Fall
Mosquitoes are this seasons pest
May
Summer is almost here and thoughts are turning to relaxing days in the yard and entertaining friends and family outdoors. Who doesn’t love a bar-b-que with great food and a couple of beers? While you might be eager to invite some friends over for an evening of fun, mosquitoes will also make an appearance even though they aren’t on the guest list.
Your Family and Friends’ Health Could Be At Risk
Mosquitoes carry a number of diseases, most commonly West Nile Virus and Zika Virus. According to the World Health Organization, mosquitoes are responsible for about 725,000 deaths every year.
Only female mosquitoes bite humans. West Nile virus is transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes, however, approximately 80% of people who are infected will not show any symptoms. Those who do show symptoms can have fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, occasionally with a skin rash (on the trunk of the body) and swollen lymph glands.
Zika virus is also transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Symptoms of Zika virus include mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. Zika virus is especially dangerous for pregnant women. The CDC states that infection during pregnancy can cause a birth defect called microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects.
Who Are Mosquitoes Most Attracted to?
Pregnant women and people who are overweight are more likely to be bit by mosquitoes. The reason for this is they produce more carbon dioxide than non-pregnant women and non-overweight people. The National Institutes of Health claim that mosquitoes can detect carbon dioxide from 75 feet away. They can sense the air we exhale and then attack.
People who wear dark clothing are also targets for bites. To mosquitoes, dark colors stand out, while light colors blend in.
Mosquitoes love beer drinkers. A study by The American Mosquito Control Association showed that drinking just 12 ounces of beer will make you more susceptible to a mosquito bite. Beer increases the ethanol (alcohol) content in your sweat which mosquitoes are attracted to. Beer also increases your body temperature. One of the ways mosquitoes find their targets is by sensing heat.
Some ways to reduce your chances of mosquito bites are:
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Apply mosquito repellant
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Wear light colored clothing
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Avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk
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Get rid of standing water in your yard
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Avoid getting too hot
How Do You Keep Mosquitoes At Bay So You Can Enjoy Your Yard This Summer?
The most efficient way to reduce the mosquito population in your yard is to hire a professional pest control service. Shell Pest Control treats your yard every 21 days, as prescribed by the National Pest Control Association. Bushes in the yard are sprayed with backpack sprayers as mosquitoes live on the underside of leaves. Treatments usually start in May and continue through mid
September, depending on the customer’s needs and the weather.
Call today to protect your loved ones and prepare your yard for fun filled summer!
April
Spring Is Ant Season
They have been dormant all winter and now they are getting ready to look for food, possibly in your house. Most ants enter the home from outside nests while searching for food. Have you noticed a few ants roaming around your kitchen? These are scout ants sent out to find a food source. Once they have found food, they produce a chemical scent, called Pheromones, which attracts other ants in the colony to where the food is. Sometimes you can locate the nest by following the ants since they usually take the same path from their nest, to the food source and back again. Other times, you are not able to locate the nest and it’s time to call in a professional pest control service.
Should I Try To Do This Myself?
You may be inclined to try to solve your ant problem on your own. This rarely works because over the counter products only provide short term relief just repelling the ants you see. A professional pest control service will use a combination of liquids, powders, and baits to eliminate the infestation. The scout ants will take these materials back to the nest, share it with
the other ants and eventually wipe out the entire colony. This is a much more effective approach as it produces a more permanent solution.
But Which Ant Is It?
The best way to eliminate an ant infestation is to hire a professional pest control service. There are many types of ant species
and the pest professional is trained to identify them properly. Different species nest in different areas. For example, carpenter ants dwell in moist rotting wood where odorous house ants prefer soil, under rocks or near trees and shrubs. Once the type of
ant is identified, a professional will then know where to look for the nest and solve the problem.
You and Your Pest Professional are a Winning Team!
Although you’re not always able to avoid an ant infestation in your home, there are some steps
you can take to minimize a reoccurrence:
-Keep all food in containers and tightly sealed
-Sweep or vacuum after each meal
-Rinse out recyclables
-Repair dripping pipes and leaky faucets
If you do suspect you have an ant problem, contact a professional and put your fears to rest. We at Shell Pest Control are always here to help. The safety and health of everyone in your household-including pets- is our first concern.
Call Today!
March
Why You Should Hire a Pest Control Service
Cleaning up from dinner and notice a few ants on the counter? Sitting watching television and see something out of the corner of your eye scurrying across the floor? You’re not alone. About 85% of homeowners in the US have experienced a pest problem in their home. Many people try to solve the issue on their own, but most have little to no success. This is when they realize they need to call in a professional, but often times it’s already too late. Here are some of the best reasons to hire a pest control service.
Your family’s health is, no doubt, a top priority in your life.
Many pests carry diseases that can be transferred to humans. Mosquitos can infect you with
West Nile Virus and cockroaches carry E coli and can be triggers for allergies and asthma.
Rodents are carriers for fleas, ticks and mites, ants can contaminate your food and anyone
allergic to bees knows the serious reactions that can be caused by a bee sting.
A professional will identify and eliminate pests. They will locate the source of the problem
and prevent future infestations from occurring. A pest control service can apply the right
type of treatment that won’t harm your family or house pets. Many store bought remedies
contain chemicals which can be toxic and cause serious health issues.
Hiring a professional pest control service can save you both a lot of time and a lot of money.
They can locate and identify your pest problem quickly and start to eliminate it immediately. A long term or yearly maintenance plan can be set up to protect your home from the next infestation. It is much more costly to repair your home from damage done by bugs, rodents and especially termites than it is to be proactive in protecting your home from future incidents.
Above all, using a pest control service will give you peace of mind, all year long, knowing your family and home are protected. This, along with the time and money you will save, clearly makes for a worthwhile investment.
