​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.

During late summer in Toronto, the amount of flies in and around homes and businesses increases tremendously. Fly control needs to be a top priority throughout the spring and summer, or it will come back to bite you come fall. What can you do now to prevent and get rid of flies?

Common Fly Species and What Attracts Them
There are a few common species of flies in Toronto that nearly all homeowners must deal with at some point. They include: house flies, fruit flies, and drain flies. These species are attracted to slightly different things, so understanding what they are looking for in food and a breeding ground, can help you prevent and get rid of them.

​You may have never heard of carpet beetles before, but you may have seen evidence of them. Carpet beetles love to feast on household items and may leave holes in clothing, fabrics, and other things. Here are some questions and answers about carpet beetles and the steps you can take to prevent them.

​What do carpet beetles look like?
There are a few different species of carpet beetles, but they are generally around 3-4 mm long with an oval, domed shape. Carpet beetles are insects, so they have 6 legs and a pair of short antennae. They also have wings and fly. There are different colors, depending on the species, but the most common carpet beetles are black or brown. Some also have a mottled yellow, white, and black appearance. Carpet beetle larvae have a tapered shape like a carrot. The larvae are brown and hairy and can grow up to 6 mm long.

​Cockroaches are very common pests in Toronto and throughout the world. You may spot the occasional roach and not be too worried, but chances are good that where there is one roach, there are probably more. Since they are nocturnal creatures, you may have a roach problem and not even realize it for quite some time. You can get a jump on the problem and save yourself time and money by being able to identify cockroach hiding places so that you can treat them as soon as possible. 
 
Roaches love areas that are dark, warm, and moist. They also like to be within easy access to food. Unfortunately, there are likely several places in our homes that perfectly fit these preferences. The following are a few of the most common roach hiding places you should check. For each area, we will also provide some tips that can help with your Toronto cockroach control efforts. 

Dogs and cats are most associated with fleas, but without proper treatment and control, fleas can multiply quickly and start to become a major problem for you and your family as well. If you do not know the signs of fleas, chances are good that they will not be discovered until you have a full-blown infestation on your hands.
 
Fleas are small, wingless insects that rely on blood from a host animal for their survival. They are most often reddish-brown with a thin, flat body and powerful back legs for jumping. Fleas like to feed on furry animals like dogs, cats, rabbits, mice, rats, and more. They will also feed on humans, if needed. 

Mosquito bites are itchy and annoying, but they can also be dangerous. In fact, mosquitoes kill more humans in a year than any other animal. Here in Canada, West Nile Virus is the most concerning mosquito-borne disease. While the chances of being infected are still slim in our part of the world, taking precautions to prevent mosquitoes and avoid bites, benefits everybody.  

Summer is the time of year when ticks are most likely to transmit Lyme disease to humans. The blacklegged tick is the only one in the Toronto area that transmits the specific bacteria that causes lyme disease. Being able to identify these ticks and prevent them will be a huge advantage as you get out and enjoy nature this year.
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Identification
Blacklegged ticks (ixodes scapularis) are small, anywhere from less than 2 mm to around 5 mm, depending on the life stage. Ticks are flat and oval-shaped with 8 legs, though newly hatched larval ticks only have 6 legs. Female ticks are orange and brown with dark legs, and male blacklegged ticks are reddish-brown in color. The nymphal stage occurs during the summer, and these are the ticks that cause most of the infections in humans. Nymphs are about the size of a pinhead. Ticks rely on blood to live and grow, so they are always on the lookout for an animal or human to feed on.

​Signs of bed bugs can be hard to detect at first, and even more complicated to treat once you do find them. They are disgusting insects and having them in your home can be extremely unpleasant. Knowing the signs of bed bugs can help stop an infestation from getting out of hand, or even occurring in the first place. One reason it may be difficult to know whether or not you have bed bugs is that their bites can easily be confused with other biting insects like mosquitoes or fleas.