Ask the Sherpa answers from Greg Baumann: short, practical pest Q&As on ants, cockroaches, mosquitoes, and home infestations.Browse questions below, or visit the Ask the Sherpa desk to search and submit what you are seeing.
Short answer: There is no single magic schedule. Frequency should match pest pressure, climate, construction, and whether you are preventing general invaders or managing a specific problem (ants, rodents, mosquitoes, termites). Quarterly exterior service is common for many homes. Monthly may fit heavy pressure. “As needed” only works if you are watching for early signs….
Short answer: Yes. Lyme disease is a real, documented tick-borne illness in the United States. Many people never notice the tick that bit them, which is why local news stories and prevention habits both matter. Why Lyme shows up in the news Lyme disease is caused by bacteria transmitted by certain blacklegged ticks (also called…
Florida mosquitoes will bother a new puppy, and can spread heartworm. Learn bite risk, yard source reduction, and when to ask your veterinarian about prevention.
Short answer: No. Termites do not bite people or pets the way ants, spiders, or mosquitoes do. Their mouthparts are built for chewing wood and cellulose, not for piercing skin for blood. The real risk from termites is structural damage over time, not a painful bite. Why people ask this Winged swarmers on a windowsill…
Short answer: Termite bait systems such as professional Sentricon-style programs do not “attract termites to your house” in the scare-story sense. Stations intercept foragers already moving through soil near the structure, then deliver an insect growth regulator through shared feeding. The goal is colony management, not a buffet that creates a new problem from nothing….
Short answer: No. The “daddy longlegs are the most venomous spiders but cannot bite humans” story is a myth. What people call daddy longlegs is often either a harvestman (not a spider) or a cellar spider, and neither matches that urban legend. Two animal creatures, one nickname Colorado State University Extension explains that harvestmen (“daddy…
Short answer: Yes, you should take the inspector seriously. Swarming is a dramatic sign, not the only sign. Subterranean termites often damage wood for years with no swarm indoors. Finding workers, soldiers, mud tubes, or damaged wood without a swarm is still an active problem. Why swarming gets oversold Swarmers are winged reproductives leaving to…
Short answer: Start with the pest name, then read the entire pesticide label before you buy or mix anything. The label is the law. If the pest or site is not listed, do not use that product. When the label feels like another language, slow down and use NPIC or extension resources, or hire a…
Short answer: You help honey bees most by protecting forage and nesting habitat, avoiding unnecessary insecticide use on blooming plants, and calling a beekeeper (not a spray) when a swarm lands on your property. Panic killing of every bee you see does more harm than good. What “endangered” means in plain language Honey bees face…
Short answer: Carpenter bee traps can catch some adults, especially near active galleries, but traps alone rarely stop damage to a deck or fascia. You still need to address nesting holes, unfinished wood, and timing. Think of traps as a helper, not a complete control plan. How carpenter bees behave Carpenter bees are large, solitary…
