Blog

Ants 

Ants top in the list of types of bugs in Arizona. don’t really have any negative effects on your grass, but they can become a nuisance to the homeowner.

Fire ants are more commonly found in the southern part of the country. If you do find yourself having fire ants, it’s recommended that you take measures to rid yourself of the pest. So, how can you tell if you have fire ants?

Unfortunately it can be somewhat difficult because they look much like ordinary ants. They’re anywhere from 1/8 to 1/4 inches long and reddish-brown to black in color.

Chinch Bugs 

There are a variety of Chinch Bugs that attack lawns within the country, but the two that are most commonly found are the hairy chinch bug and the common chinch bug.

The common chinch bug can be found more in the southern region of the country, ranging from South Dakota across to Virginia, and further south around mid-Texas to mid-Georgia.

The hairy chinch bug resides more in the northern range of this area and extends all the way up throughout the northeast.

Chinch bugs will go through 5 larvae stages, each stage changing in color and markings. In the final form, their adult form, the wings will be completely visible, with white markings, and will rest flatly on their backs.

They will range anywhere from 1/8 to 1/5 inches in length at this stage.

Mole Crickets

Mole Crickets get their name because of the similar features and characteristics that they share with actual moles. Mainly, they feed on grubs and they dig tunnels through your yard.

The damage caused by mole crickets is nothing to brush off.

When they do reach the adult stage they will be plump, winged, and about 1 to 2 inches in length. Their forelegs will grow enlarged, and robust, and are used to help the mole cricket with their digging.

With wings, mole crickets have been known to fly as far as 5 miles during the mating season. They are nocturnal in their feeding and like the adult cutworm (Miller Moth) they are attracted to light. Flying along with the attraction to light can lead them to your home during the night.

Ticks

Ticks are pests that actually cause a greater risk to homeowners than to their yards. Each and every year, ticks have been known to spread illnesses such as Lyme disease and Spotted Fever to thousands of people across the country.

Though they cause little lawn damage, the effects that they can have on you, or your pet, is reason enough to stop a moment and take a closer look.

Ticks are less of an insect and more of an arachnid, such as a spider. They have a one-piece body, crablike legs, and a harpoon-like barb which will extrude from their mouth and attach to a host (such as yourself or your pet) for feeding.

As mentioned, ticks are known to carry and transmit a variety of diseases to their host.

The 5 ticks that you most likely will encounter that can spread disease are:

• American Dog Tick
• Brown Dog Tick
• Deer Tick
• Lone Star Tick
• Winter Tick