Brasure's Pest Control Blog

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 [...]

This photo of insects on the underside of a squash plant leaf were sent to Brasure’s Pest Control, Inc., by Scott in Berlin. Note the eggs on the right. What are they?  Appropriately enough, they are called squash bugs (pictured are squash bug nymphs). Squash bugs use their piercing-sucking mouth parts to feed on the sap of [...]

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 [...]

“Last week, I started seeing hundreds of tiny bugs on my window sills. What are they?” They arrive in great numbers in the early spring, entering homes through doors and windows, where they quickly become a nuisance. Clover mites are reddish-brown arachnids (not bugs), smaller than the head of a pin, and usually feed on [...]

Stored product pests, or pantry pests, can become a nuisance at any time of year. There are few things worse than returning to a beach property for a winter weekend retreat, and discovering a cupboard full of beetles, moths, or weevils. There are a number of varieties of each that fall under this category, including [...]

Of Mice and Men might have been a great American work of literature, and the two go well together in the book title, but the same doesn’t apply to our homes. In this post we’ll discuss how to take preventative action by mouse-proofing your home, so that you don’t lay out a metaphorical welcome mat [...]

Few people have ever seen or heard of the wheel bug, though it’s fairly common in the region. It is large, about 1.5 inches long, but is well-camouflaged, being a dark gray or brown in color. And, though it flies, you might mistake it for a grasshopper as it buzzes by. If you spot one [...]

It’s that time of year–you might be beginning to see crickets hopping around the foundation of your home, and entering the garage. As temperatures cool, they will enter your home, too. There are actually four major varieties of crickets, but we’ll focus on two here; Field Crickets and House Crickets. Camel Crickets, sometimes called Spider [...]

One of the most commonly misidentified pests is the flying ant, which is frequently confused with the termite. These two insects can be about the same size and color, and possess similar wings. The difference? Several hundred dollars or more, as flying ants are usually a quick fix, while termites are not. There are several [...]