Cockroaches infesting your office or apartment building aren’t just a nuisance, they can damage merchandise and jeopardize business operations. Count on us to provide commercial pest control services that eliminate infestations and prevent recurrences in Flushing NY.
In the beginning, exterminating meant complete eradication of pests. Nowadays, pest control is more about prevention and keeping populations at bay. Contact PermaKill Exterminating now!
Termites are a wood-eating insect that is one of the most serious structural pests in homes. They can cause considerable damage to your home, which can be very expensive and difficult to repair. Often, homeowners will not know that their home is infested with termites until they see the telltale signs of damage. These include swarmers (flying reproductive termites) around lights or windows, finding wings stuck to window frames and cobwebs, or seeing hollowed out sections of wood in your house.
When termites are first noticed, the homeowner should contact a pest control specialist immediately. A professional can perform a thorough inspection of the property to determine where termites are entering the house, and can recommend a treatment plan.
A variety of different methods can be used to treat termites, including soil treatments and bait stations. During a soil treatment, liquid termiticide is injected under and around the foundation of the home. This forms a barrier against termites that is very effective. However, this method can take weeks to months to work, and it may be ineffective in treating areas near wells, drainage systems, sub-slab heat ducts, or other obstructions that prevent the application of the chemical treatment.
Bait station treatments involve placing stations around the property. These contain slow-acting termiticide that termites take back to their colonies and share with other termites. This type of treatment is very effective, but it can take longer than other methods to be effective and must be monitored regularly.
For very severe termite infestations, fumigation is frequently used. This involves tenting the house and releasing chemicals that will kill any termites that are inside or near the structure of the house. However, this is very time consuming and can be dangerous to people and pets who live in the home, so it is best left to experts.
To help prevent future infestations, it is important to keep firewood away from the house, and not allow trees and shrubs to grow too close to the house. Leaving ventilation spaces in foundation walls, keeping the soil under wood structures dry, and sealing cracks in cement foundations will also reduce the likelihood of termite infestation.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are difficult to treat without the help of professional pest managers. They are small and sneaky, hiding in crevices and nooks where housecleaning rarely gets to. They also take shelter in beds, sofas, electrical outlets, and other hidden spots. Their ability to travel quickly and easily from room to room makes them extremely challenging to eliminate.
Many pest management firms now employ methods of tackling bed bug infestations that do not involve exposing humans or pets to potentially harmful chemicals and toxins. One of the most effective approaches involves heat or a cold treatment that effectively destroys both adult and egg stages. This method is also kinder to furniture than chemical sprays, as it does not cause staining or odors and is less likely to cause allergies.
The first step in this approach is to thoroughly inspect the infested area. It is important to look for the bugs themselves, as well as the signs of their presence: fecal stains, dark spotting on fabric, and shed skins. A thorough inspection should also include a check of all living spaces to see if there are any potential hiding places for the bugs, such as under carpets or behind walls.
Some companies may require that bedding and furniture be stripped and removed before their arrival. Other companies prefer to let clients carry out this work themselves. It is also a good idea to double bag all personal items, such as toys, papers, books, electronics and CDs, and other items that are susceptible to contamination by bed bug waste. This will prevent them from unintentionally being re-used by other residents.
If a pest manager determines that the home or business requires fumigation, it will be sealed off to allow Vikane gas to be pumped in and killed the bugs within. The process typically takes several hours and includes the addition of a warning agent, chloropicrin, which has a stronger odor than the fumes and dissipates more slowly.
A homeowner can reduce the likelihood of an infestation and recurrence by keeping up with regular cleaning. Laundering linens and clothing regularly on the highest temperature settings and placing a tightly fitting cotton cover over mattresses, pillows and bedding can make an important difference. It is also a good idea to teach household members and staff how to identify the insects, so they can act more quickly.
Ants
Ants are one of the most common household pests that require professional ant extermination. Due to their small size, ants can sneak into homes and nest in nooks and crannies where they are hard to reach with conventional pesticides. Additionally, they are able to leave pheromone trails that lead other members of their colonies to food sources.
During an ant extermination, a professional will use different treatments depending on the species of ants that are infesting your property. Some ants nest in soil, while others nest in wood or are opportunistic colonizers that move indoors to find shelter and favorable temperatures.
Odorous house ants, which are known for their coconut-like smell when crushed, are a popular ant species that infiltrate homes looking for sweets and water. They are also known to spread bacteria such as streptococcus and staphylococcus, making them a dangerous household pest. These ants can often be found invading kitchens and bathrooms. They may also be spotted invading outdoor eating areas and trash cans.
Pavement ants, which are dark in color and have two distinct waist segments, nest under sidewalks, driveways and other paved areas. These ants are commonly known for entering structures through cracks, gaps and holes. They are attracted to moisture and sugar, and can carry harmful bacteria such as staphylococcus and streptococcus. They can also infest basements and garages, as well as the interior of your home.
Non wood destroying ants are treated with a combination of granular and liquid baits, exterior perimeter treatments, and interior residual applications that target active entry points. A pheromone deterrent is also used around the perimeter of the structure to prevent re-entry. For more serious problems, a pheromone blocking foam can be applied to block ants’ odor trail and pheromone communication system.
For more specialized cases, your exterminator may use an insect growth regulator called piperonyl butoxide (PBO). This additive works by slowing down the ants’ metabolisms, which eventually kills them. This is a more targeted approach that doesn’t expose children and pets to toxic chemicals, while still killing the ants and disrupting their nesting habits.
Voles
Voles are small rodents that look like mice, and they cause a lot of damage to lawns by chewing the grass and digging tunnels underground. They can also devastate gardens and crops by gnawing their way through the roots of plants. While they may seem harmless at first, it’s important to call pest control if you notice vole damage in your yard.
A professional can help you determine the severity of your vole infestation, which will then be used to determine a treatment plan. Depending on the severity of your infestation, your pest control technician will recommend a variety of different methods to remove and prevent future vole invasions.
One of the most popular methods is removing and destroying their hiding places. Voles hide under ground cover and dense vegetation to avoid predators, but if you remove this cover, they will feel exposed and seek shelter elsewhere. Another effective method is applying landscape materials such as gravel or bark mulch, which will block the voles’ access to water and nutrients, thus reducing their population.
Another option is to apply landscape materials such as gravel or bark mulch, to block the voles’ access to water, and to provide a barrier that will prevent their tunneling from reaching plant roots. This will reduce the gnawing on the roots and stems of your plants, and it will also promote a healthier soil by conserving moisture.
The most effective way to eliminate voles is by using a combination of strategies. You can use natural repellents, such as capsaicin, which is found in spicy peppers and is disliked by voles. A spray bottle filled with a mixture of chopped hot peppers, water, and earth-friendly dish soap can be sprayed on areas where you see vole activity to keep them away.
You can also try installing fencing in your garden or yard to keep out the voles, but this is not very effective. Other options include using traps or applying vole-specific toxins to the soil surface. When applying a chemical, make sure your pest control company is certified to handle Restricted Use Pesticides (RUP) because they will need to inspect your property before choosing the correct toxin to use.
