Some Facts about Cockroaches and How They Could Affect Your Home

You're in your kitchen making breakfast, then suddenly a cockroach skitters across the floor. You scream and drop your spatula on the floor. The insect runs around in panic, and so do you. If the insect weren't so disgusting, the situation would be funny. Think about it, though. Aside from the generally known facts about cockroaches—they can spread disease, they can contaminate your food, they're vermin—what do you really know about them? Here are some interesting things about one of the most famous pests that pest control services in Jacksonville, Florida often encounter and exterminate:

A Cockroach without a Head Does Not Die Immediately

Think a headless cockroach is a dead one? Think again. Cockroaches have a segmented anatomy with each of their body segments having holes that they use to breathe. Couple that with the fact that they have an open circulatory system, and you have an insect that can run around your home like a decapitated zombie up to a week after it is beheaded. Of course, that means they have better chances of spreading germs around the house even after they “die.”

A Cockroach Can Run up to Three Miles an Hour

Just because a cockroach is small doesn't mean it's slow. Cockroaches can reach speeds of up to 3 mph when they are at their maximum speed. This is why they can be challenging to catch, and it makes it much easier for them to spread around your home too. Watch out!

Cockroaches Grow Up so Fast

Newborn German cockroaches, the most common type of cockroach, are known to become adults in as little as 36 days. Apart from that, these cockroaches lay eggs in batches. This means major infestation in as short as three months. Every second counts when it comes to pest control.

There are several other facts about cockroaches that we can share; though, they may be more disgusting and frightening than informative. But instead of being frightened into submission, it's better to fight back. If you think you have a cockroach problem that needs to be solved immediately, call for the best pest control services Jacksonville, Florida residents can rely on.

3 Tips for a Pest-free Home this Fall

Fall doesn’t just mean warmer clothes and pumpkin spice; warm homes attract pests, according to pest control services Jacksonville, Florida residents trust. It’s better to take steps in keeping pests like mice and insects out than to deal with them once they’re already inside your home, eating your food and leaving their droppings everywhere. Take the initiative and put up a solid defense for your home and family. Here are three tips to keep those nasty critters away.

Re-check Windows and Doors

It’s very easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the most common entry points—your windows and doors—are secure. You wouldn’t believe how many homes have been invaded by rats that came through pet door installations that have become compromised in one way or another. Maybe the flap has become a bit unhinged or a toy got stuck and created an opening. These are perfect entry points. The gap under doors can also provide access to mice. A simple trick is to install a door sweep, which has the added benefit of keeping out drafts that slither in from under the door.

Reassess Repair Sites

Many times, the remnants of home renovations provide access to bugs and other pests. A simple example would be holes from nails that have been pulled out which can be entered by smaller insects. The bigger the renovation, the more likely for an unintended access point to be created. Give these sites a thorough look over once the project is done and ensure the integrity of your home.

Use Screens for Vents

There are a lot of other pathways that pests can use to access your home, and most of them serve a specific purpose (like managing airflow), so it’s not a good idea to just seal them up. The use of screens can cut off the area while still keeping the vent clear.

The key to keeping rodents and insects from your home is to make sure that they never gain access. In the event of an infestation, don’t hesitate to call the professional exterminators, Jacksonville, Florida home owners.

Dealing with Wasps in Fall

Wasps can be very pesky in the warmer months, but when fall comes around, their increased aggressiveness can be bad enough to necessitate pest control services, Jacksonville, Florida homeowners. This behavior shift towards aggression can be dangerous to children who can blunder in wasp territory that was safe just a few weeks back. As always, being properly informed of the details of wasp behavior is key to preventing attacks.

The most important thing to remember is that wasp eating habits change drastically when fall rolls in. In the warmer seasons, wasps go after proteins. During the fall, their tastes shift towards sugar. Leaving an open soda can lying about just became a bit more dangerous because of the bad company it may attract. That said, attending to soda or beer spills requires more immediate attention. And while it’s good practice to keep sugary drinks from open air, it’s even more important in the fall, when stinging insects are on the prowl for them. In the same vein, don’t go overboard with strong-smelling perfumes. The sweet scent can attract wasps.

Be on the lookout for crannies that can serve as good spots for wasps to make a hive. Loose siding and similar pockets of space are perfect places for a hive to spring up. Seal up these pockets as much as possible.

If you do encounter a wasp, resist the urge to swat it, as it’ll release a pheromone that’ll put other wasps in the area on the warpath. It’s better to avoid wasps altogether, and most of them should die off when winter arrives. If it becomes impossible to cohabitate, then they simple have to go. One quick call to exterminators, Jacksonville, Florida residents, is all it takes for the professionals to show up and take charge of your wasp situation.

Rat Alert: Autumn Tips for Dealing with Rodents

Rodent infestations have long been due cause to call the exterminators, Jacksonville, Florida residents. Colder weather means more mice and rats scrabbling to somewhere warm, and that usually means your home! And beyond being the cause of many bouts of panicked screaming, rats and mice are a legitimate threat to your family’s health. They can be vectors for many diseases and signs of their tampering with a bag of food is more than enough reason to throw the entire thing out. They also have a nasty habit of gnawing on electrical wiring, perhaps induced by the warmth they detect. Electrocuted rats rot in the most remote places, and the smell is a menace all its own. Bottom line: rodents are not welcome at any season. Here are just a couple of ways to keep them out:

Seal up entry points 

Rodents are masters at squirming through holes and cracks that they have no business fitting into. Mice and rats only need enough space for their head to fit through, and they can usually push the rest of their bodies in. Do an active search for cracks, holes, and other spaces they can exploit for entry. In the autumn, this has the added benefit of insulating your home—if you stopper any space a draft can flow in, a rat won’t be getting in through there.

Stop the buffet

If you can eat it, the rats can too. Human homes are veritable banquets for rats and mice, with an abundance of food that just mysteriously litter the floor and shelves! Make the effort to keep food sealed in secure containers, preferably ones that the pests can’t chew through. Be extra careful with preparing and eating food. Taking the extra step towards cleanliness isn’t just something to keep the mice away; it’s just a good thing to do overall!

As you may have already noticed, taking steps to keep rodents away has other benefits. In the end, the persistent little pests can just get in anyway. If a rat infestation is unavoidable, feel free to call pest control services, Jacksonville, Florida home owners.

Setting Things Straight: Misconceptions about Mosquitoes that Jacksonville, Florida Residents May Have

One strange thing about hate is that even though it is an intense emotion directed at something in particular, it's an emotion that also makes us less interested in knowing about the things we hate. This means that the stronger our hatred, the less we tend to know.

This makes sense on a superficial level. For example, people generally hate mosquitoes, but do not know much about them either. Before calling Bug Maniacs or other reliable exterminators, Jacksonville, Florida residents should probably take some time to learn a few things about these flying insects. As they say, to know the enemy is to win the war.

You See One, You've Seen Them All

All most people look for are six legs, two wings, and a long, straw-like proboscis that can prick into human skin. If ever one cares to look more at the differences between mosquitoes, it's automatically assumed that the differences do not matter much. The thing is, these differences are much bigger than we usually think.

The difference between a mosquito with stripes on its legs and one without stripes can be as big as that between a house cat and a lion. An urban mosquito will not do as well in the country, and some species will thrive only in specific areas. What's more, some mosquitoes can thrive only in specific areas, and only female mosquitoes actually bite humans.

They All Can Make You Sick

It's been said that out of more than 3,000 mosquito species worldwide, only a couple of hundred are medically important. That's largely because most mosquito species do not even care about biting humans, preferring to attack amphibians and reptiles instead. Mosquitoes that actually carry diseases tend to be concentrated in specific species. For instance, West Nile Virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus come from the genera Culex. But that doesn't mean those are the only insects capable of transmitting the viruses.

Mosquitoes Have a “Sweet Tooth”

Some believe that mosquitoes prefer to get blood from people who have high blood sugar, or people who smell slightly sweeter. While sweet scents and flavors can be a good attractor for pollinating insects, the same is not true for the parasitic mosquitoes. Instead, they tend to be attracted to people who exhale more carbon dioxide and lactic acid according to research. Also, people tend to be more attractive to mosquitoes after heavy exercise.

These are just some mosquito myths that have been dispelled. If you happen to live in Florida, where mosquitoes are fairly common, you'll probably find this information relevant. If you think that the mosquitoes in your residence are the harmful sort and should be eliminated, call Bug Maniacs, one of the insect exterminators Jacksonville, Florida residents trust and rely on.

Different Ways of Dealing With Termites

We all know them, and we all hate them. When you say “property destruction” and “insects” in the same sentence, chances are you're talking about termites. Every year, millions of dollars are spent by Americans repairing damage caused by these pests. It is therefore not surprising that there are different methods of dealing with them on the market. According to most pest control services Jacksonville, Florida residents rely on, there are three main classifications of pesticides and these are:

Repellents

As the name suggests, a repellent is a substance that can be applied to a surface in order to discourage insects, and other pests from landing on or crawling along that surface. This is very useful if your house is newly built or renovated, and you want to take preventive measures to keep termites away.

While mosquito repellents are not long-lasting, repellent termiticides are formulated to last for months. However, it may be necessary to periodically reapply the pesticide in order to keep its effects from going away. But keep in mind that since repellents just drive termites away from a certain area, they may just move to another area of your house.

Non-repellents

Unlike repellent termiticides, non-repellent termiticides cannot be detected by termites. This means that they can tunnel into a treated area without even realizing it. Affected termites can even take some of the termiticide back to the colony with them, potentially causing a devastating effect on the termite population. Apart from that, poisoned termites can effectively poison their nestmates. This shows a greater degree of pest control than typical non-repellent termiticides.

Studies comparing the effectiveness of repellent termiticides and non-repellent termiticides have shown that non-repellent termiticides take fewer reapplications in order to be effective in controlling pest populations.

Baits

The third option, baiting, is arguably the most effective approach. While non-repellent termiticides are just not detected and inadvertently encountered by tunneling termites, baits are pesticides that are packaged in a way that is attractive to the insects.

Baits are made from paper, cardboard, or other palatable substances, which are treated with slow-acting substances that are lethal to termites, and then planted in strategic areas around the residence. The bait is appealing enough that it attracts the insects even if there are other materials like tree roots and woodpiles. Once they consume the bait, termites will effectively poison their nestmates once they return to their nest. The delayed action of the poison will enhance this “contagion” effect.

Even with these three main weapons, the war on termites rages on. It can be said that as long as people need houses, they will at one point or another have to deal with a termite problem. If you think that your home is infested or under attack, you will want to contact trustworthy pest control services. Jacksonville, Florida residents can rely on Bug Maniacs as one of their options.

The Easiest Ways to Deal with Ants

When many homeowners get a visit from ants, they usually don’t hesitate to call the exterminators. Jacksonville, Florida actually benefits a lot from the little critters because they play a big part in the environment. If you’re one to panic over a few ants here and there, here are some tips to keep them away from your home in a natural, Earth-friendly way.

The most important thing you can do to minimize ant invasions is to keep your home as clean as possible. What a lot of people forget is that ants are motivated by one thing: food. This could mean the biscuit crumbs fell behind the couch. Or the forgotten can of soda on the bedside table. Or the bits and pieces of ingredients you used for that meal you made on the kitchen countertop. These things may barely count as ‘food’ to us, but are exactly the reasons why our homes are so attractive to ants.

Keeping our homes as clean as possible in something we all want and pursue anyway, and doing so to keep ants away is just a bonus! Know that cleanliness isn’t just for looks. Keeping soda lying around can lead to a nasty surprise when the ants find it, and they’ll probably assume there’s always delicious sugar available where you live.

One other precaution you can take is to make sure to kill individual ants whenever you find them. These are scouts, and when they get back to the colony, the others will follow soon. Ants also leave scent trails that lead others to the food. When you see an ant trail in your home, wipe it down with a mild vinegar solution to erase the scent trail.

Contrary to what you may believe, ants have their part to play in the environment, and before you call pest control services, Jacksonville, Florida residents, try these simpler methods.

Healthy Cohabitation with Wasps

Although wasps don’t create honey like bees, they don’t usually merit calling exterminators. Jacksonville, Florida residents are mostly aware of the role wasps play in the ecosystem as predators of more harmful pests. However, it can’t be denied that encountering wasps, especially inside the house, can be stressful and even downright frightening to some. Ideally, wasps should just be avoided, but what if they unknowingly intrude upon our space? Here are a few tips that can help if you find yourself with some unwanted winged visitors.

At around late summer to fall, wasps get drawn by sweets, so being extra careful with food and products that fall under this category can help a great deal with keeping wasps away without hurting them. Be on the lookout for unfinished bottles or cans of soda that may just be lying around, as well as soda spills. Fruit juices and exposed pieces of candy are notoriously omnipresent in homes with kids, and being extra vigilant with the littered sweets can keep children and wasps merrily apart.

It’s also important to let your family know that swatting and otherwise squishing wasps is not only useless, but actually quite harmful. Swatting a wasp releases pheromones that are designed to attract other wasps to avenge their sibling. When you encounter a wasp, just walk away.

Wearing bright clothes and perfume can also get unwanted attention from wasps. As silly as it may sound, looking like a bright-colored, fragrant flower is a surefire way to get a wasp’s attention if it’s looking for nectar.

For the most part, leaving wasps alone is best for everyone, but it is possible for a wasp infestation to occur if the situation has been unattended too long. In such cases, do not hesitate to avail of pest control services Jacksonville, Florida residents trust.

The Savage Garden: Three Plants That Can Act as Exterminators in Jacksonville

Quick! When you think about the best way to get rid of pests, what comes to mind? Maybe it's keeping your house clean. Maybe it's pesticides, or maybe even calling exterminators. Jacksonville, Florida residents will most likely think of these answers. But one way that most people take for granted is the use of insect-repelling plants. Next time you consider adding some new color to your Florida garden, you may want to consider the following plants.

Marigold

The marigold is commonly known for its warm yellow tones and distinctively strong smell. Insects find the scent offensive, as do some gardeners; this scent comes from pyrethrum, the active ingredient in many insect repellents. Marigolds grow well in reasonably fertile soil and full sunlight. They can be planted from seeds, though starter plants can be obtained relatively cheaply. They are particularly effective against mosquitoes. Established plants need to be thinned, and flowers should be cut once in a while to promote additional blooms.

Lavender

This herb is another potential weapon gardeners can wield against insects. While it's a best known for its relaxing properties, it can also be used to repel mosquitoes, fleas, and even moths from your home. Lavender plants prefer a hot, dry Mediterranean climate, which Florida does not always offer. However, it is possible for Lavender plants to grow in North Florida, where the conditions are somewhat favorable. It can take about three years to take root, but once it does, it is virtually resistant to drought.

Citronella

You may have heard of citronella oil as a common cleaning agent and insect repellent, which is even used in a wide range of mosquito repellent products. However, since the citronella essence found in these products is generally already diluted, the plant is naturally stronger-smelling than any citronella product out there, so it's more effective against insects. The smell of citronella is sweet and citrus-like, strong enough to mask the scent of other attractants, making it hard for mosquitoes to find humans. Since it is a clumping grass, it's not the best decorative option out there; landscapers will generally want to plant it behind other decorative flowers and shrubs. However, it is very low maintenance.

So just like there's more than one way to skin a cat, there's more than one way to keep insects at bay. Environmental and aesthetically pleasing solutions like the ones above are available if you know where to look. However, if the problem has already become too severe, it may be time to find good exterminators Jacksonville, Florida residents can rely on.

Tips for Safe Pest Control

While you want to be able to eliminate bugs with ease and convenience, you also want to be able to keep yourself safe. Bug warfare is critical to us, but we also want to be able to minimize collateral damage in pest control services. Jacksonville Florida residents who are informed about politics will likely know that in war, countries are forbidden from using chemical weapons. This is because they are extremely difficult to control. They can be carried in the wind, they can stick to clothes, and they can even contaminate water supplies. Similarly, pesticides should be thought of as dangerous, and should be handled with care.

Pesticide Warfare is a Last Resort

Because pesticides can be unsafe for human health, the homeowner should start with safer pest control methods. Prevention is better than a cure, so one could consider keeping the house clean, or make sure that crumbs and leftovers aren't left outside to tempt the bugs. Keep every area of the house dry and free from rot. These measures should minimize a lot of insect infestations in homes.

Using chemicals is an executive decision

At some point, every homeowner decides to take a chance and use pesticides. Maybe the bug attacks have gotten out of hand, or maybe there just seems to be more of them popping up. Once this decision is made, remember to read everything, including instructions and warnings. More pesticide isn't always better, so don't just spray wildly around the house. You'll also want to change clothes or wash your hands after using such household chemicals.

Think of the children

Kids around the house? You'll want to make sure that they're safe. When you're not using pesticides, you'll want to keep them away from their reach, preferably in a locked cabinet or garden shed. Never transfer pesticides into containers that children might mistake for food or drink containers. Also teach children well. Make sure they know what insecticides are being used around the house so that they know which containers they can't touch. If you leave them in other people's care, like a nanny's or a grandparent's, then those people should also know about the risks that come from insecticides in your home.

In the end, the decision on whether or not to use insecticides depends on which is more acceptable: the danger from bugs, or the risk from pesticides. If the bug problem gets too severe, you may also want to stop worrying about the problem and call for pest control services. Jacksonville, Florida residents can always rely on Bugmaniacs to come, see, and conquer invading pests.

Reduce the Dust Mites in Your Home

Reduce the Dust Mites in Your Home

What is a dust mite?

According to Wikipedia, a house dust mite is a cosmopolitan guest in human habitation. Mites induce allergic reactions like runny nose, watering eye, clogging in the lungs, eczema skin, wheezing, itchiness, and reddening eye. House dust mites thrive indoors and they are known to reside in beddings, furniture, carpets, pillows, and mattresses. Moreover, house dust mites also produce allergens which trigger asthma.

How to reduce the dust mite in your home?

Since house dust mites feed on flakes of dead human skin, they are usually found in furniture, mattresses, and beds.

Bedroom

The basic rule on how to prevent pests is to clean the affected areas of your house. In this case, the initial remedy to reduce the accumulation of house dust mites around the house is to wash and change the blankets and pillows regularly.

Kitchen

Keep your food in sealed containers. Always clean the countertops. Keep the trash sealed. And most of all, don't forget to wash the dishes! The same thing goes for any leftover food you may want to leave out for Fido.

Vacuum

We don't want the dust to circulate in the air, but that's what happens when we brush it off. The most effective dust-buster is a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

Vent

Just like most pests, house dust mites rely on moisture to survive. To reduce humidity, ventilate and open the windows in your house.

Seal

Seal affected areas with weather stripping. This is known to shut pests out.

Stuffed Toys

One of the favorite residences of dust mites is stuffed toys. To discourage mites, they must be kept in the freezer every two weeks.

Once you followed these steps, there's a big guarantee for a cleaner and dust-free home.

For long-term pest management, however, nothing beats pest controlservices. Jacksonville, Florida residents at the end of their rope will still have those to count on.

5 Steps on How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

Finding exterminatorsJacksonville, Florida residents trust is quite challenging. Good thing is, you can still prevent cockroaches and other pests from invading your home just by considering these:

1. Where are the roaches?

To figure out where they're hiding, look for the pellets or droppings (usually in brown or black color) that these critters leave on cupboards, cabinets, and walls. Make sure to look for these droppings as these will confirm their presence in your home.

2. Where are they found?

Roaches and other pests love to hide in the dark. Investigate your house for all the holes, vents, drains, and cracks where they can enter.

3. How can you kill them?

Here are some of the most effective extermination methods that you could do while waiting for the experienced exterminators to fully eradicate the pests from your home:

Borax

Borax has a lot of uses. It can be used as an all-purpose cleaner, a stainless steel/porcelain stain remover paste, and of course, as a pest exterminator (it desiccates the pests' exoskeleton).

Insecticide spray

The most effective and efficient way is to spray the insecticide in the holes, vents, or cracks where you think the roaches are hiding. Remember to follow the instructions on how to use the insecticide and to keep kids and pets away when spraying.

Bait

There are several types of bait available: Gel, Liquid, Adhesive, and Solid. The only way to determine the bait's effectiveness is if it is enough to eliminate the proportion of the population of the critters in the house. Also, soap and water solution can be highly effective.

4. Keep it clean.

After numbers 1 to 3, you must remember to do the following so as to prevent reinfestation:

Leaks

Roaches are particularly attracted to water, so make sure to fix the leaks in the bathroom and kitchen sink.

Trash

Regularly empty the trash can and keep garbage away from the house.

Food

Remember to not leave dirty dishes overnight and to keep utensils, kitchenware, and food containers sealed.

Cracks

Seal every crack (shelves, window moldings, floor, doors), and every hole in the wall to block the entrance of roaches.

5. If symptoms persist...

Just in case the above don't work (possibly because of the extremeness of the infestation), you must contact pest-control exterminators since they are experienced and licensed to use strong chemicals.

Pest Control Dos and Don’ts

There’s no debate about it: when you have a pest problem, it’s a big deal. If left uncontrolled, bugs can bring disease, consume and contaminate food, and damage property. Therefore, homeowners will want to take case of any pest issues as soon as possible. However, one has to ask: what’s the proper way to do that? Here are some Dos and Don’ts to consider before calling pest control services in Jacksonville, Florida.

DO…

Keep your house clean: Cleanliness is next to godliness, as they say. Aside from that, though, it’s a great way to keep bugs away from your home. That’s because pests love dirty houses. They love being able to eat bits of food that fall on the floor, and they love being able to hide and make families in little spaces that are out of sight. They love living under piles of useless trash, and shredding old paper to make nests. So, the cleaner your home is, the harder it will be for bugs to live there.

Fix water leaks: As much as bugs love dirty places, they also love wet places. It’s hard to think of a living thing that does not need water. For bugs, it’s not just something to drink; a nice, wet spot in the house is also a place for them to leave their waste in, lay their eggs, and even find other insects, fungi, and other growths that they can eat. Therefore, the homeowner who’s serious about pest control should also be serious about getting rid of unwanted wet areas.

Seal cracks and holes: Insects do not want to be seen. This makes sense, because if they are, chances are they’ll get killed. Therefore, the smart insect will want to look for hidden places and hidden paths around the house. If there are any holes in your floor or cracks in the wall, they are an opening that pests can get through. Don’t give them that chance.

DON’T…

Spray pesticide all over: Some well-meaning homeowners think that using insecticide everywhere is a good idea. However, we have to remember that a lot of insecticides are dangerous not just to insects, but to people as well. Overusing pesticides can cause health risks to adults, children, and even pets, so this should be avoided. Use just the right amount of pesticide, and use it only in areas where it’ll be useful.

Store insecticides just anywhere: Just as you don’t want to use insecticides just anywhere, you don’t want to keep it just anywhere. If you have adventurous children, and they have a tendency to hide and explore the house, they may stumble upon things that they should not. Also remember that most pesticides are flammable. To avoid danger, make sure to store pesticides in a safe place away from children and sparks or heat.

Use outdoor chemicals indoors: Finally, remember that not all pesticides are made equal. Some are made for home use, while some stronger formulations are made especially for use outdoors. Industrial-strength pesticides are, of course, dangerous to use in your home, so take note of the type of chemicals you use. 

There are more guidelines to follow in keeping your home pest-free, but most of them can be followed using just your own common sense. However, if the problem is severe enough to warrant the need for pest control services, Jacksonville, Florida residents may want to call for professional help.

All-Natural Pest Control: Kitchen Edition

For most of us, pest control mean getting a spray can full of noxious chemicals and nuking the bug problem as we cover our noses and eyes. The aftermath usually involves needing to keep your family away from the area because nobody wants their kids inhaling those fumes. Getting rid of pests can be such a hassle, and potentially hazardous, to boot! You may be surprised to find out that there are safe pest control methods that need things that you can find in your cupboard! Many herbs and other everyday ingredients can keep the bugs at bay.

From http://theherbgardener.blogspot.com/2010/05/super-homemade-herbal-insect-spray.html

Ants

Ants will not cross lines of cinnamon, coffee grounds or cayenne pepper. Trace the line of ants back to their point of entry and seal it up with a small amount of these household items.

Cockroaches

Bay leaves and garlic are your go-to herbs for these hardy rascals. Don't go overboard because only the slightest hint of the smell is needed. You don't want your room to smell like the kitchen! This treatment is especially good for those hard-to-reach ledges that cockroaches love—and you hate to reach!

Fleas

Slice up a lemon and put it in a cup with some boiling water. Wait overnight and use the resulting solution to wipe down your dog.

Mosquitoes

These flying health hazards are best dealt with by eliminating stagnant water, which they use to breed. To keep mosquitoes away, you can boil lemon rind and let the citrus scent waft through your home. During barbeques, a bit of sage or rosemary in the coals will turn the smoke from the grill into an effective mosquito repellant!

If you encounter these pests, a cheap and safe solution might be within arm's reach. However, if the infestation has gotten too severe, don't hesitate to call in professionals to provide comprehensive pest control solutions.

Five Simple Solutions to Pest Problems

Want to Minimize Pest Problems? Consider These Solutions

We all know that pests can be a big problem; they can threaten people’s health and property. What most people do not know is how to solve their own pest problems. Below are five possible solutions that we think most will find simple enough to use:

Prevent Them from Getting Comfortable

The first thing is to make sure they do not breed in your home. A good rule of thumb is that insects usually like moist and dark places, like under your sink or somewhere in your bathroom. If you can make those places brighter or less damp, then insects will like them less.

Another thing is to keep your house clean and tidy. Every animal needs food to survive; therefore, a big factor for most pests is the presence of easily accessible food. To keep them from wanting to come in, take care of all food spills and clean up your house as well as you can.

Trick Them with Traps

Another approach is to exploit insects’ natural instincts. By taking advantage of their fondness for food and dark places, one can make an effective trap to get them. A popular example: take a clear plastic bottle and cut the top part off. Put sugar water in the bottom part and wrap the outside in black paper. Put the top part of the soda bottle (upside down) on the bottom part then leave it someplace dark and humid. Mosquitoes will be attracted to the dark space and sugar water in the bottom half; in two weeks, there should be a significant collection already.

Rub Them Out and Keep Them Out

If you don’t want to trap insects, then you can choose to take more extreme action and exterminate them. For instance, you can use readily available bug spray to kill them. Bug zappers can also be effective if used right (do not put them near places where people are; they attract insects, so you don’t want them near anyone). Keep in mind, though, that since mosquitoes aren’t attracted to UV light, the UV light emitted by bug zappers will not be effective against them.

Finally, if you have successfully rid your house of creepy crawlies, you’ll want to keep them out. To do that, look for the possible entry points they used before, like cracks or small holes, and seal them up. You may also want to replace any rotted wood that they left behind, as this can attract new waves of pests.

All of these methods can be effective; however, there are times when the infestation is overwhelming, or the source of the insects cannot be found. In cases like those, it may be time to hire exterminators. For Jacksonville, Florida residents, the people at Bugmaniacs are available to provide their own expertise.

Rid Your Home of Stagnant Water for Better Mosquito Control

Mosquitoes can be an absolute nuisance without the help of exterminators. Jacksonville, Florida residents know they can also transmit dangerous diseases like the West Nile virus. Controlling a severe infestation might require professionals, but there are some ways you can prevent the situation from getting that bad.

The simplest and most effective way to avoid infestations is to eliminate the stagnant water where mosquitoes breed. Bird baths and clogged gutters are usual suspects, but you’d be surprised that stagnant water can occur in the unlikeliest places. Got old rubber tires loitering in your garage? Maybe some water got trapped in the interior while you were washing your car. Maybe some empty beer or soda bottles got stowed away and forgotten after the last barbecue. All it takes is some rainwater to turn a couple of harmless bottles into a breeding ground for the mosquito menace.

Some of us have small ponds in our backyards, and it might not be feasible to replace the water in these often. In case of bigger bodies of stagnant water, it might be a good idea to inhabit them with fish and insects that feed on the mosquito larvae. Health services in many states even provide mosquitofish for free.

These precautions can go a long way in making sure that the mosquito population and the threat of disease it presents are kept at a tolerable minimum. It also doesn’t hurt that these efforts coincide with keeping your surroundings tidier! If the situation is already past the point of these simple measures, don’t hesitate to call exterminators. Jacksonville, Florida residents know when it’s time to leave the matter to the professionals.

How to Avoid Pest Problems at Home

The house is supposed to be enjoyable for Florida residents. For teenagers, it’s a place to relax and rest in. For families, being at home together is a chance to bond. However, sometimes the opportunity comes for insects and pests to multiply and invade your home. They can spoil picnics and barbecues, cause itchiness and pain, and could even cause disease. How do you stop them from ruining your residence? Here are some tips from exterminators Jacksonville, Florida residents should probably take note of.

Ants

Many varieties of ants can inhabit cracks in pavements, eat into wooden frames or jambs, or form colonies in soil. Basically, their method of invasion is usually by chewing through wood or sneaking in through tiny spaces. Florida residents can therefore prevent them from getting in altogether by: sealing cracks or holes in the walls (especially outside walls) replacing any broken window frames or torn window screens trimming back bushes or other shrubs so that they do not touch the side of the home immediately cleaning up any food debris and messes in the home The last step may seem simple, but it is very important; even tiny crumbs can make ants more willing to enter your home. Therefore, one has to take steps to keep them from getting attracted.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are arguably a more annoying and dangerous pest; they’re airborne, and they can cause irritation and viral infections among humans. The key to their life and breeding cycle is still water. They can lay their eggs on the water, not breaking the surface, and the eggs would hatch into larvae which eventually develop into mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can multiply at an alarming rate, reaching thousands within weeks if left unchecked. The best way to avoid mosquito problems, therefore, is to eliminate their breeding grounds. There should be no stagnant water anywhere on the property, so clear out gutters, check drainage ditches, and move receptacles that may collect water to dry areas. If you have birdbaths, fountains, pools, or hot tubs on your property, you’ll likely want to keep them covered or empty.

Roaches

Cockroaches can also be disgusting and legitimately threatening. There are four common types of roaches in the US, all of which thrive on food and moisture. If you see one, there are probably already a hundred in your home. Therefore, just like with ants and mosquitoes, homeowners should minimize their food messes and water around their home. They should also make sure to detect and repair leaks and damaged pipes immediately.

When It Is Too Late for Defense

Sometimes, residents notice the problem only when the insects are already inside their homes. At that point, it is a better idea to call in professional pest control services. Jacksonville, Florida residents can then rest easy.

Keeping Your House Pest-Free

Why would you be in need of the same pest control services Jacksonville, Florida residents have come to appreciate? Summer is almost out, and just as we're breaking out the swimsuits and the surfboards for our last-minute enjoyment, many insects are breaking out of the last of the winter's sluggishness and are now out in force. While a number of insects are active contributors to the environment, they can become pests if their business takes them too close to our homes. It'll be hard to enjoy your last summer days to the fullest if you have to worry about bees inside your house! If you find yourself in the middle of a severe infestation, it's time to call in the experts. However, if you're not at that point yet, here are some simple tips to keep your home pest-free.

Dealing with Winged Insects

Many insects can be deterred without the use of harsh chemicals that can be harmful to you. Mosquitoes, specifically, can be controlled by keeping an eye out for pockets of stagnant water where mosquito larvae can live in. You'd be amazed at the likelihood of a mosquito plague being caused by a simple clogged gutter! Be watchful for empty soda bottles that have collected some rainwater, wheelbarrows, bird feeders, and other innocuous objects that mosquitoes can use as a breeding pool. As for the mosquitoes that are already in your home, you can try citronella scents, which deter the little pests while being quite appealing to humans.

How to Handle Crawling Pests

As for pests of the crawling kind, you'd be surprised how far simple cleanliness can go. See, many crawling insects like cockroaches and ants get attracted to human homes by the prospect of food—and that's exactly what they find! Errant crumbs on the floor or the occasional harmless uneaten bag of chips lying around is a feast to these insects, and they're likely to come back with friends. Keeping food where it's supposed to be kept can go a long way in making your home less inviting to pests. It's also good to look for holes or cracks that ants use to get into your home. If you see a trail of ants, it's a good idea to trace it back to where line begins so you can plug or caulk the hole up. Building a “moat” with a solution of soap and water is also effective in discouraging ants from treating your house like a buffet.

The summertime should always be a season of fun with friends and family. Pests should never get factored into the equation. With a little awareness, you can keep your home pest-free.