| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| Very tiny caterpillar type bug on my walls | 11/20/2009 |
Q: I have been finding extremely small caterpillar type bugs on my walls. They are black and brown and ...
A: If you are seeing them on the walls there's an infestation nearby. Could be something as simple as ...
|
| Very tiny caterpillar type bug on my walls | 11/20/2009 |
Q: I have been finding extremely small caterpillar type bugs on my walls. They are black and brown and ...
A: Kristen, This sounds like dermestid larvae. Here's a picture ...
|
| What are they? | 11/20/2009 |
Q: I have these bugs around dusty areas in my room (like under my monitor, behind the desk and other ...
A: Make sure your old books and documents are properly stored because booklice can damage the glue in ...
|
| What are these long worm like things??? | 11/15/2009 |
Q: We live in the DFW TX area and about a month ago I found a bunch of very thin, clear or ...
A: Michelle, Don't be concerned about these, they are called horsehair worms and are harmless. The ...
|
| small flying bugs | 11/11/2009 |
Q: I live in fort worth tx and have a small, black, flying bug that is all over the outside of my ...
A: There are many species of planthoppers and many of them are ornate and colorful. Some of the more ...
|
| small flying bugs | 11/10/2009 |
Q: I live in fort worth tx and have a small, black, flying bug that is all over the outside of my ...
A: Shawn, The picture is a bit too small to see clearly but the shape is that of an insect called a ...
|
| maggots | 11/9/2009 |
Q: We live in Florida and we turn off our A/AC and I notice a foul smell coming from my closet and my ...
A: Justo, I can't tell for sure what is pictured in the photo because it is blurry. Could you post a ...
|
| wood borers | 11/7/2009 |
Q: what kind of bug/worm? bores holes in wood the size of a pencil lead and piles the sawdust on top of ...
A: Since this is softwood these are probably the type of powderpost beetle called an anobiid ...
|
| tiny ants by sink/dishwasher/on cupboard | 11/7/2009 |
Q: I have purchased ant bait for sugar and protein ants. It keeps them away for two weeks and then they ...
A: Diana, I think one of the problems may be the Demand Insecticide. Demand is a good material but in ...
|
| wood borers | 11/6/2009 |
Q: what kind of bug/worm? bores holes in wood the size of a pencil lead and piles the sawdust on top of ...
A: Stacey, This is a perfect description of a powderpost beetle. The holes and sawdust are made when ...
|
| small ants in basement | 11/4/2009 |
Q: i have an old farm house with a field stone basement wall (that leaks like a siv). this morning i ...
A: Shawn, There are hundreds of species of ants most of which are small and nest in the soil. Your ...
|
| fleas in house | 11/3/2009 |
Q: How do I get rid of fleas on furniture that cannot be put in washing machines? Is vacuming everyday ...
A: Amy, Normal vacuuming is sufficient to kill fleas. Be sure to dispose of the dust bag since it may ...
|
| bugs on roll of tape | 11/2/2009 |
Q: we found this roll of tape in my office on the desk- can you help us identify these bugs? thanks!
A: Carey, These are called aphids and they feed on plants. There are both winged aphids and wingless ...
|
| abandoned wasp nest in house wall | 11/1/2009 |
Q: We came home mid august after being away for 6 weeks. I discovered wasps entering at junction of ...
A: Richard, Yes. It is entirely possible that you are smelling the decomposing nest. Nests might ...
|
| Ants in our houseplants! | 10/30/2009 |
Q: help! we have ants in our houseplants!!! they are small black ants, in the south we call them ...
A: Kayla, Small ants like these often build their nests in the pots of house plants because as the ...
|
| termite bonds | 10/28/2009 |
Q: I realized this year that we forgot to renew the bond that was on our house when we bought it 5 ...
A: Sarah, I'll need to know where you live (state) because termite control varies greatly by region. ...
|
| Mite infestation | 10/28/2009 |
Q: Recently I’ve been noticing small mites on the surface of my desk and more or less everywhere about ...
A: As you known it can be very difficult to reduce moisture in winter. Central heating is the best way ...
|
| Cockroaches | 10/27/2009 |
Q: Obviously I don't keep my microwave ovens clean enough because roaches keep taking up residence in ...
A: Jo, Your follow up raises a couple of very interesting points. First, as I think you found out "bug ...
|
| Mite infestation | 10/27/2009 |
Q: Recently I’ve been noticing small mites on the surface of my desk and more or less everywhere about ...
A: Steven, From your description I think these are one of two critters and both are related to the ...
|
| Cockroaches | 10/27/2009 |
Q: Obviously I don't keep my microwave ovens clean enough because roaches keep taking up residence in ...
A: Jo, Is this a single family home or some type of commercial building like a restaurant? Cockroaches ...
|
| insect issue | 10/25/2009 |
Q: I have a ton of these little insects around the front of my house. They manage to get into the ...
A: Randy, These are called boxelder bugs. They are very common nuisance pests in some areas. ...
|
| Bombing due to roaches | 10/24/2009 |
Q: How long do I have to wait to vacuum my carpet once the pest control person has bombed the town ...
A: Baits are some type food combined with an insecticide. There are baits available in retail stores, ...
|
| Bombing due to roaches | 10/24/2009 |
Q: How long do I have to wait to vacuum my carpet once the pest control person has bombed the town ...
A: Tosha, If by "bombing" you mean that a total release-type aerosol insecticide was used then you can ...
|
| Pantry Moths | 10/24/2009 |
Q: We have what I have identified as pantry moths. I have literally tossed every bit of food in the ...
A: Adrienne, I think what you may be seeing is the last of the adult moths that emerged from your ...
|
| wasps in fireplace/chimney | 10/22/2009 |
Q: We have had a wasp infestation and problem coming from our fireplace since we moved in 8 years ago ...
A: Here's what I think is going on. At the end of summer most social wasp nests die and only mated ...
|
| bed bugs please help | 10/22/2009 |
Q: I think I have bed bugs. I recently got hand me down furniture and now I think we have bed bugs. I ...
A: Christine, The first thing to do is to confirm that bed bugs are the problem. The only way to be ...
|
| wasps in fireplace/chimney | 10/21/2009 |
Q: We have had a wasp infestation and problem coming from our fireplace since we moved in 8 years ago ...
A: Angel, A couple of questions - do you get wasps coming out of all three fireplaces every year? Have ...
|
| Possible bed bugs | 10/19/2009 |
Q: I hope you can help ease my mind. I am fearing that I may have bed bugs. I live in a single ...
A: Maggie, Whatever is causing the blood on the bedding it probably is not from bed bug bites. Bed bug ...
|
| Paper wasps in my home | 10/17/2009 |
Q: We have recently been seeing what I believe are paper wasps in the second story of our house. They ...
A: Jamine, If you live in a part of the country that freezes in winter the problem will probably ...
|
| pesticide | 10/15/2009 |
Q: You were so helpful with my swarming insect problem. Can you tell me what is the best pesticide to ...
A: Kay, There are a lot of options for treating termites and most are beyond the capability of ...
|
| insects | 10/15/2009 |
Q: Last night my grandson took a shower in our hall bathroom. When he came out, there were tiny ...
A: Kay, Without a picture I'm only guessing but I think your son may be right. Ants and termites are ...
|
| insects | 10/14/2009 |
Q: Last night my grandson took a shower in our hall bathroom. When he came out, there were tiny ...
A: Kay, A couple more questions. Are you sure they have wings? If so, are the wings white or clear? ...
|
| black widow spiders | 10/14/2009 |
Q: we have a black widow in garages and we need to know how to KILL them. have heard they have an ...
A: Kim, Black widow spiders are susceptible to insecticides. However since this spider is very ...
|
| yellow jackets | 10/13/2009 |
Q: Jack, I have yellow jackets entering into the walls of my Michigan home behind my front porch light. ...
A: Sheri, Most yellowjacket nests are annual meaning that they start in spring and die off in late ...
|
| skin mites | 10/11/2009 |
Q: I can relate to a previous question about skin or bird mites. I am experiencing the same symptoms. I ...
A: Cindy, I'm not sure what you mean by "skin mites". There are only a few mites that bite people. ...
|
| Can you ID? | 10/9/2009 |
Q: Can you please tell me what this mystery bug is that I caught crawling out of the heat vent? Thank ...
A: Michelle, These are silverfish. They are primitive, wingless insects that are fairly common ...
|
| Small black worms in basement stairs | 10/7/2009 |
Q: We live up north and have recently noticed small dark brown or black worms curled up in the basement ...
A: Bob, I can't see much detail (try without a flash) but the overall shape is correct for a ...
|
| invinsible spiders | 10/6/2009 |
Q: I've been living in this house for about 5 months now. Ever since I moved in here, I've been having ...
A: Black widow spiders occur in every state but they are very secretive and are rarely seen except in ...
|
| Small black worms in basement stairs | 10/5/2009 |
Q: We live up north and have recently noticed small dark brown or black worms curled up in the basement ...
A: Bob, These sound like millipedes which feed on organic matter in the soil and are harmless. If you ...
|
| fleas in home we are buying | 10/5/2009 |
Q: going through the process of buying a home & the home inspector noticed bite marks on the back of ...
A: Deryl, I think the cleaning and carpet removal will be enough. I've not heard of the salt option ...
|
| invinsible spiders | 10/4/2009 |
Q: I've been living in this house for about 5 months now. Ever since I moved in here, I've been having ...
A: Elsa, Your question raises a couple of excellent points. First, most entomologists (people who ...
|
| Ants in Pet food | 9/29/2009 |
Q: My EDD (engineering design and development) project consists of finding a problem that has to do ...
A: Ok, I see. Ants could definitely be a problem for pet food left outside because of a behavior in ...
|
| Ants in Pet food | 9/28/2009 |
Q: My EDD (engineering design and development) project consists of finding a problem that has to do ...
A: Thomas, I think most people will opt for keeping ants out of the house altogether rather than just ...
|
| Cockroaches | 9/27/2009 |
Q: im live in spain and moved to a diferent apartment in feb this year.. have ended up with an ...
A: Carla, Cockroach infestations are very common in any multi-family building. Older buildings are ...
|
| Tiny black bugs that bite! | 9/27/2009 |
Q: I just read the story by Mazis on 08/21/09, and her story sounded exactly like what I have been ...
A: Nancy, No-see-ums are also called biting midges. These tiny flies bite and feed on blood much like ...
|
| stubborn ant problem | 9/24/2009 |
Q: I live in Los Angeles. I have had problems with rodents, but never with ants, until now. Starting ...
A: Roger, What you are describing is a textbook example of a nuisance ant problem. The ants (there are ...
|
| Very tiny black bugs | 9/24/2009 |
Q: We just moved into our home a few months ago. We've noticed these very tiny black bugs. (about the ...
A: From what you've told me I think the bugs on the back porch are not related to the "bites". These ...
|
| Larvae Formations | 9/24/2009 |
Q: We live in central TN and found these larvae formations around our driveway after heavy rains. ...
A: Shannon, Good picture. Did you get a close up? These are called fungus gnat larvae and they are ...
|
| Very tiny black bugs | 9/22/2009 |
Q: We just moved into our home a few months ago. We've noticed these very tiny black bugs. (about the ...
A: Allison, A couple of questions ... since they don't appear to fly does this mean that the ones that ...
|
| Re: large flea-like insects | 9/22/2009 |
Q: I periodically find these large flea-like things in my downstairs bathroom where the cat box is ...
A: This is not a flea. I'm pretty certain it is a brine shrimp, or some other kind of shrimp. Brine ...
|
| Re: large flea-like insects | 9/21/2009 |
Q: I periodically find these large flea-like things in my downstairs bathroom where the cat box is ...
A: Deborah, I think these are a type of brine shrimp. Do you live near an inland saltwater lake such ...
|
| fleas in home we are buying | 9/21/2009 |
Q: going through the process of buying a home & the home inspector noticed bite marks on the back of ...
A: Deryl, Fleas can remain in a home after all pets are removed and bite people. The good news is that ...
|
| dug up lawn | 9/20/2009 |
Q: This morning I noticed an area about 6 x 12 that was dug up. I have the feeling that it is grubs. ...
A: John, I assume you mean 6x12 inches. Two things are common in this situation. Birds will dig up ...
|
| Ground bees or wasps | 9/19/2009 |
Q: The past two weeks, I noticed a hole in my lawn where yellow jackets were flying in and out.l The ...
A: Mark, Yellowjacket (Vespidae) nests are often attacked and dug up by skunks and other animals. In ...
|
| What are they? | 9/18/2009 |
Q: I have these bugs around dusty areas in my room (like under my monitor, behind the desk and other ...
A: Angel, Good picture. These are called psocids, or barklice, or booklice. They are not related to ...
|
| lawn earth mounds | 9/18/2009 |
Q: Ok here goes. I live near Ottawa, Canada. About 1 month ago, earth mounds, roughly 10" in ...
A: I agree. Your second photo does look more like simple dirt piles. The particles appear too big to ...
|
| lawn earth mounds | 9/17/2009 |
Q: Ok here goes. I live near Ottawa, Canada. About 1 month ago, earth mounds, roughly 10" in ...
A: Leo, These are too big to be insect-related in any way. My guess is this is a fungus. There are a ...
|
| I want to relocate the bee hives outside my house | 9/17/2009 |
Q: I have a couple hives outside my house and I don't want to kill the bees. I would like to relocate ...
A: Mike, If these are honey bees you can ask a local beekeeper to move the hives. Contact your local ...
|
| Do I have termites? | 9/16/2009 |
Q: I found about a dozen termites flying around a lamp. I called a pest control company and they ...
A: Tim, The first question I have is do you live in an area where drywood termites are found? Take a ...
|
| Ants | 9/15/2009 |
Q: Jack, I need to reclaim my yard I think. Over the course of the past few weeks my children have ...
A: Melanie, There are only two ants in the US that causes any sort of injury when they sting or bite ...
|
| Stink Bugs...Help! | 9/14/2009 |
Q: I am seeing stink bugs around the outside of my house each day and the number seems to be ...
A: A better approach for the surfaces in direct sunlight might be to spray the bugs themselves with a ...
|
| Stink Bugs...Help! | 9/14/2009 |
Q: I am seeing stink bugs around the outside of my house each day and the number seems to be ...
A: Microencapsulted is an older term that referred to a type of insecticide formulation that was sort ...
|
| Sealing up wasp nests | 9/13/2009 |
Q: Simply, I've got a wasp nest that is concealed inside an exterior wall of my house and it's in a ...
A: Joe, Once the weather turns cold the nest will die and be abandoned unless it is one of the ...
|
| Dry wood Termite | 9/12/2009 |
Q: We recently bought a house in Katy, Texas. The previous owner didn't disclose any termite issue, and ...
A: Flora, These are legal questions that you should ask your lawyer or legal adviser. However, I agree ...
|
| yellowjackets | 9/11/2009 |
Q: Last summer I had a bee control guy spray a yellow jacket nest that was in the exterior wall of the ...
A: Bill, I think there may be two different things going on. The yellowjacket wasp colony produces ...
|
| Dry wood Termite | 9/7/2009 |
Q: We recently bought a house in Katy, Texas. The previous owner didn't disclose any termite issue, and ...
A: Flora, I don't think it should matter what time of the year you do structure fumigation for drywood ...
|
| Indian Meal Moths | 9/6/2009 |
Q: What happens if a person, dog or bird accidently eats Indian Meal Moths, their larvae or their ...
A: Sally, There's no danger whatsoever in eating meal moth larvae. Insect larvae of all types are ...
|
| tiny bug strong bite | 9/5/2009 |
Q: I'm trying to identify a bug that gave me a very painful bite tonight. I was in Connecticut, ...
A: Nancy, I think you probably encountered a thrips. Thrips (the name thrips is always plural) are ...
|
| Tiny Tiny insects | 9/4/2009 |
Q: DeAngelis, My name is Susan and I live in Chicago, IL. It's been almost one month these insects ...
A: Susan, I can't see much detail in the photo but your description sounds like a springtail, also ...
|
| getting rid of sandwasps at campsite | 9/2/2009 |
Q: i have a campsite in Maine the whole area is covered in sandwasp nests how do i get rid of them
A: Bill, I'm not sure there's anything you can do in the short-term (this season). Long-term anything ...
|
| jumping ant-like insect | 9/2/2009 |
Q: We came home to find a sudden infestation on the vertical blinds at our sliding doors. The insects ...
A: Sue, This one has me stymied. I'd like to see a picture but your best bet may be to take a few to ...
|
| tiny black bug | 9/1/2009 |
Q: We have tiny black bugs that are smaller than what we call 'piss' ants, but they are black and a ...
A: These sure sound like ants. Ants are the only insects I know of that would behave this way toward a ...
|
| Wasp removal from attic | 8/31/2009 |
Q: I have a large wasp nest in my attic. These are orange/red wasps. I was planning to spray it with ...
A: Scott, If the attic is vented this should not be a concern. However, for future reference there are ...
|
| tiny black bug | 8/30/2009 |
Q: We have tiny black bugs that are smaller than what we call 'piss' ants, but they are black and a ...
A: I should have asked this the first time - how many of these are you seeing at one time or even ...
|
| tiny black bug | 8/30/2009 |
Q: We have tiny black bugs that are smaller than what we call 'piss' ants, but they are black and a ...
A: Lilly, I think these are in fact ants. There are some very small species of ants that occur ...
|
| Bugs at Porch Light | 8/28/2009 |
Q: Is there any way to keep bugs away from a porch light without using a yellow bulb or a bug zapper? ...
A: Ron, The short answer is the sonic "pest repellers" don't work, indoors or outside. Here's an ...
|
| tiny caterpillar | 8/26/2009 |
Q: This is the second time this summer that we have found a tiny caterpillar crawling on our sheets. ...
A: Chris, This is a beetle larva, rather than moth larva, possibly a dermestid beetle. Dermestid ...
|
| flea control | 8/26/2009 |
Q: we recently moved and discovered fleas on our dogs. we have lived in the same complex for 6 years ...
A: I'm glad you're not using Knoxout. Nylar (pyriproxyfen) is a good alternative to methoprene except ...
|
| flea control | 8/25/2009 |
Q: we recently moved and discovered fleas on our dogs. we have lived in the same complex for 6 years ...
A: Timothy, Let me make a couple points before answering your questions. First, Frontline Plus is very ...
|
| termite treatment issues | 8/24/2009 |
Q: ... So.. here the long and short of it. A while back my home was treated for termites. My living ...
A: Sam, I don't know if there's any liability here, it would depend on your state laws. I'd contact ...
|
| Fleas | 8/21/2009 |
Q: I recently removed my dog from our home because of his flea problem after flea baths and collars. My ...
A: Mazis, I'm not sure where to begin but I can tell you that there are no insects and mites that fit ...
|
| Mites? | 8/21/2009 |
Q: How do I get rid of Mites? Is using store bought bug bombs every week going to poison me? I am going ...
A: Lynn, I'm very sorry you are having these problems. First, and most importantly, applying more ...
|
| Preventative termite treatments | 8/20/2009 |
Q: I have a policy for subterranean termites with a pest management company. The footprint of my home ...
A: Kim, I'm not aware of any plan to cancel Termidor in Florida or anywhere else. I think this ...
|
| Bedbugs | 8/19/2009 |
Q: I would like some advice with some findings in my home. They have appeared in my dining room, which ...
A: Dannii, I'm still not sure what this is but it is definitely not bed bugs. In fact I don't think it ...
|
| Bedbugs | 8/18/2009 |
Q: I would like some advice with some findings in my home. They have appeared in my dining room, which ...
A: Dannii, It is hard to say what these are without a picture but they are probably not bed bugs. You ...
|
| Blue Black Wasp | 8/17/2009 |
Q: Can you help us indentify and exterminate a blue black wasp approximately 2" in length which is ...
A: Paul, This is a digger wasp (family Sphecidae) and here's a wikipedia page ...
|
| identification of wormlike bug | 8/17/2009 |
Q: Would you try to identify this worm/bug for me please. I have found these one centimeter grey, thin ...
A: Mj, Thanks for the photo. This is definitely NOT a springtail. It looks like a moth larva. You can ...
|
| identification of wormlike bug | 8/16/2009 |
Q: Would you try to identify this worm/bug for me please. I have found these one centimeter grey, thin ...
A: Mj, I'm not sure about this id so post a picture if you can. However, your description sounds like ...
|
| Fumigated Car | 8/14/2009 |
Q: I recently got paranoid over a spider bite on my leg. I read George Manning's post on fumigating a ...
A: Jasmine, I don't know who George is and I wouldn't recommend that foggers or "bombs" be used this ...
|
| Dust Mites | 8/11/2009 |
Q: We have dust mites problems my mother wants to use a bug fogger or bug bomb will this work or is ...
A: Thomas, Bug 'bombs" and foggers won't work for dust mites and they would definitely be a bad idea ...
|
| Ground bees | 8/11/2009 |
Q: I am avoiding a hole where I see bees going in and out. The hole looks like it was dug by bees. ...
A: Fred, What most people call "ground bees" are ground-nesting wasps in the family Vespidae ...
|
| bird mites | 8/9/2009 |
Q: I think my dog is itching all the time because of mites. I have not found any fleas on her. I ...
A: Mel, I really doubt that what you describe is a bird mite problem. Bird mites are only found in ...
|
| ants | 8/7/2009 |
Q: i am being besieged with ants. admittedly, we live on ant hill [palos verdes, ca], and thus, ...
A: J, If you have a large nest(s) in the walls and/or ceiling there's probably not much you can do ...
|
| ants | 8/6/2009 |
Q: i am being besieged with ants. admittedly, we live on ant hill [palos verdes, ca], and thus, ...
A: It is very unlikely that large numbers of ants are originating outdoors and finding their way to the ...
|
| ants | 8/6/2009 |
Q: i am being besieged with ants. admittedly, we live on ant hill [palos verdes, ca], and thus, ...
A: J, It sounds like you have a large nest inside the wall or ceiling. While most ants nest in the ...
|
| paper wasps | 8/5/2009 |
Q: We live in the woods and have a large pond in our backyard that is visited constantly throughout the ...
A: Kathy, I think what you are experiencing is actually a relatively new species of non-native paper ...
|
| book lice?? | 8/5/2009 |
Q: , I have,what |I think and have been told,booklice in my home. I found them one day last week under ...
A: Booklice are not especially attracted to wood unless it is damp and moldy. Are you sure these are ...
|
| Is this a roach? | 8/5/2009 |
Q: I found this "bug" in my bedroom. It was crawling on the bottom side of my computer desk. I don't ...
A: Kristy, I can't be sure because the specimen is distorted but this could be a cockroach, perhaps a ...
|
| little brown bug | 8/4/2009 |
Q: we keep finding these little brown beetle, bug in our house. Mainly on the bed, carpet and other ...
A: Krista, This is a beetle, possibly the anobiid cigarette beetle. These beetles feed on dry food ...
|
| book lice?? | 8/4/2009 |
Q: , I have,what |I think and have been told,booklice in my home. I found them one day last week under ...
A: Libby, Booklice or psocids (not related to true lice) are very common insects that feed on fungi ...
|
| bugs in kitchen and bathroom | 7/31/2009 |
Q: I live in a very old home in north Texas (hour north of Dallas) and I have recently had a large ...
A: Austin, These are not springtails (which are much smaller). The picture is too fuzzy to see much ...
|
| Termite Prevention | 7/26/2009 |
Q: We purchased our home, newly built, 2 years ago. There is quite a bit of construction going on ...
A: Vivian, Flying termites are very common at certain times of the year and would not be related to ...
|
| brown insect pest | 7/25/2009 |
Q: For the past month I've been seeing this creature about my home (a third floor, 40-year old ...
A: Gary, This is a cockroach, probably the German cockroach Blattella germanica. These are very common ...
|
| paper wasp nest | 7/22/2009 |
Q: Its about the size of a football, i see black wasps (i think) flying in and out of it. I was ...
A: Sam, There are two kinds of wasp nests. Paper wasps make nests that are "open", you can see ...
|
| confused, palmetto bug | 7/18/2009 |
Q: ok so here is what happened. i am staying with my mom in florida and my worst fear came true, ...
A: Brittany, First let me say that seeing 3 palmetto bugs, also called the American cockroach, in 5 ...
|
| tiny beetles | 7/15/2009 |
Q: I just read a question asked by another person about cigarette beetles (I think that is what they ...
A: Amy, There are a number of these beetles that all look a bit different. It is easier to consider ...
|
| spiders | 7/15/2009 |
Q: In the last two days I have noticed baby spiders on my ceilings in my bedroom (yuck!) and my front ...
A: Jill, I'm not clear about the size. Are they "dust-like" or can you see individuals and are able to ...
|
| tiny beetles | 7/15/2009 |
Q: I just read a question asked by another person about cigarette beetles (I think that is what they ...
A: Amy, Beetles that infest stored foods (there are a number of different species) can get into just ...
|
| Flea-like bugs in kitchen & bathroom | 7/14/2009 |
Q: I have flea-like bugs in the kitchen and around the bathtub. They are black and do indeed 'jump'. ...
A: Heather, I doubt that these are fleas. If they were fleas you'd be getting flea bites and you ...
|
| Bird Mites | 7/14/2009 |
Q: I hope you can help me. My teenage daughter has a Love Bird in her bedroom which apparently has ...
A: Connie, Flea foggers and other insecticides won't be very effective for bird mites. You need to ...
|
| insect feces | 7/11/2009 |
Q: I've noticed some black material in only one corner of my bathroom on the floor. It looks like tiny ...
A: Paul, I don't know, obviously this could be a lot of things. A couple of suggestions, however: ...
|
| Brown House Moth | 7/9/2009 |
Q: For many months now, maybe since around Christmas, I have had a problem with what I think are brown ...
A: Anna, Brown house moth is a very common household pest that feeds on a variety of natural materials ...
|
| Single Cockroach Question | 7/9/2009 |
Q: It's 2:14am where I am and it just took me 30 minutes to kill a 2-inch long cockroach (not including ...
A: Nick, No need to panic (I know that doesn't help). This is an American cockroach and they are very ...
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| Dangers of pest control chemicals? | 7/7/2009 |
Q: I currently have a pest control company come quarterly to the house and spray around the perimeter ...
A: Michelle, The pest control companies don't like it when I say this but there's no good ...
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| bird mites | 7/7/2009 |
Q: Its been 2 to 3 weeks since we removed a birds nest on the deck. Since the nest was moved we have ...
A: Jessica, The short answer is that nest mites should not survive this long in the absence of their ...
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| Bug ID | 7/7/2009 |
Q: Can you tell me what bug this is and what kills it? I have them all over my cement patio and on the ...
A: Brian, These are called collembola, or springtails. They live in soil and feed on fungi and organic ...
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| Bites | 7/6/2009 |
Q: I live in Los Angeles, CA. I have some sort of bites on my torso and thighs that are small and ...
A: Marina, What you describe sounds like some type of allergic reaction or perhaps a chemical ...
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| getting rid of june bugs | 7/6/2009 |
Q: We have a HUGE problem with June bugs. They are eating our trees, getting into our house and are ...
A: Gretchen, There's probably not much you can do this year to reduce the number of beetles but if you ...
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| moving father | 7/5/2009 |
Q: My father lives in a roach infested trailer and he is moving to clean assisted/independent living ...
A: Kevin, The bed, chair and canned food can be surface-cleaned and will probably be ok. Since the ...
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| Termites unknowingly moved to another house | 7/4/2009 |
Q: We are staying in an apartment presently where we have found the white slug like termites eating ...
A: Tricia, I think the first step should be to get the termites identified as to species because this ...
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| bed bug pesticide - effect on humans | 7/3/2009 |
Q: Maybe 12 weeks ago we called in a pest control team. They sprayed all around the house, my pillow ...
A: Charles, I really can't comment on medical issues. However, the statement from the pest control ...
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| bed bug pesticide - effect on humans | 7/3/2009 |
Q: Maybe 12 weeks ago we called in a pest control team. They sprayed all around the house, my pillow ...
A: Charles, It is difficult to give advice in this situation because I don't know exactly what has ...
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| Termites unknowingly moved to another house | 7/3/2009 |
Q: We are staying in an apartment presently where we have found the white slug like termites eating ...
A: Tricia, I need some additional information to answer this question. Do you know which termite ...
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| Drain Flies in Crawl Space | 7/2/2009 |
Q: We have drain flies, and the problem has become huge. We previously had some type of small flies ...
A: Amy, This may be one of the few times I'd suggest using a fogger (total release aerosol ...
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| Odd bug invading our camper | 7/1/2009 |
Q: We have been attacked by these odd bugs in our camper recently. We live in Mississippi and it has ...
A: Debra, I think what you have here is a black soldier fly maggot. They are harmless (won't bite or ...
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| Unknown infestation | 7/1/2009 |
Q: Very many small holes (the size of the head of a straight pin) have been appearing on my clothing ...
A: Anita, Dust mites don't damage fabrics so these would not be the cause. Most insects that damage ...
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| Tiny black bugs in kitchen | 7/1/2009 |
Q: I have noticed many black bugs slowly crawling in my pristine kitchen..floor, sink, counters. I ...
A: Jan, If they are hard and "crunchy" when squished they are probably not collembola which are pretty ...
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| blue/black wasp | 7/1/2009 |
Q: I live in southwest Louisiana in a double wide mobile home. Underneath my mobile homes skirting ...
A: Carol, These are probably what's called pompilid wasps or spider wasps. These large wasps are able ...
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| Ceiling bug? | 6/30/2009 |
Q: I just noticed a circle about the size of a quarter on my ceiling of these tiny black bugs. I wiped ...
A: Katy, These are newly hatched lepidopteran (moth and butterfly) larvae. They are too small to ...
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| Unknown infestation | 6/30/2009 |
Q: Very many small holes (the size of the head of a straight pin) have been appearing on my clothing ...
A: Anita, What sort of fabric are the damaged clothes made from? Wool, silk, cotton, rayon, ...
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| Bunches of small grey excretions in my couch | 6/29/2009 |
Q: I've noticed on a couple of occasions these small grey excretions (or what looks to be) in the back ...
A: Renee, I'm not sure what this is but check above this spot for any sign of a hole that might be ...
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| Tiny black bugs in kitchen | 6/29/2009 |
Q: I have noticed many black bugs slowly crawling in my pristine kitchen..floor, sink, counters. I ...
A: Jan, I'd need a more complete description to be sure but these may be collembola, also called ...
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| bird mites | 6/28/2009 |
Q: My boyfriend recently had some birds make a hole in the ceiling of his garage which is also the ...
A: Lynn, Your diagnosis of bird mites (also called nest mites) is correct. Also, as you say the best ...
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| Can't identify fleas or gnats - help please | 6/24/2009 |
Q: I have recently noticed a large number of insects on my dinging room floor. The floor is a wood ...
A: Kandice, I can't enough detail in the image but from your description I think these are collembola, ...
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| wood insects | 6/23/2009 |
Q: My mother lives in rural New Mexico and relies on wood for heat. Wood is kept in an enclosed wood ...
A: V., This is the type of powderpost beetle that infests softwoods (like pine and cedar) rather than ...
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| Carpenter Ants AND Wasp Nest ID | 6/23/2009 |
Q: I have a lake home in Northern MN and in an unattached garage, think I have Carpenter ants. I've ...
A: Rosie, The continual presence of sawdust is a pretty good indication of an active carpenter ant ...
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| Re:Could they be gnats? | 6/23/2009 |
Q: Outside my son's bedroom windows is a huge oak tree. Last year we had the tree trimmed because the ...
A: Sandy, The first step is a capture a few of these gnats so someone can examine them under a ...
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| Bites | 6/23/2009 |
Q: I just recently came back from a Deer Camp in the Hills of Vermont after spending a weekend there. I ...
A: Carmen, I doubt that these are insect or mite bites. It is usually pretty easy to catch the culprit ...
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| identified miniscule pellets found several time on my bedsheets | 6/21/2009 |
Q: Sunday, 20 june, 2009 NYC: As the subject matters outlines, I have found these tiny, ...
A: J, Your best bet is to take your samples to the nearest Cooperative Extension (Cornell) office ...
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| Powder Post Beetle | 6/20/2009 |
Q: I'm sorry I am asking for privacy, but as a furniture store owner, I just can't afford to post this ...
A: Sharlene, When I've seen this done for drywood termites they used the torpedo-shaped propane ...
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| Termites | 6/18/2009 |
Q: I have been informed that I have termites. I reside in NC. MY worries are if they have done any ...
A: Cindy, Termite shelter tubes ("tunnels") usually don't appear inside homes unless the infestation ...
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| Termites - How long does it take to get rid of them? | 6/18/2009 |
Q: I live in Northern Virigina. We found a major termite infestation in our basement this spring. We ...
A: Cathy, Both insecticides that were used contain the active ingredient imidacloprid. This is a ...
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| carpenter ants | 6/18/2009 |
Q: I bought a mobile home a year ago in a mobile home park in Michigan their are 2 huge mounds that ...
A: Lori, Carpenter ants don't make mounds like other ants but instead nest above ground in cavities ...
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| Reddish Brown Cockroach about 2 inches long | 6/17/2009 |
Q: This is question is similar to ones that I have read but different because I can't seem to find an ...
A: Matthew, Using the A/C won't make any difference. Cockroaches tend to stay along the edges of rooms ...
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| Reddish Brown Cockroach about 2 inches long | 6/17/2009 |
Q: This is question is similar to ones that I have read but different because I can't seem to find an ...
A: Matthew, I think you are correct in your identification based on size alone. The general ...
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| Termidor | 6/16/2009 |
Q: Recently I had my house treated for ants. The pest control company used termidor sc. They applied 2 ...
A: Bill, I'm not aware of any particularly toxic aspect of Termidor. Consider that the active ...
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| Extremely tine black flying insects everywhere | 6/16/2009 |
Q: Dr. DeAngelis my home is on Colorado and on several of my window screens I have sometimes hundreds ...
A: N, I can't tell from your description exactly what insect this might be. If you are near a body of ...
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| Bugs | 6/14/2009 |
Q: I was moving and found brown rice looking i think they are bugs I picked one up and squished it and ...
A: Miendy, These sound like dermestid carpet beetles. Carpet beetles feed on all sorts of natural ...
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| worm bite? | 6/14/2009 |
Q: I live in Rantoul Il. Every time i come back inside from a walk with my dog, i sit on the couch. i ...
A: Eleena, Thrips do look like a tan dash. The picture on the page I sent was highly magnified. Thrips ...
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| worm bite? | 6/14/2009 |
Q: I live in Rantoul Il. Every time i come back inside from a walk with my dog, i sit on the couch. i ...
A: Eleena, I'm not sure what this is, however it is not a bed bug or dust mite. There are very few ...
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| Centipede-like Bugs | 6/13/2009 |
Q: I live in Atlanta, GA and have been seeing small centipede-like bugs in my third story bathroom for ...
A: Amber, This is a centipede but not the house centipede. This species probably came from outside. ...
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| Centipede-like Bugs | 6/13/2009 |
Q: I live in Atlanta, GA and have been seeing small centipede-like bugs in my third story bathroom for ...
A: Amber, Yes, a photo would help. You can attach it to a follow up question. There are centipedes ...
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| insects in the attic? | 6/12/2009 |
Q: I live in NE Louisiana, house is about 30yrs old, brick. In the corner of the living room where the ...
A: Linda, Carpenter ants can be treated by disrupting the trails the ants use to forage for food. ...
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| insects in the attic? | 6/10/2009 |
Q: I live in NE Louisiana, house is about 30yrs old, brick. In the corner of the living room where the ...
A: Linda, One of two different insects usually causes this type of sawdust in this situation. Look ...
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| termites underground | 6/10/2009 |
Q: my neighbor had a termite infestation one day. She is under contract w/ a termite control company. ...
A: Nancy, Thanks for the additional information. First, the fact that termites were found at a ...
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| flying ants or termites?? | 6/9/2009 |
Q: I live in MD. Around this time every year, ants come in to the house. We are used to seeing them and ...
A: Jonathan, If you have other questions it is best to post them under a separate subject otherwise ...
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| Very tiny black ants (?) in kitchen | 6/9/2009 |
Q: For the past few days, I have had very tiny black bugs that I think are ants. We called them "sugar ...
A: Erin, All of these small house-infesting nuisance ants (there are many species) can usually be ...
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| termites underground | 6/9/2009 |
Q: my neighbor had a termite infestation one day. She is under contract w/ a termite control company. ...
A: Nancy, I'm not entirely sure what your question is but I think you are asking if the fence could ...
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| biting insect | 6/8/2009 |
Q: I was wondering if you could help me identify a biting insect. It was so tiny i hardly noticed it, ...
A: Angie, There are a number of small insects that normally prey on other small insects, and even some ...
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| Moths?? | 6/8/2009 |
Q: Last summer, I found many flying insects that I had not previously seen, in my home. When I smashed ...
A: Connie, What you are describing are called clothes moths and there are a number of different ...
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| small flying bug with a painful bite | 6/8/2009 |
Q: I live just outside of Boston and recently have noticed (indoors) tiny flying insects that give a ...
A: Linda, Unfortunately your description does not match anything I'm familiar with. Your best bet may ...
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| Is this bug bad? | 6/6/2009 |
Q: Could you please tell me what type of bug this is? It is all over my lambs ears. I am concerned that ...
A: Margaret, This is a four-lined plant bug (Poecilocapsus lineatus, Miridae). These true bugs feed on ...
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| Termite Eradication | 6/4/2009 |
Q: I love in Southern CA and have a drywood termite infestation that appears to have been "under ...
A: Sara, In certain climates, such as Southern California, drywood termites can be very damaging. ...
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| flying ants or termites?? | 6/4/2009 |
Q: I live in MD. Around this time every year, ants come in to the house. We are used to seeing them and ...
A: Jonathan, Let me answer your second question first. There are two types of pest inspectors - those ...
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| Fungus? | 5/31/2009 |
Q: I just found a slight mound of yellow jelly-like substance, part way into the ground in our garden ...
A: Margie, Most fungi don't look like mushrooms, only one group does. I'm not familiar with the fungi ...
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| insect nest? | 5/31/2009 |
Q: I just found a slight mound of yellow jelly-like substance, part way into the ground in our garden ...
A: Margie, I think this is probably some type fungus rather than an insect nest. There are a number of ...
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| flies and septic tanks | 5/31/2009 |
Q: Every spring, we can look at the back of our house, on the outside wall and see hundreds of little ...
A: Lesa, Would it be possible to post a picture? There are many different flies that can aggregate ...
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| roach in the house ohmy!! | 5/30/2009 |
Q: Jack, Thanks for your time. I live in a wooded area in PA. I have seen large roaches outside on ...
A: Chris, There are many species of cockroaches but only a few enter homes and become pests. The pest ...
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| Small wormlike bug on bedroom wall | 5/28/2009 |
Q: I found a bug I've never seen the like of before... The total length was about 1/3 inch, and the ...
A: Su, I think this is probably a related species called the plaster bagworm. The biology is very ...
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| spiders | 5/28/2009 |
Q: First, thank you for taking the time to read my question. I live in north Alabama and my house is ...
A: Steven, My garage is the same way. Unfortunately there's not a lot you can do. However, I've had ...
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| Small wormlike bug on bedroom wall | 5/28/2009 |
Q: I found a bug I've never seen the like of before... The total length was about 1/3 inch, and the ...
A: Su, Excellent description and drawing of a casemaking clothes moth larva. Unfortunately there can ...
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| Strange Flying Insect | 5/27/2009 |
Q: I live in Southwestern Lower Michigan and we found this odd looking UFO in our office. We would ...
A: Marcena, Sorry. It is a wasp. The long "stinger" is called an ovipositor and is used to place eggs ...
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| Strange Fly Situation | 5/26/2009 |
Q: Never seent his type of fly. It is larger than an ordinary house fly. It is striped like grey/black ...
A: Adrienne, There are lots of different flies that look like house flies, some a little larger, some ...
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| powder-post beetle fumigation | 5/26/2009 |
Q: I have recently purchased a home and had a pest control inspection done in which the inspector ...
A: Jose, This is a complicated question but I'll try to hit a few of the main points. Powderpost ...
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| bed bugs? | 5/25/2009 |
Q: I'm trying to figure out if I might have bed bugs in my house (an apartment in dayton, oh). I been ...
A: Kelly, There are a small number of insects that can cause this kind of reaction, including bed ...
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| grubs in lawn. | 5/24/2009 |
Q: I have outside animals and cats and dogs. Is there something I can use on the yard to kill grubs ...
A: Paul, Unfortunately many of these homemade remedies don't work very well and can actually damage ...
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| please help !! | 5/22/2009 |
Q: I just moved to a new house which was built in the 30's in new york ... the past few nights i keep ...
A: Lenny, There are only a very small number of insects and mites that actually bite people. Often ...
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| Weird Bugs | 5/17/2009 |
Q: "I saw the question a woman asked about the bugs on the corner of her ceiling and I have the same ...
A: Morgan, This is definitely not a bed bug. It is a beetle of some kind but I can't see it clearly ...
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| wood powder on the window frame | 5/17/2009 |
Q: I noticed that wood powder on the window frame in the kitchen on the first floor. I cleaned it ...
A: Jitendra, This is an excellent description of carpenter ants trailing outside to collect food and ...
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| wood powder on the window frame | 5/17/2009 |
Q: I noticed that wood powder on the window frame in the kitchen on the first floor. I cleaned it ...
A: Jitendra, This is not termites but either powderpost beetles or carpenter ants. You didn't say how ...
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| black widow | 5/17/2009 |
Q: ok, i know i'm going to sound paranoid, but when i went down to my basement today i swear to god i ...
A: Sheila, Black widow spiders are very common in some regions but they are also very shy and almost ...
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| insect | 5/15/2009 |
Q: in bathroom small silver silky insect very fast when moving
A: Elaine, The only insect I can think that fits your description is a silverfish. Silverfish prefer ...
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| drain flies | 5/14/2009 |
Q: We have had a problem with drain flies in our house for several years. We have tried the gels in ...
A: Maureen, Drain flies, also called moth flies, develop in the organic "gunk" that forms in drains ...
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| Box Elder Bugs | 5/12/2009 |
Q: After they invade your house to STAY through the winter, is there no way of getting rid of them ...
A: Shannon, Unfortunately there are no good ways to get rid of boxelder bugs once they get into the ...
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| Fleas | 5/12/2009 |
Q: Okay,, I have a very clean house, and I have NO Pets, yet I keep finding fleas in my bathroom ...
A: Mike, Are you sure these are fleas? Take a look at this page ...
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| Clover mites | 5/5/2009 |
Q: Our home is almost 3 years old and each year we have noticed an increase in clover mites on our ...
A: Steph, I don't know what this "bee spray" is? These mites can also develop on grass so I would cut ...
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| Clover mites | 5/5/2009 |
Q: Our home is almost 3 years old and each year we have noticed an increase in clover mites on our ...
A: Steph, Clover mites develop and feed on plants. The mites that enter homes often develop on the ...
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| OUTSIDE WORMS COMING INSIDE | 5/5/2009 |
Q: I have one inch brown worms with lots tiny legs coming inside from outside. They only come inside ...
A: Vicki, These are millipedes and they are harmless. They eat organic matter and have probably ...
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| Microscopic biting bugs | 5/1/2009 |
Q: I keep going out in my yard and getting bitten by these teenie tiny little microscopic creatures. I ...
A: Monica, There are a number of small insects that will bite (not sting) if they fly into us. There ...
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| caterpillars | 4/30/2009 |
Q: I live in Corpus Christi, TX and recently i have been finding tiny brown worm like bug in the bed ...
A: I need a bit more information. What's the difference between the "brown worm like bug" and the ...
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| Larder Beetles | 4/29/2009 |
Q: I have done my research and found out that I have Larder Beetles in my apartment. Black beetles ...
A: Tracy, Larder beetles like all "stored product" pests (insects like carpet beetles, meal moths, ...
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| Ants Chicago | 4/28/2009 |
Q: I have a ento degree from Texas A&M but im unfamiliar with ants species population Chicago ...
A: Kim Lee Sampson, Sounds like carpenter ants. Carpenter ants are the largest ants in that area. Take ...
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| RE: Wasp in my home | 4/28/2009 |
Q: After arriving home from work I went to pick something up, in my living room not knowing there was a ...
A: Melissa, I doubt that 70 degrees is cold enough to immobilize a wasp, however darkness is. When you ...
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| bed bugs | 4/25/2009 |
Q: I recently moved into a half double that turns out to have bed bugs. I am a single mother on ...
A: Jeszika, There may be a better way of managing the bed bugs (but heat is not a bad idea). Bed bugs ...
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| Tent Worm Caterpillars | 4/25/2009 |
Q: I asked a question a couple weeks ago about being over run by some weird worm, and you asked for a ...
A: Caryn, The safest way to treat young, feeding caterpillars in general is with a microbial ...
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| Bees | 4/20/2009 |
Q: I have a patio made from 12X12 red bricks with sand between the brinks. There are bees or something ...
A: Mary, There are many different solitary ground-nesting bees. Usually they pose no threat and most ...
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| termites | 4/19/2009 |
Q: I am unsure if this is your background but here is our question, We just purchased a home in North ...
A: Todd, The Formosan termite is a type of subterranean termite. It is a non-native species that is ...
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| buuuuuuuuuuugs | 4/18/2009 |
Q: We have a uouse in Belize C,A. we have mahogony ceilings on 2nd floor. Theres always fine like saw ...
A: Salvatore, I don't know this common name (mahogony bug) but these sound like some type powderpost ...
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| Bugs in house | 4/10/2009 |
Q: I have found these weird small bugs in my house. They are brown/ black (i cant really tell) and they ...
A: Abigail, This sounds a lot like dermestid carpet beetles. Take a look at this page ...
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| Little black bugs | 4/9/2009 |
Q: I live in Arizona. I have been infested with some type of tiny black bug throughout my backyard (in ...
A: Louise, Yes, post a picture if you can. But from your description I'd guess these are collembola, ...
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