How People Have Battled Bugs for Centuries Pests have been a persistent challenge throughout history, prompting creative solutions from ancient civilizations to modern times. Today, pest control is more effective and environmentally conscious than ever. Let’s explore how pest control has evolved through the centuries, highlighting fascinating methods and innovations along the way.  Ancient Pest […]

A few weeks ago, the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil predicted there would be six more weeks of winter, and whether or not you buy into his ability to forecast the weather, it’s never too early to prepare your home for Spring.  During the winter months, many bugs lie dormant; however, as the temperatures rise, bugs tend […]

Once you get the jingle in your head, it’s tough to get it out. Lookie, Lookie, Lookie, Here Comes Cookie has become synonymous with Cook’s brand over the years. But, are you aware of how the song became the focal point for the pest control company?  Early Sponsorship and the Cookie Jingle As it was […]

President and CEO of Cook’s Pest Control, Brian Cook, was recently featured on a leadership podcast to discuss the importance of giving. He’s joined by Larry Little, CEO of the Eagle Center for Leadership, who’s been a friend to the Cook family for years. Listen to the Conversation Brian discusses his desire to follow in […]

The beloved matriarch of Cook’s Pest Control, Inc. passed away on Monday, December 7, 2020, age 92, at her home surrounded by family. Mrs. Cook’s desire throughout her adult life was to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and to share her Savior’s love with others. Born September 21, 1928, in Atlanta, Georgia, Eleanor Elizabeth “Jo” […]

When we think of migrating animals, we often think of ducks and other birds that fly to places with warmer weather. However, birds are not the only animals that migrate; monarch butterflies also have unique migrating behavior. Each fall, North American monarchs will migrate almost 3,000 miles from their summer breeding grounds. There is a […]

Camouflage is very common in the animal kingdom. There are many different animals that may come to mind: chameleons, some fish, and especially insects. There are many different types of insects that demonstrate forms of camouflage. Why though? If you think about living as a small, defenseless insect, then camouflage would be vital to your […]

You probably saw this title and thought to yourself, “Has Kristen lost her mind? What do ants, aphids, and elephants have in common? And why is an entomologist talking about a pachyderm, because elephants are certainly not insects.” This is a subject close to my heart and is rather interesting, so humor me for a […]

When we think of wasps, we often think of them in a negative light. We may imagine them invading our homes and stinging us or think of the painful reactions their stings may cause. Despite these negative associations, not all wasps are bothersome; some wasps known as parasitoid wasps are often beneficial, especially in pest […]

Ever open a bag of flour or rice and find something crawling around? Wonder why and how that pest invaded your kitchen pantry? There is always the chance it didn’t come into your home at all; instead, you may have bought the product with insects included. There are a few different types of such pests, […]

Bradley Digital 4-Rack Electric Smoker Giveaway – POSTPONED The following are terms, rules, and conditions for TechTuesday Giveaways that Cook’s Pest Control, Inc. (“Cook’s”), is conducting on Cook’s social media channels. These contests have not been endorsed or sanctioned by Facebook or any other social media outlet. Contests are being conducted in their entirety by […]

The Kissing Bug As Valentine’s Day approaches, stores get inundated with hearts, chocolates, and roses, and reds and pinks are everywhere. In the bug world, we have several different insects that often get associated with “love,” love bugs, maybe even ladybugs because of their bright red color. One that doesn’t get much love is the […]

What happens to honey bees in the winter? During winter months, it’s too cold for them to be out flying, sipping on nectar, and packing pollen on their legs, so what are they doing? Have you ever wondered why honey bees make honey? They don’t make it so that we can steal it, sell it, […]

What happens to those pesky mosquitoes in the winter? They hibernate, or overwinter, although it depends on the species how they overwinter. Some mosquitoes spend the winter months as adults, others as larvae or pupae, and others still as eggs. Overwintering is a type of dormancy, so any overwintering adult mosquitoes are not out biting […]

Have you ever wondered what happens to termites in the winter? If you’ve never wondered, are you wondering now? The answer to this question is less than exciting but not reassuring to a homeowner: they don’t go anywhere! Where do the Termites Go? During the winter months, insects seem to vanish from sight, only to […]

Kristen Stevens, BCE (Stink Bugs, Kudzu Bugs, and Lady Bugs) What Pests to Expect this Winter As winter approaches, we don’t often think of insects; we think more of holiday treats and cold weather eliminating our not-so-welcome house guests. However, that notion is false. Well, at least the part about pests – those holiday treats […]

In my work I travel quite a bit and stay in hotels all across the South. My biggest fear, however, is not being away from home or sleeping in the dark: it’s taking home bed bugs. Bed bugs have not been a problem for quite some time, but in recent years populations have exploded. So […]

Holidays and celebrations can be fun and joyous. On many of these occasions, our house is full of people and their pets, delicious food covers the tables, and, all of a sudden, my pants feel just a bit tighter. Sometimes, after the merriment dies down, the company of all those house guests that we thought […]

The coming of fall in the South can mean many things, but above all is football season. I hope that your favorite team is exceeding your expectations and is on track for making a bowl game. So, with football being such an integral aspect of southern living, I figured why not attempt to tie football […]

Many insects can cause us all manner of pain, ranging from annoying nuisance, to painful bites, stings, and irritations. Obviously, some insects have a worse or more potent effect on us than others. Some of the most potent effects insects can have on us, which can subsequently elicit a huge overreaction from our bodies, come […]

With the heat of summer (and the drought that comes with it) to soon be upon us, several pests will begin to seek moisture and shelter from the elements. One such pest that could begin plaguing your home will be the millipede. Millipedes (Class: Diplopoda) can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but […]

Since we work in pest control, it’s easy to enter the frame of mind that all pests are bad or the world would be better off without certain pest species in it. It’s important to remember what pests are though. The term ‘pest’ is just an artificial name we give to insects that are disrupting […]

Who Done It? A Case of Mistaken Identity Spring is just around the corner, and after a relatively mild and wet winter, we can expect a large number of pests to be waking up soon. With that in mind, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at some of the […]

What happens when scientists genetically engineer a fly and a mosquito in attempts to create an enemy for mosquito larva?? Not sure but it definitely doesn’t create lovebugs. Oddly enough, this has been a widely-held myth for decades. The myth suggested that University of Florida entomologists introduced this species into the Southeast due to a […]

The Deadly Mosquito: Avoiding Illness With winter is in full swing, what better time could there be to take a vacation or cruise to a tropical destination? While the sun and sand may be therapeutic, a vector-borne disease most certainly will not be. Several mosquito-borne illnesses can be medically important to travelers. For good measure, […]

The summer is definitely hot here, and it has been particularly brutal this year. Several heat records have already been broken across central Alabama, and heat indexes routinely surpass 100 degrees. For those working outside, this heat can not only be a burden, but a dangerous health concern as well. Just remember to drink plenty […]

If you thought paper wasps were aggressive towards you, you should see how they act towards each other.

I think it’s safe to say that most people don’t like insects and their multi-legged relatives. Even the most harmless ones evoke fear and disgust. And the ones that suck blood? Now that’s the stuff of nightmares (and Hollywood movies).