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Rustling walls, attic footsteps, or chewed food boxes may signal mice in your home. The non-native house mouse commonly lives near people, but native white-footed and deer mice may also enter buildings, especially during cold Illinois winters. Mice are a nuisance and can spread viruses, bacteria, and allergens through urine and droppings. Urban growth and climate-driven landscape changes may worsen these problems. What can you do? Signs of mice Common signs include scratchi

Homeowners call pest-control companies for fewer pests, but unclear expectations often cause frustration. A brief visit followed by visible activity can seem like failure when it may be normal. Clear communication is part of the service. Before the technician arrives We discuss the problem, tailor a plan and explain any preparation, which is usually minimal. THE THREE STEPS: a planning conversation the treatment visit a choice of future service frequency Homeowners ge

Fall often inspires seasonal baking, but before making pumpkin spice donuts or ginger cake, inspect your ingredients. Inspect flour carefully: original packaging may not keep pantry pests out, and an infestation can spread quickly. Signs of pantry insects Pantry pests include flour beetles, weevils, Indianmeal moths and grain moths. Signs include small beetles or moths, package webbing, larvae and tiny holes. Dry goods to inspect after finding pests Pests found in one pantry

There is a frustrating trend: infestations that once responded quickly now require more visits, more product and more creative treatment strategies. The problem is not technique. Across the country, German cockroaches and bed bugs are developing resistance to products that were once highly effective. THE RESISTANCE CHALLENGE. Insects develop resistance in two main ways. First, natural genetic mutations may allow some insects to survive exposure to a specific active ingredien

The 10 worst cities are generally in the Midwest and Ohio Valley area. The city with the highest activity is, once again, Chicago. The full top 10 cities for bed bugs this year are: 1. Chicago, Illinois 2. Los Angeles 3. Detroit 4. Cleveland, Ohio 5. Indianapolis 6. Springfield, Illinois 7. Washington, D.C. 8. Columbus, Ohio 9. Pittsburgh Grand Rapids, Michigan In addition to Chicago, Illinois has two more additions to the list: The state’

Researchers have developed and tested a new insecticide made from garlic and spearmint derived compounds as a more environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic pesticides. When people hear ‘insecticide,’ they often think of synthetic chemicals that may harm people and the environment. But plants naturally produce potent insecticidal compounds to defend against insects. The team used nanotechnology to create a natural insecticide targeting the adzuki bean beetle. They foc

The Taexx system is a built-in, "tubes-in-the-wall" pest control network installed during new home construction. Perforated tubes inside exterior wall voids connect to an outdoor port box, letting technicians inject liquid insecticide from outside without entering your home. How It Works New Construction Only: Installed after electrical wiring but before insulation. Cannot be retrofitted into existing walls easily. Exterior Access: Technicians hook application equipment to an

Flex Flit is an exclusion solution designed for commercial and residential applications to strengthen protection against rodents at garage doors. Xcluder announced the launch of Xcluder Flex Fit, a new solution designed to simplify installation and strengthen protection against rodents at garage doors. Engineered for commercial and residential applications, Xcluder said Flex Fit delivers faster installation and sustained exclusion performance without compromising building s

Picture a mouse sniffing a crumb while foraging, or a person inhaling to judge whether a cantaloupe is ripe. Mice, like humans, can take a single deliberate sniff to explore their environment. Rodents and humans share the same underlying smell-processing rhythms. Although mouse sniffs are shorter, both species process odors at a similar tempo, suggesting the system is evolutionarily conserved. What are the implications for humans? Because sniffing changes are linked to autism

· Scientists developed carbon quantum dots from biomass waste that repel adult sweet potato whiteflies. · The dots were made from wood, plant, and food waste for sustainable quantum dot applications. Quantum dots are tiny artificial nanoparticles, usually 1 to 9 nanometers wide. Quantum confinement gives them distinct electronic and light-emitting properties based on their composition, size, and shape. Repellents offer an alternative by discouraging pests rath

Bio-spotting is the practice of placing rodent control equipment in locations where rodents repeatedly return. These areas typically provide some type of survival advantage, including protection from predators, food and warmth, travel corridors, pheromone communication routes and concealed movement pathways. With bio-spotting, technicians must think less about where equipment “should” go (according to spacing charts and/or customers’ perceptions of thorough coverage), and mor

Long Island resident Michael Larkin found two lone star ticks on his leg after landscaping. He became ill days later, and it was confirmed in April that he had contracted Bourbon virus. Bourbon virus remains rare, but the expanding range of lone star ticks—the likely primary transmitter—could increase exposure to the virus and other tick-related concerns, including alpha-gal syndrome. According to the CDC, Bourbon virus was first identified in 2014 in Kansas and is thought to

Rodent fluorescent tracking powder is a non-toxic diagnostic tool used by pest professionals to trace the exact travel paths, runways, and entry points of mice and rats. When a rodent walks through the applied dust, the powder clings to its fur and paws, leaving a luminous trail that is easily visible under an ultraviolet (UV) blacklight. How It Works Application: A very light dusting of the fluorescent powder is applied in areas where rodent activity is suspected—such as alo

Pesticides fit specific receptors in insects. The "open and closed doors" analogy shows how they disrupt vital functions in pests. Fortunately mammals have receptors that are different than insects. As an example, the active ingredient in flea dust is safe for the dog. How the "Open/Closed Doors" Concept Works In healthy insects, receptors and ion channels open and close to carry signals for movement, heartbeat, and other vital functions. The pesticide jams the door open

Flamethrower drone to mitigate a yellow jacket nest? Well, no, as far as states and the Feds are concerned. But here’s the next best thing. To treat stinging insects more safely, pest control operators use precision-spraying drones with articulating arms or pressurized nozzles. These systems allow operators to treat elevated wasp and hornet nests from a distance, reducing reliance on ladders and heavy protective gear. Pest control operators (PCOs) may use drones for liqu

Laser deterrents are rapidly becoming a standard tool in modern pest management. They offer an automated, chemical-free solution for both farms and buildings. How They Work Visual Threat: Birds perceive the moving laser beam as a physical object or approaching predator. No Habituation: Constant changes in beam speed, angle, and path prevent birds from getting used to it. Automation: Systems operate 24/7 using pre-programmed patterns to sweep vulnerable areas automatically. Ke

Google wants to release 32 million mosquitoes in the US In the "Debug" program, male mosquitoes are infused with a natural bacteria and released into the wild. Google wants to release more than 30 million mosquitoes in the United States. But don't worry, there is such a thing as a good mosquito, and Google has an army of them. The tech giant wants to “stop bad bugs with good bugs” with its cleverly named “Debug” program. It's asking the U.S. government for permission to relea

CRISPR-based gene editing (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) transforms pest management by disrupting target genes to induce sterility or eliminate female offspring, bypassing chemical pesticides. This biotechnology alters specific DNA sequences to engineer self-limiting pest populations that naturally decline over time, reducing the environmental footprint of global agriculture. How CRISPR Pest Control Works Targeted Mutagenesis: Researchers deploy

Autonomous robots equipped with thermal cameras represent the next generation of commercial pest management and building inspection. By leveraging heat signatures and automated navigation, these machines eliminate the guesswork of tracking hidden threats. Core Capabilities Sub-Wall Mapping: Thermal sensors detect heat signatures from rodent nests or insect clusters inside drywall. Autonomous Navigation: Lidars and depth cameras guide robots through complex, changing commercia

Currently and in the past, pest control operators have positioned glue boards strategically to monitor for pests. Glue boards are great monitors for some pests but not all. Soon, fully digital AI monitors will be discreetly gracing your property. Internet of Things (IoT) sensors are constantly evolving. Devices equipped with 4G/5G connectivity now use optical recognition, heat, and sound to identify specific pest species, alerting technicians before an infestation even takes