​Throughout the world there are over 42,000 identified species of spiders, and scientists estimate that there may be 40,000-100,000 more species that are not identified. That may be terrifying for people with a fear of spiders (arachnophobia), but spiders are actually great for the ecosystem. In Toronto alone, spiders eat nearly 12 million kg of insects every year. The following are some of the common spider species in Toronto.

Wolf Spiders (hogna helluo or tigrosa helluo)
Wolf spiders are hunters. They do not make webs, but instead run down or wait for their prey. They are strong and agile with very good eyesight. Wolf spiders are brown in color with a well defined stripe that runs from the middle of their eyes to their abdomen. The underside of the cephalothorax is black, while the underside of their abdomen may have lighter patches. Wolf spiders are great for eating garden pests, like aphids. 

​Winter may seem like a respite from all the pests that have bothered you all summer long, but there is one type of pest, hiding deep in the recesses of your house, that doesn’t hibernate or die-off when the weather gets cold. Termites will continue to eat away at your house, regardless of the season. So, how do termites survive the winter, and how should that affect your pest control plan?

As the warm summer days fade to the crispness of Autumn, we naturally start to prepare for the winter ahead. Rodents understand the changing seasons as well and start to look for a warm, safe place to spend the upcoming winter. Unfortunately, this often involves entering homes and places of business. Luckily, there are things that you can do right now to rodent-proof your house for winter. Here are 10 tips and tricks that will help you keep the rodents out this year.
 Keep Your Home Clean: Crumbs and food that has not been stored properly will attract rats and mice. Store food in the refrigerator or an air-tight container. You should also try to sweep and vacuum regularly to get rid of those crumbs.
 Take Care of Pet Food: Human food isn’t the only thing that attracts rodents. Your dog or cat’s food is just as appetizing to a hungry rat or mouse. Store your pet’s food in an air-tight container and don’t leave it out overnight.