Q: Yellow ant swarmers are emerging from a drop ceiling in a medical office, which is on a slab. Where are they coming from, and how do I stop them? The customer is anxious. F.H., Ga.
A: There are several species of yellow ants that tend to live underground and feed on aphids on the roots of shrubs and trees. They don’t nest in buildings. I suspect the swarmers are coming from beneath the slab, through the walls and exiting in the drop ceiling. Treating the drop ceiling or in the walls probably won’t stop the problem. Swarmers usually will get through insecticide barriers before dying. If the customer can’t wait until swarming ceases for the season, consider drilling the slab and treating as you would for subterranean termites. This should kill the colony(s), and the office should be swarmer-free next year.
Q: I’m finding gray “bags” about the size of watermelon seeds crawling up the walls of a residence. I’ve pulled apart one, and it looks like larva is in there. What is it, and how do I control it? F.H., Fla.
A: You have plaster bagworms (Phereoeca uterella), which are related to clothes moths and feed on similar materials, such as wool, fur and other animal fibers. They were given their common name because they feed on horsehair, which was often mixed into plaster many years ago. In your case, they’re feeding on wool carpet or, more likely, on pet hair trapped behind baseboards. A crack-and-crevice application of a residual behind the baseboards should solve the problem. If they’re feeding on carpet, it must be treated.
Q: A residential customer keeps finding small insects in her shower. I’ve looked at them with a hand lens, and they appear to be cocoons; but some have insect heads or legs protruding from them. What could they be, and what should I do? L.B., Tenn.
A: You’re probably finding insects that have been wrapped in silk by a spider. After feeding (the spider sucks the body fluids from the insect), the spider drops the carcass. If you inspect the ceiling vent and the ceiling light (if either is present), I’ll bet you find a spider. A pyrethrin aerosol will take care of the spider. You also should inspect the attic above to see if there’s an insect infestation you need to address.
Q: A customer has hundreds of wool suits in his home. Insect damage is appearing in some suits, and I’ve found what looks like cast dermestid larval skins. I haven’t found any webbing, which suggests clothes moths aren’t the problem. I was planning to apply a residual and install an insect growth regulator (IGR) device to slow any future infestation. Do the suits need to be cleaned? T.P., Colo.
A: The larvae will stay on the suits, so the suits must be addressed. Dry cleaning is preferred, but heat also would work. Use 130°F for at least 30 minutes. Set up a monitoring system using traps after the treatment to detect new infestations early.
Email your questions about insect identification and pest management technologies and techniques to Dr. Mampe at dentomol@aol.com. Your questions most likely will be printed and answered in one of Pest Management Professional’s upcoming Ask the Expert columns.
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