Why Black Fly Season Is Lasting Longer Than Usual In Upstate New York

Residents of upstate New York are no strangers to fly pest issues, especially fly pests that inflict painful bites. The northeast US sees particularly high populations of biting fly species that are most active near large and small bodies of water, such as creeks, marshes, streams, rivers, lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. These biting fly […]

Common House Spiders In The Northeast And The Number Of Eggs They Deposit Within Homes

Spider species that are frequently encountered indoors are commonly referred to as “house spiders.” However, many spider species that are commonly found within homes prefer to live outdoors. Most spiders found indoors are actually outdoor species that accidentally wander into homes. For example, many wolf spider species are found within homes often due to their […]

Is It True That Wasps Are Attracted To Cosmetic Fragrances And Bright-Colored Clothing?

During the fall of 2017, numerous residents living in western New York complained to their local authorities about wasp pest issues on their property. The abundance of wasps in residential areas during this time had been attributed to the previous winter when the climate remained warm enough to allow wasps to survive to see the […]

Beware Of Black Fly Bites When Winds Become Calm And The Temperature Hovers Around 75 Degrees

Black flies are insect pests that are notorious for their nuisance swarms and painful bites. Black flies are well known to residents and vacationers in the Adirondacks and other areas in upstate New York. Most of the 255 black fly species that have been documented in North America lay their eggs within flowing water, while […]

Do Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs Harm Humans

The brown marmorated stink bug is an invasive agricultural and household insect pest that was first discovered in the United States during the 1990s. This insect species is becoming well known to residents of New York state due to its abundance in the northeast where hundreds, or even thousands of specimens have been counted within […]

How Do Outdoor Bug Zappers Work To Attract And Kill Nuisance Insects

Considering that several mosquito species in the United States are capable of transmitting diseases to humans, people need as much help as they can get when it comes to keeping the airborne pests out of their yards. This is why many people purchase what are commonly referred to as “bug zappers” for their yards. A […]

Venomous Caterpillar Species

With the exception of wasps and honey bees, there are not many areas in upstate New York where venomous and potentially dangerous insects can be found. However, the caterpillars that are commonly known as “white hickory tussock moth caterpillars” can be found all over New York state, and these insect larvae are notable for the […]

Biting Stable Flies Are Making Life In Upstate New York Miserable For Residents

Stable flies resemble common houselfies, only stable flies are lighter in color, smaller, faster flyers, and most important, they inflict painful bites to humans. Unfortunately, these flies are abundant in upstate New York, particularly in areas around the Great Lakes. Stable fly pest issues have been particularly bothersome and painful for residents and vacationers in […]

The Garden Pests That Inflict Dangerous Bites Are Becoming More Prevalent In Residential Areas Of Upstate New York

Assassin bugs are just as menacing as they sound, as these insect species, which belong to the Reduviidae family, have a needle-like sucking mouthpart that they use to repeatedly stab their arthropod prey. Many assassin bug species, while not aggressive toward humans, have been known to pierce human skin with this sharp mouthpart, causing intense […]

Medically Harmful And Economically Damaging Slug Moth-Caterpillars Are Often Found In Backyard Trees And Gardens In Upstate New York

Slug moth caterpillars, often called “slug caterpillars,” are understudied caterpillar species that are not well defined taxonomically. The first published research on slug caterpillars is more than 100 years old, and this dated source remains the only competent description of slug moth species and their larvae that have been published. Several caterpillar species are commonly […]