|
 |
Cold Temperatures
Will Bring Unexpected Home Visitors
Justin Petrosino, ANR Extension Educator
OSU Extension, Darke County
Saturday night temperatures dipped as close to freezing as they have
since winter gave way to spring. When the mercury in the outdoor
thermometer starts to head south, all of the creepy crawly arthropods
that overwinter as adults look for someplace warm to spend the winter.
Unfortunately that typically means a home invasion.
Thankfully in Darke County we don’t have millions of crazy hairy ants
invading as they do down south. With this year being an odd year,
aphids were present in soybean fields. If you live near a field that
had a large infestation, which is very few in Darke County, you may
have a visit from the aphid’s natural predator, the lady beetle. I
hesitate to call them ladybugs because they are not a bug, but a
beetle. By looking at the name ladybug you can tell it is not a true
bug. For the most part when insects are named if the parts of the name
are together, “ladybug”, than it is not a true bug. The same goes for a
“butterfly”, which is not a fly. If they are separated than you have a
good clue what insect order they belong to.
If you are not a lover of all things with jointed legs scurrying about
your home there are several steps to take. The first is to search out
the point of entry. Even a small crack in a door, a split in a
foundation, or a hole in a wall less than an eighth of an inch can
allow insects to enter. Seal all entry points to prevent anything from
crawling in. With a home, especially an older country home, it is
nearly impossible to find and seal every opening. If you are having
trouble locating the entry point put several sticky traps throughout
the home and check them regularly to locate hot spots of activity.
Even with the best laid plans insects are bound to get in so the next
step is chemical control. Many products are available to apply around
the home to stop creepy crawly bugs in their tracks. Some products even
offer residual control, so one application can keep working through the
winter. Be sure to apply the products according to the label, and wear
the proper protective equipment. The standard is to apply a swath along
baseboards. Also if there are areas you cannot seal but suspect are
entry points treat those areas. The insects will contact the
insecticide while they travel, however they won’t die on the spot.
There is one other method of insect control. Insects are food for
spiders and other arachnids. With an influx of insects will then come
an arrival of spiders? They are simply following their food source. For
most a spider is a reason to run screaming for a shoe or rolled up
newspaper. I think they are a neat method of insect control. For more
information on the Asian ladybeetle and how to keep it from your home
visit the OSU Fact Sheet HSE-1030-01 at http://ohioline.osu.edu/hse-fact/1030.html.
|
|
|
|
