If your first reaction to a cockroach, mouse, ant or other pest problem inside your home is to head to the hardware store and grab the biggest trap or spray can you can find, you could be in for a real shock. Not only is the effectiveness of DIY pest control in question, but the safety of it is at issue too. Professional pest services are the only way to truly eliminate any problems you may have.

Why is DIY pest control less effective? For most, heading to the hardware store is the cheapest way to handle the job, but despite the claims on the label, it can’t actually handle the task at hand. Sure, it may be able to kill the pests you can see, but the chances are good that it can’t treat the colony of pests you can’t see.

Take cockroaches, for example. A DIY spray may keep them off your counters, but it certainly won’t kill the thousands that are living inside your walls. Pest extermination from a company you know and trust, though, will not only eliminate any entry points for the cockroaches as well as food sources, but they’ll also keep the colony from spreading and make certain all of them are dead before the treatment process ends.

Why is DIY pest control unsafe? You wouldn’t want your doctor to use a chainsaw to take off a wart, right? DIY pest control works in the same manner. It uses serious chemicals in a sweeping method that’s meant to capture as many pests as possible. Just as using a chainsaw might do more damage than it should, DIY pest control accomplishes the same thing. You might manage to kill the problem that you can see, but in the process, you’re simply spreading poison throughout your home.

Is DIY pest control ever a good idea? Absolutely not. If you spot a problem, your best bet is always going to be contacting residential and commercial experts on the subject. Not only will they help you tell the difference between a stray hitchhiker and an infestation, but they can also recommend the best treatment approach and prevention techniques to make certain the problem doesn’t happen in the future. You can bet the back of the spray can you pick up at the hardware store isn’t willing to do that for you.

There are a few things in life that you’re better off not attempting to handle on your own. Pest control is certainly one of them.

Springtime is the time for baby animals. You’re probably familiar with baby chicks and lambs. You might like baby rabbits and the pastel Easter eggs that pop up everywhere. However, one kind of baby animal you might not be excited about is the baby termite.

Termites tend to hide out in damp, secluded areas in your home. If you have a basement, especially one with a good bit of old wood, your home may be at risk. In case you don’t know, termites live in and on wood. They tunnel through it and eat it. Termites live in colonies, and they raise their young there, where the bugs grow up eating bits of homes.

Many people say that you know you have a termite problem when you see winged termites in your home. However, termites with wings usually mean that you have lots of termites elsewhere in your home. Why? Winged termites are messengers or explorers sent by a colony. They go to find more breeding grounds. Essentially, winged termites mean you’ve got at last one colony filled to capacity – and the termites are expanding.

It’s good to get a jump on termites before they go wild. To do so, ask for a termite inspection. Many companies perform these for free. They will do an exhaustive search of your home, then recommend a treatment for any termites you may have. 

Yearly termite inspections are a great idea. Termites cost billions of dollars each year in damages, and they have been known to destroy entire homes. Many inspections cost nothing, and even if they turn up no termites, it’s worth the search to know that your home is safe. 

Spring is a great time to search for termites – do it along with your spring cleaning. It’s one more step to keeping your family healthy and your home safe from danger. With some vigilance, some hard work, and a little devotion, you’ll be set to fix your home. Select a pest control company carefully – you’ll rest well knowing you’ve done right by your home and that you’re saving your family time and money. Prep your home for spring!

Unfortunately, bed bugs have come back all around the country and Indiana is no exception.

If you find bed bugs in your home, do not try to get rid of them on your own, bed bugs are very difficult to get rid of. You need to have an experienced bed bug pest control company like Young Environmental Solutions come in and use bed bug heat treatments or another means of bed bug treatments to get these nasty pests out of your house ASAP!

Nothing ruins your back yard quite like a mosquito problem.  The fun of being outside in nice weather is destroyed when you’re swatting at nearly invisible foes and suffering with itchy, red bites.  When you consider the diseases that these nasty biters carry, they go from unpleasant to rather frightening.  Not to worry, some pest extermination companies can handle mosquito control.  

Eliminate breeding sites
Mosquitos need water to breed.  Not just any water source will do.  They need very slow moving, still or stagnant water to lay eggs.  In a pinch, wet soil and leaf litter will do as well.  Cutting off breeding sites will help curb the populations on your property.  

• Clean your gutters and downspouts.  They can collect rainwater if clogged, creating breeding conditions. 
• Chlorinate your pool before leaving on vacation or have someone check it while you’re gone.  An under-chlorinated pool can become a mosquito hatchery in a week or two. 
• Ventilate garbage cans and recycling bins.  Drill holes in the bottom to allow water to flow out. 
• Stock ponds and water features with mosquito-eating fish.  
• Dump anything that holds water for more than two days.  This includes bird baths and pet bowls. 

Disrupt adults
Adult mosquitos usually rest during the heat of the day and become active in the early morning and evening.  They look for tall grass and weeds for resting places.  Keeping your lawn clipped short is one easy method of pest control.  Don’t let weeds run wild, either.  This will limit the number of places adult mosquitos can hide and force them to take up residence in more hospitable places.  

Know what won’t work
There are lots of wives tales about how to manage mosquitos without the help of a professional exterminator.  Unfortunately, not many of them are true.  Citrosa plants have not been shown to work against mosquitos and neither do “bug zappers”.  Citronella oil and candles may help somewhat in windless conditions.  Bats do eat mosquitos and so do purple martins but not in sufficient quantities to eliminate an infestation.  

Talk to a Bloomington pest control agent about methods for mosquito abatement that do work.  You’ll be glad you did next time you want to enjoy the back yard.

Bees in all their varied species are one of the most beneficial insects in the world.  Active pollinators, they are responsible for helping about 30% of the plant-based foods in the American diet.  However, since they have developed a highly effective and painful defense mechanism, humans often relegate this insect to the realm of pest and call the exterminator.  

All the insects collectively called “bees” are not the same.  There are over 20,000 different species of actual bees in the world but the ones commonly seen in your yard are typically a true bee or a wasp.

• Bees:  bumble bees, honey bees. 
• Wasps: yellow jackets, paper wasps, hornets.  Wasps can be solitary hunters, parasitic or social.  Social are the most protective and thus most dangerous of the group.   

If you find bees or wasps on your property, calling in a professional is probably the wisest action.  Their stings can be painful at best and deadly at their worst so having a professional pest services company get rid of them is a smart move.  Aggressive hornets and wasps can deliver a very painful sting and live to keep on stinging.  They often attack en masse to defend their nests.  Their venom can cause severe allergic reactions even in people who have no history of anaphylactic allergies.  

Honey bees can sometimes be relocated if they are discovered at the right time.  Some county extension offices keep lists of beekeepers willing to capture and relocate swarms of honey bees.  However, if they have established a comb within a wall the problem may be too large for relocation.  Once a large comb is created, it will melt and run if the bees are not there to maintain it.  This can damage the wall and attract other pests like mice and ants.  

Wasps are another matter.  They should really be dealt with by your Bloomington bee exterminators.  The aggressive nature of these insects makes getting rid of a hive dangerous for homeowners. 

• Do not know down an active hive or nest.
• Do not spray at or into an active nest. 
• Do not throw rocks or other projectiles at an active nest.   

Let the pros get rid of the problem and concentrate on prevention.  Most bees and wasps like dry, quite spots away from wind and weather for their nesting spots.  Use insect mesh to cover eaves and soffits and make sure all the crevices are caulked.  Remove and replace rotting wood on sheds, decks and other outdoor structures.  Bees and wasps like to use this for building materials and carpenter bees may use it for a nesting site.

Every US state has ticks, and every US state has ticks bearing disease.  This is an unpleasant fact about ticks.  The blood-sucking arachnid poses a threat to your family, and it could be living in your yard right now.  Regular pest control services can help limit your exposure to this tiny biter and reduce the chance of contracting a tick-borne illness.  Here are some of the facts you should know about ticks.  

Ticks can survive the winter, even where it gets cold.
Many people think ticks will not survive a freeze or a snowstorm but this not true.  In many cases, ticks just gravitate to warm structures like your home to wait out the cold.  Some tick species can produce a type of biological “anti-freeze” to survive.  Ticks maybe most active from April to September but they are still a year-round pest control issue.   

Lyme Disease is not the only illness ticks can carry.
While Lyme Disease is perhaps the best known tick-borne illness, there are others.  Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is another illness that can be traced back to ticks as well as “dog fever” or anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis and potentially more.  

Ticks cannot be removed or forced to release their prey with lit matches, nail polish or petroleum jelly.
These methods simply do not work.  A tick will not let go for any of these reasons.  They might even cause the tick to release more disease-infested saliva into the wound.  The only way to remove a tick before it has finished its meal is to grasp it firmly with forceps or tweezers as close to the skin as possible and pull it steadily out.  Wear protective gloves and dispose of the tick in rubbing alcohol or just flush it.   

Ticks do not live solely in trees.
Just because you don’t live in the woods doesn’t mean you won’t encounter ticks. They live on the ground equally well as they would in a tree.  They crawl up their host, which is why they are so often found on the neck or hairline.  It is not because they “dropped” there.  

Pets can contract multiple diseases from a single tick bite.
Ticks are not typically hatched carrying disease.  They acquire them by feeding on infected hosts.  They then pass the infection to the next host via their saliva.  Your pet is particularly at risk of contracting tick-borne diseases as a single bit can transmit multiple pathogens.  Dogs are more prone to tick bites that cats but any warm-blooded mammal is at risk.  

Ask your exterminator how you can best keep your family and pets safe from ticks and the diseases they bear.

The humans in your household are not the only ones affected by pest control issues.  Your pets are just as at-risk for pests as you are.  Common household pests can be annoying for pet owner but they can be deadly for your pet.  Take care of the animals in your change by keeping them free of pests.  

Some of the same pests that bother you will bother our pets.  Fleas, ticks, mosquitos and even bed bugs can affect your pet and his health.  Monitor your pet’s bedding and fur to check for bites and bugs that can signal the need for veterinary care as well as a Bloomington pest control expert.  

Fleas
Fleas will not only bite your pet but you and your family members, too.  Evidence of a flea infestation is easy to find on most dogs or cats.  Check their fur regularly, right down to the skin.  You will see either live fleas moving on the skin or the “flea dirt” they leave behind.  This black, granular dust may look like dirt but it is actually the feces of the fleas.  

Flea bites will make your pet itchy so look for signs of excessive scratching like bald patches and irritated skin called dermatitis.  Fleas can take enough blood from your pet that he can become anemic.  Check his gums for a deep pink color.  If they are very light pink or whitish, your pet may be feeling quite poorly.  

Ticks
Ticks are known disease carriers for Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and several other illnesses in humans.  Your dog can contract tick paralysis from them.  Marked by muscle weakness, loss of coordination and even respiratory failure, this is a life-threatening condition.  Avoid walking your pet in tall grasses and check his entire body for ticks once you return home.  Look between his toes and inside his ears in addition to his coat.  

Bed bugs
Bed bugs prefer biting people but a pet will do.  Check dog beds for bugs as often as you check your own.  Vacuum pet beds regularly to help eliminate bed bugs as well as fleas and ticks.  (Just remember to empty the container into an outside garbage bin.)  

If you find signs of pests on your pet or his bedding, consult with your exterminator on how to best get rid of them.  Some methods can be harmful or deadly to pets so don’t try to tackle it on your own.  Protect your beloved pet from pests and you’ll also be protecting yourself.

Rodents are a common problem among homeowners, much more common that most people would want their neighbors to know.  These tenacious and wily creatures are a residential and commercial pest control issue.  Every year mice, rats, squirrels and other rodents cause millions of dollars’ worth of damage to property.  This is in addition to causing health issues and emotional distress.   

Local Pests
South Bend pest control agents typically meet with clients based on one or more of the following common local pests.  

• The Norway Rat, rattus norvegicus.  Also known as the brown rat, the Norway is a large, chunky rat often found living in close proximity to man.  It likes tall vegetation for cover and food, but will eat nearly anything.
• The Roof Rat, rattus rattus.  Also called the black rat, the roof rat is an omnivore that likes to eat seeds, nuts and fruits as well as fungi, small vertebrates and invertebrates.  Larger and more aggressive than the Norway, it is also more adaptive to weather conditions. 
• The House Mouse, mus musculus.  There are at least 30 known species of mouse, the most common is known as the house mouse for its close connection to mankind’s homes.  They have poor eyesight but excellent senses of hearing and smell.  Prolific breeders and omnivores, they are small but also know disease carriers.  

Maintaining a rodent-free residence or business will take some action on the owner’s part as well as regular attention from a qualified Bloomington pest control agent.  In order to safeguard your home or business, you will need to prevent rodent infestation, inspect regularly for their presence and treat any problems are they arise.  

Prevention
Before you find you have a need for an exterminator, discuss prevention techniques with your Elkhart pest control professional.  Keeping your home rodent-free in the first place will prevent costly treatments later.  Your pest control agent will have suggestions and recommendations on how to best prevent rodents from infiltrating your property.  Here are a few examples:  

• Habitat alteration.  Your agent may suggest making changes to the environs of your home to make it less attractive to rodents.  For example, cutting back tree limbs that overhang your roof can help keep roof rats from gaining access to your attic spaces.
• Exclusion.  There are many methods of excluding mice and rats from your home.  Caulking small foundation cracks and screening vents can help prevent pests. 
• Sanitation.  The use of this term does not indicate any judgment on the cleanliness of a home or office.  It means keeping potential food sources away from the rodent’s keen sense of smell.  Procedures like using tightly lidded trash cans and moving grass seed off the garage floor are considered “sanitation”.  

Inspection
Regular check-ups are a good idea to keep rodents from populating your home.  Your pest control agent will search the areas of your home rodents are known to frequent.   Crawlspaces, attics, baseboards, vents and ducts will all be examined for evidence of mice and rats.  Here are a few things your agent will be seeking.  

• Droppings.  Rodent droppings are one of the most obvious signs of an infestation.  Your agent will be checking to see if the droppings are in large or small in size and in quantity and if they are old or new.  Size is an indicator of the type of rodent leaving the dropping. 
• Body marks.  Mice and rats leave greasy marks of walls and baseboards.  They usually run along the perimeter of a space, rubbing their side against the wall.  Their oily bodies attract dirt so they leave smudge marks on the walls and baseboards they frequent. 
• Gnawed edges.  Mice and rats will gnaw on things to control the growth of their teeth as well as for food.  Your agent will examine your furniture, walls and other areas rodent like to chew. 
• Nests.  Mice and rats create nests out of soft materials they gather.  Your technician should look for nests in quiet, dark spaces and in insulation.  

Treatment
If a rodent or evidence of one is found, your pest control technician will alter you and discuss treatment options.  Traps, baits and chemical options should be carefully considered as treatments.  Talk about the potential side effects as well as the efficiency of the treatment.

Rodent prevention is a serious subject for home and business owners.  Make sure your pest control company is expert in treating this complex issue.

What is a WDO Inspection?  
A WDO inspection stands for a wood destroying organism inspection.  While most people will think it means termites, it can actually include a wide array of both insects and other organisms.  A WDO inspection means checking a home thoroughly for termites, carpenter ants, beetles, wood decay, as well as evidence of past infestations and past treatments.  Essentially, it is an inspection for everything wood when it comes to your home and its overall structure.   

What is in There?  
It’s a scenario that no one ever hopes to see.  You need some flour for a recipe, but when you open the cupboard and peek inside the bag, you discover something is very, very wrong.  There are bugs in your flour!