Please, No Fleas! Why There’s an Outbreak in Orange County
Orange County Flea Outbreak Seriously, you’re telling me these fleas won’t go away? Your poor pup may be looking at you like you’re crazy. Unfortunately, the slightly cooler weather in Orange County doesn’t necessarily mean fleas are going away. In fact, according to the CDC, illnesses from fleas as well as mosquitos and ticks have more than tripled between 2004 and 2016. And, unfortunately, LA County residents are seeing the results. The City of Angels and surrounding areas within the county have fallen victim to a recent Typhus outbreak instigated by fleas nestled in hosts none other than the opossum. This is unusual considering fleas typically are known to live ...
Crickets Mating Season is Here! What You Need to Know.
If Orange County homeowners and residents are noticing some chirping in and around their homes, there’s a good chance it’s crickets. Specifically, male crickets “chirp” (or sing) to woo a mate. They do this by moving their wings together, which produces a pitch so that female crickets can find them. For females in search of a mate, larger male crickets are preferable, which can be identified from their lower pitch. While male crickets singing in the evening or at night may lull (or annoy) homeowners, crickets in general can eat up and damage household items such as cotton and linen. Because of this, mating season or not, homeowners need to ...
Spiders: The Truth About Mating Habits
For Southern California residents hitting the hiking trails, be prepared to see more male tarantulas up until November. Why the sudden increase? Yep, tarantula mating season is here, which means males will be out and about in search of dormant females. This pattern of male spiders looking for a female companion is not just reserved for tarantulas. Many male spiders display this same behavior. But what is surprising, especially when it comes to black widows and redbacks, is some won’t survive the mating process. So, why do males make the long, dangerous journey only to potentially die when they do find a female spider? Read on to discover why! If ...
Ants, Common Orange County Pests
One common Orange County pest that residents may see in their homes and lurking around gardens is none other than, ants. Argentine ants, especially, are attracted to sweet foods, making sweet blossoms and fruits in gardens prime targets. Not to mention, leftover crumbs on counters and floors is a calling card for ants already in search of an escape from damp or hot weather. It is when ants find relief in homes that homeowners are in for trouble. Orange County Ant Infestations Cause Trouble for Homeowners Ant infestations not under control are a nuisance at best, and a fiasco at worst, especially when it comes to carpenter ants and fire ...
Bees and Wasps + Other Sting Insects
While spring is nearly gone, bees and wasps are here to stay—that is until the season for such sting insects tails off in late fall. What this means for Orange County residents and homeowners? Be on the lookout for buzzing in walls and around the house, as bees can (and have) nested in the home. In fact, one North Virginia building recently contained as much as 70,000 bees and 100 (whopping) tons of honey—fortunately, it was abandoned! However, a non-abandoned residential house in New Jersey was not as lucky; homeowners found 30,000 bees buzzing in their walls. While both situations happened on the east coast, it’s important to note that ...
Flea season Starts in Late Spring, Are You Prepared?
As if winter flea season wasn’t enough, these jumpy creatures are back for late spring. Left unchecked, fleas can cause annoying bites, and transmit bacteria and tapeworms (gross!) to people and furry friends. However, the risk of flea-infected tapeworms for humans is quite low. Along with their neighbor, the tick, fleas are the (not-so-obvious) bloodsucking vampires of the insect kingdom. As Bohart Museum of Entomology mentions, bites usually come in a three-course meal for triple the itching — lovely. So, how do you banish these high-flying jumpers once and for all? Read on to find out! However, if you’d rather leave extermination to the experts, contact Preferred Pest Control of ...
American Roaches Love Moist, Warm Weather
3 Ways to Keep Roaches Away During Summer Out of the roughly 4,500 cockroach species, just 30 are household pests. Guess which group American roaches fall into? Yep, pests it is. And, they aren’t just any pesky critter; along with German, Australian, and Oriental roaches, American roaches are the top four most pesky cockroaches. While roaches in general are a nuisance, its the American roaches’ large size and agility that puts them on the top of the list. Like many pests, cockroaches love heat, and American roaches are no exception. With summer just around the corner, high temperatures call for American roach patrol. Be on the lookout for these large ...
Earwigs & Other Common Landscaping Pests to Look Out For
Earwigs – a Common Pest in Orange County We have a love-hate relationship when it comes to earwigs. Under normal population growth, they snack on slugs, snails, and plant decay, which helps garden ecology flourish. But, after the rainy season or in cases where gardens are located in a shady, wet area, these landscaping pests can quickly get out of control. With a bunch of bitten foliage and chewed vegetables adding more hours in the garden, how can homeowners manage an earwig infestation? What other landscaping pests are pertinent in Orange County? Read on to find out! What Are Earwigs and How to Manage Them With terrifying pinchers and a shiny ...
Drywood Termites Start of Drywood
Information about Drywood Termites There are several different types of termites. One of the less common is known as the drywood termite, which is most prevalent in Orange County and other coastal cities in the US. Unfortunately for many homeowners, drywood termite infestation and damage can wreak havoc on wooden furniture and exposed wood in the home. Where Drywood Termites Live (and How they Survive) Drywood termites thrive in humid climates, which make beach cities a prime target. So how did they get their name “drywood?” These pests can survive on just the humidity in the air, so unlike other creepy critters, they don’t live underground in the soil. Instead, they lay eggs and ...
Rodents Seek Shelter from Cold Nights and Rainy Season
Rats live in our ivy, nibble on our garden vegetables, dig into our trash, and may even bite our near and dear furry friends. To say we despise rats would be an understatement. So, when we see that February is almost over and April is about a month away, we can’t help but feel a little worried. In case you don’t know, April is very appropriately nicknamed “April Showers” for—yep, you guessed it—spring downpours. Cold Months Mean Rats Depending on where you live, this could mean several inches of rain or some light drizzling. Even the occasional dreary night is still cause to worry. You see, like humans, rats aren’t ...