Where are all the bugs during winter?

My family and I spent last week in Buffalo, NY for Thanksgiving.  I have never seen so much snow in all my life!  It makes you wonder where all the bugs go during winter.

 

http://www.midgapestcontrol.com/bugs-buffalo-ny/

 

 

Happy National Color Day!  We are heading outside today to find some colorful bugs!

 

http://www.midgapestcontrol.com/national-color-day-roygbiv/

 

 

How to Kill Stink Bugs!

I have seen quite a number of these annoying bugs flying around my house this past month! 

 Have you seen any around your house?

http://www.midgapestcontrol.com/stink-bugs-taking/

Check out this awesome article on 5 different ways to kill stink bugs!
http://www.wikihow.com/Kill-a-Stink-Bug

 

Where are the Bugs during the Winter?

With all of the snow and ice we are getting, you are probably not thinking about insects.  But, where do they go in the winter?

 Check out our website for more information: http://www.midgapestcontrol.com/bugs-winter/.

Halloween Bugs!

"Mama, there's a weird bug out here, get your camera!"  My children love my job and bring every bug they see to my attention.  This was the bug crawling on our deck:

I think I have figured out this the Florida Predatory Stink Bug.  The neat thing about this bug and it's timing on our deck is that it's nickname is the "Halloween Bug".  This bug is found mostly in the southeastern quarter of the United States and is most numerous in the spring and fall.  Because of its abundance in the fall and the "mask-like" look it's colors give it, it is often called the "Halloween Bug."  The bug is mostly black with orange or red spots at each corner of the scutellum (or the posterior portion of the thorax).  The underbelly is also orange or red.



photo credit: Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida (www.entnemdept.ufl.edu)

As it's name suggest, it is a predator, but this Halloween bug is considered beneficial.  It's prey consists of many plant-damaging bugs, beetles, and caterpillars.  It catches prey by jabbing it with it's proboscis which injects a toxin to immobilize the prey.  Florida Predatory Stink Bugs will also sometimes attack prey in large groups, especially in their younger nymph stages.



nymphs eating a cricket; photo credit: Nikki; www.whatsthatbug.com

 I've got to admit, it was a cool looking bug to see, and we luckily didn't smell any of the "stink". 

Scary, Ugly, and Dangerous!

So, it's Friday, the 13th!  Nothing scares me more than ugly or dangerous bugs.  Here's a few that might make your skin crawl a little (or a lot!):

Asian Giant Hornet



photo courtesy of incrediblethings.com

-2 in. long; stings with a potent venom that also contains a pheromone to call other hornets for reinforcement.

-Native to temperate and tropical Eastern Asia

 

Army Ants
 

photo courtesy of Mark W. Moffett; nationalgeographic.com

-Have massive, powerful, machete-like jaws that can dismantle any living thing in their path, regardless of size.

-Entire colony moves constantly and can consume 100,000 prey animals each day.
 

Goliath Bird-eating Spider

photo courtesy of wikipedia.org

-Second largest spider in the world with a 12 in. leg span and weight up to 6 oz.

-Type of tarantula found in the rainforest regions of northern South America.

-Despite it's name, it mostly eats insects and other invertebrates.
 

Amazonian Giant Centipede

photo courtesy of strangeanimals.info

-Can reach a length of 12 in.

-Found in South America

-Preys on insects, spiders, lizards, frogs, birds, mice, and bats
 

Bot Fly





photo courtesy of J.Eibl; sel.barc.usda.gov



 

-Each species targets a specific animal-horse, sheep, and even humans.

-The larvae are internal parasites of mammals that live out the larval stage in the subcutaneous layer of skin, causing painful pustules.

-Most species are found in Central and South America.