Uninvited Holiday Guests
The winter holidays are here, and you may have some unexpected and unwelcome guests. Firewood brought into homes is a classic route for some beetle and ant species to enter a structure. Cinara...
Author: Eric P. Benson
Luna Moth
The Luna Moth (Actias luna), with its incredible size (3-4.5-inch wingspan), sea-foam green to yellow color, and long tails, is one of the most spectacular moths found in North America. Also known...
Potter and Mason Wasps
Sometimes we receive calls about wasps eating outdoor wooden furniture or even structures. While some wasps like paper wasps and yellowjackets will scrape wood with their strong mouthparts to make...
Clover Mites
Clover mites, Bryobia praetiosa, are more closely related to ticks than they are to insects. They feed on grasses and over 200 different plants in the landscape. When they occur in large numbers,...
Formosan Termites Take Flight in SC
In parts of South Carolina, Formosan termite swarms have been higher than they have been in recent years. What’s the story? There are eight species of termites in South Carolina. Four species are...
Asian Giant Hornets
For years, Clemson Extension personnel in South Carolina have received claims from many homeowners that they have Japanese or Asian giant hornets on their property or nesting in their homes. They...
Choosing A Professional Pest Control Company
There are many sprays, dusts, and bait products on the market for homeowners to use to control pests. However, it is not always possible for homeowners to inspect and treat their own house without...
Fabric Pest Control
Many insects feed on a variety of foods. For some insects such as the carpet beetles and clothes moths, their nourishment comes from eating items made of organic materials. The most commonly...
Stinging Caterpillars
In the insect world, appearances can be deceiving. A cute, fuzzy, or brightly colored exterior may hide a painful surprise when handled carelessly. Caterpillars are the immature stages of...
Termites
It is springtime. That means love is in the air, and so are termites. Across the Southeast, native subterranean termites swarm (fly) in the spring, leaving their colony in the hopes of starting a...
Blue Ghosts
If you are fortunate enough to live near the southern Appalachian Mountains, you may see ghosts this time of year. If you are really lucky, you may see hundreds of ghosts, for at the edge and up...
Tiny Ants Around Your Home
As people are spending more time around their homes during the concerns of COVID-19, they may be more likely to notice small ants crawling in and around their houses. Now is the perfect time to do...