Summer is in full swing, with people in Illinois and all over the country getting outside and soaking up some sun. Unfortunately, with the arrival of warm weather comes one major downside: mosquitoes. These pests not only have an annoying bite, but have been carriers of diseases harmful to humans for centuries. In the U.S.,…
Summer is all about outdoor fun. Holiday barbecues, weekend pool parties, and summer-break sleepovers fill our time. Take full advantage of sunny days and warm evenings by gathering your family and friends for some serious celebrating. Unfortunately, ants have the same idea – they’re most active during the summer months. Take these measures to prevent…
They scare the kids, sting your guests and pets, and act as an overall nuisance at family gatherings. Whether they’re flying around to munch on your sugary snacks or inhabiting a nest near your patio table, no one knows how to ruin a party like wasps. By utilizing the proper pest control methods, you can…
Picture this: It’s the dead of winter in Illinois. Just when you think you’re safe from the mob of insects that disappeared after the first frost, you spot a fly on your windowpane. You move to swat it, but then another appears. And another. And then you begin to hear a low hum coming from…
Ever had a fly land on your face when you’re talking? It’s pretty revolting, isn’t it? These pests have no regard for your personal bubble. They fly around your face, land on your food and invade your home like they own the place. Flies thrive in Illinois and on every continent, and they live for…
Shut your doors and windows – there’s an army headed your way. It’s not an angry mob or foreign invaders attacking Illinois: It’s ants, and they’re looking for food. With more than 3,000 species in the United States, you’re bound to see these tiny invaders wherever you go. Although they tend to stay outside where…
Spring has sprung in the Midwest! People are finally packing away their heavy winter coats and emerging from their homes after another frigid winter to find the sun shining and flowers already in bloom. But something else out there is emerging, too. And for some Illinois residents, it’s enough to make them shun the springtime…
It’s happened to us all: We’re enjoying a good time on our patio when a wasp comes swooping in and sends us ducking and running back indoors. Stinging pests like wasps don’t always invade our space with evil intentions. In fact, they’re highly curious and just want to get a closer look of the large…
The Windy City is home to nearly three million people…as well as an alarming number of rodents. Countless studies have cited the largest city in Illinois as home to one of the world’s biggest rat populations. Chicago has shared the dubious honor more than once with cities like Paris and London. Keep your home protected…
Illinois carpenters are known for carefully crafting beautiful and useful wood structures, but carpenter bees are known for ruining them with equal passion. If your gorgeous new wood deck suddenly develops a mysterious, perfectly round hole, check the rest of your home’s wooden structures for holes and small piles of sawdust. If more signs are…
You’ve probably heard there’s a movement to “Save the Bees.” But the reason for their dwindling numbers is more complicated than just the use of pesticides. A new phenomenon called “colony collapse disorder” has led to beekeepers losing almost 90 percent of their swarm in the last decade, destroying 10 million beehives. Why are bees…
It’s springtime in Illinois, and bears aren’t the only ones waking up from winter hibernation. Carpenter bees also hibernate in winter and awaken in spring. The carpenter bee is an active pollinator that provides a beneficial service to agriculture, but it can be a nuisance when it bores multiple holes into important wooden structures. Although…