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For Property Owners: page 22

Practical guidance for homeowners, landlords and facility managers buying pest control services.

Articles

Kitchen worktop meeting the wall with crumbs and a damp patch near the sink in morning lightAnts

Ant Identification: The Species That Get Into US Homes

Seven house-invading ants drawn to scale, from the 0.8 mm thief ant to the 12.7 mm carpenter ant, plus the waist-node key that separates them.

September 18, 2026Porch light glowing at dusk against a house wall with small flying insects circling itTermites

Termite Swarm Season: When Each Species Actually Flies

Eastern subterranean termites swarm February to April, Formosan April to July and only after dark. A month-by-month chart by species, and why swarmers indoors mean something...

September 18, 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, 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, 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, 2026A wood pile and long grass against a house foundation, the harbourage conditions that attract snakesWildlife

Snake Removal Cost 2026 and What to Do First

Snake removal averages $350, venomous species add $50 to $100. This is wildlife work, and removal does not address why they are there.

September 8, 2026Gloved hands holding a plain chemical container while reading the product label at a workbenchFor Property Owners

How to Read a Pesticide Label

The label is a legal document and applying a product inconsistently with it breaks federal law. The four sections that matter to you.

September 8, 2026