Ants can infest a home quickly.

Ants can damage plants and vegetation as well as invade homes and buildings, contaminating food with their waste products. The common pharaoh ant is a suspected carrier of dangerous bacteria such as staphylococcus and salmonella, and carpenter ants can cause significant structural damage to homes, resulting in expensive repairs. Red imported fire ants inflict painful stings which can cause severe allergic reactions in hypersensitive persons, while Argentine ants can colonize an entire backyard. So, it is important to know how to get rid of ants in and around your home.

Because ants encountered inside the home are typically foraging for food, it is important to keep dishes clean, remove open foods and place them in well sealed containers, wipe counter tops and sweep or vacuum kitchen floors regularly. Also, it is a good idea to store trash containers away from exterior walls and caulk cracks and crevices around doors and windows. The good news is that preventive measures like these may help. The bad news is that ants, due to highly developed and complex patterns of behavior, are one of the most difficult pests to control. If an infestation is present, ant extermination can be a complex, lengthy and frustrating process for the homeowner, and the wrong type of treatment can often make matters even worse.

Different types of ants require different methods of ant extermination. Ants possess a sense of smell and can detect the presence of certain insecticides. They colonize in remote or hard to reach places like attics, wall spaces and air ducts. They are prolific breeders. A single queen can live as long as thirty years, producing millions of offspring, and there may be multiple queens in a single colony. Ant extermination may involve the use of liquid sprays, granules, dusts, fogs, baits and traps; however, correct identification of the type of ant involved and effective elimination of ant colonies are crucial elements of any successful and long term solution.

When preventive or simple in-home measures fail, it is recommended that you contact a professional ant pest control service. Trained, licensed exterminators know how to get rid of ants. Through accurate identification of the type of ant infestation, they can develop an appropriate and effective response. Professional exterminators know how and where to safely apply the right chemical products for a particular ant species, and they possess the equipment required to both access and permanently eliminate ant colonies.

Click here to get a Fast, Free Ant Control Quote Today!

Beetles Devouring a Rose

Beetles make up the largest class in the insect world with approximately five million species. Some groups can cause structural harm to residences and businesses. Other types are more of a nuisance as they congregate in swarms in rooms, windows, or on walls.  Below we will give you some basic tips to prevent infestation and how to get rid of beetles.

Lady bugs, also known as the Asian lady beetle, are seen in every state.  These well known beetles help control small insects from harming trees in the summer; however, they become irritating pests in the summer and fall as they congregate in sunny areas. Lady bugs do not cause any structural damage but will leave a smear and odor if crushed. They also do not reproduce indoors. Carpet beetles are similar to lady bugs in appearance only. These insects are found in carpets, rugs, clothing, and areas like attics. They reproduce quickly indoors by laying one hundred or more eggs at one time. Like lady bugs, they also gather in sunny areas.

Other common beetles include wood boring beetles such as furniture, powder post, deathwatch, and ambrosia beetles. The larvae of these type of beetle are known as woodworms and can also cause damage. There are also long horned, ground, and larder beetles. Cereal or grain beetles are tiny, black bugs that enjoy infesting cereal, macaroni, flour, and crackers in kitchen cupboards.

Helpful tips to keep beetles out of the home include sealing all gaps, cracks, and holes in and around windows, doors, roof, and siding. Planting trees to provide shade to sunny areas of the porch, home, garage, and other structures will decrease infestation. Routinely vacuuming carpets inside the home is also recommended. Other methods include spraying insecticides or setting traps similar to Japanese beetle traps placed outdoors.

Although beetles do not carry diseases or parasites, they do reproduce quickly and become overwhelming to control. Many insecticides for home use are not very effective when dealing with a serious beetle infestation. It is also important to consider the affect of pesticides on pets and children. Beetle traps can help decrease the population, but do not remove the root of the problem.

Professional pest control or extermination companies are knowledgeable in how to get rid of beetles including the larvae which will take care of the problem for good.  These professionals address the insect and the point of entry to prevent future infestations so homeowners can enjoy their home without tolerating a wall of beetles beside them.

Click here to get a Fast, Free Beetle Control Quote Today!

Termites Eating Wood

One of the most common questions consumers ask about termites is “do termites come out when it rains?” The answer to this question is yes. Of course, the termites won’t be swarming around the house while the rain is falling, but once it stops, they are often seen in thick swarms. The best place to look for termites is any area of the house where there is little light, especially areas that never receive direct sunlight. Termites prefer shady, damp places.

The reason termites prefer wet wood instead of dry wood is because it is easier for them to chew on. To put the idea into perspective, wood can be compared to cereal. Most people prefer to eat cereal with milk instead of dry cereal – it is much easier to chew. Termites do not necessarily need rain to make an appearance. They can be found even during the direst times of the year. Those who live in climates with defined seasons varying in temperatures will notice termites more often in the spring or summer. Termites may choose an area near an outdoor faucet, fountain or any shady area that often has lingering dew.

Prevention is the key to avoiding termite infestations. There are a few simple things that can be done that will not attract them. For example, treat all wood surfaces with termite-proof and waterproof coatings. This is especially important if the wood is exposed to moisture continually, such as under an outdoor faucet that drips. Try to keep outdoor areas dry. Do not set sprinklers to saturate the surface of any wood structures or a house on a regular basis. Termite treatments are a good preventative tool against termites. Be careful about what type of chemicals are used, though. Many commercial treatments are more harmful than helpful. Some may be dangerous to pets or small children; they may also be harmful for vegetation.

The best and easiest solution to get rid of termites thoroughly is with the help of a professional termite control company. Do-it-yourself kits, chemicals and treatments may be less expensive, but the damage they cause may cost more than simply hiring a professional in the first place. Termites spread when they’re not exterminated quickly. They may also hollow out wood beams and cause extensive, irreparable damage to a home. When termites are noticed, contact a reputable pest control professional immediately.

Click here to get a Fast, Free Termite Control Quote Today!

Sugar Ants on Candy

There are several different species of ants that are commonly referred to as sugar ants. True sugar ants come from Australia. However, pharaoh ants and pavement ants are also called sugar ants. This is due to their preference for sweet foods. These two types are common in North America. All of the species called sugar ants are small in size. They are also all known for infesting houses.

Sugar ants live in colonies and can make very small nests. They prefer to live in warm, dark places such as beneath stones, in between walls and beneath floorboards. They have the potential to create health hazards because they journey from unsanitary places such as bathrooms to kitchen cabinets. They have even been known to make nests inside of food.

How Can Sugar Ants Be Prevented?

Essentially, sugar ant prevention boils down to cleanliness. Sugar ants are attracted to food scraps left out; they are even drawn to residues, such as the sticky coating left behind from spilled fruit juice. It’s important to thoroughly clean your kitchen each night, removing any remnant of food from sinks, counter tops and floors.

Bleach is a powerful weapon in the battle to prevent sugar ants (as well as other insect pests). This cleanser should be used on your counter tops as well as on your floors. Sugar ants communicate with each other and navigate by leaving trails of pheromones. Bleach disrupts these trails; it also eliminates any traces of food.

While the kitchen is the main area of focus, it’s best to keep your entire home clean and sanitary. Sugar ants are skilled scavengers with an omnivorous diet; they’ll find any bit of food anywhere they can. Be sure to vacuum regularly, even in areas that no one sees, such as beneath your couch. It’s also important to be attentive to your trash cans. Sugar ants (and other pests) can be drawn to the food that’s sitting in your trash bags. It’s also easy for residue to collect on the sides and bottom of a trash can.

How To Get Rid of Sugar Ants?

While keeping your house clean is something that you can do yourself, actually exterminating a colony of sugar ants that is firmly established in your home can be quite a challenge. Various home remedies are not nearly as effective as professional ant control and elimination.  The techniques used by trained and licensed ant control professionals is the best method for getting rid of sugar ants for good.

Click here to get a Fast, Free Sugar Ant Control Quote Today!

A common roof rat

Roof rats are a species of rodent that cause severe damage to homes and transmit diseases and harmful parasites to people and animals. This is the rodent responsible for spreading the plague during the Middle Ages.  Homeowners discovering evidence of one roof rat are often surprised at how many have actually invaded their home.

Although this species is also known as black rats, they are more dark brown in color than black. These rodents have a gray or white belly and are 13” to 18” long from head to tail. They are different from other rats in that their tail is longer than their body. Weighing less than a pound, roof rats prefer warmer climates in states such as Arizona, Virginia, Texas, Florida, Arkansas, Washington, Oregon, and California. It is important to take preventative measures even when one rat is seen since they populate very quickly by having four to to six litters per year of four to eight pups in each litter.

Since these rodents need only a small hole to enter and exit, they prefer to live in storage boxes, attics, ceilings, and garages. Outdoor habitats include wood piles, shrubs, plants, and certain trees especially citrus trees. Although their main food is seeds, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and grain, they have been known to eat meat.

Tips to keep these rodents out of the home include repairing any holes in window and door screens and sealing any holes or cracks in the attic. Fixing any leaky faucets prevents standing water which becomes a watering hole for roof rats. Trimming trees and bushes to keep them clear of the home will help prevent infestation. It is also important to keep lids tight on garbage cans and make sure no trash is lying around the yard. Leaving pet food and water outside at night also invites these nocturnal animals. Firewood should be stored above ground so these pests cannot climb in and nest within the wood pile.

Homeowners may try various methods to decrease the roof rat population in and around their home. It can be confusing to know which traps and bait to use, where to set them, and what to do with any rodents caught. Professional pest control companies or extermination services quickly and efficiently take care of any roof rat infestation. These experts determine and implement the best strategy needed for every level of infestation to the homeowner’s complete satisfaction.

Click here to get a Fast, Free Roof Rat Control Quote Today!

Mouse on a Kitchen Floor

Removing and preventing mice infestation is important when you own a home. Mice cause many problems when they are present in your house. They cause food poising with their fecal droppings, damage property in your house, and can deter people from feeling at home where you live. A house where mice run around would make anyone run away. This is why it is necessary for homeowners like you to exterminate mice once they cause problems in your household.

You may be wondering how mice infestation problems are prevented and controlled. You have to realize that there are many things involved in preventing and controlling mice from infesting your household. Not all of the preventative and control measures that can be taken should be done by you alone. In fact, the measures you can take on your own are limited in their effectiveness.

For example, sanitizing certain areas of your household seems like a good way to prevent mice from moving into your house. However, mice can survive with very limited amounts of food. A better way to prevent mice from getting into your house would be to have mice-proof construction.

You can’t construct your house to be mice-proof without help; a professional must do it. This is because you cannot foresee all the places where a mouse might be able to enter into your house. A professional can patch all areas of your house where mice may be able to enter. The professional can then secure these areas with materials that are resistant to the chewing or clawing of mice.

Also, keep in mind that most people aren’t even aware of how to effectively use poisons that will exterminate mice. This is especially true since mice take up to three weeks to die from the effects of poison. Effectively killing mice with poison is an active process that requires a professional to observe that the procedure is done right and can offer a permanent solution to your problem.

If you want to keep guests coming back to your house, then keep mice from moving in. Nothing keeps family and friends from visiting like a mice infestation problem. Trying to solve the problem on your own is ineffective, a waste of time, and a waste of effort. A professional is always necessary to prevent and exterminate mice the right way.

Click here to get a Fast, Free Mouse Control Quote Today!

The most venomous spider species in the US Are the Black Widow Spider and the Brown Recluse Spider:

A Black Widow Spider

The black widow spider, found throughout the United States, has a neuro-toxic venom that causes intense pain spreading from the site of the bite to the abdomen, chest or the entire body. Other symptoms can include vomiting, loss of muscle tone, elevation of blood pressure, convulsions and, in some instances, death. Black widows are especially problematic in that they like to live in quiet places in garages and cellars, but also in furniture as well as in shoes and clothing that are not worn too often.  You must not try to deal with a Black Widow Spider yourself.  Please call a professional spider exterminator for advice and service.

A Brown Recluse Spider

Another common species of venomous spider is the brown recluse, most notable for the skin necrosis that results from its bite. The outer layer of skin dies, exposing the tissue beneath which results in intense pain. Weakness, nausea, fever and joint pain can also occur within a day or two. Brown recluse spiders are most active at night, resulting in bites to sleeping children and adults. They can be found in closets, attics, under furniture, in cellars, corners and crevices. Clothing and shoes that have not been worn for some time provide good hiding places for them.

There are, of course, many other species of spiders that will bite when disturbed. Although their bites are typically not fatal, they can cause troubling symptoms like itching, rash, cramps, difficulty breathing, elevated blood pressure, headaches, chills and anxiety.

Spiders are also found outside, in gardens, woodpiles, shrubbery, rain spouts, even electric and gas meters.

Dangerous Spider Eradication:
Because spiders are so adept at squeezing through small holes and cracks, they are extremely difficult to keep out of homes. There are some things homeowners can do to discourage spiders from infesting their properties, such as thorough cleaning and de-cluttering of basements, closets and attics. Do-it-yourself sprays and chemicals can help but may not reach all the hiding places that spiders like, allowing them to continue their breeding cycles.

For the most security and peace-of-mind, the best way to eliminate spiders of all kinds is to hire a professional exterminator. They are trained to deal with hazardous spiders safely. 

Click here to get a Fast, Free Quote from a local Spider Exterminator!

Common Bat

Discovering a bat inside your home is often a puzzling and unnerving experience.  To begin with, homeowners are frequently uninformed about the natural behavior of bats, the risks they pose, and the safest ways to approach a bat that appears inside the house. For this reason, exploring your bat removal options may seem like a daunting task. However, there are a few simple tips to keep in mind before attempting to manage the arrival of this unwanted guest.

Prior to discussing the variety of responses to a bat that has entered the home, it may be helpful to understand the potential reasons for a bat’s unexpected appearance. In many cases, very young bats will unintentionally roam into a house. Particularly in the latter days of summer, when many immature bats have just discovered their ability to fly, it is not uncommon for these young ones to become lost and confused; as a result, they often accidentally sail into many unusual places, including your home. Alternatively, the discovery of a bat could indicate a larger infestation of bats. In some cases, an entire colony of these creatures will settle into the highest sections of the home, including the attic and chimney. If this occurs, you will undoubtedly require the aid of bat extermination professionals in order to resolve the issue.

Following the detection of the bat or bats, some suggest a variety of do-it-yourself strategies for bat removal. However, there are a number of reasons why this is not advisable. Since it is not common for a bat to reside inside a home, the creature is likely to be defensive and disoriented. Although bats are not, by nature, aggressive creatures, they may instinctively attack or bite if confronted by a human under these distressed conditions. Given that bats are periodic transporters of rabies, such an attack could have severe consequences.

It is clear, then, that one should not attempt to remove a bat on his or her own. Furthermore, simply waiting for a bat to voluntarily exit the house may also present a significant health hazard, as the droppings of bats are highly toxic when inhaled. With all this in mind, your wisest solution is to contact a bat extermination professional. Equipped with the best resources for expelling bats from the home, these experts offer the safest and most efficient method of bat removal.

Click here to get a Fast, Free Bat Removal Quote Today!

A common grey rat

One of the easiest ways homeowners discover that they may have a mice or rats problem are the droppings. Rodents eat and excrete constantly. The droppings have the appearance of tiny seed at first glance. Upon closer inspection, the home resident realizes they have rodents in the house, which could be a scary and unnerving experience.

How does one get rid of rats? They are disease carriers and can gnaw through wood and even destroy electrical cords. A cat will attempt to catch rats but some are just not born mousers. Besides, rat populations can explode rapidly and soon, the cat can be outnumbered. Poison and traps are dangerous to handle and must be kept away from children and pets. The trouble with poison is that it may work on some of the pests but the homeowner never knows for sure if they will return.

If you suspects rats, scattering a light dusting of flour or unscented talc on the area where pest traffic is suspected will give the proof. Sprinkle a small amount of either in an area where the rats are suspected to walk and their tracks and marks where a tail drags between their feet will give unmistakable evidence.

The discovery of an apparent rats problem should not be allowed to continue. Call a professional pest control company or extermination service immediately.  The key word is professional. Exterminators and pest control experts know methods to rid the home of any mice or rats problem and keep them away.  Once the pests are gone, pest control and extermination companies know how best to keep them away…for good!

Don’t put personal or the family health at risk by using traps or self-help methods. Trust the knowledge and experience of pest control experts. Their methods have been developed over years of experience and by studying the biology and habits of mice and rats.

Once gone, the experts can make sure that the rats and mice don’t return. Better yet, don’t wait until there is obvious evidence of a rat invasion into the home. Call a professional exterminator or pest control company before any problem occurs.

Some things can be handled by a homeowner in a do-it-yourself fashion. Pest control is not one of them. Make sure disease carrying vermin don’t invade. Give the professionals and prevent the damage before it starts.

Click here to get a Fast, Free Rat Control Quote Today!

Exterminator Consults with Homeowners

An exterminator specializes in pest control services. They may act as an individual or work with companies offering extermination services to clients. They determine the scope of a pest problem and implement tactics to remove pests. Choosing an a good pest control expert involves asking and getting answers to a number of important questions to ensure you get the right company to successfully solve your pest problems.

The first thing you can do to find the right exterminator is to ask how long the exterminating company has been in business. Exterminators with multiple years of experience ensure that the company has references. Examine all references provided by the company and find out how others have rated its service. If you’re dealing with a larger company it’s also a good idea to ask the individual who visits your home or business how long he or she has worked for the company.

Your pest control company or individual should be a member of the National Pest Management Association and preferably of other local and state organizations also. The methods the company uses should also be authorized by the NPMA. When a company is a member of professional industry organizations they are often held to a higher ethical standard in their practices. As a plus your pest control professional should also be an Accredited Wood Destroying Insect Inspector.

Make sure the exterminating company has no negative reports and is reliable according to the Better Business Bureau.

When the exterminator company’s vehicle arrives at the site of your pest control problem, check to make sure it has professional lettering and a company logo painted on the vehicle.  This shows that the company has a professional brand that they are not afraid to advertise around the neighborhood.

It is always best if your pest control professional works full-time out of an office in your local area. This insures that he or someone in the company will be available when you need help no matter what time or day of the week.

Compare exterminator prices among companies in your area. Make your choice on not only price, but on the factors of quality of prior work and reliability as well. Exterminator prices for pest removal services can vary widely even within a local municipality.

The exterminating company should have a set of guarantees for its work. Be cautious about using any company that does not have guarantees.

Verify the company’s insurance certificate. Only do business with a professional that has proper up-to-date licensing and insurance. When a business such as this is doing business in and around your property the company’s insurance will protect you in case of damages.

Click here to get a Fast, Free Pest Control Quote Today!