Blue Diamond Pest Services

Texas DFW Metroplex



WELCOME



Pest library



A-z



Acrobat Ants



Crematogastor



Medium sized ants with a petiole that allows their heart-shaped abdomen to fold over their thorax when disturbed. This fun trick is the reason they have been named acrobats. They love to live in walls, pulling the wood and insulation out, to create a large colony. It is easier for them to get in through vegetation that may be touching or brushing up against your home.



Argentine Ants



Linepithema humile



Argentine ants love to find their way into a kitchen for a snack. They can be identified by their small size, 12 segmented antennae, and light to dark brown color. This type of ant loves a large family and will create many nests. During spring and summertimes, the ants will split off and create different colonies and nests, increasing drastically.



Bed Bugs



Cimex



Bed bugs are small bugs (about the size of an apple seed) that can bite, leaving marks on exposed skin in a line or cluster from where they were feeding during the night. The main signs of bed bugs are red/brown spots on the mattress or sheets. Bed bugs can be controlled, however, prevention is key. When travelling, keep luggage and items off the floors and carpets, and clean your items upon return with hot water. The hotter the better.



Carpenter Ants



Linepithema humile



Medium sized ants with a dark red/brown coloring. These ants can be mistaken for Acrobats ants, however, Carpenter ants have a circular abdomen that cannot fold over the thorax. These ants love to live in walls, as well, mainly around windowsills and doorframes. A tell-tale sign for these ants is finding their “trash” piles, or deposits of torn up insulation, wood, drywall that they are removing from the walls. These guys can do just as much damage as termites!



Chiggers



Trombiculidaer



These tiny red bugs hide in grass, weeds, and are the immature stage of some mites. They do bite skin, leaving a small red bump causing itchiness and pain. Chiggers will bite thinner skin or where clothes are tighter: sock lines, waist, or groin area. Many people have found home remedies to help with the irritation caused by them, however, there are yard treatments available to remove them so you can enjoy your yard again. Chigger season is normally May-August.



Crazy Ants



Nylanderia fulva (Tawny Crazy Ant)



Little is known about this ant as this species is invasive to Texas, being identified in 2002. The tawny crazy ant is a social ant with large colonies. These ants may have a path when foraging for food or seem very eratic while walking as their legs are very long for their small bodies.



Crickets



Gryllidae



In Texas, we seem to have an invasion of crickets around late summer through the fall. Although there are a few different species of crickets, none of them bite, sting, or spread diseases, but they can become a large nuisance.




Earwigs



Forficula auricularia L



Named for the wives tale that they crawl in your ear (they do not), these pesky bugs like damp, dark areas: laundry room, restrooms, under logs, and basements. Earwigs do not bite or pose a threat they are just pesky pests to have in your home.


Fire Ants



Solenopsis



Fire ants can create very large colonies. They do have flying ants called swarmers who will start to fly when it’s time to grow the colony. These ants pack a punch when it comes to their toxic bites, causing mild to severe reactions, including anaphylactic shock. Fire ants are water resistant and will be more active after rain.



Fleas



Siphonaptera



Fleas may be tiny, but can be a big uncomfortable issue and health issue for any living creature involved. Fleas love to hide in fur or under clothing as they use their host to feed on their blood. They do prefer an animal so they can lock on to their hair, stay warm, and the fur creates a great barrier for the fleas and their eggs. Fleas are almost impossible to get rid of without the help of a professional.



Mosquitoes



Culicidae



We all know mosquitos and how they can carry tons of diseases, like the West Nile virus. With warmer temperatures during fall and winter, it has been harder to see a decrease in their numbers. They place their eggs in still water so the larvae will thrive and grow. They also love grassy and bushy areas, as well.



No-See-Ums (Biting Midges)



Ceratopogonidae



These little guys thrive in the same areas as mosquitoes, can be mistaken as mosquitoes, and can have a more irritating bite. They are very hard to see but are a biting gnat/midge who love standing water.


BLUE DIAMOND PEST SERVICES


4121 MARYVIEW CT, HALTOM CITY, TX, 76117