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Drowning in Problems (AKA: Got water?)
Continuing with Mosquito Madness (day 2)! When we talk about mosquito control, it’s common for people to think of the spray or the fog. We picture the adult mosquito—the one currently buzzing or biting and ruining the outdoor patio seating. But we also need to look at the source. We talk about larvicides but do folks really understand them and how they work? Starting with the basics - every mosquito starts its life as a "wriggler" in a stagnant pool of water. Manage the lar

Chelle Hartzer
Mar 33 min read


Minute Problems (AKA: Munching on molds)
If you’ve recently opened a newly constructed building or moved into a brand-new home, you might have noticed some tiny, dark specks crawling near the baseboards. Before you call the movers or file a massive insurance claim, let's talk about the beetles in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as plaster beetles or minute brown scavenger beetles. These beetles are the ultimate "I’m here because it’s damp" indicators. In fact, they have a history that goes back to the days

Chelle Hartzer
Feb 243 min read


Reading the Book (AKA: It’s not lice)
Since we recently talked about springtails , let’s talk about another common pest that is often confused with springtails. They are found in many of the same places and under the same conditions as springtails. If you guessed psocids, you’re right. If you’ve ever been inspecting a food warehouse or a client’s pantry and seen tiny, pale specks scurrying across a pallet of flour or a dusty shelf, you might have encountered these. They often get called booklice, which is one

Chelle Hartzer
Jan 133 min read


A Tiny Problem (AKA: It's a small thing)
I had an amazingly good picture sent to me recently for identification and I realized I haven’t talked about these little insects* on the blog yet. There are millions of springtails in the soil. They are tiny so most people will never notice them outside. There are over eight thousand species worldwide wide but most scientists will tell you that is a huge underestimation. It’s just that no one has identified the rest yet. They get the name “springtail” because many species

Chelle Hartzer
Nov 18, 20253 min read


Rolling in the Dirt (AKA: The invasion begins!)
I grew up in New England (I’m a Yankee), and one thing I really miss from there is heading to a lobster shack for dinner, which starts in...

Chelle Hartzer
Apr 8, 20253 min read


Minor Pot Crimes (AKA: Where there’s smoke…)
It happens. It’s a little embarrassing but to be perfectly honest, I’ve had it happen. Particularly in the winter months or right before...

Chelle Hartzer
Jan 16, 20243 min read


You Don’t Know Karst (AKA: Bring out your dead!)
It’s almost October so I’m perfectly okay with starting the Halloween series. Because it is the best holiday of the year. I was doing a...

Chelle Hartzer
Sep 26, 20233 min read


Sweating the Small Stuff (AKA: No sweat!)
I was outside this past weekend getting some yard work done. It was supposed to be a bit cooler than it had been for the past few months....

Chelle Hartzer
Aug 16, 20223 min read
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