Common Questions — Page 2
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1460 questions · Page 2 of 41
Home PestsAre DIY pest treatments safe around children and pets?DIY pest treatments are only safe around kids and pets when you use registered, low-toxicity products exactly as the label says.TermitesAre DIY termite bait stations appropriate for a home?Store-bought termite bait stakes lack the ingredients licensed pros use, and termites only find them by chance. Here is when DIY baits fall short.TermitesAre drywood termites common in Florida?Learn why drywood termites are common in Florida homes, how to identify them through frass and pellets, and what treatment steps follow.MitesAre dust mites visible without magnification?Learn why dust mites are invisible to the naked eye, how to correctly identify common household pests, and practical ways to manage indoor allergens.Beetles & WeevilsAre emerald ash borers found in Oregon?Official records do not show emerald ash borer established in Oregon right now. Check state maps for your county, and never move ash firewood.StarlingsAre European starlings invasive?Learn whether European starlings are invasive, how to identify them, and what practical steps you can take to manage them safely.SpidersAre false widow spiders dangerous?An exploration of false widow spiders, examining their actual danger, identification cues, first aid, and when to seek medical help.AntsAre fire ants invasive?Yes. Red and black imported fire ants are invasive species that arrived in cargo from South America and spread without their native predators.Flies & GnatsAre flesh flies dangerous?Flesh flies do not bite or sting, but they can carry germs from filth to indoor surfaces. Here is what their presence usually means.MitesAre flour mites harmful?Flour mites do not bite, but they spoil food and their waste is a strong allergen that can trigger itchy skin, a stuffy nose and asthma.TermitesAre flying ants in Arizona the same concern as termite swarmers?Learn the key differences between flying ants and termite swarmers in Arizona after a monsoon storm, how to identify them, and what steps to take.Flies & GnatsAre fruit flies attracted to light?Not really. Fruit flies navigate by the smell of fermentation. Tiny flies swarming lit screens are usually fungus gnats or drain flies.SpidersAre giant house spiders dangerous?Find out whether giant house spiders are dangerous, how to identify them correctly, and what steps to take if you find one in your home.GroundhogsAre groundhogs and woodchucks the same animal?Discover whether groundhogs and woodchucks are the same animal, learn how to identify their burrows, and understand effective exclusion methods.Beetles & WeevilsAre holes in wood always a sign of active woodworm?Discover whether holes in wood always mean active woodworm, how to identify the signs, and what steps to take next.CentipedesAre house centipedes dangerous to cats?No. A house centipede will not poison a cat. A cornered one can pinch, which feels like a mild bee sting. See when to call the vet.CentipedesAre house centipedes dangerous?No. House centipedes are not dangerous to people or pets. A bite, which only happens if one is pressed against skin, feels like a mild bee sting.CentipedesAre house centipedes good to have around?House centipedes are useful predators of silverfish, small roaches, spiders and flies. Seeing many often points to high humidity indoors.SparrowsAre house sparrows invasive?Learn whether house sparrows are invasive, how to identify them safely, and what steps to take for management.SpidersAre house spiders dangerous?No. Nearly all house spiders are harmless. Only a handful of species have medically significant venom, and most bites are accidental.SpidersAre jumping spiders poisonous?Discover whether jumping spiders are poisonous, how to identify them safely, and what to do if you encounter one.Other True BugsAre kissing bugs dangerous?Kissing bugs can transmit the parasite behind Chagas disease and can cause allergic reactions. Real risk depends on where you live. Here is what to know.Other True BugsAre kissing bugs found in California?Discover whether kissing bugs live in California, how to identify them safely, and what steps to take if you encounter one.Other True BugsAre kissing bugs found in Florida?Yes. Kissing bugs are native and established in Florida. They are 1/2 to 1 1/4 inches long with an elongated head and flat oval body.BatsAre kissing bugs found in New York?No. New York is outside the kissing bug's natural range. A bug that looks like one is most likely a harmless look-alike such as a boxelder bug.Other True BugsAre kissing bugs found in Texas?Yes. Kissing bugs are native to Texas, which has more species than any other state. Most are about an inch long with a cone-shaped head.Beetles & WeevilsAre larder beetles harmful?Learn whether larder beetles are harmful, how to identify them, and what to do if you find them in your home.SlugsAre leopard slugs poisonous?No. Leopard slugs have no venom, fangs or stingers. Touching one leaves sticky mucus that washes off with soap and water.VolesAre meadow voles different from other voles?In practice, no. Meadow voles cause the same damage and need the same steps as other voles. Telling them apart takes skull or tooth checks.Scale Insects & MealybugsAre mealybugs on outdoor plants handled differently from houseplant mealybugs?Learn the key differences between managing mealybugs on indoor houseplants versus outdoor plants.MillipedesAre millipedes bad for plants?Learn whether millipedes harm plants, how to identify them, and how to manage them safely around your home and garden.MillipedesAre millipedes dangerous?No. Millipedes cannot bite, sting, spread disease or eat wood. Handling them roughly can release a fluid that stains and irritates skin.MillipedesAre millipedes insects?Are millipedes insects? Learn why these multi-legged crawlers belong to a different scientific class, how to identify them, and how to manage them safely.MillipedesAre millipedes poisonous?Millipedes are not poisonous and cannot bite or sting. When disturbed they release a fluid that can irritate skin. Here is how to handle them.Crickets & Mole CricketsAre mole crickets dangerous?No. Mole crickets have no venom or stinger and spread no disease. They can badly damage lawns, pastures and gardens by tunneling.Crickets & Mole CricketsAre mole crickets found in Oklahoma?Yes. Oklahoma has the native northern mole cricket, which rarely ruins lawns. The invasive lawn-destroying species are not established there.