Four Common Ants Found In Vestavia Hills Homes
Ants as a species are the most common nuisance pest that you can find around your Vestavia Hills home; however, they're not all created equal.
Here are four of the ants that you're most likely to spot and why they're an issue:
- Odorous house ant - These tiny black ants are the ones the homeowners typically spot in the kitchens and bathrooms. They enter the home through small openings in search of sweet and sugary foods as well as water.
- Carpenter ant - This type of ant is known for the damage they cause to structures. The carpenter ant will burrow inside the wood around your home, which has a similar effect to termites.
- Pharaoh ant - The Pharaoh ant typically enters homes through torn screen doors in search of syrupy foods like honey and pastries. They can spread bacteria, which makes them a health risk.
- Argentine ant - This species is known for its ability to grow extensive infestations, which are primarily located outside in soil, rotting wood, and even birds nests. Their infestations can be challenging to get rid of when they move inside.
To keep all kinds of ants out of your home, contact EnviroCare for ant control today.
Are Vestavia Hills Cockroaches More Of A Problem In The Summer?
Conditions in Vestavia Hills range from mild winters to warm and humid summers, and while many residents enjoy this fact, it means that cockroaches are a year-round problem. This regular frequency of cockroach infestations is not only attributed to the local climate, but the state of local properties can also cause it. Cockroaches of varying species are lured to properties by the promise of food scraps and water, making something as simple as a leaky faucet or crumbs on the floor an issue. Cockroaches are a continuous problem because they can utilize the sewer system, jump between shared walls, and invade packages left out on the porch. At EnviroCare, we handle roaches safely and effectively. Our expert technicians are specifically trained in the ways of cockroaches and will customize a cockroach control program to address them thoroughly. To learn more about cockroach prevention, contact us today.
How Crickets In Your Vestavia Hills Home Can Be A Bigger Problem Than You Think
Crickets may seem harmless because of the calming reputation that they’ve earned in popular culture; however, the crickets in Vestavia Hills can be a bigger issue than you might think. One of the biggest issues that crickets pose is the damage they can cause to your property. They are masters at ruining materials like silk, wool, and paper. This level of destruction usually happens when your infestation is on the larger side, but you do not want to ignore a small population of crickets either.
Crickets are actually known for the rapid rates at which they can reproduce. Female crickets can start reproducing when they’re only ten days old. Once they’ve mated, they can lay batches of up to 100 eggs every two days over a two-month period.
For complete cricket control in Vestavia Hills for your home, call EnviroCare today!
All You Need To Know About Centipedes In Vestavia Hills
The centipedes in Vestavia Hills might look scary, but they are actually only considered a nuisance pest. It’s actually very unlikely that you’ll encounter a centipede because of their nocturnal behavior, but if you do, you can spot them because of their distinct appearance. Centipedes can have anywhere from 15 to 177 sets of legs, and it will always be an odd number. Their brown bodies are segmented and their legs splay from underneath them. You’re likely to find centipedes inside your home either in bathrooms or basements, which is where the moisture they seek is found. Centipedes are also lured by the presence of other pests like millipedes, spiders, and flies, which they eat.
At EnviroCare, we include Vestavia Hills centipede control in all of our residential pest control treatments. We understand how common of an issue they can be and how difficult they are for the average homeowner to deal with. Our company has more than 60 years of experience in pest control and a dedication to innovation, so you will always receive the very best service. We use environmentally conscious methods and products in order to eliminate the centipedes in your home while also keeping them from returning. In order to ensure a centipede-free home, we will provide regular service visits as well. For more information on centipede control for your home, please call us today.
We Have Not Seen The Last Of Mosquitoes This Year In Vestavia Hills
Mosquitoes are some of the peskiest pests that you can encounter in Vestavia Hills. If you think they’ve gone away after you saw them last year, guess again. When temperatures cool down during wintertime, female mosquitoes usually burrow inside yard debris and beneath the ground. When temperatures dip below 50 degrees, you might also find that mosquitoes have taken up hibernation shelter in the far reaches of your home. But once conditions start to grow warmer and more humid around March, that’s when mosquitoes will reappear. They are attracted to these sorts of environmental factors and need them in order to reproduce. As the humidity increases throughout late spring and lasts throughout the fall, that’s when mosquitoes are in full force.
If you’re looking for a solution to the mosquitoes in Vestavia Hills, look no further than EnviroCare. Our locally owned company has been servicing our community since 1958. We bring an unmatched attention to detail to everything that we do. Our Vestavia Hills mosquito control process begins with a full yard inspection so that we can identify where mosquitoes are hiding and other places that might attract them. Between the months of March and October, we provide monthly treatments to shrubbery, areas of standing water, and harborage sites on a 30-day schedule. For more information on keeping mosquitoes off of your property, please call us today.
How Much Do You Really Know About The Spiders In Vestavia Hills?
If you think you know about the spiders in Vestavia Hills, guess again. There is actually a wide variety of spiders that you can encounter and they’re not all the same. You might come across venomous types like the brown recluse and the black widow, but you might also see cellar spiders or common house spiders that are far less threatening. Each spider has different habits and certain things that make them special. The female black widow, for example, will weave a web where she waits for her prey. It’s only when prey crosses her path that she injects them with venom. The black widow is relatively anti-social, so if they feel threatened by a person, they may attack. The results of a black widow bite can appear as hives and nausea as well as difficulty breathing.
Then there are spiders like the cellar spider, also known as daddy longlegs, which do not pose a risk to your health. These spiders, like other species, are drawn to the moist and secluded conditions that your basement might provide. They are also lured by the presence of other spiders and insects that they eat. For more information on spider control, call EnviroCare today.
Mistakes Vestavia Hills Residents Make To Attract Ticks
Ticks are certainly pests that Vestavia Hills residents will want to avoid; however, attracting them is easier than people may think. Here are a few common mistakes that people make to invite ticks to their properties:
- Allowing wildlife activity: Wildlife animals are some of the most common spreaders of ticks because they are a preferred host. Things that attract wildlife to yards include compost piles, food rotting in gardens, trash that accumulates, lots of harborage sites, and the ability to get inside attics.
- Not protecting pets: Cats and dogs can also easily pick up ticks whether they’re on a walk, playing in the yard, or coming into contact with other animals at the dog park. It’s important to consult a veterinarian about year-round tick protection and perform routine tick checks to avoid these scenarios.
- Leaving the backyard cluttered: Ticks seek out shady areas where they wait for their hosts to scamper by. Allowing the lawn or hedges to be overgrown and having a build-up of leaf piles can create a conducive environment for ticks.
- Spending time outdoors: Ticks can also attach themselves to people, so it’s important to always check hair and clothing for ticks after spending time on a nature walk.
For more information on tick control, call EnviroCare Lawn and Pest Services.
Signs Of Termites In Your Vestavia Hills Home
Termites are known for the quiet chaos that they cause. They infiltrate Vestavia Hills homes in search of wooden structures that can serve as their food and shelter. Once termites get started, they can eat wood 24/7, which can lead to significant property damage. While they can go undetected for long periods of time, here are some signs that you might want to look for:
- The inability to close or open both windows and doors with ease
- Spotting piles of frass, which is sawdust-like termite excrement
- Uneven or peeling flooring, whether wood or tiling
- Walls that sound hollow when you tap on them
- Seeing termites or termite swarmers around your property
- The presence of mud tubes, which serve as security when termites are coming and going from the colony
- Wood with a blistered or torn appearance
- Lots of little discarded wings that are likely left behind near pinholes in wooden structures
- Trouble with paint or wallpaper
If you notice any of these symptoms in your home, the best thing to do is call EnviroCare Lawn and Pest Services for professional help. We are fully licensed Sentricon® applicators, so we have all of the necessary training and experience to use one of the industry’s top product lines. For more information on termite control for your home, call us today.
What Does Silverfish Damage Look Like In Vestavia Hills?
Silverfish are nuisance pests that Vestavia Hills homeowners may experience if their homes have an excess of moisture or cellulose-based items for them to eat. These pests are noted for their fish-like movements and are aptly named due to their coloring. People may bring them into their homes accidentally, or they can maneuver through any flaws that a foundation may possess. Though these pests are small, they are capable of creating lots of damage to some beloved household items. One of their preferred treats is books. They will nibble away at the pages of books and even sensitive paperwork, leaving them frayed and damaged.
Silverfish may also eat leather, which makes upholstered furniture and even leather clothing and accessories fair game. In some instances, the way that they eat leather may result in scratch-like markings. Silverfish can also eat away at wallpaper, photographs, and money, which can make them unusable. For more information on silverfish control, call EnviroCare Lawn and Pest Services.
The Secret To Total Fire Ant Prevention In Vestavia Hills
Fire ants are a species of ant that is not to be taken lightly. They usually seek greasy or sweet foods, as well as water. Fire ants typically invade yards and live below the ground’s surface, creating mounds that are hard to miss. But if people disrupt these mounds or provoke the ants in any way, they may be subjected to lots of painful stings. Fire ants have the ability to sting people repeatedly and the size of the average colony may only amplify the potential health threats.
Instead of leaving your household exposed to harmful fire ants, professional fire ant prevention from EnviroCare Lawn and Pest Services can help. We are a locally owned company that has been serving the area for more than 60 years. Our expert technicians will begin with a comprehensive lawn inspection to locate the infestation and determine what factors may have contributed to it. From there, we use TopChoice® granular treatments that come with a one-year warranty. We prefer this method because we can apply them during any season, it’s very safe, there's residual protection, and it offers protection from other pests as well. For more information on preventing fire ant outbreaks, call us today.
