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Pest Control Tips
General tips for keeping your home free of pests year-round.
 Why yes, they are. Hairy rasberry crazy ants to be more specific. Just as the imported fire ant invaded the United States in the early 1900s and snuffed out other native species of insects, the rasberry crazy ant has found its way in and is beginning to do the same. Before you ask, I did not spell raspberry wrong, they are named after Tom Rasberry, the pest control operator that discovered them in Houston.
Believed to have come from South America, these ants are now spreading throughout the southern states. When I say spread, I do mean spread, as a colony can number in the millions, or possibly even billions if they combine to form a “super colony.” They are considered semitropical, so the the cooler temperatures up north should eventually stop their progress.
In this video, you can see how their sheer numbers are mind boggling as he flips over pieces of siding that are all completely covered. There appear to be millions of them. Notice their movements as well, it’s obvious why they’re called “crazy!”
So What’s the Problem?
The biggest problem is the potential damage they can cause to your property. Like fire ants, rasberry crazy ants are attracted to electricity. They haven’t figured out the reason yet, suffice to say it’s not a good thing. Due to their large numbers, an ant bridge can be formed easily between circuits in a circuit box shorting out the entire system. I also saw a video of thousands of crazy ants pouring out of a person’s computer mouse sitting on their desk...inside their home. You certainly don’t want that kind of computer bug! They don’t sting, but they do bite, so they can definitely be a hazard when people come in contact.
Another problem is these ants are either snuffing out, or displacing other native species of ants and insects that our ecosystem relies on. Even the imported fire ant, which displaced other species itself in the 1900s, is being overrun by rasberry crazy ants.
If you encounter these ants, it’s best to call a professional pest management company as they are extremely difficult to control. Their population numbers alone make them a very tough pest to eradicate, posing a new challenge for us that live in the southern United States, as well as us pest control folks trying to curb these infestations.
 If you’ve lived in a home long enough, shoot if you’ve lived long enough period, chances are you’ve had to deal with a rodent invading your space at some point. Rats can enter your home through any opening the size of a quarter while mice only need an opening the size of a dime, so you can see how easy it can be for them to gain entry. If you only trap rodents once they are inside, you are treating the symptom and ignoring the disease. We always say it could be like trying to empty the sea of fish, they’ll keep coming. Exterior entry points also need to be repaired to completely solve rodent problems. Once inside, rodents present a variety of problems that could effect your health and your property negatively.
1. Rodents Spread Disease
Rodents are the direct and indirect transmitters of many diseases. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has a list of all the known diseases transmitted by rodents. A couple of the more common, or well known diseases are Hantavirus and Salmonella, and who could forget about the Plague!?
2. Rodents Spoil Food
In addition to risk of disease, living with rodents can result in losses of food for both people and pets. Not only do the rodents actually eat a lot of our food and our pet’s food, but they also damage the packaging and contaminate other food with droppings and urine.
3. Rodents Cause Damage
Rodents have two incisors on the top and bottom of their mouths which grow continuously. Thus, they must keep them worn down by gnawing, such is the reason we find many places of damage in and around our homes. Look up at any place on your roof where it meets another part of the structure (i.e. at the eaves or other overhang)...can you see damaged wood there? Chances are very good that it has been gnawed on by a rat or squirrel.
Attics are favorite hang outs for rodents. Rats, squirrels, and even mice are amazing climbers. Once in an attic the can chew through electrical wires, which can cause fires. They also tunnel through insulation, soiling it with urine and feces. Contaminated and disturbed insulation doesn’t only stop working as effectively as it should, it also should be removed and replaced to avoid exposure to the urine and droppings.
Here is a concerning video of rats in an attic that have chewed through the air ducts:
4. Rodents Bring Other Pests
Ticks, fleas and mites are common pests that infest rodents. They can be left behind to feed on you or your pets after eliminating a rodent infestation.
What’s the point?
If you exclude rodents from gaining access inside your home to begin with, you will not have to deal with any of these problems! By sealing up and eliminating any potential entry point, your home can be “rodent proofed.” Finding all those quarter and dime sized holes can be nearly impossible without a great deal of experience. Over the last 10 years, we have found and eliminated entry points in hundreds of homes. If you want an experienced professional to give you the peace of mind of knowing your home is rodent proof, call us at Venus Pest Company. Oh and please don't put a bunch of poison in your attic...unless you enjoy the smell of dead rat!
 In a past blog post, Don’t Do It Yourself: 8 Jobs You Should Leave to the Pros, we highlighted an article discussing some jobs around your home that were suggested you leave to the professionals. On the list were things like electrical work, tree removal, and most importantly for our purposes here...pest control.
The reason we’re bringing up pest control again in this manner is because of an article that a customer sent me regarding folks that are taking bed bug control in their own hands. A report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found many illnesses and even one death, caused by the misuse of chemicals, or applying the wrong product while trying to eliminate a beg bug infestation. The one death was caused in North Carolina where a lady used 18 chemical foggers in her home. For the record, we would never use one of these foggers in your home, not even one, not to mention 18.
What Are The Dangers?
Luckily, the numbers of ill people are still low at this point, but the CDC is urging people to contact a professional if they come across bed bugs in their home. Mostly due to the misuse, or over application of products, it is highly recommended you contact a professional that is trained to not only handle certain materials, but also is well versed on the application methods that will lead to a successful eradication of your bed bugs, without negatively affecting anything else.
Bed bugs have become resistant to pyrethroid insecticides, which are the most common insecticides sold over the counter and in foggers Also, bed bugs are fond of hiding in hard to reach places like box springs, behind cabinets, picture frames, window blinds, and switch covers. What that means is that successful treatments must be very thorough and use the right products in the right places. Successful treatments also require certain sanitation steps be taken by the homeowner to avoid re-infestation.
What Can We Do?
Unfortunately, bed bug calls are still on the rise nationwide, with the epicenter seemingly being in the northeast as New York and Ohio have been hit particularly hard. However, with our transient society, these pests are surfacing everywhere across the globe, including here in all of our home markets. Please be extremely careful when handling any pesticides, and make sure you are using them properly and according the labels.
If you suspect bed bugs, call Venus Pest Company. Often you’ll even save money in the long-run because one call to Venus and your problem will be taken care of. Because of our vast experience treating bedbugs, we know what to use, where to use it, and how to advise you against reinfestation. Do-it-yourselfers will often find themselves fighting a losing battle for months with over-the-counter products and eventually have to call a pest management company anyway.
 Many of you have noticed, or at least brought to our attention, that mosquito pressure has not been as bad this year as it typically is during the summer. Most folks blame the drought and lack of rainfall for that. However, if you look outside, you will notice your yard is probably still nice and green. What about your neighbors’ yards? Hmm, how did that happen? Must be plenty of water around to keep all those lawns green!? To put it simply, through irrigation alone, there is plenty of water for mosquitoes to thrive around your house, despite a lack of rainfall.
Then why have the mosquitoes been less this year? We believe it is due to a different reason; temperature. The high temperatures this year have lead to a couple reasons the mosquito pressure has seemingly been less.
1. For starters, this summer was so hot people spent a lot less time outdoors. So, even if there are mosquitoes out there, we wouldn’t know it because we’re all inside trying not to sweat to death.
2. Secondly, insects (including mosquitoes) are cold blooded, meaning that their body temperature is the same as that of their surroundings. The ability of the insect to be active, as well as to develop, is impacted greatly by temperature. It makes sense that cold insects slow down and warm insects speed up, think of your car.
But did you know that hot insects also slow down and can even die? The point at which this happens is called the upper developmental threshold. This temperature can vary widely among mosquitoes breeds, but represents the highest temperature that a mosquito can healthily develop. A study on two of the more troublesome mosquitoes, the yellow fever mosquito and the southern house mosquito, shows that ideal development occurs from 68F to 81F.
At these temperatures, around 90% of eggs tested made it to the adult stage. At 59F, less than 40% survived to adulthood. At 93F, less than 60% survived to adulthood. You can see from this information that mosquito problems should decrease in the when the temperature dips to the lower 60’s, and also when it reaches the upper 90’s.
We are all welcoming fall and a reprise from the heat, so are the mosquitoes. We’ve seen a big spike in mosquito calls the last couple weeks since the temperature has finally dropped. Of course, there is still plenty of water out there for healthy mosquitoes, and now the temperature is to their liking! A quick call to Venus Pest Company and we can keep you mosquito free through the end of this year’s mosquito season.
 Occasionally, we receive requests to treat people’s pantry for pests. The requests are usually for “weevils” or “those little moths”. In the pantry, they are typically stored product pests, the most common of which are the drugstore beetle, cigarette beetle, weevils (granary, rice, maize), flour beetles (red and confused), sawtoothed grain beetle, and Indianmeal moth. Believe it or not these guys are all pretty easy to tell apart under magnification.
For the most part, all these pests live and reproduce in your stored food. So the question is how do we spray for them? The answer is we don’t. Sanitation is the proper method for control in a home pantry (i.e. You have to locate the infested food items and throw them away). You may also vacuum up any spilled food in the pantry.
How did you get the infestation to begin with? You’re clean and organized right? Well there are three things that can put you at greater risk for an infestation.
1. Pet food
Pet food is often stored for long periods of time in stores, which leaves them open for infestation. Also, pet food can get spilled behind racks at the stores and cause a recurring infestation. We have noticed that the problem is especially bad with bird seed. The best way to avoid this problem is to store all pet food in sealed plastic containers away from where you store your human food. This is good advice to keep rodents away too, please don't keep an open bag of dog food in your garage!
2. Buying Bulk
The same rule for pet food applies to bulk purchases. There is a chance for infestation at the store level, and if you buy way more than you need, your own storage can become infested over time. Again, store any bulk stuff in sealed plastic containers. Another option is to store it in the freezer as this will stop any infestations from developing.
3. Buying unique items from International Stores
Generally this is along the same lines as the first two, but definitely worth mentioning. International stores may keep all their rarely purchased items for a long time, leaving them susceptible to infestation. We see folks with large canvass sacks full of grains or rice that is often the problem. The solution is the same, use sealed plastic containers and/or keep these purchases in the freezer.
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Remember, it’s not always just this short list of items that you need to look out for. If you have a pantry infestation, you must check everything and throw it out if found to be a problem. We’ve seen issues arise from tea bags, cereal, grains, rice, flour, sugar, almost anything in bags, and even some sealed up better than that.
News Flash! The Indianmeal moth is one pantry pest we will soon be able to treat. There have been recent advances in control using mating disruption, or MD. MD has been used for years in agriculture against codling moth - a.k.a. the worm in the apple. Using MD, Indianmeal moth pheromone dispensers are used to permeate the air with their pheromone. With so much “love” in the air, it is impossible for the moths to find each other, putting a stop to reproduction. Don’t worry, it has no effect on humans or even other insects. Right now, this method is gaining popularity in Industrial areas, and will soon be launched in residential applications. My uncle, Bill Lingren, owns the company that is developing it, Trece, Inc.! Is that insider trading?
 Everybody knows mosquitoes bite, and that can be an annoying problem by itself, what with the itching and the welts and such. However, that problem pales in comparison to the real issue with biting mosquitoes, and that’s the spread of disease. The mosquito's ability to spread disease has earned it the title of the most deadly animal in the world http://listverse.com/2007/07/13/top-10-most-deadly-animals/.
Because of the mobile nature of our now global society, we are increasing the chance of introducing diseases not typically found in the US. Mosquito borne diseases can end up in the United States if a mosquito, person, or animal carrying the disease infects local mosquito populations. That scenario is only a plane ride away. If you’ve ever had a mosquito inside your car that bites you four times on the face, you know what we’re talking about.
In addition to our native mosquito species that can carry diseases, exotic mosquitoes like the Asian Tiger Mosquito and the African bush mosquito have become established in the United States. They are known transmitters of 22 different viruses that impact human health.
The three scariest mosquito-borne diseases are:
Malaria
Caused by a microorganism and spread by mosquitoes, malaria is the 5th leading cause of death from infections diseases world-wide. There about 300 million cases annually around the world and nearly 1 million of those cases result in death. Malaria was largely eradicated from the U.S. in the 1950’s through a spraying campaign using DDT. Since then, there have been around 60 outbreaks caused, probably, by local mosquitoes biting a person that was infected elsewhere in the world. Symptoms include chills, fever, sweats, headache, and nausea. There is no vaccine, although the Gates foundation is donating millions of dollars to researchers to find one.
Dengue fever
This disease is caused by a virus and spread by mosquitoes. It had been absent in the U.S. for 65 years, but re-emerged during 2009 in the Florida Keys. Around 28 cases have since been reported. The disease causes severe fever along with a rash. Dengue fever is also known as break bone fever because of the severe pain and aches accompanied by the fever. Fortunately, there is a 99% survival rate. There is no vaccine.
West Nile Fever
Found originally in Africa, West Nile Virus was detected in the U.S. In 1999. It is thought to have been introduced by migrating birds. West Nile Virus is transmitted when a mosquito bites an infected bird, then bites a human. Mosquitoes may also transfer the virus to their offspring. Incidence usually peaks in August. Most infected people develop West Nile fever, which is similar to the flu. About 1 in 100 infections result in West Nile encephalitis which can cause paralysis or death. People over 50 are much more likely to develop encephalitis. In Texas, there were 89 reported human cases of West Nile Virus during 2010. Seven of those cases resulted in death. There is a vaccine that is used for horses, who can also be infected.
So What Can We Do?
Heat and humidity drive the rate of reproduction in mosquito populations. We definitely have plenty of that in Texas these days. While we aren’t having a ton of rain right now, most residential areas are heavily irrigated, and that creates plenty of breeding habitat. We’ve seen mosquito eggs and larvae in tire tracks in the middle of alleys, there does not need to be much water at all to keep these guys going.
The CDC recommends avoiding mosquito bites by using repellent, avoiding the outdoors during dusk and dawn, keeping screens in good condition, and reducing habitat (dumping standing water and keeping foliage trimmed). Venus Pest Company offers a mosquito treatment program that can reduce mosquito bites by 85-100% for around 1 month. It is one of our most popular programs and very affordable.
It's been a long break from our countdown of the most disturbing things that we come across as pest management professionals, but we return today for our final installment with bed bugs! Bed bugs are truly the #1 most disturbing pest that we encounter and the problem only seems to be getting worse. We've written extensively about bed bugs before, so I won't reiterate everything here, but bed bugs are gross people!
Read our earlier blog on 6 Exciting Bed Bug Facts & Tips where there is more detail on how to check for bed bugs and how to keep them out of your home. Here are a few of the most important things to remember.
1. Bed bugs travel on people, so always check your beds at hotel rooms and don't sit any of your stuff on the bed before thoroughly checking it. Here are some tips on checking your hotel room for bed bugs.
2. Bed bugs do not transmit disease (at least it hasn't been proven yet), but they do a tremendous amount of pshycological damage to say the least. Ask anybody who's had an infestation of bed bugs how well they slept during their ordeal. Trust me, it wasn't very much. People will go as far as sleeping in a plastic chair in the middle of the room to avoid being bitten...unfortunately that doesn't always work either! Then comes the investment of getting rid of them.
3. Nobody is impervious! It doesn't matter how much money you make or how clean your house is (although that helps for a lot of other reasons, see our blog on German cockroaches and hoarders). They've been found in hospitals, retirement homes, apartments, offices, airports, hotels of course, buses,subways...everywhere! Even Jay-Z and Rihanna were forced to shut down their recording studio due to bed bugs!
4. They can hide anywhere...and they will! We've found bed bugs and eggs
on the bottom of trophies, in books, lamps, picture frames, blinds, curtains, bedframes, cabinets, night stands, cracks in floorboards, outlet covers, lightswitch covers...anywhere and everywhere!
The most important thing to remember is it's up to you to keep your home free of this horrible pest. Read our information or call us with further questions, but please make sure you're always checking the rooms you stay in, no matter where you go, because if you come visit my house afterwards and bring some home with you, we might not be friends for too long after that! :-)
Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!
 Attention: We're seeing a spike in swarming ants around Texas! We've written extensively about swarming ants before where we've talked about why they swarm and how to protect your property. Think of the swarmers as the "winged" ants you see floating in the pool, or dead around the window. After a successful, often mid-flight mating encounter, these winged reproductive ants will land, strip off their wings, and find a suitable place to start a new colony. Many ants like the contrast of colors provided by our manicured lawns and homes, and they settle down there (i.e. Swimming pools, sidewalks, driveways, and other areas where grass meets a different surface).
Many different species of ant that take to the sky when searching for a mate, typically after rainfall. See our other blog posts on swarming ants; Look Out for Flying Fire Ants, Have You Seen These Flying Ants, and 3 Signs of Flying Carpenter Ants.
Lately, more often that not, it's been the Rover ant that we've seen. Kim Schofield of Texas A&M Agrilife Extension writes a much more detailed and eloquent blog about the swarming rover ant than I could ever write. Read her post here about dark rover ants where she speaks to their behaviors and how to identify them. When we see rover ants in and around homes, we often find them close to a source of moisture. That could mean swimming pools, a leaky hot water heater, dripping faucets, all sorts of things.
As she states in her article, there are non-chemical means that can help with control for ants such as these, but often require the help of a professional to completely control an infestation. Rover ants can be challenging to control, but are included with our standard quarterly pest management services. People often mistake swarming ants for termites and believe they have an even worse problem on their hands. Luckily, a quick call to Venus Pest Company and we can set them straight!
 It's the time of year when everybody loves being outdoors and enjoying what brief stint of Spring we may get. Many people decide to build, or already have, decks in their backyard to hold that hot tub, or table, or just to have a little cabana to hang out in. Well, people are not the only creatures that love decks! Many different types of pests, rodents, and snakes love decks so here are some easy tips to follow to minimize your risk.
1. Do not let wood from the deck directly touch the ground.
- Termites will find that wood and move in quicker than you realize.
- Build the deck on top of concrete bases to eliminate wood to soil contact.
2. Do not attach the deck directly to your house, or allow the deck to obscure the view of the foundation.
- Again, termites will find their way in and there's no way for us to tell if they're getting into the house without a clear view of the foundation.
3. Do not leave any large access points to get under the deck.
- Rats, mice, possums, skunks, armadillos, cats....the list of possible intruders goes on and on.
4. DO leave an access panel or door for the pest control guy to treat under the deck.
- This will help us when treating for cockroaches, scorpions, spiders, earwigs, pill bugs, fleas etc.)
Follow these simple tips to ensure you won't have to deal with more annoyances after completing your deck, cause we all know there are probably plenty of annoyances just in building the deck alone!
One of the services we provide at Venus Pest Company that people don't think about is pest control for outdoor weddings or other outdoor events. We cannot control that "forever hold your peace" pest, but stopping fire ants, mosquitoes, wasps, or flies from ruining your event is not a problem. A couple wedding chapels use us for rodent control as well, because the last thing you want are rats running across your wedding party! Typically, we can treat the week of the wedding and get control of all the pests, so the guests are relaxed and comfortable.
We invited Amy McKay Rodriguez, owner of All Things Planned in College Station, Texas, to write a guest blog on outdoor weddings. These tips really are amazing and could save your outdoor wedding...pay close attention to #3! If you or any friends or family are planning an outdoor wedding or any other outdoor event (BBQ, pool party, birthday), please give us a call or share our blog with them and help save the day! And now, a word from Amy McKay Rodriguez with All Things Planned...
 The Great Outdoor Wedding
Living in the great southern state of Texas, chances are you've been to an outdoor wedding or you may even be planning one yourself. Down here, we love the outdoors and our beautiful landscape can make the perfect backdrop for an outdoor wedding. However, there are things you must consider when planning the great outdoor wedding. Below are five tips to ensure that your outdoor affair will be one to remember....
5. Consider the Season: Texas temperatures can hit so high during the summer months it will make you want to simply stay inside. If you want to have a June, July, August wedding during the day, do just that! The worst thing you can do is make your guests (and yourself) uncomfortable. If you must marry in the summer months and want an outdoor wedding, consider a romantic candlelight ceremony in the evening so that your guests are cool and comfy. On the other hand, you don't want your guests freezing on your big day either! November - February can get downright freezing so you may want to avoid having your guests endure the elements during those months as well. The best months to wed outdoors are March-May and September-November.
4. Consider all the Extras: Outdoor weddings can be simple and easy but even the most laid-back wedding requires a few necessities! If you will get married at an outdoor venue that is designed to host weddings and receptions you are probably pretty safe in this department. However, if you're getting married in the middle of a pasture out on your grandpa's farm, you've got some things to consider! You'll need restroom facilities, electricity for lighting and your band/DJ, probably have to bring in a dance floor if you want some boot-scootin', and all the other little details that must be considered for your outdoor affair. Many times couples see themselves saving money when they plan an outdoor wedding that will be "free" to host on family land or even in a backyard. The reality is, those weddings tend to be much more costly because of all the extras necessary to put on an outdoor production.
3. Consider Pesty Pests: If you do decide to get married out at grandpa's farm or even at an outdoor venue designed to host weddings, you'll most certainly want to have a professional pest control company come out and look at the area and spray for whatever is there. The last thing you want is Aunt Sally stepping in an ant pile or swatting mosquitoes all night! Even the most perfectly planned wedding can be ruined by pesty pests...think ants, wasps, mosquitoes, flies, and rodents.
2. Consider Comfort: Many of your guests will dress appropriately and comfortably when they know it will be an outdoor wedding but they must know it will be an outdoor wedding before they can make that call for comfort. Make it known on your invitation, enclosure card, or direction card that it will be an outdoor wedding and they can and should dress appropriately. Your Aunt Sally shouldn't show up in her favorite pair Manolo Blahniks if you'll be hosting her in a pasture. Same thing goes for you! If you're outdoors, you can be more casual and comfortable... wear a pair of boots under that gown rather than a pair of stilettos!
1. ALWAYS HAVE A BACKUP PLAN: The weather in Texas can be tricky and unpredictable. It can be beautiful one day and dreadful the next. Always, always, always have a backup plan for an outdoor wedding! If that means having an alternate indoor venue reserved for inclement weather or just a covered tent, you must always plan for the worst case scenario. Many times your vendors will not refund deposits or money paid toward their services should you have to change the date due to weather. If there is not an indoor alternative in the case of bad weather, you could be out a lot of money (not to mention time and the inconvenience to your guests). When planning the great outdoor wedding, always consider the great indoor alternative should you need it!
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