Most homeowners are aware of the health and safety risks associated with cockroach infestations, including the allergies and asthma triggered by cockroach allergens, and the germs and bacteria they have been known to spread. What may not be as widely known is the fact that cockroaches are a very interesting and resilient pest that exhibits some very odd behavior and survival tactics. For example, cockroaches spend 75% of their time resting and can withstand temperatures as cold as 32 degrees Fahrenheit!

Here are ten of the most fascinating cockroach facts:

1.) A Cockroach Can Live for Week Without Its Head

Due to their open circulatory system, and the fact that they breathe through little holes in each of their body segments, they are not dependent on the mouth or head to breathe. The roach only dies because without a mouth, it can't drink water and dies of thirst.

2.) A Cockroach Can Hold Its Breath for 40 Minutes

These pests can even survive being submerged under water for half an hour. They hold their breath often to help regulate their loss of water.

3.) They Can Run Up to Three Miles in an Hour

While this may seem like an impressive athletic ability, what it really means is that they can spread germs and bacteria throughout a home very quickly.

Continue Reading PestWorld.org

Out of Sight - Episode 2: Cockroaches in the Kitchen

While their tracks may not be noticeable to the naked eye,
cockroaches can spread germs and bacteria
with every step as they scurry through our homes.

Why Having a Mouse Problem Is Worse Than You Thought

When it comes to household pests, rats seem scarier to deal with than mice, right? They are larger than the usual mouse and tend to live in dirtier places. Compared to the rat (or other household pests that are hard to get rid of), mice seem pretty tame. But don’t let their smallness fool you—mice can be quite dangerous lurking around your house.

First, let’s talk lifespan. According to a study published by the UK government, a mouse only lives up to 9 to 12 months. In that lifespan, the mouse does get quite busy. After six weeks of living, a mouse is sexually active and ready to start producing young mice. In that short time span, a typical mouse will have 5-6 young mice up to 8 different times per year. So that means if this small mouse is living in your home, she’s producing up to 40 to 48 little mice in 12 months time. Now consider the fact that these mice will also become sexually active, producing mice of their own. That, my friends, is a lot of mice.

Not only will you be dealing with hundreds of mice scurrying within your walls, but you’ll be dealing with a lot of mouse activity. Unlike rats, mice can climb well. This means finding mice on the top shelf of your pantry isn’t actually uncommon. Plus, their droppings are scattered (unlike a rat, who tends to just go in one place), so if a mouse got in your food you should probably throw it away immediately. Who knows what’s in there!

Article Source: Family Handyman

Out of Sight - Episode 1: Mice in the Kitchen

While their tracks may not be noticeable to the naked eye, rodents can spread germs,
bacteria and disease with every step as they scurry through our homes.

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Wild at Home: Pillbugs & Sowbugs

The Harris Center's "Wild at Home" series introduces you to the wildness that exists in your own home and yard! In this episode, we learn about pillbugs and sowbugs (sometimes called roly polies) with Harris Center teacher-naturalist Karen Rent.

Sowbugs vs. Pillbugs

Sowbugs and pillbugs are similar-looking pests which are more closely akin to shrimp and crayfish than to insects. They are the only crustaceans that have adapted to living their entire life on land. Sowbugs and pillbugs live in moist environments outdoors but occasionally end up in buildings. Although they sometimes enter in large numbers, they do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases, nor do they infest food, clothing or wood. They are simply a nuisance by their presence.

Recognition

Sowbugs and pillbugs range in size from 1/4 to 1/2 inch long and are dark to slate gray. Their oval, segmented bodies are convex above but flat or concave underneath. They possess seven pairs of legs and two pairs of antennae (only one pair of antennae is readily visible). Sowbugs also have two tail-like appendages which project out from the rear end of the body. Pillbugs have no posterior appendages and can roll up into a tight ball when disturbed, for which they are sometimes called "roly-polies". 

More facts College of Agriculture, Food and Environment 

The Kindness Rock Project - Ladybug Rocks

The Kindness Rock Project is a viral trend where people, commonly children, paint pebbles or cobbles and leave them for others to find and collect. Photos of the painted rocks and hints of where to find them are commonly shared on Facebook groups. The trend originated in the U.S. and has spread to the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand as well as other countries.

The Kindness Rocks Project was started by Megan Murphy in 2015 on Cape Cod. She wrote "You've got this" on a rock and left it on a beach on Cape Cod. After a friend found it, she started leaving more rocks with inspirational messages behind.

Learn more on Wikipedia

Facts About Silverfish

Silverfish is not a fish; it is an insect, an Old World invertebrate belonging to the phylum Arthropoda of kingdom Animalia. Silverfish have a pair of antennae on their head, which assists them as a sensory organ in picking up motions and vibrations. These silver fishes occur in damp or moist areas in houses. Their occurrence is considered as a sign of either a dirty house or some other underlying problem. They feed on starch from the old books and newspapers and hence are considered very important decomposers. Belonging to the genus of Lepisma, a silverfish is scientifically known as Lepisma saccharina, where the species name saccharine originates from the word Saccharum or starch (sugar).

Check out some interesting facts here

Learn Something About Silverfish!

Are silverfish invading your home?! Well, before you call pest control, lets learn some things about them! These prehistoric insects are really something to look closely at. They have some interesting defenses and are so neat to look at. Hide your flour, books, photographs and even your clothing because those are its food. While having some silverfish isn't anything to worry about, antique book collectors fear them. Watch my video to find out why!

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