My Exterminator Blog

Home and business owners know just how much of a nuisance termites can be. They are annoying, destructive and can be difficult to get rid of once they infest an area. Fortunately, it is not impossible to find a solution. Making that solution easier to achieve is also possible by understanding the signs of a termite infestation. Let’s look at some ways you can identify a potential termite issue before things get out of hand. Hollow Wood Wood that has been hollowed out around the house is usually a sign that you have termites to deal with. Drywood termites love chewing through timber and will not leave much behind. If you tap against some wood, such as on a wall or floor, and it feels hollow, you may have termites. It can be tough to tell if an area of wood has been hollowed out without poking at it or knocking...

It’s always nice to have visitors over - except when are your visitors! Raccoons may look cute and cuddly, but they can be a big nuisance. When they pay your home a visit, they can cause a lot of damage. They don’t just knock over garbage cans and leave droppings all around your home. They can also chew right through the electrical wires, carry diseases and tear up your home’s insulation. The best way to deal with a raccoon problem is by trying to prevent it from ever happening. And in order to do that, you need to know the reasons why raccoons are attracted to your home so you know how to deter them. Garbage Can Does your garbage can have a secure lid? If it doesn’t, it is an invitation for raccoons to come have a feast. They eat a wide range of foods, so a garbage can is...

When we think of fleas, most people think that fleas only thrive in the heat and humidity of summertime. Fleas certainly are most active during those warm months, but fleas are fairly cold hardy creatures as well. Fleas in Winter If you have fleas outdoors, we generally say that it takes two hard freezes to kill them. By hard freeze, we mean below freezing temperatures for at least five days in a row – this constitutes one hard freeze. In particular, fleas will naturally seek out a warm place, such as taking a hitchhike indoors on the fur of your dog. Once indoors, fleas are in more of a natural habitat and can survive indefinitely. Indoors, they will have lots of food and a warm place to live on your pet, so they are pretty toasty indeed. If you have outdoor fleas, you can hope for two hard freezes, but if...

Camping is one of the best ways to enjoy the great outdoors with family and friends. Roasting hot dogs over a fire, sleeping under the stars and washing yourself in a lake are all iconic activities of the worldwide hobby of camping. Now, many people think that bugs and insects are just a part of being in nature, and if you want to enjoy the experiences of camping, pests are something you simply have to deal with. This is true, to an extent. However, there are things you can do to keep them at bay . Here of some of the pests you may come across while camping and what you can do about them. Pests You May Meet When Camping When you’re camping, you’re directly in pest territory, so don’t be surprised to find everything from ants to mosquitoes to wasps. Fortunately, pests are less of a problem for you...

Pests are a nuisance to just about everyone. They can be especially irritating when they get into your home and you cannot get rid of them. One of the best ways to keep your house free of pests is to identify the hot spots that attract them and decrease or eliminate the temptation. Here are some of the most common hot spots for pests in the average home. Under Furniture Pests like areas that are dark and quiet. So, underneath furniture is an ideal place for them to hide., particularly if the furniture is heavy and not moved often. Take a moment to check under your furniture for signs of pests, like live ones scattering away or empty shells of dead ones. If you find evidence of pests, contact a professional exterminator right away. Pet Food Dishes Insects and other pests love pet food as much as your favorite four-legged friend...

For over 30 years, My Exterminator LLC has been providing pest control services for Northern Virginia. We strive to please our customers in any way possible, and because of this, we offer a “No Charge Call Back” guarantee. If you find pests after we have treated, we will come back to your home for retreatment at no cost to you. Keep reading for more of our services that we offer. Ant Control Ants can cause a lot of damage to your home, whether they are carpenter ants or pavement/sugar ants. Obviously, carpenter ants can cause more destruction to the structure of the house, as their tunnels can compromise the strength. But pavement ants can cause issues as well as they come into your home in search of food. They don’t nest in your home, but they will form a trail to take away any crumbs. But don’t worry! My Exterminator LLC...

Ask any number of people to make a list of the insects they hate the most, and mosquitoes are sure to show up on just about every single one of them. These hated bugs are pests that seem to have no purpose other than to ruin our camping trip, buzz in our ear when we’re trying to sleep and keep us scratching all day long. But other than that, what do we need to know about them? Here are five things to know about these blood-sucking vampires: Mosquitoes Carry Diseases This is a pretty well-known fact, but it’s so important that it bears repeating: when mosquitoes suck blood and go from host to host they are also carrying whatever is in that blood -- and if it’s a disease, there’s a chance the new host will contract that disease. Malaria, West Nile Virus and Yellow Fever are all diseases that are...

Bed bugs are a gross nuisance that can take weeks or even months to completely eradicate. Once you have a bed bug infestation in your apartment or home, there is no quick and easy way to end it. The best way to deal with bed bugs is to prevent them from entering your living space, to begin with. Understanding where they come from is the best prevention plan. Bed Bug Facts Bed bugs are creatures that thrive in environments with warmth, carbon dioxide, and blood. Living in a mattress is a perfect environment for that, as a sleeping person would provide a source of nourishment for them. They are also easily missed hitchhikers that can move from living space to living space in apartment buildings or even within multiple rooms of a house. Traveling is a significant factor in the spread of bed bugs. Hotels or other houses that have already...

Summer is a great time of year. It's the time of sunshine and picnics, but it's also the time of year for bug activity. With the warmer temperatures, you may see an increase in some bugs in your home. One of the most irritating can be ants . Problems Ants Can Cause It is possible for ants to cause health problems for you and your family. They may not cause typical diseases, but they can cause symptoms associated with allergic reactions. These reactions can include headaches, inflamed skin and cramps. For someone that is hypersensitive to ant venom, this can cause serious and life-threatening conditions. Ants are also able to transmit food borne disease organisms, such as Salmonella, E. Coli and Shigella. They are able to contaminate your food with these organisms and cause a great deal of problems for you and your family. Damage to your home While it's mostly...

As a homeowner, you want to make sure your house is a clean, inviting place to live. One of the most important things you can do to ensure this is to keep your home free of invasive insects and pests. Of course, calling in a professional service is a vital part of this process, but it is also important to do your part at home to prevent infestations . Unfortunately, sometimes homeowners -- even those with the best of intentions -- make mistakes that make it more difficult to do just that. Here are three of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make when it comes to pest control. Treating the Symptoms, not the Cause When you see bugs in your house, your first instinct is to grab bug spray and get rid of them. While that might solve the immediate problem, the real question is more important: “How and why did...

It is safe to say that most people do not like having bugs anywhere in the house. But, having bugs in the pantry is the worst place to have a pest problem. Even if your kitchen is immaculately clean, insects and other pests can find their way in. But, taking these precautions can help you keep pests out of your pantry so you can enjoy your time in the kitchen worry-free. Use Bay Leaves Keeping a dried or fresh bay leaf next to containers of dry goods is a great way to keep pests away. Pests do not like the smell of bay leaves, so use them to keep irritants like flies, moths, roaches and mice at bay. Catnip and pennyroyal mint are other herbs that can deter pests the same way. Choose the Right Storage Containers Durable storage containers that are made of plastic or glass help to protect the...

With warmer weather just around the corner, some folks expect unwelcome visitors in the form of ants. These pests are a real nuisance inside many homes, as colonies search for food and water to survive. If you’re tired of dealing with these critters, test out these tips to control your ant problem once and for all. Seal Those Cracks How are ants getting into your home? The warm spring weather doesn’t magically teleport them inside. Instead, it drives them to find food and shelter in safe places, which they access via holes in your home. The solution to this is to identify any cracks around the perimeter of your home, as well as those on the inside. Fix these holes with materials the ants cannot penetrate, like caulk. Keep in mind, this might not fix the problem if you already have an ant infestation. Ants may have been in your home...

My Exterminator, serving the Northern Virginia area, knows that rats are one of the most unpleasant house guests. Our unique ecology makes for a great habitat, however, and more often than not, these small pests will find their way into our houses. We understand homeowners want to perform due diligence in preventing rats and rodents from entering their houses, but it's hard. Rats can enter your home through exterior openings that measure less than the size of a quarter in diameter and are capable of making an entry if there is none present. Read below so that you'll know exactly what to keep an eye out for to avoid a single rat turning into a bigger problem. If you notice any of these signs, contact-us right away. Our fully trained, professional technicians are waiting on standby. With almost 40 years in the business, we've learned a thing or two about rats...

If you have roaches in your house and don’t know how to deal with them, it can be incredibly stressful. Cockroaches are notorious for being one of the most tenacious pests as well as one of the most harmful to your health. However, there’s no need to panic. With a little strategizing, you can take on the bulk of your roach problem with ease. Here are some of the most effective ways to remove roaches from your house. Identify Where They are Before you do anything, you’re going to need to know where the roaches in your house are living so you can pinpoint which areas are the most in need of treatment. Use a flashlight and search under sinks, counters, radiators, refrigerators, toilets, etc.; anywhere roaches may be hiding. If you can’t find any with a flashlight, then place some glue traps around your house and see which ones catch...

Spiders are an unavoidable occurrence in households. Although all spider species can bite, they very rarely bite humans. Some are venomous, and some are simply just too eerie to even look at. However, not all creepy crawlies can be considered dangerous. Allow us to show you a list of common spiders that are either too dangerous or more helpful to your home than you may think. Dangerous Spiders There are only two types of spiders in Virginia that are considered possible threats to humans. Even if you do not feel at risk by exposure to these spiders, you should call pest control to let them take care of things for you. Brown Recluse Spiders While brown recluse spiders rarely bite, the poison from these spiders is still considered very hazardous. Brown recluse spiders have basic, brown bodies, and can be found either inside or outside of the home. Northern Black Widow...

If you live in an area with raccoons , then you know that they can be more than a nuisance, especially when it comes to your garbage can. Unfortunately, these critters are notorious trash hounds, knocking over the can and making a huge mess. If you’ve experienced the aggravation of raccoons digging through your bins, then we’re here to help. Here are some of the best ways to keep them and other vermin from making your garbage their next late-night snack. Use Heavy Duty Materials If you get your garbage can from the city, it’s most likely made out of plastic. While this can be a sufficient deterrent, vermin can chew through the material over time, making it less than useful. If possible, try to upgrade to metal cans so that they can’t get in. Lock the Lid One of the easiest and most efficient ways to keep raccoons and other...

Although many pests thrive in the summer and are less active in the winter, they can bug you throughout the year. Rodents tend to seek warm spaces as the weather gets cold, termites stick around even as the weather gets cold and house spiders become more visible in early autumn as males increase mating activity. Even cockroaches look for warm spaces to hole up during the winter. Pest-proofing your house in the fall can help prevent infestations throughout the year. 1. Clean Up Your Yard Trim dense growth in your garden, especially if it’s close to the house. Keep firewood at least 20 feet from the perimeter of the building. Rake mulch and soil away from basement windows and wood that is close to the foundation. This will prevent pests from taking up residence in areas where they can scurry in when you open the door. 2. Inspect And Repair Gutters...

If you happen to notice a spider meditating in your bathroom sink one morning, you may wonder how the arachnid made its way into your home. Although your first inclination is to think that the spider crawled up from the pipe leading into the basin, the truth is that the spider somehow fell into the sink from the ceiling. The spider may have been spinning a web and experienced an unexpected fall. The thirsty creature may have been attracted to a few drops of water in the basin or to the scent of another spider. In any case, you can easily remove the spider without harming it in any way. Simply get an empty yogurt container and hold it near the spider. You may need to gently tap the spider with the container. Most of the time, the insect will crawl right inside the container. Shake the spider toward the bottom...

As we begin to head toward the hot, sultry months of summer, the prevalence of mosquitoes in and around your yard is likely to be on the rise. With a few tried-and-true tips, however, you can prevent the insects from taking over your property. Preventative maintenance, as it is sometimes called, is the key to the whole battle. Get Rid of Standing Water Areas Mosquitoes are naturally drawn to pools of standing water, which they need to breed. While puddles of water on low-lying areas of the property should be eliminated as quickly as possible, you should also watch out for flower pots, plates, bottle caps, and anything else that can hold water from the most recent rainfall. The egg and larval stages of mosquitoes require water, which means that getting rid of standing water will interrupt the reproduction cycle so that the critters cannot reproduce. In many cases, a steady...

Bees and wasps are closely related flying insects that play an important role in maintaining balance within the ecosystem. While bees help pollinate plants, wasps feed on insects that can damage crops, landscaping and garden plants. Although they appear similar in size, shape and color, there are some important distinctions between bees and wasps beyond their diets. Continue reading to learn which of these insects is infesting your yard. Aggressiveness While bees are social insects, wasps can be social or solitary depending upon the species. Because a bee’s stinger is barbed, it stays inside the victim after the attack. The loss of the stinger causes severe bodily harm that causes the bee to die. As a result, bees are less aggressive. Wasps are more easily provoked. The insect’s straight stinger allows it to sting their victim numerous times. When wasps are harmed or feel threatened, they release hormones to alert other...