Mosquitoes have become a major public health threat in Massachusetts where some species transmit eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and the West Nile virus to humans. During 2019, public health authorities announced that 12 Massachuseetts residents had contracted EEE,...
Reduvius personatus, or the “masked hunter,” as the species is more commonly known, is an insect pest found throughout the United States, but they are most abundant in the northeastern and upper midwestern states. This species is native to Europe, but it was...
Agelenidae is a large family of spiders that include funnel weavers and the medically significant species known as the hobo spider (Eratigena agrestis). Agelenopsis is a genus of funnel web spiders that are commonly known as “grass spider” due to their habit of...
In an effort to determine where in the US particular insect pests are most problematic, researchers often analyze records kept by pest control companies that operate nationwide. While these records are certainly revealing, they do not necessarily reflect the true...
The summer season is less than a month away, which means that many people are already indulging in outdoor activities like cookouts, overdue yard work, hiking, and camping. Unfortunately, outdoor fun comes with a variety of annoying insects like flies, gnats, moths,...
Many insect pests are associated with indoor potted plants, including aphids, scales, whiteflies, mealybugs and thrips. These insect pests inflict damage to houseplants and often become a nuisance within homes. Pests of houseplants are made up of insect species that...
