Stag Beetles
Few insects can grab your attention like a giant stag beetle. Stag beetles are in the insect family Lucanidae. Both females and males of many Lucanid species are impressively big, but the males,...
Author: Eric P. Benson
Rusty Spider Wasp
Summer is a time of a lot of insect activity. Some of the best insect theater is fireflies at night and wasps during the day. For example, like an ant dragging another creature three times bigger...
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...
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...