There are more than 250 species of spiders found in Florida and more than 40,000 worldwide. “Spiders can easily survive in many different environments, from a grassy field to a crack in a brick wall,” said Johnalyn Gordon, a postdoctoral associate in urban entomology at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center. Gordon, who specializes in [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_48653" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-48653" style="width: 489px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" class=" wp-image-48653" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/10/Mother-Wolf-Spider-taking-care-of-her-young-Courtesy-Johnalyn-Gordon-1-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="489" height="275" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-48653" class="wp-caption-text">Mother Wolf Spider taking care of her young on her back. Courtesy Johnalyn Gordon</figcaption></figure>
There are more than 250 species of <a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1366">spiders found in Florida</a> and more than <a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MG206">40,000 worldwide</a>.
“Spiders can easily survive in many different environments, from a grassy field to a crack in a brick wall,” said <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscholar.google.com%2Fcitations%3Fuser%3D6AyZ6D4AAAAJ%26hl%3Den%26oi%3Dsra&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cjohnalynmgordon%40ufl.edu%7Cd026d444eccc442646aa08dcea3ef9cd%7C0d4da0f84a314d76ace60a62331e1b84%7C0%7C0%7C638642803401711060%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=n7tuJC6xMeWFMEZDtw1SeM6TNuTJ8jbq3rL8eQb4oEM%3D&amp;reserved=0">Johnalyn Gordon</a>, a postdoctoral associate in urban entomology at the <a href="https://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/">UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center</a>.
Gordon, who specializes in urban pests, is also an instructor at UF/IFAS Pest Management University, a cooperative training program between the pest management industry, UF/IFAS and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. She emphasizes that while these cryptic, eight-legged web weavers make the perfect Halloween icon, they also play a critical role in nature, our gardens and even around our homes.
As Halloween approaches, Gordon responds to the top five questions she receives to ease fears and help celebrate our spooky spider friends.
Q1: Why do spiders often get a bad reputation?
The fact that spiders tend to be nocturnal, have a few too many legs for comfort and have fangs and venom can be unsettling. There is a lot of concern around spiders and their bites, and there’s quite a bit of myths out there that really drum up people’s fears.
Q2: Are spiders dangerous to humans?
While almost all spiders can produce venom, they primarily use their venom to immobilize prey as part of the feeding process. Venom requires a lot of work for spiders to produce, and they are very reluctant to use it on us since we are far too big to be a meal. Even the most venomous species in Florida, like the black widow, would much rather avoid us, but may bite humans as a last resort of defense, such as if they are accidentally trapped against the skin.
<figure id="attachment_48655" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-48655" style="width: 399px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-48655" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/10/Tarantula-spider-photo-courtesy-UF-IFAS-Tyler-Jones-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="399" height="266" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-48655" class="wp-caption-text">A tarantula spider. Photo courtesy UF IFAS Tyler Jones</figcaption></figure>
Q3: What benefits do spiders provide?
The reality is that most spiders play an important role in the food chain playing out in nature and in and around our homes. By feeding on insects like flies, cockroaches and mosquitoes, they even provide natural pest control around our homes and gardens.
Q4: Are there any interesting facts about spiders and their adaptations?
Several spider species can produce chemicals to attract specific prey insects. There is a very interesting behavior that <a href="https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/tag/andrew-warren">Andrew Warren</a> at the <a href="https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu">University of Florida Museum of Natural History McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity</a> <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/1/53">recently published</a> a study about, where yellow garden spiders, scientifically known as the Argiope aurantia, will produce the smell of female moths to lure male moths in for an easy meal.
 
Q5: Is there a myth you’d like to bust?
A myth I remember hearing a lot growing up is that “daddy long legs” spiders have incredibly potent venom, but their fangs are too small to bite through human skin. There are two groups of spiders that I mostly see referred to by this common name – cellar spiders, which belong to the Pholcidae family, and the harvestmen of the order Opiliones. While both are arachnids, harvestmen aren’t true spiders at all, and they lack fangs, venom and even silk glands. Pholcids are true spiders, but there isn’t anything particularly <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2019.00256/full">potent about their venom</a>, according to a study released in 2019. Until then, venom composition and potency had never formally been studied.
&nbsp;
###
By Lourdes Mederos, <a href="mailto:rodriguezl@ufl.edu">rodriguezl@ufl.edu</a>
<a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2024/10/24/una-experta-de-uf-ifas-revela-la-verdad-sobre-las-aranas-como-aliadas-y-enemigas/">Para accesar a este contenido en español, por favor utilice este enlace. </a>
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>
&nbsp;

Mother Wolf Spider taking care of her young on her back. Courtesy Johnalyn Gordon
There are more than 250 species of spiders found in Florida and more than 40,000 worldwide.
“Spiders can easily survive in many different environments, from a grassy field to a crack in a brick wall,” said Johnalyn Gordon, a postdoctoral associate in urban entomology at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.
Gordon, who specializes in urban pests, is also an instructor at UF/IFAS Pest Management University, a cooperative training program between the pest management industry, UF/IFAS and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. She emphasizes that while these cryptic, eight-legged web weavers make the perfect Halloween icon, they also play a critical role in nature, our gardens and even around our homes.
As Halloween approaches, Gordon responds to the top five questions she receives to ease fears and help celebrate our spooky spider friends.
Q1: Why do spiders often get a bad reputation?
The fact that spiders tend to be nocturnal, have a few too many legs for comfort and have fangs and venom can be unsettling. There is a lot of concern around spiders and their bites, and there’s quite a bit of myths out there that really drum up people’s fears.
Q2: Are spiders dangerous to humans?
While almost all spiders can produce venom, they primarily use their venom to immobilize prey as part of the feeding process. Venom requires a lot of work for spiders to produce, and they are very reluctant to use it on us since we are far too big to be a meal. Even the most venomous species in Florida, like the black widow, would much rather avoid us, but may bite humans as a last resort of defense, such as if they are accidentally trapped against the skin.
A tarantula spider. Photo courtesy UF IFAS Tyler Jones
Q3: What benefits do spiders provide?
The reality is that most spiders play an important role in the food chain playing out in nature and in and around our homes. By feeding on insects like flies, cockroaches and mosquitoes, they even provide natural pest control around our homes and gardens.
Q4: Are there any interesting facts about spiders and their adaptations?
Several spider species can produce chemicals to attract specific prey insects. There is a very interesting behavior that Andrew Warren at the University of Florida Museum of Natural History McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity recently published a study about, where yellow garden spiders, scientifically known as the Argiope aurantia, will produce the smell of female moths to lure male moths in for an easy meal.
 
Q5: Is there a myth you’d like to bust?
A myth I remember hearing a lot growing up is that “daddy long legs” spiders have incredibly potent venom, but their fangs are too small to bite through human skin. There are two groups of spiders that I mostly see referred to by this common name – cellar spiders, which belong to the Pholcidae family, and the harvestmen of the order Opiliones. While both are arachnids, harvestmen aren’t true spiders at all, and they lack fangs, venom and even silk glands. Pholcids are true spiders, but there isn’t anything particularly potent about their venom, according to a study released in 2019. Until then, venom composition and potency had never formally been studied.
 
###
By Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
Para accesar a este contenido en español, por favor utilice este enlace. 
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS

There are more than 250 species of spiders found in Florida and more than 40,000 worldwide. “Spiders can easily survive in many different environments, from a grassy field to a crack in a brick wall,” said Johnalyn Gordon, a postdoctoral associate in urban entomology at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center. Gordon, who specializes in […]

UF/IFAS expert unravels truth on spiders as friend, foe

With recent media exposure of bed bug activity impacting travelers worldwide, the public perception of this species tends to draw some concerns over its potential for harming humans and pets. University of Florida experts at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) weigh in with science-based research on recognizing the species, their impacts on [&#8230;]

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB_htYM65-k">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB_htYM65-k</a>
With recent media exposure of bed bug activity impacting travelers worldwide, the public perception of this species tends to draw some concerns over its potential for harming humans and pets.
University of Florida experts at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) weigh in with science-based research on recognizing the species, their impacts on humans and pets and how to keep them from hitchhiking home with you after traveling.
Let’s begin with a few bites about bed bugs. 
“<a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IG083">Bed bugs are blood-sucking insects</a>, well adapted to life indoors, especially within homes and apartments. Blood is their only food, and they can extract it from several animals, including those we usually keep as pets,” said <a href="https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/people-directory/roberto-pereira/">Roberto Pereira</a>, a UF/IFAS urban entomologist who conducts research and Extension programs on the biology and control of ants, cockroaches, bed bugs and other insects that live in and around human structures.
They populate very quickly, making it difficult to identify and control, said Pereira, because one female can produce 200 to 500 eggs in her lifetime, laying from 10 to 50 eggs at a time. Also, bed bugs live through five stages, starting from a tiny egg, measuring about 1 mm in length, until they hatch as nymphs measuring about 1.5 mm.
<figure id="attachment_41385" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-41385" style="width: 240px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-41385 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="240" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2023/12/Faith-Oi-Courtesy-UF-IFAS-Photography-240x300.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-41385" class="wp-caption-text">Faith Oi. Photo courtesy UF/IFAS Photography.</figcaption></figure>
“The key to bed bug prevention and management is vigilance and recognizing all stages of the bed bug,” said <a href="https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/people-directory/faith-oi/">Faith Oi</a>, a world-renowned UF/IFAS urban entomologist and the director of <a href="https://pestmanagementuniversity.org/">UF/IFAS Pest Management University</a> based out of Apopka at the <a href="https://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/">UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center</a>. “While adults can be as large as 3/16 of an inch, nymphs can be as small as a pen tip. Their appearance changes depending on whether they recently fed or not.”
Bed bugs appear flat and yellowish before they bite a host and consume a blood meal, then become engorged and transform into a deep red color after feeding.
Do bed bugs cause disease in humans or animals? 
Bed bugs do not transmit diseases, but they can cause a lot of discomfort because of the itching that results from the bites, said Pereira.
“If the infestation is extreme, and a person is exposed to bed bug bites for a long period of time, that person may develop anemia and symptoms of low blood volume, known as hypovolemia,” he said. “This can lead to other complications, including heart problems that can be dangerous. Fortunately, this occurs very rarely.”
How to keep bed bugs out of your home after travel.
Bed bugs enter homes when we bring them in on items such as luggage, furniture, books, computers, even in the waffled bottom of sneakers. They can travel on trains, planes and automobiles.
<figure id="attachment_41381" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-41381" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-41381 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="260" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2023/12/Roberto-Pereira-Courtesy-Tyler-Jones-UF-IFAS-300x260.jpeg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-41381" class="wp-caption-text">Roberto Pereira. Photo Courtesy Tyler Jones UF/IFAS Photography.</figcaption></figure>
To keep bed bugs from joining travels, Oi and Pereira offer consumers these tips:
<ul>
<li>When entering a place you may stay overnight, spend a few minutes inspecting surrounding areas for signs of bed bugs.</li>
<li>Protect your belongings by not keeping them on carpeted areas or sofas for extended periods of time. Before leaving, inspect your belongings.</li>
<li>When purchasing a used item or product like luggage, pillows or furniture, check seams, folds and crevices. Use a lint roller to pull up anything suspicious.</li>
<li>After visiting places, check your person, purse and luggage before bringing these into the house.</li>
<li>Clothing and some other items can be placed in a dryer in the highest heat possible for 20 to 30 minutes to eliminate any potential hitchhikers.</li>
</ul>
Myths and misconceptions when bed bugs emerge.
Some myths and incorrect perceptions make it into some people’s conversations and on social media about bed bugs and how to treat them. Oi and Pereira summarize what research has discovered, should you cross paths with the critters.
<ul>
<li>Foggers are generally ineffective. Bed bugs are significantly resistant to the active ingredients in most insecticide fogging products. Foggers are not the same as fumigants. Fumigants are gasses that can penetrate surfaces. Fog will not penetrate surfaces, so unless the fog directly settles on the bed bug, it will not be exposed or impacted.</li>
<li>Do I have to throw out my mattress? This measure is not necessary. There are several effective mattress encasements that can protect you against bed bugs once you have treated for bed bugs. Make sure the encasement’s zipper is tight enough to keep any future nymphs from entering or escaping. Make sure the encasement fabric is sturdy enough to keep from tearing with repeated use.</li>
<li>Don’t panic. If you discover just one adult bed bug, simply crush it and discard, but be on the alert for others. An introduction is one adult bed bug. An infestation means you’ve found more than one and in various stages of the life cycle, including eggs, nymphs and adults.</li>
<li>Simplify your living environment. Keeping a clutter-free home helps in bed bug management, providing them with fewer places to hide. This makes inspections and treatment more effective if you do encounter a problem. Some people associate bed bug infestations with a lack of good hygiene and good housekeeping, but that is not necessarily the case.</li>
<li>A vacuum and clothes dryer are your friends. If the infestation is localized, it may be possible to vacuum up the bed bugs. Remember to empty the bag or canister outside. Bed bug infestations are commonly found where you spend most of your time such as a bed and favorite recliner or chair. Vacuum seams of cushions well. Bedding and clothing can be put in a clothes dryer run on high for 20 to 30 minutes to destroy bed bugs.</li>
<li>Not sure infestation has set in? If bed bugs are found in more than one location, call a professional who has experience in bed bug control. General information to assist in selecting a pest control service can be found in the ASK IFAS article: <a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1269">Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting a Pest Control Service</a>.</li>
<li>For good measure, there is more. This Ask IFAS article in English and Spanish offers insights on <a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN925">What not to do for bed bugs/ Qué no hacer contra las chinches</a>.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2023/12/13/expertos-de-uf-ifas-explican-como-evitar-que-las-chinches-de-cama-sean-sus-companeras-de-viaje/">Para accesar a esta comunicación en español, por favor utilice este enlace </a>
###
By Lourdes Mederos, <a href="mailto:rodriguezl@ufl.edu">rodriguezl@ufl.edu</a>
&nbsp;
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB_htYM65-k
With recent media exposure of bed bug activity impacting travelers worldwide, the public perception of this species tends to draw some concerns over its potential for harming humans and pets.
University of Florida experts at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) weigh in with science-based research on recognizing the species, their impacts on humans and pets and how to keep them from hitchhiking home with you after traveling.
Let’s begin with a few bites about bed bugs. 
“Bed bugs are blood-sucking insects, well adapted to life indoors, especially within homes and apartments. Blood is their only food, and they can extract it from several animals, including those we usually keep as pets,” said Roberto Pereira, a UF/IFAS urban entomologist who conducts research and Extension programs on the biology and control of ants, cockroaches, bed bugs and other insects that live in and around human structures.
They populate very quickly, making it difficult to identify and control, said Pereira, because one female can produce 200 to 500 eggs in her lifetime, laying from 10 to 50 eggs at a time. Also, bed bugs live through five stages, starting from a tiny egg, measuring about 1 mm in length, until they hatch as nymphs measuring about 1.5 mm.
Faith Oi. Photo courtesy UF/IFAS Photography.
“The key to bed bug prevention and management is vigilance and recognizing all stages of the bed bug,” said Faith Oi, a world-renowned UF/IFAS urban entomologist and the director of UF/IFAS Pest Management University based out of Apopka at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center. “While adults can be as large as 3/16 of an inch, nymphs can be as small as a pen tip. Their appearance changes depending on whether they recently fed or not.”
Bed bugs appear flat and yellowish before they bite a host and consume a blood meal, then become engorged and transform into a deep red color after feeding.
Do bed bugs cause disease in humans or animals? 
Bed bugs do not transmit diseases, but they can cause a lot of discomfort because of the itching that results from the bites, said Pereira.
“If the infestation is extreme, and a person is exposed to bed bug bites for a long period of time, that person may develop anemia and symptoms of low blood volume, known as hypovolemia,” he said. “This can lead to other complications, including heart problems that can be dangerous. Fortunately, this occurs very rarely.”
How to keep bed bugs out of your home after travel.
Bed bugs enter homes when we bring them in on items such as luggage, furniture, books, computers, even in the waffled bottom of sneakers. They can travel on trains, planes and automobiles.
Roberto Pereira. Photo Courtesy Tyler Jones UF/IFAS Photography.
To keep bed bugs from joining travels, Oi and Pereira offer consumers these tips:
When entering a place you may stay overnight, spend a few minutes inspecting surrounding areas for signs of bed bugs.
Protect your belongings by not keeping them on carpeted areas or sofas for extended periods of time. Before leaving, inspect your belongings.
When purchasing a used item or product like luggage, pillows or furniture, check seams, folds and crevices. Use a lint roller to pull up anything suspicious.
After visiting places, check your person, purse and luggage before bringing these into the house.
Clothing and some other items can be placed in a dryer in the highest heat possible for 20 to 30 minutes to eliminate any potential hitchhikers.
Myths and misconceptions when bed bugs emerge.
Some myths and incorrect perceptions make it into some people’s conversations and on social media about bed bugs and how to treat them. Oi and Pereira summarize what research has discovered, should you cross paths with the critters.
Foggers are generally ineffective. Bed bugs are significantly resistant to the active ingredients in most insecticide fogging products. Foggers are not the same as fumigants. Fumigants are gasses that can penetrate surfaces. Fog will not penetrate surfaces, so unless the fog directly settles on the bed bug, it will not be exposed or impacted.
Do I have to throw out my mattress? This measure is not necessary. There are several effective mattress encasements that can protect you against bed bugs once you have treated for bed bugs. Make sure the encasement’s zipper is tight enough to keep any future nymphs from entering or escaping. Make sure the encasement fabric is sturdy enough to keep from tearing with repeated use.
Don’t panic. If you discover just one adult bed bug, simply crush it and discard, but be on the alert for others. An introduction is one adult bed bug. An infestation means you’ve found more than one and in various stages of the life cycle, including eggs, nymphs and adults.
Simplify your living environment. Keeping a clutter-free home helps in bed bug management, providing them with fewer places to hide. This makes inspections and treatment more effective if you do encounter a problem. Some people associate bed bug infestations with a lack of good hygiene and good housekeeping, but that is not necessarily the case.
A vacuum and clothes dryer are your friends. If the infestation is localized, it may be possible to vacuum up the bed bugs. Remember to empty the bag or canister outside. Bed bug infestations are commonly found where you spend most of your time such as a bed and favorite recliner or chair. Vacuum seams of cushions well. Bedding and clothing can be put in a clothes dryer run on high for 20 to 30 minutes to destroy bed bugs.
Not sure infestation has set in? If bed bugs are found in more than one location, call a professional who has experience in bed bug control. General information to assist in selecting a pest control service can be found in the ASK IFAS article: Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting a Pest Control Service.
For good measure, there is more. This Ask IFAS article in English and Spanish offers insights on What not to do for bed bugs/ Qué no hacer contra las chinches.
 
Para accesar a esta comunicación en español, por favor utilice este enlace 
###
By Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
 
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS

With recent media exposure of bed bug activity impacting travelers worldwide, the public perception of this species tends to draw some concerns over its potential for harming humans and pets. University of Florida experts at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) weigh in with science-based research on recognizing the species, their impacts on […]

UF/IFAS experts on bed bugs and how to keep them from hitchhiking to your homes from your travels

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure &#8211; especially when it comes to pests. Urban Rodentologist Dr. Bobby Coriggan says this includes mice and rats. A mouse only needs one-quarter of a inch to find its way into your home. Once inside, it can survive on one-tenth of an ounce of food [&#8230;]

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure &#8211; especially when it comes to pests. Urban Rodentologist Dr. Bobby Coriggan says this includes mice and rats. A mouse only needs one-quarter of a inch to find its way into your home. Once inside, it can survive on one-tenth of an ounce of food a day. That one crumb from your morning bagel is three square meals for a mouse. While you may see them as a deadbeat roommate, a house mouse is the second most successful mammal on earth. Mice and rats have the ability to make decisions and regret wrong decisions &#8211; make the right decision and rodent proof your home. 

&nbsp;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="An Ounce of Prevention is Worth A Pound of Cure" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nHJ5D3kQBXA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – especially when it comes to pests. Urban Rodentologist Dr. Bobby Coriggan says this includes mice and rats. A mouse only needs one-quarter of a inch to find its way into your home. Once inside, it can survive on one-tenth of an ounce of food a day. That one crumb from your morning bagel is three square meals for a mouse. While you may see them as a deadbeat roommate, a house mouse is the second most successful mammal on earth. Mice and rats have the ability to make decisions and regret wrong decisions – make the right decision and rodent proof your home.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – especially when it comes to pests. Urban Rodentologist Dr. Bobby Coriggan says this includes mice and rats. A mouse only needs one-quarter of a inch to find its way into your home. Once inside, it can survive on one-tenth of an ounce of food […]

Prevention Is The Key To Keeping Rodents Out Of Your Home

Sciences

Ciencias

The built-up or densely populated area containing the city proper; suburbs, and continuously settled commuter areas; definitions of urban areas vary by countries.

Urban Entomology

Narrower Topics

Urban Pest Management

Related IFAS Blog Posts

UF/IFAS expert unravels truth on spiders as friend, foe

UF/IFAS experts on bed bugs and how to keep them from hitchhiking to your homes from your travels

Prevention Is The Key To Keeping Rodents Out Of Your Home

Related Pages

Urban Entomology

Narrower Topics

Urban Pest Management

Urban Tree Pest Insects

Related IFAS Blog Posts

UF/IFAS expert unravels truth on spiders as friend, foe

UF/IFAS experts on bed bugs and how to keep them from hitchhiking to your homes from your travels

Prevention Is The Key To Keeping Rodents Out Of Your Home

Related Pages