There are many bugs we encounter in our East Sacramento backyards; however, not all bugs are harmful. Although many may seem like pests, there are some benefits to keeping some around while others can wreak havoc on our food, plants, livestock and even our health. When it comes to pest control, it can seem like a country standoff of “good guys vs. bad guys.”

What are the benefits of keeping some bugs around? There is one famous backyard bug that immediately comes to people’s mind… the ladybug. The vibrant ladybug is a predatory bug that feeds on spider mites and aphids. They can eat up to 5,000 pests in their life span! Another great insect to keep around is the camouflaged praying mantis. They will also eat just about anything as well (including its own kind). And what about the creepy crawly millipede? These large creatures are scavengers and will eat decaying leaves and even garden slugs!

Now that you know we have some bugs on our side helping us out, lets discuss the bad bugs lurking in the shadows. These common pests can be found in almost every home at some point or another. These are the “Hateful Eight” of the pests we find in and around our homes throughout the year.
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The Black Widow Spider: These can be identified by their hourglass-shaped mark on the abdomen. They often like to stay in dark secluded spaces but are still to be taken seriously because of their venomous bite. Most people bitten do not suffer serious harm; however, it can be fatal to small children and the elderly.
The Cockroach: Fast breeding and fast moving, cockroaches can spread bacteria and other diseases such as salmonella and E. coli. Their molted skins and droppings can also cause allergens and have even been linked to childhood asthma.
The Flea: Fleabites can be itchy and painful. These annoying creatures can trigger allergic reactions and even transmit serious diseases such as tapeworms and typhus.
The Wasp: Unlike bees, wasps do not die after they sting someone. They can sting multiple times, and this can be deadly to anyone who is allergic.
The Mosquito: Causing more deaths to humans than any other insect in the world, their bites have infected people with some of the deadliest diseases such as the West Nile virus, malaria, and yellow fever. They can also cause heartworms in pets.
The Fly: House flies can carry some of the most dangerous germs resulting in the spread of bacillary, cholera, typhoid, tuberculosis, and infantile diarrhea.
The Tick: Ticks do not jump or fly, they use other methods to find a host to latch onto. With their impressive sensory organs they can detect carbon dioxide you exhale and can also sense odors, vibrations, and heat. Their bite can be undetectable at times and they are carriers to various fevers and Lyme disease.
 
If you are encountering these unwanted pests, a pest professional can safely eliminate them from your home. The good guys are in town and they are here for you! 

The Wasp (Vespula Vulgaris) can be easily distinguished from bees by their pointed body and narrow waist. But these aren’t the cute, fluffy, good-for-everyone bees we’ve all come to love here in East Sacramento. These lean, mean, fighting machines are otherwise known as good-for-nothing just down-right rude insects that like to ruin your day (or family picnics). Wasps are related to both the bee and the ant. With over 120,000 species, they can be found in every corner of the world (except Antarctica), in just about every color imaginable and don’t play much of a role in the pollination of plants, unlike the honeybee. And if this isn’t buzzare enough, wasps are also ruthless scavengers, not only feeding on plant products but other insects as well, including their own young! In some agricultural systems they have even been deployed by farmers in the thousands as a natural pest control on their crops. Ok, so I guess they aren’t good-for-nothing…

Most of the common wasps you see around East Sacramento, such as paper wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets are social insects that form colonies inside nests frequently found in and around domestic housing. These nests are constructed from saliva and paper-like material from tree bark, wood pulp and other plant debris. The females, called workers, work long and hard all summer to build these nests and by late summer they can contain up to 5,000 individual eggs!
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As you can see, wasps are very industrious creatures. We all can respect that! However, they often build nests where they aren’t welcome and with their unlimited stinging power can be a dangerous prospect to those who are allergic (so they don’t pay rent or care about your well-being…duly noted). Their aggression and defensiveness can be triggered by simply walking too close to the proximity of their nest. Not a force to bee reckoned with, because safety comes first, especially if kids are nearby. It is always advisable to contact a professionally trained company if wasps are causing a problem at your home. Give us a call if you are in need of treatment. We are always here to help.