Bugs are fascinating creatures! When was the last time you took a really close look at a bug outside? I do often! (Well, it's also my job). Perhaps a better question than "what are these bugs on my plants?" is "are these bugs hurting my plants?" or "why are these bugs on my plants?".

Well, the latter question is easy to answer. Every creature (yes, including bugs) needs a place to live. Sometimes, bugs make your plants their home. Most people welcome butterflies and lady bugs as "acceptable" bugs - yes, they are bugs -  even though they're "cute"! Other bugs, such as beetles, wasps, and spiders, are not so welcome by most people.

Often, bugs aggregate on plants because the plant is a source of food. In some cases, such as Monarch caterpillars feeding on Milkweed, we welcome the bugs (a butterfly has to come from somewhere). But in most cases, we consider such bugs pest in the landscape.

It takes a trained eye to ascertain wheather bugs are beneficial or pests in the landscape. And more importantly, we must consider if pest populations are significant enough to warrant treatment. Many pests, such as certain thrips and mites, can and have developed resistance to certain insecticide types, so it's important to use the right product on certain pests.

At EPLS, we consider your landscape plants, pests, and presence of beneficial insects as part of our treatment program. We even collaborate with researches at the University of Florida to identify new pest introductions and monitor resistance in pest populations!

Zoysiagrass lawns are gaining popularity in Central Florida. Most homeowners opt for this grass because of its soft feel or due to its drought tolerance (by the way - this does not mean that Zoysiagrass requires less water - but that's a discussion for another post).
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​Mole crickets are common pests of Zoysiagrass, and their prevalence is becoming more commonplace. Spring is a common time of the year for mole crickets activity, and is often when we start receiving calls about damage in Zoysiagrass lawns.

​How can you tell if mole crickets are damading your lawn? Well, observing mole crickets coming out of the ground is a tell-tell sign. But mole crickets typically come up to the surface at night or very early in the morning, so most people don't see them. Finding tunnels, entry and exit holes is another good way to confirm infestations.

Mole cricket tunnels can be difficult to see in thick grass, but are easy to spot in bare areas or where grass has already been severely damaged. Mole crickets tunnels are very different from tunnels caused by moles - notice how the tunnel in the picture is just slightly thicker than my finger. Tunnels dug by moles are much larger.

​Entry and exit holes are easier to identify in lawns that are infested by mole crickets. The width of the tunnel is about as wide as an index finger, as pictured.

The best time of year to apply products for mole crickets management is early spring, when mole crickets are still small. As mole crickets mature, they are more tolerant to treatments.

So if you suspect mole crickets in your lawn, please give us a call - we'll be happy to help! (407)532-8188.

Every so often we get calls about "flies in the toilet" or "flies in the sink". More often than not, we're dealing with drain flies. These flies are one of several species of filth flies that are common in homes and businesses.

Filth flies, including drain flies, are often seen around drains, toilets, and sinks that haven't been used for a few days. Organic material buildup (hair, scum, etc.) in drains, showers, and toilets is also a breeding site for these flies.

So what can you do if filth flies become a problem? The best solution for long-term control is to clean your drains. This includes removing and cleaning the traps under sinks. A plumber can help to ensure that organic material is not clogging traps in showers, bathtubs, and toilets.

 Every year in early spring, we get phone calls about monster bugs that eat everything in sight. They start out black, usually with one red line along the head. As they mature, their color turns more yellowish.

So what are these monster bugs? Meet the Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers. While these grasshoppers prefer to feed on Crinum Lilies and Agapanthus, I've seen them munch on most plants. Often, these grasshoppers will munch away at plant all the way down to the ground or mature stems.

So what can we do about these grasshoppers? they best way to get rid of them is to gather them up while still small and dispose of them as you wish. Residual insecticides usually don't work well.

So now you know! The next time you see giant grasshoppers, you'll know that there is probably a Crinum Lily or Agapanthus plant nearby.

We all appreciate a well-manicured lawn. Proper fertilization, weed and pest management go a long way to achieve the perfect lawn. But one of the most important aspects of lawn maintenance that is often neglected is making sure to keep the mower blade sharp!

A sharp blade is essential for a uniform green lawn. A clean cut also goes a long way toward minimizing infection by many diseases, and helps in recovery following mowing. 

So if your lawn is feeling a little gray, make sure to sharpen that blade - your lawn will thank you!

​As you navigate the world of bug management, you will notice two terms used frequently – Pest Prevention and Pest Control. Most people use the two terms interchangeably, but in the exciting world of bug management, we like to use the term Pest Prevention!

Pest Prevention refers to an integrated, multi-faceted approach to managing pests, also known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The goal is to prevent pests from entering the structure, rather than to eliminate all bugs everywhere. Physical exclusion of pests, elimination of access points, and targeted use of effective products are all important in Pest Prevention. The products used in Pest Prevention are usually target- and site-specific. This means that we select these products carefully depending on where they are used, which pests we are targeting, and the environmental conditions at the time of the application.

Pest Control is a more broad-spectrum term used for pest-management services. Although most state-certified Pest-Control-Operators (CPOs) prefer the term Pest Prevention, the term Pest Control is most commonly-used by the general public.
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Bottom line, at EPLS we prefer the term Pest Prevention. Either way, you can rest assured that our veteran team members employ the best treatment techniques and products available, while keeping our environment in mind. After all, we have homes and families too…

​The safety of products used in the pest management industry is a hot topic. In this blog entry, I’d like to address common perceptions regarding the impact that our products and services may have on our customers and team members, pets, and the environment.

At EPLS, we pride ourselves in only using highly-effective products that pose the least impact to our environment. And we are careful with where and when we apply treatments. Our targeted applications require each of our team members to be well-versed with our products as well as the many pests that call Central Florida home.

The question of whether or not we use “organic” or “safe” products comes us frequently. This question comes up because many people mistakenly believe that if a product is “organic” then it is “safe”. Here is a good example:

There are several brands of a weed control product composed of “organic” 20% vinegar. These products are so corrosive that they can cause skin burns and blindness. They’re even strong enough to etch concrete. Obviously these products should not be used, despite being marketed as “safe” and “organic”.

That said, I have nothing against “organic” products – as long as they are effective and pose minimal risk to applicators and our environment. We just need to use common sense and not fall blindly to the “organic” marketing trap.
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So, what’s “Environmental” got to do with it? The environment that we all share in Central Florida is precious to all of us. We can have beautiful landscapes and pest-free homes, and we can achieve this by using effective products and implementing sensible and responsible fertilization and pest-management techniques.