Mosquito Squad of Frederick, MD

The Best Way to Kill Stink Bugs

Mosquito Squad — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:58:13 +0000

On October 28, 2011 I attended a conference for pest control professionals where the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) was the main topic of discussion. Some highlights from the conference. The University of Maryland says that exclusion is the best way to control stink bugs. In other words, they suggest that homeowners simply seal their house. Many of our customers report having tried everything to seal their homes, but their homes were still infested with stink bugs. Sealing your house can only get you so far. One of my customers told me that he heard a BMSB can shrink down to the size of two pieces of paper stacked on top of each other. The BMSB can enter your home from various places, including vents, chimneys, windows, under the siding, the eaves, doors, etc. Of course, sealing the house only gets you so far. I have met several people who stopped using doors to their homes because they knew that if they opened that door, stink bugs would come in in droves. What good does it do to seal a house, if they swarm into your home when you open a door to go in or out?

The University of Maryland extension recommended that homeowners simply use a vacuum on any stink bugs that enter their home. If you choose to do this, you run the risk of ruining the vacuum for any other purpose because the vacuum will smell horrible and, if you have a large infestation, you will spend hours a day vacuuming. Many of my customers have reported that before they called Mosquito Squad of Frederick they would spend hours a day vacuuming up stink bugs during peak periods.

Our experience confirms that it is best to keep them out. We find that our comprehensive treatment has helped hundreds of happy customers live without stink bugs invading their homes. To see one customer’s video testimonial click here. To see another, click here.

University of Maryland Predicts This Year Will Be the Worst for Stink Bugs

Mosquito Squad — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 18:35:13 +0000

We just found this article in the Courier-Post out of Southern New Jersey. Not only does the article say that we should expect billions of stink bugs this spring, it actually suggests that they will start mating later this month. Our information is similar to the articles, except that we anticipate that the stink bugs will start mating in the spring, perhaps April or May. If the weather stays warm the rest of the winter, perhaps they will come out sooner. You may want to get some stink bug treatments in the spring to prevent as much mating as possible.

I found it interesting that the person they chose to quote about how bad his stink bugs are happens to live right here in Frederick.

The article says “In his 90-year-old farmhouse south of Frederick, Md., Doug Inkley is already under siege. He’s a biologist for the National Wildlife Federation, and he loves bugs.” Poor Mr. Inkley has actually counted the number of stink bugs that he has vacuumed up inside his home, more than 12,000 since January. According to the article the brown marmorated stink bug, plaguing this area, are at least one bug he does not like, or love for that matter.

Brace yourself, the experts discussed in this article, say this year should be the worst. “Michael Raupp, an entomologist at the University of Maryland who’s been studying the bugs, predicts this year will be the worst so far.”

Here are some tips from the article:

How to kill stink bugs

You may be tempted to crush them, but you’ll be rewarded with an odor you won’t like. Instead:

- Vacuum them. This also will help kill stink bug eggs. But dispose of the vacuum bag, maybe dousing it with some insecticide as you set it in the trash can.

- Attract them. Use a wide-mouth can. Fill with an inch of water, sweet-scented dish soap, and a little cooking oil on top. Make sure that pets cannot lick this trap. The sweet smell lures the bugs; the oil smothers their discharge; the soapy water smothers them as they sink.

- Exterminate them with commercially available insecticides. But apply the chemicals outside. If you do so when they are in your walls, you could attract carpet beetles that feed on their carcasses and potentially your woolens. (At Mosquito Squad, we use a product that kills the stink bugs as they land on the treated area for two to three weeks, and sometimes longer. This product is only sold to certified applicators.).

- Repel them. They don’t like the smell of garlic – if you can handle it.

- Block them. Caulk small openings and cracks in your house or elsewhere to keep them out of structures. Repair damaged screens.

Sources: Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences, city of Burkittsville, Md.

Fort Detrick Scientists Receive Award for Mosquito Trap

Mosquito Squad — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 22:22:42 +0000

According to a January 29, 2011 article in the Frederick News Post, two researchers in Fort Detrick (located here in Frederick, MD), developed a mosquito trap to help reduce Dengue Fever.

Realizing that the Aedes Genus of mosquito is one of the biggest vectors of Dengue Fever, “The two combined their efforts behind the idea that female Aedes mosquitoes will lay eggs only in a container holding water.” That is not true of all Aedes mosquitoes. In fact, the Asian Tiger Mosquito found in many places in and around Frederick,and a potential vector (transmitter) of Dengue Fever and other diseases like West Nile Virus, are Aedes mosquitoes. The Asian Tiger (Aedes Albopictus) are known as floodwater mosquitoes because they lay their eggs in containers, tree holes, or other places that the female mosquito knows will flood when it rains. They often will lay their eggs, then, in places that do not contain water when they lay their eggs.

The scientists at Fort Detrick created a pint-sized water container with a strip covered in pesticide to kill the female mosquitoes and the larvae. According to the report it was successfully used in Key West, FL where they had a Dengue outbreak. Dengue Fever had not been known to be transmitted in the continental United States for many years, but last year the disease was once again documented to be transmitted inside Florida’s boundaries.

I doubt that the trap would be successful here against the Asian Tiger mosquito, whose latin name is Aedes Albopictus, as they can breed in a container the size of a bottle cap and consequently do not need a pint of water to lay eggs. As I said before, the Aedes Albopictus does not need water to be present either when it lays eggs.

Nonetheless, it is good to read about efforts to reduce the transmission of disease through mosquitoes. As the article concludes, the World Health Organization recommends mosquito control to prevent the outbreak of mosquito borne disease.

Researchers Work on Developing a Malaria Proof Mosquito

Mosquito Squad — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 18:39:33 +0000

With more than one million people a year dying from malaria transmitted by mosquitoes, researchers at UC Davis and the University of Arizona have been trying to create a breed of mosquito that will not transmit malaria. Of course, not every breed of mosquito is a vector (transmitter) of malaria. In Maryland only one species of mosquito found in Maryland is known to transmit malaria. Since most of the malaria deaths occur in Africa, it appears that efforts would be to introduce the “malaria proof” mosquito into Africa with the hopes that it will become dominant and will breed out the mosquitoes that breed malaria.

The efforts to dominate the malaria vectors would not have any impact on vectors of other diseases, such as West Nile Virus,Yellow Fever and various forms of encephalitis which have occurred in Maryland.

The good news is that the UC Davis and University of Arizona researchers have received awards for the progress in their efforts. The bad news is that even if they are successful in making this “malaria proof” mosquito dominant, it will take at least 10 years to do it.

To read another blog about this development click here.

Information about Stink Bug Life Cycle

Mosquito Squad — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 10:18:38 +0000

People have been telling me recently that they are starting to notice stink bugs in their house in the first week of January. As one person put it, it got a little warmer and now I am seeing them in my house. They wonder why that is. Others have asked me about the stink bugs’ life cycle. I thought I would share this information for anyone who is interested. Stink bugs are generally hatched in August. In September they notice that the temperature is getting colder so they start coming to your house to overwinter. They continue being heavily concentrated around certain homes, mostly in more rural areas near soy or corn farms or wooded areas, from September to November. By mid November the temperature has dropped enough that the stink bugs are inside where they will hibernate, or as some have called it, semi-hibernate. As it gets warmer to the stink bugs, they may start to get more active indoors. Though one of my customers told me that they saw stink bugs outside their home last February after the major snow fall. In April and May, they will start going outdoors. That is when they will mate. So, when is the best time to treat for stink bugs? Some may want to treat in April thru June to kill them before they breed and lay eggs. Definitely, from August through October is the time to treat to keep as many as possible out of your house.

West Nile Virus confirmed in Maryland

Mosquito Squad — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:47:45 +0000

Recent news reports tell us that two Maryland residents have been diagnosed with West Nile Virus this year. Check out the report on My Fox DC here. Some reports have said that the Asian Tiger mosquito, perhaps the most prevalent mosquito in Frederick County, MD, is not a threat to transmit West Nile Virus. However, the University of Maryland extension has reported that the Asian Tiger mosquito is a threat to transmit West Nile Virus to humans. In a Gardeners’ Alert the University of Maryland explains that “The Virus is distributed by birds infected by Asian Tiger mosquito bites. Although mainly a bird disease, West Nile Virus afflicts birds, horses, and humans as well. Crows are particularly susceptible to West Nile Virus. However, the Virus has been detected in other wild birds, other mosquito species, humans, and horses.”

Another interesting tidbit from the article:

“The West Nile virus can be transmitted by mosquito species other than the Asian Tiger. However, the all-day feeding habits of the Asian Tiger mosquito may increase the risk of spreading West Nile virus. The Maryland mosquito spraying program is not the best against the Asian Tiger mosquito. Spraying is usually done at sunset or after dark for native mosquitoes. Asian Tiger mosquitoes are virtually absent during these hours.” Mosquito Squad’s treatments use a different product than that used by the state. The product Mosquito Squad uses has a residual affect that will kill mosquitoes that come onto the treated area, while still being people and pet friendly. This has resulted in much better control of the Asian Tiger mosquito in many yards around Frederick.

To read the University of Maryland article click here.

Mosquito Breeding Sites

Mosquito Squad — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:14:07 +0000

After a recent rain storm, I treated two properties for the first time to help them reduce the Asian Tiger mosquitoes in their yards. While in those yards, I observed several obvious breeding sites for the Asian Tiger mosquitoes. In one yard, they had a small kiddie pool with standing water in it. I looked in the pool and saw what must have been hundreds of moquito larva swimming in it. I then found buckets full of landscaping rocks with more mosquito larva swimming in them. Those were the obvious spots. In that yard, there were probably many other breeding sites becuase the Asian Tiger mosquito can lay eggs in very small pools of water in tree holes, bottle caps and other locations.

The other yard had a wheelbarrow with dirt and a tarp in it. The tarp was full of mosquito larva.

Removing those types of breeding sites would not completely eliminate the mosquito problem in those yards, but would certainly hellp reduce some mosquitoes.

Asian Tiger mosquito larva breeding site

Asian Tiger Mosquito Breeding Site

Blood Sucking Insects Can Cause Disease in Pets

Mosquito Squad — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:45:13 +0000

Over the weekend, I spoke briefly with a technician at the Banfield Veterinary Clinic in Frederick, MD. She told me that they are treating quite a few dogs with Lyme Disease in Frederick. That did not surprise me. She also told me that several of the dog owners are not willing to spend money to protect or treat their dogs. The veterinarians recommend that everybody treat their yard to kill mosquitoes and ticks to protect their dogs. A barrier spray that kills the mosquitoes and ticks would be a good solution.

She also confirmed that they are treating at least three dogs that have Heartworm. According to her, Heartworm has three stages. If they catch it in a dog in the first three phases they can treat it. If the Heartworm is in stage four or five, it will be fatal for the dog. She also told me that there is nothing a veterinarian can do to treat Heartworm in cats. The best way to save your cat from Heartworm is to prevent it. That emphasizes the need for mosquito control.

Asian Tiger Mosquitoes Prevent Frederick Homeowner from Using His Backyard

Mosquito Squad — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:29:27 +0000

The Frederick News Post published an article on 8/8/10 about Frederick resident Courtney Nicodemus’ complaint that he cannot use his backyard. He wants the City or County to pay for the mosquito control. Despite the fact that the Maryland Department of Agriculture says that this has been a fairly light mosquito year in Maryland, Mr. Nicodemus feels the problem is worse this year. I understand that the state counts mosquitoes by having people stand in different areas and counting how many mosquitoes land on the counter. That does not seem to count the Asian Tigers in backyards. I have had customers tell me that they were being bothered by Asian Tiger mosquitoes in the backyard, but not in the front. Other customers have told me that they thought the mosquitoes were worse this year. Perhaps this is explained by the fact that Asian Tiger mosquitoes seem to thrive in the heat and do not need much stagnant water to breed.

We have had very good success treating Asian Tiger mosquitoes, which helps to explain why Roelkey Myers, a Mosquito Squad customer, who manages Frederick City’s mosquito control contract with the state of Maryland, recommended that Courtney Nicodemus call Mosquito Squad to get rid of the mosquitoes. To read the article click here.

West Nile Virus Found in Maryland Mosquito Pool

Mosquito Squad — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 11:52:38 +0000

MSNBC and WBAL-TV recently reported that a mosquito pool in Linthicum, MD had tested positive for West Nile Virus. The health officials said they were not surprised by this finding.

“We know that West Nile virus may be present throughout Maryland,” said Secretary of Agriculture Buddy Hance. “It typically appears at this time in the summer, so we are not surprised with this positive finding.

“The confirmation of virus-positive mosquitoes serves as a reminder to all residents to continue protecting themselves against mosquito bites and to conduct backyard mosquito control activities, in addition to MDA’s (Maryland Department of Agriculture) routine surveillance and spray activities.”

People most at risk for developing severe forms of West Nile Fever are those older than 50 and those with already compromised immune systems. However, all people should take steps to avoid mosquito bites, say Maryland’s Public Health officials.

West Nile Virus is typically found in Mosquitoes from July through August. As reported in a previous post, mosquito activity often increases in hot weather. The next rain fall in Frederick and Washington counties will likely bring many more mosquitoes out.

If you use professional mosquito control, ask about the satisfaction guarantee. Some companies offer mosquito control but do not guarantee your satisfaction. Nobody can eliminate 100% of the mosquitoes, but drastic reductions are possible.