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Updates on the Pest Management Universe

We are constantly monitoring the latest and most current news on developments in and about the Pest Management Industry. We review comments and studies from such luminaries of the Industry as Dr. Bobby Corrigan, Dr. Larry Pinto and Dr. Austin Frishman. In addition we monitor input from; The National Pest Management Association, Ohio Pest Control Association, and The Kentucky Pest Control Association. Our informational resources include; The Ohio State University, University of Kentucky, Purdue University, and Cornell University just to cite a few of our renowned learning institutions.

Fight Back Against Stink Bugs: Seek Professional Help

Fight Back Against Stink Bugs: Seek Professional Help

KNOXVILLE, MD – MARCH 12:
Doug Inkley holds a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug on his finger Monday March 12, 2012 in Knoxville, MD. He vacuumed 26,000 stink bugs in his home from January through June of last year and another 30,000 in pheromone traps outside July through September of 2011. (Photo by Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images)[/caption]

Pests can be quite a nightmare for homeowners. Bugs, like cockroaches, can actually live without a head for up to seven days, and it will only die because without a mouth it can’t eat or drink! Although your home might not be at risk of being overrun by cockroaches, you still have to avoid other nasty pests like stink bugs.

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Beware of Biting Bed Bugs: 3 Sure Signs of an Infestation

Beware of Biting Bed Bugs: 3 Sure Signs of an Infestation

Bed bugs are horrible little creatures that cause serious stress and shame for countless homeowners.

We say countless because there is a strong taboo against talking about bed bugs in your home or place of business. Fortunately, if you notice these creatures inside your home, there is one person you can turn to for judgement-free help: A-1 Able Pest Doctor. In the same way that you can tell a doctor or therapist anything in total confidence, we are ready, willing, and able to discretely solve your bed bug infestation.

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What Are Killer Wasps and How to Deal with Them

What Are Killer Wasps and How to Deal with Them

Have you ever seen a giant beeattacking a cicada first-hand?! Despite its looks, this is most likely not really a giant bee…

This species is called killer wasps. Pretty scary name, right? Killer wasps, or the so-called Cicada Killer Wasps, are not a type of cicada. They actually KILL cicadas!
An adult female wasp paralyzes the cicada with her venomous sting. The wasp then carries the cicada to its burrow, laying an egg under the left or right second leg of the cicada (so specific!). When the egg hatches, this killer wasp’s larvae begin to eat the cicada for nourishment as they grow!

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Cicadas: What You Need To Know

Cicadas: What You Need To Know

Have you ever been awakened in the early morning or kept awake at night with a super loud and annoying “BUZZZZZ” sound happening right outside your window?

These pests noisy pests keeping you up are cicadas or Cicadoidea. They are known for their buzzing and clicking noises, which can be amplified by a mass of insects into an overpowering, “HUMMM.” This noise from a locust cloud can be heard up to a mile away!
Unusual among insects, some varieties of cicadas disappear almost entirely for many years, only to appear again in force at a regular interval. In fact, there are 3,000 cicada species, but only some of these share the so-called 17-year cicada cycle.
Other types of cicada are called annuals because they have multi-year life cycles, with some adults appearing every year!
An example of this would be the Dog Day Cicada, which emerges each year during mid-summer as seen below:
 

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Top Five Pests in Ohio this Summer

Top Five Pests in Ohio this Summer

Summer is finally here and so are the pests!

While you are out and about, enjoying the sun, you’re going to encounter many pests that will most certainly sneak into your house. Pests who go into hiding in winter months to stay warm will definitely emerge, reproduce and expand their habitats this season! What are those pests? Why do you see most of them at this time of the year? How can you prevent them from finding their way into your home? How can you get rid of them? Read on to discover more.

  • Mosquitoes

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A Mosquito Bite or A Bed Bug Bite

A Mosquito Bite or A Bed Bug Bite

Waking up with strange red marks on your body makes you wonder… is this a bite from a mosquito or is this one from – hopefully not – a bed bug? It’s always important to figure out what kind of bug bite you have so we can take the best course of action to help you. We have listed some points on how you can tell between the two. Before we get to that, let’s discuss the difference between bed bugs and mosquitoes.It’s likely that if you live on Earth, you’ve been bitten by a mosquito! They are literally sucking your blood to feed their eggs, just so they can make more mosquitoes… YUCK! These mosquitoes do not always get all the blood they need in just one piercing, so they might bite you multiple times in order to fill up.

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How to Get Water Bugs Out of Your Pool This Summer

How to Get Water Bugs Out of Your Pool This Summer

Water Boatmen

Looking forward to summer travel and water fun this summer? There are few summertime pleasures that beat time spent in the water. If the sight of bugs sharing your pool isn’t bad enough, some of the culprits actually bite. Water bugs are one of these pests! You will find a lot of them in pools, ponds, lakes and freshwater streams. Water bugs can grow up to more than 12 centimeters long, although the average length is just two centimeters. These are oval-shaped bugs that eat algae, mosquito larvae, and other water microorganisms. Fortunately, they do not bite. They need to breath air so they can be drowned, but they can also fly and lay eggs in pool algae.

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Telltale Signs of a Carpenter Ant Infestation

Telltale Signs of a Carpenter Ant Infestation

Most species of ants are a nuisance at worst, but carpenter ants are capable of dealing real damage to your home if left unchecked. How?

In order for Carpenter ants to make their nests, they excavate through wood. These create tunnels for them to use, and over time can compromise the structural integrity of your home. How can you tell if you have carpenter ants eating at your home? Here are the telltale signs:

#1 Large Black Ants (with and without wings)

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The Deadliest Insect on Earth

The Deadliest Insect on Earth

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 725,000 human deaths are caused by mosquitoes each year.

 

What are the different kinds of mosquitoes that could affect you, and their estimated distribution across the United States? Are normally what everyone wants to know in order to protect their family. Let us give you some information that will guide you through these questions.

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What You Should Know About Carpenter Bees

What You Should Know About Carpenter Bees

There are two types of carpenter bees that can be found within the United States. The large carpenter bees (Xylocopa) and small carpenter bees (Ceratina). The common name “carpenter bee” derives from their nesting behavior; nearly all species burrow into hard plant material such as dead wood or bamboo. The large carpenter bees are the ones mostly responsible for damages known to property owners.

 

What do they look like?

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