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.

DIY vs. Professional Pest Control

DIY vs. Professional Pest Control in Atlanta GA - Active Pest ControlIn today’s day and age, the DIY movement is more popular than ever. Whether it’s a household chore, gardening, or an art project, do-it-yourself tasks are favored by many. However, when it comes to pest control, DIY methods are never a long-term solution. We’ve all tried them: vinegar spray for ants, snap traps for rats, store-bought pesticides for roaches … the list goes on. But at-home remedies for pests are unreliable, timely, and can even be expensive. For quick, effective, and guaranteed results, it’s always best to use a professional exterminator such as Active Pest Control. Keep reading for info on the pros and cons of DIY vs. professional pest control here in Atlanta GA!

Pros & Cons of DIY Pest Control

Many people favor DIY methods because they believe they will save them money in the long run. For some small pest flare-ups, DIY methods can work. However, do-it-yourself pest control is a risk for several reasons:

  • Certain pests, such as rodents, termites, and carpenter ants are more dangerous and destructive. Getting rid of these infestations will be a challenge for any novice.
  • Many store-bought products are filled with chemicals that can be dangerous for you, your family, and your pets. Reading the label doesn’t always guarantee the product will be applied perfectly and safely.
  • At-home remedies rarely work in the long-term and do not prevent future infestations.
  • Buying DIY or store-bought remedies don’t come with a guarantee or warranty as often as professional services.

Why Professional Pest Control is Important

Yes, professional pest control is certainly an investment of your time and money. However, the payoff is tenfold. A professional exterminator has years of experience and knowledge to tackle any current infestation you have. With a focus on IPM practices, they can also work to prevent future problems. As often as possible, a professional will use environmentally-responsible products that are always applied safely and effectively with little invasion or disruption to your daily life. Lastly, a pest control expert can work with you to develop a customized pest control plan suited to the unique needs of your home in your region.

DIY vs. Professional Pest Control: How to Choose

When it comes down to it, no one wants to deal with pests in your home. If you want to get rid of them completely, a professional pest control company is your best bet. In the long run, a pest control professional can provide you with the tools you need to keep pests out for good. Give the Active Pest Control team a call today to learn more about how we can guarantee a pest-free* lifestyle.

Common Spring Pests to Prevent

Prevent spring pests by spring cleaning your Atlanta GA home! Tips from Active Pest ControlSpring is almost here, which means pests are on their way! While pest problems are a fact of life in Georgia year-round, springtime sees a big fluctuation in pest problems. This is because many pests that are less active throughout the winter are encouraged by warming temperatures to start invading homes again. To keep spring pests out of your property, it’s important to prepare your home now! Keep reading for tips from the experts at Active Pest Control.

5 Common Springtime Pests

It’s pest season, and there are many pests to be on the lookout for in the next couple of months. The most common pest problems this time of year are:

  • Ants. With warmer weather comes hoards of ants in your home.
  • Termites. Termite swarming season is here! Termite infestations often start in the spring.
  • Rodents. Although they’re active year-round, rats and mice are a problem in the spring.
  • Stinging insects. Wasps and hornets are gearing up to build nests this time of year.
  • Stink bugs. After overwintering, people report a resurgence in stink bugs.

How to Prevent Pests this Spring

Chances are, you’ll be doing some spring cleaning around your home. Why not throw in pest prevention measures while you’re at it? To prepare your home for spring pests, implement the following tips:

  1. Clean your windows and doors, and make sure there are no cracks or crevices. If there are, seal them properly.
  2. Deep-clean your carpets by vacuuming and shampooing, if possible.
  3. Clean your kitchen with a focus on your appliances. Crumbs and spilled liquids are easy bait for rodents, cockroaches, and more!
  4. Remove debris from your yard, and trim back tree branches away from your home. Also clean out gutters and downspouts.
  5. Ensure your plumbing is working properly and fix any leaks.
  6. In general, tidy up your home. Clean under furniture, wipe down surfaces, and inspect areas of your home that need some fixing up.

How to Get Rid of Spring Pests

You’ve thoroughly cleaned your kitchen and tidied your backyard, but there’s still ants crawling across your kitchen counters—now what? To prevent inevitable spring pests, it’s best to team up with a professional pest control company. The exterminators at Active Pest Control will work with you to ensure your home is safeguarded from pests this spring and all year long.

Termite Awareness Week

It’s officially Termite Awareness Week, and it’s more important than ever to know the facts. This week and all year long, the team at Active Pest Control aims to spread awareness about the extensive damage done by termites. In this article, we’ve provided you with a series of informational videos discussing the signs of termite activity, prevention tips, and how to protect your home from these wood-destroying insects. Keep reading to learn how to stay termite-free in Atlanta GA!

5 Signs of Termites

  1. Swarmers, which are winged termites that emerge in large groups and fly to their destination.
  2. Often the first visible sign of termites, wings are shed by swarmers and left in piles.
  3. Blistering wood damaged by termites can be rotten and hollow-sounding.
  4. Often confused with sawdust, termite droppings (frass) are wood-colored.
  5. Besides swarmers, mud tubes are the most common sign of subterranean termites.

How to Prevent Termites

There are several ways you can lessen the risk of getting a termite infestation. It’s important to keep firewood and any mulch at a distance from the foundation of your home. Similarly, always remove excess wood from your property, including construction lumber,  fallen trees, and stumps. In addition, be proactive about avoiding moisture-damaged wood by promptly repairing leaky faucets and poor drainage problems. Lastly, ensure you have a continuous termite monitoring, baiting, or protection plan in place from your termite exterminators!

Termite Protection & Treatment

Here at Active Pest Control, we provide our customers with the most effective, safest termite treatment options. Check out the video to see our preferred methods of preventing and controlling termites. If you’re unsure which termite control method will work best for you, we’d be happy to discuss your best options with you and customize a termite control plan!

Termites or Carpenter Ants: How to Tell the Difference

Carpenter ants are often confused for termites in Atlanta GA. Learn more from Active Pest ControlIf you think you’ve spotted a termite in or near your home, how can you be so sure it’s not a carpenter ant? These two wood-destroying insects are commonly mistaken for one another. Together, they are responsible for some of the worst residential pest infestations each year for homeowners. Swarmers (termites or carpenter ants with wings) are both active around the same time of year, but their similarities end there.

Keep reading for expert info from Active Pest Control on how to tell the difference between termites and carpenter ants.

What do Carpenter Ants and Termites Look Like?

To the untrained eye, it’s very easy to confuse carpenter ants for termites in the swarmer stage. Although they look very similar, the size of the swarmer differentiates the two. The main differences between how carpenter ants and termites look are:

  1. Carpenter ant swarmers: These are black in color, with some species having slightly red coloring. Carpenter ants measure 1/2″–5/8″ with antenna bent at a 45-degree angle. Their wings are translucent with a reddish brown hue, laying over the posterior of the ant. Carpenter ants are by far the biggest ant species in the nation.
  2. Termite swarmers: These termites are dark brown to black, and measure 3/8″ long including the wings. Their wings are a translucent to slightly milky or smoky color. Their wings may overlap, and are typically as long as or slightly longer than the body. This is an easy visual clue to differentiate them from carpenter ants.

Winged ant vs. Termite Swarmer in Atlanta GA & Knoxville TN - Active Pest Control

What’s Worse: Termite Damage or Carpenter Ant Damage?

Both the termite and the carpenter ant attack wood, but in very different ways. For the most part, carpenter ants establish their nests in decayed wood and then later expand into undamaged wood, insulation, or wall voids. Their damage is not always visible, but the galleries they excavate appear to have been sanded.

Termites, on the other hand, eat through wood. These wood-destroying insects find their way into a structure around basement windows, doorways, under siding, porches, or any structure in contact with the soil. Established colonies can range from 60,000 to over a million workers and can consume nearly 5 grams of wood per day. For this reason, termites are significantly more dangerous than the carpenter ant, as they can cause much more damage in a short period of time.

When to Call a Termites or Carpenter Ants Exterminator

If you’ve seen the signs of either of these insects or have noticed damage, it’s crucial to call the exterminators at Active Pest Control as soon as possible. Everyone knows termites are infamously difficult to control, but carpenter ant colonies are hard to exterminate as well! With our licensed and tenured termite control specialists, we can inspect your Atlanta GA property and protect your structure from wood-destroying insects like termites and carpenter ants.

Prominent Pests in 2020

Prominent pests in 2020 in the Atlanta area - Active Pest Control When it comes to protecting your family and home against pests, hindsight doesn’t have to be 20/20 this year. Active Pest Control is helping homeowners prepare for the upcoming pest season by offering insights into anticipated pest activity. 

The experts at Active Pest Control have used their field experiences and examined trends and company data to determine these six pest predictions. Along with the predictions, we are offering quick tips for homeowners to help keep their homes pest-free* in 2020.

Mice

Warmer than usual winters over the past several years may be to blame for increased mouse populations. With warmer weather predicted for the winter of 2020, mice will continue to reproduce at an alarming rate, which is bad news for homeowners. Mice are year-round pests that invade homes looking for food and shelter to nest. 

Homeowner Tips:  Mice can squeeze through openings the size of a dime. Gaps under garage doors, door frames, windows, or pipes and cables that penetrate your house are large enough for mice to gain entry. Rodent-proof your home by sealing small cracks and crevices with a silicone-based caulk. Exterior gaps of ¼-inch or larger can be repaired with copper mesh, hardware cloth or metal flashing. 

Stinging Pests

Alternating climates cause rippling effects in the pest world, and with mild weather, experts are seeing more yellow jacket and hornet nests. Female yellow jackets and hornets can successfully overwinter in freezing temperatures and will invade structures and manmade or natural voids. When the weather warms up in spring, stinging insects will emerge from their hiding places, ready to start populations earlier in the year.

Homeowner Tips: Since stinging insects can overwinter, they may be out and about at the first sign of warmer weather. Stay alert and look for stinging pests, utilizing a professional pest control service as soon as you spot activity. 

Ticks

With outdoor activities, like hiking and camping on the rise, and years of warming winters, humans and their pets may come into contact with ticks more frequently in 2020. The deer tick or black-legged tick, the Lone Star tick, and the American dog tick are ticks of special concern. Nearly 50,000 cases of human tick-borne diseases such as Lyme Disease,  Ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever were reported in 2018. Pets are also at risk for some of these diseases. 

Homeowner Tips:  When spending time outdoors, wear an EPA-approved insect repellent. It’s also a good idea to wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks, in areas where ticks may be active. Perform tick checks on yourself and any family members, including pets, after spending time outdoors.

Mosquitoes

If you noticed more mosquitoes this past year, it wasn’t your imagination. If we have another relatively warm, wet winter and spring, mosquito populations could increase by late spring and early summer.  Areas of the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest are predicted to have above-average rainfall, while most of the U.S. is predicted to be warmer than average this winter. 

Homeowner Tips: With an increase in mosquitoes comes the risk of mosquito-borne diseases, such as the  Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) reported in 2019. To protect yourself and your family, eliminate standing water from your property and always wear an EPA-approved insect repellent when spending time outdoors. 

Termites

Termites cause over $6 billion in damage every year in the United States.  According to experts, the two main weather factors that affect termite populations are temperature and rainfall. With wetter and warmer weather predicted for spring, the termite swarming season will be ramping up soon. 

Homeowner Tips:  To deter termites, eliminate earth to wood contact and avoid moisture accumulation near your home or structures’ foundation. Since termites can cause such extensive damage, raising homeowner awareness around the need for proactive protection for their homes is critical to prevent costly repairs.

At Active Pest Control, our experts agree that the first step any homeowner can take to prevent pest issues is to have a proactive approach to pest control.  With these 2020 pest predictions in mind, utilize the new year to evaluate your current pest control plan and ensure that you have the coverage you need to protect yourself and your family from pests in 2020.

 

Prevent Unwanted Pest Infestations with TAP Insulation

TAP Insulation protects against pests and is energy efficient for your Atlanta GA - Active Pest ControlEveryone knows that pest prevention is the best form of pest control, and TAP® Insulation is changing the pest control industry. This innovative home insulation surpasses all other insulation in efficiency, and also provides superior pest control for a number of insects. Made of more than 80% recycled paper, it is eco-friendly and is a smart investment for all property owners looking to prevent pest infestations. Read on to learn more about this game-changing TAP Insulation service offered by the Active Pest Control team!

What Pests are Controlled by TAP® Insulation?

The best feature of TAP Insulation is its pest control abilities. A borate-based pest control product is embedded within the insulation. When certain insects come into contact with the insulation, they will die off as they groom themselves and ingest the borate. Although TAP pest control insulation will not kill rodents or wildlife, there are many insects that it does kill, including:

Other Benefits of TAP Pest Control Insulation

In addition to controlling pest infestations, this home insulation is favored for its many other benefits. It can be installed over existing insulation or on its own and once it is in place, it never needs to be replaced. Some of the most desirable benefits of TAP pest resistant home insulation include:

  1. Reduces energy bill costs
  2. Reduces outside noises
  3. Made of recycled, eco-friendly materials
  4. Improves indoor air quality
  5. Mold & mildew resistant
  6. Not dangerous to humans or pets
  7. The borate serves as a fire-retardant

Pest Resistant Home Insulation Installation

Whether you own a new property or want to upgrade your existing insulation, TAP Insulation is the way to go. In addition to warding off pest infestations, it also reduces your energy bills and is an eco-friendly option. To learn more about TAP Insulation or to set up an appointment with Active Pest Control, give our team a call today!

Termite Inspections Are Key

The real estate market is back. Many people have been waiting for this time to buy or sell a home. If you’re one of them, don’t forget a termite inspection. Termites cause more damage than fires, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes combined in the U.S. Keep in mind, homeowners insurance will cover all of these disasters … except for termites.

If you are selling your home, why not get a termite inspection and place it in your disclosure documents so prospective buyers can see it? Peace of mind can go a long way to helping your property stand out from the competition and getting yours sold. Next step? Protect your investment by giving Active Pest Control a call today. We have been protecting homes for over 25 years. We can do the same for you!

How You Can Know If You Have Termites

If you are like many Americans, spring is an ideal time for cleaning, but did you know it is also a good time to look for signs of termites? Well, how about combining the two? While you are doing all those tasks to give your home a fresh, new look, keep your eyes open for signs of termites as well.

Termites Signs to Look For

  • Mud tubes. Subterranean termites (termites that live in the soil) build mud tubes that serve as bridges from the soil to the wood of a home. These are made of soil, wood and debris, are about the width of a pencil, and typically are found on basement or foundation walls. These keep the termites from being exposed to the elements and predators.
  • Wood damage. Termites eat the cellulose in wood and leave nothing behind but the wood grain. These signs can remain hidden for years and may only be apparent if you embark on a new remodeling project. Sometimes they excavate the wood so only a thin layer of wood is left, but then they will cover the holes with the same mud-like material they use to make mud tubes.
  • Buckling paint. Painted walls, floors, or ceilings with buckling paint occur when termites invade the wood and push the paint up. The paint may also have small holes where termites have broken through to reach the wood.
  • Swarmers. When a termite colony matures, it produces something called swarmers, or termite reproductives. This typically happens in spring or fall and they are only visible for a short period of time. So, they can be easy to miss. They are also sometimes mistaken for flying ants.
  • Discarded swarmer wings. If there have been swarmers that have disappeared back into your walls, they may leave discarded wings behind. Usually, these wings can be found in small piles in spider webs or on window sills. If outside, they can be found on surfaces of your home’s foundation.
  • Termite droppings. If you have drywood termites, you may find the droppings that they leave behind, which are called frass. These tiny fecal mounds often indicate a nearby termite infestation.

Now that your home has been spring cleaned and you have looked for all the signs of termites, what should you do next?

That is a good question. Did you find any of the signs listed above? If you did, it is important to take action. Termite damage costs U.S. property owners billions of dollars each year.

What if I didn’t find any of the signs listed above? Am I safe?

We wish we could say yes, but the truth is, termites are called silent destroyers for a reason. Sometimes they don’t leave any signs of their presence.

When spring cleaning is done, whether or not you’ve found signs of termites, the best course of action is to get a free termite inspection from Active Pest Control. Don’t let termites destroy your property and eat your equity. Make termite protection a part of your spring cleaning with Active Pest Control.

A Shakespearean Tragedy For Termites

In neighborhoods and suburbs all across the United States, a Shakespearean tragedy is unfolding every single day due to an advancement in home termite protection call the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System. This is how the story goes.

In a nearby country, where a stronghold has thrived for several years, new kings and queens are born in great numbers and sent out into the world to establish new strongholds to advance the reach of the kingdom. Many of these kings and queens perish in the journey, but those that survive quickly set themselves to the task of birthing workers to do their bidding. If workers do well, they may rise to the position of a soldier and be given the great honor of protecting the fortress from enemy kingdoms. Most do not. Their lot in life is to toil all their days in the wood mines, never to see the light of day. Their singular task is to bring food back to feed the offspring of the queen, the soldiers, and eventually the queen herself. But their new kingdom is almost immediately in danger.

This new land in which they have chosen to build their fortress belongs to another, more powerful inhabitant. An enemy that knows how to defend its great treasures of wood. An enemy that knows them even better than they know themselves. A trap has already been set.

As workers go out to gather food, they stumble upon a sweet and scrumptious treat they believe the queen will love. Each in turn eats of this wonderful delicacy and takes it back to the fortress and past the soldiers who stand guard, deep into the heart of the stronghold where the babies are.

The workers share this new food with the babies, and the queen is pleased. This wonderful food will make them stronger and help them conquer this new land. But unbeknownst to her, a great betrayal is about to occur.

After the workers have eaten, and the babies have had their fill, this new and amazing food is brought before the queen. She considers it carefully. The workers have eaten of it and they are well. Her babies have eaten of it and they are well. There seems to be no cause for fear. So she takes of it and eats.

Without warning, her workers begin to die, and the colony goes into a panic. Soon her babies begin to die as well. Dark horror settles on the queen. Poison! Poison has found its way into their stronghold! But it is too late. She can already feel it sickening her belly. It is over. Her fortress has fallen. All is lost.

If you have the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System protecting your home, this is how the story will go for those wood-eating termites when they come to invade your home. Let the tragedy be for the termites. Your home is your castle. If they chose to invade, they bring destruction upon themselves!