Preventing Overwintering Pests

HSEFLY~2_smConditions will soon be right for overwintering pests to seek comfort and shelter in homes and buildings.  Overwintering pests are those pests that seek a warm place to live in the colder months.  You want to avoid your home being that place!

As we’ve said many times before on this blog…prevention is key.  It is much easier to prevent bugs from entering than to get rid of them once they are present.

Prevention Tips:

  • Seal or caulk all cracks and crevices around foundation, siding, doors, windows, electrical, and plumbing.
  • Use tight fitting insect screens on foundations and attic vents.
  • Keep gutters cleaned out. Pests feed and make homes out of the built up debris.
  • Keep a clean home. Vacuum, sweep, mop, and clean up spills that will attract pests to your home.
  • Clean up yard by raking, keeping grass cut, and picking up debris in the yard.
  • Get regularly scheduled pest control. Regular scheduled pest control will prevent bugs from coming in and will make it easier to control any pest problems that arise.

Common household pests that overwinter:

  • Ladybugs
  • Box elders
  • Stink bugs
  • Caterpillars
  • Crickets
  • Moths
  • Flies
  • Mosquitoes
  • Rodents

Along with winterizing your home from pests, call Northwest Exterminating to help provide treatments that will reduce the number of pests this fall, winter, and even into spring.

September Pest of the Month: Stink Bugs

kudzu bug stink bug

Brief description:

The stink bug gets its name from its ability to release an odor when they are disturbed or crushed.  Stink bugs have a triangular or shield shape.

Habits:

  • Enter homes and other structures in the winter for shelter and emerge from their hiding spaces in early spring.
  • Mostly feed on plants and crops.
  • Some species feed off of other pests such as caterpillars and other crop damaging pests.  This species of stink bug is used as a natural pest control for crops.
  • When disturbed, they release a foul smelling fluid from their pores to protect themselves from predators.

Different species:

Threats:

  • Can damage plants and crops.
  • Invade homes in large numbers.

Prevention:

  • Seal cracks and crevices around the structure of your home so they cannot enter.
  • Do not shine outside lights directly onto your home…this will attract stink bugs to your home.
  • Use a vacuum to get rid of stink bugs.  Empty contents of vacuum into a tightly sealed trash bag and dispose of immediately.  Do NOT crush!  Crushing will cause them to emit their infamous odor.
  • Because of their ability to invade en masse, contact Northwest Exterminating if a stink bug infestation happens in your home or business.

Other pests to look out for:

Carnival Party!

Each year, Northwest Exterminating joins the GPCA in raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk.  This year, one of our FUNdraisers is a Carnival Party!

Bring the kids and join us for food, games, contests, prizes, and more…all for a GREAT cause!

WHEN: Saturday, September 7, 2013
               11:00AM – 2:00PM

WHERE: Northwest Exterminating – Corporate Office
830 Kennesaw Avenue
Marietta, GA 30060

Tickets sold at the carnival

LTN Carnival Flyer 9-7-13

For more information on the Light the Night Walk visit HERE.

Preventing Mosquitoes

Source

Prevention is key in keeping mosquitoes and other pests away from your home.  Making your property less appealing to mosquitoes is a huge step in keeping mosquitoes away.  If they don’t have a place to lay their eggs, then they won’t stick around.  One of the most important things you can do is to remove areas of standing water.

This can be done by eliminating areas in your yard where standing water occurs (gutters, plants, lawn decor, tires, playgrounds, items found in yard, etc.).  Make sure that things such as bird baths, fountains, and plants are emptied frequently.

This is one simple yet effective way to keep mosquitoes away.

Mosquito Control by a professional pest control company can effectively eliminate mosquito habitats and work with you to ensure that your property is not a mosquito magnet!

Call Northwest Exterminating for more information on our Green Mosquito Control Program.

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