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Read Our Success Stories
 I
couldn't be happier with the prompt service
I received. Charles was able to answer
all my questions and produce the results he
promised! I am now a quarterly
customer! I refer ASPC to all my
friends and family. They are the best
in the business!!
Thanks guys.
The Hendersons
Denison, Texas
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Success Stories
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Ask Charles! |
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Q:
How many times a year should I have my house
treated for spiders?
A:
It depends on the kind of spider you have in
your home. Most spiders are beneficial
as they eat other smaller insects. In
the case of a brown recluse or black widow,
you'll have to have your home treated 4-6
times a year. This service is setup as
a quarterly agreement. Thanks for the
question, I hope I have helped you this
morning.
Read More Ask Charles Questions
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Contact Us
All Star Pest Control
PO Box 65
Denison,Texas 75021
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Denison:
903.465.5099
Sherman:
903.892.8900
Customer Center: Pay
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All-Star Pest Control
Pest Control Services for your
home and business
Use the Pest Identifier to see what is invading your
home or business
 Different
pests sometimes require different methods of control.
Identifying your specific pest(s) helps us decide on
which method would be best.
All-Star Pest Control
will help you indentify your pest problem. Here are some
common pests found in the North Texas Area.
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Ants |
Flying Pests |
Roaches |
Spiders |
Fleas |
Rodents |
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Click on Text above to follow the related
link down the page.
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Ants
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 Fire
Ant
Body Color: dark reddish-brown
Many of the ants of this genus are called
fire ants because their venom, injected by a
stinger, causes intense irritation and may
cause severe reactions in especially
sensitive people. Fire ants are very active
and aggressive, and may kill young wildlife
or produce sores and nausea in humans.
Workers are a dark brown in color and may be
found in two basic sizes, called major and
minor workers, which are 1/15 to -inch
long. Typical yards contain several mounds,
and larger yards may contain several dozen.
Each of these mounds can belong to a
separate colony, or one colony may occupy
several distinct mounds, which are connected
by underground foraging tunnels. Large
colonies can have up to 300-500,000 workers
that forage over an area with a radius of
over 100 yards. Fire ants are both predators
and scavengers, attacking and killing other
insects and small animals, or feeding on
dead animals. They also feed on honeydew,
certain parts of plants or plant secretions,
and other sweet materials. Occasionally,
this species will nest inside homes,
especially in the winter under bathtubs
(which often have access to bare soil
through the slab, under the tub), next to
hot water heaters or other sources of
warmth.
 Carpenter
Ant
Body Color: large and typically
blackish or very dark-bodied
These are among the most conspicuous of the
ants found in and around homes. Foraging
workers have rather large mandibles, with
which they can bite or give a strong pinch.
Workers vary greatly in size, ranging from
to inch long. Many species are black,
perhaps with some faintly grayish bands on
the abdomen, others may have brown or
reddish coloration along with the black
giving them a two toned appearance. These
ants excavate galleries in wood which
resembles the work of termites, but which
can be distinguished by their entirely clean
and almost sandpapered appearance, hence the
name Carpenter Ants. These pests will pretty
much eat anything a human would eat
 Ghost
Ant
Body Color: head and thorax are a
deep dark brown with gaster
and legs opaque or milky white
Ghost ant workers are extremely
small, 1.3 to 1.5 mm long and monomorphic
(one-sized). They have 12-segmented antennae
with the segments gradually thickening
towards the tip. Colonies contain several
reproductive females and hundreds of
thousands of workers. Colonies can occupy
several different nesting sites and spread a
variety of bacteria. The ghost ant is highly
adaptable in its nesting habits. It nests
readily outdoors or indoors. Colonies may be
moderate to large in size containing
numerous reproducing females. The sites
include tufts of dead but temporarily moist
grass, plant stems, and cavities beneath
detritus in open, rapidly changing habitats.
Indoors, the ant colonizes wall void or
spaces between cabinetry and baseboards. It
will also nest in potted plants. They are
fond of honeydew and tend honeydew-excreting
insects. They also feed on both dead and
live insects.
 Pharoah
Ant
Body Color: light yellowish to
brownish
They seem to have become an increasingly
common pest in the last few years. Pharaoh
ants can be easily distinguished by the
presence of three segments in the antennal
club. Their small size enable them to get
into almost anything, and their wide food
preference combine to make them very
difficult to eradicate from structures.
Nests are rarely found, but occur between
walls, under floors, above ceilings, behind
baseboards and switch plates, in old trash,
in folded bathroom linen, or outside in
gardens and along walks. In the warmer
climates of the southern United States,
these ants can be found foraging and nesting
on the outside of buildings or in adjacent
landscape areas. This will be especially
true where humid conditions are common, or
where sources of moisture such as sprinkler
systems. Workers measure 1/15-1/12 inches
long. Under such circumstances, inspections
and control programs should be extended
beyond the interior portions of the
building. They will feed on such a diverse
array of materials that the use of the term
"food preferences" seems inappropriate.
However, substances like syrups, fruit
juices, honey, jelly, cakes, pies, greases,
dead insects, or meats and blood are
frequently fed upon. This ant is very
persistent and hard to control. It has a
tendency to appear suddenly in various
places within the structure. Its tendency to
forage over wide areas and to nest in
well-protected or hidden areas contributes
to control difficulties.
 Acrobat
Ant
Body Color: The color of the worker
ant can vary from light brown or dark brown.
Acrobat ants get their name from their
unique habit of sometimes running while
holding their abdomen above their thorax
when disturbed. This gives them the
appearance of an acrobat who walks on his or
her hands. These ants do not build large,
above ground mounds. Instead, you are more
likely to find them nesting in dead tree
limbs, hollow logs, fallen trees, old tree
stumps or even the hollow cavity of a tree.
Around a home or business, acrobat ant
colonies can be found in any organic litter
or mulch and beneath stacks of firewood,
under stepping stones, landscape timbers,
bird baths, etc. They are often found in
shrubs or ornamentals, feeding on insects
and the honeydew produced by aphids. Worker
ants will enter a home or other structure by
crawling along electrical and phone lines.
They also access homes from shrubs or trees
which are too close or touching the building
or by simply crawling up the outside walls
to enter around windows, doors, cracks,
crevices or through vents. When viewed from
above, this ant's abdomen is shaped like a
heart. When viewed from the side, the
pedicel attaches to the upper part of the
abdomen. In most ant species, the pedicel is
attached on the lower part of the abdomen.
Each antenna has 12 segments and a 3
segmented club. All workers are of the same
size. Once indoors, they will feed on a
variety of sweets and proteins but will
rarely take ant baits. |
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Flying Pests
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 Mosquito
Body: have a pair of scaled wings, a
pair of halteres, a slender body, and long
legs.
The wings long and narrow, with scales along
the veins. Bodies also very thin. Females
bite, but males do not; the female proboscis
has 6 piercing parts. Body length: To 3/4".
76 species and subspecies of mosquitoes are
currently known to occur in Florida. This
large diversity derives from Florida's
semi-tropical climate and proximity to
tropical countries. There are 13 United
States species that occur only in Florida.
These pesky bloodsuckers that leave you
scratching are more than just a nuisance...
they are a menace. They carry diseases
encephalitis, malaria, West Nile Virus and
cause heartworms in your canine friends.
Mosquitoes have many sensors to designed to
seek out their prey. Chemical sensors that
can sense carbon dioxide and lactic acid up
to 100 feet away. Just about any mammal or
bird gives off these gases as part of its
normal breathing. Certain chemicals in sweat
also seem to attract mosquitoes. Mosquitoes
can detect heat, so warm-blooded mammals and
birds are easily found once they get close
enough. Mosquitoes have visual sensors that
can easily see contrasts and movement.
Mosquitoes need water. All mosquitoes have
four stages of development-egg, larva, pupa,
and adult-and spend their larval and pupal
stages in water. When adult mosquitoes
emerge from the aquatic stages, they mate,
and the female seeks a blood meal to obtain
the protein necessary for the development of
her eggs. The blood of any mammal will do.
 Honey
Bee
Body: alternating dark brown and
golden yellow sections
Honey bees are social insects, with a marked
division of labor between the various types
of bees in the colony. A colony of honey
bees includes a queen, drones and workers.
Chances are, if you are having problems with
honey bees on your property, they are
workers as the queen and her drones are
strictly meant for reproductive purposes and
rarely leave the hive. Workers, the smallest
bees in the colony, but the ones with the
stingers, are sexually undeveloped females.
A colony can have 50,000 to 60,000 workers.
Honey bees' wings stroke 11,400 times per
minute, thus making their distinctive buzz.
Although hone bees are necessary insects,
they are generally considered to be pests
because of their ability to sting.
Unfortunately, a honey be cannot tell the
difference between a tree on your property
and one in the wild, thus the problem. Some
people are highly allergic to bee stings,
which have been known to cause death in some
people.
Wasps or Yellow
Jackets
Body: twice the size of a honey bee,
their adomens are longer and more narrow
than a bee's. Longer wings. Their coloring
is alternating black and bright yellow
(sometimes white) bands.
5/8 to 1 inch in size. All wasps will defend
their nests, but the Yellow Jackets and
hornets are the most aggressive, which is
another way you can distinguish them from
bees, whereas a bee is usually more docile,
wasps will usually take the proactive
defense strategy. Come anywhere near their
homes and you have trouble. Yellow jackets
will also forage on foods that people eat,
especially sweets and meats. They are
considered beneficial insects, eating other
insects. The yellow jacket colony will
remain active for only one summer, after
which the queens will fly away to start more
colonies. The remaining ones, die at the end
of the summer, the nest is not reused.They
usually nest in the ground, but will nest
also in railroad ties, wall voids, and other
above ground locations, like the eave of a
roof or tall doorways. For most a wasp sting
is temporary, but painful, but for allergic
individuals as single sting may result in a
serious reaction, requiring medical
treatment
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Roaches
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 American
Cockroach
Body: reddish brown and have a yellowish
margin on the body region behind the head
The American cockroach is the largest of the
house-infesting roaches. They are 1 and 1/2
inches long (38mm). American cockroaches
generally live in moist areas, but can
survive in dry areas if they have access to
water. They prefer warm temperatures around
84 degrees Fahrenheit and do not tolerate
cold temperatures. In residential areas,
these cockroaches live in basements and
sewers, and may move outdoors into yards
during warm weather. These cockroaches are
common in basements, crawl spaces, cracks
and crevices of porches, foundations, and
walkways adjacent to buildings. They feed on
a wide variety of plant and animal material.
these cockroaches may move indoors, seeking
warmer temperatures and food. Cockroaches
may enter houses via sewer connections,
under doors, around utility pipes, air
ducts, or other openings in the foundation.
Roaches can foul food, damage wallpaper,
books and clothing, and produce an
unpleasant odor. Some home owners are
allergic to roaches, and the pests can
contaminate food with certain bacterial
diseases that result in food poisoning,
dysentery, or diarrhea. Cockroaches can
cause childhood asthma.
 German
Cockroach
Body: brown to dark brown in color with two
distinct parallel bands running the length
of the body
The German cockroach is the cockroach of
concern, the species that gives all other
cockroaches a bad name. It occurs in
structures throughout Florida, and is the
species that typically plagues multifamily
dwellings. The German cockroach is found
throughout the world in association with
humans. They are unable to survive in
locations away from humans or human
activity. The German cockroach has three
life stages typical of insects with
incomplete metamorphosis: the egg, nymph,
and adult. The entire life cycle is
completed in about 100 days. Under ideal
conditions, population growth has been shown
to be exponential. German cockroaches
adulterate food or food products with their
feces and defensive secretions, physically
transport and often harbor pathogenic
organisms, may cause severe allergic
responses, and in extremely heavy
infestations have been reported to bite
humans and feed on food residues on the
faces of sleeping humans.
 Florida
Woods Cockroach
Body: black or brown
The Florida woods cockroach is a large
species of cockroach, which usually grows to
a length of 1 inch to 2 inches. It has a
wide, glossy body, and appears at first
glance to be wingless, however it does have
very short wings just beneath its head,
which are useless for flying. The cockroach,
when disturbed, often emits a strong,
disagreeable odour, somewhat reminiscent of
amaretto. The roach is slower moving than
other species. It prefers damp locations,
lots of moisture, and does well in warm,
damp climates. It is found in its native
habitats, such as Florida, and the West
Indies. The roach can wander indoors at
times, especially into damp locations, such
as bathrooms, however, it is found mostly
outdoors and is not considered a major pest
in the home. It is cold intolerant and
requires a warm, sub-tropical or tropical
climate. It can often be seen in sheltered
outdoor locations
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Spiders
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 Black
Widow Spider
Body: shiny black with hourglass-shaped red
spot on bottom of abdomen
Black widow spiders are common around wood
piles, and are frequently encountered when
homeowners carry firewood into the house.
Also found under eaves, in boxes, outdoor
toilets, meter boxes, and other unbothered
places. The female eats the male after
mating. She hangs belly upward and rarely
leaves the web. The black widow is not
aggressive. It will, however, bite
instinctively when touched or pressed. Black
widow bites are sharp and painful, and the
victim should go to the doctor immediately
for treatment as the venom has been known to
be fatal, but usually just makes the host
extremely sick, experiencing nauseau and
painful headaches and stomach cramps.
 Brown
Recluse Spider
Body: uniformly-colored abdomens that can
vary from a tan to dark brown. In many
species there is a characteristic darkened
violin-shaped pattern which occurs on the
front half of the head region
The Brown Recluse spider is not, nor is any
recluse spider, native to Florida. However,
but three species have been intercepted, and
occasionally have established populations in
single buildings at scattered locations. The
recluse spiders (also known as violin,
fiddleback, or brown spiders) belong to the
genus Loxosceles (Family: Sicariidae). These
spiders are found worldwide, most commonly
in the tropics, with some species reaching
temperate latitudes. Recluse spiders are
medium-sized (6-12 mm body length). Similar
to widow spiders, recluse spiders usually
bite only when they become trapped next to
the victim's skin. Recluse bites range in
intensity from no noticeable effect to
severe necrosis.
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Fleas
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 Flea
Body: dark reddish-brown, wingless,
hard-bodied and oblong-shaped, and are
flattened vertically or side to side
Adult fleas are about 1/16 to 1/8-inch long
and have three pairs of legs. Fleas are
excellent jumpers, leaping vertically up to
seven inches and horizontally thirteen
inches. (An equivalent hop for a human would
be 250 feet vertically and 450 feet
horizontally.) They have piercing-sucking
mouthparts and spines on the body projecting
backward. Adult fleas cannot survive or lay
eggs without a blood meal, but may live from
two months to one year without feeding.
Fleas are vertically flat like a fish, and
can move easily through the hair of a host.
Fleas thrive in a hot, humid enviroment so
Florida is perfect for them. Summer months,
July through September are the worse months
for fleas. They will bite humans-especially
when they cannot find their usual animal
host or if they become very numerous. Their
bite often will leave a small, red,
irritated area on humans.
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Rodents
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 Roof
Rat
Body: A blackish (or brownish),
medium-sized, slender rat with long, naked,
scaly tail; tail usually longer than head
and body but not always so.
Total length, 370 mm; tail, 190 mm; hind
foot, 36 mm. Weight, up to 200 g. Roof rats
are largely commensals and live in close
association with man. They seldom become
established as feral animals as do the
Norway rats. They may live near the ground,
but usually they frequent the attics,
rafters, and crossbeams of the buildings.
They make typical runways along pipes, beams
or wires, up and down the studding, or along
the horizontal ceiling joists, often leaving
a dark-colored layer of grease and dirt to
mark their travelways. Like the Norway rat,
the roof rat is largely nocturnal and only
where populations are relatively high does
one see them frequently in the daytime. They
accept a wide variety of food items,
including grains, meats, and almost any item
that has nutritive value. Like the Norway
rat, the roof rat is destructive to property
and foodstuffs. Also, it plays an important
part in the transmission of such human
diseases as endemic typhus, ratbite fever,
and bubonic plague.
 Norway
Rat
Body: brown, similar to the Roof Rat, but
larger and chunkier; tail shorter than
length of head and body
The Norway Rat lives both as a communal in
close association with man and in the feral
state. As a communal this rat lives
principally in basements, on the ground
floor, or in burrows under sidewalks or
outbuildings. They feed on a variety of
items including both plant and animal
materials. All sorts of garbage appears to
be welcome, but their main stay is plant
material. Grains of various sorts are highly
prized. These rats are prolific breeders.
The gestation period varies from 21 to 23
days and the number of young from two to 14,
averaging seven or eight. the Norway Rat is
destructive to property and foodstuffs.
Also, it plays an important part in the
transmission of such human diseases as
endemic typhus, ratbite fever, and bubonic
plague.
 House
Mouse
Body: brown, with white belly, but can vary
(see below)
A small, scaly-tailed mouse with a distinct
notch in the cutting surface of upper
incisor. ); hair short; ears moderately
large and naked; upperparts ochraceous,
suffused with black; belly buffy white, or
buffy, usually without speckling and with
slaty underfur; yellowish flank line usually
present; tail brownish with black tip, not
distinctly bicolor, but paler on underside;
ears pale brown, feet drab or buffy, tips of
toes white. External measurements average:
total length, 169 mm; tail, 93 mm; hind
foot, 18 mm. Weight of adults, 17-25 g. As
commensal animals, house mice live in close
association with man in his houses,
outbuildings, stores, and other structures.
Where conditions permit, feral mice may be
found in fields, along watercourses, and in
other places where vegetation is dense
enough to afford concealment. Although
largely nocturnal, house mice are moderately
active during the day, chiefly in their
quest for food. As commensals, house mice
feed on practically any type of food
suitable for the use of man or beast.
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Triple Zone Protection Plan |
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All-Star's Quick Tips |
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Odd but true.
A Cock Roach can hold it's breath for more
than 40 minutes! |
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Outside Perimeter, Interior, and
Attic space or crawl spaces |
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Read More quick tips |
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Schedule Service |
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Our Service Area |
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Today to schedule your service!
Call (903) 465-5099 or (903) 892-8900
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Proudly Serving Grayson County and
surrounding areas. Cities include:
Denison, Sherman, Pottsboro, Howe,
Gunter, Anna, Sadler, Southmayde,
Whitewright, Bells, Tom Bean and
Van Alstyne. |
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give is the referral of their friends,
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