Your Tiny Houseguests: A Primer

Crazy Ants Possess Crazy Defense Against Fire Ants

Talented Moths Show Researchers How to Hover Animals are often studied to shed light on the origin of physical skills, such as the efficiency with which a cockroach scurries or the sonar-guided flight of bats. One engineering feat that has always been admired by humans is the ability to hover in flight. We have built machines that do this fairly well, such as helicopters, but there is plenty of room for improvement. Fortunately, there is the homely yet acrobatically gifted moth. Researchers chose the moth for its hovering skills because it is a relatively large flying insect that is "incredibly good at hovering," according to Dr. Jonathan Dhyr from the University of Washington

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In the Life of Acrobatic Ants

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Some mammals have mastered the art of adapting to the urban world, and among these are coyotes, raccoons, and rats. Coyotes tend to range mainly in the warmer climates of the southwestern U.S., but have also successfully adapted in places like New York City. Rats live in almost any climate, all over the world. Raccoons, much like rats, have always survived in a variety of places - but they are arguably better adapted to cities than any other creature besides humans. The reason for their remarkable skill at thriving in city life is due to their food gathering skills. Like humans, they are omnivores who will eat anything. Also like us, they are experts at finding and accessing food in almost any location. Urban-dwelling raccoons will eat wild foods, like fruits, but are even better at opening trashcans and removing leftovers. Raccoons are both clever and dexterous. They use their hands, which have extremely sensitive touch, to find and wash their food, as well as to open almost any container. Their manual dexterity, when combined with problem-solving ability, makes them trash harvesting artists. Although well adapted to living in the human world, they have never been made into suitable pets. Unlike dogs, raccoons haven't been tamed through breeding. The cute babies, called kits, grow into large and aggressive adults. They seek and find refrigerators, trash and any other container, and can wreak daily havoc in the lives of owners.

Fire Ants: Can You Dig It?

In the United States, mosquitoes are known to spread West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis and, in recent months, chikungunya virus. These illnesses do not have specific vaccines or treatments, so prevention of mosquito bites throughout the fall months is crucial. It's still important for people to apply bug spray containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus when spending time outdoors. This alone will significantly decrease their chances of getting bitten by an infected mosquito. GGA Pest Management also recommends the following tips to avoid exposure to mosquitoes. Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and closed-toe shoes to protect the skin