This is a Black Legged Tick, also known as the Deer Tick. This is the tick responsible for the spread of Lyme disease. They can vary in size depending on where they are in development. They live for about two years and are the biggest threat to humans and pets during late spring into summer. These ticks find their next host by “questing” or waiting. They do not seek you out but instead they lay and wait with their front arms outreached waiting for a passer by to grab on to. Feeding on a host can be as short as ten minutes or last a couple hours. Removing the tick as soon as possible is key in reducing risk of Lyme disease. It can take about 24 hours for the bacteria to be transmitted from the tick onto the new host, but it’s best not to wait that long and check yourself frequently when enjoying the outdoors.
Month: September 2021
Mouse Prevention
The best defense is a good offense and the same applies to mouse prevention. Gaps around doors, pipes, electrical wires, vents and other structural penetrations are the reasons why mice get inside. It is best practice to seal up these gaps to prevent initial entry. This includes replacing garage door seals and weatherstripping around windows and doors. It’s not always easy to identify exactly how a rodent is getting inside your home. It might not even be possible in some cases but the first place to start is with obvious points of entry and go from there. Part of our rodent services is to inspect and identify these. We can also put together a quote to seal them up for you. Rodents create all sorts of problems once inside so be sure to prevent their entry where ever possible.
Wasps & Hornets
Hello there large wasp nest… High up in a tree is not usually a problem, but when they build one of these soccer ball sized nests on your deck its a bit more concerning. Wasps and hornets can be very aggressive. I’m not tackling one of these without a well fitted bee suit. This is what some have referred to as a “nope nest”. As is in, nope i’m not dealing with that. Smart move, call the exterminator instead. I will put on my “not today” protective layers and go to work. 10 points awarded to those of you that picked up on that Game of Thrones reference. In the end, it’s much better to leave these types of services to professionals that have the experience, tools and a touch of crazy to get it done!
Mr. Mouse comes to visit
Sure he looks cute with that little bowtie but don’t let this fancy rodent fool you. Mice are dirty creatures. They are constantly defecating and urinating where ever they go. The surfaces in which they are scurrying across, climbing on and living in are covered in microscopic germs. Among the diseases carried within and on these varmints is Salmonella, Leptospira, Typhoid, RickettsialPox, Hantavirus and more. Keeping mice out of your home or places of work is a must for a clean and safe environment. Every situation is unique but control methods that work well include exclusion, sanitation, poison baits and physical traps. Mouse control is best left to the professionals for proper and quick control of an infestation. Fecal clean up services can also be performed which I highly recommend paying skilled workers to do the job. These aforementioned pathogens become especially dangerous when stirred up during the cleaning process. Call today to learn more about how we can protect you from Mr. Mouse (and friends).
Honey Bees love Linden
While there are many varieties of Linden, one thing you can count on is honey bees coming to enjoy their flowers.
Linden trees have been planted for centuries to attract honey bees for cultivating. With blooms in the late summer this makes for a perfect end to a beautiful season!
Stingbugs, Ladybeetles and Wasps love Fall too.
Fall is a magical time of year. This is the when the lush verdant scenery changes to the beautiful colors are of Autumn. Reds and oranges and the brightest of yellows will be seen, well.. at least for us in the Northeast.
Pests like it too or it seems that way when they start to get a bit too friendly around our homes. This is the time of year when pests will seek out refuge for the hard winter ahead. They will find any place they think they will survive the cold temperatures. Often times this is your attic, your bonus room, the basement and everywhere in between. They will find the smallest of cracks to sneak their way inside. Around windows, gable vents and sill plates give them all the access they need.
Some types of insects seem to be more determined than others when it comes to invading your domicile. For example, lady beetles aka ladybugs can come in by the hundreds in some occasions. Ok, but what can be done about it? Glad you asked… sometimes a lot, sometimes very little.
Overwintering pests, as we like to call them, can be very difficult to prevent. A good place to start is to make sure all your windows have screens on them and are in good working order. Replace the screens if there are tears or holes in them. Next, check around the outside of the windows to see if there are any gaps around the window frame. This would be a good time to mention to hire a professional if your are not comfortable on ladders or heights. Safety first, always. Use caulk around windows and other small gaps you find outside the home, be sure to use a product that is rated for exterior use and to pick a color that will dry how you would like it…or get the type that can be painted. Clear caulk is also an option.
Another hot spot I find often is the gable vents. Commonly, this is a giant open door for pests. Not just insects but rodents too. Even wildlife will exploit these areas. Yeah…but what is a gable vent?? Most homes have these…but not all and if you don’t have one you probably should have one installed. These are large louver vents high up on the sides of the house on either or both sides of the home. Gable vents allow heat and humidity to vent out of the space. These vents go directly into the attic or crawlspace. I use the word crawlspace loosely here because when I find a gable vent to an attic space that has no interior access it’s usually way too small for me to actually crawl into. These are a nightmare for a variety of reasons, but that’s for another post. Back to gable vents, these should have two pieces to them. The first is the exterior rigid vent itself. The second is a thin insect screen installed on the inside to prevent…you guessed it, insects from getting inside the attic space. These screens are very often in disrepair and will fail over time allowing the gable vent to become a beacon of hope for excited overwintering pests. Check these vents to see if they have the proper screening from the inside. Check to see if it is in good working order or needs to be replaced. Again, safety first…attics can be very dangerous. Hire a professional if you are uncomfortable in attics.
Of course this just a condensed version of the things a pest professional will look for when servicing your home or business. Our main focus is inspection. Then comes control…if needed. Through our inspections we find many things and not all of them have to do with pest control. Thorough inspections of your home on a regular basis will ensure smooth and safe operation. Operation? Really? Yeah…keeping a well maintained structure is work. Hire a pro!