Your Pest Control Problems Solved - Top 9 Tips From An Expert In Controlling Pests

10 Tips for Pest Control

There are different types of pests and they are controlled in different ways. Here are the common pests and ways by which you can control them.

1. Earwigs

These are the most prevalent pests in many homes, where they destroy vegetables, flowers, and fruits.

Although chemical treatment is very good at getting rid of them, they can return in a very short period - may be after just two weeks. Apply the chemical treatment between June and early July, focusing on such areas as around fences, garages, tree trunks, and wood piles; under porches, and along building foundations.

2. Raccoons

These intelligent animals feed on grain, nuts, fruits, meat, and fish among others. The nocturnal animals usually dwell in urban areas.

If you want to control raccoons, start from their entry points. Use screens to cover chimney flues. Prune branches of trees and keep garbage in closed containers. Shut garage doors.

Use either wire cage or box traps to catch them, particularly as they go to their feeding areas. Secure the traps in place to avoid tipping. Use such things as peanut butter, prunes, corns, and melon as bait. However, it is better to let a professional do the job, as cornering a raccoon can be dangerous.

3. Mice

Although the house mouse can live for just a year, it can produce eight litters during this period, each having between four and five mice. Mice like grains and seeds but they can eat virtually anything. However, they take a very little amount of water. These nocturnal animals can creep through very small holes whose diameter may be just half an inch.

The practice of good sanitation is the best method of controlling mice. You can also use spring traps to catch them, ensuring that you remove trapped rodents as soon as possible.

Although you can also use poison, you need to take great caution. Mark any poison containers clearly and keep them out of reach of children. The bait should also be kept where children or pets can not access.

4. Termites

Termites like either decaying or damp wood but they can as well eat dry ones. It usually takes a while before the damage gets noticed because the termites start eating from within the wood, often from the ground. What usually gets noticed are the tunnels they build in case there is no direct contact between wood and soil.

A good preventive measure is to avoid any contact between wood and soil. if you notice the tunnels, use chemical treatment, which should preferably be administered by professionals.

5 Sowbugs

Although sowbugs do not usually inflict any major damage, you should take appropriate measures to keep them off your premises. Since they usually eat decaying matter in dark areas, you can control them by enhancing ventilation.

6 Fleas

Animals are the main culprits in bringing fleas. These parasites feed on the host's blood. Fleas at times leave the animals and attack other creatures, and the most troublesome are cat fleas.

While killing the adult fleas is relatively easy, the larvae are enclosed within strong cocoons, and the eggs are very resistant too.

There are products meant for home use, but the best result is achieved by hiring a professional.

7. Cockroaches

Some of the things that cockroaches eat include food, plants, paper, and glue. Cockroaches like dark and damp areas, and they are dangerous because they carry salmonella bacteria.

Exercise proper sanitation. Keep food in enclosed containers and keep everything clean. In case of chemical treatment, consult an expert.

8 Carpenter ants

The large ants nest on wood, where they create galleries with great finishes. Their infestation is usually detected by the presence of saw dust that they push out as they burrow into the wood.

Get rid of any decayed wood and never keep firewood inside the house for extended periods. Use preservative on wood used on sections that are likely to get damp.

Hire certified personnel in case of chemical treatment.

9. Silverfish

Silverfish like warm temperatures as well as dark and damp areas. They prefer eating starchy matter like wallpaper glue or paste, bread crumbs, paper, and different wood by-products.

Vacuum areas where they are likely to be found well. Do not leave anything they can eat in areas with poor ventilation for extended periods.

You can also trap them by partially filling small jars with water. Make it easy for them to climb the outside of the jars by covering them with masking tape.