Ticks are tiny, blood-feeding arthropods closely related to spiders and mites. With the ability to feed on a variety of hosts, ticks can be found in many environments—shoreline, forest, farm, field, and playground. On ...

Bumble bees are familiar spring and summer insects in the Northeastern United States. They are most often observed visiting flowers, but can become a problem when nesting near human activity.

In most rural areas of New York State, commercial beekeepers are an integral part of farming and food production. Keepers may tend to dozens or hundreds of hives, which are transported to growers’ fields for pollination ...

Paper wasps feed on a variety of insects, such as caterpillars and other pests that can damage garden or landscape plants. As predators, therefore, paper wasps are an important part of nature. Paper wasp nests that are ...

Bald-faced hornets are important natural predators, but can pose a health risk when found near human activity. Early-season scouting and removal of small nests can prevent problems with large hornet populations later in ...

Carpenter bees are common spring and summer insects in the eastern United States. They are important pollinators, but can become a nuisance pest of structures.

Frequently Asked Questions about Head Lice

Adult fleas are biting insects that feed on warm-blooded animals. Worldwide, approximately 2,500 species of fleas have been identified, seven of which can affect human health. The cat flea is the most commonly observed ...

Bed bugs mostly troubled wealthy people in medieval times, because they had the warmest homes. But as the quality of homes improved over time, bed bugs became a problem for people of all economic classes. Before World War ...