Cool infographic showing when certain pests are active during the year!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Identifying Termites
How can I get rid of termites? This is one of the most popular questions that are usually raised when it comes to home improvement. Termites are a type of pestilence that everyone hates. They are very destructive and they do this in different ways. Termites love to nest and breed in moist areas, moving from one place to another. They can render useless whatever they come in to contact with. Be it windows, doors, wooden furniture or roof tops, termites are very ready to do some damage. In short, nothing escapes the wicked act of these tiny insects. However, there are various ways to deal with these insects, but you have to learn the termite identification process.
The termite identification process is a very important step to eradicate termites once and for all. Even though you want to hire professionals to help you kill termites, it is you who will identify it beforehand. Termites are composed of several groups, the soldiers, reproductive, and worker termites. They all have different appearances. The soldiers have mandibles while the reproductive have wings. However, worker ants have no wings and they are smaller than the reproductive termites. Worker termites are the most numerous and are the main wood eaters.
Worker termites are popularly called wood termites because they love living in woods. They can thrive in dead logs or branches. Wood is more like a precious commodity for termites because they have nowhere else to live, eat, and thrive.
The reproductive termites are also known as queen termites. Their main purpose is to reproduce for the termite colonies. An average termite queen will lay thousands of eggs every year and it would live for as long as thirty years. Perhaps this little knowledge about termites will help you during the process of termite identification.
Termites are different from flying ants. Although some termites have wings, there are certain differences in their physical appearance. You can see the difference between a flying ant and a termite if you look carefully. The antennae of ants are straight, while those of termites are in a beaded form. Termites have grayish white wings, while ants have transparent wings. There are other distinguishing factors between flying ants and termites.
If you are a busy person, it is important that you find a termite control company to help you identify and eliminate termites from your home. Termites can do more than damage your furniture. These termites dig holes through pieces of dry wood or furniture. When this happens, your home furniture will begin to look unattractive. A professional pest control company can use the process of fumigation to kill any insect that may be present in the home. This involves the use of chemicals, which is usually spread all over the dwelling to kill the infestation. This process of pest control must not be performed by a lay person, so call a professional fumigation or pest control company if you are finding it difficult to identify and kill termites.
The termite identification process is a very important step to eradicate termites once and for all. Even though you want to hire professionals to help you kill termites, it is you who will identify it beforehand. Termites are composed of several groups, the soldiers, reproductive, and worker termites. They all have different appearances. The soldiers have mandibles while the reproductive have wings. However, worker ants have no wings and they are smaller than the reproductive termites. Worker termites are the most numerous and are the main wood eaters.
Worker termites are popularly called wood termites because they love living in woods. They can thrive in dead logs or branches. Wood is more like a precious commodity for termites because they have nowhere else to live, eat, and thrive.
The reproductive termites are also known as queen termites. Their main purpose is to reproduce for the termite colonies. An average termite queen will lay thousands of eggs every year and it would live for as long as thirty years. Perhaps this little knowledge about termites will help you during the process of termite identification.
Termites are different from flying ants. Although some termites have wings, there are certain differences in their physical appearance. You can see the difference between a flying ant and a termite if you look carefully. The antennae of ants are straight, while those of termites are in a beaded form. Termites have grayish white wings, while ants have transparent wings. There are other distinguishing factors between flying ants and termites.
If you are a busy person, it is important that you find a termite control company to help you identify and eliminate termites from your home. Termites can do more than damage your furniture. These termites dig holes through pieces of dry wood or furniture. When this happens, your home furniture will begin to look unattractive. A professional pest control company can use the process of fumigation to kill any insect that may be present in the home. This involves the use of chemicals, which is usually spread all over the dwelling to kill the infestation. This process of pest control must not be performed by a lay person, so call a professional fumigation or pest control company if you are finding it difficult to identify and kill termites.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
10 tips to protect yourself from bed bugs
Here is a great video with 10 tips to protect yourself from a very common type of pest: Bed bugs.
Enjoy!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Signs you Might Have a Bed Bug Problem
When it comes to detecting symptoms of a bed bug problem, there are a few crucial things that need to be taken into consideration. Many higher level hotels have been confirmed through a number of different news reports for having bed bugs. They can be anywhere or in any object such as clothing, drapes, furniture, curtains, and bedding. They tend to expand through crawling and rapidly contaminate various rooms in a house. They can also be found in drawers, boxes, suitcases, and a lot of other places. Thus, their presence can never be predicted, as they can be anywhere. What most people hate is waking up in the morning with the signs of bed bug bites all over their body. Now, the most important question is how one can find out if bed bugs are the culprit. In order to determine the real culprit behind all those bites, you can see different bug bite pictures to find out the real problem source.
Bed bug bites raise red bumps that are extremely itchy and uncomfortable. The bumps can also be inflamed and often show up in a row or in a clustered fashion. While some people may not be able to notice the bed bug bites for days, the others could easily end up developing serious reactions such as hives and blisters. To be able to identify what the actual cause is, you must look at different bed bug bite pictures available over the Internet to find out what they look like. Moreover, it is strongly advised that you should never scratch the affected areas, as scratching could augment the infection and spread it to the other areas of the body. Calamine lotion is the best solution to east out the itching.
The most important benefit of bed bug bite pictures is that they will help you determine the symptoms. When you know the symptoms, treatment becomes a lot less stressful. If you want to ease out the inflammation and itching in the affected area, there are two effective ways of doing that. In first method, crush vitamin C tablets into powder, add some water to prepare a paste, and then apply the paste over the infected region. In the second method, you can use tree oil. Owing to its antiseptic properties, it is fairly efficient against inflammation.
Use Google or Flickr for finding bed bug bite pictures. These are the most authentic and quality sources for getting the desired images. Finding these images in Google is very simple; all you have to do is type the keyword in search bar and click the “images” tab. It should give you enough pictures to do the analysis. Flickr is a photo sharing website where you can find various different images of victims of bed bugs bites. This is an efficient technique for confirming if you need to seek bed bug control. Thus, it goes without saying that this is the only way you will be able to seek proper medical treatment for bed bug bites. Other skin rashes and infections need to be treated differently.
Bed bug bites raise red bumps that are extremely itchy and uncomfortable. The bumps can also be inflamed and often show up in a row or in a clustered fashion. While some people may not be able to notice the bed bug bites for days, the others could easily end up developing serious reactions such as hives and blisters. To be able to identify what the actual cause is, you must look at different bed bug bite pictures available over the Internet to find out what they look like. Moreover, it is strongly advised that you should never scratch the affected areas, as scratching could augment the infection and spread it to the other areas of the body. Calamine lotion is the best solution to east out the itching.
The most important benefit of bed bug bite pictures is that they will help you determine the symptoms. When you know the symptoms, treatment becomes a lot less stressful. If you want to ease out the inflammation and itching in the affected area, there are two effective ways of doing that. In first method, crush vitamin C tablets into powder, add some water to prepare a paste, and then apply the paste over the infected region. In the second method, you can use tree oil. Owing to its antiseptic properties, it is fairly efficient against inflammation.
Use Google or Flickr for finding bed bug bite pictures. These are the most authentic and quality sources for getting the desired images. Finding these images in Google is very simple; all you have to do is type the keyword in search bar and click the “images” tab. It should give you enough pictures to do the analysis. Flickr is a photo sharing website where you can find various different images of victims of bed bugs bites. This is an efficient technique for confirming if you need to seek bed bug control. Thus, it goes without saying that this is the only way you will be able to seek proper medical treatment for bed bug bites. Other skin rashes and infections need to be treated differently.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Do-It-Yourself Termite Control
If
you notice any signs of termite infestation in your house, then termite treatment should be started as soon as possible. Termite infestation can prove
to be dangerous for your household as a swarm can easily destroy furniture in
your home. Here are do-it-yourself termite control tips for both home and
business owners.
First, watch out for termite tubes. The presence of pencil-thick tubes made of mud on the exterior surfaces of your home is a clear indication that there is a termite infestation.
The second step in do-it-yourself termite control is determining the type of termite swarm nesting close to your property and choosing the right method of treatment for that particular type of termite. There are three main types of termites: the subterranean, Formosan, and the dry-wood termite. The latter two are easily identified by their fecal pellets which closely resemble sawdust. The dry-wood termites are mostly found in the attic but can easily spread quickly to other parts of the house.
If, on the other hand, you notice mud tunnels made by termites on the walls or near the basement, you can be sure that a subterranean termite swarm is close nearby. These require moisture for survival and that is why they are mostly found underground, in damp locations or wet wood in the house. Subterranean termites are larger than the dry-wood ones. The Formosan termite is found in the southern parts of the US but is more common in parts of Asia. The identification of the termite type is important as control measures vary depending on the type.
As you're interested in the best do-it-yourself termite control measures, it is imperative for you to undertake a study on the available options. You can do an online check on the appropriate termite treatment method. The most common methods of termite control include fumigation, liquid treatments, termite baits, and borate.
Liquid pesticide is the oldest method used for termite extermination. The pesticides are either in two forms: repellent and non-repellent. Repellents prevent entry of termites in your property whereas non-repellents kill termites that have already infested your premises. Liquid pesticides for termite control, also referred to as 'termiticides,' are pumped in the cracks of buildings and on the ground.
Termite baits are a much newer concept in termite extermination. Other than being environmentally friendly, this method is very effective. This is how it works: the bait, which consists of a number of plastic stakes, is inserted in the ground at strategic points around the property. The stakes contain growth inhibitors which result in eventual death of the termite.
Preventive measures such as borate treatment should also be considered. In borate treatment, sodium borate is mixed with water and then applied on all wooden surfaces. The chemical kills the protozoa present in the digestive tract of the termites. Consequently, they die of starvation.
Unlike other termite extermination methods, fumigation is meant to combat dry-wood termites. The method is also best left to professionals. However, here’s a quick termite tip: divert water away from your property to prevent it from accumulating around your home's foundation. This way you'll make it less prone to termite infestation. Clear all vegetation, shrubs and stumps around your property - there should be no direct contact between wood and soil.
Those are the do-it-yourself termite control measures home and business owners should take to protect their property.
First, watch out for termite tubes. The presence of pencil-thick tubes made of mud on the exterior surfaces of your home is a clear indication that there is a termite infestation.
The second step in do-it-yourself termite control is determining the type of termite swarm nesting close to your property and choosing the right method of treatment for that particular type of termite. There are three main types of termites: the subterranean, Formosan, and the dry-wood termite. The latter two are easily identified by their fecal pellets which closely resemble sawdust. The dry-wood termites are mostly found in the attic but can easily spread quickly to other parts of the house.
If, on the other hand, you notice mud tunnels made by termites on the walls or near the basement, you can be sure that a subterranean termite swarm is close nearby. These require moisture for survival and that is why they are mostly found underground, in damp locations or wet wood in the house. Subterranean termites are larger than the dry-wood ones. The Formosan termite is found in the southern parts of the US but is more common in parts of Asia. The identification of the termite type is important as control measures vary depending on the type.
As you're interested in the best do-it-yourself termite control measures, it is imperative for you to undertake a study on the available options. You can do an online check on the appropriate termite treatment method. The most common methods of termite control include fumigation, liquid treatments, termite baits, and borate.
Liquid pesticide is the oldest method used for termite extermination. The pesticides are either in two forms: repellent and non-repellent. Repellents prevent entry of termites in your property whereas non-repellents kill termites that have already infested your premises. Liquid pesticides for termite control, also referred to as 'termiticides,' are pumped in the cracks of buildings and on the ground.
Termite baits are a much newer concept in termite extermination. Other than being environmentally friendly, this method is very effective. This is how it works: the bait, which consists of a number of plastic stakes, is inserted in the ground at strategic points around the property. The stakes contain growth inhibitors which result in eventual death of the termite.
Preventive measures such as borate treatment should also be considered. In borate treatment, sodium borate is mixed with water and then applied on all wooden surfaces. The chemical kills the protozoa present in the digestive tract of the termites. Consequently, they die of starvation.
Unlike other termite extermination methods, fumigation is meant to combat dry-wood termites. The method is also best left to professionals. However, here’s a quick termite tip: divert water away from your property to prevent it from accumulating around your home's foundation. This way you'll make it less prone to termite infestation. Clear all vegetation, shrubs and stumps around your property - there should be no direct contact between wood and soil.
Those are the do-it-yourself termite control measures home and business owners should take to protect their property.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Welcome!
Welcome to my blog!
I'm a single gal living in a small house by myself and have had to deal with quite a few pest problems. I've pretty much had to learn from scratch what pest control is and how to protect my home from gross buggers like termites and cockroaches, so I decided to start this blog to help other ladies learn about pest control.
I'll have my first post up really soon, and I hope you enjoy!
I'm a single gal living in a small house by myself and have had to deal with quite a few pest problems. I've pretty much had to learn from scratch what pest control is and how to protect my home from gross buggers like termites and cockroaches, so I decided to start this blog to help other ladies learn about pest control.
I'll have my first post up really soon, and I hope you enjoy!
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