Are you seeing an ant or a termite? Both produce winged swarmers when the weather finally starts to warm. Regardless of which insect it is - there is no reason to panic - BUT it does signal the time to become pro-active!!
Termite swarmers are a sign that you may have a termite infestation in your home.
Call C&C Home Services to schedule an inspection today!
INSPECTIONS ARE FREE!!
ALL homeowners should periodically have their homes inspected for termites...regardless of age!! Each year, termites cause over 5 BILLION dollars in damage in the United States. Termites are active ALL year!!
Eddie has 16 personal (and consecutive years) in the pest control industry and specializes in doing termite inspections for real estate transactions. Trust his experience and knowledge!
As a homeowner, there are some pro-active steps that you can take to help keep unwanted pests from entering your home. Pests transmit disease & pose health problems for your family and some cause property damage. The NPMA (National Pest Management Association) recommends that homeowners do the following to help prevent bugs & rodents from entering your home: (http://www.pestworld.org/For-Consumers/Prevention-Tips)
1. Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home including entry points for utilities and pipes.
2. Keep tree branches and shrubbery well trimmed and away from the house.
3. Keep basements, attics, and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.
4. Store garbage in sealed containers and dispose of it regularly.
5. Repair fascia and sofits and rotted roof shingles; some insects are drawn to deteriorating wood.
6. Replace weather-stripping and repair loose mortar around basement foundation and windows.
7. Store fire wood at least 20 feet away from the house and five inches off the ground.
If you need help with any of these things around your home - call Eddie!! Remember that inspections are always FREE, too!! You DON'T have to put up with bugs or rodents because you cannot afford the high cost of pest control! PEST MANAGEMENT is affordable with C&C Home Services!
ABSOLUTELY!
Pests don't hibernate when it gets cold out -- they move INSIDE! Now is the time when you will start to hear mice scratching inside your walls. MICE can enter through cracks and holes as small as a dime. (Read more about mice infestation & the problems they can cause in the winter months in the article quoted below.)
Other winter pest problems to watch for:
Indian Meal (or Flour) Moths
Indian meal (or flour) moths enter the home through infested grains, and other dried foods. Some of the more commonly infested foods include:
cereals, birdseed, flour, snack foods (cookies, chocolates, etc) and pet food.
Cockroaches
If not properly and quickly managed, roaches can be problematic and breed to prolific proportions. This is the case with German, American and Oriental cockroaches. It is not uncommon for roaches and other pests to be transported from one house to another by falling from the clothing of a person who has a roach infestation or by coming in boxes from items you buy in a store.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants can be found within the home during the winter months and may indicate a satellite nest located within the home. Carpenter ants will nest in wall voids. Inspect areas where wood may come in contact with excessive moisture (undersinks, basements, etc.) and wood that has been compromised by rot or fungus.
Termites
If left untreated, termites can cause extensive damage to wooden structure of a house. Termites are dependent on moisture sources. Foraging IS limited during winter months when the ground is frozen....however, they can remain active if the structure they are infesting is heated.
If any of these winter invaders are of concern to you -- PLEASE call Eddie! Inspections to identify & isolate problems and estimates for treatments or preventative services are always FREE!
** Remember -- we provide service to HOMES and BUSINESSES -- and C&C Home Services has the best service (and rates)!! (o.k. - I am biased because he's my hubby -- but it's TRUE! He's been in the pest control business 15 years and is arguably one of the best in the business!)
Taken from the National Pest Management webite
http://www.pestworld.org/Press-Releases/Old-Man-Winter-Blows-Pests-Indoors
"OLD MAN WINTER BLOWS PESTS INDOORS" Thursday, November 13, 2008 National Pest Management Association offers tips for effective winter pest proofing
November 13 (FAIRFAX, Va.) – A warm home may fight off the chill of a cold winter day, but it also provides the perfect cozy hideaway for pests, too. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) estimates that 21 million pests invade homes every winter. Cockroaches, termites, ants, spiders and especially mice make a hasty retreat indoors during the colder months.
Mice seek shelter, warmth and food, taking advantage of openings as small as the size of a nickel, to make their way indoors. Once inside, mice are capable of chewing through walls, electrical wires and baseboards and breed at alarming rates, as much as a dozen babies every three weeks. Signs of an infestation include scampering sounds at night in walls and ceilings, droppings, found in undisturbed places and damaged or partially eaten food.
In addition to property damage and rampant infestations, mice also carry and transmit diseases such as Hantavirus and Salmonella. "Diseases are transferred from mice to humans through their urine and droppings," said Greg Baumann, senior scientist of NPMA. "With mice having the capability of dropping more than 70 times a day, its important to seal cracks around the home to prevent mice from getting in. It's also a good idea to have a maintenance plan in place, working with a local pest professional to target vulnerable entryways and help prevent infestations in the first place."
