Six Common Misconceptions About Mosquito Control

By Chris Williams on May 23, 2016

1. We’re protected because we use a bug zapper outside. These insect electrocuting devices, commonly called “bug zappers” are not an effective control for mosquitoes. Most of the flying insects that are zapped look like mosquitoes, but they are really harmless (and beneficial) midges (see Do Bug Zappers Work?). 2. I’m sure our mosquito problem…

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Where Are These Fruit Flies Coming From?

By Chris Williams on May 20, 2016

We have a problem with what seem to be fruit flies, but we don’t have any fruit sitting around in the house. I can’t figure out where they’re coming from but this has been going on for weeks. Any suggestions? L. K., Newburyport, MA First, you need to make sure that you are dealing with…

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It’s Illegal to Use Mothballs as Animal Repellents

By Chris Williams on May 19, 2016

When we visit homes to remove squirrels, birds, bats, or other nuisance animals in attics, we often find that the homeowner has thrown mothballs into the attic space in an attempt to repel the intruders. That’s not a good decision in more ways than one. Not many people know that mothballs are pesticides and are…

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Tiny Cigarette Beetles Infest Many Food Products

By Chris Williams on May 18, 2016

Why in the world would I have cigarette beetles in my dried herb jar?  I’ve been seeing these little brown beetles in my kitchen and my friend who’s a biology teacher looked at them and said they were cigarette beetles!  D. R., Boscawen, NH Despite the name, cigarette beetles are a common pest of packaged…

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Dealing With a Wasp’s Nest inside a Wall

By Chris Williams on May 17, 2016

When I opened up a wall in our house this morning for some electrical work I found what looks like a wasp nest. It’s gray and papery and fills most of the bottom half of the void space, about 2 feet long by 1 foot wide. It freaked me out and I quickly closed the…

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