Pinpoint Pest Control Blog

A yellowjacket has a similar appearance to a bee or a wasp, but they are often much more aggressive. The sting that they deliver can also be very painful. If you're outside in the spring and summer when these flying pests are swarming around, there are a few things that you can do to avoid being stung by them. Most yellowjackets are social insects, which means that they like to swarm in large numbers. They are often seen around trash cans and other areas where food and beverages are on the ground or readily available. Avoid throwing any food outside so that yellowjackets aren't tempted to come around. If you have an event planned outside, you should keep foods and beverages covered to keep the insects away.

Know What To Do

If you do interact with a yellowjacket, it's important to stay as calm as you can. Don't agitate the insect, and don't try to swat at it or run because these actions can cause the pest to sting. If yellowjackets feel threatened, then they will usually sting. They can sting several times instead of only once like a bee. When yellowjackets are killed, they emit a hormone that lures other yellowjackets to the area. This means that one or two can quickly become a dozen or more if you are not careful in how you handle them. If there are yellowjackets on your property or you encounter several of them in one area, it is important to have them removed in a safe manner so that you and other people are not stung.

Any yellowjacket sting should be washed and cleaned as soon as possible. Monitor the area for any redness or swelling because many people are allergic to these pests without knowing until they are stung. You can put ice on the bite or an antihistamine to keep swelling to a minimum. Most yellowjackets will only live in their nest for a short time. When the weather turns colder, they tend to die off. If you see any kind of yellowjacket nest on your property, it's sometimes better to just wait until the fall or winter season if you don't want to handle the pests on your own, especially if they don't pose a direct threat to your home.

Are you trying to eradicate the ant colonies in your yard? Beware that unconventional solutions are practically useless, so they won't produce long-term results. What makes them useless is the fact that they are based on myths. Therefore, you can save yourself headaches by reaching out to a professional pest exterminator. Professionals are specially trained to deliver effective ant control. Here are the top myths that property owners often rely on.

The Boiling Water Myth

Using boiling water is like putting a small patch on a serious wound. The boiling water will help kill a lot of ants, but it won't stop the colony from expanding. Also, you will have to use this method on a regular basis to keep these critters at bay.

The Cinnamon Myth

For ants, cinnamon is totally unappetizing, so they will try to avoid anything that's covered with cinnamon. However, dumping cinnamon on anthills won't deliver a devastating blow to the colony. Doing this will only cause an even bigger problem because the ants will relocate, and their new home might be closer to yours.

Every year, fleas cause itching and other discomforts for millions of people and their pets. That is not the worst of it, however, for fleas can also transmit bacterial infections such as cat scratch fever and the plague. Being able to recognize a flea infestation in your home or elsewhere is vital so that you can get rid of these insects and avoid the problems associated with fleas. Several key signs may indicate a flea infestation in your home.

Pet-Specific Signs

Fleas will go after your pets first, so your pets will show the earliest and clearest signs of a flea infestation. You may have a problem if you see these things with your pets:

• Scratching and Biting: A cat or a dog that spends an excessive amount of time scratching and biting may be suffering from fleas. In particular, cats tend to scratch their heads and necks a great deal if fleas are present, while dogs will scratch and bite their hind quarters.
• Red or Black Flecks: An abundance of red or black flecks in your pet’s fur may indicate a flea infestation. These flecks are the droppings that fleas leave behind.
• Red and Irritated Skin: As you groom your cat or dog, pay close attention to the skin under the fur. Red and irritated spots on the skin may mean that fleas are present because the skin of pets reacts to flea bites and to all the scratching and biting animals do to get relief from fleas.

People-Specific Signs

There are also signs of a flea infestation that manifest on people. The following may indicate a flea infestation:

Discovering the presence of household pests is a common occurrence for many homeowners throughout America each year. Whether they are seeking shelter from the colder weather of Fall or Winter or simply after food, pests of various types can take up residence in your home for many reasons. Cockroaches are exceedingly common in the US in a wide variety of locations. Among some of the most hated insects for good reason, cockroaches are troublesome to encounter. However, detecting a cockroach problem is not always an easy task. Let's talk briefly about the reasons why cockroaches are a problem and why they are an intriguing insect to learn about.

Three Surprising Facts about Roaches 

Although they are generally disliked and removed from homes quite promptly, roaches have many fascinating traits that can be fun to learn about. Below is a list of three facts about roaches that you may find surprising. 

Roaches Spend 75% of Their Lifespan Sedentary

Did you know that cockroaches spend as much as 75% of their lifespan at rest? You are very unlikely to even see a cockroach during the day due to the fact that they are nocturnal. They spend the entire day at rest and may go scavenging for food or water at night while you're sleeping. Spotting an active cockroach during the daytime is a good indication of a large infestation as this is highly abnormal behavior for them to display.

Earwigs – these insects look like aliens from another planet. Their long bodies, numerous legs and pinchers make them the stuff of horror movies. In fact, these pests have earned a reputation as deadly predators that feed on the human brain. None of the rumors are true, mind you, but it doesn't take anything away from their frightening appearance.

Pinch, Bite or Sting: Are Earwigs Dangerous?

Contrary to folklore, earwigs are no more dangerous than a cricket. Many people misunderstand this common household pest, believing that it bites or pinches when it attacks. Earwigs don't attack people and will only use their pinchers if they're handled and frightened. If they do use their pinchers on someone, it feels like a pinch and doesn't normally break the skin. Therefore, earwigs don't bite; they pinch.

How Did Earwigs Get Their Reputation?

In medieval times, doctors believed that earwigs could crawl into a person's ear and burrow down into the brain, causing serious harm or death. This insect struck fear in the hearts of most everyone back then, and they kept it as far away as possible at all times. Of course, earwigs don't enter your ear or burrow into your brain. Although they look sinister, they're not venomous and only use their pinchers for defense.