[Market Overview] 2005 Pest Preview & 2004 Wrap-Up

WEATHER. Weather plays a significant role in levels of pest activity with moisture and warm temperatures usually serving as the driving force in higher pest populations. The sudden onset of excessively wet, dry or cool temperatures can drive pests indoors, causing the phone to ring. In contrast, extended cold into late spring can have a dampening effect on pest activity heading into summer, especially subterranean termite swarms. This factor was evident in many parts of the eastern U.S. in 2003.

A useful Web site for looking at historical weather data is found at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate at a Glance Web site located at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/cag3/cag3.html. By use of color-coded maps, this site permits one to look at the relative mean temperatures and precipitation levels by month, season, or year, all the way back to 1900. The following summarizes the annual relative weather of each region the past four years. In general, 2004 was wetter and near normal temperature-wise in the East and Midwest and warmer and near normal precipitation-wise. Interestingly, the summer months were cooler than normal for most of the Midwest and eastern U.S. while the fall was somewhat warmer than normal for most of the country.

Northeast — Most of the Northeast experienced below normal rainfall numbers in 2001, delving into drought-like conditions in many states. This corresponded with higher than normal temperatures through 2002. Precipitation in this region was near normal in 2002 but escalated to much above normal in 2003 and for most states in 2004. Temperatures for 2003 and 2004 were near normal for most states in the region.

Midwest — Much of the Midwest was near to above normal in precipitation in 2001 although the Plains states were dry in 2002 and 2003. Moisture levels rose back to above normal levels for most of the Midwest in 2004. The weather was warmer as a whole in 2001 and 2002 going back to fairly normal temperatures for the region during the past two years.

Southeast — Florida experienced drought conditions for many years leading into 2001. Since then, rainfall increased in 2003 and rose considerably with the four hurricanes that hit the state in late 2004. This state has stayed close to normal in mean temperature for the past four years. Texas was near normal in rainfall through 2002 but dropped in 2003 before rebounding to much above normal levels in 2004. The temperature in the Lone Star state has been consistently near normal. In the rest of the Southeast, rainfall has been normal to near normal, except for 2003, which was considerably wetter. Those states from Georgia west to Mississippi also saw cooler than normal weather in 2003.

West — The western U.S. has been exceedingly dry from 2001 to 2003 with drought conditions existing in many states. Some relief was found in 2004, with more normal precipitation occurring in most western states. Additionally, since 1999, the West has been warmer than the historical norm, in many years much above normal. New Mexico, for example, had its warmest year on record in 2003.

TOP 2004 PESTS. It is no surprise most respondents listed ants as the No. 1 pest this past year. This has been the trend for the last five years (and longer). The type of ant most prevalent varies by area, of course, but carpenter ants, Argentine ants, odorous house ants and imported fire ants are the most important pest species nationwide. Flea calls also are reportedly up somewhat in many areas this year, although the reports are spotty. Customer questions regarding mosquito control services were notably higher in many areas, perhaps due to the media publicity surrounding West Nile virus.

This year also featured the Brood X emergence of the periodical cicada, which was particularly heavy in the southeast Ohio, Virginia and New Jersey areas. Although not a structural pest, the three species of Magicicada emerging by the hundreds of millions prompted numerous inquiries to pest management professionals.

Northeast — In the past few years, carpenter ants, subterranean termites and mice were the top three pests reported in this region. Odorous house ants, pavement ants and yellow jackets and hornets were also listed as key pests. The odorous house ant, in particular, has increasingly established itself as a growing pest from Virginia up through parts of New York and Pennsylvania. The wet weather appears to have sparked a good year for social wasps of all kinds. Bed bug calls were way up, especially in New York City. One Terminix manager reported receiving 10 or more inquiries a week this summer from Manhattan residents regarding this ectoparasite. The weather also appeared to favor mice, as this rodent was reported as particularly active all year in several larger cities including New York and Washington, D.C.

Midwest — It seemed to be a good year for subterranean termites in many parts of the Midwest in 2004, with numerous respondents listing them in the top three pests. The warmer, wet spring may have been a factor in this regard. Carpenter ant activity was described as greater than normal throughout the entire region, as was ant activity in general. Spiders, mice and social wasps were also important pests. In parts of the Midwest, particularly Ohio, Kentucky, Nebraska and Oklahoma, Asian multicolored lady beetle invasions were greater but in Missouri, this was a better year for this insect (meaning fewer beetles). Given the warm fall temperatures in many areas, reported activity often came later than normal. The other key overwintering pest mentioned was the boxelder bug, which was listed as a key fall pest in nearly every state in which someone responded to the survey.

Reports of bed bugs were mixed through the region with larger cities rather than rural areas reporting more calls. Mice were reported as actively invading throughout the year by many respondents, becoming particularly noticeable in the winter months and in August and September. Hornets and yellow jackets, by contrast to the East, were about normal in activity. Michigan reported an increase in springtail calls while Illinois reported a sharp rise in odorous house ant infestations. Bill Martin of Terminix in Davenport, Iowa, noted more calls regarding snakes than he has in all the years he has worked in that city. Dr. Mike Potter of the University of Kentucky mentioned that ticks were "bad" this year, especially the lone star tick. He also noted the wet spring prompted more calls for millipedes, springtails and similar moisture-loving pests.

Southeast — The intense hurricane season in Florida created an upswing in pest calls leading into fall. The excess soil moisture pushed ants and other pests out of the earth to seek higher ground. Additionally, storm damage opened numerous potential entry points for pests and also revealed termite activity that otherwise would have remained hidden within walls and timbers.

Even though ants are significant pests every year in Florida, the wet year there appears to have triggered an upswing in ant activity. The primary pest ant varies depending on the area of the state, with white-footed ants being prevalent in southeast Florida and carpenter ants, ghost ants and crazy ants being other key species mentioned. The Caribbean crazy ant, Paratrechina pubens, is becoming a bigger problem in the Miami area. Interestingly, although common in the state, imported fire ants are not noted among the top five pests by any of the respondents.

Flea and tick calls were up in Florida as in Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee. Customer inquiries about bed bugs also were reportedly higher throughout this region. Asian multicolored lady beetle activity this fall was fairly normal in the Southeast, except in parts of Georgia, according to Dr. Nancy Hinkle of the University of Georgia.

Spiders were listed as a key pest by most respondents, with Arkansas and Tennessee noting an increase in brown recluse calls. Hinkle noted an uptick in reports of brown recluse "bites" in Georgia in areas of that state where this species does not occur. George Braker of Terminix in south Florida noted that brown widow spiders are being seen more often inside homes than he recalls in his many years in the business. It also was an interesting year for roof rats in Florida, as activity was reported up by many respondents. In two Terminix cases in Tampa and in Orlando, more than 200 roof rats were trapped out of each of two small-sized restaurants. Exclusion efforts combined with intensive trapping programs eventually resulted in successful control of both infestations.

West — Big shock: Argentine ants are the No. 1 reported structural pest in California and Las Vegas. In California, the dry summer may have caused ants and other pests to invade buildings in larger numbers. Drywood termite swarms were noted as good throughout the state. Roof rat activity was also noted as high and occurred throughout the year. All western survey respondents listed an increase in bed bug calls. Las Vegas, with its highly transient tourist industry, appears to be a major bed bug hot spot with many casinos and other hotels noting activity.

In commercial facilities, Jim Reed of Terminix reports phorid flies as his No. 2 pest up from No. 4 in 2003. German cockroaches, silverfish and bees and wasps also made many respondents’ top five lists. Box- elder bugs were noted as the primary overwintering pests encountered along the West Coast. Carpenter ants and odorous house ants were the top pests in the Pacific Northwest, with the hobo spider and mice being mentioned frequently as well.

SUMMARY. Compared to the previous few years, 2004 was fairly normal nationwide in regards to pest activity with a few exceptions as described above. As of January, heavy precipitation was relieving drought conditions in many western states. Hopefully, normal temperatures will occur through the spring and the added moisture levels of the past year or so will trigger a good termite swarm season for the pest management industry.

It is safe to predict, also, that ant activity will prove consistent across much of the United States although a particularly cold winter and spring, if it occurs, could impact carpenter ant activity across the northern part of the country. Bed bug calls should continue to increase as this noxious pest is carried by travelers around the country. It is likely bed bugs will increase in homes and apartments within the next year or two. The nice thing about the pest control industry, however, is that we will never run out of insects, spiders or commensal rodents. Somewhere in America, a particular pest always has a good year!

The author is a board certified entomologist, a registered sanitarian and manager, Technical Services, Terminix International, Memphis, Tenn. He can be reached via e-mail at shedges@giemedia.com.