FLIES IN THE HOME

It is cluster fly season and they most likely will have a good year because of the wet summer. They look very similar to house flies but have a fine golden hair on their thorax. They are earthworm parasites during the summer, but invade homes during the fall to spend the winter. If they get in they will be a nuisance all winter long. Now is the time to treat the outside of the home to prevent the invasion. See information under CLUSTER FLIES at http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/entobltn.html.

ANT SWARMS

In the late summer we have three species of ants that swarm in large numbers. Cornfield ants (Lasius), larger yellow ants (Acanthomyops), and field ants (Formica) all release numbers of winged males and females--the “kings and queens.” Most of the swarming is in late afternoons on warm, sunny days. None of these species are common household ants and they will cause no problems. For more information on ants see http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/housingandclothing/M1166.html.

WOOLY APHIDS

The white cottony growth on twigs, branches, and leaves in the fall is often caused by a group of wooly aphids. The aphids are covered with a waxy filament. Many have complex life cycles and it is common to see them on twigs of apple, crabapple, beech, and other trees. There is no need to treat this late. Be careful not to crush the aphids as they can leave a stain.


Wooley Aphids

STINK BUG EGGS

I have had a number of samples of eggs clustered on the underside of leaves. In this case they are hatching into tiny stink bugs. Some members of this family feed on plants and others feed on other insects.

237 Russell Labs
1630 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
608/262-3227

For more information contact: 
Phil Pellitteri, 608/262-6510
or e-mail Phil Pellitteri.