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How to Get Rid of Cicadas

. Posted by in • Orlando
How to Get Rid of Cicadas

Cicadas—those giant, noisy bugs that sing all night long—have been found in literature since at least Homer’s Iliad. They’ve been part of ancient folklore and music for centuries; they symbolize rebirth and immortality in China.

All of this is fine and good until the cicada season hits. You’re kept up all night by the cicadas’ song; you find you are walking around in fear that you will be hit by a cicada falling out of a tree or when you have to circle the house to remove the exoskeletons which are stuck on your home’s exterior.

So, what can you do to get rid of cicadas?

Unfortunately, there isn’t too much you can do to get rid of these noisy bugs. On a positive note, cicadas don’t cause serious harm to trees and aren’t known to harm humans or pets. Also, cicadas don’t care to get into your home, so you don’t have … Read Full Post »

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How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Pool

. Posted by in , , • Houston
How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Pool

There’s nothing like having a pool in your backyard, especially during the dog days of summer. On a hot day, it’s so nice to get into your swimsuit and take a refreshing dip. But wait – there’s a snake in the pool. How did that get there? How do you get rid of it? How can you keep snakes out of your pool?

How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Pool

There are only two camps for snakes – you either tolerate or hate them and want them to go away. But unfortunately for members of the latter camp, snakes are a fact of life in the Southwest. There are actually 76 species of snakes in Texas alone. Most are not poisonous, but you don’t want to find one floating in your pool or jumping out at you or your family from around the pool’s edge when you’re least expecting it.

What attracts … Read Full Post »

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The Wolf Spider: What You Need To Know If You See One

. Posted by in • Houston
Wolf Spider Texas

According to Texas Parks & Wildlife, almost 900 species of spiders are found in Texas. Only two, however, are considered poisonous to humans: the black widow and the brown recluse spider. While there is much to learn about the danger associated with the two aforementioned spiders, there is another, more commonly seen spider in Texas. You also may not know much about the wolf spider.

What You’ll Learn:

  • What Should I Do If I See A Wolf Spider?
  • What Do Wolf Spiders Eat?
  • Where Do Wolf Spiders Live?
  • How Do Wolf Spiders Reproduce?
  • Are Wolf Spiders Poisonous?

What Should I Do If I See A Wolf Spider?

How likely are you to come across a wolf spider in Texas? An old saying is, “you’re never more than five feet from a spider.” Although this has been disproved, the truth is that there are spiders all around us, and there are 238 species of wolf spiders in Texas … Read Full Post »

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Why Are Earwigs Called Earwigs?

. Posted by in • Orlando
Why Are Earwigs Called Earwigs

Earwigs are small, flat insects that measure about half an inch long and an eighth inch in width when full-grown. Dark brown and shiny, they have banded abdomens that end in a long pair of scary-looking pinchers. If you’ve ever tried to pick up an earwig, you may have gotten pinched—but you also probably noticed those pinchers weren’t very powerful. An earwig’s pinch might make you yelp in surprise. Still, it probably won’t break the skin, and it almost always happens defensively—meaning the earwig is frightened and trying to fight off a more significant, scarier enemy (you!). So why are earwigs called earwigs, and are the rumors true—do earwigs crawl in your ear? Let’s find out more about this often-misunderstood insect.

If you’ve ever tried to pick up an earwig, you may have gotten pinched—but you also probably noticed those pinchers weren’t very powerful. An earwig’s pinch might make you yelp … Read Full Post »

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How To Kill Mosquito Larvae In Pool

. Posted by in • Houston
How To Kill Mosquito Larvae In Pool

Having a pool means having a built-in destination for relaxation, fun, and entertainment. Unfortunately, having a pool also means that you may attract some uninvited guests to your backyard oasis: mosquitoes. Keep reading to learn more about how to kill mosquito larvae in your pool and how to keep these pesky pests away.

Swimming Pool Mosquito Control Tips

The months of the year that are ideal for swimming are also prime time for mosquitoes. You will likely encounter these bloodsucking creatures if you’re anywhere near a pool or body of water during the warmer months. You may ask yourself: Do swimming pools attract mosquitoes? Since both water and humans attract mosquitoes, unfortunately, the answer is yes. You can take some steps to keep mosquitoes out so that you can enjoy your pool and backyard during the warmer months of the year.

What if you suspect there are already larvae in your pool water? The … Read Full Post »

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Natural Garden Pest Control: Advice from the Pros

. Posted by in • Orlando
natural garden pest control

Having a home garden takes hard work and dedication. You have to plan out which plants and vegetables you want to grow, make sure your soil is compatible, and then nurture your plants as they grow. The result can be gratifying, but this accomplishment can be dashed when you notice tiny pests feeding on your plants and destroying the garden you so carefully put together. How do you protect your plants without using chemicals? You have many options if you want to practice natural garden pest control.

Natural Garden Pest Control

Depending on the type of pest you’re dealing with, there are different ways to correct your problem. From mosquito repellent plants to homemade pesticides to adding beneficial bugs to get the job done, home gardeners have many tools at their disposal.

Mosquito Repellent Plants

If you live where the climate stays warm for most of the year, mosquito season can last virtually all … Read Full Post »

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ABC Owners Bike Across Country For Charity

. Posted by in • Houston
Brothers Bike

Three brothers. Two charities. Four thousand miles.

Bobby, Dennis and Raleigh Jenkins, the owners of ABC Home & Commercial Services, will be cycling across the country this summer to raise money for A Child’s Hope and the Moss Pieratt Foundation.

ABC Owners Bike Across Country for Charity

The ride will start in Seattle on May 23, 2017 and end in New York City. The Jenkins brothers are biking to support two organizations that are near and dear to their hearts. You can learn more about the ride, donate and subscribe to email updates on the Brothers Bike website.

This is not the first time the ABC owners have cycled for charity. In 2008, the Jenkins brothers biked from Austin to Canada to fundraise for Caritas of Austin. Afer that trip, they set their sights on a cross-country charity ride. “My brothers and I are willing to put in the sweat equity … Read Full Post »

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Do Possums Carry Rabies?

. Posted by in • Orlando
Do Possums Carry Rabies

Many people find possums scary, even threatening—and that’s perfectly understandable. After all, possums (also known as “opossums”) have those frightening-looking teeth that they’re all too happy to bare when surprised in their natural habitat—which might, unfortunately, include your backyard. They also use an intimidating hissing sound to scare off potential predators. But do these small animals deserve their bad reputation?

Do Possums Carry Rabies?

Many people have limited knowledge about them and might wonder: Do possums carry rabies? Do possums attack? Do they bite humans? To answer these questions, let’s learn a little more about this somewhat misunderstood creature.

Facts About Possums

Possums are smallish animals, about the size of a cat, with long tails, pointy faces, and grayish-white fur. They are marsupials—animals like kangaroos- carrying their young in a pouch on the mother’s belly. And while possums are often seen as pests, they’re quiet animals that usually don’t threaten humans, pets, or property. … Read Full Post »

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Types of Rodents and Wildlife in Houston

. Posted by in • Houston
Types of Rodents

Whether their presence pops into your mind when thinking about the Lone Star state or not, Texas is home to abundant rodents and wildlife. Houston is no different. Our city is one of the state’s most populated and diverse wild animal ecosystems. The greater Houston area offers a combination of lush outdoors, bayous, and urban dwellings, which serve as the habitat for many rodents and wildlife.

Types of Rodents and Wildlife in Houston

One thing is seeing rodents or other types of wildlife when you are out and about. Spotting one of these animals in your yard will likely produce an entirely different reaction. Learn more about the types of rodents and wildlife that might make it into your outdoor spaces and the steps you can take to ensure they get out—and stay out.

Roof Rats

Rats are much larger than mice, so you’ll know the difference when you see one. Roof rats (sometimes … Read Full Post »

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Where Do Bed Bugs Hide On Your Body?

. Posted by in • Orlando
where do bed bugs hide on your body

Bed bugs. Chances are good that you’ve heard of them or even had a friend who ran in with these pests that love to bite humans, feeding on their blood and leaving an itchy, painful rash behind. For most of us, the idea of bed bugs sends a shiver of fear up the spine, yet many people don’t know much about this insect, its habitat, or its habits.

Can you find bed bug eggs in hair, and can these pests live on clothing or our body? Do they fly or cause diseases? And how difficult are they to get rid of once they’ve invaded your living space? The more you know about bed bugs, the better you can protect yourself and your home from a bed bug infestation.

A common question homeowners ask is, “Where do bed bugs hide on your body?” Let’s address this query first. Bed bugs hide primarily during … Read Full Post »

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