Pest Prevention Tips

As we approach the warmer season, there are pest prevention tips that the professionals at Lady Bug Pest Control Specialist suggest you do. As an environmentally responsible pest control company, we like to offer recommendations to minimize pest activity and chemicals in and around your home, with good common sense practices. If you are a winter visitor and have a home here, you too can take steps to protect your home from pest invasion while you are away. In addition to the practical tips listed below, a regular frequency of pest control service is very helpful, particularly when dealing with poisonous pests like scorpions and black widows.

We would highly encourage people that have a pest control service try only having the outside serviced. Much of the pest activity originates outside, so a technician’s time is better spent taking good care on the exterior of your home. This also minimizes unnecessary exposure to chemicals in your home environment for both people and pets. You can also look into pest control companies that offer alternative pest control treatments that minimize chemicals that are applied in your home. Alternative treatments are very effective, and are much more in demand with the concern of reducing health hazards in our environments. Below are some non chemical steps you can take to minimize pest activity.
Ants
Tips to reduce ants:

• Minimize food sources with good sanitation habits.
• Empty garbage
• Keep kitchen free of food on counters
• Minimize moist conditions.
• Keep fruit that falls to the ground picked up.
• Cut back any tree branches touching house and dead limbs.
• Minimize decayed wood and bark chips and remove railroad ties.
• Do not spray ants with pesticides. It creates satellite colonies.
• Use soapy water to wipe them away.
• Keep hummingbird feeders away from house.

General Pests
Tips to reduce pests such as crickets, earwigs & silver fish:

• Minimize excessive moisture conditions (over watering, pipe leaks and standing water).
• Minimize vegetation growing on your house and the block walls.
• Keep palm trees trimmed and shrubs trimmed.
• Minimize river rock and railroad ties in your landscape designs.
• Keep fruit that falls from trees picked up and pooper-scooper after your pet regularly.
• Also keep tree branches from touching the house to keep pests from entering under the roof tiles or through roof vents.
• Keep wood piles and storage items off the ground.
• Use cement blocks and 2×4 planks to store items off the ground.

Pantry Pests
Tips to reduce pantry pests such as Indian meal moths or flour beetles:

• Inspect dry goods for evidence of pests.
• Use individually sealed containers for each dry good product, like Tupperware.
• Throw out all infested food.
• Wipe down corners of cupboards with soapy water to remove eggs.
• Go through cupboards regularly and dispose of old dry goods.

Poisonous Pests
Tips if you encounter poisonous pests such as scorpions or black widows:

• Get medical attention or call poison control at 1-800-362-0101 immediately.
• DO NOT WAIT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY BREATHING.
• Minimize debris in yard and wear gloves to protect yourself from pest bites.
• Reduce landscape conditions such as railroad ties, river rock, vines and debris.
• Get your house sealed to reduce up to 80% of pest entryways.
• Have regular pest control to minimize the poisonous and general pest population.
• Seal cracks around your home to prevent pest entry and minimize door gaps.

Rodents
Tips to reduce rodents such as pack rats, roof rats or mice:

• Block access to your yard using wire mesh.
• Reduce entry into your home using screening to cover pipe openings, holes and vents.
• Also minimize accessible food sources (bird feeders, compost, open garbage pails).
• If you must do a rodent clean up, do a wet clean using rags and disinfectant, not a broom.
• Wearing gloves, and a dust mask, clean the area with disinfectant & water.
• Minimize exposure to diseases passed in the dust particles in the droppings.
• Put all the clean up materials in a sealed bag and dispose in trash.
• Call a professional. Call Lady Bug at 941-388-9220.

Roaches
Tips to reduce roaches:

• Minimize exposed food on counter tops and clean dirty dishes frequently.
• Keep kitchen free from grease.
• Empty garbage frequently.
• Pull stoppers in drains up at night.
• Minimize excessive moisture conditions.
• Minimize bark chips, dense vegetation, and leaf piles outdoors.
• Minimize excess debris in yard. Store items off the ground on 2×4’s and cement blocks.
• Keep plastic containers and tarps off the ground outside.
• Flush toilets and run water in all bathrooms regularly.

Ticks and Fleas
Tips to reduce ticks and fleas:

• Make sure pets are flea and tick free – consult your vet about treatment.
• Cut grass and remove excessive debris in yard.
• Vacuum thoroughly inside along cracks, baseboards, under furniture, and pet bedding.
• Be especially thorough where pets hang out using the edger tool.
• Dispose of vacuum bag in the trash outside. Seal the bag with tape.
• Reduce moisture and humid conditions.
• Get regular pest control service.

Bees and Wasps
Tips to reduce Bees and wasps:

• Make an inspection around your property weekly during swarming season.
• Listen for sound of bees being present.
• Persistent buzzing may mean a hive.
• Look where you have animals, especially in barns, stables or dense tree areas.
• If you discover a Bee colony, DO NOT DISTURB it, call a professional.

Spiders
Tips to reduce spiders:

• Minimize spider food sources (other pests) with pest control.
• Always wear gloves when handling debris outside the home.
• Remove heavy ground cover and vegetation.
• Seal cracks on the exterior of the building and install tight fitting screens on vents.
• Remove webs to limit spiders.
• Change exterior light bulbs to yellow bulbs. The yellow bulbs attract fewer flying insects on which spiders feed.

Termites
Tips to reduce the risk of termites:

• Reduce earth to wood contact around your home.
• Reduce excessive moisture, especially within a few feet of your home.
• Move firewood away from your house.
• Keep termite contracts and warrantees current.
• Call a professional for advice.

With the high volume of pests in our warm climate, there may be specific situations that you will need professional advice. Please feel free to contact Lady Bug Pest Control Specialists to answer any of your pest control questions.