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Moles

For those who take pride and invest heavily in the appearance of their home, lawn and gardens, the appearance of mounds and ridges due to a mole infestation is extremely frustrating. Their foraging tunnels disfigure well-manicured grass, dislodge and injure plant roots and facilitate the germination of weed seeds.   Moles feed mainly on earthworms and beetle grubs both of which thrive in lawns and mulch gardens where regular watering and fertilizing are conducive to their presence. It is for this reason that well- maintained grounds will always be highly attractive to moles…continue reading →

Yellow Jackets

Late summer and early fall is Yellow Jacket season in Indiana and Illinois. Yellow Jackets are easily identified by their black and yellow striping and are commonly noted in large numbers hovering around trash receptacles and dumpsters at fall festivals, picnic grounds, supermarkets and in residential areas. These are the “bees” that are especially attractive to sugars and are regularly noted swarming and entering unattended soda and beer cans thereby presenting a serious health risk to the consumers of these beverages. The cycle of nest building and reproduction begins slowly each spring since…continue reading →

Just say no to service contracts!

Spring is finally here! The windows are open, the grass is green, motorcycles are rumbling and the bugs are on the move. Small ants are on the kitchen counters, big black carpenter ants are cruising through the house, spiders and wasps are stirring……… you get the picture. Many homeowners find that they have a need for pest control at this time of year and seek to hire a pest control professional. At this point a pest control company is contacted, an appointment is set for an evaluation/estimate and shortly afterwards a salesman arrives.…continue reading →

Tornadoes, Fires and Termites.

Spring is tornado season in the Midwest. Small children are being marched through school hallways and drilled on how to take cover, storm chasers are doing the final check on their vehicles and equipment and the Weather Channel is primed for a major ratings boost. We have all seen the horrifying aftermath of these devastating storms and we collectively wonder how anyone ever survives the carnage. It is not at all uncommon for the nightly news to lead with footage of leaping flames engulfing a warehouse, apartment building or a home. The dramatic…continue reading →

Termites in Northwest Indiana

It is quite common for lending institutions such as banks and mortgage companies to protect their investment and request Wood Destroying Insect (WDI) inspections for homes that are being purchased or refinanced. Licensed pest control professionals are regularly contacted to render a thorough examination of the structural timbers in these homes for evidence of infestation and damage due to termites, carpenter ants and powder post beetles. Although these inspections include all wood destroying insects they are routinely referred to by lending agents, sellers, buyers, realtors and pest control professionals as “Termite Inspections.” The…continue reading →

Swarmer termites, flying ants and sports

What do Baseball, The Masters, The NFL Draft, Kentucky Derby and the NBA/NHL playoffs have in common with termites and ants? They are all unstoppable forces of spring! They can’t be avoided and you can set your watch by their arrival each year when the dreary gloom of winter gives way to the lush greens and budding colors of April and May. Just as many wives are perturbed with their sports addicted husbands who stay glued to the TV while the grass remains uncut, other homeowners are similarly disgusted to find that termites…continue reading →

Spiders

Fall in Indiana and Illinois is a wonderful time of year. Cooler temperatures provide a welcome relief from summer heat and humidity, leaves are beginning to turn and football season is underway. It is also the time of year when spider activity peaks and many homeowners seek the services of a pest control professional to provide relief from these intimidating pests.   Most species of spiders are simply common household pests and are not poisonous. Occasionally spider bites may cause mild pain, swelling and irritation but it is mostly their unsightly webbing around…continue reading →

Where Are These Mice Coming In?

One quarter of one inch. The width of a house key. 3 nickels stacked on top of one another. The width of a fettuccini noodle. This is all the space that a mouse requires to gain access to a home or building. Anyone that has ever been startled by the sudden appearance of a mouse knows that they disappear as quickly as they emerge. For those who have been curious enough to investigate where the mouse came from or went, it can be mind boggling since no apparent access holes are visible. When…continue reading →

Mosquito Management

Mosquitos may be the most hated pest in America due to their ability to completely ruin our enjoyment of the outdoors. Beyond the fact that they are a horrible nuisance they have, throughout history transmitted diseases such as malaria, yellow fever and encephalitis. In more recent times they have been conclusively linked to the transmission of West Nile and Zika Virus’s. In order to manage mosquito populations around our homes and yards it is important to understand just a little bit about how these pests reproduce. The adult female mosquito lays her eggs…continue reading →
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