Oct 31, 2011 | Pest Control, Wildlife
Happy Halloween!!! Tonight, you expect to see vampires, ghosts and goblins around your neighborhood but it’s the bedbugs, spiders and other pests that will be giving you nightmares! Bedbugs, spiders and other pests are still on the rise this season! As temperatures begin to cool, pests are looking for a warm place to take up residency. Unfortunately for you, they are looking in your home.
Certain pests, such as bedbugs, have a scary resemblance to those Halloween characters you will be seeing out and about tonight. Bedbugs are similar to vampires in the sense that they are both nocturnal, bloodsucking creatures. Lucky for us, when bitten by a bedbug we do not turn into a bedbug the same way that vampires turn their prey into vampires.
A vast majority of rabies cases that are reported in the US are bat related. Bats make wonderful Halloween decorations but you don’t want them hanging around your house (no pun intended)!! Bats are a serious health risk and require in-depth control procedures. If you have a bat problem, contact a pest professional instead of doing it yourself.
To keep spiders, mice, roaches, and other unwelcome creepy crawlers out of your home, keep all food and sweets stored in air tight containers. Don’t let your kids leave their candy on the floor…this is an open invitation for pests.
Don’t let these pests be a nightmare in your home any longer!!! Call Northwest Exterminating for your pest solutions!
Oct 28, 2011 | Pest Control
A basic knowledge of insects is needed to identify and control insects that may be found in your home. Insects are the largest, most diverse group in the animal kingdom. According to studies, half of all known animals are insects. As much as we dislike insects inside of our homes, without them, our ecosystem would collapse within months. They are both beneficial and harmful. They pollinate our food, decompose organic matter, and solve crimes. On the other hand, they are known to spread diseases, and damage plants and structures.
The most basic definition of an insect is that it is made up of 3 pairs of legs and 3 body regions (head, thorax, and abdomen). Below is a breakdown of each region of an insect:
Head
- The head consists of the mouthparts, antennae, and eyes.
- Mouthparts are used to drink, chew, or even suck their food. Some insects bite and pinch using their mouthparts.
- The antennae are used to judge sounds, vibrations, and other environmental factors.
- Insects can have compound or simple eyes. Compound eyes are large with many lenses which gives the insect the ability to see complex images in its environment. Simple eyes contain only one lens.
- Some insects have both simple and compound eyes.
Thorax
- The thorax includes the wings and legs…all 6 legs!
- Legs come in different shapes and sizes depending on the insect and what their purpose is.
- Wings also come in different shapes and sizes. Some are colorful and vertical, while others are flat and transparent. Either way, these are very helpful in identifying the pest.
Abdomen
- Contains the insect’s organs.
- Organs include digestive organs and reproductive organs similar to that of humans.
If you have found an insect in or around your home and would like help in identifying it…contact Northwest Exterminating.
Oct 24, 2011 | Insulation
It’s not too late to be eligible for the 2011 Federal Tax Credit for Energy Efficiency. One of the Energy Star qualified products is the attic insulation that is offered by Northwest Exterminating, TAP Insulation. TAP Insulation is a loose-fill cellulose insulation made up of 87% recycled newsprint. TAP not only provides pest protection but also has sound barrier qualities as well as energy savings.
The tax credit will expire on December 31, 2011. To be eligible for the tax credit, TAP must be installed to an existing home and your principal residence. New construction and rentals DO NOT qualify. With the tax credit you will receive 10% of the cost up to $500 or a specific amount from $50-$300.
The 2011 tax credit is just one of the many benefits that you receive when you install TAP attic insulation to your home. Adding adequate insulation is one of the most cost-effective home improvements that you can do. For a list of benefits or more information on TAP Insulation click HERE. Call Northwest Exterminating for professional service!
Oct 21, 2011 | Insulation
Don’t just take our word for it. See what some of our customers are saying about TAP Insulation!
“I was amazed at how efficient the insulation was handled. Actually, I thought there would be a terrible mess in the installment process because of the very fine and light material they were installing. Quite the opposite happened as the workers were very careful not to let the insulation fall back into the living areas. They were very pleasant to work with and very careful not to damage anything. As they worked, they kept the floor clean and all three were very professional. They made certain everything was picked up and the living area clean before departing. Thank you very much for the great installation, and I look forward to cutting the cost of my utility bill over the coming year.” ~B. Warden
“I have recently had TAP installed in my attic. Before it was put in, my heater would come on about every 15 minutes for long periods of time. Since the installation, the frequency and length has been greatly reduced. The staff, both sales and office, and the installation team were very professional and handled the process with the expertise I expected. It was performed with as little disturbance as possible to my daily routine. The installation team was on time and had the job done in the amount of time they told me it would take. I am looking forward to reduced heating and air conditioning bills. Thanks for a great job and a great product!” ~M. Price
“We recently had problems with raccoons and as a result needed to have insulation replaced in our home. I would like to bring to your attention the outstanding customer service we received from your representative. His professional and courteous attitude and expert knowledge in handling our specific issues were very important to our complete customer satisfaction. We would also like to thank the crew, who removed the old insulation and installed the TAP Insulation, for a tremendous job. They were prompt, worked tirelessly to complete the job, and cleaned up afterward. The crew was courteous and respectful. We appreciate having personnel like this crew working in our home. We are completely satisfied with the product and services rendered by your company. We will look forward to patronizing Northwest Exterminating whenever the need arises.” ~L. Galloway
Oct 19, 2011 | Pest Control, Wildlife
Rats and mice are often confused for one another. Some people think that a rat is just an over-sized mouse – this is simply not the case. Although rats and mice have their similarities, they are different types of rodents. All differences aside, we can assure you that you don’t want either to be present in your home. Call your local exterminator if you have found evidence of rats or mice in your home.
|
Rat
|
Mouse
|
| Full grown weighs a few pounds |
Full grown weighs a few ounces |
| Full grown is the size of a full grown mouse |
Full grown is the size of a young rat |
| Dig deep burrows 3 feet or longer |
Live behind walls, under or behind appliances |
| Aggressive. Will attack if they feel they are in danger |
Shy, scared and timid. Will freeze if they are cornered |
| ½”droppings |
1/8”-1/4” droppings |
| Travel further for food and water |
Stay close to nest for food and water |
| Smart – become familiar with traps and poisons and don’t return to those places |
Mice keep returning to areas where traps and poisons are set |
| Rats will kill each other if nest becomes too crowded and food source is in danger |
Not known to kill |
| Most common species: Roof rat and Norway rat |
Most common species: House mouse and Field mouse |
| Have larger features such as feet, ears, nose |
Have smaller features such as feet, ears, nose |
| Have small ears relative to the size of their head |
Have large ears relative to the size of their head |
