Cockroaches & Ants Oh My! David J. Shetlar, Ph.D. The “BugDoc” The Ohio State University, OARDC & OSU Extension Columbus, OH © July, 2002, D.J. Shetlar, all rights reserved What are BUGS? “Bugs” to the average person means “many-legged” critters! Most “bugs” are ARTHROPODS of some kind (includes insects, spiders & ticks, millipedes & centipedes, sowbugs, etc.) True bugs are insects in the order Hemiptera! (plant bugs, lace bugs, stink bugs, etc.) Most “Bugs” are HARMLESS! Characteristics of the Phylum Arthropoda The segmented bodies are arranged into regions, called tagmata (e.g., head, thorax, abdomen). The paired appendages (e.g., legs, antennae) are jointed. They posses a chitinous exoskeletion that must be shed during growth. They have bilateral symmetry. The nervous system is dorsal (belly) (brain is “hard wired” – little ability to change); and the circulatory system is open and ventral (back). Arthropod Groups (taxa) The arthropods are divided into two large groups that exist today: The Chelicerates and The Mandibulates Orders of Arachnids Scorpionida - scorpions Pseudoscorpionida - false scorpions Phalangida - daddy-long-legs or harvestmen Acari - mites & ticks Araneida - spiders Mite and Tick Body Regions pedipalps & chelicerae cephalothorax abdomen American dog tick male Blacklegged (deer) tick female Spider Anatomy pedipalp chelicera (fang) cephalothorax narrow waist abdomen Jumping Spider Abdomen Cephalothorax Chelicera (fang) Pedipalp Myriapods [one pair of antennae, head & trunk regions, trunk with many pairs of legs] Millipede (Diplopoda) Two pair of legs per visible segment, attached under body. Centipede (Chilopoda) Pair of fangs under head, one pair legs per visible segment - attached to side of body. Millipede (Diplopoda) Centipede (Chilopoda) Classes of Crustacea (mostly marine, fresh water, a few terrestrial) (all have two pair of antennae, five or more pairs of legs, segmented abdominal appendages, head & trunk or cephalothorax & abdomen body arrangement, have gills) Isopoda - sowbugs or pillbugs Amphipoda - sand fleas, amphipods Cirripedia - barnicles Decapoda - crabs, lobster, shrimp several other minor orders Crayfish cephalothorax (Decapoda) Sowbug (Isopoda), a terrestrial crustacean Class Insecta (all have one pair of antennae, a head, thorax & abdominal regions, three pair of legs, adults usually have wings, use trachea) Life Cycle Groups Incomplete - egg, nymph, adult stages Complete - egg, larva, pupa, adult stages Incomplete Life Cycle Example (hairy chinch bug) egg Egg Stage 1st instar 2nd instar 3rd instar 4th instar Nymphal Stage 5th instar shortwing adult normal wing adult Adult Stage Complete Life Cycle Example (northern masked chafer) egg Egg Stage 1st instar 2nd instar Larval Stage 3rd instar pupa Pupal Stage adult Adult Stage Cockroaches Ancient group (survivors!) Incomplete life cycle (eggs in cases) Omnivores (eat almost any food) Anthropomorphic species (tropical & subtropical species that live in the “comfort” of human buildings) Cockroaches Watch out for names! • “Roach” or “Cockroach” (often unacceptable to have!) • “Waterbugs” (everyone has ‘em!) Cockroach Species Domestic Ohio Species German Brownbanded American Oriental (=waterbug) Native Species Woods roach American Cockroach Oriental Cockroach (=“waterbug”) Brownbanded Cockroach German Cockroach Cockroach Species Species Size Life Span Preferred Habitats American Large 1.3-2.1 1.5-2.0 yr Needs water, commonly breeds in sewer systems & underground utility systems. Oriental Medium 1.0-3.0 yr 1.0-1.3 Prefers high humidity areas, can withstand freezing temps, often in basements, garages, crawl spaces. Brownbanded Small 0.5-0.6 90-280 days Can withstand dryer conditions, often lives in electrical equipment, attaches egg cases anywhere. German Small 0.4-0.6 2-6 months Retains egg case until hatching, needs warmth, & water, often around food processing areas. Cockroach Management Monitor (sticky traps, flushing agents, determine extent of population) Sanitation Exclusion (caulking, parameter sprays) Crack & Crevice Sprays or Dusts (treat all areas at once) Baits (eliminate other foods!) Nuisance Ants Food Preferences (sugars, oils, or omnivores) Nesting Habits (soil, tree voids, or building voids) Worker Types (single monomorphic - or multiple sizes polymorphic) Reproductive Strategy (single or multiple queens) Common Ohio Ants Carpenter Ant Characterized by having polymorphic workers Nest by excavating decaying wood or voids (they don’t eat the wood, they cast out wood shavings!) Major nests in trees (satellite nests in buildings where water is available) Most active at night (best time to find colony(ies) is at night!) Carpenter Ant Management Locate nesting site(s) (outside and/or inside - look at night, repair water damaged structures) Prune back trees and shrubs touching infested building Seal external entry sites Exclude with parameter sprays Treat colonies (injection, dusts) (baiting is rarely successful) Common Ohio Ants House & Building Invaders Larger Yellow (Citronella) Ant Odorous House Ant Acrobat Ants Argentine Ant Little Black Ant Pavement Ant Pharaoh Ant Thief Ant Ant Management Identify species! Locate nesting site (outside and/or inside) Prune back trees and shrubs touching infested building Seal external entry sites Exclude with parameter sprays Select appropriate bait Treat colonies (injection, dusts, baits) Household Related Parasites Fleas Ticks Lice (head, body, pubic) Mosquitoes No-see-ums (ceratopogonids) Bird mites Fleas Cat, dog & rat fleas are most commonly found (cat flea is, by far, the most common on dogs and cats!) Adults suck blood for food Eggs drop from host Flea larvae feed on organic debris & blood excrement from adult fleas Pupae may remain dormant Flea Life Cycle Eggs - 2-14 days Larvae - 7-60 days Pupae - 5-15 days Adults - 2-12 months females - 15-20 eggs/day - 600 total Flea Control Coordination Pet Exterior Interior Human Lice Head louse most common (obtained by contact and exchanging clothing, especially hats and head gear) Body louse very uncommon Pubic louse fairly common (obtained ONLY by body-to-body contact!) Mosquitoes Many species involved Larvae grow in temporary pools of water (from acres of wet fields to tiny tree holes and roadside cans, old tires, or trash) May require area treatments