How To Identify Fire Ants With Wings

Fire ants are annoying pests that can cause pain when they bite and sting. It’s important for homeowners to understand the different types of fire ants, particularly winged fire ants versus non-winged fire ants.

Fire ants with wings are the reproductive members of the colony. You may see them swarming between the spring and fall seasons when they mate. Spotting a fire ant swarm is a sign that a fire ant colony is nearby. Keep reading to learn more about how to identify fire ants with wings.

How To Identify Fire Ants With Wings

Fire ants with wings are called “reproductives” because they are the sexually mature male and female members of the ant colony that reproduce. Unlike other colony members, they have wings so they can fly away from the nest to mate and establish new colonies.

Reproductive fire ants look similar to other fire ants with the addition of wings. They have … Read Full Post »

Are Wasps Active at Night?

July 11, 2023. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Bee & Wasp Removal, Pest Control • Houston

Wasps are unwelcome and aggressive pests that many homeowners find challenging. However, it is helpful for homeowners to learn about wasp behavior to control and deter infestations. One of the main questions homeowners have about wasps is whether or not they are active at night.

While wasps are most active during the day and are known to sleep at night, it is still possible to encounter wasps after dark. Homeowners should know where they might see wasps at night to avoid them.

Luckily, you can avoid being stung by a wasp at any time of the day. While wasps can sting through thin clothing, wearing thicker fabrics and covering exposed skin is one way to avoid an unfriendly encounter.

If you have a wasp infestation on your property, leave it to the experts. Contact a wasp and bee control service if you have any issues with wasps.

Are Wasps Active at Night?

Homeowners need to … Read Full Post »

When to Fertilize Your Lawn in the Fall

July 10, 2023. Posted by J Zambo in Fertilization, Lawn • Bryan-College Station

Should you fertilize your lawn in the fall? The answer is yes; however, when you start the process is important. You want to ensure that you nourish your lawn before the cooler temperatures set in so that your lawn can make a strong spring comeback.

Next, it’s easy to accidentally over-fertilize your lawn. Luckily there are ways to reverse over-fertilization, and it starts with understanding the signals your lawn sends you that you used too much fertilizer.

Finally, this guide will break down the difference between organic and inorganic fertilizers. Keep reading to learn which type is best for your lawn.

When to Fertilize Your Lawn in the Fall

Even though the leaves change colors and vegetation starts to go dormant in the fall, it is still an active growing time for your grass. It’s important not to skip your fall fertilization because it prepares your lawn to return lush and beautiful in the … Read Full Post »

Do Crane Flies Eat Mosquitoes?

July 7, 2023. Posted by Holt Myers in Mosquito Control, Pest Control • Corpus Christi

You’ve seen them flying around the porch at night. They look like enormous mosquitoes. Their bodies are an inch long or more, and their long, spindly legs can be three inches across. They’re crane flies, but they have a lot of names.

Common names for crane flies include:

mosquito hawks
skeeter eaters
gallinippers
gollywhoppers
Texas mosquitoes

Some people are put off by their size; others think they’re giant mosquitoes. Crane flies do look like Jurassic mosquitoes, after all. There is a large mosquito called the gallinipper, but it’s nowhere near the size of a crane fly. Just to add to the confusion, many people like to see them around because they think they eat mosquitoes.

What Exactly Are Crane Flies?

There are over 15,000 species of crane flies. They’re classified in the order of “true flies,” like mosquitoes, but they’re in separate families. That’s why they look so much alike, but that’s where the similarities end.

So they’re not mosquitoes, … Read Full Post »

Can You Dethatch and Aerate at the Same Time?

July 5, 2023. Posted by Amberlee Warner in Lawn • Dallas-Fort Worth

The key to maintaining a healthy, vibrant and beautiful lawn is proper maintenance. That includes dethatching, aerating and overseeding your lawn at the right times. Many homeowners want to know if they can dethatch and aerate their lawns at the same time, and the answer is yes.

However, there is a particular order to follow for the best results. Keep reading for a step-by-step guide on how to dethatch and aerate your lawn so it looks beautiful all year.

Next, it’s highly recommended to aerate your lawn before overseeding. Overseeding is adding new seeds to your existing grass to fill bare patches or increase grass density. Aerating your lawn beforehand improves soil-to-seed contact, which helps the seeds germinate and develop strong root systems.

Finally, there are two categories of lawn aeration tools: spike and plug aerators, also known as core aerators. Figuring out which type is best for your lawn depends on your … Read Full Post »

My Water Heater Is Making a Knocking Noise

July 3, 2023. Posted by Tom Riggs in Plumbing • Austin

There is no better way to end a long day than hopping in the shower and letting the hot water relax you. But that peace will quickly go away if your water heater is making a knocking noise. That is a sign of a problem that you should not ignore. If you’re experiencing this issue, here are some possible explanations and what you should do about it.

What Does It Mean When Your Water Heater Is Making a Knocking Noise?

The most common culprit behind a water heater that makes a knocking noise is residue buildup. Minerals and particles like calcium can find their way inside your water heater and accumulate over time. Aluminum anode rods inside the water heater, plus high pH levels, can also produce gel-like sediment.

The residue buildup traps water at the bottom of the tank near the heating element. As the water heats up, it will bubble up … Read Full Post »

How To Identify Grass Grub Damage

June 29, 2023. Posted by J Zambo in Lawn • San Antonio

Homeowners know that having a perfectly manicured lawn is very satisfying. Grass grubs can wreak havoc in your yard, digging up your grass and damaging it at the root level. They are every gardener’s worst nightmare, so knowing how to identify and control grass grubs is important. It can be hard to manage a grass grub infestation yourself, so contact a lawn care professional if you notice these lawn pests. They have the tools and expertise to restore your lawn to its pristine state.

Most Common Signs of Grass Grub Damage

If your yard has seen better days, grass grubs might be responsible for its deterioration. Here are the most common signs of grass grub damage to help you confirm your suspicions.

Brown Patches

If you see irregular brown patches on your lawn, grass grubs are likely the culprit. Grass grubs cause the grass to thin and turn brown. It’s a common problem during … Read Full Post »

Can Ants Smell Food?

June 27, 2023. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Ant Control, Pest Control • Houston

Homeowners who have experienced an ant infestation often want to know how ants got into their home, and one way is through scent. Ants can smell food and use their sense of smell to guide them to a food source.

Along with their sense of smell, ants also use their sight and taste to locate a food source. They even use their antennas to find food and communicate with their colony. Once ants discover an abundant food source in your home, it doesn’t take long for the rest of the territory to arrive.

Another unique thing about ants is that they do not sleep for long periods. Instead, they take short naps throughout the day, lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes. This allows them to recharge and continue the task of finding food. Homeowners should understand that they can encounter ant activity all day and night because of this … Read Full Post »

How To Build a Pergola

June 23, 2023. Posted by Amberlee Warner in Landscaping • Dallas-Fort Worth

If you are a fan of spending time outdoors, consider giving your backyard an upgrade with a pergola. A pergola is a customizable outdoor structure with vertical pillars and horizontal beams.

Pergolas have various uses that can be tailored to match your needs, the style of your home and the landscape. Adding a high-quality pergola to your backyard can even give you more usable space for summer BBQs.

Plan Your Pergola Design

Before you start building your pergola, decide on your design. There is ample inspiration to help you dream up your ideal pergola online.

Some pergolas are simple and modern; others are more ornate and traditional. Consider the size of your yard, the shade it can provide and the overall style of your home when choosing your pergola design.

Choose the Right Location

A level area with ample room will be best for setting up the pergola. Consider your home’s layout and any other outdoor … Read Full Post »

Do Roaches Shed?

June 16, 2023. Posted by Holt Myers in Pest Control • Austin

Cockroaches are excellent at adapting to their environment, making them difficult to control. Most homeowners have had a run-in with cockroaches at some point, but it can be frustrating when you notice more and more of them making your house their home.

Learn how roaches infiltrate a household, how to identify the breed and what you should do to control them.

Do Roaches Shed?

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that roaches do shed. They shed their skin multiple times throughout their life to accommodate their body’s growth. You may find cockroach exoskeletons in their nests, beneath electrical equipment, furniture, closets, drawers and corners of rooms.

The exoskeleton is a solid outer coat that protects roaches. Roaches cannot grow over the limitations of their hard shell, so they have to molt to become larger. Cockroaches will molt anywhere from 6 to 14 times in their lives, depending on the species.

Cockroaches lose their old skin … Read Full Post »