What Insect are YOU?

Take this short quiz to see what you’d be if you were a bug! (No worries, we won’t come out and spray you!) Then check your answers at the bottom!

What’s your work style? 

1. I’m a loner, it’s every man for himself! 

2. Busy busy busy

3. Lots of planning and teamwork!

4. I do what I’m told and nothing else

What’s your food preference? 

1. Anything. I mean ANYTHING.

2. I’ve got a mean sweet tooth

3. Like to eat lots of small meals

4. Plant based all the way!

What’s your favorite hobby? 

1. Eating and feeding my ever-growing family

2. Building things

3. Line dancing with friends

4. Woodworking

Favorite game or sport?

1. Running

2. Boxing

3. Anything with a TEAM

4. Hide and seek

Favorite binge watch? 

1. Anything on the Food Network! Yummy!

2. American Ninja Warrior so I can pick up tips! 

3. Friends, the more the better!

4. This Old House 

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ANSWERS:

If you answered with mostly #1, you’re a cockroach. You’ve survived for millions of years and you’ll survive many more, just doing what you’re doing, eating and reproducing.

If you chose mostly #2, you’re a stinging insect. You’re fiercely territorial and will fight to defend your turf.

If you leaned toward #3, you’re an ant. For you, it’s all about the teamwork with your community and working toward a common goal.

Feeling like #4 describes you? You’re a termite! You’re beneficial in the woods, but in people’s houses? Not so much.

This is all just having some fun, but we’re actually really serious about pests. If you’ve got any of the bugs described here, or anything else, give us a call!

Don't get stung!

Did you know that over a half a million people are treated in ERs for bee stings each year? And that’s not counting the people who have severe allergic reactions!

We’re getting a lot of calls for yellow jackets so far this summer. These are the insects that resemble hornets or wasps and have distinctive yellow and black markings, though some varieties have black and white or red and white markings. They are very resourceful when it comes to nest building and can be found in shrubs, under eaves or in the ground. Contrary to myth, they don’t die when they sting, and can sting more than once. Yellow jackets can also be aggressive, especially when threatened. For this reason it’s NEVER a good idea to attempt to bring down a nest on your own.

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Similar to the yellow jacket is the wasp. The wasp nest is a distinctive papery nest usually in a tree or on the side of a building. Wasps are known to be aggressive, and can sting unprovoked. Sometimes the colony can be home to over 15,000 insects so give them a wide berth and call a pest control specialist. 

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Carpenter bees are also seen around wooden decks and porches this time of year. You don’t need to worry about finding a hive of carpenter bees, because they are solitary and build their nests, or galleries, in wood. While the male carpenter bee is the only you’ll most likely encounter, only the female carpenter bee stings. 

Now that you know the most common stinging insects for the Berks and Lebanon county areas, here’s how to avoid them: 

• Keep your decks, fences and wooden porches painted or stained. This will keep out carpenter bees. Again, only female carpenter bees sting, but the boring will damage your wooden furniture and fixtures.

• When eating outside, keep food covered, especially sweets! 

• Likewise make sure your trash is securely bagged in a covered container. 

• Pay attention to your hair, skin and soap products and what scents they have. Sweet  and strong scents will draw bees, wasps and other insects to you. 

We’ve got a variety of ways to defeat the yellow jacket, as well as other wasps and hornets, which include nest removal, treating the ground nests with pesticide or an aerosol spray to treat a nest that is high off the ground. Again, do not attempt to remove a nest of any kind of stinging insect on your own! Call us to schedule an appointment for safe, complete stinging insect nest removal!