Are You Sharing Your Yard With Rats?

By Chris Williams on February 9, 2017

I just found a large hole in the ground at the corner of our porch slab that has fresh dirt around it. Something obviously is living there. My son said he saw a rat yesterday! Would a rat live so close to the house? L. W., Concord, NH Although rats normally don’t like to be…

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What Do Baby Fleas Look Like?

By Chris Williams on February 7, 2017

Our dog just had a terrible bout with fleas. We’ve treated him thoroughly and he seems to be doing okay now. But I saw a few tiny brown things in his hair that don’t quite look like fleas. Could these be baby fleas? H. W., Framingham, MA I’m not sure what you saw, but I…

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Cockroaches Know No Winter

By Chris Williams on February 3, 2017

For those in the Northeast who have entomophobia (fear of insects), winter is a welcome relief. Mosquitoes are gone, temporarily. Yellowjackets are gone, temporarily. Even the foraging ants are gone, fortunately. Unfortunately, what hasn’t gone are the indoor pests (What Happens to Indoor Insects in Winter?). Winter might slow them down a bit as average…

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Ban Groundhog Day – Let Those Woodchucks Sleep!

By Chris Williams on February 1, 2017

Groundhog Day is one of the stranger American celebrations, if you can call it that. It’s more of a media event. Old guys dressed up in top hats and tails grab poor Punxsutawney Phil from his den. Phil blinks sleepily into the cameras. Words are said, weather predictions are made, and the event is over…

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The Drugstore Beetle Thrives on Poison

By Chris Williams on January 25, 2017

My daughter said she learned in her science class about a little beetle that feeds on prescription drugs and even eats things like strychnine.  I know insects do strange things but is that really true? R. W., Alton, NH It is true. I’m sure that the beetle you’re talking about is the drugstore beetle, Stegobium…

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