general information

  1. End of Bug Season?

    Have you moved to Austin recently or know someone who has? The odds are likely that one of those two is the case! With the number of people moving to Austin, it can help to know when "bug season" is here. Unlike northern areas, Austin can have warmer temperatures nearly all year. However, that doesn't make this a tropical environment where creepy crawlies are seen each month. Some years are certai…Read More

  2. What is a Pest? What is Pest Control?

    Exterminators are hit with a few jokes from customers each pest season, the most common being a request to take care of an unwanted and unexpected "pest" like a sulky teenager or a loud, poorly trained dog that eats slippers and jumps on guests. Silly stuff. Except, maybe those actually are pests? The word pest simply means "a destructive insect or other animal that attacks crops, food, livestock,…Read More

  3. How Often Do I Need Pest Control?

    If you're wondering when you need to get pest control done, the good news is it's probably not as often as you think! Some people call us asking for information about "monthly" pest control. Unless you have a major infestation that has been ignored for years, you don't need pest control every month. And even then professionals should be able to handle it quickly, without the need to charge you end…Read More

  4. Can You Seal Out Bugs?

    Is it possible to "pest proof" a house? Exhibit A: New homes with everything still sealed up well are likely to get fewer bugs than an older pier-and-beam house that may have gaps and openings all over. Exhibit B: Most bugs can crawl through millimeter-sized openings. For example an American roach can squeeze through just 3mm — about the size of two stacked pennies. Scorpions reportedly can get …Read More

  5. Don’t Spray The Bugs!

    A pest control company saying NOT to spray bugs? Yes! Here's why: most consumer products for bugs are designed for an "instant kill." It looks like the problem is solved with pests instantly killed so it's very satisfying for a customer. Blast some on a gross moving bug and the bug is no longer moving (although probably still gross). But looks can be deceiving. In a few cases this isn't a problem.…Read More

  6. Insects in Austin, TX

    Hundreds of people are moving to Austin to join our large population ... of bugs. People often research neighborhoods, schools and cultural attractions but a city's insect levels and activity may not be included in that pre-move investigation. We published a detailed Austin insect list previously, but here is a quick primer of pests our customers often encounter in their Austin homes: American Roa…Read More

  7. How To Get Rid of Pests In Your Apartment or Duplex

    Apartments, duplexes and other multifamily residences offer unique challenges in getting thorough pest control. The obvious first issue is that treating just one of the properties facing a pest problem won't necessarily fully handle it. For example, German roaches are a tougher type of roach to exterminate because they can move between units or throughout a duplex easily. So an apartment resident …Read More

  8. 6 Pest Prevention Tips For Your Home

    There are pest control solutions that are 100% safe 100% of the time because they are preventive measures. Ooooh, fun. Prevention! Ok, so prevention is rarely a popular or exciting topic in most industries. A video of someone safely driving an 18-wheeler will probably get less views and attention than a pulse-pounding scene of a truck driver desperately trying to keep a big rig under control as it…Read More

  9. Hackberry Gall Psyllids

    Are you seeing a large number of small "jumping" insects gathering on your siding, windows or front doors? If you have hackberry trees in your yard or Austin neighborhood these are likely "hackberry psyllids." They resemble miniature cicadas and are particularly abundant in late summer and fall, especially on warm days. The insects are attracted to lights at night and, at about 3/16" long, are sma…Read More

  10. What’s That Bug?

    Wondering what that bug is in your bathroom, living room, kitchen or patio? If you didn't already stomp it into the next dimension, we can help. We often get calls from Austin residents with vague descriptions of bugs. Some favorite terms used to describe them include "gross", "ewww" and "what-the-heck-is-this-thing??". And while interesting, none of those words or sounds help us identify the pest…Read More