Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with pest

What kind of bug is this?

zembla3 — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:51:36 -0800

What kind of bug is this, and how do I rid my apartment of it? The pictures make it look browner than it actually is - it's grayish brown and somewhat translucent. It's about the diameter of a nickel in length. Is it some kind of larva? I just moved into a gut-renovated apartment building in Brooklyn (the building had been abandoned for years), and I've been dismayed to find a few of these wandering around. Should I have my management company call an exterminator, or is there an easier way to rid the apartment of this bug?

How do you keep from crossing the line between squeaky wheel and stalker?

gottabefunky — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:12:10 -0800

Fellow freelancers and/or marketing gurus: where is the fine line between staying on a potential employer’s radar and being a pest--and how do I get as close to it as possible? We all know that networking and Building Relationships are the keys to getting freelance gigs, as much as or more than sheer talent.

Some of my clients tell me to bug them every now and then to check in about potential projects. But I feel the need to keep those communications fresh and interesting, and not have it look like just copied and pasted a “just checking in” email one more time.

How do you keep from crossing the line between squeaky wheel and stalker?

Of course there are communication hooks, like projects one of us recently completed (“Congrats!”), industry scuttlebutt or even recent life events (for the friendly types). What about when there really is no other reason to get in touch besides, “Hey, got any work for me”? (And the time after that? And the next?)

What are your secrets for staying in touch in an engaging way, indefinitely? Is it even possible (or necessary)?

FWIW, I'm talking about writing for print and TV.

Pest proofing your home

Ziggy500 — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:24:38 -0800

How do I keep my (ground floor, 20 year old) London apartment pest-free? What measures can I take to ensure that my flat remains untouched by pests?

Specifically I am concerned about mice and roaches because I know they are a pain to get rid of once you have the problem. Well, that, and I'm terrified of either. But currently I don't think I have either, touch wood. Had a small roach problem about a year ago but went crazy with the Raid and haven't seen them since.

I don't currently do anything special, just keep the place reasonably clean, don't keep food out overnight, etc. Are there any preventative measures I can take? Anything I should be on the lookout for?

What is this insect?

Zinger — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:07:36 -0800

Insect ID please. What is this and any tips about reducing their number?

How to convince a territorial seagull to leave me alone

itsjustanalias — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:19:56 -0800

Evil seagull filter: On the building opposite, in the last couple of weeks, a malign presence has appeared. A seagull that thinks he owns the block. Whenever I go out onto my terrace (I'm on the sixth floor, most of the nearby buildings are five or six floors, but I'm one of the few that has a terrace) it decides to take umbrage and comes squawking and crapping until I'm driven indoors. Is there anything I can do to discourage it? If not how long might I have to put up with its shenanigans? I'm in Spain, if that makes a difference and have no access to firearms or the like, and am unwilling to throw stuff at it for fear of braining some poor pedestrian six floors below.

You cats get off my lawn!

Ziggy500 — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:40:12 -0800

How to stop all this crap appearing on my lawn? Hi, I hope the always helpful and ingenious hivemind could help me with this.

I am having problems with rubbish appearing on my lawn overnight.

There is a skip quite nearby, and it seems that cats or urban foxes get into it, and then come to party on the lawn outside my flat at night. In the morning I am left with plastic bags, food packaging, food and grosser stuff (e.g. used condoms) littered all over the grass. How can I stop this from happening?

I don't own the land, so can't put up a fence.

Bonus points for suggestions which don't involve spending money.

Thanks a lot, all.

Wasps on the mind

punishinglemur — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:01:49 -0800

Wasp problem: They're in my room, I have a phobia. What to do? It seems my dorm has developed a wasp problem. About a week and a half ago, I discovered one in my windowsill. It was moving around very slowly, as if it was debilitated. To deal with this situation, I first stumbled backwards, falling over and knocking over a fan. Then, I slammed the window shut as hard as I could and then sat around trying to cool down. My window was open in winter because the heat in this building is way too high, to the point where it's unbearably hot without an open window.

I was surprised to find a wasp because at the time it was a cold February in the midwest. I live in a small single room (all of eight feet wide, approximately). I was freaked out for a while, but I got over it. Until tonight, when I saw one flying around my room. I ran out, slammed the door, and I'm now in an, uh, undisclosed location.

This presents a problem. I'm absolutely terrified of returning to my room. It's completely debilitated me. The thought of going back is laughable. Every little movement I see from the corner of my eye gives me a jolt and the sweats -- it could be a wasp! Every little tingle or brush I feel on my skin, like when my arm brushes against my shirt, has the same effect -- it's gotta be the wasp! Even if I did manage to make it inside my room, it's still there. If I see it again, I'll flee again. If I don't that's almost worse: is it in my blankets? My coat? My shoes? Everything I touch or move is suspect.

Worse yet, I've never been stung and I have no idea if I'm allergic or not. This only serves to amplify my fears.

I have no idea what to do right now -- I feel lost and helpless. It's hard to get across in words just how completely debilitating this wasp situation is. What is the best way for me to get rid of it, especially if I can't see it? How can I convince the school to take action on this? They've said they will be getting it looked at, but more immediate action of... some sort, I don't know what, would be appreciated. Finally, how do I keep myself from dying if I do end up getting stung by this unwanted guest?

Bandito!

FatherDagon — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:27:27 -0800

Any ideas on how to remove a raccoon from my basement suspended ceiling? Apparently we've got a raccoon that found it's way into our suspended tile ceiling area recently - we've heard him moving around, found yellow spots soaked into the tiles (yum!) and at one point lifted up a tile to spot him trundling around up there. We're not sure how he got in - we have a townhouse, so vents or shared wallspace with neighbors is an option.

He's not always present, so if we get a pest removal group to come out, I'd like a way to ensure he's still obtainable by the time they arrive. There's not much space for a cage trap or anything where he circulates - maybe 12-14" of clearance up there, and lots of cables/pipes etc. We thought about poison, but then we'd have to track down a mouldering carcass in our walls in a week... no fun there. I considered laying out a hundred glue traps, and just bundling him up when he got too gummed up to move, but that's starting to get silly. Any ideas, hivemind?

Won't Someone Rid Me of these Meddlesome Birds?

sandraregina — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:35:15 -0800

Please give me tips and tricks for scaring away or chasing away wild turkeys. This is in Southern Ontario (Cambridge). My mom works at a palliative cancer hospice. It is a lovely place, with bird feeders set up outside each hospice room, so the residents can watch the birds and squirrells and other wildlife as they move around and eat. Each room also has large sliding doors (with screens), leading to a patio, that open so in the warm months the residents can get wheeled out in their beds and be outside for a bit.
Recently a family of four wild turkeys has moved in. They are amusing the residents (except one, who thought they were vultures), but they're scaring away the other (less intrusive) birds and, more importantly, fouling up the patios and walkways, and scratching up the cars of visitors, employees, visiting doctors, volunteers etc. as they apparantly like to roost on the cars. They are also pecking at the sliding doors. At the moment, the doors are closed because its cold, but there is a worry that with warmer weather, if they're still around, they'll peck right through the screens, or if the resident is wheeled outside, that they'll wander in. These turkeys are definately not afraid of people.
My mom called the animal welfare people, and they told her she could "chase them with a broom but not hit them" and employ noisemakers to scare them. She's tried both, and they've come back.

I need as many ideas for getting rid of/permanently scaring/dealing with these turkeys as possible. They are a protected species, so shooting them is out. But any other ideas? Animal welfare has not been terribly helpful.

Fuck Ratatouille. (I'm sorry. I still love you, Pixar. Don't cut me off.)

spec80 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:08:17 -0800

There are mice in my apartment. Hijinks ensue. Now what? I live with my boyfriend and 1 roommate in the 2nd floor of a 3 floor apartment building in Brooklyn. I have only had experience with outside mice coming in my parents home in the suburbs.

Here's an approximate timeline because I am in slow burning freak out mode and I don't think I can make a coherent paragraph.

A week ago: BF finds rice grains on the kitchen floor. Looks at rice bag, finds holes, throws out the rice.

Saturday night: Roommate is in 3rd bedroom/office, sees mouse along the wall and then flatten itself to get under the door.

Sunday: I buy traps.
Trap 1 - Inside cupboard where rice was. Lots of droppings in there.
Trap 2 - just outside the cupboard. There is floor space between that cupboard and the stove.
Trap 3 (bedroom side) & 4 (kitchen side) - opposite ends of the door where Roommate saw the mouse crawl.

Sunday night: Caught a mouse (Trap 4)! Yay. Relief... Oh shit. Caught a second mouse (Trap 4). Boo... Waaaaah We are doomed, caught a third mouse (Trap 3 - saw the possible source hole). Researched online. Sprinkled cayenne pepper around the hole, under the stove burners (mouse droppings there), behind the heater near Trap 4. Called the landlord. Since the cayenne, I didn't get any mice so I thought - yay cayenne pepper.

Late Sunday night: Roommate sees mouse on countertop near edge of wall.

Monday: Caught a mouse (Trap 3). Landlord is here now. He checking for other holes - he closed up on in Roommate's bedroom that is near the heating vent just in case. He and his brother moved the stove and there were no gaps in the hole for the gas and there were mouse droppings back there. He's going to come back tomorrow and bring poison (currently, our dog is in Pennsylvania) to poison up the hole and then seal it up. I also found 2 droppings on the middle of the counter so I guess they are getting bolder.

1. Anything else I should do? BF is going to get peppermint oil, more traps and steel wool but I won't get it until later tonight when he comes home (I am home sick today and I don't feel well enough to go out). The hole is currently caulked up but it still needs time to dry. Should I insist that our landlord get an exterminator or hire one on our own? Or try home methods first? My paranoia says exterminator, but my wallet says try the other stuff first.

2. How do I stop being overdramatic because I feel like I am the only one doing anything even though BF did contact the landlord and Roommate has helped me in disposing of the mice. Being sick also isn't helping my disposition. I am acting like a whiny, bitchy baby asshole yet I feel like they are being blase about the situation. I'm trying to put the situation in perspective thinking of historical times where mice were everywhere - the thought wasn't comforting.

3. Is it a dick move (to the cleaning service) to hire a cleaning service once we know the mouse problem is over to deal with the mouse poop cupboard?

4. I think I am going insane because I keep on hearing squeaking and freak out at any squeaklike sound a la The Telltale Squeak. Anything I can do about this? I am really trying to have a sense of humor about this, but it's been a struggle. (i.e. Jokes about Willard, then actually remembering the movie Willard)

How can I stop whatever is chewing my basil plants?

teem — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:02:47 -0800

My outdoor basil plants are being chewed away by something that leaves behind tiny black grains. Who is the culprit, and how can I stop it? Whatever it is chews holes in the leaves of my basil plants, either straight through or leaving a thin clear membrane behind between the veins of the leaves. There are also tiny black dots on some of the leaves (as in, sitting on the leaves, they're not a part of the leaves or a discoloration). I have a feeling the two are connected.

Bonus points if the solution doesn't involve heavy-duty pesticides.

Am I being a worrywart over one flea?

fructose — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:14:03 -0800

FleaFilter: Am I being paranoid after seeing one flea on my dog? I got a lhasa apso mix about 3 weeks ago. He was due for a flea treatment about one week ago, but we were waiting because he's going to the groomer tomorrow, and even though it's not supposed to wash off, we figured it would be more effective if we did it after his bathing and haircut.

Tonight I was rubbing his belly and saw one flea. I tried to get it, but those things jump too fast. I looked around and didn't see anymore, but I know that there usually aren't that many on the animal itself. This is the first time I've seen a flea on him.

Even though his groomer treatment is tomorrow, I put a small amount of Vectra flea preventative on (on the spot recommended) to see if that helps.

We have a weird shag-like carpet, and I'm worried about there being flea larvae in the carpet, or on (not in) our bed, where he sleeps.

We live in an apartment, and he only goes outside twice daily for 10 minute walks. He's the only pet in the house. He chews and licks his front paws a lot, but so did the lhasa I had growing up, who didn't have fleas. He goes to the groomer tomorrow morning for a bath and a good trim, so hopefully if there are any more fleas, or evidence of them, they will let us know.

Should I be worried? Would it be necessary at this point to spray the carpet and vacuum a lot to make sure we don't let any fleas breed? Or is one flea on a pet not really a cause for concern?

ants! ants! ants! kill! kill! kill!

grumblebee — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:40:02 -0800

Help me rid my apartment of ants! They're little black sugar ants, and up until a couple of weeks ago, they were everywhere. I made sure food was packed away, bought a bunch of those little ant "hotels", sprinkled cinnamon and boric acid everywhere... nothing helped. (The ants avoid the cinnamon and boric acid. But they just move to another location in my apartment.)

I finally gave up and called in an exterminator. He sprinkled something that looked like pepper in various places, said "leave that stuff there for a week," and left. I had to go out of town for ten days. I just got back, and there are still ants running around on the kitchen counter.

However: that pepper-like stuff did help. I'd say it killed (or scared off) 80% of the ant population. I feel like if the exterminator had just sprinkled some more if it, in a few more places, I'd be antless.

Does anyone know what the "pepper" is? I don't want to call the exterminator back and pay him to sprinkle stuff on the floor that I could sprinkle myself.

Not Inspector Gadget

apostrophe — Sun, 25 May 2008 11:58:30 -0800

Would you please share your recommendations for home inspectors and/or pest inspectors in or around Oakland, CA? My husband and I just put an offer in on our first house, and it was accepted. Woohoo! Now we need to set up the inspections, stat. Our agent is from out-of-town (there's a good reason for this--she's family), so she doesn't know who to call. The seller's agent has promised to get us a recommendation, but that feels slightly conflict-of-interest-y to me, even though she seems very cool. The house is bank-owned and 'as-is,' so we're not likely to be able to get any concessions on the price--this is more for our peace-of-mind that we're not buying a total money pit. The house is 100 years old so we expect some issues. Would love recommendations for thorough, knowledgeable inspectors, specifically a general type as well as pest. I searched yelp and elsewhere and apparently this isn't a hot topic of discussion. Thank you.

Friend, foe, or escargot?

desuetude — Sat, 24 May 2008 14:07:24 -0800

Help me identify this garden snail, please? Most of the info I've found on garden snails is centered on the Pacific Northwest & California. I'm in Philly, and am unsure as to what varieties of snails are common on the east coast. Photos of my critters here.

The shell is quite flat -- flatter than the photos of the brown garden snail (in the second photo, you can see an empty shell behind the snail.) They're not shy -- when I pick them up, they only retreat into their shell if tapped. Otherwise they unhesitatingly and lasciviously stretch out. The one modeling for photos was getting cuddly with my finger five seconds after I plucked him from his lair. They seem to be concentrated mostly around the concrete blocks, but I've found them throughout the planter.

In case this is relevant (as I'm a gardening n00b), these are in a cement-block planter which has contained tulips, daffodils, ivy, a rosebush, and many weeds, including a very healthy infestation of morning glory.

Why are dead gnats appearing on my bedroom windowsill?

shivohum — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:53:09 -0800

A while ago gnats invaded my windowsill (in NY). I sprayed Raid. They died. I cleaned the area. Now, every day or two dead gnats appear on my windowsill. From where I don't know. No trash, no damp areas I see--only a heater/AC unit--and I've never seen gnats fly out of it. The only plants are in the other room; no gnats around them. Where are they coming from and how do I get rid of them?

Name that Central Texas wasp

fructose — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 08:08:00 -0800

Central Texas wasp ID? Small, gray, found indoors hovering around lights? I am having a hard time identifying what kind of waspish insect I am seeing in my house in Austin, Texas. I've lived in Austin my entire life, but I've never seen any wasp of this type.

Every few days to few weeks I will see a single gray wasp-type insect about 3/4 to 1 inch long. Usually it is in the bathroom around the light fixture. It is not aggressive as far as I can tell. My roommate spraying it with wasp killer a few times usually does the trick.

I am terrified of wasps after being stung in the eyelid when I was little, even of wasp-looking things that dont sting, so I really would prefer these weren't in the house.

When we first moved in in August, there were some abandoned mud dauber-type nests on the doors and all around the porch that we got rid of, but no signs of the bugs themselves.

Any clue what we've got here? I've googled and googled and looked at field guides online, and the closest I can think of is the cicada killer, but my wasps seem too small to be those or typical mud daubers.

BZZZZZZZZZZ

fillsthepews — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:55:33 -0800

Wasp paranoia??!! I've found two giant nasty looking wasps in my house over the past two/three weeks. One was in our back room, where the door is left open now and then. Didn't think much of it. However, just found another one all the way across the house in the garage, where there isnt really any way to get in.

Clearly, my panicky mind figures there's a wasp nest somewhere in the walls of the house. My roomie and I just walked the permiter of the house - didnt hear/see anything.

My fear is further exacerbated by a past experience with bees - they invaded my house via an old cooking vent that hadn't closed up properly.

What can I do? Where do they hide? Am I being insane? All the info I've found is pretty generalized "ie once you find the nest, do xyz." Can you call Terminex, for example, and say "Hey! I've got bugs, dont know where?! Come and get em?"

If this is a cockroach, what do I do?

Caper's Ghost — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 18:53:34 -0800

Tonight I found this insect on the wall of my apartment. What is it? Tonight I found this insect on the wall of my apartment. My girlfriend’s dog actually found it first (thank god she wasn’t here at the time), and I found the dog staring at it. The bug was about 4 feet up on the wall, just sitting there. This was at roughly 8:00 p.m. EST. I tried to brush it down to the floor and it flew off the wall. It seemed to fly very lightly and easily, like a moth almost, but it didn’t fly more than a few feet down to the floor. I saw it fly a few times, but never more than a few feet. I managed to capture it easily (perhaps in part thanks to the dog, Teddy, who mauled it a bit). After capturing it in a drinking glass, I took some pictures of it. I think it sustained some physical trauma from the dog, because it has been very easy to capture and control and I always heard that roaches were very elusive.

After taking some pictures of the beastie, I killed it with ammonia-based generic brand window cleaner. After that I photographed it next to a coin for size comparison.

After some quick google research, I don’t know exactly how to classify this insect. It looks a lot like a roach of some sort. The wing pattern seems to look like what I consider a roach, but it is very light-brown colored. Most pictures of roaches I came across are a lot darker than the thing I found on my wall.

A few more facts: I live in an apartment in suburban Alexandria, Virginia, USA. My roommate and I are not exceptionally messy, but we have been known to let some stuff pile up in the sink or garbage can now and then. Nothing ridiculous though, just a little cluttered at times. The neighborhood is pretty clean though, and I have heard no other complaints of cockroach infestations. My building is three floors tall (I’m at the top) and it has four apartments on each floor.

Also, yesterday I got back from a two-day long camping trip to West Virginia, and brought a bunch of stuff up to the apartment from the car. There is a possibility that I brought this in from outside.

To date this is the first experience I have had with what may be a cockroach. Tell me, mefites, is it a roach? If so, what kind? Where may it have come from, and do I or will I have an infestation on my hands?

Thanks!

Cricket Crashing my Condo!

Tinen — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 11:01:26 -0800

An unwelcome guest resides in my home. A demon of a creature known only as a cricket. Now for years I have lived here and occasionally there has been a cricket or two. Luckly I can dispatch it quickly with a Sandal of Slaying and wipe it away quickly with a Sock of Sorrow. Recently though a devious cricket has come calling at my condo. The sucker is in my bathroom, in a wall and will not shut up all night long. *chirp* *chirp* *CHIRP*. I have heard cricket sounds before, at times they are pleasant. This cricket unleashes a cacophony of noise which can only herald the coming of the apocalypse.

So to the question. How can I get rid of it and prevent future cricket intruders? I am not sure how they are getting in. But they mostly hang out in my bathroom. I think there could be a crack in the dry wall from a flood that happened a year or two back. But that is inside of the sink cabinet and against the wall. Fixing that though will not prevent my current cricket problem. This cricket has been here for at least a month and is driving me slowly insane. Now I cant tent the place and I cant tear up the bathroom. So those two are out. What kind of sprays or devices or traps can I use to deter crickets? Also his location is difficult to pin point because when I step in the bathroom he stops chirping. As soon as I exit the bathroom he starts up again. Grrrr.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

How to achieve the silence of the crows?

jgt246 — Thu, 03 May 2007 19:24:00 -0800

How can I silence the crows that have moved into the tree outside my window? I need to deal with a murder of crows without actually murdering them. We recently moved into a new apartment in Tokyo with a couple of lovely big trees next to our 2nd-floor balcony. Now our peace is being destroyed by the incessant cawing of a bunch of crows that have taken up residence in the trees. If you've never seen the Japanese version of these birds, they are enormous, aggressive, Hitchcockian nightmares that are not easily scared. Short of buying a pellet gun, how can I get rid of them?

What is this bug and how do I destroy it?

adamrice — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 07:35:20 -0800

I have found destructive insects living in a wool rug (photos 1, 2, 3). I'd like to know what they are, and more importantly, how to prevent them from re-appearing. In the third picture are what I thing might be egg cases made from rug fibers (that's the rug's color). I've had this rug for about ten years, but have never had this problem before. I moved a year ago, and the part of the rug with the most damage is right next to the return for my house's AC system—I suspect the bugs were living in the duct behind that.

I'm taking the rug into the cleaners, and will have an AC service clean out the duct, but I want to make sure I cover my bases.

Lemon tree blues

aberrant — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:41:27 -0800

Calling gardening experts: what are these small white bugs in the soil of my lemon tree? I've noticed hundreds, if not thousands, of small white bugs in the soil of my potted dwarf Meyer. They don't look like the pictures of aphids that I've seen. More info: they don't appear to fly, they're multi-legged, and they're too small to photograph with my camera (probably 1/8" to 1/4" long, tops). They appear to be restricted to the soil (I see no infestation of any kind on the trunk, branches, or leaves). They crawl and burrow.

So - what are they, do they pose a risk to the plant, and how do I get rid of them?

It Feels Like They're on me Right Now

EatTheWeak — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 23:33:22 -0800

HELP!! What began as a minor infestation is now a siege! Red and black ants have all but infested our apartment. Please, please, please help us eradicate them. We live in an apartment in northern Texas and seem to have attracted the attention of some vicious local ants. We aren't the cleanest, but we don't live in squalor either.

Up until now, the problem was a mere annoyance. Tonight, we came home to find our carpet swarming with the little bastards. I couldn't cross the room without them crawling all over me and biting. We vaccumed them up as best we could, but already they're returning. I shudder to think what we'll wake up to tomorrow.

Please, if anyone can help us crush these invaders, we'd be most grateful. Doing a big clean first thing tomorrow, but I want to make our apartment as unfriendly to ants as possible. We've got a couple ideas as to where they're getting in - a couple holes at the edge of our carpet and an as yet undetermined spot in the closet.

Any help is most appreciated. We have to live another month in this place. Thank you some much for your time, MeFi.

I've pissed off the local yellowjacket population.

Salmonberry — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 19:32:55 -0800

Exposed a Yellowjacket nest in the backyard. How do I get rid of many pissed off wasps? I was moving a tarp that had been sitting in a corner of the yard. When I flipped it over wasps came flying out. The nest is small, not much bigger than an orange. I'd say about 100 wasps all told. I was able to get inside the house without getting stung.

The nest is now exposed to the elements, which I suppose might help, but what to do now? Most extermination guides say to use dust, but now that the nest is face up, dust will just blow off of it. My main concern is that they'll just try to settle in another part of the tarp.

Obviously I'm not going anywhere near it until the sun goes down, and even then I'm not a fan of wasp stings.

Will the fact that the nest is exposed mean that the colony will leave on it's own, or should I plan more aggressive measures? I can't leave it be, it's now right next to where we sit out on the patio. It's an us or them situation.