Billy the Exterminator is a scripted American reality television series which airs on the A&E network. The show follows the professional life of Billy Bretherton, an expert in the field of pest control and the proprietor of Vexcon Animal and Pest Control in Benton, Louisiana, which serves the Shreveport-Bossier metropolitan area. Bretherton, a former Senior Airman in the United States Air Force, had previously been featured on the Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs series on the season 1 episode "Vexcon", and the season 2 episode "Termite Controller". Both previously and in his current show, Bretherton is known for his unusual fashion style, consisting mostly of black garments with large silver jewelry and steel studs and spikes in various configurations. Many members of Bretherton's family, such as his parents, "Big" Bill and Donnie, and his brother, Ricky, as well as other employees, make frequent appearances. Donnie Bretherton normally acts as Vexcon's dispatcher and rarely goes out on jobs. Ricky's ex-wife, Pam, resigned during the production of the first season. As noted in many episodes, Billy Bretherton prefers, if at all possible, to relocate captured animals and is a proponent of natural methods of control. He frequently gives a description of the pests, their preferred environment, and any diseases associated with them. Ricky Bretherton acquired an allergy to bee and wasp stings due to being stung so many times.