A buzzing problem: Dealing with summer insects

A Purdue entomology professor captured 7,000 Japanese beetles in his traps in one day last week.

It’s that time of the year, when days become longer and bugs become more active.

“They can be very difficult to get rid of and a nuisance,” said professor Douglas Richmond, a soil insect ecologist.

Richmond is spending the summer researching insects and their relationship with turfgrass, the type of grass most commonly recognized for its prominent presence on lawns.

Turfgrass is hardy and can handle consecutive sessions of mowing, making it a staple of lawncare across the nation.

When dealing with summer pests, Richmond organizes them into three distinct groups: insects associated with human health and well-being, lawn and garden and household and structural insects.

“Those are three broad categories that homeowners would be concerned about,” he said.

Human health and well-being insects

Mosquitoes

“Over the summer, when people are trying to barbecue, they can get eaten alive by mosquitoes,” Richmond said.

Avoid outdoor activities during dawn and dusk, which are peak mosquito times. If you have to be outside, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and use mosquito repellent.

A common distinction among mosquito repellents is whether they have DEET or not.

“DEET stands for a long chemical. Some people think it smells funny and sometimes it can irritate people’s skin,” he said.

Richmond suggests an alternative that uses picaridin instead of DEET, for those who prefer an odorless, less oily alternative.

Ticks

“For people that love the outdoors and are more worried about ticks, I would tell them to stay on paths,” he said.

Ticks tend to be less active in areas where grass is cut, or there is a managed surface to walk on.

Lawn and garden insects

Japanese beetles

“Japanese beetles are big this time of year,” Richmond said. “They feed a lot on ornamental plants, but they also feed on our vegetable plants.”

There are plenty of insecticides that can be used against lawn and garden insects. When dealing with Japanese beetles, he suggests handpicking them and throwing them into soapy water.

“When you have soap in there, it breaks the surface tension of water so they tend to sink,” he said. “Otherwise, they would float.”

Household and structural insects

Ants

“The last group, which are household and structural insects, that are common this time of year include ants and other insects that find their way inside the house,” Richmond said. “That means they get into structures where we live or places where we work, like ants, termites and even bedbugs.”

There are many different species of ants, but Richmond identifies two as common nuisances. One is odorous house ants which are tiny, brown and numerous.

“For that problem, there are a bunch of different baits you can buy and set around the house. They’ll take that bait back to their nest and that will provide some control,” he said. “They’re laced with insecticide that only the ants have access to. They take that insecticide back and distribute it among the nest, larvae and its mates.”

It’s just enough of a dose that it doesn’t kill them very quickly. But over time, it has the effect of poisoning the colony.

“Ants are usually attracted to either food that’s been spilled on countertops or water. So if you have a leaky sink or faucet, they’ll try to scavenge water and take it back to the nest. Proper sanitation of spaces and keeping your plumbing up to date can help.”

Carpenter ants are bigger and black. They live in trees and will use overhanging trees to drop onto a house looking for water.

“They typically live in unsound wood, so trees with a rotten spot that you might not even notice,” he said. “They could even create their nests in a roof that’s leaking.”

Termites

Termites are subterranean, so they love any wood exposed to soil. They’ll excavate the wood, leaving structural problems for a house or building.

“Homeowners will notice termite tunnels, likely in a basement,” Richmond said. “Termites stay close to the ground because they’re very sensitive to desiccation – to drying out. They’re always going to maintain contact with soil, so they’ll build these mud tubes up along structures.”

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are active at night, preferring to feast on prey while you’re sleeping.

“Their bites don’t always have to itch. If you notice bites, examine your mattress or bedsheets close to their seams,” he said. “That’s where they hang out during the day.”

They’re about the size of a grain of rice or smaller.

“People often pick up bed bugs when traveling. In hotel rooms, they can get in luggage and then you bring them home,” he said. “If you suspect you might have bed bugs, examine your luggage, put all your clothes in a bag, and throw them in a dryer at high heat. That should kill them.”

Whole industries have evolved around managing bed bugs, Richmond said. They’re treated chemically with ozone or heat.

Insecticides and home remedies

“There are a whole bunch of synthetic natural insecticides for dealing with pests,” Richmond said. “The type someone uses depends on an individual’s philosophy.”

Synthetic insecticides are safe, but biological and natural alternatives are effective too.

“Synthetic products tend to act more quickly,” he said. “They’re more consistent and reliable, but if they are misused, they can pose a danger to the user and potentially wildlife. Natural insecticides are very safe and don’t hurt other animals. They’re very specific to insects.”

An important thing to know is that if a homeowner is going to spray food plants like fruits or vegetables in a garden, they spray during a pre-harvest interval. Once you spray it, stay away. This gives the product time to degrade and wash off the plant.

“Biological insecticides tend to be for more specific groups of insects. Chemical insecticides tend to be broader in their use.”

Adult insects identify host plants or prey using their odor. Smoke from a fire or citronella oil can help mask the scent of hosts.

“Bugs sense carbon dioxide,” Richmond said. “And that’s how they find us to bite us.”

More information on how to deal with other pests can be found online at Purdue’s extension for entomology publications.