Rats are some of the most destructive pests in the United States; parasite transmission and structural damage are just two results from a rat infestation. In California two species of rats cause the most problems, the roof rat and the Norway rat. Here we will talk about the roof rat.

First off, some history of the roof rat. The roof rat, also known as the black rat, is not indigenous to the United States; the species was brought overseas on ships and is known in history for carrying the bubonic plague.

What do roof rats looks like?

• Range in size from six to eight inches (not including the tail)
• Pointed muzzle
• A tail as long or longer than its body
• Black with a gray to white belly
• Ears long enough to cover each eye
• Smooth, sleek fur

Roof rats typically nest above the ground in attics, ceilings, crawl spaces, trees and need only 1/2” to enter a building. Because these rats are nocturnal and typically nest in higher places, the actual rats wont be seen often but there will be signs they are around. Some signs you have a rat infestation include, rat droppings, noises in the walls or ceilings, remnants or whole nests and of course rat carcasses.

Roof rats eat a variety of food but prefer nuts, fruits and insects but will also eat grain products and meat if they have to.

Preventing rodents from entering the building (don’t forget, eliminate their basic necessities including food, water and shelter) goes a long way but if you already find yourself with infestation you have a few options. Trapping and baiting are two strategies that have proved effective. Trapping is the safest, most effective and least expensive way to control rats indoors. Place traps in places where the rats are inclined to visit. If the rat population is out of control, the use of poisonous baits may be necessary but because of the risks involved, it is worthwhile to contact a licensed pest control company to control the rats.

Side note: Happy Thanksgiving from Southern California Pest Control Advice!

Unlike our other weird insects who were included because they looked weird, the Sunset Moth is included because its colors are absolutely stunning…especially for a moth.

The sunset moth’s scientific name according to Hypergrowth, creator of this blog, is Chrysiridia rhipheus and belongs to the Uraniidae family. Its wingspan is between 2.75” – 3.5” and sometimes even 4”; the size of the moth depends on what altitude the moth lives in.

Chrysiridia rhipheus is often incorrectly indentified as a butterfly because of its colors but also because it is a daytime flier. How to tell the difference between a moth and a butterfly?

The colors of the sunset moth are its most notable feature. Surprisingly, unlike other moths, the colors of the sunset moth are not pigments but rather the result of optical interference. Curved, ribbon-like scales and an air-cuticle mulitlayer cause the bright colors; for more information read this abstract on the wings of a sunset moth. To the right is an up close picture of the moth’s wing scales. {photo credit: Charles B. Krebs}

As you would imagine, this colorful moth is sought out by insect collectors around the world, but you must travel to Madagascar (an island off the eastern side of Africa) to find this beauty.

Other weird insect posts:

1. Artichoke Plume Moth
2. Crab Spider
3. Cow Ant

{top left photo credit: Ivan Tortuga}

What is it?

Sudden Oak Death, also referred to as SOD, is caused by the oomycete plant pathogen Phytophthora ramorum. The pathogen can kill a variety of oak species and can sicken other varieties of plants including the rhododendron and the huckleberry.

What are the symptoms of SOD?

-Dark sap “bleeding” from the base of the tree (see picture to the right)

-Leaves rapidly change from green to brown

-Fine dust from beetles boring through the bark and the wood

The above are just symptoms and can be associated with other tree diseases. The only way to be sure a tree is infected is by culturing the pathogen in lab. Also, the above symptoms are those found with species of oaks with the disease. Symptoms for other species of plants and trees may vary. View list of SOD host plants.

Where is it?

It seems the plant pathogen is localized to central coastal California but has also been confirmed in southern Oregon. A similar species has also been discovered in the UK and Europe.

Phytophthora ramorum may be influenced by climate including humidity and temperature which may prevent oaks in southern California from becoming infected.

How is passed from tree to tree?

It is not known how the pathogen is spread but there is some speculation. Other species of  Phytophthora are transmitted via air and water but many researchers think the pathogen for SOD can be carried on shoes, by pets and even vehicles. Commercial nurseries may also be a source transmission.

How can it be prevented?

Isolating any known infected areas is crucial to control. Be sure to clean your feet, your pet’s feet, camping gear, tools, etc… when moving from an area known to have the pathogen to an area that is not infected.

Also, minimizing damage to the tree trunk and large branches as well as pruning only during dry summer months when beetles and pathogens are least active can make the tree less susceptible.

How to treat it?

There is no known control for SOD. While some treatments are being used and showing slight signs of effectiveness, there isn’t a proven treatment. There is hope as other species of Phytophthora have been controlled with various fungicides.

This is just a brief overview of sudden oak death. For more information, refer to any of the credible resources below.

California Oak Mortality Task Force

Washington State Department of Agriculture – Sudden Oak Death

University of California  – Sudden Oak Death in California

Integrated Pest Management, commonly referred to as IPM, is actually a program or a group of steps adopted to effectively control pests.

IPM is important because it looks for the best (and most cost effective) way to manage pest problems with the least possible damage to the environment, people and even property.

Elements of IPM:

• Prevention – as we’ve mentioned many times, prevention is key to pest management. Prevention also fits well with IPM because it is often inexpensive and there is little to no harm to people and the environment
• Control – the use of pesticides are of course part of control but there are other methods, and many of these methods are considered before pesticides. Trapping is one example of a mechanical method for control.
• Identifying Pests – properly identifying pests is one of the most important steps in IPM … some pesticides work better for some pests than others and IPM helps to keep unneeded pesticides out of the situation. Being able to properly identify the pest also helps to understand the life cycle which is very important to successfully treating the problem.

IPM can be used in a variety of environments from commercial buildings to homes and even in agricultural settings. Schools are the ideal place for IPM; it’s a safer and cost effective solution to pest control.

If you’d like more information, check out the University of California’s website for their statewide integrated pest management program; the site is full of valuable information on managing and identifying pests in California.

On a side note: Have a thing for ugly bugs? Vote in the 2009 Ugly Bug Contest…the cockroach and the paper wasp are just two of the 10 insects up for the prestigious title.

Ticks feed off the blood of other animals, and can be found doing so all over the world. As you would expect, different species of ticks are found in different regions. Below are five hard ticks commonly found in the state of California.

After mosquitos, ticks are second in line for concern of transmitting diseases. Being able to identify the species of tick found is important seeing some species of ticks can carry diseases.

Brown Dog Tick – this tick can be found throughout the entire United States. It is not uncommon for a home or yard to be heavily infested with this pest because of the family dog.

Western Black Legged Tick – this tick is a species known to transmit Lyme disease…the Western Black Legged Tick can be found on the western half of North America.

American Dog Tick – this tick does not carry Lyme disease but has been found carrying Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever….the American Dog Tick can be found in various regions throughout the United States.

Rocky Mountain Wood Tick – this species of tick can carry various diseases including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tularemia, Tick Paralysis and Colorado Tick Fever…as you would imagine, this tick is found in the western half of the United States.

Pacific Coast Tick – this tick is known for transmitting Tularemia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and possibly Colorado tick fever…the Pacific Coast Tick is found exclusively in California, Oregon and on occasion, Baja, Mexico

Want to know how to protect yourself from ticks?