Q & A
Can Termites Go Away On Their Own?
March 8, 2009Q. Can termites go away on their own after they have invaded a home or business?
A. Yes, they can go away on their own. Why is it a scary answer? Because you never know when they are going to come back! Without a termite treatment, there is no way of knowing when a healthy termite colony will return to re-infest a structure. “What made them go away in the first place?”, is a better question. One thing I know, is that waiting without doing a single thing to stop that colony is like playing Russian Roulette with your home. Over the years, I have seen people eager to sell a home, force a pest control company who is providing a Wood Destroying Insect inspection, give a green light to a house that once had termites, without evidence of a treatment. And, I have heard the horror stories of lawsuits after settlement when the termites decide to return. Even though we agree that they may go away on their own, more should know that termites may come back on their own, with a vengeance!
How Do You Control Mice?
February 20, 2008Q. How do you control mice? We see them running all over the place and my wife is extremely afraid of them…
A. We prefer to use baits for maintenance once control is taken. Usually some bait in the basement and attic is sufficient to control mice on a regular basis. One thing I should mention: some of the popular “pellet baits” on the market can allow mice to transport and store the bait (and not necessarily eat it). This is also a safety hazard to children or pets. We prefer to use products that do not allow people or pets access to the bait itself. To get control, we like to investigate each situation and determine the best way to go about it. Bait is not always the answer if they have already found a food source that they like. mice will stick to what they trust, even if it means staying with your bird seed in the garage, the nuggets of dog food that fall under the refrigerator, or some other product that you have stored that one would not normally consider being mice food such as cake mix or candy. One thing I should mention: some of the poplar “pellet baits” on the market can allow mice to transport and store the bait (and not necessarily eat it). This is also a safety hazard to children or pets. We prefer to use products that do not allow people or pets access to the bait itself.
How Do I Know if I Have Termites?
February 20, 2008Q. My neighbor just had a termite treatment. How do I know if I have termites?
A. This is a great question. Most people don’t know if they have termites until they have a “swarm” on the inside. Every year, a healthy colony of Subterranean Termites release thousands of reproductive swarmers that try to emerge and start a new colony. These can sometimes be confused with Ant swarmers. It takes a trained eye to know the difference, so you might want to let us look at it for you if have a swarm. The other way you know if you have termites is mud tunnels stemming out of wood. Usually termites will manifest on the basement sill first, but sometimes they can be found in the garage door frame or any place you have wood-ground contact such as basement stairs that have poured concrete around the base. Termites may be in a piece of wood and not build mud tunnels or “shelter tubes”. Probing with a scratch awl is one way to determine termite activity; the awl will easily go into the wood if termites have been there for awhile. If you need a termite treatment, you may not want to wait too long before calling us—termites do quite a bit damage quickly. This is your home we are talking about, one of your greatest investments literally being eaten! If you have termites in Lancaster, PA or nearby areas call us today at 717-393-7879.
Eliminate Centipedes
February 20, 2008Q. Is there anything you can do to stop thousand-leggers? We get control for a while when we spray, but they keep coming back.
A. Yes, “Thousand-leggers” or centipedes if you prefer, can be stopped even in severe cases. We use products that have long-lasting control while providing virtually no odor. Safe for pets and children too. One thing that people do not know about centipedes is that they are venomous. They can inflict a bite similar to a spider. After control is taken on the inside, we can maintain control with applications to the outside. This is great for active families who don’t have time to always let the “bug guy” in.
Why Do I Keep Getting Stink Bugs?
February 20, 2008Q. I have these bugs that are getting into my house…they are brown, have a back that looks like a shield. I have never seen them before; can you tell me what they are and where they are coming from?
A. If they just started to show up in the past year or so, they are most likely stink bugs. And if they are stink bugs, they are coming from Allentown, PA. Within the past decade, stink bugs were imported to the US and ended up in Allentown. They have now spread to more than a dozen counties here in PA. For control: Quarterly Powerspraying is the most effective way to stop stink bugs from entering a structure. We offer several other plans that include Powerspraying as a great way to stop many other insects such as centipedes, spiders, boxelder beetles, and ants from entering your home.