Category Archives: Pest Control

Grain Weevil Treatment

Grain Weevil Treatment and Tips: Protecting Your Home

Grain weevils might be tiny in size, but the havoc they can wreak upon your home is anything but small. These pesky pests are a common nuisance for homeowners — especially in regions with a bustling grain culture, like Lancaster and York County. If you’ve discovered these unwelcome guests in your pantry, read on to learn some effective grain weevil treatment methods.

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How to Get Rid of Grain Beetles

How to Get Rid of Grain Beetles

Are you tired of finding grain beetles crawling around in your pantry or flying around in your kitchen? Also referred to as “grain bugs,” these tiny reddish-brown pests are a common nuisance for many homeowners — but luckily, there are ways to get rid of them. In this guide, we’ll discuss the best methods for eliminating grain beetles and keeping your home pest-free.

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Drain Flies (Sewer Flies)

Drain Flies (Sewer Flies): Everything You Need to Know

A common nuisance, drain flies are small, pesky insects that can be found year-round due to ideal living conditions in our homes. In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about drain flies, commonly called sewer flies — including what they look like, if they’re harmful, and most importantly, how to get rid of them.

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Silverfish

Winter Bugs and Other Pests: Where Do They Go and How Do They Survive?

As we enter the winter months and anticipate the holiday season, there are many things to look forward to: cozy nights by the fire, holiday decorations, warm sweaters…but pests aren’t on the list. For residents of Lancaster and York counties, winter bugs like ground beetles, stink bugs, ladybugs, boxelder beetles, and grain beetles can become a major nuisance in the winter. Other common winter pests in Central PA include mice, centipedes, silverfish, cockroaches, and spiders.

But how do these bugs and other pests survive the cold — and where do they go? Let’s take a look at some of the most common winter pests in Central PA and how they manage to make it through the season.

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stink bug control: brown marmorated stinkbug

Stink Bug Control: Debunking Myths and Revealing Effective Strategies

Are you tired of dealing with those pesky stink bugs invading your home? Well, you’re not alone! Many homeowners, just like you, are seeking effective strategies for stink bug control, to eliminate these nuisance insects.

For effective stink bug control, it’s important to understand the myths surrounding them. In this post we debunk a few common myths surrounding stink bugs and concentrate on providing you with accurate information to tackle these pesky invaders. So, let’s separate fact from fiction and arm you with the knowledge you need to keep stink bugs at bay.

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How to Get Rid of Roaches – A Comprehensive Guide

Cockroaches — or as they’re more commonly called, roaches — are a nuisance in homes everywhere. Not only are they unsightly, but they can also spread disease. In fact, roach fecal particles in the home are the number one cause of asthma in children. Plus, roaches can spread salmonella and gastroenteritis. So how do you get rid of roaches thoroughly and effectively?

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house centipede

How to Get Rid of Centipedes in Your House

When you hear the term “creepy and crawly,” one of the first things that comes to mind is a centipede. Fun fact: Centipedes aren’t actually insects; they’re arthropods (creatures with no spine, joint segments and hard shells — like spiders). However, that doesn’t make them any less icky. Below is some more information, along with some tips on how to get rid of centipedes in your house.

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mattress with teddy bear

How to Eliminate Bed Bugs from Your Home

If you think you may have bed bugs in your home, it’s important to act right away. These pests are not only a nuisance, but they can also cause health problems. Health wise, bed bugs are known to cause skin irritation and allergies. In some cases, this can lead to secondary skin problems including infections. That’s why it’s important to exterminate bed bugs as soon as you suspect you have them. But how do you get rid of bed bugs before you can see an exterminator? We have a few tips.

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How to Get Rid of Fleas Fast

Fleas can be a big problem for any homeowner. If you have fleas in your home, it’s important to get rid of them as soon as possible. The best way to do this is to hire a lawn pest specialist. A lawn pest specialist will be able to get rid of the fleas quickly and efficiently. They will also be able to advise you on how to prevent fleas from coming back in the future.

dog scratching itself because of fleas
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Exterminators Winning the Race to Eradicate Spotted Lanternflies

Spotted lanternflies:  They are more colorful and attractive than most pests, so why are they so bad?

First, they are an invasive pest that feeds on a large variety of plant species, including those in the agricultural, timber, and ornamental industries, as well as backyard plants.

While they may not actually kill the trees they feed on, they are considered to be a plant stressor and may contribute to long-term weakening of established plants and trees.  When combined with other stressors such as other insects, diseases, or weather, they can cause significant damage.  They especially settle in grapevines and maple or black walnut saplings or trees. 

As for their appearance, they belong to the insect family Fulgoridae, or planthoppers.  This group of insects was named after “Fulgora,” the Roman goddess of lightning, because they were thought to be luminescent like lightning bugs.  However, they are not!

Battling the spotted lanternfly in South Central Pennsylvania

The lanternfly eggs are laid in the fall of the year (September to November) and hatch in the spring (late April to June).  In south central Pennsylvania, the adult flies begin to emerge in July and remain active as adults until they are killed by hard freezes later in the fall.  The adult flies are large, about 1 inch in length, have black bodies, and are very mobile. Their forewings are gray with black spots, and the tops are black with gray veins, while their hind wings are red, black, and white. 

Spotted lanternfly life cycle.  Illustration by Emily Damstra. –Penn State Extension
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