If you catch the scent of something unpleasant in your home, you might not think much of it – until you run across a brown, flat bug and realize you have a stink bug infestation on your hands. Don’t let these pests take refuge under your roof this winter. Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control can help prevent stink bugs from hibernating in your Maryland home by keeping you informed of the signs and threats of an infestation, as well as providing prevention tips.

What Are Stink Bugs?

Stink bugs are large and oval-shaped bugs with bodies that might remind you of a shield. There are a few different types, but the most common ones in Maryland are brown and green. When the bugs reach adulthood, they can measure up to two centimeters long. The insect’s width is almost the same as its length. The brown marmorated stink bug has light bands on its antennae and dark bands on the wings. Once the bugs become adults, they are able to fly skillfully, which is not a comforting thought for many of us. They then fold their wings across the top of their body when they decide to land.

These pests like to enter structures here in Maryland during the state’s cold, snowy winter months – it’s their way of escaping the freezing conditions. The abundance of greenery in the area attracts them throughout the other seasons of the year since the insects like to make a meal of leaves, flowers, and gardens.

Recognizing the Signs of an Infestation 

In many cases, the first sign of a stink bug infestation is a mass invasion during the fall. If you come across a bunch of them on your property, this indicates that you’re at risk of an infestation. Finding large numbers of live or dead ones is another sign. Since these bugs are brown, green, and sometimes gray, they can be tough to spot, but the pests often materialize on the sunny sides of structures to enjoy the sun, so look for them there.

What Are the Dangers of a Stink Bug Infestation? 

Stink bugs aren’t a pest that will damage a structure, but when they infest in large numbers, they can stink up your home – and make you quite uncomfortable. If you have a yard or a garden, you may discover you have an infestation because your vegetation is damaged.

Stink bugs start to look for overwintering places during the late fall before cold weather arrives – which could mean the walls, crawlspaces, or attic of your home or business. Then, they enter a state of diapause, or the bug version of hibernation. However, entering this phase may not be the end of their active time. If the weather warms up for a long enough period, the bugs might think it’s time for them to wake up and become active, thus escalating the infestation. When spring arrives, the bugs awaken and begin their springtime activities, such as eating your plants and reproducing.

With the potential of spreading throughout the country, stink bugs are a big risk to the agricultural industry, considering they destroy crops. They will eat ornamental plants, gardens, and fruit trees in residential and business areas. Keep in mind, though, that they don’t cause structural damage nor spread do they diseases, making them more of a nuisance than a threat to people.

How to Eliminate Entry Points 

Winter brings the biggest risk of a stink bug infestation. Prevent their entry by sealing cracks around doors, windows, and siding. Be thorough and check for cracks underneath any wood fascia, behind the chimney, and around any other openings that you come across. The bugs can get in through electrical outlets, light switches, and even the edges of skylights.

When sealing your home against pests, be sure to use high-quality silicone or a silicone-latex caulk. If you have a screen door that is damaged or a window that needs to be replaced, fix them before the cold weather arrives. Stink bugs are attracted to light, so consider changing the outside lights on your home to bulbs that are less attractive like sodium vapor lights or yellow bulbs.

Other Ways to Prevent a Stink Bug Infestation 

Give stink bugs somewhere else to congregate – somewhere that’s away from your garden, flowerbeds, and home. The pests are attracted to the color yellow, so consider planting sunflowers, mustard, or garlic as far away from your home and garden as possible. This measure could attract the pest’s predators, taking care of your insect problem the way nature intended.

Keeping your exterior areas clean and free of weeds will also help control stink bugs. The pests gravitate toward wild, unattended spaces. Weeding may reduce the number of insects you have hanging around without using pesticides.

Should You Call a Pest Control Professional? 

While there are some DIY solutions for alleviating a stink bug infestation, it’s always best to call in professionals for the most effective solution. When you contact our experts, we will be able to provide a large-scale strategy. Don’t let your Maryland home or business be overtaken by the smell that this bug can emit. Our pest control experts can identify possible stink bug entry points and use professional-grade treatments to take care of them. If you suspect that you have an infestation, contact Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control today.

There’s a reason why scary movies often feature cockroaches. Filmmakers play to our fears of this creature, making our skin crawl when they show up on screen. As gross as the insects are, it’s not simply their appearance we fear. Rather, it’s how quickly their infestations grow in number. Even if the cockroaches aren’t human-sized in real life, the thought of them reproducing at lightning speed is enough to scare us. It’s important to take action before it’s too late if you ever spot one in your Virginia home or business.

What If You See a Cockroach in Virginia? 

If you spot one cockroach, you can bet that it has friends – and it’s likely that the bug has lots of them. Cockroaches typically measure a little more than two inches long, but if you run into a tropical beastie it’ll probably be larger (though you don’t have to worry about that in our area). These pests have six legs and two antennae, and to make them even more disturbing, some have wings. Fortunately, the ones with wings aren’t good at using them.

Cockroaches are nocturnal, meaning they’re not active when we are. They hide during the daylight hours and come out to find food when the sun goes down. If you do spot one during the day, then the infestation has been building for some time. In fact, this is a sign that drastic cockroach extermination steps are required. Overcrowding is what causes them to come out during the daytime because there are too many of them for the amount of food that’s available.

Other Signs You Have a Cockroach Infestation Growing

Roach droppings are another common sign of a growing infestation. Often, they’re mistaken for the ones left behind by rodents, as they’re similar in size and shape. The big difference is that roach droppings have blunt ends and ridges along the sides. Roach infestations also feature a distinctive odor. The reason for this is that the critters emit a musty-smelling pheromone. If you have a sensitive nose, then you’re likely to notice it.

Egg capsules are a visible sign that you have an infestation – and this is an unfortunate sign it’s growing fast. Roach eggs are about eight millimeters long and dark colored. You might see them in your basement, kitchen, or laundry room. When roach eggs are present, then they may be attached to a surface that’s located near the insect’s food sources.

When Cockroaches Infest Homes and Businesses

Roaches’ fast reproduction rates are a big problem, but they’re nothing unless they find a way indoors in the first place. When cockroach infestations occur, it’s usually blamed on filth and grime. While it’s a good idea to keep your home or business tidy and limit the food sources preferred by the bugs, keep in mind that they infest structures for many reasons.

You may wind up with an infestation because a few were hanging out on an item that you brought inside. Gaps and cracks in a structure’s exterior can also result in an infestation. The insects frequently infest homes and businesses through sewer pipes and drains. If you live in an apartment complex and your neighbor has roaches, then you may get them too because they travel between living spaces via ventilation and electrical systems.

Easy Methods to Prevent Roaches

While cleanliness, or lack thereof, isn’t always an infestation factor, crumbs and clutter can attract the pests to your property. Roaches eat all kinds of food, but they seem to prefer stuff that’s fermenting (sugary substances and even alcohol). When they’re outside, they eat decaying algae, fungi, leaves, and small bugs. Inside, they dine on crumbs that they find under appliances and behind kitchen cabinets. Here are a few ways to stay roach-free:

• Regular cleanings: Keeping your space clean is one prevention method. Don’t let dirty dishes remain in the sink for days, and keep your floor free of food debris. Don’t leave pet food out, and be sure to store your food in airtight containers. Try to vacuum your space weekly. Also, ventilate crawl spaces to prevent the buildup of moisture.
• Barrier exclusion: Barrier exclusion is another way to dissuade the bugs from moving into your place. After all, they can’t wreak havoc if they can’t get in. This method may consist of searching your home or business for entry points like gaps around switch plates and electric sockets. If you spot any of these small openings, seal them with caulk.

Keep in mind that roaches are especially adept at hiding, making them a tough pest to get rid of with do-it-yourself methods. Along with this, roach eggs have a natural protection against a number of over-the-counter insecticides. For effective roach control, special materials, equipment, and knowledge are required.

Combat Roaches with Expert Pest Control from Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s

Anytime you suspect a pest infestation in Virginia, it’s best to reach out to pest control experts. If roaches have decided to make themselves at home in your home, our roach control pros at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control will create an extermination plan – one designed to restore your peace of mind. You don’t have to live in fear of this pest and its potential to grow into a frighteningly large problem. Contact us today to take care of your cockroach problem once and for all.

There’s nothing worse than opening a box of cereal only to find a bunch of little insects. Stored product pests are an inconvenience for Virginia homeowners, ruining the food we keep in our pantries. But the problem is even more pervasive at the source: businesses. Insects from beetles to moths are capable of causing quite a bit of harm to establishments that process, manufacture, or sell food. Here’s why you should look out for them in your business.

Types of Stored Product Pests

Beetles are a common stored product pest. Grain and flour beetles frequently target food storage areas. These insects are attracted to spices, nuts, meats, and cereals, and will chew their way through food packaging with their pincer-like mandibles. This often results in damaged goods that a company is not able to sell, even if the insects fail to reach the food item. Flying insects are another type of stored product pest, able to infest grains before farmers have a chance to harvest it.

Why You Should Take Stored Product Pests Seriously

A major problem with stored product pest infestations is that they can escalate quickly. When these pests discover an environment that they like, they can breed quite rapidly. Some females can lay as many as 400 eggs during their lifetimes, leading to massive insect populations. These large populations come with more feeding needs, which causes even more food damage. Stored product pests are especially risky for businesses. These risks include:

• Food being contaminated or eaten
• Infestations causing damage or contaminating storage areas
• Grain becoming moldy
• Damage to equipment

Along with these risks, stored product pest infestations usually result in revenue loss, fines, or closures and ingredient replacement costs. Most stored product insects are small critters, which makes it tough to spot them. They can hide in little cracks and crevices, and they can make their way into small tears and gaps in food packaging to reach food sources. This often results in significant damage.

Stored Product Pest Prevention Tips

You must be active when it comes to combatting these insects. Be sure to check packages and incoming shipments thoroughly. When doing these inspections, look for signs of damage by searching for small holes that boring pests may have caused. To check for bugs in recently received packages, consider placing a small sample in an enclosed plastic container. Be sure to check the contained package later for signs of an infestation. Along with knowing that pests are present in your shipment, you will also be able to determine which types of insects are arriving.

If your food product can take it, you can try using temperature to repel bugs. Most of these pests are unable to survive in extreme temperatures. Consider keeping your products in rooms that are 60 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. When storing food products, keep them off the floor and at least 18 inches from the walls. Taking this step makes it easier to keep the area clean, which means that it’s less tempting for pests.

Deteriorating products are just asking for an insect infestation. To keep them away, make sure that your older food products are shipped out or used first. Also, get rid of any food items that show signs of damage. Establish a cleaning schedule and clean up spills right away. It’s important to also make sure that everything is wiped down and vacuumed regularly.

Treating a Stored Product Pest Infestation 

Even if your prevention tactics go above and beyond the norm, your home or business could still experience a stored product insect infestation. To contain the risk, make sure that you or your staff take extra precautions when cleaning up an infested area and sanitize the space thoroughly. Make sure that your staff knows not to move infested products to other areas because doing so could cause the infestation to spread.

Professional pest management companies like Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control will treat these types of infestations by employing a combination of treatments. When area treatments are used, it typically involves fogging the space with pesticides that don’t leave behind a residue. This will let you get your business back in operation quickly. If you have a severe infestation, then your best option may be fumigation.

Large facilities that experience infestations on occasion may need to be fumigated once or twice a year to prevent pests from moving in. Most businesses can prevent the need for this by keeping the facility cleaner. This is something that homeowners may want to keep in mind as well.

Fast, Effective Commercial Pest Control from Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest

If you’re in the food processing business in Virginia, pest control is a major priority. To prevent pests from infesting your home or business, the expert technicians at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control will work closely with you to determine if your business is at risk of infestation, and how best to take care of the problem. Developing a solid, year-round partnership with a pest control company like Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s is ultimately the most cost-effective solution to potential pest infestations. To schedule your free pest inspection, contact us today!

All is not always safe in Alexandria, VA. Small, eight-legged creatures are invading homes across the area, frightening people where they eat, sleep, and play. Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s has the scoop on the most common species to look out for and how our professionals can prevent an infestation.

5 Common Spiders in Virginia

Cellar Spider

This species has long legs and hangs upside down from the ceiling in bathrooms, attics, cellars, and other rooms. It’s a fragile spider that doesn’t pose much of a risk to people or pets. However, it breeds continuously and will turn into a massive infestation within a few months.

Brown Recluse

Fittingly, the brown recluse spider is brown in color and has a dark, violin-shaped mark on its head leading down its back. It’s a venomous spider that produces a painful bite, leading to a necrotic ulcer that can spread if not treated right away. Although it tends to stay hidden outdoors under rocks, it will venture indoors and hide in shoes and other concealed spaces.

Wolf Spider

Wolf spiders can grow to be over an inch in length and are a dark color with hairs covering the body. It’s a predatory spider and hunts at night – though it will sometimes come out during the day. It rarely bites humans unless it’s mishandled and can be found in cracks around baseboards, closet doors, and attics.

Yellow Sac Spider

The yellow sac spider measures about a half-inch in length, has a pale-yellow coloring, and prefers to stay outdoors in gardens and landscaped areas. It isn’t dangerous, but it does produce a painful bite if provoked. When it comes indoors, this spider stays hidden in cracks and crevices.

Black Widow

The black widow is venomous and should be left to your local spider control professionals when you see one. It has a characteristic red hourglass shape on its underside and tends to stay hidden under rocks and in wood piles. This spider will usually come indoors to seek shelter from the cold or to chase prey that has slipped into a crack.

Professional Spider Control in Alexandria, VA

If spider infestations have you cornered in your own home, Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s can get rid of them for good. Whether it’s a single cellar spider in the bathroom or several brown recluses around the patio, our professionals can identify the species and take curative action. We’ll not only eliminate the spiders but also create a routine program to keep them from re-infesting your home down the road.

Considering how common moths are, it’s likely that you’ve had numerous run-ins with the insects – whether it’s from spotting a rogue one flying around your home’s interior lights or getting one caught in your hair or clothes. The pests may seem harmless, but they can be a major nuisance due to their feeding habits and the way that their offspring develop. This is an infestation that may require professional assistance, so if you suspect that the insects have invaded your home in Virginia, it’s time to take action.

Virginia’s Most Prevalent Moths

Moths have two pairs of wings that are covered in scales. These insects also have large compound eyes (multiple units that make up one big eye) as well as a long and flexible mouth part called the proboscis. The pests vary greatly in size and appearance depending on the species. If you travel to faraway places like Europe or Madagascar, you may come into contact with the pretty ones that have brightly colored wings. Across Virginia, the most popular moth types include the brown house moth, common clothes moth, the Indian meal moth, and the oak processionary moth.

Brown House Moth: The brown house moth eats by scavenging for food. This species enjoys a varied diet that ranges from dog biscuits to cereals and grains. Like other moths, they tend to fly around your home during the evening hours. They also like to hide in low areas like your baseboards.

Common Clothes Moth: The common clothes moth is small and light colored. You may be more likely to see it crawling on your floor than flying around your light bulbs. The larvae of this species prefer to eat fabrics, and they often spin webs. An adult moth of this type measures from 6 mm to 8 mm long, and it has a slender, yellow body. This is the pest that will eat your wool sweater or favorite cotton slacks. It also dines on other types of cloth material.

Indian Meal Moth: As one of the most destructive moths, the Indian meal moth is a pest that you should try to keep out of your home. Its wings are a combination of pale grey and rusty bronze. This moth species is responsible for the majority of the insect problems within the natural food industry. If they infest your home, then they’ll probably be attracted to any cereal or grains that you have stored in your pantry.

Oak Processionary Moth: The oak processionary moth species is an especially invasive one. If you run into one of these pests, it won’t harm you, but the caterpillars have hair-like appendages that are venomous, and these appendages stay toxic for years after they fall off the caterpillar. While this venom won’t cause major health issues, it can cause severe skin irritation, swelling, and redness.

The Damage Caused by Moths

Moth larvae are capable of causing significant and expensive damage to your clothing. In most cases, the pest will put holes in your clothes, but when you’re dealing with a large-scale infestation, the pests can completely destroy clothing items by chewing them up beyond recognition. If you have to replace numerous clothing items, then the cost could be extensive. They can also be expensive for businesses who process or serve food, damaging large containers of food and harming reputations when word of their presence gets out.

An even bigger problem with moths is that they can infest your home without your noticing. When this happens, the infestation can cause substantial damage. That’s why it’s so important to be proactive in spotting infestation. Moth infestation signs range from coming across damage caused by feeding to webbing or actual cocoons. Look for droppings or pupae in drawers, along walls, or on the corners of cabinets.

How to Keep Moths Out in Virginia

With a moth infestation, you’ll want to be thorough, so wash fabric items, curtains, towels, and any soft furnishings that you may have. Moth larvae enjoy eating these fabrics as much as they do clothes. Washing them will get rid of any larvae that might be hanging out. If the pests are in your home’s food areas like your pantry or cupboards, then wipe down pantry shelves, the inside of the cupboards, and kitchen drawers. Be sure to clean tiny cracks and crevices because moth eggs like to hide in these small spaces.

If you store suitcases, travel bags, or other containers in areas of your home that has a moth infestation, then clean the inside of them as well. Infestations in areas that you’re unable to clean are best handled by a professional pest control company. Our experts at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control will back up the steps that you’ve already taken to ensure that your moth infestation is gone for good.

Prevention involves keeping things clean and clutter-free. Establish a consistent routine of cleaning your closets, drawers, pantry, and cupboards. Some moth species are attracted to food, so keep your food sealed and stored. Don’t leave open cereal boxes out on your counters. Vacuum regularly and empty the bag to get rid of any moth larvae. Also, clean your clothes frequently – even the sweaters and jackets that you haven’t worn in a while.

When Moths Show Up, Go with Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s

Pest infestations are a major inconvenience, and while a moth one isn’t typically dangerous, it can be expensive and annoying. The last thing you want is a moth flying in your face – or worse, eating your food or clothes. For strategic treatment of moth infestations throughout Virginia, contact Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control. We’ll make sure they’re gone for good with products that target them at every stage of their life cycle.

As fall arrives in Ellicott City, MD, squirrels prepare for the coming winter. You’ll see these wild animals more during this time as they forage for nuts and seeds and bury acorns to eat later when food sources aren’t as abundant. They also use this time to build nests and look for better areas to use as shelter – such as your home.

Why is a Squirrel So Active in the Fall?

Ellicott City is home to thousands of gray squirrels. These wild critters roam freely in parks and neighborhoods throughout the year. In fall, they hoard as many acorns, seeds, and nuts as they can, eating some each day to put on extra fat for winter. If they’re in your yard, you’ll see these rodents bury food in various spots and return later in the winter to eat it.

Does a Squirrel Hibernate in the Winter?

Squirrels don’t hibernate in the winter. Instead, they put on layers of fat and take refuge in their nests. They’ll also hunker down with another squirrel or two for extra heat. When the temperatures drop, they’ll all shiver together to create warmth in the nest.

How Does a Squirrel Get Inside Homes?

A squirrel will often invade attic spaces and build nests in the fall. Because heat rises, these rodents enjoy a warmer winter than they would if they had stayed in the trees outside. They get inside through attic vents and cracks in the eaves. They’ll also invade basements or crawlspaces by slipping through the gaps around doors and windows.

Professional Wildlife Management in Ellicott City

Squirrels are rodents and can cause a lot of damage to homes in Ellicott City, MD. They chew through walls, boxes, and wires and contaminate attic spaces with feces and urine. These pests also build nests behind the walls and give birth to young as the spring arrives. If you want to prevent this pest from entering your home, Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s can help. Our technicians provide wildlife management services to remove wildlife from your home. We also take preventative action to keep out rodents throughout the fall and winter seasons.

Crickets are considered a symbol of good luck in several ancient cultures. Going back as far as 500 B.C., people have esteemed the cricket’s song and have even kept them as pets to listen to their music daily. The insects are thought to be able to signal a good harvest. They were even considered great protectors because they would stop singing whenever someone or something approached. While this legend somewhat persists, a cricket infestation is anything but lucky. The pests chow down on fabrics and leave holes in your clothing, carpeted floors, and wallpaper.

What in the World Is a House Cricket? 

A house cricket is a light, yellow-brown insect that has three dark bands on its head. They measure around 3/4 to 7/8 of an inch long and have slender antennae that are frequently longer than their bodies. This type of cricket also has wings that lie against their backs. A juvenile cricket will look like an adult without wings. Fortunately for you, these insects don’t typically lay eggs inside homes or businesses – yet, they’re pretty good at entering as adults.

Other cricket types found in Richmond, VA and the rest of the state of Virginia include mole, field, and camel crickets. The mole type measures from 1 inch to 1 1/4 inches long. Fitting their name, they’re often unseen because they prefer to stay underground. The field kind is a little longer than the house variety, and they tend to be black, grey, or dark brown. Camel crickets are one of the largest varieties found in homes and businesses – they measure from 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches long.

Camel Crickets: A Problem on the Atlantic Coast 

The camel cricket species is becoming a problem on the Atlantic Coast, including our state of Virginia. Named for their humpbacked look, they like to make their home beneath moist leaves, rotting logs, and stones. This pest can live for one to two years, and like their house-dwelling cousins, they are light brown in color. The camel cricket species does not have sound-producing organs, which means that they don’t chirp. Adult camels don’t have wings, but they do have long legs that allow them to jump a good distance.

To prevent camel crickets from infesting your Richmond, VA home or business, get rid of any areas of moisture that are inside or outside the structure. You may want to invest in a dehumidifier to prevent moisture from building up inside. Experts also recommend sealing up any points of entry around your home or business. Simply getting rid of stuff that allows moisture to form and remain is extremely helpful. Moisture forms and stays put in yard debris and woodpiles.

What Are the Signs of a Cricket Infestation?

The most noticeable sign that you have a cricket infestation in your home or business is seeing one crawling around. The insects are attracted to warm, moist environments inside a structure. Chirping noises are another sign that they have decided that your residence is a good place for them to live as well. When a cricket is in your house and starts chirping, it will sound a little too loud and a little too close to be outside. The male bugs make this noise to attract females, and because the pests are nocturnal, they usually chirp at night.

Crickets as Nuisance Insects 

While crickets may have been good luck symbols to people in the past, today they are mainly a noisy nuisance. When the insects infest in large numbers, they may cause damage to clothing as well as other fabric pieces like sheets or drapes.

A cricket is most likely to enter your home or business in the fall because of the colder nighttime temperatures. The bugs will be searching for a warm place for the winter. These insects will be attracted to bright lights, so if you have lights on your porch or garage, then an infestation may be more likely. A cricket can enter your home through cracks in doors, window frames, siding, or the foundation. They may also walk right in if you leave doors open from time to time.

How to Prevent a Cricket Infestation in Richmond, VA

When a cricket enters your home, it’s probably searching for food or more comfortable digs. Sometimes, they wander into a home because they’re just exploring their surroundings and they happen to be in your area. During the day, the pests require a good place to hide to avoid drying out and becoming overheated.

The best way to get rid of these pests, in addition to reducing moisture sources, is to maintain your exterior spaces regularly. Be sure to mow the lawn, weed your flower beds and shift woodpiles away from the foundation of your home or business. Make sure that your basement and crawl spaces are well ventilated, and consider swapping outdoor lighting to yellow bulbs or sodium vapor lamps. The pests aren’t as attracted to these kinds of lights. Conduct an interior and exterior inspection of your Richmond, VA home to look for ways that the bugs can get in. In particular, search for holes or cracks in your foundation and window and door frames.

When It’s Time to Call in Cricket Control

If there’s just one or two crickets hanging out in your house, you can probably just wait it out. These are pests that usually die in the fall and winter. However, they are noisy bugs (ones that attract pests like rodents and spiders), so if there’s a cricket living with you that won’t let you sleep, then it’s time to contact the pest professionals at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control. Our professional cricket control technicians will inspect the interior and exterior of your home or business to develop a personalized treatment plan.

A flea is like a virus: Once it shows up, it begins to spread. This pest feeds on blood and will breed within 24 hours of its first meal. A female can lay up to 50 eggs per day, causing a blood-sucking infestation in no time. Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s has the scoop on this bothersome pest and how to prevent infestations in your home in Springfield, VA – a place ravaged by fleas during the fall months.

Why Are Fleas Active in the Fall?

The mild fall temperatures in Springfield, VA excite these pests. Although the adults are active throughout the summer, the pupae stay dormant when the temperatures exceed 85 degrees. As fall temperatures hover in the 70s, the pupae become active and spread out in search of a host.

Where Do Fleas Hide Outdoors?

These pests don’t really hide; their tiny size makes them hard to spot. When they’re outside, they prefer to stay out of direct sunlight. Some of the most common areas you can find a flea infestation include:

• Tall grass
• Weedy areas
• Leaf piles
• Tree lines
• Shrubs and brush

Where Do They Hide Indoors?

Even though it cools down in Springfield during the fall, fleas love this suburban city’s abundance of homes, which offer them the shade and moisture (not to mention hosts) they crave. When these pests come indoors, they spread quickly. You can find them in furniture, carpets, rugs, and pet bedding. If they’re on your pet, they will lay eggs in its fur. The eggs will then fall off as your pet runs and plays indoors, spreading these insects to every room in your home.

How to Keep Fleas Out

Preventing a flea infestation starts with good lawn maintenance. You should keep the grass mowed short, shrubs trimmed back, and weeds pulled at all times. Sometimes flea-infested rodents and other wildlife venture into backyards to feed on pet food. Bringing the food indoors at night will help keep them out of your yard. Other ways to keep infestations out of your home include:

• Vacuuming rugs and carpets regularly
• Treating your pet with a flea control product
• Running a flea comb through your pet’s fur when it comes indoors
• Using insect growth regulators once you’ve found the pests indoors

Professional Flea Control in Springfield

As the summer turns to fall in Springfield, VA, it’s time to practice flea prevention. If you have an infestation, Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s can get rid of these pests and help prevent future flea problems in your home.

Ants are bad enough on the ground, wreaking havoc with their intricately organized populations. Now, imagine them adding the ability to fly to that. Unfortunately, it’s a reality with winged ants, who use their flying abilities to set up colonies all throughout Virginia. As it turns out, ants develop the ability to fly when they’re close to breeding. This makes them a problem for residents and business owners in our Old Dominion due to the possibility of a small colony growing into a big infestation – and a big problem.

When Ants Breed

Flying ants aren’t genetic mutants. When ants gain the ability to fly, they’ve become sexually mature. They use their colony structure to the advantage, as the queen creates ants that are able to reproduce and, thus, help set up new colonies. The ants that are able to breed are referred to as “reproductive.” Once the queen produces them, worker ants make sure they stay fed as they go through their immature phases during the development process. When the colony is ready to expand naturally, the winged ants take flight.

Mature female and male ants fly away from their colonies with one goal: to mate. People who study bugs refer to this voyage as a “nuptial flight,” which is also called a “dispersal.” You may have heard it called a swarm. Flying makes it possible for ants to mate with ants from other areas. By doing so, the insects are able to avoid the disease vulnerabilities that occur when any creature is inbred. Ants are ingenious creatures, and this is one the reasons why they’re so hard to exterminate. Quite simply, they’re the ultimate survivors.

So, if you spot ants in your home and notice that they have wings, this is cause for alarm, as it means you may have an already-existing infestation on your hands.

The Search for an Ant Nesting Site in Virginia

After mating, the male ants die, and the fertilized female ant flies around searching for the perfect nesting site. Different ant species have different nesting preferences. Some, like carpenter ants, prefer to live in rotting wood structures. They like Virginia due to its humid conditions (especially in the eastern part of the state) that create plenty of rotting wood. Pavements ants, on the other hand, make nests in sidewalk cracks, while odorous house ants are prevalent virtually everywhere.

In her search for the best digs, a female ant might happen upon your home or business. Once she chooses a nesting location, she breaks off her wings and will never again take to the skies. This new queen will begin the arduous task of starting her own colony. She’ll use her defunct flying muscles for food, and they’ll give her the strength that she needs to lay eggs as well. Before you know it, the eggs will hatch, leading a colony that can number into the thousands without proper treatment.

Are Winged Ants Dangerous?

If you run into a big swarm of winged insects, it can be an intimidating experience – and one that might creep you out. But when ants are swarming, they are only interested in mating. A flying ant isn’t any more dangerous to you than a regular one crawling along the ground. If an ant species doesn’t have the ability to sting and won’t bite, then the flying breeders won’t either. But keep in mind that it’s not a good idea to stroll through a swarm of any insects, so do your best to avoid them. If they’re close to your residence, consider them a sign that you may have an infestation.

What Is the Difference Between Flying Ants and Termites

Ants are the most common pest throughout the United States, but people often mistake them for termites when they start flying since both pests swarm. Termites are capable of causing damage to your home, so it’s important to know the difference between them. Carpenter ants are prevalent in Virginia, preferring to live in wooden structures like termites. But while termites make a meal of wood, carpenter ants do not. When it comes to dining, ants prefer to eat seeds, nectar, other insects, and food crumbs in homes.

How can you identify termites from winged ants?

• Ants stand out because of their pinched waists, dark bodies, curved antennae, and back wings that are shorter than their front ones.
• Termites stand out because of their white or brown body, straight antennae, and well-formed jaws.

If you see a swarm of flying insects on or near your property, don’t ignore it thinking that it’s a non-destructive species of ants. If it’s termites that are swarming, it’s important to act fast to prevent disastrous and expensive property damage.

The Importance of Ant Control in Virginia

They may seem harmless, but ants are unwelcome for many reasons. For home and business owners, the presence of winged ants could mean that they have a hard-to-control infestation. While most ant species aren’t destructive, they can still bring germs and bacteria into a structure. It’s also an unpleasant experience to find insects in your home. If you run a business, whether it’s a retailer in Fredericksburg or a restaurant in Richmond, then winged ants could mean lost customers since pests can make a business seem uncared for and dirty.

Ants can be tough to exterminate due to the size of their colonies and their strength as a unit. They nest practically everywhere in Virginia, building colonies that number from 300,000 to 500,000 insects. So, when it comes to this pest, whether they’ve recently flown in or they’ve been around for a while, professional ant control is a must. At Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control, we combat ants with a thorough combination of spray and gel treatments. Contact us today to get rid of ants for good – guaranteed.

When people see squirrels in Washington, D.C., they don’t think much of them. When they see rats, it’s another story (and with the city’s recent growth, they sure have become a common sight). But rodents come in many shapes and sizes, from chipmunks to garden gophers. They all have incisors that continue to grow, which means every rat, squirrel, and mouse must gnaw on something to wear down their teeth – and your home or business could be a target. If rodents show up, it could spell trouble for your property.

3 Rodent Control Tips to Avoid Damage

Conduct a thorough inspection.

It doesn’t cost anything to inspect your property for rodent damage and potential entryways. Walk around and examine your home or business for gnaw marks, holes, and other damage that rats or mice (or other chewing mammals) could have created. Check for entry points such as vents, windows, doors, and pipes, and seal any gaps and crevices to keep out unwanted rodent invaders.

Reduce the foliage around the exterior.

The shrubs along your home’s perimeter may add curb appeal, but they also provide shelter and hiding spots for rodents like chipmunks and mice. It’s best to keep shrubs and plants at least three feet away from the foundation. In addition, mow the grass and pull weeds regularly to reduce rodent nesting areas.

Be careful where you store food.

Whether you run a restaurant in D.C.’s Central Business District or you own a home in the surrounding suburbs, your food is a target for rodents. Always keep it sealed in a rodent-proof container such as a plastic bin with a tight lid. No matter where you’re storing your food, empty the contents into a sealed container to keep pests from chewing through the bag. Avoid storing pet food outdoors where it could attract various rodent and insect pests.

Rodent Control for Homes and Businesses

It’s important to get rid of rodents on your property at the first sign of an infestation. Otherwise, these pests could cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs later. Contact Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s in Washington, D.C. to schedule a free, no-obligation inspection with our experienced technicians. Whether it’s roof rats or field mice, we’ll eliminate the pests and give you a pest-free home or business for the future.