In 1955, everyone went to see Fred Astaire as he secretly paid for an orphan’s education, earning the nickname of Daddy Long Legs from the others at the orphanage who’d only seen his shadow. Unfortunately, that nickname (which can be spelled a multitude of ways) tends to instill anything but warm feelings among homeowners. In … Read more
There’s a good chance you’ve seen them – tiny red bugs on concrete sidewalks or covering your plants in late spring. These miniscule critters can be quite the nuisance, but just what are they and are they harmful? Welcome to the curious world of the clover mite, a tiny arachnid with some very unusual traits … Read more
We often talk about pests that affect humans, cats, and dogs, but a lot of us also have pet birds. Birds are also a common visitor to gardens and are known to nest in eaves and gutters. These birds often bring their own problems, such as the slip-n-slide that was once your lawn when geese … Read more
There aren’t many spiders in the US that are considered deadly, and the most notorious among these is the black widow. However, what you think you know about black widows is actually wrong. Those iconic images of a black spider with a red hourglass under her abdomen are only one of several species of black … Read more
Scorpions are a strange lot, being both feared and revered throughout history. In Ancient Egypt, two kings were named Scorpion and became the figures we know today as Osiris and Horus. Another deity, which Isis worshippers adopted as an incarnation of their goddess, was a trickster that was often associated with the two kinds of … Read more
What has eight legs, spins webs, drinks the blood of plants, and spreads fear into the hearts of plant lovers everywhere? If you guessed spider mites, you’re spot-on! If not, there’s a critter you really need to know about and understand how to get rid of… What Are Spider Mites? Spider mites are neither truly … Read more
Of all the creepy crawlers in your home or apartment, one of the most hated is the spider. Between superstitions, misinformation, and health concerns, finding a spider is generally the last thing you want. However, spiders aren’t nearly as bad as their reputation and can actually be beneficial. Let’s take a look at what spiders … Read more
It can happen for any number of reasons. Perhaps you’ve been busy and haven’t had a chance to clean. Or perhaps an arachnid snuck into the room and set up home. Whatever the reason, you now have webs decorating bits of furniture or ceiling corners. Getting rid of a spider web can be easier than … Read more
Do arachnids put you on the crazy train? Nervous that one might come tramping about in your shoes at night waiting for you to stick your foot in? Then having a hobo spider take up residence in your house is definitely not on your list of things to do. These arachnids have been touted as … Read more
It’s a common taunt to play the world’s tiniest violin if someone’s telling a sad story. It’s also a pretty sad story when someone runs into a spider bearing a tiny violin. The markings of the brown recluse are just as infamous as the black widow’s hourglass, and they’re just as likely to end up … Read more
