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Mosquito Control in Orlando: Summer is Coming

. Posted by in , • Orlando
mosquito control

Mosquito control must be a community effort.

Summer is upon us, and for many people, especially in the South, this not only means pools and relaxing days but something more: mosquito season. With the spread of the Zika virus, this mosquito season could be highly impactful in Florida, where officials have reported the most significant number of Zika Virus cases (96), 6 of which were reported in the Orange County area, and where the Aedes aegypti mosquito (Zika carrier) is abundant.

The fact that Florida has the most significant number of recorded cases of Zika in the U.S. means that the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are prevalent here, are more likely to bite infected people and spread the virus to someone else.

How to tackle mosquito control at the local level.

Local mosquito control districts manage mosquito control. The areas that most need these districts are the ones that tend to lack funding for … Read Full Post »

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Mosquitoes Are A Post-Flood Problem

. Posted by in • Houston
houston flooding brings more mosquitoes to residential neighborhoods

Photo Credit: Houston Chronicle

Harris County and the Houston metro area have seen a major increase in flooding over the past couple of years. This past weekend through Monday saw disastrous torrential rainfall, totaling close to 20 inches in some northern parts of the metro area, near Cypress Creek. During these highly troubling weather events, we urge our customers’ and their families to stay off the roads.

The floodwaters may be subsiding, but another problem comes with high volumes of rain: mosquitoes. This year, health dilemmas like Zika Virus and weather patterns like El Niño and La Niña are compounding the mosquito issues Southeast Texas residents face every year. As summer quickly approaches, one bad flood after another may spur earlier than usual mosquito problems for Houston residents.

Why do mosquitoes like these conditions?

Mosquitoes are like all other insects in that they begin life as a larva. The most common types … Read Full Post »

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Where Do Roaches Hide? Playing Cockroach Hide and Seek

. Posted by in • Austin
where do roaches hide

Roaches are excellent at hiding. When it comes to fight or flight, this family of insects has evolved to excel at dodging attempts by humans to somehow squish or squash them. That’s why cockroaches have managed to remain one of humanity’s biggest pest problems for centuries. In fact, the cockroach family has thrived here on Earth for over 300 million years!

During the day, you rarely spot one of these creepy crawly creatures, but at night, you can often find them in your bathroom or running across your kitchen floor. This Houdini-like ability to disappear often elicits the same question: where do roaches hide?

Roaches: Nature’s Best Escape Artists

Almost 70 species of cockroaches are found in the United States, and most of those rarely make their way inside our homes. Unfortunately, once you see one roach, chances are that there could be tens or hundreds that you haven’t seen. The most common … Read Full Post »

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[Infographic] ABC San Antonio Presents: Zika Virus 101

. Posted by in • San Antonio
tiger mosquitoes carry zika virus in south america

Have you heard about Zika?

ABC is dedicated to keeping our customers informed when a serious pest-related health emergency arises. Thankfully, there have been few cases of Zika diagnosed in Texas so far this year. However, summer is right around the corner, and we have been getting a lot of phone calls from curious customers wondering: What is Zika Virus and is San Antonio at risk?

We have put together a resource to help keep you informed about Zika. For more information about this mosquito-borne illness and the effects it has on humans, please visit the CDC’s Zika resource page.

We are working with officials to learn what we can about Zika Virus. In the meantime, we urge all of our friends and neighbors in San Antonio to consider starting a comprehensive mosquito control plan with ABC.

Embed this Infographic on Your Site:

<p style=”text-align:center;”><a href=”https://blog.abchomeandcommercial.com/infographic-abc-presents-zika-virus-101/”><img src=”https://blog.abchomeandcommercial.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Zika_San_Antonio_Infographic_v3.png” alt=”mosquito diseases ABC san antonio” title=”Click … Read Full Post »

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Weather Events like El Niño Increase Pest Activity

. Posted by in • San Antonio
El Niño weather makes mosquito season worse

San Antonio didn’t have much of a winter this year. Thanks to El Niño, we experienced the warmest and wettest winter in almost two decades, since the last strong El Niño weather pattern in 1997-98.

As we saw back in 1998, El Niño wind patterns can cause dramatic shifts in weather. In addition to milder winter temperatures, El Niño also means balmy spring weather much earlier in the year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed that many states set records for rainfall in December 2015, which was also the warmest December in the US. And as we all know, central and south Texas experienced several heavy rainstorms as well as an unseasonably warm winter.

How does El Nino affect insect populations?

In addition to strong storms, heavy rains, and warm winter nights, this year’s El Niño will be welcoming something else to San Antonio: more insects.

Warm, wet winters encourage population explosions among … Read Full Post »

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Identi-Fly: What’s buzzing around your home?

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
fruit flies taking over the kitchen

What’s flying around inside your house?

Springtime is an excellent time of year for Corpus Christi, but along with wildflowers and sleeping with the windows open, it also means a return of flying insects. Below we’ll look at a few of the different insects that may be bugging you inside your home.

Fruit flies

Fruit flies are small gnat-like insects that are attracted to the smell of ripe fruit and other organic materials. You may find them around fruit bowls, bananas or your indoor compost containers. The best way to eliminate them is to make sure to refrigerate all ripe fruit and keep your composting materials outside. If you still have trouble with them, you can make a simple trap with apple cider vinegar (or flat beer) and a narrow-necked bottle. Put a small amount of vinegar in the bottle and cover tightly with plastic wrap and a rubber band. Poke tiny holes … Read Full Post »

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Spiders: The Good Guys

. Posted by in • Bryan-College Station
texas writing spiders are good for your garden

Spiders have a bad reputation in Texas. While many people are afraid of them, spiders aren’t the dangerous creepy crawlies people think they are. Most spiders are good guys, ensnaring and eating insects like flies, gnats, mosquitoes and other pests.

Facts about Spiders in Texas

Here are some interesting tidbits about spiders that might help you appreciate their contribution to our homes and gardens.

Most spiders in North America are harmless. In the Bryan-College Station area, we only need to worry about two spiders: the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider. With hundreds of harmless spiders out there, it’s worth learning how to identify these two venomous spiders so you can recognize friends from foes.

Spiders are our friends. Each spider inside your home can consume hundreds of mosquitoes, flies, and gnats. Outside in your garden, spiders often eat the bugs that cause damage to plants. You’ll find spiders that love aphids, … Read Full Post »

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Termite Damage 101: What You Should Know

. Posted by in • Orlando
soldier termites devour wood structures

Termites do billions of dollars of damage each year.

Central Florida offers a perfect environment for termites. Because so many Orlando-area homes are near waterways and ponds, and we have frequent rain showers, moisture-loving termites have a welcoming habitat to make their homes.

Termite Basics

Termites are small social insects that live in large colonies and feed on organic matter. They are particularly attracted to wood and paper. They are dark in color, with 3/8 of an inch long torsos and wings of equal length (as compared to ants, which have pinched torsos and unequal-length wings).

Some termites, including the native subterranean termites and Formosan termites, prefer to live in or close to the soil or near sources of moisture. This includes areas around home foundations and buildings with water from dripping pipes, air conditioner drains, or gutters. Because so much of the Orlando area is damp, termites can become established in many places.

New … Read Full Post »

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Why Do Termites Swarm In Houston?

. Posted by in • Houston
termites damage to home

Termites are an ongoing problem for Houston homeowners. Flourishing in the warmth and humidity of East Texas, they establish large colonies and get right to work eating the wood in our homes and landscaping. Springtime marks termite mating season when termites swarm to find new locations where they can establish additional colonies.

What are termites?

Termites are small insects that live in colonies and feed on organic matter, particularly the cellulose found within the wood. In nature, they play an important role in helping decompose fallen trees. In your home, however, they can be destructive creatures that can weaken structures and damage foundations.

There are three main types of termites in the US:

  • Formosan Subterranean Termites
  • Native Subterranean Termites
  • Drywood Termites

Native subterranean termites eat everything from paper to cotton to wood. Because of their biology, they rely on microbes to help digest cellulose, so they are drawn to areas with rotting wood, such as mulch and … Read Full Post »

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Buying A Home? Termite Red Flags To Look For

. Posted by in • San Antonio
termites damage to home

There are so many details that go into finding the right home:

  • What neighborhood you’d like to live in?
  • Does the size and layout of the house suit your family?
  • What is your budget?
  • How is the condition of the home?

What if you got all the way through the process, only to find that your dream home has termites?

Termites aren’t always a deal-breaker when it comes to buying a home — Knowing the extent of the infestation and damage are key factors.

Termite Red Flags You Should Know.

Subterranean termites are the most commonly found termite in the San Antonio metropolitan area. Drywood termites and Formosan termites are occasionally detected as well, but Subterranean termites are the main offenders in the area. As the name implies, subterranean termites live below ground. Like other termites, they consume materials with cellulose, such as wood and paper. And they can cause lots of damage in a short amount of … Read Full Post »

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