Christmas Beetle!

Photo courtesy of brisbaneinsects.com

I came across this beetle and thought I'd share.  It is the Anoplognathus species of beetle from the Scarabaeidae family.  These beetles are native to Australia and are common around Christmas time, giving them the common name, Christmas beetle.  There are about 35 species of Christmas beetles, ranging in size from 20-30mm.  They come in a variety of colors, including brown, green, yellow, and pink, and they are often metallic or iridescent.  The legs of Christmas beetles are clawed and covered in barbs.


Photo credit: Cyron Ray Macey from Brisbane, Australia; wikipedia.org

Larvae live underground and feed on plant roots and decaying vegetation.  In late winter or early spring, larvae move closer to the soil surface and pupate.  After several weeks, adults emerge.  They wait for rain to soften the soil, then burrow their way out.  Adults fly to a nearby plant source to feed and mate.  Eucalyptus leaves are one of their favorites, and swarms can defoliate whole trees in a few days.  Waves of emergence can occur from late November through February, Australia's summer season.

Party Time!

Each year the staff of Mid-Georgia Pest Control and Prime Maintenance Turf Management take an evening to celebrate Christmas with each other and their spouses.  We returned again this year to the Blue Willow Inn Restaurant, in historic Social Circle, GA.  The Blue Willow Inn opened in 1991, but stepping on that property is like stepping back in time to the Antebellum South.

We all stuffed ourselves with the enormous Southern feast prepared at the Blue Willow Inn.  A huge assortment of salads, meats, vegetables, breads, and desserts lure you for seconds and maybe even thirds!

Not only is our Christmas party a time to enjoy each other's company and have some fun together, it is also the time for another Mid-Georgia tradition:  awarding the Employee of the Year!  Congratulations to this year's recipient, Kelly Teal! 

Thanks to our entire team for working so hard all year and serving our communities.  Our party was wonderful!

Protecting a Landmark!

Everett's Music Barn in Suwanee has been a big part of the Bluegrass music scene for over 40 years.  The Everett Family Band starting playing music in their house in the mid-'60s, and soon people were overfilling the home.  After a Norcross apartment complex donated materials, they built the barn in 1971.  Many professional Bluegrass artists got their start with the Everett family.  

The barn closed in November 2010, and was reopened under new ownership in April 2012.  You will find a family friendly atmosphere and live music every Saturday night.  Music from national recording artists, family bands, and local favorites can all be heard at Everett's Music Barn.

 

We recently had the honor of helping protect this Gwinnett landmark from a massive termite infestation.  Because the barn is set directly on the ground, sections of the floor had to be cut to get termiticide under the foundation. 

Our Team!

Because Mid-Georgia Pest Control has offices in both Grayson and Griffin, we are able to serve a large amount of Georgia with their pest control and termite needs.  However, it also means that our team is not in the same place.  A few weeks ago, we were able to have the whole team together and enjoy a lunch with each other.  Thanks to our very own Bruce Griffin, for the delicious BBQ!  Our team is made up of our pest control technicians and office staff from both offices as well as our turf specialists for our sister company, Prime Maintenance Turf Management, based out of our Grayson location.  Here's a picture of the entire team that works hard to serve you!

  

Kicking Off the Holidays with a Parade!

Christmas celebrations have begun, and Mid-Georgia Pest Control is getting in the spirit!  Thanks to Chris and Brandon for representing Mid-Georgia last Saturday in the Griffin Annual Christmas Parade.  Our mascot was jolly in his Santa hat!
 

Where Do Insects Go In the Winter?

Despite the unseasonably warm days we have had, winter is upon us.  So, what happens to all those bugs that we see in the spring and summer?  There are several different strategies that insects have come up with to survive the cold winter months.

1.  Migration

We all know that birds fly south for the winter.  Did you know there are some insects that do the same?  A great example of this is the Monarch butterfly, which travels all the way to Mexico each winter.  Other insects migrate down into the ground to get below the frost level.



Monarch butterfly; photo courtesy of mexicotoday.org

2.  Communal Living

You've heard the phrase "safety or strength in numbers."  Some insects like ants and honey bees cluster together to make "warmth in numbers."  The bees' wing activity can raise the temperature in the hive above freezing.

3.  Dormancy

Many insects become dormant in a state of hibernation called diapause.  The inactive state of suspension helps synchronize the insect's life cycle with seasonal changes in the environment.  Insects can become dormant at different stages.  For example, praying mantids and tent caterpillars spend the winter as eggs.



Tent caterpillar eggs; photo courtesy of johnston.ces.ncsu.edu

Others spend the winter as larvae.  One example of this is the wooly bear caterpillar, which curls up in thick layers of leaf litter.  The next stage is pupae.  The black swallowtail butterfly spends the winter as a chrysalid, or cocoon.  Still other insects overwinter as adults.  Mourning cloak butterflies, for example, tuck themselves behind loose tree bark or in tree cavities.  Many insects, like ladybugs and boxelder bugs, move in our homes and spend the winter in wall voids and attics.



Black Swallowtail chrysalis; photo courtesy of buglifecycle.com



4.  Cold Hardening

Some insects produce cryoprotectants, or their own "antifreeze."  By producing a glycerol substance, insects can "supercool" themselves which allows their body fluids to drop below freezing points without causing ice damage.  The smaller the amount of water, the better they can supercool without freezing.  Because of this, smaller arthropods like ants or tiny spider mites can cool to colder temperatures than larger insects, like grasshoppers. 

5.  Staying Active

Lastly, a few insects actually stay active during the cold months.  One example of this is springtails, also called snow fleas.



Snow Fleas; photo credit-Jeff Hahn; www1.extension.umn.edu