Posts Tagged ‘wisconsin pest control’
Ants are amazing creatures! Did you know there are 8000 different species of ants in the world. The Bible mentions ants as examples of diligence and foresight, preparing for winter. They can certainly teach us much.
But no one wants ants in their cupboard, in play areas, in the house at all (unless you have an ant farm). Yet, no matter what we do, it seems they can get into the house in the most mystifying ways.
What are some safe and reliable ways to get rid of ants. First, without the use of chemicals, much can be done to discourage their presence. Clean up food items carefully, don’t leave sweet containers out, vacuum regularly, caulk any known gaps where ants could crawl in. Some have used ant traps successfully. Sticky strips catch the ants as they move. But these don’t deal with the root of the problem nor major infestations.
Real success comes when the queen is removed. If she is dead or relocated, the colony is gone. But to get rid of the queen, you must first locate the nest. To do this, track the ants movement. See if you can detect their travel patterns once they find some food. Check for signs where ants converge in large numbers.
Once the nest is located, it is time to remove it. Spraying will probably be necessary to do this. Some of the common outdoor nest anticides are permethrin as a liquid or granules, carbaryl as a liquid or granules, bifenthrin as granules, cyfluthrin as granules, and acephate as a liquid. Be sure the nest is soaked for ants are able to dig deeply, out of reach of a light treatment. Those who have tried drowning ants, or burning them out with gasoline have said these methods don’t work well.
Plan B is to spray the exterior of the house with contact insecticides. Some common ones are the following: cyfluthrin as granules, permethrin as a liquid or granules, carbaryl as a liquid or granules, deltamethrin as a dust, and bifenthrin as a liquid. Of course, this could be a big job and you may want to call a reliable pest control firm for this. If the nest is located in a wall or other hidden place, an exterminator may again be needed.
Setting out bates may also help solve your ant problem. These are poisons that smell like food to the ant. The ants that find it take it back to the colony to share it with everyone. This may kill the queen as well and end the problem. Common bates are abamectin, Fipronil, sulfluramid, disodium octaborate, orthoboric acid, and propoxur. Be sure to read the label and use as directed.
Of course, you will want to be careful using poisons, especially around children and pets. So if the problem is serious, you will probably want to call on a reliable exterminator. They know just which one, how much, and where to use the poisons so that there will not be any danger to those you love.
If you’re located in the Eastern Wisconsin area, I’d highy recommend the services of Prompt Action Pest Control. They have been providing full service pest control in Chippewa Falls for over 35 years. Just visit http://www.promptactionpest.com/ or call 1 (877) 877-6678 today.
Rural America has seen an infestation of Asian beetles in recent years. These bugs are not native to America. They were first introduced into the country in 1916, but didn’t start to become a problem until 1988 when introduced to farms near New Orleans, Louisiana.
Asian lady beetles were purposely introduced to a variety of locations because they are effective in reducing harmful plant pests such as aphids, scale, and other soft-bodied arthropods. The Asian lady beetle did such a good job of controlling aphids that they actually reduced the need for insecticides. Lady beetles cause no structure damage such as termites and carpenter ants do. The Asian lady beetles do not eat carpet or furniture, do not bore holes in the walls, and do not lay eggs in homes.
Sounds like something you would want to keep around then, wouldn’t you say? The main problem is that they are pests. Once removed from their native habitat, they were free from their natural enemies and their numbers soared. In the north, just after the first frost, the Asian lady beetles start thinking about a home for the winter and this means working their way under siding and even inside the house. Then in the spring, they multiply even more.
Adding to the problem, when the beetles are squashed or just agitated, they do something called “reflex bleeding” . A yellow fluid with a bad smell is released from leg joints. This generally keeps the lady beetles from being eaten by birds or other predators. But in the home, the fluid may cause stains on walls and in fabrics.
Once the lady beetles enter the walls of a building through cracks and crevices, they may or may not proceed to the interior of the building. Most stay in the spaces in the walls.
Further, during warm days of late winter and early spring, the Asian lady beetle may become active. In their search for an exit, they may arrive in the interior of the house and become a nuisance. Warmer temperatures but also lighting in the living areas may attract these active beetles as they search for an exit.
Their attraction to light motivated one entomologist to invent a device to trap the bugs in a removable bag. This allows the person to relocate them without killing them and eliminates the use of insecticides to keep their number under control.
This may be inadequate, however, if the Asian lady beetles are already overpopulating your residence or business. If this describes you, then a reliable pest control firm can spray the entire exterior of the building in September. The Asian lady beetles are controlled, killed and will not set up home in the walls during the winter. If you wait until spring, the spraying is still effective but not as much as a fall treatment.
Prompt Action is a trusted company providing pest control in Wisconsin that has been in business for 35 years and continues to deliver great results in a timely fashion with integrity. You can find us on the web at http://www.promptactionpest.com/