Common Questions — Page 3
Browse all questions alphabetically, choose a setting, or search for a common or scientific name. Each answer links to related reading so you can follow the evidence.
1460 questions · Page 3 of 41
MosquitoesAre mosquitoes attracted to light?No. Mosquitoes find you by your breath, body heat and sweat, not by light. The swarm around a porch bulb is usually midges and moths.Wasps & HornetsAre mud dauber nests the same as social wasp nests?Discover the main differences between mud dauber nests and social wasp nests, how to identify them, and what steps to take safely.Wasps & HornetsAre mud daubers aggressive?No. Mud daubers are solitary wasps with no colony to defend and almost never sting unless they are trapped or handled.Wasps & HornetsAre mud daubers dangerous?Mud daubers look alarming but rarely sting. Learn how to tell them from aggressive wasps, why they hunt black widows, and when removal or a pro makes sense.Wasps & HornetsAre mud daubers wasps?Learn what mud daubers are, how they differ from social wasps, and how to identify and manage their nests safely.Flies & GnatsAre no-see-ums common in Florida?Yes. No-see-ums are very common in Florida, especially near the coast, salt marshes, mangroves and damp inland waterways.Flies & GnatsAre no-see-ums common in Las Vegas?No. Las Vegas is too dry for biting midges to breed, except near overwatered turf or leaking irrigation. Something else is probably biting.OpossumsAre opossums dangerous?Learn whether opossums are dangerous, how to identify them by their tracks, and practical ways to manage them safely around your home.OpossumsAre opossums good to have around?An exploration of whether opossums are beneficial to have around yards, detailing their habits, identification, management, and safety protocols.OpossumsAre opossums nocturnal?Discover whether opossums are strictly nocturnal, why they sometimes wander in daylight, and how to manage them safely.CockroachesAre Oriental cockroaches associated with damp basements?Yes. Oriental cockroaches need high moisture and cool, dark spaces, so damp basements, crawl spaces and cellars are their favorite places indoors.CockroachesAre palmetto bugs found in Florida?Yes, palmetto bugs are very common in Florida. The name is a regional nickname, usually for the American cockroach. Here is how to identify one.AntsAre pharaoh ants common in Florida?Discover whether pharaoh ants are common in Florida homes, how to identify them accurately, and what steps to take for effective management.AntsAre pharaoh ants dangerous?Learn whether pharaoh ants are dangerous, how they transmit pathogens, and the right way to manage them without causing colony fragmentation.Woodlice / Pillbugs & SowbugsAre pill bugs bad for a garden?No. Pill bugs break down rotting matter into nutrients for the soil. They rarely harm healthy plants. See when they can become a problem.Woodlice / Pillbugs & SowbugsAre pill bugs crustaceans?Yes. Pill bugs are land crustaceans, closer to shrimp and lobsters than to insects. They have 14 legs and breathe through gill-like organs.Woodlice / Pillbugs & SowbugsAre pill bugs dangerous?No. Pill bugs do not bite, sting or spread disease and cannot damage drywall or furniture. They are harmless to people, pets and homes.Woodlice / Pillbugs & SowbugsAre pill bugs good for gardens?Yes. Pill bugs are decomposers that shred fallen leaves and decaying wood, cycling nutrients back into garden soil.Woodlice / Pillbugs & SowbugsAre pill bugs insects?Discover why pill bugs are actually terrestrial crustaceans rather than insects, how to identify them, and how to keep them out of your home.Woodlice / Pillbugs & SowbugsAre pill bugs isopods?Yes. Pill bugs are isopods, land crustaceans related to crabs and lobsters, with 14 legs, armored plates and gills that need moisture.Moths & ButterfliesAre plaster bagworms harmful to people?No. Plaster bagworms cannot bite, sting or carry disease. Seeing them on walls usually points to damp air or hidden mold. Here is what to do.Beetles & WeevilsAre rice weevils harmful if found in stored grain?Rice weevils do not bite, sting or spread disease, so eating a few by accident is a quality issue, not poisoning. Toss grain that smells musty.Beetles & WeevilsAre rice weevils harmful?Are rice weevils harmful to health? Learn the facts about pantry pests, identification cues, safe food handling, and when to call a professional.Mice & RatsAre roof rats common in attics?Learn why roof rats are common attic invaders, how to identify them correctly, and what practical steps to take next.TicksAre seed ticks baby ticks?Yes. Seed ticks are the newly hatched, six-legged larvae of hard ticks. They are tiny and usually cluster on ankles and lower legs.SkunksAre skunks dangerous?Skunks rarely attack, and the spray is a last resort, but they are a main carrier of rabies in North America. Here is how to stay safe.SlugsAre slugs dangerous?Slugs pose almost no direct danger to people, but they wreck plants. Toxic slug baits are often the bigger risk for pets and wildlife.SlugsAre slugs good for a garden?No. Extension services class slugs as plant pests. They chew ragged holes in leaves, cut young stems, eat roots and ruin ripening fruit.SlugsAre slugs mollusks?Yes. Slugs are mollusks in the class Gastropoda, alongside snails, and related to clams and octopuses. They simply lost the outer shell.SlugsAre slugs poisonous?No. Garden slugs have no venom, stings or toxins in their flesh, so touching one with bare hands will not poison you.Flies & GnatsAre small flies in a bathroom fruit flies, drain flies or phorid flies?Learn how to distinguish between drain flies, phorid flies, fruit flies, and fungus gnats found in the bathroom, and find out how to treat them.Moths & ButterfliesAre small moths in a kitchen pantry moths or clothes moths?Small moths in a kitchen pantry are almost always pantry moths like the Indian meal moth. Clothes moths eat wool and silk, not food.SlugsAre snails and slugs the same thing?No. Snails carry a coiled shell big enough to hide inside. Slugs are close relatives whose shells are lost, reduced or internal.SpringtailsAre snow fleas common in Michigan?Discover why snow fleas appear in Michigan during winter thaws, how to identify these harmless springtails, and what steps to take if they wander indoors.Moths & ButterfliesAre sod webworms common in Florida lawns?Learn if sod webworms are common in Florida lawns, how to identify them through signs and tests, and when to seek professional help.Woodlice / Pillbugs & SowbugsAre sowbugs bad for a garden?No. Sowbugs recycle rotting plant tissue and decaying leaves. They rarely nibble tender seedlings, mostly when conditions are very damp.