What’s that buzzing around your picnic table? Is it a relatively harmless bumblebee or a dangerous yellow jacket? Here’s your guide to find out. Bees and Wasps Are Closely Related Bees actually evolved from wasps, so it’s no surprise that they share many features. They both have four wings and the typical three body parts […]
Skunks are noxious animals. Not only are they voracious eaters of practically anything they can get their teeth into, they will burrow into your yard to see if you have anything tasty, or make a home under your porch. However, the worst thing about skunks is the smelly liquid they can discharge when they feel […]
As the weather (finally!) starts to warm up here on the Front Range, you may be getting out to plant your garden. You may be imagining all the tasty vegetables you’re going to grow, thinking about all the dishes you’re going to get to enjoy. Salads taken entirely from your garden. Corn on the cob, […]
Bats are useful and unique animals. They eat insects, which is especially valuable in areas with large mosquito populations, and as the only truly flying mammal, they are fascinating. However, they can also be annoying and dangerous. Bat squeaking and the sound of their movements can be annoying and disconcerting in your home. Bat guano […]
It used to be that having a cricket chirping by your hearth was considered lucky. In the days when indoor entertainment was sparse—before TVs, radios, even affordable printed books—the cricket’s “song” may have been a welcome alternative to heavy silence or, worse, the sound of wolves prowling around outside your door. These days, though, we […]
Box elder bugs are very common in Colorado. They are black insects with red lines on their body and wings. Box elder bugs, like many insects, overwinter as adults in warm, sheltered places. If the warm, sheltered places they choose are in your house, you will notice them coming out as soon as the weather […]
The answer to this question depends on where your pill bugs, also called sow bugs or roly-polies, are and what they’re doing. If they are a pest, pest control methods can be used to reduce or eliminate them. Pill bugs mostly live outdoors, preferring moist environments that give them the resources they need, namely water, food, and […]
Ahh . . . there’s nothing like natural wool clothing for keeping warm in the winter. Unfortunately, wool is the material that most attracts moths. While you’re wearing them, they’re not in danger, but when it comes time to put them away for the spring and summer, there are several things you should do to […]
Carpet beetles are a nuisance because they consume anything of natural animal origin they can find. Pest control is rarely necessary to keep these insects in check. Carpet beetles get their name because they used to be commonly found in carpets made of wool, though nowadays they are more often found in clothes or food. They often […]
Yes and no. Sticky traps can catch most cockroach pest species, especially those common in Colorado, mostly the small but robust German cockroach (about an inch in length, identifiable by the two “racing stripes” on its carapace just behind the head). Here are some tips for effectively using sticky traps. Effective Sticky Trap Placement Sticky […]
