ABC Blog
Choose a City

Termites Never Sleep

. Posted by in • Bryan-College Station
termite droppings

They prefer to eat

We’ve all wrestled with big questions like “What is the meaning of life?” and “Why are we here?” For worker termites, both of these queries have an identical answer: to eat wood. In fact, termites are so single-mindedly devoted to this task that they can’t be bothered to sleep in between meals. If you thought your kids were eating you out of house and home, just wait until you learn about these insect pests.

Programmed to Work

The sad truth is that termites simply aren’t programmed to sleep. Instead, they’re programmed to work. The brains of worker termites are far simpler than ours, so they don’t require as much repair and refreshment as those of higher-order animals. Despite the fact that they’re “always on,” termites actually live pretty long for insects—between two and three years for a standard worker.

As long as they’re alive, termites continue to gnaw their way … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

Don’t Set the Table for Termites

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth

Dallas pest control tips to eliminate termite infestations

You may be welcoming termites and other pests into your home without even knowing it. Termites cause over $5 billion in property damage each year. It’s always smart to get a regular pest inspection, but there are other things you can do to discourage an infestation as well. Here are some effective pest control tips to help you stop setting the table for termites.

Stop Piling Mulch Near Your Home

Mulch is heaven to termites. It’s a source of food and provides a moist environment where termites thrive. When mulch is near your foundation it acts as a bridge that welcomes the pests into your house. If you must use mulch, keep it piled well below the siding or wood construction. It may be a good idea to use gravel as an alternative to mulch to avoid the inadvertent luring of termites.

Remove Tree Stumps

When dead … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

PestWorld for Kids

. Posted by in • San Antonio

Kids are either fascinated or grossed out by bugs. Whatever category your children fall into, PestWorld is a great website to educate them about how bugs affect people’s daily lives. From educational information to games, this interactive hub introduces kids to the basics of pest control and helps them learn more about the “creepy crawlies” they share the world with.

Pest Guide

A comprehensive list of common pests gives kids all kinds of information about how bugs adapt to living in different conditions, including how and why they take up residence in homes. With resources such as “Amazing Pest Facts” and complete information sheets, kids can learn about bugs such as ants, bees, cockroaches, dust mites, pill bugs and wasps, along with other potential pests, including gophers, mice and voles. The guide demystifies critters that can sometimes be startling or scary by providing useful information for kids and adults alike.

Games & Entertainment

For … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

The Texas A&M “Bug Bytes” Podcast

. Posted by in • Bryan-College Station

Bugs are more interesting than you ever imagined.

At least 50,000 people listen to the “Bug Bytes” podcast from Texas A&M University. The entomology department in College Station produces this insightful program about the bizarre world of insects. It explores strange bug habits, odd uses for insects and related human culture. “Bug Bytes” offers a fun way to learn more about these fascinating creatures.

Diverse Topics

The content of this podcast ranges from practical to amusing. For example, one episode looked at the reasons why certain people choose to eat insects. Other programs have compared different repellents, discussed insect bathing techniques or examined bugs that glow. This podcast also explores arthropod influences on human creations, such as architecture and technology.

The hosts interview entomology experts from time to time. In April 2011, “Bug Bytes” featured a conversation with the director of a documentary on honeybees. The program briefly examined colony collapse disorder, an unexplained … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

National Pest Management Month Recognizes the Importance of the Pest Management Industry

. Posted by in • Bryan-College Station

This Month, Remember Your Friendly Pest Control Specialist

From Alaska to Florida, the nation’s pest control professionals work tirelessly to keep Americans’ homes and gardens free of unwanted pests. These specialists have dedicated their careers to the cause, so the least we can do is take our hats off to them with a month-long celebration known as National Pest Management Month. Next time you call our crew members to your house, take a moment to thank them for their hard work.

What Is National Pest Management Month?

National Pest Management Month is a month-long event that recognizes the often-unheralded contributions of the country’s pest management specialists. The centerpiece of the event was a convention in Washington, D.C., in which hundreds of pest control professionals met with lawmakers and lobbyists to stress the importance of the industry. By all accounts, the event—held in the middle of March—was a smashing success.

Scary Facts About Everyday Pests

Homeowners … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

Keeping Creepy Crawlies out of Your Garden

. Posted by in • Austin

As the Austin area begins to see hotter spring temperatures, many homeowners are heading outside to begin work in their gardens. Before you hit the garden this year, take some time to familiarize yourself with the scorpion, a fairly common garden pest. If you aren’t on the lookout for them, startled scorpions may sting and put a serious damper on your gardening day.

Who’s Creeping and Crawling in Your Garden?

Scorpions have a bad reputation due to their nasty sting and frightening pincers. The scorpions found in Texas don’t cause severe allergic reactions in most people, but they can cause a great deal of discomfort. Of course, individuals who are sensitive to other natural toxins may suffer from more severe symptoms if stung by a scorpion. Thankfully, controlling these pests is easy so long as you can identify them and create a management plan for your space.

Identifying pests is the first step … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

Library Menaces: Are Insects Destroying Your Books?

. Posted by in • San Antonio

Bugs that like to feast on books could be making a meal of your San Antonio library.

For those who love to read and collect books, every volume is precious. Whether they’re well-worn modern paperbacks or stunning leather-bound antiques, keeping books in top condition is important when maintaining your personal library. Unfortunately, there are pests that enjoy books just as much as you do—except they enjoy literary treasures for eating, not reading.

Common library pests include cockroaches, silverfish, beetles, booklice and even termites. Each likes to dine on different parts of books. Infestations of any of these can cause a great deal of damage if not identified and dealt with quickly. Pests see books as sources of food and won’t hesitate to nibble on or burrow through the volumes that you’ve worked so hard to collect.

Cockroaches like to munch on cloth bindings and the edges of pages, leaving behind light patches and … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a. . . Bug Bomb?

. Posted by in • Austin

Are you ready for bug bombs? No, we’re not talking about the insecticide foggers that kill every bug in an enclosed room. These bug bombs are actually made of bugs, but they aren’t just any bugs—they’re bugs with voracious appetites for specific unwanted weeds. The future of biocontrol weed management may involve aerial attacks that drop “bombs” filled with hordes of flea beetles or other beneficial insects on the vegetation below.

The idea was presented in a slide show by West Virginia University entomologist Yong-Lak Park at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America held in Austin, Texas. It depicted unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, armed with biocontrol payloads that can bombard crops, fields and other open areas with hungry bugs ready to turn weeds on the ground into their own private buffets.

Bug Bomb Pros and Cons

The concept of biocontrol isn’t new. Introducing bugs to kill other bugs … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

The Worst Pest in San Antonio: Crazy Ants, Scorpions or Bedbugs?

. Posted by in , • San Antonio

Nobody roots for these contenders

The Hill Country landscape makes living in San Antonio a joy, and its beautiful vistas are filled with unique ecosystems. The critters and insects that inhabit these areas are good at figuring out that your home is a safer haven than their natural habitat. Of all the little invaders that sneak into the house, there are three that cause the most concern. It’s hard to pick the worst, but these are the top contenders.

Their Name Is Insane

They run like tiny race horses with spindly legs and long antennae, but nothing about crazy ants makes them worth cheering across the finish line. These pests are displacing fire ants throughout the area with sheer numbers. Each colony harbors millions of ants, and their voracious foraging includes anything that carries electricity. These frenzied insects ruin residential wiring, overrun computer equipment and short-circuit communication systems. Crazy ants prey on beneficial … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed

As the Weather Warms, the Bugs Return

. Posted by in , • San Antonio

Spring into…pest control?

Spring is a wonderful time in the San Antonio area. As the threat of frost and ice diminishes, locals emerge from their slumber and actually use their lawns, gardens and porches as they’re intended. Unfortunately, humans and pets aren’t the only creatures that look forward to spring. Much to the chagrin of local homeowners, a range of pesky bugs and other pests thrive in warmer weather.

Fire and Carpenter Ants

Our part of the world is home to several species of ants. These critters form massive colonies in the ground near our homes and in our gardens, and they’re not deterred by colder weather. That said, they tend to become dormant during cold snaps. Once the weather warms for good, you’ll see these critters building mounds near your home. Over time, they could cause structural problems for your home or outbuildings and pose stinging threats to pets and children.

Paper Wasps

Most … Read Full Post »

Comments Closed