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How to Tell if You Have a Cockroach Infestation
How to Tell If You Have a Cockroach Infestation Do you think you have a roach infestation but haven’t seen any actual roaches? Because cockroaches are primarily nocturnal insects, it is more likely you will see signs of a cockroach problem before you see a roach itself. Roaches only leave their hiding spots to search for food. This usually happens late at night when they have a lesser chance of being caught. Cockroaches love all sorts of food including garbage, pantry snacks, and even somethings we would not think of like paper and packaging. If you believe you have a roach problem in your home it is best to call a pest professional as soon as possible. Signs of Cockroaches Since we know that cockroaches are primarily nocturnal we know that we will not see roaches themselves very often. Even if we do not see them, they can still be spreading dirt and bacteria all over your home. Here are a few easy signs to look out for when trying to identify a cockroach infestation. Here are the Most Common Signs of Cockroaches: Roach Droppings / Roach Poop Cockroach Eggs Smear Marks Roach Skins Property Damage Unpleasant Smell Live Cockroaches Cockroach Droppings / Poop Like every other animal, roaches poop too. Cockroach droppings or poop look similar to coffee grounds, black pepper or spotted mold. Inspect areas under and around your garbage, refrigerator and sink. If you find or suspect cockroach droppings it is important to wear a glove and mask when inspecting and cleaning. Because roaches anything and everything, their droppings are filled with lots of bacteria and harmful pathogens. Some cases they are confused with mice droppings. Cockroach Eggs Some cockroaches lay up to 40 eggs at one time in what is known as an egg capsule. Capsules look different for different types of cockroaches. In general, they tend to be long rounded tan or brown capsules. Some capsules like the German Cockroaches’ egg sack has many ridges and others are quite smooth. This photo by the University of Nebraska Department of Entomology shows a few of the different types of egg capsules. Smear Marks Smear marks are caused by a roaches body rubbing or smudging areas in high moisture. You may see these marks on walls or floor boards where roaches crawl or rest. Roach Skin Like many other insects, when cockroaches grow, they shed their skin. A cockroach may shed its skin 5-8 times on its way to adulthood. These left pieces of exoskeleton vary in size and shape. Some pieces may look like a little white roach ghost while other pieces may tan segments or legs. Property Damage As we know, roaches will eat just about anything and everything. Because of this, you may notice nibbles on chip bags, leather goods, and even book pages. This can be tough to identify if you do not know what you are looking for. Unpleasant Smells Roaches leave unpleasant scents behind for a variety of reasons. Many cockroaches spend their time exploring garbage and sewage. Roaches can help spread those already gross smells around your home. As well, the roaches themselves release pheromones that create a musty sort of scent. The larger the cockroach infestation the stronger the smell will be. Live Cockroaches Because roaches are nocturnal, it is unlikely you will see them during the day; however, a quick midnight trip to the fridge or bathroom may reveal many unwanted guests. Different roaches like to spend their time in different areas. For example, the German Cockroach prefers to live in warm humid places such as a bathroom. In comparison, the American Cockroach spends more time outside in areas like the garage and basement. Must Read :THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AMERICAN AND GERMAN ROACHES We hope you find this article in helping you identify if you have a cockroaches living in your home. For help inspecting and removing roaches, contact FullScope Pest Control at 832-898-0910. Not all cockroaches are created equal, and knowing which one you are dealing with in your home or business is important. Check Out Our Post: The Difference Between American and German Cockroaches We hope you find this information informative and if you are in our service area and we can be of assistance in eliminating or identify german cockroaches in your home, please do not hesitate to reach out to speak with your neighborhood expert.
How To Prevent Mosquito Bites
We all know that mosquitoes are obnoxious. But did you also know that mosquito bites can spread hundreds of deadly diseases from person to person? This is why it is extremely important to prevent mosquito bites when possible. Here are a few basic ways that you can help prevent mosquito bites and keep your family safe. 1. Remove Standing Water One of the easiest ways to prevent mosquito bites is to prevent mosquitoes from breeding around your home. The female mosquito MUST lay her eggs in water. As well, it takes 14 days for a mosquito egg to turn into an adult. This means the “baby” mosquitoes must be able to live in standing water for 14 days. You can help stop the life cycle in its tracks by dumping standing water. If you have any open containers such as buckets, flower pots or bird baths, make sure to remove water from them regularly. If your home has water features or large puddles you can also add soap or other water chemicals to kill any mosquito larvae already in the water without dumping it. Removing standing water from your home is truly one of the most effective ways to prevent mosquitoes from your surrounding your home. 2. Install and Repair Window Screens Who doesn’t love to enjoy a nice summer breeze in their home? Unfortunately, leaving windows and doors open can also be an easy way to allow mosquitoes and other pests to enter your home. Make sure that your home’s window screens are in tact and ready to block out unwanted guests. If possible, use mosquito nets around outdoor patios and furniture. Must Read :HOW TO GET RID OF BED BUGS IN COUCHES 3. Use Repellents Containing DEET DEET is extremely effective when it comes to repelling mosquitoes and ticks. For best use, rub the repellent directly onto your ankles, forearms and all the other exposed skin. As well, wearable mosquito repellent items such as bracelets and anklets do not work effectively. Products with about 7-10% DEET are ideal for mosquito repellent. We also recommend that you reapply bug spray about every 90 minutes outdoors, 4. Invest in a Mosquito Misting System If you are someone who spends extended amounts of time outside we recommend investing in a Mosquito Misting System for your home. Whether you enjoy gardening or spending evenings on the patio, a misting system is guaranteed to give you the protection you need 24/7. The system works by strategically placing nozzles around your home and releasing a mist that repels mosquitoes. The system can be set up to automatically emit the repellent at peak mosquito activity or when you and your family spend the most time outdoors. Most importantly, the materials in most mosquito misting systems are both family and pet friendly. 5. Wear Tightly Woven and Long Sleeve Clothing Mosquitoes are unable to penetrate tightly knit clothing. As well, many synthetic fibers such as that found in dry fit and high-tech athletic clothing should offer a great mosquito shield. There has also been some claim that mosquitoes are more attracted to dark clothing than to light clothing. We are not sure if this is true but it is worth trying out! 6. Plant Mosquito Repelling Plants We recommend this tip as an added bonus. While this should definitely not be your only form of defense against mosquitoes, adding naturally repellent plants can help decrease the number of mosquitoes around your home. Citronella, lavender, marigolds, lemongrass and basil have all been shown to repel mosquitoes. While it is unlikely they will repel mosquitoes from your home completely, in large quantities is may help reduce the number of mosquitoes who make their way into your yard. We hope you found this short article on how to prevent mosquito bites helpful. For mosquito treatment or misting system instillation in the Houston area reach out to the professionals at FullScope Pest Control. Call or text 832.898.0190 for more information.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Couches
Can bed bugs live in couches? Although their name may state otherwise but bed bugs do not only live in beds! Bed bugs may infest couches, rugs, carpet and luggage. Many people who find bed bugs in their couch or furniture do not know what to do and as a result throw their couch away. If your couch becomes infested by bed bugs do not kick it to the curb just yet. Instead of throwing it away, learn how to get rid of bed bugs on couches. Inspect Your Couch The first step in getting rid of bed bugs on your couch is confirming that you do indeed have bed bugs. Too properly search your couch for bed bugs you will need a flashlight, magnifying glass, and an old credit card. You should also wear gloves while handling any potentially infected furniture. To inspect your sofa for bed bugs, start by removing the cushions from your couch. Use the flashlight and magnifying to inspect all pillows and cushions as you remove them. Search every seem and zipper for signs of bed bugs. The following are what you should look for when inspecting for bed bugs: Live Bed Bugs Obviously the first thing you should look for when inspecting for bed bugs is bed bugs! If you see small round tan or brown creatures it is very likely that you have found bed bugs. Clear smaller bugs may be bed bug nymphs. Black Fecal Spots Bugs poop too. Black speckles and splotches on your couch are most likely fecal spots from your bed bugs. Sheds of skin When bed bugs enter a new stage of life they shed their old skin leaving behind a little exoskeleton. Finding sheds of skin mean that the bed bugs may have been in your couch for a long time. Eggs Bed bug eggs look like little grains of rice. They may be stuck on the sides or underneath of your couch. How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Your Couch So you found bed bugs, but what comes next? Instead of throwing your bed bugs away follow these steps to remove bed bugs from your furniture” Wash Begin by removing pillows, cushions and their covers. You can put these all straight into your washer and dryer. Wash and dry your cushions on their highest setting. Dry your cushions on high heat for about 90 minutes. Bed bug eggs can survive temperatures as high as 118 degrees (F). You can bring bulkier cushions to commercial laundromats. If you have even larger cushions that do not fit in the machine you can set them aside to steam later. 2. Vacuum Vacuuming your couch will help remove any bed bugs from the couch itself. Use a nozzle accessory to vacuum cracks and crevices in the couch. This will also help remove all the dirty and disgusting leftovers such as fecal matter and skin. Once you are done vacuuming, seal the remnants in a sealable plastic bag and dispose of it outside as soon as possible. 3. Steam Clean Your Couch Using a steamer is an effective and eco-friendly way to kill bed bugs in your couch. The hot steam is able to penetrate the cushions and couch to kill any bed bugs hiding inside your sofa. 4. Use Bed Bug Spray After doing step one through three, if you still see bed bugs you can use a professional chemical spray. This is not recommended if you have children or pets due to the chemical strength of over the counter pesticides. We recommend using a professional pest service if you decide to turn to chemical spray. 5. Use Bed Bug Traps Small bed bug traps can be places under the legs of your couch to help prevent re infestation. Since bed bugs do not fly or jump they will have to climb through your trap to reach your couch. Recommended Read : HOW TO GET RID OF BED BUGS IN COUCHES When to Call Professionals If after following all these steps you still find bed bugs in your couch or other furniture it is best to call an exterminator. Using a pest professional can be a sure fire way to remove bed bugs from your home.
How to Help Prevent Trunk Rot on Your Conroe, TX Trees
Trunk rot results from fungal infection in trees, and it first manifests itself through wilted and yellowing leaves and your Conroe trees’ stunted growth. Untreated, the fungus damage will show itself as “fruiting” growth on the outside of the trunk. It can be difficult to treat any kind of rot in your trees, and once it’s started to blossom into “fruit,” it becomes virtually impossible. Most effective treatments center on doing what you can to help restore the tree’s strength as early as possible, rather than trying to treat the infection itself.
It’s Fall Ya’ll? What that Means for Pest Control
Is it Fall Ya’ll? What that means for Pest Control Us locals know that one minute you are wearing flip flops and the next minute you are searching for your sweaters and boots. Crazy temperature changes keep us on our toes in the Houston, Texas areas, but what does that mean for your pest control? I will admit that here in Houston, TX area we are pretty sensitive to temperature changes, we moan and groan about the heat and then complain about 65 degree temperatures. Will we ever be happy, I hope so. Must Read :HOW TO RODENT PROOF YOUR HOME THIS WINTER
Pest Free Holiday Guide
It is time for the holidays when you started getting ready to decorate, pulling down those containers and boxes that we have been storing for the last 12 months or so. But before you bring those containers into your home, let’s make sure there is nothing hiding inside. Must Read :SQUIRREL PEST CONTROL Boxes stored in your attic, basements, and garages are ideal homes for all types of pests. Here are a couple of tips to keep your holidays pest free.
Are Centipedes Poisonous? Your Questions Answered!
Are Centipedes Poisonous? Your Questions Answered! When you see Centipedes, right from the start you will notice that there are some scares involved. Seeing so many legs move at once is definitely creepy, and a lot of people are worried and scared about these Centipedes being poisonous. The issue is that these creatures appear out of nowhere, they will scare you and seeing them move around will maintain that scare.
Black Spiky Caterpillars: Should You Be Worried?
Black Spiky Caterpillars: Should You Be Worried? When you see Black Spiky Caterpillars, the first thing that comes to your mind is obviously to be worried and to see if you are in any real danger. Most people believe that Black Spiky Caterpillars are very poisonous, so on their own can be extremely problematic. Here you get to learn more about these creatures and you can see if they are dangerous or not. Must Read: TINY ROACHES: ARE THEY BABIES OR A BIG PROBLEM?
Simple Steps to Winterize Your Home Against Pest
We may be in Southwest Texas where it feels like winter comes and goes in a flash but if the Farmers Almanac’s predictions were true, we may be in for one of the most uncharacteristically cold seasons ever. The frigid, freezing weather will be here before you know it with the new season comes seasonal issues to deal with on your home and outdoor property. Overwintering Pests. Must Read :HOW TO GET RID OF CARPET BEETLES AND MITES
How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles and Mites
Handling a Carpet Beetle Infestation And Having Carpet Mites Carpet mites and carpet beetles are becoming more and more common in many homes nowadays. Obviously the last thing you want to see is a beetle or a carpet mites in your home, but these things happen especially if you offer them great living conditions and you don’t clean your home very well. Most of the time the carpet beetles and mites are not living in your carpet. They will live within your entire home and come to the carpet as a way to hide and feed. After all, you can drop food from time to time on the carpet, and these mites or carpet beetles will be there to grab it.