No Hundred Year Floods, Please! (Damp Wood Termites and Carpenter Ants)

Question:

I have an account that has dampwood termites and carpenter ants, neither of which is unusual. It’s the location of the house, which is built on stilts and straddles a stream that feeds into the Puget Sound. What are my options on treating this situation? Many pest control companies have looked at this property and just walked away, I would like to think that we could give the homeowner a solution, instead of being one of the many to walk away. Looking forward to your answer. – Eric, WA
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Here, There, and Everywhere Carpenter Ants

Question:

A customer is having problems with black and red ant swarmers (together) inside her house – we can’t find any ants outside whatsoever. It has been going on for two weeks now, and we can’t figure out where they’re coming from. They are in every room, including the attic, but they don’t appear to be entering from the attic. Neighbors tell her that this happens to this house every year, just like clockwork! – BRIAN, AZ
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HOW TO GET OF RID BIRDS

The bird that woke you up early that one early Saturday morning is probably one of three most common birds: the Raven, Pigeons, and Woodpeckers. Usually, when someone thinks of a bird, they think of chirping and bird droppings. What may seem quite harmless is actually the opposite. Those three birds and their droppings can be potentially fatal. Their droppings can create unsanitary conditions and can be the cause of over fifty transmissible diseases. A few of these diseases are Avian Tuberculosis, Pasteurellosis commonly known as Shipping Fever, Salmonellosis (food poisoning, gastroenteritis, paratyphoid, typhoid), Chargas disease, and Listeriosis commonly known as Circling disease. Birds can be destructive in many ways. They, at often times, destroy property, rooftops, floors, walls, vehicles, and other things. The damage caused by their droppings will often cause irreversible damage and may, at times, be very costly.

Remember, if there is a ledge, then there is a possibility for a bird to create a nest in that area.

There are two ways to get rid of birds. You can either use repellent, or use spikes. Repellant does not gave a “killing” affect, so it won’t kill any birds – it will only repel them from unwanted areas. JT EATON 4 THE BIRDS Repellent and DR T’S BAT-A-WAY Repellent are two repellents that can be used. JT EATON 4 THE BIRDS Repellent is a transparent and sticky substance that will repel birds. The DR. T’S BAT-A-WAY Repellent. Dr. T’s Bat-A-Way is an all-natural ingredient that is used in a humane way to repel not only birds, but bats and squirrels as well. The active ingredient in this repellent is Naphthalene and it gives off a strong scent which will cause dizziness and nausea which isn’t enjoyable, thus, repelling the animals.

The spike method is also commonly used. Plastic Bird Spikes are commonly used. These are clear spikes that are usually installed on the lining of roofs and gutters to eliminate bird perching. These spikes help with preventing damage done to a home’s roofing and siding. When you prevent birds from coming near your home, you are also minimizing the bacteria and disease their droppings the birds contain, thus, reducing the risk of infection.

Jteaton 4 the Bird	Dr T’s Bat-A-Way

Plastic Bird Spikes

GETTING RID of HORSE and HOUSE FLIES

Flies are a nuisance to any home that they enter. Flies are generally found all over the place, frequenting any warm and most area. They’re attracted by many different things, such animal manure, human excrement, garbage, decaying vegetable material and ground contamination.

Male horseflies like to feed on plant juices and matter, while the female is one that sucks on blood. Most people can attest to the fact that their bites are quite painful. Also, they are definitely some of the largest flies in the United States, as they are over an inch long with a wingspan of “2.5.  Horseflies are black and brown in color.

HORSE and HOUSE FLY ASSESSMENT

There’s a few things that a person should look for if they are to rid themselves of a horse or housefly problem. Luckily, just removing trash from a home regularly will genuinely improve a horse or housefly problem.  More on How to Get Rid of Horse and House Fly

GETTING RID of DRAIN and FRUIT FLIES

Drain flies go by a few names, moth and sewer flies are a couple of the monikers. Ranging from 1/16 to 1/4 of an inch, and colors from yellow to a brown/black, these abundantly hairy creatures can be a nuisance. They get their name from where they dwell and like to lay their eggs, preferring the gelatinous film that’s found in drains and sewers. When crushed, they leave behind a powdery smudge.

Fruit flies are small in comparison to other flies. Fruit flies are 1/8″ in length, including the wings. They’re easily distinguishable from other flies, as they have bright red eyes and their bodies are a light yellow to a tan color.  They are found most at late summer and early fall where they infest in harvest fruits.

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