About Dr. Stuart Mitchell

What? Domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris Where? Multi-unit housing Why? Los Angeles, Dallas and other large cities are under assault by increasing “poopetrators.” Many dog owners are not collecting their......

Phorids (Megasellia scalaris) fly from fermenting filth, frequently fouling food and inflicting infections. Aliases: Coffin fly, Humpbacked fly, Scuttle fly Description: Adult flies are 1/10- to 1/16-in. long, with a wingspan......

Big-headed ants (Pheidole Spp.) are multiple-queen menaces  that foul food and form formicarcia (colonies), which causes structural strife for innocent inhabitants. Description: Workers (1/16- to 1/8-in.) are distinguished by dimorphism, or......

Red imported fire ants get all the attention, but black imported fire ants are gaining notoriety. Indigenous to South America, Solenopsis richteri (roughly translating to “the very cruel”) was unintentionally......

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is pursuant to inestimable pestiferous air and ground assaults by millions of insidious sorties. Mass attacks cause stress antagonism, contamination and substantial damage to food commodities and......

The Norway rat (Rattus Norvegicus) has committed innumerable assaults through millions of insidiously cryptic infestations. Mass attacks cause significantly reduced public heath, as well as substantial damage to food commodities and structures.......

Drywood termites (Kalotermitidae) have committed offenses through insidiously cryptic infestations. Attacks cause significant cellulose consumption, which causes structural and wood product damage. ⦁ Reproductives: They’re light yellow to dark brown......

The Oriental cockroach (Blatta Orientalis) has committed public health violations resulting from septic contamination of structures and food. Aliases: “Asiatic Cockroach,” “Shad Roach” and “Waterbug” Female: 1 3/8″ long  Male: 1″ long Description: Shiny brownish-black.......

Species: subterranean termite (Reticulitermes spp.) Distribution: many areas of U.S. Environment: found in soil, moist areas Behavior: constructs shelter tubes, without fecal pellets Description: workers and soldiers are about 0.25......

■ Do eliminate termites, particularly the commonly encountered Eastern subterranean species, Reticulitermes flavipes, though integrated pest management (IPM), an environmentally benign process. ■ Don’t misidentify the termite species. Above all,......