Aug 11, 2022 | Pest Control, Wildlife
As the season shifts from summer to early fall, cooler weather is around the corner. Many pests begin the hustle and bustle of preparing for winter – scavenging and storing food, finding a place to hibernate, or making their way into your home to overwinter. This time of year sees an increase in one pest in particular – snakes! Fall is a time for high snake activity and encounters with humans become more common.
There are many reasons snake control is important in the fall. As the leaves begin to change colors to red, orange, and brown and fall to the ground, they provide the ideal camouflage for snakes. Fall is also the time snakes begin to prepare for brumation and/or hibernation. Most snake species breed in the spring and eggs are hatched by the time autumn rolls around. These juvenile snakes are curious and more likely to be seen by humans. There are 6 venomous snake species in the southeastern United States and each of them actually breed in the fall. This means this time of year males will be actively seeking females to breed with, increasing your chance of an encounter with them. Overdevelopment in many areas has also depleted the natural habitats of many snakes, also increasing their chances of encounters with humans.
Because we see such an increase in snake activity during the fall, snake control becomes much more important. Here are some of our favorite snake prevention tips you can utilize this snake season.
- Familiarize Yourself. Identifying snakes is critical to avoiding and preventing them. Do some research and find out which snakes are common in your area, what they look like, and where to find them. Identify any areas you spend time in outdoors that could potentially house snakes and try to avoid them.
- Be Aware. Be aware of your surrounding when spending time outdoors. Look down when walking and check overhead when in wooded areas. Try to spot snakes before you walk right up on them.
- Avoid Habitats. Snakes like to hide in areas that provide them protection and coverage from predators. They can often be found in tall grass, overgrowth, on or under large rocks, rock piles, and wood piles. If you have to walk through these areas, keep your feet and legs protected, keep your eyes open
- Walk With Confidence. Snakes don’t have ears so they can’t actually hear you coming but they do respond to vibrations in the ground and can feel you coming before they actually see you. When walking outdoors walk with strong, confident steps and make your presence known.
- Cover Up. If you choose to spend time outdoors, make sure to wear closed-toe shoes and long pants if possible. Try to avoid sandals and flip flops as they leave your feet and toes exposed to potential snakebites.
- Look Up. Some types of snakes can actually climb trees and will even use overlapping branches to move from tree to tree without ever touching the ground. When walking or boating through wooded areas make sure to look up and keep an eye out for overhead snakes.
- Clean Up. Making your home and yard less inviting to snakes will help keep them from coming in. Seal any cracks and crevices on the outside of your home to keep snakes out in search of warmth and food. Remove any debris and clutter from your yard and garage. Keep woodpiles elevated and stored away from your home. Clear any overgrowth from your yard.
- Use snake repellent. There are many commercial snake repellent products on the market today. If you prefer a more green snake control option, there are also natural snake repellents you can make at home. Choose whichever option works best for you.
- Call the Pros. Snake control can be a daunting task. If you have a problem with snakes around your home, contact your local pest control company who can help identify what type of snake you are dealing with and help safely and humanely get them away from your property.
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Aug 10, 2022 | Florida Pest Control
Naples Pest Control: Silverfish Identification and Prevention
While some pests can cause more harm than others to humans, certain ones are more of a nuisance. Silverfish present a mild risk to humans and their property but are known to be an overall annoyance if they infest.
What Are Silverfish?
Silverfish are small, wingless insects, usually shiny grey or silver in color, ranging from 1/3 to ½ inches in length. Females lay eggs year-round and will produce up to 100 offspring in their lifetime. An adult female silverfish can live from 2 to 5 years, usually depending on the species and environment. When silverfish eggs hatch, they takes 3 to 24 months to develop into an adult. Their growth depends on the temperature and humidity.
What Are The Signs of a Silverfish Infestation?
Silverfish are known to infest human areas. You can often find them on the floor, under refrigerators, near a sink, or in a bathtub. If they find their way inside, they will eat grains and chew holes through clothing, furniture, or paper. If they infest in larger numbers, this damage can be more significant. They are also known to feed on book bindings, photos, sugar, dirt, and even glue.
How Can I Prevent Silverfish?
Silverfish are nocturnal and can move quickly throughout an area. While they can survive in most environments, they thrive in areas with high humidity. Humidity in Naples is usually present throughout the year. The best way to prevent an infestation is to control the humidity and moisture inside your home. Ensure that you don’t have any leaky pipes or drains, replace moldy or wet wood, remove books in moist areas, and consider enclosing your crawlspace to control humidity and moisture.
If you notice that your silverfish infestation has gotten out of hand or you want to stay on top of preventing them, consider reaching out to your local Naples pest control company which can provide you with a comprehensive treatment and prevention plan for your home.
Aug 9, 2022 | Florida Pest Control, Pest Control
South Florida Fleas and Ticks: What’s the Difference?
Fleas and ticks can harm our family and pets, latching onto us for a blood meal. While these pests are small, they come with big health risks by transmitting diseases. As warmer weather continues outside, these pests will do the same, thriving in South Florida’s climate. Fleas and ticks often get confused with one another, so it’s helpful to understand the difference between the two so you can keep your family protected.
Fleas
Fleas are wingless with a reddish-brown, flattened body. Adult fleas will range up to 1/6 of an inch in length. These creatures have mouthparts that are adapted for sucking blood from a host. What is unique about fleas is that they have long, strong back legs that allow them to jump repeatedly from one host to another. A common indication that your pet has fleas is noticing them repeatedly scratching and grooming themselves. Likewise, for humans, fleas will leave behind itchy bite marks on the skin. Another sign is spotting flea feces, or flea dirt, throughout your home. Flea dirt looks like coarse ground black pepper and is typically found in areas where a pet rests.
Ticks
Depending on their species, ticks come in a variety of sizes and colors. There are two groups of ticks to look out for: hard ticks and soft ticks. The most common tick species in North America include the deer tick, lone star tick, brown dog tick, and American dog tick. While these ticks may look different, they are all seeking a blood meal and a humid place to habitat. They are often found in wooded or vegetated areas. When they find a host, they will typically latch onto the face, legs, armpits, belly, and even in-between toes!
Preventing Fleas & Ticks
Taking precautions before you leave home with your family or pet can help reduce the chances of a flea or tick infestation. Here are a couple of preventative measures you can take to prevent fleas and ticks from biting you, your family, and your pets:
- Wear light-colored clothing and long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toed shoes before exploring wooded or grassy areas
- Utilize insect repellent containing DEET before you leave the house
- Utilize flea repellent treatment for your pets, making sure to consult your veterinarian on the right product for your pet
- After returning from the outdoors, check yourself, your family, and your pets for any ticks and fleas
- Vacuum your home frequently, especially in hard-to-reach spots such as baseboards, under furniture, under cushions, and where your pets sleep or rest
- Keep your lawn grass cut short to help reduce tick and flea populations on your property
- Contact your local South Florida pest control company to inspect, provide a treatment plan, and recommend prevention for the future.
Aug 9, 2022 | Florida Pest Control
Pompano Beach Pest Control: Roach Prevention Tips
Cockroaches are sneaky pests, infesting our kitchens, bathrooms, crawl spaces, and more! These household pests are highly adaptable and can live in a variety of conditions, but their populations swell and thrive in the summertime. In Pompano Beach, our temperatures are warm practically year-round, making it highly likely to see roaches roaming around looking for a food source. Check out our top do-it-yourself roach prevention tips to keep them from taking over your home.
Keep Your Kitchen Clean
The main reason roaches enter homes is to search for water and food. By eliminating these sources for them, you lessen the chance that you will come across these pests in your kitchen! After each meal, clean up your kitchen as much as possible. Don’t leave your dirty dishes in the sink overnight; instead, wash and put them away after each meal. If there are crumbs leftover, clean them from all surfaces and floors. Don’t forget to wipe grease from your stovetop and other appliances after cooking too. Take out your garbage before going to bed, placing it in cans with tight-fitting lids.
Seal Your Home
Roaches are small, fitting into the smallest hole or gap to access your home. If you can see daylight around a door or window, roaches can use it to enter. Make it a habit to check around your windows, doors, foundation, roof, attic, and even crawlspace vents for holes or gaps. Seal any openings you find with caulk or utilize steel wool or foam for larger holes.
Remove Moisture
Roaches need water to survive, seeking it out in our basements and bathrooms. Any leak or plumbing issue allows these pests to infest. Check the inside of your home for leaky faucets, sinks, refrigerators, or other appliances and repair them immediately. Crawlspaces are known to produce excessive moisture, attracting roaches, termites, and rodents. Consider enclosing your crawlspace to help reduce moisture and keep these pests away.
If you’ve exhausted your DIY roach prevention measures and are still seeing these pests, contact your local Pompano Beach pest control company for help. These professionals will provide you with a thorough inspection, identify points of entry, and provide the most up-to-date treatment and prevention options.
Aug 8, 2022 | Mosquito
Mosquitoes are most active based on the temperature, not the time of year. In the South, this means they are active for most of the year. Even though summer is almost over, the heat will stay for a while. Sometimes, we even see temperatures above 70 degrees well into the fall season. With mosquitoes still active, it’s important to continue taking precautions.
Treatments for mosquitoes should continue into the fall, even if you aren’t experiencing mosquito issues. There are reasons behind the “start it early and finish late” saying when it comes to mosquito treatments. Treatments should run from March to October to ensure the mosquitoes are dealt with correctly.
Do you ever wonder where mosquitoes go during the fall and winter? Depending on the mosquito species, they most likely haven’t gone anywhere. They can still be found in your lawn, pond, creek, or woods. They only remain inactive in the fall and winter, most likely hibernating. Some mosquitoes will even lay their dormant eggs in the soil until warmer weather returns.
Mosquitoes might not seem as active in the later months, but they are prepared for when the weather returns to a favorable climate for them to thrive. Treatment schedules should be followed for a reason, to help maintain mosquito control, especially when the weather warms up again.
If you suspect you have a mosquito problem, reach out to your local pest control company and they can get a mosquito plan made that’s right for you and your property.
