Licence Numbers: Tpcl #0871435 | Todd Pharis Ca#735712 | Tucker Pharis #0861334
Blog
Blog
Rodents infesting attics can pose significant health risks and structural damage to homes. Once the rodents have been removed, it's crucial to thoroughly sanitize the attic to ensure a clean and safe environment for occupants. In this article, we will outline the essential steps to follow for effective attic sanitation post-rodent removal.
Pest control must be done with utmost consideration to safety; safety in terms of the plants, animals and humans. This holds especially true for those with vegetable and organic gardens. The main purpose of growing vegetables organically will be defeated if they become tainted with pest control chemicals. Here are a few long-term maintenance tips to make pest control less damaging and more environmentally friendly. 1. Use the physical pest control process. This may be accomplished through picking grubs off by hand, creating barriers and traps and plugging holes. Snails can be found hiding in damp places under rocks and towrds the base of those plants with straplike foliage. 2. Apply biological pest control. Encourage predatory insects such as green lacewings and dragonflies to feed on aphids and other pests that attack your plants. You can do this by placing a shallow bowl of water in the garden. Dragonflies especially will hover around water. Bacterial insecticides such as B. thuringiensis could also be used against caterpillars. 3. Only as a last resort should we turn to chemical pest control. Organic pest control methods can be successful and the ingredients for many of the recipes can be found in the kitchen cupboards. If chemical sprays are really necessary, try and find the least-toxic. These include insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, dehydrating dusts, etc. 4. Consider the use of safer pest control substitutes. Recipes for alternative pest control include the following: Against Green Aphids and Mites – Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid soap and a cup of vegetable oil. Dilute a teaspoon of this solution in a cup of water and spray on aphids and mites. Against Cockroaches – Dusts of boric acid can be applied to cracks or entry points of these insects. Bay leaves on pantry shelves could also help in warding off these critters. Make sure that the chemicals you use are made specifically for the insects you are targeting.
The excitement of buying a new home and the desire to save money can lead the potential homeowner down a dark, crumbling drywall road. Some people think that a pest inspection is an unnecessary and costly step in the home buying process, especially if neighboring houses don’t have a problem or the owner swears upon the sanctity of their mother’s grave that there are no bug problems. However, I believe that it is a lot more costly to pay to evict two million tiny squatters and repair the damage they cost you. Some people are of the opinion that pests only infest lower-quality houses and condos, but this is fallacious in the extreme. Any residence can serve as a cafeteria for wood-destroying organisms. And, if you’re paying several hundred thousands of dollars more than the homes you would think would be more prey to this kind of problem, doesn’t it make sense to make sure that money is well invested in a solid structure? A pest inspection is often called a termite inspection because termites are the most infamous of the pests who like to snack on your house and belongings. However, there are more critters out there that like to argue the merits of pine vs fir. Some of these include carpenter ants, carpet beetles and silverfish. All of these pests like wood, but they can leave different evidence that only an experienced person can detect. Like the home inspection, the pest inspection should be part of your paperwork. Your offer to purchase the home should be conditional upon the home meeting a standard that you have determined that you can live with. Sometimes a small nest of nasties can be eradicated with a small outlay of time and noxious chemicals. However, if the supports of the house resemble birds’ bones, you should take your down payment and back slowly away. A good pest inspector is going to take their time to thoroughly inspect your house. Since a lot of pests don’t always go out of their way to yell, HI! I’m HERE!” to the concerned home buyer, pest inspectors have to crawl into out-of-the-way spots, like the attic or basement, to check for signs. It’s sometimes a dusty and dirty job, but most pest inspectors are prepared for this. Before you invite a pest inspector to look over your future domicile, it’s wise to ask them questions, check out their references and check their licensing. Licensing can vary from state to state, so be aware of the laws of your area. During the inspection, the inspector should be willing to answer your questions and point out problem areas. You should get a full report and an estimate of the standard that the home meets. Keep in mind that a pest inspector is not Superman; X-ray vision is beyond them. They cannot guarantee that your future residence is free of pests; just that it appears free. Many recommend regular inspections, to catch problems before they become a serious threat to the soundness and equity of your house.
As the ground warms up in the spring, ants that have been dormant in the earth during the colder weather warm up and come to the surface. Queen ants fly off to find new nesting areas and before you know it, ants are back in our world. While ants play an important roll in the ecosystem, it is no picnic when they become pests in our world. But all too often, when people have a pest problem they run to the store and buy a can of toxic pesticide, come home and spray the pest. Whoa! Lets step back and take a look at handling ant problems using a least toxic approach. Perhaps I should first define least toxic approach. This term means you try to solve the insect problem with the least toxic material. If that doesnt work, then you try something a little toxic but not as toxic as poison. You keep trying to solve the insect problem using progressively more toxic substances until you find something that works. Using this approach, the solution to your insect problem can range from doing nothing to spraying toxic insect killer, if that is the only thing that works. Why should you bother with a least toxic approach? For one thing, studies are beginning to reveal the serious side effects of the overuse of toxic pesticides in our environment. Did you know that evidence suggests a risk for some types of cancer and even genetic damage from exposure to pesticides? And perhaps worst of all, children are especially at risk. Why wait until science finally makes a direct link to damaged genes and pesticides? By that time, the damage could already be done to your genes and those of your children. You can help protect yourself, your children and our planet by doing your part to be a good steward of our environment right now. One way to do that is to adapt a least toxic approach to pest problemsand thats what our article series on getting rid of ants is all about.
Perhaps man discovered agriculture and pest control methods nearly simultaneously, and since then, the fight is on. Now, as if agricultural pests were not enough, there is a big menace of domestic pests, too. Of which termites, or white ants as they are generally called, are most dreaded as they feed on just about anything organic. Surprisingly enough, they can bore through six feet thick concrete and live for ages without food. Pest Control Methods Pest control methods largely differ for domestic and agriculture applications. Traditional methods of pest control in agriculture mainly included crop rotation, selective breeding and companion planting. Low flying airplanes are made use of in sprinkling chemical pesticides over large fields. Chemical pest control methods are quite old and are said to be in practice since 4000 or 4500 years. But closer to date, pyrethrum and derris were introduced which were followed by better synthetic pesticides like DDT and other herbicides. The Domestic Scenario But domestic pest problem is almost entirely different. The major pests that bother us are termites, rodents, mosquitoes and bed bugs. You can almost call termites as terror-mites. These soft looking, unassuming ant like insects, belong to two types: subterranean and dry wood termites, belonging to over 2000 species. Both of them subsist on cellulose. How Do You Know? A thorough inspection of critical areas (without dismantling) by professionals reveals whether your home is infested by termites or is vulnerable for attacks. Inspection may require instruments sometimes. Pest Control Agencies Living beagles can sniff out the termites. Protimeter for mold detection, scanning and acoustic infrared sensors, resistographs and fractometers are other instruments generally used by the agencies. What Do They Do Fumigation, spot treatment and removal of infested wood are some immediate options. While fumigation exterminates dry wood termites, a certified applicators presence is necessary before during and after fumigating and aeration to allow occupancy. But dry wood termites need wood penetrating fumigants. For subterranean types, following manufacturers instructions is essential which include pouring pesticides into holes drilled at regular intervals around the infested area. Flys, mosquitoes and bugs are controlled by chemicals prallethrin, and the normally available rat poisons. But dont use them without expert advice. Choosing an Expert You need an expert when buying real estate at far off places or when pest controlling the entire home. Keep these points in your mind when choosing one. Take neighbors recommendations based on their satisfaction level. Taking hasty decisions wont help as you need professional expertise; look for one by checking with their past clients. Check their authenticity, whether they are registered by the local authorities or are they members of National Pest Management Association etc. Check what the guarantees cover and get things in writing. Check for legal restrictions on commercial applicators; call Environmental Protection Agency for confirmation. Beware of those who offer huge discounts. After all you want value, not price.
Need more information? Call us at (210) 840-4410 to speak with one of our experts.
QUICK LINKS
CONTACT INFORMATION
Phone: (210) 840-4410
Email: crittermansa@gmail.com
★ Austin, TX
★ Hill Country, TX
★ San Antonio, TX
★ New Braunfels, TX
★ Canyon Lake
Licence Numbers:
Tpcl #0871435
Todd Pharis Ca#735712
Tucker Pharis #0861334
BUSINESS HOURS
- Mon - Fri
- -
- Sat - Sun
- Closed
Payment Options:
