Time for lunch, please pass the insects.

Now that I have your attention, I am not speaking of insects that eat man, but actually of man doing the eating.  Entomophagy is the practice of eating insects, especially by people.  This practice is a common occurrence around the world, except here in the US.  Silkworms, grasshoppers, ants, crickets, scorpions, waterbugs, dung beetles, and termites are just a few of the insects that are prepared into meals and snacks.  Over 1,400 species of insects are known to be edible.

Why eat insects?  There are a few reasons.  They actually are good for you, they are high in protein and low in fat.  This is great for all the die hard dieters!  Next time you head to the gym, take a cup of toasted crickets for your snack!  They are plentiful and multiply quickly.  Insects prefer to be raised in close quarters and  require much less space than cattle.  They are plentiful and much easier to produce than beef, pork and poultry.  Insects also require less food and water to raise and have less waste than other protein sources.

The Six-Legged Meat of the Future [WSJ]

Overwintering series part 3, Brown Recluse Spiders.

Next up in our series on overwintering is the brown recluse spider. Like the mosquitoes in our previous blog, the fiddle-marked brown recluse spider also enters into diapause/dormancy during the winter.

Brown recluses seek insulation and protection from leaves and accumulating snow. They’ve also been known to envelop themselves in a protective silk encasement. By seeking shelter in these types of insulation, brown recluse spiders can keep an average of three degrees warmer than the temperature of the air.

But how cold is too cold for brown recluses? And does it get cold enough in Middle Tennessee to fatally freeze brown recluse spiders?

Short answer: It has to get really cold for a long time. And it doesn’t get that cold here.

To read the longer answer, we found a study on the cold tolerance of the brown recluse spider. It’s quite interesting.

Basically, if it was 23 degrees or colder for 30 days in a row, the population of brown recluse spiders hiding out in the winter wilderness would not survive. However, even in our chilliest month–with an average low of 28 degrees–that’s not cold enough to fatally freeze all of the fiddle-bearers. And we all know that the weather in Tennessee is often bipolar and probably couldn’t commit to being one temperature for an entire month.

Overwintering series part 2, When do Mosquitoes stop biting?

“Baby, it’s cold outside. But I’ll take the chill in the air over a mosquito bite on my arm any day!” – Anonymous resident of Middle Tennessee

Much to the delight of many, the mosquitoes that once populated the air space have chilled out for the winter. These bugs typically stop biting humans in temperatures below 50° Fahrenheit.

To survive the winter or to endure a drought, mosquito eggs and certain types of larvae enter into diapause—a delay of development due to a change in environment where the pest goes into a state of dormancy. The dormant mosquitoes have enough molecules stored to make it through the winter.

Adult male mosquitoes die after the fall mating season. Female mosquitoes find a safe place to hide out for the winter. Then, when the weather warms up and the rains return, they seek out a blood meal from the local neighborhood human and then lay their eggs in standing water. If you’re the person collecting H₂0 with the eclectic mix of old tires, kiddie pools, and pie tins in your back yard, they’re coming for you. 

We typically treat for mosquitoes between May and October. However, in 2012, we started our mosquito treatments early because of how hot it got in April. It’s not uncommon to treat for mosquitoes after October, either. If the weather became unseasonably warm in December, it’s possible to see mosquito activity.

As the weather goes, so do our mosquito treatments. Don’t hesitate to call us at 615.217.7284 if you’re seeing them in your area, even if it seems too early or too late in the season.

The Bug Man presents a series on overwintering pests. Stay tuned to our blog over the next several days as we dive in to the details of how common Middle Tennessee pests survive the winter.

Where do bugs go in the winter? Do they disappear like magic? What does it take to make them vanish? 

Just because we can't see bugs in the winter, doesn't mean they don't exist. If you don't see your neighbor all winter because he's holed up inside his house with a heating blanket, does that mean that he doesn't exist? If we don't believe our neighbors disappear, why do we believe that bugs disappear?




Not only do bugs not vanish in the winter, they often choose to "disappear" inside your house. Then, when spring flutters in, the bugs step on out and make an appearance in your kitchen or living room.

When the weather gets cold, bugs begin to overwinter. Basically, overwintering means that bugs go into survival mode to live through the season's cold temperatures. For the cold-blooded insects, chilly times can be difficult for them. Because as the outdoor temperature drops, so does their internal temperature. They seek refuge in a warm, stable environment. Often, that ideal location is within the comforts of your tender Tennessee home.

However, because of the area of the country that we live in, the weather can fluctuate and can go from one temperature extreme to another, even in the winter. Just a few hours of warm temperatures in the midst of winter can cause a stir in the pest world. Bugs become befuddled and confused critters come out of cracks and crevices.

It's for that very reason that we still recommend pest control even when it seems like there are no bugs. By skipping pest control in the winter months, homeowners can open themselves up to an invasion by letting pests get inside to overwinter.

At The Bug Man, we offer a Quarterly Pest Control service. It's perfect for keeping your home pest-free in all seasons. Call us at 615.217.7284 for details.

As residents of Middle Tennessee, it's natural to support the Tennessee Titans. Nashville is just a few miles down the road, after all.

However, in this particular football game, we're supporting the La Vergne Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #85 as they play the Titans Alumni in the November 10 flag football fundraiser.



The La Vergne police department is raising funds for National Police Week in Washington, D.C., where fallen and left-behind police officers are honored. The harvested funds also support local La Vergne efforts, such as a youth boxing program for at-risk teenagers, and supplying food and toys to the less fortunate.

The La Vergne Fraternal Order of Police faces off with former Tennessee Titans players on Saturday, November 10 at 7 p.m. at the La Vergne High School football field. Tickets are available at the gate for $10.00.

The city of La Vergne is part of our service area in Middle Tennessee. In addition to La Vergne, we service Rutherford and Wilson County, including Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Christiana, Rockvale, Lebanon, Mount Juliet, and Watertown.

 

 

Boxelder bugs are fighting to get inside houses. Below, you'll see a photo of quite the gathering of boxelder bugs in Murfreesboro, TN. They are scouting out a house to invade.



These pests search for the warmest side of the home (usually the south side) and head for a dark crevice to try to get inside. For a great illustration of the behavior of boxelder bugs, check out this video that one of our technicians made while out performing a pest control service...



As you can see in the video, the boxelder bugs were attracted to the shading on the wall. They were trying to seek shelter to overwinter in the cracks and crevices.

It's important to secure the outside of your home as the cold weather moves in. Use caulk to repair holes on the exterior of the home. Make sure your window and door screens don't have any damage.

If boxelder bugs manage to fight their way inside your home, please call us at 615.217.7284. We're here to help you keep your home pest-free. Also, if you have any interesting pictures or videos of bugs, feel free to upload them on to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/TheBugManTN.

Winter is knocking on our door, and with the swing of climate shift comes a wave of boxelder bugs. In the last several days, we've received numerous calls from our customers about these bothersome bugs.

Whether congregating outside the house en masse or making a little boxelder village inside, these red and black bugs are unwelcome.



Boxelder bugs are often found near boxelder trees. As you can imagine--if you have a boxelder tree in your yard--you may find yourself with an infestation of boxelder bugs around this time of year.

However, boxelder bugs also feed on maple trees, and the apples, prunes, and pears that fall off of trees.

If you look closely, you'll notice that adult boxelder beetles gather on the south sides of trees, rocks, and other buildings to sun themselves. Fall may be in season, but the boxelders are still longing for some soaking sun time.

The boxelder bugs will fly up to two miles to find a place to hide out for the winter. Which, unfortunately for many homeowners, is inside the walls. After settling in, they often make an appearance in bathtubs, sinks, and floors near their cold weather chill spot. This social event for the boxelder bugs often occurs on the south and west side of the house when it's sunny outside.

It kind of seems like the boxelder bugs are little weather forecasters, notifying onlookers that the sun is shining. Unless you'd like to receive your weather report from black and red bugs in your bathroom, perhaps you should call The Bug Man at 615.217.7284. :)

 

Fleas are fierce this year! It's the middle of October and we are still receiving numerous calls about flea infestations!

Here are a few flea facts of life:

* Although fleas need to eat within a week of merging into the adult stage, they can survive 2-3 years between meals

* A female flea can lay up to 5,000 eggs in her lifetime

* Once a flea senses that a blood meal is present, it can hatch out in under 10 seconds

Under 10 seconds? That's pretty quick! We've even read studies that say that the fleas can hatch in under 2 seconds!



What else can happen in 2 or 10 seconds?


* We can pump 3/4 a gallon of gas in 10 seconds

* Most caution lights (the yellow light between green and red) last approximately 2 seconds

* A cheetah can get up to 68 mph in around 2 seconds

* Sprinter Usain Bolt can run the 100 meter dash in under 10 seconds

If you find yourself with fleas, don't let the time tick away. Call us at the office at 615.217.7284. We can schedule a treatment for the interior of your home and for your yard.

A few days ago, we received a phone call from a concerned customer. She was very upset and disturbed that she had a fly infestation in her home.

"I clean all of the time," she said! I'm not trying to sound proud, but I keep a very clean house! I don't understand why I have flies in my bathroom."

We suggested a One Time Pest Control service to remedy the problem. The customer doesn't typically have issues with pests, so it didn't seem necessary to do Quarterly Pest Control service. However, she had an emergency and needed something right away.

"Please send someone who knows a lot about pests. Send someone who can identify what's going on inside my house."

Fortunately, all of our technicians are trained in pest identification. It didn't matter which technician we sent to the customer's home, because every technician would do their best to remedy the issue.

As much as possible, we try to keep our technicians in a designated area to help conserve gas. We sent a technician who happened to be in the neighborhood.

After the appointment, the technician called into the office to explain what happened.

"There were flies pouring out of the drain in the bathroom upstairs! I've never seen anything like that before. She had drain flies because she doesn't ever go upstairs and use that bathroom."

And then a teaching moment ensued. :)

"People need to make sure to run water down all of their drains occasionally, especially in bathrooms that are rarely used. If water isn't flushed down the drains occasionally, it's easier for flies to harbor there."

This particular customer is elderly and doesn't go upstairs very often. Therefore, her bathroom upstairs is rarely used. It may be clean and spotless, but if the drain lies dormant, it can still lead to problems.

"We boiled some water and poured it down the drain," commented the technician. "And I gave her suggestions on what else she can do to get rid of the flies."

Do you have a perplexing pest problem? Let us know! We'll send a pest expert out to your home to remedy the problem. Call us at 615.217.7284 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

The Bug Man family has much to be thankful for and this year isn't any different. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we are hosting a non-perishable food drive from September through November. All food items will be donated to Greenhouse Ministries.

If you would like to make a donation for the food drive, here's how:

• Leave your non-perishable items in a bag or box by your front door on the day of your next service and a technician will pick it up and bring it to our office.


• A collection box will be located inside our office and you may stop by Monday-Friday between 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Greenhouse Ministries is a local outreach ministry located off of Spring Street in Downtown Murfreesboro. They provide assistance with food, clothing, job-skill traning, adult education classes and counseling to underprivileged families in our community. Learn more about Greenhouse Ministries by visiting their website at www.GreenhouseMin.org.

One of our customers sent us an email to ask us if she should be concerned about this spider that she found outside her home in Murfreesboro, TN.

The spider in question is known as argiope aurantia. It is a colorful spider that goes by a primary common name of black and yellow agriope. This spider is also known as a yellow garden argiope, yellow garden orb-weaver, golden garden spider, golden orb-weaver, and the writing spider.

Although it looks rather threatening, the writing spider doesn't prey on humans. But if it is provoked, it will bite. The bite feels similar to a bee sting. Young children, the elderly, and those with sensitive immune systems should take special care not to harass this pest. It's best to marvel at these spiders and their webs, but not touch them.

The female does, however, prey on her mate. After intercourse, the male writing spider has an irreversible seizure and is dead within 20 minutes. Then, preparing her afternoon treat, the female spider wraps him in a silk sack and leaves him on the edge of her web to devour him later.

As far as how this spider got its name, the writing's on the web. As you can see in the picture above--submitted by our customer--it looks like there are several x or z shapes in the web. These zig-zag patterns make the writing spider easy to identify.

Writing spiders are orb-weavers, which means they make beautiful, elaborate webs in a circular formation. And not just one web, either. This scribbling spider builds and tears down its UV-light-reflective web every day! Female writing spiders try to build these webs in places where they won't be disturbed. So, if the web is in one place one day, it will likely be in the same place the next day. These webs are made of silk that is stronger and more flexible than steel!

Writing spiders are most commonly found in gardens, bushes, and shrubs. Because these spiders are found throughout the mainland of North America, it's highly likely that you've seen this spider or its web before if you live in one of the 48 contiguous states in America. And if you haven't, you may have read about the writing spider or watched a movie about it.

Orb-weaving spiders were made famous in E.B. White's beloved novel "Charlotte's Web."


The character of Charlotte actually contains her spider identity in her middle name: Aranea. Although Charlotte is a slightly different species than a writing spider, she shares many characteristics with writing spiders, especially her web-making skills.

Special thanks to our curious customer Mariah T. for the question! If you ever have any questions about a pest identification, please email us at service@thebugman.us. Or, post the photo on Facebook.com/TheBugManTN or Twitter.com/TheBugManTN.

It's International Talk Like a Pirate Day! In honor of this historically awesome calendar celebration, we decided to investigate what sort of pests pirates contended with.

Avast ye! Here's our treasured information...



These scurvy lads weren't alone on their pirate ship. They often had the company of rats and fleas. In fact, rats would often attack the pirates if they were disturbed from their hiding places in cracks and crevices. Blimey! Maybe that's why pirates seem so filthy. They probably didn't want to thoroughly clean their ship for fear of a rat pack attack!

Reeling from a rat or flea bite, the pirates screamed, "ARRRGGGHHHH!" and then occasionally contracted scabies. If you're unfamiliar with scabies, it's a skin rash that leads to a whole lot of itching.

Many pirates had the unpleasant job of sweeping the rats off of the ship and into the water. As you can imagine, this is probably when a lot of the rat and flea bites happened. The rats were forced out of their hiding places. The fleas, sensing their rat meals were leaving, would often latch on to the nearest blood meal--the pirate sweeping the ship. Because fleas can lay up to 500 eggs, this must have been an incredibly unpleasant experience.

Out to sea and on the run, pirates didn't have the convenience of calling The Bug Man to rid them of their rabid rats and fierce fleas. All they could do was batten down the hatches, try to keep in shipshape, and make sure the Jolly Roger was properly dispalyed until they hit land.

You may not live on a pirate ship. But if you do find yourself yelling, "Shiver me timbers!" at the sight of a rat or flea waiting to pillage your living space, we're here ready to blow the man down. Or blow the rat down. Or blow the flea down. The point is...we'll take care of it for you. :)

With the lush beauty of Middle Tennessee it's a wonder why rodents would choose to live inside a home, rather than out in nature during the fall season. As you're enjoying the final few hot days of the year, don't forget to prepare your house for the potential pest invasions of Autumn.

There are many reasons why rodents move indoors when the weather chills. One of the most interesting motivators for rodents to move is the heat inside the house. Rodents must eat all of the time to keep their body temperature consistent. When the weather gets cooler and the food outside becomes sparse, the rodents become cold. So, they look for food, heat, and refuge inside homes.

Rodents typically enter a home from the ground level, and then make their way up to the attic. This is why it's important to seal off any cracks near the foundation, windows, and doors. Homeowners can use caulk, silicone, spray foam, and steel wool to seal holes.



 



 

 

If you do discover rodents inside of your home, make a note of where you see the rodent or their droppings and communicate that with your pest management professional. You may not know it--but as a homeowner--you are so helpful to The Bug Man staff. We appreciate knowing specifically where pest activity has been discovered. This helps us get to the root of the problem faster.

Here at The Bug Man, we try to notate any trends that you find with pests and your house. If you frequently find a mouse population in your attic every November, please tell us. Pest management is very much a team effort.

Don't hesitate to call us at 615.217.7284, email us at service@thebugman.us, or drop by our office on 606 S. Church St in Murfreesboro.

 

At the beginning of 2011, we moved into our new office on 606 S. Church Street in Murfreesboro, TN. Our new building was ripe with possibilities for decor and customization.

One of our favorite "new office" projects is our DIY Scrabble Wall Art. Anyone who visits The Bug Man office will catch a glimpse of this three-dimensional work of art. Here are a few pictures and a brief explanation of how we made it.

1. First, we brainstormed a few pest-control-related words to use in our Scrabble puzzle.

2. Then we found a free crossword puzzle maker online and used that to create our layout.

3. After considering how to make the tiles look authentic, our office manager discovered a lovely company called Woodworks Limited. She counted up how many tiles we would need and then ordered them off CraftParts.com. In a few short, yet seemingly long days, our materials arrived in the mail!



4. Continuing on the path of authenticity, we then stained the wood tiles to make them look more Scrabblesque. They were left to dry over night.

5. Another key element to this project was finding the right font for the numbers and the letters. We used Chatty Walls' Will & Grace uppercase font because we thought it looked the most like the font the game of Scrabble uses. (www.chattywalls.com)

6. After the stained tiles dried, we stuck the vinyl letters and numbers onto the tiles. The stickers were measured and placed at the center of the tile. Each little number had to be cut out individually and then affixed to the wood. If you look closely you can see the measurements in the photo.



7. To get the shiny, glossy look on the tiles we used a clear glaze spray. After the glossy finish was complete, they REALLY looked like Scrabble tiles!

8. The next task was to find a way to affix the tiles to the wall, while also keeping the 3-D effect. Initially, we were going to use paint stirrers. However, we ended up using trim. Putting all of the letters on the trim helped us to line up everything as a complete word, instead of as an individual letter.

9. To preview our masterpiece, we used reusable adhesive putty.

10. And then, in all of its wonder and glory...it was complete! Now we have a beautiful, fun, pest-themed Scrabble game on our office wall.

 

Bug Basics: What's the difference between a "Free" Termite Inspection and a Wood Destroying Insect Report (WDI)?

This question can plagues both a prospective home seller or a potential home buyer. This inquiry is especially confusing to some of our customers because we often talk about our free termite inspection.  What is the difference?

"If your website says the termite inspection is free, then why do I need to pay for a termite letter?" That's a wonderfully valid question.

Free Termite Inspection & Quote

We offer a Free Termite Inspection & Quote to homeowners that are interesting in knowing the current conditions of their home.  During this inspection we check for termites and conditions that may be conducive to future termite infestations.  We will make recommendations about what you, as a homeowner, can do to ensure that your home is properly protected.  If termites are discovered, we will offer treatment options to remedy the immediate concern and protect the home in the future.  We offer both preventative and curative treatments for termites.  An inspection is not a guarentee that you do not have termites or that you will not get them.  Termite Control Options

We suggest that a person who wants to sell their home should have a pre-inspection done before they put their house on the market. That will prevent any surprises when the WDI report is done.

That's all well and good and pretty nifty. But what about the mysterious termite letter?

Wood Destroying Insect Report

Is a termite letter the same thing as a WDI? Yes. It is the same. It's just called different names by different people.

A Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Report (Form NPMA-33) is a report that reports on the current conditions of a structure, at the time of inspection, in regards to particular pests.  It is the official form recognized in the State of Tennessee that is completed and signed by a state certified pest control technician working for a state licensed and chartered company.  Most banks and financial organizations require the completion of this report when buying or refinancing a home loan.

Surprisingly, many home sellers and buyers aren't told very much about the termite letter. People call us knowing that they need some sort of termite inspection, but they don't know what to call it or how to get it. And many times people are blindsided by the urgency of the letter or the cost.

The WDI report is generally accepted by the underwriters for 30 days from the date of the inspection.  After this time, they will usually require a re-inspection.  This is due to the fact that termites are active year round, and the report is only an inspection, and not a treatment.  We recommend having an inspection completed after a closing date has been determined to ensure the report is within the 30 day window.

In Tennessee, many contracts are now written where the BUYER is responsible for the WDI termite report.  This is a good idea, in theory, but can cause a headache for all involed if the home has evidence of prior ermite activity and is currently under a service warranty with a termite company.  If a secondary company finds this evidence, they may recommend a new treatment.  If they do, the seller will need to contact their company for a report detailing treatment, warranty status, and may be requested to perform a secondary WDI Report.  It is usually a better idea to have the company that treated the home to provide the WDI Termite Report, if possible.  

A helpful tip for those in need of a termite letter: Contact the pest control company ahead of time to make sure there's availability in the schedule to get the inspection and the report submitted on time. Even a few days of notice is helpful, rather than a "night before" or "day of" sort of situation.

We highly recommend that our customers call us when it's time to do a termite letter. Our termite treatment comes with an optional renewable warranty. In the event that termite activity is discovered during a wood destroying insect inpsection, we can re-treat the home if the renewable warranty was maintained on a home that we did the original treatment.

If you have any questions, please call us at 615.217.7284. We hope you've found this explanation helpful!

Although lots of people call us at the first sign of a pest invasion, still others call us as a last resort after they've set off multiple "bug bombs" in their homes. We may know the reasons why bug bombs aren't effective, but our customers don't always know those reasons.

Not only are the fogging products ineffective, they are also very dangerous when used improperly. We've compiled a collection of resources from around the web to illustrate how bug bombs can lead to illness, injury, loss of money, explosions, and even death.



If you've ever wondered why "bombing the house" doesn't seem to get the job done, read on. And, if you're just curious and analytical like we are and want to know the answer anyway, you can go ahead and read on, too. :)

• Fogging or "bombing" a house cannot get into the cracks and crevices. Pests live and breed in the cracks and crevices. So if the bomb can't get into where they hang out, then they don't die.

• Fogging has little to no residual effect. When a room is fogged, it effects what is active in the open area of the room at that time. It does not do anything to combat any pests that move around in the future. There's no long-term effect.


• Foggers purchased at stores often aren't specially formulated to kill the bugs you have. May foggers are very generalized and claim to kill flying insects or crawling insects. And, in the case of bed bugs, they can be resistant to the chemicals used in foggers.

As you can see, foggers aren't all that reliable. In addition to that, they are often unsafe. We have read numerous stories about people who blew up their homes after setting off multiple bug bombs inside. Aerosols are flammable. Here are a few examples:

1. Snopes.com validates that a homeowner blew up his house in Cailfornia after setting of 19 bug bombs. After the explosion, there was more than $150,000 in damages.


2. Snopes.com also reported that another San Diego homeowner set off 18 bug bombs. After the explosion, roaches were still crawling around his house.


3. After 36 bug bombs were used in Australia, a massive explosion blew the back wall of a restaurant and lifted the roof off. Over $500,000 in damage was reported.


4. While trying to eliminate fleas, a homeowner set off four flea bombs, resulting in an explosion and a fire in her apartment. There was $25,000 in damage to the building and $1,000 in damage to the apartment-dweller's belongings.


5. In another flea bomb story, a man nearly died from suffocating from the pesticide fumes in his house. He crawled to the threshold of his home and desperately dialed 911. The hospital staff was shocked to see him alive the next day.

If a homeowner manages to avoid an explosion after DIY fogging, they may not remember to put away food items or utensils that they have laying out in their kitchen. Then, unaware that their silverware is now laced with caustic chemicals, they sit down for a nice family dinner of Pesticides and Meatballs.

When you're faced with an invasion of pests (fleas, bed bugs, roaches), please consult a pest control professional. It is our priority to keep you and your family safe.

For more more information on the pest services we provide, please browse our website, talk to us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter. And, we're available during normal business hours at 615.217.7284.

Do your ears hang low, do you wonder now and then, if earwigs will enter through your ear, and then move in?

Many myths exist in the pest world, including the eerie thought that earwigs can enter in your ear and invade your brain.

But could earwigs crawl in your ear? Well, lend us your ears, and we'll tell you. 

Creepy as they may look, earwigs will not go zombie on you and begin to eat your brain. Go ahead and cancel that aspect of the zombie apocalypse. :)

Rather than feasting on your cerebral cortex, earwigs would much rather eat leaves, flowers, fruits, mold, and insects.

These pesky pinchers enter into your home via cracks and crevices on the outside of your house. They usually harbor under piles of lawn debris, mulch, or in tree holes.

Rest at ease, because your brain is safe. But make sure to seal up the cracks and crevices on your home to keep earwigs--and many other pests--outside.

Greetings friends!

This is the year of the vote! We're in the thick of the Ruthies Awards competition. We are the four-time defending champion in the Favorite Pest Control Category and we're going for our fifth Ruthie. Please vote for us DAILY on the Ruthies Awards website.

Also, thanks to everyone who voted for us in the Besties competition. We were crowned Best Pest Control Company for the second year in a row. We're honored that you chose us as Best Bug Zapper.

The Bug Man family generally has winning in mind. However, this time we're hoping to be The Biggest Loser.

As the fleeting days of summer tic-toc away, the ticks in the yard keep biting all day.

While browsing the YouTube feed for the University of Florida Entomology page, we noticed a web clip about how some ticks are becoming resistant to certain kinds of tick medicine that their owners use. Click below to watch the YouTube video.

http://youtu.be/a2sXIYBxhQ4

Our office has experienced flash floods of calls from concerned pet owners asking us why the ticks are so bad this year. We've heard people say things like, "I've never had trouble with ticks before and now I suddenly have major issues."

Well, this resistance to tick medicine may be part of the reason the ticks seem so bad.

Another reason may be the acorn crop of a couple years ago, like we discussed in our other blog: How Acorns are Contributing to More Ticks This Year.

We offer an outside tick treatment for the foundation of the home and the yard. If you're interested in hearing more about how we may be able to help curb your tick problem, please call our office at 615.217.7284. Or, you could always send us a direct message on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheBugManTN.