Preparing for Swarms

With Spring upon us, the temperature will start to get warmer, finally! This is great news for us, but it also means that insects are beginning to come out of hibernation. Two insects of great concern, particularly in the spring, are the ant and the termite.

Both of these insects, flying ants and termites, will begin to swarm soon, so it is important to know the differences between them so you can help out your Pest Management Professional. Should you catch one, there are three noticeable differences between a flying ant and a termite.

  1. Ants have bent antennae. They look like they have an elbow. Termites have straight antennae.
  2. Ants have a narrow waist. Have you seen the old pictures of women in corsets? That is what the waist of an ant swarmer will look like. The termite looks uniform from top to bottom.
  3.  Ants have wings that are two different lengths – the best analogy is a butterfly wing. The top wing is longer than the bottom one, similar to how a butterfly wing looks. Termites have wings that are the same length. (I caught one the other day, and it looked like one giant wing stacked together, not four individual parts.)

flying ants vs termites

If you see swarmers and are worried, call your local Northwest Exterminating Service Center. They will be happy to help you with all of your pest control needs, and can target problem insects as needed.

Katherine King
[email protected]

Vote on the Next Northwest Exterminating Billboard

Visit our Facebook Page to Vote on the Next Northwest Exterminating Billboard

We are currently having a contest on our Facebook page where you can vote for the next Northwest Exterminating billboard.  Recently we had followers submit their billboard ideas on our Facebook page.  We narrowed those down to our top 3 where people can go vote on which one is their favorite!

So what are you waiting on?  GO VOTE!!  The winner will receive a $100 Visa gift card and a chance for their billboard to be ran throughout Georgia! Billboard with the most LIKES WINS!!! Voting ends 3/19/14.

no mas cucarachas

No mas Cucarachas! Feliz Cinco De Mayo!

light makes roaches run GA 346S-349NS-355E

Light Makes Roaches Run…So Do We.

dont wait until crunch time

Don’t Wait Until Crunch Time.

Selling Your Home This Spring? Start Preparing Now.

Thinking About Selling Your Home This Spring?  Start Preparing Now!

Spring is a popular time for listing your home.  The yard is in pique performance, you have ample time before the kids are out of school for the summer, and people seem to enjoy getting out in the beautiful weather to search for their potential new home.  Are you looking to sell your home this spring?  Here are some tips on selling your home this spring:

  1. Find a Knowledgeable Realtor – Having a good Realtor on your side can make a big difference.  Their expertise in marketing your property, showing your property, and working with other agents can make the selling process easier on you.  Interview Realtors or ask for recommendations from friends, family, and neighbors.
  2. Take Care of General Maintenance – Cleaning out gutters, changing air filters, and having the HVAC system checked are all ways you can keep your home running efficiently.  This will aid in the purchasing process and have huge benefits while you’re living in the home as well.
  3. Make Small Improvements – Replace old fixtures, re-caulk the bathroom, change the doorknobs, all of these are small improvements that can make a big difference in the look of a home.
  4. Complete Any Large Home Improvement Projects – While small projects are encouraged it is recommended to finish any large projects before listing your home.  Paint, carpet, new landscaping are all things that you want completed before potential buys come to look at your home.
  5. Spring Cleaning – Spring cleaning can knock out the winter blues that may have sprung up in your home along with getting a deep clean.  Need a spring cleaning checklist?  Click here.
  6. Clean Out Storage – Take time to go through storage closets, basements, attics, and garages and throw out or donate any items that you no longer need or use.  Not only are you making more room but you’ll also have less to pack when you move.
  7. Remove Clutter – Remove clutter from around the house.  Potential buys don’t want to see bills lying around, laundry, or even extra knick knacks. The less clutter, the more eye appealing it is to a potential homeowner.  This will also help you to clean up quicker when those last minute showings pop up!
  8. Research the Market – Know what else is out there.  This will go hand in hand with Tip #1 because your Realtor should provide comparibles for you to view when choosing an asking price.  It’s good to know what other homes are offering in the area and how your home stacks up.
  9. Get a Termite Letter – Although termite letters are no longer required according to the Purchase and Sale Agreement it may be required based on other factors.  It’s also a great selling tool!  Northwest Exterminating provides a warranty for the initial termite inspection that is transferable to the buyer with the first year free.  For more information click HERE.

For information on Northwest services you can visit our website at www.callnorthwest.com.  Realtors please visit https://www.callnorthwest.com/builder-realtor-services/realtor-services/

 

 

New Research Finds New Ways to Control Mosquitoes

New Research is Helping Us Find New Ways to Control Mosquitoes

A mosquito’s ability to target humans seems a little mysterious, right? Not really. They are programmed to look for three things when looking for a blood meal to go lay their eggs: carbon dioxide, heat, and odor. Humans give off all three of these but the mosquitoes really only need two of these to decide we are a good meal.

Researchers have found that carbon dioxide is the most important cue for a mosquito choosing a blood meal. The researchers created mutant mosquitoes that could not detect carbon dioxide and when the mosquitoes were put in a situation with just heat or skin odor they would not bite.

The researchers took the experiment a step further and put a bunch of “regular” mosquitoes and some of the mutant mosquitoes, who could glow in the dark, in a greenhouse and then counted how many of each type landed on the humans. The mutants were still successful in finding a target, but not as good as the “normal” ones. When put in the room with a mouse the mutants really did not do well.

The mouse gives us some important information, the mosquitoes don’t want to waste their time on something that may not help them to lay eggs. This is important to us because it gives us a clue on how to make a better repellant for mosquitoes and control mosquitoes.

This is important to us because it gives the Pest Management industry a clue on how to create more effective products and treatment protocols for mosquitoes. The good news is Northwest Exterminating has an Integrated Mosquito Management program. IMM is an environmentally friendly way of managing mosquito populations at your home or place of business. Please visit the website under the Pest Control tab, or give your local Northwest Exterminating office a call to learn more about this program.

Kate King
Northwest Exterminating
[email protected]

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