Termite Damage 101: What You Should Know

March 16, 2016. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Pest Control • Orlando

Termites do billions of dollars of damage each year.

Central Florida offers a perfect environment for termites. Because so many Orlando-area homes are near waterways and ponds, and we have frequent rain showers, moisture-loving termites have a welcoming habitat to make their homes.

Termite Basics

Termites are small social insects that live in large colonies and feed on organic matter. They are particularly attracted to wood and paper. They are dark in color, with 3/8 of an inch long torsos and wings of equal length (as compared to ants, which have pinched torsos and unequal-length wings).

Some termites, including the native subterranean termites and Formosan termites, prefer to live in or close to the soil or near sources of moisture. This includes areas around home foundations and buildings with water from dripping pipes, air conditioner drains, or gutters. Because so much of the Orlando area is damp, termites can become established in many places.

New … Read Full Post »

Why Do Termites Swarm In Houston?

March 15, 2016. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Pest Control • Houston

Termites are an ongoing problem for Houston homeowners. Flourishing in the warmth and humidity of East Texas, they establish large colonies and get right to work eating the wood in our homes and landscaping. Springtime marks termite mating season when termites swarm to find new locations where they can establish additional colonies.

What are termites?

Termites are small insects that live in colonies and feed on organic matter, particularly the cellulose found within the wood. In nature, they play an important role in helping decompose fallen trees. In your home, however, they can be destructive creatures that can weaken structures and damage foundations.

There are three main types of termites in the US:

Formosan Subterranean Termites
Native Subterranean Termites
Drywood Termites

Native subterranean termites eat everything from paper to cotton to wood. Because of their biology, they rely on microbes to help digest cellulose, so they are drawn to areas with rotting wood, such as mulch and … Read Full Post »

Buying A Home? Termite Red Flags To Look For

March 15, 2016. Posted by ABC Home & Commercial in Pest Control • San Antonio

There are so many details that go into finding the right home:

What neighborhood you’d like to live in?
Does the size and layout of the house suit your family?
What is your budget?
How is the condition of the home?

What if you got all the way through the process, only to find that your dream home has termites?

Termites aren’t always a deal-breaker when it comes to buying a home — Knowing the extent of the infestation and damage are key factors.

Termite Red Flags You Should Know.

Subterranean termites are the most commonly found termite in the San Antonio metropolitan area. Drywood termites and Formosan termites are occasionally detected as well, but Subterranean termites are the main offenders in the area. As the name implies, subterranean termites live below ground. Like other termites, they consume materials with cellulose, such as wood and paper. And they can cause lots of damage in a short amount of … Read Full Post »

The Very Best Mosquito Repellents

February 26, 2016. Posted by Les Stobart in Mosquito Control, Pest Control • Corpus Christi

Warm weather is just around the corner, and that means mosquito season is not far behind. These pests can be a real nuisance! Worse yet, in some cases, mosquito bites can even make you sick. Below, we’ll look at some of the diseases carried by mosquitoes and then we’ll offer our picks for the very best mosquito repellents.

Why should you be concerned about mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes aren’t just a nuisance. They can carry diseases that can affect you and your family. In the Corpus Christi area, the biggest concern for mosquitoes is the West Nile virus, with July 2015 marking the first confirmed cases in the area. Lately, the media has also been reporting on the Zika virus, which has spread to Brazil and may be causing microcephaly, a birth defect that affects the development of an infant’s brain. The good news is that while there have been a dozen cases of … Read Full Post »

When a Pest Infestation Has Gone Too Far

December 5, 2015. Posted by ABC in Pest Control • Dallas-Fort Worth

Pests may be par for the course in Texas, but infestations are still serious business. Find out when it’s time to call in professional pest control.

From pesky mosquitoes to curious rodents to ominous spiders, pests are a fact of daily life in the hot and humid Dallas area, but that doesn’t mean you should keep your guard down when it comes to pest control. While seeing an occasional critter is no big deal, it can sometimes be the first sign of a growing problem behind the scenes. How do you tell the difference between a stray and a more serious infestation? Watching for the warning signs below is a good place to start.

Dead Pests

If you keep seeing dead pests throughout your home or around your windows, there’s a good chance that a living colony is thriving somewhere on your property.

Structural Damage

The most destructive pests use homes as nesting grounds, leaving … Read Full Post »

Here’s Why Cockroaches Love Your Clean Home

November 2, 2015. Posted by Les Stobart in Pest Control • Austin

If you’re like virtually every other human on the planet, you don’t want to see cockroaches in your home. To keep them away, you practice common sense. You keep your house spotless, take out your trash regularly and keep all your foods in sealed containers. Ever wonder what causes roaches in a clean home? You aren’t alone. What is it, exactly, that could be luring these disgusting pests onto your property?

Unfortunately for humans, cockroaches are incredibly versatile. They’ll eat things you might have never expected them to eat, and their water-finding senses are sharper than you realize. Roaches are experts at hiding and have even evolved to sense the slightest movements in their surrounding environment, which explains why we most often see these pests scurrying across our floor. That said, there are a few conditions that might make cockroaches fall in love with your home, no matter what the level of … Read Full Post »

5 Reasons Why Raccoons Don’t Make Good Roommates

October 30, 2015. Posted by ABC in Pest Control • San Antonio

Ripping the Mask Off Urban Raccoon Facts

It’s so easy to see raccoons here in San Antonio as just another urban animal posse, but their little bandit masks hide ulterior motives. Behind those cute faces lurk smart creatures determined to winter in your home. Procyon lotors (scientific name) make lousy roommates, and here are five reasons why.

1. Your Yard Is a Smorgasbord – You see a lovely lawn, well-kept flower beds and a healthy vegetable garden. Raccoons see an invitation to dig up the landscape, dine at will and ruin your hard work. They’ve learned that your yard sets out an easy buffet compared to foraging outside the city limits.

2. They Really Want Inside – Raccoons don’t hibernate, but they do slow down when cold weather moves in. Your warm attic makes a natural urban habitat, so they’ll rip off shingles and chew through fascia on their way inside. Outdoor garbage … Read Full Post »

The Heat Is On: Eliminating Bed Bugs with Heat Remediation

October 28, 2015. Posted by ABC in Pest Control • San Antonio

Controlling bed bugs is no sweat when you use heat

Finding bed bugs in your home can be a shock. These tiny parasites feed on human and animal blood and can hitch a ride in on almost anything. Luggage, clothing and old furniture are all potential “vehicles” for bed bug travel. Using heat remediation treatments can put a stop to a problematic infestation.

Bed Bug Woes

For most people, bed bug bites result in red, itchy bumps, but the reaction can be severe if you’re allergic. Bed bugs have also been known to carry pathogens, including serious diseases such as MRSA—there is no scientific evidence to show that bed bugs spread these diseases to humans, but it’s still disconcerting to know that there are parasitic insects lurking in your bedroom.

Treatments for Banishing Bed Bugs

Bed bug populations are growing, perhaps due in part to the fact that these pests have become resistant to many … Read Full Post »

Bugs That Look Like Termites But Aren’t

October 26, 2015. Posted by Les Stobart in Pest Control • San Antonio

According to the National Pest Management Association, termites cause more than five billion dollars worth of property damage each year in the United States alone. The most destructive type of termite, the subterranean species, feeds 24 hours a day, so this dangerous pest doesn’t ever take a vacation. Homeowners can protect their biggest investment by learning more about bugs that look like termites but aren’t.

Most of us can distinguish between the most common bugs and insects we see in and around our home. Roaches, mosquitoes and flies look quite different from each other. But when it comes to other insects, our knowledge is fuzzy, at best.

Different pests require different types of treatment. Let’s explore what insects resemble termites and how to tell these bugs apart so that you can keep these pests away from your property.

Carpenter Ants

The bug which is most commonly confused with a termite is an ant. Both … Read Full Post »

Can I Get A Mosquito Bite In Winter? Your Questions Answered

October 5, 2015. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Pest Control • Orlando

Do you wish summer could last all year long? Many individuals live in or move to warm and temperate cities to escape the frigid weather in other parts of the country. Want to wear shorts on Christmas Day? Try Orlando. Prefer flip-flops in February? Check out Houston.

There’s a catch to living where the sun is shining most of the year: mosquitoes.

Warm and humid environments are the perfect habitat for many pesky insects, including mosquitoes. Regarding mosquito season, Florida and other southern states don’t get much of a break from these annoying biting insects, which can transmit the Zika and West Nile viruses, among other illnesses.

Newcomers to these cities may wonder if getting a mosquito bite in winter is possible and what else they need to know to keep these pests away. Let’s explore these topics and other common questions about the mosquito.