This week, officials confirmed that a resident in New Jersey has become the first patient diagnosed with Zika virus in the state since 2020. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this is the sixth case in the U.S. in 2026 — all of which have been traced to international travel, and not from mosquitoes in the U.S. The CDC considers the U.S. to be at low risk for an outbreak at this time.
It is making headlines this time around regardless, however, because of the domestic outbreaks of Zika in the U.S. in 2015 and 2016. Per the CDC:
In 2017, the number of reported Zika cases in the United States started to decline.
Since 2018, there have been no reports of Zika virus transmission by mosquitoes in the continental United States.
Since 2019, there have been no confirmed Zika cases reported from U.S. territories.
The CDC points outthat, since 2019, “all locally acquired cases of Zika in the U.S. territories were diagnosed by antibody testing. Since antibodies against Zika virus can persist for years after infection, serology cannot distinguish between a recent or past infection. Additionally, Zika and dengue virus antibodies cross-react, making it difficult to diagnose which virus is the cause of the current illness. Since 2019, there have been no confirmed Zika virus disease cases reported from U.S. territories.”
GENERAL TALKING POINTS How is Zika virus transmitted? Zika virus is spread through the bite of an infected Aedes genus of mosquitoes, which is the same mosquito species that carries dengue fever and chikungunya. Yellow fever mosquitoes (A. aegypti) are the primary carriers, but Asian tiger mosquitoes (A. albopictus) might also transmit the virus.
What are the chances of an outbreak in the United States? While we can’t speculate on the virus and its potential to spread, it is better to be prepared and practice vigilance in mosquito control by protecting yourself from coming into contact with mosquitoes and by eliminating breeding grounds at home should there begin to be cases of local transmission here in the United States. So far, all human cases reported in the U.S. have resulted from travel abroad.
How can I prevent mosquitoes? Most counties have a mosquito abatement program in place to minimize the local population and help keep the public safe. These programs typically involve trapping mosquitoes in different areas and testing them for known pathogens. This helps monitor the spread of diseases and warn the public of risks in the area. County programs may also include plans for periodic spraying or fogging to eliminate adult mosquitoes. Other preventative methods include:
If you are concerned about mosquito activity on your property, contact a pest management company or your local health department.
Eliminate areas of standing water around the home such as flowerpots, birdbaths, baby pools, grill covers and other objects where water collects. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in water where the larvae develop and need only about 0.5 inch of water to breed.
Screen all windows and doors. Repair even the smallest tear or hole.
Minimize outside activity between dusk and dawn, when the majority of mosquitoes are most active.
If you must spend time outdoors during peak mosquito times, or when you will be outdoors for extended periods, wear long pants and sleeves and use an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon-eucalyptus.
It is especially important to wear effective insect repellents and protective clothing if traveling outside the U.S. Mosquito-borne diseases that may be rare in the U.S. are common in many foreign countries.
Like almost all living animals, spiders attempt to settle in where they can find food with the least amount of energy to obtain it. The first question to ask is, “Why are the spiders selecting this location?” You need to think like a spider.
For spider species that rely on webbing to catch their prey, which are the majority of what we encounter as pest management professionals (PMPs), nighttime lighting is probably the No. 1 reason why they choose their spots. It helps to have points on a tree, shrub or structure to attach their web.
Effective removal method
I remember the first time I heard a technician in Florida complain about working during the holiday season. I was taken aback: “Are you kidding? That’s the best time to collect cash tips!”
Of course, I was thinking about the northern climate, where spiders are not very active outdoors in the winter. He set me straight: “Homeowners put up their Christmas lights, and that means an extra 15 minutes at each stop to remove webs that spiders begin on the strings.”
Speaking of Florida, back in 1987, I learned how a maintenance company was providing non-chemical spider management in Boca Raton by removing overhead cobwebs with long-pole spider brushes. When I asked them why they didn’t just spray for spiders, they pointed out that most of their multi-family residential accounts were built near retention ponds. Because it rains heavily almost every afternoon in the summer, the pesticide would end up in the ponds. Besides, the pesticide does not remove the webbing and egg sacs.
I was excited to bring this information to the Purdue University Pest Management Conference in January 1988. The rest is history: Distributors bought into it, and today, cobweb dusters are a standard tool.
Tips for taking action
Here are a few more proactive spider management tasks to take:
Redirect lighting. Put exterior lighting on a motion detector or mount lights away from the building. This will pull the night insects away from the structure and thereby pull the spiders away as well. In residential accounts in particular, garage doors cannot be sealed. Keeping the night light on by the garage door guarantees you are going to get spiders in the garage.
Consider airflow. What can be done to redirect or minimize airflow into a building to prevent flies and other spider prey from sailing in? Is the screen mesh too large? Are doors left open that can be closed?
Maintain the landscape. Keep shrubbery to a minimum adjacent to any structure. Keep the grass cut low. High grass can harbor thousands of spiders. Avoid clutter and debris stored near and adjacent to a structure.
Take a closer look at the exterior. Plug or screen weep holes, which serve as excellent spider harborage and entrance ways.
Inspect everything. Hollow open pipes on patio chairs, unopened patio umbrellas, firewood stacks and mailboxes are all known to harbor spiders.
Find out about new storage moves. Before your customers bring their boats or trailers into their garages to store for the season, ask them to knock off any insects and spiders first.
Minimize crawlspace moisture. Ventilate adequately to discourage both insects and spiders.
Add-on service opportunity: Gas grills often are not used for weeks at a time. Spiders are notorious for clustering inside the grill’s narrow tubes that mix gas and air. Eggs and webbing can restrict the gas flow and cause a flashback when firing up the grill. While there are purpose-built “spider brushes,” known as venturi brushes, available to avoid this issue, you also can use a pipe cleaner or a wire brush. This can avoid a dangerous experience for customers and make you look like a hero. — A.F.
Family-owned and -operated since 1964, Atlanta-based Arrow Exterminators is the largest family-owned pest and termite control company in the United States, ranked by revenue. Arrow has more than 200 service centers, more than 3,600 team members and revenues exceeding $470 million. Featuring QualityPro accreditation by the National Pest Management Association, the company offers innovative and environmentally responsible services to protect homes and businesses of customers and operates in 16 states: Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Arrow is led by President and COO Tim Pollard, CEO Emily Thomas Kendrick, and Chairman Joe Thomas, a Pest Management Professional Hall of Fame inductee (Class of 2009). The company was founded in 1964 by industry veteran Starkey Thomas and his wife, Jean. Since acquiring its first company in 1988, Arrow has grown by partnering with pest control businesses that share its values and dedication to quality. Today, it stands as the largest family-owned pest and termite control company in the United States.
Arrow offers a full range of services, including pest control, termite protection, mosquito prevention, wildlife control and exclusion, handyman work, insulation services and new construction treatments. These services are available for both residential and commercial customers.
As a third-generation family business, Arrow respects the time and effort it takes to build a successful pest management company. The team understands the importance of creating strong foundations for lasting partnerships and works closely with acquisition partners to ensure a smooth transition for both customers and employees.
Austin, Texas-based Veseris has named Jamie Young national account manager, bringing more than 25 years of experience in strategic account management, business development and customer relationship leadership.
Young spent seven years at Action Pest Control, managing a multi-market territory spanning fumigation, bird management and integrated pest management (IPM). She partnered with customers in food processing, grain, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, multi-family housing, healthcare and industrial sectors to build programs that protected operations, ensured compliance and reduced risk.
Per a press release, Young is “known for a consultative approach [and] builds customer relationships on trust, responsiveness and a clear understanding of each customer’s business goals. Prior leadership roles in healthcare operations, business development and marketing round out her ability to connect technical solutions to business outcomes. At Veseris, Jamie will help customers navigate an evolving industry through innovative products, technical expertise and strategic partnership.”
Young lives in New Jersey with her husband and enjoys cooking and traveling with her grown children.
About Veseris
Veseris has been rooted in the pest control industry for more than four decades, originating from the Van Waters & Rogers (VW&R) acquisition of Namco in the 1970s. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Veseris operates more than 70 ProCenter locations across North America, providing products and digital services like ProTraining to pest management professionals.
Few callbacks generate more urgency than a stinging insect complaint. And for good reason — as a sting can land you in the emergency room if you have a sensitivity to insect venom.
Common stinging insect callbacks in the summer months occur because early-season nests that were started in late spring got missed during a scheduled service. Familiarizing yourself with the biology and behavior of common stinging insect pests in your region is a critical first step to making sure you know what signs to look for, critical areas to inspect and when to look. Knowing where these pests are likely to nest will help you avoid getting tunnel vision during spring services.
If you missed the initial spring inspection window, it’s not too late to fend off inevitable summer callbacks. August is still a great time to incorporate harborage surveys into every service call. This means checking under eaves, inside meter boxes and light fixtures, under deck railings and around dense landscape where bees and wasps often nest. For insects that construct subterranean nests, such as fire ants and yellowjackets, walk the property to look for activity at ground level. Incorporating a stinging insect inspection into your regular service visit will pay dividends if and when a nest is found before your client discovers the problem first.
Even if you know which native species are in your area, stay current on any new invasive pests that may be making their way into your region. In the past decade, we’ve seen the northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) and the yellow-legged hornet (V. velutina, pictured above) confirmed in various parts of the country. The Asian needle ant (Brachyponera chinensis), an invasive pest confirmed in the U.S. for decades, has recently expanded its range into several new states.
Stinging insect callbacks are predictable, seasonal and largely preventable. The best time to start preparing for stinging insect season may be late spring, but the second-best time to start preparing is right now.
Access to regular bloodmeals determines the number of egg batches a female bed bug has in her lifetime. The more bloodmeals she takes, the more eggs she will produce. An adult female bed bug lives an average of one year, so if she feeds every week, she will produce more eggs than she would if she feeds only once a month.
SOURCE: Virginia Tech Entomology Department
Answers to August Tech Test
1. a, 2. False, 3. a, 4. True, 5. d, 6. False, 7. b, 8. c, 9. c, 10. True
Scorpions are old. In fact, they are likely the first animals to venture onto land some 437 million years ago, probably living as semi-terrestrial arthropods. At that time, the world would have been quite harsh, with both temperature and carbon dioxide levels significantly higher than today. Ancient seas were extensive, teaming with early life and encouraging organisms to transition onto land.
Conditions have moderated since those distant days, but scorpions haven’t changed much since that early time. They certainly have adapted to becoming the second fully terrestrial animal (after millipedes), but their aquatic forebears passed on traits that have helped them survive in a changing and less stable environment than that of the ocean from whence they came.
One big change was converting their exterior book gills through which they breathed in the water to the interior book lungs for breathing on land. This change allowed them to adapt from semi-aquatic to fully terrestrial animals.
Since then, the scorpion has changed very little. Why would they? The scorpion body plan, though primitive, is perfect for survival — especially in dry environments like those of the primitive earth. Many species live in some of the most arid places on Earth today, such as the deathstalker scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus), but this doesn’t preclude other species from living in a variety of other environments like forests. Let’s look at a few representative species in each region of the U.S.
East Coast: The predominant species is the southern devil scorpion (Vaejovis carolinianus). This small species is considered harmless and occupies mostly forested areas.
Central Region: The genus Centruroides, or bark scorpions, includes common species with often potent venom. The striped bark scorpion (C. vittatus) predominates in this region. It spends most of its time on the ground and often enters homes and other human structures. Stings are common, but rarely dangerous.
Southeast: In Florida and the coastal plains of Georgia and Alabama, the hentzi striped scorpion (C. hentzi) is common. Its sting is mild. The Florida bark scorpion (C. gracilis) is an introduced species common in the Sunshine State. It originates from Central and northern South America, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Southwest: The Arizona bark scorpion (C. sculpturatus) frequently enters homes. It is the only U.S. species considered dangerously venomous, with human deaths reported. This species, in true bark scorpion fashion, prefers trees but will live under a variety of landscape items such as river rock. Human activity in transforming desert areas into lush green landscapes has allowed this species to thrive.
Arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus) [Image: BOB GILBERT, BCE, PHE, Blue Sky Pest Control]
In the Sonoran Desert region specifically, two commonly encountered species are the Arizona giant desert hairy scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis) and the stripe-tailed scorpion (Paravaejovis spinigerus). The desert hairy scorpion is a long-lived burrowing species; the stripe-tail can be found under rocks and other debris, where it seeks out areas of moisture. Neither scorpion is considered dangerous. In fact, the desert hairy scorpion is considered beneficial, as it will eat bark scorpions.
Pacific Coast: The California common scorpion (Paruroctonus silvestrii), a burrowing species, occupies arid areas along the coast, while the western forest scorpion (Uroctonus mordax) lives in wooded areas. Both species have a mild venom and are not considered dangerous.
In addition to the adaptation to book lungs from exterior gills, scorpions have other features that can help them survive today and consequently make them hard to control as pests. To combat these morphological and behavioral defenses, let’s look at each of these in turn and relate their biology to a control strategy that works.
The belly of the beast
If you turn over a scorpion and look at its ventrum, or underside, you will see four pairs of small openings along the mesosoma, or abdomen. These spiracles, or slits, are the openings into the book lungs and how a scorpion breathes.
Fig. 1. Four pairs of spiracles (yellow spots) run the length of the mesosoma below the paired pectines on this Arizona bark scorpion. [Image: BOB GILBERT, BCE, PHE, Blue Sky Pest Control]Fig. 2. Close-up of spiracle opening, or slit, visible below the pecten.[Image: BOB GILBERT, BCE, PHE, Blue Sky Pest Control]
Unlike insects, scorpions transport oxygen via their blood-like hemolymph. Because the spiracles are on the bottom of the scorpion, it can be difficult to avoid certain chemical treatments such as dust (see Fig. 1). Appropriately labeled dusts, applied where scorpions hide during the day, can enter these lungs, get absorbed into the hemolymph, and travel throughout the scorpion’s body.
Also on the ventrum, scorpions have paired appendages used for tactile and chemical perception, which they evolved to track prey, find mates and avoid predators. These pectines, along with sensory organs on the legs, allow them to detect and avoid chemical treatments (see Fig. 2).
This has been shown in the Arizona bark scorpion. This species detects repellent chemicals and will raise its entire body off the treated surface to avoid them. This behavior is termed “stilting” and, when crossing a flat treated surface, can minimize exposure and avoid a lethal dose. However, the treatment of transition sites where the scorpion moves from a horizontal to a vertical surface or vice versa increases the likelihood of touching the treated surface and gaining a fatal dose. The treatment of these transition locations, such as ground to building foundation to J-trim, becomes critical for climbing scorpion species.
Exoskeleton defenses
Scorpions have a thick exoskeleton, coated with a thin, water-repelling wax layer that helps prevent them from desiccation (see Figs. 3 and 4). These cuticulin/wax layers also protect scorpions from physical harm. Products that can penetrate these layers can kill scorpions, including appropriately labeled, non-water-soluble products such as pyrethroids. Products that remove or cut through the wax layer also may kill the scorpion through desiccation. Products such as diatomaceous earth or silica gels, which attack this layer, also can be effective when applied correctly. These products are particularly effective when used in arid or low-humidity environments.
Fig. 3. Transverse cross-section through the arthrodial membrane (between segments) of the cephalothorax of the Arizona bark scorpion, showing a dorsal view of the hardened exterior layer of the exoskeleton (top) above the dark body cavity. The scale at the bottom shows 1-millimeter-wide blue bars.[Image: BOB GILBERT, BCE, PHE, Blue Sky Pest Control]Fig. 4. Anterior (face) view of an Arizona bark scorpion, showing the thick exoskeleton.[Image: BOB GILBERT, BCE, PHE, Blue Sky Pest Control]
Scorpions are strongly nocturnal, spending nights primarily hunting for prey or searching for mates. They can detect light through their entire exoskeleton and move away from light instinctively (see Fig. 5). During the day, these animals find shelter in harborages for protection. Some species reuse an established burrow for years, while others find a new shelter each day.
Fig. 5. An Arizona bark scorpion takes a defensive pose under ultraviolet light, showing light reactivity. [Image: BOB GILBERT, BCE, PHE, Blue Sky Pest Control]
For burrowing species, the burrow can be treated directly. This would include species such as the giant desert hairy scorpion — a long-lived ambush predator with the potential of living more than 20 years.
Other scorpions seek tight cracks and crevices for harborage, as they are strongly thigmotactic, which essentially means they feel safe when pressed into tight places. They often seek shelter under rocks, bark or debris, so treating underneath such harborage areas is critical in scorpion control.
Granular and liquids
The Arizona bark scorpion has no permanent home but finds a new hiding spot before each dawn. For species like this, the use of appropriately labeled granular residual pesticides can be very effective in harborages like river rock and bushes. Watering in these products activates them, which the scorpions find difficult to avoid in this type of cover. Bark scorpions also hide in palms, trees and under bark, so granular or liquid treatments around tree trunks can be effective.
Arizona giant desert hairy scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis) [ Photos: BOB GILBERT, BCE, PHE, Blue Sky Pest Control} Stripe-tailed scorpion (Paravaejovis spinigerus) [Photos: BOB GILBERT, BCE, PHE, Blue Sky Pest Control]Florida bark scorpion (Centruroides gracilis) [Image: iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images]Deathstalker scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus) [Image: iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images]
Scorpion prevention efforts
Like all pests, if food is scarce, scorpions will relocate. Insect control will help keep their numbers to a minimum.
Scorpions also hate to be exposed to daylight, so removing hiding places like trash, debris and river rock on the property can go a long way in minimizing scorpion numbers and keep them out of structures.
Move flowerpots up onto stands rather than keeping them directly on the ground. Thin out bushes, keep grass mowed, and remove leaf piles or other items under which scorpions can hide.
Inspect the structure and replace any worn or damaged weather stripping or window screens. Install door sweeps and screen rooftop vents. Trim trees away from the structure to avoid bridging onto the roof.
Scorpion anatomy explains scorpion behavior. It shows us how they hunt, hide, breathe, climb and avoid danger.
These adaptations have kept scorpions alive for hundreds of millions of years, but they also reveal the control points we need to target. Understand the animal, and the treatment becomes more precise, more deliberate and more effective.
References
1. Polis, G.A. 1990. The Biology of Scorpions. Stanford University Press, Stanford, Calif.
2. Romero, A., J. Agnew, E. Paysen and B. Blakely. (2021, October). “Arizona Bark Scorpions and Their Responses to Insecticides.” Pest Control Technology, 49(10), 40-44.
3. Gaffin, D.D., Bumm, L.A., Taylor, M.S., Popokina, N.V. and Del Castillo, S. (2012). “Scorpion fluorescence and reaction to light.” Animal Behaviour, 83(2), 429-436.
![Southern devil scorpion (Vaejovis carolinianus) [Image: epantha / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images]](https://www.mypmp.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/GettyImages-647110172.jpg)
![Arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus) [Image: BOB GILBERT, BCE, PHE, Blue Sky Pest Control]](https://www.mypmp.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/C.sculpturatus-TM.jpg)
![Fig. 1. Four pairs of spiracles (yellow spots) run the length of the mesosoma below the paired pectines on this Arizona bark scorpion. [Image: BOB GILBERT, BCE, PHE, Blue Sky Pest Control]](https://www.mypmp.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/PMP0826_Figure1R.jpg)
![Fig. 2. Close-up of spiracle opening, or slit, visible below the pecten.[Image: BOB GILBERT, BCE, PHE, Blue Sky Pest Control]](https://www.mypmp.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/PMP0826_Figure2R-512x1024.jpg)
![Fig. 3. Transverse cross-section through the arthrodial membrane (between segments) of the cephalothorax of the Arizona bark scorpion, showing a dorsal view of the hardened exterior layer of the exoskeleton (top) above the dark body cavity. The scale at the bottom shows 1-millimeter-wide blue bars.[Image: BOB GILBERT, BCE, PHE, Blue Sky Pest Control]](https://www.mypmp.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/PMP0826_Figure3R.jpg)
![Fig. 4. Anterior (face) view of an Arizona bark scorpion, showing the thick exoskeleton.[Image: BOB GILBERT, BCE, PHE, Blue Sky Pest Control]](https://www.mypmp.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/PMP0826_Figure4R.jpg)
![Fig. 5. An Arizona bark scorpion takes a defensive pose under ultraviolet light, showing light reactivity. [Image: BOB GILBERT, BCE, PHE, Blue Sky Pest Control]](https://www.mypmp.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/PMP0826_Figure5R-1.jpg)
