ABC Blog

Do Bed Bugs Bite Every Night?

a bed bug on a sheet

Are you waking up with itchy bed bug bites? There’s nothing worse than being bitten in your sleep, but it can take a while for homeowners to realize that they have a bed bug problem. Part of the issue is that bed bugs do not bite every night, so the pest problem can be hard to spot.

Do Bed Bugs Bite Every Night?

Waking up with bed bug bites is never fun. It can feel like you wake up every morning with a new collection of bites, which leaves many homeowners wondering if bed bugs bite every night.

The truth is that bed bugs do not bite humans every night. They have a purpose behind their biting, and it’s to get a blood meal. One blood meal can typically last bed bugs for three to seven days. Once their previous blood meal is digested, they’ll go back for more.

If they can’t access a … Read Full Post »

Do Only Female Mosquitoes Bite?

a mosquito

Do all mosquitoes bite, or do only the females bite? There are a lot that people don’t know about mosquito bites. For homeowners, it’s important to understand why, when and where mosquitoes are most likely to bite.

If you’re dealing with a mosquito issue on your property, the most effective way to approach the problem is to get expert help. A pest control specialist can reduce the mosquito population at every phase of the life cycle and minimize the risk of mosquito bites on your property.

Do Only Female Mosquitoes Bite?

A little-known fact about mosquitoes is that only female mosquitoes bite humans and other animals. The reason for this is that females need a blood meal to obtain protein and other nutrients needed to produce eggs.

Since male mosquitoes do not need the nutrients from blood, they feed on nectar and plant juices instead.

When Do Mosquitoes Bite?

Female mosquitoes can bite at any time … Read Full Post »

Understanding the Life Cycle of a Flea

a flea on skin

If you’re dealing with a flea infestation in your home, it’s important to approach it with the best techniques for controlling these pests. That includes controlling them throughout life cycle, not just the adult fleas.

The Homeowner’s Guide to Understanding the Life Cycle of a Flea

Fleas go through four stages during their life cycle: the egg, larva, pupa and adult stages. They are resilient pests, and each life cycle stage can create a problem for homeowners and pets.

The Egg Stage

Flea eggs are laid on hosts, such as cats or dogs. After a blood meal, adult female fleas prefer to lay their eggs in an animal’s fur where they are barely visible.

However, sometimes, female fleas will lay their eggs in the surroundings of the host instead of on the host. When that is the case, they’ll choose upholstered furniture or bedding to hide their eggs in the crevices of the fabric. They … Read Full Post »

How Do Wasps Make Nests?

a wasp on a leaf

Wasps don’t have the same kind of notoriety as other pests like rats and cockroaches. But that doesn’t mean they can’t cause us harm and annoyance. Unlike bees, which only sting once, wasps can sting several times. Their stings are painful and can cause the area near the sting to swell.

Wasps sting humans when they feel like you’re invading their territory. You don’t want that kind of hostility on your property. Here’s everything you need to know about these pests so you can stay vigilant. However, it’s best to leave these pests to the pest control professionals. They’ll control the wasps for you.

How Do Wasps Make Nests? Here’s Everything You Should Know

While no one wants to see wasp nests on their property, they are interesting to look at. Intricate and delicate, you can tell how much work wasps put into them. So, how do wasps make nests? It all starts … Read Full Post »

Your Guide to Winter Landscaping

poppies

It doesn’t get any cozier than winter. It’s the season for sipping hot beverages, snuggling under blankets and getting lost in books. But it can also be a hard time for your landscaping. Grass, plants and flowers can go dormant, much to the sadness of home gardeners. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy any color during the colder months.

There are ways to protect your lawn and garden before the frost arrives. You can also undertake many fun projects during the winter to help spruce up your property and liven the mood. But if you’d rather stay warm and toasty inside, you can always let landscaping professionals take over. They’ll have your yard looking its best, even as the temperatures drop.

How to Protect Your Lawn and Garden Ahead of Winter

The winter months can be harsh to the foliage on your property. That’s especially true if you live in a chilly … Read Full Post »

How Far Do Mosquitoes Travel?

a mosquito on a leaf

Did you know that some mosquitoes stay close to their nest for their entire lives while others will fly up to three miles away? Understanding how far mosquitoes travel is more than a fun piece of trivia. It’s an important element of mosquito behavior that homeowners need to know about to keep populations of these pests low on their property.

The most important thing to remember is to act quickly when you have a mosquito infestation on your property. The most effective way to reduce mosquitoes is to work with a professional pest control service.

How Far Do Mosquitoes Travel?

How far a mosquito travels depends on its species. For example, some mosquito species, such as the Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus, do not travel more than a few hundred feet away from their breeding grounds.

It’s important to note that these two mosquito species are known for spreading diseases like chikungunya, dengue and … Read Full Post »

Are Moles Blind?

a mole

It’s a common misconception that moles are blind. Some homeowners wonder if moles even have eyes. Moles do have eyes, and they are not blind, but they have very poor vision.

Mole eyes are very small and they are covered by their fur. Because of these factors, it’s hard to see a mole’s eyes, which is why many people wonder if they have eyes at all.

Since moles are subterranean creatures and spend most of their lives underground, their eyes have adapted to their lifestyle. Their eyes can detect light and dark, but they can not see much beyond that. Instead, they rely on their other senses to survive, such as touch and smell.

How to Distinguish Moles From Other Pests

Moles have several distinct physical features. It’s important for homeowners to learn what moles look like so that they can identify them on their property.

First, moles are small animals that typically measure between … Read Full Post »

How To Get Rid of Rodents in the Attic

a rat in an attic

Your home should be a place of comfort and tranquility, but a rodent infestation can quickly ruin that. If you hear the scurrying above your ceiling, rats or mice might be getting comfortable in your attic. Here are the most common signs of a rodent infestation and what you can do to make your attic less attractive to them.

The best way to deal with the situation is by letting pest control professionals take over. They have the tools and expertise to control these troublesome pests and restore peace in your home.

Signs You Have Rodents in Your Attic

Rat and mice infestations can grow quickly because these creatures have excellent hiding skills. They dwell in the undisturbed areas in your home, like the attic, and will typically only come out at night to find food. But even though rodent sightings are rare, there are telltale signs to look out for.

Feces and urine … Read Full Post »

How To Make a Flower Bed

a flower bed

Do you want to add a beautiful flower bed to your property? The most intimidating part of this project is deciding what it will look like. When it comes to designs, colors and layout, the options are endless. The good news is that there is plenty of room for fun experimentation.

This guide will provide a step-by-step guide on how to make a flower bed, annual flower bed ideas and flower bed edging ideas. For the best results, contact a landscaping specialist for help.

How To Make a Flower Bed

The first step to making a flower bed is to choose the right location on your property, and you have several options when it comes to aesthetics. A few possibilities are in your front yard, behind a pool and along the fence line in your backyard.

Flowers will not survive in waterlogged soil, so make sure you choose a spot with proper drainage, or … Read Full Post »

How High Can Rats Jump?

a rat on a windowsill

Did you know that rats are excellent jumpers? These pests may be known for climbing and scavenging; however, they are also extremely agile.

The best way to keep rats out of your home is to identify and block all potential rat entry points into your house. Working with a professional pest control service is the best way to cover all of your bases with these pests. An expert can identify all rat entry points for you, including the ones that most homeowners do not think about. If you already have a rat infestation, working with a pest control service is much more effective than trying to control the rat colony on your own.

How High Can Rats Jump?

Rats are known for being excellent climbers, but many homeowners don’t realize that they are also skilled jumpers. Rats can jump up to four feet high. In particular, roof rats can jump and climb their … Read Full Post »