“Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days” – Benjamin Franklin A great number of critters are known to be active during certain times of year, and the infamous relative is no exception. These large mammals can seem cute at first, but will quickly prove otherwise, creating an infestation that can be really difficult … Read more
There are a lot of common pests out there that have become notorious for infesting houseplants. Aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites, and whiteflies are some of the habitual offenders ones out there. But thrips don’t seem to get as much attention as the others, even though they’re one critter you definitely don’t want in … Read more
There are 14,000 species of ants currently classified and possibly 8,000 more suspected species out there, so it’s no surprise we talk a lot about these critters. Pavement ants (AKA concrete ants) are an entire genus called Tetramorium that contains 520 species. Of these, you’ll most likely encounter Tetramorium caespitum and Tetramorium immigrans. Getting rid … Read more
Ants may make for some interesting pets, but as pests, they’re a serious problem. One of the most frustrating species is the thief ant, better known as the grease ant. Once you identify a grease ant infestation, the question of how many satellite colonies there are can be just as important as that of how … Read more
You’ve probably heard of people referring to sugar ants before and pictured tiny black ants running away with sugar crystals, but this is only the beginning of the story. In fact, once you get to know them, getting rid of sugar ants becomes fairly easy. How to Get Rid of Sugar Ants So you’ve identified … Read more
They’re small yet iconic in their appearance to the point they were one of the critters featured in the popular Creepy Crawlers toy molding franchise. Yet these aren’t spiders or centipedes – they’re earwigs! While they prefer the great outdoors, they’re also known to invade homes. Let’s look at how to get rid of earwigs … Read more
There’s a hidden war in the insect world, a war of good and weevil, in which the pantry is often a battlefield. These tiny critters can pop up seemingly out of nowhere destroying garden crops or even the boxed goods in your pantry before you even open them. But how do they accomplish this terrible … Read more
We often talk about pests that affect humans, cats, and dogs, but a lot of us also have pet birds or invite them onto our property. These birds often bring their own problems, such as the slip-n-slide that was once your lawn when geese drop by, or sparrows, starlings, and other small birds gumming up … Read more
Armadillos look like something out of sci-fi, but they’re quite real (and quite a nuisance). Since they can also be a major health risk, let’s begin with a look at how to get rid of armadillos. We’ll then come back and look at why these critters are so fascinating (and valuable), as well as the … Read more
Frogs are some interesting critters. Some people race them for sport, others cook them, and some are at risk of croaking at the mere sight of one. But as ribbiting as old faerie tales involving these amphibians might be for kids, most adults have no desire to see one taking up residence in their backyard. … Read more