Identify Your Pest
Subterranean Termites: Subterranean termites live in underground colonies and feed on buried
wood. When the initial wood supply is depleted the colony may be extended
through "shelter tubes" to above ground wood. This is when damage to
structures is done. Shelter tubes are made from soil particles
and thus are the color and texture of the local soil. The tubes are built on
foundation walls, posts, pilings, in other words anything that spans between
soil and wood. Look for termite shelter tubes during annual inspections for
insect and water damage and if tubes are found it is an indication that
subterranean termites may be active. Because the "root" of the colony is always in the soil, termite treatments
usually involve applying insecticide to the soil. Post- Treatments are performed by injecting insecticide into the soil or by digging a trench around structures
and treating the soil directly. Drywood Termites: Unlike subterranean termites which built colonies in the soil, drywood termite colonies do not need contact with soil moisture nor any other water source. As their name suggests, drywood termites occur in dry wood that may be above ground level. Drywood termites build colonies in structural wood, fence and utility posts, furniture, moldings, door and window frames, and so forth. Because termite workers can be difficult to identify, species are often determined based on geographical location, location of colony and/or type of wood damage. Wood is damaged as the drywood worker termites tunnel to enlarge their colony. Drywood termite galleries cut across the wood's grain thus weakening the wood's internal structure and eventually the wood fails. They can be treated by drilling into the wood and injecting insecticide directly into the tunnels.
Cockroaches: The species of cockroaches that invade dwellings: enter buildings in search of
food and water. Almost any food can attract and support these
scavengers, and infestations can grow very quickly. While roaches do not
cause structural damage their presence often indicates unsanitary conditions
that may be unhealthy. There are also concerns about them directly causing
allergic reactions and spreading disease by contaminating
food. Roaches do not form true colonies the way termites and ants do
but they often live in groups. They prefer warm and damp areas in
out-of-the-way protected places, called harborages. Roach activity is
usually highest at night. In fact, any activity in the open, during the day
typically indicates very high populations with individuals actually pushed out
of harborages because of overcrowding. Therefore, seeing cockroaches during the
day means that the infestation is probably large.Getting rid of roaches in a single-family home is relatively
easy but getting an infestation under control in a large apartment building, or
commercial building, is much more difficult. The difference is that homeowners
can clean and treat every room. On the other hand, in large
multi-family and commercial buildings there are often areas that are not treated
for a variety of reasons.
Scorpions:Though most prolific and diverse in warm habitat, scorpions have adapted to a wide range of environments, including plains and savannahs, deciduous forests, mountainous pine forests, rain forests and caves. Scorpions have been found at elevations of over 12,000 feet in the Andes Mountains in South America and in the Himalayas of Asia, as well as the Alps. In snowy areas, they hibernate during the cold months of the year. In drought areas they may aestivate (pass the summer in a dormant or torpid state). Scorpions are nocturnal and hide during the day. Some species will hide under rocks, logs and in cracks, other species will dig and hide in burrows.
Scorpions typically eat insects, but their diet can be extremely variable—another key to their survival in so many harsh locales. When food is scarce, the scorpion has an amazing ability to slow its metabolism to as little as one-third the typical rate for arthropods. This technique enables some species to use little oxygen and live on as little as a single insect per year.
BED BUGS: Bedbugs are small, oval, brownish insects that live on the blood of animals or humans. Adult bedbugs have flat bodies about the size of an apple seed. After feeding, however, their bodies swell and are a reddish color. Bedbugs do not fly, but they can move quickly over floors, walls, and ceilings. Female bedbugs may lay hundreds of eggs, each of which is about the size of a speck of dust, over a lifetime. Bedbugs may enter your home undetected through luggage, clothing, used beds and couches, and other items. Their flattened bodies make it possible for them to fit into tiny spaces, about the width of a credit card. Bedbugs do not have nests like ants or bees, but tend to live in groups in hiding places. Their initial hiding places are typically in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and headboards where they have easy access to people to bite in the night. Over time, however, they may scatter through the bedroom, moving into any crevice or protected location. They may also spread to nearby rooms or apartments. Because bedbugs live solely on blood, having them in your home is not a sign of dirtiness.
Most bedbug bites are painless at first, but later turn into itchy welts. Unlike flea bites that are mainly around the ankles, bedbug bites are on any area of skin exposed while sleeping. Also, the bites do not have a red spot in the center like flea bites do. People who don't realize they have a bedbug infestation may attribute the itching and welts to other causes, such as mosquitoes. To confirm bedbug bites, you must find and identify the bugs themselves.
CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR HELPFUL ARTICLES:
Detecting Bed Bugs
Bed Bug Information
(to the left: ants drinking from a water drop)
Ants: A very common call that we receive is about finding ants in the kitchen, even if no food or water has been left out. Ants are among the most prevalent pests in households. They are also found in restaurants, hospitals, offices, warehouses, and other buildings where they can find food and water. Monthly sprays will help cut down and dramatically reduce the amount of ants being seen. Bait traps can be used to control this pest the best!
BEES
Bees are very important and very hard working insects but we understand that having them around your home can cause a scare. We usually ask for you to see if you can see the hive. If not then we will try our best to find it. In several cases hives have been found inside of the walls of homes. We are able to go in a kill the bees, but afterwards you will find honey. Therefore we are also able to go in a remove the whole hive as well.
Mice: House mice are small rodents with relatively large ears and small black eyes. They weigh about 1/2 ounce and usually are light brownish to gray in color. An adult is about 5 to 7 inches long, including the 3- to 4-inch tail. Droppings, fresh gnaw marks, and tracks indicate areas where mice are active. Mouse nests are made from fine shredded paper or other fibrous material, usually in sheltered locations. House mice have a characteristic musky odor that identifies their presence. Mice are active mostly at night, but they can be seen occasionally during daylight hours. Because house mice are so small, they can gain entry into homes and other buildings much more easily than rats. As a result, house mouse infestations are probably 10 to 20 times more common than rat infestations. Effective control involves sanitation, exclusion, and population reduction. Sanitation and exclusion are preventive measures. When a mouse infestation already exists, some form of population reduction such as trapping or baiting is almost always necessary.
Gopher: Gophers are famous for digging holes everywhere in your yard (see picture below).This can be a great danger to homes with horse's and other animals. The animal will not see the gopher hole and can potentially break a leg from stepping in to one of these holes. We offer control of this pest so give us a call with any questions that you may have!
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