B&B Exterminating Blog

 Ants are fascinating creatures, but when they start to invade a person’s home, they really need to go. That’s where our pest control professionals at B & B Exterminating  come in. But outside the home in their own territories, ants are simply amazing. Here are some things to know about them: How Many Ant Species Are There? There are about 12,500 species of ant that people know of and 10,000 more that haven’t been classified yet. They’re members of the order Hymenoptera, which means they're cousins of bees and wasps, and they’re eusocial. This means they live in groups and live to support the success of their group, whether it’s about 100 or so ants living together or millions whose territories range over acres. These huge colonies are so organized that they sometimes act like one organism. Many ant colonies have castes made up of workers, soldiers, drones and at least one queen. Workers...

Bed bugs are one of the most irritating pests to deal with. While not infectious or harmful, they can cause skin irritation and are difficult to get rid of. Bed bugs feed off the blood of humans or animals and like to hide in bed sheets, pillows and mattresses.  Due to their flat shape, they can easily fit through small cracks in your wall or hitch a ride on your clothes or luggage. Here are seven signs that you may have bed bugs. Sign #1: Red Welts on the Skin Since bed bugs tend to hide in mattresses and sheets, they can easily bite you at night while you’re sleeping. If you wake up to find red welts on your skin, they may be bed bug bites. They can often be confused with mosquito bites, so they are often overlooked. Sign #2: Itchy Areas on the Skin In addition to the...

Gardening is a great way to display your creativity and get some exercise while enjoying time in nature. If you take great pride in your garden, then you are always on the lookout for dying or dead plants as well as unwanted pests. Keeping your garden beautiful is important. If you are consistently finding insects eating away at your garden, keep reading for tips on how to protect your garden from insects.  Keep Your Garden Clean One of the best ways to keep your garden healthy and flourishing is to keep it clean. This means that you regularly clear out all weeds and debris. Remove leaves and dying or dead plants. This will not only keep your garden looking beautiful, but will also prevent disease spreading to your plants. Unwanted insects will also have fewer places to hide.  Pick the Insects Out As you clean out your garden of unwanted weeds...

Termites are a pest that can be quite small yet incredibly destructive if left untreated or unnoticed. Over time, they can compromise the safety and security of the structure of your house. If you do suspect a termite problem, it isn’t too late, but you should act fast. If you’re a new homeowner, read on to learn about how to spot termite activity in your home or on your property. Solving and understanding the problem now is key to having continued peace of mind as a homeowner. Discoloration Look for discoloration in your drywall. Also, look for potential “droopiness” or sagging in your walls. This is a sign of a compromised structure. Peeling Wallpaper with No Water Damage Although it might look like water damage, termites can consume your drywall and wallpaper along with it. If there is no sign of any leaking or any moisture, then you may have a...

Finding a mouse problem is one of the more unsettling and frustrating discoveries for homeowners in the Jacksonville area. Mice are incredibly efficient at wreaking havoc on your home’s structure, destroying your food, and spreading disease as they travel across surfaces.  When managing mice, an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure. Infestations are difficult to fully eliminate and professional intervention is often necessary once mice have set up their nest. Consider these common ways that you may be inviting an infestation so you know how to keep mice away from your home. Providing a Food Source for Mice Mice look for two basic necessities -- shelter and food. They are extremely efficient at finding and accessing food sources and can settle in comfortably if the supply is ample. Allowing garbage to accumulate or leaving it unsecured in the trash bin provides a buffet for mice to dig...