Integrated Pest Management in the Home series

Katherine Allen, LuAnn Duncan, Nelly Nelson, Lisa Hamilton, Judy Corbus, Karen Stauderman, Faith M. Oi, James E. Davis, andShelly A. Johnson

How do I stop birds from making a mess? How do I get them to leave? Although most birdwatching is a good experience, any bird can become a nuisance if they are unwanted, cause damage, or spread disease. Birdfeeders, spilled food, or uncovered trash cans are common attractants for unwanted birds. The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the Home Series is intended to provide answers to frequently asked questions, allay fears, and provide practical help to the public. This publication provides information to educate homeowners on appropriate and lawful ways to deal with birds who have become a nuisance.

Shelly A. Johnson, LuAnn Duncan, Katherine Allen, Judy Corbus, Faith M. Oi, Karen Stauderman, Katherine Marin, Nelly Nelson, andMaria Portelos-Rometo

Are there bats in my house? Why? And what should I do about it? Bats are the only major predator of night-flying insects, which makes them an important part of our ecosystem. Occasionally, a single bat or group of bats find their way into a human-made structure. The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the Home series is intended to answer frequently asked questions, allay fears, and provide practical help to the public. All bats in Florida are protected, and it is important to seek assistance and follow state and federal laws. This publication provides information to educate homeowners on appropriate and lawful ways to deal with bats in buildings.

Lisa Hamilton, Katherine Allen, LuAnn Duncan, Nelly Nelson, Karen Stauderman, andFaith M. Oi

Bed bugs are wingless, blood-feeding insects. Adults are about 3/16 inch long, broadly flat, and oval with brownish color that can change to reddish-brown after feeding. They generally feed on people at night while they sleep, taking 3 to 10 minutes to feed and returning for more every seven to 10 days. Bites can itch but clear up within two to three weeks. Bed bugs infestations are preventable and controllable. While bed bugs do bite people and feed on blood, they are not known to transmit pathogens that can cause diseases in humans. This publication is intended to answer commonly asked questions about bed bugs.

Nelly Nelson, LuAnn Duncan, Jenny Rodriguez, Katherine Allen, Karen Stauderman, Lisa Hamilton, and Faith Oi

My head is itchy… could I have head lice? What are head lice? How do people get them? How do people inspect for them? How can people treat head lice? What should schools do about head lice? Will pesticides work? Will home remedies work? What can happen?! Integrative Pest Management in the Home to the rescue! The IPM at Home Series is a county faculty initiative intended to provide answers to frequently asked questions about household pests. This publication answers common questions about head lice. Aimed at the general public and delivered in a friendly, matter-of-fact style, it is intended to allay fears and provide practical help for people experiencing a common—and fortunately eminently solvable—problem.