Pests don’t care whether your home is tidy or not; they enter for warmth, food, and shelter. Clutter gives pests places to hide and breed. And over-the-counter sprays and traps don’t target the underlying infestation.
Rodents carry a variety of diseases and leave behind contaminated droppings. Plus, they chew through wires which can cause electrical fires. Contact Ben’s Pest Control for more information.
Termites Don’t Eat Brick or Concrete
When pests invade, it’s natural to look for quick answers on how to get rid of them. However, many of the tips you hear from friends or on social media don’t actually work and may even make things worse. Termites are especially dangerous, since they cause billions of dollars worth of damage each year. Debunking some of the most common misconceptions about pest control can help homeowners make informed decisions about how to prevent and treat infestations.
While some homeowners believe that concrete and brick are termite-proof, this isn’t necessarily the case. In fact, these materials can be just as vulnerable to termite infestations as wood is. The pests tunnel through the structures to reach their target – wooden support beams in your home’s foundation – and destroy them.
Termites are called “silent destroyers” for a reason: they go unnoticed until it’s too late. Unlike ants or cockroaches, which are opportunistic feeders and can be deterred with store-bought repellents, subterranean termites are highly destructive and require professional pest management to prevent severe damage.
Because they are so destructive, it’s essential to have a pest control company regularly inspect your property. In addition to detecting the presence of termites, a qualified inspector can also identify potential entry points and prevent infestations. This includes ensuring proper pre-construction termite treatment and keeping bushes, trees, and mulch away from the home’s foundation.
Another reason why termites are so destructive is because they can’t be detected until the damage has already been done. Oftentimes, the infestation isn’t noticed until there are signs of mud tubes or hollowed-out wood.
Termites aren’t just difficult to detect, but they’re also incredibly fast breeders. A single queen can lay thousands of eggs in a day, making it easy for a small infestation to grow out of control. Using DIY sprays or treatments without consulting a pest control expert can also make matters worse. Termites are able to travel through soil and other moist areas to find their targets, which means they can also move from one area to the next easily.
Bugs Aren’t All That Visible
When pests invade homes, it’s understandable that people would want to use any means necessary to stop them. Oftentimes, this leads them to believe or accept myths and misconceptions about pest control that don’t hold up. These myths can lead to poor choices about how to manage the pest problem, which may actually make it worse.
Some of these myths rely on some level of truth, but they are often exaggerations or outright falsehoods. This is why it’s important to seek out reputable sources of information about pest control, rather than trusting the advice and tips offered by friends or strangers on social media.
For example, some people think that they can keep their pest infestation in check by using a bug zapper or similar device around the property. This can be dangerous because if the person isn’t careful, it can cause skin burns and eye damage. Moreover, bug zappers don’t kill the insects they attract; they only electrocute them and allow them to escape back into the home.
Other myths, like the idea that a clean house keeps pests out, are also not true. In fact, many pests enter homes to look for food, water and shelter. This can result in costly damage, especially if a pest is a destructive species such as termites or rodents. These pests can eat through the building materials and even gnaw on electrical wires, leading to expensive and dangerous problems that require professional repairs.
It’s important to have a consistent pest control service in place so that you can prevent and deal with pest infestations as soon as they arise. Having regular inspections will also help you to identify potential pest problems early on, and this can save you money in the long run. In addition to this, some pests can cause structural damage, which your homeowner’s insurance will likely not cover if you don’t take action.
A professional pest control company will be able to provide you with safe and effective treatments that will destroy the pests while protecting your family, pets and property. Taking a proactive approach to pest control will also help you to avoid costly home repair issues caused by some of the most common pests, including cockroaches, ants and mice.
A Clean House Keeps Bugs Out
The truth is that a clean home doesn’t guarantee pest-free living. Pests enter homes looking for food, water and shelter. Rodents can squeeze through holes the size of a dime, and cockroaches are masters at hiding in tight cracks. Even brand new homes can be susceptible to pest infestations if there’s wood-to-soil contact or hidden moisture issues. And no matter how often you sweep and dust, if you don’t stop the sources of these pests they’ll keep coming back.
Keeping your home tidy can make it harder for pests to find what they need, but it’s important to seal any entry points too. A professional can help you identify and repair these entry points, like faulty window screens or unscreened doors, to keep bugs and rodents out of your home.
While over-the-counter bug sprays might kill a few visible insects, they won’t get to the root of your pest problem. Professional treatments, like those offered by Specter Pest Control, use targeted products and strategies that not only eliminate current infestations but also prevent future problems from arising.
Many people believe that if they don’t see any pests, their home is pest-free. While this is true in some cases, pests are nocturnal and nestle in dark, hidden places where they can go undetected for weeks or months. Mice can chew through wood without making a sound, and termites can infest entire homes before anyone notices. And while some blood-sucking species are more active during certain seasons, a mosquito can decide to bite at any hour of the day.
Pests of all kinds can cause disease by contaminating our food, water and shelter. Some, like cockroaches and mice, can carry bacteria that can cause illness. Others, like flies and stinging insects, can trigger existing health conditions like allergies. And rodents and birds can contaminate our indoor spaces with their urine, feces and feathers. This is why pest control is essential.
Bug Zappers Keep Mosquitoes Away
In an effort to keep mosquitoes away from their outdoor areas, many homeowners turn to bug zappers. These devices supposedly lure insects using UV light and electrocute them with a powerful surge of electricity. However, they are largely ineffective at killing bugs and may do more harm than good.
In one study, University of Delaware researchers collected and analyzed insect kills from six typical residential bug zappers. They found that the vast majority of the 14,000 insects killed by these devices weren’t mosquitoes or biting flies. Rather, most were moths and other beneficial insects. Some of these insects even prey on mosquitoes, making it important to preserve their numbers.
What’s worse, the zapping process can actually spread disease. The obliterated insect parts are blown into a fine mist that can carry bacteria like campylobacter jejuni, staphylococcus and serratia marcescens. These organisms can then be carried in the air and into food preparation areas, hospitals and other sterile environments, where they can cause serious illness.
Other negative effects of bug zappers include their limited effectiveness and unintended consequences. Because they attract so many different insects, including bees and other pollinators, they can disrupt ecosystem balance. This can lead to plant diseases and other problems, such as a loss of natural fertilizer. In addition, the UV light from a bug zapper can also harm some animals and plants, including cats and dogs.
For these reasons, it’s best to avoid using bug zappers. Instead, you can try a combination of methods for keeping mosquitoes away, including repellents and eliminating standing water. It’s also important to remember that mosquitoes breed in bodies of water, so keeping your yard clean can help reduce their population. However, the most effective way to control mosquitoes is to prevent them from breeding in the first place by reducing standing water and using bacteria like Bti to kill larvae in ponds and rain barrels. These steps can be more effective than a bug zapper and won’t harm beneficial insects or pets.