Fullscope Pest Control

Top 5 Signs That You May Have a Bats

Wasp and Honey Bee Nest: What Homeowners Need To Know

Between 20 and 25 percent of all mammal species are bats. There are over 1,300 different species of these furry flying creatures of the night. In fact, the only mammals that make up a larger percentage of all mammal species are rodents (and no, bats are NOT rodents).   Bats live all over the world, including in Texas, and these mammals are an integral part of our ecosystem. Nightly, they hunt and feed on countless flying insects, including mosquitoes, which helps keep insect populations down. In fact, one little brown bat is known to easily hunt down and eat around 1,000 mosquito-sized insects in an hour, while nursing mother bats can consume over 4,500 flying insects every single night. The world would likely be overrun with insects if it weren’t for natural animal predators like bats and spiders.  Bats in the Belfry There are six main species of bats that most commonly occur in Texas: Mexican Free-Tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) Tri-Colored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus) Cave Myotis (Myotis velifer) Evening Bat (Nycticeius humeralis) Southeastern Myotis (Myotis austroriparius) Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) Just because bats are friends to us and keep the ecosystem running smoothly, that doesn’t mean they cannot be nuisances. You might notice unusual stains and odors on and around your home to indicate that bats have moved in. Here are some things to look for to let you know you have a bat infestation.  1.  Squeaky Noises When bats are hunting at night, they use ultrasonic beams, similar to radar, to locate and track their prey. The high-frequency noises of these sounds are well above the normal range of human hearing, and we usually don’t hear most of these squeaks and chirps. But when they are in their nests, they do make a distinct squeaky chatter to communicate amongst themselves. As dusk approaches, when bats are preparing to go out hunting in the dark, this “chirpy chatter” gets gradually louder and more intense.  2.  Strange Odors Along with their squeaks and bat droppings (guano), bats emit a particular body odor, as does their urine. Think of a musty smell, combined with the scent of ammonia, and that is roughly what a bat colony smells like. Larger colonies obviously emit more potent odors. Fortunately, once you’ve gotten rid of a bat colony, the stifling odors go away with it.   3.  Bat Urine Bats do not chew through wood and other building materials like rodents, but their urine is potent enough to inflict damage on a building’s infrastructure due to the high levels of uric acid their urine contains. Wooden shingles and even metal sheets on a roof are vulnerable to this acidic damage, and the erosion of these materials can lead to leaking. It can also leave stains on walls when it leaks down from the nest of a bat colony. 4.  Greasy Stains And bats love to nest in high-up places in and around buildings, underneath eaves, and in attics and garages if they can gain access. Bats also have a gland in their chests that produces an oily substance that waterproofs and conditions their fur. Whenever bats fly up and into a nesting site, they tend to rub up against the surface outside the opening, leaving greasy stains and streaks. At first, these stains look like a barely noticeable beige to brown discoloration, but after some time passes, the stains darken and become much more visible.   5.  Bat Droppings Bat droppings, commonly known as “guano,” is another recognizable evidence of the nearby presence of bats. Guano has a unique torpedo-shaped appearance, and is light to dark brown in color, depending on how dry the droppings are. Since bats only eat small flying insects like mosquitoes, flies, and moths, their droppings do not feature the same white tips that rodent droppings do. Guano deposits can easily be found accumulating on the ground and on the walls beneath bat colony nests, as well as on the surfaces of roofs. If you should see bat droppings, be careful not to inhale, as the fungus contained in guano can inflict respiratory diseases. Must Read:Mosquito Control For Your Yard When Should You Call an Exterminator for Bats? You should definitely contact a professional pest control service that can get rid of bats whenever you first start to see any of the above signs of a bat colony infestation. This can help you deter expensive damage by getting on top of the situation earlier rather than later. Bats can not only cause property damage, but they can also be the source of health hazards. If you’ve got bats in your belfry, call our Texas pest control experts today at 832-898-0190 for a consultation. You can also email us at info@fullscopepestcontrol.com. We can help you get your bat problem under control, as well as other pest problems at home and in your yard professionally and promptly. We can also show you what you can do to help prevent future problems and save you money in the long run.      

Bed Bugs in Your Home: Exposing the Pest

Wasp and Honey Bee Nest: What Homeowners Need To Know

Are you dealing with our being bitten by Bed bugs in Kingwood, Humble, New Caney, Porter, Atascocita, Cleveland, Splendora, Tarkington, Cold Springs, Livingston and Conroe Texas? If you are, you need to get Bed Bug Extermination immediately! These pesky critters should be prevented by every means because once they infest a space, adequate control is tasking but should be done in case bed bugs are already infesting your space, there are things you need to do to effectively exterminate them. If you suspect a bed bug infestation in your home, the first step is to inspect and identify any possible sources of these bugs. This includes checking for blood stains on sheets or mattress seams as well as fecal spots on linens near the bed. Other potential signs are rust-colored staining near electrical outlets, dressers, couches, or other furniture.   Bed bugs leave behind their fecal material and also shed skin as they grow bigger, so if you find dark spots that look like mud on the floor these could be signs of bed bug droppings. You can use a flashlight to inspect your mattress for any blood stains which may indicate an infestation but this does not guarantee that there is one. You may also want to inspect your bed frame and headboard for any cracks where these pests could hide, as well as the mattress or box spring. Inspecting other surfaces in your bedroom such as dressers, nightstands, chairs, curtains and furniture can help identify potential sources of an infestation so be thorough.   Next, you should do a quick cleaning of the area to remove any bed bug eggs or larva that may be lingering in your room. This is not enough however and it’s important to take additional measures when dealing with this problem so don’t stop there! You’ll want to inspect of anything that can potentially act as a harborage source for bed bugs such as old clothes, shoes and books. This can help prevent the infestation from getting worse so make sure you take this step! Use a vacuum cleaner to suck up any eggs or larva that are in your mattress or box spring before they hatch into adults. Vacuum all surfaces of your room including carpets We us state of the art products, including steam to eliminate bed bugs completely from your home or business. Bed bug treatment technology has evolved a lot in the past few years and we are proud to offer this service. We use the latest equipment, products, and techniques for bed bug extermination services that will effectively rid your home or business of these pests without them coming back! Whether you’re dealing with an individual infestation or have more serious issues involving multiple rooms or floors. Must Read:PREVENT OAK WILT ON YOUR NEW CANEY OAK TREES     Call the Experts for Bed Bug Extermination Services in Kingwood, Humble, New Caney, Porter, Atascocita, Cleveland, Coldspring, Livingston, Tarkington and the surrounding Houston TX area! [wpforms id=”1478″]

Prevent Oak Wilt on Your New Caney Oak Trees

Wasp and Honey Bee Nest: What Homeowners Need To Know

One common tree disease that Texas homeowners deal with, specifically for oak trees, is Oak wilt. If you live in New Caney, and have oak trees, you’re probably familiar with this fungal tree disease.   Oak wilt is a serious ornamental tree disease that can be rapidly fatal for trees in the Red oak group (those oaks with pointed leaf edges). White oak tree species (with rounded leaf margins) may also be affected, but not nearly as rapidly as Red oaks. 

Control Anthracnose on Kingwood Maple Trees

Wasp and Honey Bee Nest: What Homeowners Need To Know

How to Help Control Anthracnose on Your Kingwood Maple Trees Anthracnose (caused by the Gloeosporium apocryptum fungus and other closely related fungi) is a rainy season tree disease that can be serious for all kinds of plants, notably Silver maples and Japanese maple trees.   It causes irregular, light to reddish- and purplish-brown deadened areas on your Kingwood, TX plants’ and trees’ leaves. 

Detect and Prevent Botryodiplodia Canker

Wasp and Honey Bee Nest: What Homeowners Need To Know

One fungal tree disease that can be difficult to diagnose is known as Botryodiplodia Canker (Botryodiplodia theobromae). It is often considered a weak parasite with a wide tree host range. In Texas, including in Cleveland, TX, it is well known to cause a rapid death of sycamore trees.  This fungal infection can cause “cankers” on a tree’s branches and main trunk. High temperatures and stressful drought conditions create an ideal environment for Botryodiplodia Canker to thrive.