The Hill Country’s Top Bed Bug Inspectors & Exterminators
Sleep Soundly Again with Our Expert Bed Bug Detection and Extermination Services
How do you know if you have bed bugs?
If you find yourself waking up with bites that resemble those from mosquitoes or fleas, it’s likely that you’re hosting some unwelcome visitors in your home. These bites might indicate a bed bug infestation, notorious for their nighttime feeding habits while you’re asleep.
What do bed bugs look like?
Bed bugs, small wingless insects, can appear white, light tan, dark brown, or burnt orange, and they often hide in dark, secluded spots.
For residents facing these issues, Hill Country Pest Control provides expert solutions to detect and exterminate bed bugs, ensuring peaceful, pest-free nights.
Contact Hill Country Pest Control to take care of your bed bugs infestation and give you peace of mind!
The Best Bed Bug Inspector: Bed Bug Sniffing Dogs
If you’re worried about a bed bug infestation in your Kerrville, San Antonio, or surrounding area home, Hill Country Pest Control offers a cutting-edge, non-invasive detection method: K9 bed bug inspection services.
Similar to dogs trained to sniff out explosives and drugs, our K9 bed bug detection services boasts a 97% accuracy rate. We’re proud to be one of the first in Texas to adopt this pest control technique.
Sniffing Out the Bed Bugs
Detecting bed bugs can be challenging for humans, but for our dogs, a few sniffs are all it takes. Thanks to their exceptional olfactory abilities, our dogs can identify bed bugs more quickly and accurately than any human.
These expertly trained canines can thoroughly inspect a room in as little as three minutes.
Our Expertly Trained Bed Bug Sniffing Dogs Can Quickly Find Out if You Have Bed Bugs.
Our bed bug sniffing dogs have undergone over 1,000 hours of rigorous training at the Florida Canine Academy under the guidance of Master Trainer Bill Whitestine.
They’re trained to detect not only adult bed bugs, but also their eggs. Upon discovering bed bugs, our trained technicians step in for extermination.
Post-treatment, our dogs conduct a final sweep to ensure complete extermination.
Heat Treatment for Bed Bugs: Thermal Heat Remediation
Hill Country Pest Control is also at the forefront in Texas for employing thermal heat remediation, a bed bug heat treatment, to combat bed bugs. This environmentally friendly method is effective and efficient, requiring a single treatment without the use of pesticides.
By heating the infested area to 130 degrees Fahrenheit for three hours—well above bed bugs’ lethal temperature threshold of 113 degrees Fahrenheit—we achieve a 97% effectiveness rate, killing bed bugs at all life stages.
Chemical-Free Bed Bug Extermination
For a chemical-free solution to bed bug extermination for your Kerrville, San Antonio, Bandera or Surrounding area home, reach out to Hill Country Pest Control for a K9 bed bug inspection followed by thermal remediation treatment.
Where are bed bugs found?
In Kerrville, San Antonio and the wider Hill Country of Texas, bed bugs tend to nest in places where people sleep, such as beds, bed frames, mattresses, and box springs. A cluttered room can offer these pests additional places to hide, making organization and cleanliness crucial for preventing an infestation.
Pet owners might also find bed bugs in pet bedding, posing a risk to both humans and animals through itchy, red skin and potential allergic reactions. Moreover, bed bugs are capable of spreading diseases.
How do you get bed bugs?
These pests commonly enter homes via luggage, furniture, pillows, clothing, and boxes. When buying used furniture in Kerrville, San Antonio or anywhere in the Hill Country, it’s important to thoroughly inspect items to avoid inadvertently introducing bed bugs into your home.
Reviews
Bed Bug Extermination Service Areas:
Bandera
Castroville
Center Point
Comfort
Concan
Harper
Helotes
Hondo
Hunt
Ingram
Kerrville
Lakehills
Leakey
Medina
Mountain Home
Pipe Creek
Rio Frio
Rocksprings
San Antonio
Tarpley
Utopia
Vanderpool
Frequently Asked Questions
Bed Bugs
Yes, bed bugs are visible. But, they are very small. Only bed bugs in their final maturity stages are visible. You can easily spot them if you know what to look for. Where there is bed bug activity, all phases of bed bugs from egg to adult are present. They lay eggs in clusters and the eggs are small and white or cream-colored. To grow from each phase of life, bed bugs need a blood meal. But, they can survive for months without one.
When they have had a blood meal, they become a bright red color and grow to about the size of a pinhead. A bedbug who has recently had a blood meal is easier to spot because it becomes swollen and darker. Once adults, bed bugs are about the size of a lentil and take a circular shape. However, their heads and arms are distinctly visible on their bodies.
Bed bugs gravitate to humans as they sleep because they are attracted to the carbon dioxide when we exhale. If you can see the bed bugs but suspect them, a tell-tale sign of bed bugs is red and brown spotting on mattress sheets and/or in the corners of mattresses or other upholstered furniture. In severe cases, bed bug feces and molted shells can be spotted throughout the room in curtains, drawers, and small crevices.
Bed bugs are nocturnal. During the day, bed bugs hide in creases and folds of mattresses or upholstered furniture which make them difficult to see. Both male and female bed bugs need a blood meal to reproduce. Adult bed bugs are flat and oval or circular when unfed and have a reddish-brown color. After consuming a blood meal, bed bugs turn bright red. They swell to three times their size. It takes several days for the bed bugs to return to their natural size and color.
If you have spotted bed bugs or suspect bed bugs in your Hill Country home, call Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville. Our family-owned business has 83 years of experience in the Kerr County area. Bed bugs are the most difficult pest to completely get rid of because they can survive for months between blood meals. Our expert team members handle bed bugs efficiently and with guaranteed results.
View Page Here
It is commonly thought that bed bugs are caused by an unsanitary living environment because bed bug infestations were once associated with low-income places where people lived in cramped and cluttered spaces. However, modern bed bugs are common in all types of living environments. Unfortunately, bed bugs have steadily been on the rise for the past decade in the Hill Country area and across the United States.
Most often, bed bugs spread through hotels and inns during travel. However, bed bugs are almost just as commonly spread through using second-hand mattresses and upholstery. Bed bugs are commonly found in hotels, ins, apartments, hospitals, nursing homes, and other shared facilities. Bed bugs are also elusive travelers. They can easily hide in luggage, bags, electronics, or even on clothes.
There are several things you can do while traveling to prevent spreading bed bugs to your home. First, before booking a room check to see if your hotel is listed on any online bed bug registries. Before you unpack, it is a good measure to check the bedsheets and under the sheets on mattress corners for signs of bugs. When you return home, wash everything in your suitcase in hot water. You can even vacuum items that can’t be washed. Although tedious, preventing bed bugs is much easier than dealing with an infestation later.
Bed bug infestations can happen anywhere humans rest or sleep. They are attracted to the carbon dioxide exhaled by humans as they sleep and hide in the daytime. Usually, they burrow into mattress creases around the piping or blanket folds around the mattress. At night, these nocturnal creatures come out when their victims are asleep. Because bed bug bites do not cause any immediate pain, victims rarely wake up to the feeling of being bitten. Red, swollen bites are often found near a person’s head and neck but can be found anywhere.
If bed bugs have taken up residence in your Kerr County or home, it is time to call in a professional. Bed bugs are nearly impossible to eradicate without professional help. Catching bed bugs before they severely infest a building is the safest thing to do for you and your loved ones. Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is knowledgeable in bed bug control and ready to help. Time is of the essence – contact your local bed bug control experts today.
View Page Here
While many DIY treatments claim to get rid of bed bugs, they often fail to work. This is because bedbugs can take months and several sessions to get rid of. Bed bugs can survive for up to 5 months without a blood meal so treating a home for bed bugs requires an expert eye and diligence. Hiring a professional pest control company, such as Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is essential to successfully eliminate bed bugs for good.
If you aren’t sure if your home is infested by bed bugs or feel hesitant to start, Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville offers a free bed bug inspection.
There are several things Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville asks you to do to get your home ready for a bed bug treatment.
* All linens, curtains, pillow covers, and clothing in the affected area should be washed and dried at the hottest temperature possible.
* Vacuum carpets and floors including upholstered furniture.
* Clear clutter and place items that can’t be cleared like paperwork or miscellaneous items in plastic bags
To kill bed bugs your pest control technician may recommend:
* Vacuuming the bedbugs from the affected areas
* Freeze treatments with CO2
* Whole structure heat treatments above 118 degrees to kill the bugs
* Steam treatment for carpets and cloth fabrics
* Traps and/or monitors to watch bug activity
* In some cases, traditional liquid, dust, and aerosol treatments that kill bed bugs in hard to reach places like cracks, crevices, and wall voids
* Tent fumigation is used for large buildings or in places where multiple rooms are affected
* Sometimes, specially trained dogs can be used to detect bed bug activity
After the treatment is complete, continuing to be vigilant is the best way to control future bed bugs from infesting. This is accomplished by checking mattresses often, washing bedding on high heat, thoroughly vacuuming floors, and keeping clutter to a minimum. Bed bug-proof mattress covers are also highly recommended after your mattress is treated to keep bugs from finding their way back in.
If you have seen signs of bed bugs in your home, contact Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville in Hill Country as soon as possible to prevent the infestation from spreading.
View Page Here
Bed bugs are hard to get rid of for several reasons.
Bed bug eggs are difficult to find. They hide in cracks, crevices, wall voids, and other hard-to-reach areas. Their eggs are white and tiny making them incredibly difficult to identify.
Bed bugs are nocturnal. These blood-sucking bugs come out at night and hide during the daytime in folds, creases, and tufts of mattresses and furniture. They require blood meals to mature and to reproduce and feed on human blood.
Bed bug bites show up days after they bite and don’t hurt. By the time the itchy bites are noticeable, it can be hard to track where they came from.
Female bed bugs lay eggs every day and their populations can multiply alarmingly fast. Early-stage detection can make a huge difference in how easily and quickly bed bugs can be removed from your home.
Pesticide use isn’t recommended in sleeping areas. They have also developed a resistance to many pesticides which is why they have started to make a steady comeback in recent years.
Bed bugs spread easily between rooms. If you suspect your mattress is infested with bed bugs, do not move to a different room to sleep, as you can transport bed bugs to another part of your home. In apartment buildings and hotels, bed bugs are difficult to get rid of for this exact reason. Bed bugs can even travel from one unit to another through tiny holes made to accommodate electrical wiring and plumbing.
Bed bugs can survive for 3 months – to a year without a blood meal. This unfortunate truth is what makes bed bugs so difficult to get rid of with a single treatment. Diligent aftercare is just as crucial as the initial treatment.
At the first sign of an infestation, call Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville for a free consultation. There is no point in waiting. Controlling a bed bug problem can take several weeks and even months. As populations grow it only becomes more difficult to remove the bed bugs In Hill Country, Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is your go-to bed bug control service. Contact us today!
View Page Here
Bugs in General
In the big picture, several factors can cause pest infestations, including:
* Weather and Seasonal changes
* Loss of wild habitat or food and water shortages in the wild
* Non-native invasive species
Tropical storms and hurricanes can relocate pests to a nearby area while other bugs, like American cockroaches, will purposefully seek higher ground to avoid a rainy season. Homes are inviting to pests because they can supply food and water without many of the natural predators in the wild. Homes are also warm and provide shelter for pests against otherwise rough weather conditions. When these pests find a surplus of food and water in a non-threatening environment, this causes a population boom and results in an infestation.
Additionally, home and business construction can destroy wild habitats, forcing animals and bugs alike to seek a means of survival elsewhere. Not only this, but the loss of their natural habitat may leave them with a shrinking food supply in the wild.
For some pests, a home is a place to thrive. Standing water in clogged gutters, sand toys, baby pools, planters, birdbaths, and pet water bowls are ideal places for mosquitoes to breed. Termites literally eat your home as if you’re living in it. Drywood termites burrow deep into the wood and eat as they go. Subterranean termites form colonies outside the home and transport wood back to their underground colonies.
The good news is that there are things you can do to keep pests away from your home. Even mulch placed too close to your foundation can attract pests. Start by looking for clutter, unfinished wood projects, and low-light areas where bugs may be flourishing unchecked. Outside, check for dense or tall vegetation that needs trimming. Also, check for trees or bushes that are close to the home’s roof and walls. Lastly, the most important thing you can do to avoid pests is to seal cracks, holes, and crevices in your foundation.
Luckily, there is a lot you can do a lot to prevent pest infestations. If pests continue to bother you in your home professional help is always available. Sometimes, pests just don’t respond to DIY methods and professional expertise and tools are needed. Contact Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville today for more information.
View Page Here
Preventing pest infestation is a lot easier than trying to get rid of pests once they’ve infested a home. However, sometimes it’s too late for prevention and the pests have already made their way into the home. Some DIY methods work, but more often than not, they don’t.
Professional pest control companies are experts at dealing with a variety of pests and specifically the kids of pests native to your region. Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is a well-established business that can help you out with pest control in the Hill Country. We are trained professionals with licenses to use different equipment that might be the key to ridding your home of unwanted pests.
Professional pest control companies, such as Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville employ professionals who are trained and licensed to use a combination of the newest technology, trusted methods, and geographical knowledge to eliminate pests in your Kerr County home.
Additionally, we recommend the following steps to prevent pests in your home:
* Seal cracks or holes around doors entryways, floorboards, and windows
* Replace or repair the screens in windows and doors and vents
* Cut back tall vines, grass, shrubs, and trees
* Keep your lawn and ornamental plants well kept
* Declutter your yard
* Eliminate standing water
* Disinfect your countertops, surfaces, shelves, and floors regularly
* Keep sink drains and countertops free of food particles
* Clean garbage containers regularly and keep a lid on the garbage
If your home’s pest infestation needs professional attention, call Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville today.
View Page Here
Pests can enter homes in many ways. Some pests hitchhike in bags or packages. The most common types of bugs that enter the home like this are fleas, beetles, and weevils. These bugs come from outside and lay eggs in the home to create new populations inside your home. Other garden bugs might be brought inside by bringing live plants into your home.
While some bugs hitchhike into the home, the majority of pests will enter your home through cracks, crevices, holes in the screen, or plumbing pipes. Sealing cracks and putting up screens is the best way to fight and prevent these infestations. Rodents can fit through holes as small as 1/4th inch. Rodents are especially harmful pests because they can bring additional harmful pests like ticks and fleas with them. Ants, flies, roaches, and other pests also commonly enter homes through crevices and cracks. Checking your floors, walls, windows, and doors, for small holes routinely will help prevent pest infestation.
Additionally, outdoor maintenance is just as important as indoor maintenance when it comes to infestation. Tree branches that touch houses can act as bridges for rodents and insects to enter homes. Overgrown grass can house ticks that may be brought inside by pets. Torn vents around the outside of the home can let in a multitude of pests. Some insects can live in sewers that connect to pipes in homes such as cockroaches. They can enter homes through drains in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
If your home is overcome with a single pest type or a combination of pests, look no further than Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville. Pests attract more pests. Get the help you need and start feeling comfortable again in your home.
View Page Here
In the past, many companies recommended monthly services. With modern technology, research, and new products, visits aren’t needed as frequently. In most cases, treatment will be required every quarter but this depends on several factors. Each plan will be customized to the unique needs of your property.
At Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville we find the root cause of each pest and create pest control plans that control pest populations for years to come. For example, if pests have infested your lawn, we’ll also take a look at your watering and mowing habits. Sometimes, suboptimal habits can weaken lawns and make them more susceptible to recurrent disease and infestation. Likewise, in addition to removing rodents, we will also locate and seal entry points to prevent them from reentering the home. This method of treatment and prevention gives our customers the best results we can offer.
View Page Here
To stop bugs from coming into your home you need to make your home unattractive to pests and make it difficult for them to maneuver around the home.
Outdoors, you can stop bugs from coming into your home by:
* Seal cracks or holes around doors entryways, floorboards, and windows
* Replace or repair the screens in windows and doors as well as vent screens around the house
* Eliminate plant bridges that pests can use to enter your home via tall vines, grass, shrubs, and trees
* Keep your lawn and ornamental plants well kept.
* Do not stack firewood on the side of the house, preferable stack it at least ten feet away
* Declutter your yard, removing piles of anything that pests can hide in
* Store kids’ toys and gardening containers and tools out of the elements where they won’t collect water that can attract pests
* Eliminate standing water. Change birdbaths, pet water bowls or kiddy play pools every day.
* Clean gutters and make sure your downspouts drain away from your house
Indoors you should sanitize and clean to keep pests away.
* Sweep or vacuum floors regularly or after any meal scraps fall on the floor
* Get tight-fitting lids for trash cans
* Wipe down all food prep and dining surfaces after each meal or snack
* Don’t leave dishes in the sink and clean food debris from the drain area of the sink
* Use hard plastic containers to store dry goods and pet food
* Repair or replace leaky faucets
* Declutter piles of toys, papers, clothes, or other areas that pests might hide
* Instead of cardboard boxes, use thick plastic totes or hard plastic boxes for attic and basement storage
* Make a habit of checking inside boxes and packages for pests
Pest prevention starts with daily habits you can pick up over time. Sealing entry points and maintaining the outside of your home as well as the inside is equally important. Despite your best efforts, sometimes bugs and animals still find their way inside. If you find yourself in this situation, call Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville.
View Page Here
This can vary from company to company. A company will usually use a package treatment plan that is specific to their local county’s common pest requests and issues. Our plan at Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is intended for the Hill Country region. This common program includes resistance against cockroaches, spiders, silverfish, and pill bugs.
From there, we also offer more specific add-ons to further personalize care. Certain pests, such as fleas and ticks, are most commonly a problem for customers who have pets. Instead of treating these in the basic package, we offer them as an as-needed add-on. Termites are another group of insects that requires specialized service and treatments. Regular pest control service, unfortunately, will do nothing to prevent termites. Lastly, mosquitoes also require a treatment service that is not included.
View Page Here
Most people do not notice any strong odor if any at all. The chemicals we use are modern and approved for home use. Although not all treatments require you to leave the house, we recommend that sensitive people or pregnant women should leave the home while the services are performed. We can’t say for certain if you will or won’t need to leave the home because each service is different. For more information about each service, contact Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville today.
View Page Here
Most bugs are most active Spring through Autumn. At around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, insects lose mobility. Many insects hibernate or have other means to survive the cold winters. Insects don’t become fully functional until temperatures reach 70 degrees. In April, when the weather is warm, bugs quickly multiply to replenish their populations. By summer and early fall, bug populations are at their peak.
Some pests seek refuge in homes during winter. These include roaches, ladybugs, stink bugs, and silverfish. Bugs are attracted to the shelter and warmth of a home. Especially in places where many bugs do not have winter routines, they might seek refuge in your home to survive the winter chill.
Pests can invade your home at any time of year. Our trained pest control experts at Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville are equipped to deal with any pest in any season. We not only treat the pests at hand, but we get to the source and survey your property to make adjustments that will prevent future infestations.
View Page Here
Pests like kitchens because they contain the resources for survival. Just like humans, bugs are interested in food and water. Even small traces of food and water on countertops, dirty dishes, or on the floors can be attractive to bugs. To prevent bugs from infesting your kitchen, you need to make your kitchen uninteresting to pests.
The best method to keep the kitchen pest-free is to clean as you go. After each meal or snack, clean up and wipe down counter spaces. Although tedious, this process will keep your home fresh and clean. If pests persist, look for cracks, crevices, and holes in your foundation and around entry points that pests can enter through. Seal them to prevent pests from entering the kitchen.
Place all opened bags/boxes of food in airtight containers or your fridge. Secondly, clean the floors and behind appliances regularly. These often untouched corners where bits of leftovers pile up are highly attractive to bugs. If you have pets, do not leave food out for long periods. If possible, only leave out the amount of food needed per meal. Regularly clean your pet’s food and water bowls.
If you’re experiencing kitchen pests, consult a professional pest control service such as Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville to make your kitchen feel safe and clean again.
View Page Here
Tiny black bugs could be several different types of bugs. Determining which type of bug is in your kitchen will help you get rid of the best.
# 1 Ant
Ants walk in lines that can easily be traced. They form these trails between food sources and their colonies. These creatures have six legs and segmented bodies that give them the illusion of a ‘waist’. They can be as small as ¼ inch or as large as a ½ inch. Most ants are black, brown, or red.
Fortunately, they pose no health threats and are not destructive. But they can be exceedingly difficult to get rid of. Baiting is the best system to eliminate ants. If you spray ants, you are only able to kill what you see which is likely a small fraction of the colony. However, when the ants take the bait, they bring it back to their entire colony, stopping it at the source.
# 2 Cockroaches
Despite the typical large roaches you might think of at first thought, there are immature roaches as well that can be tiny and black. These tiny black bugs do not have a recognizable head, thorax, or abdomen. They usually are oval-shaped and are anywhere from ½ inch to 3 inches in size. These are more threatening creatures than ants because they carry the diseases Salmonella and E. Coli. Sometimes, roaches can reach high population numbers without being noticed because they move in the darkness and scatter in the light. like It’s important to eliminate roaches in your kitchen as soon as possible before they grow into a full-blown infestation.
Cockroaches like warm, dark spaces to breed, such as under your fridge or sometimes in appliances like microwaves. Licensed technicians have the latest technology and specialty products to deal with a roach infestation. Keeping counter spaces sanitized and clear of food can help reduce the roaches’ attraction to the area. Also, store food and trash in airtight containers. The less access to clutter, food remnants, and trash, the better.
#3 Pantry Pests
Pantry pests are tiny black bugs that can be found in stored food products like cereal, flour, pasta, rice, spices, etc. Beetles and weevils make their way into the home through food boxes and find their way into other pantry items. These bugs prefer to lay their eggs in dark quiet places. Untouched items like baking flour only used on occasion or during the holidays are susceptible to these pests. To prevent this, store your baking ingredients, as well as cereals and other grains in air-tight glass, metal, or hard plastic containers. In addition, check the expiration dates of food and occasionally wipe down the corners and backs of cupboards.
#4 Fruit Flies
These flying little bugs are flies that buzz around and multiply quickly. As the name suggests, food left on countertops like fruit can attract them to your kitchen. Although gross, a fruit fly problem can be easily resolved through a solution of vinegar and water. This safe solution is effective and affordable.
Sometimes tiny back bugs can easily be resolved through DIY methods like fruit flies. In other cases, a pest control expert might be necessary. Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is a family-owned company. We have been eliminating pests in our community for 83 years. If you can’t identify the type of black bug in your pantry, call Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville for a free consultation.
View Page Here
Bugs are so creepy to some people for a few reasons. It might be due to the Hollywood horror industry scaring movie fans with swarms of killer bees, gigantic oversized spiders, scorpions, and so on. Sometimes on a psychological level, humans are creeped out by bugs because of the way they look. Their antennae, tiny eyes, multiple legs, and exoskeletons can make them particularly unattractive. Additionally, bugs are creepy because some are dangerous. Some do sting, bite and carry diseases that can be transmitted to people. Ticks for example are creepy because they feed on human blood. Not only this but they carry life-threatening diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Another blood-sucking insect is the mosquito that carries malaria, yellow fever, West Nile Virus, Zika Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and other diseases. Although bed bugs don’t carry diseases that threaten humans, they are creepy because they feast on human blood while their victims sleep. Just the idea of bugs crawling on you while you’re asleep is creepy as well.
Many bugs are creepy because they can reproduce and multiply quickly. Sighting a single roach for example can cause concern that there is more hiding. Cockroaches can also be scary and even dangerous. Roaches running through pipes and sewers and then across the silverware of surfaces in your kitchen can contaminate your food. In some sensitive people, it can cause allergic reactions.
Some people think spiders are the creepiest insects of all. There are only a few species of spiders that are harmful to humans like black widows and brown recluse spiders. We might not understand why we react to different bugs differently, but these basic instincts have helped humans avoid dangerous things – like bugs throughout history. Creepy bugs are sometimes harmless and sometimes deadly through bites or the diseases they carry. Lots of people are creeped out by bugs and for a good reason!
If you are creeped out by bugs in your Hill Country home, give Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville a call. We’ll get your home or business pest-free. Contact us today to set up a free inspection in the Kerr County area.
View Page Here
Scientists are still determining if bugs sense emotions like fear or pain. For most bugs, humans are seen as predators. This fear causes a trigger response for them to scatter, run or seek refuge. There are several studies on this subject such as one done in 2015 by the California Institute of Technology. Published in Science Daily, the study found that fruit flies could sense and respond to the threat of a simulated overhead predator. The flies either moved or froze until they sensed a safer environment. This research suggests that these experiments “provide objective evidence that visual stimuli designed to mimic an overhead predator can induce a persistent and scalable internal state of defensive arousal in flies, which can influence their subsequent behavior for minutes after the threat has passed.” It is important to note that this study doesn’t suggest these bugs are experiencing feelings, but they are triggering a reaction that mimics fear.
Although roaches seemingly run away when lights are turned on, these bugs aren’t afraid. They are responding to the stimuli of the lights turning on. Interestingly, bugs can’t sense human fear. They do not contain the neuro-transmitters to identify human fear. Some insects are even attracted to people like bed bugs, mosquitoes, and ticks because it is vital to their survival. For example, bed bugs are attracted to the Carbon Dioxide that humans exhale while sleeping. Ticks need a blood meal to transform into their next phase of life. These bugs are adapted to habits and patterns that help them survive, whether it be running from or gravitating toward humans.
Although bugs aren’t scared of humans, you might be scared of bugs. If this sounds like you, Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is here to help. Contact us today to set up a free inspection in the Kerr County area.
View Page Here
Bugs can seem gross because they have unsettling looks and behavior patterns. Bugs have evolved for survival which has given them unique features. The creepy-crawly feeling that people associate with an overwhelming number of insects has inspired horror films by tapping into that subconscious squirmy reaction.
Many people find spiders absolutely terrifying especially because they are associated with Halloween. Interestingly, most spiders are beneficial to you and only a small number are harmful. Most spiders help control the population of other pests that enter your home by eating them. Spider webs can also be beautifully designed. It is important to determine the looks of widow spiders, brown recluses, and Australia’s funnel-web spiders because these are among the most commonly occurring and deadly spiders. Widows and recluse spiders won’t chase you. They bite reactively. Avoid them by watching your step in brush areas, especially at night. Spiders look most unlike humans than most other creatures which may contribute to the gross feeling they give people. With multiple eyes, legs, and hard outer skeletons, it is no mystery why their bodies feel so unfamiliar and unsettling.
In large numbers, spiders, worms and other bugs can terrify people. Generally, humans fear things they don’t understand. Honey bees, for example, are misunderstood. Honey bees are important pollinators that are essential to the food we eat and the air we breathe. They help plants grow and repopulate. But a lot of people think all bees, wasps, and hornets are dangerous killer bees. Unless you have a severe bee allergy, most bees are harmless in the long term. But some of this fear of bees is justified. Bees are wired to protect their hive, even at the cost of their lives. When a bee feels threatened, it will sacrifice its life by stinging the invader. A large number of bee stings can be not only painful but in rare cases, deadly. Similarly, a fear of termites, ticks, mosquitoes, whiteflies, and roaches is also justified. These bugs threaten businesses and homes alike. There is nothing wrong with fearing bugs. It’s part of being human! Educating yourself on what types of bugs are harmful and how to avoid them can help you feel safer and reduce the gross feeling they give us.
It is normal to want to keep bugs out of your home, business, or lawn. We can do general sprays around the home and outdoor spaces to regularly maintain bug populations. If this interests you, Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is available to help in the Hill Country area.
View Page Here
The simple answer is – bug populations usually flourish in spring and summer and plummet in winter. They are often unable to function properly below 40 degrees. Some bugs die off in the winter, such as male mosquitoes. In some honey bee colonies, the worker bees stop pollinating and their job becomes to keep the queen warm and alive until spring. Flies hibernate in larval and pupal stages under manure and other organic matter. Most cockroaches, as resilient as they are, die at low temperatures. They often try to survive in warm homes near vents and heaters. Brown recluse spiders die at just 44 degrees Fahrenheit but black widow spiders can overwinter in a sheltered space. Some bugs will migrate to warmer climates, such as the Monarch butterfly.
Some bugs hibernate. For example, ants eat lots of food to prepare for winter and hibernate underground. Amazingly, some bugs can convert the water in their bodies to glycerol which acts as antifreeze to stay alive. However, the type of bugs you might find in your home during the winter depends on where you live. In parts of California, Texas, or Florida, the weather may allow such bugs to survive winter.
It is important to monitor for pest activity all year long. Although some bugs die during winter, many hibernate and resurface in the Spring.
Not sure who to call for professional pest control? In Hill Country, contact the experienced team at Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville. With over 83 years of serving local homes and businesses, Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is your go-to pest control company for any bug population control needs.
View Page Here
Cold weather does kill some bugs, but many hibernate. Especially bugs like queens hibernate during cold weather and reemerge at the first sign of warm weather to form new colonies. Yellow-jacket males, on the other hand, die during the winter because the queen will birth new yellow jackets for the spring. Even if they don’t die, many bugs are inactive during the winter months. Some bugs hibernate under the soil, such as ants. Other insects survive in a semi-hibernation state known as diapause, in hiding areas like trees or wood stumps. Some can even convert the water in their bodies to glycerol which becomes a sort of antifreeze to keep them alive. Nymphs and eggs often survive winter and hatch in summer-like those of dragonflies or stoneflies. They remain at the bottom of lakes or rivers that do not completely freeze in the chilly weather. Most cockroaches, as resilient as they are, can’t survive at low temperatures. They often try to survive indoors by seeking refuge near the vents and heaters of buildings. Monarch butterflies migrate to warmer places before chilly weather comes.
Random spells of warmth may kill bugs in the winter if the weather suddenly becomes cold again. Warm spells in the winter may result in killing bugs when temperatures drop again suddenly. Although bugs aren’t as common in the winter, many are living year-round.
If you have seasonal pest issues, we are here to help at Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville. With over 83 years of serving local homes and businesses, Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is well equipped to help with any pest control needs.
View Page Here
Bugs seemingly disappear in the winter because the cold weather makes them less active. While many bugs die off, others find unique ways to survive the winter weather. Some find a warm area to hide. Many bugs go into various dormant states like hibernation or diapause. And a small number of bugs, such as Monarch butterflies, do disappear because they migrate to warmer climates. Other bugs, such as honeybees, spend the winter in hollow areas of stumps or other holes converting stored honey into body heat. Instead of pollinating, the honeybee’s main job is to keep the queen warm and alive. Ants hibernate in the soil until warmer weather. Some bugs significantly reduce in population size and most die off like wasps, hornets, and yellowjackets. Only the fertilized queens live to the spring. Similarly, male mosquitoes die off in the winter. But, female mosquitoes change their diet and habits to survive the winter conditions.
Some bugs enter a state of diapause which is like a semi-hibernation. These bugs enter a dormant state. A key characteristic of diapause is these bugs regulate their body temperatures by turning the water in their bodies into glycerol. This chemical exchange works as an anti-freeze to keep their bodies from freezing entirely. Bugs become inactive during the wintertime because they can’t function properly in cold weather. However, in states like Florida, California, and Texas bugs can remain active year-round as the temperatures remain warm in some areas.
If you are experiencing winter pests, or want to prevent the spring bugs from entering your home, Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville has your back. With years of experience treating private and commercial properties across Kerr County, we are ready to help with any pest control issues at any time of the year.
View Page Here