Summer should be a time when you feel comfortable lounging in your backyard, grilling with friends, or tending to your garden. If your backyard is infested with mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks, enjoying that space becomes difficult.
Whether you’ve just started to notice a few mosquitoes or your yard is completely overrun by fleas, here are a few ways to reclaim your outdoor space this summer.
Clean Up Extra Junk
Summer means an increase in insects that fly and sting, like bees and wasps. If your business is related to the food service industry, you may face special challenges concerning flying stingers.
Unfortunately, people, food, and stinging insects do not mix well. Both people and flying stingers are attracted by the food you offer, but the results can be annoying or even deadly. Here’s what to know about flying stingers and how they can impact your business.
Compared to other pests, the moth seems like a quiet, inoffensive creature. The insect does not buzz around like flies, threaten to sting like bees, or cause nightmares as the average spider can. Moths also often don’t gnaw on wood and destroy a home. But while the moth may seem harmless compared to other insects, it is a pest that homeowners should not ignore.
Ants are unwanted house guests. If you’ve ever opened a bag of chips to find a cluster of ants waiting for you, then you understand the frustration of finding these pests in your house. Fortunately, you don’t have to live with ants. Here are five tips you can use to make your home ant-free once again.
Ants are often driven inside by inclement weather. When it gets hot and there is a shortage of water outside, ants may seek shelter in your cooler home. That’s why you often find ants indoors during the summer.
As winter transitions to spring in Virginia, you might begin to look forward to barbecues, picnics, and other outdoor activities. But your outdoor activities could be disrupted if you don’t take certain precautions. One springtime nuisance that can throw a wrench in your outdoor plans is mosquitoes coming out of hibernation.
The spring months are when female mosquitoes wake up after being dormant all winter. These hungry insects then search for a blood meal so they can feed themselves and their eggs. Mosquitoes can lay as many as 300 eggs at once, which means a small infestation can quickly spiral out of control.
If you want to enjoy the spring sunshine without worrying about mosquito bites, use this guide to keep your yard — and home — mosquito-free.
When you look for a hotel, you probably look for amenities like a comfortable bed, a pool, and good room service. Pests are not nearly as picky. In fact, the more damp and musty the space, the more attractive they’ll find it. Your crawl space, for example, may appear to be the perfect hotel for insects, rodents, and other pests — especially as they seek shelter from the cold this winter.
What Pests May Take up Residence in Your Crawl Space?
This time of year, almost any animal or insect that seeks shelter may find its way into your crawl space. Some of the most common crawl space invaders include termites, cockroaches, spiders, silverfish, rats, and mice. Less often, homeowners also find larger pests, like raccoons and possums, in their crawl spaces.
Winter is often a dangerous and deadly time for many pests. For example, mice often face starvation during the harsh winter months and will invade houses and apartment buildings for shelter. Thankfully, you can avoid this issue and keep mice out of homes during the winter with some helpful information.
Mice Are Hardy but Prefer Indoor Warmth in Winter
Though mice are tiny, they can tolerate cold weather quite well. Most will hide among tree roots and in other secluded areas during the coldest months to maximize their warmth. However, food sources get quite rare for mice in the winter, which may force many of them to seek indoor shelter in nearby homes and apartment complexes.
Some pests can irritate you and some pests that can put you at risk of health issues. Ticks are one of those pests that can lead to serious health problems. The information here will educate you on tick risks, tick prevention, and other important advice so you can protect yourself and your family from this tiny, dangerous pest.
Identifying Ticks
Different types of ticks exist, but they all have a few things in common. Ticks are small, ticks embed their head under your skin, and all tick bites should be taken seriously.
As the weather grows colder, many animals look for warmer places to nest through the winter months. Bats are no exception. They may take up residence in your attic, entering through tiny crevices in the eaves or vents.
Having bats in your home is more than just a nuisance; it is a danger to your health. The average bat species carries 1.79 zoonotic viruses — those which are transmissible to humans — not to mention various types of infectious bacteria. Read on for a more in-depth look at some of the most common and concerning diseases transmitted by bats.
Rabies is a fatal disease that affects almost all mammals, including bats. You may contract rabies if you are bitten by a bat carrying the virus. Although only one or two people die from rabies in the average year in the United States, most human rabies cases occur after contact with an infected bat. An infected bat could also bite and infect your cat or dog, particularly if your cat or dog has not been properly vaccinated.
As the weather turns brisk in late September and early October, beetles of all sorts look for sheltered places to burrow for the winter. If your home wasn’t in the way, beetles would snuggle into cracks and crevices of rocks, trees and bark. They can find winter nesting spots under stones and rotting branches.
When beetles come looking for a place to spend winter, be ready to send them away without entry into your living spaces. Here are three strategies to have a beetle-free home this fall.
Beetles want to feel welcome. When weather gets chilly, beetles explore their environment to locate openings in nature. These openings are like flashing welcome signs, even if your home isn’t a natural overwintering spot for them.
Autumn is almost here, and before long, the leaves will be falling from the trees. If you have trees in your yard, then some of those leaves will probably end up in your gutters. Clearing the gutters of leaves and debris is therefore a necessary fall maintenance task. Fail to do so, and you could end up with clogged gutters — which are an open invitation for insects to invade your home and yard.
Keep reading to learn more about the insects that are likely to show up when your gutters are clogged, along with some gutter-cleaning advice.
Which Insects Are Attracted to Clogged Gutters?
From termites to spiders, all the creepy crawlies in the area would be happy to find a home in your basement. This can make spending time in the basement uncomfortable and unpleasant. If you are a homeowner who would like to keep bugs out of your basement, check out these tips for a cleaner and more comfortable basement you can enjoy.
1. Fix Plumbing Leaks Promptly
Moisture in the soil often finds its way into the home via cracks in the foundation. Sometimes this moisture causes floods, mold, mildew, and a general dampness. You have many ways that you can waterproof your basement.
When we think of larger pests like mice or skunks, we often think of a direct odor associated with them. The same association is typically not applied to insects. While you might see many signs of an insect infestation in your home, the smell of an insect could be one of the key factors.
A wide range of insects emit odors. When these insects are in large groups or infesting your home, the smells may become more pungent. Learn about a variety of insects and the various ways their scents may be detected so you can tell if you have a problem. Once you do smell the insects, you’ll know to call an exterminator and to get rid of the problem.
Bats, rodents, birds, wildlife and even insects can find their way into your attic to make themselves at home. The insulation in your attic, along with relatively private quarters, makes this often-ignored space of your house inviting for a variety of pests.
Use this guide to learn more about the signs that you have creatures dwelling in your attic and what you can do about infestations.
With spring comes warmer temperatures and the increased risk of pests around the home. A pest problem can quickly become an infestation without quick action, so do what you can now to prevent pests later on.
Ants
To keep ants out of your home, remove food sources like crumbs or open packages of food. Toss out any opened boxes, wrappers, or containers of food, and set ant traps in cupboards and cabinets. Spritz doorways with a mixture of white vinegar and water to deter ants.
If you’re like most homeowners, your pantry is filled with hundreds of dollars of food that you wouldn’t want to replace. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to you, something inside your pantry could be harboring insects. There are a variety of insects, including the cigarette beetle, sawtoothed grain beetle, granary weevil, and the Indian meal moth, that will devour several items inside your pantry.
Don’t allow pantry pests to destroy your groceries by following these simple tips.
In the United States, four primary types of cockroaches tend to invade homes: German, American, brown-banded, and Oriental cockroaches. The first three get plenty of attention, but homeowners often forget about the Oriental cockroach. It is a less frequent pest in most areas than the other three, but still, you should know the basics about the Oriental cockroach so you can effectively defend your home.
How Can You Identify Oriental Cockroaches?
The National Pesticide Information Center reports on a new bug species that has quickly become a pest to both farmers and homeowners: the brown marmorated stink bug. Originating in Asia, this tiny critter poses no health risk to humans.
However, the brown marmorated stink bug does feed on fruit and vegetable crops. During the colder months, stink bugs will also look for shelter indoors, where they become an annoyance to those living in the homes. Read on to understand, prevent, and eliminate the brown marmorated stink bug from your property.
Nobody wants to contend with rodents in their home. Whether you are facing an infestation of house mice, wood mice, or brown rats, you are not happy. Understanding rodent infestations can help you understand how to best deal with them.
How Likely Are You to Face a Rodent Infestation?
Remember that rodents thrive all over the country. You will not find a home in the United States that is totally safe from some sort of infestation, so your home might face an infestation at some point.
Termites are some of the most bothersome creatures on the planet, and they are also some of the most misunderstood. While you don’t need to be an expert in termite extermination — you can rely on your pest control company for that — it is important for you to understand the basics about these bugs and how they affect your home.
Some of the things homeowners often believe about termites are just not true and can lead to poor management and extermination choices. To that end, here are three common but mistaken beliefs about termites.
Insects that invade homes can be divided into two categories: true indoor pests and occasional house pests. Cockroaches, ants, and termites all fall into the first category since they truly prefer to live in homes. Other pests, like earwigs, ladybugs, and silverfish, are referred to as occasional house pests because they usually live outside and only invade homes on occasion — under the right conditions.
Occasional house pests can be tough to get rid of once they move in, but the good news is, there are some great strategies to keep them from coming inside in the first place.
The National Pest Management Association is celebrating Bed Bug Awareness Week, June 4-10, 2017. The annual designation, which is recognized by Chase’s Calendar of Events, serves as a friendly reminder to keep bed bugs top of mind when traveling this summer.
Check out the infographic below to learn about the most common hiding spots for bed bugs in a room.
When you think of spring, you probably envision blooming flowers and the return of warmer weather. But in the pest control industry, spring marks the beginning of peak pest season, when most insects are coming out of their winter hiding spots, mating – and in some cases – finding their way into our homes. Unfortunately, one of the most common springtime pests is also one of biggest threats to our homes and properties – termites.
Termites seem to come out of the woodwork every spring… but could they actually be coming in and infesting your home? Learn more about these costly pests and their life cycle.
When you think of spring, you probably envision blooming flowers and the return of warmer weather. But in the pest control industry, spring marks the beginning of peak pest season, when most insects are coming out of their winter hiding spots, mating – and in some cases – finding their way into our homes. Unfortunately,
Is bed bug pest control even necessary? Individuals thought bed bugs were eradicated during the 1940s and 1950s, yet the country is seeing a resurgence of this unwanted pest. This is due in part to international travel, as individuals unintentionally bring the critters home as a souvenir in their bags. In addition to being found in private homes, bed bugs are becoming a problem in multi-unit residences and hotels.
Why are ants suddenly appearing in my house? I have ants everywhere!
Ants nest in the ground and forage for food on warm days. When their food source is interrupted by weather conditions they make their way into our homes.
The weather that we have been experiencing for the past several weeks with temps dropping and rising as well as the heavy rains are certainly major factors for indoor ant infestations.
After the long, cold winter experienced across much of the country, spring can’t come soon enough for many people. Before we know it, daylight will last longer, flowers will start blooming and children will be spending more time playing outdoors. But, as the weather continues to warm, people may also start to see an unwelcome sign that spring has sprung – the presence of swarmers, or flying termites.
Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by infection with the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi.
Who can get Lyme disease?
People of any age can get Lyme disease, particularly those who spend a significant amount of time in outdoor activities. It occurs most commonly during the late spring and early summer months, but can occur during the fall and winter. Dogs, cats and horses also can get Lyme disease.
Termite control is not like fixing a leaky faucet. Fail to do it right and you and your home most likely will pay the price. Leave it to the professionals.
Consider all the advantages you have over the fruit fly: You’re able to use tools, make jokes, binge-watch “Game of Thrones.”
But you know what? You can get too fat for your waistband. The fruit fly, that ubiquitous subject of scientific experimentation, cannot.
Termite swarming season will be ramping up soon as the weather starts to get warmer and the spring season approaches — with many termite species being particularly prevalent in the Southeast. In case you’ve never heard, termites are nicknamed “silent destroyers” because of their ability to chew through wood, flooring and wallpaper without any immediate signs of damage. In fact, termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage each year— costs that are typically note covered by homeowners’ insurance policies.
Next time you’re browsing the supermarket in search of the makings of that night’s dinner, pause a moment to read the ingredients labels of your favorite red-colored ingestibles and
cosmetics. Chances are, you’ll discover a notation for cochineal, carmine, or carminic acid, pigments whose origins might surprise and possibly disgust you.
Cochineal and its close cousin carmine (also known as carminic acid) are derived from the crushed carcasses of a particular South and Central American insect. These popular colorants, which today are used to impart a deep red shade to fruit juices, gelatins, candies, shampoos, and more, come from the female Dactylopius coccus, an insect that
A group of researchers reported in October 2014 the Triatomine bug, a reduviid bug living in the
United States, can carry a parasite that causes Chagas disease.
Melissa Nolan Garcia, a research associate at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, presented two studies at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. For one study, Garcia and her team collected 40 triatomine bugs in Texas and discovered nearly 75% of the bugs were carrying the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi.
Not only can bed bugs travel around the world, but these appleseed-sized, bloodsucking insects are very good at moving from place to place—from a hotel room to your office, or from that flea market find to the rest of your workplace. Once bed bugs enter your business, they begin multiplying—and one female bed bug will lay one to five eggs a day, or an average of 120 eggs in its life.
“Vehicles possess the ideal attributes that attract rodents in winter, including shelter and built-up warmth from commutes,” says Michael Bentley, Ph.D., a staff entomologist at NPMA. “Rodents hate being out in the open where they are vulnerable to predators, so when they see a car holding freshly generated heat that also offers protection from the great outdoors, they are drawn to it for cover.”
Bed bugs were virtually eradicated in the United States during the 1940s with the use of chloradane, lindane and DDT. Bed Bugs did however remain commonplace in other areas of the world like parts of Europe, Asia, South and Central America. With the advent of easier and less expensive worldwide travel, immigration and trade; changes in pest management (less residual insecticides, less frequent chemical application and older effective insecticides are now illegal); and a new American public that is not familiar with bed bugs, their habits and their bites; bed bugs have been able to proliferate once again.
Ants are one of the most common household pest invaders and often one of the hardest to get rid of. Here’s why:
There are over 12,000 species of ants worldwide and about 1,000 here in the U.S. They’re social insects so they live in large colonies, some with millions of ants depending on the species. Ant queens can survive for several years and have millions of ant offspring, compared to many other pests that tend to have shorter lifespans and lower reproduction rates.
Although bed bugs are typically thought to be a household pest, they can hitchhike with people to their places of employment. In fact, a 2015 Bugs Without Borders survey by NPMA found that 45% of pest control professionals have encountered bed bugs in office buildings. Here are the NPMA’s tips to prevent bringing bed bugs home from the workplace:
Almost all homeowners know the feeling of unease that accompanies finding mice or rodents in your home. Whether in the kitchen, attic, basement or dining room – a rodent sighting can incite surprise and fear in even the most composed homeowner. Unfortunately, these common pests are resourceful creatures that can enter a building or home through the smallest opening or crack, and require very little space to travel inside.
Are pests invading your home? Call PermaTreat now at 866-737-6287 for a home inspection today!
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