Mar 23, 2012 | Pest Control, Wildlife
Carpenter bee
Last week it was the stink bug, this week it’s the carpenter bee! We told you that the weird temperatures were going to bring out these pests…and here they are!
It’s officially spring which means that carpenter bees are out in Atlanta and other southeastern areas. There is a good chance that you are seeing these large black bees along with the large black tunnels that they create in wood around your home. Those are carpenter bees that have been living in those holes and tunnels throughout the winter and are emerging in the spring time to find places for new nests, which can mean new holes and tunnels in your wood. Carpenter bees are often confused with bumble bees but differ slightly in appearance. The upper surface of the carpenter bee’s abdomen is bare and a shiny black color; while bumble bees have a hairy abdomen and yellow markings.
Carpenter bees drill through wood to build nests where they stay all winter and throughout the spring until they find a new nest or emerge to mate. Although male bees tend to be aggressive, often hovering around people who are near their nests, they are mostly harmless since they do not have stingers. On the other hand, females can inflict a painful sting but rarely do unless they are being handled.
Carpenter bee tunnel
You may find piles of wood underneath the hole where the bee has drilled their nest. Carpenter bees prefer to make their nests in bare, untreated or weathered wood. Wood that is painted or pressure-treated is much less susceptible to a carpenter bees nesting. Common areas for nesting include window trim, facia board, siding, wooden shakes, decks and outdoor furniture.
The best control for carpenter bees is to treat or paint all exposed wood surfaces. If you are using a spray, it is best to spray at night, while wearing protective clothing, when bees are less active to reduce your risk of being stung. Each hole should be treated individually if the bees are inside the holes. If they are not in the hole, seal or paint the hole so the bees cannot return.
As with most infestations, it is best to call a professional exterminator to ensure that the issue is taken care of quickly and thoroughly. Call Northwest Exterminating if you are seeing carpenter bees or other pests around your home.
Mar 15, 2012 | Pest Control
Due to the massive amount of calls that we have received lately regarding kudzu bugs, or stink bugs, we thought this earlier post would be beneficial!
In the past several weeks, our service centers have seen an emergence of kudzu bugs. Kudzu bugs, also known as lablab bugs or globular bugs, have made their way to Georgia in recent years from Asia. Thoughts are that because Atlanta has the “World’s Busiest Airport”, they could have arrived through Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. Since kudzu bugs are fairly new to experts, research is still being done on this particular bug.
Kudzu bugs look like brown lady bugs and eat what other than…kudzu. But kudzu isn’t all that these bugs are feeding on. Kudzu bugs also eat soybean plants. More research is being done to find out if kudzu bugs will eat our Georgia crops as well.
The kudzu bug is an occasional invader, choosing to enter properties for the shelter and possibly needing moisture. Think of them as the same as boxelder bugs, but with an increased amount of generations and smaller so they fit in tiny cracks and crevices. They are known to eat specific plants, but can survive on others. They have 3 generations per year, so they can build up populations in great numbers, but once the population is reduced, control can be maintained.
Kudzu bugs have a notorious stench they emit when they feel threatened so it is suggested that if you come in contact with such bugs in your home or vehicle that you vacuum them up instead of squashing them. It is highly recommended that you dispose of the vacuumed bugs so they do not continue to emit their stench.
For more information, check out the University of Georgia’s kudzu video:
University of Georgia – Kudzu Bug
Northwest Exterminating offers a treatment plan specifically for kudzu bugs. Call us at 888.466.7849 for more information.
May 16, 2011 | Pest Control
Do to the massive amount of calls that we have received lately regarding kudzu bugs, or stink bugs, we thought this earlier post would be beneficial!
In the past several weeks, our service centers have seen an emergence of kudzu bugs. Kudzu bugs, also known as lablab bugs or globular bugs, have made their way to Georgia in recent years from Asia. Thoughts are that because Atlanta has the “World’s Busiest Airport”, they could have arrived through Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. Since kudzu bugs are fairly new to experts, research is still being done on this particular bug.
Kudzu bugs look like brown lady bugs and eat what other than…kudzu. But kudzu isn’t all that these bugs are feeding on. Kudzu bugs also eat soybean plants. More research is being done to find out if kudzu bugs will eat our Georgia crops as well.
The kudzu bug is an occasional invader, choosing to enter properties for the shelter and possibly needing moisture. Think of them as the same as boxelder bugs, but with an increased amount of generations and smaller so they fit in tiny cracks and crevices. They are known to eat specific plants, but can survive on others. They have 3 generations per year, so they can build up populations in great numbers, but once the population is reduced, control can be maintained.
Kudzu bugs have a notorious stench they emit when they feel threatened so it is suggested that if you come in contact with such bugs in your home or vehicle that you vacuum them up instead of squashing them. It is highly recommended that you dispose of the vacuumed bugs so they do not continue to emit their stench.
For more information, check out the University of Georgia’s kudzu video:
University of Georgia – Kudzu Bug
Northwest Exterminating offers a treatment plan specifically for kudzu bugs. Call us at 888.466.7849 for more information.
