While some pests pose a threat to your home year-round, others are more seasonal in nature. As fall descends on the Greater Chicago area and the weather turns cooler, insects that normally thrive outdoors seek shelter from the cold. These pests include Boisea trivittata, better known as the Box Elder bug. Read on to learn what makes the Box Elder bug such a nuisance and what you can do to keep this pest outdoors. What Box Elder Bugs Look Like

Along with outdoor activities comes the possibility of pests. An ant that hitches a ride on your picnic basket, a flea that jumps onto your playful pup, or another insect that makes its way through a hole in your window screen isn’t normally a problem. However, since pests multiply quickly, one creepy crawly can turn into an all-out pest problem, if the pests have the right circumstances. While pests don’t typically come into your home strictly to roost in your …
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Bedbugs are a common pest, and they are notoriously difficult to remove. You might think that if your home is in a nice area or if you have clean habits that you won’t have trouble with bedbugs, but the reality is that no household is immune from a bedbug infestation. The best way to solve a bedbug problem is to keep it from becoming a problem to begin with. Many infestations begin because people are not aware of what causes …
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Summer is almost here. At this time of year, people who spend time outdoors are likely to encounter yellow jackets, the unpleasant summer wasp often found at picnics, barbecues, potlucks, and parties. If you’re a homeowner, it’s important to know as much as you can about yellow jackets. Having information about these pests can help you avoid problems as the summer progresses.

Termites are probably the most well-known wood damaging structural pests, but they’re far from the only ones. Carpenter Ants can cause just as much damage as termites. Carpenter ants are extremely common in the Chicago area, while termites are not as common, Carpenter ants make their nests in wood, and they are common pests for homes and businesses alike. Once you’ve identified an infestation and taken the necessary measures to eradicate it, you can make your home secure against these …
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When you first encounter a silverfish or firebrat, it can be an unsettling experience if you’re squeamish about bugs. Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) and firebrats (Thermobia domestica) have two long antennae at the front end, three long tail-like growths at the rear, and a slinky, gliding way of racing across surfaces that’s rather creepy. If you have silverfish or firebrats in your home, you probably also have questions. Here are five facts about silverfish and firebrats to give you some answers.

Are you curious about which triggers are responsible for waking up insect pests as the temperatures grow warmer? Do you want to know how to avoid insect-pest infestation in the spring? Here are three things you should know about spring-emerging household pests. Why Insects Go Dormant in Winter Insect pests are coldblooded, or exothermic, creatures. Exothermic pests are unable to generate their own body heat. They function best at temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Exothermic insects have several strategies to …
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Schaumburg, IL, and the Chicago area are home to millions of people but also, unfortunately, millions of pests. Some of the most common insects in Illinois are pillbugs, centipedes, clover mites, earwigs, and boxelder bugs. Many pests can leave painful bites, trigger allergies and asthma symptoms, and cause other health problems. Even bugs that don’t bite or make you sick can be a nuisance you shouldn’t have to deal with.