Spider Fun Facts

Here are some fun facts that may (or may not!) make spiders seem a little less creepy!

ALL SPIDERS PRODUCE SILK. Something common to all 40,000 species of spiders is that they all spin silk. And as spiders have evolved so has their flexibility to work with silk. One spider can produce up to seven different types, each one used for a different purpose such as spinning webs or capturing prey.

SPIDERS ARE NEAR-SIGHTED. Most spiders have 8 eyes but some, like the brown recluse, only have 6. Spiders typically have a main set that can create images but the secondary sets can only detect light and shadow. Even with all these eyes, spiders cannot see far into the distance. This, however, isn’t really a deficiency for them as they wait for prey to get caught in their webs and rely on silk trip wires to warn them of approaching predators.

FEMALE SPIDERS CAN LAY UP TO 3,000 EGGS AT ONE TIME. The level of care that a female spider provides for her young, however, varies by species. Some females will die shortly after laying eggs while others will carry spiderlings on their backs or share prey with them.

JUMPING SPIDERS CAN JUMP UP TO 50X THEIR OWN STRENGTH. Jumping spiders can jump up to 50 times their own strength when hunting or trying to escape a predator. This is possible due to an internal hydraulic system. Jumping spiders can alter the pressure of fluids in their legs resulting in a springing motion that propels the spiders forward.

THE “DADDY LONG LEGS SPIDER” YOU SEE MIGHT NOT ACTUALLY BE A SPIDER. The nickname “daddy long legs” has been given to several different pests but only one of which, the cellar spider, is an actual spider. Crane flies and harvestmen are also colloquially identified as “daddy long legs.”  Crane flies are actually agricultural pests that can fly & harvestmen are in the arachnid family but they lack venom and silk glands.

 

Halloween: Costume Ideas & All Things Pumpkin

Halloween is associated with all the things creepy and crawly. Still looking for a costume idea? How about borrowing inspiration from the world of bugs!?!? Ladybugs, butterflies and caterpillars are classics but with a little imagination, you can think of all kinds of insect-themed costumes.

One of our faves in the Queen Bee. A perfect combination of honeybee & royalty, this could be as simple as a black and yellow striped shirt complete with wings and a crown. Don’t forget to add some jewels as no queen should ever be caught without her bling!

Once Halloween is over and all the candy has been eaten, it’s time to take down the decorations & dispose the those pumpkins & jack o’lanterns. Many insects are drawn to the odors given off by rotting fruits and veggies so it’s recommended that you don’t leave these out too much longer. Their decomposition can attract some unwanted pests like fruit flies, filth flies and rodents. And this can quickly escalate into even bigger problems when other insects and wildlife come to prey on the pumpkin pests.

Helpful Tips: Food Storage Areas

If pests are already inside your home or business, it won’t be too long until they find their way into any food storage areas. Exposed food attracts insects. Here are a few tips on easy ways to keep food storage areas, as well as cabinets and counters, clean.

  • Remove crumbs and food particles.
  • Wipe down counters.
  • Sweep/vacuum floors.
  • Pick up any uneaten dog food.
  • Take the trash out regularly.
  • Use older products before newer ones.
  • Use unopened packages first.

Bonus: Making your kitchen & food storage areas as unattractive as possible for pests will also make it look super attractive to you and your guests!

Tell Us How YOU Feel

Scoping us out online for the first time? Newer customer of ours who just experienced your first service visit?  A long-term customer who’s trusted us to keep your home or business pest-free for 30+ years? No matter who you are, we keep the lines of communication open with everyone we come into contact with. One way we do this is by inviting you to tell us how you feel about us and the level of customer service we have provided for you.

 

Now it’s YOUR turn! Let us know how  you feel about us by emailing kimberly@stlbugs.com. We’d love to hear from you!

Halloween Jokes…Blue Chip Style!

As if Halloween isn’t enough fun gorging yourself on candy (#busted) and scoping out the adorable-ness of all those little cuties who will be ringing your doorbell with the hopes that you still have some candy to give away, we also get to hear jokes. I’m not sure how this tradition started in St. Louis. As someone who’s lived in New Jersey, Chicago, Alabama and Texas, I’ve never heard jokes on Halloween…until I moved to St. Louis. Guess it’s just another one of those “only in St. Louis” traditions that are so much fun!

Who’s kids (besides mine, that is!) are already planning out their Halloween costumes? Anyone going trick or treating as Ant-Man? How about a massive Transformer named Bumblebee? Or what about a spotted red ladybug or brightly colored butterfly? Regardless of what they’re dressing up as, one thing they’ll definitely need is a joke! Here are some of our favorites. (Can you spot the theme???)

Q: What’s an insect’s favorite sport?

A: Cricket!

 

Q: Why did the bee go to the doctor?

A: Because she had hives!

 

Q: Why was the baby ant confused?

A: Because all of its ants were uncles!

 

Q: Two flies are on the porch. Which one is the actor?

A: The one on the screen!

 

Q: Why was Mama Firefly sad?

A: Her children just weren’t that bright!

 

Q: How do you spot a modern spider?

A: He doesn’t just have a web — he has a website!

 

No More Googling

How long do you cook a turkey? What’s the best paint color for my dining room? How do you get rid of hiccups? What does the fox say? (How was this even a thing?!?!) The bottom line — it seems like most of us (translation: me!) Google practically everything. On. The. Daily. But take it from James: the one thing you don’t need to google any more is pest control. You use us for at least one service but Blue Chip is soooo much more than one service. Insects. Mosquitoes. Rodents. Wildlife. Termites. Bed bugs. Moles. And more! Basically, if it bugs you, we’ve got your back! Let us know if you need help with any of the other services we offer.

 

Keeping Kitchens Ant-Free

Mmmmm! Who doesn’t love the aromas of all those scrumptious foods that come from our kitchens? Often times, it’s these scents that attract both us — and ants– to the the kitchen. (Fun fact: Ants, in particular, are attracted to sweet scents. #jointheclub) While it’s perfectly acceptable for us to be found eating & drinking our way around the kitchen, no one necessarily wants ants hanging out belly up to their bar or countertop. Here are some tips to keep in mind to discourage ants from hanging around YOUR kitchen:

MAKE MEALTIMES MORE THAN EATING

Dirty dishes sitting either on the countertop or in the sink for extended periods of time act as an ant buffet. Wash them or load them in your dishwasher every single day.

STICK IT TO YA
Wipe off sticky bottles, jars and containers. (Yep, I’m looking at you, you cute little bear-shaped container of honey!)
IT’S COFFEE O’CLOCK
Mornings without coffee are scary. #amirightoramiright Who else needs a caffeine fix each morning? If you add sugar, milk or creamer to your coffee, be sure you take the time to wipe up any spills afterwards.
FEEDING FIDO?
Pick up any uneaten pet food. (Clearly you don’t have a labrador retriever if your dog leaves food in his bowl!) While we certainly don’t find dog food appealing as a meal, ants do!
#WATERISLIFE
Eliminate excess water. Periodically, check underneath your sink for any small leaks in the pipes. Overwatered house plants also provide plenty of water to keep ants hydrated and happy.