Jun 22, 2012 | Pest Control, Termite Control
After doing a post on bug movies, we thought it was only appropriate to have a post about bug songs! We came up with some classic kid songs, some well-known mainstream songs, and even found some songs that we’ve never heard of before!
Here’s our list of Songs about Bugs:
- Itsy Bitsy Spider
- Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee
- Ants Go Marching
- Shoo Fly, Don’t Bother Me
- The Flight of the Bumblebee – written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
- La Cucaracha
- The Bugs Bunny Theme Song
- All My Friends Are Insects – Weezer
- Butterfly – Weezer
- Butterfly – The Verve
- Greedy Fly – Bush
- Between Angels and Insects – Papa Roach
- Termite Song – Joseph Arthur
- Dune Buggy – The Presidents of the United States
- Butterfly Kisses – Bob Carlisle
- Bugs – Pearl Jam
- Spider – They might Be Giants
- Ticks – Brad Paisley
- Fireflies – Owl City
- Ants Marching – Dave Matthews Band
While coming up with songs we also came up with some band names that were based on bugs:
- The Beatles
- Alien Ant Farm
- Papa Roach
- Adam and the Ants
- Daddylong Legs
For more “Ticky Tunes” visit Northwest Exterminating‘s Pinterest page!
What bug themed songs or bands can you think of?
Jun 1, 2012 | Termite Control
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
Apr 23, 2012 | Termite Control
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.
Apr 13, 2012 | Mosquito, Pest Control, Termite Control
The early spring has brought pests out in full force and we suspect that they will not be slowing down anytime soon. Not only are bugs annoying but they’re a health concern as well.
- West Nile Virus, Encephalitis, dog heartworm – mosquitoes
- Lyme disease – ticks
- Rabies – rodents
- Allergies & Asthma – cockroaches
- Food Contamination – cockroaches, mice/rats
- Salmonella – cockroaches, house flies
- Skin irritation and rashes – lice, fleas, bed bugs, mites
- Venomous bites & stings (that can be accompanied by severe or life threatening reactions) – black widow, brown recluse, scorpion, snakes
- Painful stings (that can be accompanied by severe or life threatening reactions) – fire ants, yellow jackets, hornets, wasps
Pests can carry diseases and cause areas to be unsanitary. These are issues of concern for both homes and businesses. Even the cleanest homes can have bug problems in an environment like this. Carpenter bees, mosquitoes, ants, yellow jackets, silverfish, and other pests have recently been invading properties. If you’re in the Atlanta, Columbus, Savannah, or Nashville area, call Northwest Exterminating. Our NorPest Green program was developed exclusively by Northwest Exterminating to get rid of pests using the lowest environmental impact possible. A Northwest representative will develop a customized plan to target those pests while maintaining the health of your home.
We are strategically placed throughout Georgia and Tennessee to service all areas of Georgia as well as parts of Tennessee, Alabama, and South Carolina. Visit us online or call 888.466.7849 to find the location nearest you.
Apr 11, 2012 | Company News, Fire Ant, Pest Control, Termite Control
There is a whole market for people who like to do it yourself. I am one of them. I enjoy the occasional weekend project around the house like painting, fixing a leaky faucet, or changing out fixtures. However, there are some do it yourself projects that are just not for me. I don’t touch wires, I don’t clean high chandeliers, and I don’t clean out gutters (thank goodness Northwest Exterminating does). Those are the tasks that I leave for the professionals.
In the recent years of the down economy, we have witnessed more people resorting to a do it yourself method of getting rid of bugs. There are certain situations where we agree that do it yourself is a good alternative to hiring an exterminator. If you spot a single bug such as a fly, yellow jacket, or ant, there is usually no need for a professional pest control company to come to your home. But if you spot a termite, a bed bug, or any other insect that can cause damage to your family or your home, it is necessary to call an exterminator.
There are certain things that need to be considered when deciding to DIY or hire a professional:
o DIY – A trip to the store and the purchase of chemicals is typically less expensive than hiring a pest control company.
o Professional – Although the initial investment is more expensive with a professional, it may end up being the cheaper alternative. If the in store pesticides are not effective they may result in the growth of your pest control problem. Continuing to buy in store products can get expensive. Not to mention the potential damage to your home that pests can cause.
o DIY – When doing it yourself, you can go to the store, purchase the pest control product, and apply it at your own convenience.
o Professional – It can be a pain to find a time that is convenient for both you and your exterminator to meet at your home for a treatment. More often than not, this is at the inconvenience of the customer. However, a good exterminator will work with the homeowner to schedule the best time for them.
o DIY – The instructions are on the label. Not only can information be found on the label but it is very easy to go to the internet and do a research on the particular product or insect. Be sure that all instructions are followed exactly as listed on the package.
o Professional – An experienced and knowledgeable exterminator will be able to quickly identify and treat your problem. They are also able to answer any questions that you have about prevention or other issues that you are experiencing. Their experience and expertise can keep your home and family healthier than just reading the instructions on a label.
o DIY – Chemicals of any kind can carry a risk. Applying chemicals that you are not knowledgeable about could potentially cause harm to humans, pets, or plants in the area. This is not to scare you but to remind you that we cannot stress enough the importance to read all instructions and follow all directions listed on the product label.
o Professionals – By hiring an experienced and knowledgeable pest control company, most risk is removed from the homeowner. Be sure to read all contracts and get reviews from past customers before hiring a pest control company.
o DIY – For small pest problems, store bought exterminating products can oftentimes be effective. For a bigger infestation, it can be more difficult with store bought products. Pests are adaptable creatures and can get become immune to certain chemicals after a certain amount of time.
o Professionals – A reliable pest control company will have up to date information and products to treat your infestation.
o DIY – Depending on the store and product, you can return a product. Check your local store return policies before purchasing.
o Professionals – Always ask about a company’s policies before hiring them to treat your home. Will they return to your home for no charge if your issue is not solved? Do they offer warranties on their work? A good exterminating company will.
When trying to decide if you should tackle your pest control problem, consider the list above. For a small infestation, do it yourself is a good option that can be inexpensive. For larger infestations or a continuing problem, save yourself the time, hassle, and money and call a professional exterminator. As always, the key to pest control is prevention. For pest prevention tips visit this blog.
If you have a pest or termite issue in the Atlanta, Columbus, Savannah, or Nashville area, call Northwest Exterminating.
What kind of do-it-yourself projects do you enjoy?
Have you ever tried to do-it-yourself and had to call in the professionals?
Mar 7, 2012 | Termite Control
Although, pests and animals are usually creatures of habit they are still full of surprises and will often go against the norm of what they are expected to do. Recently, we were out on a termite call and found what seemed to be a mass burial of termites.
This picture above was taken inside of a garage. The reason this picture is so unique is because termite workers do not like to be exposed to elements such as light, etc, which is why they build tunnels. The termites in the photo had actually swarmed out of a pin sized hole in the garage slab out into the open. Normally, after realizing that their new path had led to exposure they would have sealed off their path so others couldn’t travel out to be exposed and die. Instead, the workers continued to emerge from the hole in the garage slab and gathered all of the dead workers into a pile…like a mass burial.
This is extremely uncommon and left our representatives baffled. It just goes to show you that Nature has a mind of its own.
Mar 2, 2012 | Company News, Going Green, Pest Control, Termite Control
Did you know that Northwest Exterminating offers Continuing Education classes for Georgia Realtors? We offer 7 classes that earn agents 3 credit hours. Not only do we offer the CE classes but we come to you!! Our Realtor Team can come to your office or a location of your choice.
Construction and Termites – This course is a visually detailed view of the construction process, as it relates to termites, and the various termite treatment methods used in new construction. A discussion of clearance letters and Form II’s is also included.
Builder One – If you are selling new construction homes, this class is a must! This is an in-depth course for builders and agents discussing the real termite problem, comparing construction foundations and explaining the termite treatments for each. An explanation of termite warranties is also provided.
Wildlife – What is in your attic? – Critters causing commotion? This course encompasses an extensive study of the problems and the preventative solutions available to homeowners concerning a wide variety of pests including rodents, snakes and bats.
Pest Damage Identification and Control Methods – GAR Approved. Bugs, bugs, bugs! This class is specifically designed to help agents identify different types of termite damage and nonstructural threats. The differences between termites and ants and various other bugs are also discussed.
Going Green – Construction, Conservation and Pest Prevention – Is your environment important to you? This course is primarily to help Real Estate Agents and Appraisers understand the importance of our ever changing environment and how the Real Estate community can impact our conservation efforts.
Staying Ahead of the Competition – Don’t be caught off guard by the FHA/VA stumbling blocks! This class instructs the agent on Form II restrictions, GAR revisions, and the Official Georgia Wood Infestation Report. Conducive conditions for termites are also covered in this class.
What’s Bugging You? – Don’t be scared…be prepared! Topics covered in this class include ants, flies, household bugs, insects that bite or sting, spiders, bed bugs, and prevention and control methods.
For more information, go to our website for the dates of our currently scheduled classes. Check in often for class schedule updates.
To schedule a Continuing Education class for Realtors in your office, contact Northwest’s Real Estate Team.
Feb 28, 2012 | Termite Control
If you are anything like me, you are loving this unseasonably warm weather that we are experiencing in Georgia. It’s been a nice preview of what is in store for us come Spring time. That being said, I’m not looking forward to the cold snap that we will inevitably experience before Spring comes around. I’m also not looking forward to an earlier termite season due to the warm temperatures.
Termites aren’t usually moving this time of year because the temperature is typically below 60 degrees. When temperatures are above 60, that is when termites start to swarm. And when they start to swarm, they start inside your home before moving outside. Unfortunately, once you find out that you have termites in your home, damage has most likely already occurred. And termites can do some serious damage, causing up to $5 billion of damage each year in the US.
Oftentimes, termites are mistaken for flying ants. If you think you see what appears to be flying ants, call your termite control company, such as Northwest Exterminating, to come inspect your home. Termites look for moisture in and around homes, so be sure that any standing water or leaking pipes are adequately taken care of. Look for mud tunnels, usually the size of a pencil, that are created on the inside or outside of the home’s foundation. Clean gutters and pull back soil and mulch from the home’s foundation where termites can find their way into the wood of a structure.
If you have questions about termites or suspect that termites may be in your home, call Northwest Exterminating today and we will be happy to come out and conduct a FREE termite inspection.
Feb 24, 2012 | Community News, Pest Control, Termite Control, Wildlife
We’ve recently discovered a useful tool that has helped us both inside and outside of the office. iPest is a mobile app that is beneficial not only for pest control technicians but homeowners, building managers, etc. The iPest app is a guide that was developed by researchers at the University of Florida. The app is a great tool to identify and educate yourself on common pests that are found in and around homes and businesses. iPest contains 3 series, a search tool, and color photos that can help you quickly find a particular pest.
Series:
iPest1 – cockroaches, flies, occasional invaders, and urban pest and wildlife droppings.
iPest2 – ants, beetles, termites and wood destroying insects.
iPest3 – biting, stinging, and bloodsucking arthropods.
This app has been a great tool in and outside of the office and we think it would be great for our customers as well.
Go to you app store and purchase iPest for $1.99
Termites