Unfortunately, rodents excel at being stealthy and tough-to-detect. Their stealth and ability to go unnoticed is how they manage to survive. So when they find their way into your home, they can often go unnoticed if you aren’t keeping a vigilant eye out. Luckily, there are a few subtle signs of rodents in your home or business that you can keep an eye out for.
Signs of Rodents in your Home
Check out our top eight signs of rodents at Dave’s Pest Control. And don’t forget to give us a call if you notice any of these signs of rats or mice in your home. Our pest control team can safely and quickly remove and prevent any rodents in your home or business.
Droppings
Mice and rats may be sneaky about being seen, but they don’t seem to have a problem going when they have to go. As gross as this may be, it makes it a lot easier to identify if you have any rodents in your home or business. They leave droppings in cabinets, along walls, in drawers, or other areas that are relatively out of sight. If you suspect that you may have a rodent control problem, spend a little time searching for droppings as evidence. Or, if you stumble across droppings while going about your life, take this as a sign of a rodent problem and call pest control services right away.
Gnawed Food Containers
Rodents are notorious for chewing through cereal box containers, thin plastic bags, or other somewhat flimsy food containers to gain access to the tasty treats inside. If you notice chewed-through boxes and containers, this is another big sign that you may be sharing your home with rodents. Keep a sharp eye out for damaged cereal boxes and other thin food containers — especially the corners.
Chewed or Scratched Areas
Food containers are not the only thing that mice can scratch and claw their way into. Rodents can chew and scratch wood, drywall, baseboards, and other surfaces in your home to find a suitable hiding place. Mice and rats can fit into surprisingly small holes, so holes and scratch marks of any kind may be an indication of a rodent control issue. If you suspect you may have one or more rodents in your home, check around for gnawed wood, small holes, and scratched areas. Places to look include cabinets, along the walls, and other out-of-the-way areas in your home or business.
Nests
Rodents will find a spot that is hidden and out of the way to set up a home base. At this home base, you will find a nest made from paper, trash, fabric, or anything else they can find nearby. Even if you find a nest without a rodent in it, it likely means that there is a rodent creeping about nearby. If you find a rodent’s nest, contact pest control services like our team at Dave’s Pest Control to confirm you have found a rodent’s nest and help remove rodents or mice from your property.
Strange Pet Behavior
Sometimes pets notice there is a pest control problem before people do. Odd pet behavior is another sign that could point to there being rodents or other pests in your home. Cats and dogs may pick up on a subtle scent or even have a sighting or a rodent before we do. After all, they are home a lot more than we are. Cats will stay in one place staring for hours on end as they hunt down the rodent they have picked up on. Dogs can behave similarly, or they can whine, suddenly dart after something, or exhibit other unusual behavior if they have picked up on a rodent.
Sightings
When most people have a rodent sighting, it usually happens so fast they wonder if they even saw anything at all. Mice and rats are very quick. So if you do spot them, it will usually be very briefly out of the corner of your eye. They appear as a dark streak much of the time. Though they can sometimes be seen hiding or slowly making their way along a wall. Sightings are the clearest sign of all that there is a pest control problem. Unfortunately, if you spot one rodent, there is a high chance that there are many more you don’t see.
Things Going Bump in the Night
You may hear mice and rats in your walls and scuttering around at night before you ever see them. Keep an ear out for tiny scampering noises, the rustling of plastic or packaging, a rustling in the garbage, or scratching noises. Isolated incidents of these noises may not necessarily be a sign that you have a rodent control problem. But, if you regularly hear any of these noises, it may be time to call your local pest control professionals.
Urine Smells
Mice and rats themselves often come with a stale, musty odor. Additionally, their urine has a strong ammonia smell. Because it can be difficult to see if you have a rodent control problem, it’s important to trust your other senses as well like sound and smell. If you are noticing a new unpleasant urine smell, it could be a sign that you have a pest control issue.
Dave’s Pest Control
We hope that today’s blog post has armed you with the knowledge you need to identify the signs of a rodent infestation. Rodent control is far easier and more effective the sooner it is detected. The longer a pest control problem like mice and rats go unnoticed, the worse the infestation gets. Knowing the signs and what to look out for can help you prevent needing pest control services for rodents in the future!
No matter how clean and careful you are, though, rodents can sometimes make their way into your home or business. If this is the case for you, be sure to contact us at Dave’s Pest Control sooner and get a free estimate. We have extensive experience and regularly work in Southern and Central Florida.
In our last blog post at Dave’s Pest Control, we talked about great ways to prevent mice and other rodents from entering your home. You can check that helpful blog out here. Expanding on that idea, today’s blog post is all about tips for preventing mice in your business! As always, if you need help from our pest control services to remove and prevent mice or any other pests in your business, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We have years of experience in the pest control industry and work extensively throughout Flagler and Volusia county. If your business is in Port Orange, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, New Smyrna, Deland, or any of the nearby cities, contact Dave’s Pest Control today.
It may seem obvious why you don’t want mice scampering around your business — especially if your business handles food. Mice make even some of the bravest souls a little squeamish. But beyond being uncomfortable to be around, there are countless other reasons why you really don’t want mice in your business. If customers see them, they give the impression that your establishment is unkempt, unhealthy, and frankly, gross. Not to mention the diseases that mice and rats can carry on them. That’s why restaurants are shut down if health inspectors find signs of significant rodent activity.
Tips To Prevent Rats and Mice In Your Business
Rodent control is necessary if you are a self-respecting business, but what can you do to prevent rodents from getting into your business? Keep reading for a few helpful pest control tips.
Keep Your Environment Clean
This pest control tip is probably the most obvious and arguably one of the most effective. Whether your business is an office or a restaurant, cleanliness is key. Mice and rats are scavengers. If there are crumbs of food, garbage with old food they can get into, or trash/mess that they can use for cover, they are going to be more prone to set up shop in your business. Make sure you regularly vacuum up crumbs, throw away garbage, prevent the trash from piling up, and just practice good housekeeping in general. This isn’t something that you have to do on your own, you can have everybody in the office do their part by setting some clear ground rules or hire an outside company to come in nightly for a thorough cleaning.
Minimize Desk Eating
This pest control tip mostly applies to office complexes, but it can be applied to nearly any business. We get it, there are deadlines, things to do, and no time to get it all done. This can make eating at your desk feel like the only option. And as long as you are cleaning up after yourself, this can be a non-issue. But, in general, it’s best to have everyone eat in one centralized location in an effort to contain any mess that comes from food. When everyone eats in an established kitchen or other location, cleaning services (whether that’s you or a company you hired) can take extra care to make sure this is sanitary and cleanly to prevent mice from calling your office home.
Unfortunately, even the best-kept offices can sometimes experience rodent control issues. In cases like these, it’s important to act fast by calling your local pest control professional, Dave’s Pest Control.
Find Possible Entry Points
Just like when you are preventing mice in your home, preventing mice in your business can be as easy as pinpointing the location where rodents are entering your building. Once you find out where they are getting in, it’s as simple as sealing the entrance so they no longer have easy access. Rodents can be crafty creatures, so make sure that you do your best to identify all of the access points they could be entering from. Businesses are typically larger than homes, so there may be multiple different locations they are entering from.
Store Food Properly
Proper food storage is paramount in the prevention of rodents in your business. Whether you are in an office space or a restaurant, ensure that any food being left at the office is stored in a sealed container. Plastic Tupperware works just fine in most cases. Additionally, food should be stored more than 6 inches off the ground. This makes it significantly more difficult for rodents to access your stored food and oftentimes prevents you from needing other pest control services too. Food should never be left out in the open for long periods of time and crumbs, dropped food, or other food messes should be cleaned up right away. This is not only great for rodent control prevention but also good housekeeping practices, in general, that will help keep your workplace a more clean environment.
Proper Handling of Trash
Making sure all of your waste makes it into the wastebasket at work is only half the battle. The other half is actually taking it out to the dumpster or whatever large sealed trash receptacle you have. Office trash cans can have all manner of food, drinks, and other things the rodents are attracted to. Rats and mice see this as an all-you-can-eat buffet just sitting there waiting for them to dig in. Our team at Dave’s Pest Control recommends taking out trash regularly and often. At the very least, all the trash in the office should be emptied nightly to prevent it from sitting overnight.
Pro Tip: Make sure the dumpster area is free of trash and other debris on the ground as well. You may think nothing of rodents being in your outside trash, but they can quickly push further into your business from the dumpster.
Early Detection
Like we mentioned earlier, rodents are crafty and tenacious creatures. Even if you follow all of these tips, there is still a chance that mice and rats can make their way into your business. While the chances are greatly reduced if you are following these pest control prevention tips, it is still possible. In cases like these, early detection is key. Keep an eye out for signs of rodents like droppings, chewed through food containers, gnaw marks, scampering noises, sightings of even one rodent, and nests. If you even suspect that a mouse or rat has made their way into your business, don’t risk it — reach out to us at Dave’s Pest Control right away. We can further investigate to identify if there is a rodent control problem and swiftly resolve the issue. Even if there isn’t an existing rodent infestation, we can help you fortify your business against rodents.
Call Dave’s Pest Control
Dave’s Pest Control has years of pest control experience and has built a respectable reputation throughout Florida for our quality service. Whether you suspect that a rodent may have made its way into your establishment or you stumble upon a large-scale rodent infestation, we are the pest control team you can trust to get the job done. Contact us today to learn more and to start your rodent control services.
Depending on where you’re at and who you ask, you could point to the same exact bug and have two people call it two very different names: palmetto bug or cockroach. In today’s blog, our exterminator talks a little bit about palmetto bugs, how they differ from cockroaches, and other species palmetto bugs are falsely identified as. Many people are of the school of thought that they don’t care what type of bug it is and they just want it gone.
If this is the case for you, don’t hesitate to contact us at Dave’s Pest Control for our exterminator services. No matter where you are in southern or central Florida, we can help you get rid of roaches (or palmetto bugs) quickly and completely.
Palmetto Bug vs German Cockroach
Palmetto Bug
Simply put, the palmetto bug is a roach, but a roach isn’t necessarily a palmetto bug. Much like a Kleenex is a tissue, but not every tissue is a Kleenex. The term palmetto bug is commonly used to identify any cockroach in the Southeastern United States. However, the palmetto bug is actually a species of cockroach. Cockroaches encompass thousands of species and palmetto bug is one specific species of pest. Palmetto bugs are technically the American Cockroach but got their nickname from the leaves of the palmetto tree where they live.
Palmetto bugs are large roaches in comparison to many of their cockroach relatives. They are also generally dark brown in color, are winged, and have markings just behind their heads that are two colored circles that resemble sunglasses. Palmetto bugs generally prefer damp environments very different from inside most homes. It’s not unheard of for palmetto bugs to be in a home, but typically people have a problem with them outside their home around their property. If you have palmetto bugs in your home or on your property, contact our exterminators at Dave’s Pest Control today.
The German Cockroach
The German cockroach is the most common cockroach that people find in their homes. Their ideal environment is a kitchen, bathroom, or any area where food is stored or prepared. They also can go from one or two cockroaches to an entire infestation very quickly. This is no only unsettling because of the fact that there are bugs in the home, but it is also dangerous because they carry many forms of diseases and can be very harmful to the residents’ health. Whether it’s a German cockroach or a different species, it’s a good idea to contact an exterminator sooner rather than later. If you spot any roaches or signs of any roaches in or around your home, contact our exterminator right away.
Dave’s Pest Control
We hope that you have found today’s blog post helpful and that you can more easily identify the difference between palmetto bugs and other cockroaches. Now you’re sure to impress everyone with your vast knowledge at your next social gathering! And as always, if you have any questions or need exterminator help, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Dave’s Pest Control.
At Dave’s Pest Control, it’s no surprise that we come across all manner of pests here in Florida. At least in the Port Orange area, it’s almost always warm and very humid — just what pests love! In today’s blog, our pest control team talks a little bit about the most common pests that we encounter on a day-to-day basis. To learn more about Dave’s Pest Control or to recruit our pest control services, feel free to reach out to us at any time. We operate out of Port Orange and provide pest control services all throughout Flagler County, Volusia County, and more!
Mosquito Control
If you live in Florida or have ever visited Florida for more than a few days, then you know just how bad the mosquito problems can be in some areas. That’s where our professional mosquito control team steps in. But rather than using harmful DEET that kills much more than mosquitos, we use the proven-effective In2Care® system. This method has proven itself to be a highly effective mosquito control technique that eliminates mosquitoes from your property and prevents them from coming back, without harming other life in the area.
Unfortunately, another pest that our team commonly comes across is the cockroach. Cockroach extermination can be tricky. This is especially true if the infestation has had time to develop further. Cockroaches are resilient and often go unnoticed until the infestation is practically out of control. If you have seen or suspect that you may have cockroaches in your home or commercial property, it is best to call a roach exterminator sooner rather than later. The sooner the infestation is addressed, the easier it will be to remove it. Some residents and business owners believe they can deal with cockroach extermination on their own, but we urge you to contact a pest control professional. It is simply not worth risking the safety of others on your property.
Palmetto Bug Extermination
Palmetto bugs should be treated the same as you would a cockroach infestation. This is because Palmetto bugs are, in fact, the species of cockroach — the American Cockroach. This subspecies of roach is common in the Port Orange and surrounding areas. Our team at Dave’s Pest Control has years of experience with Palmetto bug extermination. If your home or business has any sign of these pests, be sure to contact our pest control team right away.
Bed Bug Treatment
Another form of pest that we often see are bed bugs. Bed bugs, like many other pests, can get out of control very quickly if left untreated. Bed bugs leave their victims itchy and with little red bumps. Not to mention the psychological damage of knowing that there are tiny critters in your bed. Most commonly, bed bug treatment is done with powerful chemicals that exterminate the bed bugs and their eggs. In some extreme cases though, we have the option to bring in a fumigator to fumigate the entire property if need be.
Rodent Control
When most people think pest control services, they think rats, mice, and other rodents. There isn’t a pest control team in the country that doesn’t commonly offer rodent control. This is because mice are so adaptable, can take root in a variety of environments, and are exceptional at going undetected for long periods of time. If there are few enough of them, you may not even notice they are there unless they are eating food items that you commonly use. There are some over-the-counter methods that work fairly well if your problem is fairly minor. However, if your rodent control problem gets out of hand, be sure to reach out to our professional rodent control team at Dave’s Pest Control out of Port Orange.
Dave’s Pest Control
And there you have it! Those are the five most common pests that our pest control team encounters in our work throughout Flagler and Volusia counties. If you have any questions about what pests we treat, where we operate, or anything else at all, feel free to contact our pest control team at Dave’s Pest Control directly!
When spiders are often seen , they induce sudden panic and fear. This picture is the common “wolf” spider. (Often incorrectly called huntsman or jumping spiders.) Considered high risk with a painful bite, these spiders however do not inject enough venom to kill a human.
These spiders do not spin webs and wait for prey to get stuck. They go out and hunt for food. They primarily consume cockroaches, small lizards , crickets , grasshoppers and other small invertebrate. The wolf spider and other “hunting” spiders have excellent sight, speed and agility. They hide behind bark, cracks and crevices in and around homes and landscapes. Waiting for prey, they pounce injecting venom, liquefying it into a meal.
Although these spiders are not poisonous, they can bite if cornered or feel threatened. The bite can cause mild to moderate pain with localized swelling. This is similar to a wasp or bee sting and can be painful.
Wolf spiders carry their eggs in a silk sac on their backs. If disturbed, the sac can rupture, and hundreds of babies will scatter everywhere. Therefore, it is not recommended to “hit” or “smash” a wolf spider.
Prevention is the best offense to reduce the chances of seeing one of these eight-eyed, giant monster arachnids. Seal windows and doors well. Regular pest control treatments will help reduce the insects they feed on. Products like *Bifen , when applied to soffits, may also help prevent these spiders from crawling upward into attics and keep them away from homes. Attic dusting is another option if these spiders are suspect to inhabit an attic or crawl space.
The wolf spider is most often confused with the brown recluse, however, the brown recluse has six eyes, and the wolf spider has eight. Additionally, the brown recluse has a violin shape pattern on its back. Poisonous spiders such as the brown recluse are hardly ever seen. (Thus the name recluse). They hide in dark, small areas which humans seldom go.
Mice and rats are amongst some of the most common pests that people find in their homes. They are experts in stealth and are surprisingly clever when it comes to being undetected. However, they can usually be detected from the clues they leave behind — clues meaning droppings, unfortunately. But, there are some steps that you can take to actively prevent rodents from entering your home in the first place.
Let’s see how can you prevent mice in your homes! these tips would surely help you keeping your homes safe and secure from rodents or mice.
Repair Damaged Screens
One of the most effective ways you can prevent rodents from entering your home is by limiting their entry points as best as you can. One way you can do this is by double-checking the screens in all of the windows in your home. This way you can confidently leave your windows open without having to worry about a critter sneaking in through small holes in your screen. Though it is worth noting that mice and rats can chew through screens. So, it might be a good idea to at least close your ground and basement-level windows at night time.
Seal Cracks and Holes
Much like the holes in your screens, rodents are skilled at finding any small holes or entrances to your home. One way you can prevent rodents from entering your home is by examining the outside of your property and making sure that any entrances are properly sealed. Even small holes that you don’t think a mouse could fit through should be sealed as well — rodents are tenacious buggers. We recommend using steel wool or caulking to seal small cracks and holes.
If you need help properly sealing and preventing mice from entering your home in Flager and Volusia counties, contact our pest control team at Dave’s Pest Control. Our rodent control specialists are happy to help!
Keep Food Stored Properly
Rodents, and many other pests, are attracted to places with easy access to food. If you have food unprotected and unsealed sitting in cabinets, on counters, or elsewhere in the home, it is a siren’s call for pests to enter your home. It can be easy to forget but make sure things like pet food, cereal, and other snacks are sealed in air-tight containers. This way, your food items are difficult to access for hungry critters, making your home a less appealing homestead. You can help prevent needing pest control services in the first place by taking proper precautions like sealing food in air-tight containers!
Adopt a Cat
Cats are certainly not for everyone. But, if you happen to have an affinity toward felines, having a cat around the house can act as a big deterrent for rodents looking to enter your home. Whether it’s an indoor or outdoor cat, the cat’s natural instincts are to hunt and exterminate mice and rats. However, it’s worth noting that not all cats catch mice. Some just watch them run by or are even afraid of them. For the most part, though, cats are pretty great at getting rid of mice in your home and can make excellent companions.
Place Screens in Chimneys
Chimneys are a convenient access point for mice and other rodents to make your way into your home. One of the easiest ways to prevent access through the chimney is through the use of a chimney screen. These allow for smoke and air to easily pass through, but keep any solids from coming in or out of your chimney.
Have mice and rats already made their way into your home through the chimney or through other means? Get a free estimate today for high-quality, efficient pest control services!
Invest in Gutter Guards
Having gutter guards installed on your gutters can be a great way to keep rodents and other pests out of your home. Gutters can sometimes act as a highway of sorts for mice to get cozy and access your home. Gutter guards allow for water to easily flow through your gutters but block out larger objects — like rodents and leaves. An additional bonus of gutter guards are that you won’t have to clear out leaves from your gutter nearly as often, if at all.
Set Traps
It may sound odd to put out mouse traps before you have a pest control problem, but setting traps can be a great preventative measure. You can prevent rodents from ever entering your home by setting well-placed traps around the outside of your home that may be attractive to these pests. It’s much easier to prevent a rodent infestation with traps than it is to actively remove rodents once they’ve set up shop. Just make sure that they are not somewhere where children or pets can easily stumble upon them. For help with rodent control, get your free pest control estimate at Dave’s Pest Control.
Utilize Smells Mice Hate
Strangely enough, there are some smells that mice hate that steer them clear of your home. Clean-smelling homes that have strong scents are often enough to turn mice away. Some specific examples of materials people like to use include mint, bay leaves, mothballs, and dryer sheets. These products emit a scent that mice simply aren’t fond of. You wouldn’t want to live in a house that wreaked of feet in the same way that mice don’t want to stay in a home that smells strongly of mint or dryer sheets. Please note that if you choose to use mothballs, they can be poisonous to children and dogs.
Keep Doors Closed
It’s obvious that you should keep your front doors and patio doors to your house closed to prevent pests from getting in. But, many people surprisingly forget to keep garage doors closed too. Once mice make their way into your garage door, they can sometimes more easily stumble upon a simple way to enter your home. A great way to prevent rodents from entering your home is to make it as difficult as possible for them. This means shutting the garage door, front door, back door, and any other doors to the home quickly after everyone is through them.
Contact Dave’s Pest Control
Our team at Dave’s Pest Control hopes these 10 tips will help keep your home rodent-free. If for some reason, they still manage to make their way into your home, you can count on us. Our pest control services make quick work of any rodent infestation. If you need help with rodent control in Flager or Volusia Counties, reach out to us at Dave’s Pest Control right away!
Welcome to our blog at Dave’s Pest Control! We are a pest control service that has been operating all throughout Flager and Volusia counties for more than 40 years — and we have no plans of slowing down. In our blog, you can expect to find helpful, pest control information, tips, tricks, and resources to help your home or business with uninvited houses guests (in-laws not included). In today’s post at Dave’s Pest Control, we talk a little bit about us, the services we offer, and the various cities we operate out of. Be sure to check our blog regularly for new content regularly and contact our team at Dave’s Pest Control for your exterminator services.
Exterminator Services We Offer
Over the last few decades, we have picked up some invaluable experience working with countless pests. Some of our most common exterminator services include:
Mosquito Control – No matter where you are in Florida, mosquitos always seem to be an uncontrollable nuisance. Luckily, our team at Dave’s Pest Control offers mosquito control services that not only keep mosquitos away but they are effective against mosquito larvae and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We use a mosquito control system called In2Care® that is consistently effective against mosquitos and safe for the environment. Check out our mosquito control page to learn more.
Cockroach Control – Cockroaches aren’t only unsightly, they can also carry diseases and create much bigger problems for you and anyone else around them. We have extensive experience with cockroach control and can make sure we nip any infestations in the bud before they get out of control. Learn more about how our exterminators can handle cockroach problems on our cockroach control page.
Palmetto Bugs – Palmetto Bugs are subspecies of the cockroach also known as the American Cockroach. They are especially common in the parts of Florida our exterminator services cover (Flagler and Volusia counties) and can very quickly get out of hand. If you see one, there are almost certainly many more you don’t see. Check out our Palmetto Bugs page to learn more.
Lawn Spraying – One aspect of our exterminator services that can sometimes go overlooked is our lawn spraying services. This is a preventative pest-control service that includes a multitude of benefits for the greenery in your yard. Not only does it help protect against pests, but it also protects your plants and trees from disease, fungus, and other potential problems. Learn more on our lawn spraying page.
Bed Bug Treatment – Bed bugs spread quickly, are elusive, and are nearly impossible to treat on your own. At Dave’s Pest Control, we understand how tricky bed bugs can be. That’s why we employ a variety of techniques and make sure to have several follow-up inspections so you can be confident that your bed bug treatment was effective. Get more information on our bed bug treatment page.
Termite Treatment – As many people know, termites eat wood and can cause tremendous structural damage when left untreated. Termites need to be taken care of right away — and we’re just the exterminator to do it. We offer free termite inspections at Dave’s Pest Control, so there is no reason not to call if you suspect that you may have termites! Discover everything you need to know on our termite treatment page.
Wildlife Removal – Most people love their homes — they’re safe, warm, and provide protection from the outside world. Unfortunately, wildlife loves your home for the same reasons. Animals like squirrels, raccoons, skunks, moles, and other critters can make their way on or in your property. When they do, you can trust our exterminator services to safely and quickly remove them from your home. Learn more on our wildlife removal page.
Rodent Control – Mice and rats are clever creatures that can go unnoticed for quite some time. Many people will see the signs of rodents before ever actually seeing one. If you suspect that your home has mice or rats, you can trust Dave’s Pest Control’s rodent control services. We use methods like glue boards, catch-alls, bait boxes, and other means to remove these creatures from your home. Learn more on our rodent control services page.
Bee Removal – When you notice bees or wasps nests around your property, it’s almost never a good idea to try to take care of it yourself. Don’t risk being stung or bitten, call our professionals at Dave’s Pest Control for safe and effective bee removal.
Areas of Operation
We operate across a large service area throughout southern and central Florida. The most common counties our exterminator services work out of include but are not limited to:
Brevard
Broward
Flagler
Hillsborough
Lake
Miami-Dade
Orange
Osceola
Palm Beach
Polk
Seminole
Volusia
If you are unsure whether or not our exterminator services cover your area, don’t hesitate to contact us today!
Call Dave’s Pest Control
Thanks for checking out today’s blog post from Dave’s Pest Control! We hope that it has been an illuminating resource that you can continue to reference in the future. Feel free to reach out to our exterminator team anytime with questions about our service, more information, quote requests, or to start your exterminator services.
Mosquitoes – Ugh! We’ve all encountered these annoying tiny insects whose very sound causes us to cringe.
Then there’s the irritating itch, followed by red bumps. Both are the result of an allergic reaction to the saliva of mosquitoes when they land and bite.
It’s not really a bite – the female mosquito pierces your skin using her proboscis, a narrow part of the mouth, in an effort to find a blood vessel that provides an adequate blood supply to drink from. Your body recognizes the invasion and responds by creating histamine.
Mosquitos aren’t hungry for your blood, per se: mosquitos need to feed on protein-rich meals, like your blood, to produce eggs and propagate their species.
What are the main concerns about mosquito bites?
Far more concerning than temporary discomfort is the various diseases that can be transmitted via mosquito bites. The World Health Organization says mosquitos are the greatest carriers of disease in the animal kingdom, causing millions of deaths around the world each year.
Malaria, West Nile virus, Dengue virus, Zika virus – these lead to deadly or disabling effects for humans, but they also transmit parasites and disease to dogs and horses.
A two-fold approach is essential to ensure mosquito control:
Elimination of breeding areas
Techniques to avoid getting mosquito bites in the first place.
What is malaria?
Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite. The parasite is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. People who have malaria usually feel very sick, with a high fever and shaking chills. It’s treatable, but can be deadly.
What is West Nile virus?
West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. It’s most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat it in people. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not feel sick. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.
What is Dengue?
Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. Dengue is common in more than 100 countries around the world. Forty percent of the world’s population, about 3 billion people, live in areas with a risk of dengue.
Dengue is a huge problem for Filipinos. They’ve come up with many novel ways to combat the mosquito population, including catching mosquitoes using dinner plates smeared with cooking oil (they get a free kilo of rice for every 200 dead mosquitoes they turn in), releasing frogs in areas where insects proliferate, and the discharge of the so-called “mosquito fish” in riverside communities and areas where stagnant water collect.
What is Zika Virus?
Zika is a virus that’s spread mostly by mosquitoes. Most adults who get it have mild symptoms. But the Zika mosquito can cause serious problems for pregnant women and their babies. Zika has only recently come to the Americas, Caribbean, and Pacific.
What are specific characteristics that make certain people a mosquito magnet?
You may get more than your fair share of attention from mosquitoes. It’s not your imagination.
“One in 10 people are highly attractive to mosquitoes,” reports Jerry Butler, professor at the University of Florida. Mosquitoes need human blood to develop fertile eggs. And apparently, not just anyone’s will do.
Genetics account for much of the attraction. Elements of our body chemistry, when found in excess on the skin’s surface, make mosquitoes swarm closer.
“Any type of carbon dioxide is attractive, even over a long distance,” another researcher says. “Larger people give off more carbon dioxide, which is why mosquitoes typically prefer adults to small children. Pregnant women are at increased risk, as they produce a greater-than-normal amount of exhaled carbon dioxide. Movement and heat also attract mosquitoes.”
At outdoor gatherings, you may be better off relaxing than exerting yourself. Mosquitoes sense your movement and head toward you. When you pant, the smell of carbon dioxide from your heavy breathing brings them closer. Lactic acid from your sweat glands does also.
Effective ways to avoid getting sick from viruses spread by mosquitoes
It turns out that large-scale spraying or other public treatments may not be the most effective way to escape bites.
You reduce the risk of bites by wearing long-sleeved pants and shirts when outdoors. But mosquito repellents are essential, too.
“Using an insect repellent is one of the best ways you can protect yourself from Zika and other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes,” says Harry Savage, chief of ecology and entomology activity at the CDC’s Division of Vector-Borne Diseases.
In addition, everyone should vigilant to remove breeding areas for mosquitoes. Any standing water is a potential nursery for these pests, even very small receptacles!
Beyond the obvious pools of standing, stagnant water like wading pools or buckets, be sure to empty out saucers under outdoor plants, clean out birdbaths frequently, and unclog your rain gutters. Drying up areas of water will help kill mosquito eggs and larvae.
A Brazilian radio station’s unusual approach to repelling mosquitoes quickly grabbed a lot of attention, but sadly it turned out to be a bust.
One of the world’s top advertising awards went this year to a campaign in which a radio station broadcast ultrasound along with its programs to repel mosquitoes. But does it work? Definitely not, say scientists.
What are the most common mosquito repellents used?
Loads of different mosquito repellents are marketed each summer, but they’re not all created equal. Take a look at those that are chemical-based first, then we’ll consider repellents that are considered natural.
What are effective chemical-based repellents?
Effective mosquito repellents are often chemical-based. DEET, for example, has been around since 1957. It continues to be the chemical of choice used in repellents.
A researcher from Chapel Hill Dermatology reports that repellents with 23.8% DEET (most formulas contain between 10% and 30%) protect wearers for about five hours.
But how safe is it? It helps to know that “DEET has been in use for over 40 years and has a remarkable safety record. Only a few hospitalizations have been reported, mainly due to gross overuse,” a report on WebMD. “The American Academy of Pediatrics states that low concentrations of DEET (10% or less) are safe to use on infants over 2 months old.”
Picaridin is another repellent for mosquitoes, ticks, and flies. It’s a synthetic version of a repellent found in pepper plants. Maximum protection is provided in formulations with 20 percent picaridin. Spray versions protect for up to 12 hours against mosquitoes and ticks, and up to eight hours against flies; lotion formulations last for up to 14 hours against mosquitoes and ticks, and up to eight hours against flies.
You should also be aware of the differences between these two chemical formulations. Because they’re the most effective repellents, people often ask which is better. Here’s an expert’s comparison:
DEET: considered the gold standard in terms of its effectiveness. It’s been used and studied more than any other repellent in human history, though it must be handled carefully because it can damage plastics (think sunglasses, trekking pole grips, etc.)
Picaridin: Though it’s been around for fewer decades, its efficacy is considered comparable to DEET for mosquitoes and ticks, and it works better on flies. Picaridin also has minimal odor and no damaging effect on plastics and other synthetics.
What are some natural repellents?
Medical News Today suggests many natural repellents; here are 5 of the best:
1. Citronella – Dose for dose, citronella can be as effective as DEET initially. However, citronella oil evaporates quickly, meaning that it’s only effective for a short time. ( topical application of 100% citronella can provide complete protection against three types of mosquito for up to 120 minutes in a laboratory setting.) High concentrations of citronella can cause skin irritation. You can also purchase citronella candles
People traveling to areas where mosquitoes carry diseases may wish to use a more effective synthetic repellent than citronella.
2. Lemon eucalyptus – Lemon eucalyptus essential oil contains 85% citronella. It is a popular product in the cleaning and cosmetics industries due to its fresh scent.
The findings of both field and laboratory studies show that lemon eucalyptus oil can effectively protect against several species of malaria-carrying mosquito as well as the yellow fever mosquito.
One study found that a formula containing 32% lemon eucalyptus oil provided at least 95% protection from mosquitoes for 3 hours. However, it has a shorter protection time than DEET as it evaporates more quickly.
3. Clove – Aside from baking, cloves may also help prevent bothersome mosquito bites.
Researchers mixed clove essential oil with bases of olive and coconut oil, which volunteers then applied topically to their skin. The clove oil mixtures protected against yellow fever mosquitoes for up to 96 minutes.
Other research suggests that a component of cloves called methyl eugenol could be a carcinogen, but these claims require further research.
4. Peppermint – Peppermint may be another natural way to repel mosquitoes. The authors of a 2011 review concluded that high concentrations of peppermint essential oil are effective, but they could not find any research on lower concentrations.
A study in 2011 found that peppermint essential oil was effective against mosquito larvae and provided 100% protection against bites from adult yellow fever mosquitoes for up to 150 minutes.
5. Lemongrass – Lemongrass essential oil is another option for a natural mosquito repellent. In a 2015 study, researchers found that a combination of lemongrass essential oil and olive oil provided 98.8% protection against the southern house mosquito.
Other research found that topical application of lemongrass essential oil provided 74–95% protection for 2.5 hours against two types of mosquito during a field study.
Natural mosquito repellents that include the essential oils above are frequently available for sale. Researchers have found one commercial formula containing glycerin, lecithin, vanillin, coconut oil, geranium, and soybean oil has similar effects to DEET and can repel mosquitoes for up to 7 hours.
Repellents like these can be made at home by combining essential oils with water or carrier oils, such as coconut or soybean oil, to either use as a room spray or apply topically.
Some people find that their skin reacts to essential oils, and they can also make the skin prone to sun damage, so it is important to do a patch test on a small area of skin first.
As some essential oils are only effective for a short time, it is best to reapply these formulations regularly, particularly after going in the water or sweating.
Are there plants that naturally repel mosquitoes?
Yes, several plants help. Homeowners may want to look into filling pots or flowerbeds with plantings that repel mosquitoes, such as lavender, citronella grass, thyme, rosemary, catnip, basil, and peppermint. Bee balm is another appealing choice – it attracts good bugs like bees and butterflies, but its crushed leaves repel other insects.
Bed bugs. The very thought of them makes us shudder. We’ve heard horror stories of infestations and want to do everything in our power to fight against these bed bugs.
But what exactly are bed bugs? And how can you prevent them? And if you do have bed bugs, how do you deal with them?
In this post, we’re going to break down the what, why, and how of bed bugs. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to do if you find yourself battling bed bugs.
What Are Bed Bugs?
First and foremost, what exactly are bed bugs? Obviously, they’re an insect that can bite you while you’re in bed. But it goes beyond that.
Bed bugs are small, oval insects that are brownish in color and live on the blood of animals and humans. Before they feed, adult bed bugs are relatively flat and about the size of an apple seed. But once they feed, they swell with blood and take on a reddish hue.
Do bed bugs fly?
Thankfully not. However, they can move at a rapid pace over walls, floors, and even ceilings. Additionally, over the course of their lives, female bed bugs are able to lay hundreds of eggs, with each one only being about the size of a speck of dust. It is the relative smallness of bed bug eggs that can make them difficult to detect.
Young bed bugs that have not yet reached maturity are called nymphs. These nymphs will shed their skins up to five times before they reach full maturity, and before they can shed their skins, they require a meal of blood.
Bed bugs can reach full maturity in as little time as a month and produce up to three more generations of bed bugs in a single year. It’s no wonder that they can spread so rapidly.
Thankfully, although they are a terrible pest, bed bugs aren’t known to spread diseases.
It’s estimated that one-in-five Americans have dealt with bed bugs or know someone who has dealt with them at some point in their lives.
What Are The Effects Of A Bed Bug Bite?
Bed bugs have a tube-like proboscis which they use to puncture the skin of a human or animal. They use this proboscis to draw blood from their victims. Typically, bed bugs are most active when humans are asleep (night and early morning), explaining why so many bites happen in beds.
Bed bugs aren’t particularly picky in terms of where they’ll bite a person, and bites can occur anywhere on the skin. Usually, the bites occur in areas where the skin is exposed, such as the neck, face, shoulders, arms, legs, or hands. Most people don’t feel the bite when it occurs.
For most people, bed bug bites don’t produce serious symptoms, usually limited to a mark where the bite occurred and some irritation and inflammation around the bite. However, for some people, bed bug bites can cause painful burning sensations along with significant amounts of itching.
The bites often look like a red bump with either a clear center or a dark center. If the center is dark, the surrounding area is often lighter and semi-swollen. Other times, they can look like small red bumps with little blisters surrounding them. The bumps can sometimes appear in a zig-zag line.
Bites can also produce what are called “papular eruptions”, where areas of skin become inflamed.
How Can You Determine If You Have Bed Bugs?
If you even suspect that you have bed bugs, you’ll want to determine as quickly as possible if you actually do.
Unfortunately, bed bugs can fit into even the smallest of places due to the flatness of their bodies. They can wedge their bodies into cracks as small as a credit card. Additionally, bed bugs don’t make nests but tend to live in groups.
They like to hide in places like headboards, bed frames, box springs, and mattresses. This makes it much easier for them to bite humans at night.
Because the bites look similar to mosquito bites, it’s easy to at first attribute a bed bug infestation to mosquitos. This means that you need to confirm that you have bed bugs by finding the bugs themselves.
One way to tell that you might have bed bugs is if you begin to see small spots of blood on your sheets or mattress from where the bugs have bitten you and blood has seeped out. You may also begin to see reddish-brown dried stains on fabrics from due to bed bug droppings. Bed bugs also give off a detectable, musty odor from their scent glands.
If you think that you may be dealing with bed bugs, start by removing all your bedding. Examine it carefully for any signs of the bugs, blood spots, excrement, or the shed shells of nymphs. Then remove the dust cover from the bottom of your box spring and inspect the wood framing and the seams. Peel back any fabric that is stapled to the wood frame and make a careful inspection for signs of bed bugs.
After you’ve thoroughly inspected your bed, perform a thorough inspection of the area around your bed. Look inside books, telephones, radios, the edge of the carpet, and even your electrical outlets. Since bedbugs can also attach to clothing, you’ll want to check both your closet and your drawers.
The most effective way to determine if you have a bed bug infestation is to call an exterminator.
They can tell you quickly whether you’re dealing with bed bugs and begin making treatments immediately.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs can be incredibly difficult to get rid of due to how fast they breed and how many eggs they can lay. The absolute MOST effective way to deal with bed bugs is to call an exterminator. This should be your first step if you think you may be dealing with a bed bug infestation.
If you don’t call an exterminator, you may have a difficult time completely ridding yourself of bed bugs.
In addition to calling an exterminator, there are some steps you can take to help eliminate as many bed bugs as possible.
First, clean all your bedding, linens, curtains, and clothing in hot water. After cleaning them, dry them on the highest setting. For items that can’t be washed (stuffed animals, shoes, etc.), dry them on the highest setting for at least 30 minutes.
Second, vacuum your bed and the area around your bed frequently. This will help suck up the bed bugs and their eggs. As soon as you’re done vacuuming, put the vacuum bag into a plastic bag and then place it in an outdoor garbage can.
Before you vacuum, brush the seams of your mattress with a stiff brush to remove bed bugs and their eggs.
Third, if you have cracks in your plaster or peeling wallpaper, fix these as much as possible. Bed bugs can live in these cracks and it’s essential that you eliminate as many of their hiding places as possible.
Fourth, get rid of as much clutter around your bed as possible. Bed bugs thrive in clutter and by removing as much as possible you destroy some of their habitat.
Finally, if you think that your mattress is infested with bed bugs, you may simply need to throw it out and purchase a new one. However, before you purchase a new mattress, you’ll want to make sure you’ve eliminated as many of the bed bugs as possible so that they don’t simply come back to your new mattress.
How Can You Prevent Bed Bugs?
There are a number of steps you can take to prevent bed bugs from invading your house.
First, consider covering your mattress and box springs in protective covers. These plastic covers are specifically designed to prevent bed bugs. If you do get bed bugs, these covers make it easier for you to deal with them and keep them from getting into your mattress and box springs.
Second, vacuum your rugs and carpets on a regular basis. If you think you may have come into contact with bed bugs, vacuum daily until you’re sure that you’re clear of the problem. Once you’ve vacuumed, dispose of the bag immediately in an outdoor container.
Third, keep your rooms free from clutter. As noted above, bed bugs love to hide in clutter. Eliminating as much clutter as possible gives them fewer places to make their home.
Fourth, consider installing door sweeps or door jams if you live especially close to other houses or apartments. Installing door sweeps or door jams will seal off your home or apartment, making it more difficult for the bugs to get into your home.
Fifth, if you’re traveling, try to stay in higher grade hotels (at least 3 stars and above). These hotels are the least likely to have bed bugs as they tend to change the mattresses much more often. When staying in a hotel, check the bed, nightstand, and furniture for any signs of bed bugs. This includes the headboard of the bed as well as any wooden furniture near the bed. When you return home from traveling, wash your clothes immediately to ensure that you didn’t bring any bed bugs home.
Finally, if you purchase second hand furniture or clothing, always inspect them for signs of bed bugs. Look for reddish brown spots that indicate bed bug fecal matter. Additionally, look for any blood splotches that suggest bed bug bites. After purchasing second hand clothing, always wash it immediately to eliminate any possible bed bugs clinging to it.
If you’re dealing with bed bugs, call Dave’s Pest Control today. We have years of experience eliminating this nasty insect and can help you eliminate your bed bugs quickly.
Whatever you call them, it’s no secret that pests are everywhere, invading our homes, gardens, picnics, and stealing our peace and quiet. One minute you’re watching a quiet documentary about gardening, the next you’re dealing with an ant infestation.
And there are times when, for whatever reason, you need to deal with pests naturally, without the use of chemicals.
This presents a problem for most people. When it comes to dealing with pests, most people simply get some form of pesticide, which works quite effectively. But dealing with pests naturally isn’t quite so easy.
That’s where we help you separate real natural pest control methods from myths.
In this post, we’re going to discuss 12 methods for dealing with pests naturally, and the effectiveness of those methods based on the viewpoint of professional exterminators.
By the end, you’ll have a clear strategy for creating a pleasant, as close to pest-free environment as possible.
Ready? Let’s get started.
Natural Pest Prevention Methods
Lets dig into all natural pest control methods and see what pros and cons each method has!
1- Create Natural Barriers
Pros:
Hundreds of years ago, kings built great walls to keep invading enemies at bay. You can adopt a similar strategy in your battle against the creepy crawlies.
Perhaps the most effective way of dealing with pests is to keep them out altogether. By creating barriers using natural ingredients, you keep pests where they belong and keep your home and garden pristine.
Garlic works as an insecticide for a variety of insects, including everything from mosquitoes to Colorado potato beetles. Simply grind it up, mix it with water, and apply it anywhere that insects might enter your home. As a bonus, your house will consistently smell like crushed garlic.
Cayenne pepper, cinnamon, bone meal, talcum powder, and chalk also work as barriers to insects. You’ll need to experiment a bit to determine which substance works best to repel which insects, as different insects are averse to different substances.
You can also use plants to create barriers around your home. Spearmint, peppermint, and pennyroyal are effective at repelling ants and aphids. Mint and basil planted around doorways and under windows will keep flies away and make your house smell like a delightful greenhouse.
If you’ve got a snail problem, use sand, copper, lime, or even ashes to keep them away. And if you’ve got ants sneaking into your house via cracks and crevices, put a dash of lemon on them and send the ants running.
Cons:
All of the natural ingredients listed above do repel insects. However, they would only last a few days at best, requiring you to constantly reapply them. In other words, there is no residual with these products that keeps the bugs at bay for a long period of time.
Plus repelling insects won’t get rid of them. It would be like treating the symptoms and not the disease. One MUST find the source of the problem and eliminate it at the source for true, long term insect elimination.
2- Soapy Death
Pros:
Much like small children, most insects, such as mites, aphids, whiteflies, and beetles, don’t do well with soap. When covered in soapy water, they suffocate, dying a somewhat slow, but very clean death.
To make an effective soap spray insecticide, mix 1.5 teaspoons of liquid soap with 1 quart of water and then spray directly on insects, as well as places where insects tend to collect. The spray can be applied as necessary, though it’s recommended that it primarily be used in the evenings or early morning, not in the heat of the day.
Cons:
Soapy water can kill many insects like fleas, aphids, etc. Unfortunately, the heat of the day will evaporate it in a matter of hours, making it ineffective in the long run against most issues.
Like the ingredients used to create barriers, there is no residual to allow it to continue working. And though soapy water is an effective product to use against aphids, it’s not effective for clearing up most insects like fleas. Soap can suffocate and kill fleas, but will not effectively eliminate infestations inside a structure.
3- Oily Death
Pros:
When applied to human skin, oil simply makes it greasy, much like a teenager’s hormonal skin. To insects, however, oil is a death blow. A hit of oil can quickly kill aphids, mites, thrips, and other insects that pester you.
To create a simple oil insecticide, mix 1 cup of vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of soap and then shake it thoroughly. Then add 2 teaspoons of the oil/water mix to 1 quart of water and spray directly on insects or on affected areas. Like soapy water, the oil coats their bodies in a suffocating sheen, causing them die relatively quickly.
Cons:
Oils work the same way that soaps work. But just like soap, you have to apply it directly to the insects to have any effectiveness. This is an effective method if you’re treating a small area for a minor issue.
4- Citrus Attack
Pros:
Not a fan of oranges? Neither are spiders. In fact, they don’t like citrus of any kind. The sight of a lemon or grapefruit sends them scurrying back to their dark holes.
To make a simple citrus spider repellant, simply mix water and unsweetened citrus juice. Then wipe down your countertops, walls, or any other place where spiders tend to appear.
Cons: While it’s true that spiders don’t like citrus, it will only repel them to other areas of the home. Additionally, constantly wiping down countertops, walls, etc. involves a significant amount of time and effort. It would leave no residual and make everything sticky. In addition, you could cause an entirely new issue with insects that do like citrus.
5- Kill The Queen
Pros:
Few things are worse than accidentally stepping into a fire ant hill and suddenly being attacked by a swarm of generally angry fire ants (you did step directly into their home after all). Thankfully, there is a way you can get rid of fire ants relatively easily: assassinate the queen.
We know, it sounds dramatic, but it’s actually quite simple.
Spread some grits on the fire ant hill. The worker ants, being loyal to their queen, will carry the grits back to her so that she can eat them. When it rains, the queen will drink the water and the grits inside her stomach will expand. When they expand, she’ll die, leaving the colony without a queen. Once she’s a distant memory, the remaining worker ants will die off, leaving that spot ant-free.
Cons:
When the ants take the grits to the colony, the queen will indeed digest the grit, then when she gets a drink, the grit will expand killing her.
Having said that, grits are only effective if they don’t get wet from rain, morning dew, high humidity, or any other water source. If they get wet before they get to the queen, they will expand prematurely.
Additionally, the grits could also have an unintended side-effect. You may attract other vermin and insects causing a whole new issue.
The most effective way to eliminate ants is water-resistant granular ant bait.
6- Roach Elimination
Pros:
Is there anything worse than roaches? They are the very definition of creepy, crawly, generally disgusting insects. But roaches have an unexpected Achilles heal — a weakness that is their ultimate undoing.
They have a sweet tooth.
Mix equal parts powdered sugar and baking soda and you suddenly have an effective roach killer. Simply put the mix wherever you see roaches and watch them eat themselves to death.
Another effective, natural way to eliminate roaches is to use boric acid. (Note: Boric acid should never be consumed by humans.) The roaches will ingest the acid, bringing about their demise.
Cons:
Roaches can develop “cross-resistance” which can eventually make them immune to your homemade bait and actually make them worse.
Most pest professionals will use more than one type of bait with different active ingredients and different matrices of inert ingredients. Also, homemade baits can be very messy and ineffective if not properly mixed.
After roaches eat a roach bait, they will go back to their nest and die at the nest. They are cannibalistic, so when the other roaches in the nest digest the dead one, it will transfer to the other roaches and kill them as well. You need enough time for the roach to make it back to the nest. If your bait is too strong or too weak, it won’t be as effective.
7- Destroy The Scent With Vinegar
Pros:
Ants rely heavily on scent to communicate with each other. When they discover food (or any other item of interest), they release chemicals which create a scent trail. Often times, this scent trail leads directly from their nest to a location in your home, such as food on the floor.
But you can fight fire with fire, creating a trail of your own that destroys the ant’s scent trail. Use a solution of half vinegar, half water to wipe down all surfaces where you see ants. This will wipe out the scent trail that the ants use to navigate, eventually forcing them out of your home.
Cons:
Eliminating the “scent” or pheromone trail can be achieved by these methods but again that is not taking care of the issue. That’s like putting up a road closed sign. They will just detour and start a new trail. You must find and eliminate the nest for true results.
8- Cloves Over Mothballs
Pros:
Mothballs may be effective at repelling moths, but the simple fact is they stink. Literally. A much more effective repellant is cloves, which drives the moths away and creates a delightful aroma.
Another effective way of dealing with moths is to fill a small basin with water and then hang some form of light over it. Moths are attracted to light like adrenaline junkies are attracted to bungee jumping. The moths will bump into the light, fall into the water, and drown. Put a dash of soap in the water to break the surface tension and ensure they actually down into the water as opposed to sitting on the top of it.
Cons:
Both cloves and mothballs are effective repellents for moths, but repelling them only moves them to a different area. Again, treating the source is the best solution and will get rid of the moths so there is no need for cloves or mothballs.
9- Drive Away The Fleas With Rosemary
Pros:
Who’s a good boy? Your pet when they don’t have fleas. And they’re doubly good when they smell good and don’t have fleas. So how can you achieve this? Grind up some rosemary and sprinkle it onto both your pet and his bedding. You’ll send the fleas running and have a pet that smells absolutely delightful.
Cons:
Rosemary is a repellent that will move fleas but not take care of the source problem. If you drive the fleas away from your pet, they will find a blood meal elsewhere. This meal is usually the pets owners. We doubt this is a desirable alternative to save Muffy!
10- Let Fruit flies Drink Themselves To Death
Pros:
Fruit flies can’t resist a good wine. If that wine happens to be a Chardonnay? Forget about it. They can’t stay away. To capture and kill fruit flies, fill a small container with Chardonnay and mix in a small drop of soap. This attracts the fruit files and then ultimately captures and drowns them.
We have to admit, drowning in wine doesn’t seem like a bad way to go.
Cons:
Using wine to kill fruit flies will only take care of the adults. The most effective way to handle fruit flies is to find the source and eliminate the source. I know we sound like a broken record, but we know how to get rid of bugs for the long haul.
11- Create Your Own Fly Traps
Pros:
If you want don’t want to use flypaper, you can create your own natural fly traps in several ways. First, put something sweet, such as mango peels, in the bottom of a bottle. Driven by their greed, the flies will go into the bottle. To their horror, they will find themselves unable to get out of the bottle.
Another simple way to kill flies is to boil water, corn syrup, and sugar together. This will create an extremely sticky mixture. Spread the mixture of doom onto a paper and suddenly you have your own flypaper. The flies will land on the paper and find themselves stuck fast.
Cons:
Flytraps only take care of the adults and you need to find the source and attack them at the larval stage for true results. All maggots and flies will originate from decaying organic matter, and unless you find the source, the problems will persist in most situations.
Final Thoughts
What’s clear is that while many natural pest control methods work in one fashion or another, but to get rid of all types of pests commonly found in Florida, you need to employ a pest control professional.
If you need help dealing with your pests, contact Dave’s Pest Control today.
