Cockroaches & Ants - Oh My! David J. Shetlar, Ph.D. The “BugDoc”

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