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Living with Bugs: Least-toxic Solutions to Everyday Bug Problems

Summary: Each of the 50+ most common household pests are covered in detail, plus drawings and photographs to help with identification.

Jack DeAngelis, PhD

OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)

Living with Bugs: Least-toxic Solutions to Everyday Bug Problems (2009; 176 pages; OSU Press) answers homeowner's questions about the fifty** or so most common household insect and mite pests. Every pest topic from ants to vinegar flies is covered with more pictures, drawings and detailed life history than we have room for in the 'Bugs website.

The emphasis is on least-toxic solutions to these pest problems. In many cases, in fact, the best approach may be to do nothing, or to use simple "watchful waiting". But in other cases a more active approach may be needed and we provide the information you need to tell the difference.

Written for every homeowner, Master Gardener, Cooperative Extension agent, Living with Bugs includes more than ninety color and black-and-white photographs and drawings, an identification guide to common pests and damage, as well as pointers to additional web-based control information. See the Chapter titles below for a complete list.

**bed bugs, black flies, fleas, lice, biting midges, mosquitoes, ticks, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, wood wasps, powderpost beetles, termites, bees, fire ants, wasps, nuisance ants, pantry pests, cockroaches, carpet beetles, clothes moths, nest mites, chigger mites, scabies & mange mites, horse & deer flies, stable flies, boxelder bugs, cluster flies, house flies, fungus gnats, drain flies, lady beetles, silverfish & firebrats, vinegar flies, dust mites, venomous spiders, and delusions & phobias

Pests are grouped by what they do rather than by strict taxonomic relationships. For example, the section on carpenter ants is grouped with sections about insects that damage structures like termites rather than with the other non-destructive, nuisance ants.

Each chapter contains detailed information about life history and clues to identification. The Appendix is devoted to helping the average homeowner identify an unknown specimen using pictures and online resources.

Click on the Amazon banner (below right) for more information.

Chapter titles:

Chapter 1 Critters that bite and leave a red, itchy bump
Chapter 2 Insects that damage building materials
Chapter 3 Insects that swarm and sting
Chapter 4 Insects that invade kitchens and pantries
Chapter 5 Insects that damage natural fabrics
Chapter 6 Tiny microscopic biting mites
Chapter 7 Large flies that bite people and livestock
Chapter 8 Insects that invade homes but cause little damage
Chapter 9 Dust mites
Chapter 10 Medically significant spiders in North America
Chapter 11 Real and imaginary fears
Chapter 12 More about pest control
Appendix
- Identifying an unknown bug
- Identifying insect damage
- Using the Internet
Index

How to order

Living with Bugs can be ordered from the publisher, OSU Press ($19.95+$3 s&h), or from Amazon (see price in box above + shipping).

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Mission: To provide accurate, up-to-date and unbiased information for solving common insect and mite problems around your home, business and landscape using least-toxic methods.

Jack DeAngelis, PhD, , email: [email protected]

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