What Pests Will You See This Spring?

There are a lot of bugs and wild animals that can become pests here in Macon, Georgia. Spring is a particularly active time for a wide range of creatures and, with the mild winter we just had, we can expect even more activity this year. Here are a few of the pests you should be looking for and what measures work best to keep them in check.

Ants

There are quite a few species of ant in Georgia. Some sting. Some spread harmful bacteria. Some get into our homes and chew away at our equity. And some are just an irritating nuisance. Regardless of what ants you have, effective control begins with identifying the type of ant and selecting a bait those ants will take back to their colonies. The professionals here at Active Pest Control also track those ants down to determine the best location to place the bait. An improper placement of baits is just as ineffective as selection the wrong type of bait for the ants being targeted.

Cockroaches

While these dirty insects can infest Macon homes any time of the year, spring is when new infestations begin to occur. We probably don’t have to tell you that cockroaches are bad to have around. They can spread harmful bacteria, carry pathogens, and exacerbate asthmatic symptoms when they infest. The solution to these pests is a combination of proper sanitation, exterior protection, and a targeted and limited application of EPA approved pesticides.

Rodents

In spring, mice and rats really start to make themselves noticed. If you’re hearing bumping and thumping in your walls, or you’re finding droppings in the back of your silverware drawer, it is time to call a pest professional. Laying down traps and removing dead mice does not address the systemic problem of rodents. The speed at which these animals reproduce and the stealthy way they infest makes it extremely hard to know if you’ve gotten rid of all the infesting rodents. It is also vital to seal the entry points these creatures are using to come and go from your home.

Termites

This is the time of year to keep a wary eye out for termite swarmers. If you see tiny black insects with long white wings, take immediate action. No pests can eat you out of house and home faster than a termite.

For more information about spring pests, or for assistance with pest control, give us a call. The experts here at Active Pest Control are looking forward to serving 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!

 

What On Earth Is A Termite Swarmer?

Have you found little silver winged insects crawling all over the walls and window sills of your Macon Georgia home? Are their wings the same size on both sides, and are their bodies pill shaped? I’m sorry to tell you this, but you have termites. Notice I didn’t say, “you’re about to have termites.” If you have these little bugs crawling around inside your home, you’re in some trouble.

What do swarmers mean?

Swarmers are reproductive termites. They do not eat the wood of your home. But before you wipe the back of your hand across your forehead in relief, you’re going to want to know these simple facts.

  • Swarmers do not fly very far. They are actually quite horrible flyers. If they travel more than a hundred yards it is only because the wind caught them. That means these swarmers came from somewhere close. It might be a neighbor’s house. It might be a tree or hole near your property. But it is more likely that they came from within your own walls.
  • There is more bad news. Swarmers are evidence of a mature colony. If the colony is living and feeding within your walls it has been there for a few years. And subterranean termites can do a ton of damage in that amount of time.
  • Just as termites can eat away at your home without you knowing, swarmers can avoid your detection. These swarms can come and go quickly, sometimes lasting only a few short hours. If this has happened, you may find evidence of it. These reproductives lose their wings after mating, and you will find these gossamer wings laying around. If you discover wings, call a professional pest control company immediately. A mature subterranean termite colony is not something you should ever take lightly.
  • If those swarmers are from a neighbor’s house or the nearby woods, it is still not cause to relax. Though swarmers don’t eat wood or build mud tubes, their offspring will. Those male and female termites have only one thing on their mind: making babies.

The climate in Georgia is perfect for termites. Don’t risk your home to termites. If you live in Georgia you’re in the coverage area of Active Pest Control–your Macon termite exterminators. They have the tools to safely, and economically, protect your property from termites–not after the damage is done–but before they can even get inside and start eating paths through your support beams. You’ve put a lot of money into your property, it just makes sense to protect your investment.