techniques for Baiting Ants
May require professional to identify species and habits
 Differ in food preference for baiting
– Sweet, protein or oily attractants
– Food preferences may change
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Differ in nesting and foraging habits
Place baits
out of sight
and REACH
of children
– Affects bait acceptance and management techniques
 In dry areas, may prefer more moist baits
 Bait along foraging trails, but do not disturb trails between nest
and bait
If competition present, non-target ant may
prevent target ant from feeding
Remove “bait stations” when not needed or
will attract cockroaches
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Common Small Flies
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Moth fly (drain fly)
– 1/12” long, dark-colored; long black hairs on wings and
body, fuzzy moth-like appearance
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Fruit Flies
– 1/16 to 1/8” long, red eyes, tan body, striped abdomen
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Humpbacked fly
– Also called phorid flies: 1/8” long with humpbacked
body; often found running along counters or walls
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Fungus gnats
– 1/8” long with slender body and long legs
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Flies
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May contaminate food in prep or serving
areas
– In others areas, nuisance, but large numbers
indicate sanitation problem
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Eggs laid in
food waste, kitchen drains, decomposing organic
matter, ripe fruit and vegetables, fermenting water
from refrigerators, humidifiers, spoiled animal food,
damp sour mops or rags and other locations,
including areas adjacent to building
Identify flies to determine breeding
sites and effective control measures
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Where can flies can be found?
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drains
moist, decaying organic matter
food residues in trash
around kitchen equipment
bottom of pet cages or potting soil
slimy layer in floor drains and sinks
near sump pumps and broken sewage lines
in soil of over-watered houseplants, or high organic
soil
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Reduce Fly Populations
Eat or refrigerate fresh foods
no ripe (overripe) produce left out
 Separate food waste from other garbage,
drain, store in sealed plastic bags before
disposing
 Flush sink and floor drains regularly
 Rinse materials before recycling
 Keep mops clean and dry
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Mice/Rats
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Norway rat
– Large, robust, blunt muzzle, small eyes, short
rounded ears; 7-18 oz, adults up to 11”
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House mouse
– Smaller, more slender than Norway, eyes small,
ears prominent, muzzle pointed; 1 oz or less,
3” long
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Deer mouse—seasonal problem in fall and
winter; ~ size as house mouse, but bicolored,
white bellies and feet, large eyes
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Mouse clues
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Sounds at night of squeaks,
scrambling or gnawing
Droppings
– Similar to large cockroaches and bats
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Urine
– pillars of grease, urine and dirt visible
under blacklight
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Grease marks of dirt and oil from fur
Runways, not easily detectable
Tracks footprints or tail marks
– use nontoxic dust to help locate (talc)
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Gnawing damage
Sightings
Nest sites
Mouse odors
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Good Sanitation
– Eliminate food, water and
shelter
Rodent cultural
 Exclude
practices
– Identify and seal all entry
points
 Never prop open doors or
windows
– Trim shrubs grass and vines
and maintain a 12-18” gravel
border adjacent to building
foundations
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Mouse Trap Tips
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Rarely go more than 30 ft from nest,
usually only 10 ft
Place snap traps in 3-D sphere about 10 ft in
diameter around mouse signs
– Good climbers; live above or below food sources,
ceilings or crawl spaces
– Best trapping sites where mice spend time
 Note droppings along walls, behind objects, dark
corners
– Good mouse baits -- peanut butter, bacon, cereal
cotton ball for nest material
– May require professional assistance to deal with high
mouse populations
A pair of
mice can
produce 50
offspring in
one year
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B ees and Wasps
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Characteristics
– Bees: fuzzy, robust
– Wasps: Smooth skinned and shiny
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Identify to learn biology and habits
– Wasp and bumble bee colonies live only 1 season
 Old queen and workers die in fall, new queens survive in
protected sites
 Build new nest in spring; old nest not reused
– Honey bee colonies perennial in same nest location
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Sting Reactions
Local: burning itching, redness, tenderness or
massive swelling and itch. Ice or topical ointment,
remove stinger
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Mild allergic: hives or rash, swelling in area away from sting,
headache, minor respiratory/stomach upset, treat with
antihistamine
 Severe:
Anaphylactic shock, fainting,
immediate difficulty breathing,
swelling or blockage in throat
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Caution! Wasps and Bees
Will attack if physically
threatened and to
protect their nests
 Wear protective
clothing bee veil and
bee suit
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USE CAUTION!
Photos by Jim Kalisch. UNL Entomology
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Wasp Nests
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If nest not a threat, wait for
freeze
– Capture and release or swat
individuals
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May nest in ground, tree and
shrubs, under horizontal
surfaces such as eaves, in
buildings in wall spaces
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Treating Nests
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Exposed nests: apply “Wasp and
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Ground nests and hidden nests
Hornet” ready-to-use aerosol to entrance
of nest. Repeat if live wasps found
may require applications of insecticide by
professional pest control technician
– If nest entrance in wall void sealed before
insects dead, insects will be forced indoors
– Professional can vacuum nest if in area where
insecticides can not be used
– Do not pour gasoline or fuel oil in ground nest
 contaminates environment, use soapy water
 plug entrance hole with dirt after insects killed
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Cockroaches
Zero tolerance anywhere
 Can carry pathogens and cause
problems such as salmonella and asthma
 Prefer to be in warm, moist areas near
food and water
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Cockroach Species
German
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Adults live 6 months, each female
produces 28 nymphs from an egg
case, produces 4-8 egg cases, new
generation every four weeks
Small, adults less than ¾” long,
gold with two dark streaks behind
the head. Requires moisture,
usually found in kitchen or bath
American
 Can live two years, egg case 1-2
weeks, 20 to 80 egg cases with 1520 nymphs
 Glue egg case to hidden, moist
surface
 Larger and heavier, 1 ½ to 1 ¾ ‘
long, reddish brown to black
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Defeating
Cockroaches
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Watch damp areas or available water
(Condensation under refrigerator)
Store all food in sealed containers; remove
garbage daily
 Remove boxes, newspapers, other clutter
 Rinse and invert cups, glasses and soda
 Vacuum cockroaches and egg cases
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– HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter to
reduce airborne cockroach debris
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Non toxic cockroach trap
Empty jar with rounded inner lip
– pickle, mayonnaise etc.
Coat inner lip with vaseline
 Bait with quarter slice bread
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soaked in beer or dog food,
apples, cookies, etc.
Wrap outside of jar in paper towel
 Kill trapped insects with dish washing
detergent and hot water
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Methods of Professional
Cockroach Management
Traps
 Gel and dust baits
 Insect growth regulators
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– Disrupt normal development of immatures
– Very low in toxicity for people and animals
– Slow working
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Desiccating dusts
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Headlice
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Do not treat furniture, bedding, floor or
walls inside school with insecticide
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Cannot survive without human host for more than two
days
Bedding and clothing should be washed and dried at high
temperature (150o or higher)
Place pillow or other non-washable items in freezer for
several days
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S piders
Beneficial insect; tolerate if possible
 To reduce numbers, remove hiding places
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– Create vegetation-free zone around building
– Knock down webs with broom or hard spray of water
 Remove and destroy egg sacks or spiders when found
– Caulk or seal cracks
– Be sure screens ft tightly
– Change outside lights to avoid attracting other insects
as prey
 yellow lights less attractive than mercury or sodium vapor
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Boxelder bugs
Most abundant during hot, dry summers
 Live just a few days indoors and do not reproduce
 May enter buildings on mild,
sunny, winter days,
Prevent by
– Vacuum
Photo by Jeff Hahn,
University of Minnesota
– Caulk
– Soap mixture; ½ cups laundry detergent ot one
gallon water in hand sprayer or squirt bottle.
Check for staining on building materials No
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residual, must hit target
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Silverfish
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Prefer cool, moist, dark places, 70-80oF,
high r.h.
– basements, trapped in bathtubs, sinks
 Quick movement, active at night; hide during day
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Feed on paper, grains and starchy foods,
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Change environment if possible
– Correct moisture problems, dry out damp
areas, improve lighting
– Remove stored food, books, paper
– Caulk cracks and crevices
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