The articles
Field notes for DFW homes
Plain-spoken articles on the questions Dallas-Fort Worth households ask most: seasonal pest pressure, look-alike identification, prevention checklists and safe label use. Every note links its sources.
Featured · Seasonal · 7 min read
DFW pest seasons: what to watch for through the year
A weather-dependent, season-by-season guide to the pests North Texas homeowners commonly see, with what to watch and what to do.
Identification · 6 min read
Termite swarmers vs. flying ants: how to tell them apart
Antennae, waist and wings separate termite swarmers from flying ants. Here is how to tell them apart and what swarmers indoors mean.
Prevention · 6 min read
Why scorpions get into North Texas homes, and how to seal them out
Striped bark scorpions climb, hide in cracks and follow insects indoors. Sealing doors, weep holes and gaps keeps most of them out.
Control basics · 6 min read
The two-step fire ant method, explained for homeowners
Texas A&M's Two-Step Method pairs yard-wide fire ant baiting with targeted mound treatments. Here is how and when it works.
Prevention · 6 min read
After the storm: a dump-and-drain mosquito checklist for DFW yards
A weekly dump-and-drain routine, West Nile context and CDC repellent guidance to cut mosquito breeding in DFW yards after rain.
Identification · 6 min read
Why roaches show up after rain (and which kind you're seeing)
Big roaches after a storm are usually outdoor species flushed from wet hiding spots. Small striped ones point to German cockroaches indoors.
Seasonal · 6 min read
Fall rodent-proofing checklist for Texas homes
Seal quarter-inch gaps, remove food and shelter, and clean droppings the CDC way before mice and rats move in for the cooler months.
Identification · 6 min read
Brown recluse or look-alike? A spider ID guide for DFW
Six eyes in three pairs, uniform color and no leg spines mark a brown recluse. Learn the look-alikes and what to do after a suspected bite.
Safety · 6 min read
How to read a pesticide label (and keep kids and pets safe)
Signal words, EPA registration numbers, directions, gear, storage and first aid: how to read a pesticide label and protect kids and pets.
Control basics · 6 min read
Integrated Pest Management at home: a plain-English guide
Inspect, identify, prevent, monitor, treat and evaluate: a plain-English guide to Integrated Pest Management for DFW homes.
Prevention · 5 min read
Bed bug travel checklist: inspect, contain, unpack
Check the hotel bed and headboard, keep bags off the bed, report signs, and heat-dry clothes when you get home.
Prevention · 6 min read
Fleas and ticks on DFW pets: yard and home prevention
Cut shade and debris in the yard, vacuum and wash pet bedding, check pets for ticks daily, and ask your vet about on-animal products.
Safety · 4 min read
Bug bombs for roaches: why DFW homes need a different first step
Bug bombs are not a reliable first response to German cockroaches. Learn their control limits, fire and exposure risks, and what DFW renters and homeowners can do instead.
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