The sound of chirping crickets can be soothing or annoying depending on your personal point of view, or the circumstances. While you are camping or sitting by a fire pit, the sound can be soothing, while you are in bed trying to sleep for an early work day, the sound is probably more annoying. Although crickets aren’t known to be dangerous, they can cause costly damage to fabric surfaces or clothing in your home. Overall they are just…
Silverfish are disgusting creepy crawlies that usually have brown bodies that can grow to be about 3/4 of an inch in length with antennae that stretches as long as their bodies. The body is covered with silvery, metallic looking scales. This characteristic gives them a fish-like shimmering look. That and how they move, wriggling like a fish would while swimming, is how these pest get their name. Also silverfish do not have wings but they can more very quickly.…
There are several species of velvet ants in Kansas that range from 1/2 inch to 1 inch in length. The males have blue-black wings and are usually found in sandy areas, flying low, in search of a mate. The females however are large, fuzzy looking, red insects that look like ants, but are not ants at all, but wingless wasps! The largest species in Kansas (Dasymutilla Accidentalis) is sometimes called a “Cow-Killer” because of the powerful sting of the female. Adults…
Fleas are small, reddish-brown, wingless insects with flattened broad spines and oval bodies covered with a tough shell bearing many bristles. Fleas survive on the blood of humans, birds or animals. They are ravenous blood-suckers, consuming up to 15 times their body weight in blood per day! Fleas are the most common cause of skin disease in dogs and cats. Fleas can bite 400 times a day. When a flea bites, it injects saliva into your pets skin. This triggers an allergic…
Our beds are not just places to rest our bodies for the hustle and bustle of our busy daytime responsibilities. Our beds are so much more! They are a comforting place when we are ill, the playground for games with our children or pets and sometimes our office. We enjoy the comfort of our beds for cuddling, watching movies, or relaxing with a good book. A lot of life happens in the safe space our beds provide us. …
Black widows are the most venomous spiders in North America. Their venom is about 15 times stronger than rattlesnake venom. They use a chemical called alpha-latrotoxin which overwhelms the nerve cells and causes intense pain. This causes human nerve cells to dump all it’s signaling chemicals at once! The bite can then begin the onset of swelling, severe cramping, sweating and chills. Female widow spiders have unusually large venom glands and their bite can be particularly harmful. Black…
Why do ants come into your home? Ants usually come indoors in search of a warm nesting spot or a food source. Heavy rains can also flood their homes and they will often take shelter in the closest safe place possible, your kitchen. There are billions upon billions of ants on earth, and if you have an infestation it can feel like a good portion of that number are under your roof. Even the smallest amount of nourishment can attract…
If you’re like us, the lists around Christmas time pile up around Wichita. Lists of what the kids want for Christmas, lists of the things you need to get done around the house, lists of how to make your business end the year on a high note, the lists go on and on! All of these list can be over whelming, but at the top of all of your lists should be the health of your loved ones, yourself and…
With Thanksgiving upon us this week, the holiday season is in full swing here in Wichita! If you are playing host or hostess this holiday season, it’s important to make sure your Wichita home is ready to receive the right kind of guests. As the weather is cooling down, pests in the area are trying to find nicer, warmer homes for the winter. Your home might be that new home they’re looking for! Don’t let the wrong guests in this…
With winter around the corner, it’s time to winterize your home. While we aren’t the people to call for winterizing sprinklers or other aspects of your home, All Star Pest Control knows how to winterize your home against pests! Here are our top three tips for what you can do to get your Wichita home ready for a pest free winter: 1 . Add/ improve your insulation. By adding additional insulation to your home, you are creating an additional barrier…
