Pests

• Moles
• Termite Damage
• Common Termites
• Formosan and Drywall Termites
• Fire Ants
• Odorous House Ants

Moles
Few things in this world are more frustrating than spending valuable time and money on a landscape only to have it torn up by wildlife. Moles’ underground habits aerate the soil and reduce grubs, but their digging is cause for homeowner complaints, making them one of the most destructive mammals that can inhabit our landscapes.

Contrary to popular belief, moles are not rodents. Mice, squirrels and gophers are all rodents. Moles are insectivores in the family Talpidae. This animal family survives by feeding on invertebrate prey. There are seven species of moles in North America, but the Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus L.) is the species found in Arkansas.

Of all common mammals in North America, perhaps the mole is least understood. It is very difficult to maintain moles in captivity, and their fossorial existence makes studies very difficult. Still, there are basic facts known about the Eastern Mole, and successful control in landscapes requires a basic understanding of their biology.

Mole Biology
Moles spend most of their lives underground feeding on invertebrate animals living in the soil. A mole’s diet sharply reflects the diversity of the fauna found in its environment. In Arkansas, moles primarily feed on earthworms, grubs and other invertebrates. Moles lack the dental structure to chew plant material (seeds, roots, etc.) for food and, as a result, subsist strictly as carnivores. Occasionally moles will cut surface vegetation and bring it down to their nest, as bedding, but this is not eaten.

Moles are well-adapted to living underground. They have large, panshaped hands with long claws that allow them to move through loose soil in much the same way a swimmer moves through the water. When soils are dense and hard, the mole’s powerful musculature permits excavation of soil. Moles do have eyes, but since they are of little use underground, they remain concealed. Moles also have very sensitive ears; however, there are no external signs of them.

The Eastern Mole has an extremely sensitive sense of touch and can easily detect airflow, metallic objects and its prey. Its sense of smell is also well-developed.

Moles live a solitary existence. They use their scent to mark territory and may fight other moles to assert dominance of an area. A mole may recolonize an abandoned tunnel system of another mole. In late winter, males will seek females to mate with, and a litter of four pups will be born and cared for by the mother. Gestation is short, about 30 to 40 days. Pups will spend 30 to 70 days in their mother’s territory before leaving the nest in search of their own range. For this reason, many new infestations occur in spring.

A mole’s territory depends mostly on food availability. Biomass is the total amount of living matter in your soil. Irrigated and fertilized lawns usually have more biomass. More biomass means more earthworms and grubs, which are the mole’s food source. A British study conducted in deciduous woodlands and pastures reported a mole’s territory is about 3/4 to one acre in areas with 7 to 9 ounces of invertebrates per square yard. In fertilized lawns with higher biomass, moles probably have smaller territories, resulting in more moles per acre.

Moles produce tunnels to collect food. A mole’s tunnel system can grow into a complex three-dimensional structure over time. The surface tunnels we see are often just the tip of the iceberg. Moles in Arkansas produce more than one type of tunnel, though there may not be all types at every site. In Arkansas, tunneling is most evident in spring and autumn when moles are closer to the surface. During the summer it is common for moles to forage under flower beds or dig deeper sub­surface tunnels in search of food. A mole’s underground activity is comprised of surface tunnels, main tunnels and nests.

University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture, and County Governments Cooperating

Termite Damage
Did you know that your home and office are statistically more likely to suffer from termite damage than from fire or storms? Every year more than 2 million homes need termite treatment to protect them from the dangers termites pose; nonetheless, termites manage to cause $1.5 billion worth of damage annually. Unfortunately, homeowners' insurance policies seldom cover this type of damage.

Discovering termites in your home can certainly make you uncomfortable and may even frighten you. Termites are often difficult to see, and they leave very subtle clues about their whereabouts. Detection and complete termite removal require specialized equipment and knowledge about termites as well as safe methods of eradication.

Termites are found all over our continent from Canada to Mexico. Though termite infestations are known to harm wooden structures, their destruction can also be found in unprotected steel or brick structures. Wooden doors, window frames, support beams, cabinets, shelving, books, cardboard boxes, and furniture are some of the popular targets termites infest.

If you are interested in learning more about a termite management plan tailored to your particular situation, give Hopper Termite & Pest Management a call today at 501-362-8251.

Common Termites
While there are over 2,000 known species of termites in the wild, only 70 species damage wooden structures in such a way to be classified as pests. The most destructive are 20 species known as "subterranean" termites. The Eastern Subterranean Termites and Western Subterranean Termites are the most common destructive termites in the United States.

Subterranean termites build their colonies underground, in trees, or in poles. They feed off of the cellulose found in the cell walls of plants and rely on moisture in soil. While they are important to the natural decomposition of plants and trees, they can wreak havoc on structures built to last.

Formosan and Drywood Termites
Formosan termites were accidentally introduced into the United States from Asia. Their habitats and features are much like the common subterranean termites, but are distinguishably larger, more aggressive, and form more populated colonies. These termites are capable of forming secondary colonies in upper levels of buildings away from the soil if a constant source of moisture is present.

Drywood termites live in wood with low moisture content which may not be in contact with soil. They get their moisture from the wood they live in, so they generally live in humid coastal climates or subtropical locations. They do not build the mud "shelter tubes" common of other termites, and their damage is often localized, but may have multiple colonies which increase the damage they cause.

Some termites may be effectively removed using such tactics as heating, freezing, focusing microwaves or high-voltage electric charges, and fumigating. It is important that the correct technique is used for the appropriate type of termite. Let the specialists at Hopper Termite & Pest Management use the best solution for your situation. Give us a call at 501-362-8251.

Fire Ants
The name "fire ant" comes from the painful bites and stings the creatures cause. Fire ants are commonly found nested in the ground, but sometimes they can be found within a structure (usually near a chimney or a bath trap). Geographically, fire ant colonies may be commonly found as far north as Conway, Arkansas. Some sporadic mounds may be found in more northern places due to transportation of landscaping materials.

The two most common species of fire ant are the Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA), and the Southern Fire Ant (SFA). Each RIFA colony may have as many as 250,000 ants, and the colonies may be spread out with up to 100 colonies per acre. Mature queen ants may lay up to 1,500 eggs per day. Most RIFA colony mounds are rounded with a two foot diameter and a foot and a half tall.

RIFA mounds have broken farm machinery and killed farm animals by stinging them thousands of times. When people are stung by RIFA, they develop a blister-like pustule at the site of the sting. Allergic reactions may be life threatening.

If you have noticed RIFA ants near or in your home, call Hopper Termite & Pest Management today (501-362-8251) and let us use effective and efficient control strategies involving bating and drenching of mounds to alleviate the problems you are experiencing.

Odorous House Ants
Named for the scent emitted when crushed, the odorous house ant produces a "rotten-coconut" smell. Native to the United States, these ants construct nests in wall voids especially in the vicinity of hot water pipes and heaters, crevices around sinks, cupboards, etc. This type of ant prefers sweets, but it is common to find them eating high protein foods like meats and cheese. In the wild, they feed on insects, plant secretions, and seeds although they are most fond of honeydew.

Colonies may reach populations up to 100,000 ants. Usually, multiple queens may be found in a single colony. Colonies often produce about 4 to 5 generations of ants per year. Individual ants from different colonies generally exhibit no hostile behavior to one another.

Locating the colonies is crucial to eradicating these ants. The simplest method of locating the colony is by following the ants from a food source back to their colony. Eliminating this pest requires the use of boric acid dust in voids of outside ground-floor walls as well as interior walls with barrier treatment. Sometimes baiting may be necessary to rectify the problem. Hopper Termite & Pest Management can use these methods and others to manage any problems you may be experiencing with odorous house ants. You may reach us at 501-362-8251.