Bats in Your Attic?
August 5, 2010 by Aaron Steen
Here’s the video and story that ABC-5 ran on Pesky Bats Seeking Shelter in Homes.
Remember, with so many mosquitoes and insects to feast on this time of year, bats follow the food and love the humid air. They don’t need a big opening to find a place of residence in your attic.
Bedbug Bag Dropped at Des Moines Armory
July 21, 2010 by Doug Mitchell
“Des Moines officials believe a saboteur most likely left a bag crawling with bedbugs in the hallway of a city office building.”
That’s the lead of a Des Moines Register front page story online today: Mischief Suspected in Des Moines bedbug drop at the Armory Buidling downtown
A nasty delivery to be sure. Bed bugs feed on blood, including the human variety. Unfortunately, though custodians found the bag in the middle of a hallway (suspicious!), they didn’t find it soon enough. and some bugs spread through the building. About 200 people work in the Armory Building.
tarantulas
May 5, 2010 by Aaron Steen
There are about 30 different kinds of tarantulas in the U.S. Most are found in the southern states. The bite of a tarantula is painful but not dangerous. Some species have the ability to shoot hairs as a defense mechanism the hairs can be irritating. Tarantulas build burrows in the ground and then ambush prey. They will feed on any kind of insect or even small rodents.
In Iowa, these are not a realistic pest to have to deal with. If any are found it would be from a released pet or pet shop. Tarantulas are beneficial spiders in areas where they are found. Adults have been reported to live for two years or more
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wolf spiders
May 4, 2010 by Aaron Steen
Wolf Spiders
There are about 100 species of wolf spider in the U.S. They can be intimidating because of the large sizes they can reach, up to 35mm. usually black in color; they are also brown and spotted. Wolf spiders hunt large insects and run quite fast on the ground. They have burrows in the ground and usually leave at night to hunt prey.
Wolf spiders can be found frequently indoors and can bite humans. They also help keep general insect numbers in check. Wood piles, underneath stones and rocks are good breeding grounds for the spiders. The large, hairy appearance is usually the worst thing about these spiders. Wolf spiders are active in day and night
sac spiders
May 3, 2010 by Aaron Steen
Sac spiders
Sac spiders are yellow in color and build a sac like structure where they hide in the daytime. There are only two species of sac spiders in the U.S. but it is thought that they are responsible for very high percentage of spider bites inside homes. It is not known if the bites can become serious. They are about 4-10 mm in size.
Bites are generally when the spider is disturbed in bedding or clothing but it is thought that they will also bite when unprovoked. They will be found in corners of ceilings and walls of basements and all over the house. Sac spiders are a nuisance and should be treated with insecticides when large numbers are present in homes. They will be found outdoors and indoors throughout the season