They can reach speeds of 37 mph, altitudes of 3,600 feet and distances up to 74 miles in a single flight. Hungry ladybugs can stop an aphid infestation in its tracks, saving the blooming signs of spring we have come to know and love.Īdult ladybugs are incredible fliers. They breed by the thousands in a matter of days and are known to destroy beautiful ornamental plants like tulips and dahlias. Aphids can cause great damage to a garden by sucking the sap and the life out of plants. Varying in shade from green, black, red, yellow, brown or gray, these itty bitty bugs may resemble colorful polka dots when gathered on leaves. Most North American lady beetles are predatory, feeding primarily on pest insects, including aphids and mites.Īphids are a common pest found in flower gardens. If you’re looking for luck in your garden, they are sure to boost your odds. Image Details Ladybug on a green pitcher plant.Ĭommon superstition suggests that these small stunners are harbingers of good luck. Their presence is more of an annoyance than a danger, as ants do not commonly spread diseases and most species don’t harm structures. Ants make poor roommates, crawling through your food storage, sipping on your spills and making their way into mugs. You may not have mice creeping through your kitchen, but it’s almost certain that this persistent insect has marched into your home. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars. Reducing mouse populations to curtail the spread of Lyme disease could send gypsy moth and other insect numbers soaring and predator populations plummeting, potentially opening space for new invasive species invasive speciesĪn invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Image Details Western harvest mouse crawls on vegetation at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Ticks that subsequently feed on mice (following an initial bite) are highly likely to become infected and potentially transmit this disease to humans. Unlike larger mammals, their small size means in a high concentration of the disease bacteria in their blood. However, mice are also considered primary carriers of Lyme disease. Without them, predators would have to find alternate food sources to supplement their diets and insect populations would boom.ĭid you know mice also help oak trees thrive? A study published in “Science” suggests mice are essential for protecting oak trees because they consume invasive gypsy moth caterpillars. This makes mice a key link in the food chain. In turn, mice eat pest insects like beetles, caterpillars and grasshoppers. Mice are food for predators of all sizes including bears, bobcats, skunks, foxes, owls and other birds of prey. Without them, those wild communities would fall apart or look drastically different. Mice are considered a keystone species in almost every ecosystem. However, like all species, mice have their own role in the health of our environment. It’s hard to be fond of mice when they’re skittering across your floors or scratching in your walls. Image Details Endangered Pacific pocket mouse But even then, mice typically build close to buildings where food is readily available. Without a more suitable indoor nesting site, they will dig complex underground burrows. They are also known to live in barns, sheds and the crevices of rocks and woodpiles. House mice are often found in the walls, attics, basements, crawl spaces and garages of buildings. These tiny mammals have adapted to the shelter and food storage common in human homes. But our relationship with these winter visitors is complicated.Īptly named, house mice have lived alongside humans for somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000 years. Pest-control companies suggest mice and other rodents occupy an estimated 21 million homes in the United States each winter. You may be thinking: Wild roommates? I don’t have any of those. Despite their downfalls, some wild roommates like mice, ants, ladybugs and spiders have environmental advantages. Much like their human counterparts, wild roommates have their fair share of flaws - leaving behind crumbs, bringing home viruses and intruding on your privacy. Considering that a roommate's extra income means a roof overhead and food in the fridge, the benefits often outweigh the burden. Chore wheels go unturned dishes are left in the sink and leftovers vanish into thin air.
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