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Ants Are Only Cute in Movies

. Posted by in • Orlando

In the movies, ants are cute creatures that everyone roots for; however, they can damage your home in real life. Because of this, contacting a professional pest control company is vital as soon as you notice signs of an infestation. Remember that ants nest in the crevices and cracks of your property and that they will also scavenge through your home, looking for food supplies.

The Danger of a Carpenter Ant Infestation

If you notice giant black ants in your home, you most likely have an infestation of carpenter ants. This particular ant species can cause extensive and costly damage to your home. Once their nests have been built into your home, you will likely experience issues with your structural wood, rigid foam insulation, sheathing, and subflooring. Unfortunately, carpenter ants are widespread in many areas, including Orlando. Remember that carpenter ants that nest outside don’t pose any risk to your home.

Other Ant … Read Full Post »

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Why “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” Is a Bad Way to Protect Your Home from Termites

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth

We’ve all heard the old phrase, “Out of sight, out of mind.” If you apply it to some things, like dieting, it works wonders: Stash those Keebler brownies and you might find it’s easier to lose weight. On the other hand, it’s a horrible method of dealing with other problems. One such problem is termites. Just because you don’t see swarms of hungry insects eating through your home’s wood doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Termites do their work behind the walls. That said, termite colonies often leave clues if you know what to look for.

Pest Control Inspection

How many times have you taken your car in for an oil change only to have the mechanic tell you that you have some serious engine trouble looming on the horizon? One of the best things you can do to guard against a termite infestation is to invest in regular pest control inspection. Professionals … Read Full Post »

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My Dog Has Fleas. Now What?

. Posted by in • Houston

Have you noticed your dog scratching and biting at itself intensely? If so, you may want to check your pet for fleas. Since fleas love warm, humid climates, they can be a year-round problem in Houston. To make the situation worse, for every flea you see on your pet, there are likely hundreds more living on your carpet and furniture.

The Many Dangers of Fleas

Fleas can pose many dangers to your pet. First, fleas survive off your dog’s blood and can consume more than 12 times their body weight. This, in turn, can cause your pet to become anemic over time. In severe cases, parasitic anemia can even be life-threatening for your dog.

If your pet is susceptible to flea bites, just one bite from a flea can cause a severe reaction known as flea bite allergy. Pets with flea bite allergies experience intense itching, hair loss, inflamed skin, hot spots, and … Read Full Post »

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The Never-Ending War Against Pests

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth

Dealing with insects, rodents and other household pests can be a major pain. More than being simply embarrassing and uncomfortable, it can cause reputation issues and property damage. Although keeping your home pest free isn’t easy, following these tips will help you keep all of these pesky creatures at bay.

Keep Your Home Clean and Clutter Free

It’s essential to keep your home as clean and free of clutter as possible if you want to eliminate pests and keep them from living in your home. Although not all homes that have pest infestations are messy, unsanitary conditions are very appealing to many common pests.

Establish a regular cleaning routine and keep clutter to a minimum. Also, make sure that you store food in tightly sealed containers or zip-top bags, and don’t leave dirty dishes or garbage lying around. Although it can be difficult to get in the habit of keeping your house tidy … Read Full Post »

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Infestations 101: Managing Bed Bugs

. Posted by in , • Bryan-College Station

The idea of having blood-sucking creatures in your bed certainly isn’t a pleasant one, but that’s exactly what happens when a bed bug infestation hits. Fortunately, educating yourself about these pesky insects and learning more about how to manage them can help you eliminate your bed bug problem.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are tiny, wingless creatures with flat bodies. They range in color from white to brown, but they take on a reddish hue after feeding. These creatures prefer to live in mattresses and bedding, and they typically hide during the day and become more active at night. Bed bugs aren’t known for spreading diseases, but they give off itchy bites. Not only are these bites uncomfortable, but some people are also allergic to them.

Do You Have a Bed Bug Infestation?

There are a few things to look for to determine if you have a bed bug infestation in your home:

• … Read Full Post »

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Sleep Soundly in a Bedbug-Free Home

. Posted by in , • Dallas-Fort Worth

“Sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite,” goes the old saying. If you thought that was just a nonsensical nursery rhyme dreamed up by poor peasants in the long-ago times, you wouldn’t be alone. Unfortunately, you’d also be wrong. Bedbugs are a growing problem in major metropolitan areas, including Dallas, and homeowners just like you are starting to get fed up. To help, we’ve put together some useful tips on identifying, controlling and preventing bedbug infestations.

Identifying Bedbug Infestations

Adult bedbugs have a distinctive appearance. Their bodies are oval-shaped, relatively flat and roughly the size of an apple seed. Hatchlings are harder to pick out: They can be nearly transparent and often aren’t any bigger than a poppy seed.

Most people realize that they’re dealing with a bedbug infestation after noticing tiny blood spots on their bedding materials or discovering multiple bites over the course of days or weeks. Like mosquitoes, bedbugs … Read Full Post »

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How Many Roaches Is An Infestation? Assessing Your Problem

. Posted by in • San Antonio
How many roaches is an infestation

The first sight of a cockroach in your home can send waves of panic down your spine, often accompanied by high-pitched shrieks. While nobody wants to have an eye-to-eye encounter with roaches, the truth is that pesky pests love our homes. What’s alarming is the fact that for every roach you see, it’s likely that there are many more you don’t. These nocturnal pests can be extremely hard to detect. They nest and breed comfortably in the dark and hard-to-reach areas of your home. Roaches usually live in your house without being noticed for a long time.

After that first encounter, most homeowners want to quickly and effectively handle the problem before it gets out of control. So, exactly how many roaches is an infestation? Knowing the extent of your problem is often the first step in deciding what to do next.

Cockroach Infestation Signs 

Unfortunately, there is no magic number of cockroaches … Read Full Post »

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Tips to Prevent Pests from Entering Your Home

. Posted by in • Orlando

An infestation can be prevented with a bit of elbow grease.

Is your home or office becoming a welcome haven for pests such as roaches, ants, bed bugs, spiders, termites, or mice? While the sight of little ants crawling or spiders weaving webs can be fascinating, these insects certainly do not belong inside your home. Mice scurrying around the house and roaches raiding your pantry for food might not paint a pretty picture either. So, how do you keep your home free of these unwanted intruders? What are the most effective pest control methods that work?

Keep Your Food Supplies Sealed

Most pests eat almost anything that they can find. Free food is an excellent reason for roaches, rodents, and ants to find your home attractive. Seal your snack and cereal bags, pack away food items, and never leave dirty dishes in the sink. Ensure your trashcan has a tight lid, and immediately … Read Full Post »

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Silverfish out of Water

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth

While goldfish are relaxing to watch, nobody feels compelled to chill out at the sight of silverfish. Silverfish insects, like actual fish, are covered in tiny scales. Their flat, silver-grey or brown teardrop-shaped bodies don’t seem too intimidating, but their long antennae and projectile rear bristles can send the squeamish running for cover. If you do run from a silverfish, run fast—they’re known for their speed, and they can jump up to two feet vertically. Fortunately, they won’t chase you, and they don’t present any medical threat unless you fall and hurt yourself while trying to get away from them. However, they can wreak havoc on your home.

What’s on the Silverfish Menu?

As expert chewers, silverfish can demolish your food stores and paper-based materials. They love carbohydrates like sugar, cereal and flour, but they’ll also eat dried meats, toothpaste, shampoo, wallpaper, books, boxes and glue. It’s hard for a home to … Read Full Post »

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Protect Your Home from Eight-Legged Invaders

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth

When the weather gets cold, arachnids look for a warm place to hide. Unfortunately, this place is sometimes your home. In Texas, spiders and scorpions are the most common arachnids that invade family homes. Some are capable of inflicting painful and even fatal injuries. Here are our best tips for identifying arachnids and protecting your home from unwanted guests.

Spiders

Tarantulas are intimidating, and wolf spiders are scary. However, these creatures have nothing on the infamous black widow and the deadly brown recluse. The brown recluse is known for its flesh-eating venom. Because there are several types of recluse spiders in Texas, their colors range from dark brown to an orangey tan. This makes them difficult to identify. These spiders are about the size of a quarter. They hide in dark crevices during the day and come out at night, which is when most bites occur.

Black widows are dangerous. Their colors usually … Read Full Post »

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