How Our Least Favorite Critters Made It Through Winter

June 13, 2014. Posted by ABC in Pest Control • Austin

Insects are an inevitable part of warm weather. Every year, the very same bugs appear, buzzing and bumbling where you don’t want them. Even a long Texas winter can’t deter these persistent pests. Have you ever wondered how they manage to make it through the same weather that had you shivering in your boots?

Migration

Perhaps the most obvious way to avoid freezing is to skip winter entirely. Like birds, some insect species simply take a vacation and come back when the warm weather returns.

Freeze Tolerance

Some insects have a unique protein in their bodies that acts almost like antifreeze. These “cryptoprotectant” compounds serve to lower the freezing temperature of the insects’ bodies and are triggered by the environmental changes that signal an oncoming winter, such as shorter days and cooler temperatures.

Lying “Dormant”

Insects can weather the winter in a variety of forms. Some snuggle up in cocoons, spending the season as pupae. Others … Read Full Post »

Bugger Off, Boxelder Bugs!

June 13, 2014. Posted by ABC in Pest Control • Bryan-College Station

All about a pervasive central Texas pest

Boxelder bugs are a fact of life in central Texas. Like many other garden pests, these insects love to reproduce in ornamental trees and other cultivated plants that commonly appear in the region’s gardens. Although they do have some redeeming qualities, they’re notorious for causing serious damage to a wide variety of plants. If you have a boxelder bug infestation, there are a few tips you can follow to mitigate it.

What Are Boxelder Bugs?

Boxelder bugs are half-inch critters that live in and around several species of trees that are native to central Texas. During cold weather, they often burrow under roof shingles and attempt to enter homes through cracks in the wall. They can cause serious damage once they’re inside, so it’s best to keep them outside. Although they’re not members of the same species, red-shouldered bugs and largus bugs behave in a very … Read Full Post »

Don’t Let Pests Chase Away Business

June 10, 2014. Posted by ABC in Pest Control • Dallas-Fort Worth

The customer is always right about pests

Rodents and insects create problems for Dallas businesses, whether they’re child care centers or furniture rental stores. They can annoy, sicken or injure your firm’s customers and employees. Even if you don’t have direct contact with the public, an infestation may ruin valuable goods. It’s vital to take action before pests cause serious harm to your business.

Bothersome Bugs

Your company may offer excellent products and services, but this won’t stop a small infestation from chasing away your customers. No one wants to find ants crawling on a dining table or hotel bed. Likewise, people won’t shop or eat if they smell an expired rodent in the wall. A single pest can prevent you from gaining a loyal patron.

Bad Publicity

When customers buy flea-infested furniture or swat flies while eating meals, they often tell other people about these experiences. Business review websites make this very easy to … Read Full Post »

Beat the Sting of Summer by Banishing Wasps

June 5, 2014. Posted by ABC in Pest Control • San Antonio

San Antonio’s warm weather makes the ideal environment for active wasp hives. Find out what you need to know to make this summer a wasp-free season.

With the hot and humid summer months just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning your pest control solutions against stubborn wasp infestations. While wasps are beneficial to the environment, having a busy hive on your property is far from ideal. From extreme pain to strong allergic reactions, wasp stings are associated with a number of risks that can affect you, your children and even your pets. Whether you’re used to dealing with wasp infestations every summer or just want to take precautionary measures to make sure your wasp-free home stays that way as temperatures rise, below are the basic facts you need to know to keep wasps in check in any weather.

How Do Wasp Infestations Start?

The way wasps nest depends … Read Full Post »

Are Your Guests Sleeping With the Enemy?

May 29, 2014. Posted by ABC in Bed Bug Control, Pest Control • Dallas-Fort Worth

The modern bed bug invasion and what to do about it

Are unwelcome visitors feasting in your guest rooms? We’re not talking about intruders helping themselves to the minibar. We’re talking about bed bugs. Are they dining on your guests?

Bed bug infestations are on the rise. When the National Pest Management Association surveyed pest management companies in 2010, they found that 95% of the companies that responded had encountered bed bugs in the previous year, up from just 25% in 2006. The nasty things have been found in homes, hospitals, dorms, retail stores and even in the offices of the Wall Street Journal.

The hospitality industry is also on the creepy-crawly radar. When bed bugs invaded hotels in New York, it made headlines all over the world. Most people assume these creatures are a sign of poor housekeeping. The truth is that bed bugs are the world’s best hitchhikers. They hide in … Read Full Post »

Termites Never Sleep

May 28, 2014. Posted by ABC in Pest Control • Bryan-College Station

They prefer to eat

We’ve all wrestled with big questions like “What is the meaning of life?” and “Why are we here?” For worker termites, both of these queries have an identical answer: to eat wood. In fact, termites are so single-mindedly devoted to this task that they can’t be bothered to sleep in between meals. If you thought your kids were eating you out of house and home, just wait until you learn about these insect pests.

Programmed to Work

The sad truth is that termites simply aren’t programmed to sleep. Instead, they’re programmed to work. The brains of worker termites are far simpler than ours, so they don’t require as much repair and refreshment as those of higher-order animals. Despite the fact that they’re “always on,” termites actually live pretty long for insects—between two and three years for a standard worker.

As long as they’re alive, termites continue to gnaw their way … Read Full Post »

Don’t Set the Table for Termites

May 20, 2014. Posted by ABC in Pest Control • Dallas-Fort Worth

Dallas pest control tips to eliminate termite infestations

You may be welcoming termites and other pests into your home without even knowing it. Termites cause over $5 billion in property damage each year. It’s always smart to get a regular pest inspection, but there are other things you can do to discourage an infestation as well. Here are some effective pest control tips to help you stop setting the table for termites.

Stop Piling Mulch Near Your Home

Mulch is heaven to termites. It’s a source of food and provides a moist environment where termites thrive. When mulch is near your foundation it acts as a bridge that welcomes the pests into your house. If you must use mulch, keep it piled well below the siding or wood construction. It may be a good idea to use gravel as an alternative to mulch to avoid the inadvertent luring of termites.

Remove Tree Stumps

When dead … Read Full Post »

PestWorld for Kids

April 29, 2014. Posted by ABC in Pest Control • San Antonio

Kids are either fascinated or grossed out by bugs. Whatever category your children fall into, PestWorld is a great website to educate them about how bugs affect people’s daily lives. From educational information to games, this interactive hub introduces kids to the basics of pest control and helps them learn more about the “creepy crawlies” they share the world with.

Pest Guide

A comprehensive list of common pests gives kids all kinds of information about how bugs adapt to living in different conditions, including how and why they take up residence in homes. With resources such as “Amazing Pest Facts” and complete information sheets, kids can learn about bugs such as ants, bees, cockroaches, dust mites, pill bugs and wasps, along with other potential pests, including gophers, mice and voles. The guide demystifies critters that can sometimes be startling or scary by providing useful information for kids and adults alike.

Games & Entertainment

For … Read Full Post »

The Texas A&M “Bug Bytes” Podcast

April 15, 2014. Posted by ABC in Pest Control • Bryan-College Station

Bugs are more interesting than you ever imagined.

At least 50,000 people listen to the “Bug Bytes” podcast from Texas A&M University. The entomology department in College Station produces this insightful program about the bizarre world of insects. It explores strange bug habits, odd uses for insects and related human culture. “Bug Bytes” offers a fun way to learn more about these fascinating creatures.

Diverse Topics

The content of this podcast ranges from practical to amusing. For example, one episode looked at the reasons why certain people choose to eat insects. Other programs have compared different repellents, discussed insect bathing techniques or examined bugs that glow. This podcast also explores arthropod influences on human creations, such as architecture and technology.

The hosts interview entomology experts from time to time. In April 2011, “Bug Bytes” featured a conversation with the director of a documentary on honeybees. The program briefly examined colony collapse disorder, an unexplained … Read Full Post »

National Pest Management Month Recognizes the Importance of the Pest Management Industry

April 11, 2014. Posted by ABC in Pest Control • Bryan-College Station

This Month, Remember Your Friendly Pest Control Specialist

From Alaska to Florida, the nation’s pest control professionals work tirelessly to keep Americans’ homes and gardens free of unwanted pests. These specialists have dedicated their careers to the cause, so the least we can do is take our hats off to them with a month-long celebration known as National Pest Management Month. Next time you call our crew members to your house, take a moment to thank them for their hard work.

What Is National Pest Management Month?

National Pest Management Month is a month-long event that recognizes the often-unheralded contributions of the country’s pest management specialists. The centerpiece of the event was a convention in Washington, D.C., in which hundreds of pest control professionals met with lawmakers and lobbyists to stress the importance of the industry. By all accounts, the event—held in the middle of March—was a smashing success.

Scary Facts About Everyday Pests

Homeowners … Read Full Post »