Apr 21, 2014 | Uncategorized
Bed Bug Awareness Week
This week (April 20-26) is Bed Bug Awareness Week. It’s a week to spread awareness about bed bugs and what people can do to prevent bed bug infestations.
It’s no secret that bed bugs are one of the hardest pests to control, even by pest professionals. They are easily transported by hiding in handbags, luggage, etc., are quick to reproduce, and can be difficult to see with the naked eye. Even though they can be difficult to treat, rest assured, that they can be treated by a knowledgeable, highly trained pest control professional.
Throughout the next few months people will begin to travel more and it is important that people are educated and aware of the steps to take to prevent bed bugs. This is where Bed Bug Awareness Week and Northwest Exterminating come in to help!
What can you do to prevent bed bugs?
- Be aware of what bed bugs look like (here).
- When traveling, do not put luggage on the bed or on the floor. Use a luggage rack.
- Pull back the corner of the mattress cover to check mattress seams for signs of bed bugs.
- Check sheets and pillows for signs of bed bugs.
- When returning home, leave luggage outside and wash all clothes in hot water.
- Contact a pest professional if you think you may have a bed bug infestation in your home. A highly trained professional will be able to quickly identify the problem and develop a customized solution for your infestation.
For more tips on how to prevent bed bugs visit our past blogs for helpful tips:
How to Protect Yourself from Bed Bugs on Spring Break
The 411 on Bed Bugs
The Dreaded Hitchhikers…The Bed Bugs
Apr 17, 2014 | Uncategorized
Just hearing about bed bugs is enough to make most people’s skin crawl and frantically check their beds just in case the nasty little bugs have made it into the house. New research has led us to believe that there is actually a bed bug season. The researchers gathered information from various service providers over a 4 year period that offered bed bug treatments. They analyzed all of the data and noticed that there is a definite trend from April through October where the number of bed bug treatments increases. Bed bugs are like most other insects despite living indoors, they begin to make a reappearance as the weather warms up and decline as the weather cools down.
We are now entering bed bug season, so here are a few precautions to keep in mind:
- When arriving in your room be sure to pull back the sheets at the corners and check for the presence of bed bugs around the cracks and crevices of the mattress and box spring.
- Make sure to place your luggage on the luggage rack.
- When returning home from your trip be sure to wash/dry clean all contents.
- Luggage should be placed up in the attic or left out in the garage.
- If you do bring bed bugs into your house, Northwest Exterminating can help you out. We have bed bug specialists who only perform bed bug treatments. Northwest Exterminating will guarantee elimination of a bed bug infestation before the contract is considered finished. We can also provide preventative services that will decrease the likelihood of a bed bug population becoming established should they be brought in accidentally. Please visit the website at www.callnorthwest.com for more information.
Katherine King
[email protected]
Apr 9, 2014 | Uncategorized
What is a paper wasp and will it sting?
You may notice a long, skinny wasp flying around the windows inside of your home looking a bit “lost”. That’s usually a paper wasp that is looking for their way out. Although they have no interest in stinging you, they will sting…painfully, we might add, if someone is near their nest.
Paper wasps mate in the fall and are now searching for a good place to start a new colony. Nests can typically be found under eaves, around outdoor air conditioning units, mailboxes, decks, swing sets, attics, and window sills. A paper wasp nest houses less paper wasps than a yellow jacket nest or hornets nest but there may be more paper wasp nests per property.
The nest of a paper wasp is easily identifiable. It looks like an upside down umbrella hanging from a small stalk. The nest has many visible tubes and looks like it’s made up of brown and grey paper.
It’s important to be able to identify a paper wasp nest so you can steer clear. Paper wasps can deliver a pretty painful sting when their nest is approached. Don’t risk your health and safety, or those of your family, by trying to get rid of the nest on your own. Call Northwest Exterminating to professionally remove the paper wasp nest from your property!
Apr 8, 2014 | Uncategorized
Tawny Crazy Ant, An Aggressive Ant Species, Marches Through South
Photo courtesy Joe A. MacGown/Mississippi Entomological MuseumSource
Fire ants have long been a threat in the southern United States, but another aggressive ant species known as the tawny crazy ant is taking over in many areas of the region. These ants can invade structures in extraordinary numbers and Northwest Exterminating wants to advise homeowners to take preventative steps to protect their properties from infestations.
Unlike fire ants, tawny crazy ants don’t sting, but they can become a nuisance once inside. They are highly adaptable, nest everywhere and are even known to damage electrical equipment, so it is important for homeowners to take steps to curb their activity.
Crazy ants enter homes in the autumn or after rainfall because both conditions reduce their supply of honeydew. Once inside, crazy ants usually nest underneath floors or in wall voids. Outdoors, their nests are commonly found in soil under objects or next to foundations.
To prevent crazy ants from gaining access to a structure, experts at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) recommend the following tips:
- Trim vegetation away from the home to prevent pathways inside.
- Seal all cracks and crevices on the outside of the home, including around doors and windows.
- Clean up food spills and other potential attractants as soon as possible.
- If an infestation is suspected, contact a licensed pest professional to treat the problem.
SOURCE: PPMA
Apr 4, 2014 | Uncategorized
Northwest Exterminating encourages public awareness of termites during the spring season
Source – UGA entomology
As temperatures continue to increase across the country and the ground becomes warmer, winged termites will emerge in search of a suitable spot to create a new colony, often in residential settings. We want to take this opportunity to educate homeowners about the threat of termites and the possible signs of an infestation this spring.
Termites feed 24 hours a day, seven days a week on the cellulose found in wood and paper products. They are known as “silent destroyers” due to their ability to compromise the structure of a home without being noticed until it’s too late.
Termites are very destructive and the damage inflicted can be quite costly if left untreated. Each year, termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage, so it’s important for homeowners to be on the lookout for signs of these wood-destroying pests in and around their property.
Here are a few clues that termites may be present in a home:
- Mud tubes (used by termites to reach a food source) on the exterior of the home
- Soft wood in the home that sounds hollow when tapped
- Darkening or blistering of wood structures
- Cracked or bubbling paint
- Small piles of feces that resembles sawdust near a termite nest
- Discarded wings near doors or on windowsills, indicating swarmers have entered the home
- If homeowners notice any of these signs, they should contact a pest professional who can best determine the extent of the problem and recommend a proper treatment plan
For more information on termites, please visit https://www.callnorthwest.com/termite-control/.
