The flower spider or Goldenrod Crab spider is one of the many species of crab spiders that are found all throughout America, including Utah. The goldenrod crab spider is also referred to as the flower spider because they are found on flowers, often one of similar color to act as camouflage. They use this camouflage to help them hide from larger predators and also to hunt for prey. This spider can sometimes be found indoors. However, it is often by accident as they are most often encountered in yards and flower gardens. Rentokil would like to share more about this unique spider and how you can prevent them from invading your home.

Yellow Flower Crab Spider Identification

The flower spider is a member of the crab spider family where they resemble a crab and often move side to side like one. Flower spiders are one of the smaller species of crab spider, the largest being ¼ of an inch not including their legs. The color of flower spiders varies from white with accent colors of yellows, reds, pinks, and browns. They can also be a solid green, brown, tan, yellow and white color. They are often drawn to flowers of similar coloring to help them blend in while they hunt for prey. The flower spider is a hunter species that hides and jumps out at their prey. With lightning speed, they can even catch bees and dragonflies out of the air. Like other hunter spider species, they have only six eyes that triangulate in front of the head instead of spreading out around.

Flower Spider Life Cycle

The flower spider has excellent vision. They are most active during spring and summer when all of the flowers and plants are awake and other insects are most active. Spiderlings hatch from their eggs once the winter temperatures begin to warm up. After hatching, the young spiderlings will hunt and eat. By midsummer, they are fully mature and begin mating and laying eggs. Once the temperatures drop for winter their metabolism slows down and eventually, they will die. The eggs are safely encased which helps them survive the winter. Come spring, the cycle repeats for the new generation.

Where Do Goldenrod Crab Spiders Live?

Flower spiders prefer to stay outside. However, they are occasionally found inside homes. Flower spiders are often brought into homes, either when a homeowner brings in a new indoor flowering plant or a pet or person rubs against a flower and they attach themselves onto them becoming a passenger. As long as they remain outside they are regarded as a beneficial spider preying on other harmful insects or vegetation damaging pests. When they are found inside a person’s home, often they assume they are harmful due to their bright colors.

Flower Spider Prevention

The flower spider’s bite does hurt, however they are not poisonous to humans. To help keep flower spiders out of your home, inspect indoor plants before bringing them inside, especially if you like to bring in your homegrown boutiques. Maintaining a clean yard often discourages flower spiders as they don’t like their hunting area disturbed.

Spider Control

If you need help controlling spiders and other summertime pests then contact Rentokil. We can handle all of your pest control needs.

Insects do not adhere to manmade borders and divisions. Though they may be common in an area doesn’t mean they are not seen in other places. As Rentokil provide services to Northern Utah and Southern Idaho, some species of insects can be more common than others. For example, there are thousands of cockroach species found in the world. In northern Utah, the most common species include German, American and Oriental cockroaches. Today, we at Rentokil would like to briefly touch on these common species of cockroaches.

American Cockroach Facts

Though the average length is a little over an inch, American cockroaches can reach up to 3 inches in length and they are one of the largest species in the United States. Their colors vary from a reddish-brown to dark mahogany color and feature a yellow band that outlines their heads. Once the American cockroach reaches adulthood, both females and males have developed wings that make flight possible. These cockroaches are normally found outside, preferring warm, damp areas like under mulch or in flowerbeds to infest. Additionally, American roaches can frequently be found invading sewers. American cockroaches generally invade homes and businesses in search of food and water. Roaches will crawl under doors and through damaged weather stripping, through basement windows, garages, and common entryways. Once inside these roaches will dwell in basements, bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. American cockroaches will eat American cockroaches eat leaves, tiny wood particles, fungi, and algae as well as small insects and any human scraps or crumbs they can find in addition to pet food.

German Cockroach Infestations

German cockroaches are usually light brown or tan colored and bear two black horizontal stripes located on the pronotum behind the head. These roaches are approximately 5/8” long. Though both adult female and male roaches have wings, they rarely fly. German cockroaches are most commonly found indoors, although they can adapt outdoors in tropical environments. They prefer warmer and more humid areas of a structure; lurking in kitchens and bathrooms most often but can be found in other areas of the home where food is available. German roaches are natural scavengers and will feed on nearly anything including book bindings, crumbs missed or the residue left on the dishes, soap, and toothpaste.

Are Oriental Cockroaches Harmful?

Males are significantly shorter than females, males are just under an inch long and females can just get over a 1 ¼ inch long. The male’s wings are only about ¾ length of their and females only have large wing pads; both are shiny black to a reddish-brown color. They will intrude into buildings through open doors, gaps beneath the siding, following utility lines, in pipes or open drains. Outside they keep warm and moist under mulch, landscape beds, in leaf litter, beneath stones or debris outdoors. They will thrive particularly thrive in the voids or openings beneath porches, in wall voids and crawlspaces. Oriental cockroaches crawl around service ducts, toilets, bathtubs, sinks, radiators, and pipes and will frequently live in cellars and basements. Unfortunately, the oriental cockroach’s strong attraction to water often leads them to sewers and other sources of bacteria-ridden water. They also love eating decomposing food which means they can transmit this bacteria and pathogens to humans making them extremely harmful.

Cockroach Extermination

No matter what type of roach you have infesting your Northern Utah or Southern Idaho home or business, Rentokil can help you eliminate them! Contact us for a consultation to formulate a custom pest control plan today.

Most wasp species are social insects. Noticing wasps swarming overhead will likely indicate there is a nest close by. They work together to build the nest, forage and protect the nest. To ensure wasps are effectively removed from the premises, removing the nest is a vital step. Many homeowners will attempt to remove the nest on their own accord, thinking it is not a problem to do so, but when they are confronted with thousands of aggressive wasps capable of relentless and multiple stings to protect their home, they learn a hard lesson. Today, we at Rentokil would like to drive home why leaving the removal of wasps’ nests to the professionals is important.

Wasps Can Sting Multiple Times

As aforementioned, wasps are capable and willing to deliver multiple stings to a perceived threat. Their nests can prove to be a logistical challenge due to their remarkable long-range of flight patterns when foraging. Additionally, their wasp placement can be difficult to reach and more problematic than it seems because many wasps prefer the aerial locations of trees and structures. Since many times the nests are partially or fully concealed, retaliation can be expected if you try to exterminate the exposed nest or wasps with an over the counter aerosol wasp exterminating product. Homeowners should rely on and call professionals to remove the wasp nest due to these challenges, to avoid the painful and repeated stings that can likely occur without the proper training for execution.

Wasp Sting Swelling, Pain & Allergic Reaction

Despite gearing up with protective clothing, homeowners can make mistakes that either the colony isn’t effectively eliminated, or the gruesome attack will be underway. Though wasps do not administer venom when they sting, the effects are unpleasant with pain, swelling that makes the site more uncomfortable and dealing with multiple stings can be especially grueling. Not only are these initial stings unpleasant, but many people experience varying degrees of allergic reactions to the sting that range from minor to severe, and like bee stings, in those with severe reactions and multiple stings, the results can be fatal if medical attention isn’t given fast enough.

DIY VS Professional Wasp Nest Removal

Without the right training, handing the wasp nest is not worth the risk. A better investment is allowing a trained and experienced professional to remove the wasp nest to ensure your safety and efficiency of eliminating the threat of wasps. Professionals have the expertise, skills, and effective products that make the process a lot easier, efficient, and safe. It is only a matter of time before they are colonized once again even if you manage with the initial nest removal and enough wasps manage to survive. Not only will the professional ensure the wasp nest is efficiently removed from the premises, but most companies will offer a guarantee should a nest comes back in a short time frame, obligating them to take care of it at no cost to in some cases.

Stinging Insect Control

As they look for meats and sweet offerings leftover from your scraps, wasps are notoriously known for invading trash areas and water locations. In the event you have a wasp issue, call the experts of Rentokil & Lawn Treatment to safely and effectively remove the wasp nest from your grounds.

Spending the evening on your patio during the summer is dreamy. It turns into a nightmare, however, if the pests are kept at bay. Nothing can ruin an outdoor gathering quite like pests. There are several things you can do to cut down the number of pests around your deck and patio immensely so you can enjoy your evenings outside. Rentokil is here to share some tips that will help keep pests from invading your porch, patio or deck this summer.

Worst Pests Building Nests or Invading Your Porch, Patio or Deck

There are many pests that find your porch, patio or deck attractive. This is especially true when you are having a dinner party and food is involved. Flies, fruit flies, and mosquitoes are often irritating for those enjoying their backyard; as well as wasps and other stinging pests. These stinging pests will often build nests near your windows and doorways which make them a threat as well as a nuisance.

Pest Prevention Tips

The following are some steps you can take to stop allowing these pests to keep you from going outside to enjoy your outdoor space.
• Get Rid of Clutter– If your patio or deck is clutter-free and clean, it will be more likely to be pest-free. Don’t allow clutter to give pests a place to hideout. You should also get rid of all crumbs and sticky remnants from your last BBQ so you aren’t attracting ants, wasps, and bees with the sugary or greasy leftovers.
• Change the Lighting– Pests are attracted to bright lights. Replacing your current white bulbs with yellow bulbs will make your patio less appealing. Pests aren’t as attracted to an orange or yellow glow like they are to bright white.
• Plant Herbs– There are some herbs that will help keep pests away. You can plant garlic, rosemary or chive and lemongrass to help repel insects. Flowers like marigolds can be used to ward off pests as well. Having them on the table and planted around your deck or patio will keep pests at bay.
• Citronella Torches– Citronella is known to keep mosquitoes away. You have to burn several torches in order for them to be beneficial, but this oil will help keep biting pests like mosquitoes away from your outdoor space.
• Hydrogen Peroxide Pest Repellent– Many pests don’t like hydrogen peroxide. You can mix it with water and create a spray to keep bugs away. Spray the perimeter and your furniture with the mixture and you will see the mixture work its magic. Be sure to keep from spraying near food and drink though.

Pest Management

If you are having a hard time keeping the pests controlled in your outdoor space, the experts at Rentokil can help. Let us keep your outdoor space usable with our experienced pest control techniques. Don’t let pests determine the amount of time you spend outside this summer. Call us today!

Ants are a pretty fascinating creature when you really think about them. They work as a team and work hard their entire lives. But no matter how endearing their qualities may be, no one wants ants to make their house a home for an ant colony. An ant colony can have hundreds of ants in it and the thought of that many ants crawling through your home is enough to make anyone’s skin crawl. Rentokil is here to share some tips to keep ants out of your home this summer.

Ant Identification Chart

There are literally thousands of different ant species in the world. The number of ant species that infest homes in America is much smaller though. There are several ant species that are more common than others and the best way to get rid of them is to know what species you are dealing with in the first place. When you know what type of ants you have, you know what they eat and what is attracting them. This information can help you keep them out of your home.
• Pavement Ants– These ants are tiny and brown or black. They usually make their way inside your home from an outdoor nest. Pavement ants are attracted primarily to moisture inside your residence.
• Argentine Ants– While these ants are also small and brown or black, they make their nest inside your home. This usually happens in moist places with food like potted plants, sinks, and pipes. Argentine ants are attracted to the sweet honeydew produced by aphids and mealybugs from fruit trees, roses, and other plants.
• Odorous Ants– You know you are dealing with this ant because when you smash them they smell like rotten coconut. Odorous ants are attracted to moisture and standing water.
• Carpenter Ants– These can be very destructive if they are left to their devices for long. They build their nests inside the structure of your home. They are very large and dark brown or black. Carpenter ants are attracted to sugars such as honeydew produced by aphids and scale insects that feed on plants. Once inside your home, carpenter ants will feed on proteins such as pet food.

Home Sealing For Pest Control; Caulk to Keep Ants Out

Sealing all the areas that an ant can get through in your home is a good start to keeping them out. If there are cracks around your doors or windows, seal them up with a fresh strip of caulking.

Remove Food Sources in Kitchen to Deter Ants

Ants are likely looking for food if they have made it into your home. They aren’t picky and will eat any old crumb of food found on your floor. Keep your kitchen neat and tidy, free of any crumbs and old food to avoid ants. Keeping your food in tightly closed storage solutions will keep them from contaminating your food as well.

Prevent Ants in the Bathroom

As ants are attracted to moisture, it helps to dry the water on the sink, tub, and shower after using these fixtures. It is also a good idea to put the toilet seat down after use and close containers such as toothpaste tubes and lotions as well as shampoo and conditioner bottles.

Ant Control

If after trying all these tips mentioned above, you still have a problem with ants in your home, the professional pest control technicians at Rentokil can help. We know how to eliminate any type of ant you may find in your home. Call us today!

Have you ever wondered why the Utah state bird is a California Gull? It’s because they saved the Mormon settlers by eating hordes of crickets that were destroying their crops in 1848. This event is known as the miracle of the gulls. The gulls were credited to saving the second harvest of the Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley. Even though it’s called a Mormon cricket, it’s not a cricket. It’s actually a shield-backed katydid.

Identification of Mormon Crickets

Mormon crickets are large insects that can get as big as three inches and live throughout western North America. They vary in color and can be black, brown, purple, red or green. They have a shield that covers their wings. The wings are ornamental because they don’t fly, but they can move; 1.5 miles a day and 50 miles a season. They will eat anything in their path and can devastate crops. They destroy grasses and other vegetation by eating plant stems and leaves. This damages the plants’ growth and seed production, which also decreases the amount of food for livestock. Other than being a serious agricultural pest, they can also become a traffic hazard. They can create a slippery surface on roads as they march across highways and roads. They have been known to cause accidents.

Mormon Cricket Invasions

The males will chirp, and the females have a long appendage called an ovipositor that looks like a stinger, but it isn’t. She uses it to push dirt, so she can lay her eggs on the surface of the soil. Female Mormon crickets can lay up to 100 eggs every summer. These eggs will hatch the following spring. Swarms can number in the thousands. When populations explode they can form roving bands. These bands can include millions of single crickets per square meter. Infestations can last for decades and can increase in population and then decrease. Some scientists believe that infestations are related to weather. Because they have cannibalistic behavior, the swarming may be due to their need to constantly be on the move to avoid attacks from behind.

Where Do Mormon Crickets Live?

Outbreaks are common, and populations build slowly. The good news is that these outbreaks are easy to predict. For control to be effective it’s best to monitor signs of an invasion. Mormon crickets love moist, dark places like basements and crawlspaces, but you may also find them in other areas of your home. When numbers are large you may find dried excrement that looks like coffee grounds that will settle on flat surfaces.

Professional Pest Management

Smooth, physical barriers at least two feet high can be effective in keeping Mormon crickets off your property as Mormon crickets can’t fly but this may not be very practical. It also helps to keep your landscape trimmed to minimize hiding places. If you need professional help with Mormon crickets or any pests, contact Rentokil. We can evaluate any pest problem and develop an effective treatment plan.

In the summer, the goal isn’t just to have a beautiful yard; it’s to have low maintenance, beautiful yard. With our busy lives, there just isn’t time to dedicate to a long list of yard maintenance to create a beautiful outdoor space as we all want. We want a yard that is beautiful with as little maintenance as possible. Luckily, there are some things you can do that will help you keep your yard low maintenance as well as beautiful all summer long. Rentokil is here to share some yard and lawn care tips to assist you.

Importance of Pre-emergent & Crabgrass Control

While spring has already passed, you need to stow this bit of information back for the next year. Battling crabgrass all summer long is no fun. By applying a pre-emergent herbicide to your lawn, you will find that the need for battling this problem is all but gone all summer long. It keeps the seeds from last season from germinating and that is a game-changer.

Mulching Around Young Trees

If your trees are young and you want to give them the protection they need against mowers and trimmers, a 4-inch ring of mulch is the way to do it. This will protect your trees and will take away the hassle of needing to trim around them.

What Lawn Mower Heights Should I Set to Cut My Grass

Every variety of grass is different. You need to do your homework and find out the right height to cut your grass. Cold climate grasses tend to thrive when cutting at 2-2 ½ inches; while warm-climate grasses do better when cut shorter at 1 ½-2 inch.

Construct Garden Paths You Can Mow Over

If you are thinking about a path in your yard to add beauty and a clear way for people to get from one area to another, consider a path that will conform to the landscape. This way, you can mow over it and don’t have to worry about trimming it either.

Mowing Edge Border Ideas

When you have flower beds that are right next to your grass, you will be battling that grass in your flowers. Creating some sort of mowing border out of paving stones or brick will be a surface your mower can go right over and keep the grass out of your beds as well.

Mulch Flower Planting Beds

Speaking of flower beds, adding mulch to them will cut down maintenance for you as well. This will help reduce the amount of weeding that you will have to do and will also keep them moist to cut down on watering.

Lawn & Yard Care

If keeping your yard up is nothing but a burden, the experts at Rentokil can help. With our experience and training, we can help you implement many of these time-saving techniques into your yard so you can enjoy them without all the work. Call us today!

When it comes to protecting your home from pests, the most successful method is when pest control specialists and homeowners come together to fight them. There is a role for the homeowners and then there is a role for the pest control specialist. Knowing each role is essential in keeping pests away from your home. Rentokil will share each role of the homeowner and pest control professional and how your home can be pest-free.

Homeowner’s & Tenant’s Role in Pest Prevention

The homeowner or tenant is where every successful pest control program begins. It is up to those living in the home to practice prevention. Prevention starts outside and works its way inside. The outside portion of the home, including the yards, should be kept up and cleaned, along with avoiding clutter around the home including firewood stacks. Pests are drawn to overgrown grass, shrubs and even clutter. It provides them protection and in some cases feeding grounds depending on the pest. Some pests are also drawn to the feeding ground feast provided by other invading pests. Keeping the yard maintained makes many pests disinterested and much less will invade. Still working on the outside as you keep the yard and surrounding areas of your home cleaned, you will also want to prevent pests from entering your home. Seal your home by working on the outside first. Some common weak points of a home are dryer, attic vents, and chimneys which can be secured with mesh wiring. The mesh will keep pests from crawling and gaining access to your residence. Another common area is windows and doorways. Often window screens or weather stripping around windows and doors wears down and creates gaps along the edges. Replace screens and weather stripping, especially if daylight shines through. Inside the home is another responsibility for homeowners. Keep the inside clean and as clutter-free as possible to prevent shelter or hiding places for pests. Additionally, keep food sealed in airtight containers and don’t leave food out, including snack bowls or even dirty dishes.

Role of Pest Management Professionals

The role of the pest control specialist is to remove existing pests and prevent future pests that may find a way inside your home. We will treat known pest problems you’re currently having to prevent infestations from escalating. It is important to share what pests you have seen and where they were spotted. The pest control specialist can then determine where to begin treatment and using what method. We will also inspect the home noting any weakness that pests can use to enter.

Year-Round Pest Control

Together you and your pest control company can work to keep pests away from your residence for a safer, healthier and cleaner home. If your home is under an invasion of pests and you need a partner to help you control them, contact Rentokil today!

There are 12 species of wood cockroaches found in America. One is the western wood cockroach and can be found throughout the state of Utah. Each species will vary in size and color. The largest known wood cockroach is 1 3/4 inches in length. There is a lot to know about wood cockroaches. Today, Rentokil will share more about these insects and how you can help keep them out of your home.

Where Do Wood Cockroaches Live?

Wood cockroaches prefer to spend their lives outdoors. They will infest rotting or decaying wood and you will find them underneath the bark of dead or dying trees. They like damp and dark areas and often will live their entire life in the same home. If there is a drought or they are unable to seek out food, they will emerge from their homes in search of a more favorable place.

What Attracts Wood Roaches Inside My House?

When wood cockroaches invade a home, it is usually the male wood cockroach. The males, for some reason, are drawn to light. Therefore, in the darkness of night, those who live outside will travel from out of the woodpile and head for the light. Females will avoid light and stay in places with high vegetation. However, females will venture inside from time to time. Another way wood cockroaches get inside a home is that they are often brought in. People that store firewood in their back yard are supplying wood cockroaches with a home. Sometimes when firewood is brought inside the house there is a wood cockroach hiding inside it. The wood cockroach likes to feed on decaying leaves and can be found inside gutter systems or in the mulch.

Wood Cockroaches Are Active During the Day

Most cockroach species hide during the day and only come out at night to forage, which make cockroach sightings somewhat rare during the day. However, not wood cockroaches. They are known as the brave cockroach because they will roam during the day and are not frightened when people are nearby. Luckily, wood cockroaches are a temporary guest. They will leave since they cannot find food typically inside a home. For those with indoor plants, wood cockroaches may invade your home plants in hopes of finding food.

Wood Cockroach Prevention

To prevent wood cockroaches, follow these set of recommended rules or tips to keep cockroaches from invading your home.
– Never bring in extra wood logs or firewood into the house unless it is going right into the fireplace. Additionally don’t pile a few next to the door either. Only grab what you will use, and store the firewood far way form the home as possible.
– Have a lawn to act as a barrier. Wood cockroaches can’t maneuver over lawns. They don’t fly either, which helps keep wood cockroaches away.
– Keep the outside and inside of the home clean and clutter-free. Avoid having food left out and ensure garage areas are properly sealed especially when the trash is brought outside.
– Prevent excessive water leakage or moisture from occurring such as repairing leaking sprinklers, spouts and other outdoor plumbing.
– Seal all cracks around doors, windows and cover chimneys, attic and dryer vents with wire meshing.
– Lastly, keep the lights turned off outside at night. This will help keep wood cockroaches, especially the males, away from your home.

Cockroach Control

If you need help keeping cockroaches and other pests away from your home, contact the professionals. Rentokil can help care for your home lawn and keep pests out. Contact Rentokil today.

Ants are one of the most common pests there is. They will invade homes and even businesses looking to pilfer anything that looks appetizing. Their social behaviors mean if you see one ant, there are always more; no matter how many times you assault them with the most convenient cleaner you can find. Even outside enjoying some loaf time on the lawn seems to have ants nearby to deliver painful pinches when you are on their turf. With the thousands of ant species roaming the world, there are some that are more common localized in specific areas. In Northern Utah and Southern Idaho, sugar ants are one of the common ants and we at Rentokil would like to relate the fundamentals today.

Sugar Ant Identification

Many people will commonly mistake any small ant that is drawn to sweets, but a sugar ant is a part of the Camponotus consobrinus species. They range in size from 5/64-19/32 inches long. Female workers have orange-colored bodies where the male royals are winged and black.

What Attracts Sugar Ants to Your Home

These pests initially are brought in close proximity to your home because of the plants that secrete nectar, from there, the sugar ants will discover the consistent and often tasty food source inside your home. More often than not, sugar ants are not content with outdoor living and prefer comfortable indoor living, especially if there is a ready supply of sweets.

Sugar Ant Damage

Swarms of sugar ants are a nuisance, especially when they find that sweet offering, though they are not harmful. These ants are able to gnaw through the thin plastic containers, paper, and cardboard food packaging to claim their prize. Additionally, sugar ants will attack other pests that feed on them such as spiders and centipedes.

Do Sugar Ants Bite or Sting?

Sugar ants are a mild-mannered pest that doesn’t sting, but they may bite if their nest is disturbed and they feel threatened. Though the bites are not painful, some may experience allergic reactions that can be remedied with an application of antibiotic creams, however, if symptoms worsen, its recommended you seek medical attention immediately.

Where Do Sugar Ants Live & What Do They Eat?

Sugar ants, also known as banded sugar ants, are more concentrated in suburban areas because of their preference for food. They favor warmer and humid climates but in the wild, are found in forests, heaths, and woodlands and constructing their nests the holes of wood, under or around rocks, within the soil and under twigs of shrubs and trees. In the outdoors, sugar ants prefer the honeydew from aphids and will go to great lengths to protect the aphids from their predators in order to protect their food source.

Ant Control

In late spring or early autumn, the eggs that the sugar ant queen produces will hatch into new queens or males. While sugar ant workers keep guard on the ground during the autumn, thousands of alates mate in the air. If you believe you have sugar ants invading your home or landscape, call in the experts of Rentokil and our experts will rectify the problem as quickly as possible.