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Do termites
really eat wood?
Yes,
termites actually eat wood. Using bacteria,
protozoa and microbes that live inside their
stomach, they are able to digest cellulose, the
main constituent of wood.
Can
termites make their way through concrete?
Termites
cannot go through solid concrete, but they can get
through a crack only 1/32 of an inch. Openings this
size or bigger often occur where two pieces of
concrete are joined together and around pipe
openings through the concrete or where the concrete
has cracked.
How
quickly can termites infest a house? If a residence
has been treated and there is no evidence remaining
of termite infestation, how soon could they
reappear?
Subterranean
termites can infest a structure during its
construction phase if they are present in the soil.
Whether the home is occupied or not makes no
difference to the termites. Conventional soil
barrier treatments to control subterranean termites
do not eliminate the termite colony. They do create
a treatment zone in the soil at potential entry
points into the structure. This causes the termite
colony to utilize their other available food
sources such as tree roots, fallen limbs, fences,
etc. Soil treatment zones are intended to control
termites for extended periods of time, however they
may be breached due to physical disturbance of the
treatment zone (landscaping activities,
construction, erosion, etc.), tree roots growing
through the treatment zone, natural degradation of
the termicide, etc. For these reasons, most termite
control treatments are available with renewable
warranties.
My
kitchen is inundated with small- and medium-sized
ants. They seem to cluster in my dishwasher. I've
used ant traps and boric acid and nothing works.
What should I do?
It is
important to identify the ant involved before
trying to control it. Some ant species can be
controlled using ant baits, while others cannot.
The key to success is following the ants back to
their colony and treating the colony directly
(except when dealing with pharaoh ants). Metro Pest
service professionals have the experience to
properly provide this service.
How
effective are bait traps for controlling
cockroaches?
Bait
stations may be effective in controlling
cockroaches if placed properly. Baits, however,
rely on every cockroach in a population to feed on
the bait before the infestation can be eliminated.
Bait stations should be combined with other control
efforts such as crack and void treatments to ensure
the infestation is eliminated. Knowing where to
apply each product effectively is where the
experience of a Metro Pest professional is helpful.
In addition, your Metro Pest professional will also
look for any conditions that might contribute to
cockroach infestations and make recommendations for
correcting such conditions.
Is it
possible to get rid of cockroaches and keep them
from coming back?
Cockroaches
can be eliminated from a home, but reinfestation
can occur depending on the particular species
involved and where the home is situated. Outdoor
cockroaches, like the large smoky browns in the
Southeast or Oriental cockroaches in the Northeast
and Midwest, may continually try to enter a home
from the outside. Regular exterior service in
addition to sealing outside cracks and holes in
walls can help limit such infestation.
How do I
get rid of mice?
Mice are
best controlled by using traps, either snap traps,
live traps (e.g., Tin Cat) or a combination of the
two. When using snap traps, use different baits
(chocolate, peanut butter, etc...) on the traps and
place them where the mice are active but
where children and pets can't get to them. Also,
seal exterior cracks and holes and put
weatherstrips on doors to prevent new mice from
entering. Mice only need a hole 1/4-inch in size to
enter. Numerous mice indicate a more serious
problem and should be dealt with by a
professional.
Is it
possible to get rid of rats?
Yes, it
is possible, but it takes a lot of effort. Traps
are best for control because the bodies may be
removed. With baits, you run the risk of the rodent
dying inside a wall or in a place where you can not
remove it, and it may cause an odor. In some cases,
you need to use both traps and baits. Rodent bait
should be used only in tamper-resistant rodent
stations. Baits should NEVER be placed unsecured
where children or pets could access them. It may be
better to hire a professional. Contact your local
Metro Pest service center to get a free estimate of
the cost for mouse/rat services in your area.
What is
the best mouse/rat bait and how should I use it in
my traps?
Contrary to
popular belief, cheese is not a good bait for mice.
Peanut butter and chocolate work well as long as
you don't put too much on the trap. Work the bait
onto the trap's trigger so that it is hard for the
mouse to get it off and it will be forced to climb
onto the trigger.
I have
moths in my clothes, and have indoor pets that may
get into mothballs. What are my alternatives?
Clothes
moths are best controlled by first cleaning the
affected clothing and other clothing items that
were stored with it. Clean items according to the
clothing manufacturer's instructions. Next,
thoroughly clean the closet, dresser, or storage
area. Cracks in these areas may also be treated
using a properly-labeled indoor pest control
product. Pheromone traps are available for clothes
moths to monitor for moth activity.
I have
discovered a small worm-like bug, tan colored, that
tapers at one end to a darker brown color. They are
living in the carpet and area rugs. What are they?
How can I remove them?
The
description sounds like carpet beetles or cabinet
beetles. These beetles feed on woolen items as well
as dead insects, pet and human hair trapped in
carpets, and food items in pantries. They can be
very difficult to control so it is recommended you
consult a pest management professional.
What can
I do to keep spiders out of my home?
You can
take the following steps to minimize spiders in
your home or apartment: seal all cracks around
window and door frames and around light fixtures,
vents, ceiling fans; seal all openings around pipes
under the sink and behind appliances; place sticky
traps designed for cockroaches inside near doorways
(along walls under and behind furniture and
appliances); and regularly remove webs and spiders
via vacuuming.
What is
the best way to treat a flea-infested home?
Flea
control requires thorough vacuuming, treatment of
pets, and treatment of the infested premises.
Vacuuming removes soils and debris that might
interfere with the treatment, removes adult fleas
and some flea eggs, and opens carpet fibers so the
treatment can penetrate to flea larvae and pupae.
An insect growth regulator (IGR) should be used
together with a product targeted at the adult
fleas. The IGR affects only the flea larvae and
prevents them from molting into adult fleas which
do the biting. The IGR, therefore, helps prevent
future infestations while assisting in stopping the
current problem. Vacuuming every day stimulates
adult fleas to emerge from cocoons so they will
contact the treatment and die more quickly.
Although the number of adult fleas you see quickly
drops following treatments, it may take two weeks
or a bit longer before all fleas are gone from the
premises. It is important to treat pets the same
days as the home is treated. Please follow the
advice of a veterinar
Are there
really such things as "bed bugs?"
Bed bugs
are small, oval, reddish-brown insects about
1/4-inch long as adults. They live in cracks in
beds and walls as well as in furniture near beds.
At night, they will crawl into the bed and bite a
sleeping person. The bite is usually not painful
and, fortunately, bed bugs do not transmit any
diseases. Bed bugs can prove difficult to control
so a professional should be consulted.
We have
several small, almost microscopic bugs around our
windows and sliding glass door. They are reddish
brown and when killed, make a tiny red dot that
looks like blood. What are they, and should we be
concerned if they are increasing?
The
description sounds like clover mites that live in
the grass outside and invade homes during the
spring. During the fall, the adults will deposit
eggs in cracks in the outside of buildings. When
these eggs hatch in the spring, the tiny, red mite
"larvae" crawl up the foundation and find their way
inside. This problem is usually remedied by
treating the exterior foundation and the ground
several feet out from the house. You may want to
consult a professional to apply this treatment.
I seem to
have these bugs with multiple legs bodies
long and thin, like worms. They move slow but
they're still creepy. What are they and what should
I do?
These
sound like they are millipedes which are related to
insects. They live in moist areas outside and feed
on organic matter in mulch, lawns, and leaf litter.
When it gets too hot, too wet, too dry, etc.,
millipedes may try to enter a home, sometimes in
large numbers. You will need to seal cracks and
holes in the home's exterior walls. Keep mulch to a
thickness of 2 inches or less and try to keep it
10-12 inches from the foundation. You may want to
treat the foundation and ground around the home
with a product labeled for exterior use around
homes. Follow the label directions. Otherwise, you
can call in a professional company to do a
treatment and provide recommendations.
How do I
know if I have house centipedes?
If they
have very long legs, they are likely house
centipedes that can breed indoors and feed on
spiders and insects. Homes with house centipedes
usually have a crawlspace or basement underneath
where the centipedes harbor. You may want to
consult a professional to inspect and advise you
for the best course of action.
What harm
can Earwigs cause, and how can they be
eliminated?
First of
all, earwigs do not bite and are not dangerous.
Earwigs control requires the treatment of cracks
inside where the insects are seen, cracks in the
home's exterior, and likely harborage sites
(woodpile, landscape timbers, etc.) outside. A
residual aerosol or dust insecticide labeled for
indoor crack and crevice treatment should be used
indoors. Outdoors, a suitable exterior household
insecticide can be applied to areas where earwigs
might live. Many people seek to hire a
professional, like Metro Pest, when dealing with a
significant infestation of earwigs due to all the
areas that must be located and treated.
I've
heard that silverfish are extremely difficult to
control. Is this true? If so, what should I do?
They are
difficult to eliminate, not because they are
resistant to treatments but because they often hide
deep within walls or attics where treatments are
difficult to apply. Apply a residual pest control
dust product into all cracks and voids where
activity has been seen. You may need to treat the
attic beneath insulation where silverfish are
found. Silverfish do not respond well to feeding on
insect baits so crack and crevice treatments are
the best options. Persistence in inspecting and
treating new areas of activity over several months
is also helpful. Experience has shown that homes
with wood shingle roofs typically have the most
difficult of silverfish infestations.
What can
I do to keep crickets from taking over the exterior
of my home and office?
Crickets
are attracted to buildings by bright exterior
lights. Changing commercial lighting to sodium
vapor lamps and home lighting to yellow "bug light
bulbs" greatly reduces the numbers of crickets
attracted. In addition, heavy ground cover (such as
ivy) should be minimized in landscaping, especially
next to the building. Sites where crickets could
harbor, such as piles of lumber and bricks, should
be removed. Also, seal as many exterior cracks and
holes and make sure all doors have tight-fitting
weatherstrips on the bottom.
I think I
have a gnat problem, but I'm not sure. What should
I do?
It is
very important to identify these flies or gnats.
The type of fly/gnat is critical in providing
useful advice for control. If the fly is tiny and
black, it may be a fungus gnat that lives in the
wet soil of potted plants. Small tan flies with red
eyes are fruit flies that breed in fresh fruit -
especially bananas - and garbage. Other types of
flies breed elsewhere. Please get the gnats
identified, and we can help you with control
solutions.
I have a
problem with flies in my house during the fall and
winter. They are black and 1/4-inch in size. What
kind of fly is this, and what can I do about
them?
If they
hold their wings flat over their abdomens, then
they are likely cluster flies. These flies enter
the walls and attics of homes in large numbers to
survive the winter. On warmer days, they may crawl
into the living spaces of the home. Once inside the
walls, they are difficult, if not impossible, to
eliminate. You need a professional to inspect the
home and make recommendations for sealing cracks
where flies could enter. Treatments can be applied
that can greatly reduce the numbers of flies seen
inside.
I have
wildlife in my attic. What should I do?
If a
raccoon or squirrel decides to nest in your attic,
or a group of bats are using your building for
shelter, it is important to get them out as soon as
possible. If left undisturbed, they will
multiply and eventually create health issues caused
by fleas, ticks, mites and the diseases they
carry. Damage to the property is also a real
concern as these animals gnaw on wires causing fire
hazards as well as computer and alarm
malfunctions. Metro Pest Control can humanely
remove these animals from your property. Once
removed, Metro Pest Control will seal the openings
to prevent other pests from re-infesting the
structure.
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