Help! Why Are There So Many Ant Hills in My Yard?
There’s nothing like spending a relaxing summer evening in the yard: tossing a ball with your loved ones, playing fetch with the dog, and soaking up the long days, warm air, and the intoxicating scent of your freshly cut, perfectly manicured lawn. But wait, what’s that odd little lump in the grass? And what’s that crawling up your leg?
As the soft ground and domed ceiling of an ant hill begin to give way, out come hundreds of workers, prepared to defend their home from anyone or anything, including you, your children, or your pets!
Not only are these little arthropods a nuisance to humans and pets, but they can also cause severe damage to your yard, specifically lawns and gardens. As ant hills dry out and disrupt the soil beneath your previously lush lawn and healthy garden, you’ll notice uneven ground, dying vegetation, and an unsightly, unkempt appearance. Additionally, ants may attract other pests such as aphids, causing further damage that could easily ruin your annual backyard harvest!
In this article, we’ll go over why there are ant hills in your yard, why there are so many, and what’s going on inside of them. Further, we’ll go over some ant exterminator methods of what you can do to evict these pesky insects from your yard.
Why Are There So Many Ant Hills in My Yard?
Even one ant hill in your lawn or garden can be a nuisance, let alone multiple! So if at first you notice a single, don’t be surprised when other hills begin to pop up throughout your yard.
The primary reason you may find anthills appearing in your yard is due to access to resources required to live and reproduce. You’ll likely notice the appearance of ant hills if your yard has regular access to:
- Water
- Food sources
- Preferred soil conditions
As stated previously, ants tend to settle in areas with close access to essential resources, namely food and water. Reliable sources of water often include
- Standing water
- Bird baths
- Fountains
- Leaking pipes
Next, ants require a constant source of food to survive, multiply, and satisfy the needs of their growing colony. Ants are omnivorous, eating nearly anything that supplies nutrients, such as
- Fruits
- Saps
- Living or deceased invertebrates
- Insect eggs
- Honeydew produced by aphids
Additionally, ants will snack on any such items they can find, wherever they can acquire them, whether throughout your yard, in your garbage cans, or in your home.
Lastly, ants prefer settling in soil with conditions that allow for efficient building. These preferred conditions are dry, well-drained, sandy soil that is relatively loose and experiences hours of direct sunlight throughout the day.
If you’ve been struggling with numerous ant hills on your property, the odds are that your yard satisfies all of the above conditions and then some. As ants move in, their scents attract additional ants, leading to a large, interconnected web of ant hills and a mass infestation.
How Do I Treat an Ant Hill in My Yard?
If you’re tired of tripping over anthills while playing with your kids or pets in the yard, there’s some good news: there are several quick, easy, and effective methods to get rid of ants. While some methods are safer than others for use around pets and small children, several exist, and all can be accomplished with nothing more than some over-the-counter/household supplies.
One of the safest and least damaging methods of treating an anthill is to use straight boiling water. While this method requires some laborious and time-consuming effort to boil up to three gallons of water, it’s entirely free, contains no harmful chemicals or pesticides, and provides immediate results. However, boiling water often will not kill an entire colony, only those ants residing directly beneath the ant hill.
Another method of treatment is using various spices that ants find unappealing. Spices such as cinnamon, black pepper, bay leaves, cayenne pepper, and cloves are some of the primary scents that ants cannot tolerate. Creating a mixture of water and any one of these spices to soak the anthill with will quickly make their home uninhabitable, forcing them to migrate elsewhere. While this method will force ants to move, they may simply migrate to another location on your property, failing to solve the issue at hand.
Other non-toxic methods include vinegar and water soaks, as well as sprinkling diatomaceous earth around the colony's entrance. This mixture of fossilized phytoplankton and algae literally sucks the life from the anthill, absorbing any moisture in the dirt or the ants themselves, killing any ants that come into contact with the substance.
More toxic yet highly effective methods include boric acid/sugar treatments and insecticides. Mixing boric acid and sugar with a hint of water creates an irresistible paste that ants will rush towards and bring back into the colony, unknowingly poisoning the other workers and queen. These methods are often the last resort in the event of a rampant infestation.
In the event that you’d rather leave the exterminating to a professional, most pest experts can easily and efficiently eradicate ant infestations in as little as a day.
Should You Get Rid of Ant Hills on Your Lawn?
In general, ants are essential for the health of your yard. They’ll aerate and fertilize your soil, promoting lawn and plant growth. However, there are several factors that cause them to be considered a nuisance pest.
Ants, like most things, are fine in moderation; however, if you’ve noticed even one ant hill in your yard, then there are too many. Ant colonies can severely disrupt the beauty of your yard with their own form of landscaping, negatively impacting your home’s aesthetic.
Ant colonies are also known to farm aphids for their honeydew, increasing the aphid population, which can negatively impact plants and gardens. Additionally, ants dry and disturb the soil, affecting plant life and vegetation.
Lastly, ants can pose an inconvenience to humans and pets. Not only do some species, such as fire ants, have the capacity to bite and sting, but they also won’t hesitate to migrate into your home when resources are scarce outdoors.
So should you remove ant hills? By that point, the ant population has already skyrocketed to the point of infestation. If they affect your landscaping and ability to enjoy your yard, feel free to treat the affected areas and reclaim your property.
What Happens Inside an Ant Hill?
In simple terms, ant hills are the entrance and exit of the shelter that exists beneath the mound, often in the form of an intricate tunnel system snaking its way through the dirt. Colonies require shelter to protect the queen and her larvae, allowing the colony to grow efficiently and produce additional workers.
The ant hill is the result of hundreds to thousands of worker ants digging their tunnels and bringing dirt, rocks, sediment, and plant material to the surface. Ant hills do an excellent job of regulating the temperature inside the shelter and protecting the colony from weather conditions and predators.
So with the information gathered today, why are there so many ant hills in your yard? Your yard likely has the perfect elements necessary for the survival and reproduction of ants. From excellent soil conditions to access to food and water, your yard features everything necessary to preserve and expand the colony.
As the colony grows, so does the underground shelter system and the number of entrances and exits (i.e., the ant hills).
While ants are actually beneficial for your yard in moderation, the sight of ant hills signals an infestation; and if you’re unhappy with their unattractive appearance and the sheer volume of ants in your yard, don’t hesitate to attempt one of the previously outlined treatment methods or get ahold of your local pest experts below.
What Are Earwigs? Do They Bite?
Perhaps you’ve heard the wives' tales of dangerous, ear-dwelling insects equipped with large pincers and an affinity for human brains? Unfortunately, earwigs are known more for their reputation than their actual nature, once thought to crawl inside the ears of unsuspecting sleepers, lay their eggs, and feed on your brains!
Fortunately, these horror-movie-esque stories are fictional, for earwigs are nothing more than harmless, albeit frightening-looking home and garden pests. While they tend to snack on many bugs in PA, making them helpful, they can also wreak havoc on garden vegetation.
Earwigs are a common pest throughout North America and the rest of the globe. These little insects commonly invoke fear due to the large, pincer-like “cerci,” or appendages, located at the rear of their abdomens, though they’re generally harmless to humans and pets.
In the following article, we’ll answer several questions regarding Earwigs, from what they are and whether they’re dangerous to the necessary steps to get rid of them.
What Are Earwigs?
Earwigs are a generally harmless insect of the Dermaptera order, meaning “skin wing,” due to the rarely used, ornate flight wings located beneath their tough, leathery forewings.
To answer your first burning question, yes Earwigs can fly, though flight is rarely seen due to their preference for scurrying across the ground. Additionally, Earwigs are extremely clumsy creatures, generally only flying very short distances from extreme heights to avoid predators.
The name “Earwig” has several suspected roots, though entomologists suggest that the name originates from the ear-like appearance of their flight wings when fully unfolded. Contrary to popular belief, the name likely has nothing to do with the falsified horror stories of the insect burrowing into ears!
These insects are generally harmless despite their menacing appearance and nasty reputation. While several species of Earwigs exist, they all share the same relative characteristics. Earwigs are long, narrow, and flat, allowing them to burrow into small crevices, underneath bark, under leaves, and other tight fits that other similar-sized insects wouldn't dare travel into.
Additionally, Earwigs feature two large antennae, six legs, and a pair of menacing, pincer-like appendages on their abdomen, referred to as “cerci.” These appendages are the root of their colloquial nickname “pincher bug,” though they aren't likely to pinch humans or pets. Primarily, Earwigs use their cerci to fight off predators and capture prey. The size and shape of an Earwig’s cerci is one of the key differences between males and females, with male Earwigs featuring curved cerci and females featuring straight appendages.
Are They Harmful to Humans and Animals?
Earwigs are not generally harmful to you, your children, or your pets. However, these little invertebrates have a nasty reputation, primarily due to their name and colloquial nickname, though they’ve hardly been found in ears or pinching humans.
Earwigs spend the majority of their time hiding in cracks, crevices, under leaves, or other damp, dark hiding places. They tend only to expose themselves while hunting in the evening, and even in the rare chance that you come across one, they aren't likely to turn their pincers in your direction. Even if an Earwig sets its cerci on your flesh, these appendages are not venomous and will cause no lingering side effects.
While not directly harmful to humans and animals, Earwigs often threaten gardens and other vegetation, leading to indirect harm due to loss of harvest. While this won’t be harmful to the majority, Earwigs can put a serious dent in production from your yearly garden!
What Attracts Earwigs to Your House?
Like most nuisance pests, Earwigs migrate to areas where their basic necessities can be found, such as food, water, and shelter; they also don’t shy away from human dwellings. Additionally, Earwigs are attracted to the light, and considering they’re nocturnal, they will often end up traveling to porch lights and other illuminated areas of your home.
Earwigs are omnivorous, so they’ll consume practically anything that suits their needs, including
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Flowers
- Vegetation
- Decaying organic material
- Other Insects
For this reason, Earwigs are often found in homes and gardens where vegetation and other invertebrates can be found.
Earwigs tend to like dark, damp dwellings to reside; therefore, basements, pipes, and any crack or crevice just large enough to house the insect is fair game. Earwigs can also be found around sinks, in bathrooms, and any other areas with an abundance of moisture.
Luckily, because Earwigs are relatively anti-social and do not exist in colonies with a queen, they’re generally found individually and rarely cause infestations.
How Do You Get Rid of Earwigs?
The most effective way to control an Earwig infestation in and around your home is to prevent them from wanting to enter in the first place. The most effective means of doing so is to rid your home of potential hiding places, such as cracks, crevices, and dark, damp locations.
You can take several steps in your yard to minimize the Earwig population. This consists of:
- Clearing felled timbers, rotting wood, and other organic debris
- Moving wood piles away from the foundation and siding
- Creating a moisture-free zone that extends roughly a foot out from your home’s foundation
- Trimming trees that cast shade onto your home
Around your home’s exterior, a similar series of steps can be taken, including:
- Closing possible entry points
- Drying moisture-prone basements, bathrooms, and laundry rooms
- Directing exterior lighting onto your home, rather than onto landscaping
- Ensuring drains are properly functioning
- Watering the lawn/plants in the early morning to ensure ample time to dry during the day
If these methods don’t seem to rid your home of Earwigs, several other steps can be taken to eradicate your home’s Earwig population. The following methods are all insecticides, though some are much more toxic than others and should be used with extreme caution.
On the non-toxic side, a 50/50 mixture of rubbing alcohol and water can help to protect your plants from Earwigs and kill the pests on sight. Spraying a 50/50 mixture of dish soap and water has a similar effect and is most effective when sprayed in areas where Earwigs are commonly found. Diatomaceous earth is another excellent non-toxic treatment; when sprinkled around the base of plants and in areas where Earwigs are commonly seen, this fossilized algae acts as an abrasive to scratch their soft body parts and draw out moisture, causing death by dehydration.
On the toxic end of the spectrum, chemicals such as boric acid and compatible pesticides can effectively kill current pests and prevent others from returning. Please note, chemicals and pesticides are often harmful to pets and humans, so caution is always advised when employing chemical treatments.
If all else fails, don’t hesitate to call your local pest specialists! Earwig infestations can commonly be handled with proper preparation and treatments.
Concluding Thoughts
So are Earwigs truly as frightening and dangerous as their appearance and reputation suggest? Of course not. Earwigs won’t crawl in your ears to lay eggs or eat your brains like a crazed zombie.
Earwigs are small invertebrates of the Dermaptera order. They’re generally harmless to all humans and pets, and while they can pinch and fly, they rarely engage in either and are non-venomous. So when it comes to your property, they won’t cause any major damage, though they may feed on gardens and vegetation.
Eradicating them is as simple as making your home less hospitable and treating them with your choice of chemical or non-toxic solutions. And if the above-outlined treatments don’t work, don’t hesitate to contact a certified pest control specialist for professional assistance.
What is a Centipede and Should I Worry If I See One?
What has hundreds of pairs of legs, a long, segmented arthropodic body, and doesn’t belong inside of your home? If you guessed a millipede… you’re on the right track. But, for the correct answer, look towards their ferocious, venomous cousin: the centipede.
These long, segmented critters often induce fright when found under an overturned rock outdoors, let alone scurrying across your kitchen floor! But should you fear these common bugs in PA, and are they considered pests?
In this article, we’ll outline all of your burning questions about these arthropods.
What Exactly is a Centipede?
Centipedes are a predatory arthropod belonging to the Chilopoda class and Myriapoda phylum, also including millipedes and other segmented, multi-legged arthropods. With a name that directly translates to “100-footed,” centipedes vary greatly in length and leg count depending on the species. Centipedes range between a few millimeters for small species and 12-inches in length for the largest species, with one pair of legs per segment and between 14 to 177 pairs!
Centipedes are also known for being aggressive, carnivorous hunters, featuring sensitive antennae and long, jaw-like venomous claws directly behind their heads known as forcipules. These highly adapted front legs and venom glands can inflict painful bites on unsuspecting children, adults, and pets.
Several species of centipedes exist, with scientists approximating up to 8,000 variations worldwide–of which only 3,000 have been recorded.
A few common species call North America home, and you’ve likely found a few roaming your property.
The four major North American centipedes include:
- The house centipede
- Bark centipede
- Cryptopid centipede
- Scolopendrid “soil” centipede
However, if you’ve recently encountered a centipede darting through your home, it was likely a member of the house centipede variety.
House centipedes can be identified by their 30 long legs, rapid movements, and yellow-gray appearance.
What Do Centipedes Eat?
Centipedes are carnivorous, meaning they primarily eat other living things. But don’t worry, no house centipede will try to snack on you or anyone in your home.
Some larger species of centipedes are ferocious hunters known to prey on insects and small vertebrates. However, house centipedes are relatively small and consume other invertebrates, such as:
- Moths
- Cockroaches
- Bed bugs
- Ants
- Flies
- Spiders
As such, house centipedes are not commonly viewed as significant threats, often consuming most of the other pests in your home. They are, however, often viewed as a nuisance.
So What Are They Doing in My House?
Centipedes are creatures of necessity, often following sources of food and shelter. Considering that centipedes primarily consume other indoor bugs, they’ll often travel to any dark, damp location with an abundance of food, even if that means stepping each of their hundred legs right across the threshold into your home.
Most outdoor centipede species generally lay dormant during the day, residing primarily in:
- Rotting logs
- Under rocks
- Leaf piles
- Other debris
Come nightfall, though, these arthropods spring to life to hunt for prey.
House centipedes are relatively similar, though they trade the leaf litter and wood piles for boxes in the cellar or damp floor drains. Unfortunately, House centipedes are also far less cold-resistant, often preferring the warmth and safety of your heated home to hunt and reproduce.
While not harmful in a traditional sense, even the sight of a centipede in the comfort of your home is often unnerving enough to give us a ring.
Are Centipedes Harmful to my House?
After the initial shock of finding centipedes roaming around your home sets in, you might come up with another question: are these arthropods causing any property damage?
While most household pests pose some threat to your structure or family, centipedes are quite the opposite. Centipedes are carnivorous, specifically insectivores.
This means that instead of chewing on your deck, household framing, cedar siding, or wood floors, centipedes eat the insects that do. For example, centipedes often consume harmful pest insects, such as wool-eating moths, bed bugs, ants, cockroaches, and flies, preventing them from causing further damage to your home and belongings.
Centipedes are also primarily nocturnal, so you’ll likely only see one if you’re up and about in the evening. While not necessarily pests themselves, centipedes aren’t generally a welcome guest in your home, with most classifying them as nuisance pests for their startling appearance, quick movement, secretions, and venomous bite/sting.
Are Centipedes Harmful to Humans? Do They Bite/Sting?
As mentioned, centipedes are not immediately harmful to humans; however, they possess venomous bites that can inflict a painful sting or “bite.” Most larger centipedes can, in fact, puncture human skin, while the majority of house centipedes are too small and weak to do so.
Centipedes produce a cocktail of venom that’s painful rather than dangerous. Pain is usually delivered on a scale, with larger centipedes featuring larger forcibles and more venom. While some bites may be incredibly painful, similar to a bee sting, the venom secreted during a centipede bite is generally not dangerous or harmful to humans.
Side effects of a centipede sting are often localized to the puncture site, including pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness. However, these symptoms traditionally subside after a few hours, leaving no long-lasting side effects.
So are centipedes harmful? In a way, though, they tend to bite infrequently with a venom that’s equal to or lesser in intensity than that of a common honey bee.
How Do I Keep Them Out of the House?
As stated previously, centipedes are creatures of necessity; if your home suits them, they’ll probably move in! The most effective way to prevent centipede infestations, especially house centipedes, is to make your home less inhabitable.
The easiest way to do so is to eliminate their food source and preferred environment, meaning to get rid of your home’s other pests and keep your home dry and well-lit. If these tips don’t work, don’t hesitate to contact one of our qualified pest control experts.
So what have we learned about centipedes?
These little arthropods are tough, effective hunters that spend much of their time dormant. However, when it comes to a food source, they won’t nibble on you or your home; rather, they’d prefer to snack on the pests that have been plaguing your property.
Centipedes love a dark, damp, moist environment, so use caution when cleaning rotten logs, old drains, rocks, and leaf piles. And traditionally, house centipedes are the only Chilopoda you’ll find roaming your living room.
Centipedes can bite; however, they aren't traditionally aggressive towards humans, and bites are rare/not dangerous.
So in closing, are centipedes pests, and should you evict them? Depending on your view of the little arthropods, maybe. While posing little to no immediate threat to humans, pets, or residences, they aren't often welcome due to their frightening appearance and potential to bite.
However, if there’s a large infestation giving you the heebie-jeebies, give a qualified pest specialist a call or contact us below.
Can You Identify Northeastern PA's Noisy Bugs of Summer?
Can you hear the constant humming sound in the late afternoon?
The constant buzzing and zitzing of bugs may seem a little annoying, but the sound and motion create the aura of the summer evening. And while preventative pest control can keep noise at a minimum, some bugs and noises are just a natural part of the PA outdoors.
If you’re from Northeastern PA, you’ve probably recognized these sounds from a few local bugs.
From seasonal cicadas to regular crickets and grasshoppers, here are some of Northeastern PA’s notorious noisy bugs of summer.
Noisy Bugs in Northeastern PA
Cicadas
Cicadas are the loudest noise maker, and they make it impossible to sit outside while you're enjoying the evening night. They are so noisy that they could affect your hearing as well. According to one source, their noises are so loud (120 decibels) that they can harm your hearing.
Sounds shocking. Right?
Fortunately, the chances of hearing damage from a cicada are pretty low since you would need a full-on infestation to reach noise levels that high.
In addition, Brood X, one of the loudest species, only appears every 17 years in Pennsylvania.
You’ll be able to spot them pretty easily too. Cicadas are green and brown with black markings on their body and are 1 to 1.5 inches long. They include four fly wings folded on their back most of the time.
How and why Cicadas make noises.
Male cicadas are the primary noise makers, and they do it for a mating call or to send a distress call to others while keeping off other males. Their noises are primarily heard in the daytime, but they don't make noises in the dark.
While bugs rub their body each other to make noises, cicadas make noises with an organ called the tymbals, located on their abdomen. In addition, every male cicada includes the round ridged membrane on its back, and the side surface of the abdominal section produces the clicking sound.
Crickets
Crickets are similar to grasshoppers, and they also produce high-pitched sounds. They are being found all over the world except in the cold regions, especially in NEPA.
Crickets are nocturnal, and they love to fly in warm weather, which makes them come out during the summer. While loud, they are usually pretty unnoticeable unless you’re dealing with a heavy infestation, which would make it difficult for you to sleep at night.
How and why Crickets make noises.
Crickets are the nighttime songsters. They produce high-pitched sounds for mating, and they rub their wings on each other to generate sound. This high-pitched sound is called stridulation
Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers are the most common insect all over the world. Although Grasshoppers are not that loud of noise makers, you can probably spot their loud-pitched chirps at night if you listen closely enough. They mainly hatch in the spring and early summer, and the adult ones are the grasshoppers in PA seen in the summer.
How and why Grasshoppers make noises.
Grasshoppers make noises to attract females and to get rid of other males.
Their hind legs include different pegs inside, and they rub those against wings to create their signature chirp. Some species also make noises using only their hind wings.
Katydids
Katydids, otherwise known as bush crickets or long-horned grasshoppers, have a green and leaf-like appearance, large hind legs, and long antennae. With over 8000 species, these delicate bugs are known for their purring or buzzing sound, which is actually quite rhythmic and soothing.
How and why Katydids make noises.
The male katydids make unique mating noises, ranging from loud and striking to low and buzzing.
The sound of Katydids is similar to the crickets; they also stridulate the sound. Sometimes they strike buzzing, drawn-out and softer notes as well.
Bees
There are over 437 species of bees in Pennsylvania, including ground bees, and they are pretty recognizable for their buzzing sound that is mostly audible at a close range. Bees are important for pollination and agriculture and should never be swatted, killed, or sprayed with a pesticide.
How and why Bees make noises.
Bees become noisy bugs in the summer to attract their mates. Bees have different reasons for buzzing, as some might buzz around flowers when pollen gets attached to their bodies.
Bees generate noise through the vibration of their wings and rapid beating.
Large bees also produce low-pitched sounds because of their large body and wings.
Despite the summer invasion and noise they make, these bugs are harmless and help the ecological environment of Pennsylvania thrive. Besides, it’s these sounds that make NEPA feel like home.
Should Pennsylvania Watch Out For The Joro Spider?
Arachnophobia is labeled an irrational fear because most spiders are actually incredibly harmless. In fact, lots of ancient cultures, such as China and India, generally viewed spiders as benevolent creatures that brought good luck to homes.
Due to their predation of pests, one could even say that spiders were the original pest control experts!
However, this doesn’t mean that spiders can’t be dangerous, annoying, or invasive.
Over the years, as a PA resident, you’ve probably dealt with spiders, such as the PA garden spider and other orb-weavers. Thankfully, most orb-weaver species are not harmful to humans and may even do a good job cleaning up your property of other unwanted pests.
One orb weaver that’s gotten a lot of attention over the past few years is the Joro Spider. This bright yellow spider dawns an intimidating appearance, though it’s almost entirely harmless. So with this in mind, let’s discuss the Joro Spider and what you need to watch out for if you live in Pennsylvania.
What is the Joro Spider?
The Joro Spider is a species of orb-weaver spiders that originates in east Asia, particularly Japan and China. The female Joro Spider is most recognizable for its bright yellow appearance and blue/green stripes on its dorsum. The female can grow to around 4” long and create webs around 3” wide and 10” deep.
On the other hand, the male Joro spider only grows to 0.3” wide, is brown, and is much less intimidating than the female Joro.
While we don’t know how the Joro spider ended up in the United States, it’s certainly not native to the United States. As a result, this makes these creatures invasive to surrounding habitats.
The first Joro Spider was spotted in the US in 2014 in Georgia. Since then, it has migrated approximately 100 miles north to states like South and North Carolina.
The Joro Spider can travel through wind using its silk or by attaching itself to other pests. The Joro Spider will most likely continue its migration outward unless it’s met by a fierce predator.
As a final note, the Joro spider gets its name from Japanese folklore and is based on a half-woman, half-spider that was beautiful but would eat young men.
Are Joro Spiders Harmful?
Thankfully, it’s safe to say Joro Spiders won’t be killing anyone soon since their venom is not toxic to anyone without an allergy. Even then, their venom is still only mildly toxic and would not even require much medical care, if any.
Joro Spiders are also not toxic to pets or plants as well. There is no evidence that they are harmful to their surrounding environment or ecosystem.
On the other hand, Joro Spiders feed on pests like stink bugs and mosquitos, making them effective pest control deputies. So in some sense, Joro Spiders are very beneficial for homes and ecosystems.
However, Joro Spider nets could be considered annoying, especially if you find an infestation on your property. Signs of an infestation will include lots of heavy webbing.
Fortunately, moving these pests away from your property is easy and harmless and doesn’t need to involve killing these creatures.
Is the Joro Spider a Threat to PA?
The Joro Spider is not a threat to PA forests or residents. Since Joro Spiders are still confined to a few states in the southeast, they would take years to migrate to Pennsylvania.
However, even if Joro Spiders did migrate this way, there’s no evidence they would cause any harm to local ecosystems or pose a threat to residents. As such, PA residents have nothing to fear from these beautiful bugs.
What to Do if You See a Joro Spider
If you see a Joro Spider, you don’t need to do anything. These creatures are totally harmless and are an excellent way to get rid of stink bugs and keep other pests away from your property.
Not all invasive species are considered dangerous or harmful. The Joro Spider is one of these creatures, and fortunately, PA residents have nothing to fear when dealing with these spiders, whether it’s now or in the future.
7 Signs You Have a Pest Infestation and What To Do
Don’t judge a book by its cover. Typically this idiom is used positively to halt judgment on a person or situation before learning the facts. But, unfortunately, pest infestations can often be more serious than we think.
From holes in your home’s frame caused by termites to rodents that hide in crawl spaces, it can be difficult to gauge how serious a pest infestation is.
For this reason, we’ve compiled this list of seven essential signs that you may be dealing with a pest infestation and need to act quickly.
1. You Actively Spot Pests
The most obvious sign you may be dealing with an infestation is spotting a rodent or pest in plain sight. While it’s common to spot a rodent now and then, especially during the winter, spotting multiple rodents at different points should trigger alarm bells.
Furthermore, spotting different pests like termites, cockroaches, gypsy moths, and bed bugs should trigger immediate action. Pests like these often are not isolated like rodents and typically travel in groups, warning you that you may have an infestation.
2. Dead Bugs
If you don’t spot active pests in your home but keep finding dead ones, you probably have a small infestation hiding behind your walls. Bed bug shells and cockroach shells from molting could also be a major sign of an infestation. If you spot frequent dead bugs or foreign pests in your home, contact an exterminator quickly.
3. Droppings
Cockroach and rodent droppings are very commonly found in dark places, such as basements, cabinets, and out-of-the-way places. In addition, droppings could be an early warning sign of termites. If you spot any droppings from a pest, call a pest control expert immediately. Pest droppings are often toxic so don’t clean any droppings without proper gloves and cleaning products.
4. Nests
Rodents and other pests can make nests out of brown material found inside and outside your home. For example, rodents often make nests in basements and small spaces using chewed-up newspaper and cardboard rippings.
Similarly, clogged gutters with leaves and other foliage could be a hotspot for rodent nests, so get your gutters cleaned and inspected annually.
5. Chewed Wires and Objects
Pennsylvania rodents especially love to chew on wires and garbage to keep their teeth sharpened. So inspect areas around your home for any holes in your walls, drop ceilings, chewed-up garbage, or damaged electrical wiring.
6. Awful Smells
Insect and rat droppings could carry an awful smell and alert you to any possible infestations. In addition, foul smells from wet areas in your home could indicate the presence of mold and other hazardous materials that attract pests like cockroaches that feed on the organic matter, which turns to mold.
7. Infestations Next Door
Unfortunately, while infestations may develop in homes or apartments, they can quickly spread to nearby areas. For this reason, you often hear of apartments and commercial buildings in cities that constantly deal with cockroaches.
Even if you eliminate the problem in one area of the property, it’s nearly impossible to eliminate a pest infestation across an entire building without properly quarantining and treating the entire property.
In addition, many pests like rodents will take shelter in warm areas wherever an opening is found, so they could quickly spread to many homes on your block or apartments in your building.
So the next time you think you’ve spotted an infestation, ask your neighbors or other tenants if they’ve spotted any signs. This will confirm whether or not you are dealing with an infestation.
What to Do if You Have a Pest Infestation
If you spot a pest infestation in your home, contact a qualified pest control specialist immediately.
A liquid spray solution like Raid and other traps may be effective in small infestations but often don’t address the root problem.
Furthermore, by implementing proper prevention methods, you could combat a current infestation and prevent new ones from occurring. For example, you can prevent pests through the following methods:
- Sealing off any holes or areas where pests can enter with spray foam insulation and weatherstripping.
- Cleaning up any garbage outside, including leaf piles that attract beetles that rodents snack on.
- Routinely clean your home, including hard-to-reach areas behind furniture and tight enclosures.
- Running a dehumidifier to prevent centipedes, snails, and other creatures that thrive in moist environments.
- Storing all food and edible material in airtight containers to prevent bugs.
- Repair any leaking equipment, such as faucets and pipes.
If you’re dealing with a pest infestation, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone. At Pest Rangers, we offer pest removal services with quick results and monthly maintenance plans to keep your home pest-free.
If you have spotted any of the signs above and fear you have an infestation, call us at 570-826-1114 or fill out the form in the upper right corner to schedule an appointment.
What Should I Expect After A Pest Control Treatment
The most important component of pest control is prevention. Luckily, even when proper prevention measures are not implemented, pest control treatment can be an effective strategy to rid your home of pests.
Pest control treatment is safe and relatively quick. For added benefit, many companies even offer pest preventative packages and warranties to cover you, so you don’t have to dole out hundreds or thousands of dollars to get rid of an infestation.
Perhaps the number one source of confusion and question among many customers is what happens after pest control treatment. Since pest control treatment ranges between pests, different steps might need to be taken, and results vary. Additionally, specific procedures will need to be followed to ensure the safety of you and your home.
What consists of a pest control treatment?
Pest control treatment involves various strategies to eliminate a pest infestation and erect measures to prevent further infestation. For example, rodent prevention and elimination often involve using traps and cleaning up any sources of food to prevent rodents from reappearing in your home. On the other hand, termite treatment may involve a liquid insecticide solution designed to kill termites as they cross into your home.
Be sure to research different pest control companies to gain a better understanding of what methods and procedures they use to eliminate different pests
How long does it take to see results after pest control treatment?
Results from pest control treatment differ by pest control method. For example, residents will experience immediate results from our bed bug control methods, which involve literally baking bed bugs until they die.
On the other hand, rodent and cockroach infestations could take days to weeks to see noticeable improvement as traps and proper cleaning are essential to eliminating these pests for good.
For the most part, pest control methods could deliver results in as little as one to two hours to a few weeks for pests that are burrowed deep inside your home.
Why do I see pests after treatment?
It’s common to see pests after treatment, which is usually a sign that the treatment is working. Often, bugs will come out of hiding once they are sprayed with a liquid solution because they are attempting to escape the source and will soon die.
Furthermore, pests like cockroaches may start appearing during the daytime in open light because their habitat is disturbed by the treatment solution, and they are confused. So don’t be alarmed if you start seeing more pests after treatment!
Will I see lots of dead bugs after a treatment?
It’s very common to see dead bugs and pests after treatment. The time frame of how long you will continue to see dead pests will depend on the treatment solution. For example, liquid treatment applied to your home's barrier to kill termites infestations will require them to come in contact with the solution to be eliminated.
Additionally, if your pest control partner uses traps and other preventative measures, this timeframe could continue for a few weeks until the infestation is eliminated.
How long should I wait to clean my home after pest control?
Generally, homeowners are recommended to wait to clean their home for up to five days after treatment. We don’t recommend mopping or applying water to any surfaces until any liquid solution has properly dried and evaporated by this point. Furthermore, we might recommend you wait for two weeks for any deep cleaning and stick to surface level cleaning in the meantime if an insecticide has been applied.
During this time, be sure to dispose of any possibly contaminated foods and wet materials, like paper towels and garbage. Additionally, inspect all furniture and clothing to determine whether or not any liquid solution has come in contact with them and whether they are safe to use.
In addition, monitor you and your pet’s health to determine if you’ve come in incidental contact with any harmful solutions. Look for red eyes, irritated skin, and more serious symptoms, such as trouble breathing, and seek medical treatment immediately.
How do I keep pests from coming back?
- Seal off any gaps or cracks where pests enter your home.
- Clean up any garbage or clutter that attracts bugs in PA.
- Store food in an air-sealed container.
- Store garbage in a proper bin with the lid on.
- Keep floors and surfaces cleaned and sanitized.
Conclusion
The last thing any homeowner wants is to call their local pest control for an infestation. However, you can rest safe knowing the team at Pest Rangers can treat any local infestation and eliminate the problem when that time comes.
In addition, we offer maintenance and warranty programs to ensure your house is pest free for a long-time.
Call us at 570-826-1114 or schedule your quote online to purchase your monthly protection plan or schedule a service. We’ll take care of any pests so that you can live comfortably again.
Be On The Look Out For Spotted Lanternfly Eggs
Spotted lanternflies are a native species to Asia, which have become invasive to Pennsylvania and other parts of North America over the last eight years.
As of March of 2022, 45 counties in Pennsylvania are now under a spotted lanternfly quarantine to corral the spread of spotted lanternflies across the region.
While these exotic bugs may not be directly toxic to humans, they can drastically impact one’s quality of life and ruin their landscaping.
For this reason, if you see a spotted lanternfly infiltration or spotted lanternfly eggs, it’s vital that you call 1-888-4BADFLY or report it online using this tool.
To help you learn more about spotted lanternflies and to prevent an infestation in your area, we’ve prepared this brief guide to help you correctly identify spotted lanternflies and lanternfly eggs.
Are spotted lanternflies harmful?
Thankfully, spotted lanternflies are not harmful to humans, and most do not bite. However, spotted lanternfly infestations can be devastating to trees and local foliage.
For example, spotted lanternflies can cause the following damage to trees, foliage, and vegetables, including:
- Dieback
- Wilting
- Sap excretion
- Mold and fungi growth
This mold and fungi growth is not harmful to humans, and there are no reported cases of spotted lanternflies completely killing trees.
On the other hand, this doesn’t mean that spotted lanternflies are harmless. Spotted lanternflies release a sugary substance known as honeydew after they feed that can coat your foliage, deck, and anything you have in the yard. While this honeydew is not toxic, it can be very difficult to clean and ruin those nice PA summer days we all look forward to.
As a side note, there is no evidence to suggest that spotted lanternflies are harmful to pets, though some people suggest they may cause vomiting. Birds tend to avoid these creatures, and so should your pets to be safe.
Residents can sway spotted lanternflies, though this is very difficult if you’re trying to control an entire infestation. For this reason, it’s critical to stop an infestation before it occurs by properly identifying their eggs and learning how to safely remove them from trees and other areas.
How to identify spotted lanternfly eggs
Spotted lanternfly eggs are typically flat white or brownish deposits found on trees about 1.5-inches long. These eggs can range in appearance, depending on whether or not they are covered with a hard substance.
Typically, egg deposits consist of a row of raised eggs that are jagged or smoothed, depending on if the mother covers them before the next season.
The mother attempts to cover the eggs to give them better protection against the harsh winters. However, if their habitats are disturbed, they may not have time to cover the eggs.
Older eggs will be drier than fresh eggs, and egg deposits could still be left on the tree after lanternflies have hatched. Observe the appearance and determine whether the egg deposits are excessively cracked or have emergency holes pushed through them.
As a precaution, report any spotted lanternfly eggs and remove them, regardless of whether you believe they’ve already hatched.
How can you remove spotted lanternfly eggs?
If you spot a lanternfly egg deposit, you can scrape them into a plastic ziplock bag or waste container containing rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer and enclose the container to ensure the eggs don’t hatch.
Use a putty knife or flat tool to scrape the eggs into the bag.
In addition, some insecticides containing ovicides have shown promise in combating lanternfly eggs. For example, Damoil, JMS Stylet, and Lesco Horticultural oils have shown great promise in combating spotted lanternfly eggs when applied at a concentration of 3%.
When do spotted lanternflies lay eggs?
Generally, spotted lanternflies lay eggs during the late summer months and early fall, beginning in September. In addition to trees, spotted lanternflies lay eggs on all flat surfaces, which could include branches, rocks, your deck, or any sort of flat equipment in your yard.
When do spotted lanternflies hatch?
Spotted lanternflies hatch in mid-May, which provides homeowners and residents plenty of time to remove existing eggs and take proper precautions before they hatch. They are one of many bugs in PA you should look out for when getting your home and yard ready for summer.
What trees do spotted lanternflies lay eggs on?
Spotted lanternflies can cause significant damage to many trees that are critical to PA's local ecosystems. The following trees are under threat due to spotted lanternfly infestations:
- American Beech
- Apple
- Cherries
- Birch
- Black Gum
- Service Berry
- Dogwood
- Black Walnut
- Pine
- Grape
- Oak
- Poplar
- Tree of Heaven
- Sycamore
- Willow Peaches
- Hickory
- Maple
- Sassafras
- White Ash
Furthermore, spotted lanternflies threaten over 70 species of trees and foliage, including flowers and grapevines.
Containing the spread of spotted lanternflies can be accomplished if PA residents understand the signs to identify spotted lanternfly stages and their eggs. While not directly toxic to humans, spotted lanternflies can wreak havoc on local PA ecosystems and ruin your summer if you don’t deal with eggs and infestations as they arrive.
Contact the property authorities listed above and reach out to a qualified pest control expert if you need help dealing with a rapid spotted lanternfly infestation.
Five Benefits of Using Local Pest Control Services
When your home, business, or property has a pest problem, remediation may be too big a job to handle on your own.
Maybe you’re not comfortable with DIY pest removal. Maybe you just want to ensure the problem is fixed permanently. In either case, a local pest control professional can help.
What is local pest control?
You could probably name some of the more well-known big-box pest control companies. They spend thousands on television, print, and digital advertising. They have several locations throughout the country and have a long business history. Chain extermination services can address the problem, but you will likely not have the personal connection you find with a local company.
Local pest control services are simply independently-owned pest control companies. They may only have a few locations and cover a smaller service area. The management and staff live in or near the area in which they serve. Many of them know their customers personally. Sometimes that connection has a major influence on the companies we hire for different services.
What are the advantages of using local pest control?
Help the local economy.
Working with any local company gives a boost to the local economy. Small business owners are our family members, friends, and neighbors. These businesses are at the heart of the communities in which they serve. Decades ago, every small town had a vibrant business district where residents could buy just about anything. As more businesses shuttered, or later moved online, towns’ business districts were no longer as vibrant. Hiring local vendors and keeping your business in the community is a win-win for everyone.
Work with professionals you know.
Northeastern Pennsylvania is a large geographic area full of small communities. Area residents know each other, are passionate about helping each other, and do their best to make their communities great places to live and work. People are comfortable hiring service professionals they already know—especially if they have hired them before. Nothing speaks to a company’s success like a repeat customer.
Five benefits of using local pest control experts
1. The techs know the area.
Local companies like to hire local employees. Most should be familiar with the company’s service area, so they can arrive at a job on time. Larger big box pest control companies with several locations or a larger service area may lack that familiarity, and simply have a more difficult time finding your home.
2. Stronger personal connection to the company.
People are generally more comfortable working with people they already know. Even if a customer doesn’t know the owner or employees personally, they likely know of their reputation, caliber of work, and customer service philosophy.
3. Familiarity with common local pest infestations.
Local pest control companies don’t just know the people and landmarks in their communities. More importantly, they are familiar with the pest problems common to the area. In Northeastern Pennsylvania, common pest problems include rats and mice, squirrels, and insects including bees, stink bugs, and ticks. Check out the 25 most common insects found in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Different parts of the country have different pest problems; it’s important the company’s technicians are familiar with the local pest population so they use the proper remediation techniques.
4. Personalized customer service.
Local companies will tailor their customer service and remediation techniques to each customer, rather than use a standard, “one-size-fits-all” approach. If it is a repeat customer, the technician already has some awareness of the household, its previous pest problems, and remediation methods used. This will help the technician keep the home pest-free going forward.
5. Easier to refer business.
Just as nothing speaks to a company’s success like a repeat customer, referring the company to others is an even stronger vote of confidence. A customer refers a company because they A. Know the owner or an employee personally and can verify their reputation, or B. They have used the company and were satisfied with their service.
How to hire a local pest control expert
Ask for referrals.
Referrals and word-of-mouth advertising are still two of the most powerful marketing tools. Just as you, a satisfied customer, would refer a business, you can ask your network for referrals when hiring an exterminator. Reach out to family, friends, and co-workers for names of reputable, reliable local companies with the expertise you’re looking for.
Look at the company's website and social media.
Regardless of the pest control company you use, they need to have the necessary experience for your specific problem. For instance, termite and bed bugs are among the most challenging infestations. Technicians must be licensed to use termite removal products. View profiles on social media pages or visit the company’s website to learn about their services and whether they are the best fit for your needs.
Ask for their credentials.
Pest control professionals are required to be licensed in Pennsylvania. If that information is not readily available on the company’s website or other marketing materials, be sure to ask about the team’s credentials if you decide to call them.
The Pest Rangers is proud to be a local pest control company serving areas throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Call us today and learn how our team of professionals can help fix your most challenging pest problems.
Do You Believe Any of These Top Bed Bug Myths?
From misinformation about their biting/stinging behavior to their sleep patterns, insects are largely misunderstood, creatures.
Bed bugs top the list of insects we don’t know much about; therefore, we don’t completely understand how they behave, how they get into our homes, or how to get rid of them.
We’re here to help. Let’s debunk some common bed bug myths.
1. They only live in dirty places.
One of the most persistent myths about bed bugs is that they only inhabit dirty or cluttered spaces. The fact is, bedbugs can find their way into any type of dwelling.
A 2018 National Pest Management Association poll showed bed bugs were found in nursing homes (59 percent), schools and daycare centers (47 percent), offices (46 percent), college dorms (45 percent), hospitals (36 percent), and public transportation (19 percent). The highest rate (91 percent) was in single-family homes. Bed bugs can inhabit any kind of home, but minimizing clutter in a home reduces potential hiding places for these pests.
2. Bed bugs only live in mattresses/bedding.
Despite their name, “bed bugs” are not just found in beds. Bed bug infestations can be found in clothing, furniture, and carpeting, as well as bedding or mattresses. People have also found them in suitcases after returning home from a trip, so it’s important to put all clothing in the washing machine when you get home. Bed bugs prefer small, enclosed spaces like pants pockets and corners of suitcases, so check your bags and everything in them thoroughly.
3. Bed bugs carry/transmit diseases.
Rest assured, these insects do not cause or spread disease; however, bed bug bites can itch. Excessive scratching could cause a secondary infection or other reaction.
4. You cannot see bed bugs.
Young bed bugs are roughly the size of a poppy seed; adult bed bugs, about the size of an apple seed. They are difficult to see in great detail with the naked eye, but they are definitely visible.
5. They only bite at night.
Bed bugs are nocturnal but can bite at any time. Another common myth says bedbugs are always feeding. Bed bugs can actually go for weeks or months without eating. It can take a young bed bug weeks to digest a blood meal.
While it’s true that bed bugs are more of a problem in densely-populated urban areas, where apartment-style living is more common, people living in more rural areas can get bedbugs in their homes, too.
What do I do if I see bed bugs?
Adult bed bugs are approximately ¼ long. They are visible to the human eye but prefer to hide out in cracks and crevices in walls and furniture. Bat bugs, fleas, and spider beetles also look like bed bugs.
Having bed bugs in your home is not a reflection of your housekeeping routine or the condition of your home. If you see them, don’t beat yourself up. Contact your landlord if you rent your home. If you own your home, contact a trusted pest control management professional.
How do I get rid of them?
First, determine whether you actually have bed bugs. If you see little black bugs around your house but aren’t sure what they are, call a pest control professional for a consultation.
Don’t attempt to get rid of them with garden pesticides. Outdoor pesticides are strong and could make you or your family members sick.
Working with a pest control management professional is strongly recommended; however, if you want to try a DIY method, read product labels carefully. Many pesticides are not intended to be used indoors.
Wash your clothing and bedding in hot water immediately. This should kill any lingering bed bugs. Furniture, carpeting, and mattresses can be treated with a special spray intended for bedbugs. Just throwing any of these items away can spread the bugs.
Heat treatments and “bug bombs” are some of the most common removal methods. It may take more than one treatment to rid your home of the bedbugs completely.
Here is an interesting fact—bed bugs are attracted to the carbon dioxide emitted by humans. CO2 has been used as an attractant in traps, and pest control professionals use high levels of CO2 to eliminate bed bugs, rather than harmful pesticides or other methods.
Due to a resurgence in the bed bug population and countless infestations over the last decade, new control and mitigation methods have been developed. A Penn State University scientist developed a new biopesticide that is expected to be at the forefront of bed bug control. Although bed bugs will not carry disease or damage your home or property, they do bite, and you certainly don’t want a bug infestation in your home.
Always contact a pest control professional for any large-scale insect infestation in your home rather than try to tackle the problem on your own. A trained technician can assess and diagnose the problem and determine the best way to get rid of invasive pests.
What's the Difference Between a Pest and an Insect?
Just a pest isn’t always an insect, insects aren’t always pests.
It’s true that both pests and insects can be an expensive nuisance for homeowners in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Before you prepare to shell out unnecessary cash to rid your home of these creatures, it’s important to understand the differences between the two, and why they may not be as big a nuisance as you first thought.
An insect is a creature whose body consists of three sections—a head, thorax, and abdomen—and is protected by a hard outer shell called an exoskeleton. They have six legs, a pair of antennae, and two sets of wings (except for ants and flies). Insects can live in the most extreme climates and are found in essentially all parts of the world.
A pest is any living creature that is undesirable due to a negative trait or behavior. Pests can be vertebrates, including rodents and birds or invertebrates, such as insects and even some harmful plants. Invertebrate pests include insects like:
- Cockroaches
- Lice
- Ticks
- Mites
- Mosquitoes
- Thrips
- Bed bugs
Besides the physical damage these creatures can cause, pests are harmful to our health, often carrying disease. Learn about “good bugs” and “bad bugs”
So why do some insects become pests?
Some insects are viewed as pests if they pose a risk to humans’ or pets’ health, our food sources, or property. Insects are treated as pests if they harm any of these things.
Not all insects cause damage. Honeybees, spiders, and ladybugs are beneficial organisms. These insects, such as honeybees, assist with pollinating flowers and other vital plants. Spiders and ladybugs help control the insect population through their eating habits.
Insects, whether beneficial or destructive, can be considered pests when they infest a building, like your home or business. One insect that comes inside can be removed easily; a large swarm of insects (and creatures known to be pests, like bed bugs or cockroaches) require more intense remediation methods.
What is the best way to kill pests?
Effective pest control is a combination of powerful killing agents and using products that will not harm people, pets, or plants.
In years past, farmers and gardeners used powerful chemical-based pesticides for pest control on their plants and crops. Although effective, these products often caused health problems for people or animals. Today, agriculture professionals use other methods, such as traps, natural remedies, and biological pest control.
What is biological pest control?
Classical biological pest control relies on releasing a controlled amount of the pests’ natural predators into the affected area. This method is highly effective for minimizing the damage caused by invasive pests. Augmentative biological control is the purposeful release of commercially raised natural enemies in greenhouses or on crops. This process is used to eliminate harmful insects, but not damage weeds or plants.
Biological pest control has several benefits. It is less expensive than most remediation methods. It is also safer for all involved—humans, pets, and plants/crops. Augmentative pest control is an effective but temporary remediation method. It must be done every year for the best results.
What is cultural pest control?
Cultural pest control is another crop manipulation system used mainly on farms or nurseries to reduce or eliminate pests. Methods can range from the simple adjustment of planting dates or crop rotation to more complex approaches like rearranging the layout of crops. This type of pest control can be complicated, difficult, and expensive to implement, yet it shows the importance of effective pest management for all types of consumers.
How do I protect my home and property from pests?
Prevention is the best way to protect your home and property from pests. For pests like insects, the following maintenance and upkeep tips are effective:
- Seal all cracks and crevices along door or window frames with caulking
- Repair/replace any holes in door or window screens
- Check window eaves, roof soffits, and other small spaces for obvious signs of insect nests or eggs
Pests will also come inside looking for food. To prevent infestations:
- Store food in airtight containers made from glass, plastic, or metal. Not only will paper bags and cardboard boxes not keep pests out, but most vermin can also easily chew right through this type of packaging.
- Store food in a cabinet or pantry. Do not leave opened containers of food on counters or tables.
- Cover all uneaten food with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
When is it time to call a professional?
Farmers, gardeners, and commercial pest control clients have their own unique needs for safe, effective remediation. Homeowners need remediation methods that are safe, effective, and easy to use. DIY methods can have mixed results—the insect infestation may return if the product was not applied properly or used for the right amount of time. Rather than spend more time and money on methods that may not deliver the results you want, it may be time to call a pest control professional.
Contact The Pest Rangers below for a free consultation today. We will assess the issue, develop a remediation plan, and put it into practice immediately. If not satisfied, we will return to your home at no additional cost until the issue is resolved.
Your Guide to Spring Insects in Northeastern Pennsylvania
It’s almost spring in Northeastern Pennsylvania. We love the warmer weather and seeing plants and flowers starting to bloom.
But warmer temperatures also mean certain insects will emerge from their overwintering sites and become more active. Some spring pests may invade your home or business. Regular preventative measures can keep this from happening.
What kind of bugs are active in the spring?
Keep your home pest-free by protecting your home from these common spring insects:
Boxelder bugs. Boxelder bugs are dark grey with a jaunty red stripe. As their name implies, they usually feed on boxelder trees. These insects are not destructive to your home or property, nor do they carry disease. They are simply a nuisance for homeowners.
Mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are among the first insects to emerge in early spring and have a short list of endearing qualities. These insects have stealth-like biting behavior that creates itchy, swollen spots on our skin. They are also known for carrying diseases like malaria and West Nile virus (likely because of their attraction to standing water).
Asian lady beetles. Often mistaken for the standard ladybug, Asian lady beetles are usually found in homes in warm weather. Asian lady beetles are usually brown or dark red in color and have a distinctive M-shaped mark on the top of the head. While not destructive, these insects can give off an unpleasant-smelling yellow liquid when they sense danger.
Cluster flies. These larger versions of the typical housefly can be a nuisance. The cluster fly gains entry to a home through cracks in siding, under eaves, or around windows, and like hanging out in attics in large swarms. Although irritating to many homeowners, fortunately, they are not destructive.
Kudzu bugs. Similar in size to the lady beetle, kudzu bugs enjoy feeding on kudzu, wisteria, and soybeans. At times they will find their way into a home looking for food sources and are often found around window and door frames. Sealing any cracks or crevices and installing screens are effective deterrents for these insects.
What bugs are found in Northeastern Pennsylvania?
Mosquitoes, boxelder bugs, and Asian lady beetles are just some types of insects you’ll find in Northeastern Pennsylvania during the warmer weather. The following are also commonly found in the area:
Bed bugs. Bed bugs are among the most persistent species of insect. They are not known carriers of disease, but will frequently bite humans, causing an itchy red spot on the skin. Bed bugs can get into a home on their own, especially to escape cold temperatures, but are also easily transported from one place to another.
More people travel as the weather gets warmer, which increases the odds of bringing bedbugs into your home. These small brown insects love to burrow inside suitcases, purses, and backpacks. When traveling, utilize a suitcase rack rather than leaving luggage on a bed or the floor. And when returning home, wash your clothing and put them in a hot dryer as soon as possible.
Brown marmorated stink bug. A native of southeast Asia, this invasive pest was first introduced to the United States in nearby Allentown, PA. This insect is a particular nuisance to farmers, as it feeds on valuable crops and plants.
Fortunately for homeowners, these insects are not destructive. They do have a kind of stealthy behavior, often landing in unexpected places, such as on one’s hair or clothing, seemingly from out of nowhere. Stink bugs enter a home through cracks or crevices in window and door frames. Ensuring all windows and doors are closed tightly and all cracks are sealed can help prevent stink bugs from entering your home.
How can you identify a bug?
Insects can be identified in several ways:
- Body-color or markings. Some insects look very similar, with only subtle differences to tell them apart. Taking a photo that you can inspect more closely later can be a big help in identifying the correct species.
- Body type.
- Habitat. In what kind of environment did you find the insect?
- Size.
- Whether it has antennae or not.
If you find an insect out in the wild or somewhere in your home and are unsure of the type, take a photo of the insect. There are countless insect identification guides available in both hard and digital copy that can help you learn more. Or you can do a search of your findings using a tool like Google images to identify the species.
Don’t let an insect invasion ruin your spring! Instead, secure your home against pests with these simple, routine maintenance tips:
- Check window and door screens and repair any holes as necessary.
- Seal any cracks or crevices in your home’s foundation or points of entry with caulking.
- Sweep off any outdoor furniture to remove insects who may have sheltered there all winter.
- Spring clean your home. Air out bedding and linens, steam clean your carpets, give your shelves and cupboards a thorough cleaning. Toss out old or expired products. Insects like to lurk in dark corners and unused items, so check those areas, too.
If you suspect an insect infestation, don’t wait on pest control. Contact The Pest Rangers for a free consultation and enjoy your home and backyard all season long!
