Lets set aside some of the pest control principles and myths that is out there
Ants
Not true. Doing so will likely cause the colony simply to move to a new, nearby location.
Boiling water will kill those ants that are exposed. However, the water will cool down before it gets to the centre of the nest, where the queen and all her eggs are found. This means that the nest won’t be destroyed, and the ants will return.
Bats
These myths still exist today, causing unfounded fear in many people. At dusk, homeowners should inspect the exterior of their homes, observing where bats enter and exit. Common access points include attic louvres and under facia boards. It is recommended that homeowners seal any cracks or crevices with caulk and steel wool. Pay special attention to holes in the structure that lead to dark secluded areas, like attics and belfries. Also, screen attic vents and openings to chimneys, and instal door sweeps. Exclusion is the only method of keeping bats out long term.
In most countries you are not permitted to kill bats. Bats kill billions of insects; without bats, we would be in big trouble. Bats consume anything up to 600 insects per hour. In other words, they are providing the human race with a great service.
Birds
Birds are sensitive to the sound made by the Nightmare sound system, and will choose to relocate to other areas. The time period required for relocation varies from 1 week to 1 month after installation, depending on the stubbornness of the birds, and the sound setting chosen. After installation, one should expect to see the birds leaving the area, and then returning after a few days, in the hope that the sound has stopped. They may try to stick it out for a few more days, however, they slowly start to leave the area permanently. After a period of 1 month, up to 80{269e1bce6731841e78fabbc16a29f2fb61f13197978552f9b324747ef9b59993} of the birds will have gone.
The Eagle-Eye system is an effective bird deterrent device, that harmlessly relocates birds. Birds are irritated by reflected light beams that flash at various angles from a rotating Eagle Eye. Long-term testing has proven that problem-bird numbers are reduced by 60-80{269e1bce6731841e78fabbc16a29f2fb61f13197978552f9b324747ef9b59993} in the area around an Eagle-Eye installatio
Bedbugs
Bedbugs have been reported all over the world. They have been found in all types of single-family homes, hotels and multi-family residences. Bedbugs don’t care how many stars a hotel has or what the family income is. They look to humans for their next blood meal.
This myth, unfortunately, can cause many homeowners to drop their guard, and become susceptible to bedbug infestations. Bedbugs are attracted to places where sources of their food (blood), is available, and it does not matter whether the residence is clean or dirty.
Bed bugs are most likely to hide in a mattress, box springs, and bed frame, but they can be hiding in many other cracks and crevices in a room. Throwing out the mattress means that 1) you’ve just harmed someone else, who may pick up the mattress for use, and now must deal with bedbugs, and 2) most likely, you’ll still have bedbugs.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches may be found in the cleanest mansions, as well as in a dump of an apartment complex. It is true that they may survive more easily in an unsanitary home, if there is an abundance of food crumbs left on an unclean countertop, etc.
True, that resistant strains of cockroaches do develop, however, not in the way most people think. Many people feel that if you spray the same pesticide over and over, the same roaches become immune, and don’t die. As an analogy: you may be susceptible to poison ivy, but your good friend may not. Chances are that his children won’t be either, but yours will be scratching. The truth is, that your initial spray kills many cockroaches; however, a few may ‘already’ be resistant to that product. When they breed, therefore, they create more of the same genetically resistant babies. It therefore seems as though they’ve developed immunity.
They inhabit the dirtiest places, such as sewers and rubbish bins. They also urinate and defecate on your food.
Fleas
Fleas are world-class hitchhikers. Experts will tell you that fleas will invade your home attached to shoes, clothing, houseplants, or children. Once they’ve made it past your defences, they are unrivalled in their ability to generate offspring.
Mosquitoes
Although these pests are most active then, mosquito activity is not limited to these times of day. Mosquitoes feed on blood, which means that they will be seeking out meals whenever they prepare for reproduction.
Moles
There are many different kinds of mole; however, the majority of them are not blind – they’re just very short-sighted. Most moles use their eyes solely for the purpose of sensing light. They have exceptionally good smell and hearing to make up for this poor vision. If you examined a mole, you might well struggle to find the pinpoint eyes that are protected with a membrane and hairy eyelids.
Moths
Your clothing is safe if you only have adult moths. The damage to clothes is actually done by the moth larvae.
Pest Control
Unfortunately, this is impossible. Factors such as rain, irrigation, wind, and sun, will have an influence on any method used by the specialist or by you. The pest specialist can guarantee much better results, however, owing to his knowledge and to the products he is using.
When a fumigation service has been conducted, all insects will have been exterminated. Insect eggs, however, can take up to 21 days to hatch. Therefore, baiting treatment, for example used by pest specialists, can exterminate the whole infestation in a short period of time.
The trend in pest management is moving toward Integrated Pest Management. This is an approach that involves removing food sources that pests need to live on, water and shelter. While spraying is sometimes necessary to treat an infestation, professionals have other options, including gels and baits, that allow precision placement for solving a specific problem.
Look for two qualities in a pest control professional: a) Qualified and Licensed Pest Management Company. B) A company with a good reputation, that friends and neighbours may have used successfully.
Ultrasonic devices are designed to use ultra-high frequency sound waves which the sellers suggest chase away all kinds of pest. These devices are made available by many retailers, and have been sold for decades. There is very little evidence to suggest ultrasonic waves drive pests away, either temporarily or permanently. Stick with pest control professionals, to ensure that you have the job done correctly, without wasting time or money.
Many homeowners believe that if they can’t see, smell, or hear a spray, or other form of pest-removal device, that it can’t be working; and they are simply wasting their money. This is false. There have been many innovations with pest control in the last decade alone, and fortunately this includes the lack of odour in sprays.
Out of sight, out of mind, isn’t the best way to go when thinking about pest control. It’s a common misconception that if you aren’t seeing bugs and pests in and around your home, then they aren’t there. This is completely untrue. The best way to gain control of pests, is to have your house regularly inspected and treated against them.
Virtually all pest control companies offer guarantees on work done, with follow-up work included in their services. Most professionals will do whatever it takes to satisfy the customer.
Infestations of all types of pest are more effectively treated by trained professionals, who know all about these annoying creatures: where to find them, and how to treat them correctly the first time. Not only can there be dangerous repercussions, but people will end up spending more money on damages and do-it-yourself products by doing the job themselves, rather than simply calling a professional.
Some people think that fumigation means a service done by a pest control professional. Fumigation involves smoking or the use of fumes, as in disinfecting or exterminating pest problems.
Guarantee given on Pest Control Services
Methods used, such as pesticides, gels, baits, etc., will be active 3-4 months in indoor environments. Only termite post-construction and termite soil-poisoning services carry guarantees up to 6 years.
Rodents, e.g.rats and mice
Rats breed very rapidly: each female typically generates more than 10 offspring per year. You may have caught your first rat, but you probably have not treated the situation effectively.
The truth is, domesticated cats aren’t always interested in being your pest-control technician. While they may chase mice and catch one occasionally in a playful spirit, household cats don’t always see mice as a threat that they need to eliminate. Mice can avoid your pets by travelling on surfaces and in spaces your pets cannot reach. They are more likely to be attracted to your home by your pet’s food and droppings than be frightened away by a playful cat.
Actually, Norway (black) rats are excellent swimmers. They are sometimes carried long distances in floods or by rivers. They can swim across ditches and through sewer water — whatever it takes. Even mice can stay afloat for many hours.
Rodenticides are formulated to mitigate secondary toxicity. In other words: mouse-eating cats are not likely to become sick from eating a poisoned mouse.
Rodenticides are formulated to mitigate secondary toxicity. In other words: mouse-eating cats are not likely to become sick from eating a poisoned mouse.
Rodenticides are formulated to mitigate secondary toxicity. In other words: mouse-eating cats are not likely to become sick from eating a poisoned mouse.
No known rodenticide will have this effect. While there are odour-control products that will help eliminate the odours resulting from decaying rodents, there are none known to prevent such odours.
Mice would rather eat food containing a high level of sugar. Rather than cheese, bits of cereal, cookies, sugar cubes, or peanut butter, would be more enticing to mice.
While poor sanitation will certainly not deter rodents, even the cleanest of homes and businesses can harbour a rat or mouse population. If rodents can find access into a building, they may feed on pet food, grain, seeds, or vegetables in addition to, or instead of garbage.
Safety
Pest-control products, when used properly, protect us from disease, keep our public places clean, and provide us with healthy, disease-free fruit and vegetables in great abundance. With proper training, responsible use of pesticides through an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach is beneficial to our overall health and well-being.
Professional pest control products are thoroughly tested; and when used in accordance with approved label instructions, pose little threat to humans or pets.
Up to a third of the world’s population would starve to death if pesticides didn’t exist.
Spiders
Spiders have lived amongst humans for centuries and most species don’t harm humans; in fact, many species are beneficial to the environment. Spiders are predators, feeding mainly on insects, so they help to reduce the number of pests in homes and gardens. While it’s true that all spiders have a venomous bite, only a few species are medically dangerous.
Arachnologists at the University of California said, “There is no reference to any pholcid spider [read “daddy-long-legs”] biting a human and causing any detrimental reaction… Furthermore, there are no toxicological studies testing the lethality of pholcid venom on any mammalian system.” Simply put, there are no facts to support this widespread legend. If you’re still not convinced, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage even debunked this myth in 2004 on their popular show, “ MythBusters”.
Someone spots a spider inside the house, and kindly puts it outside. The spider is shown mercy and the house is then spider-free. Spiders will come back the same way they did the first time. Often, where there is one spider, there are many, especially since they multiply in great numbers. It’s best to get the home inspected and treated.
This urban legend has become one of the most widespread rumours on the Internet. But, fear not – it’s false. According to Snapes.com, this myth originated when a columnist for a computing magazine wrote an article in 1993 about a list of outlandish “facts” that were circulating via email. In an effort to show that people will believe anything they read online, the columnist made up some of her own ridiculous facts, including the myth cited above. In reality, it’s highly unlikely for a person to swallow even one live spider when sleeping.
Stinging insects
However, stinging insects, especially wasps, do not have to be physically touched/provoked to attack and sting. Rather, these pests must only feel that they or their colony are threatened, to sting, which can happen when a human simply gets too close.
Termites
Termite colonies are huge. Several houses in a neighborhood may, indeed, share a termite colony. Treating one house amongst them, thereby making it off limits to the termites, will doubtless make termites more active in the other infested homes, however, you can’t cause a termite infestation in one house by treating another.
They are more closely related to cockroaches, biologically speaking, although they look a little like “white ants”. They are commonly called “white-ants,” however, they are really termites.
Unfortunately, termites will make your new home their next meal just as quickly as that 50-year old house down the block.