Blog - A1 Exterminators

Pest Control Blog About Bugs and Rodents

Welcome to A1 Exterminators’ Uninvited Guests blog!

Here we talk about anything and everything bug related. Big and small, from ticks and bed bugs to roaches and termites; from bugs and insects to mice, rats, squirrels and rodents. Follow us to keep track of the new pests you should be worried about in your area. Get the latest news on pests, tips on how you can keep pests away from your home and business, and some other fun and interesting tidbits about bugs.

Carpenter bees (genus: Xylocopa)

Posted on March 29, 2020

Carpenter bees, also sometimes known as wood bees, don't have a great reputation. That's because they are the ones (the female workers, again) that bore into your wood and make a hole as neat and clean as if it was bored out with a power drill. The presence of sawdust on sills or stoops is an... more

Carpenter Ants AKA Big Black Ants

Posted on March 26, 2020

Carpenter Ants are often referred to as "black ants" or "big black ants" although some species are not black and they are not always large. In reality, there are thirty possible sizes for carpenter ants. Larger ants indicate a more mature colony: one that has been located in the same area... more

Tagged with: Ants, big black ants, carpenter ants

Bug Tip Tuesday | How can I get rid of cockroaches?

Posted on March 24, 2020

Intensive cleaning measures and pesticides should be used jointly to control cockroaches. Pesticides alone will not be successful, since the living environment must be physically changed first. Cleaning Preventing access to food, water, and shelter, and keeping a clean home are important... more

Tagged with: cockroaches, get rid of cockroaches?

Worker Termites

Posted on March 23, 2020

The workers are by far the largest cast in the termite colony and the one that does the damage; they are a creamy translucent colour, soft bodied and carry out all work in the nest, including gathering food (timber and other cellulose); constructing tunnels; repairing and enlarging the colony... more

Tagged with: termites, worker termites

Inspection Clues for carpenter ants

Posted on March 22, 2020

Carpenter ants are very common in areas that have a high water table. They seek out high moisture areas in and around structures. Though not always, when carpenter ants are found in a structure, they are there because of a moisture problem. Carpenter ants usually nest either in damp wood or... more

Tagged with: ant inspection, carpenter ants

Wasps (suborder: Apocrita) facts

Posted on March 20, 2020

There are more than 100,000 species of wasps, and many resemble bees in appearance. In general, wasps have little hair, bright colors and a very narrow waist (the junction between the thorax and abdomen). Most species have black and yellow color patterns. Unlike bees, wasp legs tend to hang... more

Tagged with: wasp, wasp in spring

Termites nests near moisture

Posted on March 19, 2020

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Termites often build nests where moisture is allowed to regularly collect inside the wall cavity, say from leaking pipes, shower recess, faulty plumbing, guttering, broken roof tiles,... more

Tagged with: termites, Termites nests

Tuesday Bug Tips | Checking for bedbugs is worth it!

Posted on March 17, 2020

Whether you're searching your own home or a hotel room, head to the bed first. First check the sheets and blankets, then pull them away and check the mattress and box spring, suggests the American Academy of Dermatology. Look for tiny specks of blood that look like dark, rust-colored spots.... more

Tagged with: bed bugs, checking for bedbugs

Termites have a symbiotic digestive system

Posted on March 16, 2020

Only the worker termite caste can digest timber by the use of symbiotic protozoa in their gut. Worker termites feed their partly digested semi-liquid food, regurgitated from their mouth or passing from their anus, to the other termites, a process known as... more

Tagged with: termites, termites digest timber