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.

Discover The Many Benefits Of Year-Round Pest Control In Knoxville

Discover The Many Benefits Of Year-Round Pest Control In Knoxville

Have you ever brushed your teeth and stared at a big centipede in an upper corner of your bathroom and wondered where that bug was going to roam after you went to bed? Have you ever watched a big wasp flying around in your garage and wondered whether or not it was from a nest inside your walls? Have you ever had to go chasing after a nasty spider in the middle of watching a television show because it crawled across the wall behind your TV? Pests are disturbing. But their ability to make us feel uneasy and interrupt our lives is only the beginning of the troubles they can cause.

While centipedes are gross houseguests, they aren’t going to make you sick. That is not the case for cockroaches, rodents, flies and other pests that pick up harmful bacteria and spread it around. When you have year-round pest control, you get ongoing protection from bugs and animals that are drawn to rotting organic material.

While a random wasp flying around in your garage or outside in your landscaping is probably nothing to worry about, it can be downright dangerous when they create a nest in your yard. Social insects have a nest-protection instinct that can cause them to swarm and attack. Year-round pest control comes with routine pest inspections that work to catch stinging pests before they can do harm.

While most spiders that get into your home will just creep you out, we have two venomous spiders in Knoxville that can present a threat. They are the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider. Black widow spiders only get into homes occasionally, but recluse spiders can do quite well in your home and grow a significant population. With year-round pest control, you’ll get ongoing removal of spider webs around your home which will work to deter common household spiders and your pest control technician will alert you when signs of black widows or brown recluse spiders are present.

When mosquitoes come into your yard, year-round control can make them regret it. When termites try to feed on your home, your termite protection will immediately begin to eliminate the attacking colony. When ticks are brought into your yard and near your home, they won’t live long enough to get onto your pets or climb onto you while you’re working on your landscaping. Year-round pest control protects your health and property all year long.

If you’d like to learn more, we’d be happy to answer your questions. If you’re ready to take the next step and begin service, request a free, in-home pest evaluation and we’ll send a pest control professional right to your Knoxville home to help you get started.

Life is better without pests. Get your protection in place today.

Most Common Ants In Knoxville

Most Common Ants In Knoxville

We don’t usually spend too much time thinking about ants–until it is hard to not think about them. When you walk into your kitchen and see your trash can covered from top to bottom in ants, that is a problem that is hard to ignore. When you go into your pantry and find a few hundred ants crawling all over your shelves, those ants will be all you think about, until they’re gone. When you feel a burning sensation on your foot, followed by another, and another and another–well, you get the point. Ants can be a pain, quite literally. Here are five ants you are most likely to see on your Knoxville property.

Pharaoh Ants

These ants crawl in the garbage, on dead animals in the yard, and on other dirty things then they crawl around on counters, food prep surfaces, plates and other items. They’ll also crawl around on exterior grills. When they do, they can spread illness. Studies link these ants to over 12 infectious organisms.

Odorous House Ants

Having these ants around stinks. These ants love to get into homes and when they do, they can cause a nasty odor. But, most of the time, it isn’t the odor that makes these ants a problem. Like most ants, they are a nuisance when they appear in large numbers.

Carpenter Ants

These little homewreckers are surprisingly sneaky. They can establish themselves in a home, and chew away at it for months, without being detected. This is because carpenter ants often feed on outside food sources, rather than the food in cabinets and pantries.

Little Black Ants

You may mistake these ants for carpenter ants because of their black coloring, but you shouldn’t. Little black ants are quite a bit smaller compared to carpenter ants. A little black ant measures in at about 1/16 of an inch–compared to the 1/4 – 1/2 inch size of a typical carpenter ant worker. It is important to tell the difference because little black ants are just a nuisance. Unlike the carpenter ant, they do not have the capability to destroy your home.

Fire Ants

If you use your backyard for anything, fire ants can ruin your fun. They build their mounds all over the place and inflict irritating stings to anyone who accidentally steps in the wrong place. This can be a serious threat to those who cannot get away quickly from their stings, like babies in carriers, the infirm and the elderly.

If you live in Knoxville and you’re having trouble with ants, don’t worry. Russell’s Pest Control has industry-leading solutions for all of the ant problems we have here in Tennessee. Contact us today for a free in-home pest evaluation and let’s get that ant problem fixed. Ant issues may be common in Knoxville, but they’re not inevitable. Get immediate assistance today.