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Pest Control

All articles tagged with #pest control

Chicago tops 2026 bedbug rankings, becoming the US’s bedbug capital
us-news2 days ago

Chicago tops 2026 bedbug rankings, becoming the US’s bedbug capital

Chicago leads Orkin’s 2026 Bed Bug Cities List with the highest bedbug infestations per capita, followed by Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland and Indianapolis. The Midwest is the hardest-hit region, driven by dense housing, high turnover of residents and travelers, and warm summers. Experts recommend quick inspections of hotels or short-term rentals and belongings when traveling to prevent bringing pests home, as bedbugs are tiny, elusive pests that feed on blood and can hitchhike on luggage.

via New York Post|
#bedbugs#chicago#infestations
Texas Fire Ants: From Invasion to Practical Control
science10 days ago

Texas Fire Ants: From Invasion to Practical Control

The piece traces the red imported fire ant’s westward invasion from Mobile in the 1930s to Texas-wide presence, examines how scientists at UT’s Brackenridge Field Laboratory introduced natural predators (phorid flies) to dampen populations, and outlines current management approaches (bait products, boiling-water mound treatment) since eradication is unlikely. It also notes that stings can be painful and long-lasting, but fire ants play a minor role in soil aeration and the food chain.

via KUT|
#fire-ants#invasive-species#pest-control
A Natural Tick Solution: Attract Owls with an Amazon Nest Box
gardens17 days ago

A Natural Tick Solution: Attract Owls with an Amazon Nest Box

A Homes & Gardens sponsored piece argues that installing an Amazon owl nest box can help reduce yard tick populations by attracting owls that prey on rodents (tick hosts). The cedar nest box is sized for small-to-medium owls (about 9–11 inches), features a slanted roof and ventilation for weather and airflow, and comes with hardware for easy mounting. It’s currently discounted around $23.99, with reviewers praising its quality, though some note minor pre-drilled hole discrepancies. Used alongside mowing and other tick-prevention measures, the box is pitched as an easy, lasting way to support local wildlife and curb ticks in gardens.

via Homes and Gardens|
#gardens#owl-nest-box#pest-control
Six practical fixes that finally banished mosquitoes from my yard
lifestyle27 days ago

Six practical fixes that finally banished mosquitoes from my yard

In Washington, D.C., Maggie Penman shares a six-step, neighborhood-inspired plan to curb mosquitoes in a humid, shady yard, detailing practical experiments and tactics—from managing standing water to tweaking the garden layout and using traps—to make evenings bite-free and exploring whether such community-style strategies could work at a single home.

via The Washington Post|
#diy#home-improvement#lifestyle
Garlic halts insect reproduction by taste, study finds
plants1 month ago

Garlic halts insect reproduction by taste, study finds

A Yale-led study shows garlic does more than repel pests: when fruit flies and two mosquito species taste the garlic compound diallyl disulfide, it activates the TrpA1 receptor and triggers bitter/ fullness signals that stop feeding and, crucially, reproduction. The effect is taste-based (not smell) and wasps lacking TrpA1 are unaffected. This points to garlic-derived compounds as targeted, safer pest-control tools, and the researchers also introduce phytoscreen as a simple method to screen plant substances for behavioral effects on insects.

via Earth.com|
#diallyl-disulfide#garlic#insects
Bedbugs hitch rides to spring-break hotspots, health warns travelers
health3 months ago

Bedbugs hitch rides to spring-break hotspots, health warns travelers

Travel-associated bedbug infestations are rising in the Southern U.S., with Georgia ranking sixth for bedbug service requests and Florida, Texas, and Tennessee also seeing increases tied to lodging with high guest turnover. Experts say budget-friendly accommodations and youth-hostel-style settings attract bedbugs, which spread by hitchhiking on luggage and clothing. Travelers are advised to inspect bags upon return and run exposed clothing in a high-heat dryer for 30–45 minutes to kill any hitchhikers before they spread home.

via New York Post|
#bedbugs#health#hotels
Bed Bugs Retreat From Wet Surfaces, UC Riverside Study Finds
science4 months ago

Bed Bugs Retreat From Wet Surfaces, UC Riverside Study Finds

UC Riverside researchers report bed bugs actively avoid moisture and wet surfaces, likely because water can block their respiratory openings. Experiments using damp paper and water-covered areas showed bed bugs of all ages and both sexes retreat from moisture, with the youngest most sensitive. The finding could affect moisture-based pest-control strategies, and while a bath can remove bugs on a person, treating a room infestation still requires established methods.

via SciTechDaily|
#bed-bugs#entomology#moisture