Blog

December 10, 2018

What Pests Do in the Winter

If you are using a Pest Control Service, hopefully pests are not camping out in your home over the winter. What a pest or insect actually does over the winter varies depending on the pest. For example a squirrel might seek shelter in your attic, but some insects go in to a pupal stage over the winter.

Insects may do two things to escape the winter cold. They either migrate and go away or they become dormant. It turns out the vast majority of insects become dormant. You may notice that even in what is officially winter in the Rockwall area, we still have some warm days. On those days, especially if we have two or three in a row of warmer weather, insects might come out of being dormant and you’ll find them flying around in the middle of winter.

How an insect handles winter is different from insect to insect. Some do try and seek shelter as they go dormant. This could be your garage, attic or another part of your home. Others may produce more sugar or other chemicals in their body to help them weather the winter temperatures.

Winter Pest Control

Pest Control is important during the winter months for several reasons. Insects and rodents both tend to seek shelter during the winter months. If you stop pest control service during the winter months, you’re leaving your home open during a period when insects are seeking shelter.

Although insects become dormant they still will seek shelter in your home and therefore you should continue pest control service through the future.

For all of your pest control needs, contact us today at 972-730-7378.

August 21, 2018

How To Keep Rodents Away From Your Home

In addition to excellent pest control services, we also provide trapping and exclusion services for rodents in your home. How to keep rodents away from your home can tricky, but believe it or not your landscaping can play a role. Rodents like to get in cracks in the exterior walls, doors, garage and of course the roof. Once they are inside, they can cause some major damage. Mice, Squirrels, Racoon and Opossum all can destroy an attic. From using your attic as a large litter box to chewing through electrical wire, the cost to repair and replace can add up quickly.

Plants that Keep Rodents Away

When you are planning out your landscaping or hiring a landscape company to come and install new plants in your flower beds, consider some plants that are anti-rodent. For example to keep mice away you may consider any type of mint, amaryllis, sweet pea, lavender, daffodils, wood hyacinth (or squill), grape hyacinth, alliums, catnip, camphor plant, elderberry, euphorbias, and wormwood. There are of course a list of plants for other pests like mosquitoes, but here we’re simply taking in to account rodents.

Of course if you do have mice or other rodents, we can help. From bait boxes to trapping, we are experts at clearing a home of one rodent or a full infestation.

Keeping Your Lawn Maintained

Keeping a tidy yard can help prevent mice and other rodents from seeking a living space in your yard. A junky yard or lawn one that is not maintained properly can have many places for mice and other rodents to seek refuge and build a nest. To prevent mice and other rodents on your property:

1. Keep you lawn mowed and trimmed
2. Clean up any compost piles
3. Clean out your gardens of any waste
4. Relocate woodpiles to further away from the home
5. Secure trash containers

Taking care of your property and planting a few plants can help keep your home rodent free. In addition to rodents with legs, in the Rockwall area many homeowners find snakes in their garage, bathroom, gardens, laundry rooms and other parts of their property. Don’t hesitate to give us a call for all your rodent and pest control needs.

June 19, 2018

Why All the Ants?

Reports of ants in the Rockwall area seem to be more common right now than usual. So, why all the ants? It may have something to do with the unusual amount of rain the Rockwall area received in May. As a whole, North Texas had record rainfall in May, it was one of the wettest on record. Ants live in the ground, but rain can push them up and cause them to move. That is one possible reason.

But, ants in general can be more visible for a variety of reasons.

Why You See Ants

Food – Ants of course like food and with summer here it is common to have more food laying around the house…not intentionally of course. Kids are out of school and are eating at home more, which usually means more crumbs. In addition, summer months have more parties and activities, which usually involve food. So, it makes sense that the more food around the home will cause you to see more ants.
Water – Although ants need water to survive, they don’t need large sources of it. The pharaoh ant does need to nest close to a water source, and the carpenter ant likes to nest by damp places like wood.
Reproduction – Ants reproduce in the spring typically, but since we had a large amount of rain during that time….maybe that didn’t happen.

How to Prevent Ants in the Home

To prevent ants we have a few items to pay attention to as you maintain your home and try to keep it pest free.

Keep food in sealed containers, this includes dog or cat food
Wipe up spills, crumbs, etc.
Repair leaky pipes
Replace Damaged or Rotted Wood
Keep kitchen clean of grease
Keep outdoor grill free of grease (as best as possible)

If you have any pest control needs, contact us today. Ants can be annoying and can cause problems, we’re ready to help you with any of your pest control needs.

March 16, 2018

Pest Control After Rain

Pest control after rain a lot of rain becomes even more important. In the Rockwall area, we’ve had a very rainy winter and early spring. To date our area has seen about 13 inches of rain this year. So much, we’ve even had some parts of Rockwall flood. So, it has been a rainy period, and spring is here, what does that mean for pest control?

Insects Move and Thrive After Rainfall

After rain, many insects either have to move or they thrive in the damp environment. Ants for example will often rise up from deeper in the ground. You may find them making new mounds above ground, or even coming up your pipes in your home.

Ticks, fleas and other insects also enjoy a damp environment and will thrive with the grass getting thicker a bigger as a result of the rain.

And of course we can’t leave out mosquitoes, who definitely thrive with standing water. With all the rain we’ve had standing water can easily be found in backyards, large open lots and other areas like parks. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant, standing fresh water often found around the home.

For best results, take a look at how to prevent mosquitoes. Many of these tips also apply to other insects, but as we all know, mosquitoes bite and can carry disease.

How to Prepare for Insects

The best way to prepare for insects and pests is to hire a professional pest control expert. Regular pest control services will help keep insects out of your home and off your property. If you don’t have a pest control company you work with, we’d love the opportunity to earn your business. But, not everyone wants pest control, and that is ok, so we have a few tips for keeping insects away.

1. Anything that can hold water in your backyard you should remove. From kids toys to buckets or even trash, get it out. It is only a breeding ground.

2. If you keep wood outside, keep it off the ground and check to make sure it hasn’t rotted.

3. Vacuum regularly so fleas or other insects that may lay eggs in your home don’t have a chance to hatch.

December 9, 2017

Winter Weather Pest Control

Winter weather pest control is officially here. Rockwall dropped below freezing this week and although we will likely be in the 60’s in a few days, winter and cold weather causes pest control issues for many homeowners.

Warm Homes Attract Pests

Winter weather isn’t fun for pests either. And your warm house is a prime target for them to take refuge in. Pests enjoy being comfortable, just as we do, so keeping your pest control service going all year is a must.

Outdoor Pests Head Inside During the Winter

It isn’t uncommon for a racoon, opossum or squirrel to infiltrate an attic or garage during the summer months. However, it is more common in the winter. Food may be harder to find for them and again, your home is warm, which is drastically different that the below freezing temperatures we experienced this week in Rockwall.

Cold Weather Makes Detection More Difficult

During the winter months, termites and carpenter ants can be pushed deeper in to your home due to the cold weather. This makes it harder to find and detect these insects that can cause serious damage to a home. Again, another reason to make sure your pest control service is continued all year.

Winter weather does change insect and rodent movement. They begin to move in…in to your home. If you have any unwelcome guests, give us a call. We can trap animals in your garage or attic, spray for insects or conquer any other pest control need you may have.

November 26, 2017

Winter Pest Removal Service

Rodent Removal Services Winter is nearing in the Rockwall area and pest removal becomes a much more needed service. Many homeowners in the Rockwall area have several factors that contribute to their need for pest removal or rodent removal. We offer several options for pest removal, including trapping. Once we determine the circumstances of your rodent problem, we make a recommendation to solve the issue.

Why Rodents Enter the Home

1. It is cold. As the weather becomes colder, racoon, mice, rats, squirrels and other rodents do seek a warmer place to stay. Your home, unfortunately, is a prime location for a rodent to seek shelter and warmer living conditions. Rodents can fit in very small cracks and holes in the home, making it important to check your roof lines, brick and garage door regularly.
2. Food. It is no secret that mice and racoons especially seek food in the home. This may not always be food you eat though. Dog food for example can attract rodents and we’ve even had cases of opossum entering a garage and rummaging through dog food. Many homeowners do keep their dog food in the garage, so if that is you, just make sure it is sealed and not left open.
3. Rockwall is close to the lake. Rodents enter homes, sometimes, out of convenience. With many homes in Rockwall and Heath very close to the lake, it is easy for a mouse, rat or other rodent to take a stroll up to a home. For example, it is very common for homeowners in Chandlers Landing to have mice and snakes on their property. This is partially due to the close proximity to the lake and the mature vegetation in that development. There are also a couple of ponds in that neighborhood, providing more space for rodents and snakes to live and seek food in.

While there are other reasons that pests enter the home, our pest removal services usually revolve around one of the above circumstances. Once we arrive and asses the situation there are a number of options we provide for the removal of the pests. We offer pest trapping services, which are common for racoons, squirrels, opossum, etc. Once we have a location established, we can set a trap or two and bait the rodent in to the trap. Once it has gone off, we return to remove the rodent.

For mice and rats, even if they are inside the attic or home, we often recommend a bait box. This does not involve trapping, but rather bait that will eliminate the existence of the rodents in and around your home.

Pest removal services increase this time of year, so don’t hesitate to call us if you hear some scratching in your attic, notice some chewed wire or see an animal on your property that shouldn’t be there.

July 27, 2017

Wasp Nests and How to Check for Them

Wasp nests are very common in spring and summer months. While many homeowners focus on mosquito control during the hotter summer months, wasps can be just as active. For many homeowners a walk around the exterior of the home would produce a wasp next or two along the eaves of the house. Wasp nests are made of chewed wood that provide their paper walls. A mud dauber uses clay or mud, but wasps use wood. In the spring a queen wasp will build her nest and populate it with eggs. These wasps turn in to workers that take over the upkeep of the nest the remainder of the season.

If a nest is left alone, by mid-summer a wasp nest can reach the size of a basketball. Thankfully, we don’t see that everyday, but it is possible. If you are seeing a lot of wasps, you can watch them and locate where they return to. Chances are that will be where their nest is.

When you check for wasps around your home, the obvious places are usually very visible. The eaves of the house, overhanging parts of the roof or under a porch. These places are all very common for wasps to build nests. A place you may not think to look is under your existing bushes and landscaping. A bush that has overhanging growth, or has been trimmed to have that design can provide a nice Wasp Nest Rockwall home for a wasp nest. The picture to the left is a photo taken under a bush at a home of one of our clients. The nest is not very large, but it was hidden under a bush and could not be seen by simply looking at the landscaping. This wasp nest has a few wasps working on it, maintaining it and building on to it.

It is best to have your property treated for pest control early in the year to help prevent wasps and other insects. If you are a current customer of ours, we spray routinely throughout the year. If you are not a current client, call us today and we can come out and take care of any pest control needs you have. From wasps to raccoons and mosquitoes, we cover a full range of pests.

July 8, 2017

How to Keep Pests Out During the Summer

This article focuses on tips on how to keep pests out during the summer. Here in the Rockwall area, we’ve seen more rain than normal for a North Texas summer. This causes bugs and pests to move around and relocate. Ants for example have their colony washed out due to rain, so they move and build another one. This can cause a greater need for ant control service and pest control can become more challenging. With regular treatments, your bug population should be able to be kept in check so you can enjoy the pool, outdoor parties and other events outside your home.

To help prevent prevent pest control issues and keep pests out, apply some of the tips below.

Pest Control Rockwall Fire Ants

Keep kitchen counters clean and store food in sealed containers
As we’ve mentioned many times before, eliminate areas of standing water
Keep landscaping trimmed and maintained – this can be done yourself, or with a lawn service
Divert rainwater away from the house – contact a professional about drainage solutions
Keep basements, attics and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry
Replace weather-stripping around windows and repair loose mortar around the
Don’t let garbage pile up
Do not store anything, especially firewood up against the home
Don’t ignore cracks or holes in the exterior of the home
Don’t give pests a free meal, clean up after outdoor parties

Following these summer pest control tips should help keep your home free from any pest activity. If you suspect you have a pest control problem, please seek the help of a pest control professional. Give us a call at 972-730-7378 or contact us.

June 1, 2017

How to Keep Mosquitoes Away from Your Home

Keeping mosquitoes out of your home or yard is a challenging task. We of course offer mosquito control and mosquito spraying services. We’ve posted previously an article about bug and insect control. This focuses on items you can add to your landscape to keep mosquitoes away from your home. There are a few options for homeowners that want to keep mosquitoes away from the home. Some include landscaping and others include items you may find at a hardware store. So what are they?

Mosquito Repelling Plants

For those that have an outdoor space that you like to enjoy or have children that play outside, adding some mosquito repelling plants is a great idea. Below we have a list of plants that help you keep mosquitoes away from your home.

Lavender – Have you noticed that rabbits or other insects don’t destroy your lavender plants? Lavender plants have a great fragrance that comes from the oils in their leaves. Some even say the lavender plant will hinder a mosquitoes ability to smell. Lavender plants are tough and drought resistant, perfect for the Rockwall weather and hot summers.
Marigolds – These easy to grow flowers emit a smell that deters mosquitoes and help keep them away from your home. You can plant marigolds in pots, flower beds or use them as a border for a vegetable garden. In addition to deterring mosquitoes marigolds also deter other bugs and beetles.
Citronella Greass – This grass is known for its distinct smell and is commonly used in mosquito repellents. It can be planted in direct sun and does well in planter boxes.
Rosemary – Rosemary is another great option for a natural mosquito repellent. The woody smell keeps mosquitoes as well as moths and flies away. Not only can it keep mosquitoes away from your home, it provides a great seasoning for cooking.
Basil – This in another herb that can also double as a mosquito repellent. Basil leaves give off a very pungent smell, which keep mosquitoes, flies and other insects at bay. Basil does well in planter boxes and can have full sun.

Mosquito Repelling Products

If you are looking for other items besides natural plants, citronella candles can be purchased at many hardware stores. Although, some research suggests that the citronella candle actually doesn’t provide much of a repellent. You may also purchase mosquito sticks, which only last a few hours and need to be replaced.

Mosquito Control

The best solution is of course regular pest control services for your lawn and property. Mosquitoes specifically will only travel about 100 feet from their birth place, so keeping your property free of standing water, piles of leafs, etc. is important. Contact us today for an estimate on your property.

March 16, 2017

Termite Treatment Options

Termite treatment is a common request this time of year. Our previous article discussed the signs of termites, which is important to know this time of year. Everyone knows the damage that termites can do, but what are the treatment options for termites?

Termite Treatment Rockwall Termite treatment can be divided in to two general categories: Liquids and Bait. Liquid termiticides have been around for many years and are generally used to prevent termites in the ground coming up in to a structure. There are several types of termite sprays that can be used and there are repellent chemicals as well as lethal chemicals.

Termite bait is found in several forms: paper, cardboard, or other palatable food, combined with a slow-acting substance lethal to termites. The baits are installed below ground out in the yard in cylindrical plastic stations. Others are sometimes placed indoors over active mud tubes.

Why are infestations often discovered during March – May?

Spring brings the typical months winged termites emerge inside homes. Throughout nature winged insects swarm and disperse to start new colonies. With rain fall and warmer temperatures the winged termites will exit the colony and fly in to the air.

The swarmers then drop to the ground, shed their wings, pair off with a mate, and attempt to begin new colonies in the soil. It is only a few that start new colonies outdoors that actually survive.

How will I know if my home is infested?

Discovering winged termites indoors almost always indicates an infestation warranting treatment.

Ant vs. Termite

Many homeowners will confuse a winged termite with ants. The difference is a termite has straight antenna, a uniform waist and wings of equal size. An ant has elbowed antennae, a more constricted waist and the forewings are longer than the hind wings.

Light does attract these insects and they are often found around windows and doors. If you see termites emerging from a wood pile, stump or other locations throughout the yard, it does not mean the house is infested. We do recommend having an inspection done to be sure. However, if you see termites emerging from the base of the foundation, there is a really good chance the house is also infested and termite treatment is required.

Termite Mud Tubes

Other signs of infestation are earthen (mud) tubes extending over foundation walls, support piers, sill plates, floor joists, etc. The mud tubes are typically about the diameter of a pencil, but sometimes can be thicker.

Spring is not only a time for termites to be active, most other insects will be more visible this time of year as well. Our Pest Control services can protect your home and family from the mosquito, bugs and other insects that we experience throughout the year. Contact us today for a free estimate.