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Home Pest Control Update: Flying Ants or Termites?
Spring is finally here and with it the warmer and extremely wet mild winter, that means all types of flying and crawling bugs in Maryland! This includes our new clients in Woodbine, Gaithersburg, Columbia, Sykesville, and all of Maryland are calling us now about these flying insects with wings. They may be winged ant reproductives or winged termite reproductives. But, how do homeowners tell the difference between the two?? First, the easiest way that a homeowner can tell if they have termites or an ant species is fairly simple: Ants (Carpenter, Odorous, Citronella, Pavement, etc.) have a definitive segmented body…
Residential Pest Control Update: Mild Winter = Here Come the Pests
In the Maryland area, we have had a mild and wet winter. A mild winter and early spring may mean more pests in your home.*** But a mild winter leaves more above-ground insects alive, which means more will be active to emerge and reproduce when the weather warms, leading to more insects in spring and summer. More moisture and early plant growth will provide more food for pests. So more pests + more food = frustration and anger over pests in our homes. At Pest Shield, we are experiencing requests for service in the Rockville, Damascus, Mt.Airy, Gaithersburg, Frederick, areas…
Pest Control: Here Come Termites and Ants
Termites There is no such thing as “a season off” for termites. Most people believe that since you can’t see them now, they must not be around. However, Central Maryland*** has a plethora of bugs and pests which don’t die they just burrow away in your home or on your property while the winter months come and go. Then, come out like crazy when spring hits. No, in fact, termites are the pests that keep on giving. Winter, spring, summer or fall. These destructive bugs never go on vacation. They can and will continue eating your home and tearing up…
Home Pest Control: Prepare for Mosquitoes
When you think of winter, you don’t normally think of mosquitoes. These pests are usually associated with hot summer days while hanging out at the pool, working in the garden or fishing at the lake. Mosquitoes typically exist in fifty-degree or higher weather. However, don’t let that fool you. In fact, mosquitoes are around. You just don’t see them. During winter, mosquitoes, mainly females, go into “diapause” as they shut down their development, and hibernate until March and the males die. Many female mosquitoes are fertilized before going into diapause, so they are able to lay eggs when the warm…
Bed Bug Removal Need Increases Due to Holiday Travel
Airports are packed with travelers. Train stations are busting at the rails with riders. Traffic on the highways is bumper-to-bumper. These travelers are bringing presents, luggage and…bedbugs. Yes, bedbugs. Unfortunately, these nasty bugs jump inside our luggage, purses, coats, blankets, and pillows as we innocently head to our destination. Once they arrive, the bedbugs jump out of their little nest and infest the place where the traveler is staying. You may not have seen a bedbug recently. So, let’s refresh your memory: According to WebMD***, bedbugs are: …are small, oval insects that feed by sucking blood from humans or other…
Pest Control Update: Mice and Rats are Active in Maryland in November
Fall has gotten quite cold in Central Maryland. It even feels like winter on some days. If you think it’s cold for us, imagine how it must be for those rats and mice! Their little bodies are shivering and they want to find a place that is warm. So, where do they go? They go to your home, of course. They have to find somewhere to live for the winter as their grasses where they burrow and live have died off. As the cold weather hits, mice and rats will leave their dead homes and scurry into your live one. …
Fall Weather in Central Maryland Brings Stink Bugs, Boxelders, and Millipedes
We needed the cool weather after a blazing hot summer in Central Maryland. It’s time for pumpkins, cinnamon, Halloween, Oktoberfest and all the other traditions of fall. Unfortunately, it’s also time for the pests to move from outside to your home. Those pests can make the season not so fun and can get into your holiday food and costumes. The pests we’re speaking of this time?: Stink bugs, Boxelders and Millipedes. None of these pests will destroy your home or life. But they can be a nuisance. So, let’s take them one at a time: Stink Bugs The Marmorated Stink…
Home Pest Control: Terminate Those Spiders and Crickets
Fall is a time of year to enjoy pumpkin spice, raking leaves, cooler weather and spiders and crickets. Spiders and crickets! No one enjoys those but they will make their appearance and can be a serious nuisance in your home. You need to be on the lookout for these pests as cold weather triggers their migration from outdoors to indoors. You can stop them from invading your property by identifying them and then using home pest control to exterminate them. First, there are two types of crickets in Central Maryland: camel and field. Camel Crickets Camel crickets are commonly known…
Home Pest Control: Hornets and Yellowjackets
Summer is winding down. It has been incredibly hot and humid in the Central Maryland area. Insects continue slamming many homes. Our exterminators and pest control technicians have been busy! Extremely humid summers like this one can be a bonanza for us exterminators but very difficult for homeowners. We have touched on different summer insects that you would need to perform pest control on. Though many insects die off at the end of summer, many others flourish and continue to cause damage even into the late fall. Two types of insects can be particularly troublesome: hornets and yellow jackets….
They’re Here: House Ants Invasion
Home Pest Control: Odorous House Ants If you live in Howard, Montgomery, Carroll, or Frederick County, Maryland, and are experiencing an issue with ants, the most likely annoying culprits are known as Odorous House Ants. They are often referred to by homeowners and home pest control professionals as Sugar Ants. These smaller ants (1/16″ to 1/8″ inches) invade Central Maryland by the thousands. They create homes on our countertops, in our sinks and even in our dishwashers. They are found almost everywhere. They derive their infamous name because if you happen to squish one, they emit foul odor resembling a…