Jun 30, 2022 | Florida Pest Control, Pest Control
South Florida Pest Control: Fig Whiteflies
While fig whiteflies are relatively new to the South Florida area, they have noticeably begun to create severe damage to the plants around us. While these whiteflies are not harmful to humans, they can destroy our favorite tropical plants in our yard. Learn more about the whitefly and how you can prevent them from destroying your plants!
What is a Fig Whitefly?
The Ficus whitefly their biology is still being studied by experts. What is certain about these pests is that they have an attraction to certain plants and their leaves. These pests will lay their eggs on the underside of leaves, hatching into a crawler stage. Once hatched, these crawlers will begin to feed on the leaves. As they feed, they emerge into adults and remain on the leaf. When these pests eat the leaves, they injure the host plant by drinking their juices, causing wilting, yellowing, and stunting. Whiteflies can affect a variety of plants such as Palm trees, mango trees, live oaks, Ficus trees, and more.
What Are the Signs of Fig Whiteflies?
Noticeable signs that whiteflies have infested are a buildup of white, waxy substance on the underside of leaves. This substance can weaken the plants and eventually turn into black mold. Another common sign of an infestation is noticing that the plant leaves are gone or have become yellow. You can also look underneath the infested leaves for small, silver, or white spots dotted throughout.
While these pests can affect plants, they can also clog pools and leave their excrement on cars and outdoor patio furniture.
How Can I Prevent Fig Whiteflies?
The best plan of action to prevent these pests is to closely monitor your plants for early signs of an infestation to get ahead of the damage. If you notice infested plants, trees, or hedges, look to trim them immediately. After trimming, bag the leaves to reduce the chance of spreading the whitefly.
If you feel whiteflies have taken over your property, consider reaching out to your local South Florida pest control provider, who can provide you with the best treatment plan to help prevent and eliminate these pests.
Jun 29, 2022 | Florida Pest Control, Going Green, Pest Control
South Florida Pest Control
There are several methods that homeowners might choose to reduce and eliminate pests, including traditional pest control and green pest control. Whichever method you choose for your Florida home or property, it’s important to know the difference between each.
Traditional Pest Control
Traditional pest control can provide similar benefits as green pest control, but instead of utilizing natural elements, it tends to have synthetic chemicals to eliminate and control pests. While the chemicals are used sparingly, there is enough used to target a pest issue.
Green Pest Control
Green Pest Control is a great alternative to traditional pest control, utilizing more natural ingredients within their pest control efforts, such as flowers and plants, rather than harsh chemicals. Green pest control focuses on eliminating household pests while maintaining the lowest environmental impact possible.
Pests can bring health risks to your family and harm the structural integrity of your home. Whether you choose green or traditional pest control, it’s the right choice for your home and family. If you’re interested in either of these options, contact your local pest control company in South Florida for more details and a free pest control estimate!
Jun 28, 2022 | Florida Pest Control, Termite Control
South Florida Termite Control
Termites cause serious and severe damage to homes, destroying the structure and integrity. The damage termites cause can be very expensive to repair, making it essential for every homeowner to recognize termite types and the prevention methods for each.
Types of Termites
There are two main termite species in the South Florida area that can pose a major threat to your home, subterranean and drywood termites. Subterranean termites typically swarm in the spring but have been known to swarm at any time of the year. These termites live in colonies underground but will go above ground to retrieve food by building tunnels called mud tubes. In order to survive, they need moisture. You can find these termites in baseboards, inside crawl spaces, wooden beams, and more.
Drywood termites are social insects that also live in colonies. However, they create their colonies in wood, with no needed connection to the ground. While subterranean termites need moisture, drywood termites do not. You can find these termites in furniture, banisters, hardwood floors, and more.
Preventing Termites
Taking the time to place do-it-yourself preventative measures throughout your home is a great way to get a head start on termite control. You can prevent termites by:
- Fixing any leaks throughout the home.
- Avoiding landscaping, such as mulch, too close to the foundation of the home.
- Placing firewood or wood debris at least 10 feet away from the home.
- Reducing all openings that allow termites access by filling gaps and cracks around the foundations.
- Getting an annual termite inspection from a South Florida exterminator.
If you suspect you have a termite problem or want to get ahead of termite control, contact our local office for termite control near you, who can provide you with a free termite inspection.
Jun 27, 2022 | Fire Ant
Fire ants might be small, but they are mighty. They can leave a very painful and unwanted welt on your skin if they feel threatened. Don’t let them ruin your summer fun; read more and discover how you can avoid and prevent these pests.
Luckily fire ant mounds are usually easy to spot; so if you find one on your property, it’s best to take care of it as soon as possible. These pests are known for their fierce survival methods in harsh conditions. They can also find shelter in or near HVAC units and electrical boxes, so be aware when working in these areas of your home.
If they do find shelter in electrical boxes, it’s important to remove them as soon as you can, as they can cause damage to wire and equipment.
The best ways to keep these pests out of your yard for the summer is to:
- Seal cracks and crevices to keep them out of your home
- Keep food in sealed containers in your pantry
- Clean up outdoors and maintain your lawn often
- Eliminate standing water to keep large numbers of ants away
- If you spot a mound, get treatment immediately
If you need more support, reach out to your local pest control company. These professionals will provide you with a comprehensive fire ant control and prevention plan for fire ants and other summer pests.
Jun 27, 2022 | Commercial, Florida Pest Control, Wildlife
Commercial Pest Control in South Florida: Restaurant Rodent Control
Florida continues to be a hot spot for food and dining. With popular tourist and local spots in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Naples, Miami, and many more, the restaurant industry continues to boom. As summer approaches, we can expect an uptick in restaurant reservations from those visiting. Now is the perfect time to ensure that your restaurant has placed proper preventative measures to avoid rodents.
Have a Garbage Routine
This one might be obvious, but it is one of the most crucial factors in avoiding rats and mice. Food scraps and leftovers that restaurants discard is a major attraction to these creatures. Look to remove all leftover food as soon as possible, emptying the trash cans several times a day. You will want to ensure that all trash cans and dumpsters have secure lids. Look to position the outside trash containers away from your restaurant building and entrances to help discourage rodents from entering.
Protect & Clean
In a restaurant, it’s impossible to remove all food and water that rodents are attracted to. However, you can protect and secure the food inside your restaurant. Look to cover all food until it is ready to be prepared and ensure that you’re dining, and kitchen areas are clean throughout the day. If any food spills occur, make sure you clean them up as soon as possible, remembering to check crumbs settled into crevices and along baseboards.
Keep Up Repairs
Keeping your restaurant up to date in repairs will help to prevent rodents from entering. Rats can enter buildings through gaps small as a size of a quarter, while mice only need an opening the size of a dime! To help prevent their entry, make sure that all exterior cracks and crevices are sealed, install door sweeps, repair torn window screens, and fix any water leaks.
A rodent infestation can be extremely harmful to any business, risking a negative reputation in the process. Consider investing in Commercial Wildlife Control for your South Florida restaurant, as these professionals will provide your business with a customized prevention and treatment plan.
