You probably saw this title and thought to yourself, “Has Kristen lost her mind? What do ants, aphids, and elephants have in common? And why is an entomologist talking about a pachyderm, because elephants are certainly not insects.” This is a subject close to my heart and is rather interesting, so humor me for a […]

When we think of wasps, we often think of them in a negative light. We may imagine them invading our homes and stinging us or think of the painful reactions their stings may cause. Despite these negative associations, not all wasps are bothersome; some wasps known as parasitoid wasps are often beneficial, especially in pest […]

Although the rainbow scarab (Phanaeus vindex) has a colorful, attractive exterior, its habitat is… less than attractive. Commonly referred to as dung beetles, they can often be found rolling around in dung. Despite their affinity for excrement, they have an interesting history as objects of worship in Ancient Egypt and have been made into spectacular […]

Fact or fiction: are earwigs in your ears? Probably not. Can any insect get in your ear? Sure, it can happen. But what is not true is that earwigs will crawl into your ear and then burrow into your brain. With that myth out of the way, what is an earwig, and where does it […]

Fleas (Order: Siphonaptera) are small, dark, wingless insects that are flattened from side to side. These insects are usually found buried in the hair, close to the skin of mammals. When infestations are large, adult fleas may be found in carpeting and around pet resting areas. Fleas have four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and […]

What we know about fleas: they are a nuisance, they can be hard to get rid of, they hurt our pets and sometimes, they even bite us. My goal in the discussion of fleas below is not to tell you all the bad things about fleas, although there will be some of that, but rather […]

As the need for pest and termite control continues, Cook’s Pest Control remains committed to providing the highest quality customer service. The Department of Homeland Security has included “exterminators” on the list of essential industries at the federal level. Many state, municipal and local authorities also include “pest control” and “extermination” services as essential to […]

To reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, only Cook’s Pest Control employees will be admitted. If you need to speak with someone in person, please call your local office to schedule an appointment. You can find a list of offices and contact information here: Branch Information Payment options: Online: www.cookspest.com For phone or mail, […]

Most pests come from the outside, so wouldn’t it make sense to keep them out before they become an indoor problem? Here are some ways you can keep pests out and make your home less desirable to them. Door sweeps are simple and effective devices that are often overlooked and neglected. Chipped, broken, damaged, or […]

The Indianmeal moth is commonly referred to as a stored product pest. This pest is in the insect order Lepidoptera. Like most other stored product pests, it is the larval immature stage that causes damage to food products. Their larva is often confused with pest beetle larvae that will do similar damage to stored food […]

As the situation with the COVID-19 virus continues to evolve, we want to stress that our focus is first and foremost on the welfare and safety of our employees, as well as our customers. As the days and weeks progress, we will continue to take this matter very seriously. In response to the recent outbreak, […]

Ever open a bag of flour or rice and find something crawling around? Wonder why and how that pest invaded your kitchen pantry? There is always the chance it didn’t come into your home at all; instead, you may have bought the product with insects included. There are a few different types of such pests, […]

Bradley Digital 4-Rack Electric Smoker Giveaway – POSTPONED The following are terms, rules, and conditions for TechTuesday Giveaways that Cook’s Pest Control, Inc. (“Cook’s”), is conducting on Cook’s social media channels. These contests have not been endorsed or sanctioned by Facebook or any other social media outlet. Contests are being conducted in their entirety by […]

Hearing the word “lovebug” may evoke the season of love and red hearts, but these critters don’t live up to their name. They are not exactly loveable, and many people find them detestable. The lovebug Plecia nearctica is a fly species that is particularly a nuisance to motorists when traveling through the southern United States. […]

As Valentine’s Day approaches, stores get inundated with hearts, chocolates, and roses, and reds and pinks are everywhere. In the bug world, we have several different insects that often get associated with “love,” love bugs, maybe even ladybugs because of their bright red color. One that doesn’t get much love is the kissing bug. Once […]

What happens to honey bees in the winter? During winter months, it’s too cold for them to be out flying, sipping on nectar, and packing pollen on their legs, so what are they doing? Have you ever wondered why honey bees make honey? They don’t make it so that we can steal it, sell it, […]

Although insects decline as the temperatures drop, warm-blooded pests like rodents are still as active as ever. When the outdoors become inhospitable, rodents travel in search of warmth, food, and shelter, which often leads them into our toasty, food-packed homes. The small and curious house mouse is a common invader of homes during the cooler […]

What happens to those pesky mosquitoes in the winter? They hibernate, or overwinter, although it depends on the species how they overwinter. Some mosquitoes spend the winter months as adults, others as larvae or pupae, and others still as eggs. Overwintering is a type of dormancy, so any overwintering adult mosquitoes are not out biting […]

Have you ever wondered what happens to termites in the winter? If you’ve never wondered, are you wondering now? The answer to this question is less than exciting but not reassuring to a homeowner: they don’t go anywhere! During the winter months, insects seem to vanish from sight, only to magically reappear when the weather […]

Pest Profile: Red Paper Wasp (Polistes carolina)(Insecta: Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Kristen Stevens, BCE Paper wasps are in the family Vespidae. The red paper wasp Polistes carolina is distributed throughout the eastern and south central United States. It is an elongate, slender wasp that is usually brownish-red with yellow markings. Paper wasps build their nests from saliva […]

Kristen Stevens, BCE (Stink Bugs, Kudzu Bugs, and Lady Bugs) As winter approaches, we don’t often think of insects; we think more of holiday treats and cold weather eliminating our not-so-welcome house guests. However, that notion is false. Well, at least the part about pests – those holiday treats should be thoroughly enjoyed! There are […]

Kristen Stevens, BCE Corporate Entomologist, Cook’s Pest Control As cooler weather approaches, so do rodent issues. Rodents, like any other pest, are seeking food, water and shelter when you find them inside your facility. They are there because inside seems like a cozy, great place to seek shelter from the inclement weather. Once they are […]

Kristen Stevens, BCE We don’t often think of birds as pests, and, indeed, most of them are not. However, there are some birds that can pose public health and damage concerns in addition to being a nuisance. They carry all number of different food-borne illnesses such as salmonellosis, histoplasmosis, campylobacteriosis and some others. Some birds […]

Kristen Stevens, BCE (spiders that are not deadly – wolf spider, crevice weaver) If you have ever seen the movie Finding Nemo, one of my favorite scenes is when the sharks are meeting as a support group for recovering fish-eaters. Their mantra is “Fish are Friends, NOT food!” They are trying to curb their appetite […]