How Gardening Could Effect Termites

Could your gardening ideas effect your termite treatment?

Spring time is an ideal time to get out in the yard, work in your garden, dig in the dirt…all those enjoyable things we like to do in the warm weather.  These are great ways to improve the aesthetics of your property and also enjoy the sunshine.  Hold the shovel!  Wait one second before you start digging in the dirt!

Digging around the foundation of your home could disturb your termite barrier system.  Minor disturbances are nothing to worry about but a major disruption can put the effectiveness of the treatment in jeopardy…causing concern for your home.

What to consider before digging around your foundation?

Mulch is a great way to spruce up your yard.  Mulch provides protection, warmth, and moisture to plants but can also provide those same things to termites.  Not to mention that mulch is wood!  TERMITES LOVE WOOD!  Other pests, such as, roaches and earwigs also find comfort in mulch.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use mulch around your home.

Don’t be discouraged.  You can still use mulch around your home.  Just make sure when using mulch that it is kept 1-2 feet away from the structure.  Any wood that is in contact with soil and your foundation is considered a major risk for termites.

If you’re concerned about disturbing your termite treatment or suspect you may have termites, give us a call!

 

April's Pest of the Month – Carpenter Bees

carpenter bee-uga websiteCarpenter bees are often mistake for bumble bees because of their similarity in size and color.

Habits

  • Often found under decks or porch railings and under the eaves of a house.
  • Make nests by tunneling into wood.
  • Leave a trail of sawdust as they discard of the wood to build partitions within the tunnels.
  • Feed on plant nectar, not wood.

Threats

  • Homes with wooden decks, eaves, or other areas of exposed wood are likely targets for carpenter bee damage.
  • Males do not have stingers but can be aggressive to other bees, animals, or people near the nest.
  • Females can sting but rarely do unless they are agitated.

Prevention

  • Treat or paint all exposed wood surfaces.
  • Each nest hole should be treated individually if bees are inside.
  • Seal or paint nest holes if bees are not inside.

Other Pests to Look Out For:

For more information on carpenter bees you can visit our PEST ID page or call Northwest Exterminating at 888.466.7849.

 

Formosan Termites found in Columbus, GA Home

A Columbus family recently had some unwelcome guests in the form of Formosan termites.  Out of over 2,000 species of termites, Formosan termites or “Super Termites” are the most aggressive.  They are native to Asia and often make their way into the US through shipped wood.  Formosan termites gather in large colonies and can cause thousands of dollars of damage to a home.  Once a home is infested with Formosan termites, they can be difficult to control.  That is why termite prevention is key!

In this particular case, a family member noticed “flying insects” and called Northwest Exterminating to identify the pests as Formosan termites.  Northwest President, Steve Phillips, personally went out with the team to inspect the home.  The termites were found swarming in several areas of the home.  We installed a termite baiting system, The Sentricon System with Always Active, an effective and environmentally friendly option to eliminate and prevent termites.  Always Active offers continuous property protection from the termite colony – not just the individual termite.

We strongly suggested that this customer’s neighbors have their homes inspected for termites as well.  If a neighbor has termites, or some other pest or rodent infestation, they can easily make their way over to your home.  That is why termite protection is so important…prevention is key!  Preventing termites from ever getting into your home will ensure that you don’t get a termite infestation.  Call us or visit us online for a FREE termite inspection

Watch Steve Phillips and some of the Northwest Exterminating team on Columbus’ WRBL News 3.

5:27 mark

 

Watch this at WRBL

Termites, the hardest working bugs in the business?

If you think that you work hard, think again, you have nothing on THE TERMITE!  Termites are working hard, 24/7, to find food.  Unfortunately for us, their food is the very wood that we use to build homes.  Your home is your biggest asset and you shouldn’t compromise the structural integrity of your home by allowing termites to feed and cause damage.  Termites cause up to $5 billion in damage each year and their damage is typically not covered under homeowners’ insurance.  This can be an expensive out-of-pocket cost.

Termites show up around your home in early March and hang around until June.  A lot of termite damage can be done in this time.   It is best to have a professional exterminating company provide you with termite control that will get rid of termites that are in your home and prevent new termites from coming in.  Northwest Exterminating is one of the few termite control companies that offer warranties along with our termite treatments.  Retreatment & Repair warranties or a Lifetime Termite Warranty are both offered by Northwest Exterminating.  Our highly trained representatives will conduct a FREE termite inspection on your home and create a customized treatment plan that is best suited for the needs of you and your home.

Termite damage

Keep an eye out for signs that termites may be invading your home.  Look for rotting wood, mud tunnels, or shed wings on both the inside and outside of your home, paying close attention to doors and windowsills.  Ensure that there is no water gathering near the foundation of your home.  Not only will it serve as an invite to termites but other pests such as silverfish, mosquitoes, and many others.  Inspect all raw lumber or firewood before you bring it into your home for signs of termites.

For a FREE inspection of your home visit our website or call us at 888.466.7849.  Make sure that your home is protected from termites.

Spring Fever and Spring Pests

Spring is here and so are the pests.  We’ve talked a lot about the unusually warm weather leading to higher numbers of pest sightings and our Ask the Mouse section on our website has been a great place for readers to ask questions about pests they are seeing.  Mosquitoes, bed bugs, and carpenter bees are among some of the common household pests that are being seen this spring.  Take a look below at some of our most common recent questions.

Why do mosquitoes bite some people more than others?

MosquitoesMosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide and can sense it from up to 30 yards away. Researchers are still trying to find out exactly what it is that makes some people more attractive than others. Research has indicated that the amount of carbon dioxide in the breath, pregnancy, body temperature, alcohol and odorant markers based on blood type are the top attractants. Pregnant women are preferable because they exhale more carbon dioxide and tend to run a little warmer than the average person. It is also thought that alcohol increases body heat making a person more appealing. So be careful who you hang around at the next cook out.

My son’s coming home from college. What do I need to do to make sure he doesn’t bring home bed bugs?

bed bugBed bugs are evasive and hard to detect. When your son brings home his clothes, make sure to leave them outside, in a detached building or in the garage. Immediately place the dirty clothes in the washing machine and dry them on high for at least 10 minutes. It is best to keep the luggage out of the house if possible. If you don’t have that option you can place the luggage in black plastic bags and leave them outside in the sun on a hot day. You can also do this with furniture. Bed bugs won’t tolerate temperatures greater than 120 degrees. Since bed bugs are tiny and can get into the smallest cracks, it is best to have a professional to inspect furniture and other items before you bring them into your house.

I found sawdust on my back porch. Does that mean I have termites?

Termites eat the cellulose part of the wood and don’t leave behind sawdust. Chances are you have a different pest, one of the most common is the carpenter bees. Carpenter bees get their name because they excavate clean round entrance holes, close to ½ inch wide, into soft wood such as pine, cedar, cypress and fir. The prefer to attack structural timbers and other wood products such as fascia boards, porch ceilings, decks, railings, siding, shutters, firewood, and other weathered wood.  They tend to avoid wood that is well painted or covered in bark. They do not eat the wood therefore they leave behind the sawdust. They bore into wood to make galleries for nesting. If left untreated, they can cause extensive damage.

What other questions do you have for Northwest Exterminating’s Ask The Mouse section?

Have you seen mosquitoes, bed bugs, carpenter bees, or other pests in or around your home?

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