What Are These Weird Looking Beetles In My Cereal?  

saw toothed grain beetle identification in Knoxville TN.

With fall arriving and colder weather with it, we don’t anticipate finding insects in our homes anymore, especially beetles in our cereal!  Summer is the season for insects, and many people believe that the chill of winter eliminates most insect problems. However, this simply isn’t true. Pantry pests, like the saw-toothed grain beetle, commonly invade homes in fall and winter.

What are saw-toothed grain beetles?

No one wants to find insects in their pantry items, but if you do find bugs in your cereal, understanding how to identify what pest infestation you’re dealing with is important. Saw-toothed grain beetles are small brown beetles with long flattened bodies that get narrower at the tip. These small insects are pantry pests and get their name from the six saw-like protrusions on either side of their thorax.

How do saw-toothed grain beetles invade?

Saw-toothed grain beetles are most often found in stored-food products such as cereal, pasta, flour, nuts, baking mix, bread, sugar, and a wide range of other dried goods. Most infestations begin in grocery stores or food-processing facilities. If you find saw-toothed grain beetles in your home, it’s almost always because you bought an infested food item at the store by mistake. While it is more common to encounter adult saw-toothed grain beetles in your home, it is actually the larva that does most of the damage. Saw-toothed grain beetles don’t bite or cause harm in any physical way. Instead, these insects cause problems by contaminating food items with their bodies, eggs, and larvae.

Pantry Pest Prevention Tips

There are many prevention tips you can try that will reduce your risk for an infestation, but prevention tips will never be as effective as professional pest control. To keep saw-toothed grain beetles and other pantry pests out of your home this fall, follow these helpful pantry pest prevention tips from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA):

  1. Inspect dried goods before purchasing. If a bag or box has small holes, it could mean that saw-toothed grain beetles have already gotten inside.
  2. Inspect the interior bagged food items themselves once you arrive home. If there are signs of larva or eggs inside, throw the infested product away.
  3. Store pasta, flour, and other dry foods in hard plastic or glass containers that can’t be chewed through.
  4. Only purchase items that show no sign of damage.
  5. Check expiration dates on baking ingredients before use.
  6. Keep kitchen counters, floors, and sinks clean because crumbs and spills quickly attract pests.
  7. Dispose of garbage regularly in sealed receptacles.
  8. Seal cracks or holes around the stovepipes and water pipes.
  9. Eliminate all moisture sites, including leaking pipes and clogged drains.

If an infestation has already occurred, you shouldn’t try to handle it alone. Pantry pest problems can get out of hand quickly if they aren’t dealt with right away. It is recommended to contact a pest professional if a pantry pest infestation is suspected.

Fall Pest Control Efforts In Knoxville Will Pay Dividends During The Spring.      

Fall Pest Control Efforts In Knoxville Will Pay Dividends During The Spring.      

Now that warm summer weather has gone and the chill of fall has arrived, it’s easy to believe you don’t have to worry about pest infestations. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Pest animals don’t just die off as soon as the first frost hits, not all of them anyway. Some pests will try to invade any Knoxville home that protects them from the cold.

Why do fall pests invade?

There are many types of pests that try to invade as the weather gets cooler, but a few of the most common fall pest infestations include spiders, mice, rats, cockroaches, box elder bugs, stink bugs, and ladybugs. Insects such as ladybugs and stink bugs invade Knoxville homes to find a warm, safe spot where they can enter diapause for the winter. However, many insects that overwinter become active before spring arrives. Like insects, rodents invade to avoid the cold, but they also seek out properties with easily accessible food sources. Some fall pests create nests in your attic or basement, ripping up insulation and other materials to do so. Pest infestations can lead to damage, disease, and stress, which is why fall pest prevention is imperative.

Tips for Fall Pest Prevention

You should always increase your pest control and prevention efforts during the fall. Not only are fall pest infestations difficult to get rid of, but they can also be a danger to you and your Knoxville home. Without proper pest prevention, you might be spending your winter with rodents and experiencing your spring with overwintering insects crawling out of your walls. No matter what pests invade your property, pest prevention is important. To make your property less attractive to fall pests, implement a few of these pest prevention tips around your home.

  • Keep your garbage cans sealed and stored away from your exterior walls.
  • Seal gaps, cracks and crevices around the exterior of your home.
  • Install door sweeps.
  • Replace torn window and door screens.
  • Store pet food in airtight containers when not in use.
  • Reduce moisture around your property.
  • Keep the interior and exterior of your home clutter-free.
  • Contact professional pest control.

For more prevention tips, advice, or help with your pest problems, contact the licensed pest specialists here at Russell’s Pest Control today. We have the skills and equipment needed to keep your Knoxville home 100% pest-free all year long.

5 Ladybug Facts Most Knoxville Residents Do Not Know  

5 Ladybug Facts Most Knoxville Residents Do Not Know  

Ladybugs are oval with dome-shaped bodies, six legs, and brightly colored protective coverings over their wings. Depending on the species, ladybugs are often red, yellow, orange, or brown and typically have black spots or other patterns on their wing covers. One fact you might not know about these colorful beetles is that they have several different names. Ladybug, ladybird, lady beetle, lady fly, lady cow, and lady clock are all names that can be used for these distinctive-looking insects. Despite their names, not all ladybugs are female.

Why do ladybugs invade?

During fall, ladybugs try to find warm and safe locations where they can overwinter. Unfortunately, the warmest and safest location to overwinter might be within the walls of your Knoxville home. While one or two ladybugs might not seem like a big deal, ladybugs invade in large numbers. An interesting fact about ladybugs is that they release strong pheromones to attract more ladybugs to a property. In severe cases of ladybug infestations, there could be several thousand individual ladybugs in a Knoxville home.

Problems Ladybugs Cause

Ladybugs don’t bite or sting as many other insects do, and they aren’t generally harmful to humans. However, they are still not pests you want to find on your property. Not many people are aware that ladybug infestations can trigger allergies in some individuals, especially in cases of large infestations. These small insects excrete a foul-smelling liquid when threatened or crushed, which can stain furniture, fabrics, wallpaper, clothing, and personal items.

Ladybug Prevention Tips

The last thing you want is to discover a ladybug infestation in your Knoxville home once spring arrives and thousands of ladybugs wake up from their dormancy to fly around your windows and lights. Prevent ladybugs from invading your Knoxville home this fall with a few of these ladybug prevention tips.

  • Keep your trash cans sealed. Ladybugs love eating food left in your garbage cans, like most insects.
  • Close your curtains at night to avoid luring ladybugs to your home.
  • Seal every crack and crevice you can find around the exterior of your home, including holes made for pipes, wires vents, or other utilities.
  • Install door sweeps on doors that lead outside.
  • Never leave food outside, and store pet food in airtight containers when not in use.
  • Remove clutter from your property.

If only a few ladybugs get into your home, you can vacuum them up and implement prevention measures around your Knoxville home to make it less attractive to other ladybugs. If you already have a large ladybug infestation, don’t hesitate to reach out to the professionals here at Russell’s pest control. Our fall pest removal and control services cover a wide variety of common fall pests, including ladybugs.

Avoiding Fungus Gnats Infestations In Eastern Tennessee

Avoiding Fungus Gnats Infestations In Eastern Tennessee

Gnats belong to the same family as flies and are characterized by their small size and tendency to form large swarms. There are many species of gnats. Some feed on plants, others feed on insects, and some even feed on blood. Fungus gnats are one of the most common species of gnats to invade Tennessee homes and infest soil, potting mix, and other organic materials. These dark-colored insects have elongated legs, thin bodies, long antennae, and clouded gray wings.

 

Problems Fungus Gnats Cause

Fungus gnats invade while searching for food sources. They are most attracted to damp soil, moisture, potted plants, and compost piles. Fungus gnats don’t bite, sting, or transmit harmful diseases, which is why they are considered nuisance pests instead of dangerous ones. These annoying insects infest soil and feed on decaying plants and fruits. Fungus gnats reproduce quickly, which means even a small infestation can become a large one in a short period of time.

 

Fungus Gnat Prevention Tips

There are many ways that fungus gnats can invade. Some fungus gnats might enter your Tennessee home in the soil of potted plants, while others can find a way in through holes in your window screens and gaps around doorways. No matter how fungus gnats get inside, it’s important to understand prevention steps you can take to keep them out before they arrive.

  • Reduce moisture in your lawn
  • Keep compost piles away from your home
  • Repair leaking pipes, faucets, and fixtures
  • Remove piles of leaves or other decaying organic matter from your property
  • Replace torn window or door screens
  • Seal gaps around your foundation, windows, doors, and exterior walls
  • Avoid overwatering gardens and plants
  • Drain sources of standing water

 

Why You Need Professional Pest Control

Getting rid of a fungus gnat infestation isn’t easy, but with the help of the pest control professionals here at Russell’s Pest Control, you can trust that your Tennessee home will receive the care and attention it needs. Our team of licensed pest experts will figure out why you have gnats in the first place and implement a plan to get rid of them. We believe that every pest problem can be solved with quality products and pest-specific services, which is why we offer a wide range of programs to take care of all your pest problems, big or small. For more information about our fungus gnat control programs, or to request a free estimate, contact Russell’s Pest Control today.

Boxelder Bugs: A Major Nuisance For Knoxville Residents

Boxelder Bugs: A Major Nuisance For Knoxville Residents

Are you seeing black and orange insects crawling all over your deck or grouping together on the sides of your Knoxville home? Are they about ½ an inch long with long antennae and a flattened, sort of cockroach-like, appearance? Are they appearing by the hundreds or thousands? You probably have a boxelder bug problem. If this is something new for you, we have a few tips to help you out. If this is something you deal with every year, you may still find a few ideas here that you haven’t thought of.

1. Exclusion

This is a fairly straightforward tip and you’re probably already aware that you need to seal entry points to keep these insects out. What you might not know are some of the common ways they get in.

  • Gaps around pipes.
  • Gaps around air conditioning units.
  • Unprotected vents or weep holes.
  • Damaged siding.
  • Holes in soffits, eaves or rooflines.
  • Holes created by wood-damaging insects that feed on the sole plates of your home.
  • Holes around roof penetrations, caused by raccoons, squirrels, roof rats and other animals.
  • Gaps in weatherstripping around exterior doors.
  • Damaged or missing screens on doors and windows.
  • Openings around the outside of door and window frames. These can give boxelder bugs direct access to your wall voids.
  • Cracks in foundation walls, especially around windows.
  • Gaps around wire conduit.

By inspecting these areas and sealing any entry point you see, you can deter boxelder bugs. Silicone Caulk, expansion foam, wire mesh and foundation repair kits are great tools for getting this hard job done.

2. Reduce Moisture

A dry perimeter is a boxelder bug-resistant perimeter. Everything you do to reduce moisture around your home can have an impact on how attractive your home is to boxelder bugs. Make sure your gutters are cleaned and in good working order. Make sure to trim tree branches to allow sunlight into densely shaded areas. And address any conditions that promote the collection of rainwater near your home.

3. Vegetation

The more vegetation you have around your home, the more interesting your home will be to boxelder bugs. Reducing unwanted vegetation and keeping everything neat and trim can reduce the allure of your yard.

4. Warmth

A home that has lots of Southern and Western sun exposure gives boxelder bugs a big target during the fall. These insects usually sun themselves on rocks to stay warm. If you give them a big, warm surface to congregate on, they’ll take you up on the offer. You can reduce this by planting trees and increasing shade. This is sort of the opposite of our last tip. But, when you strike the right balance, you can reduce high moisture and provide the right shade to make your home more resistant.

5. Removal

If boxelder bugs get into your home, they’re going to be climbing in your curtains, clinging to your walls and basically making a nuisance of themselves. Fortunately, they can’t easily find suitable food sources inside your home and they will slow down as winter progress. If you don’t want to wait for that to happen, your vacuum cleaner is the best tool for getting rid of boxelder bugs.

Professional Assistance

If it sounds like a lot of work and trouble to protect your home from Knoxville boxelder bugs, we offer another solution. The licensed pest professionals here at Russell’s Pest Control can help you get a pest control program in place that will give your exterior a barrier that will repel and eliminate boxelder bugs. Reach out to us today and request a free, no-obligation home pest control estimate. We can help you make boxelder bug problems a thing of the past.