Posts made in September 2019

Finding Wood-Destroying Bugs in Your Flooring

Wood-destroying bugs in Woodburn, OR, are a significant threat to both homeowners and commercial property owners. These tiny pests – which include carpenter ants, beetles, and termites – invade your property silently and then proceed to eat away at the wood in your home undetected until it is too late. These devastating insects are the cause for more than $1 billion a year in property damage, which is why it is crucial to defend yourself against them.

So how do you know if you have a wood-destroying bug in your home? There are some subtle clues to look for, which change depending on the type of insect that has invaded your property. Take a look below for some helpful tips on how to find out if you have pests:

Termites – Poke your wood floors with a screwdriver. If you notice that the tip goes in easily, or if you hear a hollow sound when you tap it, that means you will need to call a pest control agent to inspect your property.
Carpenter Ants – Be on the lookout for “frass,” which is a mixture of fecal matter and wood shavings, around your floorboards. Additionally, during spring, it isn’t uncommon to see swarmers out and about.
Carpenter Bees – These bees are likely to be found hovering around your deck, siding, or eaves.
Powderpost Beetles – If you find powdery deposits of frass or pinhead-sized holes in your wood, then it is time to contact your pest control agent.

What are Damp Wood Termites?

Termites come in a few types, and they are all very destructive. If you have them in your home, it’s likely you don’t care which type they are, and you want them gone. However, for information’s sake, we’ll let you know there are dry wood, subterranean, and damp wood termites. Regardless of what type you have, it would help if you had termite control in Salem, OR.

As the name suggests, damp wood termites prefer moist conditions and will flourish in wet and damp areas of your home and make a meal of wood in those areas.

So how do you know if you’re fighting with termites, regardless of the type? There are a few simple ways to identify an infestation:

Wood that Sounds Hollow
Cracked Paint on Wood
Wood Floor Damage
Sagging Wood Pieces
Winged Insect Groups
Mud Tubes on Walls
Termite Droppings

Once you’ve established that there are termites, or that it’s another type of wood-destroying pest, you need to take corrective action right away. A professional exterminator company can eliminate the problem and use pesticides and other methods to prevent them from recurring in your home or business. As with any pest it pays to be vigilant and act immediately once you have suspicions or evidence.

Why Spiders Creep Us Out

What has eight legs and is covered with black hair? I don’t know, but it’s crawling up your arm!

If that children’s joke gives you the willies, then you’re not alone as fear of insects and spiders is very common. In fact, the fear of spiders is well known by its official name of arachnophobia.

If you’ve ever wondered why spiders creep us out, you’re in luck as our staff here at AAA Exterminators, Inc., has spent some time coming up with a few reasons they can pinpoint for this aversion.

One of the first things is their very appearance. Spiders have a somewhat off-putting look due to their multiple legs and are furry or fuzzy, far removed from what most of us consider cute and cuddly.

Spiders are fast and can scurry quite quickly, which makes some people uneasy about how they can disappear by running off. “If they can run away that quickly, they can run towards us just as fast,” say those who hate spiders.

Spiders create sticky webs that make a mess and look creepy with trapped insects cocooned in them. If you’ve ever talked through a spider web, it’s likely that you didn’t find it a pleasant experience.

We could also talk about tales of spiders being discovered in grocery-store bananas or grapes or spiders being known to eat their mates, but let’s just say that if you have spiders in your home call an extermination company for Salem pest management.

The Telltale Signs of Carpenter Ants

If you think you are facing problems with carpenter ants, there are many signs you can be alert to confirm those suspicions.

Our team here at AAA Exterminators, Inc., has come up with a few common clues that can tell you if you’re looking at this type of ant or another pest.

As carpenter ants burrow and chew their way through wood, they leave behind piles of sawdust-like wood shavings around your door jambs and windows. What do they actually look like? They are not remarkable in their appearance, and they are somewhat easy to identify physically. They’re about a quarter-inch to a half-inch long and colored black, red, or some combination of the two colors.

That takes care of the seeing, well how about the listening? If you hear noises inside your walls, this could also indicate that you’ve got carpenter ants in Dallas, OR. If you go a step further and tap on the walls in your home and it sounds hollow, then it’s likely that these ants are the culprits.

Experienced and capable exterminators have the skills and safe pesticides to get rid of carpenter ants and prevent them from creating any damage to the wood elements of your home.