Insects/Spiders

In some bedbug infestations, the bugs are so rare that they are hard to detect. Anyone can make a bedbug trap to prove the bugs are there, and even remove some of them.

Dec 3, 2009 - Rosemary Drisdelle

Though many people don't react to bedbug bites, a rash may be the first obvious sign of a bedbug infestation. Fortunately, bedbugs don't spread diseases.

Dec 3, 2009 - Rosemary Drisdelle

Industrial agriculture, insecticides, mites or mobile phones; no one knows the true cause of bee colony collapse disorder. It would be a fruitless world without bees.

Dec 3, 2009 - Colette McEnery-Lane

Red Imported Fire Ants are an imported pest that have thrived in the US, causing agricultural damage and human health hazards.

Nov 24, 2009 - Cyrus Dehkan

Aphids are an annoyance to gardeners and cause damage to crops worldwide. Without symbiotic bacteria, their ability to grow and reproduce would be greatly impaired.

Nov 22, 2009 - Wendy Anne Makhdum Prosser

Inviting bees to your garden will not only help ensure their survival but it will boost your flower, herb, and vegetable garden's performance.

Nov 18, 2009 - Jessica Ferguson

Although honey bees remain in their hives through the winter they do anything but hibernate. Maintaining the hive is a constant job, in warm weather and cold.

Nov 14, 2009 - Jessica Ferguson

There are more insects on Earth than any other species of animal.

Nov 6, 2009 - Janis Masyk-Jackson

Bed bugs have recently made a resurgence in the United States. While the bites are a nuisance, the most difficult problem is getting rid of bed bugs.

Oct 30, 2009 - Brian Downing

There are a few simple ways to distinguish moths from butterflies by looking at their physical characteristics and behavior.

Oct 28, 2009 - Cheryl Kraynak

Originating in Asia, honeybees were first brought to America by Virginia colonists in 1621.

Oct 22, 2009 - Linnea Heinrichs

Monarchs that live throughout most of the continental United States and in Southern Canada in the warmer months take a long journey south for the winter.

Oct 20, 2009 - Thomas Wyatt

A popular American legend, inherited from Native Americans, is that the woolly bear caterpillar can predict the severity of the coming winter. Is it a myth or fact?

Oct 18, 2009 - Carole Jones

2009 has been a record breaking year for the Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui). They arrived here in vast numbers after a 1000 mile migration from North Africa.

Sep 26, 2009 - Ann Burnett

Fruit flies can be a year-round problem, but they especially thrive during the late summer and early fall around ripened fruit. Keeping ahead of them can be challenging.

Sep 22, 2009 - Joanne LaSpina

Different wasps build different nests - here's a note of the types of nest, the locations, and how to remove them

Sep 22, 2009 - Suzanne Bosworth

Most people do not have severe reactions to wasp venom but the wasp sting is still uncomfortable. Here are wasp sting remedies to ease the discomfort.

Sep 21, 2009 - Suzanne Bosworth

Wasp stings cause pain and discomfort. Here's what a wasp sting looks like, how a wasp sting works, and why it's so uncomfortable

Sep 19, 2009 - Suzanne Bosworth

Wasps have a reputation for aggression but their life cycle is a fascinating process of cooperation and teamwork to produce helpful garden predators and plant pollinators

Sep 19, 2009 - Suzanne Bosworth

Ways and means to avoid being bothered or stung by wasps and how to overcome fear of wasps

Sep 17, 2009 - Suzanne Bosworth

Honeybees are a vital part of Scotland's food industry, providing a means of maintaining a balanced natural environment and the pollination of plants.

Sep 17, 2009 - Rosemary Gemmell

Not much is made of yellow sac spiders. Overshadowed by more venomous species, their bites go unnoticed except by those bitten. And their bites occur everywhere.

Sep 1, 2009 - Jason Parent

The Cabbage White butterfly, the bane of vegetable gardeners, is actually two different species; the Large White (Pieris brassicae) and the Small White (Pieris rapae).

Aug 31, 2009 - Ann Burnett

The declining Duke of Burgundy butterfly has been able to produce a second brood this year due to the warm weather, according to the National Trust.

Aug 25, 2009 - Rebecca Campbell

Daddy long-legs spiders (or is it daddy-longlegs), like many of their brethren, are the subjects of misinformation and urban legend.

Aug 24, 2009 - Jason Parent

Seattle is known for many things. Grunge music, Microsoft, Starbucks, and lots of rain all famously call Seattle home. So does the poisonous hobo spider.

Aug 22, 2009 - Jason Parent

Are black widow spiders the scourge of the spider kingdom? Are black widow bites something to be feared?

Aug 20, 2009 - Jason Parent

Personal mosquito repellents are among the most effective ways homeowners can protect themselves and their families from biting insect pests.

Aug 17, 2009 - Richard Freeland

From mid July through the sizzle of August the cicada serenades potential mates with their deafening song.

Aug 16, 2009 - Bridgett Ann Calia

Is the brown recluse spider really dangerous? Can brown recluse spider bites kill?

Aug 14, 2009 - Jason Parent

The Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly (Aglais urticae) is one of the most common British butterflies and is found almost everywhere in the UK.

Aug 11, 2009 - Ann Burnett

Any garden is enhanced by the presence of butterflies. Buddleia, the butterfly bush, attracts many different varieties of butterflies in the summer while it is in flower.

Aug 6, 2009 - Ann Burnett

As the decline of the honeybee continues drastically, homeowners are being urged to keep bees in their gardens in a bid to help protect the world's busiest insect.

Aug 5, 2009 - Rebecca Campbell

Question. What do all mosquitoes have in common? No, it's not that they all like blood.

Aug 4, 2009 - Richard Freeland

Homeowners are always looking to host the perfect party. But they'll never achieve outdoor living nirvana without dealing with that always unwelcome guest - the mosquito.

Aug 3, 2009 - Richard Freeland

Insect bites are part of the equation when spending time outdoors, but bites from several species of ticks can cause complications that are anything but routine.

Jul 28, 2009 - John Hogan

Bedbugs and fleas are similar in size and behavior, so it can be difficult to tell them apart. Ridding a home of either requires early detection and swift, sure action.

Jul 22, 2009 - Eva Gordon

Ample summer rains in many areas of the country is giving rise to large mosquito populations, making outdoor activities, especially at night, downright unpleasant.

Jul 20, 2009 - John Hogan

As homeowners have learned the hard way, mosquitoes can put a damper on the most ardent outdoor barbecue, even to the point of forcing the festivities indoors.

Jul 15, 2009 - Richard Freeland

Attacking many kinds of deciduous trees, webworms form a spider-like web on the ends of branches, resembling dirty rags, filled with black droppings and wriggling worms.

Jul 13, 2009 - Beverly Bright

Flower gardens and trees are under siege by aphids, a tiny sucking insect that causes leaves to turn yellow and take on a distorted appearance.

Jul 12, 2009 - John Hogan

Homeowners spend hours outdoors, entertaining, working and playing. But they share their back yards with an uninvited guest - the mosquito.

Jul 7, 2009 - Richard Freeland

Americans who grew up or live in the eastern half of the country have probably at some point witnessed a summer evening light show performed by the firefly.

Jul 2, 2009 - Richard Barrett

Chemicals may be great at getting rid of aphids, however not all gardeners wish to resort to using them. So what follows are ideas for dealing with aphid infestation.

Jun 30, 2009 - Lynne Garner

Support your local bee population and encourage them into your garden by creating suitable nesting sites. It's easy, inexpensive and fun!

Jun 30, 2009 - Lynne Garner

Butterfly populations appear to be falling so why not give them a helping hand by rearing and releasing native butterfly species.

Jun 30, 2009 - Lynne Garner

Building your own bug homes is reasonably easy and can be done quite cheaply and is a great way of encouraging them into your garden.

Jun 30, 2009 - Lynne Garner

Mosquitoes carry diseases, particularly the West Nile virus. They leave itchy welts on your skin. Is there any place that is safe from these horrible little insects?

Jun 27, 2009 - Gail Delaney

Tips for easy mosquito population control through proven techniques.

Jun 9, 2009 - Jennifer Gittins

There's a strange lack of activity in the 'natural' world: The sun is shining and the blossoms are blooming... but where are all the honeybees? And why does it matter?

Jun 8, 2009 - Estelle Rodis-Brown