Prevention Tips
Check out these tips for preventing household pests, pest infestations and the potentially dangerous health and property threats they pose. Find out how to prevent bugs and rodents from entering your home, how to avoid outdoor insects like mosquitoes and bees and how to protect your family and property from disease and property damage.
- Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home including entry points for utilities and pipes.
- Keep tree branches and shrubbery well trimmed and away from the house. We typically recommend at least a foot.
- Keep basements, attics, and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry. Use a dehumidifer...April thru November.
- Store garbage in sealed containers and dispose of it regularly.
- Repair fascia and sofits and rotted roof shingles; some insects are drawn to deteriorating wood.
- Replace weather-stripping and repair loose mortar around basement foundation and windows.
- Store fire wood at least 30-50 feet away from the house and five inches off the ground.
- Call us, your qualified pest professional for additional advice and treatments if necessary.
Three Hidden Health Dangers in the Home
The National Pest Management Association cautions homeowners about common pest culprits
April 22 (Fairfax, VA) – People are continually on the lookout for ways to safeguard their family’s health at home. However, some of the most likely sources of danger may not be the first that come to mind. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) warns that rodents, cockroaches and stinging insects pose serious, but often hidden, health risks when they infest a home.
“Many people think pests are just an annoyance and often forget that there are real health dangers associated with the presence of these pests in and around the home,” says Greg Baumann, senior scientist for NPMA. “People don’t think of asthma, Salmonella, or severe allergic reactions, which is why infestations should not be taken lightly.”
Rodents bring other pests including fleas, mites, ticks and lice indoors and contaminate food with feces that can transmit Salmonella and Hantavirus. Cockroaches spread 33 kinds of bacteria, six parasitic worms and more than seven other types of human pathogens. More, cockroach droppings and shed skins lead to allergen accumulation that can trigger asthma attacks, especially in children. Nearly $1B is spent on professional cockroach management services in the U.S. each year, making them one of the most prevalent and hazardous pests.
Stinging insects, including wasps and hornets send more than half a million people to the emergency room every year. And according to the Center for Disease Control, West Nile virus, a disease spread by mosquitoes, resulted in more than 1,300 human cases and 43 fatalities in 2008.
NPMA offers these tips to keep pests from becoming a hidden danger at home:
- Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Eliminate standing water and sources of moisture in or around the home, in flowerpots, pool covers and other objects that collect water.
- Keep food and garbage in sealed containers.
- Seal cracks and holes in your home’s exterior and patch ripped screens.
- If you see signs contact us at 978-365-3535
Pest Guide > Ants > Carpenter Ants
Carpenter Ants
| Color: | Varies depending on species, from red to black or a combination. The two most common species are black. |
| Legs: | 6 |
| Shape: | Segmented; oval |
| Size: | 5/8" |
| Antennae: | True |
Carpenter ants get their name because they excavate wood in order to build their nests. Their excavation results in smooth tunnels inside the wood. Carpenter ants range in size from one-quarter inch for a worker ant to up to three-quarters inch for a queen.
Habits
All species mainly attack wood that is or has been wet and damaged by mold. Even though these ants first invade wet, decayed wood, they may soon begin building paths through dry, undamaged wood. They usually come into buildings through cracks around doors, windows, or through holes for wires. They will also crawl along overhead wires, shrubs, or tree limbs that touch the building far above the ground.
Habitat
Carpenter ants build their nests outdoors in various wood sources, including tree stumps, firewood or landscaping. They need a constant water source to survive. They will enter homes through wet, damaged wood.
Threats
Carpenter ants damage wood through their nest building. If they gain entry to a structure, they pose a property threat.
Prevention:
Because carpenter ants require a water source, eliminate sources of moisture or standing water. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. Sometimes pests use these branches to get into your home. Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the bottom of your house. Sometimes pests use these to get into your home. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.
House Mice
| Color: | Light brown to black |
| Legs: | 4 |
| Shape: | Round |
| Size: | 2" |
| Antennae: | False |
The house mouse is the most common rodent pest in most parts of the world. It can breed rapidly and adapt quickly to changing conditions.
Habits
House mice can breed throughout the year and can share nests.
Habitat
House mice live in structures, but they can live outdoors.
Threats
Micro droplets of mouse urine can cause allergies in children. Mice can also bring fleas, mites, ticks and lice into your home.
Prevention:
To keep mice and other rodents out, make sure all holes of larger diameter than a pencil are sealed. Mice can squeeze through spaces as small as a nickel. Seal any cracks and voids. Don't overlook proper drainage at the foundation and always install gutters or diverts which will channel water away from the building.
Pest Guide > Stinging/Biting > Yellowjackets
Yellowjackets
| Color: | Abdomen usually black and yellow pattered similar to bands |
| Legs: | Six |
| Shape: | Wasp-like |
| Size: | Workers 3/8 to 5/8 of an inch |
| Antennae: | True |
There are several species of yellow jackets. These flying insects typically have a yellow and black head/face and patterned abdomen. Many say, the pattern resembles stripes. Signature to species, the abdomen pattern can help an entomologist or pest professional identify specific types of yellow jackets.
Habits
Yellow jackets nest in the ground or in cavernous areas such as eaves, attics, etc.... They feed on sweets and proteins and commonly invade outdoor activities.
Habitat
Yellow jackets can be found anyplace humans can be found. Check near recycling bins or other areas where sugars are common but keep in mind these pests also feed on protein. Yellow jackets become more aggressive in autumn when the colony begins to die out except for the queen.
Threats
Yellow jackets pose significant health threats to humans as they may sting repeatedly and can cause allergic reactions. Stinging insects send over 500,000 people to the emergency room each year.
Prevention:
Remain vigilant and call a pest professional if you suspect yellow jacket activity. Control requires specialized equipment and safety precautions. Do not leave sweet drinks or meats in accessible areas. For example, clean up and remove food and trash after picnics and outdoor events.
