Brandon Runyon

How to

Raise Your Own Crickets

Are you tired of going to the pet store and buying crickets every week to feed your scaly, squirmy, or furry little friend? If you're a true do-it-yourselfer, then you might be interested in raising your own colony of cr...

How to

Identify a Deer Tick

Of the over 80 types of ticks active in North America, there are only seven species that can transmit disease to humans through its bite. The deer tick, or blacklegged tick (''Ixodes scapularis'') can transmit Lyme disea...

How to

Catch and Care for a Jumping Spider

Spiders have earned a bad reputation for being creepy and crawly. But they can actually make really fun and interesting pets. The jumping spider is a good bet. It is not considered dangerous, and it can entertain you wit...

Why You Keep Seeing Maggots in Your Rice & How to Get Rid of Them

Learn how to prevent maggots in your favorite pantry staples You’ve been craving some warm, fluffy rice for dinner. It’s finally time to prepare your meal but… you see some small maggots crawling around the rice b...

How to

Use Mint As an Insect Repellent

Mint plants are one of many aromatic herbs that have been used for centuries and have been passed down for generations. Although the plants' main uses are for culinary and medicinal purposes, the mint plants are also kno...

How to

Catch Crickets

Are you tired of hearing crickets sing and chirp all night long in your basement? Maybe you need to catch some crickets to feed your pet snake or use for fishing bait. There are a number of reasons for catching crickets,...

How to

Make a Worm Habitat

A worm habitat is a great place to keep your pet worms, and unlike a worm farm, it will allow your worms to thrive and live a long lifespan. Worm habitats are relatively simple to make, but will take a little bit of prep...

How to

Find a Snail

Snails can be annoying pests, particularly if you're a gardener. However, some people catch snails to keep as pets or to show to young children. Whatever the reason, if you want a snail you will need to seek it out in th...

How to

Identify a Hobo Spider

The hobo spider, also known as the “aggressive house spider”, was accidentally introduced to the Northwestern United States in the 1980s and can now be found in the Pacific Northwest and parts of Canada. The bite of ...

How to

Make a Lavender Insect Repellent

If you like spending time outdoors or leaving your windows open, you may find that you have bug bites or attract insects into your home. Bugs can be pesky and cause uncomfortable bites, but using a repellent can keep the...

How to

Identify a Redback Spider

Australia is known for its large (and sometimes scary!) animals and insects, and the redback spider is one of them. Though highly venomous, the redback spider won’t bite unless its web is disturbed, and its venom can b...

How to

Make a Praying Mantis Habitat

Praying mantises are interesting and interactive pets that can be kept inside. Making their habitat is a quick and easy process. Simply source a suitable container, add coconut husk and some sticks, and then spray it wit...

How to Eliminate Scale Bugs

Deal with this pesky insect and promote plant growth by following these simple tipsScale insects (Hemiptera spp.) are small, about 1/8 inch long, oval and flat. They are members of the “true bug” insect family, along...

How to

Identify a Crab Spider

Crab spiders are part of the large ''Thomisidae'' family of arachnids, with over 3,000 different kinds of crab spiders within this family. They are called crab spiders because they have uneven legs that are longer in fr...

How to

Identify a Cobweb Spider

Cobweb spiders, part of the family Theridiidae, are commonly found in and around your home. The majority of them are harmless. There are over 2,300 species of cobweb spiders, and more than 230 in the US. They are named f...