Garden pests are the home botanist’s worst enemy. Not only do they eat the hard-grown produce and flowers you’ve been toiling away on all spring, they sometimes target helpful insects that pollinate! If you’ve got a major bug issue in your garden and you’re sick and tired of losing your crops to tiny invasive pests, contact a pest professional in your area immediately. In the meantime, here are a few solutions for keeping bugs at bay in your home garden…
Category Archives: Invasive Species
17 Things You Didn’t Know About Cicadas
It’s cicada season in many parts of the country! And by “cicada season” we mean “the first time many areas have seen the bugs in over 17 years.” In honor of the cicadas’ 17-year swarm cycle we’ve put together a short list of interesting facts you didn’t know about cicadas… Continue reading
Three Types of Spring Termites to Watch Out For
Termites are a big problem for US homeowners, causing over $3 billion dollars a year in damage to homes across the country. About 3% of all homes in the United States currently have a termite issue, and many homeowners aren’t even aware there’s a problem.
Certain termite species thrive when the weather warms up, and you may have noticed swarms of these pests in and around your neighborhood. Depending on where you live, spring is a crucial time for termite management. Here are three particularly nasty termite species who love nothing more than to soak up the spring weather (and eat your walls.)
Spiders of Spring: Eight-Legged Pests
Spring is the perfect time of year. The weather’s beautiful, flowers are blooming, spiders are…everywhere. Humans aren’t the only creatures taking advantage of the warmer weather and in fact, many spider species wait for the spring to lay eggs and start exploring their world.
Here are a few of the most prevalent spider species found in homes this spring. Some are completely harmless and in fact eat pesky pests like mosquitoes; others are poisonous, however, and should only be handled by a pest control professional. Continue reading
How to Mosquito-Proof Your Home
It’s that time of year again. As the weather heats up, mosquitoes will be out in full force, particularly if you live in a hot, humid part of the country. Mosquitoes shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the outdoors with your family, however, and they certainly shouldn’t bug you while you’re in your home.
Here are a few easy tips on how to mosquito-proof your home so when summer comes you’ll have no qualms about getting outdoors or sleeping without a mosquito net! Continue reading
Florida Receiving Federal Funds to Fight Pests
If you read last week’s post about California’s citrus pest problem, you may not be surprised to hear that the federal government is about to give the state of Florida over $6 million to fight pest infestations. Unlike the California situation, however, these funds are meant to prevent harmful infestations rather than to treat existing bug problems. Continue reading
Citrus Pests Costing Taxpayers Millions
In California, citrus pests are a real problem. The Asian citrus psyllid insect, in particular, causes millions of dollars in damage to the fragile trees around Ventura County and nearby areas. These pests carry disease, diseases that kill citrus plants such as lemon trees, orange trees, and lime trees. Trees found infected by these bugs must be carefully removed from the grove to avoid infecting nearby plants.
Industry group the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program is dedicated to figuring out a way to deal with this massive insect problem. The state of California became involved in 2009 after it was determined the state’s citrus crops would be vastly depleted, but to no avail. While the psyllid insect hasn’t completely taken over CA’s citrus groves, its invasiveness should not be underestimated. Continue reading
Asian Needle Ant vs. Argentinian Ant: Face-off on US Soil
Ants are one of the most common complaints of homeowners facing an infestation, but in recent years more and more species have turned up around the US. Pest control professionals generally don’t have a difficult time eradicating ant colonies in and around homes but some of the newer species are proving to be heartier than their peers.
The southern US, in particular, is a very hospitable climate for aggressive ant species. In the past decade, an explosion of Argentinian ants, one of the world’s “100 Worst Invaders” has been detected in the south and all across the US and many are scrambling to eradicate them. Continue reading
Fiji Plagued by Taro Beetle Infestation
Taro is a root that grows in warm, humid climates, made popular by the American islands of Hawaii. It’s a primary source of food around many underdeveloped nations and is edible in many forms (but must be cooked first.) People often grind it into a powder to use as a starch, make it into a paste, or simply roast the taro with seasonings like a potato. Continue reading
3 Bugs (Probably) Living in Your Home RIGHT NOW
We have bad news. You have a bug problem. Surprised? You shouldn’t be.
There are a few common household pests that are almost guaranteed to plague your home, particularly if you live in an area with a warm climate which, given the time of year, is about to comprise most of the continental US. But don’t worry – these three common household pests are relatively easy to get rid of with the assistance of a trained pest control professional in your area.
FRUIT FLIES
Fruit Flies are one of the most persistent bugs on the planet. The problem is the little critters only live about a week – great for killing them off quickly but terrible for teaching them to stay away. The average fruit fly can lay over 500 eggs in their lifetime, which again, is one week. Fruit flies multiply like crazy and once you’ve got them, they’re tough to get rid of. They breed and feed anywhere moist, organic material is found, primarily kitchens. As their name suggests, they prefer to feed on produce but they’re not too picky. Everything from coffee grounds to leftovers can attract an infestation. Home improvement stores sell fruit fly traps and baiting systems but without eliminating the source of the infestation it’s hard to get rid of all these tiny bugs.
SPIDERS
Spiders are pretty terrifying to most homeowner, yes, but they can sometimes do more harm than good. Most varieties eat other pesky insects and generally stay out of the way of humans. If you find yourself staring down a poisonous spider like a Black Widow or a Brown Recluse, however, you should immediately contact a pest professional. When you see one spider you can almost count on the fact that dozens more are lurking somewhere hidden.
ANTS
Did you know there are over ten varieties of ants commonly known to infest American homes? From carpenter ants to black ants, all come with an obnoxious sting and some can actually be poisonous to humans and pets. Ants are a tricky bug – if you see a small trail you can bet there are literally thousands more in places you can’t see, and the best effective treatment is boric acid, applied by a professional. Keeping ants out is nearly impossible but you can help by making sure food is off the ground and covered where it’s stored.
If you’ve noticed any of these three common household pests in your home, call a pest control expert today. Your home doesn’t have to be a breeding ground – take action now to eradicate a budding infestation.