Here are close-up photographs showing what a carpenter ant looks like: As you can see, a carpenter ant is comprised of three body parts, six legs and large mandibles. Up close, it’s a fierce-looking insect. Imagine standing directly in front of one that’s 20 feet tall. Related: How to Get Ants Out of Carpet | How …
Types of Spiders Overview Brown Recluse American House Spiders Tarantula Goliath (biggest in the world) Camel Wolf Spiders Black Widow Hobo Spiders Golden Silk Jumping Redback Spiders Brazilian Wandering Spiders Continue below to learn more about each spider and for photos of each spider type. There are many different types of spiders around the world, …
A friend once told me that my spirit animal was a ladybug, and I am confident in the fact that I have never and will never be so flattered for all my days. Ladybugs are nothing but a good omen. People say that if ladybugs are following you around, it’s because things are about to …
It’s probably everyone’s nightmare to be combing through your closet, looking for a shirt or pair of pants to wear, only to be met with the terrifying sight of a spider scurrying across the floor or (worse) planted on your favorite piece of clothing! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had spiders in …
Moths can be mildly irritating in the summer when they swarm around your porch light. They become more than a mild irritation when you switch your closet for the season and find that moths have gotten into your sweaters. While moths aren’t particularly dangerous and are even kind of cute, the last thing you want …
Many of us don’t know what carpet beetles are until we are exposed to them and find we need to combat these vile little pests to keep them out of our home. Because they are so tiny, it is often difficult to know that we have an infestation until it is in almost too late and …
One of the world’s tiniest, but most dreaded pests, the bed bug is one nemesis you don’t want to face in your home. Commonly encountered when traveling, bed bugs are often the souvenir you didn’t mean to bring home – and that you can’t seem to get rid of. I once experienced bed bugs when …
I find flies to be one of the most annoying insects. They are constantly buzzing and always seem to fly around your head. They also seem to be challenging to kill. This article is going to help you rid yourself of these annoying little pests. First, I want to share some interesting information that may …
Welp, the world seems to be getting all of these things in Biblical proportions lately: a massive plague, giant hornets, locusts, and now CANE TOADS! As Home Stratosphere’s resident crazy toad lady, that last one is the kind of thing that would make me jump for joy. We’ve been through so much, that a rain …
Among those insects commonly encountered in North American gardens and homes, not many are quite so fearsome-looking (or off-puttingly named) as the earwig. These guys pose no bodily threat to people despite the impressiveness of their rear-end “pincers,” more technically called cerci (and source of the common nickname “pincher bug”). And in fact, earwigs can …
Spiders will undoubtedly take over your indoor or outdoor living spaces, turning your house into a cobwebby maze full of eight-legged freaks. Arachnophobia aside, some species of dark corner loving spiders such as the brown recluse or the black widow spider are poisonous and therefore, must be eliminated using the most effective methods available. Instead …
Crickets can be charming in literature. Think of Walt Disney’s Jiminy Cricket or Charles Dickens’ “Cricket on the Hearth”. Some cultures, such as many Native American tribes, even consider crickets to be good luck. However, today’s reality is that crickets can be a nuisance. Not only is their constant chirping noisy, but they can bring diseases and …
The weather outside is nice and you decide to open up a window or two for some fresh air. A moth comes in from outside, but you either don’t notice or it doesn’t bother you because it’s just a moth. Except that moth may be one of two varieties: Pantry or clothes moths. You don’t …
When it comes to home pests, most people are wary of the usual suspects. Rats, cockroaches, and ants are all par for the course. However, one of the worst pests to have inside is the aptly named stink bug. Unlike other critters, these insects are hard to remove the old fashioned way, assuming that you …
Gnats are flying pests. They stay close to where they lay their eggs. To get rid of gnats, it’s important to understand what kind you are dealing with. Gnats are in the fly family, but not all flies are gnats. Most gnats prefer moist areas with organic material. Some species like the soil used for houseplants …
Fruit flies can be a terrible nuisance around the home. They are drawn to fruit that is just becoming fully ripe and luscious. They swarm around drains and garbage cans. They land on cleaning rags and mops. They are unwelcome guests on salads and fruit cups and even soft drinks and iced tea. Fruit flies …
Fleas are an intrusive and unwelcome houseguest for any homeowner. More than becoming a disgusting nuisance, however, they can damage the health and wellbeing of your beloved pets and take months to eradicate completely. Fleas consume blood from their host, and they like to be near their food source. When you’re talking about a flea …
Cockroaches are at the top of the list of “pests you don’t want”. They invade your home, are very good at hiding, reproducing and surviving most attempts to eliminate them. The most common roach, the German cockroach, carries bacteria that can make household members sick, create a foul odor when their population is large enough, and cause …
Make no mistake about it, I HATE ants. They are dirty and gross. The only worse things are flies and roaches. Imagine my consternation when I came home one-day last summer to a countertop that appeared to be black and moving. Yes, it was an ant takeover and I was so overwhelmed it took me …
Gnats may be tiny and they may not bite or suck blood, but that doesn’t make them any less annoying than pests like horse flies and mosquitoes. In fact, for some, gnats may even be more of a nuisance as they, more than any other type of bug, seem to always find their way into …