Ant infestations are an all-too-common problem in metro Atlanta. If your home has been infested by ants of any kind, you obviously want to get them out as fast as you can. Although plenty of do-it-yourself solutions are readily available, few of them produce results. There’s one exception: ant traps. At Flexible Pest Control, we often hear from homeowners who try using ant traps to no avail. What’s the problem? All too often, people misunderstand how these traps are supposed to work–and they often don’t realize the importance of using the right bait.

How Ant Traps Work

The first thing to understand about ant traps is that despite their name, they don’t actually trap ants in an enclosure of some kind or otherwise trap them in place. Effective ant traps should really be called bait stations because they are loaded with poisoned bait that is picked up and carried away by worker ants. The poisoned bait is then unleashed on the entire colony. Before too long, if things go right, the poisoned food gets to the queen herself. When that happens, the colony stops churning out new ants, and your infestation issue is a thing of the past.

The Problem with Bait

It definitely sounds like bait stations work well. Why do so many people have such bad luck with them then? As you probably already know, there are countless different ant species on earth. Different species of ants have different eating habits. One species might be drawn to sweet, sugary foods while another strictly consumes proteins. If the bait that is in your trap doesn’t appeal to the types of ants that are in your home, they will ignore it completely. For bait stations to work properly, then, you must determine which species of ant you are dealing with and load it with food that they will be attracted to.

Put an End to Your Ant Infestation Today

If you would like to use ant traps to get your ant infestation under control, snap some photos of the ants, if possible, and then go online to try and identify them. With any luck, you will be able to tell which type of ants you are dealing with and can then purchase the appropriate traps. One thing to keep in mind is that this problem could occur again quickly if the root cause isn’t eliminated. To take care of this, contact Flexible Pest Control. We will eradicate ants from the premises, determine the root cause and take steps to resolve it. We’re ready when you are, so call today.

It may come as a surprise at first that some pests can actually be helpful and serve a purpose. For example, a praying mantis may feast on caterpillars, crickets, beetles and aphids. Even though the site of a praying mantis may not be a welcome one in or around your home, it might be doing some of your dirty work for you when it comes to controlling other insects. In addition, certain species of spiders have been known to consume some smaller insects, such as ants, gnats and fleas. Whether you own a house cat as a pet or find other cats roaming around your property, it might be a good thing in terms of keep rodents, such as mice and rats, away from your home. Also, rodents are also repelled by the scent of a cat, which means your friendly feline does not even have to snack on a mouse in order to keep a rodent infestation at bay.

Although nature may have a way of controlling pests over time, your property may require the services of a professional exterminator to ensure that your home and family are not exposed to the health dangers that pests entail. If you allow pests to procreate and reproduce on your property before exterminating and repelling them, you can set yourself up for serious property damage and a long list of health concerns.

If you suspect that your property has been infected by pests or rodents, you should contact a dependable exterminator as soon as possible. The longer you wait to address a pest infestation and hope that it will simply take care of itself on its own, the more expensive and difficult it will be to ultimately resolve the problem.

Call the Trusted Experts at Flexible Pest Services Right Away

If you are in need of professional and reliable pest control services, contact the expert team at Flexible Pest Services at 770-450-6524. We pride ourselves on providing dependable and quality pest control services in the Atlanta area at affordable prices. When it comes to protecting the safety of your home and family, trust the seasoned team at Flexible Pest Services to put your needs first. We make a point to hire trained and skilled pet control experts who are determined to get the job done right the first time for our customers.

Five Signs of Wildlife on Your Property

Though many areas in the beautiful state of Georgia have evolved into bustling cities, there’s still a lot of wildlife that shows up on properties throughout the state. Here at Flexible Pest Services, we’ve been called upon to trap and remove such nuisance animals as bats, armadillos, squirrels, skunks and raccoons from properties in Atlanta and throughout the greater Georgia area. These animals are usually attracted by the availability of a food source or the promise of a nice nesting area, and here are a few things to look for that may indicate the presence of wildlife on your property.

1. Big Messes Each Morning

You may have a raccoon problem if you find your garbage cans tipped over and garbage strewn everywhere each morning. These masked bandits use their human-like hands to get into everything, and they may take up residence in a hollow tree on your property.

2. Large Holes in Your Yard

An armadillo must dig for the insects and worms that make up its diet, so you may suspect that one has been on your property if you find your yard filled with holes. They tend to dig up gardens, lawns and around the base of porches and the foundation of your home.

3. Scratching Sounds in the Attic

Both bats and squirrels have a bad habit of invading the attic space in homes, and you may hear scratching sounds both day and night. Have a look in your attic during the day to look for bats hanging from the rafters or squirrels nesting in the insulation.

4. A Horrible Stench

Those who have been visited by a skunk can usually tell by the unpleasant odor that it leaves behind when it becomes startled. You may also find several shallow holes that are perfectly circular where the skunk has been digging for a meal of grubs and other insects. If the skunk should decide to stay on your property, then you may find cone-shaped holes that go under your home’s foundation or beneath outbuildings.

5. Presence of Droppings

If you start finding strange droppings in your yard or in your home that definitely don’t belong to your own pets, then you probably have a wild animal visiting your property in the night. This is a sign that you definitely don’t want to ignore because some of those droppings can spread disease to people and their pets.

Humane Wildlife Removal Available in Georgia

Here at Flexible Pest Services, we specialize in removing nuisance wildlife in the most humane way possible by trapping it and relocating it to a more natural environment. If you’re having a problem with wildlife or any other pests, then contact us at 770-450-6524 for a free estimate.

Why Customers Love Flexible Pest Services

Flexible Pest Services has been proudly serving the greater Georgia area for years. Our professionals are experienced in handling a wide variety of pest problems. From termites to rodents, we find the source, eliminate it and restore your home or business to a pest-free environment.

What Our Customers Say About Us

We welcome you to visit our site to see updated reviews. Some of our recent customers expressed their appreciation for our prompt and reliable services. We have been called a benchmark of excellence when it comes to quality standards. Our customers like that we are easy to reach and are quick to respond for after-hours emergencies. We have many satisfied customers who express their gratitude for a quick removal of their pest problem and restoration of their peace of mind. Also, our preventative services are praised for being effective and useful for both homes and businesses.

Benefits Of Working With Flexible Pest Services

Our goal is to treat every customer the same way we would treat our own family members. In using this concept, these are some of the benefits our customers can expect from us:

• Professionals who listen carefully to your needs and pest issues
• A customized treatment plan that addresses your unique needs
• Professionals who are always ready and eager to help
• Approved high-quality substances and methods that are effective and eco-friendly
• Respect for you, your home or your business

As part of our dedication to providing consistent and excellent service, we regularly invest a considerable portion of profits in measures that protect the environment, high-quality products and new technology. This brings you the best service every time you need us.

Why You Need Professional Services For Pest Problems

If you have a pest problem, it may be tempting to try some DIY removal methods. Many people opt for these as a way to save money but wind up paying more in the end. In some cases, they injure themselves or family members with dangerous chemical cocktails and require medical care as well as professional pest control services. Also, some pests simply find a harder-to-see area to make their colony and result in an infestation that is larger and more expensive to remove. Our professionals have the best products for removing common pests, and they are trained to determine which methods are best for your specific needs.

We highly recommend our preventative treatments to help keep you ahead of pest problems. This is important for businesses and especially for businesses serving or stocking food. If you have a pest problem or want to keep them away, please call Flexible Pest Services today.

Have a Pest Free Holiday

Opening your home to your family and friends during the holiday season is something you look forward to every year. Unfortunately, uninvited guests can make their way into your home too. A variety of pests target homes during the winter season, and an infestation can put a serious damper on your holiday celebrations. That’s why it’s essential to know what pests are common in Georgia during the winter months and what you can do to keep them out of your home.

Know What Pests You Face This Holiday Season

The winter months bring cooler temperatures to communities throughout Georgia, and some of the pests that we all deal with during the summer months seem to disappear. However, other pests simply move to warmer areas during the cold months. More often than not, those warmer areas include homes and outbuildings.

Rats and mice are among the pests most commonly seen indoors during the winter months. Unfortunately, they’re not the only invaders that can enter your home. Other pests that seek out shelter during the winter include:

• spiders
• termites
• roaches
• bed bugs
• silverfish

How Do Pests Enter Your Home?

No matter how new your home, it may still be vulnerable to pests. That’s because spiders, roaches, termites and rodents can enter through even the smallest gaps or holes in windows and doorways. They can also make their way into your home through cracks in foundations and walls. Some pests even gather immediately outside your home and tunnel into the ground around your foundation or hide out in firewood piles.

Keeping Your Home Pest Free for the Holidays

The best winter pest prevention efforts actually begin outside your home. Be sure to clear away any leaf piles, lawn trimmings and yard debris that might provide hiding places for pests. It’s also essential to keep your firewood pile away from your home. Inspect the ground around your home for leakage or drainage problems. Have any problems you notice fixed immediately.

Once you’ve completed an inspection of the outside of your home, take time to look for cracks in your home’s foundation and walls. Repairing or sealing these cracks is essential. Inspect window screens for rips or tears and patch them. Finally, be sure that the weatherproofing around your windows and doorways is in good condition and address any leaks that you find.

Of course, even the most diligent homeowners face pest infestations from time to time. If you’re dealing with roaches, rats, mice, spiders, termites or bed bugs this holiday season, it’s time to call in professional help. At Flexible Pest Services, we specialize in helping homeowners throughout Georgia eliminate pest infestations. Get in touch with us today to talk about how we can help with your pest problems.

Flexible Pest Services offers high-quality services to residents and businesses in the greater counties of Georgia. A pest infestation can ruin your holiday season. However, there are many steps you can take if you are aware of this risk. Contacting a professional pest-control service is an important step, but there are other important things you can do in the interim.

Holiday Season Pest Prevention

Many pests seem to suddenly appear during the holidays because people will frequently store a variety of items in dark, damp places. This may include holiday ornaments, travel items and other forgotten belongings. Retrieve these items carefully, for they could be concealing an entire colony of roaches, mice or other critters. If you are unsure of the best course of action to take, simply contact one of our friendly pest-control representatives.

Common Seasonal Pests

The types of pests that normally appear during the holiday season are the ones that lay eggs in obscure places that are hidden from view. These pests can remain undetected for long periods of time, and they will suddenly appear when there is an unusual amount of activity taking place. The attic is a common example of this, and this is one of the first places our professionals will examine for signs of infestation.

Many types of critters might be lurking in the crevices between discarded holiday boxes and other dusty belongings:

• Rats
• Roaches
• Ants
• Spiders
• Worms
• Termites

Although these are some of the most common holiday pests, there are many others. Some of these pests are capable of carrying and spreading diseases, so it is essential to maintain a healthy holiday environment for your guests by getting rid of these pests as soon as possible.

Signs of Pest Infestations

There are many different clues that could indicate a pest infestation. Small pieces of feces could mean that you have a termite or rodent infestation. Cob webs indicate that spiders have taken up residence in your home. Ants and worms are hard to detect, but our professionals can test the area to see if they are present in your home. Termites leave a lot of clues in the wood they use to build their nests. There is a lot of structural damage that can occur as a result of a pest infestation, and many of these signs are not visible to the eye. For example, rodents can chew into the wiring inside of the wall, but the damage may not become apparent until there is a failure in the electrical system.

Contact Our Pest-Control Service Professionals

Our comprehensive pest-control services are available to tackle the most difficult situations. We aim to protect your home and family against pest infestations that tend to become visible during the holiday season. We are available to answer any questions you may have concerning these disturbing pests, and we can develop a plan that is based on your specific concerns and requirements. For additional information or consultation, contact Flexible Pest Services for all of your pest-control needs.

Have you and your loved ones picked out the perfect Halloween costumes? No doubt they’re stylish and scary. But what’s even scarier is that cockroaches could ruin them by covering them with feces or making holes in the fabric. Roaches are definitely tricks, not treats.

Above all, food attracts roaches to homes. If you have items in your trash cans with traces of food on them, you essentially have roach magnets. For instance, if you throw out an orange juice carton without first rinsing it, these pests might detect it and come in looking for nourishment.

Crumbs on floors and open pet food containers are likewise appealing to these disease-carrying insects. Even the cardboard that you have lying around can bring them inside as they love feeding on that material.

Cockroaches are always on the lookout for water as well. If you have any leaks, pools of standing water, moist sponges, or wet towels in or around your home, you could be inviting roaches.

Unfortunately, you could be diligent about getting rid of food and water sources and still suffer a roach infestation. After all, these bugs need warm shelter, and they can penetrate the tiniest of cracks. Worse yet, they can leave chemicals called pheromones for other insects to follow.

Here’s more bad news: Cockroaches can come inside at any time of the year, and they’re not selective when it comes to the buildings they enter.

Cockroaches hide in spots that are dark and damp. Thus, they’re often found in garages, attics, and basements, and they can settle in boxes and books. The kitchen is another room that roaches love, of course, because water and food are plentiful there. They might hunker down in cabinets, sinks, and pipes.

In addition, roaches are often found in bathrooms and inside wallpaper and closets. They might even be hanging out on one or more of your ceilings. Yes, it can be extremely difficult to notice cockroaches since they’re so adept at hiding in tight places.

However, there are some signs of cockroaches that you could observe. Look for roach eggs, which are oval. Also, you might see roach waste around your home, which will look like pepper or be cylindrical. What’s more, you might pick up a musty smell or notice dead roaches here and there.

Luckily, you can always get in touch with Flexible Pest Services. This company employs experts who’ll locate all of the roaches in your home and on your property. Then they’ll get rid of them for good. In fact, you can contact Flexible Pest Services for any pest control need that you have. That way, you and your family will enjoy peace of mind ― and you’ll have sharp Halloween costumes too.

The hot summers and mild winters in Georgia provide the ideal conditions for a wide variety of insect pests, including ants and termites. For many homeowners, it is difficult to tell the difference between these insects because they have similar physical characteristics and behaviors, such as the creation of massive colonies. The first step toward developing an effective pest control plan is to determine which insect has invaded your property. In addition to knowing the places that these pests typically hide, you should also be familiar with the type of damage that they cause.

Key Differences Between Ants and Termites

One of the most distinctive features of an ant is the presence of a pedicel, which is the tapered section that separates the abdomen and thorax. This physical characteristic is absent in termites. While ants have pointed abdomens, termites have rounded bodies. Ants have single-jointed antennas, and termites have antennas that resemble a string of tiny beads. Termites have two pairs of equally sized wings. The second set of wings on flying ants is smaller than the main pair. While flying ants can swarm any time of the year, termites typically swarm during the spring months when the weather is warm and rainy.

Where They Hide

Ant and termite colonies can be found inside the walls and under the floorboards of your home after entering your house through cracks in the foundation or other minute openings. Termites can set up colonies in bookshelves and swimming pool liners as well. Depending on the species, ants may hide in cabinets and underneath or behind large appliances.

Ant and Termite Damage

Similar to termites, carpenter ants are a wood-boring species. They chew wood, insulation and other building materials to harvest the resources that they need to build a nest. Depending upon the size of the colony, the network of tunnels can be quite extensive, which can weaken your home’s support structure if the infestation continues over a period of years. As ants travel in search of food and water for their colony, they contaminate food and cooking preparation surfaces. Many ants also inflict painful bites. While ants do not actually eat the cellulose that comprises building materials like insulation and wood siding that they gnaw, termites do. These ravenous pests cause billions of dollars in damage within the United States each year as they chew through sill plates, support beams and other wooden structural elements.

Hire a Professional

In order to develop the best plan to protect your home and family, you need the assistance of an experienced technician who has the training and tools required to identify and locate these destructive pests. This expertise enables our team to develop a customized treatment plan that targets the pests infesting your home. If you suspect that you have an ant or termite infestation, do not wait. Contact Flexible Pest Service for all your pest control needs.

Known for sparking allergic reactions and carrying diseases, cockroaches can cause people a lot of problems. They thrive in indoor environments, especially those that offer them places to hide, eat, breed, drink, sleep and go about their normal routines. As such, roach control measures typically start with time-tested, prevention routines and progress to relying on professionals for assistance. With that said, here are a few prevention dos and don’ts from our roach control experts:

• Do thoroughly rinse out and dry all items before putting them into the recycling bin. It will go a long way in keeping water and food remnants away from hungry roaches. Also, consider removing loose labels that are affixed to the discarded items with glue. It is a well-known fact that during desperate times, roaches will chew on glue and papers. And if possible, purchase recycling bins that come with lids capable of barring insects’ entry.

• Don’t leave indoor compost buckets and garbage cans open. They’re essentially an invitation for insects of all types to come calling. Instead, keep the bins closed up tight when they are not in use and empty them as often as possible. When you do empty the garbage cans, try disinfecting the hard surfaces with bleach before putting them back into use. As for the compost buckets, cleaning their interiors’ with eco-friendly products from time to time should help keep roach activity down to a minimum.

• Do store all recyclable paper products outdoors, well away from the home and don’t ever transfer them back inside. Roaches tend to hide in between paper bags, newspapers and the like. As such, bringing the papers back inside at any time may allow hitchhikers to scope out and set up nests in your home’s kitchen or pantry.

To speak with our roach control experts about these dos and don’ts, please contact us today. We’d be happy to discuss them at length and provide additional measures that may help keep a wide variety of cockroaches away.

What’s eating away at your property’s turf grass? Don’t be surprised if it’s a member of the order Orthoptera. For those unfamiliar with the order Orthoptera, it’s the one made up of creatures known to wreak havoc of biblical nature. Yes, we are talking about locusts, grasshoppers and mole crickets. Because you’re more likely to see an infestation of the latter lawn pest, today’s post is going to focus on them.

Mole crickets come in many forms. As such, they’ll vary regionally. In the southeastern portion of the United States, the lawn pests that have consistently proven to be very problematic are as follows:

• Short-winged Mole Cricket
• Tawny Mole Cricket
• Northern Mole Cricket
• Southern Mole Cricket

Despite some biological differences, all four burrow underground and feast on tender roots thereby killing every last strand of turf grass in their wake. Because the winged adults tend to grow slightly less than 2-inches long and have wings, they tend to make rather significant, underground tunnels and burrows.

As a matter of fact, scientists widely believe that healthy, adult mole crickets may dig approximately 1 to 2-inch round tunnels in excess of 15-feet long within 8 to 16 hours time. That’s pretty impressive for crickets, especially when you consider that they do it all with tiny legs and mouths. As a result of their industrious digging, dead vegetation is not the only tell-tale sign that they leave behind.

Mole crickets also obviously aerate the soil with their underground, nocturnal activities to the point that the surface soil in infested areas will feel squishy underfoot. Normally, freshly aerated soil is a good thing but not in this case because it’s being caused by such destructive lawn pests. We should also mention that the creatures lay their eggs underground and when they hatch in the spring and summer, the nymphs tend to get pretty hungry too.

Thankfully, there are both chemical and non-chemical treatments that will kill mole cricket nymphs and adults but the process isn’t easy. Finding the subterranean creatures is often the hardest part of the process. To learn more about activities that will put an end to mole cricket populations’ hurtful ways, please contact us today.