Field notes

The pests, explained

Short, plain-language guides to the animals and plants that share our homes and gardens — how they breed, what they need in order to survive, how to tell one species from another, and why the obvious response so often makes the problem worse. No products, no shortcuts: just the biology that decides whether a problem shrinks or spreads.

12 guides · updated November 2026

All guides

Why dandelions come back every spring

A dandelion is built to survive mowing. Taproot, crown buds and two hundred parachute seeds, explained in plain terms.

Weeds & lawn·Oct 30, 2026

Herbicide timing matters more than concentration

Selective versus non-selective, pre-emergent timing, and how temperature decides whether a herbicide works.

Weeds & lawn·Oct 27, 2026

Why mosquitoes bite some people and not others

Carbon dioxide, body heat and skin chemistry. The short science of why you get bitten and the person beside you does not.

Mosquitoes·Oct 23, 2026

Kill the larvae before you fog the adults

Source reduction, larvicide, then adulticide. In that order, or you are wasting money.

Mosquitoes·Oct 20, 2026

Why ants walk in a line

Ants follow chemical roads. That explains why wiping the trail is temporary, and why bait is designed to work slowly.

Ants·Oct 16, 2026

Spraying an ant trail can make the problem worse

Bait for the colony, barrier for the perimeter. Matching the method to the species matters more than strength.

Ants·Oct 13, 2026

Where bed bugs go during the day

Bed bugs are crevice insects, not a sign of a dirty home. A short tour of the places they hide within two metres of a bed.

Bed bugs·Oct 9, 2026

Bed bugs: what kills them at every life stage

What actually kills them at each life stage, and why a single treatment is never enough.

Bed bugs·Oct 6, 2026

How a mouse gets through a gap you can barely see

A house mouse needs an opening about the width of a pencil. Where those openings are, and why closing them changes the whole problem.

Rats & mice·Oct 2, 2026

Poison alone will not end a mouse problem

Inspection first, then exclusion, then traps or bait. Why poison alone rarely ends a mouse problem.

Rats & mice·Sep 29, 2026

Three cockroaches you are likely to meet indoors

German, American and Oriental cockroaches look different and live differently. A short guide to telling which one is in the kitchen.

Cockroaches·Sep 25, 2026

Why gel bait beats spray for German roaches

Gel bait beats spray for German roaches. Placement in cracks and hinge points, plus why you should not clean the bait away.

Cockroaches·Sep 22, 2026

The seasonal calendar

SeasonWhat is activeWhat to do
Early springAnts waking, pre-emergent window closing, termites swarmingApply pre-emergent before soil hits 55°F. Inspect for termite mud tubes.
Late springFleas, ticks, first mosquito broodTreat the yard perimeter. Start flea control on pets before you see fleas.
SummerRoaches, flies, wasps, weeds going to seedBait roaches indoors. Do not spray a baiting area. Pull weeds before seed set.
AutumnRodents moving in, lawn feeding windowSeal entry points, set traps in the garage and crawlspace, feed the lawn.
WinterIndoor roaches, stored-product pestsInspect pantry and utility rooms. Bait rather than fog.