Category: Pest Control General

How To Best Prepare for Summer Pests

Posted on July 23, 2020 by - Pest Control General

How to Prepare For Summer Pests

Summer is in full swing in Louisiana and the temperatures are starting to heat up. This time of the year brings vacations, pool parties, backyard barbeques and, unfortunately, lots of bugs. From termites and mosquitoes to ants and cockroaches, it seems like these insects enjoy the summer just as much as we do! 

See, bugs thrive in warm weather because they are unable to generate their own body heat. They rely on the warmth of the sun’s rays to survive. If you’ve recently seen swarms of mosquitoes or ant piles the size of castles forming in your yard, we’ve got you covered. Here are some tips on how to best prepare for these pesky summer pests:

Clean Outside Your Home

Bugs love making their homes in cluttered areas. Start cleaning your yard by getting rid of piles of leaves and brush. Try to maintain your yard regularly to avoid overgrowth along fences and in flower beds near windows and doors. Additionally, be on the lookout for places where water can pool for long periods. This can include bird feeders, flower pots, buckets, and much more. This is where mosquitoes thrive and like to breed.

Clean Up The Kitchen

The main reason why bugs are in your house in the first place is because they’re on the hunt for a food source. Even the smallest pile of crumbs on the counter or floor is a treat for ants and other insects. Cleaning your kitchen is a must if you want to prevent these pests from invading your home. Make sure you are wiping your counters and sweeping the floor daily. Many people at this time clean out cupboards and get rid of things in their pantry. You’d be surprised to see what kind of bugs are hiding out in there; munching on your Cheerios crumbs and open bags of chips. Cleaning your pantry is also a good excuse to get rid of that spoiled chicken noodle soup from 2010.

Protect Your Trash

Both indoors and outdoors, your trash should have a tight lid. Roaches and ants reach heaven whenever they get the chance to dig through your garbage for food. Get to know your city’s garbage collection schedule, and take your trash out regularly. If you don’t, it’ll linger as a ready food source for pests.

Rather than wait for an unwanted infestation to occur, take it upon yourself to protect your family and your home. Although these are prevention tips to get pests away from your home, these won’t get rid of pests completely. If you are concerned about a pest problem in or around your home, consider calling a pest management professional. The Bug Man provides many pest control services for mosquitoes, termites, bed bugs, and much more! For a customized solution for your household, contact The Bug Man or give us a call at (225) 923-2847. 

Law of Attraction Pest Edition

Posted on September 26, 2018 by - Pest Control General

Pest control law of attraction

You surely know that leaving food lying around is a great way to attract pests, you might be surprised by all of the things that can encourage insects and rodents to your home. Check out these five common things that make you simply irresistible(to pests). Follow these tips to help eliminate critters from your home.

1.Clutter

Even if your piles of items don’t contain food, they still are attractive to pests. Rodents and insects love burrowing and hiding in piles of newspapers and other clutter, so try to keep your home free of these items. Not only will you be able to get rid of pests, but you can also keep your home much neater and more organized.

2.Cracks

Although you may have already sealed the doors and windows, there might be other cracks in and around your home that make it easy for bugs and other small pests to get into the house. Make sure that you seal any cracks in your home’s foundation and walls, and take the time to check around appliance vents, utility lines and plumbing to fill any small holes. The Bug Man offers solutions to repair and correct these conditions.

3.Moisture in the Home

Bugs and Critters LOVE moisture. Make sure to check your plumbing to make sure you don’t have any leaks. Any water in your home should be dealt with as soon as possible to discourage pests and prevent property damage.

4.Damaged Screens

Little imperfections and tiny holes in your window and door screens might not seem like a big deal, but many insects can crawl their way through surprisingly tiny holes. Don’t give them that chance. If your screens have holes, replace them right away.

5.Your Neighbors Are attracting the Critters

If you investigated the above, have sealed every crack in your house and have put forth other concentrated pest control efforts, there’s a good chance that pests are finding their way to your neighborhood and home because of your neighbors nearby. It’s probably a good idea to talk to your neighbors about your pest control issues. Approach the conversation lightly for best results. Also, consider having a pest control company spray the perimeter of your property to help keep insects and other pests at bay.

If you think that you may have a pest issue or if you would like inspection, I know a guy. The Bug Man offers some of the most comprehensive pest treatment options in the region. Give us a call to make an appointment for a trained technician to visit your home. For more information, please call 923.BUGS or visit our website and request an estimate.

We offer worry free pest control solutions so you can rest easy knowing that your family, pets, home, and property are in good hands. We hope you enjoyed reading our blog. Until Next time! Remember, if you suspect you are having an issue, call The Bug Man and keep your peace of mind intact. You’ve got our Bug Man Guarantee! Thanks for checking out our blog.
See you soon!!!
* The Bug Lady, Layne Salvant

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Adventures in Pest Control

Posted on February 3, 2018 by - Pest Control General

Adventures of pest control

AVOIDING PESTS INDOORS AND OUTDOORS

It’s true! Louisiana’s climate allows her the leisure of pretty moderate temperatures during the winter months, even cold snaps can find their way to us from time to time. That’s when insects and rodents will run for the shelter and warmth of your Baton Rouge home.

These household pests include carpenter ants, ghost ants, cockroaches, silverfish, ticks, roof rats and house mice—eeekkk!! Not only are pests annoying and inconvenient for you and your loved ones, they can also cause major damage to your home. The Bug Man suggests that you to contact a licensed pest professional at the first indication of insect or rodent issues in your home this winter. That being said, here are some facts you should know about these pests:

  • Pests wintering in your home can spread pathogens and disease.
  • Rodents carry life-threatening diseases caused by bites from vector insects, such as fleas and ticks.
  • Roaches that feed on rodent droppings can cause the dangerous respiratory condition, Hantavirus, as well as allergic reactions that can trigger asthma attacks, particularly in children.
  • Rodents, if startled or threatened, will bite people and pets.
  • Because rats and mice reproduce at a rapid rate, rodent problems should be handled immediately by professionals, trained and certified in rodent removal, and elimination.
  • Some pests can put your home’s structural integrity at risk and even cause electrical fires.
  • Carpenter ants burrowing through wood can cause as much damage as termites—ughhh yes!!
  • Rodents who can chew through wood, asbestos, brick, concrete, aluminum and ½-inch thick metal, also gnaw through electrical wiring and are suspected of starting house fires.

Indoors, start by:

  • Keeping food prep surfaces and dining areas clean and sanitary
  • Sweeping, mopping and vacuuming floors regularly
  • Sealing all open dry goods in air-tight metal, glass or hard plastic containers
  • Cleaning dishes immediately after dining
  • Storing leftovers and desserts in your fridge
  • Using air-tight trash receptacles
  • Repairing leaks in pipes and any moisture-prone areas

Now…for the Outside:Remove all construction materials and unused plant containers

  • Keep your lawn cut short and remove areas of tall grass nearby
  • Stack firewood 20 feet away from your home, if possible
  • Reposition rocks and mulch away from your foundation
  • Trim branches away from your home and remove vines growing up your exterior walls

Focus on water-prone areas around your house

Consider areas where water is commonly found and take appropriate measures:

  • Store toys, planters, baby pools and other items that collect water in dry places
  • Repair any damp/rotting wood that makes it easier for pests to gain access to your home
  • Clean your gutters
  • Make sure your downspouts are functioning properly to direct water away from your home
  • Remove piles of gathered leaves from the base of your home and off your property
  • Seal up cracks, crevices and holes at the base of your home.This not only deters pests, and improves your home’s energy efficiency
  • Check windows and doors for cracks and other places pests can enter your home
  • Make sure door seals are in good shape or replace worn weather stripping
  • Check crawlspaces for tight-fitting seals around openings
  • Seal or caulk cracks and crevices in crawlspaces
  • Stuff small holes with steel wool to deter rodents
  • Check attic vents for tight seals
  • Consider your roof and the upper area of your home. Roof rats (umm yes) and flying insects can enter your home through tiny spaces

Other steps to take to exclude pests include:

  • Keeping all trash receptacles clean and away from your home
  • Sanitizing the area around your trash receptacles
  • Moving compost piles away from your home
  • Trading out standard white exterior lightbulbs with yellow or sodium vapor lights
  • Installing storm windows. For year-round screen usage, your screens need to be intact, with no holes or tears and fit snugly

I HOPE YOU FIND THESE TIPS HELPFUL!

The Bug Man hopes you have a fun, pest-free Louisiana winter—what’s left of it. Cleaning up and repairing the exterior of your home this winter, plus keeping the interior of your home clean and sanitized will go a very long way in creating a healthy place where pests can’t survive and reproduce. Come spring, you’ll be ready for the increased pest activity that comes with the season. For comprehensive pest protection, contact The Bug Man to design a seasonal integrated pest management plan that uses human and pet-friendly methods and treatments to create a pest barrier around the perimeter of your property.

Don’t bug out this winter, call The Bug Man and keep your peace of mind intact. You’ve got our Bug Man Guarantee!

Thanks for checking out my first blog post.

See you soon.

The Bug Lady,
Layne Salvant