Blog

Biological control methods use living organisms or their natural products to reduce pest populations rather than relying on synthetic chemical pesticides. That includes introducing or encouraging predators (lady beetles, lacewings), parasitoids (tiny wasps that lay eggs in caterpillars or aphids), pathogens (bacteria such as Bacillus thuringiensis, fungi like Beauveria, or viruses that specifically target insects),…

Seattle’s cool, wet climate and its mix of urban and verdant spaces create a familiar roster of household pests: ants (especially odorous house ants and carpenter ants), cockroaches, spiders, fleas, silverfish, slugs, and occasional bed bug or tick problems. Homeowners and gardeners often reach for simple, low-toxicity solutions, and diatomaceous earth (DE) — a fine,…

Pest control has long been synonymous in the public mind with chemical sprays and blanket treatments. But decades of experience from agriculture, public health, and urban pest management have shown that routine heavy reliance on broad-spectrum pesticides is neither necessary nor sustainable. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) offers a smarter alternative: a science-based, site-specific decision framework…

Seattle’s famously damp, mild climate — long, cool rainy seasons and high humidity — is wonderful for Douglas firs and ferns, but it also makes pest control a different kind of challenge than in hot, dry regions. Many people in the Pacific Northwest turn to “natural” pest repellents to avoid synthetic chemicals and protect garden…

The phrase “eco-friendly pest control” has become a powerful selling point—on service vans, product packaging and social media—but its meaning is often fuzzy. For many people it evokes images of harmless sprays, essential oils, or complete avoidance of any chemicals. For others it raises doubts about effectiveness: is “green” pest control just a softer, slower…

Discovering bed bugs in your rental can feel like a crisis: they’re stressful, invasive, and—if handled poorly—can turn into a legal headache. Landlords and tenants both have obligations and rights that vary by jurisdiction, so how you raise the issue matters as much as the infestation itself. This introduction explains why a calm, well-documented, and…

Dealing with a bed bug infestation is stressful, and one of the hardest early decisions is what to throw away and what you can realistically keep and treat. The right choices reduce the population, make treatments more effective, and can save you money; the wrong choices can spread insects to neighbors or mean needlessly discarding…

Few travel experiences are as welcome as settling into a hotel room after a long day — and few discoveries are as dismaying as the thought of bed bugs. These tiny, nocturnal pests can hitch a ride home in your luggage, multiply quickly, and turn a short trip into weeks of stress. Taking five to…

Discovering bed bugs in a short-term rental is one of the most unsettling experiences a traveler can have. In Seattle—where short-term rentals are common and travelers often move between multiple properties—the stakes are higher because bed bugs hitchhike easily on luggage, clothing and personal items, and can quickly spread to other places you stay or…

Bed bugs are small, nocturnal insects that feed on human blood and are expert hitchhikers. Over the past two decades they have re-emerged across many U.S. cities, and public spaces — including buses, light rail cars, and commuter trains — can occasionally serve as transfer points. In Seattle, where transit ridership is high and people…