Insect science is the new frontier

As summer approaches and regular rainfall continues, now is the time to focus on managing local mosquito populations. During recent work around my home, I found mosquito larvae in nearly every object that could hold water: the birdbath, plant trays, dog water bowl, garden buckets — you name it. If they are in my yard, they are probably in yours, too. Mosquitoes require standing water for their eggs, larvae and pupae to develop.

Make room, Joro spiders. There’s another invasive species taking over Georgia yards this summer. The Asian needle ant is becoming infamous as a “medical pest.” Although this type of ant has been around in the U.S. since the 1930s, its spread through the Southeast marks a significant danger for those with allergies to other insects like wasps or yellowjackets, said Dan Suiter, an Orkin Distinguished Professor of Urban Entomology in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Cooperative Extension.