This week the clover mites have still been trickling into the Insect Diagnostic Clinic. We have also seen some termite swarmers. Termite swarmers are usually small and brown with large wings. Swarmers are winged males and female termites leaving a well-established colony to fly off, mate, and start a new colony. Very few swarmers ever actually start a new colony, but hundreds of them leave the old colony to try.

We have also been seeing more ticks. This week the American dog tick and Lone star ticks seem to be the most popular. Ticks have several stages in their life cycle and the smaller nymphs also will feed on humans. Often people worry that any small tick is a deer tick, when often they are nymphs of one of our other tick species. Also, the deer tick (also known as the red-legged tick) is somewhat smaller than the Lone Star and Dog tick, but not that much smaller. I was surprised when I saw my first one because it looked like a normal sized tick, and I always imagined something much smaller.

This week we have also been getting some Indian meal moth samples. Indian meal moths are grey colored near the head with a darker more rusty color on the bottom half of their wings. Indian meal moth larvae (or caterpillars) feed on any grain or grain product (flour, cornmeal, oatmeal, grits, etc.), seeds (including bird seed and dried beans), nuts, chocolate, dried fruit (such as raisins), and dried plants (flowers and foliage).

Indian meal moths can be frustrating for the homeowner to control. Locating and discarding infested items is the key to controlling this pest. Empty and thoroughly vacuum clean cupboards or shelves holding infested items, paying particular attention to cracks and corners. Vacuum cleaning picks up hiding insects and spilled or infested material. Empty the vacuum cleaner or discard the vacuum cleaner bag after use to prevent reinfestation.

Insecticide sprays are not recommended for controlling insects in stored food cupboards. Washing shelves with detergent, bleach, ammonia or disinfectants will not have any effect on insect pests.

As a precaution against reinfestation, you may want to store susceptible foods in sealable glass, metal or heavy plastic containers or in the refrigerator or freezer until you are convinced the infestation is gone. Remember that it takes about 4 weeks for moths to emerge from the pupae.