Mice have established a secure foothold in the Puget Sound region. From urban areas to our expansive forests, meadows, and wetlands, Seattle and the surrounding areas are home to a number of native and introduced mouse species. They spread disease, infest homes, and destroy crops / gardens. Get ahead of these critters by knowing a […]
The Pacific Northwest is home to several species of rats, each exhibiting unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in diverse environments ranging from urban areas and forests to arid regions. The most common species seen here in Washington are the Norway rat, roof rat, bushy-tailed woodrat, and kangaroo rat. Adaptations of the Norway Rat […]
The pavement ant is one of the most common house-infesting ants in the United States. Its habits and appearance have almost come to represent all of ant-hood. They are small, black, trail-leaving critters that eat all kinds of foods and build a cone-shaped anthill near sidewalks and driveways. Here are a few more things you […]
From invasive species to native annoyances, ants are everywhere. Moisture ants can be a particularly vexing pest. The Pacific Northwest is no exception. Identifying Moisture Ants Appearance: Moisture ants are ⅛” inch (4-4.5mm) insects with a yellow to dark brown coloring. They usually have a translucent abdomen. Habits: This ant specie gets their name because they […]
You don’t invite ants to your picnic, so you certainly don’t want them in your home. However, ants seem to be able to creep up anywhere. If you have an ant problem, it can help to know what kind of ant you are facing so you can better combat them. One very notorious little critter […]
Argentine Ants are one of the 100 worst invasive species on earth. Over the last 100 years, they have made inroads from their established range to over six continents and many islands. They have also created quite a foothold right here in the Pacific Northwest. Identifying Argentine Ants Appearance Argentine ants are shiny with dark […]
When you think of “fire ants” do you think of hot desert climates? Red colored insects? Burning sting? Well, all of those can be true of fire ants, but (believe it or not) the Seattle region and the Pacific Northwest are home to an invasive fire ant as well. While not quite as aggressive as […]
When you think “fire ant”, you might think swarming, stinging insects from the south, but perhaps surprisingly, the fire ant threat to the Pacific Northwest seems to hail from across the pond. European Fire Ants are an invasive species that is gaining a foothold in British Columbia and have been found in the Seattle, WA […]
Boxelder bugs, those distinctive dark bugs with reddish-orange marking, are common throughout the Pacific Northwest. While they don’t pose a threat to health or structure, box elder bugs also aren’t welcome inside our homes. So, what should you know about these nuisances? Identifying a Box Elder Bug Box Elder Bugs Purpose Season & Lifecycle Boxelder […]
Ants are fascinating creatures to study, even if they are always welcome in our homes. Understanding ant behavior can help us with ant control. These social insects have a role to play in their culture that dictates what they do. In this post, we explore the any colony and hierarchy of ants. The Queen Ant […]