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Have you ever wondered where all the bugs go when the weather turns cold? Different bugs do different things to survive when the temperatures drop. Let’s take a look! Move in with you – This one shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Insect roommates that tend to move in to escape the cold are less …

A team of entomologists (scientists who study bugs) searched through 50 homes in Raleigh, North Carolina, collecting every arthropod (bug) they could find. The results of their search might surprise you… How many bugs? Researchers found something in every room of every home. In fact, the team of entomologists found between 32 and 211 different …

Like people, pests head for higher and drier areas when flooding occurs. Unfortunately, sometimes your home is the higher and drier area they find. What types of pests are common following a flood? The most common pests for our area include fire ants, Palmetto bugs (American cockroaches), flies, mosquitoes (including the extra large gallinippers) and …

The key to effective pest control is sensible pest control. At The Pest Force, we use an approach called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This approach is a combination of techniques for reducing resources pests need to survive (food, water, shelter and ways to get into your home) and using pesticides as minimally as possible. This …

Most people have heard the scary stories about earwigs climbing into the ears of unsuspecting sleepers to burrow into their brain to lay eggs. Thankfully, this story is simply an old wives’ tale. As far as pests go, earwigs are less destructive and generally not focused on infesting your home. Earwigs are unintentional invaders who …

In South Carolina, stormy weather can do more than just rain on your parade (or your day at the beach). Rainy weather can also cause ant problems in your home. Let’s take a closer look at how rain brings the ants marching in. Ants Problems and Rain In our humid subtropical climate, rain is not …

Flea and tick season is here in the Myrtle Beach area. It’s important to know that fleas and ticks aren’t just a problem for your pets but also for you. Both of these pests can carry a number of bacteria, parasites and other vectors that can cause serious illness. For example, ticks can carry Lyme …

Mosquito season has begun in the Grand Strand. So, it’s time for a refresher on mosquito facts and tips to protect yourself and your loved ones from mosquito-borne illnesses. Mosquito Facts: Big Dangers in Little Bugs While the word “mosquito” means “little fly”, these bugs are bigger dangers than their name implies. South Carolina is …

If you’ve ever noticed that our local palmetto bug looks a lot like a really large cockroach, you’ve got a good eye. The American cockroach, more well-known in this area as the palmetto bug, is the largest cockroach species in the U.S. However, this bug is very different from the common German cockroach most people …

Fire ants, also known as red imported fire ants (RIFA), are a common insect encounter in South Carolina. While the ants can vary in color throughout their lifecycle, the red color of the upper segments of the body is distinctive, as are the mounds they build. A fire ant mound looks like a pile of …