Two Horrifying Winter Pests
We can’t think of two pests that could be any farther from each other. If compared however, these two pests are what keep us busy in January, when many things have tucked themselves away for the winter. It might horrify you to know, but one of these animals might be in bed with you now, as you read this blog post on your phone or tablet!
The other pest? They could be under you. No, not under your bed (although the first pest could also be under your bed), but under your porch or crawl space, and it could be making a stink about it, too. You might be wondering, what’s with all the suspense? Well, it kept you reading, didn’t it?
The Bed Bug: Your Unwitting Blood Brother
What’s your tolerance for the ratio of people to bugs in your bed? Does it lean in favor of people versus bugs? We thought so. Maybe you’re even diligent about regularly washing your sheets and pillowcase. Better yet, you never sleep on your bed without a waterproof mattress protector.
You pretty much do everything to ensure that, at the end of a long day, you have a nice, clean bed to fall into.
If bed bugs could talk, they’d give you a hearty “thank you!” if you keep a clean bed. They love a clean dinner table as much as you do. Plus, no matter how much washing you do, they have nothing to worry about. They don’t mind a little water (unless it’s boiling), and they prefer the tiny creases of your mattress (where that corded seam is) more than the blankets themselves.
So, how do you spot bed bugs? Look for these signs:
- Rusty or reddish stains on bed sheets or mattresses caused by bed bugs being crushed
- Dark spots (about this size: •), which are bed bug excrement and may bleed on the fabric as a marker would
- Eggs and eggshells, which are tiny (about 1mm) and pale yellow skins that nymphs shed as they grow larger
- Live bed bugs, of course
Has your world just come crashing down? Have you just realized that your bedroom, specifically your bed, has been a house of cards this whole time, barely standing on its own? Once the despair subsides, give us a call immediately.
Ridding yourselves of bed bugs can be nearly impossible without a professional. Treating a small infestation is much easier than treating an infestation after it has grown, but small infestations are tougher to find and identify. Our exterminators have over 50 years of experience treating bed bugs–leave the treatments to them!
Rodents: Your Unwanted Houseguest This Winter
It’s happened to us all. You hear a little shuffling in the night or see signs that rats or mice have taken up space in your home. While you may think you can set a few traps and forget about it, a few rats or mice can quickly become a dangerous infestation.
House mice have a characteristic musky odor that identifies their presence, they will eat almost anything and require very little water. A mouse can squeeze through openings slightly larger than ¼ inch across. Rodents make nests from soft material like paper, insulation or furniture stuffing. These nests can be found in many places including in walls, ceiling voids, storage boxes, drawers, under appliances, or within the upholstery of furniture.
Mice and rodents frequently find their way into homes when the temperatures are colder. Their food supply is shortened by the colder months, so they move inside nesting closer to a food supply.
Once in a while, we liked to remind our customers that we’re a pest control business, not an insect control business. That means we cover the spectrum of bothersome animals, from insects and rodents. What does that mean? We’ll tackle your pest issue from insects, to bed bugs, to rodents.
It’s Always a Good Time for Pest Control
Could there be a month more sterile than January?Temperatures are consistently freezing. The outdoors are relatively lifeless. Yet, animals and bugs will still go about their lives, cheerful as ever.
