The Indicators of Pest Infestation at Home

Droppings, dusts, and other unusual scenarios within your home can be a sign there something uninvited dwell together with you. Whom to call? Visit Universal Pest Control for the best service under the sun.

Cheap Pest Control Ideas to Get Rid of the Blasted Guests at Home

Coming across mouse, ants or palmetto bugs in shower is a distressing experience. You've got to find a way to get rid of them so you can get rid of the stress that they bring. Here are some cheap pest control ideas that you may find really helpful.

1. Mouse traps- Mouse traps can be purchased at relatively cheap price. It can be found in hardware shops. Instead of putting the traditional cheese on the picture, you can make use of raw bacon and peanut butter that make a good bait.

2. Shallow pans- For snails and slugs, you can make use of shallow pans or container jar lids with beer. You can place them in open areas in your garden. Change the beer every three days. Wash any slime off your hands with warm water and vinegar.

3. Peppermint tea- You can repel the mice with the scent of the peppermint tea. You have to boil two cups of water, turn off the heat and then add at least four to six tea bags of peppermint. Let the tea steep for six to eight hours and then stir in two teaspoons of dish-washing liquid. Fill a spray bottle with the tea and coat areas where you think the mice are entering.

4. Baking soda- Ingesting baking soda will kill the palmetto bugs. You have to make it palatable so it will be more effective. Bait the unwanted guests by mixing the baking soda with equal parts of icing sugar and sprinkle the mixture inside the cabinets and other potential areas where the palmetto bugs lie.

5. Sugar- If you notice many ants, you can bait them by giving what they want and that of course, is sugar. You can make a trap by adding 23 teaspoon sugar into one cup of water. You have to leave the trap overnight and check them in the morning. You can repeat the process over and over until the ants are completely gone.

Dealing with the unwanted pests at home can be really irritating but with these cheap pest control ideas, you do not have to be stressed too much. Do not let the pests rule over your homes because your home belongs to you. You have to feel safe and sound in your own dwelling because you deserve to be.

Systematic Approach to End Your Problem with Palmetto Bugs

Everybody hates palmetto bugs. It is one of the most prominent pests in the United States with a great number of households that have problems with annoying palmetto bugs. Palmetto bug is another term for cockroach. Aside from the stress that they give, they can also contaminate our food supply. With the diseases and bacteria that they carry, it is very important that we are educated about an organized approach to get rid of them. 

In order to effectively get rid of this insect in your homes, you have to eliminate certain resources and choose the best methods to kill them. Make sure that your approach is systematic. You may follow these steps to free your homes from the infestation of palmetto bugs. 

1. Prevent the further entry of palmetto bugs in your home by sealing off electrical and plumbing connections well especially if you are living in a multi-unit housing. Take note that pests can gain entry access from another person’s home. You have to caulk or seal off any crack or gap that is present in any of your doors and windows. You also have to cover the vent pipes on your roof with the use of a fiberglass net to block any pest access. 

2. Eliminate the things that palmetto bugs need to survive. They need food, water and shelter in order to survive so make sure that you take these things away from them. If you are going to take away the availability of these resources, you will cease to be a hospitable host for these pests. Clean up grease immediately including crumbs and beverage spills. You also have to empty trash baskets frequently and clean counter-tops, floors and areas for food storage. 

3. Choose a treatment that is less toxic than the others. This will ensure that your health and the environment remain safe. You can make use of sprays, baits and traps. 

4. Implement the best treatment method. After deciding on the treatment method that is ideal for your health and for the environment, the next thing must be the action. You may also consider boric acids or silica gels in the areas where palmetto bugs usually travel. It may be under the sink and stoves, behind the refrigerators, cabinets or electric outlets. 

5. Place traps near garbage cans at night. This can help you monitor the pest activity. 

Experiencing a Pest Free Autumn Vacation

Cherish moments during this autumn with your family. To let you do so, above are pest eliminating tips from Universal Pest Control.

How to Resolve Your Termite Problem?

Wait. Do not sell your house just yet! People are terrified of termites and everyone has a justified reason why. I for one am not a fan of any creepy crawlers, especially the ones who could eat my family out-of-house-and-home, invade library to destroy my vast collection of books, nor the concept of having to tear down our age-old tree house I had since I was small. Termites are pests that need immediate resolution. 

Here are some things-to-do when termites are found in your area:

1. Buy a termite trap from your local hardware or DIY home-improvement stores.

Preventive action is better than cure. If you hear from a neighbor that someone in the area is experiencing problems on pest, termites to be specific. Take control by thinking ahead. There are ways to save your property from permanent structural damage. Setting up termite traps around your home, in your yard and on neighboring cluster of trees can save you a huge amount of money. These termite traps are commonly made of wooden-stakes which can be driven to the ground or dangled as bait for wandering termites. Just check regularly to detect any pests in your area. No safety hazard for kids or pets, these are environment-friendly non-chemical termite traps designed for every home.

2. Use liquid termiticide spray to prevent further infestation.

Spraying liquid termiticide on the base of the infected tree and other neighboring trees will help control the termite problem. Make sure to spray an approximate 3-foot radius around the base of the tree. Continue spraying till you reach at least 2-feet high. Doing so will prevent more termites from returning to their nests. Spray on the exterior of wooden structures nearby like sheds, boats, panels etc. For a more environment-kid friendly approach, I would recommend the use of biodegradable permethrin-based insecticide, such as Torpedo or Dragnet. Another alternative could be bought a commercial hydrocarbon-based termiticide from your hardware store.

3. Pruning infected wood once discovered in a tree.

Immediately remove infected area. Narrow tunnels through the wood, large nesting chambers, tiny white eggs or visible crawling termites on the tree trunk, are just some indicators of a pest problem. Pruning will help the tree from being fully infested. Do this, as soon as signs of termites are discovered. Burn or destroy the wood as soon as possible to prevent the termites from transferring to another wooden home.

4. Follow-up Treatment

Check daily if the creepy crawling-structure-destroyers have tried to return to the trees. Monitor the termite situation daily. Continue anti-termite spraying until you are confident that the situation has been completely controlled. Do not be complacent. Remove uninfected wood from moist areas or remove from exposure to rain if possible. Eliminate rotting stumps from your yard and do away with old wooden piles from your workshop. Get rid of anything that might potentially become a home for the termite pests.

Governments Move to Save the Bees

June this year, governments launched an urgent and comprehensive study of the bee population decline. 

Bees, not only help beautiful flowers grow, mainly they spearhead the pollination process that provide humanity and animals its’ food supply.

Studies showed that the degree of decline in the bee population is already quite alarming. Researchers, scientists and government officials world-wide are now concerned of their own country’s food supply.

Factors have been determined through extensive research, which attributed to the insect decline, were named as follows: use of pesticide, habitat loss and intensive agriculture, among others.

Work is being done today for a comprehensive action plan, which could help increase the bee population and other insect species. There are initiatives for a world-wide “pollination strategy” to help develop an action plan to save the black-gold pollinating insect population.

"We must develop a better understanding of the factors that can harm these insects and the changes that government, other organizations and individuals can make to help", said Lord de Mauley, in regards to the Bee Summit organized by Friends of the Earth.

Lord de Mauley, among others, is moving for the regulation of pest control chemicals and the prohibition of unnecessary use of chemicals in the environment. "I do not deny for a moment that it is important to regulate pesticides effectively and to avoid unnecessary pesticide use.” commented Lord de Mauley, in an interview.

"Changes in land use, the type of crops grown, alien species, climate change - these all have an impact. The relative importance of these factors and their interactions is not well understood.” said de Mauley.

Andy Atkins, the executive director of Friends of the Earth, is pleased with the response to the group’s bee initiative.

"We're delighted that enormous pressure for a Bee Action Plan from scientists, businesses and the public has stung the government into action.” said Atkins in a report.

"We all agree prompt measures are needed to tackle all the threats, to bees and other pollinators face, but an urgent and comprehensive route map and timetable are needed to ensure this happens.”, Andy Atkins added.

Hope the latest news on bees helped shed light to the question, “Are bees’ friends or foes?” All I can say is, we can never bee-too-sure, get it? Bees truly do play an important part in the balance of our ecosystem; the total extermination of the bee population will be detrimental to global food supply resulting to shortages and loss of plant life. No food results to hunger of, not only humans, animals which will eventually lead to starvation and an inevitable death toll on all species. No matter how smart, humans are in this day and age, we are dependent on insects, animals and plants for our own survival. Have you ever seen the “Bee" movie, see it and get the picture of how something so small, can indeed change the world

How to Find the Best Pest Control Company?

Pests are annoying and harmful. They could bring disease-causing germs to your homes. These small animals usually hide in your kitchen cabinets and sinks, or burrow themselves on the furniture cushions and mattresses. To keep your home pest free, you need to use the services of professionals. These people know the safest way to get rid of the vermin in your home. 

Finding the best pest control company is not easy. Here are some ways to ensure that you get the best service. 

First, conduct a research first. Discover the kind of pests that infest your home and the best and safest way to get rid of them. Sometimes, by making some changes in your landscape or cleaning your surroundings, you can get rid of the vermin. Studying how to deal with them will help you decide whether or not you need to hire the services of professionals.

Second, ask for the recommendation of some of your relatives, friends, or acquaintances. People who have experienced a company’s service would likely recommend it to others if it is good. The same is true with companies that provide pest control services. By asking around, you will be able to find the best company that could meet your needs. You will also be able to find one that will be the best solution to your problem based on your research.

Third, contact at least three companies. Compare the services that they offer, the price, the kind of treatments, and special privileges. If there are companies that use organic but effective treatments at almost the same price with the rest, the better. Environment-friendly treatments are safer for your health compared to conventional ones.

Fourth, after choosing a company, request for an ocular visit and ask for their solutions. Good companies would be able to describe clearly the procedures and the remedies that they will use. Ask intelligent questions to avoid problems in the future in case you decide to hire them.

Fifth, check the company background. If there are customer reviews, the better. Visiting the company website would be of great help.

Last, discuss contract with them. Ask for services covered by the price and what would require extra charges. Also, check if there is warranty. For example, if one-time treatment did not eliminate all the pests, you must have another treatment for free. This will reduce repeated expense on your part.

Of course, after finding the best solution to your pest problem, you must also do your part, especially procedures that the company recommends to ensure that you eliminate the pests in your home.