Spring Cleaning Tips To Avoid Spring Pests

Spring Cleaning Tips To Avoid Spring Pests

Now that spring has sprung, if you’re like most folks, you’ll be turning your attention to doing a little spring cleaning. Raking up the yard, cleaning out the garage, and getting rid of the piles of accumulated stuff that has gathered in every corner of your home will give you a fresh start to the warm weather season ahead. So take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then, take a peek at the following list of to-do’s that will not only help you get your home spic and span, but help you keep all those household pests at bay as well.

Tips for the KITCHEN

One pest that loves to invade kitchens in spring is ants. They do this because kitchens are the most likely place they will find food. While you may think your kitchen is already clean, take note that there may be hidden sources of food for ants and other pests that are out of sight, out of mind.

  • Remove all items from your pantry and cabinets, and discard out-of-date or stale items. Things like spices and flours tend to attract pantry pests such as beetles, moths and ants.

  • Wipe down the inside of all of your cabinets and consider installing fresh shelf paper.

  • Pull out all appliances and vacuum behind them.

  • Scrub down your kitchen counters and the floor with a pail full of dish liquid and warm water.

Tips for the BATHROOM

Pests that love to invade bathrooms include silverfish and cockroaches. These insects love moisture, so eliminating sources of moisture in your bathroom will go a long way to making it a less inviting environment for these and other moisture-loving pests.

  • These pests can’t survive longer than a week without water. So make sure there are no wet areas around your bathroom fixtures. Fix any leaks you find, and use fans or dehumidifiers to dry out the air.

  • Thoroughly clean your shower curtain (or install a new one).

  • Take all items out of your medicine cabinet and wipe the shelves down.

Tips for the BASEMENT

Rodents and spiders are the pests that love to encroach upon basement spaces. The main reason for this is that basements tend to have dark corners and lots of clutter to hide behind or inside.

  • Sort through your belongings and discard, sell or donate unwanted items.

  • Replace paper or cardboard storage containers with hard plastic a tight fitting lids.

  • Seal up any gaps or cracks you find in your basement walls.

Tips for OUTSIDE

There are many steps you can take to make the outside of your home less inviting to spring pests.

  • Remove all lawn clutter and weeds.

  • Trim bushes and trees back away from your home.

  • Clear out gutters and downspouts.

  • Repair any damaged areas to the outside of your home.

While these steps will help you keep pests at bay, if you are finding that pests have already made their way inside, consider reaching out to a professional pest control company. Here at Russell’s Pest Control, we can take care of pest elimination and prevention for you, so you can sit back and enjoy your spring.

Little Pests, Big Problems

Little Pests

Who knew that a tiny little pest that grows to be only 1/16th of an inch in length could cause such a stir? The panic over these pests is not related to size, but rather it is related to their sheer numbers. What is this tiny little pest that can draw such concern? It is the springtail. Although small, it is estimated that springtails become so numerous once they invade an area that they can reach as many as 100,000 individual pests per square meter.

It can be quite disconcerting to see hundreds of thousands of tiny purple/grey bugs moving and jumping around. At first glance, a colony of springtails seems to move as a unit appearing as if it were a long purple stream of water as they move across the ground. On closer inspection, you can clearly see that this purple stream is thousands of tiny little bugs moving and jumping like fleas.

Your first thought is concern about thousands of little flea-like bites, but do not worry, springtails do not bite, and they do not transmit diseases. In fact, they are actually quite beneficial out in nature where they help to break down decaying matter. But they are not harmless as they can damage house plants and crops.

The real problems with springtails begin when they decide to invade your home as they move in search of food. Not only is it unacceptable for you to have to live with hundreds of thousands of bugs inside your home, but an invasion of springtails can actually indicate a much larger issue. These tiny pests are drawn to moisture. Their appearance in your home can signal a moisture issue inside your walls or under your floors which is a strong indication that springtails are not the only pest you are hosting.

If you find that springtails have chosen your home, do not panic. Give the pest experts here at Russell’s Pest Control a call. We offer safe, affordable options to eliminate springtails from your home. You may choose a one-time service that safely deals with springtails, or you may choose the peace of mind that comes with year-round protection from more than 30 common pests, including springtails, when you implement one of our comprehensive Power residential pest protection plans.

Not only are our Power protection plans affordable and safe, but they are also effective at protecting your home from the year-round threat of pests. Plus our Power, Power Gold, and Power Platinum residential pest protection plans are backed by the Russell’s Pest Free Guarantee. To learn more about these industry-leading pest prevention plans or to discover the benefit of a one-time treatment for springtails, simply contact us today.

2017 Mosquito Season In Tennessee

2017 Mosquito Season In Tennessee

If you’ve been following the news, you are probably aware of the Zika virus. It made headlines in 2016 as cases of travel-related Zika appeared all across the country, and local transmission began to occur in Florida. For pregnant women, Zika is a threat like no other. It has the capability to cause microcephaly in unborn children at all stages of pregnancy. So, as we head into mosquito season, here are a few things you should know about mosquitoes in Tennessee.

Tennessee Mosquitoes And Zika Facts

  • Not every mosquito that bites you is a mosquito capable of carrying Zika, West Nile, or other viruses.

  • Mosquitoes that have Zika virus are not born with it.

  • The mosquito species most responsible for the spread of human viruses are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Both of these mosquito species have distribution in Tennessee.

  • There is a difference between a case of travel-related mosquito virus and local transmission. Travel-related cases popped up in several states last year for the Zika virus, but only Florida and Texas saw transmissions of the virus to local residents. These outbreaks were contained naturally when mosquitoes went dormant for the winter.

  • Any state that has Aedes mosquitoes is at risk for a Zika outbreak, but states that are warm and more humid are at greater risk.

  • The best protection against all mosquito-borne viruses is mosquito abatement. It is the protocol U.S. health agencies use. This protocol is more effective the more it is implemented. For best protection, it is vital that home and business owners get involved.

  • Aedes mosquitoes do not generally travel more than 500 meters from their place of birth within their entire lifetime. That means that the mosquitoes that bite you on your property came from your property or the surrounding area.

  • Control of standing water is the first step in stopping mosquitoes from breeding.

  • Standing water that cannot be removed can be treated to prevent egg development.

  • Mosquitoes are known to spread Zika, West Nile, encephalitis, malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and chikungunya.

  • Personal protection and mosquito services can drastically reduce the risk of contracting a mosquito virus.

It is important to understand that Zika, West Nile, and other mosquito-born viruses do not always produce symptoms, and not every mosquito that bites you is dangerous. But, the threat is real. If the right conditions come together, they can have dire consequences. Please be safe this mosquito season by taking measures to protect yourself. If you need assistance with mosquito service for your property, you can trust Russell’s Pest Control to keep you safe. Our team uses the most advanced methods and equipment for safe and effective mosquito reduction.

Avoiding Bed Bugs On Spring Vacations

Avoiding Bed Bugs On Spring Vacations

Whether you are heading out to enjoy spring break or just taking advantage of spring to take a much-needed vacation, it is important to set aside a few moments to learn about bed bug prevention. Reading this article is a great first step. Here are 4 easy things you can do to reduce your chances of having bed bugs ruin your vacation or return home with you.

  1. Would you go into a neighborhood in a city without finding out whether or not that neighborhood is safe? It is also unwise to stay somewhere you haven’t checked out first. Bedbugregistry.com is a great resource to find out if bed bugs have been reported at the place you’ll be staying. You can also check other review sites and use the term “bed bug” in your search query.

  2. Would you walk into a forest at night without a flashlight? Of course you wouldn’t. And you shouldn’t go on vacation without a flashlight. Most smartphones have a flashlight app that uses the camera light on the phone as a light source. Use that light source to examine some key areas inside your room to make sure there are no bed bugs or bed bug signs present. Pull the bedding and sheets down to examine the mattress and box spring for black residue, black streaks, black droppings, shed insect skins, brown blood stains, or these tiny six-legged, oval, rust-colored bugs. They are about the size of an apple seed and look a little bit like one too.

  3. Would you operate dangerous equipment without following a few safety protocols? It is a good idea to follow a few safety protocols while on vacation. Never leave clothes on the floor or draped over a chair. Put clothing on a hard surface, or in a plastic bag, when you’re not wearing them. When you bring your luggage out, consider using the luggage stand. Most rooms have one.

  4. Would you rub your nose if you just shook hands with someone who has the flu? Maybe. But it is unwise. When you return home, put all of your clothing into the wash. Use the hottest temperatures to kill bed bugs in every stage of development. This little cleaning could keep a batch of eggs from turning into an infestation.

These tips should help you stay safer on your vacation and help to prevent an infestation from returning home with you but, as you probably already know, bed bugs can be picked up in a lot of places. If you ever do find bed bugs in your home, call a professional. These bugs are extremely hard to eradicate and improper bed bug treatments can cause prolonged infestations, more bites, or lead to devastating consequences, such as the loss of property or a loss of life.

If you’re in our Tennessee service area, let the bed bug control team here at Russell’s Pest Control deal with those blood-eating pests. Immediate help is just a call away.