Introducing the Ghost Ant

        No you are not going to see this ant on any SyFy channel episodes of the series “Ghost Hunters” but more and more apparitions of this ant are appearing in homes in Texas.  I have had calls about this ant and received specimens that I have identified as the ghost ant, Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius). Sightings of this ant are becoming more numerous around the Houston area.   

        Several pest control professionals in the Houston area concur that they are seeing more instances of this ant and have treated for them. Many people are confusing them with the Rasberry crazy ant. This is why it is extremely important to get any pest ant identified before jumping to conclusions.  If you have a sample to have identified you can bring them by the Harris County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office  or send directly to Texas A&M Center for Urban Entomology, form can be copied here: Insect ID Form.  The ghost ant can be controlled with various management strategies as long as you are patient and persistent in your attempts.  The Rasberry crazy ant is another issue.  I would much better have to control fire ants than the Rasberry crazy ant!!HER

  

Red Imported Fire Ant

Rasberry crazy ant

ghost ant

         Now back to the ghost ant.  Ghost ant workers are tiny (1/16 inch) and all the same size. They have 12-segmented antennae. Head and thorax are a deep dark brown (though I have seen the thorax a little lighter in color than the head) with abdomen and legs opaque or cream colored. Colonies readily nest outside and inside.

        This ant has been in Texas since the mid 1990’s.  Probably arriving through Galveston from a shipment of plants from Florida as per Dr. Jerry Cook, now with Sam Houston State University, as reported by the Texas A&M Agriculture News (now AgriLife Today) back in February 1997, link HERE AgriLife Today

         In that article Dr. Cook says “They’re really just nuisance ants. They don’t sting. They can’t really bite you and harm you, but they like to get into household foods and places that we just don’t like to see ants.”  This comment is exactly what I have been hearing from homeowners.  The presence of the ant is disturbing, and the homeowner just wants to get rid of it. 

          Dr. Bart Drees, Professor and Extension Entomologist for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, in the publication, Managing Household Ant Pests, addresses steps that should be taken when trying to manage ant pests such as the ghost ant.  For the most part many household pest ants can be managed with these actions. 

         Dr. Drees states that ants enter a home in search of food, water or a good nesting site, and there are things you can do to eliminate these resources inside and outside your home to prevent ant problems. I will reprint his management suggestions with my added comments in italics.  The total publication can be read HERE: Managing Household Pest Ants 

          Household ant management strategies:

1. Keep your home clean. Clean up spilled foods and beverages and store foods in tightly sealed containers. (If pets are fed outside, do not feed them close to the house.  Also, pet food should be stored in a tight container whether in the house or in other storage areas.)
2. If insects are producing honeydew on plants close to the house, control these insects. Ants are attracted to honeydew. (Attempt to control aphids, whiteflies and other insects that produce honeydew on your landscape plants.  Move plants that can attract ants away from the home.  You may need to remove the plants completely until the ant population is under control.  This may mean pruning permanent landscape plants and removing ground cover.)
3. Remove water sources by repairing dripping faucets and other plumbing leaks.
4. Replace wet or rotten wood.  (Pay close attention to wet windows or rotting window sills.)
5. Move mulch and landscape rocks away from the bottom of the foundation. Mulch and rocks keep the soil moist, which attracts ants.
6. Remove nesting sites and keep ants from entering the house by caulking cracks and crevices. (Barrier sprays may also be considered for restricting ants from entering from the outside, read more about this in the text of Dr. Drees publication) 
7. Replace worn weather stripping around doors and windows.
8. Remove dense vegetation next to the house. (This may mean eliminating existing ground cover and drastically pruning or eliminating permanent landscape plants)
9. Remove ivy that grows on walls.
10. Clean out rain gutters. Ants may nest in gutters clogged with decomposing leaves and other debris.
11. Store firewood away from the house.
12. Trim tree limbs away from the roof and house. Ants may use them as bridges to gain access.
13. Before you bring firewood or potted plants into the house, be sure they are not infested with ants.
14. Clean foraging trails with a good cleanser to remove the pheromone trail that ants follow (hot soapy water or a good ammonia based cleanser is best).  If ants are seen on the outside of the house, you may want to wash the sides of the house to remove these trails.

        Generally, control of the ghost ant is not necessary except where the ant becomes a nuisance in the home or in outside buildings. Many times insecticides are not even needed if many of the outlined actions are followed.  Again, patience and persistence are admirable qualities when attempting ant management.  If further control measures are necessary, the ant is susceptible to a number of insecticides used in baits or as contact poisons. Dr. Drees does a nice job in discussing insecticides and baits.  It is worth reviewing the publication for the homemade boric acid bait recipe. If you are not comfortable with choosing a specific product, please call a pest control professional.  They will have the products to help manage these pests.  You still need to do your part and follow the actions outlined above so the efforts of the pest control professional will be more effective.

        For more on the ghost ant see a 2009 update to the University of Florida electronic Featured Creatures publication site on ghost ants, link HERE: ghost ants on Featured Creatures.

        Wikipedia also has a nice group picture of a colony of ghost ants, HERE: Tapinoma melanocephalum

        For your viewing pleasure I have linked to a couple of ghost ant videos on YouTube:

Cicada Killer antics

        Have you ever been sitting in your back yard, around your pool, or in a park and all of a sudden you notice a B2 Stealth Bomber headed straight for your head!  Wait a minute that can’t be right, it is just a “humongous” wasp. You move, duck, just knowing at any minute it is going to pick you up and transport you back to its nest just like in some science fiction movie about giant flying insects.

        What you have just experienced is probably one of the “digger wasp” species, probably the Cicada Killer.  Males are very territorial and it is just letting you know you are in it's territory.  What is funny though is that it's bark is worse than it's bite.  Male wasps do not have stingers, so he is just putting on a good show.

Cicada Killer, alias B2 Stealth Bomber!

Male Cicada Killers do not have a stinger

Male and Female Cicada Killers

          

        Recently Dr. Bart Drees, Professor and Extension Entomologist for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, was in Kingwood, TX visiting a residence with a very high number of Cicada Killers.  He videotaped what he witnessed and collected several Cicada Killer specimens (see images above).  Dr. Drees has a Landscape IPM web page with great information on integrated pest management for today's landscapes.  I urge you to bookmark this page, it is loaded with good "stuff."  

        Dr. Drees has a great write-up on “Ground-Nesting Wasps and Bees” on his site (and also information about his proposed new Olympic Sport, Cicada Killer badminton).   To read about digger wasps, control strategy, and Dr. Drees' recent Kingwood, TX visit and view his videos click on this Cicada Killer link.

        You might want to buy a badminton racket for your next "Cicada Killer" encounter, though sometimes it seems like a howitzer would be more appropriate!!!

Mosquito Aerial Spraying in Harris County Scheduled for August 22, 2012

        For those in Harris County that read the information on mosquito control around the home in my previous post I wanted to report that the Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services (HCPHES) Mosquito Control announced today that an aerial spray operation has been scheduled for portions of west and northwest Harris County to combat mosquito-borne disease. The aerial application will occur Wednesday evening, August 22. The plan is to spray approximately 63,000 acres by air, weather permitting.
         Please read the HCPHES press release.  They also include the map depicting the area of the county to be sprayed

Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services August 21, 2012 press release

        The release mentions that the aerial spray operation is being conducted in response to recent surveillance findings indicating that West Nile Virus (WNV) activity has increased in Harris County. To date it mentions that WNV has been confirmed in more than 300 mosquito samples and nearly 100 dead birds in Harris County.  HCPHES says that the insecticide, Dibrom (EPA-approved), that is routinely used for aerial spray operations to combat mosquito-borne disease will be used during the spray operation in Harris County. Dibrom is considered to be safe for the environment and is applied according to the label instructions.

        For additional information and/or maps of West Nile Virus activity in Harris County, visit the HCPHES web site at www.hcphes.org

Mosquitoes Around the Home

        I have a love/hate relationship with the red imported fire ant.  I am mesmerized at their aggressiveness when their mounds are disturbed.  I am amazed about how quickly they can build a mound and move the mound when aggravated, but, I am profoundly annoyed when stung.

Red Imported Fire Ant.  Image by M. Yoder

        When I think about the mosquito, only hate is there.  I hate the mosquito.  Here is a good reason to keep on hating this insect.  Over the past few weeks West Nile Virus (WNV) activity has increased throughout the State of Texas.  The mayor of Dallas has declared a state of emergency for the city to combat the spread of West Nile virus infections.  The emergency declaration by Mayor Mike Rawlings and other actions by Dallas County officials paved the way for aerial spraying to begin this week in Dallas.

        Dr. Mike Merchant, Professor and Extension Urban Entomologist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service wrote on this WNV event in the Dallas area  on his citybugs blog posted last week.  I suggest you visit his blog for his “several relatively inexpensive steps anyone can take to reduce mosquito risks around the home.”

        We in the Houston Metro area area are not immune from an outbreak such as this and should take steps to reduce mosquito populations around our homes.  Here is a map showing the WNV cases in the state as of 8/13/12.  This map was located by Dr. Sonja Swiger, Assist. Prof. & Ext. Entomologist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Stephenville, TX.   As  can be seen, most are occurring in the Dallas metroplex, but these numbers could shift so we need to be vigilent.  Thanks to Dr. Swinger for sending this map. 

WNV cases in the state of Texas as of 8/13/12

        Remember it is just not one action that will reduce mosquito levels around the house but the accumulation of many actions.  The more actions we can take to disrupt the life cycle of the mosquito, the less chance we will be bitten by one, which reduces the chance of us being exposed to one of the mosquito borne diseases.

        To benefit the readers of this posting I am reprinting from a March 2003 publication "Mosquito Control Aoround the Home" by J. A. Jackman (deceased), Professor and Extension Entomologist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, and  J. K. Olson Professor of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Department of Entomology, their suggestions for “how to reduce mosquito problems” around the home.  I added a few comments in parenthesis.  These actions are extremely effective and should be implemented to successfully combat mosquitoes throughout the year.

 Eliminate breeding sites for larvae

• Reduce standing water that provides breeding sites. Eliminate containers such as old tires, buckets, cans and bottles that collect and hold rainwater and become good breeding sites for mosquitoes. (Turn them over if possible when not in use.) Drain water from flower pots, bird baths, rain gutters, rain barrels, pet dishes, livestock watering troughs, etc. at least once a week.
• Empty your plastic wading pool weekly and store it indoors when not in use.
• Fill holes or depressions in trees with sand or mortar, or drain them after each rain by drilling holes into the tree. (With the drought in our area last year many branches/limbs broke leaving gaps in tree trunks and many trees have been cut down leaving stumps that may have holes that can collect water and be a breeding habitat for the mosquito.  Also fill up depressions in your lawn with sand.)
• Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets.

.Reduce adult mosquito populations

• Mow tall grass or reduce the amount of brush and other foliage in your area to reduce the resting sites for adult mosquitoes.
• For temporary relief in yards or high traffic areas, use fog treatments or surface treatments of insecticides that are labeled for that use and apply them following directions on the product label. (Adult mosquitoes like to hide in cool places during the day and the lawn and landscape areas are an ideal place for this.)

Avoid contact with mosquitoes

• Use screening in your homes and pet kennels. Keep the screens in good repair and be sure that they seal around the frames of the door or window.
• Schedule outdoor activities during times when mosquitoes are not active. Mosquito species that are active at dusk and dawn can often be avoided. Species that bite throughout the day are more difficult to avoid
• Wear long, loose-fitting clothing to avoid mosquito bites. Use head nets when mosquitoes are very abundant.
• Use repellents whenever in a mosquito infested location. Products that contain DEET have been shown to be the most reliable repellents.
• For short-term relief in outdoor areas such as patios and picnic areas, use citronella candles or punks as a deterrent.  (Place the candles or punks in a circle around the area to be protected)
• Protect your pets with drugs that eliminate heartworm..

 Treat larval breeding sites

• Use Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (also known as "Bt") products such as Mosquito Dunks® to treat permanent water bodies to eliminate larvae.
• You can use oil treatments on the surface of standing water to kill larvae. Use commercial products according to the instructions on the product label. Be aware that other organisms in the water body may be affected by the treatment.

         If you are interested in thoughts on many of the “mosquito control gimmicks” here is a good article that gives insight into many of them: Many Mosquito Controls Only Hammer Buyer's Pocketbook

        Another great joint publication on "Integrated Mosquito Management" authored by several agencies in the states of Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arkansas can be found here: The Best Way to Control Mosquitoes.

        One last publication you may want to review can be found here:

Mosquitoes and the Diseases they Transmit

 

        For a more on the mosquito life cycle here are a couple of interesting videos for your viewing pleasure:

   Mosquito laying eggs, eggs hatching

and here:

The Mosquito Life Cycle

Fire Ant Mystery in Harris County, Texas

While checking my email Monday I received this report from Sean McGuire in Harris, County, Texas:

“I ride my bike on a concrete bike trail between Pasadena and La Porte along Fairmont Parkway.  I've notice several times, especially during wet weather, that fire ants will form long trails down the trail.  Not too unusual, except that they seem to exactly follow the tire tracks of bicycles - picture the muddy track that a bicycle would make if it had gone off in the mud then tracked the mud down the trail including where the front and back tire separate in a turn.  Except that is not the case - the concrete is clean, just long trails of fire ants.  I can only think that the bicycle tire leaves behind some unseen trail or scent that the fire ants follow.  The other unusual thing is the mass quantity of ants and how far they follow the tire track - at least 1/4 miles or more.  Again they perfectly follow the apparent unseen track of a bicycle. 

I've attached a picture.  Just curious if you have seen anything like this or could explain this behavior.

Regards,

Sean McGuire”

Photo of fire ant foraging trail on bike path

Additional view of fire ant foraging on bike path

Closer view of fire ant foraging trail on bike path

 

Wow, what an interesting observation.  Thanks Sean for recognizing this as an unusual phenomena and documenting it for us.  It does appear that the ants were attracted to the path of the bike tires for some reason.  

 This email was passed along to several researchers who are an authority on fire ant behavior. 

Dr. Bradley Vinson, Professor, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX replied:

“It does look like the ants are following a trail. What is interesting to me is that they are following the edge of the bike tires rather than the center. It would appear that they are following an odor or contact chemical trail. It would be interesting to pull a bike tire across a pavement and see if ants follow it. But tires from different companies might or might not have the same chemicals. Also the tire that led to the trailing could have gone through something that contaminated the tire and this would likely lead to 2 parallel trails (something on the side of the tire). It appears to be really attractive; a lot of fire ants are out on the trail.”

Dr. Bob Vander Meer, Research Leader, Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research Unit, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Gainesville, FL, replied:

“That is an impressive photo!!! A while ago there was interest in fire ants being attracted to rubber bands used to hold newspapers together. Consistent results were hard to get so the mini-project was abandoned. A similar episode occurred when it was observed that fire ant workers followed a trail made with a ballpoint pen. So, it is possible that compounds in bicycle tires are influencing fire ant behavior. Maybe a colony was caught in migration mode and became trapped by the irresistible smell of tire residues on pavement! The number of ants suggests colony migration.”

Foraging fire ants respond to various odors.  In fact they use odors (pheromones) for all kinds of communications.  A simple explanation of this communication activity can be found here: 

What do fire ants eat? 

and here: 

Fire ant habitat and food sources

Fire ants use their stingers to periodically mark the ground and leave a chemical pheromone trail:

•     To mark trails to food
•     To mark trails home
•     To recognize their queen
•     To recognize other worker ants from their colony
•     To alert the other ants of danger or intruders

  It would appear from this photo that some foraging ants were attracted to an odor that was on the tires of the bicycle.  Who knows what is was, but they were attracted to it.  Once they started following the trail they laid down a pheromone trail for other ants to follow.  The original attractant may be long gone, but the pheromone trail remains, and intensified as others ants pass.  With the rains we have had recently in the Houston area, the fire ants could be migrating to a higher area and the cement bike trail is a perfect highway to do this on.

Informational video on fire ants moving a colony from eXtension site: 

 Fire ants moving colony across road

American Cockroach vs your home!

I was sitting watching TV the other night and what did I see but an aircraft carrier cruising across my floor!  No, wait; it is just one of those large cockroaches.  Have you had a similar experience?

 With the recent rains in the Houston area, many insects’ habitats have been disturbed and you may see some around your home as they try to get out of the wet conditions.  One you will commonly see is the American cockroach (Periplaneta Americana).

American cockroach.  photo by Bart Drees

             Cockroaches have flattened bodies and can crawl through spaces as little as 1/8 inch.  Their elongated, spiny legs allow them to move quickly across the floor.  I have had to make several attempts when trying to step on one because of their ability to move fast, they can be very elusive.  Because they are most active in the dark, you usually see them find their way into your home in the evening hours because of their increased activity at this time.

             The American cockroach (also known as waterbugs or palmetto bugs) is the largest cockroach in Texas, can grow up to 1½ to 2 inches long and are usually found outdoors and in nonfood areas of homes.  Both the adult male and the female can fly.  Which is very disturbing when this large insect is seen flying around your home.   Adults are reddish brown and are one of the most common cockroaches in sewer systems.

           How do we go about making sure this insect does not find its way into our home where it can carry off our prized possessions (just kidding folks!).  First, DO NOT go for the aerosol can of bug spray (or in some cases hair spray, cabinet cleaner,  or spray deodorant, yes, you know who you are!!!) and chase it around the house.  Swatting it or stepping on it is the most effective way of removal.  Then pick it up (I know “ugh!”) in a paper towel or tissue and toss in the trash can.   

            There are things you can do to reduce the chance that his insect will even find its way into your home.  The main thing is removing things from around the home that may serve as a great nesting location for this insect.  Look for dark, moist areas close to decaying organic food sources. 

Cockroaches can live in compost piles, ground cover plants, hollow trees, mulch, old stumps, palm fronds, woodpiles, sewer manholes, and underground water meters.  We can’t do much about, sewer manholes, and underground water meters, but we can reduce the movement of the insects from these locations close to our homes by reducing the possible nesting areas around the home.

What can be done?

•  Move potted plants away from the house
•  Do not rest items up against the house, store them appropriately
•  Move woodpiles, mulch bags  to the back of the lot
•   Do not mulch up to the house, and remove unused bags of mulch from beside the house 
•   Repair holes in screens
•  Plug weep holes in brick homes with copper mesh (a copper mesh wash pad works well)
•  Repair gaps around doors and check threshold seals under doors
•  Make sure that roof soffits are screened
•  Check for gaps around windows and window seals, wall boards and repair/caulk

             If all of the above is done and you still see this insect in your home. Place sticky traps in various places around the home to see where the insect is the most abundant.  Bait stations are available for large cockroaches.  Place the stations against walls, especially around doors and other suspected entry points as identified by the sticky trap.

      As an addition, an insecticide spray can also help manage outdoor cockroaches or treat them in garages and home utility areas.   A good general ready-to -use insecticide can be purchased from a local retail outlet to spray around the house (Usually 3 foot up the exterior wall and 4 foot out from the wall).  Please follow label directions when using any pesticide.  Do not misuse.  Spray suspected cockroach nesting sights and entry points such as building perimeters, doors, soffits, and water boxes.  In garages and utility rooms, spray the room edges and places that are unlikely to be contacted by children or pets.  I prefer the use of an insecticide spray but a granular insecticide labeled for outdoor insect control may also be used to place a barrier around your home.  

     An excellent publication published by my counterpart, Wizzie Brown, in Travis County addresses cockroaches and can be found at this link: Cockroach Biology and Management

     Here is a lengthy video on the cockroach showing an American Cockroach, uploaded by  backyardbugs to YouTube.

Rasberry crazy ant in urban gardens!

     I am concerned with what I observed at the Harris County Precinct 2 Master Gardener’s Genoa Friendship Gardens.  The Rasberry crazy ant [Nylanderia sp. nr. pubens (LaPolla, et al)] was observed nesting (larvae, pupae, and workers, and queens) in the leaves circling the shank of the corn ear.  This is the first time I have seen this ant nesting in a growing plant.  I have seen the ant crawling over plants but not actually nesting on the plant.

   

Rasberry crazy ant nesting on corn plant

Rasberry crazy ant nesting close to corn ear shank

Rasberry crazy ant under corn leaf

Rasberry crazy ant queen with worker ants on corn leaf

   
      For those of you not familiar with this ant, in 2002, Tom Rasberry, a professional pest-management provider from Pearland, discovered a population of a new pest ant near Pasadena, Texas, in Harris County. Huge numbers of this new ant literally covered the landscape in industrial parks and residences.  So the name has nothing to do with the raspberry but the name of the discoverer.    

     The Master Gardener’s commented that when some of the corn ears were being harvested the ant would emerge from the ears and run all over the arms of the one harvesting the ears.  This ant does not sting, though a slight bite may be felt with no after affects as compared to the painful sting of the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta).  The person harvesting was constantly wiping their arms to remove the ant, and sometimes wiping their neck and face.

     One Master Gardener believes that the presence of the ant reduced the production of their corn plants but as mentioned on the Texas A&M Center for Urban Entomology web page devoted to the Rasberry crazy ant (RCA), “No information is available on potential yield effects in infested lands.”  There is no replicated data that would support this observation but there is information from the Global Invasive Species Database web page that in St. Croix Nylanderia pubens (very close relative to the RCA) has been blamed for crop damages due to high densities of plant feeding Hemiptera (aphids, mealy bugs, scales) that this ant has been observed tending.  The RCA feeds on the honeydew produced by these insects.

RCA tending aphids and feeding on drop of honeydew

  

Video of Rasberry crazy ant feeding on oak aphid honeydew

     I did observe a high number of aphids and a few mealy bugs under the corn leaves surrounding the ear that the ants could be tending.  Further observations/research on this would be enlightening.

Aphids on corn ear

Mealy bugs on corn ear

      My concern is with gardens in urban areas and other community garden projects that are present in urban areas where heavy populations of RCA are present.  First, the potential for the increased numbers of honeydew producing insects such as aphids, mealy bugs and scales will exist.  The ants protect these honeydew producing insects from other predators.   Second, movement of produce out of the garden areas would just be another avenue to spread the ant.  This could place urban garden projects in jeopardy.

     No testing has been done on products to control the RCA in gardens.  I would recommend that any attempts to control the RCA in garden areas should begin with procedures to limit the number of honeydew producing insects on garden plants.  These procedures may involve one or more of the following, 1) washing or wiping the insect off, 2) removal of infested parts, 3) using insecticidal soaps/oils, or 4) use an insecticide labeled for the specific insect and finally, 5) destruction of the plant may be necessary if the population of these plant feeding insects is too high.  Reducing the population of these honeydew producing insects may help in keeping the number of Rasberry crazy ants on garden plants to a minimum.

     If you do have this ant in your gardens, no matter what control procedures you use to keep the number of honeydew producing insects down,  wash all the produce before removing from the garden.  Corn should be shucked so as not to transport ants hiding within the leaves.  As the picture shows, queens can be present, and if you move a queen you move a population.  Be careful with these ants.

     For more information on the Rasberry crazy ant [Nylanderia sp. nr. pubens (LaPolla, et al)] and other urban insects please visit the Texas A&M Center for Urban Entomology web page.  For general information on the Texas A&M Department of Entomology please visit their web page.