- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
- Author: Elaine Lander
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Health Advisory recently in response to increased reports of illness associated with products containing the pesticide ivermectin. Ivermectin is an active ingredient that is typically used to treat internal animal parasites such as roundworms, threadworms, and other parasites, and external parasites such as head lice. It is an anti-parasitic pesticide not an anti-viral. The FDA has not approved...
- Author: Dawn H. Gouge, UA Entomology
- Author: Shaku Nair, UA Entomology
- Author: Lynn Rose, NH Environmental Services
- Author: Mansel Nelson, NAU, Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
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As many school students resume in-person classes, some school districts are requesting students bring disinfectant wipes into school from home. Disposable, disinfectant wipes may seem a simple and convenient solution to in-class cleaning and disinfection needs, but there are several factors school communities must consider.
Disinfectant wipes are pesticides
Disinfectant wipes are registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as antimicrobial pesticides designed to kill or inactivate microbes (germs). Many have “KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN” clearly stated on containers. Disinfection products should not be used by children or near children.
Most K-12 students are...
- Author: Belinda J. Messenger-Sikes
Are bats good for the environment or are they pests? How about both? Almost all of the 25 species of bats in California eat lots of flying insects during their night flights, making them an important part of the ecosystem. But when they roost in buildings such as your home, they can become pests.
Bats roosting in outbuildings away from dwellings aren't much of a problem. Some people even place bat houses on their property to attract bats for assistance with pest control. But a colony of bats in your attic is cause for concern. Bats can spread human diseases like rabies and their droppings (called guano) can make a smelly mess.
If bats are a problem in your home, UC...
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
- Posted by: Elaine Lander
Bed bugs can hitch rides on secondhand furniture, luggage, backpacks and other personal items to invade homes and attack people. While we rest and sleep on sofas and beds, the insects come out to feed. They want to suck our blood. A new web-based, interactive training course shows how to prevent and detect bed bug infestations.
“The training helps tenants recognize, restrict and report bed bugs and helps landlords comply with California state regulations on bed bugs,” said Andrew Sutherland, University of California Cooperative Extension integrated pest management advisor for the Bay...
- Author: Siavash Taravati
- Posted by: Elaine Lander
Human lice (singular “louse”) are parasitic insects found on people. Adult lice are small (about 1/8 inch (3 mm) long or less) wingless insects that move by crawling. There are three species of lice that exclusively feed on humans: the head louse, the body louse, and the crab or pubic louse.
The head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) and the body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus) are members of the same species, but the crab (pubic) louse (Pthirus pubis) is from a different insect family. All are pests of public health importance. Treatment is usually prescribed by medical professionals and should be focused on the infested person and their belongings. Use the following descriptions to...
