Ants - a superorganism? Typically when we think of ants the last thing we want to think about is an entire colony coming in any given area at one time. But did you know that research has shown that ants when working together as an entire colony actually functions as one giant superorganism? It makes sense doesn't it? Ants are very social creatures who stick together. When they feel attacked they will work together using pheromones to coordinate an attack against whatever is threating their home. When this theory is applied to using ants as a pesticide, miracles happen. Ants will hang out on trees like mango trees and by association, the fruit becomes protected by the colony as well. When other insects try to invade the territory the ants work together as an army to ward off the intruder. The research shows that the fruit produces a better quality crop too. The research also shows that ants can perform just as effectively as pesticides around these crops. Attracting the ants is the easy part. Farmers can hang nests coated in sugar water in their tree branches until the ants build nests of their own throughout the orchard. Ants would be harmful to would be intruder insects but relatively harmless to humans. For more information on ants, please click here

Lightning bugs If you have ever spent a fall evening outside in the Midwest, you surely know what a firefly is. According to a recent report, the one insect every child loves to catch and play with is on the decline in numbers. Most kids will remember running around the yard and collecting the fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, in a mason jar and watching them light up the night. The light omitted from their bodies is actually an attractant for the opposite sex. They light up in different patters as a way of calling out to each other. What most people don't know is that a lightning bug is actually in the same species of insects as a beetle. They are one of the good bugs on the list of helpful insects to keep around. You used to be able to find large swarms of the flying, glowing beetles, however now they it is a very rare occasion to see a full swarm. Some researchers blame habitat loss and light pollution on the decline of fireflies. Fireflies hide during the winter and need natural undisturbed areas to survive. It is thought that human light pollution interrupts their matting patterns by interrupting the mating flashes of the glow. For more information on lightning bugs, please click here

Keep your kisses! As if the kiss of a kissing bug isn't bad enough, now they are carrying infectious diseases as well. Kissing bugs got their name because they like to bite right on your face. They will in fact target your face as a place to bite. Now they are especially dangerous as many reports of Chagas disease come to light. Chagas disease is carried by kissing bugs however you don't always have to receive a bite to transmit the disease. The other transmissions of the parasite are less common such as organ transplants, blood transfusions and even pregnancy. Chagas disease could cause you to experience heart issues, difficulties eating and digesting foods, they can also cause you to have an enlarged esophagus. Clearly all of these symptoms could be life threatening. The only real way to avoid these kissers is to be aware of what is happening in your home and yard. If you notice an increase in kissing bugs there are some tricks to try to keep them away like your citronella candles and torches. You can also try some pesticides but if the problem persists, the best option is to call your local pest control company for a strategy to eliminate the problem. For more information on kissing bugs, please click here

It's big and exotic - the wolf spider Typically these creatures are found at night in south western desert regions. They are nocturnal and feast on beetles and other insects. However, if bitten by one, a human can experience the same symptoms of a nasty hornet's sting. The wolf spider is known to overpower its prey by releasing a venomous bite that paralyzes. They love a strong base of grasshoppers, beetles and other smaller spiders. They are like most spiders in the way they will hunt. They come out at night in search of food. They have eight eyes total, 2 larger ones in the front. They also have six smaller eyes on the sides of its head. The larger eyes have better ability to focus in on prey while the smaller eyes tend to find light sources. Their bites are not deadly to humans, but that doesn't deem them non dangerous. If given the opportunity to bite children or elderly whose skin hasn't become very tough, the spider can bite fully through causing pain and a lot of irritation. If you think you have a problem with wolf spiders in your home, you should call a local pest control company to come evaluate and come up with a strategy on how to treat the issues. For more information on wolf spiders, please click here

Return to sender What would you do if you received a package, marked return to sender, only to find a very large and very aggressive tarantula inside? This happened to a homeowner recently and left him stunned. When the homeowner received a package addressed to the previous tenant, he decided to open it only to find the third largest spider in the world held captive. It is estimated the Brazilian Salmon Pink Birdeater was alive in the now moldy container for up to three weeks. He decided to take it to the vet because it was such a rare find. This species of tarantulas are known to have inch long fangs, and have the ability to kick hairs from their abdomens that could cause human blindness. This particular spider was very unhealthy at the time the vet examined it. After three weeks of circulating through the postal service and being exposed to mold, it was very dehydrated and was suffering from hair loss on its stomach. As a blanket statement, tarantulas are usually docile and non-aggressive. They can be beautiful to watch as they move and some people even choose to keep them as pets. This species however is very dangerous and thankfully, for all those involved, this story has a happy ending and no spiders or humans were harmed in the end. For more information on tarantulas, please click here

Grass to keep away mosquitos? The idea is something we have never heard of. Researchers are now testing the chemicals and oils in sweet grass to determine if it is as effective as chemical pesticide. These scientists have already determined that there are two chemical compounds work as repellants. The sweet grass grows long and is commonly used for basket weaving. Reports from harvesters of the grass report that there is not a mosquito population around the grass. Native American tribes also report that they use the sweet grass in their homes to keep mosquitoes away. Their next study is to determine if the chemical found in the sweet grass is just as effective as popular insecticides like deet. If they can prove the chemical found in sweet grass deters mosquitos just as effectively, with less poisons and harmful chemicals, they may have broken ground on the future of pesticide. Mosquitoes are problematic because they carry West Nile and Yellow Fever, to diseases that have the potential to be fatal. A new solution to mosquitos can't come quickly enough as they adapt to their environment and can create an immunity to the chemicals we currently use. For more information on keeping mosquitos away, click here

Stop them in their tracks How can we combat invasive ants? Researchers may have found the solution. Invasive ants can take over your home in no time. They are annoying and will leave you covered in bites once they feel you are attacking their new home. Scientists however have found a virus that can infect aggressive invasive ants and stop them in their tracks. One species, the argentine ant, is known to form super colonies. They merge with other ant colonies to take over any given area. They are extremely aggressive and stop at nothing to conquer their territory. Instead of fighting other ant colonies, they work together. Scientists have said a virus like this one, could be what is happening to our bee population as well. The ants carry the virus back to their queen and eventually as it takes its course, the entire colony is dead. This virus could be very beneficial in stopping ants from intruding on areas they are not welcome, and scientists believe they can use it as a tool that keeps these aggressive ants in check. Ants love sticky substances, and will carry food 20 times their own body weight back to their nest. They typically work together to sustain their colony and they can be a handful to get rid of. For more information on ants, please click here

Get out you pesky ants! How do I keep them away! They are more annoying than the majority of other insects and household pests. What are they? Ants. They make a feast on our leftovers during the summer months, invading our sugar bowls and anywhere else they can find a food source. Here are some things you can do at home to help keep them at bay while you wait for your pest control company to arrive. Vinegar and its pungent scent will keep them from entering the house if you take the time to spray down the entry ways and any gaps you find. Black pepper will do the trick as well. Turns out these ants aren't keen on the spice. Because ants use their sense of smell to maneuver, anything you can do to mess this up is a benefit. For instance, you can also place a mint plant or cinnamon sticks and citrus peels near entry ways to confuse them. These items all smell like some of their favorite things, but when the ants smell the aroma but find no food source, they will become confused and go away. Of course there is also the dreaded bug spray, but if you think you have an ant problem, it is always best to call your local pest control expert for help. For more information on ridding your home of ants, click here

How do I treat a mosquito bite? Camping, fishing, hiking and outdoor exploring can leave you open to mosquito bites. After all you are now in their home, on their territory. Mosquito bites are so common, some people have a built up immunity from their effects. Although the majority of bites are minuet, some can be painful, especially in the situation if they get infected. You can keep a bite site clean and help to avoid infection by not scratching. The most important thing to remember is that the itch is pretty much the worst part of the bite. If you scratch it, you create an open wound that later can get infected thereby actually making the problem worse. Try washing the skin with antibacterial soap and water, and then place ice directly on the bite to reduce the itch and reduce the swelling. If you have anti itch cream, apply that to the site. If you don't have any some common household products that can help are aloe Vera or make a paste of baking soda and water. You can reduce your small children's discomfort and also can reduce scratching by applying a band aid to the affected area. The most important thing to remember is not to scratch. For more information on mosquitos please click here