Latest news with #insectcontrol
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Banish flying ants from home with £5 B&M gadget this weekend – as tens of MILLIONS to take to skies in ‘massive swarm'
AS temperatures climb to 33C across the UK, early signs of flying ant season are already being spotted — and a £5 gadget from B&M is being hailed as a simple way to keep them out. One clever solution is already making waves online. 3 One user took to Facebook to share the tip, posting: 'Magnetic insect door screen at B&M.' The £5 gadget could help stop them in their tracks. The screen fastens with Velcro tape around the doorframe and is held snug by a series of magnets along the centre seam. T his magnetic strip allows the screen to open and close effortlessly—step through and it snaps right back into place, keeping unwanted insects out without ever getting in your way . It sparked a wave of interest, with one user saying: 'I bought this and it helped.' Another wrote: 'I need to get this ASAP,' while a third added: 'I just use shower curtains.' Others tagged friends to spread the word as the country braces for Flying Ant Day, when millions of the pests take to the air in a huge mating swarm. The phenomenon is being reported across the UK, as the recent hot and humid conditions create ideal circumstances for the ants to emerge. What are flying ants? Flying ants are usually black garden ants — known scientifically as Lasius niger. These colonies can contain thousands of female worker ants and are ruled by a single queen. The winged ants spotted in summer are either new queens or males, taking part in their once-in-a-lifetime mating flight. Once mating is done, the queens lose their wings and begin the search for a place to establish a new colony. The larger ants you see walking around on their own afterwards are in fact these new queens, looking to start a nest. Although they may look alarming, flying ants are generally harmless to humans. They can cause seagulls to act drunk after eating them, due to the formic acid the ants release. Still, many people find the flying insects irritating, especially when they swarm indoors. One common home remedy is a simple mixture of washing-up liquid and water, sprayed directly onto the ants. Some suggest blending aspartame-based sweeteners with juice to create a sticky paste, which ants carry back to their nests, potentially reducing the population. Others opt for insecticidal powders, carefully applied around windows and doors to block their entry. The £5 magnetic insect screen from B&M, however, is proving to be a hit for many households. Easy to attach and remove, it creates a physical barrier over doorways while still allowing fresh air to flow through — ideal during the summer heat. Flying ants rarely bite, and even when they do, the NHS says the bites are 'generally harmless, although you'll probably feel a nip.' Their swarming typically happens during a short period in high summer known as Flying Ant Day. Despite the name, the event can stretch over several weeks depending on weather conditions. Most flying ants only live for a day or two after taking flight, which is why their tiny bodies often litter paths and pavements afterwards.
The Independent
05-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
US government plans to breed millions of flies to combat a pest in Texas
The US government plans to breed and release millions of sterile screwworm flies in Texas and Mexico to combat the re-emergence of the flesh-eating insect. The New World Screwworm lays eggs in the open wounds of warm-blooded animals, including livestock and humans, with the hatched larvae burrowing into flesh and potentially killing the host. The strategy involves breeding flies, irradiating them to induce sterility, and then releasing them so that sterile males mate with wild females, leading to unfertilized eggs and a reduction in the screwworm population. Screwworms were previously thought to have been eradicated in the US by 1966 using a similar sterile insect technique, but have recently re-emerged in Texas following an outbreak in Mexico. To support this new program, a breeding factory will open in southern Mexico next July, followed by a distribution center in southern Texas to manage the release of the sterile Flies.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Millions of flies to be dropped over Texas to combat flesh-eating maggots
The federal government is going to take millions of sterile flies and dump them on Texas in the hopes that they'll kill off a species of insect known for laying its flesh-eating larvae in the wounds of warm-blooded animals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an upcoming project where it will reportedly breed millions of flies, blast them with radiation to make them sterile and unleash them on Texas and Mexico in hopes of reducing the population of the New World Screwworm and its flesh-eating maggot larvae. The sterile, irradiated male flies will be released in hopes that they'll mate with wild female screwworm flies. The hope is that the female flies will produce unfertilized eggs that don't hatch, ultimately reducing the number of screwworm larvae. The end goal is to see the screwworm population die out in the region. The New World Screwworm Fly is primarily found in forests and wooded areas, but also seek hosts, including cattle and horses. Females will typically lay their eggs in the open wounds of live, warm-blooded animals. The maggots, once hatched, burrow into the flesh of the host. Their presence in the wound can potentially kill the host animal. The flies burrow into the bodies of their hosts in a screw-like fashion, hence their name. The flies — which are endemic to Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and some South American countries — were thought to have been wiped out in the U.S. as far back as 1966. The screwworm can infest humans. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised that individuals in the affected areas who "spend time among livestock animals, sleep outdoors and have an open wound are at greater risk of becoming infested with [New World Screwworms]." Because of the fly's infestation method, individuals who have recently had surgery are at a higher risk of infestation "as the flies will lay eggs on open sores," the CDC warned. Unfortunately, the screwworm flies have reemerged recently in Texas following an outbreak in Mexico. That became public in May, which prompted the USDA to temporarily suspend live cattle, horse, and bison imports across the U.S. - Mexico border to prevent any further spread. The U.S. used the sterile fly method to almost entirely wipe-out the screwworm flies between 1962 and 1975. In the decade before the fly program began, the USDA estimated that livestock producers in the southwest U.S. lost approximately $50 million to $100 million annually as a result of the fly. To facilitate the new version of the fly program, a factory aimed at breeding and producing the sterile flies will open in southern Mexico in July of next year. After that, a fly distribution center will be opened in southern Texas to import and distribute the sterile flies throughout the southwest.
The Independent
04-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Millions of flies to be dropped over Texas to combat flesh-eating maggots
The federal government is going to take millions of sterile flies and dump them on Texas in the hopes that they'll kill off a species of insect known for laying its flesh-eating larvae in the wounds of warm-blooded animals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an upcoming project where it will reportedly breed millions of flies, blast them with radiation to make them sterile and unleash them on Texas and Mexico in hopes of reducing the population of the New World Screwworm and its flesh-eating maggot larvae. The sterile, irradiated male flies will be released in hopes that they'll mate with wild female screwworm flies. The hope is that the female flies will produce unfertilized eggs that don't hatch, ultimately reducing the number of screwworm larvae. The end goal is to see the screwworm population die out in the region. The New World Screwworm Fly is primarily found in forests and wooded areas, but also seek hosts, including cattle and horses. Females will typically lay their eggs in the open wounds of live, warm-blooded animals. The maggots, once hatched, burrow into the flesh of the host. Their presence in the wound can potentially kill the host animal. The flies burrow into the bodies of their hosts in a screw-like fashion, hence their name. The flies — which are endemic to Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and some South American countries — were thought to have been wiped out in the U.S. as far back as 1966. The screwworm can infest humans. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised that individuals in the affected areas who "spend time among livestock animals, sleep outdoors and have an open wound are at greater risk of becoming infested with [New World Screwworms]." Because of the fly's infestation method, individuals who have recently had surgery are at a higher risk of infestation "as the flies will lay eggs on open sores," the CDC warned. Unfortunately, the screwworm flies have reemerged recently in Texas following an outbreak in Mexico. That became public in May, which prompted the USDA to temporarily suspend live cattle, horse, and bison imports across the U.S. - Mexico border to prevent any further spread. The U.S. used the sterile fly method to almost entirely wipe-out the screwworm flies between 1962 and 1975. In the decade before the fly program began, the USDA estimated that livestock producers in the southwest U.S. lost approximately $50 million to $100 million annually as a result of the fly. To facilitate the new version of the fly program, a factory aimed at breeding and producing the sterile flies will open in southern Mexico in July of next year. After that, a fly distribution center will be opened in southern Texas to import and distribute the sterile flies throughout the southwest.
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- CTV News
If You're On The Hunt For Bug Deterrents, Here Are A Few Of The Best You Can Get In Canada Right Now
From sprays and zappers to wearable solutions, here are the top repellents Canadians swear by to keep bugs at bay this summer. Few things ruin an outdoor gathering—or a peaceful summer evening—like a swarm of buzzing, biting insects. Whether you're relaxing on the patio, hiking in the woods, or tending your garden, swatting at uninvited guests and itching afterwards is no way to spend the summer. The good news is that you have loads of options for keeping the peskiest pests away this season. Classic bug sprays still exist and work great, even if you'd prefer to go DEET-free. Alternatively, opt for fans, zappers, or clever gadgets that will protect your personal space from those insect interlopers. Go ahead and plan that picnic or weekend camping trip—these bug-busting essentials have you covered. Here are the absolute best bug deterrents you can get in Canada right now: 14 Alcohol-Free Beers, Spirits, And Pre-Mixed Mocktails That Taste Just As Good As The Real Deal I Deal With Spring Allergies Every Year, And Here Are My Favourite Products That Help 14 Of Our Favourite Tools for Post-Workout Recovery and Flexibility Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We'll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes.
