Posts

Pest Control OKC

Pest Control OKC: Formica Ants And Oklahoma

/in /by

Pest Control OKC: These Ants Don’t Sting, They Spray

The Bug Guy, your local source for pest control OKC, is here to tell you about a certain kind of ant. Formica ants are one of the many species of ants that can be found in Oklahoma. These ants are often called Wood Ants, because they like to make their nests in wooded areas. These ants are also known for invading the colonies of smaller ant species and capturing workers, turning them into slaves for their colonies.

Formica ants primarily feed off of the Honeydew produced by Aphids and other small insects. They even defend Aphids, a common garden pest, from predators and lead them to the best parts of plants to feed. These ants aren’t poisonous, but if provoked they can bite with their mandible and spray Formic Acid. This kind of acid can cause coughing fits, watery eyes, and skin irritation.

Still not convinced Formica ants are a nuisance? They are pests in 2 ways:

  • They can infest a home and cause a list of problem including being attacked by the colony and being sprayed with Formic Acid.
  • They farm and defend the Aphid, a common garden pest that can destroy garden plants and lawns. They also like to hunt caterpillars and other insects that can help pollinate your garden.

With any ant infestation, it can be hard to get rid of them, because it can be difficult to track down the colony. This is especially true for Formica ants as they like to hide the entrance to their colonies under rocks or in wood.

It’s best to call The Bug Guy, your local pest control OKC team, to come out and make sure the colony is dealt with. Years of experience allows our pest control OKC experts the ability to find and remove these colonies quickly and safely.

If you have ants infesting your home, give The Bug Guy a call and take back your home and garden from these acid spraying pests! Call now at: 405-973-5522

Stink Bugs- OKC Pest Control

OKC Pest Control Warning Of Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs

/in /by

OKC Pest Control Shares A Story About A Stink Bug

Stink bugs get their name from the obvious pungent odor that they erect when they are threatened. It has been determined that this stinky smell helps stink bugs protect themselves from predators. Not only do they actually stink, but some may say they metaphorically stink, as well. At least, that would be the response from one blogger, by the name of Lydia Whitney, as she reported to having quite an unpleasant experience with a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. Today, our OKC pest control team is sharing her short story with you!

Lydia Whitney wrote about her experience with a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug on her blog.

In this article she talked about how she sat at her computer working when she felt a “sharp pain” on her bare foot. Whitney looked down and discovered a stink bug biting her, but was highly confused as many experts have stated that stink bugs aren’t harmful to humans and do not bite. She went on to explain that normally a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug feeds by piercing a plant and sucking on the plant juices with its beak, which is made with straw-like mouthparts. The damage done to the plant is generally defined as mild to severe.

With this explanation and the evidence of pain felt by Whitney after the stink bug was found on her foot, it would be difficult to argue that they do not bite. In most cases, they probably wouldn’t prefer to bite people, but they are a nuisance to people with vegetable gardens, precious plants, and even inside homes.

Our OKC pest control team is inclined to share a few warnings with you as many homeowners have thought it was a good idea to attempt sweeping away or vacuuming up stink bugs. Our OKC pest control professionals would like you to know that the smell emitted from these bugs can last for hours. Yes, even inside the vacuum!

To prevent stink bugs from getting inside of your home consider checking to make sure your windows and doors are properly sealed. Additionally, consider having ongoing OKC pest control treatments for all insect control.

If you need help keeping your yard and home safe from pests, give our OKC pest control professionals a call. The Bug Guy can be reached at 405-973-5522.