Brasure's Pest Control Blog

With the cooler weather that accompanies the final weeks of summer on Delmarva comes a rather unusual visitor: the wheel bug. The gray-brown wheel bug reaches up to 1.5 inches in length, and is easily identified by its dorsal armor, which is shaped like a wheel or cog. It can fly, and is often mistaken [...]

One side of my house is covered with what look like spiders of some kind. They have small brown bodies and long, thin gray/black legs. What are they?  You are describing harvestmen, commonly called “daddy longlegs.” They’re not spiders, though they are arachnids and have eight legs. Harvestmen are mostly nocturnal.  What are some differences [...]

The large wasps build what look like oversized ant hills in mid-summer, sometimes taking over lawns, and both annoy and concern homeowners. What are they? Do they sting? How can one be rid of them? What are they? They are cicada killer wasps. On Delmarva, you might encounter, specifically, Eastern Cicada Killers, sometimes called “sand [...]

What are silverfish? Silverfish (or Lepisma saccharina) are silvery-colored insects, usually an inch long or less, which move with a fish-like motion and occasionally infest structures. They should not be confused with centipedes, which look somewhat similar. I’ve heard of a similar insect called a “fishmoth.” They are one and the same; just as the [...]

Which name is correct: Preying Mantis or Praying Mantis? Praying Mantis, actually. This nickname is derived from the mantis’s prayer-like stance. Technically, there are many species of mantis, and the praying mantis is only one of these species, but the nickname is commonly used for all species of mantis, particularly in the U.S. What are [...]

Fleas are tiny insects (only 1/16 to 1/8 inch long) which feed on the blood of mammals. They most often infest homes in which pets are present, but will feed on humans, too. There are several different species, including the cat flea, dog flea, human flea, and Northern rat flea, ranging in color from a [...]

Our customers frequently ask questions about moles. What do they feed on? Why do they burrow so close to the surface of the ground, creating unsightly molehills in beautiful lawns? Should they purchase a poison, or a trap?  Before looking at the various control methods available, let’s review some general information about moles. They are [...]

An article in Saturday’s News Journal, one of the most-read newspapers in our service area, reported that Delaware has the second-highest incidence of Lyme disease in the nation. The causes behind this statistic are many, and not fully understood, but it is important for anyone who plans to spend time outdoors in the local area [...]

What is a bed bug?  Bed bugs are reddish-brown nocturnal insects, about 1/8 inch long, which feed solely on the blood of humans and animals. They normally go a few days between feedings, but can survive for up to 18 months without a meal if necessary. They can travel 5-20 feet in search of a [...]

It’s thin and long, and has lots of legs. But is it a centipede, or a millipede? What are the differences between the two relatives? And are they dangerous or harmful?  Centipedes are arthropods, not insects. While different species might have anywhere from 20 to hundreds of legs, it is interesting to note that each [...]