Are Camel Crickets Dangerous?

Are Camel Crickets Dangerous?

Camel crickets get their common name from their appearance, as they are humpbacked like camels. They may also be known as cave crickets or spider crickets. They are often found in caves, and in damp, cool areas under leaves, stones, and logs that are rotting. Camel crickets exist in large numbers across the Tennessee and the rest of the United States. Their lifespan is between one and two years.

Identifying Camel Crickets

Camel crickets do not produce sound, as they don’t have any organs which allow them to do so. They do not have wings, instead, they use their large back legs and long antennae to help them get around in the dark spaces where they gather. When frightened, camel crickets tend to leap. This is their defense mechanism, and basically the only way they can scare off predators.

Camel crickets are light to dark brown in color, and may have spots with lighter or darker areas. Adult camel crickets can grow to between thirteen and thirty-three millimeters in length.

Problems Camel Crickets Cause

Camel crickets really do not pose any health threats to humans. They don’t have fangs and cannot bite, are not poisonous, and are not known to carry any diseases.

Camel crickets can become a nuisance, though, if they get into your home. Some species may damage clothing and other fabrics, like curtains. Their diet consists of wood, carpet, fungi, cardboard, other insects, and even other camel crickets at times. They can create a lot of damage as their numbers grow, and that is the last thing you want to happen in your home!

How to Prevent Camel Crickets

Preventing a camel cricket infestation takes work. Though these pests are not dangerous to your health and won’t hurt you, they can be a real nuisance.

Here are a few things you can do to help keep them out of your home and off your property:

  • Reduce areas of moisture in and around your home. You may choose to use a dehumidifier to prevent moisture build-up inside.
  • Seal points of entry around your home, such as gaps under and around doors and windows, cracks in your foundation, and tears or rips in window screens.
  • Ventilate crawl spaces, basements, and attics.
  • Firewood should be stored no less than twenty feet away from your house.
  • Remove debris from your yard.
  • Outdoor garbage cans should be moved away from the exterior walls of your home.
  • Tall grasses on your property should be mowed to a manageable length.

Getting Rid of Camel Crickets

If you believe you have a camel cricket infestation in your home, contact a licensed pest control professional right away. The professionals at Russell’s Pest Control will conduct an inspection of both the interior and exterior of your home. We will work with you to develop a treatment plan to rid your home of camel crickets. Give us a call to learn more. 

Bed Bugs: A Christmas Gift That Nobody Wants

Bed Bugs: A Christmas Gift That Nobody Wants

Christmas is a time of year when many of you look forward to seeing family members that you may not get to visit with often. You daydream about the holiday feast, giving and receiving the best gifts, and making new memories with those you love most. Traveling back to the place where you grew up is sometimes a part of the holiday season, and you wax nostalgic about times past. 
 
It’s a safe bet to say that no one dreams of ending the holidays with a bed bug infestation, but that is exactly what some of you will end up with before all the traveling is over. Now you may be wondering, how bed bugs get into homes during the holidays anyway? 

How Bed Bugs Get into Your Home

Bed bugs are notorious little hitchhikers. Their favorite way to travel is in or on your luggage, tote bags, purses, coats, and backpacks. As you travel over the holidays you often stay in hotels, fly across the country, wait in public places – and all of these are places where bed bugs can be found. People unknowingly bring bed bugs with them from their homes, hotels, or other public places, and then share the wealth so-to-speak with the rest of humanity.

It’s simple for bed bugs to crawl right into your bag when you set it down at the airline ticket counter, or to climb into a pocket when you leave your coat lying on a hotel floor. Once in your belongings, they simply travel along with you wherever you go. They may decide to offload at any point along the way, beginning a new life in someone else’s home, or possibly even in yours. 

Identifying Bed Bugs 

It’s important to be able to identify bed bugs in the event that you ever encounter them. Whether you’re in a hotel, a family member or friend’s home, or even in your own home, knowing the signs of bed bugs will allow you to stop a full-blown infestation in its tracks. At a minimum, this knowledge will help you to avoid taking these annoying pests home with you.

Here are a few things to look for:

  • Pink or red bite marks on your skin that may itch.
  • Pets scratching themselves more than usual.
  • Seeing an actual bed bug in your home –  in your bedding, on furniture, on your pets, buried in carpets and rugs, etc.).
  • The shed skins of bed bug nymphs.
  • Blood stains on your sheets, pillowcases, or blankets
  • Bed bug eggs anywhere on your bed, in nooks and crannies of furniture, or in the carpet.
  • Bed bug excrement – dark spots or streaks – on your sheets or blankets.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs

Though you cannot be certain to always keep bed bugs out with your prevention methods, there are a few things you can do to try and help prevent their access to you and your home:

Whenever you stay overnight anywhere besides your own home, be sure to check the room where you will be sleeping for signs of bed bugs. It’s a good idea to inspect the furniture, carpeting, and the bed. If you see any evidence that bed bugs are present, ask to be placed in a different room (and conduct a re-check there) or move on to a new place to stay.

You should do periodic checks of your own bed at home to ensure you stay safe from these irritating pests.

When you travel, never set your baggage, purse, or jacket on the bed or the floor in your room. Instead, place all of your travel items on top of a dresser or chair to prevent bed bugs from hitching a ride.

As you return to your home, wash all clothing on a high heat setting before putting them away. You may also wish to wash your bags in the same way. If you are unable to ash them, be sure to wipe them down and inspect them carefully for signs of bed bugs before storing them anywhere in your home.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

If you think you have a bed bug problem, your best bet is to contact a professional. If bed bugs are left untreated, their numbers will grow to a large population in a short amount of time. The professionals at Russell’s Pest Control can get rid of your bed bug infestation quickly. You may be unsure of the kind of pest you’re dealing with. There is no need to worry – we can inspect your home to determine which pests have infiltrated your home.

At Russell’s Pest Control we offer services for both homes and businesses. We easily eliminate any size infestation. Contact us to learn more about bed bug removal and to get started right away! 

What To Do If You See Spiders In Your Home

What To Do If You See Spiders In Your Home

No one enjoys having spiders in their home. Spiders are creepy, disturbing, and downright unpleasant to come into contact with. When dealing with spiders in your home, it is important to recognize the difference between the many nuisance spiders, and the spiders that could be dangerous to your health and safety. Knowing how to identify which spider you’ve been bitten by could determine whether you simply clean the bite and move on, or rush to get medical attention to avoid the many side effects caused by getting bitten by a poisonous spider.

Nuisance Spiders

Nuisance spiders include spiders that are not dangerous to your health. The common house spider and the cellar spider are two common nuisance spiders that invade homes fairly often. Bites from these spiders will not threaten your health, and will only create an itchy red bump at most. Many nuisance spiders prefer dark and hidden places in your home where they will not be seen easily. This makes attics and closets good spots for them to set up webs. House spiders can be identified by their yellow-white color and darkly striped abdomen. As with most spiders, female house spiders are larger than males.

Poisonous Spiders

The two spiders found in Knoxville that are dangerous to humans include the brown recluse and the black widow. Bites from these spiders need medical attention right away, as symptoms that occur after being bitten by one of these spiders can be quite harmful. The black widow can be identified by its midnight black body and red hourglass shape on its abdomen, while the brown recluse is a light tan color with a dark brown violin shape on its back. People bitten by these spiders may experience nausea, swelling, chest pain, tremors, and more. It is important that these spiders are dealt with properly by professional pest control.

Some DIY tips that will help keep spiders out include:

  • Keeping brush and wood piles away from your home
  • Installing door sweeps
  • Keeping storage areas free of clutter
  • Cutting back trees from the exterior of your home
  • Clearing away any existing webs in and around your home
  • Repairing torn window screens
  • Sealing all cracks and gaps in the foundation or exterior walls of your home

Professional pest control is always your best option when dealing with spiders or any other pest problem. Experts from Russell’s Pest Control have been dealing with spider problems for many years, so you can trust that we have the experience and tools needed to eradicate all your spider problems. Russell’s Pest Control understands the importance of keeping your home safe from spider intruders, which is why we offer ongoing pest control options for both homes and businesses. Contact Russell’s today to learn more about how we can help.

Holiday Cockroach Prevention For Tennessee Homes And Businesses

Holiday Cockroach Prevention For Tennessee Homes And Businesses

‘Tis the season for holiday parties! Family parties, friend parties, school parties, office parties… ..by the end of December, we’re all a little partied out.

Although the holidays are a fun time of year, they can also be pretty exhausting. If we aren’t careful about how we handle the cleanup from all our holiday celebrating, we could move into the new year with a new problem: Cockroaches.

The Problems Cockroaches Cause

Cockroaches would love to attend your after-party and feast on all the goodies that get left behind because you were too tired to deal with them when the party was over. Whether the party took place at your Tennessee business or in your Tennessee home, you do not want cockroaches invading either space.

Cockroaches can create serious problems:

  • They’re bad for business. This one seems pretty obvious, but it must be stated. Customers do not want to frequent a business, especially if your business happens to be in the food services sector, if there are cockroaches skittering around the place.
  • They can make you sick. Cockroaches hang out in a variety of unpleasant, unsanitary places. Garbage cans, rotting food, sewers… it’s not a nice list. While roaming around these areas, they pick up germs and bacteria that can then be transferred to any other place they travel. If cockroaches crawl around on your countertops and food prep areas, it’s likely they will leave behind germs that could make you very sick. Cockroaches are known to spread pathogens that cause gastroenteritis, E. coli, salmonella, and dysentery, to name just a few.
  • Besides the germs they spread around, cockroach feces and the skins they shed have been found to trigger asthma symptoms in some people.
  • They bite. While rare, if cockroaches get hungry enough, they may try to feast upon your eyelids while you sleep. If that’s not disturbing enough, consider the fact that, while they crawl on your face, they’re leaving behind all those pathogens they’ve picked up elsewhere.

How to Prevent Cockroaches

It’s important to make your home or business uninviting for cockroaches so they are not attracted to your property.

The following tips may help:

  • Clean up after eating. Don’t leave any food out on your counters.
  • Clean up spills and messes immediately. This includes cleaning countertops and sweeping or vacuuming floors.
  • Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher or wash them by hand immediately after use. Do not leave dishes in the sink to or on the counter.
  • Empty trash cans regularly.

Cockroaches often live in moist areas. Repair any leaky or broken pipes immediately. Ensure areas with excess moisture, like bathrooms, kitchens, and basements, have good ventilation. Use dehumidifiers, if necessary.

What to Do if You See Cockroaches in Your Home or Business

If you discover that cockroaches are already present, invite Russell’s Pest Control over for a cockroach elimination party. This party may not be quite as fun as the holiday parties you’ve attended, but you’ll definitely be happy with the results.

Our professionals will evaluate the problem and recommend the best course of action for you to take. Since we provide both residential and commercial pest control programs, we offer something to meet every type of pest control need. Give us a call today to learn more about our pest control programs and which ones will best meet your needs. 

Preventing Winter Termite Infestations In Eastern Tennessee Homes

Preventing Winter Termite Infestations In Eastern Tennessee Homes

The nice thing about living in Eastern Tennessee is that we get to experience all four seasons without experiencing the extremes of weather in other areas. Yes, summer does get hot, while our winters are mild. Spring and fall are both beautiful.

The problem with living in Eastern Tennessee is that along with our mild winters we end up with pest problems that last throughout the year. Pests that live underground can survive cooler temperatures. This means we must be on our guard against them no matter the season.

Termites are one kind of pest we need to the lookout for in the winter. Their colonies are deep enough underground that they can survive the colder months. If the colony is close enough to our homes, termites will benefit from the heat emanating from our foundation, allowing them to easily remain active all through the winter season. There is a good chance they will end up inside our homes and, in that climate-controlled environment, they can work at full capacity twelve months a year.

The Damage Termites Cause

When we say you don’t want termites in your home, it’s not just because they’re bugs and no one likes the idea of bugs in their house. Termites are some of the most destructive pests on the planet, causing $5 billion in damage to homes in the United States alone every single year. When termites get into your house, they dig tunnels and build new nesting sites within the beams of your home. Given enough time, termites can ruin entire sections of your home. They may even cause dangerous structural damage, making your home unlivable until repairs are made.

How to Prevent Termites from Getting Inside Your Eastern Tennessee Home

Certain conditions can make your residence more attractive to termites. Consider the following when trying to keep them out of your home:

  • Termites prefer water-damaged wood. Be sure to repair any water leaks or broken pipes immediately. Replace any wood that is damaged in the process, including the wood inside and outside your home.
  • Any wood that has direct contact with soil acts as a beacon for termites. Fences are often attacked by termites. Consider alternatives for any wood-to-soil contact. Replacing a wooden fence with a composite material, and using crushed stone instead of mulch in your landscaping may be a satisfactory compromise.
  • Since termites seek moist living conditions, make sure your home has good ventilation and that outside drainage systems are in proper working order.

The Best Way to Keep Termites from Getting Indoors

Even with these prevention methods, termites still sometimes manage to gain entry to your home. Your best bet to ensure year-round termite protection is to install a termite prevention system.

Russell’s Pest Control provides the Sentricon® System with Always Active™. It is scientifically proven to eliminate current termite infestations and prevent the occurrence of future invasions. If you’re not sure whether termites have taken up residence in your home, give Russell’s a call. We will conduct a detailed inspection and discuss Sentricon® with Always Active™ with you to determine whether it meets your needs.

Call us for more information or to set up your first inspection. We are here to serve you!