Infuriated Yellow Jackets Buzzing Around Knoxville

Infuriated Yellow Jackets Buzzing Around Knoxville

This fall you may experience swarms of yellow jackets buzzing around Knoxville. As winter approaches, yellow jackets are more aggressive as they are busy trying to get the next generation’s queen ready for overwintering. A yellow jacket Is a type of wasp which means it can sting multiple times. You want to avoid these stinging insects, especially if you are allergic to their stings. Take precautions as a homeowner to keep your property free from yellow jackets. If you are struggling with yellow jackets or have a nest on your property, it is best to call for professional help with removal.

Identifying Yellow Jackets  

Yellow jackets have narrow segmented bodies, thin wings, and distinct black and yellow markings. Typically, they are around an inch long. Yellow jackets typically nest in the ground, often in holes formed by burrowing rodents. This differentiates them from other wasps.

Aggressive Yellow Jackets    

Yellow jackets are aggressive stinging insects. They will sting if they are disturbed in any way. This can include walking over the top of their nest, but even vibrations from a lawnmower nearby or children playing in the yard can agitate them. If a yellow jacket stings, they can leave a scent that alerts other yellow jackets that you are a threat.

Preventing Yellow Jackets  

It’s a good idea to make your Knoxville yard less attractive to yellow jackets. You can do this by reducing the things they like to feed on on your property, including fruits and meats. If you have fruit trees, remove any overripe fruit that has dropped. Clean up immediately after picnics and outdoor social gatherings where food is served. Avoid bright patterned deck and patio furniture. And reduce the number of brightly colored and fragrant flowers near your outdoor entertaining areas.

Professional Help for Yellow Jackets    

It’s safest to contact the professionals at Russell’s Pest Control to remove yellow jackets from your Knoxville-area home. Because of their aggressive nature and in-ground nests, yellow jackets are difficult to get rid of with DIY methods and it can be dangerous to try. With one of Russell’s Power programs, your Knoxville home will be protected from wasps and yellow jackets, year-round. Contact us today for help with infuriated yellow jackets buzzing around your Knoxville home this fall.

Why Is Knoxville’s Common House Spider So Common?

Why Is Knoxville's Common House Spider So Common?

The name “house spider” encompasses a large range of common home-invading spider species. Though the most notable of these species is the common house spider. Occasionally, common house spiders are called American house spiders. These pests are usually brown, tan, or gray in color with darker markings across their bodies. Common house spiders are small, measuring between 4 mm and 8 mm in length, depending on the gender. Female spiders are larger than male spiders. Common house spiders love to hide in dark or undisturbed areas, such as closets, attics, basements, wall voids, and crawlspaces.

Are common house spiders dangerous?

Although all species of spiders are venomous, only a few are dangerous to humans. Black widow spiders and brown recluse spiders are the only dangerous spiders in the United States. Common house spiders use their venom to paralyze their insect prey, but rarely bite humans unless threatened or provoked. If you are bitten by a common house spider, you may experience mild pain, swelling, and redness around the bite site.

While common house spiders aren’t dangerous, finding an infestation in your Knoxville home usually indicates a larger pest problem. Spiders are nomadic, which means that they travel to wherever their food sources are found. If insect pests have invaded your property, it doesn’t take long for spiders to show up shortly after. Spider infestations always indicate deeper pest problems on your property.

 

Spider Prevention Tips

Without a food source on your Knoxville property, spiders will not have a reason to invade. One of the best ways to avoid attracting spiders to your home is to remove all the factors that provide spiders with sources of food and shelter. Keep spiders at bay with these simple spider and insect prevention steps.

  • Insects love moisture. Remove moisture from your property by filling in low-lying areas of your lawn, clearing your gutters of debris, and dumping water out of items that collect rainwater (such as flowerpots).
  • Both spiders and insects are most comfortable in areas with thick vegetation and plant cover. Cut tree branches, shrubs, foliage, and weeds away from your exterior walls. Not only will this reduce how attractive your property is to pests, but it will also allow sunlight to hit your foundation and dry up excess moisture.
  • Common house spiders and insects will invade your home through just about any entry point they can find. If you seal up these areas, fewer pests will be able to invade. Seal cracks in your foundation, install door sweeps, and replace torn window screens.

The most effective way to remove spider and insect infestations is with the help of the licensed pest specialists here at Russell’s Pest Control. We provide a variety of home pest control services, including inspections, general pest management, rodent control, and much more! For assistance with your spider infestation or any pests that encourage spiders to invade, contact Russell’s Pest Control.

Putting The Heat On Bed Bugs In Knoxville

Everything You Should Know About A Bed Bug Heat Treatment

Knoxville is home to pests of all shapes and sizes. Among those pests are bed bugs. These small, flat, blood-feeding insects are some of the most problematic pests around. Not only are bed bugs difficult to prevent, but they’re often difficult to identify as well.

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation

Bed bugs are elusive insects. As a type of hitchhiking pest, bed bugs travel from place to place by crawling onto clothing, bags, or belongings. However, this means that bed bugs can only invade your property if you or someone you know brings them inside. Once they’ve entered your Knoxville home, there are a few signs you can look for that indicate that your home is infested.

  • Rows or clusters of small red bite marks on your skin
  • Spots of excrement on bed covers
  • Bloodstains on bedclothes, sheets, or pillowcases
  • Molted bed bug skins
  • Tiny white eggs the size of a pinhead
  • A strong, unpleasant musty odor, which usually indicates a larger infestation

Problems Bed Bugs Cause

What harm could one tiny bed bug do, right? Unfortunately, a lot. A single female bed bug can lay up to 500 eggs in its lifetime. If even one or two bed bugs are brought into your Knoxville property, you could have a severe infestation in less than 4 months. Early detection of a bed bug infestation is the best way to avoid most of the problems these tiny pests cause. Some problems bed bugs cause include sleeplessness, restlessness, and recurring bite marks. Many infestations aren’t discovered until after they have had time to become severe. Prolonged bed bug infestations can lead to health conditions such as anemia. (This disease is when there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells being circulated to muscle and body tissues.) The best way to avoid these problems is with professional bed bug treatment services.

Why You Need Bed Bug Heat Treatments

Bed bugs are resilient insects that often become resistant to chemical treatment methods. Also, these tiny pests are able to survive without a blood meal for up to five months. The most effective and efficient way to eliminate a bed bug infestation is with heat treatment services from Russell’s Pest Control.

Our bed bug heat remediation services use industrial heaters that are effective against even the largest bed bug infestations. These heaters radiate heat into areas where bed bugs like to hide, such as inside mattresses, electrical outlets, furniture, walls, and box springs. The bed bug heat treatments here at Russell’s Pest Control are eco-friendly and ensure the full elimination of your bed bug problems. For more information about our bed bug heat remediation services, or to ask us about any other pest problem, reach out to Russell’s Pest Control today.

Smelly Stink Bugs Invading Knoxville

Smelly Stink Bugs Invading Knoxville

Brown marmorated stink bugs are an invasive insect species native to Asia but were introduced to the United States in the state of Pennsylvania in 1998. Since that time, stink bugs have become a widespread problem across our continent, causing many problems for U.S. residents, including those in Knoxville. Brown marmorated stink bugs are brownish-gray in color and often described as “shield-shaped insects.” These invasive insects got their name from the putrid smell they release when crushed or threatened.

Why do stink bugs invade?

Stink bugs are classified as an agricultural pest because of their tendency to destroy crops. Some of the plants stink bugs damage include fruit trees, ornamental plants, and gardens. Stink bugs aren’t threatening or dangerous to people, as they don’t bite or sting. Brown marmorated stink bugs are considered more of a nuisance pest. Stink bugs are a type of overwintering pest, which means they find warm, sheltered areas to become dormant during the colder months. Now that fall has arrived, stink bugs are actively searching for places to overwinter. They often try to invade Knoxville homes to hide in walls, attics, or crawlspaces. In winter, if the weather warms up, stink bugs overwintering in your home may be tricked into thinking spring has arrived and become active inside your home.

Stink Bug Prevention Tips

Stink bug infestations can be prevented with several basic pest prevention tips, as well as a few that are stink bug-specific. Keep stink bugs out of your Knoxville home by doing the following.

  • Cut thick brush and foliage away from your exterior walls
  • Remove clutter from your lawn
  • Reduce moisture on your property by repairing leaky faucets and dumping out items that have collected water
  • Replace torn window screens
  • Seal all possible entry points, including gaps in your foundation, holes made for utilities, and crevices around your exterior walls
  • Wipe your window sills and doorways with scented dryer sheets
  • Kill stink bugs found around the outside of your home to deter other stink bugs from invading

It’s important to remember that prevention tips are not 100% effective and you may still end up with an infestation. If you find stink bugs in your Knoxville home, it’s time to contact the professionals at Russell’s Pest Control. We understand how frustrating pest problems can be, which is why we are dedicated to keeping your property pest-free all year long. For assistance with your pest problem, give Russell’s Pest Control a call today.

3 Things Every Knoxville Homeowner Should Know About Carpenter Ants

3 Things Every Knoxville Homeowner Should Know About Carpenter Ants

In our Knoxville service area, carpenter ants can be a significant threat. These ants can damage man-made structures as they create places to establish nests. If they chew their way into your Knoxville home, there are three important points you should consider.

1.Carpenter ants aren’t always easy to detect.

This is the big one. If you know a little about carpenter ants, you might think you’ll be able to detect them and stop them before they damage your home. This isn’t always the case. The ways carpenter ants reveal themselves can sometimes go unnoticed:

  • Worker ants. You might think that you’ll see big, black ants crawling around inside your home when these ants get in. Sadly, this is rarely the case. Carpenter ants can find a lot more to eat on the outside of your Knoxville home than they can on the inside. They don’t need to raid your cabinets to get a bite to eat. You may, however, see a random scout every once in a while. If you do, be aware that one scout ant may be the only warning sign you get.
  • Ants outside. You might think that you’re going to see lots of busy little ants around your Knoxville home when carpenter ants get in. Unfortunately, carpenter ants are mostly nocturnal. They’ll be busy while you’re sleeping.
  • Sawdust. If you know that carpenter ants don’t eat wood, you might think that you’ll see sawdust piles when these ants get into your home. Keep in mind that the nocturnal nature of carpenter ants causes them to get into dark places around and inside your home. These are usually areas that are hard to get into.
  • Winged ants. You may think you’ll see flying ants if you have an infestation. The problem with this warning sign is that swarms don’t last for more than 30 minutes and sometimes flying ants take to the air and move right into the next-door neighbor’s yard.

 2. Carpenter ant damage can cause a lot of problems.

Over time, carpenter ants can do a lot of damage. As they weaken timbers, it can put stress on the structure of your Knoxville home and lead to serious damage.

3. Carpenter ants are difficult to control.

Have you ever tried to eliminate ant colonies? It’s hard. And when you’re unsuccessful, it is difficult to know it. This is something you don’t want to do with carpenter ants. The last thing you need is to have these ants continuing to do damage to your home right under your nose.

For ant control in Knoxville, reach out to Russell’s Pest Control. We have the experience and knowledge to help you protect your property and keep ants out.

Discover The Many Benefits Of Year-Round Pest Control In Knoxville

Discover The Many Benefits Of Year-Round Pest Control In Knoxville

Have you ever brushed your teeth and stared at a big centipede in an upper corner of your bathroom and wondered where that bug was going to roam after you went to bed? Have you ever watched a big wasp flying around in your garage and wondered whether or not it was from a nest inside your walls? Have you ever had to go chasing after a nasty spider in the middle of watching a television show because it crawled across the wall behind your TV? Pests are disturbing. But their ability to make us feel uneasy and interrupt our lives is only the beginning of the troubles they can cause.

While centipedes are gross houseguests, they aren’t going to make you sick. That is not the case for cockroaches, rodents, flies and other pests that pick up harmful bacteria and spread it around. When you have year-round pest control, you get ongoing protection from bugs and animals that are drawn to rotting organic material.

While a random wasp flying around in your garage or outside in your landscaping is probably nothing to worry about, it can be downright dangerous when they create a nest in your yard. Social insects have a nest-protection instinct that can cause them to swarm and attack. Year-round pest control comes with routine pest inspections that work to catch stinging pests before they can do harm.

While most spiders that get into your home will just creep you out, we have two venomous spiders in Knoxville that can present a threat. They are the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider. Black widow spiders only get into homes occasionally, but recluse spiders can do quite well in your home and grow a significant population. With year-round pest control, you’ll get ongoing removal of spider webs around your home which will work to deter common household spiders and your pest control technician will alert you when signs of black widows or brown recluse spiders are present.

When mosquitoes come into your yard, year-round control can make them regret it. When termites try to feed on your home, your termite protection will immediately begin to eliminate the attacking colony. When ticks are brought into your yard and near your home, they won’t live long enough to get onto your pets or climb onto you while you’re working on your landscaping. Year-round pest control protects your health and property all year long.

If you’d like to learn more, we’d be happy to answer your questions. If you’re ready to take the next step and begin service, request a free, in-home pest evaluation and we’ll send a pest control professional right to your Knoxville home to help you get started.

Life is better without pests. Get your protection in place today.

How Can I Tell If I Have Been Bitten By A Tick?

How Can I Tell If I Have Been Bitten By A Tick?

In Tennessee, warm weather lasts longer than in some other states. Fall in Tennessee is the perfect season to be outdoors. But if you love picking apples or going on long fall hikes, you need to know about the dangers of black-legged ticks, also called deer ticks. These insects may be small, but they can cause a lot of trouble. You may have heard of Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. And there are several other serious diseases that can come from tick bites. Here are the answers to some common questions you might have about ticks.

When are you most likely to get a tick bite?

Ticks live in nature and travel by attaching themselves to animals such as wildlife or pets. You’re most likely to find a tick bite after spending a long time outdoors. Hiking in wooded areas, camping, or even just playing in fields with tall grass can all be ways of exposing yourself to ticks. Ticks can also bite you in your own home or in your yard. They might get to your yard on your pet or on wildlife such as deer or raccoons. They could even get into your home on squirrels or mice.

Where are tick bites usually found?

Ticks can’t fly. You won’t find them falling on your head as you walk and they won’t jump off branches at you. Instead, they crawl on your feet or legs and travel upward onto your body. This means that you may be able to avoid them by wearing long pants that are light colored so you’ll see a tick when it gets on your leg. If you don’t see it, it will look for a moist, warm area such as your armpits, your groin, the back of your head, or in your hair.  Ticks want to find a protected (which means hard-to-see) place to bite and then they attach themselves to you after they bite.

What does a tick bite feel like?

You might not notice a tick bite. The good news is that it’s very rare for the bite itself to cause any pain. The bad news is, this makes it harder to notice a tick bite than other insect bites. And the longer the tick remains attached to your skin, the more chance you have of contracting a tick-related disease. In some cases, a tick bite will itch, especially once the tick has been removed.

In order to remove a tick, grip the body with a good pair of tweezers as close to your skin as possible and pull directly out. It’s a bad idea to try to remove a tick with your fingers because they can break and get stuck inside your skin. If you’ve been bitten by a tick, it’s a good idea to see a doctor to make sure you didn’t pick up any serious diseases.

What does it mean if you have multiple tick bites?

If you have multiple tick bites, or if you constantly find new tick bites on your skin, you may have ticks in your home. As I mentioned earlier, ticks can come onto your property by riding in on wildlife or by arriving on your pets. They can’t live inside for long, but they’ll survive for a while if they can continue to get blood from you or your pets. If you keep finding tick bites, you should consider professional help.

Why call Russell’s Pest Control for tick management?

Russell’s Pest Control has experience in dealing with these difficult pets. We believe in a full treatment plan, which means that we’ll help you eliminate ticks long-term. To do this, we’ll identify factors that might be attracting ticks to your home. We’ll address a rodent problem or help you cut back on the number of wildlife coming onto your property. This will ensure that ticks don’t just vanish for a day, but that they have a hard time ever coming back to bother you.

Preventing Wasp And Hornet Stings In Knoxville During The Fall

Preventing Wasp And Hornet Stings In Knoxville During The Fall

Wasps and hornets can be a nuisance during the thick of summer. Throughout June and July, they’ve been swarming your barbecues and buzzing through your picnics. But they aren’t only active in the summer. By the end of summer, all young wasps and hornets are out of their nests foraging for food. This means you might have more stinging insects now than you did all summer. Let’s take a look at what this means.

Increased Aggression in Stinging Insects

You’re more likely to be stung by a wasp or hornet in the fall. This is mostly because there are more of them. All the eggs have hatched, and entire colonies are out looking for food before winter hits. For some species of stinging insect, it’s important to gather enough food to keep a colony alive throughout the winter. For other species, hibernation isn’t an option, and fall is just the last chance to enjoy sweet nectar.

Either way, these insects are more active in the fall than they were in the spring. If you let your guard down, you may find yourself with uncomfortable stings. Wasps and hornets tend to be aggressive only when they feel threatened. It’s always a good idea to keep an eye out for hornets and wasps, especially during the fall when there are more of them around.

Preventing Wasps and Hornets

There are some things you can do now to prevent an infestation next year. One way to prevent stinging insects is to clear your yard. Stinging insects build nests in holes in the ground, in trees, on overhangs, even on playgrounds. One way to prevent this is to fill holes and trim all plants in and around your yard. Another way to prevent stinging insects is to control the presence of other pests. If you have lots of bugs on your property, wasps and hornets will probably show up in search of food.

Tips to Avoid Getting Stung

Preventative measures can be helpful, but it’s important to learn how to protect yourself from stings when stinging insects do show up in your yard. You can avoid getting stung by avoiding bright-colored clothing. Flower patterns will attract confused wasps and hornets, as will bright patches. Perfumes, or even scented soap or shampoo, can attract stinging insects. Sweet smells are enticing to them and increase your chance of getting stung. You can also minimize your chances of being stung by covering as much skin as possible and wearing long pants and long sleeves when you know you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors. Finally, wearing bug spray can help dissuade stinging insects from coming too close to you.

When to Call Russell’s Pest Control

It’s good to think in terms of prevention and avoiding stings. Wasps and hornets are important pollinators, and you will inevitably come across a few here and there on your Nashville property. However, if your yard is filled with wasps and hornets, or if you think there is a nest on your property, it is best to get professional help. Russell’s Pest Control has experience in identifying the species of stinging insect and the factors that might have attracted them to your home in the first place. We can create a custom treatment plan to clear your yard of these pests so that you can enjoy the beautiful weather of fall without wondering if you’re about to receive another painful sting.

Did You Know Bed Bugs Are Most Active In Fall?

Did You Know Bed Bugs Are Most Active In Fall?

By now, you’ve probably heard that bed bugs are a growing problem in the United States. Over the last two decades, they’ve returned to America in force. But, being a relatively new pest threat, there are still many things people don’t know about these bugs, such as the fact that they live almost exclusively with humans. Without this knowledge, your home is at greater risk of a bed bug infestation, especially this time of year. Let’s take a look at why bed bug infestations are common in fall and talk about what you can do to prevent an infestation.

While bed bugs are a year-round pest problem, infestations can ramp up in the fall. There are two big reasons for this. The first is that kids have spent the summer on vacation, which often involves taking trips, and taking trips usually goes hand-in-hand with staying overnight somewhere. This can allow bed bugs to get picked up and brought home. So by the time fall rolls around, a bed bug infestation can start to become noticeable. This is when we start getting calls.

The second reason infestations ramp up in fall has to do with what kids do in the fall. Going back to school means kids are in close contact with each other. They leave their clothing and bags near each other. Daycare kids lie down for nap time near each other. Kids have sleepovers. These are some of the many ways bed bugs can hitchhike from one home to another during the fall.

Whether you already have an infestation or you’re working to prevent one, it is important to recognize the warning signs of a bed bug infestation. Catching bed bugs early is super important. It can help you keep them from getting into your home and help you take care of them before they can torment you and your family.

Your greatest tools in the war on bed bugs is awareness of your surroundings and the power of a hot drier. Make sure you and your kids are always on the lookout for bed bugs and signs of bed bugs. Don’t let these bugs sneak up on you. If you see bed bug eggs or bed bugs in a bag, suitcase, pocketbook, clothing or some other object that can be put in the drier, put it in for 30 minutes on the hottest setting. This will kill bed bugs in all stages of development.

If you ever get a bed bug infestation in your home, seek professional assistance immediately. Trying to get rid of bed bugs is a nightmare.

For assistance with bed bugs in the Greater Knoxville area, trust the experts here at Russell’s Pest Control to resolve your problem. We have the credentials and experience to get the job done right… the first time.

Why Homeowners Insurance Will Not Protect Your Knoxville Home From Termites

Why Homeowners Insurance Will Not Protect Your Knoxville Home From Termites

Have you ever had to file a claim for home damages? It is usually a fairly simple process. You call your insurance company. Someone from the insurance company takes a look. The claim is filed, and you get paid. Simple, right? But it doesn’t always work like this. Sometimes, you find out that insurance companies don’t always payout. There are circumstances that can leave you holding the repair bill. Subterranean termite damage is often one of them.

Insurance companies view termite damage as preventable with routine maintenance. Why? Because termite damage is preventable with routine maintenance. The problem is that most homeowners don’t have the knowledge and tools to perform this routine maintenance. So it turns into a sort of catch-22.

Insurance companies perceive their role as protecting homeowners from sudden and unforeseeable diseases, like house fires and bursting water pipes. On a side note, if termites chew through your wires and cause a house fire, which can happen, you’re probably going to be covered. But insurance companies have very little pity when they think you’re responsible for the damage. If the damage is considered the result of neglect, you’re going to pay for it.

Imagine buying a home in a flood zone and not getting flood protection. Imagine buying a home on the tip of Florida without paying for hurricane insurance. It doesn’t make sense, does it. Well, living in Tennessee without subterranean termite insurance doesn’t make sense either. Those insects can be a serious threat to properties here.

How do you get termite insurance?

You invest in termite protection that comes with a termite-damage warranty.

If you live in the Knoxville area, we can help you with this. At Russell’s Pest Control, we deploy the Sentricon System with Always Active to protect man-made structures from the threat of these wood-destroying insects. This system targets termites, and only termites, and does not require trenching or drilling. It works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and it is backed by a $1,000,000 termite-damage warranty. Best of all, it doesn’t just protect you from the financial impact of finding termite damage, it keeps termites from damaging your property. Let’s see your insurance policy do that!

If you have questions or you’d like to meet with one of our licensed professionals, request a free, no-obligation estimate. We’ll take a look and give you the information you need to protect your equity.