Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 20

Thread: common south african pests

  1. #1
    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Cape Town
    Posts
    2,642
    Thanks
    119
    Thanked 94 Times in 77 Posts

    common south african pests

    When I checked my post this morning I found that two little bugs had devoured a hole through my municipal account. This suddenly brought into focus the fact that I have no idea what the common pests are in South Africa, and probably wouldn't know what a borer beetle looked like if it bit me on the toe (after devouring my wooden floors).

    So I was wondering what the common ZA pests are, and if there is a website that has pictures and details of the damages that they do.

    Suggestions of where to look?
    [SIGPIC]Engineer Simplicity[/SIGPIC]
    Turn ideas into products | The Art of Engineering blog

  2. #2
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,648
    Thanks
    3,304
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12
    I've thought of adding something like this to our company website. But I can go quite a long way with a photo. Post a photo of the damage, and let's see how far we go.

    The best pest ID area on the web I know of is unfortunately for NPMA (USA) members only.

  3. #3
    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Cape Town
    Posts
    2,642
    Thanks
    119
    Thanked 94 Times in 77 Posts
    Photo of damage or photo of beetle? Unfortunately the beetle didn't make it
    [SIGPIC]Engineer Simplicity[/SIGPIC]
    Turn ideas into products | The Art of Engineering blog

  4. #4
    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Cape Town
    Posts
    2,642
    Thanks
    119
    Thanked 94 Times in 77 Posts
    After a little looking around I *think* it was some type of weevil (small, grey/brown, pointy nose). If I post a photo of the damage all it is going to look like is a piece of paper with some holes eaten into it - or are you particularly skilled in the chewing patterns of beetles?
    [SIGPIC]Engineer Simplicity[/SIGPIC]
    Turn ideas into products | The Art of Engineering blog

  5. #5
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,648
    Thanks
    3,304
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12
    Quote Originally Posted by dsd View Post
    are you particularly skilled in the chewing patterns of beetles?
    Yes. Most often that is all we've got to work with Whilst I might not be able to get it down to species every time, I can generally get it down to family - or worst case a pest category.

    What you have described does sound like a weevil. The next step would be to identify the source. Keep an eye on stored cereal products.

  6. #6
    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Cape Town
    Posts
    2,642
    Thanks
    119
    Thanked 94 Times in 77 Posts
    Found this outside in the post box, probably closer to our neighbour's building than to ours...I'll attach a photo later
    [SIGPIC]Engineer Simplicity[/SIGPIC]
    Turn ideas into products | The Art of Engineering blog

  7. #7
    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Cape Town
    Posts
    2,642
    Thanks
    119
    Thanked 94 Times in 77 Posts
    Here are the best photo's I could get on the digital camera I have (pretty hard without a macro lens)
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	eaten_bill.JPG 
Views:	280 
Size:	50.3 KB 
ID:	55   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	bug03.JPG 
Views:	296 
Size:	29.4 KB 
ID:	57  
    Attached Images Attached Images  
    [SIGPIC]Engineer Simplicity[/SIGPIC]
    Turn ideas into products | The Art of Engineering blog

  8. #8
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,648
    Thanks
    3,304
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12
    Evidence points towards a cockroach, but were the antenna damaged? - they should be longer.

    To avoid future damage to mail, remove mail from post box regularly

    If you take a flashlight and examine inside the mailbox carefully, you might well find more. In this instance I'll forgive you for using an aerosol insecticide.

  9. #9
    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Cape Town
    Posts
    2,642
    Thanks
    119
    Thanked 94 Times in 77 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Dave A View Post
    Evidence points towards a cockroach, but were the antenna damaged? - they should be longer.
    Cockroach? Never seen any type of cockroach that looked like that (but I don't know much about bugs). There were not really any antenna, just a long (relative to size) snout. The beetle wasn't really in a good way for the photo, aerosol insecticide had taken its toll, and a curled up position was all that it could manage for the photo

    Anyway, more important for me is what I should keep my eyes open for to avoid wood damage to floors, roof trusses and other wooden items, and what preventative steps I should be taking, and at what intervals.
    Last edited by duncan drennan; 27-Oct-06 at 07:14 AM.
    [SIGPIC]Engineer Simplicity[/SIGPIC]
    Turn ideas into products | The Art of Engineering blog

  10. #10
    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Cape Town
    Posts
    2,642
    Thanks
    119
    Thanked 94 Times in 77 Posts

    Thumbs up a better photo!

    I managed to get a better and more in focus photo of one this morning (found it on my cat - think he was trying to eat it this was inside though )
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	bugphoto.JPG 
Views:	289 
Size:	21.8 KB 
ID:	58  
    [SIGPIC]Engineer Simplicity[/SIGPIC]
    Turn ideas into products | The Art of Engineering blog

  11. Thanks given for this post:

    Satchel21 (05-Jun-09)

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Trusts: can beneficiaries call the shots?
    By Sieg in forum General Business Forum
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 31-Oct-06, 12:49 PM

Tags for this Thread

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •