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How to Get Rid of Mayflies

. Posted by in • Houston
How to Get Rid of Mayflies

If you’ve ever seen a gathering of flies around your home’s doorways or entryway, you’ve probably encountered a gathering of mayflies. But whether you correctly identified them, well, that’s another story. That’s because mayflies are often misidentified as dragonflies and damselflies. Although these creatures are relatively harmless, chances are you don’t want mayflies inside your home.

How To Get Rid of Mayflies

Warmer months often mean more flies and insects flying around and outside your home. When you start noticing flying insects, the next step is usually taking steps to keep these insects from getting inside your home. Let’s discuss how to correctly identify mayflies, what to do if you have an infestation, and ways to prevent them from infesting your home again.

Identification

Despite their name, the mayfly is unrelated to a housefly or other true flies. And though they might look the same at first glance, the two species are quite different. … Read Full Post »

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Crane Fly vs. Mosquito: What’s the Difference?

. Posted by in • Orlando
Crane fly vs mosquito

Though crane flies are often called “mosquito hawks,” likely due to their appearance—they look like a giant, extra intimidating mosquito, and have also been rumored (incorrectly) to prey on mosquitoes for food—the two insect species are actually unrelated.

Crane Fly vs. Mosquito

As their name might suggest, crane flies are a species of fly. These flying insects don’t dine on mosquitoes, much less on humans or any other type of animal—much to the dismay of homeowners hoping that crane flies might help with mosquito population control. Mosquitoes, on the other hand, consume animal blood as an essential part of their diet. Read on to learn more about these two varieties of insects, including their similarities and differences and which is most likely to win in the crane fly vs. mosquito showdown.

Similarities

The most significant similarity between crane flies, and mosquitoes is the fact that they are flying insects that share a passing resemblance. … Read Full Post »

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How Long Do Flies Live?

. Posted by in • Orlando
How Long Do Flies Live

What’s that buzzing around your outdoor picnic? It’s probably fly. That’s because the housefly (Musca domestica) is one of the most common insects people interact with daily. And with more than 16,000 species of flies in North America alone and an ability to produce an estimated 1,000,000 offspring in weeks, it doesn’t look like they’re going anywhere anytime soon.

How Long Do Flies Live?

Let’s learn more about the lifespan and lifecycle of a common fly and how you can rid your home of them. We’ll also address common myths about flies and dive into the world of these pesky pests.

The Lifespan of a Fly

Contrary to popular belief, the common fly lives longer than a mere 24 hours. Entomologists say that mature house flies can live up to 25 days. And while the typical range is between 15 to 25 days, some reports indicate a lifespan of two full months.

A few … Read Full Post »

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What Attracts Mosquitoes to Humans?

. Posted by in , • Houston
What attracts mosquitoes to humans

For a small insect, mosquitoes can be quite aggravating. A common topic of conversation when mosquitoes are out, and biting is why certain people seem to be the target of mosquitoes and not others.

What Attracts Mosquitoes to Humans?

Let’s take a look at why mosquitoes like to bite us, what makes them choose some people over others, and what we can all do to protect ourselves from these pesky pests.

Why Do Mosquitoes Bite?

Did you know all of the mosquitoes who bite you are females? They seek out warm-blooded creatures for a meal. The mosquito’s proboscis, a part of its mouth, works like a hypodermic needle. She injects a little of her own saliva into our skin, which thins the blood and allows her to draw it out of the capillaries in our skin.

The mosquito doesn’t drink your blood for herself but uses the proteins and other substances in the blood to … Read Full Post »

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Orlando Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

. Posted by in , , , , , • Orlando
Orlando Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

People worldwide flock to Orlando for many reasons, one being the year-round sunny weather. Here in Orlando, homeowners know that it’s the most excellent time of year to enjoy our yards, parks, and outdoor spaces. That’s one reason spring is a perfect excuse to take a closer look at your most significant investment—your home—to ensure you do what you can to take advantage of your most important investment.

Orlando Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

Orlando homeowners have grown to depend on ABC Home & Commercial Services to keep their property free of pests. Our skilled and knowledgeable technicians treat your home as they would their own and do anything they can to be helpful. As an extension of this philosophy, ABC has created an Orlando Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017 to provide valuable resources for indoor and outdoor spaces.

The 9-page Guide includes:

  • Ten things to do in Orlando this Spring
  • Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
  • Spring … Read Full Post »
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Houston Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

. Posted by in , , , , , , • Houston
Houston Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

Houston is a great place to be during the spring months. Everything is green, the weather is pleasant, and there are many excuses to get out and enjoy local festivals, art exhibits, and other happenings. Spring is already associated with renewal, making it the perfect reason to take a hard look at your home to ensure you do all you can to maintain and improve upon your most significant investment.

Houston Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

ABC Home & Commercial Services has made life easier for Texas homeowners for over 60 years. Our background-checked employees provide reliable, top-notch home services and treat your home as we would our own. As an extension of this philosophy, we created a Houston Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017.

The 9-page Guide includes:

  • Ten things to do in Houston this Spring
  • Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
  • Spring Cleaning List of Where to Donate or Dispose of Common Household Items Locally
  • Advice on How … Read Full Post »
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Pool Remodeling Tips To Make The Most Of Your Investment

. Posted by in • Houston
pool remodeling tips

Spending an afternoon relaxing by the pool, catching up on your favorite book, is a dream for many homeowners. The reality, however, is that maintaining a pool can be a lot of work. Then, there are the repairs to consider. Many homeowners also get to a point where they realize that it may be time for a pool remodel.

Pool Remodeling Tips

There are many reasons to remodel your pool. While some homeowners consider new features to make their pool more enjoyable for their family, others choose to make upgrades to improve a home’s resale value. Whatever the motivation, let’s dive in (pun intended) to the topic with some reasons why you might consider remodeling your pool and simple updates you can do to make the most of your investment. 

Five Reasons to Remodel Your Pool

Sooner or later, every pool needs a renovation of one type or another. Here are some signs … Read Full Post »

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Is Zika in Orlando?

. Posted by in , • Orlando
Is Zika in Orlando

As of early 2017, there were more than 5,100 confirmed cases of the Zika virus in the continental United States, including over 1,000 pregnant women infected. Miami, Florida, was the first U.S. location to document local, mosquito-borne transmissions of the virus, making Florida a focal point in the fight against this illness that can have devastating effects on pregnant women and babies born to infected mothers.

Is Zika in Orlando?

While Florida’s mosquito control efforts have been somewhat successful in stopping Zika’s spread—in December 2016, Florida Governor Rick Scott even declared South Beach and all other areas of Florida to be Zika-free—the virus remains a threat in Miami-Dade County, along with other parts of the state. So what about central Florida? Is Zika in Orlando? Let’s take a look at the facts.

How Zika Spread to the United States

While the spread of Zika in the United States became public prominence in 2015, … Read Full Post »

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How to Get Rid of Moisture in Your Home

. Posted by in • Houston
How to get rid of moisture in your home

One surprising thing for homeowners can be the presence of humidity or moisture in a home and what that moisture brings along with it. Humidity is simply the amount of moisture in the air, and most people are comfortable with a relative humidity level of about 45% at home. When humidity is high, the air seems hotter and heavier. Excessive humidity may encourage mold growth, which can lead to bad smells, structural damage and health problems. House mold cannot exist without a source of moisture.

How to Get Rid of Moisture in Your Home

Wondering why it’s feeling humid in your home, and what you can do about it? Learn both how to make your indoor spaces more pleasant and how to prevent humidity in your home in the future below.

Telltale Signs of Moisture and Humidity

Inside your home, you might feel a change in humidity in a few ways: as dampness on … Read Full Post »

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Why Are Bees Dying?

. Posted by in • Orlando
Why Are Bees Dying

Do you consider bees an unwelcome pest? If so, you aren’t alone. Many people are afraid of this tiny, buzzing, yellow-and-black insect—or, more specifically, scared of its sting. For people allergic to bee stings, an encounter with these stinging insects is genuinely a critical (even life-and-death) event to avoid. Even for those who aren’t allergic, chances are that you’d rather stay away from bees.

While you may know that bees play an essential role in our ecosystem, you may not realize that bee populations worldwide have experienced a significant decline. If you’re among the folks who avoid these little creatures at all costs, that may not sound like such a bad thing. Let’s talk about why bees have been dying, why they’re essential to humans, and what to do if you find a beehive in or around your home.

Why Are Bees Dying?

In 2011 in Brevard County, Florida, about 12 million bees … Read Full Post »

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