24 Jun 2022
Bark scorpion

Florida bark scorpion is a creature best left alone

Many people think scorpions are a pest control problem only for the Southwest states. But scorpions do well here, too. Florida has at least three known species within its borders. The largest of these is the Florida bark scorpion. Growing up to four inches by adulthood, this nocturnal creature prefers to hunt at night, preying […]

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10 Jun 2022
Fruit fly

Fruit flies are harmless, but they drive us crazy

Pest control companies rarely get panicked calls from homeowners over fruit flies. They won’t sting you and they won’t destroy your house. But they are just plain annoying.  Fruit flies have a simple DNA sequence. They have only four pairs of chromosomes, but this basic pattern includes a powerful sense of smell and some serious […]

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03 Jun 2022
Scale insect

Scale insects can damage your trees, shrubs

Scale can be a serious threat to your landscape. This small insect can quickly devastate valuable trees and shrubs. Do you know the signs of a scale infestation?  Scale bugs attached themselves to the twigs and leaves of a tree or shrub and suck the sap. They excrete honeydew, a sugar-rich substance common to aphids […]

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20 May 2022
Fire ant nest

To those trespassing fire ants: ‘Get off my lawn’

There are things you can do to keep fire ants from thriving on your property. First, keep a watchful eye on the lawn. The real key is to take action at the first sign these ants on your lawn. The more often you look for indications of fire ants, the more effectively you can deal […]

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22 Apr 2022
Group of rats

‘You dirty rat’: Rodent invaders repugnant on many levels

It’s no wonder the term “dirty rat” is part of our vernacular. There’s so much about rats that people find disturbing and disgusting. One is how quickly they reproduce. Their breeding is off the charts Rats become sexually mature at a mere two to five months and will breed year round, even within their own […]

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14 Apr 2022
Drain fly

Drain flies are small but annoying intruders

Drain flies are a common bathroom nuisance. They’re tiny, no larger than an eighth of an inch long. They have a light gray or a tan body color and their wings are a lighter color. They look fuzzy because their bodies and wings have long hairs on them. When they are sitting still, they fold […]

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04 Mar 2022

Some grasses in your lawn are born to be wild

It’s aggravating to look at your lawn to see a species of grass you didn’t put there. Wild grass seeds are abundant in Florida soils. Often brought in during construction when the soil is bare, the seeds eventually emerge when conditions are right for germination. The two most common wild grasses in Florida are crabgrass […]

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25 Feb 2022

Watch out for paper wasps

Paper wasps have narrow bodies, usually dark brown. Their wings are typically black, and you may see yellow markings throughout. They get their name by building paper-like nests out of plant material and saliva. Inside are hundreds of compartments that allow wasps to lay their eggs and raise their young. Paper wasps feed on nectar, […]

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04 Feb 2022

These beetles can riddle your wood with holes

Living in central Florida, you’ve probably heard of powderpost beetles. If you’ve never actually experienced an infestation from this type of insect, however, consider yourself lucky. Powderpost beetles are well known for the damage they cause to everything from furniture to tools to the structure of your home. If you think you might be dealing […]

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07 Jan 2022

Choose Slug-A-Bug to rid your home of mice

Mice are an ongoing problem. They like to live near humans so they can keep warm in winter and feast on people-foods throughout the year. Not only are these mammals adaptable to a number of environments, they’re adept at chewing through cords or electrical wires, climbing, jumping and squeezing through tiny openings. If you know […]

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