Are Rodents More Dangerous During the Pandemic?

Rodent infestations are surging in Atlanta GA during the pandemic - Active Pest ControlIt’s Rodent Awareness Week, and rodent infestations are on the rise. Due to the pandemic, reports of rodent sightings have surged. But why? Back when the coronavirus hit and restaurants began to shutter, rats and mice were suddenly deprived of their food sources. Especially here in Atlanta, this led to more infestations as rodents entered residential homes in search of resources. With the seasons changing as we speak, rodents during the pandemic are even more inclined to be indoors this time of year to stay warm. With infestations on the rise during the pandemic, now is the time to learn how to effectively prevent rodent problems in your property. The team at Active Pest Control is here to help.

Rodent Infestations During a Pandemic

Rodents are known to spread a number of dangerous diseases, but what about COVID-19? While rats and mice have been linked to certain coronaviruses, there is no current evidence or research to show that rodents are transmitting the current strain (SARS-CoV-2) to humans.

Here’s what to know about rodents during the pandemic:

  1. Due to the restaurant shutdowns and lockdowns, there have been several reported cases of rats and mice becoming more bold and rampant in the absence of food sources.
  2. The surge in rodent activity leads to a bigger risk of infestations and rodent-spread issues.
  3. While they won’t transmit COVID-19 to you or your family, rodents still can spread other diseases including hantavirus, salmonellosis, and more.
  4. Once inside your home, rodents can cause damage with their chewing and nesting habits.

Preventing Rodents During COVID-19

The last thing you want to deal with this year is a rat or mouse problem inside your property. To avoid the frustration of an infestation, implement the following rodent prevention tips:

  1. Store food properly. Securely store food in tight-fitting containers with lids.
  2. Seal holes around pipes. Use caulk or wire wool to cover up gaps and openings near pipes and other openings.
  3. Cover vents. Install mesh screens on your vents. Also, consider installing screens on doors and windows.
  4. Use tight lids on trash cans. Rodents love to rummage in the garbage! If possible, keep your trash cans sealed.
  5. Protect eaves. Fix any damaged roofing and use wire mesh to seal gaps in your eaves.

Rodent Awareness Week 2020

Here at Active Pest Control, we aim to help educate our customers every Rodent Awareness Week. Now more than ever with rodent problems on the rise, it’s important to learn how to keep rats and mice out of your home. If you need assistance keeping rodents out of your Atlanta GA home, our rodent exterminators are standing by to help. Contact us today to learn more!

What Happens to Termites in the Fall & Winter?

Termites infest homes in the fall and winter in Atlanta GA - Active Pest Control“Termite season” is, unfortunately, all year long here in Atlanta GA. Many assume that termites go dormant in the fall and winter like some other types of pests, but that’s simply not the case. Termites swarm in the spring, but will still dwell in and infest homes throughout the colder months of the year. They are less likely to be seen, especially since they may tunnel further underground to escape dropping temperatures outside. The bottom line is that termites are able to damage your home 24/7, 365 days a year. This makes it all the more important to know how to look for signs of termites in your property, even in the fall and winter months.

Termite Life Cycle in the Fall & Winter

Queen termites can lay eggs throughout the year, including in the fall. Their reproduction rate makes it easy for the colony to grow without you even noticing it. The more mature a colony is, the more damage can be made to your home. If you have an infestation festering in your property for more than two years, it is very likely to begin to notice the signs of damage, even in the fall or winter.

We can get cold temperatures in the winter time here in Georgia and Tennessee, and termites may burrow deep underground to protect themselves from the cold air. This is why it’s unlikely to see termites this time of year. However, it’s still important to keep an eye out for the damage they may be causing.

What are the Signs of Termite Activity?

Termites can go unnoticed in your walls for months before any damage begins to appear, which is one of the reasons why they’re so feared! The following damage manifesting in your property could indicate that you likely have a mature termite infestation on your hands:

  1. Mud tubes
  2. Discarded swarmer wings
  3. Termite frass (feces)
  4. Drywall discoloration
  5. Loose tiles or buckling floors
  6. Bubbling or uneven paint on walls
  7. Holes in drywall
  8. Crumbling wood
  9. Hollow-sounding wood
  10. Sagging sheetrock

Fall Termite Activity in Atlanta

As much as you might wish you didn’t have to worry about termites in the fall and winter, it’s important to stay vigilant about these pests all year long. The termite exterminators at Active Pest Control know how distressing it can be to discover an infestation, which is why we work to prevent them in the first place with our termite treatments. Contact our team today to see how we can keep you termite-free all year long.

Stink Bugs & Boxelder Bugs in Your Atlanta Home

Stink Bugs & Boxelder Bugs in Your Atlanta Home in Atlanta GA - Active Pest ControlEvery fall, there are two bugs in particular that come out in full force in the Atlanta area: boxelder bugs and stink bugs! These fall invaders are inclined to seek out a place to overwinter. They often find shelter on the sides of buildings as the days become shorter. They most often congregate on south- and west-facing walls where they can enjoy more sunlight. This may be a nuisance, but it can become a real problem when the bugs attempt to enter your home. Neither boxelder bugs or stink bugs are dangerous, but they’re still a pain to deal with when they get indoors. Keep reading to learn about these fall invaders and what you can do to keep them out.

What Are Boxelder Bugs?

Boxelder bugs have dark brown bodies with unique red markings. They can release a strong odor when threatened. These bugs prefer to feed and live in boxelder, ash, and maple trees. They will also infest trees or plants with plums, grapes, pears, peaches, cherries, apples, and almonds. When the weather gets colder every fall, these bugs will take advantage of any available crack and crevice in your home’s exterior to gain access to the warmth of your home. Both adult stink and boxelder bugs will search for cracks and holes in walls, in window trim and molding, and in your foundation.

Are Stink Bugs Dangerous?

Stink bugs arrived from Asia in the 1980s, and have caused tremendous destruction of local crops. Their backs look like shields, and they can blend easily within foliage. If threatened, these bugs release an odor. There are two main types we see in the states: the brown marmorated stink bug and the green stink bug. Besides being a nuisance, stink bugs are of no harm to humans. They will, however, multiply and feed without stopping, making them a serious environmental threat.

fall invaders graphic demonstrating different bugs and their characteristics

How to Prevent Fall Invader Pests

To keep the bugs on the side of your home out of the interior of your home, exclusion is the key! Our top tips to prevent these fall invaders include: 

  1. Clean out any debris around the foundation of the house.
  2. Trim back trees and bushes to keep all vegetation away from the perimeter of the home.
  3. Clean and repair the corners of fences, decorative rocks, old piles of wood, and patio furniture.
  4. Replace torn screens on windows and doors.
  5. Check the caulk around the molding of the windows and vents.
  6. Repair any cracks in stucco and bricks.
  7. Seal up cracks around roof soffits, windows, siding, and foundation.
  8. Consider using low-pressure sodium exterior lighting, as UV rays attract the insects.

When to Get an Exterminator for Stink Bugs & Boxelder Bugs

If you have hoards of these fall invaders inside your home, it can be difficult to completely get rid of them. A professional pest control expert such as Active Pest Control can help. Call our team today for more information!

What Are Those Bugs on the Side of Your Home?

Boxelder bugs are a fall invader in Atlanta GA - Active Pest ControlEvery year when the weather cools down, there are two insects in particular that are more common than ever. While the stink bug and boxelder bug are primarily nuisance pests, no one wants these odorous bugs invading their property! During the fall in Georgia and Tennessee, these bugs will congregate on the side of your home, particularly on the south or west-facing walls. They may be an eye-sore outside, but the real trouble begins if and when they crawl inside your home. Both of these bugs emit a pungent odor when threatened—and you definitely don’t want your home smelling like them! The team at Active Pest Control has gathered expert information on these bugs—read on to learn how to identify boxelder bugs and stink bugs.

All About Boxelder Bugs & Stink Bugs

Both of these bugs will take advantage of any available crack and crevice in your home’s exterior to gain access to the warmth of your home. Adult stink and boxelder bugs will search for cracks and holes in walls, in window trim and molding, and in your foundation. Both of these pests can multiply and feed at a rapid rate. It’s important to understand how to identify boxelder bugs and stink bugs:

  • Boxelder bug: These bugs have dark brown bodies with unique red markings. They emerge out of hibernation in the springtime. True to their name, they live in boxelder trees as well as maple, ash, and fruit trees.
  • Stink bug: Their backs look like shields, and they can blend easily within foliage. If threatened, these bugs release an odor. There are two main types we see in the states: the brown marmorated stink bug and the green stink bug.

Stink bug and boxelder bug identification in Atlanta GA and TN - Active Pest Control

8 Tips to Prevent Stink Bugs & Boxelder Bugs

As with all pests, exclusion is the key. Try out the following tips and tricks to keep these odorous insects outside of your home:

  1. Clean out any debris around the foundation of the house.
  2. Trim back trees and bushes to keep all vegetation away from the perimeter of the home.
  3. Clean and repair the corners of fences, decorative rocks, old piles of wood, and patio furniture.
  4. Replace torn screens on windows and doors.
  5. Check the caulk around the molding of the windows and vents.
  6. Repair any cracks in stucco and bricks.
  7. Seal up cracks around roof soffits, windows, siding, and foundation.
  8. Consider using low-pressure sodium exterior lighting, as UV rays attract the insects.

Professional Help for Fall Invaders

The last thing you need to deal with this time of year is a pest infestation. Although stink bugs and boxelder bugs won’t endanger your family, they will be very difficult to get rid of without the help of an exterminator! Contact the team at Active Pest Control today to learn how we can help with those bugs on the side of your home.

The Season of Spiders

Dangerous fall spiders in Atlanta GA - Active Pest ControlSpiders can be a common pest year-round here in Georgia. Most spiders hatch in the springtime, begin to reproduce in the summer, and are at full force by the time the late summer and early fall months roll around. This is why fall is sometimes called the season of spiders! The good news is that most spiders you will encounter in your home are not going to be of harm to you or your family.

That said, there are a couple of spiders in particular that you should look out for both inside and outside your property at all times. These spiders, the black widow and brown recluse, are known to be more aggressive and may administer a nasty bite when threatened. Keep reading to learn more about spiders in the fall.

Black widow vs brown recluse infographic - Active Pest Control5 Ways to Prevent Fall Spiders

Dangerous or not, no one wants spiders invading their property any time of the year. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to make your property less attractive to these creepy crawlers:

  1. Maintain a tidy yard and lawn. Overgrown bushes, shrubs, piles of wood, and more can attract spiders to your property and eventually indoors.
  2. Regularly clean your home. Doing so can prevent insects that spiders like to prey on and eliminate hiding spots for pests.
  3. Seal cracks and crevices. Inspect the inside and outside of your property for tiny spots that may be inviting spiders in, and seal properly.
  4. Install or repair screens on doors and windows. Tight-fitting screens are the key to keeping insects, spiders included, out.
  5. Inspect boxes and used furniture prior to bringing them inside. Egg sacs and adult spiders can be lurking!

Two Dangerous Spiders to Avoid

Most spiders are poisonous in the sense that they contain venom. However, most spiders are not capable of biting humans and transmitting this venom. That said, there are two spiders in particular that are of more danger to you and your family. The black widow is best identified by its unique red hourglass shape on its body. These spiders build sticky, tangled cobwebs in garages, sheds, and near the ground.

Brown recluse spiders, on the other hand, have a darker brown violin-shaped mark and are brown in color. They build looser webs for shelter. They are known to be aggressive when threatened and could administer a bite.

Fall Spiders in Georgia

Although spiders are common year-round, they are more active in the late summer and fall months. If you are dealing with excess spiders in the home, it’s best to contact your local spider exterminators at Active Pest Control.

Keep Fall Fun And Pest-Free

There’s a lot to love about fall: colorful leaves, pumpkin lattes, and college football, just to name a few. However, it’s also the time of year when pests are looking for an escape from the cooler temperatures. So, how do you keep them from choosing your home as the destination for their fall getaway? Our “fall pest checklist” can help you keep the pests outside so you and your family can enjoy the season.

Fall Pest Checklist:

  • Seal cracks and holes – From big holes in screens to small gaps around windows and doors, now is the time to eliminate entryways for pests of all shapes and sizes. We also recommend trimming back tree limbs that function as a bridge to your home for squirrels.
  • Eliminate clutter – Whether it’s inside a shed, in your garage, attic, or basement, pests love turning your storage areas and clutter into their shelter. The fall is a great time to have a garage sale and unload some of your unwanted items or donate them to charity for a nice tax deduction.
  • Yard work – That big pile of leaves or firewood also makes a cozy home for pests. Keep leaves raked and firewood stored away from your house. It’s better to do it now before winter while the temperatures are still bearable.

Thanks for checking out our blog. If you need more help in keeping pests at bay this fall, please let us know. Your friends at Active Pest Control are only a call or click away!