TIPS ON FINDING A PEST MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL.

First of all, a lot of us as homeowners, renters, and landlords can control household pests through a good choice of pest professionals, which includes proper sanitation and good home maintenance practices. However, some pest infestations may be covering or affecting a large area or a particular pest may be difficult to control, requiring the services of the best pest control company.

You should choose a pest control company the way you do any other service – Look for value and quality. Competency and cost are important. When selecting a pest control service, cost should not be the single factor that determines the company you keep in mind.  It is necessary to make sure the pest control company you select is competent. If pesticides are misused, both health and property can be damaged. Before contracting with a fumigation or pest control company, consider the following:

Take Your Time/Do Your Homework:

When usually people discover a pest problem, they want the problem to be eliminated as soon as possible.  However, most problems cannot wait a few days so you have time to select a competent, reliable, and reasonably priced company.  It is wise to get several estimates from prospective companies.  Most companies for you to decide will provide free estimates.

How many years have they been in business at your present address?

Contact organizations such as PPMA Pakistan pest management association to determine if complaints have been filed against the company or its applicators for misusing pesticides. Make sure you have good reviews about company you are choosing for pest management.

Would they provide you with a list of references?

Contact several references for their overview to find out if they are satisfied with the service provided by the pest control or fumigation company.

Will the person(s) performing the services be a certified, licensed pesticide applicator or a licensed technician?

Every company must have at least one certified and licensed commercial pesticide applicator in the particular service category. Other company applicators must be certified applicators or licensed technicians proceeding by under supervision of a certified applicator. 

Licenses may be verified by calling the various State Departments of Pest Control like PPMA.

Would the pest control company provide you with a copy of their pest control license, copies of the brands for all pesticides used, and the charges at which they will be applied?

Reliable applicators will show you their credentials and will be able to provide you with copies of pesticide brands that show how the product should be applied, including the proper application charges, and the necessary precautions.

Few fumigation companies offer service contracts in which structures are routinely treated for a particular pest. Contracts may be necessary for few situations such as warehouses that receive crates often infested with cockroaches. In usual, routine pesticide applications in and around your house are not good unless there is a constant threat of infestation by specific pest and non-chemical methods have been failed to control the pest. Service contracts for the homeowner should include periodic inspections, but pesticides should not be applied unless the pests are actually present and cannot be controlled by some other means of fumigation.

Top-Certified Pest Control Companies

1. One Roof Fumigation Services
2. Flora Services
3. Evergreen Fumigation Services
4. Supreme Fumigation Services

Generally, it is traditional for termite control work to be guaranteed from one to five years.  Be sure you know what the guarantee covers and determine if there is a yearly inspection charge.  In to the bargain, find out if the pest control company is responsible for constructional damage if the treatment fails to control the termite infestation. The guarantee is only as reliable as the company that provides it.

If the service person questions you to do certain things before, during or after the pesticide application, collaborate and follow instructions. For example:

If the service technician request you to remove personal items from the place that has to be treated, empty cabinets in kitchen and remove pets, make sure you have done this before they visit.

Do not allow children or pets into the treated floor until and unless the pesticide spray has dried. Aquariums should be asked to remove from the treatment site or covered with heavy plastic and the air pump turned off.

Remove a from the treatment area or covered with heavy plastic and the air pump turned off. Remove all other household pets from the treatment site.

If the service person suggests non-chemical methods of pest control in addition to the pesticides by the company, make sure to follow the provided instructions.

Good cooperation between you and the fumigation company will help eliminate pests and reduce pesticide use.

Pesticides are inherently poisonous and may cause health problems and/or damage to the environment if used in a manner inconsistent with the brand’s directions.  Certain pesticides may impose greater risks than others.  To determine the pesticide that best fits your needs, contact your local Pest control company to provide you accurate services.

Common Household Bugs

‘Bugs”, as all insects, got their rightful place on this planet. But no one wants that place to be in the home. Like it or not, insects and all manner of creepy-crawlies lead their way into our spaces. But we don’t have to invite bugs in—or let them stay so we have to call pest controllers right away. Read through and learn how to send some of the most common household bugs backpacking.

Unpleasant though they are considered to be, every house has dust mites. Because they feed off dead skin cells, dust mites can thrive in any rough surface that can hold tiny particles, whether carpet, upholstery, bedding, or kids’ toys. While you can’t completely eliminate mites, you can keep their population down by practicing fumigation.

Weevils usually get throughout your house by hitching a ride in your groceries in your kitchen. Adult weevils burrow into the rice and other grains to lay and hatch their eggs, so you may not know you got home pests until they hatch and crawl all over your pantry! The fastest remedy for an infestation? Best fumigation service that you can get as soon as possible for the kitchen. Get rid of any unsealed dry foods, including flour, cornmeal, oats, rice, pasta, and pre-packaged items that don’t have sealed pouches inside. 

An adult carpet beetle won’t cause your rooms any harm. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for their larvae. Carpet beetle larvae can eat holes in rugs, leather, curtains, pollster, clothing, and books. You may don’t even know you have an infestation until you notice the damage the pests have already caused. If you spot something suspicious, roll up your sleeves and call the pest professionals to clean up. Neatly dust and vacuum to remove dust bunnies and cobwebs that shelter these pests. All you have to do is remove clothes from your closet and storage bins, and wash everything or send it to the dry cleaners.

Centipedes are actually one of the helpful guys. They won’t destroy your home or contaminate your pantry, but instead feast on the bad bugs like termites, moths, and roaches. But if you just can’t stay coexisting with these many-legged neighbors, get them to trap or spray an insecticide around, doors, and windows. Meanwhile, prevent a future infestation by getting brush and debris from the perimeter of the house and sealing up cracks and crevices where they could enter your home.

It’s unpredictable how soon a fruit fly infestation can get out of hand. You may notice one fly messing around your fruit in the morning, then arrive home from work to see half a dozen multiplied. It’s not your imagination; those flies are multiplying—and it’s quick! Fruit fly larvae hatch just 24 hours after eggs are laid, so you’ll want to contact the fumigation company fast to take them out. What you can do is cut off their food supply by storing soft fruits in the refrigerator. Also, quick action in the kitchen is to wipe down cutting boards and counters after food prep and be regular to empty your garbage and recycling cans daily. If, in spite of these preventive measures, you spot a few fruit flies, create fumigation assistance.

Stinkbugs unusually survive and breed outdoors, but when the temperatures get cooler in the city they tend to sneak indoors in order to hibernate. If you see these shape of shield bugs in your house, don’t try to swat or squash them. When disturbed, stinkbugs live up to their name by emitting a foul odor that only attracts more stinkbugs. Try eliminating these bugs calling fumigation companies who remove these by vacuuming them. The only catch is that when you’re done, you’ll have to remove the vacuum bag and dispose of it a safe distance from the house.

Ants are tiny but most relentless home invaders existing. They enter your home in search of their food, water, and shelter, which means your kitchen and bathroom are their point targets. While baited traps are very helpful at eliminating these ants, they’re not completely safe to use in areas that young children or pets can access. If you’d rather want the ants never coming back, there are a number of natural remedies you can try. Once you’ve managed to get banish these pests, discourage them from returning by vacuuming, fumigation regularly, wiping down surfaces every day to remove the scent of their trails, and taking out the trash each day.

Cockroaches are an issue all over the neighborhood, but especially in bigger cities. If you detect one—usually around the kitchen or bathroom—you can be sure there are much more unknown and unseen. Once they’ve decided to move in, cockroaches are difficult to handle, so take strong, swift, and sustained action call your pest control. They will lay down insecticide or roach traps under the sink, behind the toilet, alongside the fridge, or in other places where they may be lurking. They Change traps and reapply insecticide on a regular basis to combat new cockroaches as they hatch. In addition, take preventive measures to make your home less attractive to the creatures. Eliminate their food sources by cleaning up immediately after meals in your dining, storing your food in sealed packages in the kitchen, and taking out the trash on regular. To be especially thorough, you may also want to remove any leftover kibble from pet bowls in the lounge when dogs and cats have finished eating.

How Weather Affects Insects Problems

Even though you may not see them during this time of year, most insects are still around. Some do migrate in winter, but others hibernate as adults. There are also insects where their nymphs, eggs, and larvae stay cozy underground or beneath leaves and other debris. Some insects even spend the long winter months underwater or hiding in your home.

You may wonder, if insects hideaway during cold weather, why do I have ants in the winter? In order to answer that question, let’s look at how weather affects insects.

Insects are affected by temperature and moisture. Even though most insects do hideaway during winter, if there are frequent temperature variations resulting in freezing and thawing, they can emerge early.

While ants do have nesting sites where they hide in winter, if the weather warms early, you can see them. Also, if the nest is located somewhere warm, like under heated concrete, they may emerge early. Even a warmer-than-normal sunny winter day may cause them to emerge sooner than usual.

RAINY WEATHER

During spring and summer, more rain means more ants. Lots of rain floods the ants’ nesting sites, so they go in search of dry ground — like your home. You may notice an army of ants in wet weather.

When the weather in Karachi changes so does the amount of activity. Not only for people but also for pests. The change in temperature is one way that pests are affected but that is not the only thing that changes the course of pests. The weather can be rainy, dry, cold, or even hot and each of these has different effects on the pests you may find and what they might be up to. The real problem is that no matter the type of weather condition you still need to be sure that you use a pest control service. That is the only way to ensure that your home is treated for any unwanted pests that could be a problem during that particular weather change.

Pests in Dry Weather:

Dry weather is a problem for many pests. Pests are similar to people in the fact they need water to survive. The water is necessary for them to reproduce and live so when the weather outside is too dry the pests need to find a way to survive. That means that whatever it takes to get some water and moisture they are willing to try it. The best place for them to get that is to get inside a home. If you were dying of thirst you would get water any way possible. The same goes for pests. Pest infestation problems occur when the weather is dry outside can be a serious problem. Make sure that you keep your pest control services going all year long!

Ants During Flooding:

Water and moisture are necessary for pests to service but too much of anything is not always good. If you are in an area that is flooding from a serious change in the weather you need to be careful with one particular pest. Ants are a real problem when the weather gets so bad that there is a flood. The water can be too much for some pests to handle but ants will ride the wave. You may think that ants are not a problem and then as soon as there is a flood the ants will use the flow of water to get to a new location by making a kind of “floating ant raft“. That means you can have an infestation of ants fairly quickly when you didn’t have an issue.

How Cold Weather Affects Rodents:

The cold temperatures will send many pests into hibernation but not all of them. There are many pests such as rodents that will continue to be a problem even in the cold weather. They don’t want to stay outdoors to live but they will go in a home and find a place to nest that has an abundance of food. Be sure that you don’t lapse in your pest control services during the cold weather!

This year Karachi became a place that faced all seasons severely. Just like the weather changes with each season, so do the pests that we see. Some pests prefer warmer weather and peak in spring and summer while other pests will surge in the winter as they come inside to get out of the cold. The ways that you prepare your home will depend on what time of year it is and what pests you are preparing for. We have provided you with a few of the most common pests for each season so you can be better prepared all year long.

SPRING:

Springtime brings about an increase in temperatures, the melting of ice, and the blooming of flowers. These warmer temperatures bring many pests out from their winter hiding places. As these animals emerge they will have one thing on their minds – food and water! Spring is also mating season for many species. Here are some common spring pests to look out for:

Ants: Ants forage for food in warmer weather. As the temperatures increase, ants will venture farther and farther from their colonies in search of food. This will eventually drive them into our homes. The heavy rains in spring also drive ants out of their colonies in search of higher ground.

Termites: Spring is the start of termite season as they leave their nests to mate and start new colonies. This is also known as “swarming.”

Mosquitoes: Heavy spring rains provide the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes will increase their activity in spring in preparation for their peak season which is summer.

Flies: Flies reach maturity at the beginning of spring. Once they mature, they will flock to areas that humans inhabit as they look for food. They prefer liquids and other sweet foods.

Spiders: Spiders become active in the spring as they search for food. The increase in insect activity as they wake from their winter slumber provides ample opportunities for spiders to feed.

Stinging Insects: Stinging insects include bees, wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets. These insects wake up from their dormant stage in the spring and they become more active. Spring is the start of their mating season as they seek to establish their nests and breed.

Bed Bugs: Although bed bugs are a year-round problem, their populations can spike in the springtime because of the increased travel for Easter and spring break from schools.

SUMMER:

While we get somewhat of a break from pests in the summer months, there are a few species who peak during this hot season. Summer is typically the time in many pests’ life cycles where they are maturing and are less of a threat to humans. Here are some common summer pests:

Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes are the most common summer pest. The warmer temperatures allow mosquitoes to move through their life cycle faster which means they lay more eggs in the summer months. The summer rains also provide the ideal setting for mosquitoes to breed.

Stinging Insects: Stinging insects reach their highest populations in the summer. They will often build their nests in any openings in your house, under overhangs or in the ground near your foundation.

Ants: Ants continue to be a nuisance in the summer. As the rains continue through the season, ants will continue to seek shelter in higher ground. They will also continue to forage into our homes in search of food.

Flies: Flies are most active in the summer months. This is also their peak breeding season. Flies will spawn in animal waste, garbage, and rotting foods.

Termites: Termites are the most productive in the summer. This is the season when they continue to consume wood while the queen continues to lay eggs and build their colonies.

Bed Bugs: Once again, bed bugs are year-round pests. Many populations thrive in the summer months because of an increase in travel during summer break from school.

FALL:

Fall brings about cooler temperatures. This is the time of year when pests start to prepare for the upcoming winter. Many pests will start to seek warmth and shelter inside our homes. Here are some common fall pests:

Cockroaches: Cockroaches are some of the most common fall pests. Cockroaches cannot survive in colder temperatures so fall is when we see them start to migrate

indoors in search of shelter and warmth. Cockroaches are known to hide near pipes and drains. They can spread disease and exacerbate asthma.

Spiders: Spiders are also common in the fall for the same reasons as cockroaches. They will move indoors to avoid the harsh colder temperatures, as well as in search of food as many of the flying insect populations decline as the weather cools. Spiders also breed in the fall so activity will increase as males go in search of mates.

Rodents: Rodents are another common fall pest. Rodents will migrate indoors as the weather cools in search of warmth, shelter, food, and water. Rodents not only spread disease but will also chew through wood supports and electrical wires in your home.

Fleas: With rodents come fleas. Fleas flourish in warmer weather so as the weather cools, we see their populations indoors thrive. Fleas will hitchhike into your home on both your pets and any other wildlife that come into your home in the fall.

Stinkbugs: Stinkbugs become a nuisance in the fall. Stinkbugs are known for emitting an extremely foul odor when they feel threatened. Stinkbugs are also considered a serious threat to agriculture as they can cause significant damage to crops.

WINTER:

While many pests hibernate or become dormant over the winter, don’t relax just yet! There are still many pests that we see in larger numbers in the winter months as they make their way into our home to avoid the harsh cold weather. Here are some common winter pests:

Rodents: Rodents are the most common pests we see in the winter. Rats, mice, and squirrels will invade our homes in search of a warm place to stay and an ample supply of food and water.

Roaches: While most cockroach species die off in the winter, roaches are still active during this time of year. They seek dark, damp areas that are prevalent in the wintertime.

Bed Bugs: Once again, bed bug populations are active year-round but they often flourish during the winter months as these are some of the busiest travel times of the year.

As you can see, no two pests are alike and no two seasons are alike. In the same manner, one universal pest control method won’t work for different pests or for different seasons. It is important to know which pests thrive during which seasons so that you can better prepare your home year-round to prevent an invasion. If you suspect that you have a pest problem in your home, contact a professional pest control company that can provide you with a thorough evaluation and set you up with a comprehensive treatment plan.