Archives - January 2017

You might not give much thought to how bugs spend the colder winter months. Even in South Carolina, the temperatures can dip pretty low in the evenings as well as during the day when a cold spell hits. Many assume all bugs just die off in the winter, however, most bugs have found ways to …

Along came a spider and sat down beside her… Spiders are pretty amazing with nearly 38,000 known species and counting. Understandably, most people do not want to find a spider in their home; but when spiders are found outdoors we can appreciate all of their benefits to the environment. They are a predator to some …

Silverfish If you have seen a silverfish you know where it gets its name. With its silvery blue metallic color and the way it moves, it looks like a little fish. Silverfish hide during the day; they are active at night and avoid light. They are most commonly found in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, crawlspaces and …

Pill bugs, commonly called a roly poly, can roll up in a little ball when disturbed. The sow bug closely resembles the pill bug but cannot roll up in a ball. Both are grey in color and about ¼” to 5/8” long with a round top and a flat bottom. These crustaceans aren’t insects, but …

Mice are considered to be the greatest household nuisance worldwide. Along with the damage they cause, they carry a multitude of diseases. The house mouse unfortunately gets its name from its most common dwelling—your home. Unlike other pests, their curious nature often brings them out into the open, scurrying along walls and out from under …

Although you have found ants in your house, they are actually from the outside. They are in your house looking for the same things you are looking for—something to eat and drink. And they like the same foods you do! There are many different species of ants—some like starchy foods, some like greasy foods and …

Flies are not usually a significant pest problem, but there are two that can be quite prolific and difficult to control. The Phorid Fly The Phorid fly is a small, black, hump backed fly often mistakenly identified as a fruit fly. Sometimes called scuttle flies, Phorid flies can often be identified by their habit of …

Fleas are small, dark, wingless insects that are agile and have piercing sucking mouth-parts perfect for feeding on the blood of their hosts which include dogs, cats, and other mammals, including you. Their hind legs are long and made for jumping. This tiny insect can jump vertically up to 7” and horizontally up to 13.” …

Most of us in South Carolina have been stung at one time or another by the imported red fire ant. In the genus Solenopsis, they can cause serious medical, economic and ecologic problems, not to mention their stings really hurt! They are called imported fire ants because they are native to South America and were …

What a strange name for a bug. This name originates from the old English from stories about how this insect burrows into people’s ears to lay its eggs. While this is not a normal practice of the earwig there have been reports of earwigs, spiders and other insects entering people’s ears. The earwig’s flat body …