Pest Library

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    [content] => <p>In 2021, A-1 Pest Control has once again decided to take a look at what this year looked like in pest control, from our own observations to local and national pest trends to some sensational stories that went viral in a big way. Without further ado, here is our 2021 in review: A-1 Pest Control edition.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><br>Most Popular Blog&nbsp;</h3>

<p><br>To start things off, we thought it was only fair to see which of our blogs was the most popular this year, considering you&rsquo;re reading this blog right now. So which of our esteemed blogs had the most readers this year? The winner is&hellip;.</p>

<p><br>&nbsp;<img alt="" height="390" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/640px-Solenopsis_invicta_-_fire_ant_worker-1.jpg" width="550"></p>

<p><br><strong><a href="/blog/post/the-5-deadliest-pests-in-north-carolina">The 5 Deadliest Pests in North Carolina</a></strong></p>

<p><br>It seems like people were on the lookout for deadly pests, and we had some answers! In fact, some of other popular blogs were pretty focused on the deadly and destructive. Yikes!</p>

<p><br>Runners up:<em> <a href="/blog/post/how-even-common-house-spiders-can-cause-big-problems">How Even Common House Spiders Can Cause Big Problems For North Carolina Homes</a>, <a href="/blog/post/it-s-termite-swarming-season-here-s-what-you-need-to-know">It&rsquo;s Termite Swarming Season! Here&rsquo;s What You Need to Know</a>, <a href="/blog/post/types-of-termites-that-infest-north-carolina-homes">The Stinging Insects of North Carolina&nbsp;</a></em></p>

<h3><br>Most &ldquo;Popular&rdquo; Pest - North Carolina</h3>

<p><br>We took a look at Google Trends to get a sense of what sort of pests were popular this year in the Tar Heel State, and we found some interesting data.&nbsp;</p>

<ol>

<li>The &ldquo;Top&rdquo; searched pest this year was termites &ndash; and considering how freaky a termite infestation can get, that&rsquo;s no big surprise.</li>

<li>Bed bugs, another absolutely dreadful pest, came in third among the top-searched pests in the state.</li>

<li>Last year&rsquo;s most searched pest, ants, dropped down to second place.</li>

<li>Aphids and wildlife were the two breakout stars as far as Google search went, with big increases in search interest.</li>

</ol>

<h3>Most &ldquo;Popular&rdquo; Pest - Nationwide&nbsp;</h3>

<p><br><a href="https://www.pestworld.org/news-hub/press-releases/what-s-the-buzz-the-top-five-pests-of-2021-are-in/">Our friends from the NPMA</a> helped out with this one. According to data that they analyzed from the entire year of 2021, 5 pests, in particular, were the most &ldquo;popular&rdquo;, at least as far as online search went:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>

<li>Flies</li>

<li>Rodents</li>

<li>Regional pests (cicadas, lantern flies, stinkbugs)</li>

<li>Stinging insects</li>

<li>Mosquitoes&nbsp;</li>

</ul>

<p>No big surprises here &ndash; these are some of the most annoying pests around.</p>

<h3><br>The Biggest Pest Story of the Year&nbsp;</h3>

<p><br>One pest story made a lot of noise in the news this year, and that was&hellip;</p>

<p><br><strong><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/23/world/cicadas-2021-emergence-scn/index.html">Billions of Brood X cicadas emerge in the eastern US</a></strong></p>

<p><br>Billions of cicadas emerged from a 17 year period underground searching for a mate &ndash; and that meant a lot of cicadas making a whole lot of noise. It was the topic of countless news stories, podcasts, and TV broadcasts. While cicadas are essentially harmless, in such large numbers they create a symphony of constant background noise. This video demonstrates the sound that became commonplace for many Americans on the East Coast last spring:&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jGB5DLnsvzU" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>

<p><br>While eastern North Carolina was largely immune from this Brood X cicada presence, areas west of Raleigh no doubt became familiar with their mating calls. Luckily (or unluckily, depending on your preference), we won&rsquo;t be seeing and hearing these billions of cicadas again until 2038.</p>

<p><br>So that&rsquo;s our 2021 pest control in review! If you&rsquo;re ever in need of any pest control in 2022, just <a href="/">get in touch with us</a> and we&rsquo;ll be more than happy to help you with any pest issue that you might be having!</p>
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    [content] => <p>More things raid your pantry than just hungry teenagers. Bugs and critters basically spend their lives doing everything they can to get into your dried food and starting their own kingdoms. Because nothing is worse than opening a sleeve of cookies on a Friday night only to discover that something&rsquo;s feasted on it before you&rsquo;ve had the chance. Here is a list of the most common bugs and critters that like to frequent your pantry, whether they pose a risk to your health or not, and what you might be able to do about them.</p>

<h3>Ants</h3>

<p><img alt="Ant closeup " height="329" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/jaws-gaeef273f4_640.jpg" width="550"></p>

<p>Part soldiers, part bank thieves, <a href="/pest-library/profile/ants">ants</a> seem to devote their lives to establishing complex supply chains, with your food as their raw material. <a href="https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/ants/pharaoh-ants/">Pharaoh ants</a> (also called &ldquo;<a href="https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/ants/longhorn-crazy-ants/">crazy</a>&rdquo; ants) are drawn to sugar and sweets, while <a href="https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/ants/little-black-ants/">little black ants</a> (sometimes called &ldquo;rovers&rdquo;) prefer proteins. The best way to avoid ants is to sweep up crumbs, but some home remedies include sprinkling bay leaf or salt and pepper near an infestation, and store-bought traps are also an option if it seems like the situation is still manageable. While ants don&rsquo;t pose a serious health threat, their infestations can grow to become overwhelming, especially in the summer months.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Mealworms</h3>

<p><img alt="Mealworms in a pan " height="366" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/mealworms-g63d82fec7_640-min.jpg" width="550"></p>

<p><a href="https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/mealworm">Mealworms</a> like to eat moist foods ranging from meat or fish to flour or birdseed that has been improperly sealed. They are larvae of the mealworm beetle, which enters kitchens through cracks in the wall. At first glance, mealworms can look like maggots, but move like caterpillars. Ironically, they may actually be good for you to eat, <a href="https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2021/01/14/EFSA-says-mealworms-safe-for-human-consumption-An-important-milestone-towards-commercialisation">according to the European Food Safety Authority</a>. But we wouldn&rsquo;t blame you for passing.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><br>Indian meal moth</h3>

<p><img alt="Indian meal moth perched on a flower" height="525" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/moth-ge7ba70fe5_640-min.jpg" width="550"></p>

<p>The <a href="/pest-library/profile/indian-meal-moths">Indian meal moth</a> differs from the typical moth because of its taste for pantry foods, including grains, dried fruits, nuts, and cereals. Identifiable by its <a href="https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/stored-product-pests/indian-meal-moths/">coppery wings</a>, adult females lay their eggs on food so their larvae can consume it. While Indian meal moths don&rsquo;t rank high on the <a href="/blog/post/the-insect-danger-index">danger index</a>, food they infest will have clusters of webbing on it, which is actually byproducts including <a href="https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/stored/indianmeal_moth.HTM">excrement and dead skin</a>&ndash;so be sure to throw any infested food out, and seal all grains and dried foods tightly.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Cockroaches</h3>

<p><img alt="Cockroach closeup" height="367" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/blattella-germanica-ge6bdb8dc1_640.jpg" width="550"></p>

<p>Even the most spotless home isn&rsquo;t impervious to a <a href="/pest-library/profile/cockroaches">cockroach</a> infestation, which can occur when cockroaches infiltrate your home via grocery bag, suitcase, or in the lining of your clothes. They love warm, moist areas like your pantry, and are known to feed on pantry foods that have been left open as well as rotting garbage&ndash;and not always in that order. Because common variations like the German cockroach can <a href="/blog/post/tips-to-keep-cockroaches-out-of-your-morganton-home-this-summer">carry disease</a>, and rank higher on the <a href="/blog/post/the-insect-danger-index">danger scale</a>, it&rsquo;s recommended that you seek professional pest control when you spot these bugs in your pantry.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><br>Saw-toothed grain beetle</h3>

<p>The <a href="https://extensionentomology.tamu.edu/insects/grain-beetle/">saw-toothed grain beetle</a> feeds on pantry staples like flour, cereal, dried fruit, and even dry pet food. Their name comes from the easily identifiable, saw-like teeth on each side of the thorax. Adult beetles are <a href="https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/sawtoothed-grain-beetle">known to wander away from</a> the grain supplies they&rsquo;ve infested, so if you see them in your cupboards or elsewhere, it&rsquo;s a pretty good indication that one of your grain or dry food products has a larvae infestation</p>

<h3>Mice</h3>

<p><img alt="Mouse staring at camera by small leaf" height="368" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/house-mouse-gf178c67da_640.jpg" width="550"></p>

<p>Not all pantry pests are creepy crawlers. Some of them scurry, fast. Infestations of<a href="/blog/post/ask-a-tech-keeping-rodents-out-of-the-home"> mice and small rodents</a> can be distinguished from smaller insects in tactile ways, like examining the size of the holes chewed in the side of grain storage bags. <a href="/pest-library/profile/mice">Mice</a> pose a <a href="https://www.pestworld.org/news-hub/pest-health-hub/overview-of-the-real-health-risks-posed-by-mice-and-rat-infestations/">serious risk of carrying disease</a>&ndash;bubonic plague, anyone?--so don&rsquo;t let infestations get too far out of hand before calling in professional help.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><br>Granary weevils</h3>

<p><img alt="Granary Weevil on its hind legs" height="367" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/bug-g0e8c0abb7_640.jpg" width="550"></p>

<p>Granary weevils are a type of beetle with the potential to spoil whole stores of grain. <a href="http://entoweb.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/riceweevil.htm">Rice weevils</a> attack rice, corn, wheat, cereal, nuts, and even fruits, while <a href="https://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/dry-beans/Weevils/">bean weevils</a> target dried beans and peas. In a classic example of &ldquo;you are what you eat,&rdquo; rice weevils can be distinguished from bean weevils by their shape: the bean weevil is rounded, while the rice weevil is slenderer. To repel weevils, <a href="https://nysipm.cornell.edu/whats-bugging-you/pantry-pests/">deploy black pepper in your grains</a>, and wash fruits when you get home. Another possibility: sprinkle a small amount of <a href="https://ecommons.cornell.edu/bitstream/handle/1813/56135/peppermint-oil-MRP-NYSIPM.pdf">peppermint oil</a> on dried grains.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><br>Cigarette beetle</h3>

<p>Especially here in North Carolina, you should keep on the lookout for <a href="https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/stored/cigarette_beetle.htm">cigarette beetles</a>. While they do eat pantry items like cereals, nuts, spices, and even pet food, cigarette beetles are known for feeding on tobacco products. They&rsquo;re small, with a <a href="https://projects.ncsu.edu/cals/course/ent010/storehouse_pests/cigarette.html">humped appearance</a>, and invade homes through windows, door gaps, or cracks in a foundation, as well as via contaminated grocery store purchases. They can also chew through cardboard to get after their prey. &nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>In whatever form they take, pantry pests range from the annoying to the downright dangerous. Don&rsquo;t hesitate to call in professional help if you find substantial evidence that your pantry has become a breeding ground for these critters. <a href="/contact-us">Contact us</a> today for a free estimate on the help you need.&nbsp;</p>
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    [content] => <p>Basements are great for storage, but they can also be a great place for bugs and critters to live. Why are basements such great places for pests to live? And which pests most often frequent the dark depths of a home basement? We have some answers.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><br>Why Insects and Wildlife Love Basements&nbsp;</h3>

<p><br>Basements are an ideal hiding spot for many insects and critters for a few reasons:&nbsp;</p>

<p><br><strong>Moisture.</strong> Many insects specifically need to live in moist environments, and because of the naturally moist environment of many basements, they are appealing places for moisture-deprived insects.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br><strong>Darkness.</strong> Dark and damp is a dream for an insect, and often a basement can provide exactly that type of environment. Unfinished basements often have ample places for insects and small critters to hide, and because they are usually less trafficked than the rest of a home, they are subject to less light interruption. This is a friendly environment for the nocturnal nature of many insects and animals.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br><strong>Temperature.</strong> Basements provide an ideal temperature for pests year-round: in the warmer months, basements are naturally cooler than other parts of a home, and in the cold months, they are warmer than the outdoors.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Basement Bug &amp; Critter Guide</h3>

<h4><br><a href="/pest-library/profile/cockroaches">Cockroaches&nbsp;</a></h4>

<p><img alt="Cockroach perched on leaf " height="504" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/cockroach-g535e9a010_640.jpg" width="550"><br>These sewer-dwellers thrive in a dark, moist basement environment. Because of their ability to contaminate food with illness-causing bacteria, trigger asthma attacks, and their general unpleasantness, they aren&rsquo;t an insect that you want in your home, basement, or otherwise.&nbsp;</p>

<h4><br><a href="/pest-library/profile/spiders">Spiders&nbsp;</a></h4>

<p><img alt="" height="367" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/spiderweb-g091f61be2_640.jpg" title="Spider in its web " width="550"><br>Spiders are perhaps the most notorious of basement lurkers -- it&rsquo;s a space that suits them perfectly. This isn&rsquo;t always bad; for example, cellar spiders don&rsquo;t pose a physical threat to humans and they eat other pest insects like house flies. However, in North Carolina, we aren&rsquo;t just dealing with harmless spiders: truly dangerous spiders like black widows and brown recluses are a real threat, and keeping your basement attractive to them can be dangerous.&nbsp;</p>

<h4><br><a href="/pest-library/profile/termites">Termites&nbsp;</a></h4>

<p><img alt="Termite colony " height="366" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/termites-g03fed742a_640.jpg" width="550"><br>Basements can be the perfect entry-point for subterranean termites; they are prone to have more access points than other parts of the house (with entryways from basement appliances and whatnot), and if it rests on top of moist soil, the basement is all the more likely to be easily accessible for termites. Termites&rsquo; ability to cause severe structural damage to homes over a period of years makes <a href="/termite-control">professional termite control</a> essential to any homeowner concerned about a potential infestation stemming from the basement.&nbsp;</p>

<h4><br>Rodents&nbsp;</h4>

<p><img alt="Mouse standing " height="367" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/mouse-g19b27e245_640.jpg" width="550"><br><a href="/pest-library/profile/mice">Mice</a> and <a href="/pest-library/profile/rats">rats</a> are suckers for basements -- especially in the winter. Their relative quietness, the opportunity for warmth, ample nooks and crannies to hide in, and the ability to scurry upstairs to grab some human food are all huge perks for these sneaky creatures. Mice and rats pose issues other than taking up space in your basement and eating up your food -- they are also spreaders of dangerous diseases, can cause damage to a home with scratching and gnawing, and have even been traced to causing house fires because of their tendency to gnaw on wiring.&nbsp;</p>

<h4><br>Prevention Tips For Basement Pests&nbsp;</h4>

<p><br>So are you doomed to a life of basement pests screwing around in your home? Of course not! There are a few things that you can do to make your basement less appealing to these insects and wildlife critters, <a href="https://www.pestworld.org/pest-in-the-house/basement/">brought to us by our friends at PestWorld</a>:</p>

<ul>

<li>Sweep or vacuum the basement to remove any sources of pest food, which includes small insects, crumbs and decaying organic matter.</li>

<li>When storing any food in your basement, keep all food items in tightly sealed containers.</li>

<li>Prevent moisture build-up by using a dehumidifier and repairing any leaking pipes and ensuring rainwater drains away from your home.</li>

<li>Remove any overgrown vegetation or shrubs surrounding your house, and store firewood at least 20 feet from the home and five feet off the ground.</li>

<li>Seal any foundation cracks or crevices with a silicone-based caulk, steel wool, or a combination of both. Also, make sure all windows and doors are secure.</li>

<li>Eliminate any potential basement bug hiding spots by getting rid of clutter and organizing storage units.</li>

<li>Consider opting for plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes to store ornaments, d&eacute;cor, and other items.</li>

</ul>

<p>These tips will all help with keeping pests out of your home, but it is still a good idea to seek out professional pest control experts to help protect and maintain your basement when it comes to pests. A-1 Pest Control provides year-round pest control packages that can help fortify your home from many common basement pests and many others. Get in touch with us to start shielding your home today!</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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