Mosquitoes Are Coming To Knoxville… Are You Ready?

Mosquitoes Are Coming To Knoxville... Are You Ready?

There’s nothing quite like a warm sunny day in Knoxville, Tennessee. With temperatures ranging from 64 to 90 degrees, many Knoxville residents embrace the wonderful summer weather. While some families take vacations away from home in summer, many stay here in Knoxville. Whether you decide to splash in one of our rivers or take a slow drive through town, summer in Knoxville is an experience to remember! As with any warm-weather fun, however, there is the problem of being exposed to the dangers of mosquitoes. These irritating pests are one of the downsides of summer, and if you’re not careful, your summer fun could turn into summer disaster.

Why Mosquitoes Are Dangerous

We all know mosquitoes are an unpleasant part of Knoxville summers. After all, who wants to swat away these blood-sucking nuisances with every other stride through the park? Finding itchy red bite marks across your arms and legs isn’t a fun experience either, though the problems mosquitoes create extend far beyond being an annoyance. While you might believe the worst part about mosquitoes is the fact that they can disturb guests and ruin outdoor activities, mosquitoes can actually be dangerous under the right circumstances. For instance, if a mosquito bites someone who is ill with West Nile virus, yellow fever, or malaria, that mosquito can carry that illness to the next person it bites. As more people become infected, diseases can spread quickly. The spread of these diseases is much less common in America than in other countries, however, there are still cases of these illnesses springing up in communities across the United States.

Professional Mosquito Control Is Essential

If your immediate instinct for mosquito control is to search online for DIY methods of removal, you could be wasting time, effort, and money. Most DIY methods of mosquito control don’t do very much to keep mosquitoes away from your Knoxville property, and DIY mosquito control certainly doesn’t eliminate your problem from the source. However, professional mosquito control services from Russell’s Pest Control can dramatically reduce the number of mosquitoes on your property. Our service technicians work with homeowners to find an effective solution for mosquito problems. Whether you need a one-time treatment or mosquito protection throughout the entire mosquito season, we can help. We will locate areas of high mosquito activity around your Knoxville home and target treatments in those areas, which effectively reduces mosquito activity on your property. Reach out to Russell’s Pest Control today to learn which mosquito services would be best for you!

Why Call Russell’s Pest Control For Summer Stingers In Eastern Tennessee

Why Call Russell's Pest Control For Summer Stingers In Eastern Tennessee

 

The summer months are here and with the warm weather comes the threat of stinging insects.  These upcoming months are the most active period for wasps, bees, yellow jackets and hornets.  We all know that the most problematic issue with stinging insects is, well, that they sting!  Not only is this painful, but some people have life-threatening allergic reactions to stings.  Beyond that, stinging insects can do damage to our homes and properties, as well as attract other pests.  Don’t waste time trying dangerous DIY methods to treat for stinging insects.  Turn to the professionals at Russell’s Pest Control to keep your Eastern Tennessee home free from stinging insects.

 

 

Why Stinging Insects Are Most Active Right Now

During the cold weather months, most stinging insects go dormant or die.  As the weather warms up, they begin to emerge and prepare for the queens to lay eggs.  Protecting the queen and nourishing the young takes a lot of work and you will see many active wasps and bees. Yellow jackets, hornets, and other stingers will be busy making nests and gathering pollen.  As we get deeper into the summer, these new stinging insects mature and their colonies begin to get full, causing lots of activity.

 

Dangers of Stinging Insects

The most dangerous thing about stinging insects in Eastern Tennessee is that their stings are painful and can be deadly.  One sting from a wasp or bee, for a non-allergic person, is likely to cause some pain and mild swelling. Multiple stings can trigger an allergic reaction even in a person without allergies, due to the amount of venom injected. In people who are allergic to bee stings, it can be life-threatening.  Anaphylactic shock can occur if treatment isn’t sought immediately.

 

The Nuisance of Stinging Insects

Stinging insects can be a nuisance around your property as they build their nests and damage your home. Some stinging insects like to make their nests in holes in the ground, which can damage your lawn and create a hazard. Other stingers build their nests under the eaves and overhangs on your house, sheds, and decks.  Carpenter bees burrow holes in untreated wood, which can cause structural damage to your property.

 

Professional Treatment Versus DIY Methods

When dealing with stinging insects it is always best to consult a professional.  The risk of disturbing a nest and suffering from stings just isn’t worth it.  Wasp and bee sprays are often ineffective and harmful to your family.  At Russell’s Pest Control we can safely remove existing nests and provide you with a plan for year-round protection.  Don’t try to handle stinging insects yourself. Contact us to keep your Eastern Tennessee home free from these pests this summer.

When To Expect Ticks In Knoxville And Around Eastern Tennessee

When To Expect Ticks In Knoxville And Around Eastern Tennessee

Every year, in the early summer, ticks begin to become a serious problem in Eastern Tennessee. This increase in activity occurs for two reasons. Wildlife that carry ticks and spread them around are much more active, and summer heat often drives animals to get into homes, especially when they detect cool air coming out. This is bad news for Knoxville residents because ticks spread diseases.

Tick-borne diseases are on the rise nationally. Last year, the CDC reported that cases of tick-borne diseases had more than doubled from 2004 to 2016, with Lyme disease accounting for 82 percent of the diseases tracked. If you are not yet aware of Lyme disease, it is caused by a bacterium that of most often carried by black-legged ticks. It is associated with a bullseye rash on the skin and can have serious acute and chronic symptoms. In its chronic stage, Lyme disease is reportedly incurable. Early detection is key.

Sadly, Lyme disease isn’t the only disease spread by ticks. Ticks are known to spread babesiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, Southern tick-associated rash illness, tularemia, tick-borne relapsing fever, Powassan encephalitis, Q fever, Colorado tick fever, and more. Yes, more. If that long list wasn’t enough for you, there are detailed white papers provided by entomology departments of highly respected Universities that detail many more illnesses that are linked or possibly linked to ticks. So, it is vital that all residents learn how to avoid ticks.

Tick Tips

  • Avoid walking in tall grass and stay in the center of paths when walking outside.
  • Consider spraying mosquito repellent on your legs to prevent ticks from crawling up.
  • Do an inspection for ticks after you’ve been outside. Early detection and removal of ticks can prevent the transfer of diseases.
  • Invest in a flea and tick collar for your pet(s).
  • Reduce moisture around your home to reduce conditions that allow ticks to survive in your landscaping.
  • Take steps to resist and exclude wildlife from your property.
  • Put bird feeders away from your exterior walls and away from outdoor recreation areas. Birds are a common vehicle for blacklegged ticks.
  • If you have a rodent issue in your home, seek the assistance of a pest professional to remove them and keep them out. Rodents can spread ticks to every floor of your home.

If you live in the Greater Knoxville area and need assistance with tick reduction services for your yard, we can help. Russell’s Pest Control is an industry leader and a QualityPro Certified pest control company. We have the education and experience to give you the support you need to protect yourself from tick-borne illnesses.

Summer Cockroach Prevention For Knoxville Homeowners

Summer Cockroach Prevention For Knoxville Homeowners

Skitter skitter. That is the sound no homeowner wants to hear. It is the sound a cockroach may make when it runs across the tiled floor of a kitchen or bathroom. That is the sound many homeowners are going to hear this summer if steps aren’t taken to keep cockroaches out. But keeping cockroaches out requires understanding how cockroaches get into Knoxville homes in the first place. Here’s what you need to know.

Cockroach Attractants

There are several types of cockroaches in Tennessee but all of them are drawn to mostly the same things. If you have conditions around your home that are favorable to cockroaches, you’re going to increase your chances of having a cockroach infestation in your home.

  • Moisture. All roaches are drawn to damp areas, especially locations that get a lot of shade.
  • Food sources. Cockroaches eat an impressive variety of things. Some of them you would not consider food. Learn what roaches eat and remove food options from around your home.
  • Clutter. Cockroaches love tight spaces. Any yard that has stored objects will be a playground for roaches.
  • Overgrowth. Keeping grass and landscaping neatly trimmed will go a long way toward reducing the number of cockroaches you’ll have exploring your foundation perimeter.

Cockroach Exclusion

When cockroaches come in close to your home, it is important that they don’t find any obvious ways to get in. While it is nearly impossible to seal cockroaches out of your home, it is a good place to start your prevention efforts.

  • Foundation. Cracks in foundation walls and gaps around pipes or conduit provide quick access for cockroaches.
  • Walls. Your exterior walls can have many vulnerabilities. Do an inspection and look for gaps, cracks, or holes that need to be patched.
  • Windows. Damaged screens, damaged seals around frames, broken glass panes and damaged frames can help to give cockroaches a path to get in.
  • Doors. Damaged seals around frames, gaps in weatherstripping, missing or damaged door sweeps, and holes chewed by rodents and other pests can make your exterior doors a doorway for roaches.
  • Pest Holes. There are many areas of your home that can be damaged by rodents, carpenter ants, termites, carpenter bees, and other wood-damaging pests. When holes form, roaches take advantage of them.

Along with these cockroach prevention strategies, it is important to consider a residential pest control plan that includes barrier treatments. Roaches are resourceful. If they find a crack in your defenses, they can get in and multiply quickly inside your home.

For residential pest control in Knoxville that provides effective protection from cockroaches and the threats they present, reach out to Russell’s Pest Control. Our team of educated pest service professionals knows what is required to keep roaches out.

Is My Knoxville Home At Risk For Carpenter Ants?  

Is My Knoxville Home At Risk For Carpenter Ants?  

June is the perfect month to finish the last of your spring cleaning. It’s also a great time to really pay attention to what kind of insects might be living in your house. While you are spring cleaning, carpenter ants are looking to find a brand-new nest. Don’t let them find their next home inside of yours.

Carpenter Ants

There are many species of ants in Tennessee, but carpenter ants can be especially harmful. They are bigger than other house ants and can be black or dark red in color. Carpenter ants have a varied diet, so you might not find them in your kitchen. However, if you do see carpenter ants inside, they may be scouts. They are searching your house to determine how much food and water there is and whether it will be a good place to relocate the colony–or a colony may already exist inside your home. Even one individual carpenter ant can be a sign of trouble, and you should never ignore it.

Once the scouts have inspected your house, you might see swarmers. These are flying ants that emerge during the spring to mate and set up new nests. Carpenter ants build their nests in tunnels of wood. This means that they can cause significant structural damage to a home.

Warning Signs

While you are finishing your spring cleaning and getting ready to enjoy summer, here are some signs that might be an indicator of carpenter ants in your house.

  • A single carpenter ant is a warning. Ants don’t travel very far from their colony, so if you see one ant, there are more nearby.
  • Seeing swarmers is another sign that you might have a problem. Swarmers set up new nests, so if you see flying ants, they might be building a nest somewhere in your house.
  • Even if you don’t see the swarmers themselves, you may see wings left on your windowsills. These wings could be from carpenter ants or termites. Either way, you have a problem.
  • Carpenter ants dig tunnels and discard the wood shavings. This sawdust is called frass and may be mixed with dust and dirt. You won’t always see frass because it could be hidden in crawl spaces, corners of the attic, or dark areas of your basement. If you do see sawdust coming from the walls or ceilings, call pest control immediately.
  • A final warning sign is visible damage to your house. If carpenter ants have been living in your house undetected, you may start to notice the walls are bulging, the ceiling is dipping, or the floor is warped. Doors and windows may also stick and become hard to open.

Preventing Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are first attracted to softwoods, especially wood that has been damaged by water or rot. To prevent a carpenter ant infestation, avoid damp wood and check for leaks, plumbing issues, or spills. Make it hard for carpenter ants to move in by keeping your kitchen clean and never leaving spills or crumbs for the ants to find. Finally, make sure that you don’t have any tree branches touching the roof of your house since this is a common entry point for carpenter ants.

When to Call Russell’s

These prevention tips can make your home less inviting. However, if carpenter ants find their way into your home, you’ll need professional help. Ignoring carpenter ants will lead to significant damage to your home. Call Russell’s Pest Control if you see signs of carpenter ants. They will assess the situation and create a treatment plan to keep your house clear of carpenter ants and protected from their damage. Don’t wait and don’t think you can keep carpenter ants away on your own. Let the professionals help you control the damage and prevent any further problems.