A-1 Pest Control Blog
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[content] => <p>Spiders are creepy but they can also be...beautiful? North Carolina has lots of spiders that you might not like to see in your house, but many of them spin some truly gorgeous webs that will stop you in your tracks. Here are some different spiders, and some of the beautiful webs that they weave. </p>
<h2>North Carolina Spiders and Their Webs </h2>
<h3>Black Widows </h3>
<p>Black Widow spiders are poisonous spiders found in North Carolina, most easily identified by their shiny black bodies and red “hourglass-shaped” markings on their abdomens. They frequently nest in electrical, water, and telephone equipment boxes outdoors, and around homes. These spiders may be found in crawlspaces, beneath appliances, and usually in corners that are dark and damp. Because of the nature of their venom, black widow bites can cause an unpleasant reaction that can include symptoms like nausea, elevated blood pressure, and tremors. While you certainly want to stay away from black widows, their webs are quite interesting compared to the common spider web. They look something like this: </p>
<p><img alt="Black widow in web " height="733" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/spider-2282084_960_720.jpg" width="550"><br> <br>Black widow webs are a little more...chaotic than some of the spider webs you’ll typically see, and they are usually constructed close to ground level -- something that distinguishes them from most other spider webs. </p>
<h3>Orb Weaver Spiders</h3>
<p>Orb-weaver spiders are named for the circular and intricate webs that they weave -- so you know that their webs are something to behold. For example: <br> </p>
<p><img alt="Orb Weaver spider in web " height="367" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/spider-g618f22a32_640.jpg" width="550"></p>
<p> <img alt="Orb Weaver spider in web " height="367" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/spider-gb93fd7bcc_640.jpg" width="550"><br> <br>These webs, unlike those of the black widow, fit the bill for what you think of when you think, “Spider web”. <br> <br>So, they have pretty webs, but are orb weaver spiders, well, dangerous? In truth, not especially. Typically, the type of orb weaver found in North Carolina is the Yellow Garden Spider, and these fellows spend most of their time in and around gardens. On top of that, their presence in your garden can be beneficial because they catch and eat outdoor nuisance insects like flies and stinging insects like bees, wasps, and hornets. </p>
<h2>Other Spiders and Their Webs</h2>
<h3>Funnel-Web Spiders</h3>
<p><img alt="Funnel Web Spider in its web " height="367" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/funnel-web-spider-gbec3b82b8_640.jpg" width="550"></p>
<p>Funnel-web spiders (AKA Sydney funnel web spiders) are typically found in the 60 miles or so area surrounding Sydney Australia. Although they don’t pose a threat to us North Carolinians, they do create some pretty unique-looking webs! <br> <br>Unlike more conventional webs, these webs are funnel-shaped and are often spun on the ground, with sort of web “trip lines” and a quasi-trap door that will trap their prey. </p>
<h3>Cool Webs from Around...The Web </h3>
<p>The internet is chock-full of gorgeous pictures of spider webs, with no spider in site. Here are a few of our favorites: </p>
<p>Coming across a spider web in nature with rain droplets on it can be a jaw-dropping experience. </p>
<p><img alt="" height="413" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/web-ge724db6d8_640.jpg" width="550"></p>
<p>While some are simply breathtaking because of their intricacy.</p>
<p><img alt="" height="366" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/cobweb-g9435bf701_640.jpg" width="550"></p>
<p><img alt="" height="365" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/dew-gd6861bd9c_640.jpg" width="550"></p>
<p><img alt="" height="309" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/spider-web-gdd6d13c6b_640.jpg" width="550"></p>
<h2>What To Do If You Have a Spider Problem </h2>
<p>While most spiders in North Carolina are more or less harmless, Black Widow Spiders and Brown Recluse Spiders actually have a bite that can be dangerous to humans, and at some point, a spider infestation of any kind can become unpleasant. A-1 Pest Control can help with that. Our Home Shield program treats homes for spiders and a number of other nuisance insects that attract them, like ants and crickets. Learn more about our Home Shield program here, or get in touch with us and we’ll answer any spider-related questions that you have! <br> </p>
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Spiders are creepy but they can also be...beautiful? North Carolina has lots of spiders that you might not like to see in your house, but many of them spin some truly gorgeous webs that will stop you…
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[content] => <p>Do it yourself insect control is a big industry; there’s no doubt that you’ve seen dozens of different companies selling a “simple solution” to make any insect problems that you’re having magically disappear with just one simple purchase. But the truth is that some of these products simply don’t do the job that they are claiming to do. We took a look at some common store-bought insect traps and determined if they actually work. </p>
<h3><br>Bug Zappers </h3>
<p><br>Bug zappers are a super appealing product. They emit UV light that attracts insects and then zaps them; how could that not solve your insect problem? Well, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/do-bug-zappers-work/">according to the New York Times</a>, it’s a matter of the types of bugs that bug zappers are actually attracting. <a href="https://archive.org/stream/cbarchive_110397_densityanddiversityofnontarget1925/densityanddiversityofnontarget1925_djvu.txt">A University of Delaware study</a> cited in the Times article found that over a 10-week period, 13,789 insects were killed by the 6 bug zappers that they were tracking. That’s a lot, right? There was just one problem: only 31 of those nearly 14,000 insects were biting flies (including mosquitoes), which is equal to .22%. </p>
<p><br><strong>The Verdict:</strong> Bug zappers work if you want to indiscriminately kill bugs, but they don’t do much if you’re trying to prevent the really nasty ones, like <a href="/pest-library/profile/mosquitoes">mosquitoes</a> and other biting insects. </p>
<h3><br>Adhesive Traps (Glue Traps) </h3>
<p><br>You see a spider crawling around your kitchen. You get worried about other spiders, so you go online and buy a few adhesive traps to put around the house. When you check the trap, you see a spider, some ants, and a few other small insects trapped in the glue. Problem solved, right? Not exactly. Some bugs in an adhesive trap are usually only a small indication of a larger problem. This can make them useful to you, or to a pest control company because they help both of us understand what kind of infestation you’re dealing with, and where the insects are coming from. </p>
<p><br><strong>The Verdict:</strong> Adhesive traps are useful tools to ultimately reach a solution when it comes to insect infestation, but they are not themselves a solution to the larger problem. </p>
<h3><br>CO2 Mosquito Traps </h3>
<p><br>So we know that purely a UV light-based bug zapper isn’t going to do much for your outdoor insect problem. But what about CO2 mosquito traps? This newer technology essentially emits carbon dioxide gas to mimic human breathing, and then uses a fan to suck mosquitoes, <a href="/pest-library/profile/flies">flies</a>, and other insects into a chamber, trapping them. But do they work? Because these products are relatively new, there haven’t been comprehensive studies done to determine their actual effectiveness. However, we can pretty safely say that if you’re dealing with a serious outdoor insect problem, one of these machines will at the very most do some minor mitigation; they won’t truly solve the problem. </p>
<p><br><strong>The Verdict:</strong> TBD, but they aren’t large enough to get rid of an infestation.</p>
<h3><br>Insect Control That Actually Works </h3>
<p><br>It might seem cliche, but the truth of the matter is that store-bought insect traps are only capable of doing so much when it comes to insect control -- and as we saw with bug zappers, many of them can be misleading. The truth is that getting to the root of any serious insect problem is a collaborative effort that involves homeowners and a professional pest control company. Professional pest control companies like A-1 Pest Control consult and guide you to take measures to mitigate your insect problems and implement a number of solution-based professional techniques. That’s something you can’t just buy at the store. </p>
<p><br>Having problems with North Carolina insects on your property or in your home? <a href="/">Get in touch with us</a> and we’ll be more than happy to start solving your problem!</p>
<p> </p>
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Oct 14 2021
Do Store-Bought Insect Traps Actually Work?
Do it yourself insect control is a big industry; there’s no doubt that you’ve seen dozens of different companies selling a “simple solution” to make any insect problems that you’re having…
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[content] => <p><a href="/pest-library/profile/stink-bugs">Stink bugs</a>, well, stink (it’s right in the name). They’re also a common nuisance insect that we often see in western North Carolina. So what’s up with stink bugs? We fielded some of the most common questions people have about stink bugs, and we have some answers.</p>
<h3><br>The stink bug diet</h3>
<p><img alt="Stink bug on leaf " height="466" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/stink-bug-g3bd91caca_640.jpg" width="544"></p>
<p><br><a href="https://www.pestworldforkids.org/pest-guide/stink-bugs/">Stink bugs eat</a>: </p>
<ul>
<li>Leaves, flowers, and fruit</li>
<li>Crops like soybeans.</li>
<li>Other insects, such as caterpillars.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Stink bugs don’t bite...</h3>
<p><br>As far as nuisance insects go, stink bugs are definitely one of the least aggressive toward humans. They don’t bite, and they don’t spread disease -- in fact, the main issue they cause directly to humans is the stinky odor they emit when they are squished. </p>
<h3><br>...But they can cause allergic reactions</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/stink-bugs-bite#damage">Some people are allergic</a> to the compounds released by the stink bug. Symptoms of this allergy can include a runny nose and if you come in contact with crushed bugs, dermatitis.</p>
<h3><br>Stink bugs smell for a reason </h3>
<p><br><a href="https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/occasional-invaders/stink-bugs/">The belief</a> is that stink bugs emit their unpleasant odor because it helps protect the bugs against predators. That smelly chemical they emit is produced in a gland on their abdomen, and some species can even spray the chemical several inches (yikes!). The smell itself is often compared to strong herbs and spices like cilantro and coriander.</p>
<h3><br>Stink bugs are very distinct looking...</h3>
<p><img alt="Stink bug perched on a leaf " height="266" src="https://bcms-files.s3.amazonaws.com/Rv4pXBZmdK-1114/images/bug-gf97a63b85_640.jpg" width="550"></p>
<p><br>Stink bugs are large, oval-shaped insects, and can reach almost 2 cm in length, and they are about as wide as they are long. </p>
<h3><br>...And they can fly </h3>
<p><br>Adult stink bugs are good fliers and fold their wings on top of their body when they land. Nymphs do not have fully developed wings. The wings appear when the nymph becomes an adult. Fully developed wings are a way to identify adult stink bugs.</p>
<h3><br>Stink bugs attract more stink bugs</h3>
<p><br><a href="http://npic.orst.edu/pest/stinkbug.html">According to the National Pesticide Information Center</a>, give off other chemicals to attract other stink bugs, and they find a good place to spend the winter, they will transmit a special odor that attracts other stink bugs. In other words, if you see a stink bug in your home it may very well already be communicating with more stink bugs to come on in. </p>
<h3><br>Stink bugs aren’t dangerous, BUT</h3>
<p><br>They can cause serious issues for your outdoor or indoor garden. Because they will signal to other stink bugs if an infestation gets out of control any crop plants that you are growing can rapidly get decimated. </p>
<h3><br>Keeping stink bugs out </h3>
<p><br>To avoid stink bugs infestations:</p>
<ul>
<li>Repair all cracks and crevices found in your home’s foundation and exterior walls.</li>
<li>Caulk gaps around exterior windows and doors.</li>
<li>Place screens in all exterior windows and doors; replacing any that have holes or tears.</li>
<li>Seal around air conditioners and other utilities that are entering your home.</li>
</ul>
<h3>If you are experiencing a stink bug infestation…</h3>
<p><br>If you’re experiencing a stink bug infestation, it may not seem like a big deal. However, if stink bugs were able to get into your home, there’s a good chance that other insects and critters will have the ability to get in as well. </p>
<p><br><a href="/home-pest-control">A-1 Pest Control’s Home Shield</a> can help. With year-round protection from common household pests, Home Shield lives up to its name: shielding your home from invasive species every day. If you want to protect your home from stink bugs and many other pests, <a href="/">get in touch with us</a>!</p>
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Oct 05 2021
What's the Deal With Stink Bugs
Stink bugs, well, stink (it’s right in the name). They’re also a common nuisance insect that we often see in western North Carolina. So what’s up with stink bugs? We fielded some of the most…
