Bugs and Tips

Fire Ants: Tiny Warriors with a Fiery Bite

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 18:37:00 GMT

Fire ants: the name alone can send shivers down your spine if you've ever had the misfortune of stepping on a mound. These tiny creatures are more than just your average ant—they are fierce, fascinating, and sometimes, downright terrifying. But there’s a lot more to fire ants than their infamous sting. Let’s dive into the world of these little warriors and explore what makes them so unique.

Who Are the Fire Ants?

Fire ants belong to the genus *Solenopsis*, and there are over 200 species spread across the globe. The most notorious, however, is the red imported fire ant (*Solenopsis invicta*), native to South America but now widespread in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Known for their aggressive nature and painful stings, fire ants are not to be underestimated. But despite their bad reputation, these insects are quite remarkable.

Life in the Colony

Like other ants, fire ants live in colonies that can number in the hundreds of thousands. A typical fire ant colony has a strict hierarchy:
- The Queen: The most important member of the colony, the queen's primary role is to lay eggs—sometimes thousands a day! She can live for up to seven years, ensuring the colony's continuity. - The Workers: These sterile females do everything from foraging for food, tending to the queen, and defending the nest. They live short, busy lives, usually only a few months. - The Soldiers: Larger than the workers, these ants have one job—defend the colony from predators or invaders. They’re the ones you’re likely to meet if you accidentally disturb their mound. - The Drones: Male fire ants have a singular purpose: mate with the queen. Once their job is done, they die shortly after.
Fire ants are highly organized and efficient, working together to ensure the colony’s survival.

That Fiery Sting!

The one thing that sets fire ants apart from other ants is their sting, and it’s no joke. When a fire ant bites, it latches onto your skin and then injects venom through its stinger, leaving behind a burning sensation that can last for hours. The venom contains alkaloids, which cause the characteristic red bumps and even pustules that appear on the skin after being stung. Some people are allergic to fire ant stings, and in rare cases, these stings can cause severe allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis.
Fun fact: Fire ants don’t just sting once—they can sting repeatedly, making them even more formidable!

Fire Ants vs. the World

These ants are fierce fighters not only when defending their colony but also when taking over new territories. They are known to disrupt local ecosystems and outcompete native species wherever they invade. In the U.S., fire ants are considered a major agricultural pest, causing millions of dollars in damage annually to crops and livestock.
But it’s not all bad news. Fire ants also help control other pests, such as ticks and certain crop-destroying insects. This double-edged nature makes them both a friend and foe in many ecosystems.

Fire Ants on the Move

One of the most impressive traits of fire ants is their adaptability. They are excellent survivors, even in extreme conditions. During floods, fire ants have been known to create living rafts by linking together, allowing them to float on water until they find dry land. These ant rafts can survive for weeks, carrying the queen and young ants to safety. Their resilience and cooperation are truly remarkable!

How to Handle a Fire Ant Invasion

If you find fire ants in your yard, it's important to act fast. These ants can spread quickly and become a real problem. Here's what you can do:
1. Locate the Mounds: Fire ants build distinctive dome-shaped mounds, usually in sunny areas. These mounds can be deceptively small, but beneath the surface, the colony can extend deep underground. 2. Use Baits and Insecticides: There are specialized products designed to kill fire ant colonies. Baits are effective because worker ants carry the poisoned food back to the colony, eventually reaching the queen. 3. Call in the Pros: For severe infestations, professional pest control might be the best option.

Fire Ants: Tiny Engineers?

While fire ants are often viewed as pests, they are also incredibly resourceful. Their ability to build intricate tunnel systems and coordinate in such large numbers has inspired engineers and scientists. Studying fire ant colonies has helped researchers understand complex systems, from traffic flow to robotics, proving that even tiny creatures can teach us big lessons.

The Final Word

Love them or hate them, fire ants are some of nature’s most fascinating insects. They are a perfect example of how even the smallest creatures can have a massive impact on the world around them. So, the next time you see a fire ant mound, take a moment to marvel at the intricate society that lies beneath the surface—just make sure to keep your distance!
Stay Safe out There!

Cricket Control: Keeping the Chirps in Check

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 01:15:00 GMT

Crickets—while their night-time symphonies might be charming for a while, they can easily become unwanted guests when they decide to move into or around your home. These tiny insects, though mostly harmless, can quickly turn into a nuisance if they aren’t kept in check. But don’t worry! We have some tips so you can reclaim your space without losing your cool.

Meet the Culprit: crickets

Before we jump into how to control crickets, it’s good to know a bit about them. The most common indoor invader is the house cricket (Acheta domesticus). These little critters are attracted to warm, moist environments—think basements, kitchens, laundry rooms, or flower beds, sprinkler modules, leaky AC drains. Crickets love to chirp, especially the males who use that iconic sound to attract mates. Charming, right? Not when you’re trying to sleep.
Unfortunately, they can come in such large numbers that is impossible to walk outside without crunching on them. Yuck! Especially not fun if your leave the top off the convertible!

The Cricket Control Toolbox

There are plenty of ways to handle crickets, from natural solutions to more targeted approaches. Let’s break it down!
1. Seal the Deal: Block Their Entry
First things first—prevent crickets from coming inside by sealing cracks, gaps, and openings around doors, windows, and vents. Crickets are sneaky and can fit through the tiniest spaces. Think of this as closing down their backstage access to your house. Weatherstripping, caulk, and mesh screens are all great tools to stop these chirping invaders.
2. Dry it Out: Crickets Hate Dry Places
Crickets thrive in moisture, so reducing humidity in and around your home is key to making it less appealing to them. Use dehumidifiers in damp areas like basements, and fix any leaks around pipes or faucets. Reduce watering or drip line frequency, fix AC leaks, and grade the soil to allow for better runoff. Not only will this make crickets uncomfortable, but it’ll also help with other pests like silverfish and centipedes. Bonus!
3. Turn Off the Lights
Crickets are attracted to bright lights—kind of like moths, but louder! Reducing outdoor lighting or switching to yellow, insect-resistant bulbs can help prevent crickets from gathering near doors and windows, making it less likely for them to come around.
4. Let Nature Handle It
There’s a natural army ready to take on your cricket problem—spiders, lizards, and birds all love to snack on crickets. If you have a healthy backyard ecosystem, these predators can help keep cricket populations under control. Just think of it as outsourcing pest control to Mother Nature.
5. Set a Trap: Bait ‘Em In
Sticky traps and DIY bait stations can also help manage cricket infestations. We've heard that you can make your own bait by mixing molasses with water and placing it in shallow containers where crickets are active. They’ll be attracted to the sweet smell but won’t be able to escape. Let us know if it works for you!
The Friendly Reminder: Crickets Aren’t All Bad!
Despite their noisy habits, crickets are actually beneficial to the environment. They help break down organic matter, aerate the soil, and serve as food for other animals. So, if you’re dealing with a cricket invasion, remember it’s not personal—they’re just trying to survive!

Calling in the Pros

If the crickets are still chirping away after your DIY efforts, it might be time to bring in the professionals. Pest control services can help you get rid of stubborn infestations and provide long-term solutions to prevent future cricket invasions.

Chirp-Free Living Is Possible!

With the right combination of prevention, natural remedies, and a little bit of patience, you can control crickets and enjoy your space without the constant chirping. So next time you hear that familiar sound in the middle of the night, take a deep breath—you’ve got this under control. Say goodbye to uninvited cricket concerts and hello to peaceful, quiet nights!

Stay safe out there!

What is That Annoying Bug?

Mon, 13 May 2024 23:34:00 GMT

In this article, we will lightly discuss a few insects that many people find highly annoying. Each of these has a rather distinct season and generally are best to be left alone unless it is affecting your ability to enjoy life. These insects are not dangerous to humans.
This list is organized in order of general emergence in north Texas. We thought about listing them in order of annoyance, but decided we didn’t want to rock that boat too much.
And a forewarning... if you are looking for highly technical information, this is not for you. This is intended to be a fun conversation with some pertinent information here and there.

CRANE FLIES

Who are they? Crane Flies are those long legged flying bugs in early spring that are everywhere.
What do they do? The larvae eat organic decaying matter. The adults do not eat anything.
Where do you find them? Almost everywhere outside, especially in tall grass and heavy shrubbery.
When do they emerge? March-April just before mosquitos really start.
How are they best treated? The best thing is to leave them be. Treating for them is often a waste of chemical and money. If it’s really bad, spraying the area will reduce their numbers significantly.
Why are they annoying? In large numbers, they will fly in short bursts as you walk through your lawn and bounce off you.

June Bugs

Who are they? The reddish brown beetles that end up on your porch in massive numbers in early summer.
What do they do? The larval stage (grubs) eat grasses and roots of weeds. The most common grasses they eat are Bermuda and St Augustine. The adults just annoy you.
Where do you find them? The grubs you can find under damaged grasses. The adults will be under lights mostly, hence your porch.
When do they emerge? June Bugs emerge in late May but mostly in June.
How are they best treated? If their numbers are over the top, a perimeter bait is likely best.
Why are they annoying? They will fly up and hit you in the forehead and it actually hurts a bit. Then they crunch under your feet as you walk.

Crickets

Who are they? They are the dark brown (usually) jumping insects that are out at night, attracted to light, and make a chirping sound akin to your own ears ringing after a concert.
What do they do? They feed on garden plants, dog food or chicken mash. Indoors they can damage clothing, carpets and the like.
Where do you find them? During the day you will find them in dry dark cracks and crevices, under a rock, or in a drain. At night, you will find them in your garden, on your porch or in your vehicle if it’s left open.
When do they emerge? They are in their highest numbers in late summer into fall.
How are they best treated? The best option is a perimeter bait. A targeting threshold spray will help keep them out of buildings.
Why are they annoying? They jump all over the place! In an open parking lot at night that is well lit, you may find your self dodging them on the way to your car. Their numbers can get very high.

When it comes to insects such as these, the best action is often no action at all. If you consider the residual effect of over treating for insects such as these it often is not worth the cost. Only in situations where it is really affecting the livelihood of your home or business should treatment be considered, and even then a multi stage approach should be taken.
Contact us if you need help with any of these insects or similar. We can advise on the best route forward whether that is modifying the environment, cleaning up debris, trimming the grass and foliage, or spraying in some manner.
Stay safe out there!

When You Don't Get What You Expect

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 13:00:00 GMT

This may seem a bit emotional and a deviation from our normal light-hearted approach. That is because it is what matters most in our industry… in our opinion.

Careless Applicator concern

As a pest control professional, there are a couple of things that irritate me about some of our competition. One is misleading marketing on what is effective and what works. The other hits closer to home and deals with the careless application that occurs.
I will provide an example through a customer that I serviced for a couple of years. During that time they did not experience many bugs at all. They had the occasional ant in the front room, but other than that it was pretty clear sailing. As they grew as a family, they needed to upsize so they moved to a larger house in the same neighborhood. Part of the purchase included a contract with another pest control company. You may know this company as the one that use the ports installed in many new homes built today.
After the contract expired, they were quick to call me directly. Why? It turned out hey had several spiders coming in the house, several webs developing around the house, and wasps beginning to take residence. They had a newborn at the time. The image you see is an image of one of the pests found at their home the same day I treated the home. This occurred in March.
They did not hesitate to reach out to show their gratefulness that this one was dead. This is their image in fact. They asked us to share it in hopes of saving other families..

What Makes a Bug Guy pest services Different

In the simplest terms, and most convenient definitions... We Care. A Bug Guy is Different because we care about what we do. We care about the safety of the chemicals we spray. We care about the development of our team. We care about the safety of our team. We care about the safety of your family. We care about the details of your home. We care about your ability to enjoy your environment. We care because we have a family and a business too, and we know that is the most important thing to you. We don't want anyone to have to experience the bite of a black widow, and as such, we do everything in our power to make sure they do not reside in your home.

Each company has its own value and service level. But know that when you hire us we are not just trying to make a buck. We are trying to protect you and your family from the pests that cause harm. This one was a black widow. This one can alter your life.
We hope to meet you soon. Stay safe out there!

Mosquitos

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 19:56:00 GMT

Mosquitos. The one question we will all ask God when we pass on: Why Mosquitos?
You either get bit like crazy, or you don't. I am lucky enough to not get eaten alive, but for those who do, it is very, very irritating, and in some cases dangerous.

Where Mosquitos Live

Mosquitos breed in stagnant standing water, yes. But did you know that they hang out on the bottom side of leaves? Have you noticed they love some types of wood to rest on? Have you been bitten when there is no water around, no plants, and no fence? We have found them in piles of brick, unattended wheelbarrows (laying on its side), and of course inside a spare tire. Bottom line is they will find a way to live. There are several things you can do to prevent them from a high population, but they can even survive in grass if needed.
Mosquitos are annoying, and worse, some spread disease. We are not here to go into that, but we are here to talk about how we manage them.

What you can do

Here are a few things you can do to slow down the mosquito population:

Check for any standing water . Walk your property and look for poor drainage, children's toys that are holding water, wheelbarrows, bird feeders, etc.
Clean out your gutters . Are there any places where your gutters do not drain properly? There is likely a backup of leaves, dirt, etc. This can cause water to back up creating a pool of stagnant water over your head. Remove the blockage and let the gutters do their job.
Clean up brush . If your property has a lot of plants, this gives them a place to hang out. You do not need to remove it all, but trimming plants up a few inches off the ground will go a long way to slowing mosquitos down. If the foliage is unmanaged, then manage it. Work the land.
Rake dead areas of grass . Using a heavy rake, aerate the area. Pull the rake across the ground using some force to push down. You will feel roots ripping and things happening. You are removing the thatch that has built up over time. It will look bad at first, but in 2-3 weeks you will start to see the new beginnings of healthy grass..
Correct drainage areas of your yard . This is the most expensive solution. You will either need to buy dirt and put it down yourself or hire someone to do it. We recommend you hire a reputable company so you can ensure that local drainage efforts remain intact.

In2Care mosquito station

We utilize a simple system that utilizes a bucket, a gallon of water, and a chemical that floats atop the water.
It Attracts the mosquito to the chemical covered gauze. This chemical the collects on the mosquito much like pollen collects on a bee.
It Kills the adult mosquito in about 5 days. During that time, the mosquito is free to contaminate other breeding sites it visits.
It Prevents mosquito larvae from growing into biting adults.
This system is a bait, and thusly once it is gone, it is gone. It requires a monthly refresh. We also combine spraying with these buckets for a fullly rounded mosquito control solution.
There is no need for a several thousand dollar mounted misting system, unless you just prefer that.

Spraying for Mosquitos

We can also spray for mosquitos. We do this as a supplement to the In2Care Stations, but if you prefer for this application only it works as well.
We use a fine spray to coat the foliage around the home as well as other common hiding places such as wicker furniture, under some eaves, along select wooden fence types, etc. We do all of this with your safety in mind, so we do not spray wildly. It is strategic, targeted and effective.

let A BUG GUY PEST SERVICES know if you need help

We will do what we can to eliminate your mosquito problem with our pest control solutions so that you can reclaim your outdoor areas. We do that for one fee to make it easy and fair. We do not do pest service contracts, so if you don't get the results you want you are free to try something else. With four kids of our own, we know at A Bug Guy Pest Services that your family is the most important thing in your world. We honor and respect that fact, and will treat your home as if it was our own. We don't know any other way to do it.
With open communication we can solve your pest problem. Let us know when you are ready to start.

We hope to see you soon. Stay safe out there!

Why We Do What We Do

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 16:04:00 GMT

It was once asked of me after leaving a ministry role, “Have you ever thought about pest control?” My answer was a resounding no. However after some thought, for many reasons, I decided to give it a go. I have learned many answers to why in this job, and some of those I will articulate here.

We Do pest control for our family

It is no secret that we are a business. I want to get this out of the way. We have four kids to provide for, as well as two adults. That makes meals pretty expensive. We aim to provide a roof over our heads, meals for each of us, clothing as needed, and some niceties along the way. We don’t pass on those costs to you, rather, we simply do the best job we can to ensure you will continue to use us for your pest control needs.

We Do pest control to protect your family

We do what we do because it is important. We want you to be able to enjoy your outdoors. We want you to not get swarmed by mosquitos, or watch as ants move up on your outdoor picnic. We want you to not worry about spiders inside biting you in the night. We don’t want your kids to see a wasp’s nest and have the thought “I wonder what would happen if…?” Ultimately, we want you to be safe in your environment. And we do this in a way that is also safe for you, your family, and your pets.

We Do Pest Control to Honor God

We are called to work the land and to "rule over every living creature that moves on the ground." If those creatures are a threat to us, we do what we need to do to protect ourselves form those creatures. Pest Control is no different. Fire Ants are no joke. Black widows and brown recluses can be life altering. An out of control wasp nest can put you in the hospital. Mosquitos can spread debilitating diseases. We aim to "rule over" these creatures in order to keep you safe in your environment.

We do it because we care

There really isn’t much more I need to say other than this: We know that consistency is key. THAT is why we do NOT do contracts. When you hire us, the same person will come to your house for as long as it is within our control. That person will learn your home, its hot spots, the challenges you have at your home. When it is a different person each time, then problems start to arise. We only look for the highly detailed to hire. As time goes on, you will find you start to question if you even need pest control any more because it will be so smooth, easy and pest free. We have experienced this. We have lived it. It is possible. Sometimes a service is skipped, and then it is remembered why we were hired in the first place. No house is too big. No house is too small. No business is disqualified.

We hope to see you soon. Stay safe out there.

What You Need to Know About Chiggers

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 23:18:00 GMT

What are chiggers?

Chiggers are an immature spider mite of a specific type that will latch on to warm animals that emit carbon dioxide. They prefer to be in warm moist areas which leads them to your ankles around your socks, behind your knees or in your armpits. They do bite humans, and leave some of their saliva behind which irritates the skin around it causing one of the most intense itches you can get.

Why do chiggers itch so bad?

Chiggers bites contain enzymes that cause the deterioration of skin. Your bodies defense to this deterioration is what itches so bad. It is among the most intense itching sensations you will ever experience. The good news is that, while intensely itchy, the sores will go away on their own within a few days. In my experience it has taken right at a week. The only time they get dangerous is when infection sets in due to too much scratching.

What can be done to cure the itch?

The first step is to wash any clothing you have been wearing and to soap the bites areas heavily. The chiggers generally fall off on their own once they are done feeding. From there you can get any over the counter itch creams which help, clear nail polish can help the itch as well. A paste made from crushed aspirin and warm tap water is another way to rid the discomfort according to Dr Miles H Bader.

How do I get rid of chiggers?

There are a couple of things to know about where they hang out first. They prefer shaded, cool, mOIst areas. This leads them to bushed areas, tall grass, under a good shade tree, you get the idea. It is important to treat the entire yard, but those areas are priority. Powdered sulfur, many pesticide sprays and many granules can do the job. Be sure to check the label to make sure they are covered and follow the instructions of that particular product for best results.
One of the best chemicals we have found to fight chiggers is Top Choice made by Bayer. It is marketed primarily for fire ants, but does a great job against these little nuisances too.

If you would like us to help out, let us know and we will be happy to resolve the issue for you. Click here to make that happen.
Stay safe out there!

How to Stop a Fly Infestation

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 16:45:00 GMT

What does it mean if you have a fly infestation?

A fly infestation can occur in most environments with little to no warning. It does not mean you don't clean. It does not mean that you don't manage your household or business. Sure, cleanliness and debris management both assist in preventing flies, but we have seen maggots covering the floor of the cleanest of homes on more than one occasion.

How do infestations start?

First, it is important to note that a female fly will lay from 50 to 100 eggs at a time, and will lay around 500 in her lifetime. That is a lot of flies and a lot of maggots. The eggs take about 12 hours to hatch into maggots, and the maggots take about 10 days to pass through its 3 larval stages on the way to becoming the next fly annoying you.
Let's say you decide to grill some steak on Memorial Day, as we Americans love to do. With that wonderful feast comes leftovers and trash. Whatever you don't give to the dog, is prime for a fly to lay its eggs. The flies lay their eggs in any organic decaying matter. So after you grill, you clean well, you take out the trash, and you even hose down the patio. However, one little piece of meat makes it into a corner. The female fly then lays her eggs in the meat, the maggots feed on the meat as they transform into flies. If the maggots run out of food, they will seek more crawling in different directions, giving the appearance that they are all over the floor. Not fun for anyone.

How do i stop the infestion?

Flies need the same things we do to survive. They need food, water and shelter. If you take away any one of the three altogether, they will go away. However that is easier said than done.
Food is the easiest to control. Water is going to be around, aside from a drought. Ensure any standing water has the ability to run off in a timely manner. Moss is a signal that you have too much moisture in an area. Shelter is abundant for them. Bushes are shelter and weep holes are examples of shelter. Let's talk more about food.
Their food is any organic decaying matter, so there are several things that can and need to be done. Since we all love bullet point points... here is a list in order of our recommendations homeowners can do to get rid of flies:

Walk the house inside and out and determine where the highest population is
Clean up debris and trash in and around the home such as piles of clothes, crumbs on a counter top, kids areas, leaves, etc.
Clean up any pet droppings outside
Clean the floors, baseboards, bathrooms and kitchen thoroughly including the nooks and crannies under a dishwasher for example
Work the land outside (churn mulch, deeply rake grassy areas, put down rocks or something similar in damp areas... not gravel)
Contact a pest professional, such as A Bug Guy, to help out

As far as treating flies: A licensed professionals approach to flies only goes so far. If the home is not kept, the flies will persist. Likewise, a pest control professional has little to no control as far as what goes on at your neighbors houses. Here are some options to treat for flies:

Use an effective pesticide in the yard, focusing on the infested areas.
Apply a granule to the yard that is labeled for flies.
Use a fly trap or a sticky trap (we don't like these due to the smell and the clean up required)
Use an aerosol bait to take the flies out.

What does a bug guy do for flies?

A Bug Guy has tried several approaches to treating for flies. Here are a few of the things we have done to successfully wrangle a fly issue.
For flies in the yard a backpack or hose end spray application is effective with the correct chemical. This will also help with several other pests in the yard.
For flies around the house a general house spray does the trick most of the time. The exceptions to this is when they hang out on the house, but are really somewhere else.
For flies in the house, business or around trashcans we love BASF's PT Alpine Pressurized Fly Bait. We have no affiliation with this product, but we have used this to successfully eradicate flies from a room with three hamster cages in it and it does a great job in restaurants. It smells a bit like WD40, but the smell does not linger long. It can be purchased form Amazon and proper use is required for effectiveness.

Final thoughts

Flies are annoying. Flies spread disease. Flies give us an icky feeling. They are no fun and we know that. When other companies tell you that nothing can really be done about flies, we are here to tell you there is. We can help.
Stay safe out there!

What type of ant is that?

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 16:02:00 GMT

the ants come marching one by one, hoorah, hoorah

There are many species of ants in our area. I'm going to cover a few of the most common ants we find on a regular basis. We aren't going to get super technical here, this is for quick reference. If you see any that are not listed here, reach out to us and we can still help.

Fire Ants

Also known as the imported fire ant, these guys are the most sinister to you and I. They hang out underground during winter, then in the spring they start springing up, especially after a rain. They can be viewed on the front page of our site. Being very territorial, they will fight anything that invades their nest, including other fire ants. Treat these by applying a granule evenly to the plot of land.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter Ants are the tank of all the ants (with one exception... the red velvet ant, but you won't see many of those). They move wood. They inhabit wood and make their nest there. This can be beneficial in a forested area where fallen branches abound, but in our homes they are not welcome. The tell tale sign is frass (looks like sawdust) they will leave on window sills or possible on the floor. Treat by finding the nest, usually in a tree.

Little black ants

We always called them sugar ants. These are the guys in the kitchen (or one of them). They nest outside under mulch, stone pavers, rocks, or in bushes. Occasionally they can get in the walls. They come in when it rains, or when there is no rain for a long time. Once they find a food source, the colony quickly comes after it. Treatment is granules around the house and/or a bait.

Crazy Ants

Yes, that's a thing. These ants we have seen in the North Dallas area increasingly over the last couple to three years. They are out in your garden. They are out in your flower beds. They do not have a centralized nest. Instead of a single file line, they form a highway. They are very quick to move and they do not fight with any other ant. They get along with everyone, and displace other ant species as they do it. Best treatment is quick treatment once identified (within seconds), and a granule in flower beds.

Now what?

There are dozens of ant species with 20 being native to Texas today. These four are the ones we see again and again, and most likely what you have is one of these. If you need help, as always, hit us up. We are here to help.

How Weather Affects What We Do

Sat, 28 Jan 2023 18:16:00 GMT

Weather Can and Will Affect Your Scheduled Time

In pest control weather determines much about what we do, when we do it, and how we go about it. If the weather is bad (for spray application) we at A Bug Guy will reschedule your appointment.
Read on to learn about why...

How Rain Affects Application

Rain is a problem because it prevents the application form drying in a timely manner. If the spray cannot dry, it cannot adhere, and it will run off into creeks and reivers weher we don't want it.
Light rain: The eaves on a house do a good job at keeping rain off the walls in a steady light rain, so applications in this situation can work.

wind... the unseen limiter

Wind, on the other hand, is a situation that is often overlooked. If you have ever tried to use a water hose in high winds, you will know what I am referring to. Many pesticides prohibit application when wind speeds are in excess of just 15 mph. This is due to the chemical, riding on the water, being blown far away from the application site. Wind can carry a mist several miles before it lands in an unknown location. This is not responsible application. Application in these conditions puts beneficial insects away from the application site at risk.

temperature considerations

Temperatures make a difference on what we spray. To be more specific, temperatures at both extremes make a difference. Freezing temperatures prevent water form flowing and it can also create pressure within our sprayer that may cause the seals to fail. Temperatures above 90 can cause the mixture to evaporate too quickly. This prevents the chemical from sticking properly leading to a shorter time of efficacy.

Our Solution

We make sure to only apply pesticides when weather conditions are ideal, or as close to ideal as is reasonable. We also use additives to slow evaporation when needed. This prevents you from having to call us back as often since the chemical is where it is supposed to be. If we see you to many times throughout the year, we are not doing a good enough job.

Stay safe out there!

Why Rodents Come Around in Winter

Sat, 28 Jan 2023 16:45:00 GMT

Rodents Don't Like the Cold

This is an image of what appears to be a house mouse or a roof rat. Regardless of the type of rodent pictured, we are here to talk about when these creatures come around. While they hang out all year in the same general areas, there is a time they come to check out our homes, businesses, or even automobiles.
That time is generally winter, or during any cold snap. They are in survival mode, just as we are. If we get cold, we do what we can to warm up. They do too. Some of the things they will commonly do are:

Nestle next to an Air Conditioning Unit
Curl up by Pool Equipment
Climb into a Car's Engine Bay
Get into a Wall
Hang out in a Corner of the Garage
Climb up to find an Entrance Along the Roofline

Why do they come inside?

They are in survival mode, just as we are. If we get cold, we do what we can to warm up. They do too. Some of the things they will commonly do are:

Nestle next to an Air Conditioning Unit
Curl up by Pool Equipment
Climb into a Car's Engine Bay
Get into a Wall
Hang out in a Corner of the Garage
Climb up to find an Entrance Along the Roofline

Waht can you do?

The good news is, there are things you can do to limit their activity around your property. You can seal any hole or gap larger than a quarter, you can put out rodent bait or traps, you can park your vehicle in a protected area, and you can seal the gaps around your garage door. That sounds like a lot of work, and quite honestly, as much as you do, there will still be gaps. It is how houses are built... they must be able to release moisture.

What we do

In our experience, the best thing to do is wait until you see signs of rodents before you do anything. There is no need to give them a reason to come to your house with bait if they are not already there. If they are, we prefer a slow acting bait that lures the rodent, and will take them out within about a week. This way, the bait does not transfer to domestic pets and if one of our pets gets ahold of it, there is a simple shot a veterinarian can administer to fix the problem.

Fire Ants Are Not A Friend

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 22:54:00 GMT

Fire Ants are No Joke

Don't step in their piles. It will hurt for days. In fact the video you saw when you came to the website is fire ants. Maybe that is why you are here.
If you have ever experienced the bites of the imported fire ant, you know what I am talking about. If you are NOT allergic, you will have welts at each bite spot for the better part of two weeks and the itch level is that of driving at mach two around the school drop off line. You get my point.
If you are allergic, well good luck. Seek medical attention.

fire ant mounds

Their mounds are easy to spot most of the time. They can build a mound that is 6 inches tall in a matter of hours, making them seem like they appeared instantly. You can spot treat them, and they will go away... but if you have, you also know they will pop up somewhere close in a couple of days. It's enough to make your head spin.
This is because their network of colonies sprawl across the ground underneath us, leaving us blind to their actual location. If you spot treat one mound, the queen redirects the colony to another safe location and they get to work.

How to Treat

The trick is to treat the entire premises evenly. You can use a product that last for about three months 4 times a year or hire a professional to apply a year long fire ant treatment that I have personally had clients say is magic. If you'd like more info, hit us up.