Posts made in August 2019

What to Do When You Have Pantry Pests

Food budgets keep climbing as prices continue to rise. That means when you spend your hard-earned dollars on groceries and supplies, you don’t feel like sharing with uninvited guests. This includes uninvited guests of the multi-legged variety.

When you find insect invaders, or some other unwelcome creatures helping themselves to the things you have in your pantry, you should contact a team of experienced exterminators for pest control in Salem, Oregon.

When you have pantry pests, your first step, after contacting an exterminator company like ours at AAA Pest Exterminators, Inc., is to sort through everything so you can salvage whatever hasn’t been contaminated or consumed by the pests.

Once you’ve separated the good from the not-so-good, take the time to set aside the untainted foodstuffs and products in pest-proof containers.

Professional exterminators will use a multi-pronged approach to attack the problem. They will identify where and how the pests are gaining entry into your pantry and help you take steps to seal it off and keep the pests on the outside.

Following that step, they will move along to applying safe and effective pesticides to eliminate the pests without leaving any harmful residue that can harm people or pets.

When to Hire a Pest Control Professional

Most of us are comfortable handling a bug or two. After all, who among us hasn’t chased down (and consequently flushed) an unwelcome spider or roach? When pests start to get a little too comfortable on your property, it may be time to consider contacting a professional.

A company that specializes in pest control services has the experience and equipment needed to remove insects and prevent them from returning in the future. In fact, pest control professionals generally have access to more powerful insect solutions than are commonly available in stores, making it easier to nip infestations in the bud.

Not sure whether your pest problem calls for a pro? Here are some signs you could use the extra manpower:

The insects post a health and safety risk. Some bugs are just ugly. Others pack a mean bite that can cause allergic reactions, spread infections, or even transmit diseases. Don’t put yourself, your family, or your employees at risk–leave the work to a professional.
You’re spending excessive time and money. Would you rather spend hundreds of dollars and hours of your own time to eliminate a persistent bug problem, or pay for one-time guaranteed pest control services from a professional?
The infestation is out of control. Again, one or two bugs are no big deal for most people. When your home or business is dealing with an infestation–that is to say, large numbers of bugs that just keep coming – it’s time to bring in the pros.

Protect Your Home from Wood-Destroying Bugs

Termites, carpenter ants, and wood beetles may be tiny, but they can cause trouble on a massive scale. A single colony can quickly chew through an entire home or business, costing the owners thousands and sometimes even millions of dollars in damage.

However, there’s plenty you can do to protect yourself and your property from the effects of wood-destroying bugs in Albany, OR. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Follow these tips to discourage hungry insects from taking a bite out of your building (and your property maintenance budget):

Stay on top of plumbing problems. Most insects are attracted to water sources that are conveniently close to their snacking grounds. Keep your property’s plumbing system in good condition to ensure bugs aren’t attracted by persistent leaks or flooding.
Remove fallen branches and stumps ASAP. Because these insects love munching on wood, it’s a smart idea to clear any wood debris from your property. Check your lawn for leftovers after storms to be sure there’s nothing tempting.
Schedule regular pest inspections. To get complete peace of mind, have a pest control professional come by for annual inspections. A pro can spot early signs of an infestation, or provide more personalized recommendations for prevention.

How to Prevent a Stink Bug Problem

You smell them before you see them: stink bugs, generally harmless but by far the smelliest members of the insect world. Though they don’t bite or sting, stink bugs are nevertheless unwelcome in most homes and businesses, and for obvious reasons.

Many people confuse stink bugs with boxelder bugs, another bad-smelling insect that retreats indoors during winter. No matter which takes up residence in your home or business, the results are the same: an infestation with foul odor.

If you already have an infestation, it’s time to call for professional stink bug pest control. If you don’t have stink bugs yet, but you’re worried you might in the future, take these steps to ensure your property doesn’t become an insect hotel this winter:

Minimize outdoor lighting. Most bugs are attracted to lights, but stink bugs and boxelders find them particularly tantalizing. Try switching to motion-activated outdoor lights if you absolutely must have external lights on at night.
Eliminate sources of water. Stink bugs prefer to hunker down in places with ready sources of water–i.e., leaky taps, flooded drains, and around sinks and toilets. Ensure you’re keeping up with your plumbing maintenance routine.
Make sure your property is airtight. Bugs can’t get into your building if there are no stink bug-sized doors. Assess the areas around windows, doors, and siding to ensure there are no gaps–and if there are, use caulk or sealant to block off points of entry.

The Not-So-Friendly Neighborhood Spider

When it comes to spiders, most of us don’t take time to stop and identify them before running for a shoe or rolled-up magazine. However, if you’ve noticed more than a few spiders lurking around your home or business, it may be worth your time to move in for a closer look. Knowing how to identify spiders can help you protect your family or workers if someone is bitten.

First things first: familiarize yourself with the three most common venomous spiders in the United States. Most people can identify the black widow by its distinctive red hourglass marking, but what about brown recluses? Brown spiders are fairly common, but you’ll know the recluse by the long brown violin shape on its back. Hobo spiders are also brown, but the marbling on their backs is a dead giveaway.

Next, when you kill a spider on your property (one of the above or otherwise), look around for webs nearby. If and when you find a web, check carefully for egg sacs. Don’t try to remove the sac yourself; instead, enlist the help of a spider pest control professional. This is the simplest way to prevent an infestation from occurring.

Finally, if you keep finding venomous spiders around your home or business, work with your pest control provider to eliminate points of entry. Spiders can get into your building through the tiniest of gaps. Seal them with caulk or take a screwdriver and tighten loose windows and doors.