general information

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Are There Winter Bugs In Austin?

    If you're new to Austin (or even if you're not) you may be wondering what bugs are present during the "colder" months here. And while we introduced our "Austin Pest Guide" a couple weeks back to answer the question "What kind of bugs are there in Austin?", the next question we're tackling is: "When are the bugs most active in Austin?" Summer. Alright, thanks for reading... Ok, just kidding — mos…Read More

  7. What Kind of Bugs Live In Austin?

    Since 2010, Austin has been the fastest growing city in the United States, and is adding over 5,000 people per month on average including both births and migrations. An unofficial recent estimate puts the city population above 1,000,000 — the 11th U.S. city over one million. Before new residents arrive from out of town, they usually search for the best neighborhoods and schools. But what they pr…Read More

  8. WOOD ANTS: HOW TO TREAT CARPENTER AND ACROBAT ANTS

    As Austin temperatures rise, we get more calls about ants crawling on people’s homes. These are typically wood boring ants such as carpenter ants or acrobat ants. These ants do not eat wood like termites do, so structural damage is usually minimal, but they can be tough to deal with if left untreated. If left alone for too long, they can show up inside the home. Swarming Wood Ants Are you seeing…Read More

  9. Right Now is a Great Time to Apply Nematodes!

    If you suspect that your yard may be infested with fleas, beneficial nematodes are a good choice for control. They are microscopic worms that are broadcast into the soil. They feed on flea larvae and can also help with fire ants, white flies, grubs among other undesirable lawn pests. If you pull white socks over your ankles and walk around the yard for a few minutes you should be able to see fleas…Read More

  10. When Is The Ideal Time for Fire Ant Baiting?

    Fire ant baits are an effective, low toxicity option for dealing with fire ants, but they need to be applied under the correct conditions. The bait should be applied when the ground is dry and the fire ants are foraging. We want the ants to take a viable amount of bait in the first couple of hours after application while it is fresh. The ideal soil temperature is between 70-95 degrees at 1” belo…Read More