Ants Herding Aphids? Is It True? |Fun Fact Friday

Have you seen the moving Bugs Life?  Well, I have kids and work in pest control, so I have absolutely seen the movie with my kids!  And in the movie, the queen ant has a pet aphid. I know that there are several species of ant that eat honeydew, a sticky sweet secretion, produced by aphids.


I had heard that there are ants that "farm" aphids.  I went looking around to see what the research says and came across a really interesting article.  Apparently ants not only bite off the wings of aphids to subdue and keep them close, but they also have a chemical that is released from their feet.  This chemical was once thought just to mark territory, but the new research has found that it blocks aphid wing growth and slows them down-- allowing the ants to herd the aphids and keep their food source near by.


Here is a link to the article-- it's a little on the dry side, but if you can get past that, it is very informative. 


Herding Aphids: How 'Farmer' Ants Keep Control Of Their Food


Insects are very interesting!  For all of you gardeners out there, if you have ants and aphids together...  Now you have an idea of why they're both there!  The ants are keeping the aphids-- it's like an ant aphid ranch.


If you have plain old ants in your house that come in after rains to feast on your kitchen sugars because their aphid honeydew has been washed away, please contact Peak Pest Management.


Micah Wood
Peak Pest Management
peak-pest-management.com
micah@peak-pest-management.com
503-998-4322
360-607-1933
Text a Tech 503-369-4623

Bees- Spring Has Sprung, Don't Get Stung!

It's spring and spring means flowers and trees start to bloom bringing allergies, bees, wasps and a number of pesky pests we said goodbye to for winter back into our lives!  Here in the Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR and the whole northwest, spring rain welcomes buds and blooms to flowers and trees.  Buds and blooms attract bees, caterpillars, aphids, and plenty of other pests to be sure.  If your backyard veggie patch or prize winning roses are attracting bees, here are a few tips to keep you from getting stung.

• Know your bees and wasps!  It doesn't hurt to have knowledge about the local bees and wasps so you know how to respond when you encounter them.  Bumble bees are fuzzy, lonely, cute and relatively harmless: yellow jackets (technically a wasp not a bee) are bare, travel in colonies, ugly and readily sting repeatedly.
• Don't panic!  Becoming fearful and swing your arms at bees makes you and those around you more likely to be stung.  If one person has been stung and it appears that bees are swarming move away from the area and indoors if possible.  When a bee or wasp stings, it releases a pheromone that can attract other bees and wasps to come to their aid to protect the territory.
• If you notice a bee nest in, on, or near your home or business, contact a pest control professional.  A pest control professional will be able to identify the bees/wasps and help you get rid of them.  A pest control professional will often have contacts in bee keeping for relocating honey bees and other beneficial bees to a safer place for the bees and for your family.  A trained professional is also skilled in getting rid of bees and wasps that are invading your home or business and nesting in areas that encroach on peaceful family life.

Here are some helpful safety tips for kids:

• Don't throw rocks at bees nests, even if they appear to be empty.
• Do not climb trees with bees nests in them.
• Don't swat at or flail your arms at bees.
• Don't panic and run around in circles when you see a bee.
• Avoid playing near garbage cans that are swarming with bees.

Remember a bee sting is painful to some and medically serious to others.  If you have a known bee allergy please follow your doctor's safety advice and carry the appropriate medications during the spring, summer and fall months.  If you have been stung and have significant swelling consult your doctor.  If you have severe swelling and/or difficulty breathing call 9-1-1 immediately.

Micah Wood

503-998-4322

360-607-1933
Micah@Peak-Pest-Management.com
peak-pest-management.com