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Argentine Ant

Article author: Bradleigh S. Vinson
Most recently reviewed by: Pat Porter (2018)

Common Name(s): Argentine Ant

Description

Workers are one size, about 1/8 inch and light to dark brown. The waist (pedicel) has one node. The tip of the gaster lacks a circle of hairs. They may emit a stale greasy or musty odor when crushed. These ants do not have a stinger.

Origin and Distribution

The Argentine ant is an introduced exotic species that occurs in the United States and is widely distributed.   In areas where it is present it is often found in high densities.

This ant does not pose a medical threat because they do not have a stinger, but they are a threat to native biodiversity. Because of their common high nest density and large colony size, they are a major nuisance pest that very difficult to control.

Habitat & Hosts

Argentine ants are often seen in dense foraging trails. They frequently invade homes. They neither bite nor sting. They are cavity nesters in exposed soil or sometime inside houses, under cover or in rotten wood and can nest in lawns and plant beds.  Their colony size is in the hundreds or thousands of individuals.  Argentine ants have polygyne (multiple queen) colonies and both queens and workers freely move between mounds. This mixing of individuals leaves all the mounds genetically homogenous and thus making the entire population resemble one giant colony. These “supercolonies” may extend for many miles in diameter. They are omnivorous and attracted to sweets and animal fat.

Life Cycle

Egg, larva, pupa and adult.

Management

If you live in the State of Texas, contact your local county agent or entomologist for management information. If you live outside of Texas, contact your local extension for management options.

They usually nest near a moisture source. Indoors they are found near water pipes, sinks, potted plants and water leaks. Outdoors they are found in moist areas under logs, boards, stones, concrete slabs, debris, mulch, leaves and pine straw. Workers follow trails when foraging. They commonly tend honeydew-producing insects (e.g., aphids). Sweets are the favored food, but they will feed on most any food source.

Related Publications

Identifying Household Ants. Mike Merchant, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

Managing Household Ant Pests.

Bugwood Images

Cutworms

Article author: David Kerns, Tyler Mays
Most recently reviewed by: Suhas Vyavhare & Kate Crumley (2020)

Common Name(s): army cutworm, Black Cutworm, Cutworms, dingy cutworm, granulate cutworm, mesquite cutworm, pale western cutworm, variegated cutworm

Description

There are a number of species of cutworm that may be encountered in Texas. Adults are typical “miller” type moths from the family Noctuidae. They are common moths found around porch lights. The moths are gray or brownish in appearance, although the hind wings are light gray or silverish in appearance.  Their wingspans are 1 to 2 inches. The larvae are dingy, grayish-black and smooth-skinned and may reach 2 inches in length. The larvae are primarily nocturnal and will hide under plant debris and within soil cracks and crevasses during the day. When disturbed the larvae of most species will curl up into a C-shape.

There are four major groups of cutworms based on habitat and feeding behavior:

1) subterranean cutworms, such as the pale western cutworm that feed almost entirely below the soil surface on roots and underground stems;
2) tunnel dwellers such as the black cutworm which cuts a small, tender plant at the soil surface, pulls it into the tunnel and devours the plant;
3) surface feeders such as the granulate cutworm and the army cutworm which may cut seedling plants off at the surface or feed upon leaves of older plants;
and
4) climbing cutworms such as the variegated, dingy, and mesquite cutworms, may cut seedling plants and may also feed on foliage and flower buds.

Most significant plant injury from cutworms is associated with 3rd instar or larger larvae. All regions of Texas may encounter cutworms of one or more types of cutworms.

Habitat & Hosts

Cutworms are generalist and can be found feeding on a wide variety of plants. They are considered economic pests of corn, cotton, sorghum, vegetables and turf. Most damage occurs in the spring during crop establishment, where they can clip seedling plants off at the soil surface, resulting in poor stands. Infestations are most common in crops where thick cover crops or weeds exist at or within a few weeks before crop emergence. Cutworms are most evident when there are skips or sections of rows where all plants are missing, and cut plants can be seen laying upon the soil or partially buried. Some species, such as the mesquite cutworm, are usually most severe in July and August. In turf, cutworms may hide in aeration holes and clip nearby grass or burrow under the turf resulting in “ball mark” appearing spots. They are common in flower beds with thick spring flower growth, such as with petunias, and may be observed dispersing from areas where bedding cover and mulch is disturbed. Mesquite cutworms are occasionally major defoliators of mesquite in Texas.

Life Cycle

Most cutworms overwinter as larvae or pupae and emerge and mate during the spring. They lay their eggs on the various portions of the host plant. They typically seek out thickly vegetated areas to lay their eggs. The larvae will usually pass through 5-6 instars, but some species may have as many as 9 instars. They pupate in the soil, and most cutworm species require about 60 days to complete a full life cycle. There may be three to five generations per year in central and south Texas, depending on weather conditions and temperature.

Management

If you live in the State of Texas, contact your local county agent or entomologist for management information. If you live outside of Texas, contact your local extension for management options.

Cutworms usually do not require curative control unless unacceptable crop stand loss is likely. Seed treatments and Bt GMO traits can help prevent loss, but may not suffice where high populations of large cutworms exist, usually originating from cover crops or weeds. In turf, they are an erratic pest and are most attractive to overly fertilized and watered situations. Where they occur in turf, spot treatments will usually suffice.

Related Publications

  1. Managing Cotton Insects in Texas, https://extensionentomology.tamu.edu/resources/management-guides/managing-cotton-insects-in-texas/.
  2. Managing Insect and Mite Pests of Texas Small Grains, https://extensionentomology.tamu.edu/resources/management-guides/managing-insect-and-mite-pests-of-texas-small-grains/.
  3. Managing Insect and Mite Pests of Texas Sorghum, https://extensionentomology.tamu.edu/resources/management-guides/sorghum/.
  4. Managing Insect Pests of Texas Forage Crops, https://extensionentomology.tamu.edu/resources/management-guides/managing-insect-pests-of-texas-forage-crops/.
  5. Managing Insect and Mite Pests of Texas Corn, https://extensionentomology.tamu.edu/resources/management-guides/managing-insect-and-mite-pests-of-texas-corn/.

Bugwood Images

Cat fleas

Article author: Mike Merchant
Most recently reviewed by: Janet Hurley & Pat Porter (2018)

Common Name(s): cat flea

Description

adult cat flea side view

Adult cat fleas are flattened and have strong jumping legs. (Photo by Mike Merchant)

Look for small (1/8 inch-long), wingless insects in the fur of dogs and cats. Adult fleas are brown to black in color, with strong jumping legs. Adult cat fleas feed on dogs, cats, and a variety of furred animals. People may be bitten by fleas, especially when populations are high, but fleas will not live and reproduce on humans. Flea larvae are small, rarely seen, legless larvae that live in carpeting, furniture, cracks in the floor, pet beds, and outdoors around pet sleeping and loafing areas.

Habitat & Hosts

Despite its name, cat fleas feed on a variety of hosts including dogs, people, cattle, opossums, raccoons, rats, etc.  Cat fleas require animal blood meals for successful reproduction.  Surprisingly human blood does not provide the right nutrition for cat fleas to survive, though they certainly bite humans.  The presence of cat fleas in a home or yard without pets usually implies that wildlife (possums, squirrels, raccoons) or feral/free range dogs are cats are living in close proximity.  

 

Life Cycle

flea larva

Flea larvae are small and legless, and rarely seen even by pet owners. They live in the bedding and around loafing areas of infested pets.

Fleas generally spend their adult life attached to one furry host. While feeding, female fleas lay eggs which fall off the animal and onto carpeted floors, furniture, grass and soil.  Flea larvae feed on dried blood that has also fallen off the host.  For this reason the most heavily flea infested areas of a home are places where pets like to hang out and sleep.

 

 

Management

If you live in the State of Texas, contact your local county agent or entomologist for management information. If you live outside of Texas, contact your local extension for management options.

Infested pets should be treated immediately. Some of the newer on-animal treatments are generally effective and eliminate the need for sprays applied to house or yard, especially if applied before a serious problem develops.  For more information about fleas and flea control, see http://citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/biting-stinging/others/ent-3001/

Related Publications

Safer Flea Control