GGA Blog

Backyard Blues Do you have bare patches in your yard? Places where the grass just won't seem to grow. Well, it might not be the fertilizer you're using or that you're not watering it enough. It could actually be the work of a tiny little pest called a Chinch bug

Emerald Ash Borer Infestation Ash trees are in imminent danger from this burrowing pest. Officials estimate that the state of Minnesota will lose up to 3,000 trees due to this infestation. The little buggers are really hard to detect too. A recent study investigated ways to detect the emerald ash borer

Invisible Insects We already know that stick insects are great at camouflage. They are able to trick prey and predators into believing they are simply twigs. Well, it turns out their unborn babies may be just as clever

Moth Ruins Christmas One of the iconic images of Christmas is the Christmas tree decked in ornaments and lights softly glowing in the middle of a room with piles of presents stacked underneath. One tradition many American families partake of is the event of going out with one's family and cutting down their own Christmas tree. This festive tradition may be impossible for many families this year due to an outbreak of the deadly (to pine trees, that is) tussock moth

Walking On Walls | Waco Exterminator Some insects have the amazing power to defy gravity and actually walk up walls

Less Than Cuddly Caterpillars As a little kid many of us are fascinated by insects. Think of when you were young and wanted to pick up a bright red ladybug or catch fireflies in glass jars. Not all insects immediately make us want to run away or start screaming. Some look downright cute. This is the case with the tussock moth caterpillar

Bed Bugs Bent On World Domination In her new novel, Infested: How the Bed Bug Infiltrated Our Bedrooms and Took Over the World

What's popular this fall? Just like fashion, everyone is asking the question, which bug will be popular this fall? Of course with its beautiful black and red markings, I'm sure the box elder bug will top the list of most popular bugs of fall. These black pests have three red markings down their backs and are oblong in shape. The adults are usually the ones that will make it into your home, and the nymphs will be found in trees surrounding the home. They are attracted to ash and maple trees as well as fruit and nut trees. They will also congregate on the sunny side of your home as they enjoy the warmth of the fall season. Fall is the time of year for mating and they will congregate in large groups looking for shelter to begin the mating process. The best way to ensure they don't work their way right into your home is to carefully inspect your home for any cracks in the walls or seals that may not be tight. Make sure that you have screens on your windows, and that door jams are secure with no leaks as well   For more information on box elder bugs, please click here

Ants - a superorganism? Typically when we think of ants the last thing we want to think about is an entire colony coming in any given area at one time. But did you know that research has shown that ants when working together as an entire colony actually functions as one giant superorganism? It makes sense doesn't it? Ants are very social creatures who stick together. When they feel attacked they will work together using pheromones to coordinate an attack against whatever is threating their home. When this theory is applied to using ants as a pesticide, miracles happen. Ants will hang out on trees like mango trees and by association, the fruit becomes protected by the colony as well. When other insects try to invade the territory the ants work together as an army to ward off the intruder. The research shows that the fruit produces a better quality crop too. The research also shows that ants can perform just as effectively as pesticides around these crops. Attracting the ants is the easy part. Farmers can hang nests coated in sugar water in their tree branches until the ants build nests of their own throughout the orchard. Ants would be harmful to would be intruder insects but relatively harmless to humans. For more information on ants, please click here