Tips For Pest Prevention During The Holidays

As families get into the holiday spirit, digging out decorations and unpacking strands of twinkling lights, it is important to be aware of unwanted guests. Pests can make their way into your home via boxes of ornaments, fresh-cut Christmas trees, wreathes and even firewood.

Ants and spiders can easily hide in the branches of trees and crevices of firewood, while mice can chew through cardboard boxes of decorations that have been stored away since last season. Unfortunately, these pests can pose serious health threats, from food contamination to the spread of disease, should they find a way inside.

Russell’s Pest Control advises homeowners to carefully inspect these items for pests before bringing them inside the home. Here are some tips The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) recommends during the holidays:

  • Inspect live, fresh-cut, evergreen trees, wreathes and garlands for spiders, insect nests or eggs before purchasing. Shake greenery outdoors to remove any pests before bringing them inside.

  • Unpack decorations outdoors so pests aren’t released into the home. Repack decorations in durable, sealed containers that pests can’t chew through.

  • Store firewood at least 20 feet from the home on a raised structure, such as concrete blocks or poles.

  • If you suspect a pest infestation in your home, contact a licensed pest professional to inspect, identify and treat the problem.

A Good Perspective On Spiders

Recently, we linked to an article on our facebook page by an entomologist blogger who discussed the use of scare tactics in journalism, particularly in relation to extremely unpopular pests like spiders. Now granted, we’re not afraid to employ the spook factor on occasion to make people’s jaws drop because there really are some pests in the world that no one wants to meet during daily life. However, we want people to have a proper perspective on pests. Right now, spiders are a hot topic in Knoxville and surrounding areas because it’s been an extremely webby year, so let’s talk about them for a bit.

The article linked above said that, on average, people should assume that they’re within six feet of a spider at any given point. This is not good news. There are some people who just don’t mind the presence of spiders (I live with one of those people, and it’s completely baffling to me). However, most people don’t want to think about being less than half a room away from a spider while they sleep. Let us be reasonable, though. Most of those spiders are really tiny, and you probably wouldn’t even notice them if you passed them in broad daylight. There are a lot of arachnids in our country that are so small that they couldn’t bite you even if they wanted to. Their jaws are just too tiny to get through our thick skin, and all of those spiders are more than eager to get out of your way as quickly as possible if you cross paths. Of the ones that could bite you, the vast majority of them are 100% motivated not to do so (since it’s almost assuredly going to spell certain death for them). Of the ones that could bite you and might do it, most will hurt noticeably less than a bee sting and will leave behind a mark that will be gone within 48 hours. The pool of truly troublesome spiders in the U.S. is just not very large.

However, we’re in the pest control industry. We’re in this business because we understand that people can recognize that most spiders are not going to hurt them while still maintaining the conviction that sharing space with them is unacceptable. We get that. This is a service industry; we’re here to help people and relieve some pain or stress in their lives.

So, here’s the perspective that we like to convey to people. In most cases, pest control is about controlling pests, not eliminating them everywhere forever. You would be very upset if we blasted every spider off your property because your house would quickly be overrun by all manner of scuttling and flying pests. Spiders really do have a crucial part in the circle of life around your house. We want to keep the spiders out of your house so they don’t bother you while still allowing them to help with the pest control on the rest of your property.

We absolutely do treatments for spiders, and we would be glad to talk to you about that if you need one. We’ll also knock down their webs around your doors and windows when we come to do a pest control treatment; this makes good sense because a spider who is not living right next to an entrance to your home is a lot less likely invite herself in to stay for a while. We don’t want to you meet wolf spiders while doing your laundry, so we’ll pay particular attention to areas that are most likely to foster hunting grounds for large spiders like that. But, try to remember that spiders can be a little bit cool (from a distance) and that they’re absolutely crucial in the scheme of the world.

Keep Pests From Haunting The House This Halloween

f you watch the local news, you may have seen the pest control industry got a fair amount of attention this fall since the overwintering pests like stink bugs caused more than their fair share of trouble (and are likely to continue to do so in the spring). It’s always good to have a reminder about the important steps you can take to pest-proof your home each season.  Check out a our recent press release below.

KEEP PESTS FROM HAUNTING THE HOUSE THIS HALLOWEEN

Knoxville, TN, October 2013 – Ghosts, goblins, and witches won’t be the only creatures trying to spook homeowners this Halloween. Russell’s Pest Control advises people to be on the lookout for real-life ghoulish pests lurking around neighborhoods, including rodents, bats and spiders.

“As the temperature continues to drop, many of these creepy critters will seek respite from the winter chill – often within the confines our homes,” said Mark Nadolski, Owner/General Manager for the Russell’s Pest Control. “Once inside, rodents and other pests can do more than just provide their fair share of scares. They are capable of contaminating food, spreading disease and posing a threat to our property.”

Rodents can spread salmonella and hantavirus and create fire hazards by gnawing through electrical wires in the home. Bats are frequent carriers of rabies, which is potentially fatal if left untreated, and some species of spiders can administer a painful bite when disturbed.

To keep these pests from haunting the house this Halloween, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) recommends the following tips:

  • Seal any cracks or crevices with caulk and steel wool. Pay special attention to holes in the structure that lead to dark secluded areas, like attics and belfries.

  • Screen attic vents and openings to chimney.

  • Install door sweeps on exterior doors and repair damaged screens.

  • Eliminate sources of moisture, especially in crawl spaces and basements.

  • Inspect items such as boxes, grocery bags and other packages brought into the home.

  • Store food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly.

  • If you suspect a pest infestation in your home, contact a licensed pest professional to inspect and treat the pest problem.

For more information on common household pests and how to protect your home, please contact us today!

The Other Arachnid In East Tennessee

For something new and different, I thought we might cover a pest whose presence is often extremely surprising to East Tennessee homeowners. In fact, these creatures are so evasive that most people don’t know that they’re in the area. I’m talking about scorpions, a creature that, unfortunately, invokes the kind of fear responses that people usually reserve for spiders. They are cousins, after all.

Yes, there are scorpions in East Tennessee. They live mostly in the Smoky Mountains, which tends to surprise people since we often assume that scorpions must live in hot, dry areas. In fact, two species of scorpions live in our area, though they’re both quite small and fairly inoffensive.

Scorpions are easily identified by their arcing tail that they carry over their heads and the claws that they have in front like little lobsters. Yes, even our small scorpions can sting, but neither of the species in this state is considered dangerous. Unless you have a random allergy to their venom (which is quite unlikely), their sting is no worse than a bee sting. Their color can range from light tan to a dark brown, and they’re well-equipped with camouflage to help them blend in to the floors of the forests around here that are covered in leaves and pine needles.

Scorpions are most active during warm weather, which means that you are unlikely to encounter one in the wild before 2014. However, scorpions don’t mind the cold too much and can wait out bad weather with ease since they can go up to six months without eating. This is important since a scorpion can live 5-6 years and needs to be able to survive all the seasons.

Like spiders, scorpions are predators, so they are drawn to debris where other bugs may be living. If residents do find scorpions in the house, it is likely because they were drawn there by a woodpile or leaves too close to the structure. They are also drawn to moisture (likely because moisture is attractive to their prey), so you are most likely to find them in a bathroom or laundry room if they are indoors.

Interestingly enough, scorpions regulate their hunting habits based on their size. Large scorpions out in Arizona and California (which can grow up to 5-7 inches) rely on their strength to catch prey and crush them to death before consuming them. Small scorpions like the ones in Tennessee must rely on stealth-based hunting since they have to ensure that they can immobilize their insect prey with venom before eating them. This is why most Tennessee residents have never seen a scorpion. They are nocturnal hunters and would always prefer to avoid a fight they think they can’t win (though they’re not afraid to have a go at a person if they feel cornered).

Scorpions aren’t like ants and spiders, and you’ll probably never have a problem with an infestation of them in your home. However, we at Russell’s Pest Control know that it pays to be prepared for the unlikely. If you do start to see scorpions around the house, we know how to take care of them. Contact us here; we’d be glad to come out and handle the little creepers for you so you don’t have to.

Black Widow Spiders: The Ultimate Halloween Pest

Since it’s October, we’ve decided to continue our tradition of introducing you to a creepy beastie. Last year’s house centipede was alarming, but now let’s look at what may be the most widely-recognized “bug” in North America. Today, we’ll discuss facts about black widow spiders and what homeowners in Knoxville and the surrounding counties need to know about keeping themselves safe.

Probably almost all of our readers have at least seen a picture of a black widow. But, just as a review, you can identify a black widow by its bulbous, round body that is shiny, black, and hairless. They have thin, jointed legs, which are also hairless. Adult black widow spiders have that tell-tale hour glass on their stomachs, which is most famously known to be red but can also be orange, yellow, or even white. We are also seeing a rise of brown widows, which obviously have a different body color but usually still have a bright spot on their stomachs. Black widows prefer to make their webs near to the ground where they will not be disturbed. The webbing is extremely dense and messy; clearing it away with a broom may be difficult because the silk is so strong and sticky.

Black widows are one of the only two dangerous spiders in our area. Although brown recluses are probably more famous for their dangerous bites, pest professionals like those at Russell’s Pest Control consider the black widow to be more of a threat. They can be quite aggressive, particularly when guarding their eggs. Unlike recluses, who produce a toxin that attacks skin cells, black widow spiders produce a neurotoxin. A neurotoxin is a poison that affects the nervous system. This means that the location of the bite itself may show only mild symptoms, but other side effects could be more problematic. Additional symptoms of a black widow bite include nausea, fever, and severe muscle cramps, particularly in the abdomen. Despite the possible severity of these symptoms, black widow bites are very rarely fatal in the U.S. and usually only require observation by a doctor for a day or two.

So, you don’t want to meet a black widow…what should you do? Unfortunately, widows are very common in East Tennessee and are most likely to be found by homeowners in stored items or debris around the property. The crevices in wood piles make great homes for widows as do boxes that are rarely opened in the garage. Keep your wood piles well away from the house, and always wear long sleeves and gloves if you’re going to haul wood to burn inside. In addition, keeping your garage as tidy as possible will also deter black widows from settling at your house. If you’re going to clean out your garage and move old boxes, always wear gloves to protect yourself.

Generally, the position of a good pest control company is that spiders should be preserved because they serve such a crucial role in nature. However, black widows around your house are dangerous, and Russell’s does not recommend that you view them as good neighbors. If you find a black widow at your house, kill it (use a closed-toed shoe, not a paper towel or broom). Widows reproduce very rapidly and can easily have around 350 eggs in one sac. If you think you have a widow problem at your house and want to try to treat them yourself, read the label of your over-the-counter pesticide carefully. Most store-bought products are not labeled to kill spiders and will not do so effectively. There are plenty of people who can’t stand spiders and don’t want to deal with them. We at Russell’s Pest Control understand that completely and would be glad to set you up on a quarterly pest control plan that takes care of ants, roaches, and mice in addition to alarming arachnids. Think about it, and visit us here if you’re interested.

It’s Spider Season

Despite the fact that spiders play a beneficial role in our environment, arachnophobia (the fear of spiders) is more common than any other kind of phobia. Unfortunately for the people of east Tennessee, spiders are considered a year-round pest and can be found in homes during any season and in the midst of any weather conditions. Let’s go over the basics of what you need to know if you’re finding spiders in your home, particularly because early September is when we at Russell’s start to get more phone calls about indoor spiders.

First of all, DON’T PANIC! No one likes to be startled by a large spider somewhere unexpected, but there are very few spiders in Tennessee that can deliver a bite even as powerful as a bee sting. And, despite their bad reputation, only a few spiders are considered aggressive. Many wouldn’t bite you even if you tried to provoke them (this, of course, doesn’t change the fact that you should never provoke what you can’t identify).

Spiders aren’t like roaches; they don’t move indoors just because they like it there. All spiders are predators, which means if you’re finding spiders in your house, it’s because there are already other small bugs there that can provide a food source for your eight-legged friends. The trick, then, is to get rid of the food source and make your home uninviting for a hungry spider.

Keep exterior doors closed. Caulk around your windows so that cracks don’t offer convenient entry points for small pests; this will also help lower your bills so you’re not air conditioning or heating the outdoors. Check your window screens. You need to be sure you’re not leaving holes for unwanted guests when you let in that sweet autumn air. Replace weather-stripping and seals around doors if needed, particularly since overhangs at the back door are a common place for spiders to set up shop.

Try some of these tips to keep your home spider-free in September. And, if the spiders are still more than you can handle, remember Russell’s offers convenient pest control services that can take care of most common house spiders. We’ll even knock down their webs.