Category Archives: Pest Eradication

Pest Eradication

The Answer to Your Flea Problem

I remember when I went away with my family one summer and returned after a month. The moment I stepped into the house I could see the floor moving. It was the strangest thing I had ever seen. It wasn’t until I looked closer that I realized that the floor wasn’t moving; it was just covered in what seem to be a million fleas. They were everywhere! And the worst thing about a million fleas are that they aren’t the friendliest insects to swarm in your home. I was so bitten up from just walking to the bathroom. It took about three fumigations to completely kill every single flea, and unlike some people, I want to have children, so I was kind of concerned with this method. Come to find out that I didn’t have to spend all that money on harmful chemicals to rid myself of my massive flea issue.

Researchers have found that one could kill up to ninty-six percent of their flea problem with the aid of thier freindly, household vaccuum. Apparently, the force of the vaccuum is so intense that the fleas lose an outer layer of their body called the cuticle ( a waxy substance that coats their tiny bodies). Thus, the fleas dry up and die eventually, and this takes care of any stage of fleas that seem to plague your home, whether it be adult, larvae, or pupae.

So, next time I go away on vacation and I return to a foreign species who think they dominated a new home, I’ll reach for my vaccuum and save a penny or two.

Insect Control, Pest Control, Pest Eradication

Boxelder Bugs

A very common pest throughout many homes in the United States is the boxelder bug. This particular insect looks much like a lightning bug, and it is black and red in color. They can grow to be about half an inch long, and are not something you’ll want residing in your humble abode.

The boxelder gets its name from their favored source of sustenance – the juices of the boxelder tree. Wondering why they’d choose to occupy your boxelder tree-free home? Well, because it’s warm and cozy, of course! They’ll most likely come creeping in around autumn, just in time to make your house their winter shelter. If you’re not careful, not only will a few come, but they’ll bring their friends; some households are harboring hundreds of boxelders, and these bugs will overstay their welcome! In fact, the warm temperatures of your home will serve as a superior breeding ground. They’ll find their way into your home, usually through open doors, windows, and cracks in the walls, and they’ll retreat to a warm, sunny spot on your floor or your walls. They’re not very polite houseguests, either. Boxelders leave rather annoying droppings, which can stain your linens and curtains. They don’t bite, though; however, their piercing, sucking mouths can be quite the nuisance.

Along with pesticides and/or a visit from your exterminator, a smart way to thin out the larger infestations is to vacuum up as many as you can. As soon as you vacuum one up, you’ll see most likely five more, but don’t grow weary; if all else fails, in spring, they’ll come out of their crevices in search of trees and places on which they can lay their eggs. Call your exterminator before it’s too late, and that place becomes your house!

Insect Control, Pest Control, Pest Eradication

Getting Rid of Pests Without Pesticides: #6 The Bubble Bath of Doom!

Aside from those with unique tastes, no one likes gnats, also known as fruit flies, in his or her food or drink. These pesky little bombardiers come in swarms, hovering around garbage cans, plants, dinner tables, and wherever else these sweet-toothed insects think they can find sustenance. Because they’re so little, you can’t really tackle them with a fly swatter, as you can with their larger counterpart, the house fly. These little ones who lay eggs and breed in your drains are clever creatures. Many traps, like sticky pads, just don’t cut it. Some people even try to lure them into a microwave to get rid of them, but, amazingly, the microwave won’t kill them! The best way to catch these seemingly indestructible nuisances is with trickery… sweet, soapy, trickery.

Gnats are very much attracted to substances such as vinegar, honey, breads (they’re attracted to the yeast), and alcoholic beverages, such as red wine and beer. One of the best ways you can take care of your gnat problem is to get a beer or wine bottle (these products are typically hot spots for gnats, and the narrow neck of the bottle will make it more difficult for them to escape), and fill it about half-full with vinegar, honey, and a little bit of dish soap. As we’ve all learned from our mothers, you catch more flies with honey, but they’re also quite fond of vinegar. This will lure them in, and, as they enter the bottle of doom, their wings will become coated with the soap and honey mixture, making it impossible for them to fly away, ending in their inevitable deaths.

This is an almost sure-fire way to zap your gnat problem. The microwave may not be able to kill them, but a squirt or two of dish soap should do the trick!

Green Pest Control, Pest Control, Pest Eradication

Getting Rid of Pests Without Pesticides: #5 Drain Your Oasis!

Do you ever watch Animal Planet? Notice that all the animals go to one spot in their environment to nourish themselves; do you know what that spot is called? That’s right, it’s the oasis, or watering hole, if you want to get technical. Now, imagine your home as an African savanna, and the animals are the pests roaming about your territory. Is your house similar to that watering hole? Are you suffering from permeable pipes, cluttered gutters, or just too many half-full cups of water? Not as known as one of the contributors to household pest infestation; moisture of any kind can cause a serious problem for your house. So, it’s time to put a drain in your oasis before your pests make a permanent savanna out of your home.

The first thing you have to do is repair any leaky faucets, appliances, pipes, and that roof you live under. Catching drops with buckets just doesn’t cut it anymore, and you’ll notice that bugs will start to accumulate if you don’t get your leaks repaired A.S.A.P.! The next thing you should do might be the most dreaded of your tasks: clean your gutters. It’s a pain to do, and heights can be dangerous, but, sometimes, a little backbreaking is needed, in order to keep your home safe from the creepy crawlers that live in those gutters. While you’re dealing with the water situation outside, you might as well direct all water away from your house. This is usually good to do before the clouds come and rain on your parade. Look around outside and in your house. Are there cups, buckets, or simply anything that has excess water just sitting in it? Dump it out! You’re creating a little home for mosquitoes and all sorts of critters that love to hang out around water.

Most of your moisture problem can be fixed by just keeping things clean enough for water to pass through them. A home isn’t designed to harbor water until mold builds up and bugs come in, so, chances are, the moisture problem you are experiencing is due to negligence on the home owner’s part. Do yourself a favor, and sap your oasis before you have to unleash metaphorical lions on your pests!

Insect Control, Pest Control, Pest Eradication

Getting Rid of Pests Without Pesticides: #4 Thwarting Operation "B-Day"

Do you ever watch a scary insect movie in which the insects have become mutated and evil and start killing everyone? Do you secretly wish you were there, fighting the good fight, killing every bug in your path because deep down you hate those little pests with a fiery hot passion of a thousand suns? Between you and me, using a pistol just doesn’t cut it in the real world, so you might have to resort to other types of weaponry to battle your pest nightmare. Don’t worry, you’ll get those suckers.

The first weapon of choice doesn’t involve your insect problem, but takes care of another problem that has been plaguing your house: snap traps! Sure, your house will look like a battleground in the rodent war, but it’s worth it to get rid of those little critters, right? Bugs that mobilize on the ground, on the other hand, can’t withstand the power of another trap: the sticky trap. This will locate and trap the infantry infestation that is trying to take control of the ground. For the air strike that is afflicting you, try using light traps for flies and other such bugs, and pheromone traps for your clothes moths and meal moths. And if all else fails to rid you of your pest invasion, use the classic vacuum or fly swatter to rid you of your troubles.

Sure, it’s a little gruesome, but who doesn’t enjoy a good bug hunt? It’s instinctive, so don’t feel bad. Besides, if you don’t handle your infestation, you’ll soon find that the pests have executed their own little D-Day on your home, better known as “B-Day” in the bug world.