Pests
Pests in and around the house
How to tell what you're dealing with, what the signs mean, and when a problem needs a professional.
10 answers
- Brown Recluse Spiders: Where They Live and How to Tell Brown recluses live in the south-central and Midwestern U.S. Six eyes in pairs and plain legs identify one; outside that range, most suspects are other spiders.
- Do Mosquito Yard Sprays Work? What the Research Shows Barrier sprays cut Asian tiger mosquitoes in two field trials but did not reduce Culex, the group tied to West Nile virus. What is sprayed and what to ask.
- Do Termites Come Back After Treatment? They can. A gap in a liquid barrier or a bait not yet found lets activity return. How to tell, what a warranty covers, and what to ask before a retreatment.
- Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Termite Damage? Usually not. Standard policies exclude insect and rodent damage; the one narrow exception is a sudden collapse from hidden damage. What protects you instead.
- Fire Ants in the Yard: Identification, Quarantine, Control Imported fire ants are regulated in 13 states and Puerto Rico. How to spot a mound, what the federal quarantine means, and how baits and mound treatments work.
- How to Check a Pest Control License in Any State States, not the federal government, license pest control companies. How to find your state's regulator, what a license record shows, and what to ask.
- How to Clean Up Mouse Droppings Safely (Hantavirus) Air the room out, soak droppings with disinfectant, and never sweep or vacuum them. CDC's cleanup steps, the hantavirus risk, and when to hand the job off.
- How to Get Rid of Ticks in Your Yard Most yard ticks live in woods and brushy edges, not open lawn. CDC's landscaping steps, what yard sprays do and don't change, and when to hire an applicator.
- Termite Infestation Probability Map: What Your Zone Means The building code's termite map rates U.S. regions from none-to-slight to very heavy. What the zone changes for new homes, and what it can't say about yours.
- Why Do Roaches Come Back After Spraying? A spray misses hidden nymphs and can spoil baits, and German cockroach resistance can jump within one generation. How to tell whether a treatment works.
Most pesticides sold in the United States must be registered with the EPA, and the label on each product is legally enforceable. It says who may use the product and where, how, how much, and how often (EPA).