Innovative Pest Solutions Blog

Putting away your holiday decorations is an opportunity for you to be a pest detective. Read on to find out how! If you’re like me, your home is currently a sea of boxes – some left over from Christmas presents and others from the attic and garage waiting to return decorations to storage. Those attic and garage boxes may offer valuable insight into developing pest problems in your home. Before ...

This time of year, your stack of firewood is likely being put to good use, but did you know that is may be home to several common wood pests? What pests might be in my wood pile? Termites. These notorious wood-eating insects may be found in your wood pile, especially if logs are wet/moist and have been stacked for an extended period of time. If wood is touching the ground, termites will ...

This month’s pest spotlight is on booklice. These pests are not uncommon to find in Raleigh homes, so let’s learn more about them! What are booklice?  The first thing to note is that booklice are NOT the same thing as body lice. Booklice will not infest your hair or body. Rather, booklice get their name because they are often found feeding on book bindings. More on that in a minute....

Have you ever found a spider in the Raleigh area that resembled a tarantula? If so, it was probably a trapdoor spider. Let’s learn more about these interesting spiders! What is a trapdoor spider and where would I find one? Trapdoor spiders frighten many homeowners during the spring and summer months while gardening. Unlike your typical spider, trapdoor spiders do not form large, suspended webs...

As the weather gets colder, you’ll likely notice fewer insects outside. Where did they go? The answer to this question depends on the insect species.  Migration Some insects, such as the famous monarch butterfly example, migrate to warmer climates during cold months. When temperatures rise in the spring, migrating insects will return to the Raleigh area. Monarchs are not the only insects...

Fa la la la eww! Why are there bugs in my Christmas tree? Nothing beats the woodsy smell of a fresh cut Christmas tree, but sometimes these trees bring little surprises with them from the tree farm. The most common organisms you may find in your tree are spiders and aphids.  Spiders The size and types of spiders you may find in your tree will vary immensely. While finding spiders can be u...