Some pests, such as aphids and scale, occur almost everywhere in the United States. Many others are problems only in specific regions of the country. Here are four pests that, although not found everywhere, are serious problems if you live where they are common.

Fire Ant Season Is Here Again

Warming spring weather marks the start of another fire ant season in many mild-winter areas, especially the southeastern United States. Fire ants sting more than 5 million Americans every year. Those stings can be so bad that approximately 25,000 people are forced to seek medical attention annually.

"Fire ants are extremely aggressive insects that thrive in sunny, open environments such as lawns and gardens," said Bayer Advanced™ garden expert Lance Walheim. "When a mound is disturbed by a child or pet stepping or lying on it, worker ants boil out, swarm over the victim and inject venom repeatedly."

Fire ants have been in the United States since the 1930s. They came in cargo ships from South America and arrived in the United States through the Port of Mobile in Alabama. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, fire ants now infest more than 310 million acres in this country. They're a big problem in the South and a growing problem in the Southwest and in parts of California.

A January 1999 study by Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences estimates that fire ants cause about $1 billion worth of damage each year. Not only do fire ants sting people, the USDA says the ants kill turtles, small birds and destroy the buds and developing fruits of 139 species of native wildflowers and grasses. The USDA also reports that fire ants may reduce the ability of bees to successfully pollinate flowers.

Fire ants are 1/16 to 1/4-inch long and reddish brown in color. They live in mounds with many underground tunnels. A queen ant lives up to seven years and produces an average of 1,600 eggs per day, so a fire ant colony can consist of as many as 250,000 ants at a time.

So how can you eliminate fire ants fast? Bayer Advanced™ Fire Ant Killer Dust contains 1 percent cyfluthrin in a ready-to-use dust that kills fire ants faster than other fire ant dusts. And it doesn't have the strong odor associated with many other fire ant dusts. Just shake the dust on the mound using the built-in shaker top and follow the application with a gentle one gallon sprinkling of water (high pressure will cause the ants to move the mound). The worker ants track the powder into the mound, killing the queen and the entire ant colony quickly. The 1-pound size can treat up to 130 mounds. Bayer Advanced™ Fire Ant Killer Dust can be used on lawns, flowerbeds, ground covers and around trees and shrubs.

Slugs and Snails

In mild-winter parts of the western United States, snails, and their shell-less brethren slugs, are one of the most frustrating and destructive garden pests. Hiding during the day and feeding mostly at night, they can consume almost anything with fruit, flowers or foliage. Often, all you see in their wake, other than damaged plants, is the shiny slime trail they leave behind.

Slugs and snails are most active in cool, moist weather, but they can be a problem almost any time. Although hand-picking (or squashing with your foot) in the early morning or at night can reduce numbers, using poisonous baits has been the most common control measure. The problem is that snail and slug baits can also be toxic to pets and wildlife. Now there is a more critter-friendly solution.

Most commom snail & slug products are very effective, but can be harmful to your pet. Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Snail and Slug Killer Bait Granules utilizes a unique blend of Iron Phosphate, originating from soil, and snail & slug bait additives. Any leftover bait will degrade and become part of the soil. It is highly effective against snails & slug,s but also can be used around pets and wildlife. The dual action bait attracts and kills slugs and snails, remains effective after rain and is ideal for use around lawns, vegetables and other garden areas. Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Snail and Slug Killer Bait Granules comes in an easy-to-use shaker applicator which covers up to 1500 square feet.

Emerald Ash Borer

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a very destructive, wood-boring insect that has killed millions of ash trees in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. The most effective way to protect healthy ash trees from EAB is to treat with Bayer Advanced™ Tree & Shrub Insect Control Concentrate. One application applied to the roots in spring protects trees for up to one year.

For more information about EAB, precisely where it occurs and how you can help prevent its spread, go to the Emerald Ash Borer Article page.

Control White Grubs

White grubs are a serious lawn pest, especially in the Northeast and Midwest. White grubs are larva, or "juvenile" stage, of various breeds of scarab beetles including Japanese beetles. They are typically .5" to 1.5" long, milky white with a brown head and almost always are curled into a "C" shape. White grubs live in the top few inches of soil and feed on the roots of lawn grasses.

There also are some simple but effective ways to identify white grubs. Look for the following symptoms:

• A general thinning and weakening of the lawn.
• A wilted or dried-out look to your grass, even when soil is moist.
• Large, brown, irregular patches of grass.
• Large patches of dead turf that can easily be pulled up in one piece, much like a piece of carpet. You'll find the C-shaped grubs underneath.
• Moles, birds or raccoons digging in your grass; these animals love to feed on grubs, so frequent visits could be a sign of white grubs.

White grub damage is usually most severe in late summer, but problems can begin as early as mid- to late-spring. If you had white grub problems last fall but didn't take action to control them, there's a good chance problems will continue this spring. You can protect your lawn now with Bayer Advanced™ 24-Hour Grub Killer Plus Granules. It delivers overnight results. Long-term prevention of white grubs is also best achieved in spring. For season-long protection against white grubs, use Bayer Advanced™ Season-Long Grub Control Granules with MERIT®. For best results, apply anytime from May through mid-August.