Looking forward to the winter months when pests may hibernate or find a warmer place to live? Unfortunately, a warmer place to live could include inside your home. Read on to learn how you can prepare to maintain rodent control in Austin and deter other pests over the winter months.

Start Outside

You may think that keeping pests out of your home involves preparing your home on the inside, but focusing your attention on the outside of your home may actually be the best method of prevention.

Eliminate comfortable, inviting habitats for pests to discourage them from settling near your home. For example, many insects seek out moist, dark places that contain a food source. Keep areas around the home dry, well-lit and free of food sources in order to keep pests away. Insects typically eat leaves, fruit and other insects.

Trash piles and garbage cans attract pests, so keep trash cans as far … Read Full Post »

Fleas, mosquitoes and ticks are not just nuisances. They can also spread diseases in humans and pets. Keeping these bug populations under control with proper Austin lawn care and pest control is the key to avoiding some of the serious effects their bites have.

Mosquitoes

With all of the recent rain in Austin, the mosquito population is high. In addition to causing itchy red bumps, mosquitoes can carry several forms of West Nile virus, malaria, yellow fever and encephalitis. These diseases have the potential to cause fatalities. Aside from humans, mosquitoes are the cause of heartworms in animals. Heartworms can either kill or significantly reduce the lifespan of your family pets.

Ticks

There are many different types of ticks carrying various diseases, but the ticks in Austin are known for carrying Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus, relapsing fever, ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease. Since symptoms of Lyme disease are often misdiagnosed, it is important to … Read Full Post »

There’s a new ant in town, and wherever it goes, fire ants start disappearing. It also doesn’t sting or bite. But don’t get excited yet. The Rasberry crazy ant which showed up in Travis County and Round Rock this fall swarms into homes by the hundreds of thousands in search of food.

In the Houston area, where the ants are much more prevalent, they have already made some homeowners miserable, said Roger Gold, professor of entomology at Texas A&M University.

“People that have them said they wish they had the fire ants back,” he said. “We have pictures of families sweeping them up with brooms where there are piles of ants. … They can get into AC systems and short them out.”

When the ants get electrocuted they produce a pheromone that causes other ants to rush in, Gold said, leading to so many ants in the electrical system that it shorts out. … Read Full Post »

Termite colonies can range in size from 500,000 to 5,000,000.  Termites feed on cellulose or wood materials. Some of their food source is found in the ground, like trees, but they will also feed on your home. They work 24 hours a day and only need fractions of an inch to invade your home. The annual loss due to structural damage by termites is more than $2 billion!

STEPS TO SIGNATURE PLUS SERVICE

Detection of termite activity

ABC Austin Termite Control service will inspect your home for termites, termite damage, and foraging (mud) tubes. We will install monitoring stations around the perimeter of structures to serve as an early warning system. You buy a security alarm to protect your home or business from human invaders. With ABC, your home has a security system to warn it from termite invasion.

 Treatment of termites

ABC will apply a liquid treatment zone in the area the … Read Full Post »

Though we offer some chem-free options for pest control, some pest issues may not be severe enough to need professional help. For those little nuisances around the house, here are some natural solutions for safe pest control around your Austin home.

Ants

• Cucumbers – Did you know that some kinds of ants have a natural aversion to cucumber? Try setting out some cucumber slices in the kitchen to keep away these pesky ants.
• Soapy Water – Put some soapy water into a spray bottle as a pesticide-free way to rid ants from your countertops.
• Spices & Scents – If you know where the ants are coming in from, try tracing the ant column back to their point of entry. In this area, place one of these at the entry: cayenne pepper, citrus oil, lemon juice, cinnamon or coffee grounds. These items act as deterrents in which ants will not usually cross.

Cockroaches

• Soapy Water – Put … Read Full Post »