How to Prevent Pantry Pest Problems

How to Prevent Pantry Pest Problems in Atlanta GA - Active Pest Control

Have you ever gone to the pantry to get your favorite snack and been bombarded by moths the second you open the door? This could very well be an indication you are dealing with stored product pests, also known as pantry pests. If you have stored product pests in the pantry that is not an indication that you, or the food items you bought, are rancid. These pests are everywhere and there is no perfect way to keep them out of our homes, businesses, cars, or even our food.

As the name implies stored product pests feed on a wide range of stored products like grains, oats, tobacco, spices, dried fruits/veggies, and even pet food. Although pantry pests aren’t the most dangerous pest problem, they’re still a major nuisance that no one wants to deal with. To help prevent them, read on for the best tips from the experts at Active Pest Control!

Types of Pantry Pests

There are several types of insects that are considered to be pantry pests. The most common ones we deal with here in the Atlanta GA area includes:

Pantry Pest Problem Prevention

While stored product pests can sometimes seemingly appear out of nowhere, there are thankfully a few things you can do to help prevent them: 

  1. Securely store dry goods. To keep pests out, always store food and baking ingredients in airtight containers.
  2. Place bay leaves in containers. Sticking a bay leaf inside canisters of dry goods like flour, rice, and other grains may help to repel pests.
  3. Inspect your groceries. At the grocery store and before bringing them indoors, check your purchased goods for any signs of damage or use.
  4. Check expiration dates. Before you use your ingredients from a year or two ago, make sure to check the expiration date and toss any expired items.
  5. Keep a clean kitchen. Always wipe up spills or messes to avoid attracting pests, and clean out your pantry regularly.

How to Get Rid of Stored Product Pests

A good indicator that you may have an issue with these stored product pests is finding spiders living in the pantry, since many species feed on these pests. If you find food with webbing or insects present, take it outdoors to throw it away immediately. Be sure you take it to an outdoor trash can.

If you already have an existing infestation, then it is time to call pest management professionals. Locating the stored products that have the infestation can be a rather difficult task. Our pest professionals are specifically taught how to examine and locate all the products in your pantry that have an infestation. In addition, they are trained on any and all applications that need to be made and how to keep the pests away for good. Contact us today!

Why Silverfish Enter Our Homes

The answer to this question is simply that they can. But, no pest control question ever has a simple answer. Let’s break this down into three parts and see if we can get some insight into the insect known as the silverfish. If you have silverfish in your home, it is because they had a […]

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How to Get Rid of Rodents in Your Yard

A gopher seen in Atlanta GA - Active Pest ControlHave you been noticing small holes popping up in your lawn or backyard this fall? This is a common indicator of a rodent infestation, but here in Atlanta GA, this could mean a variety of things. Moles, voles, and gophers all plague homeowners in our area by tarnishing their yards and killing their plants. Whether it’s your first year fighting off rodents or you’ve been a homeowner for decades, it’s important to properly prepare for fall and the perfect conditions it sets up for rodents. Read on to learn more from the experts at Active Pest Control!

When Do Gophers Come Out?

Gophers, along with moles and voles, are most active in the spring and fall. These seasons provide burrowing rodents with soil bearing optimal moisture conditions. When moles, voles, or gophers are active in your yard, you might see mounds of dirt in your lawn or holes and dying plants in your garden. What’s worse, each one of these rodent species can be attracted to your yard for different reasons:

  • Gophers eat bulb and plant roots primarily, but will also resort to clovers and grass
  • Moles are carnivorous and are known to eat worms, grubs, and various other insects
  • Voles are the least picky of all, eating grass, bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, seeds, and even bark

DIY Rodent Control for Your Yard

So, what can you do to keep rodents out of your yard? Unfortunately, given the amount of time these pests spend underground, it can be difficult to be successfully preventative. Some people we have talked to have found success using strong-scented plants as natural deterrents. You might wish to try planting thyme, sage, daffodils, or other similarly fragrant plants in your garden.

If you are already dealing with an active infestation of gophers, moles, or voles, there are a few DIY pest control methods that you can attempt to drive them out of your yard:

  1. Add four tablespoons of a mixture of castor oil and dish soap to a gallon of water. Pour into holes in your lawn.
  2. Create an underground fence using gopher mesh or chicken wire.
  3. Set a trap with carrots, apples, or peanut butter as bait.

These are the best ways to attempt to control gophers, voles, and moles on your own, but they tend to be time-consuming and inconsistent.

Ready to Start Your Rodent Control?

If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably wondering what you can do right now to make sure that rodents don’t decide to spend the winter on your property. Fortunately, the technicians at Active Pest Control have a plan for you. We train our rodent control experts to assess properties thoroughly, looking for any of the many rodent-related vulnerabilities that Atlanta GA residents face year after year. Don’t hesitate to get a head start on your fall pest control—reach out today for a free quote!

5 Ways to Keep Rodents Away This Fall

5 Ways to Keep Rodents Away This Fall in Atlanta GA - Active Pest ControlIt’s fall, meaning it’s the season of the rodent! Every year in the fall and winter here in Atlanta, the number of rodent infestations goes way up. But why? As temperatures begin to dip this time of year, rat and mouse problems begin to get worse as the pests look for somewhere to bunker down for the winter. With Rodent Awareness Week around the corner, the experts at Active Pest Control are here to share all you need to know about seasonal rodent infestations, including what you can do to keep them at bay. Read on to learn more!

How to Keep Rats and Mice Away in Atlanta

Rodents are very apt at getting into your home much easier than you’d think. Mice, in particular, can squeeze through openings the size of a pencil eraser, and rats are extremely apt jumpers and climbers. In fact, some rodents can scale vertical walls, including brick and concrete walls. Needless to say, it’s important to learn how to make your property inaccessible to them entirely.

Our top five tips to keep rodents away are as follows.

  1. Inspect your property to look for any openings rodents may have snuck through. By sealing these openings and closing up gaps around vents and soffits, you can effectively keep rodents out.
  2. Further rat-proof your property by repairing your roof and monitoring drains. By limiting their access points, you can get rid of the means by which rodents get inside of your property.
  3. Look into traps and baits. If you have just a couple of rodents in your property, you can effectively get rid of them using bait or traps. Keep in mind this is not a strong enough solution for an entire infestation.
  4. Implement preventative measures. Simple pest prevention measures go a long way to keep rodents away, too. This includes taking proper care of your yard and maintaining a tidy yard.
  5. Get professional rodent control services. If you have a serious rodent problem, the best thing you can do is hire a pest control expert. A professional will know to safely and effectively get rid of the pests for good.

Rodent Prevention in the Fall

Every Rodent Awareness Week, the rodent exterminators at Active Pest Control aim to educate our community about the dangers of rodent infestations. To avoid them, it’s crucial to put a stop to rats getting inside in the first place. To learn more about keeping rats and mice out this fall and winter, contact us today to learn more!

What’s That Bug in Your Bathroom?

What silverfish look like in Atlanta GA - Active Pest ControlThe bathroom is the place where we go to get clean. The last thing we want is for our bathrooms to be teeming with unwanted critters! Many kinds of pests are attracted to the moisture and humidity that accumulates in our bathrooms, whether that be for hospitable temperatures, water to drink, or to prey on the insects that are gathering there. Read on to learn from the experts at Active Pest Control about the types of pests that congregate in our Atlanta bathrooms.

Common Pests Found in the Bathroom

These three pests are some of the most common bathroom-dwellers in Atlanta GA:

  1. Ants: Some ants are attracted to the sweet scents of perfumes, body washes, shampoos, and other hygiene and beauty products in our bathrooms. They stick around for the standing water in our showers and sinks.
  2. Cockroaches: Roaches thrive in dark and humid environments, so if you have leaky pipes in the cabinets under your sink, you are creating the ideal home for roaches. They will also go so far as to eat soap and toothpaste!
  3. Silverfish: Silverfish are attracted to the same qualities in our bathrooms as roaches. However, they have a much harder time climbing smooth surfaces, so if you’re having trouble identifying the pests at the bottom of your shower or sink, you might be dealing with silverfish.

Centipedes, spiders, and drain flies are all also commonly found in bathrooms in our area.

How to Prevent Pests in Your Bathroom

Keeping pests out of your bathroom starts with keeping things dry. Here are some extra measures that you can adopt into your regular cleaning routine:

  • Wipe up standing water on countertops, water fixtures, and the floor
  • Keep your bathroom properly ventilated—opening windows and using a fan can help reduce moisture on your walls caused by a hot shower
  • Regularly check your plumbing fixtures for cracks or leaks
  • Clean up residue from toothpaste, soap, or other hygiene products often

Following these steps should significantly reduce your liability for a pest outbreak in your bathroom. These tenets apply throughout your house, too—excess moisture and unnecessary filth always attract pests!

Keeping Your Bathroom Pest-Free in Atlanta GA

If you’re having trouble keeping pests out of your bathroom in Atlanta, talk to your local pest control company about your problem. At Active Pest Control, we train our technicians to perform comprehensive inspections, finding every potential source of excess moisture or other pest-inviting vulnerabilities. For more information on our services or a free quote, contact us today!

3 Important Facts about Wasps and Hornets

Because of the possibility of painful hornet stings, it’s necessary to make sure that in combating their presence, you’re working with pest control specialists who are trained in getting rid of these creatures safely and quickly. Improper disposal of a hornet’s next may cause these creatures to swarm and attack the person who is disturbing […]

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No-See-Ums vs Gnats vs Mosquito Bites—What’s the Difference?

Mice found in Atlanta GA - Active Pest Control

Bug bites come in all kinds of varieties. Some types of insects attack you through the air, some sneak up your leg when you’re not looking, some pounce at the peak of daylight, some travel by night. Unfortunately, here in Atlanta GA, we’re always justified in being slightly on edge about pests.

Winged insects can be quite successful in biting us and getting away unscathed. No-see-ums, gnats, and mosquitoes are among the peskiest pests in the area, and their bites are commonly confused for each other. Keep reading for Active Pest Control’s top tips on identifying them and their bites.

Gnats vs No-See-Ums vs Mosquitoes

These three pests are some of the biggest nuisance insects in our region. We’ve all probably had an encounter with them at some point—here’s how you can tell the difference between them next time you do:

  • Gnats: Gnats are tiny flies that often gather in “clouds” of hundreds or even thousands of individuals. They have gray to black-colored bodies and often live around damp soil, fruit that has been left out, or plumbing fixtures.
  • No-see-ums: No-see-ums are actually a particular kind of gnat. They only reach about 1/16” long, enabling them to fit through tiny gaps, even window screen holes.
  • Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes are much larger than all kinds of gnats. They have long wings and a needle-like proboscis on their mouth that allows them to draw blood.

The Differences Between These Bug Bites

One way you can tell apart these insects is by their bite marks. Mosquitoes, gnats, and no-see-ums all work differently, and this shows itself in how we react to their bites. These are the main differences between their bites:

  1. Gnat bites: These look like small, red, irritated bumps. They look a lot like mosquito bites.
  2. Mosquito bites: Mosquito bites are usually lighter in color and less likely to take place around your face. They are often more spread out than gnat bites.
  3. No-see-um bites: These last longer than mosquito bites because of the way the no-see-um damages your skin when they bite you. They are usually more painful and take longer to heal.

In short, you can compare gnat bites and mosquito bites by their proximity to each other, their darkness in color, and how long they last.

Avoiding Bug Bites in Atlanta GA

Covering your skin with long-sleeved clothing and using insect repellent are some of the best ways to avoid bug bites on your own. However, if there is a relentless presence of biting bugs around your home, you might have a problem larger than you can deal with without professional help. At Active Pest Control, we have experience eliminating no-see-um, gnat, and mosquito populations all across Atlanta GA. We can deal with your pest outbreak and make sure you never experience another with routine checkups and maintenance work. For a free quote, contact us today!

Do Cockroaches Only Come Out at Night?

CockroachesA cockroach found in Atlanta GA - Active Pest Control are some of the grossest pests that we deal with here in Atlanta GA. A cockroach infestation is often the sign of an unkempt kitchen or bathroom. These pests feed on any food source that they can find in your home, from crumbs to leftovers, to pet food, to all kinds of decaying natural matter. The problem with roaches is that they often move discreetly, so you may not find them until your problem is out of hand.

So, do cockroaches only come out at night? And what does it mean if you find them in your home during the day? The roach experts at Active Pest Control have the answers—read on to learn!

Are Cockroaches Nocturnal Insects?

Yes, cockroaches are nocturnal, but this doesn’t mean that you’ll never see them during the day. Like most insects, they spend a majority of the day in states of inactivity or very minimal activity. They will spend this time resting in dark, moist places in or around your home, which could be:

  • Underneath sinks and inside cabinets
  • Near plumbing fixtures
  • Behind wallpaper and in wall paneling
  • Underneath mats and rugs
  • In piles of trash or clutter, and more

Once the sun sets, the roaches will take to the floors and walls to scavenge for any sort of foot materials that they can find.

Why Do Cockroaches Come Out During the Day?

Seeing roaches crawling around inside your home usually means that there is a serious infestation going on. The roach resting places have possibly become so overcrowded that they have started staggering times of activity. In order to find enough food to eat, they will have to go against their bodies’ natural patterns of sleep and activity to sustain themselves.

When you find roaches in your house during the day, you’ll likely jump to take any measures you can to get rid of them. Unfortunately, roaches are some of the most resilient pests on the planet and take serious strategy and power to eradicate. People often find that cheap insecticides and traps to use on your own fall far short of dealing with their cockroach infestation.

Cockroach Infestations in Atlanta GA

Some ways to prevent cockroach infestations include keeping a clean bathroom and kitchen, sealing your food and storing it properly, routinely checking for leaks in plumbing fixtures, and other measures associated with general cleanliness. Once an infestation actually develops in your home, the work is best left to a professional pest control company. At Active Pest Control, we pride ourselves on eliminating roach infestations safely and quickly, as well as teaching our customers how to prevent future roach outbreaks for good. For a free quote, contact us today!

The Trouble with Termites: How Termites Can Ruin Your Home

If you’ve ever experienced a termite infestation, then you know how devastating it can be to have to deal with getting rid of the colony, addressing the structural damage, and preventing future infestations. It can be a long and difficult process, but fortunately, it can also be manageable with help from the right pest control […]

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