My Exterminator Blog

Mosquitoes are common pests in all areas of the world. Keeping mosquitoes away from your family is important since these pests can transfer deadly viruses. Mosquitoes can also leave itchy bites that can make spending time outside uncomfortable. Avoiding some of the most common misunderstandings about mosquitoes will help you to keep your family safe and implement the right control methods to prevent severe mosquito infestations. 1. Viruses Spread by Mosquitoes Are Rare One of the primary reasons why people choose to ignore mosquitoes is the mistaken belief that mosquitoes are unlikely to carry viruses. According to statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 2,038 cases of West Nile virus in the U.S. in 2016. There were also thousands of U.S. cases of chikungunya virus, malaria, and several other mosquito-borne viruses. Since mosquito-borne viruses have a high mortality rate, you should take steps to protect your...

Ants are an unavoidable summertime pest. However, while you are probably very familiar with ants, how much do you actually know about them? In truth, these creatures are more than pests. Check out these fascinating ant facts! 1. Ants are a worldwide phenomenon Ants seem like they are everywhere because they actually are. While there are some islands that do not have ants naturally, all other major land masses have ants. This includes South America, Africa, Asia and Europe in addition to North America. 2. Ants do not have ears Given an ant's tiny anatomy, you probably have not considered what parts they have. One part they do not have, however, is an ear. Instead, ants use their other senses. They can feel the vibrations in the ground by using their feet, antennae and hair. 3. Ants do not breathe This one is not entirely true. Obviously, ants have to process...

Before you have a bed bug infestation in your home, you need to prevent it from happening in the first place. Even if you do see bugs in your home, there are things that you can do to keep them from quickly spreading to other rooms if you act quickly. The professional extermination services offered by companies like My Exterminator can get rid of bed bugs and help to keep them from setting up inside your home. However, you might need more than one treatment to ensure the prevention is successful. Before your home is exterminated or you use a product that you purchase on your own accord, cover the power outlets. The bugs will sometimes scurry inside the outlets to escape the products that are used to get rid of them. Keep clothing in a sealed plastic bag when you go on vacation. This will help to keep bed bugs...

When a new pest makes an unwelcome visit to your home, your first thought may be to tackle the issue on your own. Attempting to do your own pest control, however, can have some disastrous effects to your health and your home. Before you suit up for battle with a pest, consider a few compelling reasons to hire a professional instead. Lack of Knowledge Most people can tell the difference between a bee and a yellow jacket, but few people can accurately identify the difference between a western yellow jacket and a German yellow jacket. Incorrectly identifying the pest wreaking havoc in your home may lead you to buy the incorrect product or use the wrong techniques. A professional pest company, however, can identify any type of pest and knows how to deal with the pest. Potential Dangers Dealing with a single pest may not be too dangerous for most homeowners,...

When the cold winter months arrive, you might wonder where pests go to endure the lower temperatures. Sometimes, they make a home inside your house so that they can stay warm. Other pests tend to find places like logs or buildings to stay warm until spring arrives once again. Most pests use one of three different types of survival methods to stay alive in the winter.  Migration is often seen with birds, but there are some flying insects that will migrate away from colder temperatures as well. They will fly from one region of the country to another in a flock. Each type of pest will travel a different distance depending on how far they can physically travel and how far they need to travel to stay warm and find food. Monarchs usually fly south to Mexico. Many other pests, like termites and mosquitoes, fly south as well to Florida, Texas,...

Visions of sugarplums may be dancing in their heads, but these preventative measures will keep hungry pests away this holiday season. 1. Put a lid on it. The caroling may continue through the night, but don't leave holiday snacks uncovered for more than a couple of hours. Storing your favorite cookies, snack mix or chips in a sealed container insures freshness and prevents pests from sneaking a bite or two. 2. Kick it to the curb. The trash receptacles fill up fast during the holidays, and it's easy to simply throw a bag or two into the garage while you're entertaining. However, those food smells can attract bugs and wildlife into your garage and, ultimately, your home. Place trash carts away from the house in case rodents drop in for the holidays. Keeping carts near the home increases the odds of one or two entering the home. 3. Clean up your...

Rodents don't like to stay outside in the winter. They want to be warm, and one of the places that is warm to them might be your home. There are a few things that you can do to keep rodents outside where they belong instead of in your cabinets, drawers, and closets this winter.  Most of the time, rodents don't even care about the people inside the home. All they care about is finding food for the winter and staying warm. Keep food in airtight containers as much as possible. Don't leave crumbs on the counters or on the floor as rodents are attracted to these small items that you might not be able to detect. You should also keep dog and cat food in a container that rodents can't get into because they enjoy that as well. Take a walk around the home to see if there are any holes where...

When the fall season hits the northern part of Virginia, certain pests are ready to create havoc in your home. Before the temperatures drop too much, they are seeking warmth, food, and shelter. It is important to identify the creatures that may try to invade your home and ways that you can keep them away. Stink Bugs As the outside temperatures cool down, stink bugs look for a source of heat. They often cluster along the side of homes and may enter through tiny cracks in doors, windows, roofs, or foundations. Although they usually go dormant in the winter, they may wake in the spring and become active inside of your home. They emit a terrible odor, which negatively affects your living space. Box Elder Bugs Even though box elder bugs are considered outside insects, they infest homes in the northern parts of Virginia during the fall and winter. It is...