Imagine this: it has been an exhausting day and you are getting ready for good night’s rest. You climb into your bed and you have never felt so relaxed in your life. You dream of relaxing in Hawaii and it is as if you can feel the warm sun on your face and the sand between your toes. A great night indeed. Then you wake up. As you do your morning stretch, you find small red bites all over your body.

Oh no… Bed bugs. How did they get there? How can you get rid of them?

Here are three facts about those little pests that sneak your sheets.

Fact #1: Bed bugs have PhDs in being pests

The truth is bed bugs are intelligent. They have learned how to hide out of sight during the daytime. They can be hiding under the mattress, in between couch cushions, and even behind photos.  During the night, exhaled carbon dioxide lures them out of their hiding place and they begin to feed. As they feed, bed bugs use their saliva to numb their victim and increase blood flow making their bites quick and painless.

Fact #2: Bed bugs are found anywhere

They are not just in hotels. They can sneak into homes, offices, hospitals, buses, schools, movie theaters, and even stores. As you go to these places, they can climb into your bags, cling onto your clothes, or jump into your pockets to catch a ride to your next destination. A bed bug from the store down the street may have just moved into your couch.

Fact #3: Bed bugs could win “Survivor"

Bed bugs can survive freezing temperatures up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. You can find them in Northern Canada down to Southern Arizona.  In addition, Bed bugs can go for months without a meal. If you are away on vacation, if you buy a used couch, or if the guest bed hasn’t been used in a while, the pest can still be lingering. Their impeccable surviving skills makes DIY pest control close to impossible.

Want to learn more about how to get rid of bed bugs? Give Bybee Pest Control a call at (435) 256-0561. Let us help you keep your dreams sweet and your homes & businesses pest free.

Leaves are falling, the temperature is dropping, & the groceries stores are inundated with costumes, wild wigs, & candy. Spooky decorations lurk on every corner as Halloween quickly approaches. The season can be full of fears: scary movies, haunted houses, and plastic spiders…or real spiders. What are you scared of?

Entomophobia is the fear of insects which 6% of all U.S. inhabitants face. Whether it be the fear of spiders, ants, bees, or even butterflies, the chances are you probably know someone who has this phobia.

Each person can have different levels of entomophobia. It can develop in several ways – by having scary experiences with insects, believing that they are all poisonous, or through the media. It can cause people to seek to avoid insects at all cost, wear excessive amounts of clothing to protect themselves, or avoid specific places.

Want to find out what level of entomophobia you have? Take this quick quiz. 

Rules: Look at each photo/video. You will get 1 point for each time you squirm, 2 points for each time you feel like you have bugs crawling on you, and 3 points for each time you gasp, yell, or exclaim. Ready?

The Entomophobia Quiz

You made it all the way through!

0 to 3 points: You are doing great! You may not have entomophobia, but on occasion, some insects may bother you

4 to 6 points: Let's admit it, sometimes bugs might give you a small spook, but you don't have serious entomophobia.

7 to 9 points: Insects can be scary sometimes -- we get it. Don't worry, if you ever have any bugs bothering you, we can help you get rid of them.

10 to 15 points: We are no psychologists, but you may have entomophobia. You will be able to make it though! Bybee Pest Control knows exactly what to do.

How did you do? Leave a comment and let us know. If you have any insects invading your home during this Halloween season, give Bybee Pest Control a call at (435) 256-0561. We will help make sure no spiders will spook you or your guests. 

As the weather continues to get colder, your home is looking more and more like a 5-star resort to many pests – especially mice. Think about it: your home is nicely insulated & warm, there is an abundance of holiday food, and a lot of places to hide. It’s a haven for little critters. They may be sneaking into your home and you may not notice for days or weeks that they are your newest tenants.  

If mice are snacking, relaxing, and living in your home, that must also mean that they are leaving mouse droppings throughout your home. Mouse feces are unsanitary and carry diseases such as hantavirus. The Center for Disease Control stated that there have been 728 reported cases of hantavirus in the United States. Hantavirus can kill or make its victims wish they were dead. Mice are no joking matter.

Protect your home & protect your family from mice. There are many things you can do to prevent them from coming and staying around – constantly sweeping & cleaning, setting mouse traps, and getting a host of cats could do the trick. However, constantly cleaning can take away time that you could be spending with your family, doing things that you love, and your other duties. Setting mouse traps can be dangerous. If you chose a mechanical trap, you must worry about a loved one accidentally touching it and getting hurt. If you chose a poisonous trap, you must remember that the toxins can hurt any living thing that may come in contact with the substance such as small children and pets. You can count on cats helping you with the prevention & extermination of mice, but cats will not always be able to get into the small cracks in your home that mice can easily squeeze into. And remember, they can always come back. After all, your home is basically heaven to them.

Allow Bybee Pest Control to help you protect your home and family. Preventative and extermination services are affordable and reliable. If you are experiencing mice issues, give us a call at (435) 256-0561.

Have you ever wondered how several small holes randomly appear in your clothing? It could be due to the material aging. It could have happened in the wash. Or it could have happened because you were attacked by a hole punch. However, if you have a brand new shirt and you haven't washed it yet or gotten attacked by any hole punch, it could have been due to moths.

But wait! Most adult moths don't have mouths.

How could they have done this to your new cashmere sweater?

Moths only have mouths during their larval or caterpillar stage of life. During this time, they eat as much as they possibly can. Their diet usually consists of fibers such as silk, wool, cashmere, angora, feathers, or fur -- a lot of which can be found in your closet. They will bulk up on your favorite shirt, your comfort sweaters, your lucky socks, and your winter coat.

Luckily, the stage of life when moths actually have mouths only lasts for about two weeks (hopefully your clothes can make it that long). When they transition to adulthood, their top priority is to mate. When female moth's eggs are fertilized -- which can range from 50 to 1,000 eggs -- she leaves her eggs on a piece of your clothing. Once they hatch, the cycle starts all over again eventually leaving your closet as a destitute moth buffet.

Don't let the moths destroy your clothing. No one wants to wear a shirt full of holes to work. If you have a moth break out or you want to prevent moths from taking over, give Bybee Pest Control a call. We will help you protect your home (and your lucky socks). 

Termites. They have been around for more than 250 million years -- they are basically modern day dinosaurs. The queen of each termite colony lives between 15 & 25 years and she lays one egg every 15 seconds -- this is equivalent to 30,000 eggs per day. Termite colonies live inside structures called mounds which are made up of mud, soil, digested wood, feces, and saliva -- their homes are hard as rock and built to last. Unfortunately, termites often build their mounds at the expense of your home.

You love your home. You work hard for your home. Its the place where you sleep, where you enjoy time with loved ones, and eat delicious food. Termites also love their mounds. They work hard for their mounds. Termites attack the wood in your home to create their mounds. Your cabinets, floors, ceilings, wooden furniture, and even your drywood framing is at risk. Termites can cause severe damage to your home. The symptoms include buckling wood, swollen floors and ceilings, visible mazes in your walls or furniture, and/or cracks. 

Often, it can be difficult to detect that your home has a termite infestation until it is too late. If you are looking into buying a new home or wanting to ensure that your current home is safe, give Bybee Pest Control a call at (435) 256-0561. We know exactly what to look for to make sure that your home is termite free and save you thousands. Worried that you already have an infestation? No problem. We are here to help you too. We will rid your home of termites, guaranteed. 

Have you ever been at a picnic, at the park, or even in your own yard when a tiny black and yellow wasp swarms over to you? The sense of fear can seize your whole body -- especially if you're allergic -- as they fly around your head. These tiny insects can pack quite the punch with their painful stings. It is no wonder why people avoid them at all costs and try to get rid of them when they infest their home or business. There isn't anything more unwelcoming to visitors than wasps greeting them with a sharp sting.

Here are five facts about your welcome visitors:

1. Wasps can sting more than once.

You read that correctly -- they can sting you more than one time. Wasps often repeatedly sting their victims because, unlike bees, their stinger will not fall off. This means that if one wasps is upset, it can take its revenge over and over again.

2. Wasps are predators.

Wasps hunt and eat nearly every kind of insect. They snack on grasshoppers, aphids, flies, and even other bees. In addition, they will also eat nectar, fruit, tree sap, and even human food. You better watch out for these little bugs during your picnic -- they might take a bite out of your sandwich.

3. Wasps have relatively short life cycles.

At the end of each summer, a new queen wasp begins her hibernation  for the winter. All other wasps, including the old queen, die off. When springtime rolls around, the new queen establishes a new colony of wasps that can grow up to 50,000 wasps in one summer. At the end of the summer, the queen dies and a new queen is born to restart the process.

4. Wasps are different from bees

Wasps are distinguishable from bee by their pointed lower abdomens and narrow waist. Bees generally are more round and look "fuzzy". All wasps build nests out of wood fibers chewed into a pulp. Bees secrete a waxy substance to construct their nests. Wasps come in every color imaginable from yellow to brown to bright blue to sharp red. Bees generally are black and yellow.

5. Wasps can be found everywhere

Wasps call every continent, except Antarctica, home. They are one of the most diverse insects in the world with over 200,000 different species. Not only can they be found everywhere in the world, they also can be found in almost every setting. Meadows, orchards, woodlands, playgrounds, cemeteries, offices, stores, and your backyard. It is very difficult to ever truly be able to escape these pests -- unless you live in Antarctica of course.

If you encounter a wasp problem, give Bybee Pest Control a call at 435-256-0561. We will help you protect your home, business, and your picnic from pesky wasps. 

As the holidays quickly approach and you begin to plan your travelling schedule, pest may not be at the forefront of your mind. However, there probably isn't anything worse than staying in a hotel room and waking up the next morning with bed bug bites. Hotels often train employees what to look for when cleaning rooms to ensure that bed bugs are not present. In addition, you can take extra precaution by asking the hotel about their bed bug history. Nevertheless, your room still may have bugs and we highly suggest thoroughly inspecting your room to make sure no unwelcome guests are staying the night with you -- and to ensure they don't hitch-hike with you to your next destination.

Tip #1: Wait to unpack.

Avoid placing your bags on the luggage rack once you have entered the room as bed bugs love nesting there. Instead, place your items in the restroom because the surfaces in the bathroom are too difficult for bedbugs to crawl on. After your bags are in the bathroom, immediately begin to search for bed bugs. Check the mattress, headboard, and luggage rack. Inspect the furniture, nightstands, and pictures hanging on the wall. Remember that bed bugs love quiet, dark places.

Tip #2: Look for bugs.

Look for signs of infestation. One sign is shedded exoskeletons. They look like empty, yellow shells scattered near hiding spots.  Another sign includes small blood stains, which can be easier to detect on light or white-colored items.

If you notice any of these signs, report them to the front desk right away and request a new room. Because bed bugs can travel through shared walls, they can be found in neighboring rooms. Request to move to a different part of the hotel or a different floor. If you are worried about your luggage, ask the hotel employees for plastic bags. Place your luggage in this bags to suffocate the bed bugs.

Tip #3: Separate your clothes.

Bed bugs are twice as likely to swarm to dirty clothes than clean clothes. This can be because the residual odors mimic the scent of food. To avoid bed bugs getting into your dirty laundry, keep your clean clothes separate from your dirty clothes. If you suspect infestation, it can be helpful to keep bagged clothes in a bathtub. This can trap the bed bugs and prevent them from spreading to other areas in the room.

Tip #4: Practice at-home procedures. ?

The truth is not everyone knows how to check for bed bugs in hotel rooms. That means that these insects can cling to your belongings and wind up with you at home. If this happens to you, seek immediate help. Give Bybee Pest Control a call at 435-256-0561 and we will send over one of our trained specialist to treat your home.

Tick season is in full swing! These insects can be found on your weekly summer hike, in your backyard on some shrubbery, or on the grass at your favorite park. Ticks are sneaky little insects that can hop onto your body, crawl around until they find a good, warm spot, and then feed on your blood. They are especially dangerous because they can give you Lyme disease, ehrlichiois, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tularemia. Ticks are nothing to mess with and if you get a tick, it is best to remove it as soon as possible. Diseases such as Lyme disease can be prevented if a tick is removed within 24 hours. There are a lot of rumors about the best way to remove a tick, some include: burning it with a match, putting Vasoline on it to smoother it, pushing it out with a credit card, or even pulling it out with your hand. However, experts suggest not doing any of these things -- the best way to remove a tick is with tweezers, as follows:

Step 1:Wash your hands and prepare the area with rubbing alcohol.

Step 2: Using a clean pair of fine-tipped tweezers, pinch the tick as close to the skin as possible

Step 3: Firmly pull the tick upward using even pressure. Some ticks may be holding onto the area tightly (they use their concrete-like saliva to stay put) -- if necessary, apply extra pressure.

Step 4: Disinfect the area using rubbing alcohol

Step 5: Kill the tick to ensure that no one else (including pets) are bitten. Put it in a small bag, just in case it needs to be checked for diseases.

Some say that if you take a tick out using tweezers, you risk getting the head stuck. However, if you get close enough to the skin, the head usually will not get stuck. The tick's straw like mouth may get stuck, however, experts say that it is not as dangerous and it should fall out on it's own.

If you have been bitten by a tick, please remove it as quickly as possible. If you suspect that you may be sick due to a tick bite, visit a doctor as soon as possible. If you are going outside, doctors recommend having a tick check. If you would like to prevent backyard ticks from harming you and your loved ones, call Bybee Pest Control. We will help keep you and your family safe. 

Utah summers are always so much nicer when the bugs are kept out of the house; but, with kids running around, doors being left open, and pet food on the floor it can be difficult to do. The Southern Utah Pest Control Experts -- Bybee Pest Control -- have three huge tips that will help you keep your home bug free.

Tip #1: Always sweep the floor

Always keep the floors in your home clean – especially the kitchen. Bugs love eating the crumbs that are on the floor and juices that are split. Insects like Sugar Ants in St. George and German Roaches in Cedar City will sneak in and eat everything left on the floor. Even the smallest piece of food or sticky substance can attract pests. Pet food will also draw insects into your home, especially if it spills and is left on the floor. Sometimes messes are inevitable – we understand that. It can be hard to eat a popsicle without it dripping in the Saint George heat, teach a dog to eat without making a mess, or cook your favorite Forth of July treat without spilling. To keep the insects out, after you cook, eat, or feed your pets, sweep, mop, and/or vacuum. Keeping your home crumb-free will also help you keep your home pest-free.

Tip #2: Keep your home clutter-free

Having clutter around your home gives insects a place to hide and reproduce. Southern Utah is crawling in insects like Black Widows that can come into your home and hide behind the clutter. To help keep your home pest-free, get rid of things that are laying around the house that you don’t use anymore, vacuum around furniture, and dust nooks, crannies, and corners.

Tip #3: Check your house for cracks

Insects have to be getting into your home from somewhere and it is likely through cracks. Cracks in foundation and siding become doorways to your home for bugs. Bugs like ants and cockroaches can squeeze through just about any opening. Be sure to perform thorough inspections of your house’s foundation, and re-seal any gaps you find using a caulking gun. You should also pay special attention to where side walls meet the foundation, which is often a favorite hiding spot for bugs.

Need some help from experts?

Preventing bugs isn’t always your number one priority, but trust us when we say it’s much easier than dealing with an existing infestation! If you need help bug-proofing your home, let the experts at Bybee Pest Control help. We know the places that bugs love to hide, and more importantly, we know how to keep them out. Not only can we eliminate any current problems, but we can also give you the knowledge you need to get your home ready to defend itself against any future pests.

What is the difference between ants and termites?

For many homeowners, the first sign of a termite infestations is a swarm of flying insects. However, not all swarming insects are termites -- some are flying ants. Both of the insects can be found in Southern Utah, so it is important to know the difference. In fact, there have been recent reports of swarms of flying insects that look like termites in Cedar City. Ants and termites vary in many ways, it can be hard for people to distinguish between them at first glance. In order to identify either flying ants or flying termites, it is vital to know the differences between them.

Appearance Differences

Flying Termites have:

- Straight antennae

- Clear, equal length wings

- Long, connected abdomen

- Black or dark brown bodies

Flying ants have:

- Bent antennae

- Brown, unequal length wings

- Segmented abdomen

- Black, brown, or reddish bodies

Behavioral Differences

Both ants and termites live in colonies. Termites can be found in decaying trees, stumps, wood debris, lumber, and the wooden parts of buildings. Some ants, such as carpenter ants, also inhabit wood and the wooden parts of homes. Because termites eat wood, they can cause serious structural damage. Carpenter Ants do not eat wood and thus they generally do not cause damage to homes or buildings.

Diet Differences

The diets of these two pest differ. Ants are omnivores and termites feed on cellulose (which is found in wood and other plants). Ants primarily eat nectar, seeds, other insects, and food crumbs left around homes. Termites mainly consume wood, paper, and other cellulose-based products.

Life Cycle Differences

Ants go through four stages of development: egg larva, pupa, and adult. Worker ants live for a couple of months and their queens can live for years. A termite lift cycle includes egg, larvae, and adult phases. Most termites can live for a couple of years and their queen can live for decades. During warm months, both pests fly from their nests to establish new colonies. They will swarm around each other, mate, and the female will nest near by. This is why swarming is a good indicator of an infestation.

Why should you be worried?

Termites cost Americans more than $5 billion in damage each year and most insurance plans don't cover the damage. If you are worried that you have an infestation, please give us a call and we are more than happy to help you protect your home and family from these pests.