Natural Ways to Repel Bees and Wasps

A wasp sitting on a leaf

A wasp sitting on a leaf

Are you planning to spend some time outside this summer? You won’t be alone: wasps and bees are active in the summer in Georgia. A run-in with wasps or bees can result in annoyance, stings and even serious allergic reactions. But how can you keep stinging insects at bay without loading up on bug spray? To learn how to repel bees and wasps while you’re outdoors this summer – naturally – read on!

Plants That Bees and Wasps Love

Since bees and wasps are pollinators, it’s not shocking that they’re attracted to plants. Here are some flowers that bees and/or wasps are especially attracted to: 

  • Black-eyed Susan
  • Honeysuckle
  • Lantana
  • Lilacs
  • Perennial Yarrow
  • Poppies
  • Pale Purple Coneflower
  • Sweet Fennel
  • Wisteria
  • Queen Anne’s Lace
  • Sedum
  • Snapdragon
  • Sunflowers

Are any of these growing near your home? If so, consider moving them further away, if possible. Especially if they’re close to a patio or other outdoor space that you use frequently.

Plants That Bees and Wasps Hate

Wasps and bees are attracted to some plants based on how they smell but repelled by other plants for the same reason. The plants that repel them include: 

  • Basil
  • Citronella
  • Eucalyptus
  • Geraniums
  • Marigolds
  • Peppermint
  • Spearmint
  • Thyme
  • Wormwood

To keep stinging insects away from your porch, deck or patio, consider adding some of these plants near your home’s outdoor spaces.

Bees and Wasps and Food

Stinging insects, especially wasps, are also attracted to food. This can be a problem because whether it’s barbecues, picnics or kids with ice cream, eating food outside is a part of summer. 

However, there are steps you can take to reduce the chance that bees or wasps will ruin an outdoor meal.

  • Put away food and drinks promptly after eating a meal outside. 
  • Keep sugary drinks closed or covered to keep wasps out.
  • When you put food or food-related trash in a trash can, close the lid securely.

Bees and wasps are attracted to food. However, like with plants, there are some food items that bees and wasps don’t like, including: 

  • Bay Leaves
  • Cinnamon
  • Cloves
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Garlic
  • Sliced Cucumber
  • Vinegar

If you keep one or more of these in close proximity while you’re enjoying the outdoors, it could help keep stinging insects away. For example, you could place cinnamon sticks or a glass of vinegar on a patio table. Or bring some sliced cucumber on a plate if you’re eating a meal outside.

How to Keep Bees and Wasps Away with Essential Oils

Another way to keep stinging insects away naturally is to make an essential oil-based pest repellent spray. Stinging insects dislike the smell of the essential oils below:

  • Citronella oil
  • Clove oil
  • Eucalyptus oil
  • Geranium oil
  • Peppermint oil
  • Rosemary oil

Simply combine essential oil and water at a ratio of two drops of essential oil per ounce of water to make a natural alternative to store bought insect repellent. 

Best Bee and Wasp Exterminators in Georgia

Natural pest repellents can help keep some wasps or bees away. However, they won’t be enough to deal with a serious infestation. In that case, you may need to hire a local exterminator to get rid of the stinging insects on your property. Active Pest Control has been providing exterminator services in Georgia since 1985. If you’re looking for eco-friendly bee, wasp and hornet removal, call us today for a free quote! 

How to Get Rid of Ants in Your Bathroom

Ants in a bathroom in Georgia - Active Pest Control

Ants in a bathroom in Georgia - Active Pest ControlAnts are notorious in Georgia for being one of the hardest pests to get rid of. Even though most ant species aren’t quite dangerous, the ones that don’t bite, sting, or tunnel through wood will take over your house, forming trails that extend far out of sight. Additionally, it is difficult to predict when you might start dealing with ants because they usually emerge with rapid weather changes.

Many ant infestations start off in areas with sustained moisture, so it’s important to learn how to prevent and get rid of ants in your bathroom. Read on to learn from the ant exterminators at Active Pest Control!

Why Are There Ants in My Bathroom?

Ant infestations usually start because of an issue with excess moisture buildup. These pests will seek out pooling water in your shower, in your sink, and on the floor, looking for a reliable water source. Carpenter ants, in particular, infest bathrooms commonly because of the water-damaged wood that they often find. They burrow through damaged wood to make their nests and access the rest of your structural wood. All kinds of ants will infest your bathroom, though, and they usually find their way in through these access points:

  • Trails through open windows and doors
  • Cracks in walls and foundation
  • Gaps and holes around plumbing fixtures
  • Ventilation systems

Ants might have also traveled to your bathroom from another room in your home, so it’s important to try to find the source of their trail to get rid of them.

Getting Rid of Ants in Your Bathroom

The most important part of ant removal is finding out where the ant trail is coming from. This can be quite difficult because ants can travel through the tiniest cracks in walls, pipes, doors, and more. Because of this, it’s important to learn how to prevent ants before they infest your home in the first place. We recommend you take these ant prevention strategies:

  • Seal cracks and gaps leading inside your home with a silicone-based caulk
  • Move mulch away from the side of your home and keep plants trimmed back
  • Replace any water-damaged wood that you find
  • Ensure that your bathroom is well-ventilated
  • Check that your doors and windows fully seal

Who Can Help Get Rid of Ants in Georgia?

If you can’t find where your ants are coming from, you need the help of a local pest control expert with experience tracing ant trails and locating colonies. Our ant exterminators at Active Pest Control are knowledgeable about the many ant species in Georgia and can provide quick and exhaustive ant removal services for both residential and commercial customers. Reach out today for a free quote!

10 Tips to Keep Your Backyard Pest-Free

Servicing a backyard in Georgia - Active Pest ControlSpring and summer in Georgia come with a lot to be excited about. However, the warm weather and sunshine following rainfall lead to all kinds of pest problems in our region. It’s important to be able to stop pests from finding food sources, shelter, and breeding grounds in your backyard, because without any effort put into pest prevention, your background will be overrun with pests for most of the year. If you’re wondering how you can pest-proof your backyard, read on for advice from our expert exterminators at Active Pest Control!

10 Tips to Make Your Backyard Pest-Free

Our climate allows for all kinds of pests to thrive throughout the year, so it’s important to have a pest prevention plan that accounts for all kinds of infestations. Here are our top 10 pest prevention tips for Georgia residents:

  1. Mow the lawn often: Mowing once a week can prevent overgrowth that creates excess standing water pooling and ample insect hiding places.
  2. Trim your plants: Make sure your trees, bushes, and shrubs aren’t overgrown. This can lead to shaded hiding places that are particularly attractive to mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and more.
  3. Get rid of yard waste: Piles of yard waste can provide shelters that lead to all kinds of pest infestations, from ants all the way up to rodents and wildlife.
  4. Clear out standing water: Mosquitoes breed in pools of standing water, no matter how small. Make sure to pour it out or cover it when you find rainwater pooling in gutters, planters, tarps, buckets, your lawn, or elsewhere.
  5. Use garden nets: Garden netting can protect the plants that would otherwise attract all kinds of insects and wildlife.
  6. Dethatch your lawn: A thin layer of thatch is helpful for your lawn’s temperature regulation, but too much of it can suffocate your lawn and lead to all kinds of pest problems. Dethatch your lawn and use a nitrogen fertilizer to prevent excess buildup.
  7. Water your lawn carefully: Overwatering and underwatering can both lead to different kinds of pest problems, so it’s important to know exactly how much water your lawn needs. Setting up an irrigation system or sprinkler system will regulate this quantity for you.
  8. Store firewood up and away: Firewood laying around by the side of your home can quickly lead to a devastating termite infestation. To prevent this from happening, store your firewood off of the ground, away from your home, and covered if possible.
  9. Keep bins closed: Pests as small as wasps and as big as raccoons love to forage in our trash cans for food. Seal them if possible, but definitely keep them as far away from your yard and home as possible.
  10. Hire an exterminator: A professional pest control technician can assess your yard for active vulnerabilities that could lead to pest infestations.

Pest Control for Your Backyard in Georgia

If you want to feel confident that your yard won’t fall victim to pest infestations this spring and summer, reach out to your local pest control company. At Active Pest Control, our highly trained technicians are well-versed in control and prevention strategies for the many insects, arachnids, and wild animals living in Georgia. We can set up a plan to keep your yard pest-free* year-round. Contact us today for a free quote!

Why Do Mosquitoes Bite Me?

What mosquitoes look like in Georiga - Active Pest ControlDo you consider yourself a “mosquito magnet?” While it seems that some of us are much more favorable to mosquitoes than others, we still don’t understand all of the intricacies of mosquito preferences. That said, we do have some advice for people looking to avoid mosquitoes around Atlanta GA this spring and summer. Read on to learn more about preventing mosquito bites with the mosquito exterminators at Active Pest Control!

Why Do Mosquitoes Bite Certain People?

Experts still aren’t sure how to precisely predict who will be more susceptible to mosquito bites than others. However, we do know that the more physical activity we engage in outdoors around mosquito breeding grounds, the more likely we are to experience bites. This is because of the three things mosquitoes sense for when looking for hosts to feed on:

  1. Breath: Carbon dioxide in the air tips off mosquitoes to potential hosts. When we exhale, we release CO2 that signals to mosquitoes that we are eligible for bites, and heavy breathing after exercise results in a stronger signal.
  2. Body odor: Strong perfumes, dietary choices, and most notably, perspiration all contribute to our body odor, which mosquitoes seek out.
  3. Temperature: Engaging in physical activity or wearing dark clothing in the sun can increase our body temperature, letting off an easily detectable signal.

How to Avoid Mosquito Bites in Atlanta GA

We can’t just hide inside all spring and summer to avoid mosquito bites, so what can we do to save our skin while getting out in the sun? There are a few measures you can take to lessen your chances of being bitten by mosquitoes this year:

  • Look out for standing water: Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, and will use even the smallest pools of it to grow their numbers. Check around your yard for standing water buildup in gutters, planter boxes, and anywhere else rainwater collects. You should also avoid outdoor activities by bodies of standing water at dawn and dusk, the times mosquitoes are most active.
  • Choose the right clothes: Dark colors trap heat and raise your body temperature, so wear white or light-colored clothing if you’re worried about mosquito bites. Although it can be uncomfortable in the heat, wearing pants or long-sleeved shirts will greatly reduce your chances of bites, too.
  • Use bug spray: An EPA-approved insect repellent using DEET or picaridin can safely protect you from mosquito bites. If you’re looking for all-natural alternatives, we recommend lemon-eucalyptus and citronella oils.

Professional Mosquito Control Services Help

If you are stuck dealing with mosquito bites year after year around your home or business in Atlanta GA, it’s time to put that cycle to rest. The mosquito exterminators at Active Pest Control can set up a mosquito barrier treatment around your property, preventing mosquitoes from breeding on the premises and keeping their numbers low for months at a time. To learn more about our mosquito extermination program and receive a free quote, get in touch today!

What Type of Animal is in Your Attic?

Bats in the attic in Georgia home - Active Pest Control, formerly ActiveNo matter where you are—in the living room with your family or in bed at night—hearing noises and movement in your attic is frightening. While some may believe they are living the plot of a horror movie, the reality is that their home is being infested by nuisance wildlife. An attic is a popular place for wild animals to shelter, as they gain access to our homes through the roof. It goes without saying that no one wants animals taking up residence in their attic.

Our wildlife control experts understand the stress that wildlife problems can cause, especially if wild animals get into your home. Active Pest Control is here to provide all the information you need about potential infestations in your attic.

Common Animals That Infest Attics

Georgians are no strangers to wild animals roaming around their neighborhoods. But how do these animals get in? Animals that can gain access to your roof are likely to make their way into your attic if given a chance. These five pests are most likely to be found infesting your attic:

  1. Bats: Possibly the most dangerous attic dweller is the bat. Bat waste is toxic and can cause health risks.
  2. Birds: Hearing chirping noises or fluttering indicates you could have a nest of birds in your attic. They have a harder time leaving once they’re inside.
  3. Rats & mice: These rodents can make some of the loudest noises with their scratching, chewing, squeaking, and running. The roof rat is the most common rodent in attics.
  4. Squirrels: All types of squirrels can squeeze in through tiny openings and are feared for their ability to chew through wires.
  5. Raccoons: Female raccoons are known to nest in attics, and can come and go during the day and night. Chattering noises may indicate a nest of baby raccoons.

How Do I Get Rid of Animals in the Attic?

In the event that you think an animal lives in your attic, you shouldn’t go hunting for it on your own. When you try to get rid of the animal, bat, or bird on your own, you put yourself and your family at risk. If wild animals feel threatened, they may bite. This alone makes it important to hire a professional. When you work with a humane wildlife removal company, such as Active Pest Control, you can rest assured that the safest traps will be used to capture and relocate wild animals.

Certified Wildlife Removal Experts

At Active Pest Control, we understand how stressful it is to discover wildlife in your attic. Furthermore, wildlife poses a threat to your safety. Our animal removal experts will not only inspect your home thoroughly but will also put preventative measures in place to prevent wild animals from entering your attic in the future. Contact our wildlife experts today to learn more.

Guide to Checking For Bed Bugs in Hotels

Guide to Checking For Bed Bugs in Hotels in Atlanta GA - Active Pest Control

Hotel rooms, no matter whether they are in a five-star resort or a roadside motel, are ideal bed bug breeding grounds. The risk of these pests must be considered, whether you work in a hotel or are traveling in the near future. According to PestWorld, hotel rooms are one of the three most common places where people encounter bed bugs. Bed bugs have been on the rise for the past decade, and are experiencing another surge as people begin to travel again after the pandemic.

Active Pest Control understands how distressing dealing with bed bugs can be. In this blog, our experts share everything you need to know about inspecting hotel rooms for bed bugs.

Why Are Hotels Prone to Bed Bugs?

There are more and more bed bugs being found not just in residential homes but also in hotels. So what makes hotels so susceptible to these pests? Bed bugs are called “hitchhiking” pests because they can hide in mattresses, bed frames, and other parts of a room just waiting for a new host to arrive. Bed bugs in a hotel are rarely short of a meal source. The resurgence of bed bugs in hotels makes it crucial to always be on the lookout for them when traveling.

Guide For Hotel Bed Bug Inspections

No matter whether you are a housekeeper or a guest in a hotel, the same checklist applies when it comes to inspecting for bed bugs. The top 5 spots to look for these pests are:

  • Mattress, box spring & bed frame
  • Sofas, chairs, pillows, & other seating
  • Wardrobes, dressers, & baseboards
  • Nightstands and wall fixtures
  • Closet items

Hotel Bed Bug Inspection Guide

Need Professional Bed Bug Treatment?

Immediately notify the hotel’s manager if you suspect your room has bed bugs. This helps prevent bed bugs from spreading throughout the hotel. If you work with bed bug control professionals like Active Pest Control, you can trust that the best bed bug treatments will be applied to keep these pests away. Get in touch with us today!

How Fast Can Mice Breed In Your Home?

Mice found in Atlanta GA - Active Pest ControlDo you think you have mice in your home? Although it might seem like a quick fix and a minor problem, mice, along with many species of rodents, have the special ability to proliferate with ease. This means that the longer you wait to get rid of your problem, the worse it can become. Once you learn how fast mice can multiply inside your home, you will understand how important it is to take preventative measures to keep them out before the colder seasons start. The Active Pest Control technicians are here to hammer this point home. Read on to learn more about how fast mice can breed in Atlanta GA.

How Fast Can Mice Reproduce?

Mice display some of the most impressive breeding turnaround periods of all mammals here in Atlanta. Here are a few things to know about their reproductive capabilities:

  • Female mice can birth 5-10 litters per year with up to 14 pups per litter at the most
  • The mother can mate again immediately after birth and have a new litter within 25 days of her last one
  • Mice reach sexual maturity after 4-6 weeks
  • Mice can only breed indoors during the colder winter season

Based on these numbers, if you allow mice to make their way into your home in the late fall or early winter, you could have a home overflowing with mice within months.

How Do I Keep Mice from Breeding in my Home?

The best way to prevent mice from breeding in your home is to keep them out in the first place. Of course, sometimes mouse problems can be hard to avoid, and you have to assess your problem from a disadvantage. Fortunately, our techs at Active Pest Control have the answers for both:

  • To deter mice: Check around your property for small cracks in your foundation, roof tiling, walls, or plumbing fixtures that they can sneak through. To take it one step further, ensure that your garbage cans are sealed and away from your home, keep your grass cut short, and clear away all yard waste. These measures will eliminate hiding places in your yard that will lead mice to find entry points to your home.
  • To get rid of mice: Spraying diluted peppermint oil or apple cider vinegar along places of high activity can drive mice out of your house. Kitty litter and fabric softener sheets have also worked for some, but we recommend that these be supplemental and targeted to specific hotspots. If you want to set traps, ask your local rodent control experts about the safest and most effective options for your home.

Professional Mice Extermination in Illinois & Indiana

If your attempts to deal with mice in your home have been unsuccessful, it’s crucial to look for professional help before the problem gets any worse. At Active Pest Control, we train our rodent control specialists to conduct exhaustive rodent inspections, determining all nesting spots, access points, and vulnerabilities to get rid of mice in your home and keep them out for good. To learn more about our services and receive a free quote, contact us today!

What Is This Fast Moving Silver Bug?

These long, slender, flat nocturnal bugs may look like something out of a horror film, but they are generally harmless–unless you’re a piece of paper, important document, or a photo. Yup, silverfish eat these things. They also eat things like carpeting, clothing, coffee, dandruff, glue, hair, some kinds of paints, plaster, sugar, cereal, starchy foods, […]

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Pests: The Unexpected Gift Under Your Christmas Tree

Pests: The Unexpected Gift Under Your Christmas Tree in Atlanta GA - Active Pest ControlImagine the following: You are sitting on your couch, enjoying your Hallmark Christmas movie when all of a sudden you are overrun by countless numbers of bugs and other creepy crawlies! While this may sound like a scene straight from a horror movie, it is actually a very real possibility. Live Christmas trees that are brought inside are a thriving ecosystem for certain insects and spiders. In fact, entomologists have reported that a single tree can contain up to 25,000 insects at a time. No one wants to deal with a pest infestation in their homes, especially during the holidays. To learn how to prevent Christmas tree insects in your Atlanta GA home this holiday season, read on for tips with Active Pest Control!

Common Insects Found in Christmas Trees

A Christmas tree’s thick branches and tree stand full of water provide the perfect harborage and moisture source for large roaches, such as American and smoky brown roaches. Hidden amongst the branches is an insect that may go unseen, called the Christmas Tree aphid, Cinara spp. These aphids, as the name implies, live on Christmas trees. They live hidden in the branches of conifer trees, feeding on the sap and multiplying rapidly. These aphids can live in large populations on the Christmas tree that you bring into your home, and as the tree starts to dry out and die, they can abandon the tree in search of other food supplies. While they won’t survive for long, most people do not want hundreds of aphids running around their home.

Spiders can also hide in the branches of your tree waiting to feed on some unsuspecting aphid or roach that has set up shop on this beautiful tree you call your own. Bringing the tree inside, of course, brings the spiders in and can encourage them to spread throughout your home in search of food. Some other typical Christmas tree insects are mites, bark beetles, sawflies, moths, and even praying mantises. Although most of these insects are harmless, they can cause a lot of frustration for any homeowner that has to deal with an infestation during the busiest time of the year.

How to Prevent Pests This Holiday Season

There are a few precautions you can take to avoid the frustration of dealing with Christmas tree pests in your home during the holiday season. The 5 main ways you can prevent a Christmas tree pest infestation:

  1. Inspect your tree. Before choosing a tree, inspect it for irregularities, spots, damaged branches or trunk, or signs of pests.
  2. Shake it out! On your own or with the assistance of an attendant, vigorously shake out the tree before bringing it home with you.
  3. Leave the tree in the garage initially. Store the Christmas tree in your garage or a covered area for a few days to settle.
  4. Spray it down. Consider using a hose to spray down your tree before bringing it indoors.
  5. Use a vacuum to clean up. Regularly inspect your tree, vacuum up falling needles, and, if necessary, vacuum up any pests.

Need Help With Christmas Tree Pests?

If you bring home a Christmas tree only to realize it’s seriously infested with insects, it’s recommended to replace it. It’s important to not spray any pesticides on your tree because aerosols are flammable, which may interfere with the lights and decorations. For more tips on how to prevent Christmas tree pests or if you need help getting rid of them in your home this holiday season, contact the experts at Active Pest Control today!

Prepare for Higher Pest Activity this Fall-Winter

Rats in Atlanta GA - Active Pest ControlEach season comes with its own kind of pest problems here in Atlanta GA. Differences in temperature, rainfall, plant growth, and even barometric pressure can affect the levels of pest activity and kind of active pests in the area. This means that taking the right steps to ward off pests takes different forms throughout the year, changing with the seasons. As we start to watch the vibrant colors of fall fade into winter, we can’t forget to adapt our routines to prevent newly-arising pest issues. Learn how with Active Pest Control!

Fall and Winter Pests in Atlanta

Did you notice the increase in rainfall this autumn? Atlanta has seen a steady increase in rainfall over recent years, leading to inflated pest issues. Mosquitoes, in particular, have been thriving in the wetter environment. Because they breed in standing water, pooling rainfall leaves them with ample opportunities to proliferate and multiply their populations’ numbers.

Once average temperatures drop below 50 degrees, though, mosquitoes give way to rodents as the primary pests to worry about. Looking for warmth and shelter for the winter, mice and rats will look for any ways that they can get into our homes. With the ability to squeeze through tiny holes, rodents can sneak into our walls, attics, and crawl spaces through gaps that we don’t even notice are there.

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) recently put out their biannual Bug Barometer. Read the full report here.

2021 Bug Barometer - Active Pest Control

How to Prevent Pests in Fall and Winter

As the nature of active pests changes, our prevention strategies have to change too. There are three main measures that you can take to ensure that you don’t deal with any infestations during the colder months:

  1. Check around your home for entry points that could invite rodents indoors. These could be cracks in your foundation and walls, broken roofing or vents, or gaps around windows and doors.
  2. Keep your yard in order. It’s important to keep your grass cut low to eliminate standing water from pooling up and hosting pests. Yard waste and firewood piles can also create temporary shelters for rats and mice.
  3. Don’t leave out food or trash. Use covered, sealable bins for your garbage and take them out often. When you’re done eating, clean dishes and any spills promptly and store your food in airtight containers.

Professional Pest Control for the Atlanta Winter

If your DIY pest prevention strategies aren’t cutting it, contact your local pest control company to see how they can help. At Active Pest Control, we train our technicians with information that we’ve gathered over decades protecting homes in and around Atlanta. We can provide a complete property inspection, then complete extermination or removal services for all active pests, and follow-up services to ensure that your property is prepared for the next season. For a free quote, contact us today!