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Pest control blog: page 21

Identification guides, what treatments cost, and what the public records say about pests and the companies that deal with them.

Articles

Brown dog standing in the grass of a fenced back yard on a summer afternoonMosquitoes and ticks

The Asian Longhorned Tick Is Found on Dogs More Than Cattle

USDA records 179 detections on dogs against 73 on cattle. One female can found a population without mating, which is why a single treatment does not...

September 14, 2026Porch light and lit window on the side of a house at dusk with insects gathering around the lightFleas and biting bugs

Kissing Bugs and Chagas: What Exclusion Can Actually Do

No insecticide is approved specifically for kissing bugs in the US. Found in 32 states, with local human transmission documented in 8. The work is sealing...

September 14, 2026Mown lawn meeting tall unmown grass and brush at the edge of a yardMosquitoes and ticks

Does Yard Tick Spraying Prevent Alpha-Gal Syndrome?

A trial of 2,727 households cut ticks 63% and changed human illness not at all. What that means for the tick-bite meat allergy, and what does...

September 14, 2026Circular orb spider web covered in dew strung between garden shrubs at sunriseSpiders and scorpions

Joro Spiders: What the Research Actually Found

Volunteers bitten under medical supervision reported a median pain score of 1 out of 10. No extension service in any affected state recommends chemical control.

September 14, 2026Large mature tree shading a front lawn on a quiet suburban street in late summerAutumn invaders

Spotted Lanternfly: Should You Pay Anyone to Treat It?

Penn State says not every tree needs treating and insecticide will not stop more arriving. Ohio went statewide in February 2026. The real choice is pest...

September 14, 2026Grey papery wasp nest built under the eaves of a house with a few wasps on its surfaceWasps and bees

The Murder Hornet Is Gone. What You Are Actually Seeing

Declared eradicated in December 2024 after only four nests were ever found in the US. A diagnostic lab reports most suspect insects are European hornets.

September 14, 2026Open garage or storage unit with plain cardboard boxes stacked on wooden shelving in daylightRats and mice

Mouse Droppings and Hantavirus: The Cleanup CDC Requires

The CDC has recorded 890 hantavirus cases since 1993 and 35% were fatal. Why sweeping and vacuuming are the wrong move, and the protocol that replaces...

September 14, 2026Brown floodwater covering a residential street and front yards after a stormFor Property Owners

Pests After a Hurricane or Flood: What to Expect and When

CDC guidance: nuisance mosquitoes hatch immediately, virus-carrying types may rise two weeks to two months later, and rodents, snakes and fire ants move with the water.

September 11, 2026Made bed in a vacation rental bedroom with a suitcase standing beside itFor Property Owners

Pest Control for Airbnb and Short-Term Rental Hosts

A bed bug report in a listing means refunds, blocked nights and reviews on top of treatment. What platforms expect and a turnover inspection routine.

September 11, 2026Gecko on an exterior wall beside a porch light at dusk where moths gatherWildlife

Lizard and Iguana Control: Cost and What Actually Works

Iguana removal costs $200 to $500 a visit. Geckos around the porch light are usually an insect problem, and fixing that is cheaper than removing lizards.

September 11, 2026Damp basement corner with a dehumidifier and storage boxes, conditions that attract silverfish and centipedesDamp-loving pests

Silverfish, Earwigs, Centipedes and Millipedes: The Moisture Pests

Silverfish treatment costs $200 to $700 a visit, earwigs $100 to $300. All four are moisture pests, and fixing the damp does more than any product.

September 11, 2026Damaged hollowed timber beam exposed behind an opened interior wallFor Property Owners

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Pest Damage?

Standard policies generally exclude termite and rodent damage as maintenance. The two narrow exceptions, and where the money should go instead.

September 11, 2026