New BugBytes episode, "Mosquito Swarms, Blacklegged Tick Management, and Silver Bullets for Pest Control with Special Guest Court Parker of Bug Busters" is now available online.

In the December 2024 episode of NPMA BugBytes, the team covered mosquito swarms, tick management, and biting midges.

Each customizable tick pamphlet gives consumers a basic understanding of tick biology, identification information for commonly encountered ticks, and possible treatment options offered by a licensed pest management professional. 

Laura returns as the back-to-back BugBytes champion to cover a new paper on tick research, Mike talks about microwaving insecticides, and Ellie shares a review paper on the history and trajectory of Urban Entomology.

The study explores how Ixodes scapularis, the black-legged tick, avoids predation by eavesdropping on semiochemicals from Formica oreas ants. Ticks demonstrated avoidance behavior to a combination of ant-produced formic acid and hydrocarbons. This finding suggests potential for developing tick repellents derived from ant semiochemicals, enhancing tick management strategies.

The Professional Pest Management Alliance is promoting public knowledge on the dangers of ticks.