Venice Pest Blog

Termites can wreak havoc with Florida homes. There are many different types of termites, but perhaps the most damaging is the subterranean termite. They nest underground, and to build their nests, they must bore holes that make the ground weak where it is supposed to be supporting your house. Left untreated, they can create enough damage to cause a house to collapse. Termites typically swarm in the spring, but there can be smaller swarms during the summer months. The most common time for a swarm to occur is after a warm rain when the soil temperature is about 70 degrees. Termites swarm when searching for mates during breeding season. Only winged termites reproduce and can start new colonies. These are referred to as "swarmed" termites. The swarmers leave their colonies to start ones.  These termites are poor flyers and mainly drift on the prevailing winds. Light attracts them, so you can...

The chinch bug is a major pest that invades your lawn and literally sucks the life out of it. As these bugs infest your yard, they spend their time sinking their mouths into each blade of grass so that they can remove the juices. That’s bad enough, but they don’t stop there. They cause further damage by injecting dangerous chemicals into your grass that has the result of clogging the vascular system. You will know that this has happened if you notice yellowish areas around your lawn.  In the beginning, these yellowed patches are small, but they expand as these chinch bugs make their way around your lawn. Eventually, your entire yard is affected, and it decreases the entire value of your home. If you wanted to sell your house, it would be difficult with a chinch bug infestation because the first thing that people will see is your lawn. When...

Your plants and lawn need nutritious food to grow healthy throughout the year, but many homeowners struggle with finding the right time to fertilize. While most experts recommend fertilizing in the fall, opinions are mixed when it comes to the other half of the year. Some say late spring is the best time to prepare your vegetation for the heat of summer. This advice works well in many parts of the country, but Sarasota residents must be mindful of Florida's unique climate. In an area where winters are mild and spring heat comes early, some modifications must be made. Many plants and grasses awaken in the spring. Once this awakening occurs, the plants enter into a new growth cycle. During this cycle, they extend their roots and begin building up enormous energy reserves for the long, hot summer. In Florida, this summer is hotter and longer than in most places. This...