Round 3 of our interview with Pest Control pro Ken Holmes. (parts 1 and 2 can be found here and here.)  Today we’re going to be talking about some common summertime pests, including mosquitoes, bees, and wasps.  For more helpful tips throughout the summer on how to keep your yard and your home sting and bite free, keep an eye on the Absolute Pest Control Facebook page in addition to the content posted here.

• Are there any products that I can put on my lawn to help protect against mosquitoes?  Mosquitoes emerge as adults from standing water.  They are attracted too, or arising from lawns -usually in an over-watering situation.  Reduce the frequency and amount of water to your yard and keep the grass and non-manicured adjacent areas mowed shorter to minimize their harborage areas.  Be certain to eliminate any standing water, and encourage your neighbors to do the same wherever possible.
• We have a terrible mosquito problem, but we also have pets.  Is there anything that we can apply to our lawn to get rid of the mosquitos without harming our dogs?  Adult mosquitoes emerge from a larvae stage.  This stage is developed in standing water.  Old tires, trash, lawn supplies, and other debris can hold sufficient amounts of water to sustain a reproducing mosquito population.  Elimination of these breeding sites is critical to the reduction of adult mosquitoes.  Over-watering of lawns can also create a very attractive mosquito habitat.  As mentioned above, grass should be mowed as short as possible, and weeds and other vegetation need to be cut or removed.  Ponds, even those containing wild fish, can be treated with ‘dunks’that can effectively reduce the pre-emergent stages of breeding.  Habitat modification, along with the application of dunks (available at many hardware outlets) will be effective to a degree.  Success depends on property size and controllable habitat.
• I have a big problem with bees and wasps around my house.  They come back each year and build nests in different locations throughout our property.  One year in the attic, one under the porch, another year they even took up residence in our basement.  What is the best way to discourage them from coming back? 
  

  Image via Wikipedia

  Homeowners with bees, wasps, and yellowjackets appearing around their homes should spend some time observing their activity.  Should any of these stinging insects enter the home through any deficiency in the structure, they are probably trying to establish nesting areas within your home.  Yellowjacket traps can be placed hanging from tree limbs or plant stands.  However, it should be noted that these devices do not work for wasps or honey bees.  Since these pests all fly, the best long term consideration may be to reduce the reproducing population.  These insects also seem to be most attracted to pastel colored homes, whereas white homes do not typically have many issues with bees and wasps.  (Please note that if you find a large nest, it is safest to call in a professional team to help out -we’ve got special equipment that makes tackling large bee and wasp infestations much easier and less dangerous!)

• I was told I have clover mites around my dining room windows.  They are tiny little red bugs, about the size of a pin head.  Any suggestions? Clover mites inside a home can be considered anything from a minor nuisance to a nightmare.  Eliminate all obvious clover mites by vacuuming.  Next, mix a teaspoon of liquid dish soap and a quart of water in a spray bottle.  You will need to open all of the windows on all floors of your home, although the north facing side of a home is rarely bothered by these annoying critters.  Spray the soapy water around the track of each window and close as you go.  Do this for all windows and exterior doors in your home.  Use liquid dish soap in a hose end sprayer and treat the foundation on the East, South, and West sides of your house as well.  Any grasses and vegetation within six to ten feet of your foundation should also be treated.  This process may have to be repeated on a weekly basis, depending on how persistent your clover mites are.  These bugs hate water and the soap makes your water softer, therefore more easily penetrating and uncomfortable to the clover mites.

Next up?  Some larger, more furry critters and something you definitely do NOT want to bring home with you from your next vacation!

It’s time for round two of our interview with Pest Control guru Ken Holmes.  This week we’re covering how to get rid of some common pests in the Douglas County area.

• What is the best (and safest) way to get rid of ants? Colony elimination is preferred when possible; using odorless chemicals if ants are inside the home.  Additionally, many professional type baits can be used to attract ants to a non-sensitive area in or around your home.  Baiting can be effective as well, but requires timely replenishing of product as the worker ants pick up the bait and carry it back to the main colony.


Image via Wikipedia

• How can I get rid of spiders in and around my home? Experienced pest control professionals will use both contact kill and residual products in the areas where spiders spend most of their time –both in and outdoors.  Popular areas include, but are not limited to, high and low corners, above windows, and around exterior lighting where spiders make webs to catch their food.
• Do we need to worry about ticks and fleas in Douglas County?  If so, how can we keep them away from our kids and pets? Ticks in Colorado are usually found in higher elevations than the Denver area, while fleas are found in lower elevations.  We are in the perfect location to avoid both!  Ticks and fleas, although not often encountered, are still possible.  Parents and other adults should check children and pets regularly.  Areas to check are hair and other areas on the body where constrictions occur including waist bands and elastic areas of socks.
• I have a small stream in my back yard and have seen a few snakes.  Is there anything I can do to keep them away from my yard? Generally, snakes in Colorado are garter and bull snakes.  There are prairie rattle snakes on the Eastern Plains, the arid areas of Southern Colorado, and in pockets of rural Metro Denver.  Rattlers are usually found where rocky cliffs and outcroppings occur.  Keeping snakes from a given area is challenging, as they are small and can find avenues of travel very easily.  Mechanical exclusion may be possible in some instances using stakes with a PVC material at 18 inches high and putting dirt, sand, or other similar material to hold the bottom securely to the ground.  If you find a snake on your property and aren’t sure if it is poisonous, we do not recommend trying to relocate or capture it on your own, as bites can be deadly.

Next week we’ll be talking about common local pest control issues, including mosquitos.  In addition to being extremely annoying, mosquitos can carry dangerous contagious illnesses for both people and pets.

We recently sat down with Ken Holmes; owner and resident pest control expert at Absolute Pest Control to answer your most commonly asked questions about Pest Control in Douglas County.  Because of the great response we got when we asked what you’d like to know, we’ll post his answers to your questions in a series of updates.  The first several questions are below.

• One of the main things on everyone’s mind in this economy is expense.  What can your average customer expect to spend on your services?  What is the most cost effective way to manage home pest control?
  All-encompassing pest control service varies widely based primarily on the size of your structure, level of infestation, and degree of difficulty associated with treating an individual issue.  On average, for annual service with follow up applications (needed when products break down over time), a homeowner can expect to spend somewhere between four and six hundred dollars annually on pest control services.
• Pest control is an interesting field.  How did you get into it? A friend in this industry needed help.  I was not working at the time and the position sounded interesting.  I started in May of 1984 and found the work both challenging and very fulfilling.  Meeting new people and resolving their pest issues has been the most rewarding aspect of this business.
• Knowing that there are many “green” efforts being made in our local communities, what are the best methods for pest control that are child and pet friendly as well as environmentally friendly? All pest control products are approved for use by the EPA, and when applied as directed, are of no or low risk of harm to children and pets.  The danger in most products lies in how they’re used, so be sure to choose your pest control company carefully.

Up next:  We’ll be talking about spiders, ticks, mosquitos, mice, and much more!  If you’ve got a question about pest control, please let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page and we’ll be sure to answer it in an upcoming post.

Is always on the lookout for pests to eliminate, questions to answer and clients to assist.  Sir William Pest taps into years of experience and knowledge from the staff at Absolute Pest Control.  So go ahead, submit your questions. He will do his knightly best to get you an answer.

Image via Wikipedia

According to the AP, “A pest control company has disinfected the UW Health Clinics office in Middleton following an outbreak of bed bugs.”  Read more…

According to Ellen Gabler, Tribune staff reporter, “Bedbugs have made the leap from apartments and homes to some of Chicago‘s downtown office buildings and government headquarters.”  Read more…

Finally, according to Colum Lynch, “There is a new addition to the United Nations family: the dreaded bed bugs that have infested New York City have spread to the U.N.’s landmark headquarters building.”  Read more…

According to the article in the Denver Post, Going To Bat For Bats, by Bruce Finley, the fungus that has been attacking and killing bats, is now endangering the bats of Colorado.

“The threat of White-Nose Syndrome to the bat populations in this region is on our doorstep,” said Tony Dixon, the Forest Service’s acting regional director. “With White-Nose Syndrome killing from 80 to 100 percent of infected populations, the ecological consequences are too severe to risk the human spread of this deadly disease.”

Mr Finley says the fungus gets into the bats systems through their skin and noses. Bats usually hybernate from November to April, but once infected they are unable to sleep, leading them to go in search of food and eventually starve or freeze.

Bats provide so much natural pest control that losing them is a serious problem. Local caves have been shut down to spalinkers in hopes of keeping the fungus out, but only time will tell if this precaution worked.

For the full story, read Mr Finley’s article here.

I sat down with Sir William Pest Eliminator to get his thoughts on pest control and why it seems to be such an important subject to him.  Following is that interview in it’s entirety.

Me: Sir William what brings you to this area, specifically Colorado?

Sir William:Ah the breathtaking beauty of the area didist catch mine eye.

Image via Wikipedia-Medieval Knights Jousting

Me:So why are you so interested in insects – after all don’t you have jousts and fair ladies vying for your attention?

Sir William: Mi Lady, thank you for asking. I have long been interested in insects and their role in spreading disease. Surely thee doth remember the Black Plague that spread throughout my fair land in the 1300′s?

Me: Indeed I do recall learning of that.  I understand you represent Absolute Pest Control. Why would a noble knight like yourself be the spokesperson for one company – what’s so special about them?

Sir William: I have aligned myself with Absolute Pest Controlbecause they have proven themselves to be deeply concerned about their customers. Their foremost concern is taking care of the pest problems their customers have. They don’t even require a contract – if the service doesn’t work, they return at no charge. Also their guarantees are exceedingly generous.

Me: What makes them better than say a national pest control company?

Sir William:I applaud thine question.  Firstly, as I mentioned, Absolute Pest Control dost not require a contract, secondly, yon company really cares about their clients, and thirdly, their employees love working there. In fact, every employee that comes to work for Absolute Pest Control lauds the company and their generosity.

Me: Sir William thank you for taking the time today to answer mine, I mean my, questions.

Sir William: Blessings upon thee.

Praying Mantis

I recently discovered this Praying Mantis resting on the side of my garage. The praying mantis is such an interesting insect, both in the way they look and in the way they can turn their head.

According to Wikipedia, these insects feed mostly on other insects. There are over 2,200 species, and they are common in moderate to tropical temperatures. Most species of mantis will even eat each other. In the spring, when they young hatch, they have a voracious appetite, making them perfect for natural garden and yard pest control. They will eat all the aphids they can find.

Image by HUS0 via Flickr

The praying mantis is harmless to humans, but certainly interesting. If you ever get an opportunity to watch one, take a minute. The manner in which they are able to turn their head makes them seem…I don’t know,  human, intelligent, alien. Whatever it is, they are truly fascinating.

For more information on insects visit our home site here.

Summer is over, Fall is quickly fading and Winter is knocking at the door. You may, or may not, be ready for the shorter days and colder temperatures, but the more important question is – have you “Winterized” your home?

Image via Wikipedia - House in Winter

In her article Winterizing Your Home, Elizabeth Weintraub offers a ten point checklist that includes such advise as,

“3) Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows

• Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.
• Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.
• Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood.”

Just a few steps of prevention now will save on fuel costs this winter. Time to seal out the cold air, snuggle up in a warm house and be glad for the shelters we call home.

Voles are common in Colorado and unfortunately they do a lot of damage to yards and landscape. Since they feed on plants such as grass, they are  active all summer. Often they make a lot of their trails in the winter months, when the snow is covering the evidence, providing an unpleasant surprise for homeowners in the spring.  This year, however, they seem to be on the attack early.  The following video shows what a vole looks like in it’s natural habitat.

The phones at Absolute Pest Control are ringing off the wall with calls from people seeing damage from the voles.  These rodents burrow and leave trails of dead vegetation. According to Ken Holmes (owner/operator of Absolute Pest Control)

“These rodents feed on roots they encounter when digging their tunnels. They will also feed on vegetation above ground near their tunnel. They particularly like above ground vegetation when it is green. Many shrubs, bushes and trees will be clipped just above ground.”

Vole Damage

This photo shows the damage done by a vole.