Wood is an amazing building material. This single plant has given us the building blocks of our greatest structures. And yet this amazing plant is not invincible. Water, weather, lightning, and other hazards can damage or structurally compromise trees, wood and beams. And among these dangers, termites have to be listed. So when you are…
Some trees invite and harbor insects. Flowers attract bees, house plants attract spider mites and aphids, and fruit trees attract… well fruit trees attract just about everything. The boxelder tree is no different. In fact, it is so connected with this particular pest, that the bug itself is named after the tree. The boxelder bug…
The Eastern and Southern part of the United States have a unique pest that terrorizes yards and turfs. This pest burrows through the earth and eats roots in its path. On cool spring nights, you may have heard these small insects, calling out to one another. They are called mole crickets. These crickets do millions…
Every summer you will hear them, a high pitched Harley Davidson like sound will rise and fall in the distance. This is the song of the cicada. It is loud and many people feel that it is annoying. And yet this creature continues to do its thing regardless. So how do…
WAccording to the Center for Disease Control, lyme disease is on the rise. It has been steadily rising for the last 25 years. In the United States alone, over 300,000 new cases of lyme disease happen every year. It is the most common insect spread disease and the sixth most common infectious…
Many people suffer from cockroach infestations. These insects are found around the world and on every continent except Antartica. Being tropical pests, they need warmth, shelter, food and water. All of these things they find by sheltering with us. This is why we find these pests in our homes, parasitizing off…
Wasps have a bad name. It’s not uncommon to see people running from these large insects. They are not pretty. Wasps are actually pretty intimidating to look at. Their bright colors warn larger animals to stay away because they can sting. But those same bright colors create fear in people. …
When we sleep, we are the most vulnerable. This is why bed bugs can be so frightening. These little creatures get into our beds and feed on us when we are least expecting it. The insect kingdom is truly heartless. But because these insects are so feared, there are many myths…
Many home owners fear the bite of a termite. These insects will eat away wood until the structural integrity of your home is compromised. But what about ants? The carpenter ant is equally dangerous. It, too chews on wood. They will burrow into wood and create entire colonies in your…
Termites are the scavengers of the insect kingdom. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of other insect scavengers, but termites are somewhat unique. Termites job in the ecosystem is to break down fallen and rotting trees. There are very effective at this. The only problem is that also means that…