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.

Bug Tip Tuesday | How to Find Bed Bugs

Posted on October 29, 2019

If you have a bed bug infestation, it is best to find it early, before the infestation becomes established or spreads. Treating a minor infestation, while an inconvenience, is far less costly and easier than treating the same infestation after it becomes more widespread. However, low-level... more

Nervous Jumping Spiders

Posted on October 28, 2019

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Named for their propensity to jump on prey or when startled, this large family of spiders varies a great deal in coloration, distribution and size. Common jumping spiders in New England include the bold jumper (Phidippus audax), tan jumping spider (Platycryptus undatus) and zebra jumper (Salticus... more

Tagged with: nervous jumping spiders, spider, spiders

Squirrel Life Cycles

Posted on October 26, 2019

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About 25 percent of all squirrels don't make it past the first year of life. The death rate for squirrels stays high for its first two years of life due to predators, diseases and road accidents. A squirrel that makes it past its first two years can expect to live an average of four to five more... more

Tagged with: squirrel, squirrel control, Squirrel Life Cycles

Tick Eggs and Humans

Posted on October 25, 2019

The good news is that ticks don’t lay eggs on humans or on any other animals. Adult female ticks only lay their eggs after they have filled up on blood and detached from the host. The bad news is that tick eggs can still be a serious problem. If they detach from you or your pet inside your... more

Tagged with: tick, tick eggs, ticks

Common New England Spiders

Posted on October 24, 2019

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In the New England region of the United States, the most common species of spider fall into a few families: crab spiders, grass spiders, jumping spiders, nursery web spiders, orb weavers and wolf spiders. These New England spiders are generally of common house spider size, growing no larger than an... more

Tagged with: crab spiders, grass spiders, jumping spiders, new england spiders, nursery web spiders, orb weavers, spider, wolf spider

Bug Tip Tuesday | Getting Rid of Tick Eggs

Posted on October 22, 2019

If you find them in your home, the best way to kill tick eggs is using table salt. Sprinkle a generous amount of salt over your carpet or couch cushions, and leave the salt for a week. The salt will dehydrate and kill tick eggs. To kill tick eggs in the yard you can use commercially available... more

Tagged with: Getting Rid of Tick Eggs, tick, tick eggs, ticks

Identify and Prevent Rodent Infestations

Posted on October 21, 2019

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Rodent droppings around food packages, in drawers or cupboards, and under the sink. Nesting material such as shredded paper, fabric, or dried plant matter. Signs of chewing on food packaging. Holes chewed through walls and floors that create entry points into the home. Stale smells... more

Tagged with: mice, prevent rodents, rats

Curious Crab Spiders

Posted on October 19, 2019

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These spiders, which are among the most common spiders found in Massachusetts, have a characteristic crab-like body shape and may even walk sideways or backwards like crabs. Since they do not build webs, crab spiders hide and wait for their prey. The best places to find these spiders are open areas... more

Tagged with: curious crab spider, new england spiders, spider

Brown marmorated stink bug

Posted on October 18, 2019

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The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is an insect in the family Pentatomidae, native to China, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, and Taiwan.In September 1998 it was collected in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where it is believed to have been accidentally introduced. The nymphs and adults of the... more

Tagged with: brown stink bugs, stink bugs

Educational Video: “Infestations Vacations”

Posted on October 17, 2019

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This short video, produced by Howard University's CapComm Lab, the Earth Conservation Corps, and EPA, takes a humorous look at how conditions inside the home can provide food, water, and shelter where pests can thrive, and provides practical ways to prevent infestations. by United States... more

Tagged with: infestation, rats, rodents