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 PhylumArthropoda

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

pedipalps &chelicerae

cephalothorax

abdomen

Mite and Tick Body Regions

American dog tick male

Blacklegged (deer) tick female

pedipalp

chelicera (fang)

cephalothorax

abdomen

narrow waist

Spider Anatomy

Abdomen

Pedipalp

Chelicera (fang)

Cephalothorax

Jumping Spider

Myriapods

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.

[one pair of antennae, head & trunk regions, trunk with many pairs of legs]

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 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th shortwing normal wing instar instar instar instar instar adult adult

Egg Nymphal AdultStage Stage Stage

Complete Life Cycle Example(northern masked chafer)

egg 1st 2nd 3rd pupa adult instar instar instar

Egg Larval Pupal AdultStage Stage Stage 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

German Brownbanded American Oriental (=waterbug)

Domestic Ohio Species

Native Species Woods roach

American Cockroach

Oriental Cockroach(=“waterbug”)

Brownbanded Cockroach

German Cockroach

Cockroach SpeciesSpecies 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

1.0-1.3

1.0-3.0 yr 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!)

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)

Nuisance Ants

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)

Larger Yellow (Citronella) Ant Odorous House Ant Acrobat Ants Argentine Ant Little Black Ant Pavement Ant Pharaoh Ant Thief Ant

Common Ohio AntsHouse & Building Invaders

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 daysLarvae - 7-60 daysPupae - 5-15 days

Adults - 2-12 monthsfemales - 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