Crickets, though not necessarily typically considered a pest, can damage foliage and property.  According to the University of Arizona’s Center for Insect Science Education Outreach, the following information is true about these often cute but noisy little bugs:

“Crickets may be:

• Brown to black
• Front wing varying in length, covering half to entire abdomen
• Antennae about as long as distance from head to end of abdomen
• Wings held flat over body
• Hind wings folded and hidden under leathery front wings

Adult Males and Females
Female with long ovipositor (ventrally attached) in rear (may appear as two pieces); both sexes have cerci (segmented, tail-like appendages attached dorsally). The wings are fully extended over the abdomen. Some species may not have wings.

Immatures (different stages)
Immatures look like adults but do not have fully developed wings. Older nymphs may show development of wing pads. The female’s ovipositor begins to show before it is an adult and increases in length with each successive molt.

Natural History

Food
Crickets are omnivores and scavengers feeding on organic materials, as well as decaying plant material, fungi, and seedling plants.

Habitat
Crickets live under rocks and logs in meadows, pastures and along roadsides. Many are nocturnal.

Predators
Spiders, some wasps, ground beetles, birds, small rodents, and lizards are cricket predators.

Interesting Behaviors
To attract mates, males produce a sound made by rubbing their forewings against each other. The resulting chirping sound is picked up by the female’s ears on her front legs. The chirp sounds are different for each species so that individuals can find their own species. Females lay eggs in the soil with their ovipositor.

Impact on the Ecosystem

Positive
Crickets breakdown plant material, renewing soil minerals. They are also an important source of food for other animals.

Negative
Crickets may injure seedlings and large numbers can be destructive. Males songs can be quite loud.”

At Homestead Pest Management, we can cure your cricket conundrums and attend to all your other West TN pest control needs.  Contact us today to set up an assessment or to get more info about our comprehensive services.

When you call Homestead Pest Management we listen to your problem and prescribe a treatment that will fit your individual needs after a thorough property inspection. We suggest the most beneficial service for your needs without overcharging for additional services you don’t need, because we feel that you should only pay for what is necessary to properly protect your property and not what makes us the most money. 
With Homestead Pest Control, you have multiple options for Pest Control including:

• One-Time Service Visits
• Monthly Service Visits
• Bi-Monthly Service Visits
• Quarterly Service Visits
• Inside Only Treatments
• Outside Only Treatments
• And MORE!

At Homestead Pest Management, we live with our families in West Tennessee and understand that times are hard for everyone. For that reason, we do not hold our fellow residents to a binding contract. If you need to cancel at any time, you can, and we will still be here for you when conditions improve.

 
Homestead Pest Management can take care of all your pest control needs whether it be roaches, ants, termites, mosquitoes, spiders or anything else that’s bugging you. Contact us today to schedule a complete individualized assessment of your home and property.

Spring is just around the corner, and if you are concerned about the possible influx of spring pests, or if you have pests you want to be rid of, a thorough Spring cleaning is one of your best defenses against common spring pests including spiders, cockroaches, and carpenter bees.

Spiders and roaches can both enter homes through cracks and crevices and then hide.  An effective cleaning can rid a home of most of these stubborn pests, and help make the homeowner aware of problem areas that need to be sealed. Simple alterations like switching to plastic containers from cardboard or getting items up off the floor can help reduce pests while organizing your home more efficiently.

As you are cleaning, keep an eye out for any wood damage that could be from termites or carpenter bees.  This can typically be found on decks, gutters, fences – basically anything made of wood can be victimized by these stubborn pests.

Some other things you can do to reduce pest activity include:

• Reduce sources of moisture
• Remove food temptations
• De-clutter

Once your home is clean and organized, your next step is to be proactive and get a personalized pest assessment from our professionals at Homestead Pest Management.  Whether you are looking to prevent infestations or to eliminate them, HPM has all your pest control solutions.  Contact us today for your West TN area pest control assessment and personalized plan of attack!

Homestead Pest Management, Inc. proudly has served the residential and commercial communities of West Tennessee with expert pest control services since 1976. This family owned and operate business began over 30 years ago and has pioneered many techniques and organizations dedicated to quality pest control.

Homestead Pest Management has a team of State Certified technicians who undergo continuous training to stay on top of the latest techniques and developments that affect our field and enhance our effectiveness against pests. We strive to provide our customers with the best quality service for their individual needs, at the most affordable price for their budget.

• Residential and Commercial
• Termite Control
• Pest Control
• Moisture Control
• Rodent Control

At Homestead Pest Management, we understand that proper protection from pests can be costly and for that reason we regularly provide Coupons to help our customers get the treatment they need to care for their property. Also be sure to Refer a Friend! Qualified Referrals from our customers will receive discounts on their next service call. Contact us today to find out more!

When you call Homestead Pest Management we listen to your problem and prescribe a treatment that will fit your individual needs after a thorough property inspection. We suggest the most beneficial service for your needs without overcharging for additional services you don’t need, because we feel that you should only pay for what is necessary to properly protect your property and not what makes us the most money. 
With Homestead Pest Control, you have multiple options for Pest Control including:

• One-Time Service Visits
• Monthly Service Visits
• Bi-Monthly Service Visits
• Quarterly Service Visits
• Inside Only Treatments
• Outside Only Treatments
• And MORE!

At Homestead Pest Management, we live with our families in West Tennessee and understand that times are hard for everyone. For that reason, we do not hold our fellow residents to a binding contract. If you need to cancel at any time, you can, and we will still be here for you when conditions improve.

 
Homestead Pest Management can take care of all your pest control needs whether it be roaches, ants, termites, mosquitoes, spiders or anything else that’s bugging you. Contact us today to schedule a complete individualized assessment of your home and property.

Contrary to popular belief, bedbugs are not worse in summer months than in winter. Because they live indoors, the heat we use to keep ourselves warm also keep conditions perfect for bedbugs. Also, because we often have overnight guests or even just lots of daytime company, the likelihood that someone might accidentally “share” their bedbugs with you also increases.

If you wake up with itchy areas you didn’t have when you went to sleep, you may have bedbugs, particularly if you got a used bed or other used furniture around the time the bites started. Other signs that you have bedbugs may include blood stains on your sheets or pillowcases; dark or rusty spots of bedbug excrement on sheets and mattresses, bed clothes, and walls; bedbug fecal spots, egg shells, or shed skins in areas where bedbugs hide; and/or an offensive, musty odor from the bugs’ scent glands. If you suspect you have bedbugs, Homestead Pest Management can assess all the rooms in your home an come up with a specific plan for stamping them out and keeping them gone!

Contrary to popular opinion, bedbugs do not result from someone being dirty; they live soley on blood, so having them in your home is not a sign of poor housekeeping; they will infest any place that gives them a ready supply of blood.  They do not carry diseases, but their bites are very itcy and uncomfortable, and if scratched may become infected. Bedbugs may enter your home undetected by hitching a ride on luggage, clothing, used beds and furniture, and other items; their flat bodies make it possible for them to fit into the tiniest of spaces.  Bedbugs do not have nests like ants or bees, but tend to live in groups in good hiding places. Their initial hiding places are typically in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and headboards where they have easy access to people to bite in the night. Over time, though, they may move through the bedroom, moving into any tiny, protected space. They may also spread to nearby rooms or apartments. Early detection is key in getting rid of these annoying pests as soon as possible.

Homestead Pest Managment is your best stop for total pest management in West TN. We pride ourselves on our accurate, thorough assessments of your home and property, and are known for our personalized ongoing pest-control plans.  Contact us today and let us help you rid yourself of any pest that is bugging you. 

Rats like to be warm, dry, and well-fed.  When cold weather comes, they start looking for the best places to find these conditions, and that means they often can be found in or under our houses, barns, or sheds.  Homestead Pest Managment can help you be rid of these unwanted “guests,” or they can help you to rat-proof your home and property before an infestation starts.

According to the University of California’s Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, “Rats are some of the most troublesome and damaging rodents in the United States. They eat and contaminate food, damage structures and property, and transmit parasites and diseases to other animals and humans. Rats live and thrive in a wide variety of climates and conditions and are often found in and around homes and other buildings, on farms, and in gardens and open fields.

Because rats are active throughout the year, periodically check for signs of their presence. Once rats have invaded your garden or landscaping, unless your house is truly rodent proof, it is only a matter of time before you find evidence of them indoors. Experience has shown it is less time consuming to control rodents before their numbers get too high, and fewer traps and less bait will be required if control is started early.

Inspect your yard and home thoroughly. If the answer to any of the following questions is yes, you may have a rat problem.

• Do you find droppings around dog or cat dishes or pet food storage containers?

• Do you hear noises coming from the attic just after dusk?

• Have you found remnants of rat nests when dismantling your firewood stack?

• Does your dog or cat bring home dead rat carcasses?

• Is there evidence rodents are feeding on fruit/nuts that are in or falling from the trees in your yard?

• Do you see burrows among plants or damaged vegetables when working in the garden?

• Do you see rats traveling along utility lines or on the tops of fences at dusk or soon after?

• Have you found rat nests behind boxes or in drawers in the garage?

• Are there smudge marks caused by the rats rubbing their fur against beams, rafters, pipes, and walls?

• Have you ever had to remove a drowned rat from your swimming pool or hot tub?

• Do you see evidence of something digging under your garden tool shed or doghouse?”

If you suspect that you have a rat infestation, contact us at Homestead Pest Management today and let us conduct an assessment of your home and/or property and develop an individualized plan for extermination and ongoing maintenance. 

Giving Thanks

For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped,
For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped,
For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb,
For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home —
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving! 

For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land,
For the cunning and strength of the workingman’s hand,
For the good that our artists and poets have taught,
For the friendship that hope and affection have brought —
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving! 

For the homes that with purest affection are blest,
For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest,
For our country extending from sea unto sea;
The land that is known as the “Land of the Free” —
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving! 

~Author Unknown