Bed Bugs Becoming A Problem For Nursing Homes

Bed Bugs Becoming A Problem For Nursing Homes

There comes a time in life when it becomes necessary to trust those we love to nursing home care. Being advanced in age can come with many complications that must be dealt with by someone with medical training. Nursing homes provide this continual aid. And that gives those who care about their loved one’s peace of mind. But, not all who live in nursing homes need medical treatment every day. Some may not get a physical examination for weeks. So, when bed bugs begin to appear, it can go unnoticed by nursing home staff. You may be wondering, why don’t the elderly report the bed bug bites? It is actually a complicated issue that makes nursing homes a prime target for these blood-eating pests.

Three Reasons Bed Bugs Aren’t Reported By Elderly People

  • When bed bugs start to appear in the room of an elderly person, some respond to it with embarrassment. They come from an era where these bugs were considered pests that only dirty people got. We now know that bed bugs can infest the cleanest of places, but that doesn’t change the fact that this stigma still exists.

  • Some elderly people respond to bed bugs with pride. They’ve lived their whole lives solving problems like bug infestations. They don’t need any help. They can do it themselves. But, when elderly people try to take care of these bugs, the results are ineffective at best, and deadly in the worst of cases.

  • Perhaps the most pernicious reason bed bug infestations are such a serious problem for nursing homes stems from the fact that initial bed bug bites are not as serious for most elderly people. Bite marks are usually small. And, since it is much more likely that bed bugs will be reported when they leave red, painful welts on the skin, an infestation is able to take root where bites are less serious. But these bites can, and do, become worse over time. By then, the problem has spread to other rooms.

If you maintain a nursing home and you are in our Tennessee service area, let Russell’s Pest Control guide you in setting up a bed bug service plan that is routine and proactive. Not only are these bugs a torment for residents, they can be damaging to your reputation. With ongoing inspections from an educated pest control technician, and targeted control methods applied when bed bugs appear, your residents, and your reputation, will be protected.

Most Common Ants In Knoxville

Most Common Ants In Knoxville

We don’t usually spend too much time thinking about ants–until it is hard to not think about them. When you walk into your kitchen and see your trash can covered from top to bottom in ants, that is a problem that is hard to ignore. When you go into your pantry and find a few hundred ants crawling all over your shelves, those ants will be all you think about, until they’re gone. When you feel a burning sensation on your foot, followed by another, and another and another–well, you get the point. Ants can be a pain, quite literally. Here are five ants you are most likely to see on your Knoxville property.

Pharaoh Ants

These ants crawl in the garbage, on dead animals in the yard, and on other dirty things then they crawl around on counters, food prep surfaces, plates and other items. They’ll also crawl around on exterior grills. When they do, they can spread illness. Studies link these ants to over 12 infectious organisms.

Odorous House Ants

Having these ants around stinks. These ants love to get into homes and when they do, they can cause a nasty odor. But, most of the time, it isn’t the odor that makes these ants a problem. Like most ants, they are a nuisance when they appear in large numbers.

Carpenter Ants

These little homewreckers are surprisingly sneaky. They can establish themselves in a home, and chew away at it for months, without being detected. This is because carpenter ants often feed on outside food sources, rather than the food in cabinets and pantries.

Little Black Ants

You may mistake these ants for carpenter ants because of their black coloring, but you shouldn’t. Little black ants are quite a bit smaller compared to carpenter ants. A little black ant measures in at about 1/16 of an inch–compared to the 1/4 – 1/2 inch size of a typical carpenter ant worker. It is important to tell the difference because little black ants are just a nuisance. Unlike the carpenter ant, they do not have the capability to destroy your home.

Fire Ants

If you use your backyard for anything, fire ants can ruin your fun. They build their mounds all over the place and inflict irritating stings to anyone who accidentally steps in the wrong place. This can be a serious threat to those who cannot get away quickly from their stings, like babies in carriers, the infirm and the elderly.

If you live in Knoxville and you’re having trouble with ants, don’t worry. Russell’s Pest Control has industry-leading solutions for all of the ant problems we have here in Tennessee. Contact us today for a free in-home pest evaluation and let’s get that ant problem fixed. Ant issues may be common in Knoxville, but they’re not inevitable. Get immediate assistance today.

Aggressive Stinging Insects

Aggressive Stinging Insects

You’ve seen the wasps, hornets, bees and yellow jackets around all summer and they have been somewhat ominous, but now they are becoming much more aggressive. What’s going on to make them that way? Their main focus is a sweet treat, so you’ll want to be aware of those stinging insects when picnicking, barbecuing and having any type of outdoor event.

The yellow jacket queen, in particular, and all of her daughters have laid eggs, cared for their larvae and pupae, and have increased their population to up to 1,000 workers. These workers are now at the stage of their life where they no longer need to care for and feed the young, they can freely seek out what their appetites desire, which tends to be sweets. Sweet nectar, sticky candy, aromatic perfumes, luscious pastries and beverages.

Make sure you look into beverage bottles, cans and cups before taking your next sip so you don’t inadvertently anger an eager stinging insect that is lurking within. Better yet, keep your drinks covered so they won’t be tempted to dive in there in the first place. You should also keep foods tightly covered and trash can lids securely sealed. Keep an eye out for nests as well, because if you accidentally disturb their nest they are apt to be even more aggressive. These tips will help you avoid some stinging insects, but won’t protect you completely.

These stinging insects, including wasps, hornets and yellow jackets can sting multiple times. Their stingers are not barbed and do not remain in your skin after a sting. They will all aggressively defend their nest and colony by attacking the intruder. Some people that are allergic to the venom will have a severe reaction and require immediate medical attention.

The best thing you can do if you experience a stinging insect problem on your property is to call a pest control service right away. You will not want to attempt nest removal on your own, you could potentially get stung and aggravate the colony even more.

The trained professionals at Russell’s Pest Control in Tennessee can help resolve your stinging insect problem. Once the problem has been removed and area treated, you will want peace of mind knowing that they will not return. Russell’s Pest Control offers year-round pest control services that will prevent any future issues.

Here at Russell’s Pest Control, our mission is “to provide the highest quality pest management services to homes and businesses in Tennessee through our determined quest for customer satisfaction and employee excellence”. So, give us a call today at Russell Pest Control.

Plenty Of Summer Left To Enjoy

Plenty Of Summer Left To Enjoy

Even though folks are thinking back to school and some stores are already decked out in autumn colors it is not quite time to start dreaming of pumpkin lattes and roaring fires quite yet. August has arrived, and with it some of the hottest days of summer are still ahead of many of us. That means more time celebrating the summer season with backyard barbecues, family reunions, and plenty of pool time can be had.

There isn’t much that will ruin a good time in the backyard faster than hungry mosquitoes swarming around you, your family, and your guests. These little biters have ruined more than their fair share of campfire stories and an evening dip to cool off after a long day. Between the biting, swatting and the itchy welts that mosquitoes leave behind that can last for days, it is little wonder that so many of us do not get out and enjoy the beautiful summer weather while we have it.

Of course, there is so much more to worry about with a mosquito bite than many of us realized once upon a time. When many of us were kids, they were just annoying. The diseases carried by mosquitoes that we vaguely heard about on the news was always somewhere else with an entire ocean between us and them. Now, we are well aware that mosquitoes close to home carry a number of diseases that they can easily transmit to humans, and they might be living right outside our door. Conditions like encephalitis, West Nile virus, and the now spreading Zika virus can have serious implications for your health or the health of your family.

Protecting your family from the quick breeding mosquito is essential. From spring through summer, you can cut down their breeding areas by making sure that any standing water is eliminated from around the home. Make sure that rain water doesn’t stagnate in empty plant pots or trays that might be hanging around. Make sure that gutters are clear of leaves and debris so water can run freely. Bird baths and kid’s wading pools should have their water changed regularly. Trimming back bushes and keeping the lawn cut short can also help reduce the areas where mosquitoes hide during the day.

Don’t get chased inside all summer long by mosquitoes. With plenty of weeks left to enjoy some fun in the sun give us a call at Russell’s Pest Control. With proper treatment of the spots where mosquitoes breed and hide from the midday sun, our team can greatly reduce the mosquito population around your property. Take back your yard and enjoy the rest of summer to its fullest.