You checked the weather forecast, made a jar of sun tea, and grabbed your breakfast scone. As you’re settling down on your porch with your tasty treats (and perhaps that book you’ve been wanting to read too), you spot it: a wasp, hovering in front of a small paper nest that it’s building. Encouraged by warm summer temperatures, many species are famous for ruining people’s outdoor plans. They’re the wasps most likely to cause you problems in Virginia.

The Aggressive Yellow Jacket

Wasps and stings may go hand-in-hand, but yellow jackets take things to a whole other level. Known for their aggressive nature that frequently involves chasing unprepared victims, yellow jackets are one of the biggest insect “bullies” out there. This wasp species is named for its yellow and black color design, measuring from 3/8 to 5/8 inches long. The insects are attracted to food odors, so they’re likely to join you for your sun tea and breakfast scone.

While yellow jackets are a little slower to sting than other wasp species, the insects aggressively look after their colonies. Like other wasps, yellow jackets are able to sting repeatedly, making them a risk to anyone who may be allergic to them. An infestation is unlikely to result in structural damage to your home or business, but since they are stinging insects, it’s still not a good thing to have a nest near you. When yellow jackets appear, it’s always best to contact a wasp control company.

The Powerful Hornet

Larger than a wasp and possessing the ability to deliver a more painful and powerful sting, hornets are a concerning foreign species. That’s right – they’re not a North American native. This type of wasp was a stowaway when the Europeans began exploring our continent, eventually spreading all throughout it. Today, hornets are usually found along the East Coast, and they’re largely common in Virginia – the original settling point for many explorers.

Two hornet species infest North America, both of which are found throughout our state:

• European hornets: 1 to 1 1/2 inches long with six legs and two pairs of wings.
• Bald faced hornets: 1/2 to 5/8 inches long with a black body and mostly white face.

Like ants, hornets are social creatures. The pests will go after anyone or anything that enters their space. Hornets have smooth stingers that allow them to attack over and over again. If you suspect that the insects have infested your home or property, take steps to remove them before their stinging threat becomes a reality. As with other stinging insects, hornet removal is best left to the wasp control professionals.

The Defensive Paper Wasp

You’ll know a paper wasp by its narrow body and dark brown color. This species has black wings with yellow markings, making them look a bit like their close relatives in the yellow jacket. Paper wasps likes living in sheltered places, which means they may look for nesting spots in or around your home where they’re not easy to detect. While the insects are mainly beneficial to the planet because they aid in pollination (similar to bees), they’re still bad news for their aggressive stinging habits.

Paper wasps make paper nests, hence their name. The nests look like round, upside-down combs. Every year, a paper wasp colony starts as a single queen. Once she locates a good nesting spot, she’ll build a small comb nest in which to raise her first larvae. After the larvae mature, they begin to search for food, increase the size of the nest, and take care of the queen’s new young. Before you know it, the small nest on your property may grow into an out-of-control problem.

Paper wasps are known to be predators, feeding on common pests like spiders and caterpillars. But while this is another benefit of their presence, they equal it out with highly protective tendencies. If they feel threatened, they won’t hesitate to defend themselves vigorously, so steer clear of paper nests. A sting is extremely painful, and the reaction is much more severe if you’re allergic.

The Destructive Cicada Killer

Red and black with yellow stripes on their bellies, the cicada killer wasp species measures from 1/2 to 2 inches long. Thus, they’re one of the largest – if not, the largest – stinging pests in our state. Virginia’s climate is very warm during the summer, and it attracts cicada killers throughout the season to nest along the exterior of homes or businesses. Yet, identification is often difficult, as the pests often get confused with yellow jackets due to their similar appearance.

Like paper wasps, this species also offers a natural pest remedy: They kill the obnoxious cicadas you hear chirping throughout the warm months. Of course, with their name, this seems quite obvious. But cicada killers harm more than cicadas, as they also damage property. If they’re around, don’t be surprised to see dirt mounds and small holes throughout your lawn. The wasps also undermine exterior structures like patios and decks. Unlike other stinging insects, this species is one of the least aggressive, only stinging when provoked.

When Wasps Attack, Get Stinging Insect Control

From yellow jackets and hornets to paper wasps and cicada killers, there are a variety of wasp species you’re likely to deal with in Virginia. The aggressive insects are infamous for their stings, which result in pain and allergic reactions. To make matters worse, they often have an inclination to attack collectively – and some even destroy property. This is all the more reason to get pest control treatments from experts who know how to effectively fight back.

At Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control, we use humane techniques to combat many different wasp species. Our experts will remove existing pests and prevent them from coming back through strategic exclusion techniques. If you’ve spotted signs of a wasp infestation, contact the professionals to keep you, your family, or your customers safe.

As a restaurant owner in Richmond, VA, you understand the importance of providing quality service and keeping your customers satisfied. All it takes is one cockroach in the kitchen or the dining area to hurt your business’s reputation. If health inspectors detect an infestation, they could bring a halt to your restaurant until you eliminate the cockroaches. From the Fan to Downtown and beyond, roach control can be the difference between success and failure for your business.

Tips to Prevent Roaches in Your Restaurant

Increase your sanitation practices.

It takes more than sweeping the floor and wiping down the tables and the food-prep areas to clean your restaurant. Roaches can detect the smallest crumbs from a good distance away and sneak through cracks to scavenge in your restaurant. Thoroughly cleaning the sinks, the floors, the appliances, and the waste bins every night is necessary not only to prevent roaches but also to keep out other pests.

Seal and insulate the structure.

Roaches won’t cause a problem if they can’t get inside your restaurant. If you want to keep these pests outside where they belong, you’ll need to perform a thorough inspection of the building. Look for cracks, crevices, gaps, and other areas where roaches could sneak into the interior. Seal the entryways with foam or silicone sealant, and use weatherstripping on the doors and the windows to plug up small gaps.

Inspect the interior regularly.

Don’t develop an out-of-sight, out-of-mind way of thinking. When cooler weather moves into the state, roaches tend to stay hidden in their nests. However, they’re still behind the walls breeding and waiting for the next opportunity to search for food. You should perform regular inspections to look for signs of roaches before they multiply beyond your control.

Prevent Roaches with Professional Roach Control

Having cockroaches in your restaurant isn’t good for your business or your customers – especially in a “foodie city” like Richmond, VA. These pests transmit diseases and multiply quickly, causing infestations and contaminating surfaces in buildings all across the River City. Contact Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s to schedule a free inspection. With our roach control, we’ll not only eliminate the roaches but also provide preventative maintenance to keep them from returning.

With their natural singing ability and quirky behavior, wild birds can be fun to be around and watch outdoors. But they can turn into pests when they start nesting around your home or business. Not only does this flying animal attract insects, but it also may carry disease and damage building materials. Preventing them from nesting in or near your structure is a must, but it’s difficult even for the most vigilant among us. If birds have become a nuisance, find out what you can do to get rid of them and their problems.

Pest Bird Nesting Habits

Some clever bird species may find ways to nest inside the ventilation system of your home or business because, like you, they require shelter. There are a few birds that build nests on the sides of buildings, and if you like to decorate the exterior of your home, you may be inadvertently giving the creatures a place to nest. People have discovered the animals building nests in the wreaths mounted on their front doors, rustic décor, and in outdoor furniture and equipment.

Risks of Bird Infestations 

When birds nest on your property, they can cause a multitude of problems. When there is a large number of them, bird droppings may become a major issue. Pigeon dropping are especially damaging because the excrement has uric acid in it, which is highly corrosive. Droppings are also problematic for pool owners (the last thing you want to do is swim in bird poop). They’re also at risk of causing blockage with nesting materials. You may end up with clogged gutters, downspouts, or drains when Virginia’s regular downpours occur.

A bird is a wild animal, and this means that the pests may carry pathogens that can bring about various communicable parasites and diseases. Again, droppings are a problem in this regard. Diseases like histoplasmosis (carried by pigeons), as well as salmonellosis and E. coli, are spread through bird poop. The animals are also associated with the spread of fungus and a variety of harmful ectoparasites like bed bugs and mealworms.

What Types of Birds Are Pests in Virginia? 

While almost any bird can become a pest, here are the kinds most likely to cause problems in Virginia:

• Pigeons: Pigeons often live in urban settings since food is readily accessible, as are warm places to sleep. Since they’re responsible for causing an unknowable amount of financial damage, many home and business owners experience feelings of dread when they hear the rustling of pigeon feathers outside their windows.
• Sparrows: Sparrows become a pest in the spring because they like to build their nests on roofs, clogging gutters and drainage pipes.
• Finches: Finches are considered pests because they’ll eat the fruit from your cherry trees and build nests in inconvenient places. Finch nests are a problem because debris can build up from adults feeding their babies. Any time these pests hang out in one place, they leave droppings behind.
• Crows: Smart and noisy, crows are a unique pest. When these animals become irritating, they do so by making a lot of noise and overwhelming your yard’s trees.
• Swallows: Like sparrows, swallows are a pest because of their nests. In the case of swallows, they build mud nests, which cause damage by destroying the exterior of buildings. Mud nests also deface eaves and walls.
• Geese: While rather royal-looking, Canadian geese are becoming a bother for many homeowners. Their numbers have skyrocketed during the last 10 years. With this many geese wandering around, they can’t help but be a pest.
• Starlings: If starlings were solo creatures, they wouldn’t be considered pests, but this species has a flocking phase. When it’s going through this phase, thousands of starlings take over trees and buildings.

A Few Things You Can Do to Keep Birds Away

Birds are only a handful if we let them hang around – and there’s plenty you can do to prevent it. While it’s always nice to have hummingbirds fighting over the nectar in your hummingbird feeders, be sure to get rid of any human food scraps from around your home. Pigeons and crows like to scavenge for human food. If you do have bird feeders or bird baths, place them toward the back part of your garden, away from your home.

Vent covers will keep birds from building nests, and you may want to install perch repellents on window sills or ledges. You can even place them around your roof’s perimeter. Perch repellents are an especially good deterrent. Visual repellents, such as plastic models of local predators like hawks, can also be useful. But remember, they are temporary solutions – ones you may consider using in the spring. Don’t rely on them to keep these pests away permanently; for that, work with a bird exclusion expert.

Bird Control Specialists in Virginia 

The longer a bird nest stays put, the more challenging it becomes to get rid of them. Not only do these pests like to return to the same nesting spot, but it can also be dangerous to try to remove a nest without professional aid. Getting pecked by a bird hurts, and this is a pest that will attack you if it feels like you’re a threat. Plus, with their health and structural concerns, it’s best to let a qualified company remove them safely and strategically.

Virginia’s bird exclusion experts at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control use humane methods to make your home less tempting to bird residents. Our professionals will relocate any existing nests, and we’ll even clean up the area and repair the damage caused by your feathered guests. Contact us to get rid of nuisance birds today, or if you have any issues with other pests!

Summertime brings the ticks out in Fredericksburg, VA. These tiny arachnids feed on blood and transmit diseases to people. However, they also cause problems for your pets. Both cats and dogs deal with these pests and are prone to infections and allergies from tick bites. They’re also susceptible to illnesses such as Lyme disease, so it’s important to protect your animals from these pests as summer arrives.

How Ticks Get Onto Your Pet

A tick latches onto dogs and cats as they brush against tall grasses. This pest rests on the tips of grass blades and waits for a human or an animal to pass by. Once a tick grabs onto your pet, it burrows through the fur to the skin below. Because cats groom themselves often, they don’t get as many tick infestations as dogs or other animals do.

Do Ticks Transmit Diseases to Pets?

After the tick reaches your pet’s skin, it bites down and gorges on blood until it’s full. It may stay attached to the skin for two or three days before releasing its grip and falling to the ground. Though it’s not common, a tick can transmit Lyme and Ehrlichia diseases to your pet while they’re consuming blood.

Tick Prevention Tips for the Summer

1. Treat your pet monthly with a veterinary-approved medication. Topical creams, collars, and other products are available to combat these bloodthirsty pests.
2. Inspect your dog after it plays outside. It’s likely that it will walk through tick-infested grass and weeds. You may find a tick in the fur before it latches onto your pet’s skin.
3. Maintain your lawn on a regular basis. Mow the grass short to prevent tall grasses where these pests like to congregate. It’s also a good idea to pull up the weeds and keep the shrubs trimmed back.

Professional Tick Control for Your Home

You don’t have to deal with tick infestations this summer in Fredericksburg, VA. Contact Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s to schedule a free, no-obligation inspection with our certified professionals. Though a tick is more of a nuisance to your pet, it can still cause problems such as allergic reactions. Our pest management professionals will inspect your yard for these blood-sucking pests and treat them with the proper tick control methods, giving you a tick-free home all summer long.

It’s bad enough that we have to deal with the uncomfortable heat and humidity during the summer in Washington, D.C. What makes matters worse is that these are perfect conditions for mosquitoes, which spread itchy bites and harmful diseases throughout our nation’s capital. The insects repopulate quickly and easily, making them difficult to control once they arrive. But with the right preventative methods, you won’t have to worry about becoming a target the next time you step outside.

Washington, D.C.’s Worst Pest

A recent study found that Washington, D.C. is the country’s second-worst city for mosquitoes (behind Atlanta, GA, if you’re curious). With weather conditions that support their presence, it’s no surprise that they’re such a nuisance in our area. We live in a high-humidity climate where it’s over 70 degrees Fahrenheit and stormy from April to October. It makes sense, then, that this seven-month span is when mosquitoes are at their highest levels.

No matter where you’ve lived, you’ve probably had to deal with mosquitoes in the past. In fact, only place you can go without being threatened by them is Antarctica. Of the 2,700 species in existence, each one has its own global area, and 176 of them live in the United States. The most common in D.C. are the common house mosquito and the Asian tiger mosquito. In addition to our city’s weather, its dense population attracts these two species, who rely on blood to breed.

Itchy Bites and Harmful Illnesses

There’s nothing worse than walking around the National Mall all sweaty, but for mosquitoes, there’s nothing better. Attracted to the lactic acid in our sweat, they use their mouthpieces (called proboscis) to pierce the skin and suck our blood. Females are the ones that do the biting, needing the protein in blood to lay their eggs. We’re allergic to their saliva, which is why bites itch so much.

Mosquito bites aren’t fun to deal with, but matters get even worse when disease starts going around. You probably remember fears of the Zika virus recently; while it’s only been found in smaller areas of D.C., it’s still detrimental when transmitted – specifically to unborn babies. Mosquitoes have also been known to carry malaria, West Nile virus, and yellow fever. It’s no wonder that mosquitoes have often been called the world’s deadliest creature.

Mosquito Breeding: A Big Problem

Mosquitoes suck our blood in order to reproduce, but they also need standing water. Their eggs rely on water to hatch – in fact, baby mosquitoes spend the first 10 days of their life in water. They only need an inch of water, making any outdoor location a target when there’s plenty of rainwater. Females are known to lay their eggs in ponds, unused fountains, and even old tires full of stale rainwater.

Mosquitoes often breed close to a source of water, but they don’t need it to do so. Given that females are able to lay as many as 300 eggs at one time, the insects repopulate fast. Before dying, females can lay eggs three times, which means that one female can lay around 900 eggs in her lifetime. Add all of this to the fact that Washington, D.C. is a literal breeding ground for mosquitoes, and they’re a big problem when summer rolls around.

Washington, D.C. Mosquito Prevention Tips

The best way to prevent the insects from taking over your outdoor spaces (and from inflicting bites and spreading diseases) is to control their populations before they have a chance to begin. One way to do this is to inspect your property for standing water. You may find it in the following areas:

• Buckets
• Clogged gutters
• Flower pot saucers
• Birdbaths
• Ponds and pools

If you come across standing water, get rid of it immediately. To see if mosquitoes are already around and breeding, look for the presence of larvae in the water. Larvae wiggle around and measure about the size of a fingernail.

Adult mosquitoes often hover around shrubs and bushes because plant nectar is a big food source of theirs. Thus, another method of mosquito control includes eliminating overgrown vegetation and keeping your greenery trimmed. You can also spray your bushes and shrubs with residual insecticides (we recommend contacting a professional pest control company to do it for you safely).

How to Defend Against Mosquitoes

Approved by the Centers for Disease Control, DEET is the best mosquito repellent to use. This product works because the insects don’t like the way it smells and avoid it. Mosquitoes eat at all hours of the day, so you should wear repellent anytime you’re outside. Also, wear light-colored clothing when at all possible. The insects prefer heat, which means they’re attracted to darker hues.

But you may want a solution that eliminates mosquitoes instead of simply stopping them from biting you. In that case, keep in mind the effectiveness of two common pest control devices:

• Effective: Traps: Mosquito traps are effective eliminators. Public health researchers in Australia found that one trap caught and destroyed more than 44,000 female mosquitoes in less than two weeks.
• Ineffective: Bug zappers: Bug zappers may work on many flying insects, but they don’t work on mosquitoes. The pests simply aren’t attracted to them.

Why Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Protection is Your Best Option in D.C.

While there are many things that you can do to prevent mosquitoes from breeding on your property, no strategy is perfect – especially in a place as attractive to mosquitoes as Washington, D.C. That’s why it’s a good idea to bring in a team of professionals. At Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest, we’ll provide you with eco-friendly products, dependable treatments, and smart preventative techniques to keep mosquitoes and their bites at bay.

Make your summer in Washington, D.C. a lot more enjoyable – and a lot less itchy. Contact us today for mosquito control that reduces this pest’s threat once and for all.

It’s easy to focus on the creepiness of bed bugs while overlooking the health threats they pose. While they don’t spread disease like some pests, these bloodsuckers are still a danger to your well-being. Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s explains why effective bed bug control is a must for maintaining a healthy environment in your Virginia home or business.

Bed Bug Bite Reactions

Bites can cause allergic reactions ranging from mild to severe. While many people experience nothing more than red, itchy bite marks, some suffer from hives and other skin reactions. In rarer cases, these serious reactions can occur:

• Fainting
• Swollen tongue
• Fast, weak pulse
• Wheezing and difficulty breathing
• Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and diarrhea

If one or more of these symptoms occur, get medical help right away.

Infections from Bed Bug Bites

Although it rarely happens, a bed bug bite can become infected. These secondary infections usually occur as a result of scratching a bite. Pathogens then make their way into the wound and cause any of a variety of infections. Watch all bites for persistent redness and swelling.

Other Health Effects

Simply knowing bed bugs live alongside you in your house – and, worse yet, in your bed – can cause anxiety and other psychological issues. If you’re being bitten regularly, you may experience sleeplessness without even realizing it. Scratching bites while half-asleep could be causing enough sleep interruptions to affect your health over time. Sleep problems are associated with the following issues:

• Anxiety
• Moodiness
• Depression
• Weight gain
• Lack of focus
• Slower motor skills

Besides these physical, mental, and emotional problems, a bed bug infestation can wreak havoc on your financial health. If it isn’t eliminated in time with proper bed bug control, you may need to replace everything from furniture to carpeting.

Keep Your Health in Check with Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control

It’s easy to see how bed bugs can take a toll on every aspect of your well-being. Protect the health, comfort, and happiness of everyone in your household with safe yet powerful bed bug control services. The Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s team has decades of experience treating homes and businesses in Virginia and surrounding areas.

If you’ve ever spotted something scurrying across the floor, only to have it disappear just as you grab a broom, you’ll appreciate these tips for eliminating a spider infestation. Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Protection has helped countless Virginia home and business owners get rid of these creepy critters with safe, effective spider control solutions. We’d like to share a few tricks of the trade to help you with your spider problem.

The Root of Your Spider Problem

To stop a spider infestation, you need to start from the beginning. Spiders’ egg sacs can contain hundreds of eggs, so eliminating them can help nip an infestation in the bud. Knowing how to identify these sacs can clue you in to a serious invasion of the multi-legged variety. Here’s what to look for:

• Spider-sized
• Woven from silk
• Round or oval-shaped
• Usually white or cream-colored
• Can be smooth or bumpy

You may find spider egg sacs in a web or in out-of-the-way corners of your home. Outside, sacs are often found beneath leaves or on tree branches.

What to Do If You Find Spider Egg Sacs

While most spiders are not dangerous, some varieties bite when cornered. This defense mechanism can cause serious reactions in the case of brown recluse, black widow, and even hobo spider bites. Unless you’re absolutely sure you’re dealing with the egg sac of a harmless spider, call a trusted local pest control company. Knowledgeable technicians are trained to safely eliminate both spider infestations and the sacs containing spider eggs.

How to Prevent Future Infestations

Keep the local spider population out with a few time-tested measures. Make your property less attractive, and spider-proof your house by taking these spider control precautions:

• Store firewood away from the house
• Get rid of cardboard boxes and other clutter
• Dust and vacuum frequently
• Spray windowsills and gaps around entryways with a solution of water and vinegar

If these efforts fail, or if you’re already experiencing an infestation in your Virginia home or business, contact area pest control professionals for fast, effective help.

Get Spider Control from the Best

Now that you know what to look for, keeping spiders at bay is relatively easy. From identifying spider egg sacs and spider-proofing your house to getting rid of an infestation, take back control of your home with these tips from Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s. We provide Virginia home and business owners with powerful yet safe spider control.

Ants are one of the world’s most pervasive pests, forming colonies in every place imaginable: homes, restaurants, warehouses, offices, and even medical facilities. If you’ve ever had to deal with an infestation in Maryland, you probably remember how relentless it was – ants don’t always go away easily. But why is this insect so hard for home and business owners to stop? Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control has some amazing, yet unsettling ant facts to answer that question.

Small But Mighty

Ants are incredibly strong. While it doesn’t keep them from being crushed, it does help them carry food back to their colonies. Some species can even hold as much as 100 times their own body weight. Because their muscle to body mass ratio is so large, they have Herculean strength in comparison to their size. An ant’s strength-to-body ratio would be like that of a human lifting and carrying a fully-grown elephant above their head.

Long Lasting and Long Living

When it comes to insects, ants are not only one of the strongest, but they also live the longest. The ant caste system determines lifespan. Queens can live for up to 30 years – longer than most dogs and cats. With the queen’s long lifespan and egg-laying abilities, there’s no telling how many ants they’ll produce in their lifetime. Male ants typically live for only a couple of weeks and die after mating. Workers, responsible for protecting and feeding the colony, live for several months.

Ants know how to survive – they’ve been around since the dinosaur days. Harvard scientists discovered signs that these insects came into existence during the Cretaceous period. This means that their ancestors have already survived a mass extinction. They’re hardy pests with long lifespans, and getting rid of them in your Maryland home or business may require the skills of an ant control professional.

Ants en Masse

If their lifespans and durability weren’t enough, ants are also capable of forming some of the biggest colonies of any insect on Earth. In Europe, an enormous colony – known as a supercolony – of the Argentinian species has been discovered, stretching out over 3,750 miles and creating a major threat to local crops and animals. This is a result of multiple colonies combining to have several queen ants and interconnected underground passages.

Ants certainly know the meaning of “strength in numbers.” While one ant, on its own, is unable to protect itself, a colony can overcome prey that is much bigger and stronger. They’ve even been known to defend their colony from mammals. When threatened, ants come together and fight as one superorganism. From supercolonies to superorganisms, ants are quite a “super” pest.

Scientists claim there are over a quadrillion ants and over 14,000 known species throughout the world. But new ones are discovered all the time. According to estimates, there could be as many as 22,000 different ant species now – and even more ants themselves. Throughout the world, there is also a nomadic group of around 200 of these ant species that researchers refer to as army ants. They’re known to travel throughout the day and attack other ant and insect colonies for food at night.

A Smooth-Running Commune

Known for their complex social structures, ants have been studied for their caste systems. Like a well-run home, each ant has its duties within a colony. The queen ant has only one: to lay eggs. The other females – or workers – take care of everything else. They feed the larvae, search for food, clean the colony, and forage for supplies. A worker ant will even defend the nest. Like the queen, a male ant has just one job: to keep the population going.

Ants work together effectively because of their superb system of communication. Colony members communicate with one another using chemicals rather than their voices. Without noses, ants “smell” pheromones by using their antennae. A worker ant emits pheromones that deliver specific messages like “attack” or “food this way.” They smell each other for recognition, and the chemicals coating their bodies help them recognize their colony mates.

Ants of another colony could have minorly different pheromones, and yet they’re attuned enough to know the difference and attack. Even the queen has a unique smell, ensuring that the different members of her colony recognize and protect her. The insects also use touch and vibration to communicate, depending on the situation.

Maryland’s Problematic Ant Species

On top of their amazing physical characteristics, three ants are known to cause extensive problems in Maryland. Like many places in the United States, odorous house ants and carpenter ants are the species you’re most likely to run into. House ants contaminate food, while carpenter ants destroy wooden structures. Our state also has issues with the acrobat ant, which gets its name because it raises its abdomen above its head when disturbed. That’s not its only defense mechanism – the acrobat ant stings too.

Combatting the Most Relentless of Ants

Ants’ strength in numbers makes them hard to stop as a colony grows. It’s no wonder they’ve become the most widespread pest in the world – and one that refuses to leave you alone. When you consider the power of ants, both individually and as a group, it’s clear that professional help is needed to control them. Our ant control technicians at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control are trained to stop ant infestations at the source, eliminating the queen and halting your problem altogether.

When a massive colony of ants has made you uncomfortable in your Maryland home or business, contact Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control for the smart and effective solution.

It probably comes as little comfort to Virginia homeowners that most area snakes are not venomous. Yet, almost anyone who’s spotted these slinky reptiles wants them gone as quickly as possible. To avoid the discomfort this pest brings, Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s offers these snake control tips for home and business owners.

Rodent Problem = Snake Problem

Considering the snake’s rodent-heavy diet, the knowledge that a snake infestation is usually the result of a rodent problem can be pretty unsettling. In order to banish slithering reptiles from your property, you’ll need to get rid of rats and mice. Seal off any rodent burrows, then call a reputable pest and rodent control company pronto.

Help Prevent Snake Infestations with Pest Control 

Many of the measures used to keep rodents off your land and out of your home will help keep the Virginia snake population and other pests at bay as well. For starters, rodents and snakes are both attracted to insects. Keeping your home bug-free will help with your other pest control efforts. Over-the-counter repellents and other DIY measures are temporary fixes; professional treatments provide an effective, safe, and long-term solution.

Make Your Property Snake-Unfriendly

Provide a hospitable environment with easy access, and those repulsive reptiles will come. Render your home unattractive to all kinds of pests – including the snake variety – and make it as difficult as possible to get in. The average snake enjoys a cool, dark hiding spot, so check firewood stacks and other wood piles before using; store them as far from the house as you can. Deprive reptiles of hangout spots beneath bushes and shrubs by keeping them well-trimmed. Keep grass cut low, and remove thick vegetation.

A snake can squeeze into a hole or gap as small as 1/4″ in diameter, so keep them away from your home with these time-tested snake control methods:

• Replace worn weather stripping or door sweeps that don’t reach the floor
• Seal quarter-inch or larger foundation cracks; put screens or mesh on vents this size
• Install a snake-proof fence that’s several feet tall and extends well below the ground

The Best in Professional Snake Control

Never attempt to get a snake infestation under control on your own. Our technicians at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s have the training, experience, and equipment to keep snakes and other pests off your property. We provide reliable service to residential and commercial customers in Virginia and Maryland, so contact us for all your pest and snake control needs today.

Whether it’s the common striped variety of cartoon fame or its rarer, lesser-known spotted relative, the skunk can be found throughout the commonwealth of Virginia. This member of the weasel family has beneficial behaviors, but it also poses hazards to your health and property. Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s explains why pest and rodent control services are essential to protecting your home or business from skunks and other pests.

Odor: A Skunk’s Natural Defense

Anyone who’s ever tried getting a dog odor-free after being sprayed by a skunk knows their natural predator repellent is powerful. If you witness a skunk raising its tail, run. Two glands will soon secrete a liquid that, besides smelling incredibly bad, can cause intense pain and even temporarily blindness if it makes contact with the eyes. The skunk can spray multiple times at a range of up to 20 feet, and its scent can linger anywhere from hours to months.

Other Skunk Dangers

Odor isn’t the only thing to worry about when it comes to the skunk. The animal also carries leptospirosis and distemper, and trails only the raccoon in terms of reported rabies cases in the United States. The following are signs of rabies:

• Paralysis
• Disorientation
• Difficulty moving
• Lack of coordination
• Extreme friendliness

Regardless of whether you think a skunk has rabies, never handle it directly. Leave the vicinity and report it immediately to your local animal control department.

Protect Your Property

Skunks also cause property damage to Virginia homes and businesses. They gouge out divots and destroy gardens in search of food, so controlling grubs is a smart defense. Store trash in containers with tight-fitting lids to avoid having your garbage strewn everywhere. If you suspect a skunk has been entering structures on your property, scatter a bit of flour in the area and follow its footprints to the point of entry.

Get Help from the Skunk Experts

Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s helps safeguard Virginia homes and businesses from pesky and potentially dangerous skunks. From effective rodent control to skunk exclusion measures, we’ll work with you to create a long-term strategy for keeping your property skunk-free all year round. Contact us today to eliminate a current skunk infestation and prevent future occurrences.