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Can Bed Bugs Live Outside?

. Posted by in , • Austin
a bd bug

Bed bugs are frustrating pests known to take up residence inside homes. However, a little-known fact is that they can also live outside. However, this is rare.

Bed bugs prefer to live inside where they are close to a host that can provide them with a blood meal and hiding spots. They can only live outside for a short period, and they must live somewhere with a high level of human activity.

For example, you may see outdoor bed bugs in these locations:

  • On public transportation
  • At outdoor gathering spaces, such as concert venues
  • In high-trafficked parks and recreation areas
  • At trash dumps that are full of furniture and mattresses

Bed bugs must be near a host to stay alive, so it’s riskier for them to live outdoors, but not impossible.

Indoor Bed Bug Hiding Places

Finding bed bugs inside homes with easier access to a host and shelter is much more common. These pests are also drawn to … Read Full Post »

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Do Only Female Mosquitoes Bite?

. Posted by in , • Dallas-Fort Worth
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 »

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How Many Ants Are in a Colony?

. Posted by in , • Corpus Christi
an ant colony

If you have pesky ants at home, you know how they can feel impossible to control. Since it can seem like they are always around, many homeowners wonder how many ants are in a colony.

If ants are invading your space, contact pest control specialists. Ants are hardworking and resilient pests but are no match for the pros. They have the tools and expertise to control these pests and help prevent future colonies from invading.

How Many Ants Are in a Colony?

Ants are social insects, and each of them belongs to a colony. Unlike other insects, you’ll never find an ant that operates solo. These colonies come in different sizes depending on species, colony age, climate and other factors.

The number of ants in a colony can vary depending on the species, age of the colony and the weather. Most ant colonies will have a few hundred ants, while some ant species, like … Read Full Post »

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Understanding the Life Cycle of a Flea

. Posted by in , • Dallas-Fort Worth
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 »

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How Many Mice Is Considered An Infestation?

. Posted by in , • Corpus Christi
How many mice is considered an infestation

So you’ve found mouse droppings, gnaw marks on your furniture, cardboard boxes and plastic storage bins that have been chewed through and other signs that point to the presence of mice in your home. Maybe you’ve even seen an actual mouse somewhere inside your house, or at least heard the telltale scratching and squeaking sounds of rodent activity within your walls.

Whatever signs you’ve spotted, something has alerted you to the possibility that mice are living in your home, and now you’re wondering whether you’ve got just one or two of the unwanted little rodent pests or a full-blown infestation. How many mice is considered an infestation? It’s a good question to ask, as the answer will inform you as to the scope of your mouse problem and what you need to do next.

The question “How many mice is considered an infestation?” is a bit complicated to answer. If you … Read Full Post »

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How Do Wasps Make Nests?

. Posted by in , • Dallas-Fort Worth
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 »

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How Long Do Bed Bugs Live?

. Posted by in , • Austin
a bed bug

Do you know the average life span and life cycle of bed bugs? These unwelcome pests can become extremely annoying for homeowners because they bite humans at night. In order to be proactive about bed bugs, it’s a good idea to learn about their life cycle, feeding habits and hiding places.

How Long Do Bed Bugs Live?

The life span of a bed bug depends on multiple factors, including temperature and available access to blood meals. When those factors work in their favor, bed bugs typically live for around one year. However, it’s common for bed bugs to only live for four to six months.

Bed bugs are extreme annoyances for homeowners, so it’s important to learn about the life cycle, feeding habits and common hiding places for bed bugs. The more you educate yourself about these nuisances, the quicker you can identify an infestation and contact a pest control specialist to control … Read Full Post »

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How Far Do Mosquitoes Travel?

. Posted by in , • Dallas-Fort Worth
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 »

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Fleas In House, No Pets: Why Do I Have A Problem?

. Posted by in , • Austin
A flea on skin

If you think that you can only have fleas in your home if you have a dog or a cat, you aren’t alone. Flea infestations are more common if you have a dog or a cat. But, these parasites can make their way inside on any type of fabric. This includes any piece of clothing on your body or any item you may bring inside your house that has been in an infested area.

If you have grass in your front or back yard, these tiny parasites can hitch a ride with you or a guest into your home. Fleas could also enter your living spaces if you return from a friend’s house with a flea problem. Another possibility is that a wild animal with fleas, such as an opossum, feral cat, skunk or raccoon, may have taken up residence on your property. In these cases, these creatures may introduce fleas … Read Full Post »

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Am I Dealing With Wasps or Hornets?

. Posted by in • Tyler
a yellowjacket

Do you know how to tell the difference between a wasp and a hornet? These stinging pests are often mistaken for each other; however, there are some key differences you can use to tell them apart.

Letting pest control professionals deal with the problem is the most effective option when dealing with stinging pests like wasps or hornets.

Am I Dealing With Wasps or Hornets?

Wasps, pictured above, and hornets are both intimidating, stinging pests, and it can be difficult for homeowners to tell the difference between them. Luckily, it is easy to distinguish them once you learn a few identifying facts about each pest.

Learning whether you are dealing with wasps or hornets is important because it will allow you to take the right pest control and prevention methods to control these unwanted intruders on your property. Some wasps can even live in the ground, so it’s important to control them quickly.

You can … Read Full Post »

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