Pest control is about far more than dealing with the annoyance of bugs and rodents. It is a vital key to ensuring your family’s health and safety. Also, an unchecked pest problem on your property will spread to affect your neighbors. Pests carry diseases and germs, but the overuse of pesticides can present hazards that demand awareness. Pest control safety is critically important for ourselves, our families, pets, and neighborhoods. So let’s consider the pest control do’s and don’ts that will keep your home pest-free.

Do: Identify the Pest and Choose the Right Pest Control Method

When you see a nasty bug, you may want to grab a can of whatever is under the sink and start spraying. However, it’s wise to resist this understandable impulse. Some pests are not remotely harmed by the spray that kills others. So, not only does a haphazard approach waste both time and money, but it also adds chemicals to your environment. And just as bacteria can develop a resistance to overused antibiotics, the same can be true of pests to pesticides. So, the first rule of chemical safety do’s and don’ts is to identify and accurately treat the existing problem.

Don’t: Use DIY Pesticides Without Proper Knowledge and Training

Our natural aversion to pests makes many people cringe when they hear anything about mosquitoes, fleas, rats, mice, and other nasty critters. We don’t want to know anything about them — we just want them gone! But this is the second item on our list of pest control do’s and don’ts for an important reason. Using pesticides without understanding both the target and the chemicals involved can lead to several potential problems.

Not only do people often reach for the wrong pesticide for the problem, but also we may decide “if some is good, more is better.” This is a dangerous misconception. The toxins can accumulate, risking food contamination and accumulation on surfaces family members touch. Further, excessive or indiscriminate pesticide use can make pest control harmful to humans while leading to both environmental damage and pests developing immunity to currently effective pesticides.

Do: Keep Your Home and Property Clean and Tidy

An essential part of effective pest control is keeping your home and property free from the conditions that attract pests. Unfortunately, many insects and small mammals have evolved to benefit from our messes. From spilled or untended food to overgrown grass or standing water, we often provide all the food, shelter, and breeding support these pests need to thrive. So, good hygiene indoors and out is essential for pest control safety. The less you provide food, water, and shelter to pests, the easier it is to keep them out of your home and property.

Don’t: Ignore Pest Infestations

No pests will just go away if you ignore them. Most pest species have a fast life cycle. So, when you first discover a pest issue, you may already be dealing with a few generations of pests, including eggs, pupae, larvae, and adult insects. The sooner you can interrupt that life cycle and effectively kill or remove the existing eggs and adults, the sooner and easier the problem can be resolved.

Ignoring a few pests can rapidly escalate to a large-scale infestation. Generations of insects are tougher to control and more likely to transmit disease, and some pests can cause structural damage to your home. Whether you’re dealing with rats or termites, you’ll want to end the destruction before it becomes far more expensive to repair. Therefore, prompt action is a definite “do” among safe pest control do’s and don’ts.

Do: Use Pesticides Safely and as Directed

Pest control safety relies on using pesticides only as directed. Pesticides can be dangerous and harmful chemicals when misused. For instance, some substances remain highly toxic for months unless they are exposed to sunshine. So these should never be used indoors. Others will bond with a surface and remain effective despite rain and dew, while others can easily wash away. Still, other chemicals are highly effective at killing a pest at one stage but not at another. Chemical safety do’s and don’ts specify following all of the manufacturer’s warnings and directions for your well-being and that of your family and the environment.

Don’t: Rely Solely on Pesticide

Effective and eco-friendly pest control requires approaching the infestation from several directions. It is not enough to spray toxic chemicals to eradicate the problem. If your home or property offers abundant food, water, shelter, and a mating habitat, new pests will always have the incentive to move in, even if you recently killed off previous pests. You can thus get into a vicious cycle of killing pests once they arrive rather than deterring them from arriving in the first place.

Instead of relying on pesticides alone, employ excellent hygiene indoors and out. Learn about the specific needs of the pests you’re facing, so you can best identify ways your home meets those needs. You can then eliminate access points to your home or garden. Discover how to create effective barriers to your property. Eliminate sources of food and water. Safely remove nests, deploy taps, and repair all leaky faucets or pipes. A holistic approach to pest control will always be the most effective and safest route for your family.

Do: Stay Educated and Up to Date on Pest Control Techniques

Pest control safety and efficacy is a continually-developing subject. Around the world, scientists are working toward more effective solutions to protect more people from the spread of disease, contagions, and allergens. And this list includes Mosquito Joe, where our team of Entomologists is collaborating with the premier chemical manufacturers in the country to combat mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. But while people strive to develop more effective pest control that is safe for pets and small children, the pests are evolving in order to resist these defenses. We are essentially in an arms race, and it’s wise to remain informed so that you can best protect your home, family, and your neighbors. We all have an important role to play.

To learn more, visit Mosquito Joe’s blog for educational articles that will keep you updated and informed about pest control do’s and don’ts, problem pests in your neighborhood, and ways to reclaim your outdoor spaces from nasty, biting insects.

Choose Effective Pest Control With Mosquito Joe

Whether you’re combating mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, rodents, gnats, or other pests, call on the experts at your local Mosquito Joe. We provide effective pest control services for residential and commercial properties across the country. All our work is backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise™ and the Mosquito Joe® satisfaction guarantee, so you know the job will be done right — on time, the first time. We help make your outdoor spaces fun again!

We often think of summer as the worst time to battle insects. But pests often invade our homes in the winter, searching for relief from cold weather and food scarcity. Nobody wants to spend the winter cold and hungry. Well, pests are no different. The change of weather is a common trigger for a home invasion by perimeter pests like ants, cockroaches, spiders, and crickets. So, start preparing now by learning how to bug-proof your home for a pest-free winter.

Seal Your Doors

Various insects and pests can pass through even the smallest cracks and crevices. For example, our doorways often have small openings at the door jambs and molding that bugs can exploit. Examine your doors, using caulk and weather stripping where needed, to seal your house from bugs. Home sealing for pest control also helps to keep your utility bills down by keeping the heat in and cold air out.

Add Screens

You probably have window screens to keep pests out of your house. But when was the last time you checked on their condition? Screen frames get bent, the screen can tear or develop holes, and rust can lead to openings that pests will march through. When you examine your window screens, check the vent screens, too. Because you don’t see them every day, they may need repairs to keep your home bug-free. Check them periodically throughout the winter to ensure they are still in good condition.

Maintain Your Yard

When learning how to bug-proof your home, you’ll see how vital yard maintenance is. Preventing pests from nesting in your yard is the first step to keeping them away from your home. This begins with trimming and maintaining trees and shrubs. Sick plants are a haven for many insects. Keep leaf litter, weeds, brush piles, and other garden debris cleaned up, so they don’t provide nesting sites for pets. Remove sources of standing water, and clean up any fallen fruits and vegetables to reduce the number of pests that seek refuge in your yard. This type of preventative maintenance can go a long way to keep your yard and home bug-free.

Repair Cracks

Track down any drafts of cold air, cracks, or weaknesses in your home’s walls that might serve as an entry point for pests. Repairing any cracks will help ensure you have a bug-proof house this winter. Rotting or broken wood, broken or chipped bricks, and cracked or chipped stucco can also provide openings through which insects can enter. Carefully examine your house’s siding to ensure there are no gaps or areas where bugs can enter.

Seal Around Pipe Penetrations

Typically, a gap exists in every spot where a water pipe penetrates a wall in your home. Pests can use those gaps to enter your home. Although the gaps were likely caulked at installation, caulk ages, dries out, and flakes away, which creates an opening for bugs. Inspect each pipe where it penetrates the wall to be sure the hole around the pipe is well sealed against pests. Similarly, air ducts that penetrate a wall, like those that separate your garage and house, should be inspected and well-caulked to seal the house from bugs. We also offer pest inspections for your yard.

Watch What You Bring Home

When thinking about how to bug-proof your home, note the ways that you could accidentally be carrying bugs inside with you. For example, when you bring in a freshly cut Christmas tree or firewood, insects could be coming along for the ride. In addition, fruit, plants from the nursery, and even the cardboard boxes your deliveries are shipped in can transport pests. Before carrying these items indoors, inspect them carefully and avoid storing cardboard boxes in your home. They are an inviting habitat for many insects, especially during winter months.

Store Trash Properly

In addition to removing any excess packaging or cardboard from your home, storing trash properly is another important part of maintaining a bug-free house. Trash provides food, egg-laying locations, and shelter for pests indoors and out. And any pests that have taken up residents outside your home, may eventually find their way in. So, putting a lid over your trash can and regularly emptying it is essential to minimizing the potential for pests to enter your home.

Use Only “Yellow” Lights for Outdoor Lighting

As you know, insects, especially nocturnal ones, are attracted to light. But did you know that the color of the light can make a difference when it comes to attracting insects? Studies confirm that more insects are attracted to white lights than to yellow ones. And they tend to stick around white lights longer too. The studies indicate that insects have trouble seeing yellow light, which means fewer bugs. Using only yellow lights outdoors may help reduce the number of insects that hang out around your exterior lights. And less bugs hanging around your doors and windows means fewer bugs trying to find their way into your home.

Keep Your Home Clean

This one seems like a no-brainer, but when things get busy, cleaning your home regularly can fall to the bottom of your to-do list. Many insects have essential roles in their native habitats, such as disposing of animal carcasses, rotted fruit, and fallen trees. So, it’s natural that they are drawn to spilled food, discarded paper products, and other messes that are part of regular home-life. Therefore, keeping your home clean and maintaining a regular cleaning schedule is an important part of how to bug-proof your home each season.

Cover All Large Openings

Now that we’ve covered many of the smaller details and have you focused and mindful about sealing, screening, and caulking every tiny crack and crevice in your home, it’s time to go big! Don’t overlook those big openings like the chimney and the roof vents. A fine gauge wire screen can prevent bugs and bigger pests from entering your home through these larger openings. Birds, squirrels, and raccoons see these entryways as an open invitation to ‘come on in.’ Although, the arrival of unexpected visitors during the holidays can be fun. These are not the kind of surprise guests we have in mind. So, to prevent a squirrel, bird, or raccoon from crashing your holiday feast, cover any large opening before the weather gets cold.

Ensure a Bug-Free Home with Mosquito Joe

Learning how to bug-proof your home each season is essential for effective pest control. But you don’t have to do it all on your own. Mosquito Joe can help keep your home bug-free this winter with perimeter pest control services. Our perimeter pest control is designed to keep all sorts of creepy, crawling insects out of your personal space. So, the only guests you have this season are the ones you invited.

And when the weather starts to get warmer, our barrier spray service and eco-friendly pest controls will make the outdoors fun again for the whole family while ensuring your house remains a bug-free home. We offer comprehensive pest control and tailor our services to meet your specific needs. Learn more about how we can help you make your home and garden safe for your family and pets.

Call us at 1-855-275-2563 or schedule an appointment online today! We will be happy to arrange a free consultation so that you’ll be on your way to enjoying a bug-free winter.

Winter Pest Control Tips

It’s tempting to embrace the chilly winter months, trusting the cold to prevent problems with pests. After all, most pests, like mosquitoes, die in winter, right? Nope. While many pests are most active in spring and summer, some may show up in your home in winter, seeking shelter from the chilly temperatures. So, is pest control necessary in the winter? The answer is yes. For the sake of safety and hygiene, you do need pest control in winter months too.

Common Winter Pests

Our homes make cozy shelters for winter pests, which include an array of mammals and insects looking for warmth. Around the country, people frequently discover mice, rats, squirrels, bats, birds, cockroaches, moths, fleas, bed bugs, and spiders entering through chimneys, attics, small gaps, and wall openings designed for wiring and pipes. They come searching for food, water, and warmth. So, your winter pest control efforts should focus on denying them the essentials they need for survival. Read on for our best tips to control winter pests.

Seal Entry Points

Winter pest control begins with denying entrance to your home. Seal off the many entry points that winter pests exploit. Ensure that all doors and windows fit snugly. Even a tiny gap is wide enough for silverfish, cockroaches, or mosquitoes to enter. You would be amazed at how mice can squeeze through very small openings. If a pencil can fit through a hole, so can a mouse. Check every screen to be sure it fits well, with no tears or frayed holes. Caulk small cracks and seal all wall penetrations where pipes and power cords pass through. Expandable polyurethane foam is an excellent solution for filling holes and gaps in walls and around pipes.

Screen Vents to Chimneys

It is, of course, essential to properly vent a working chimney. Vents allow the smoke and ash to escape outdoors instead of entering your home. But the chimney is also a large, inviting space for rats, squirrels, bats, birds, raccoons, and other winter pests to enter, looking for a place to hide out and get warm. Vinyl screens can be chewed through. Instead, install a metal chimney screen. If you have a chimney screen (also referred to as an exterior spark arrestor) in place, inspect it to be certain it fits well and is in good condition.

Store Food Properly

Thus far, our winter pest control tips have focused on denying critters entry to your home. But another essential facet of winter pest control is to stop luring them to your home in the first place. Cleaning up the kitchen, securely sealing away all food, and keeping an air-tight lid on the trash and pet food will make your home less enticing. Also, keep spilled seeds from bird feeders cleaned up or away from the house, so they don’t attract winter pests.

Store Firewood at Least 20 Feet Away From Your Home

Stacked firewood creates an inviting habitat for many winter pests. They can hunker down and find good hiding spots within the stacks of wood. Unfortunately, that makes it easy to miss them and to carry them right over your threshold when you want to build a fire. So, be sure to keep firewood neatly stacked, well away from your home. It is best to keep it off the ground, supported on bricks or concrete blocks, while allowing airflow underneath the wood. This prevents moisture from collecting under the wood to attract insects. For winter pest control, plan to burn the wood as soon as you bring it indoors. This ensures that any hiding insects or eggs get destroyed. It’s also a good practice to give each piece of wood a quick inspection before bringing it into your home.

Keep Your Home Clean

Good housekeeping is an integral part of winter pest control. In addition to keeping food picked up and put away, you should wipe up crumbs and spills promptly. Dusting and vacuuming are effective for cleaning up insect eggs and larvae that are too small to see. Wash bedding weekly, and make sure to include items used by your pets, such as blankets, rugs, and stuffed animals. Mop kitchen and bathroom floors weekly, and keep the towels laundered. If you need help keeping up with cleaning chores around the house, hire a professional cleaning service to help out. If it keeps pests away, it will be money well spent.

Eliminate All Moisture Sites from Your Home

In addition to craving food and warm shelter, pests need water to drink. So, eliminating moisture indoors helps greatly with winter pest control. Spilled water should be promptly wiped up. All leaky faucets, sprinkler heads, and hoses should be repaired. Clear out blocked gutters and any other places water collects. Don’t allow dirty dishes to soak in water. Squeeze out excess water from sponges, and hang up wet towels and washcloths. If the shower or tub remains wet, wipe it down.

Inspect for Rodents

Rodents are among the smartest and most tenacious of winter pests. It is essential to detect them early before they do considerable damage, start a family, and spread disease or allergens to your family or pets. Be on the lookout for the most common signs of rodent activity: droppings that look like tiny pellets or black grains of rice, gnawing, grease marks, scuttling sounds, the odor of urine, and excited pets. Use a flashlight to inspect deep cupboards, store rooms, closets, baseboards, the attic, crawl spaces, and other dark or recessed areas. Prevention and prompt action are key to effective winter pest control.

Consider Professional Pest Control Services

There is so much to consider to protect your home in the winter. You’re concerned about the potential damage caused by storms, snow, and flooding while trying to keep your home warm and the heating bills down. Thinking about pest control in the winter may feel like an added burden. We get that. Following the preceding winter pest control tips will help you keep critters from spending the colder months in your cozy home, but you may need additional assistance.

When winter pest control becomes overwhelming, or you discover your home is invaded by insects or animals, it’s time to call on professional pest control services like Mosquito Joe. Our comprehensive pest control services are available to you all year round. We have locations with trained service personnel across the country. The Mosquito Joe professionals at each location are experts at identifying and controlling the specific pests in their local area. We tailor our services to your particular needs so you, your family, and your pets can enjoy your home and property in peace, free of pests.

Contact Mosquito Joe for winter pest control. All our work is backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise™ and our Mosquito Joe® Satisfaction Guarantee, so you know you’ll be pleased. Request a free quote at the top of this page, or give us a call. We are here to help.

Invasive bugs are a huge problem in the United States. According to Entomology Today, the economic impact of invasive insects is more than $30 billion each year. These pests can degrade, change, or even displace native habitats and cause all kinds of disruptions for other wildlife.

And when it comes to you and your yard, invasive bugs are a big inconvenience. While some invasive insects like stinkbugs are harmless, they can end up everywhere­—including your underwear drawer! Other invasive bugs, like termites, could do real damage to your home. Any kind of invasive insect is a nuisance. By learning more about them, you can better take control of your space.

Common Types of Invasive Bugs

These are some of the most common invasive insects in North America:

• Several types of moths, like the leek moth and cactus moth
• Wooly adelgids
• Asian tiger mosquitoes
• Several types of fruit flies, black flies, and sawflies
• Termites
• Earwigs
• Stinkbugs
• Mealybugs
• Spotted Lantern Flies

There are so many other invasive bugs in the states, including many types of beetles, borers, scale bugs, wasps, flies and ants. It’s worth researching an insect if it seems to be destroying plants and trees on your property, or your house.

Wait … Are Mosquitoes Invasive?

When you’re thinking of bugs that are a nuisance, mosquitoes are probably the first ones to jump to mind. But are mosquitoes invasive? Actually, yes, there are species of invasive mosquitoes. The Asian tiger mosquito and the yellow fever mosquito are both examples of invasive mosquitoes that have snuck into North America in hiding spots like used car tires. Typically, these types of invasive mosquitoes prefer warmer areas like southern California.

The mosquitoes that most US households deal with are the Aedes mosquito, the Anopheles mosquito, and the Culex mosquito. Since an invasive bug is defined as a species that was introduced to an area where they don’t naturally occur, these mosquitoes are not technically invasive. But they sure are annoying!

Related Topic: Preventing and Eliminating a Basement Insect Problem

Tick Invasion: What to Look For

While it’s normal to find a tick from time to time while you’re outside, finding them consistently could point to a problem. Ticks are tiny, parasitic bugs that generally live in wooded areas and fields. They need human or animal blood to survive and can be carriers of serious diseases, like Lyme disease. When you suspect you have a tick invasion (because they are frequently showing up on you or your pets), act fast so they don’t get inside of your house, where they could survive for a while. An effective way to get rid of these creepy creatures is to have your yard professionally sprayed for ticks during their most active months. You can also keep your grass and trees trimmed and try to weed your garden regularly to deter ticks.

While ticks often burrow under hair before biting their victims, they also attach themselves to other areas of the body, like:

• Under the knees
• Under the arms
• The groin area
• Inside or around the ears
• Inside the belly button
• The base of the neck

During tick season, which is any time of year when temperatures stay above 45 degrees Fahrenheit, be sure to check these areas on yourself and your kids. And don’t forget to check your pets regularly too!

Professional Invasive Species Control

As a homeowner, there isn’t much you can do to prevent invasive insects from migrating to your area. What you can do is prevent them from taking up residence in your own backyard and jeopardizing the safety of you and your family. At Mosquito Joe, our mission is to help homeowners take back the outdoors. Our traditional and natural barrier sprays effectively keep pests away for up to thirty days, which can make the time you and your family spend outdoor fun again! To learn more, or to get started, give us a call at 1-855-275-2563or request an estimate online today.

As you walk around your property, you may spy little eggs on leaves and in your garden area. There’s a high likelihood you’re seeing insect eggs just waiting to hatch. Understanding some basic insect egg identification can help you know what types of eggs they are and when you should be concerned about their presence.

Keep reading to get a primer on insect egg identification and learn how to prevent an insect breeding ground on your property.

Related Topic: Is an All-Natural Mosquito Treatment Right for You?

Identifying Insect Eggs in the Garden: Common Culprits

There are many different types of insect eggs in the garden, ranging in color from the darker eggs of female stink bugs to white fuzzy patches of eggs from stem borers. This blog will focus on two of the most common: white and yellow insect eggs.

While some white and yellow insect eggs can produce bugs that are relatively harmless, others can lead to insects that create a dangerous situation in your garden or lawn.

White Insect Eggs on Leaves

Some of the most common insects that lay white eggs on leaves near homes and gardens include:

Whiteflies: Adult whiteflies place their tiny white eggs on the undersides of leaves in concentric patterns, from the bottom to the upper portion of a plant. These insects can produce as many as 200 to 400 eggs. Unfortunately, whiteflies can injure and kill plants by sucking the sap from the leaves, causing them to shrivel and drop prematurely. To get rid of whiteflies, vacuum them or use insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.

Cutworms: The cutworm’s white eggs show up on grass and weed stems and in the soil surrounding plants. The eggs tend to become darker right before hatching. Cutworms often take shelter in the soil during the day and feed on plants at night. These insects can be a nuisance in the garden. They get their name from their ability to “cut off” a plant seeding by chewing through the stem. To protect your plants from cutworms, control weeds and grass with regular mowing and protect seedlings with collars made from cardboard toilet paper rolls or plastic drinking cups.

Japanese Beetles: The eggs from the Japanese beetle are oval and creamy white. They start at around 1/16″ long but double in size and become rounder before hatching. Japanese beetles are known for chewing up flowers and skeletonizing leaves, making them an enemy of your garden. Applying beneficial nematodes or milky spores can help you get rid of these beetles over time. Faster options to destroy these eggs include spraying them with neem oil or pyrethrin-based insecticide.

Yellow Insect Eggs on Leaf: Common insects that lay yellow eggs on leaves near homes and gardens include:

Aphids: Bright yellow in color, aphid eggs are often found on rose bushes, milkweeds, and other plants. These eggs can make it difficult for monarch butterflies to feed on milkweeds and flourish. Aphid-affected plants show stunted growth and puckered leaves and typically die without proper treatment. Washing plants with a forceful spray of water can dislodge aphids, while organic solutions made of horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, or neem can get rid of the eggs.

Spider Mites: Spider mite eggs begin as translucent and turn a yellowish-cream color before hatching. The adults lay up to 200 eggs on the undersides of leaves. They can infest over 180 species of plants, stunting their growth and potentially killing them. Fruits, vegetables, herbs, and landscaping plants are all susceptible to spider mites. Use a plant-safe pesticide to destroy the eggs. You can also wipe the eggs off each leaf or apply a solution of essential oils, including rosemary, spearmint, or coriander, to kill and prevent spider mite egg infestation.

Get Rid of Insect Eggs in Your Garden with Help from Mosquito Joe

Finding eggs that threaten the plants around your home or in your garden can be unsettling. Fortunately, you have options. Your local Mosquito Joe can be your first line of defense against damaging insects. Our pest control services are dedicated to helping you keep your property, lawn, and garden healthy. We can treat your yard with a safe and effective mosquito barrier spray that lasts for up to 30 days. Call 1-855-275-2563 or schedule an appointment online today.