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Library Menaces: Are Insects Destroying Your Books?

. Posted by in • San Antonio

Bugs that like to feast on books could be making a meal of your San Antonio library.

For those who love to read and collect books, every volume is precious. Whether they’re well-worn modern paperbacks or stunning leather-bound antiques, keeping books in top condition is important when maintaining your personal library. Unfortunately, there are pests that enjoy books just as much as you do—except they enjoy literary treasures for eating, not reading.

Common library pests include cockroaches, silverfish, beetles, booklice and even termites. Each likes to dine on different parts of books. Infestations of any of these can cause a great deal of damage if not identified and dealt with quickly. Pests see books as sources of food and won’t hesitate to nibble on or burrow through the volumes that you’ve worked so hard to collect.

Cockroaches like to munch on cloth bindings and the edges of pages, leaving behind light patches and … Read Full Post »

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It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a. . . Bug Bomb?

. Posted by in • Austin

Are you ready for bug bombs? No, we’re not talking about the insecticide foggers that kill every bug in an enclosed room. These bug bombs are actually made of bugs, but they aren’t just any bugs—they’re bugs with voracious appetites for specific unwanted weeds. The future of biocontrol weed management may involve aerial attacks that drop “bombs” filled with hordes of flea beetles or other beneficial insects on the vegetation below.

The idea was presented in a slide show by West Virginia University entomologist Yong-Lak Park at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America held in Austin, Texas. It depicted unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, armed with biocontrol payloads that can bombard crops, fields and other open areas with hungry bugs ready to turn weeds on the ground into their own private buffets.

Bug Bomb Pros and Cons

The concept of biocontrol isn’t new. Introducing bugs to kill other bugs … Read Full Post »

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The Worst Pest in San Antonio: Crazy Ants, Scorpions or Bedbugs?

. Posted by in , • San Antonio

Nobody roots for these contenders

The Hill Country landscape makes living in San Antonio a joy, and its beautiful vistas are filled with unique ecosystems. The critters and insects that inhabit these areas are good at figuring out that your home is a safer haven than their natural habitat. Of all the little invaders that sneak into the house, there are three that cause the most concern. It’s hard to pick the worst, but these are the top contenders.

Their Name Is Insane

They run like tiny race horses with spindly legs and long antennae, but nothing about crazy ants makes them worth cheering across the finish line. These pests are displacing fire ants throughout the area with sheer numbers. Each colony harbors millions of ants, and their voracious foraging includes anything that carries electricity. These frenzied insects ruin residential wiring, overrun computer equipment and short-circuit communication systems. Crazy ants prey on beneficial … Read Full Post »

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As the Weather Warms, the Bugs Return

. Posted by in , • San Antonio

Spring into…pest control?

Spring is a wonderful time in the San Antonio area. As the threat of frost and ice diminishes, locals emerge from their slumber and actually use their lawns, gardens and porches as they’re intended. Unfortunately, humans and pets aren’t the only creatures that look forward to spring. Much to the chagrin of local homeowners, a range of pesky bugs and other pests thrive in warmer weather.

Fire and Carpenter Ants

Our part of the world is home to several species of ants. These critters form massive colonies in the ground near our homes and in our gardens, and they’re not deterred by colder weather. That said, they tend to become dormant during cold snaps. Once the weather warms for good, you’ll see these critters building mounds near your home. Over time, they could cause structural problems for your home or outbuildings and pose stinging threats to pets and children.

Paper Wasps

Most … Read Full Post »

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Tips on Finding a Pest Management Professional

. Posted by in • Austin

With so many companies offering pest control services in the Austin area, where do you start your search? Find out what questions you need to ask to narrow your options down fast and find the right fit for your home.

When you’re dealing with a pest infestation, every minute counts. From termites that make permanent marks in the home’s structure to blood-sucking bedbugs, common household pests can instantly lower your quality of life and eventually cause a big dent in your bank account. The sooner you contact a professional pest management company, the sooner you can get back to living life without fear. Below, we share all of the tips you need to know to find the best pest control company for your needs and budget.

• Get leads and information online. For a searchable register of pre-screened pest management companies in Austin and step-by-step pest identification guides, check out this comprehensive … Read Full Post »

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Can Pest Control Treat for Lice, Scabies and Dust Mites?

. Posted by in • Austin

You’ve probably heard of dust mites, lice and scabies. These three pests are smaller than other common household pests—in fact, they can be microscopic—and may not make their presence felt immediately. However, they each have a well-defined role to play in our homes and personal spaces. Learn more about these creatures and what can be done to manage their activities.

What Are Dust Mites, Lice and Scabies?

Lice, dust mites and scabies are ubiquitous. Whereas lice and scabies are generally regarded as “personal pests” for humans and animals, dust mites are largely harmless and may actually perform beneficial tasks for their human hosts.

Dust mites measure less than .5 millimeter in length and can congregate in colonies of many thousands. They can’t clearly be seen without the aid of a microscope. Meanwhile, head lice can grow up to three millimeters in length, and body lice can be even larger. Scabies mites are about … Read Full Post »

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Has Your Landscape Hit a Wall?

. Posted by in • San Antonio

Retaining Your Soil’s Sanity

If anyone needs proof that the earth isn’t flat, it only takes a drive around San Antonio to confirm the obvious. The Hill Country is beautiful, but its rolling terrain slips landscaping challenges into your best-laid plans for a stable yard. An attractive retaining wall can shore up your shifting scenery and restore some sanity to the area’s expansive soil.

Walls That Work Hard

Retaining walls might look like ornamental additions to a landscape, but the Riverwalk wouldn’t exist without these humble feats of engineering. While they appear to define the water’s flow, they actually support the massive soil foundations of the buildings that line the river’s banks. Even a small wall performs the same vital function: It acts as a barrier that shores up soil along changes in the landscape’s elevation. The wall’s strength rests on a base built below ground level and a compacted backfill that supports … Read Full Post »

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The Perils of Poor-Quality Bed Bug Treatment

. Posted by in • Bryan-College Station

Traditional pest control methods prove remarkably ineffective in the battle against bed bugs.The Perils of Poor-Quality Bed Bug Treatment

Many pests plague our corner of Texas, but bed bugs are notoriously difficult to exterminate through traditional treatment methods. As a result, misguided pest control techniques can become financially and emotionally draining. Proven treatment techniques are limited, but there is hope.

The Perils of Ineffective Bed Bug Treatment

At a global bed bug summit that was held in Denver in December 2013, one of the presenters shared some poll numbers about treating bed bugs. In both 2010 and 2013, 76% of the pest management professionals who were surveyed indicated that bed bugs are the most problematic pests to control.

One Vermont couple learned the hard truth about bed bug control. Neil and Patricia Whitney are highly praised foster parents, and one of their foster children came from a home infested with bed bugs. When an … Read Full Post »

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Does Your Yard Need a Haircut?

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth

Spring is almost here, and your neighbors will soon be outdoors with their lawnmowers, string trimmers and spreaders. As if by magic, their neglected, winter-ravaged yards will morph into works of art. Like the perfect hairstyle, a healthy, polished lawn and landscape makes its owner look awesome. But not everyone has time to maintain a demanding yard. You may barely have time to style your own mane, much less battle half an acre of green fluff. If you’ve never had time for yard work, you probably don’t have the needed experience or skill either. Don’t be embarrassed. Many who attempt lawn care for the first time find that it’s quite easy to end up with a faux hawk instead of neat, uniform grass.

Bed Head, Split Ends, Dandruff and Lice

Keeping your hair looking good requires more than just shampoo and hairspray, and taking care of a lawn involves more than mowing … Read Full Post »

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Cool Pest Science: Using Beetle Pheromones for Pest Control?

. Posted by in • San Antonio

Over the years, modern science has come up with a stunning range of solutions to everyday pest problems. Many of these are conventional and even boring, but others capture the imagination of the public. We’re betting that you’re not familiar with an offbeat yet effective means of controlling structural pests and other unwanted insect visitors: beetle pheromones.

What Are Pheromones, Anyway?

Pheromones are biological compounds that animals excrete to attract mates, communicate or perform other important tasks. Human pheromones exist mainly to strengthen ties between mates and family members, but other animals use these chemicals for different purposes. Although some pheromones are associated with strong odors, many of these compounds are odorless and can’t be detected by the human sensory system.

Origins and Application

According to groundbreaking research, the female Asian longhorned beetle—an invasive species that has devastated structures and foliage across wide swathes of the United States—secretes a powerful sex pheromone that attracts … Read Full Post »

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