Tag Archives: pest control

Pest Control Richmond TX

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Pest ControlOutside of Houston is a small town called Richmond, TX. Richmond has a population of about 12,000. The weather in Richmond is pleasant year round. During the summer the temperature hardly ever reaches 100 degrees. In winter the weather will scarcely ever reach freezing for long periods of times. This is one reason why the residents of Richmond, TX love living in this area. The weather is also loved by unwanted visitors, called pest. Pests love this area, mainly because of the weather. The weather will allow the pests to infest homes year-round.

What pests live in Richmond? 

Common_Pests

Some of the pests that will reside in Richmond, TX are: crickets, cockroaches, spiders, earwigs, and the feared scorpions. All of these pests will need to be treated on a regular basis in order to have them controlled.

What will happen if pests are not controlled? 

If homes are not treated on regular basis the pest problem will get out of control.  The pests will infest the walls of the home. Once the pests are inside the walls they will be protected from any outside element. When protected inside the wall the pests will then lay their egg capsules. Each egg capsule can have anywhere from 15 to 20 eggs in each. When the eggs hatch, the home will then have more pests. If not treated promptly, the whole home will become infested. You will then see the pests more often; in food and other unwanted areas.

How can pest be controlled? 

To completely control a pest problem a three part treatment will need to be done. The first part will be done on the inside.  On the inside an in wall treatment will exterminate any pest infested inside the walls. The in-wall treatment is done by placing a product in to the wall through the outlets. The 2nd and 3rd treatments are done on the outside of the home. One will be done by power spraying the foundation of the home. Power spraying will give the product the ability to get under any rocks and to get in to the soil. The other part is done by treating the source of the pest problem. The source of the problem comes form the plants. At the plants the pest will have a constant food and water supply. To treat this area granules are used. The granules will soak the soil with a product and wipe out any pests feed of the plants.

How to find a good pest control company? 

The best why to find a good pest control company is to look online. Looking to see how the pest control company rates with its costumers will help save money and big headaches in the long run. Some good places to look online are Family Own Pest Control, Google, and Yelp. If the company is doing a correct treatment the pest control company will have excellent reviews.

Pest Control Richmond TX

Bulwark Exterminating
10900 Brittmoore Park Drive
Houston, TX 77041
(281) 668-4930
bulwarkpestcontrol.com  
AAAnimal Pro: Wildlife Control
8280 Golf Green Circle
Houston, TX 77036
(832) 248- 7804
houstonwildlifepatrol.com  
Terminix
16155 Park Row, Suite 190
Houston, TX 77084
(832) 460-3698
terminix.com  
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Houston Ant Control

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Houston AntsThe fast paced city of Houston is packed with nearly 2.2 million people. With such an enormous population Houston, is much like a crowed ant colony.  The good news is that the population of ants can be controlled to ensure they won’t infest the home. The bad news is that once ants reach the home, they are much harder to control.

What types of ants are in Houston? 

Houston is home to a variety different types of the ants. Some of the more popular ants that live in Houston are: Carpenter ants, Black Crazy ants, Fire ants, Ghost ants, Little Black ants, Pharaoh ants, and the Thief ants. All of theses ants will have a different habitat but can pose a huge problem on the home, and its residents when the ants do infest.

Where will Houston ants be found? 

On the outside of the home, ants can be found all over the property. Some of the main areas ants will be found are under rocks, walking stones, logs, in the pavement cracks, gardens, decks, and just in the lawn. On the inside of home ants can be found in pantries, around windows, bathrooms, bedrooms, garages, by cat and dog food bowls, and inside the walls of the home.

 What can be done to control the ants? 

To completely control the ants, an ant control specialist can come to the home and treat for them.  To do a full ant treatment, the ant control specialist will need to treat both the inside and the outside of the home. On the outside, the specialist will need to power spray the foundation of the home, treat the windows and doors, and bait any ant colonies. On the inside of the home, the specialist should treat the windows, doors, bait any places where the ants are continually seen, and an in-wall treatment should be done. An in-wall treatment will exterminate any ants living inside the walls of the home.

How to prevent ants from infesting the home? 

Keeping a good strong barrier around the home, year round, will prevent ants from ever invading the home. This is done by power spraying around the foundation of the home and treating the windows and doors. The plants are where the ants will get a constant water supply and need to be treated as well. To treat this area granules are used. The granules will soak down to the ants and help exterminate any ants trying to get water.

Look for good reviewed ant control companies online.  

There are hundreds of ant control companies in Houston, and it can be difficult to pick a good one. To help save time, look online for a good ant control company. When online, there will be reviews that will say how well the treatments work, how will the company’s costumer service is, and how fast it takes the company to get to the home. Some good online reviews sites are: Better Business Bureau, Yelp, Google, and Family Own Pest Control. Picking the right ant control company first will save money and headache in the long run.

Houston Ant Control

Bulwark Exterminating
10900 Brittmoore Park Drive
Houston, TX 77041
(281) 668-4930
bulwarkpestcontrol.com  
AAAnimal Pro: Wildlife Control
8280 Golf Green Circle
Houston, TX 77036
(832) 248- 7804
houstonwildlifepatrol.com  
Terminix
16155 Park Row, Suite 190
Houston, TX 77084
(832) 460-3698
terminix.com  
Related articles

5 Bed Bug Secrets: Surprising Facts About These Notorious Little Pests

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Bed bugs have been in the news a lot lately. Because of all the information floating around about these pests, you may feel like there is very little left to learn. Bed bugs are tricky little creatures, though, and there are a number of facts about them that might take you by surprise. These five bed bug “secrets” might change the way you see bed bugs forever.

Bedbug Close-Up

1. Bed bugs are everywhere.

Most people are under the impression that bed bugs are primarily found in large cities. However, that isn’t the case. Bed bugs have made an appearance in all 50 states of the U.S., although they are more prevalent in urban areas. It is a little easier for the pests to spread in highly populated cities, which is why there are more reported cases there than in rural settings.

In addition, hotels are not the only places where you can pick up bed bugs. They are found in apartments, houses, dorms, movie theaters, and even on buses. Bed bugs can make a home just about anywhere, although it is more common to find them in places where people sleep.

2. Bed bugs don’t need to eat every day (or even every week!).

It takes a long time for a bed bug to starve to death. These little pests can survive for nearly a year and a half without feeding, so don’t rely on a mattress encasement to solve your problem. The covers are known to tear or wear down over time, which allows bed bugs to escape. While they are certainly helpful tools in the battle against these pests, it is important to also consult an exterminator and get professional treatment to ensure the bed bugs are gone.

3. Bed bug bites do not follow a predictable pattern.

Have a strange, itchy bite? It is natural to go online to look up your symptoms, although it may not be the best idea. Bed bug bites often look different depending on the person suffering from them. Many times, the bites do occur in groups of three. However, there are some people that either don’t react to the bites at all or that have bites scattered about their body.

4. It is hard to determine when you were bitten by bed bugs.

When the bed bug initially bites you, it doesn’t hurt. Many people don’t react to the bite for several weeks, if at all, meaning that that is hard to pin down when and where you were bitten. In addition, the rash or bite that results is often mistaken for something else, like a mosquito bite.

5. Bed bugs know what they are doing.

Bed bugs know how to hide and avoid detection. During the daytime, when it should be easier to find them, they move into the smallest cracks and crevices in the room. They make their way into picture frames, box springs, wallpaper or electrical outlets. Only at night, when humans remain still for a significant period of time, do they creep out from their hiding spots.

Bed bugs are complicated pests; they are difficult to find and even harder to get rid of. Hopefully, unraveling some of their secrets will help you understand them better and deal with them more effectively if they decide invade your home.

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Avoid These Common DIY Pest Control Errors

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Black Widow SpiderHomeowners generally think they’re doing themselves a favor and saving big bucks by handling their own pest control. However, the reality is that they are usually doing themselves a disservice by not employing a trained, experienced professional to eliminate the problem for good. Do-it-yourself pest management efforts often end up a failure because of the lack of knowledge most people possess about the task, and it leads to a worsening situation. Here are some of the most common errors made when trying the DIY approach to pest control.

Misuse or Overuse of Pesticides

It’s easy for someone inexperienced to misuse or overuse pesticides, which frequently occurs during DIY pest control. People that don’t know much about the negative effects that pesticides can have on the environment and their own health, or just don’t care, are quick to purchase over-the-counter products and apply liberally all over the yard and in every nook and cranny inside.

Typical mistakes that homeowners make with pesticide use is administering too much, combining products that shouldn’t be mixed, spraying in windy conditions and using the wrong kind of chemicals for a particular infestation.

Not Getting to the Root of the Infestation

If your first reaction is to immediately stomp on or spray any bugs that come into your line of sight in an attempt to kill them off, you’re not alone. This is what most people tend to do, but it isn’t always the best line of defense. There are many pests that live in colonies (like ants and bees), and even if you get rid of the one or two you see roaming around your home, that means the rest have been left somewhere else and you’ll soon be contending with them as well.

The best course of action to take is to find out where the source of the infestation actually is and treat the entire colony accordingly. The benefit of using a pest control expert is that they know the habits of various insects and exactly where to look for them.

Black Widow SunsetOnly Inspecting For Pests During Daytime Hours

To get an accurate assessment of possible pest situations, inspections should be done at different times of the day. Many homeowners only search during daylight hours, completely missing all the insects and rodents that come crawling out at night. A quick sweep of the property generally won’t allow you to come to the most valid conclusion on your need for pest control.

Believing There isn’t a Problem if Pests Aren’t Physically Seen

Insects and rodents are masters at hiding in the smallest, darkest cracks and crevices of a building, so just because you may not see them, doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Without periodic inspections conducted thoroughly by a professional, you could unknowingly be living with pests that are leaving germs and destruction in their wake, wreaking havoc on your health and home. A good example of this is termites since they can go undetected in the depths of a home for years, all the while feeding on wood and causing major structural damage.

If you know you’ve made some of these mistakes yourself, take extra care to correct future problems with the help of a pest control professional.

About the Author

Tiffany Olson blogs full time on home related topics. She loves sharing info with the public via social media platforms. Some favorite hobbies include camping, reading, and cooking.

 

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Houston’s Striped Scorpions

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The most common and widespread scorpion found in Texas is the Striped Bark scorpion (Centruroides vittatus). Houston homeowners are very well aquatinted with these stinging pests, but there is much more to this creepy-crawly pest than their sting.

Here’s everything you need to know about Houston’s Striped Bark scorpions:

Striped Bark ScorpionWhat Do Striped Scorpions Look Like?

Striped Bark scorpions vary in color depending on their habitat and age, but most are a dark orangish-brown with gold accents. They are a little bit darker in color than other species of bark scorpions. They are most known for their two, long, black stripes that run down their back.

An average Striped scorpion will measure about 2 ½ inches in length. A male Striped scorpion tail will be longer than the female’s, and both tails are longer and more slender than other species of scorpion.

Where Are Striped Scorpions Found?

Striped scorpions are frequently found throughout much of the south central and south-west United States. Found in states like Oklahoma and New Mexico, Striped scorpions are most prevalent in the state of Texas; including areas of Houston.

You can find them living under rocks, boards, and other debris in your yard. Additionally, they like to take up residence inside the cracks and crevices of stone walls, bricks, stones, and other landscaping features. These areas are commonly referred to as scorpion condos by us in the pest control biz.

Inside your home, you will find Striped scorpions hiding out in wall voids, attics, and any other secured location. They are active at night, and that’s when most accidental human encounters occur.

What Do Striped Scorpions Eat?

Striped scorpions do not burrow, but rather they forage; foraging for food in particular. Their favorite meal happens to be a cricket or cockroach, although they will also eat many other types of insects. They capture their meals, their insect prey, with their pinchers. While holding their next meal with pinchers, they will sting their prey as to paralyze it. Once paralyzed, it’s mealtime!

Striped Bark ScorpionWhat Can I Do About Striped Scorpions In My Houston Home?

It can be difficult to determine exactly how many scorpion you may have living inside your Houston, TX home. One way to check is to explore your home at night with a black light flashlight. Scorpion will glow neon blue under a black light, and will pop right out for you to see. If you are seeing a lot of scorpions, it’s best to call a Houston scorpion exterminator.

A scorpion control professional will be current on all of the latest methods of control, including dusting your voids, outlets, and attics with scorpion pesticide. Call a Houston scorpion control professional today!

Houston Scorpion Control

Bulwark Exterminating
10900 Brittmoore Park Drive
Houston, TX 77041
(281) 668-4930
bulwarkpestcontrol.com  
AAAnimal Pro: Wildlife Control
8280 Golf Green Circle
Houston, TX 77036
(832) 248- 7804
houstonwildlifepatrol.com  
Terminix
16155 Park Row, Suite 190
Houston, TX 77084
(832) 460-3698
terminix.com 
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Thomas Ballantyne

Tips For Eliminating The Habitat Of Pests

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Black WidowIt may be impossible to completely be rid of pests on outdoors on your property, but you can take measures to ensure they don’t come creeping inside your home this winter. By eliminating possible habitats around your yard, you decrease the chances of a pest infestation. Insects migrate indoors during the cold, wet months of winter to find shelter while they hibernate and lay eggs that will hatch in spring. Do a thorough walk-through of your home’s exterior and destroy any possible pest habitats to prevent insects from getting inside your home and overwintering. This will require you to think like a bug, searching for any insect-sized bridges that could help non-flying bugs get inside your house. You’ll also have to use your bug-senses to spot any places of refuge, or places where insects might be hiding out.

1. Clean Your Gutters

Gutters collect leaves, moisture, and muck, which creates a prime habitat for insects to burrow into. Clean out your gutters and downspouts so insects can’t take up residence in the debris.

2. Check Downspouts

Insects are attracted to moisture, so be sure to check your downspouts to ensure that they directing water away from your house. This will keep pests at bay as they are directed away from your house.

3. Store Firewood Outdoors, Away from the House

If your home has a fireplace, be sure to store all firewood outdoors, at least 20 feet away from your house. Insects love taking refuge in firewood, so be sure that you keep all firewood outdoors until you’re ready to burn it.

4. Eliminate Debris Resting Near Your House

Insects love to make themselves at home in old debris, so make sure you remove any debris resting against or near your house. This includes rocks, compost piles, bricks, old boards, and anything else you may have lying around.

5. Pull Mulch Away From Your House

If you have mulch next to your house, be sure to pull it away so it’s not resting right against the house. This will help keep insects away from your house’s structure.

6. Store Trash Cans Away From Your House

Trash is a prime food source for insects and other critters. Naturally, it attracts pests. Store any trash cans away from your house, and be sure to keep the lids on tight at all times.

7. Shift Plants so They Don’t Touch Your House’s Foundation

You don’t want plantings touching your house’s foundation, as insects like to live in them. Prune tree limbs that overhang your rooflines or gutters, and give your shrubs a trim so they don’t rub against your house’s walls, porch, deck, or any other outside structures.

8. Remove Autumn Leaves and Keep Them Away From the House

Remove any leaves that have collected outside and store them at least 20 feet away from the house. Leaf piles are a prime place for insects to take up residence.

9. Replace Exterior Lights

Replacing exterior light bulbs, which typically attract bugs, with yellow or sodium vapor bulbs will keep the bugs away during the winter and all year round.

If you take the time to do a thorough outdoor inspection and eliminate any possible habitats where bugs may be dwelling, you will be saving yourself the headache of having to deal with an indoor pest infestation further down the road. Remember that insects will be attracted to the warmth your home provides during the winter, so by eliminating their outdoor habitats, you are decreasing the risk of them making their way indoors.

About the author: Chris is writer for Excel Pest Control, a New Jersey based pest control company.

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Top 3 Pests In Houston

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I was fortunate enough to sit down with one of the pest management professionals at Bulwark Exterminating in Houston a few days ago, and get some much needed advice about some of the pests in the area.

One of the questions I really was interested in getting an answer too was, “What are the most common pests in the Houston area you guys get call about?”

Here are the top three pests in Houston:

3. Crazy Ants

Ants on raspberries

If I was to ask what the most called about pests are in Houston a couple years ago, the Crazy ant would not have even made the top ten. This ant, also referred to as the Rasberry Crazy ant or the Tawny Crazy ant, is a virtual newcomer to Houston. Even though this ant is relatively new to the area, it is taken over in huge numbers; pushing out other species of ant.

The reason Bulwark get’s so many calls about Crazy ants is that they will literally go everywhere. They invade homes, attracted to electrical impulses of our electronics and appliances. Once inside, they’ll nest in walls, and will damage electrical equipment by swarming inside. This behavior in known to cause air conditioners, and other electrical equipment to short out and fail. The result? Expensive repairs. Its because of this reason, homeowners get professional Houston ant control; before Crazy ant problems escalate.

Learn more about Houston Fire ants being driven out by Crazy ants. 

2. Fire Ants

Fire Ant Face

It’s hard to argue with the Fire ant being number two on the list of most common called about pests in Houston… Their stings are miserable! Fire ants make it really hard to send your kids out in the back yard to play. When your kids’ curiosity sets in, they’re going to disturb one of the fire ant mounds… It may even be by accident. Upon doing so, the colony of Fire ants will come spilling out of the mound, ready to defend their nest by stinging! When they sting, they grab tight with their pinchers and continuously sting with their abdomen in a circular motion. Multiply this a dozen times, and you have a very painful and unfortunate situation on your hands. Ouch!

When you see those huge ant mounds in your backyard, it’s time to enlist the services of a Houston Fire ant control professional.

Learn more about Houston residents battling Fire ants. 

1. Cockroaches

Cockroach

The hot and humid Houston weather, combined with the moderate winters, make ideal breeding conditions for cockroaches. Their sheer numbers are almost incomparable to almost any other major U.S. city. The mass quantities of cockroaches in Houston make them the number one most frequent pest in Houston.

Cockroaches are bugs of the night, scurrying around in the darkness looking for food and water. They are not fussy eaters at all, eating whatever organic substance they can find inside your home. Roaches are reported to spread some 33 different kinds of bacteria, diseases, worms and parasites. Professional Houston roach control is needed to eliminate them from your home.

Houston Pest Control 

If you are tired of battling Crazy ants, Fire ants, cockroaches, or any other type of pest; it’s time to call an exterminator!

Bulwark Exterminating
10900 Brittmoore Park Drive
Houston, TX 77041
(281) 668-4930
bulwarkpestcontrol.com 
 
AAAnimal Pro: Wildlife Control
8280 Golf Green Circle
Houston, TX 77036
(832) 248- 7804
houstonwildlifepatrol.com 
 
Terminix
16155 Park Row, Suite 190
Houston, TX 77084
(832) 460-3698
terminix.com 
 
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Infographic: How To Spot a Brown Recluse

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Brown Recluse Infographic

Houston Brown Recluse Control

The most feared pest in the Houston area is the Brown Recluse spider. Don’t let this spider ruin your way of life. If you are seeing Brown Recluse spiders in or near your home, get Houston Brown Recluse control!

Bulwark Exterminating
10900 Brittmoore Park Drive
Houston, TX 77041
(281) 668-4930
bulwarkpestcontrol.com 
AAAnimal Pro: Wildlife Control
8280 Golf Green Circle
Houston, TX 77036
(832) 248- 7804
houstonwildlifepatrol.com 
Terminix
16155 Park Row, Suite 190
Houston, TX 77084
(832) 460-3698
terminix.com
 
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Pest Word Search: What Pest Did You Find?

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In Houston, it’s really easy to find pests inside your home (unless of course you’ve hired the pest management professionals of Bulwark Exterminating); especially the disgusting and disease carrying cockroach.

What may prove to be a little tougher challenge, is finding all the pests in the “pest test” word search puzzle that has been going around Facebook all summer.

Haven’t seen it?

We’ll here you go:

The Pest Test Word Search

Word Seach of Pests

How’d you do?

Could you find all the pests hidden within? Hint: The pests are bugs, ant, scorpion, wasp,  roach, fly, bedbugs, lice, termite, gnat, spider, flea, and centipede.

What pest did you see first?

Over 10,000 people commented the first pest that they found in the puzzle, as the social media piece made its way around Facebook. Want to know how your find stacks up against the others who also searched for the pests? Look no further than the following infographic:

Pest Word Search Infographic– What Pest Did You Find?

 

Pest Infographic

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Thomas Ballantyne

Key Points To Consider When Hiring A Professional Pest Control Firm

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RoachWhether it’s rodents, wasps, mice or cockroaches, coping with pests in your home can be a very unpleasant experience and can dramatically increase your stress levels. Unfortunately, catching them and removing them can also be a difficult task, especially if you’re out of the house for most of the day. That’s why it is often a good idea to hire the professionals, who have years of experience in dealing with pest-related issues. This article looks at some of the main reasons why people prefer to use pest control firms as opposed to removing the pests on their own.

Check Credentials

A reputable company will have a valid license and certificate. Find out if it is a member of the British Pest Control Association, a major trade body representing more than 7,000 people and more than 500 members across the country. You may also want to consider hiring a pest control company that a friend, family member of neighbor has used, or try finding some online testimonials to see what previous customers have said about the service. The better their feedback, the better the company’s success rates.

Ask Plenty Of Questions Beforehand

For peace of mind, pest control firms may offer a guarantee with their services, although this does not necessarily mean that they will be able to remove all unwanted pests quickly and without delays. Before you hire the company, make sure they explain the procedures involved and ask as many questions as possible before signing a contract for a long term service. Even the most experienced professionals will not be able to answer all of your questions. So if they simply say ‘I don’t know’ and that they plan on finding out the answer as soon as possible, it shows that they are being honest and are not simple making up answers on the spot.

Does The Pricing Reflect The Market Rate?

It’s always tempting to choose the cheapest service, but consider the quality of service you may receive if you choose a pest control company that charges significantly lower prices than the industrial standard. Sometimes it is worth paying more to get more, although feedback and recommendations are still the most accurate way to determine how reputable a pest control firm is. Typically, companies with plenty of satisfied, long term customers will not need to charge extortionately high or exceedingly low prices.

Can You Remove Pests Yourself?

Mice are notoriously quick at escaping underneath the tiniest gaps and holes and are difficult to capture yourself. It is also dangerous to venture near wasps’ nests without sufficient protective gear. Pest control companies will have all the professional equipment, chemicals and other resources they will to combat pests and will usually know which techniques and/or products are most effective for different types of unwanted creatures or insects. If you decide to do the job on your own, you may have to resort to the internet to find out what you need to do. Of course, the internet is full of contradictions and is not always the most reliable source of information with regards to situations like this.

Dan Mange is a professional pest removal expert for Essex Pest Control-leading providers of comprehensive commercial and residential pest management services to the South East of England

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Published by Thomas Ballantyne