What’s new with the Critter Gitter?
Introducing Operation: Plush Over the Pacific
Please help the Critter Gitter Team collect for this project...the Peninsular Pest Control office is a collection site. They have a Facebook page – search for “Operation Plush Over the Pacific” and ‘like’ them...their story: I’ve been thinking a lot about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. I know a lot of people are helping out already, but I’ve been trying to think of something I could do to help. I think I have a really good idea, and I hope you will help me.
I think it would be very scary for a kid in Japan to have so many bad things happening around them at the same time. One news story said that 100,000 kids can’t go back to their homes because their homes were destroyed, or because it’s not safe for them to live there anymore. I wish I could give every kid over there a stuffed animal, so they could have something they could hug every night, and maybe they could go to sleep easier.
I can get a few stuffed animals, but I think if I ask for help, then we can do a whole lot more. So I decided to ask my Mom and Dad to help me with a stuffed animal drive, so everyone could pitch in and help.
I think we can start with a goal of 1,000 new stuffed animals. What do you think? I sent an email to my principal, Mrs. Walker, at school, and she let me announce it on the morning news! My Mom and Dad are going to talk to their friends, and we’ve made some flyers to pass out at Cub Scouts and at my church. Do you think you can talk to the people in your office about my stuffed animal drive? If they would help me, I could bring a box where they could put their donated stuffed animals. And I’ll give you some of my flyers if they want to help me spread the word.
I’m really excited about this, and my Mom and Dad are helping, too. I think lots of my friends would want to help too. It makes me feel really good to know that I might be able to make a difference in people’s lives, even though I’m still a kid.
If you’re willing to help, I’d really appreciate it!
Sincerely,
Andrew Russell
Jacksonville 4th Grader
Squeeeeeek. Thud. It was like a bad dream.
Reticulitermes hageni
Due to their wood-eating habits, termites can do great damage to homes and other wooden structures. Their habit of remaining concealed often results in their presence being undetected until severe damaged is done. Once termites have entered a building, they do not limit themselves to wood; they also damage paper, cloth, carpets and more.
Musca domestica
The house fly is the most common of all domestic flies, accounting for about 90% of all flies in human habitations, and indeed one of the most widely distributed insects, found all over the world; it is considered a pest that can carry serious diseases. Each female fly can lay approximately 500 eggs in several batches of about 75 to 150.
Hymenoptera
The term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their numbers, or natural biocontrol.
Siphonaptera/Ixodoidea
Fleas are small (1/16”), dark, reddish-brown, wingless, blood-sucking insects. Their bodies are laterally compressed, (i.e., flattened side to side) permitting easy movement through the hairs on the host’s body. Their legs are long and well adapted for jumping. Ticks are blood-feeding parasites that are often found in tall grass and shrubs where they will wait to attach to a passing host. A tick will attach itself to its host by inserting its chelicerae (cutting mandibles) and hypostome (feeding tube) into the skin. The hypostome is covered with recurved teeth and serves as an anchor. Young ticks have six legs, and mature ticks have eight legs. They vary in size and appearance depending on the species.
Formicidae
Ants are pests around the home because they feed on and contaminate human foods, infest structures, and build unsightly mounds in lawns. In some cases, ants are able to inflict painful bites or stings. Ants do not attack or eat fabrics, leather or wood in houses; however, some species can establish nests in decaying wood in structures.
Mus musculus
The mouse usually lives in proximity to humans, in or around houses or fields. Originally native to Asia they have since been spread throughout the world. House mice can transmit diseases, and can damage food and food packaging. It is thought that house mice were the primary reason for the taming of the domestic cat.
Achaearanea tepidariorum
Arachnophobia is a fear of spiders or anything reminiscent of spiders, such as webs or spider-like shapes. It is one of the most common specific phobias, and some statistics show that 50 percent of women and 10 percent of men show symptoms. It may be an exaggerated form of an instinctive response that helped early humans to survive.
Jacksonville, Florida 32204
