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Ghost Ant (Tapinoma melanocephalum)
Ghost ants are small, 1.5mm, ants that are generally sweet feeders, but may also feed on dead insects. These ants are well established throughout the state of Florida. Ghost ants invade houses from the outside and usually harbor inside where they feed on sweets in the house. Workers are monomorphic, which means they are all the same size. This ant is easily recognized due to its peculiar color markings and small size. The legs and abdomen are transparent.
BEHAVIOR
They exhibit a high need for moisture, and although colonies are usually established outside, they can readily harbor inside domestic houses during dry conditions. Worker ants form trails by taking food back to the nest, and the queens are communal, so there can be several queens in a colony, and several thousand workers. When workers are found trailing, their movement is slower and deliberate. New colonies can be formed when a queen and some workers migrate away, which is called budding.
CONTROL OPTIONS
The control of Ghost ants can be implemented by treating wall voids, and electrical outlets where they trail. Liquid baits with boric acid in a sucrose solution have proven to be very effective. These baits can be effective outdoors as well as indoors. Sanitation is the best approach to ant control because any food particles can be detected and attract the ants.
Head Lice (Pediculosis humanus capitis) The head louse is a wingless parasitic insect that feeds on human blood. On humans, they are typically found on the scalp or eyebrows. Head lice also infest other mammalian animals, and birds. Head lice infestation is a major public health issue in children. This problem can generally be spread in schools, offices, or daycare centers by direct human to human contact.
General Biology
Pediculosis humanus capitis are egg laying insects that lay eggs on the hairshaft near the scalp. Once they hatch, they feed on blood, reproduce and spend their entire life on their host. Newly hatched nymphs will molt three times before reaching the sexually-mature adult stage. All stages of the louse are blood feeders and can feed up to four times a day.
CONTROL OPTIONS?
6-12 million people are treated annually for head lice in the US. Chemical treatments, natural products, combs, shaving, hot air, and silicone-based lotions are typical control methods for head lice. Lice on the hair and body are usually treated with medicated shampoos or cream rinses. Natroba (active ingredient: Spinosad) has been recently approved for control of Heas Lice. Follow this link for more information. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm240302.htm#.Tmb2LjgVRr4.email
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