The Formosan subterranean termite received its name because it was first described in Taiwan (otherwise known as Formosa) in the early 1900s. The termite is believed to have originated from southern China, and apparently was transported to Japan before the 1600s. It arrived in Hawaii more than a century ago, and is thought to have reached the U.S. mainland in the mid-1940s on military ships returning form the Pacific during World War II.

Infestations have been discovered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Most inland infestations have been traced to the shipment of infested wood products, particularly recycled railroad ties used in landscaping.

Although its distribution is more limited than some termite species, the Formosan subterranean termite poses a severe threat in areas where it is established. In Hawaii, this termite can cause major structural damage to a home in six months, and almost complete destruction within two years.

In the Southeast, field colonies commonly extend into the millions, foraging over distances in excess of 100 meters. When compared to other termite species, Formosan termites generally cause more structural damage in a shorter period of time – primarily because populations tend to be larger – not because individual termites eat wood faster.

Although Formosan termites ordinarily have colonies traceable to the soil, they are also known to have aerial nests with no ground connection. Aerial infestations account for about 25% of structural infestations in urban southeastern Florida and more than 50% in Honolulu, Hawaii.

With these frightening facts in mind, have you had your annual termite inspection this year?

Their damage is caused when they suck the juices from grass blades and inject toxins back into the leaf blade. Chinch bug activity often starts during the drier part of the year in many southern areas and is often first noticed in water-stressed areas such as along sidewalks or in poorly irrigated areas. Therefore, conditions such as poor irrigation design, insufficient watering, or both, help to exacerbate the problem.

Chinch Bug Identification

Adult chinch bugs are about 1/5 of an inch long and black with white patches on the wings.  The white patches can sometimes resemble the shape of an “X” on the back.

The young nymphs range from 1/20 inch long to nearly 1/5 of an inch.  The small nymphs are reddish with a white band across the back, but become black in color as they approach adult size.

Chinch Bug Biology

Adult chinch bugs will sometimes hibernate in the winter.  All stages of life are present year-round in most of the state of Florida due to the warm climate, but the primary time of activity in most states is April through October.

Their eggs are laid in leaf sheaths or pushed into soft soil and other protected places.  In the summer, the eggs hatch in 10 days and the young develop to adults in three weeks.  It takes about 20 chinch bugs per square foot to cause damage.

What Does Damage Look Like

Symptoms appear as irregular patches of lawn that resemble drought stress.  These areas gradually turn yellow and then brown.  The dead turf will have a yellowing on the outside margin and the growth of the yellowed grass will be stunted.  Weeds will also begin filling in the dead areas.

If you suspect you may have chinch bugs, call a professional for an inspection immediately.  If left untreated, the damage will continue to spread throughout your lawn.

But did you know there are many cockroaches with worldly names? There’s the American, German, Asian and the Australian cockroach!  So what are the differences between these pests?

• American Cockroach:  This roach is the largest of the roaches infesting homes and are commonly referred to as “Palmetto Bugs.”  It has reddish brown wings and is a good flyer.  They typically invade sewer systems and heavily mulched areas.  The female attaches the egg capsule, containing 15-18 eggs, in high areas in garages, closets, utility rooms and fireplaces.
• German Cockroach:  This roach has two dark stripes running from front to back and is found throughout the world.  It is commonly found in restaurants, kitchens and stores where food, moisture and harborage are abundant.  Populations build rapidly from egg capsules being produced about every 20-25 days.  Each capsule contains 35 eggs, with the young maturing in about 100 days.
• Asian Cockroach:  This roach is nearly identical in appearance to the German roach.  Adults are light brown to tan in color and possess two dark stripes on the top rear portion of the head.  They are strong flyers and prefer to live outdoors.  They are attracted to lights, particularly at dusk.
• Australian Cockroach:  This is a large, reddish-brown to dark brown roach with yellow bars on the front edge of its forewing.  They are good flyers, entering homes through windows, doors, soffits and gables, especially where moisture problems exist.  They breed and live in moist, decaying vegetation outdoors.

If you’ve seen any of these pests around your home, contact Massey Services for a free pest inspection today!

There are 10 key benefits as a result of core aeration. These include:

1. Helps conserve water
2. Enhances heat and drought stress tolerance
3. Enhances soil water uptake and use
4. Reduces water runoff and puddling
5. Reduces soil compaction
6. Improves air exchange between the soil and atmosphere
7. Improves fertilizer uptake and use
8. Improves turfgrass rooting
9. Improves resiliency and cushioning
10. Enhances thatch breakdown

Essentially, aeration lets your lawn eat, drink and breathe!

Here are a few bugs that you should be aware of this summer and try to prevent from becoming victim to their bites:

• Mosquitoes:  Female mosquitoes feed on blood to help their eggs develop into offspring.  When mosquitoes bite, they release saliva into the bite area. Allergic reactions to the saliva cause the itchy bumps and swollen hives some people get after being bitten.  In addition to their bites, mosquitoes are also well-known for carrying diseases.  Mosquito-borne diseases currently of public health concern include St. Louis encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, West Nile virus encephalitis, and dengue.
• Red Imported Fire Ant:  The Red Imported Fire Ant was first introduced from Brazil into either Mobile, AL or Pensacola, FL between 1933-1945.  They now infest Puerto Rico and all or parts of the southern states and western states from Maryland to southern California.  The sting of this ant possesses an alkaloid venom, which is responsible for both the pain and the white pustules that appear approximately one day after the sting occurred.  The remainder of the venom contains an aqueous solution of proteins, peptides, and other small molecules that produce the allergic reaction in hypersensitive individuals.
• Fleas:  The cat flea is the most important flea species in the United States and attacks both cats and dogs. Adults are 1/16″ long and are usually found on the host. The flea inserts its mouthparts in the skin, injects saliva and sucks blood. The bite leaves a red spot on the skin. The saliva is irritating to the host, causing dermatitis and hair loss in allergic animals.  Fleas can also transmit tapeworm.
• Ticks:  Ticks are not insects and are closely related to the spider. Ticks are known to transmit serious diseases to animals and humans even though humans are not the preferred host. They are known to be almost as important as mosquitoes in terms of public health importance.  Diseases ticks are known to carry are Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and relapsing fever.

There are many other pests to be aware of as the warm weather arrives.  Always be cautious around bugs to help protect yourself from painful bites and stings this summer!

Termites are in constant search for food and do not discriminate between your home and nature’s food sources.  There are varying types of wood destroying insects, including:

• Eastern Subterranean Termite
• Formosan Subterranean Termite
• Drywood Termite
• Powder Post Beetle
• Old House Borer

Subterranean termites live in large underground colonies.  A single colony can have between 500,000 to over a million termites.  They can gain access inside any home, whether it’s brick, block or even built on a concrete slab.  They invade your home through plumbing or other openings in the slab.  They feed on wood flooring, drywall, framing and valuable furnishings in the home.

They will also build mud tubes to access wood sources above ground and enter through cracks as small as 1/64 of an inch.

Drywood termites do live below ground but instead, inside wood.  Drywood termites swarm and enter your home through cracks, unscreened soffits and gable vents.  Their damage can go unnoticed for extended periods of time.

If you’re concerned you may have a termite infestation or want to protect your home from termites before it’s too late, contact Massey Services for a free, no obligation inspection.

And as our weather continues to warm up and the rainy weather has begun, now is a great time to share tips on how to protect your flower gardens from being overrun by pests this summer.

To help in caring for your outdoor flowers, the University of Florida IFAS extension offers these tips to reduce pest problems:

• Plant annuals at the appropriate time of the year (i.e., cool-season annuals in the fall, winter, and early spring; warm-season annuals in the spring and summer).
• Match the growing requirements (light and moisture) of annuals to the planting site (right plant/right place).
• Keep plants growing vigorously by watering and fertilizing as needed.
• Don’t let plants wilt frequently since water-stressed plants shed their flowers and are more susceptible to infestation by thrips and spider mites.
• Reduce the chance of fungal diseases by keeping plant foliage as dry as possible. Use drip irrigation in flower beds and allow ample spacing between plants to encourage good air circulation and drying of foliage.
• Remove weeds from flower beds since weeds frequently host insects and/or disease organisms.

Need some advice?  Check out the UF IFAS website for more tips or contact your professional experts at Massey Services!

“Part of our company’s mission is to serve our communities and we are so proud that Tony is fulfilling it by leading Florida Citrus Sports,” said Harvey L. Massey, chairman and CEO, Massey Services, Inc.  “As a former Florida Citrus Sports president, I understand the demands of this position and I am confident that Tony will do a great job for the Florida Citrus Sports organization.”

Massey has served on the executive board of trustees and the executive board for Florida Citrus Sports prior to his new appointment. In addition to this new role, Massey also serves as president of the Orlando Museum of Art Board, board member for SunTrust Central Florida, council member of Florida Hospital’s Community Health Impact Council, and executive committee member for the Orlando Economic Development Commission.

• Pull pillows and sheets down about 1/3 of the way from the top of the bed and look for reddish-brown or black spots on the sheets near the bed’s headboard.  You may not see the actual bugs themselves but they do leave a trail of spots.
• Look for spots on mattresses, pillows, headboards and walls behind headboards.
• Check the inside of dresser drawers for insects and black spots.
• Contact Guest Services immediately if you’ve found any signs of bed bugs during your inspection. 

If you suspect you were in a hotel room with bed bugs, once you return home, take the following steps with your travel items:

• Isolate the items in your travel bags from other items in your home – the garage is a great place.
• Put clothing and other heat tolerant items into your dryer for a minimum of 20 minutes – the heat will eliminate bed bugs.
• After thoroughly heating the items, wash as normal.
• Check all luggage before storing it away.  Vacuum out luggage and clean the exterior surface.

Remember, bed bugs don’t discriminate between motels and 5 star resort hotels.  They are hitchhikers that attach themselves to luggage and clothing and travel wherever they are taken.

When welcoming family and friends into your home who have been staying in hotels or on a cruise ship, be aware that bed bugs may have hitched a ride with them. After your guests leave, carefully inspect guest rooms for any signs of bed bugs.  Wash all bed linens as soon as possible.

If you suspect you may have bed bugs, contact us for a free inspection.

These bugs are most frequently found in dwellings with a high rate of occupant turnover, such as hotels, dormitories, apartments, prisons and healthcare facilities.

The Description
Bed bug bodies are broad and flat. Adults are 4-5 millimeters in length, 3 millimeters wide and reddish brown in color. Their eggs are white, oval and about 1mm in length.

Habits & Characteristics
Bed bugs feed mainly on the blood of humans, but will seek a blood meal from other animals as well. They prefer to feed at night and are able to live several months without a meal. The adult female requires a blood meal prior to laying eggs. There is no specific pattern to where the eggs are laid, but most often they are found near the bed bug’s harborage site. Female bed bugs can lay up to 500 eggs in their lifespan! Fertile eggs hatch approximately 10 days after being laid but can be viable for up to 28 days.
Under consistently moderate room temperatures and an adequate food supply, bed bugs will live over 300 days. Low temperatures and an inconsistent food supply can actually extend the life span of stressed bed bugs. In these conditions, bed bugs enter a semi-hibernation period that may extend their lifespan up to a year and a half.

Bed bugs are spread through travel, as they hitchhike with luggage, clothing, bedding and furniture. They prefer to live in walls, mattresses and furniture. Signs of a bed bug infestation include rusty spots or blood stains on bed linens, mattresses and headboards. They do not occur naturally away from man and typically will be found only in structures occupied by man (homes and businesses).