Brandon Runyon

Entomology and Pest Control Expert

Brandon Runyon is a board-certified Entomologist based in Evansville, Indiana. He has over 18 years of experience as a Pest Control professional, and is the Technical Director of Swat Pest Management. Swat Pest Management serves areas throughout Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, where they provide safe, cost-effective solutions for client’s pest control needs. He authored Bugged by Bugs: A Comprehensive Guide to Pest Control, a user-friendly guide to commercial pest control practices in hotels, restaurants, apartments, and offices.

Education

  • MBA, Western Governors University
  • MS, University of Nebraska, Entomology
  • BS, Purdue University, Entomology

Certifications & Organizations

  • Board-Certified Entomologist
  • Licensed Entomologist in Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois
  • Top 20 under 40, 2020, Evansville Indiana

Favorite Piece of Advice

Be curious–act like a child who is seeing an insect for the first time. Watch it, see what it does, and try to learn how it works!

wikiHow's Editorial Process wikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.

Forum Comments (12)

How to get rid of chipmunks
Hello, Sanitation and exclusion will be some of your best tools. Start by removing food and water sources, such as bird feeders and baths. Switch out mulch beds for rock beds. Keep landscaping at least 6 inches away from the foundation of your home. Trim back tree limbs so they are not touching the house. These are all long-term items to reduce the suitable habitat. In the short term, work on covering your garden with a wire mesh to prevent entry for the time being and wait for the chipmunks to move on.
How do you get rid of gnats in your house?
Hello! I have a few suggestions for you in addition to what has already been said. Reducing moisture is great for the long term. In the short term, I fully recommend the use of Steinernema feltiae, a beneficial nematode you can apply to your potted plants and outside in the areas you notice them coming from.
How to get rid of squirrels?
Everyone has given you some great advice. Reducing the food sources, trapping, and applying the squirrel shields around your trees is a great start. Also, ensure you do not have any trees touching your house. Trimming the limbs away from the house will reduce the chances of entry.
How do you check for bedbugs?
The approach depends on the setting. If you're traveling, start by checking the mattress since that’s the direct link to humans. Pull the sheets back and inspect the mattress seams. In larger infestations, you might see red staining on the mattress or pillowcases—that’s digested blood residue. Bedbugs are about the size of an apple seed, dark reddish-brown, and often cluster along mattress seams.

If you don’t see them there, check the headboard, especially where the seams come together. They prefer wood over metal, so they’ll often hide in small cracks. You can also check nightstands, books, and even dresser drawers. In homes, you should also inspect baseboards since bedbugs spread as the population grows.

If you’re bringing in second-hand furniture—especially upholstered pieces—inspect the seams, zippers, and hidden crevices. That’s a common way they get introduced into homes.
How do you get rid of spider mites?
Spider mites depend on location and the type of mites you're dealing with. Many are plant-eaters, so infestations often start with houseplants. If you notice them, check for overwatering—excess moisture can create a breeding ground.

A simple solution is soapy water. A mild detergent spray can be effective because it dries them out. Neem oil is another great natural treatment. My wife and I use it on our houseplants—it works well against mites and other pests like scale insects.

If mites are found in non-plant areas, use sticky tape to physically remove them. I generally don’t recommend applying pesticides inside homes for spider mites since they aren’t harmful to humans. Simple moisture control and regular plant maintenance should keep them in check.
See more comments

Co-authored Articles (43)

What Does a Deer Tick Look Like?

Spot an engorged deer tick attached to you or your pet 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 blacklegg...

The Best Ways to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Your Home

Quickly stop roaches and keep them from coming back with these expert pest control tips Did you turn on your kitchen light and catch sight of some roaches skittering away? Even if you manage to squish a few, there may b...

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 Carpet Beetles: 7 Common Signs + Prevention Tips

Learn what a carpet beetle looks like (& if you have an infestation) Carpet beetles are small black, yellow, or mottled beetles that feast on animal-based fabrics and textiles. If a carpet beetle infestation is left untr...

How to Get Rid of Cicadas (And, When Do They Come Out?)

Can cicadas bite? Are they harmful? Your questions, answered Some cicadas emerge from the ground every year, while others operate on a 13- or 17-year cycle. There’s no way to totally stop cicadas, but they don’t bite...

How to

Breed Worms

Breeding worms is a fantastic way to save money on bait if you’re a fan of fishing. They’re also an excellent way to get rid of food waste and paper organically. To breed worms, set up a plastic or wood bin with drai...

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

Look After a Pet Woodlouse

Whether you know them as woodlice, roly-polies, potato bugs, slaters, pillbugs, carpenters, tiggy-hogs, parson-pigs, or doodlebugs, these tiny creatures are easy to care for. To make a comfortable habitat for them, put s...

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

Breed Superworms

Superworms are the larvae of darkling beetles. These large worms resemble mealworms and can grow up to or longer. They are an excellent source of protein for large reptiles as well as some species of fish and birds (inc...

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...

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

Catch Crickets

Catch house crickets humanely 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 ...

How to

Care for Pillbugs

Pillbugs are small, round bugs that live in many parts of the country. Due to the fact they're easy to handle, many people enjoy keeping pillbugs as pets. You can find pillbugs outdoors, usually under rocks or in other m...

Can You Have a Pet Spider? Everything You Should Know

All the tips and tricks to owning and caring for a spiderWhat's furry, has 8 legs, and is oh-so-adorable? Spiders, of course! If spiders don't give you the heebie-jeebies, they may be the perfect pet for you. They're low...

How to

Gather Earthworms

Earthworms are often used as bait for anglers, but they’re also integral to healthy gardens, and are great in compost areas because they break down organic matter quickly and turn it into nutrient-rich soil. Worms are ...

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...

How to

Find a Snail

Discover the best places to find land and sea snailsSnails 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...

How to

Use Castor Oil As an Insect Repellent

Castor oil has been used as a natural insect repellent as far back as Greek antiquity. To take advantage of castor oil's natural insect-repelling properties, mix it with another essential oil. Pour the mixture into a sp...

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 ...
See more articles