As Southern temperatures rise and winter gives way to spring, termite season begins in full force. The warm, humid climate of the South creates the perfect environment for termites to thrive, making proactive protection crucial for homeowners. In this guide, we’ll explore the role termites play in nature, their destructive potential, and how you can […]
DIY This, Not That: Winter Edition As winter storms sweep across the South and temperatures drop, pests are finding their way indoors in search of warmth and shelter. Homes and businesses alike become prime targets for unwelcome guests like rodents, cockroaches, and silverfish. While DIY pest control might seem tempting, not all methods are effective—or […]
Fact vs. Fiction About Winter Pest The holidays are a time for festive gatherings, cozy nights, and cherished memories. Unfortunately, they’re also a prime time for pests to seek shelter in your warm, welcoming home. With the colder weather come myths about winter pests—some amusing, others concerning. In this edition of Pest Mythbusters, we’re unwrapping […]
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 […]
The Giant Water Bug Belostomatidae, also known as “giant water bugs,” are easily recognizable by their large size and a pair of short, strap-like posterior respiratory appendages. They are one of the largest insects in the Hemiptera order. They use these appendages to obtain air at the water’s surface. They are large, predatory aquatic insects […]
One of my favorite speakers in the pest control industry is Dr. Bobby Corrigan, a rodent enthusiast, or, as he’s more professionally known, an Urban Rodentologist. Some of the most useful information I have learned about rodents has come from seminars Dr. Corrigan has led. In one such event that I watched recently, he talked […]
What does it mean to be social? Being social, or sociality is defined as a group of individuals of the same species exchanging information and cooperating in one way or another. The key to this cooperative living is communication. The word communication is derived from the Latin word “communis”, which is translated to mean “to exchange […]
When we think of termites, we typically think of destruction, damage, wood-eating, and good-for-nothing insects. However, termites are so much more than that. Termites are complex insects and one of the few insects out there that can eat wood. They have a uniquely complicated reproduction cycle, and they are one of the truly social, or […]
The Electric Buzz: The Secret Behind Bumblebee Fuzz I love writing about bugs, but sometimes I struggle to think of new and exciting topics to explore in my writing. Sometimes I ask around for ideas, and I recently asked our Training Coordinator Ashley, “if you could ask one question about insects, what would it be?” […]
Aside from my birthday, one of my favorite days in March is St. Patrick’s Day. The holiday brings back fun memories of silly green outfits I used to wear as a kid, and, more importantly, my mom’s yummy corned beef and cabbage. When we think of St. Patrick’s Day, we often think of good luck […]
It’s once again that time of year when store shelves abound in heart-shaped valentine boxes, kids are making valentines, couples are planning dates and maybe you’re doing none of those things, which is perfectly okay! Would you believe me if I told you that there are some creepy crawlers that may be planning their dates, […]
Silverfish are in the order Zygentoma. This soft-bodied insect is a voracious feeder on items high in starch, glue, and cellulose. For example, they are common in libraries and museums where paper books and labels are abundant. However, they can also be found outdoors in cool shaded places, such as under leaf litter, under rocks, […]
When I think of snow, I don’t think of many things living in it that aren’t covered in fur or blubber. You especially don’t think of insects being able to survive. Sometimes, I don’t think I am going to survive, being from Florida I would take the sand in my toes than the snow in […]
What we know about fleas: they are a nuisance, they can be hard to get rid of, they hurt our pets and sometimes, they even bite us. My goal in the discussion of fleas below is not to tell you all the bad things about fleas, although there will be some of that, but rather […]
Most pests come from the outside, so wouldn’t it make sense to keep them out before they become an indoor problem? Here are some ways you can keep pests out and make your home less desirable to them. Door sweeps are simple and effective devices that are often overlooked and neglected. Chipped, broken, damaged, or […]
Kristen Stevens, BCE (spiders that are not deadly – wolf spider, crevice weaver) If you have ever seen the movie Finding Nemo, one of my favorite scenes is when the sharks are meeting as a support group for recovering fish-eaters. Their mantra is “Fish are Friends, NOT food!” They are trying to curb their appetite […]
With the weather beginning to cool off and leaves starting to change into striking colors of red and orange, many of you will likely take to the outdoors for an evening stroll. It is within this time of year that many orb weaver spiders reach full maturity and their brilliant webs can be seen on […]
Entomophobia is the excessive fear of insects. Most of our customers suffer from this common phobia to some extent, which is why they trust us here at Cook’s to keep the insects out of their home. Because it’s October, and Halloween is right around the corner, we thought we’d take a look at why people […]
Have you heard that the “daddy long legs” is extremely venomous? Have you also heard that the only thing keeping this creature from terrorizing all of humanity is its tiny mouthparts that are unable to pierce human skin? To complicate the matter, three different leggy beasts are called daddy long legs or granddaddy long legs […]
Spiders (and snakes) give people the heebie jeebies. There’s something about having too many legs (or not enough legs) that really unnerves people. The fact that some are venomous further expounds our fears. And, the bigger they are, the worse we tend to feel about them. Let’s talk about one of the world’s largest spiders. […]
