Orange Environmental Services, Inc.

The state of Florida is home to 315 species of bees. About 29 of those species are only found in Florida. Unlike honeybees, the bees discussed in this article are native to Florida while honeybees were brought over from a different country. Keep reading to discover just a few of the bees that you may find in northeast Florida. Sweat Bees Over 60 species of sweat bees live in Florida. These bees mostly nest in the ground and are active all year round. On a hot day, they will seek out humans that are hot and overheated to lap up their sweat. They use the sweat for its salt and protein sources and feed it to their young. If you would like to attract this sort of bee to your garden, plant wildflowers and leave some of your soil untilled so that they can nest there. Mining Bees This species also...

Lawn care in Jacksonville, Florida is an important thing to keep in mind as a homeowner. If you notice the heat, humidity, and heavy rain in particular, you already have a good idea of how hard it can be to keep up with your lawn. There’s no one right way to take care of your lawn. You have many options at your fingertips when it comes to deciding how your lawn should bloom. If you’re having trouble deciding on what to do or if you don’t know what to do at all, read on to see our top two lawn services you can utilize with us.   Edging, Blowing and Mowing Grass grows quickly in Florida. That’s thanks to heavy rainfall that feeds the grass. If you want to keep up appearances, you should have your lawn edged, mowed, and blown on a regular basis. Much like a haircut, lawns can...

Keeping rodents out of your home is important for many reasons. In addition to raiding your pantry and leaving droppings behind, rats and mice can also spread various diseases to you or your pets. Luckily, there are many ways to protect yourself from a rodent infestation. Keep Your Home Sealed It’s very easy for rodents to sneak into your home through small holes in walls, doors, crawl spaces, fireplaces, and vents. Properly sealing your home will reduce your risk of rodents getting in. Smaller holes can be filled with caulk and/or steel wool. Larger holes and cracks can be filled with cement, gardening cloth, metal sheets, and plastic weather strips. Rats and mice can also burrow in through your roof or foundation, so check for holes and leaks regularly and hire a professional to patch holes if needed. Proper Home Sanitation Rats and mice will sneak into your home in search...

While pests are not typically synonymous with indoor gardens, there are some threats that you should be aware of when it comes to indoor plants. Obviously, no one plans on attracting pests into their house, but by not being fully aware, you could be harboring a perfect environment for them, thus ruining your plants and creating a mess in your own home. Read on to learn more about what attracts pests to your house plants . High Humidity High humidity attracts pests because the humidity in the air helps keep their bodies moist, warm and vibrant. Without humidity, pests would normally dry out and die off. Insects have a strong sense of where to find humidity. If your home is humid or even damp, consider investing in a dehumidifier to remove the moisture. You can also move your plants farther away from each other so that you give them more breathing room. Having...

Bee’s, although terrifying to some, actually have an important role to play in the ecosystem, specifically around plant and tree pollination and populations. Bees are believed to have been around for nearly 120 million years, but the first bee fossil was found about 65 million years ago. But, that doesn’t make them any less terrifying, especially if you are allergic to them. Here are some of the top ways to keep bees away from your fruit trees throughout the year. Benefits To Keeping Bees Away If you or someone you love is allergic to bees, having these flying friends can be a safety concern for all. While some experienced less severe allergic reactions to stings over time, others develop a more severe reaction that can actually lead to anaphylactic shock and/or death. While bees tend to stick to themselves and their colonies, they can get protective or get sick, causing them...

Lawn care in Jacksonville is incredibly important. The humid climate and regular rain throughout the year can make it a hassle to keep up with your lawn care. If you don’t have the time to take care of your lawn on your own, here are our top 5 lawn care services that you should have.   1) Lawn Mowing, Edging, and Blowing Your lawn is often one of the first impressions you make with your home. With all of the rain that we get in this Floridian climate, grass can grow quickly. Don’t let your lawn get out of control and convey to your neighbors and visitors that you just don’t care what your lawn looks like. We offer a variety of lawn mowing services so that you can have the attractive lawn of your dreams. Whether you prefer to schedule one-time mowings when you need them or join our program...

Earwigs are a pest that can cause serious damage to the plants in your garden and home. They are quick, nocturnal insects that can be difficult to spot. The following are some ways to protect your plants from earwigs . Identifying an Earwig Infestation Earwigs are small, reddish-brown insects that have appendages at their tail-end. Their primary diet consists of dead plant material and decaying wood, but they will also eat live fruit, vegetables and plants. They lay eggs in underground tunnels, and can often be found hiding under pots. They may look intimidating due to their pincers, but they’re completely harmless to humans. If you notice holes in the leaves of your plants, this is a major sign of an earwig infestation. If left unchecked, they will cause significant damage to your garden. Protecting Your Plants There are several effective methods of protecting your plants from an earwig infestation. Avoid...

Silverfish are destructive pests that get their name from their steel-like outer shell and fish-like style of moving. While no longer in length than a nickel, they can do serious damage to a home, destroying wooden beams and eating clothes, important documents and expensive works of art. These pests cause untold damage all throughout the spring and summer; however, if you think that you’re safe from silverfish in the winter, you’re mistaken. Silverfish are nearly just as active in the cold temperatures as in any other time of the year. Here is why silverfish are resistant to low temperatures, and what you can do to keep them at bay year round. Why Silverfish Don’t Mind the Winter? Unlike many other types of pests, silverfish don’t hibernate. They may slow down and go into a state of diapause, where their development in halted, but they are still active. They are not warm...

Even though Florida is known for its beautiful temperatures, white sandy beaches, and flawless tans throughout the year, it is still important to make sure that residents and snowbirds alike, give your lawns as much time, attention, and TLC as the photo friendly scenery along the Florida coastline gets. Here are a few tips for Florida lawn care before, and during the winter months. Pre-Winter Lawn Prep Depending on where you are located in Florida, your winter lawn care plan may vary. There is one constant, that will ensure your beautifully landscaped lawn returns after the winter months, which is make sure to have your lawn fertilization treatments completed during the fall. The best time to take care of this pre-winter prep is during September through early October. This gives your lawn ample amount of time to develop healthy root systems and store enough food reserves to maintain strength during the...

How much moisture a house or apartment has often corresponds to how much it serves as a home to pests. In fact, keeping places like attics and basements relatively dry is one of the best ways to combat nearly every single type of pest. So with the Fall coming up, will that raise or lower your moisture levels? Here is how the chillier weather affects humidity and what you need to know about moisture to keep yourself pest free . How Does the Fall Affect the Humidity? In some ways, Fall weather can increase your humidity, and in other ways it does the reverse. For instance, the cold can dry up an area because when cold air from the outside hits warm air, it will try to reach equilibrium by sucking the water out of our lips and skin. That’s why we sometimes feel chapped in the cold. On the other...

As the temperatures start to drop in fall, rodents start seeking shelter inside people’s homes, and nothing can spoil a fantastic autumn season than having to contend with rodents that are running around the house. But, there are ways you can combat this issue by taking a few proactive steps. Do not Neglect the Outside of the House To truly keep rodents at bay, your first line of defense is the outside of your house. Start by sealing any cracks and holes on the exterior of your home. Pay particular attention to areas where utilities and pipes enter the house. Also, keep your firewood a safe distance from the house. Rodents like to hide in wood plies and if you have one too close to the house, it will be quite easy for one or more to make its way into the house. Seal Your Doors and Windows Rodents can sneak...

Nobody wants to have an infestation in their home. A quick stroll down the aisle in any home improvement store will find shelf after shelf of do-it-yourself remedies made to help keep your home pest-free -- and yet, they still manage to find a way in. But is it possible to keep pests out of your house? Yes, it is. With the right knowledge and precautions you can make your home pest-free and keep it that way. Here are four tips from the experts: Seal up the Cracks ... The first thing you need to do is make sure bugs and rodents can’t get in from the outside. Even the smallest openings are big enough to let critters in, so finding and sealing up holes and cracks that can let them in is the first and most important step. … Even on the Inside Once they find a way in, the...

Choosing the right pest control professional can be difficult. With so many companies basically all saying the same thing, it can be hard to weed through the rhetoric to find out what’s truly important about a company and how it does business. One thing that can make it easier, though, is knowing the right questions to ask. As you begin the process of looking for the perfect pest control service , here are five questions that you need to ask: Are They Licensed, Bonded and Insured? Any company that works with potentially dangerous chemicals needs to be licensed and insured to help protect clients against possible hazards. This process involves proper training to make sure exterminators know how to use these products safely. If a pest control company can’t produce documentation that its technicians have been trained and insured against unforeseen accidents, steer clear of them! Can You Get a Quote...

The Dangers of Mosquitoes Attracted to stagnant bodies of water, mosquitoes are tiny, flying insects that are most well-known for their buzzing and biting. Though only females bite people, there are still enough of them to be plenty irritating. Aside from the itchy bump that a bite can produce, are there any real dangers of mosquitoes? Typical Symptoms of Mosquito Bites Though the aforementioned bump is the most common sign of a bite, there are a few other symptoms that could arise: spots that resemble bruising, blisters or swelling or redness. Children or others with compromised immune systems can also experience hives, gland swell or a small fever. Generally, the body acclimates to bites and symptoms reduce to only the bump. In cases of allergy, bites may cause anaphylaxis. Severe Complications Mosquitoes are known to carry several severe diseases which can be transmitted to humans. Some of the most common include:...

Every year, termites cause homeowners over 5 billion dollars. One in every five homes in your area is infested with termites. They can go months to years without being detected until it is too late, and you suffer severe damage to your home. If you know what you are looking for, you may be able to observe signs of an infestation before it gets to that point. To know what to look for, try to recognize these signs of a termite infestation: Damaged Wood Termites and wood go hand-in-hand. Wood is food for termites, and they love your flooring, walls and ceiling beams. There are a few things you can look for on your wood, such as dark discolorations, scars, holes, and blisters surrounded by sawdust. If there are no visible signs on your wood, then you can take a tool, such as a screwdriver or a hammer, and gently tap...

Any homeowner who has ever had a pest infestation in their house will tell you that it’s no easy task to get your clean again. No matter what tricks and methods you try, it seems like there’s always a few pesky bugs that survive -- and those few stragglers soon turn back into another full-blown insect-led assault on your house. So, why do so many homeowners fail when it comes to eradicating pests ? Here are some reasons: Not Addressing the Real Problem Many people fail to realize that an infestation is often a sign of bigger problems afoot. Sure, the bugs made it into your house, but why are they staying there? Most likely there’s a source of food or water that they have access to -- and you might not even be aware of it. Or, you might not be doing the best job of cleaning up after yourself....

Summer is arguably the best season of the year. Between the wonderful weather, kids being out of school and long days, there is little to not like about summer. The one blemish on this otherwise fantastic season is the onslaught of mosquitoes, as they have been known to put a damper on many wonderful summertime activities. But since, we must take the bad with the good, here is everything you need to know about mosquitoes this summer. Lifespan of Mosquitoes Mosquitoes only need a few inches of standing water in which to breed. Once they find a water source, they lay their eggs. Within three days, the eggs turn into adult mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can live as long as 10 weeks. How to Prevent Mosquito Bites Mosquitoes are hated because of their bites. Unfortunately, there are only four ways to prevent mosquitoes from biting you: Using products that contain DEET. Using products...

Pest can appear in the home unexpectedly. From cockroaches to ants to mice, pests come in all shapes, sizes and behaviors, but they all have common goals: food, warmth and shelter. Truth be told, pests are very dependent on human life, as humans provide the necessities they need to thrive. But here, we will show you fundamental techniques for how to prevent these pests from entering the home. Keep the House Clean Clean and vacuum your home regularly so that pests do not detect a lot of food. It is important that you leave no crumb left unswept. Keep the kitchen area clean, don’t leave dirty dishes out or snack bags open, and throw away drink bottles. As soon as pets like ants can sense food nearby, they will waste no time to settle in and around your home to start scavenging. Regularly cleaning the house should keep away most pests,...

Unless you live in Antarctica, most places on earth are going to have some types of pests that cause you trouble . However, environments that are especially hot  and humid are particularly prone to infestations. There are numerous species of pests in these climates that wreak havoc on our lives. Here are some to look out for if you find yourself in an area with a higher temperatures and humidity. Cockroaches Cockroaches are one of the world most common pests anywhere. However, considering how much they require warmth and moisture, you find them in droves in hot and humid environments. If they can’t find natural heat or humidity, they’ll improvise by sneaking around boiler rooms or under water heaters where they’ll be able to survive and reproduce. Either way, you can get the edge on them by drying up any puddles that build up in these areas and investing in a...

Other than termites, there is probably no home invader that is more feared or loathed then rats. This hatred isn’t without good reason. Just one single rat can cause massive amounts of damage to your home as it goes through and chews on your wires, your fabrics, your pipes and just about anything else -- all while spreading filth and disease that can affect your health and the health of your family for months to come. And, since rats breed quickly, not taking care of your rat problem soon can lead to a long-term battle that never really seems to end. This is why it’s important to know the signs of a rat infestation. If you can spot your invaders early, you run a much better chance of getting rid of them before they wreak havoc on your home and family. Here are the signs to watch out for: Rat Droppings...