Apr 20, 2023 | Florida Pest Control
Hurricanes are bound to happen, especially in Florida. These natural phenomena can cause severe damage to our community, homes, and the environment around us. Unfortunately, hurricanes will also affect pest activity, as homeowners might see the emergence of even more pests. After a hurricane, we will often experience a population increase of pests that thrive in warm, moist environments. Check out our list of pests to look out for after a hurricane and what you can do for hurricane pest control.
Mosquitoes
One of the most common pests that emerge after a hurricane is mosquitoes. The water that’s left behind by the storm will provide the perfect breeding ground for these pests. While mosquitoes are a nuisance, they can spread diseases such as the West Nile virus, Zika virus, and dengue fever. To prevent these pests, remove objects that can collect rainwater, including toys, buckets, tarps, old tires, and more. Likewise, look to remove all leaves and yard debris to keep mosquitoes from invading your yard.
Ants
Other pests that will emerge after a hurricane are ants. When an area becomes flooded, it forces ants to seek out a new place to inhabit, often leading them to our homes. Ants, such as fire ants, pavement ants, and carpenter ants, can all be difficult to control, as they can establish their new colony quickly and are highly adaptable. To keep ants from invading your home after a storm, seal all cracks or gaps found on the interior and exterior of the home. Remove and clean up any food source that may attract ants inside.
Roaches
Cockroaches will thrive in the aftermath of a hurricane. A home or building that’s flooded provides the perfect environment for these pests, where they can settle, breed, and multiply. Roaches are known to carry diseases and even trigger allergic reactions. To deter roaches from your home, eliminate as much moisture as possible by regularly checking for leaky faucets or sinks. Take the trash out on a regular basis, placing it in a tightly sealed trashcan with a lid.
Hurricanes can have a significant impact on our environment and the activity of household pests. Utilizing hurricane pest control measures throughout your home before a hurricane or rainstorm will help to prevent a full-blown pest infestation. If you’re still seeing pests after taking precautions, it could be time to contact your local pest control company for help. These professionals will inspect your home, identify the pest, identify areas of entry, and provide you with a treatment and prevention plan that’s fit for your home.
Apr 18, 2023 | Pest Control
As we gear up for spring, most homeowners are looking forward to spending time with family in their yards. Unfortunately, spring pests will also emerge as the weather warms up. While spotting one near your home is not a big deal, if they’ve infested in large numbers, they can quickly become a nuisance and cause property damage. Check out our list of common spring pests and how you can avoid them.
Termites
In Alabama, termite activity increases in early spring. These pests can cause severe property damage by destroying the structural integrity of your home. Once termites infest your home, it can be extremely difficult to eliminate them, and their repair often costs billions of dollars. Common termite types include subterranean and drywood termites. Drywood termites will inhabit sound wood and will infest wood furniture. Subterranean termites need soil to live, creating mud tubes for a food source above the surface and invading the foundations of homes.
Ants
Ants thrive in humid, hot weather. During the spring, ants are looking for any food source for their nests, often invading our homes to find it. These pests can be extremely persistent and take over our yards. Common ant species found in the Alabama area include fire ants, pavement ants, crazy ants, and more. You can often find these ants near their food sources, behind window frames, under appliances, in the bathroom, and the kitchen.
Wasps
Wasps are common during the springtime and can become a problem when they have nested on your property. There are several wasp types common to the Alabama area, including the blue-winged wasp, cuckoo wasp, spider wasp, paper wasp, and more. Depending on the type of wasp, you can find their nests underground or hanging from branches, eaves, door frames, railings, and more. While not always aggressive towards humans, wasps will attack if their nest is disturbed. If stung, it can be extremely painful and will sometimes need medical attention, depending on the severity.
Mosquitoes
Alabama’s weather during the spring months is hot and humid, making it the ideal environment for mosquitoes to breed. Mosquitoes only need a small amount of water to lay their eggs, and if found on your property, you will soon have a full-blown blown mosquito infestation. Mosquitoes can not only be a major nuisance if they invade your yard, but they also pose a health risk to humans, dogs, cats, and horses by transmitting diseases. Mosquitoes need a blood meal to survive, often looking at us and our pets to get it. If they feed off a diseased host, they can spread pathogens that can infest other hosts they bite later.
Preventing Spring Pests from your Alabama Home
Being on top of pest prevention is one of the best ways to keep spring pests from invading your yard. Consider the following do-it-yourself preventative measures for keeping pests away:
- Keep your trees and shrubs trimmed away from your home
- Seal any cracks and holes in your home’s exterior
- Bring in your pet food and water bowls overnight
- Fix any leaks and eliminate any other sources of excess moisture
- Take the trash out regularly and place them in trashcans that have a tightly sealed lid
- Eliminate wood-to-soil contact around foundations; consider creating a 4-inch barrier between wood mulch and your home
- Remove standing water around your property, including items that can hold water, such as buckets, old tires, tarps, etc.
Don’t let these common spring pests invade your home! If you notice an increase in pest activity or want to get ahead of prevention, consider contacting your local pest control company which can help identify entry points and pests, recommend a treatment plan, and prevent them in the future.
Apr 13, 2023 | Florida Pest Control
Miami, Florida is known for its beautiful beaches, lively city, and hurricanes! Unfortunately, hurricanes can bring in an influx of certain pest problems that can cause significant damage and be a nuisance. Check out the common hurricane pest problems that you could see after a storm and how to prevent them.
Common Pests After a Hurricane
Check out the most common hurricane pests you could see after a storm which include:
- Mosquitoes: Standing water left behind by the storm will become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Items that hold water are a huge attractant to these pests, including toys, overturned trash lids, bird baths, flowerpot sauces, and more.
- Cockroaches: Flooded areas are an ideal living environment for cockroaches to inhabit as they prefer damp climates and areas. Likewise, once they invade, it can be difficult to control them as they reproduce at a rapid pace.
- Termites: Flooding and moisture can weaken the structure of homes, making them more susceptible to termite infestations. Termites will cause significant wood damage and destroy the structural integrity of your home by eating it from the inside out.
- Rodents: These wildlife creatures will seek out damaged or flooded areas. Rodents, such as rats, carry many diseases and can cause damage to your home, including chewed electrical wires and destroyed insulation.
Preventing Pests Before a Hurricane
Taking precautions before a hurricane or storm arrives is the best way to prevent hurricane pests from invading your home. Check out our top pest prevention tips:
- Keep your gutters clear of debris and standing water
- Place wood debris and tree stumps away from your house.
- Keep your home clutter-free by removing any old newspapers, magazines, and cardboard boxes.
- Eliminate standing water around your home by checking for any leaky faucets, pipes, sinks, and appliances.
- Remove any items from your yard that can collect water, such as toys, buckets, old tires, tarps, etc.
- Seal up any cracks and holes outside of your home, including the areas where utility and pipes enter.
- Ensure your vents are screened and any gaps around your windows and doors are sealed.
- Store firewood at least 20 feet away from your home and elevated it at least 5 inches off the ground.
- Keep your home clutter-free by removing any old newspapers, magazines, and cardboard boxes.
If you’ve seen an increase in pest activity after a storm, it could be time to reach out to your local pest control company for a thorough inspection and treatment plan.
Apr 12, 2023 | Florida Mosquito Control
South Florida Mosquito Control: Green Mosquito Treatment
Florida is known for being hot and humid during the warmer months, creating the ideal environment for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can emerge as early as March, meaning peak mosquito season is upon us, and these small, annoying insects can pose a serious health threat to humans. Luckily, there are new, innovative options for a no-spray mosquito control solution to stop the mosquito problem at the source.
The In2Care Mosquito Trap is a perfect solution to help prevent and eliminate mosquitoes throughout your property at the start of their lifecycle. This mosquito control method is unique as it lures in mosquitoes with a special green treatment inside the trap. Once mosquitoes enter the trap, the treatment transfers to the mosquitoes’ legs, spreading to the other breeding sites, such as different sources of water. The spread of the treatment helps to eliminate adult mosquitoes while also preventing the larva mosquitoes from developing further.
There are many benefits behind In2Care System, including:
- A no-spray, discreet way to reduce mosquitoes around your home or business
- Elimination of all mosquito life stages – from larva to adult
- Avoids harming beneficial insects, including bees
- Is strategically placed around your home, so it is always working
This alternative green mosquito control method is placed in a shaded, vegetated area where mosquitoes are likely to breed, and it lures mosquitoes with the treatment inside the trap.
Instead of constantly battling mosquitoes this spring and summer, consider a new way with the In2Care System to rid mosquitoes and take back your yard!
If you’re interested in the In2Care System or would like more information, reach out to your local pest control company who partners with In2Care to receive a treatment fit for your property!
Apr 5, 2023 | Florida Mosquito Control
South Florida Mosquito Control: Green Mosquito Treatment
Dealing with mosquitoes is inevitable during the hot, humid summer months in Florida. Mosquitoes, a major nuisance, can pose serious health threats to both humans and animals. Fortunately, there are innovative ways to help reduce the number of mosquitoes on your property or business, including the In2Care System Mosquito Trap!
What is the In2Care System?
The In2Care Mosquito Trap System is a green, alternative solution to eliminating mosquitoes throughout your property or business. The trap itself is unique as it lures mosquitoes into the system with a special green solution that is placed inside. Once mosquitoes enter the system, the green solution transfers to the mosquito’s legs, where it then spreads to the other breeding sites. The spread of this treatment eliminates adult mosquitoes and prevents larva mosquitoes from developing further.
What Are the Benefits of the In2Care System?
This system is an alternative, green mosquito control method for every residential home or commercial business. The trap is discreetly placed in a shaded, vegetated area where mosquitoes are likely to breed. The green solution placed in the system does not target beneficial pests, remaining environmentally and pet friendly.
The In2Care System provides your property:
- A no-spray, discrete solution
- Elimination of all mosquito life stages – from larva to adult
- Strategic placement around your property so the trap is always working
Don’t battle mosquitoes this summer, consider a new way to prevent mosquitoes with In2Care! Reach out to your local pest control company, who partners with In2Care, for more information on the system and mosquito control.
