Best pest control specialists near Liberty, IL

When you’re checking for bed bugs in your home, start by searching for the telltale signs rather than the insects themselves, as they tend to stay hidden during the day. Here are the key signs of a bed bug infestation:

• Rust-colored or reddish stains on mattresses and bed sheets

• Dark spots on fabric

• Shed skins

• Fecal matter (looks like black spots)

As for fleas, you can typically spot them on your pet. If you notice them scratching themselves excessively, look for bites and bugs on their skin and fur.

Whether dryer sheets can keep squirrels away is a bit of a mystery because the evidence is entirely anecdotal. Many households claim to have success with using dryer sheets for keeping squirrels away by placing them throughout their attics, yards, on a clothesline, and any other area where squirrels like to run through. Squirrels do not like strong scents, so if you try using dryer sheets, the ones with the strongest scent may be the most effective.

Stink bugs don't harm humans or their homes, but they can do a number on vegetable crops, especially in large numbers. According to the Journal of Integrated Pest Management, the brown marmorated stink bug, recognized as a globally invasive species, has cost millions in crop damage and is a nuisance to homeowners.

Both insects can damage wood, but there are key differences between termites and carpenter ants that tell them apart. Carpenter ants tunnel through moist wood, leaving behind smooth tunnels and sawdust-like piles, as they don't eat the wood but rather carve it for nesting. In contrast, termites actually consume wood, creating irregular galleries filled with mud and dirt, and leaving behind mud tubes as their signature. In terms of appearance, carpenter ants have segmented bodies with heart-shaped heads and larger front wings, while termites have more oval bodies with straight antennae and equal-sized wings.