With the weather warming up, spiders are becoming more and more visible. They hide in the tiniest places and come out at the worst possible times; such as when you are in the shower, or when you go into the garage without shoes on. Who wants to get close enough to a spider to kill it? Most people run in the opposite direction, or throw things at it hoping that will do the job. Then the spider gets away, and you are left with the fear of where it has gone.

There are also the poisonous spiders to consider, like the Brown Recluse or the Black Widow spiders. They are a danger to your family and/or pets if bitten. Your back yard is a place to relax and have fun; it’s a place for your pet to roam and get exercise. You don’t want to worry about being bitten and having to seek medical attention.

A pest control company is the best option to get rid of spider problems. They will come and spray the inside as well as the outside of your home. They will spray under your house as well. The treatment will usually last for three months. That’s three months of not worrying if a spider is going to creep up on you when you are most vulnerable. There is also yard treatment that when applied will reduce the chances of coming in contact with a spider while outside.

Contact us today for solutions on how to take care of spiders in your home and yard.

Whether you enjoy going on vacations or have a job that requires you to travel frequently, traveling is one of the most common ways that bedbugs can get into your home. While opting to stay at hotels with great reviews and avoiding ones that have had bedbug problems in the past should help you avoid bedbug encounters, you should still follow a few helpful tips to avoid needing bedbug control for your home.

Inspect the Bed at Hotels

Once you get into your hotel room, the first thing you should do is check the bed. Thoroughly inspect the bed by pulling back the sheets, checking the sides, headboard, and underneath the bed if possible.

Hopefully, you will not find any bedbugs or signs of them, such as small blood marks on the bed.

If you do come across bedbugs, go straight to the front desk, report the problem, and request a different room, one without a history of bedbugs so that you do not have to experience the same issue again.

Wash Clothing Right Away

When you get home from your trip, make sure to take your clothing directly to the wash. If there happened to be any bedbugs that got on your clothing, washing them will get rid of them.

Look Through Your Luggage

Although bedbugs are prone to hiding in clothing, it is possible for them to be anywhere in your luggage. After getting home, before you start putting things away, look through the luggage. It should not be too difficult to find bedbugs if they have traveled back home with you.

Keeping these tips in mind will help you enjoy bedbug-free traveling, but it will also prevent you from bringing them into your home, where they can really become a problem.

If you still end up getting bedbugs in your home, opt for professional bedbug control as this is the most effective and reliable method to eliminate these pests quickly.

Termite infestation can potentially cause thousands of dollars of damage and significantly reduce the real estate value of your home. The key to preventing this from happening to you is knowing the facts about these pests and acting quickly when you detect them in your house. Because knowledge is the first step in termite control, here are some commonly asked questions about termites:

What are the different types Of termites?

Three types common to the U.S. are drywood, subterranean, and dampwood termites. Drywood termites live in and feed on dry and undecayed wood. They live predominantly in the southernmost states of the United States. Subterranean termites live in moist soil but feed on wood. They construct mud tubes that connect from the soil where they live to sources of wood such as in the walls of your home. Dampwood termites feed on wet and decayed wood and commonly live in forested areas.

How much damage do termites cause?

Left unchecked, termites may cause extensive damage that can cost you thousands of dollars. The rate at which they consume wood depends on the termite species, the type and condition of the wood, and the temperature. They are most active when temperatures are warm but can remain active year round when they are established in your home.

How do you know when termites are in your home?

Look for signs such as walls and ceilings with unexplained cracks. If a surface sounds hollow when rapping it, there could be a termite infestation within. Another sign are mud tubes over foundation surfaces or concrete structures next to your house (subterranean termite). Piles of termite droppings called frass on the floor under an infested wall, or a pile of wings left by swarming termites are other signs.

How do you eliminate termites from your home?

Termite control isn’t a do-it-yourself project. Where you reside in the country, the extent of the infestation, and other factors determine the proper course of action. Effective elimination will require the services of a professional pest control expert.

Professionals have the knowledge, expertise, and the technology for eradicating these pests. Over their years of experience, they have dealt with infestations in a variety of situations. If you suspect or have seen signs of infestation in your home, contact a pest control professional immediately.

From structural damage to your home and virus borne diseases, pests can blight the lives of your family and put holes in your wallet. While a few bugs here or there may not cause you worry, they may be signs of what goes on behind the walls.

If you do nothing about pest infestations the moment you spot them, you’ll put yourself, your family, and your home at risk. Thus, treatment is mandatory. Whether pests eat the structure of your home, chew through electrical wiring or spread diseases, a pest control service will thoroughly get rid of them and ensure your home and its occupants are safe.

Here are 3 more reasons why you should use professional pest control services.

Pest Problems Are Stopped Early

Bugs and rodents reproduce rapidly if they find a safe and hidden place to nest. If they inhabit your home, this can snowball into a massive pest infestation. A thorough pest control technician will identify any pest problems and get rid of them. They’ll also know about any potential problems.

Prevent Diseases From Spreading

Rat and roach droppings carry diseases. Once these droppings become brittle, turn into dust, and contaminate the air, the diseases become air-borne. In fact, roach droppings have been known to contribute asthma in children. Rats can also spread life-threatening diseases such as Hantavirus.

To avoid any risks, a thorough clean up of any waste droppings is necessary and complete removal of roaches and rodents.

Prevent Structural Damage

Rats, moths, termites and beetles all cause damage to your home, costing you money or expensive insurance. For instance, the common furniture beetle is a  wood boring pest that can render expensive costs for homeowners and even make their homes unsellable. Rodents such as mice and rats can spread disease, chew through writes, and even cause residential fires.

Conclusion

To save your home and protect your wallet, you need to get rid of these pests fast and effectively. While many homeowners opt for DIY solutions, these often cost more than using professional pest control services, and they’re certainly not as effective.

Professional pest control services will hunt down any pests that could spread diseases or cause any structural damage to your home. Not only will you prevent any infestations from growing too serious, you’re also safeguarding and maintain a clean and healthy home.

If you’re looking for a trendy, unique Valentine’s Day gift, perhaps you should delight your new flame with a box of crispy chocolate-covered crickets. Daring and quirky lovers will adore grasshoppers or worms enrobed in creamy sweetness. If you’ve been stung by love, chocolate-covered scorpions should get the message across nicely. Chocolate-covered insects are a hot new food trend that is sure to swarm North American stores.

Why Are Bugs Crawling Into Our Menu?

Although they generally don’t appeal to the Western palate, insects are a dietary staple in many other parts of the world including South America, Asia, Africa and New Zealand. Because ensuring sustainable food sources is a common goal, many people are advocating the consumption of insects in general. Even though the thought of getting a cricket leg stuck in your teeth can make you retch, many bugs are surprisingly good for you. They’re full of protein and vitamins. Besides benefiting our health, eating insects is great for the environment. Holidays that focus on candy present perfect opportunities to introduce a novel idea like bug-eating to the public, and few people turn up their noses at chocolate. You can expect to see more and more six-legged critters adorned in creamy cocoa and festive ribbons in the near future.

Bug Candy: What’s Available?

Crickets, grasshoppers, ants, scorpions, silkworms and even tarantulas have all found a place in candy makers’ hearts, and new bugs hop into the mix frequently. They are gift-boxed and ready-to-eat; all you need is an adventurous recipient who won’t scream in horror. If you can’t find them locally, don’t try to make chocolate-covered bugs at home. Many insects are not edible, and bugs you find around the house or yard may have been exposed to pesticides or disease. To deal with those unappetizing intruders, call your exterminator.

Workplace infestations don’t just damage your property. They deteriorate the quality of life within your office, lead to employee dissatisfaction, and make bad impressions on clients and partners visiting your office. Your employees and guests may also take pests home, leading to infestations within their homes.

Besides contacting us for routine preventative measures, there are five things you can do to keep your office free of pests.

1. Assign cleanup duties in areas shared by all employees. Employees should wash their dishes immediately after use and throw trash in designated cans. You may also assign employees to routinely clean the community fridge of outdated or abandoned items.
   
2. Hire a professional cleaning service. It’s better to pay for cleaning than to pay for extermination at a later date. Sweeping the floors will eliminate food crumbs that may attract pests, and emptying trash cans daily will eliminate filth that attracts rodents and bugs. Also, make sure outside trash bins are emptied weekly.
   
3. Keep employees accountable for their workspace. Are your employees leaving open food containers on their desks overnight? Do they slack when it comes to wiping down their desks after accidental drink spills? These behaviors leave your property at risk for infestation, so make cleaning an expectation.
   
4. Make sure decorative plants aren’t attracting gnats. Live plants contribute to a pleasant work environment, but they can sometimes lead to problems if they aren’t properly maintained.
   
5. Have the property checked for cracks, leaks and other problems. Sometimes infestations arise from simple issues like wet, dark spaces that attract insects or foundation problems that give entry to bugs.

These preventative measures will reduce your risk of suffering a workplace infestation, but you still need to contact us to schedule preventative measures.

The trouble with New Year’s Resolutions is that even the most dedicated among us can run into problems with the follow-through. Vague resolutions such as, “I’m going to improve my indoor living experience in 2015,” or even, “I’ll finally get rid of those ants and fleas this year,” can be almost impossible to achieve for one simple reason: The average person lacks the expertise needed to carry them out. Fortunately, there’s an easy solution to this common problem. It’s called an annual pest-control contract.

Pest-control contracts allow homeowners to rely on trusted professionals who are experts in their field. Because these specialists can spot problems before they grow more serious, they can help to protect a home from the kind of costly damage that is every homeowner’s worst nightmare. In the field of pest control, it really is true that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The best way to make sure that the prevention arrives in time, however, is to arrange for a pest-control contract. That way, a homeowner can rely on a regular round of the inspections and treatments that are essential to keeping a residence free of pests.

Most importantly of all, perhaps, is the peace of mind that comes from knowing that pest-control issues will no longer remain on the “to-do” list. Modern life, after all, means that most of us already have far too much on our minds. An annual pest-control contract can make sure that one ongoing need is taken care of for an entire year. What better way could there be to start off the New Year than by looking forward to a pest-free 2015?

Uncovered firewood offers sanctuary for outdoor pests during summer and winter months. In the summer, the old firewood stack offers shade under the sun. In the winter, firewood creates a safe haven from rain, snow and cold. Some pests also burrow in the wood and invade your home each time you bring a new stack into the house.

Common Pests in Firewood

In the warm months, termites treat firewood as a gift given freely by the homeowner. It sits there unprotected and provides plenty of food for large termite colonies. Other pests, such as mice and rats, use the firewood stack as shelter. They build nests between logs and breed throughout the summer months. They’re also within close proximity to your home and can invade any room at a moment’s notice.

Some pests use unprotected firewood for hibernation, such as stink bugs. Though these bugs prefer the warmth of the indoors, they will crawl deep within the firewood to hibernate during the winter. If you bring an infested stack into your house, the warmth can awaken the stink bugs and send them flying through the room. If you squash the bugs, they leave behind a foul odor that can linger for days.

Pest Control Professionals to the Rescue

If pests have chosen your firewood as food or a home, contact a pest control professional for assistance. A professional has the tools to eliminate the infestation without causing harm to family and pets. With the infestation eliminated, you can cover the firewood and keep it safe for the rest of the winter.

As winter approaches, two of the most common home invaders are cockroaches and mice. These creatures are expert hiders and can squeeze into extremely tiny crevices. Since they hide so well, they may create health hazards or costly damage that goes undetected for a great deal of time.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches enter the home in a number of ways. They burrow into foundation cracks or enter through vents and drainpipes. They enjoy warm places near food and water, so they likely make homes in kitchens and bathrooms. Since they reproduce quickly and are nocturnal creatures, they remain out of sight during the day and form an infestation without detection. Spotting a single cockroach does not mean there is only one in the house. In fact, seeing a cockroach during the day usually means it was forced into the open by overcrowding. Cockroach residue and droppings may cause illness or allergic reactions.

Mice

Mice seek heat and shelter when outside temperatures drop. They enter the home through tiny holes and hide inside walls or the attic. These rodents leave behind droppings that can cause disease. They also spread disease by infesting human food sources. It is common for mice to nest in groups and reproduce frequently. This means problems spread fast and without much warning.

Although there are numerous products available to get rid of winter creatures, it is best to seek help from a professional pest control company. These experts have the proper equipment and supplies to safely and efficiently eliminate an infestation and permanently keep hiding pests away. When the home is free of invaders, the family can spend winter in a warm, cozy, and healthy environment.

There is nothing quite like Thanksgiving. Family members fly in for the big meal. The smell of delicious turkey and stuffing fills the air. And, of course, people excitedly make their shopping plans for the following day.

Unfortunately, insects and other pests oftentimes come along for the ride. Bed bugs and fleas are especially inclined to hop into luggage and travel thousands of miles to their new homes. This is especially true for those in college dorms that head home with people for the holidays due to the community living situations that they were in.

To help decrease the odds that insects will make the trip as well, ensure that all clothing and any traveling bed sheets are thoroughly washed beforehand. Using the hottest temperature possible to kill these bugs and any of their eggs is recommended. Make sure to also inspect luggage for signs of bed bugs or fleas, alive or dead.

Thanksgiving also increases the likelihood of pests such as rodents staying with you for the holidays due to the increased amount of food that is in your pantry and kitchen cabinets during this time. This is especially true if these parts of your home have holes, even tiny ones.

The cooling temperatures this time of year also tend to drive rodents inside to areas such as pantries and cabinets.

Of course, seal up any holes that you see in these areas of your home. However, rodents may still be able to get through, usually through openings you either missed or that are simply not visible to you.

If proactive steps that you took were not successful in keeping these pests out of your home, make sure to contact a professional to ensure that they are permanently removed.