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How To Get Rid of Things: Forums » Pest Control

1. mom2sethc (Member)

   Hello,

   My mom has bugs at her house that are forming nests in the window tracks. They are green larvae, grassy, messy, etc. We don't know if they are earwigs, crickets or grass carrying wasps. They smell and fill up the windows and it has become quite a chore to keep cleaning them out. What are they? How can we treat them? She has very moist soil and has a cement foundation. She has had earwigs in the home before. She has all new vinyl windows and fears spraying the windows with chemicals. Any suggestions?

   Thanks!

   Posted 1 month ago #

2. getagrip (Member)

   Let's look into my crystal ball...Abracadabra whatchamacallit..OH no..Somebody removed old water damaged wood windows and slid new vinyl windows in and did not repair the old water damaged rotten wood around it..or correct the drainage problem causing it.
   I have a question for you..
   Is this house in a dense wooded area or out in the sun? 1st or 2nd floor windows?
   Ever had mold inside? Got Moss outside? Is there a crawl space underneath?
   Have you seen more than just green larvae and grassy, messy? Any adult bugs? What do they look like? Ha! And you thought this would be easy..

   Posted 1 month ago #

3. mom2sethc (Member)

   Hello,

   The house isn't in a dense wooded area, but there are many mature trees. The house is in the sun, but has a lot of shading due to mature trees. The house is a single story on a cement slab. (no crawlspace or basement) It is very moist soil and plants/flowers grow very well in her yard. She has had earwigs inside the house in the past. The house is old, 1960's, the original windows were recently (about 1 year) replaced with vinyl. No mold or moss that we have seen. My mom says that she thinks the bugs look like crickets, the older they get they appear to have black legs. Thanks for your response.

   Elaine

   Posted 1 month ago #

4. getagrip (Member)

   Hi Elaine,
   From what I read I can't tell for sure what the insect is. But I will say that earwigs do have an odor. I would suggest cleaning off the window sills and using a solution of 1oz liquid detergent and 1 qt bleach in a gallon of water to clean them. You can apply it with a brush. That will help with the fungus or mildew which I believe are under the new windows. Then apply some insecticide granules around the foundation of the house. That will help with either the earwigs or crickets. Also I would advise keeping the shade down when the lights are on as to not attract insects. Let us know what happens as this is a tough one and we are intriqued by it. A positive ID by a pro might be a good idea. Just don't let your Mom get suckered into buying some elaborate
   program without checking with us for a second opinion.

   Posted 1 month ago #

5. mom2sethc (Member)

   Hello,

   Thank you! I did suggest that she try an insecticide around the foundation of her home. I also told her that she'll probably need to get a professional in to know for sure what they are. She did find crickets in the window cracks, so either they are being brought in for food, or they are what are nesting in her windows. I think she'll be good over the winter, but may possibly have this same issue again come spring. IF we find out what they are, I post back.

   Thanks!!

   Elaine

   Posted 1 month ago #

6. rosie471 (Member)

   Have a professional exterminator come out and check the pest. Most companies will give a free inspection. If they won't, call another company. It sounds like this might be something that does need a serious treatment. I wouldn't wait to call an exterminator. At least you would know what the pest problem is.

   Posted 1 month ago #

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