boric acid

  1. The Crickets Will Be Back Soon!

    This is the time of year that a plague of field crickets descend upon us and appear around structures and sometimes inside. While they are a nuisance, they do not breed or infest indoors. The worst outbreaks are usually around businesses. The reason for this is that the crickets are attracted to light. Most commercial properties keep lights on all night which attracts them by the hundreds. Reducin…Read More

  2. Social Wasps

    Paper wasps are considered to be beneficial insects by some people, especially gardeners. This is because they eat a variety of pests, especially caterpillars and are pollinators. They will sometimes build their honeycomb shaped nests on homes and other places where they come in frequent contact with us. If you are vigilant you can keep nests that are in inconvenient locations from getting establi…Read More

  3. Brown Recluse Spider?

    The brown recluse spider has a violin shape on its head segment with the neck of the violin pointing toward the abdomen. It has six eyes arranged in pairs, with one pair in front and a pair on either side of the head. Both male and female are venomous, however the spiders are very timid. Its body is not more than 3/8″ long. Both the legs and the abdomen are uniformly colored. The recluse is name…Read More

  4. Pantry Pests

    Getting rid of food-infesting moths or beetles takes continuous, persistent effort at removing and cleaning up the infestation, especially if it has been present for a while. Some pests are capable of living for many weeks without food, so the threat of reinfestation exists until they die off or are killed. It is best, at least for several months after eliminating the infested products, to store a…Read More

  5. Silverfish Control

    Silverfish can live in envelopes and will eat clothing and do damage to papers, etc if left unchecked. They are usually found in stored boxes. You can purchase silverfish baits online, and if they are fresh, they can be effective. We recommend buying a roach powder (99% orthoboric acid, 1% inert ingredients) and dusting boxes that have papers, etc in them (available at Home Depot, etc). If you hav…Read More

  6. Honey Bee Swarms

    April & May are when you are most likely to have a honey bee swarm show up on your home or tree or any place that can provide a little bit of shelter for them. When a a colony gets to be too large, a queen and many workers will fly off to find a new spot to set up a hive. Most of the time they are just passing through. If a hive is stopped for a day or more it may be a good idea to have a bee …Read More

  7. Drain Flies

    Moth flies, often called drain flies, are small, about 1/8 inch in length and often dark-colored. They are typically found on walls and do not fly well. They do not bite or do damage, but could carry bacteria from the organic material they develop in, usually in drain or sewage lines. The best method of managing these flies is dealing with their breeding sites. In homes this is most often in bathr…Read More

  8. Earwigs

    Earwigs are harmless but the pincers on their rear end can cause fear in some. They are named after a myth that they would crawl into the ear and burrow into the brain. They do not infest homes but will become accidental invaders. You can vacuum or sweep them up. If there are large numbers of them a pest control service may be needed. General Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices can help kee…Read More

  9. Silverfish Control

    Silverfish can live in envelopes and will eat clothing and do damage to papers, etc if left unchecked. They are usually found in stored boxes. You can purchase silverfish baits online, and if they are fresh, they can be effective. We recommend buying a roach powder (99% orthoboric acid, 1% inert ingredients) and dusting boxes that have papers, etc in them (available at Home Depot, etc). If you hav…Read More

  10. Ticks and Chiggers

    Sulfur helps to control chiggers and ticks. Many consider it to be safe and effective. It is a useful soil additive for alkaline soil, such as much of our Texas soil. Feed stores carry it – broadcast 5# per 1000 square feet. If your soil is acid, don’t over do it as it can unbalance the soil microorganisms. I have read that it repels pests, including chinch bugs and grubs. Chiggers can also be…Read More