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Latest Publications

Nov 2021

The Benefits of Plants for Human Health in Healthcare Settings

Publication (PDF, 1.4MB)

Authors: Ursula Schuch

Gardens have multiple health benefits and have been a component of healthcare facilities through the ages. In the last 30 years, the benefits of nature, gardens, and garden views have been studied to document physical and mental health benefits of patients, staff, and visitors. Healing or therapeutic gardens are designed specifically to evoke positive effects on physical, mental, and spiritual health and to address the needs of those visiting the space. In this article, some concepts applicable to gardens in health care settings in the arid Southwest are discussed.
Oct 2019

Bed Bugs: What Home Care Providers and Welfare Workers need to know

Publication (PDF, 645KB)

Authors: Shaku Nair Dawn H. Gouge Shujuan Li

Bed bugs are small, flat, reddish-brown insects (Fig. 1), that feed on the blood of humans. Bed bugs do not. transmit disease-causing pathogens. Adult bed bugs.are about ¼ inch in length with a flat oval shape and are about the size of an apple seed.
Jun 2019

Biology and Management of Thrips

Publication (PDF, 2.9MB)

Authors: Shimat V. Joseph, Kris Braman, Will Hudson, and Shakunthala Nair

Thrips are tiny, cigar-shaped insects belonging to the order Thysanoptera, whose name refers to the fringed wings of insects in this order. About 5000 species of thrips are known, and many cause damage to cultivated plants by feeding or vectoring plant diseases. Some thrips are predatory. This document relays information about thrips.
Mar 2019

Arizona Kissing Bugs

Publication (PDF, 1.3MB)

Authors: Shujuan Li, Dawn H. Gouge, Shakunthala Nair, Alfred J. Fournier, and W. Eugene Hall

Kissing bugs are true bugs in the insect Order Hemiptera, in the Family Reduviidae. Reduviids as a family, are sometimes called assassin bugs because most members of this family are predators of other arthropods and are in fact beneficial to humans. Kissing bugs are an exception, and are blood-feeding parasites that feed on a wide variety of domestic, wild animals, and occasionally humans. Kissing bugs are also known as conenose bugs, Triatomine bugs, Mexican bed bugs, and Wallapai tigers. Kissing bugs get their name because they often bite sleeping human victims on the face. Although kissing bugs are in the same insect order as bed bugs and both feed on blood, they have different life histories.
Oct 2018

Flea-borne Typhus

Publication (PDF, 399KB)

Authors: Shujuan (Lucy) Li and Dawn H. Gouge

Featuring Flea-borne Typhus is discussed including symptoms and diagnosis. Typhus is generally not fatal, but if left untreated the death rate can reach as high as 40%. Prevention of flea-borne typhus is discussed.

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Public IPM Publications

Oct 2019

Bed Bugs: What Home Care Providers and Welfare Workers need to know

Publication (PDF, 645KB)

Authors: Shaku Nair Dawn H. Gouge Shujuan Li

Bed bugs are small, flat, reddish-brown insects (Fig. 1), that feed on the blood of humans. Bed bugs do not. transmit disease-causing pathogens. Adult bed bugs.are about ¼ inch in length with a flat oval shape and are about the size of an apple seed.
Jun 2019

Biology and Management of Thrips

Publication (PDF, 2.9MB)

Authors: Shimat V. Joseph, Kris Braman, Will Hudson, and Shakunthala Nair

Thrips are tiny, cigar-shaped insects belonging to the order Thysanoptera, whose name refers to the fringed wings of insects in this order. About 5000 species of thrips are known, and many cause damage to cultivated plants by feeding or vectoring plant diseases. Some thrips are predatory. This document relays information about thrips.
Mar 2019

Arizona Kissing Bugs

Publication (PDF, 1.3MB)

Authors: Shujuan Li, Dawn H. Gouge, Shakunthala Nair, Alfred J. Fournier, and W. Eugene Hall

Kissing bugs are true bugs in the insect Order Hemiptera, in the Family Reduviidae. Reduviids as a family, are sometimes called assassin bugs because most members of this family are predators of other arthropods and are in fact beneficial to humans. Kissing bugs are an exception, and are blood-feeding parasites that feed on a wide variety of domestic, wild animals, and occasionally humans. Kissing bugs are also known as conenose bugs, Triatomine bugs, Mexican bed bugs, and Wallapai tigers. Kissing bugs get their name because they often bite sleeping human victims on the face. Although kissing bugs are in the same insect order as bed bugs and both feed on blood, they have different life histories.
Oct 2018

Flea-borne Typhus

Publication (PDF, 399KB)

Authors: Shujuan (Lucy) Li and Dawn H. Gouge

Featuring Flea-borne Typhus is discussed including symptoms and diagnosis. Typhus is generally not fatal, but if left untreated the death rate can reach as high as 40%. Prevention of flea-borne typhus is discussed.
Sep 2018

Managing Fire Ants

Publication (PDF, 664KB)

Authors: Dawn H. Gouge

Describes Fire Ants and other types of ants. Includes things like how painful their sting is, general behaviors that they exhibit and how to manage them more efficiently.
Aug 2018

Longhorned Tick, a New Invasive Tick in the United States

Publication (PDF, 4.27MB)

Authors: Shujuan (Lucy) Li, Dawn H. Gouge, Kathleen Walker, Alfred J. Fournier

The longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, also known as Asian longhorned tick, cattle tick or bush tick, native to East Asia, is a recent invasive tick species in the United States. It is important to be on the lookout for this tick in Arizona.
Aug 2018

Beware of Fire Ant Stings

Publication (PDF, 618KB)

Authors: Shujuan (Lucy) Li

A Fire ant sting can hurt. The severity of the pain can vary from person to person. Some sensitive individuals may consider carrying an EpiPen to be safe. Includes instructions of what you should do if you are stung and how to prevent getting stung.
Jul 2018

Something’s biting me, but I can’t see it!

Publication (PDF, 715KB)

Authors: Shaku Nair, Dawn H. Gouge, and Shujuan Li

Biting midges also known as "no-see-ums" are small insects that are difficult to see and bite humans. This article discusses their appearance, biting concerns, their life cycle, and how to manage biting midges.
Jun 2018

Managing Scorpions

Publication (PDF, 677KB)

Authors: Dawn H. Gouge, Shujuan (Lucy) Li, Christopher Bibbs, and Shaku Nair

This article discusses the three most prevalent scorpions found in Arizona and describes each of them. Tips are given on how to live with and manage scorpions.
May 2018

School Preparation Guidance for Summer Management Teams

Publication (PDF, 587KB)

Authors: Janet Hurley, and Dawn H. Gouge

Featuring Summer Preparation Guidance for Summer Management Teams. Includes suggestions for: Teachers, Custodians, Food service personnel, IPM Professionals, Facility managers, Landscape and groundskeepers and everyone else.
May 2018

Scorpions of the Desert Southwest United States

Publication (PDF, 2.16MB)

Authors: Dawn H. Gouge, Shujuan (Lucy) Li, Christopher Bibbs, and Shaku Nair

Scorpions are predatory arachnids related to spiders, mites, and ticks. They are some of the oldest known terrestrial arthropods (animals with an external skeleton, a segmented body, and paired jointed limbs). Scorpions have an elongated body and a segmented tail that ends in a stinger that can deliver a venomous sting.
Mar 2018

Spring Preemergence Weed Control in Lawns

Publication (PDF, 597KB)

Authors: Dave Kopec and Kai Umeda

Featuring Spring Pre-emergency Weed Control in Lawns. Suggestions on how to treat for weeds in a proactively rather than a reactively.
Mar 2018

Mosquito and Tick Repellents

Publication (PDF, 1.6MB)

Authors: Dawn H. Gouge, Shujuan (Lucy) Li, Shakunthala (Shaku) Nair, Kathleen Walker, and Christopher Bibbs

Mosquitoes and ticks are medically significant pests that affect the health and wellbeing of Arizona residents. They can cause a variety of health problems due to their ability to vector (transfer) viruses and other disease-causing pathogens.
Feb 2018

IPM for Microorganisms – Focus on Flu Part 2 – February 2018

Publication (PDF, 328KB)

Featuring IPM for Microorganisms - Focus on Flu Part 2. The Flu is widespread across America during Flu season. Suggestions are given on how to prepare for and react to to the Flu if contracted. You cannot catch the Flu from your cat or dog.
Jan 2018

IPM for Microorganisms: Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing – January 2018

Publication (PDF, 455KB)

Featuring IPM for Microorganisms: Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing. 2017-2018 Flue season is particularly bad. After a brief list of symptoms, management and prevention are discussed.
Sep 2017

Increase in Rabies Cases in Animals

Publication (PDF, 217KB)

Authors: Jhoana Molina and Craig Levy

Featuring Rabies. Rabies is quite dangerous and is often fatal once symptoms appear. It is important to avoid getting the disease and to respond properly if infection may have occurred. Leave Bats alone.
Aug 2017

Beware of Fire Ant Stings

Publication (PDF, 431KB)

Authors: Shujuan (Lucy) Li

Featuring IPM for Microorganisms: Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing. Illness prevention practices are discussed and suggestions on how to keep illness from spreading are given.
Jul 2017

Mosquito and Tick Repellents – July 2017

Publication (PDF, 396KB)

Featuring Mosquito and Tick Repellents. These aforementioned bugs can spread illness to humans. A large portion of these infections are preventable. Suggestions are given on how to choose what kind of repellent to use and important information regarding them.
May 2017

Human Disease-Causing Viruses Vectored by Mosquitoes – May 2017

Publication (PDF, 452KB)

Featuring Human Disease-Causing Viruses Vectored by Mosquitoes. Because mosquito carry and transmit a number of disease causing viruses, they can present risks to human health. Suggestions on how to reduce this risk are given.
Apr 2017

Arizona School Earns National Recognition ( IPM STAR Award) – April 2017

Publication (PDF, 700KB)

Featuring IPM STAR Certification for Maricopa Unified School District. A healthy environment in schools has many benifits. The IPM STAR award is given to schools who acheive a certain standard of IPM in their schools.

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School IPM Publications

Nov 2021

The Benefits of Plants for Human Health in Healthcare Settings

Publication (PDF, 1.4MB)

Authors: Ursula Schuch

Gardens have multiple health benefits and have been a component of healthcare facilities through the ages. In the last 30 years, the benefits of nature, gardens, and garden views have been studied to document physical and mental health benefits of patients, staff, and visitors. Healing or therapeutic gardens are designed specifically to evoke positive effects on physical, mental, and spiritual health and to address the needs of those visiting the space. In this article, some concepts applicable to gardens in health care settings in the arid Southwest are discussed.
Mar 2019

Arizona Kissing Bugs

Publication (PDF, 1.3MB)

Authors: Shujuan Li, Dawn H. Gouge, Shakunthala Nair, Alfred J. Fournier, and W. Eugene Hall

Kissing bugs are true bugs in the insect Order Hemiptera, in the Family Reduviidae. Reduviids as a family, are sometimes called assassin bugs because most members of this family are predators of other arthropods and are in fact beneficial to humans. Kissing bugs are an exception, and are blood-feeding parasites that feed on a wide variety of domestic, wild animals, and occasionally humans. Kissing bugs are also known as conenose bugs, Triatomine bugs, Mexican bed bugs, and Wallapai tigers. Kissing bugs get their name because they often bite sleeping human victims on the face. Although kissing bugs are in the same insect order as bed bugs and both feed on blood, they have different life histories.
Oct 2018

Flea-borne Typhus

Publication (PDF, 399KB)

Authors: Shujuan (Lucy) Li and Dawn H. Gouge

Featuring Flea-borne Typhus is discussed including symptoms and diagnosis. Typhus is generally not fatal, but if left untreated the death rate can reach as high as 40%. Prevention of flea-borne typhus is discussed.
Sep 2018

Managing Fire Ants

Publication (PDF, 664KB)

Authors: Dawn H. Gouge

Describes Fire Ants and other types of ants. Includes things like how painful their sting is, general behaviors that they exhibit and how to manage them more efficiently.
Aug 2018

Longhorned Tick, a New Invasive Tick in the United States

Publication (PDF, 4.27MB)

Authors: Shujuan (Lucy) Li, Dawn H. Gouge, Kathleen Walker, Alfred J. Fournier

The longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, also known as Asian longhorned tick, cattle tick or bush tick, native to East Asia, is a recent invasive tick species in the United States. It is important to be on the lookout for this tick in Arizona.
Aug 2018

Beware of Fire Ant Stings

Publication (PDF, 618KB)

Authors: Shujuan (Lucy) Li

A Fire ant sting can hurt. The severity of the pain can vary from person to person. Some sensitive individuals may consider carrying an EpiPen to be safe. Includes instructions of what you should do if you are stung and how to prevent getting stung.
Jul 2018

Something’s biting me, but I can’t see it!

Publication (PDF, 715KB)

Authors: Shaku Nair, Dawn H. Gouge, and Shujuan Li

Biting midges also known as "no-see-ums" are small insects that are difficult to see and bite humans. This article discusses their appearance, biting concerns, their life cycle, and how to manage biting midges.
Jun 2018

Managing Scorpions

Publication (PDF, 677KB)

Authors: Dawn H. Gouge, Shujuan (Lucy) Li, Christopher Bibbs, and Shaku Nair

This article discusses the three most prevalent scorpions found in Arizona and describes each of them. Tips are given on how to live with and manage scorpions.
May 2018

School Preparation Guidance for Summer Management Teams

Publication (PDF, 587KB)

Authors: Janet Hurley, and Dawn H. Gouge

Featuring Summer Preparation Guidance for Summer Management Teams. Includes suggestions for: Teachers, Custodians, Food service personnel, IPM Professionals, Facility managers, Landscape and groundskeepers and everyone else.
May 2018

Scorpions of the Desert Southwest United States

Publication (PDF, 2.16MB)

Authors: Dawn H. Gouge, Shujuan (Lucy) Li, Christopher Bibbs, and Shaku Nair

Scorpions are predatory arachnids related to spiders, mites, and ticks. They are some of the oldest known terrestrial arthropods (animals with an external skeleton, a segmented body, and paired jointed limbs). Scorpions have an elongated body and a segmented tail that ends in a stinger that can deliver a venomous sting.
Mar 2018

Spring Preemergence Weed Control in Lawns

Publication (PDF, 597KB)

Authors: Dave Kopec and Kai Umeda

Featuring Spring Pre-emergency Weed Control in Lawns. Suggestions on how to treat for weeds in a proactively rather than a reactively.
Feb 2018

IPM for Microorganisms – Focus on Flu Part 2 – February 2018

Publication (PDF, 328KB)

Featuring IPM for Microorganisms - Focus on Flu Part 2. The Flu is widespread across America during Flu season. Suggestions are given on how to prepare for and react to to the Flu if contracted. You cannot catch the Flu from your cat or dog.
Jan 2018

IPM for Microorganisms: Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing – January 2018

Publication (PDF, 455KB)

Featuring IPM for Microorganisms: Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing. 2017-2018 Flue season is particularly bad. After a brief list of symptoms, management and prevention are discussed.
Sep 2017

Increase in Rabies Cases in Animals

Publication (PDF, 217KB)

Authors: Jhoana Molina and Craig Levy

Featuring Rabies. Rabies is quite dangerous and is often fatal once symptoms appear. It is important to avoid getting the disease and to respond properly if infection may have occurred. Leave Bats alone.
Aug 2017

Beware of Fire Ant Stings

Publication (PDF, 431KB)

Authors: Shujuan (Lucy) Li

Featuring IPM for Microorganisms: Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing. Illness prevention practices are discussed and suggestions on how to keep illness from spreading are given.
Jul 2017

Mosquito and Tick Repellents – July 2017

Publication (PDF, 396KB)

Featuring Mosquito and Tick Repellents. These aforementioned bugs can spread illness to humans. A large portion of these infections are preventable. Suggestions are given on how to choose what kind of repellent to use and important information regarding them.
May 2017

Human Disease-Causing Viruses Vectored by Mosquitoes – May 2017

Publication (PDF, 452KB)

Featuring Human Disease-Causing Viruses Vectored by Mosquitoes. Because mosquito carry and transmit a number of disease causing viruses, they can present risks to human health. Suggestions on how to reduce this risk are given.
Apr 2017

Arizona School Earns National Recognition ( IPM STAR Award) – April 2017

Publication (PDF, 700KB)

Featuring IPM STAR Certification for Maricopa Unified School District. A healthy environment in schools has many benifits. The IPM STAR award is given to schools who acheive a certain standard of IPM in their schools.
Mar 2017

IPM for Microorganisms: Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing – March 2017

Publication (PDF, 245KB)

Featuring IPM for Microorganisms: Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing. Illness prevention practices are discussed and suggestions on how to keep illness from spreading are given.
Feb 2017

Stop School Pests: Professional Development Training for Schools – February 2017

Publication (PDF, 441KB)

Featuring Stop School Pests. With specific instructions for: Maintenance staff, Food Service profesisonals, Custodians, Facility Managers, Teachers, School Nurses, Landscape and Grounds management, School Nurses and Administrators.

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Structural IPM Publications

May 2018

Scorpions of the Desert Southwest United States

Publication (PDF, 2.16MB)

Authors: Dawn H. Gouge, Shujuan (Lucy) Li, Christopher Bibbs, and Shaku Nair

Scorpions are predatory arachnids related to spiders, mites, and ticks. They are some of the oldest known terrestrial arthropods (animals with an external skeleton, a segmented body, and paired jointed limbs). Scorpions have an elongated body and a segmented tail that ends in a stinger that can deliver a venomous sting.
Aug 2015

Pest-proofing Your Home

Publication (PDF, 5MB)

Authors: Dawn H. Gouge, Shaku Nair, Shujuan Li and Tim Stock

Many pests encountered in homes and structures can be prevented by using simple techniques collectively known as “pest-proofing”. If done correctly, pest-proofing your home saves you money by reducing pest management costs, and more importantly, reduces potential pesticide exposure. This publication describes general indoor and outdoor pest-proofing measures and some of the major pests encountered in and around homes and structures.
Oct 2014

Practical Methods of Controlling Bed Bugs at Home

Publication (PDF, 2.13MB)

Authors: Shujuan Li, Dawn Gouge and Al Fournier

Bed bugs can cause anxiety, bite reactions, and financial hardship. The University of Arizona Community IPM Program and partnering research institutions are working to battle the recent bed bug resurgence. Researchers hope to determine the real social cost of bed bugs, as well as the significant causes of infestations. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach is the most likely strategy to result in successful elimination of bed bugs.
May 2009

Drywood Termites

Publication (PDF, 4.46MB)

Authors: Dawn H. Gouge, Carl Olson, Paul Baker

In nature, termites function as decomposers that breakdown dead wood that accumulates in and on the soil. The beneficial products of this breakdown process are returned to the soil as humus. Drywood and subterranean termites are the most destructive insect pests of wood, causing more than $1.7 billion in damages and cost of control each year in the U.S. alone. Their presence in structures is seldom noticed until damage is discovered or the termites swarm within the building. Drywood termites are found in the southern tier of states, from North Carolina through the Gulf Coast, Arizona and into the coastal areas of California.

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ARIZONA PEST MANAGEMENT CENTER