Ah, fall is in the air—it’s crisp outside, the leaves are falling and those summertime bugs have disappeared. But that could just mean that this season’s bugs have moved indoors to keep warm. In fact, fall is prime time for an increase in insect and pest problems for both homeowners and commercial property owners. Once inside your home, a few pests can quickly turn into an out of control infestation leading to costly property damage and a big headache.
Don’t let a pest infestation ruin your week—seek a pest inspection immediately. With this in mind, here are four of the most common fall pests that may require professional pest control services in Bartlesville, OK.
Bed bugs
Of all the possible fall insect infestations, bed bugs are considered one of the worse. These tiny crawlers are hard to control once they’ve multiplied, and what’s even more irritating is that they are known to hitchhike their way into your home on a number of things from many different places. They come back home with you from workplaces, schools, hotels and movie theaters on bags, luggage, clothing and even your shoes.
Because bed bugs secrete an anesthetic when they bite, you may not even know you’ve been bitten until you notice a cluster of itchy welts on your body after you wake up. Bed bugs can spread disease, so call a pest exterminator immediately and consider visiting a doctor about the bites.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are another common and dangerous pest you may run into during the fall months. They will bite, they smell and they’re said to carry more than 30 kinds of bacteria that are responsible for causing respiratory problems. And although cockroaches favor dark, damp places, they prefer living in such conditions inside your home instead of outside in direct contact with the elements. Seal up house cracks and repair pipe leaks in your plumbing to prevent a cockroach infestation.
Ants
Ants are annoying, to say the least, and there’s rarely just one or two—instead, your countertop is likely to be covered in moving black dots and a thick dark trail leading from a crack in the window frame. After all, they too want out of the chilly fall weather! Collecting food for the nest is another reason for an ant invasion. To avoid ants taking over your home, make sure to seal leftovers in airtight containers, keep the inside and outside of your home clean, seal up cracks in the foundation and replace worn window weather stripping.
Rodents and small mammals
Rats, mice and even squirrels may seek shelter from the cold and rain up in your home’s attic and in crawlspaces. They tear through attic insulation and will rip up your fabric and paper items to make a cozy nest, not to mention raiding your pantry for food. Since diseases from rodent mites, ticks, fleas and lice are a health concern—and because these animals reproduce quickly—contact a local pest control company as soon as you suspect an infestation.
Do you think you may need to bring in the pros for pest control services in Bartlesville, OK? Don’t hesitate to contact us at D & Q Pest Control, Inc. today!
Even though you keep a clean and tidy home, tiny pests can still make their way inside. This is because their small, pliable bodies allow them to squeeze through cracks and easily hide while hitching rides on anyone who enters. Did you see one spider chilling on the kitchen windowsill? Or maybe you flicked a couple dark colored dots off your sheets? You may not think twice about seeing a few critters, but it’s incredibly important to be aware of insects in your home to prevent a full-on infestation from happening.
No matter the season, without a doubt, you don’t want creepy crawlers invading your home. With this in mind, let’s take a look at ways to avoid the need for professional bed bug or spider removal in Bartlesville, OK
Prevent spiders
- One of the best spider prevention methods is to clean up your house—not just dust and vacuum, but make sure to clear those spider webs from ceiling corners and under sinks and cabinets. Clearing webs and possible eggs sacs means spiders are less likely to return to the area.
- Cover up those gaps! From busted window weather stripping to cracks in the floorboards, even the smallest gap leading to the interior of your house is an open invitation to spiders. So, fix seals, plaster up holes and fill spaces between floorboards.
- The smell of cedar is appalling to a variety of insects, including many types of spiders. Invest in cedar furniture or place cedar wood pieces around spots where spiders might enter.
- If you have an obvious spider infestation or you notice some scary looking ones in your home, then you may need to call a pest control company for spider removal in Bartlesville, OK—especially since they could be poisonous.
Prevent bed bugs
- Not only are bed bugs found on mattresses and linens, but they can also be on your couch, purse or work bag, and they have started showing up in schools, theaters, airplanes and hospitals.
- Avoid the urge to bring home furniture you find for free on the side of the road—including sofas, recliners, mattresses and box springs. If they didn’t have bed bugs before, they could have them after sitting outdoors for a time.
- Set a house rule that bags, purses and backpacks are not to be placed on any surfaces where people sit or sleep.
- De-cluttering your home is a great way to deter all sorts of pests, including bed bugs. A clean space is discouraging, and there will be fewer places for bugs to hide and breed.
- Should you locate bed bugs, or if you think you may have come into contact with these pests, take action immediately. Wash all infested bedding, clothing and other fabrics in the hottest water possible to kill bed bugs. Things like shoes, throw pillows and objects that are not washer safe may be heated in the dryer at an approved temperature to fry any remaining bugs. Alternatively, if you cannot wash items right away, seal them tightly in a plastic bag and set it outside.
For your health and sanity, contact the team at D & Q Pest Control, Inc. for professional bed bug and spider removal in Bartlesville, OK.
There is a reason why bed bug control in Bartlesville, OK is not a do-it-yourself project. Bed bugs are difficult parasites to exterminate, and in some businesses, they can be damaging to your reputation. With awareness and a telephone number of a good exterminator, you can take control of this problem quickly. Here are the challenges that make bed bug infestation a time to call in the professionals:
- They can show up anywhere: Bed bugs are common. They are prevalent in places with high turnover rates, like hotels, offices and dormitories. However, they are also becoming more common in apartment buildings, single-family homes and hotels. Even trains, ambulances and movie theaters are not immune, and people can bring them home just by visiting the wrong venue. The media hype typically surrounding bed bugs arises from the fact that they often feel like an epidemic.
- They are difficult to find: Bed bugs show up wherever there are people and pets. They feed off both and are attracted to body heat. Since they are small, wingless and nocturnal, it is difficult to know you have them until you start getting skin irritations. They can hide anywhere, although they prefer mattresses, box springs and other areas around your bed. When an infestation is suspected, exterminators have to go through everything, even wall surfaces and carpet. Bed bugs are never picky about where they live in your home, as long as they are close to you and your animals.
- Bed bugs are mobile: Infestations occur after visiting a locale where bed bugs live. They attach to clothing and luggage, so if you read a Google review about a hotel having a bed bug issue, do not risk it. Change your reservations and stay somewhere else. If you learn that you were exposed to bed bugs, pay attention to your surroundings so you catch them early and call for help.
- The parasites destroy reputations: There is no relationship between sanitation and bed bugs. Cluttered homes may make it more difficult to exterminate them, but they are not a cause of bed bugs. Unfortunately, public perception is the opposite, and businesses with infestations often suffer serious losses. The desire to stop the bed bug invasion becomes very strong because of the negative impressions surrounding it. When called to a bed bug problem, we often discover our clients are stressed and emotional about the circumstances.
- They cannot be completely prevented: Since your home or business can attract bed bugs through no fault of your own, your best course of action is to recognize them before they spread. Know the early signs of an infestation—be aware of tar or rust-colored stains on bedding and furniture. If you see cast skins (the empty shells they shed) on bedding or other surfaces, call an exterminator immediately. You want to act soon, because they will spread by attaching to other people, infesting their living and business areas, too.
D & Q Pest Control, Inc. is available for bed bug control in Bartlesville, OK and more. Call us today to get an estimate and eliminate your parasite problem.
As temperatures start cooling, wasps become more aggressive. While there are many ways to handle wasp removal on your own, it is likely best to hire an exterminator to do the job. It is the only way to remove wasps safely and effectively. Here is why you should call us for wasp removal in Bartlesville, OK, rather than trying out the latest home and garden product:
- Allergies: If there is a confirmed wasp allergy in your household, do not risk making this a do-it-yourself project. By unsettling the nest but failing to kill all its residents, you risk people getting stung in the future. That is a bad development if the wasps choose the family member with the allergy. Those who work as exterminators have either confirmed they do not have allergies, or at least come well protected just in case. You may not be able to guarantee the same.
- Safety: Killing wasps can go horribly wrong. You may use the wrong product. There is also a chance that you spray yourself in the eyes instead of spraying the nest. The wasps may become unsettled and try to sting you. Exterminators arrive prepared for the dangers and are skilled using their chemicals and tools. It is safest to stay indoors while the professionals do the dirty work for you.
- Multiple nests: Homeowners may have not just a wasp nest, but an entire wasp village. If there are multiple nests, you can easily get attacked by one colony while eliminating another. When you notice more than one nest, that is definitely a sign to avoid taking this on by yourself. Call an exterminator to deal with the entire problem.
- Expensive trial and error: If you buy a spray from the garden store and it does not work, that is money you do not have anymore. When you make a failed try, the wasps will be ready for subsequent attacks, so falling short could put you in danger. Allowing an exterminator to handle this helps get it done right the first time.
- Chemical exposure: While you may not suffer wasp allergies, chemical sensitivities can also make you sick. It is doubtful that you will buy a gas mask or full body suit to kill one nest, so you will be exposed to the chemicals. Some exterminators use environmentally friendly techniques that are safe for other living things, and those are not always available on the consumer market. Even if that is not an option, exterminators contain the chemicals so it is easier to stay away from them and keep your pets from ingesting them, too.
- Follow-up available: Wasps are persistent. Even if you kill a nest, the queen may survive and build another one somewhere else. There is also a chance of another colony rebuilding in the nest you believed was just destroyed. With follow-ups, you are given greater assurance that the wasps are truly gone. That allows you to enjoy your yard more and relax knowing that people are less likely to be stung.
To arrange for wasp removal in Bartlesville, OK, call the experts at D & Q Pest Control, Inc. today.