Termagon Termite & Pest Control Blog

The honeybees with which Americans are most familiar are European honeybees that began arriving in the New World with the Spanish explorers. In the centuries since, honeybees from the Old World have comprised virtually all of the bees kept for pollination and honey production. In the 1950s, a research scientist in Brazil imported some bees from Africa to breed with European honeybees. African bees displayed greater resistance to disease and produced more honey than their European cousins. The researcher's goal was to create a cross-bred bee that would be productive under tropical conditions. However, 26 swarms, including queens, were accidentally released into the wild. The bees began breeding with native honeybees, and their descendants quickly expanded northward. Africanized bees were first discovered in California in 1985, in Texas in 1990 and in Arizona in 1993. A study of trapped bees conducted in the Tucson area in 1994 found that 15 percent...

Termites and carpenter ants share a love of wood that can result in extensive damage to a structure. Both are adept at concealing their presence, so they sometimes have years to work undisturbed before they are detected. Furthermore, since termites and carpenter ants appear quite similar to the untrained eye, many people frequently mistake one for the other. However, there are some differences in behavior and appearance that can make it easier to determine whether the invading pests are termites or carpenter ants. Differences in Behavior Termites can digest cellulose, so they actually eat wood. Carpenter ants do not eat wood; they remove it to create a hollow area for a nest or gallery. Although both species may establish a gallery inside the walls of a structure, some termites prefer mud mounds for shelter; these mounds can be below or above the ground. Of the two pests, only termites build mud...

At Termagon, one of the pests we encounter most are bedbugs. These brown, oval-shaped parasites have been making a comeback since the 1990s, so it wouldn't be surprising if your suspicions turned out to be right and you actually found them in your home. How Bedbugs Get In Despite the stigma that attaches to a property with bedbugs, these pests don't discriminate between low-class and high-class establishments. No matter how clean or well-maintained a home is, bedbugs will get in as long as the home provides food and warm shelter. They can squeeze through almost any crack in the exterior. More often, though, they dwell in hotels and motels and latch onto occupants' clothing and luggage, especially warm electrical devices like laptops; in this way, they infiltrate homes without any effort whatsoever. Once they're inside, they migrate to tight spaces like cracks in the walls and baseboards and to cluttered areas...

Since 1995, Termagon Inc. has proudly served customers throughout Maricopa, Pima, Pinal and Santa Cruz counties with all of their pest control needs. A family owned and operated business, we are dedicated to prioritizing customer service and are rated as number one in customer satisfaction. We offer both commercial and residential services to meet your needs, and we are fully licensed and insured. Our expert technicians work closely with our customers to develop plans of action that will help to rid their homes and businesses of pests while also preventing their return. All of our staff and managers are up-to-date on the latest advancements in pest control technologies. We ensure that they complete all of the required state education courses for pest control and prevention. We use a combination of chemical and nonchemical approaches to help to eliminate pests and to prevent recurrences of the problem. We help homeowners with controlling...

For most people, the differences between a wasp and a honey bee are not as important as escaping them whenever they fly too near. However, while they are both stinging insects, their differences are important when it comes to receiving proper pest control. This post will help you determine whether you are seeing wasps or honey bees and the proper steps to take for pest control. Body Type The easiest way to tell which insect you're dealing with is to look at the shape of its body. Luckily, honey bees and wasps look different enough that you should be able to tell which one you're looking at without getting too close. Honey bees have furry, rounded, fat bodies and fuzzy, flat legs. Wasps, on the other hand, have sleek, thin bodies and slender, hairless legs. Wasps also have a telltale curve to their torso, which makes them a bit easier to...

Nobody likes an uninvited party guest, especially when it has six legs. Ants are notorious for appearing where they're least welcome, and picnics with lots of people and enticing food are especially vulnerable to pest invasion. This year, don't let your Memorial Day festivities be interrupted by pests; with a little prevention, you can keep ants away from your food and guests. Why Do Ants Love Picnics? Ants are social insects, and they are constantly on the search for high-energy foods to take back to the colony and feed their queen. Since many favorite summertime foods are loaded with sugar and fat, ants are eager to get a piece of the meal for themselves. Unfortunately, they can ruin your meal in the process. No one wants to find ants in the lemonade or deal with the itchy after-effects of ant bites. Worst of all, ants leave behind pheromone trails that will...

Termite damage costs homeowners across the U.S. over $5 billion each year, and business owners are by no means immune. When trying to identify termites on your business property, the first thing to know is that there are two types to watch out for: subterranean and drywood. Let's look at the differences between them. Drywood Termites Drywood termites can be split up into three groups: workers, soldiers, and swarmers. The average drywood termite grows to about 1/2 inch in length and vary in color from red (swarmers) to creamy white (most workers and soldiers). Each boasts two sets of wings, and they fly from here to there in search of dry wood to feed on as well as nest in. For this reason, they often migrate to the attic and infest walls, picture frames, and furniture. In case you find damaged wood, you should know that these termites eat both along...

Termites are some of the most resilient insects in the world, so these past can present a serious challenge to homeowners. When the right protections are not in place, termites can find their way into a home and begin reproducing at a rapid rate. As a termite population continues to increase exponentially, the damage done to a home can be catastrophic. Taking care of termite infestations, therefore, should be perceived as an urgent priority for homeowners experiencing problems with these pests. 1. Termites Are Good at Hiding When termites first enter a home, it is rare for people to be aware of their presence before severe damage has been done. Termites prefer to stay out of sight in dark areas, such as behind walls and inside floorboards, where they are safe from humans and there is plenty of wood to eat. Most homeowners become aware of a termite infestation after seeing...