Ant Researcher Nearly got Arrested!

Dr. Laurel Hansen We at Cascade Pest Control have known Dr. Laurel Hansen for decades. In fact, nearly 40 years ago, and prior to the inception of Cascade, I (Kurt T.) was collecting carpenter ant samples from around the greater Seattle area and sending them to Dr. Akre, her professor. I later found out that I could have been better directed as some of what I collected was not quite what she needed. But I did my best to contribute samples and she went on to earning her PhD. Since then she's been perhaps North America's expert on campnotus...carpenter ants. And we at Cascade have attended her lectures and even brought her in for training. But the funny thing is that some years ago when Ms. Hansen was conducting research at night following carpenter ants with red-shaded flashlights. She had permission of the property owners, but apparently the property owners hadn't mentioned her nighttime studies to their vacation-time house sitter. The house-sitter called the police who found her and her, along with some entomological colleagues, "lurking" about in the dark shining red-colored light onto the ground. It took some explaining but eventually the police let her go, but not without her teaching them a thing or two about ants! :)

Shown here is 'damage done by carpenter ants' and 'lone carpenter ant worker.' For more information on carpenter ants. http://www.cascadepest.com/ant-control/ Cascade Pest Control provides Carpenter Ant and other Ant control in the greater Seattle area, including Bellevue, Issaquah, Everett, Kirkland, Redmond, Kent, Lynnwood, Woodinville and beyond. Cascade also provides rat and rodent control. Don Leland

What is this winged ant I'm seeing???

The carpenter ant "reproductives" are out! What's a "reproductive"? We are starting to see carpenter ant swarms (i.e. the reproductive queens and males) in and around homes and businesses. Carpenter ants produce large numbers of queens and males during the late summer that emerge from nests the following spring (also happen during late winter) for their nuptial flights. After mating, queens search for suitable sites to begin new nests. Once they land, their wings break off and each queen attempts to construct a new nest. These are some great pictures sent to us today from a family in Sammamish, WA. If you see these around your home, give Cascade Pest a call at 425-641-6264.

New York Restaurant Features Ants in Menu!

The Black Ant, is a restaurant in New York where insects garnish corn cocktails and ceviche. But are they any good? Surprisingly, the menu sounds and looks delicious--if only they had disguised the dead black ants. They--the ants--are sprinkled on top of and sometimes throughout the otherwise beautiful food creations.

Although somewhat strange, I have to admit that the dishes they prepare look delicious...even delicious enough to have me trying them with tiny crunchy black ants included. Check out this video to learn the flavor of ants. Don Leland