Keep your home’s kitchen clean by wiping down counters and storing food in containers that lock out pests. Store pantry goods in glass or metal containers, which discourage moths and ants.
Outside, trim bushes and limbs to reduce hiding spots for rodents and insects. Keeping your house well-insulated and repairing cracks can help, too.
Roaches
Cockroaches can carry disease and cause allergies, asthma attacks and even heart failure in sensitive people. While it’s important to call a pest control specialist in the event of a serious infestation, there are a number of things homeowners can do.
Start by cleaning and sanitizing your home regularly. Remove crumbs and other food sources, and caulk or seal all cracks and crevices around your home.
Be sure to set up insect monitors in areas where ants and cockroaches are known to hide. The monitors will trap the pests and provide valuable information on where they’re hiding, including how they entered your house. This will help the professional determine what steps are needed to exterminate them.
Keep in mind that ants and roaches have a very similar appearance, so it’s important to identify them correctly before trying any home remedies. Ants are distinguished by their elbowed antennas, while cockroaches have a flattened plate-like appearance with segments. Neem oil is an excellent alternative to chemical pesticides for killing aphids and other pests that ants and cockroaches farm. You can purchase full-strength neem oil at many health food stores or online.
Pavement ants are another pest that can invade homes. They’re typically outdoor dwellers, but will enter homes in search of food or moisture. A barrier treatment paired with bait stations is the best solution for removing these pesky insects. Pest experts use specialized products such as Sumari and Termidor to effectively stop ant colonies in their tracks, including killing the queens and larvae. These products are safe for pets and children when used properly. They also have a residual effect, which ensures long-lasting results.
Ants
Ants often find their way into homes looking for food, water, shelter and protection from the elements. Droughts, rainstorms and long periods of dry heat bring them in droves, especially if ants have already established colonies outside. Getting rid of them requires a thorough plan that eliminates the ant colony, disrupts their foraging trails and fixes the conditions that make them so attracted to your home.
Pest control experts use a combination of techniques, based on the type of ant you have. Bait stations target ants by placing them near where they are foraging inside your home, while crack-and-crevice treatments find and kill nests. Using products like Advion and Termidor, ant exterminators get to the root of the problem by killing the queen and disrupting the ant’s nervous system. Non-repellent sprays, such as Taurus SC and Navigator SC, are ideal for ant extermination because they don’t scatter the insects, unlike repellent sprays.
Other effective ant repellents include white vinegar, Borax and essential oils. Brewed coffee grounds can also deter ants, as can peppermint oil.
In addition to removing crumbs from counters, floors and other surfaces, be sure to clean trash containers frequently, sanitize pet bowls and wipe down countertops. This can help eliminate ant pheromones that attract them to your home.
If you’ve seen ant activity around your home, check for ant mounds and anthills outside. Ants can be hidden under mulch, rocks, woodpiles and in other areas of your yard.
Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.) are wood-boring bees that primarily damage log homes, but may also attack porch sills, decks and other wooden garden structures. The damage is caused by the females, who bore holes into the wood to lay their eggs. These holes create entry points for wood-decaying fungi and other pests.
Female carpenter bees are easily identified by their shiny black or metallic blue appearance and the fact that they lack a pollen-collecting hind leg. Their abdomens have a shinier appearance than those of bumble bees, and may feature fringes of hair on some segments. Females overwinter in partially excavated stems or twigs, and emerge the following spring to lay their eggs. They feed on nectar and pollen, and are important plant pollinators.
A non-lethal method of carpenter bee control involves using a mixture of citrus oil and water to encourage the bees to vacate their nest. Another option is to use a caulking gun to seal the tunnel entrances, and apply Tim-bor or Shell Guard RTU to the wood surface. This helps to guard against fungi that can cause wood-decaying fungus in the future.
Prevention is the most effective strategy against carpenter bees, and should be started early in the season. A regular application of exterior wood paint or varnish is a good way to make exposed, unfinished wood surfaces less attractive. In addition, your Orkin Pro may recommend filling unused carpenter bee holes with steel wool or caulking to prevent their reuse. If necessary, insecticidal dust can be applied to the tunnels for long-term protection. This treatment is typically performed in late fall after bees have left their galleries to prepare for winter.
Termites
A termite infestation is a major problem that can cause significant and expensive damage to your home or business. Fortunately, regular termite inspections by an Orkin professional can help prevent and control these pests.
Termites are social insects that live in highly organized colonies with three distinct stages of life: eggs, immature swarmers (winged adults) and workers. Swarmers are the most visible form of termites in late spring and early summer. These swarmers are sent out to find new homes and food sources in order to start new colonies.
Dampwood termites are a type of subterranean termite that feed on moist and decaying wood. These insects do not build mud tubes and nest in the ground, but rather prefer to reside in damp areas such as logs and stumps. Dampwood termite soldiers are larger than their subterranean counterparts and have large pincers on their heads that they use to defend the colony from predators.
Drywood termites are more destructive than dampwood, as they consume drier and more sound wood than their dampwood cousins. They often enter NJ, PA and MD buildings by tunneling through the walls or roof of a structure and can also chomp down on door frames, window frames and any other wood or plant-based component of a building.
The most common way to treat for termites is with liquid termiticides applied directly to the soil around a structure. These liquid treatments act as a barrier that disrupts the termites’ ability to travel between the colony and the building. Often, a combination of both soil treatment and termite monitoring bait stations are needed to ensure the complete elimination of the colony.
When choosing a pest control company to perform a termite treatment, be sure the company is licensed by your state pesticide regulatory agency. Ask to see their license and call your local NMDA to verify that the company has an active pesticide business license.
Rodent Control
Rodent infestations can wreak havoc on homes and businesses, chewing through electrical wires and destroying stored food. They also carry diseases like hantavirus and leptospirosis. A quick response to a rodent problem can prevent the spread of disease and prevent serious damage. Too many homeowners choose to play a game of catch-up with snap traps and rodent poison, but these methods do not solve the root cause. Long-term pest control combines immediate removal with sustainable prevention. It saves wiring, insulation, and stored food from damage while protecting your family’s health.
Different species of rodents behave differently, but all are drawn to warm shelter and easy meals. They will hide in sheds, barns, and livestock shelters during the cold months, but will soon find their way into your home where they can access crumbs, food scraps, and dripping faucets.
Rats and mice are able to squeeze through holes the size of a dime, so it is important to inspect the exterior of your house regularly for signs of rodent activity. Look for gnaw marks on wood and metal objects. Gnaw marks may mean that rodents have been feeding in an area recently, but they are not a guarantee of a rodent presence.
Rodents love to hide in crawl spaces and behind ductwork, so it is important to check frequently for signs of activity, including droppings and gnaw marks. Also inspect for signs of a rodent trail, such as a gnawed wire or chewed hole in a wall. Places that are most vulnerable to rodent entry points include cracks along the foundation, under doors, and around utility pipes. Fill cracks with steel wool, copper mesh, or hardware cloth to prevent rodents from chewing through them. Installing expandable foam may work for some, but be backed up with metal to prevent rodents from chewing through it.