Worldwide Pest Control Blog

You might be a little freaked out if you see a scorpion scurry across your kitchen or even your driveway. Although they're nocturnal predators that mainly feed on insects, they can be harmful to some pets and people if they feel threatened. Since scorpions have some similarities with other arachnids, it's helpful to know how to identify them in case you need scorpion control services. Appearance Scorpions are very distinguishable by their appearance. Two eyes are in the middle of their heads, and a few more sit on the sides. Scorpions also have a set of claws or pincers, eight legs and a long, segmented tail. At the tip of the tail is a larger segment with a barbed stinger. In Arizona, the striped bark scorpion is the most common to invade homes. This species is yellow with two dark stripes down the body and a slender tail. They only grow......

Those who spend enough time outside will feel the familiar sting of a bee or wasp at some point, and the situation can cause sharp pain, redness and mild skin irritation. The symptoms of a sting usually last for a few hours but can persist for a few days in some cases. If you think you or someone you know might get stung, learning to treat stings is a smart move that you won't regret. When you use the proper plan and keep a few tips near the top of your mind, you can reduce the pain and speed up the recovery process. Treating bee stings does not need to be complicated, and learning what to do won't take too long once you understand the basics: Remove the Stinger The first step you will take after a sting depends on the type of insect that stung you. If a honeybee was......

The Fourth of July should be a time of celebration and fun. When you’re firing up the barbecue, splashing around in your pool, or savoring a spectacular fireworks show, you shouldn’t have to worry about pests. What are some of the steps you can take to keep this special day pest-free? Mop up spills, and minimize standing water. Puddles of fruit punch and stray drops of juice are powerfully attractive to yellow jackets, flies, ants, and other pests. A kiddie pool or a pet’s water dish left standing for hours will draw mosquitoes and roaches. Perform quick clean-ups throughout the day. During parties or other holiday activities, trash accumulates rapidly. Don’t leave all the cleaning up for the end of the day. On a regular basis, remove used plates and cups. Sweep away crumbs and other food particles. With less trash building up, fewer pests will arrive. Keep your food covered. Minimiz......

If your dog or cat spends time outside, they may end up bringing home a pest or two. Fleas, ticks and other pests can cause skin irritation and put your pet's health at risk. Following a few tips can help prevent pests from taking up residence on your furry friend. Keep a Clean Home If your home is an easy target for pests, your pets will come into contact with these disease-carrying critters. Help dissuade pests from lingering by eliminating hiding places, including piles of clutter and garbage. Vacuum your carpets thoroughly and regularly to eliminate pest eggs, and wash your pets' bedding in the washing machine frequently. Make sure that your home doesn't have any easy access points for pests, such as gaps in the seals around your windows. Drive Pests Away from Your Yard Most backyards are full of things pests need to survive, including food, shelter and water.......

Your Memorial Day BBQ is a great way to spend time with family and friends, but the warm weather brings with it a rapid increase in the local bee population. Bee colonies also become increasingly likely to swarm from mid-March to early July. When you put these two things together, your BBQ might be courting disaster. Therefore, it's necessary to take action before your guests get stung. 1. Seal All Potential Nesting Spots Are you aware bees only need an access point the size of a quarter in order to move in and begin building their hive? If your home provides easy access, they may even become unwanted roommates inside your walls or attic. You can eliminate this risk by using caulk and metal screens to fill up every possible entry point. 2. Dissuade Ground Nesting Bees from Your Lawn Ground nesting bees look for a dry area to build their......

If asked to name a destructive insect with a fondness for chewing through wood, what would you say? Did you think of carpenter ants? Are termites the terror that popped into your mind? Either of these answers would be correct. With their ability to cause extensive property damage, both of these pests are bad news, but they do have their differences. How can you tell if carpenter ants or termites are bugging you? Antennae, Waists and Wings There's a fairly strong resemblance between carpenter ants and termites, but there are physical traits that can help you differentiate between them. To start from the top, carpenter ants have bent antennae that appear segmented; termites have straight antennae that look beaded. Their waists are also quite different. Carpenter ants have tiny, nipped-in waists, and termites have a more rectangular shape. Finally, when carpenter ants have wings, the front pair is bigger. When termites......

Frass is excrement from the digestive system of various pests. This material contains what the insect has been eating, and the term is often associated with wood-eating pests like termites or carpenter ants. Insect frass is a visible sign of an infestation, but there are different types of frass. They can appear similar to the untrained eye, but there are significant differences. The insect may also have a unique method of disposing of frass, and this can also help the pest-control professional to correctly identify the insect. What is Insect Frass The frass might be liquid, pellet-shaped or a soft clump of mixed materials. Frass will be located relatively close to the source of the infestation, and this is useful information. Common places for piles of frass include the attic, basement, garage areas and other places in the home where wood materials are used. Frass can also be used by some......

Bats are an important part of the ecosystem, but the animals can become a nuisance if they invade your attic. Like all wildlife, bats look for a comfortable place that is safe from predators and near a source of food. Your dark, secluded attic can provide the ideal location to set up a colony. If left unchecked, the animals will roost in large numbers. Bats can travel through the walls to other areas of your home. Bat droppings, also known as guano, can stain ceilings, attract other pests and pose a health risk. The waste matter also encourages the growth of a fungus that causes respiratory infections. You can take the following steps to keep these pests from invading your home. Home and Attic Inspection Begin the process by conducting a full inspection of the exterior of your home, including the roof, soffits, fascia and air vents. Look for holes, cracks......

Running a business in Texas comes with many challenges, and pests can create a lot of problems when they invade. Having a pest issue can harm your reputation and discourage your customers from returning because they won't want to be exposed to the creatures. Many of them will go to your competitors and never come back through your doors, which will impact your bottom line. Also, a pest control problem can prompt the health department to issue fines and citations, and they could even shut you down until you contain the threat.  Rodents Learning about rodents is a good step in the right direction when you want to uncover the most common pests that you are likely to encounter. When mice, rats or other rodents get into your building, they will cause a lot of destruction and create several safety hazards. Rodents that decide to chew on your wires can put you at......

Fleas – they cause problems for people both indoors and outdoors. They target people and animals, causing itchy bites as they feast on blood. Though 2,000 different flea species exist in the world, the cat flea is the most common here in our service area and the country. When fleas enter a home, it only takes a short while for them to spread out and to infest every room. 3 Facts About Fleas Fleas can survive for a long time without eating. It's difficult to starve fleas out of your home. In fact, these little pests can live for two or three months without eating. However, the females can't produce young until they've had a blood meal. Once a female draws blood, she will lay her eggs within one or two days. Flea eggs take a while to hatch. An adult female can lay as many as 1,000 eggs in her l......

Mosquitoes are a common threat in the summertime, especially in the South where it's hot and humid for much of the year. These blood-sucking insects are found throughout the Southeast and across the Southwest, including parts of the Northwest and the Northeast. Whether people live in the Midwest or along the Atlantic Coast, they can find mosquitoes in the same places on and around their own properties. Common Places to Find Mosquitoes Clutter If you have clutter on your property, you're inviting mosquitoes into your yard. They use clutter as a resting spot when they're not feeding during mid-day. Sometimes water collects in pools inside random clutter such as children's toys and old tarps. Female mosquitoes only need an inch of water in which to lay hundreds of eggs. It's best to reduce the clutter in your yard if you want to minimize the mosquito population. Water Sources Water sources draw......

Ants are common household pests. There are over 10,000 known species, and they are scattered around the world. Although they are tiny creatures, they have a number of fascinating characteristics. Here are some of the most surprising facts about ants. Ants Have Enormous Strength. Even though ants are tiny, they have the ability to carry between 10 and 50 times their body weight. Their composition allows them to produce great force. Since ants are small, they have a larger cross-section, which gives them a high amount of power. Ants Have No Lungs. An ant's small body does not allow it to hold a complicated respiratory system. Instead, ants breathe through spiracles. These are a series of holes on the sides of the body and are connected by tubes. Through movement, oxygen circulates inside of the tubes. Carbon dioxide is released here as well. Ants Have No Ears. Ants do not have......

To assess the financial impact of bed bugs on businesses, a major pest control leader looked into infestations and found that over the last year, eight out of 10 hotels have had to contact treatment experts for bed bugs. Along with this, about 40 percent dealt with the pests during the summer.  Determining the Cost of Pest Control  To conduct the study, the pest control company commissioned The Bantam Group, which is a market research firm. For the study, the research firm surveyed hoteliers across the country to determine how much bed bugs are costing the industry. The research shows that on average, hotels spend $6,383 for every bed bug incident reported. Treatment, replacement of furniture and linens as well as lost business are included in the amount that hotels spend.  According to the report, about half of the surveyed hotels faced litigation due to bed bugs, costing them an estimated......

A termite infestation is a serious problem that no homeowner looks forward to experiencing. These wood-eating insects are known for causing extensive amounts of property damage. Here are a few preventive measures you can take to help deter termites.  Get Your Home Inspected It is definitely a good idea to get an annual termite inspection. The extra peace of mind is well worth it. Your home could be sustaining thousands of dollars in damage without your knowledge. These destructive insects prefer to do their dirty work in dark environments, which often makes them hard to detect. By getting an inspection, you will be able to prevent the problem from worsening.  Keep Moisture Away from Your Home’s Foundation Moisture will surely draw termites to your property. Make sure that the area near your home’s foundation remains as dry as possible. These insects thrive in moisture-rich soil. To ensure that water is properly div......

Ant infestations can happen any time of the year. If the problem is allowed to continue, small infestations could quickly grow out of control. Noticing the early signs of an ant problem is critical. This can help you to prevent the problems associated with a major ant infestation. Although most ants do not carry diseases, some species of ants can make pets sick when they die and leave their corpses near food supplies. Small children may also come into contact with these small pests, and they often touch their mouth after being exposed to areas where ants have traveled. This includes counters and floors where ants might be looking for food or water. Early Signs of Ant Infestations Some ants will build their colonies within the home, but others migrate indoors after started their nests in the areas around the home. It can be difficult to detect an ant colony if......

If you run a business and want to protect your bottom line, taking steps to safeguard your business from pests is vital. Pest will cause a range of problems that you won’t be able to ignore if you allow them to get inside. They can taint your food, create safety hazards, spread diseases and ruin your reputation. If one of your customers comes to your business and sees a pest, the customer won’t be likely to return, but those who spot an infestation will also feel compelled to tell others about it online. Luckily, you can try several things to keep pests away from your business so that they won’t harm your profitability.  Pest Prevention Looking at the ways you can prevent pests from invading is a smart move when your mission is to keep your business out of harm’s way. Rodents and many insects will do their best to find a way ins......

Thanksgiving Day only comes once a year, so why let pests ruin your delicious dinner? Even during the fall, pests come out from their hiding spots at the first sign of food. If you want to keep them away while you're eating, it's important to take some preventative measures against roaches, rodents and other invasive pests. Worldwide Pest Control has five tips to help give you a pest-free home this Thanksgiving. 5 Pest-Prevention Tips for Thanksgiving Day 1 - Don't leave food uncovered. Leaving uncovered food on the counter or the table is one of the quickest ways to attract flies and other pests. Use plastic wrap to cover the food, or place it in the refrigerator once everyone has finished eating. If you serve the food in plastic containers or glass dishware, cover them with lids to keep pests out of the dining area. 2 - Don't let the trash......

Maintaining your home and yard requires a lot of forethought and work. Proper home maintenance goes so much deeper than taking care of the inside of your home. Pest removal inside the home is vital to keeping things sanitary and preventing structural damage. However, insects and other types of pests can infest your lawn as well. At Worldwide Pest Control, we provide all types of pest removal services. Below we discuss some common pests that can affect the health of your lawn and what you can do about them. Common Lawn Pests There are many types of insects and pests that can cause your lawn to become unhealthy. Below are four of the most common lawn pests. * Chinch Bugs Chinch bugs are tiny creatures that love to feed on blades of grass. There are several varieties of chinch bugs that can take up residence in your lawn and eat away......

People often tend to refer to all stinging insects as bees. Bees, wasps and other stinging bugs tend to live in colonies with queens and workers. They tend to buzz around in the warmer months, but where do they go in the winter? Do they die? Do they migrate like some butterflies? The answer depends on the type of bee. Bumblebees are large bees with a tumbling, bumbling flight pattern, and their appearance is a harbinger of spring. During the summer, bumblebees create nests, and as new queens emerge from these nests, they mate with males to fertilize their eggs. The queens bearing their eggs dig deep into well-drained, north-facing soil so that they can go into a form of hibernation until spring while the other bees die. When spring arrives, the queens will emerge and establish new colonies with their fertilized eggs. Honeybees are a little different. The queens and......

Texas residents know that everything really is bigger in this state, and that includes the bug problem because there's no bad weather to kill off the bug population. Here at Worldwide Pest Control, we're regularly called out to eliminate all sorts of pests that include termites, bed bugs, ants, roaches, rodents and scorpions. However, those aren't the only nuisance creatures that we've seen, and these are just a few of the bugs that live among us that you might not know exist. 1. The Cicada-Killing Wasp Among the largest wasps in the world, these insects will sting both humans and companion pets if they feel threatened, but they pose a real danger to any cicadas in the area. If cicadas are capable of having nightmares, then this wasp is exactly what they would dream of. The female wasp prepares for the birth of her young by stinging a cicada and paralyzing......