Critters Encountered in the Field

Transcription

1 Critters Encountered in the Field Lisa Wagenbrenner-Biologist Chesapeake Mosquito Control Commission

2 At the Job Site Check out surroundings Look for bees flying Watch where you step Give critters a chance to get out of the way Just be aware and alert!

3 Bees and Wasps-Good and Bad Pollinators Kill other pests Don t really care about us But.. Ditching, mowing, line trimming, tree trimming etc. cause us to make contact in an unfriendly manner We threaten their nest, get too close, move too fast, enter their space Or, they nest and enter our space- Conflict

4 Bees and Wasps-What Provokes Them Disturbing the nest Smashing individual Loud noise- vibration around nest Dark or colorful clothing Perfumes

5 Ways to Avoid a Sting Look out for the nest Move slowly around bees and wasps Don t swat or smash them on your body-action sends signal to others to attack When possible wear light colors-long sleeves-hat-boots-no perfumes If bees are swarming around you cover face and back away slowly as possible

6 The Unfortunate Sting Redness-swelling-sore and itchy Hands and feet will swell the most-look worse than it is Swelling last 3-4 days-normal reaction Watch out for Anaphylactic shock! Immediate swelling of face-eyelids Become flushed-breathing becomes labored Anxiety sets in Person can lose consciousness Call 911 If you know you are allergic-have doctor prescribe epi-pen and carry with you at all times

7 Common Bees and Wasps Most bees are vegetarians- receive nutrients from plants/nectar Most wasps are carnivores- eat other insects for nutrients Bees and wasps can be social or live solitary

8 Common Bees and Wasps Bumble Bee Social Medium size, fuzzy Black and yellow/orange Nest under brush/grass clumps in or close to the ground Adults fly May-Sept Feed on nectar and honey Individual can sting many times

9 Common Bees and Wasps Honey Bees Complex social system Small size Reddish brown/black with orange/yellow rings Usually nest in tree hollow or man-made hives Adults drink nectar and eat honey Adult can only sting once Contact beekeeper for wild hive

10 Common Bees and Wasps Yellow Jacket Social Medium size Black and yellow markings Nests in the ground usually near top of ditch bank Enter soda cans and fly around trash receptacles/pests at picnics Adults drink nectar/larva feed on pre-chewed insects Very aggressive-females will sting repeatedly Walk slowly away

11 Common Bees and Wasps Bald Faced Hornet Social Large-Black and white/yellowish markings Constructs large football nest in trees/bushes/bottom entrance Adults drink nectar/eat insects/larva eat pre-chewed insects Adults extremely protective of nest will sting repeatedly

12 Common Bees and Wasps Paper Wasps Social Medium size- dark reddish brown with yellow markings Constructs small circular hanging nest just about anywhere Adult drinks nectar/larvae eat pre-chewed insects Adults more tolerant of people and disturbances

13 Common Bees and Wasps Carpenter Bee Solitary Large-robust-shiny black abdomen Hollows out a nest in dry woodtrees-lumber-houses Adults drink nectar-larva feed on nectar and pollen Male aggressive but does not sting

14 Common Bees and Wasps Cicada Killer Solitary Very Large-Black with yellow markings Nests in the ground in thin grassy areas-front legs for digging Adult drinks nectar-larvae feed on cicadas caught by adult Male does not sting Fly low to the ground in search of prey Non-aggressive Seen Jul-Aug

15 Control of Bees and Wasps Best done after dark Yellow Jackets and Bumble Bees Nest is protected and hard to wipe out all at once Powder placed in and around entrance-as bees re-enter nest carry poison inside Foam sprayed directly into entrance Wait for powder/foam to work through nest~12hrs Paper Wasps and Hornets Nest above ground-easier to access Spray nest directly at night when workers have returned Honey Bees Call beekeepers to collect

16 More Critters You Might See Raccoons-opossums-muskrats-foxes (nocturnal) find evidencetracks-holes-droppings Unless rabid-will not bother you- Please report any strange acting critter to animal control

17 More Critters You Might See Velvet Ants Very hairy wasps- Red and Black Local species- Cow Killer Adult female-wingless-runs fastvery painful sting could kill a cow Female lays eggs in bumble bee nest-larvae eat the bumble bee larvae Fire Ants- True Ants Imported species-not native Nest-large mound-looks spongy Aggressive when mound is disturbed Sting and bite-burning sensation with blisters Fire Ant Mound

18 More Critters You Might See Spiders-Most will not hurt you Watch out for Black Widows Manholes-catch basins-wood piles-sheds Female stays close to egg sac-bites when disturbed Bite may not be felt-followed by burning-swelling-redness Neurotoxin-pain progresses to center of body and localizes in abdomen and back Symptoms-nausea-sweatingtremors-labored breathing and speech-vomiting Severity depends on age and sensitivity of individual Contact doctor immediately

19 More Critters You Might See Snakes More afraid of us-they are after mice-frogs-insects We have 3- Cottonmouth-Copperhead-Canebrake Rattlesnake ** Note: At one time, the Timber Rattlesnake & Canebrake Rattlesnake were considered separate subspecies, however this is no longer the case. Cottonmouth-found in marshy areas Copperhead and Canebrake- found in wooded areas Cottonmouth Copperhead Canebrake Rattlesnake

20 More Critters You Might See Non-venomous snakes-often mistaken for venomous Northern Water Snake- Active day and night-found in lakes-pondsmarshes-canals-ditches-streams-eats frogs-fish-crayfish-salamanders Flees if given the chance-but will bite if cornered Leave them alone-we need them! King snake consuming Copper head

21 King snake- So. Chesapeake Cottonmouth- N.E. Chesapeake Black snake- N.E. Chesapeake Copperhead-Suffolk- Karen Akaratovic

22 More Critters You Might See Ticks- require blood meal to complete life cycle-transmit disease Lone Star- Human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) and STARI Deer (Black-legged)- Lyme disease-anaplasmosis-babesiosis American Dog- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Found in tall grass Need to be attached 24 to 48 hours to transmit disease

23 How to Remove a Tick Use tweezers or shield fingers with tissue, towel, or gloves Gasp tick as close to skin surface as possible Pull upward with steady, even pressure Don t twist or jerk Don t squeeze, crush, or puncture tick body-fluids may contain infection Do not use nail polish, Vaseline, alcohol, or heat/flame to remove Save removed tick in plastic bag in case you become ill Disinfect bite site and wash hands 1 2

24 More Critters You Might See Chiggers Red Bugs Found in shaded grassy areas Don t embed in the skin Saliva makes you itch severely Can cause secondary infection Norway Rats Found everywhere humans are but common in older denser housing where food, shelter and water are available Can transmit diseases- bubonic plague-salmonella-hantavirus Sanitation and exclusion are keys to control-keep yards clean and buildings repaired

25 More Critters You Might See Mosquitoes Require water to complete their lifecycle We start by treating or reducing water source- before they have a chance to become flying, biting adults Truck spraying is our last resort Adults can transmit diseases such as West Nile Virus and EEE Use repellant with Deet as labeled Mosquito laying eggs Treating water-larviciding

26 Mosquitoes Larva/Pupa Sampling Techniques Use dipper to collect sample If positive-pour contents into bag Twist and twirl bag (leave room for air!) Write with pen- Date/Location/Habitat/Name and/or District

27 Plants to Avoid Poison Ivy Virginia Creeper-Mistaken for poison Poison Oak Poison Sumac

28 Critter Control Chemical control is usually the last resort for pests Many products available at local stores READ THE LABLE- make sure your pest is listed! Wear products containing DEET on exposed skin when outside to avoid mosquito bites- apply according to label directions Apply products with permethrin (Permanone) to shoes and clothing to avoid ticks- follow label directions Keep clean- Don t allow for areas of harborage- trash piles, run down buildings, overgrown vegetation

29 Thank-you