Category Archives: Blog

The Importance of Pest Inspection for Your New Home

October 4, 2019

Moving into a new home can be a grand adventure. The researching, the viewing, and the decision to put in an offer are exciting. When you finally find the perfect home, it’s always advised to get a home inspection to confirm that the structure is sound and there are no underlying electrical or HVAC issues.

However, it is highly recommended to get a pest inspection from a licensed professional before you move in. This is not only to ensure you don’t have unwanted housemates but also to protect your family and investment.

Here are reasons why you should schedule a pest inspection before you purchase your home:

Avoid Unwanted Guests

If you discover a pest infestation after you move in, the damage caused and expense to treat it falls on you, the new homeowner. Getting an inspection before the sale is finalized gives you leverage in the event there is an infestation. As the buyer, you can ask the seller to arrange a pest control visit to alleviate the issue or ask for the price to be lowered to compensate for future pest control expenses.

Discover Past Damage

By law, sellers are usually required to report any past infestation damage. When it comes to listing the details, this information might slip their minds, or more likely, they may not be aware of any damages as it’s not always visible to the naked eye. Getting a professional pest inspection will ensure there are no damages to wood, flooring, insulation, or any structural components.

Peace of Mind

When purchasing a home, there is already enough to worry about. Pests shouldn’t be one of them. Scheduling a pest inspection will uncover any destructive pests that are or have been in your home as well as expose any areas that may need pest protection in the future.

Safety First

Some critters – stinging insects, bed bugs, poisonous spiders – carry diseases or pose a threat to your family. Knowing if the pests are around and learning how to rid of them effectively will make your home safer for years to come.

Home Value

Arranging a pest inspection prior to moving can only benefit the future value of your home. Unwanted pests will decrease your home’s value, especially if you plan to increase the value with renovations.

If you plan on buying a new home, scheduling a pest inspection with Rid All Termite & Pest Solutions will protect your investment and your family.

Established in 1997, family-owned and operated Rid All Termite & Pest Solutions has served over 10,000 businesses and homeowners in the mid-south area of Olive Branch, MS. Through community education, affordability, and top-notch customer service, we lead the mid-south pest control industry. We serve you best with integrity, ongoing employee training, and safety awareness. Visit our website for more information or call (901) 377-9915.

Sources

https://ridallbug.com/services/#inspection

https://www.sanjoaquinpestcontrol.com/blog/should-i-get-a-pest-inspection-on-my-new-home

https://www.aaipest.com/pest-control-blog/pest-inspections/

Harmful Effects of Spider Infestation

August 22, 2019

Just the thought of an in-home spider infestation is a nightmare for many, but it’s something that can be taken care of and eliminated. While not always physically threatening or dangerous, a spider infestation is often an indicator that other pest populations are present in the home. Spiders like to eat bugs. If your home has populations of roaches, ants, or crickets spiders will be happy to take roost there with an ample supply of food. Consequently, it makes sense to first address the underlying pest problem before tackling the spider issue. Black widows and brown recluse spiders, the most poisonous and dangerous in the US, are the two most significant dangers of spider infestation. A bite from one of these spiders can be deadly.

Signs of Spider Infestation

Spiders are usually found in dark, secluded areas of the home and garden. Here are some tips on finding spiders at home and detecting a spider infestation.

The sizes and shapes of spider webs vary by spider species. Some spider webs are funnel-shaped, while others are orb-shaped. One of the most distinct spider webs is the web of the black widow. These webs are not geometric, nor even organized into a pattern. Instead, they are woven as random, messy-looking web dens to trap outsmart and trap insects. This is very helpful in detecting whether or not you have black widows in your home.
Some species of spiders are attracted to moist environments like basements, sheds, walls, and the like.
There are other species of spiders that live in burrows or crevices instead of webs.
Where there are insects in your home, there are probably spiders. Spiders prey and feed on flies, insects, ants, woodlice, and even other spiders.
Some spider species hide out in attics, closets, wall junctions, and storage boxes.

The Dangerous Spiders

Black Widows are easy to spot for two different reasons – their bright red hourglass marking on the base of their bulging black abdomens, and the crazy haphazard webs that they weave. They also like warm, dark spaces and prey on flies and other insects. A small amount of black widow venom can be fatal, so call an exterminator immediately if you suspect there’s an infestation in your home. A black widow bite usually manifests in muscle cramps, weakness, tremors, and localized pain. More severe cases cause vomiting, nausea, and respiratory problems.

Brown Recluse spiders, a cousin of the black widow, are the most dangerous spiders in the United States. Unfortunately, their appearance is not as distinct as the black widow, but rather has a similar shape and color to several other spiders with a brown, violin-shape.

Brown recluse bites are distinct and potentially fatal. The bite is usually painless and symptoms don’t develop until between 2-8 hours after the bite happens. A brown recluse bite creates severe itching and pain, blistering, and vomiting. In a more localized severe reaction, the bite can become discolored and necrotic, creating dead tissue. In very rare cases, the venom can have a secondary effect causing the body’s defenses like platelets and white blood cells to worsen the biter resulting in severe side effects like coma, renal failure, and death.

Rid All Termite & Pest Solutions is a family-owned and operated pest control company established in 1997. We lead the mid-south pest control industry through education, choice and affordability. We are more than happy to come to survey your home get any spider issue under control. We pride ourselves on excellent communication and top-notch service to our clients. Please call us at (901) 377-9915 or visit our website for more information.

Sources:

https://www.homepest.com

https://www.westernexterminator.com

Prevent Bringing Bed Bugs Home with You

August 5, 2019

Waking nightmare – realizing in the morning of a hotel stay that you weren’t sleeping alone, but rather with an army of tiny creatures that have given you bed bug bites! What’s worse is to further the issue by bringing these little buggers home with you in your luggage! Unfortunately, hotel bed bugs have become more than a reality over the past several years. Bed bugs are masters at hiding out in cracks and crevices and creeping into luggage and other belongings. Here are several things you can do to protect yourself from any run-ins with these little beasts.

Know What You’re Looking For

Adult bed bugs are about a quarter-inch in length, flat, and reddish-brown like an apple seed. Younger bed bugs are smaller with a lighter, creamier color. Bed bugs are crawlers, so if you see a flying insect, it is not a bed bug. They can leave behind wings, black dots of feces, or brownish spots where they maybe were squished. Signs of bed bugs are little dark stains that could indicate a bed bug infestation. In a serious scenario, you could even see the bugs’ pearly white eggs or castaway shells. If you do find one of the critters, get it into a plastic bag or a glass so that you have proof for the hotel.

Nip it in the Bud

The first thing to do to avoid bed bugs is to do your hotel room due diligence. Upon entering any hotel room, do a thorough scan of the bed, wooden headboard, and any other upholstered furniture. A thorough scan will include behind and under the bed, all layers of the bed including mattress (especially seams), linens, box spring, pillows, dust ruffle, etc., all sides of night tables, any wall décor, drapes, carpeting, rugs, and all corners of walls, woodwork, and furniture. Avoid keeping your luggage on the floor.

Handling Infested Items at Home

Laundry. If you have been the victim of bed bugs it is imperative to treat all of your belongings when you get home. Rule number one – keep your luggage in the garage or on an outdoor porch. Put your clothing directly from the suitcase into a plastic bag to directly transfer it to the washing machine. Wash your clothing on a 30-minute cycle in hot water. Then place in the dryer on a “hot” setting for another 30 minutes. This will kill any bed bugs and their eggs. Be sure to tie-up and throw away the empty garbage bag immediately after emptying of clothes. Keep the bill for anything that you need to send to the dry cleaner in case you can get reimbursed.

Other Belongings. Any other items from your suitcase such as shoes, toiletries, shoes, and the actual suitcase should stay in the garage or outdoors until you can inspect them or treat them cold, heat, cold or insecticide. To treat with heat, place infested items into a plastic bag and place in a hot car where the inside temperature will rise to 120 degrees for an hour or more. If you are in a geographically cooler locale, you can treat with bed bugs with cold by placing the items into a chest freezer for a day or two for dis-infestation. If neither of these options is viable, items can be treated by a professional pest management company.

Sources:

https://citybugs.tamu.edu

https://home.howstuffworks.com

https://www.washingtonpost.com

Preventing Pests in the Summer

July 5, 2019

The sun is out and summer is finally here! While you’re out enjoying the summer fun, the last thing you want to be concerned with is annoying mosquitoes or other pests. The hot summer weather means that pests will be trying to invade your nice air-conditioned home. Don’t let pests spoil the fun. Follow these simple tips for preventing pests to ensure a comfortable summer:

Seal off places of entry: The first thing to do is to consider how pests might enter your home and block it off. Check any window screens or screen doors for any holes that might have appeared over the winter. Check your windows for any new gaps and consider weather stripping. When you are entering or exiting your home, be mindful that pests stay out upon the door opening.

Remove areas of standing water: Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Even the smallest amount of water is all it takes. Check for bird baths, areas of drainage, garden ponds, rain spouts or anything that could hold water. Regularly walk around your property to check for any new developments.

Clean Kitchen: Nothing attracts pests like food. A small pile of crumbs on your kitchen floor can turn into a pile of ants really quickly. Wipe your counters, sweep floors and take out garbage to ensure that pests can’t find anything in your home. Consider investing in a garbage can with a lid. Immediately store food after eating and make use of Tupperware containers.

Maintain your yard: A great hiding place for pests is overgrown grass or untrimmed hedges as they often use them for their nests. Keep up with landscaping your yard to keep pests from settling near your home. A side benefit is a nice looking yard.

Don’t store wood near home: Storing firewood next to your home is like giving termites a one-way ticket inside your home. If you store firewood, make sure that it is away from your home, at least five feet away.

Pests will stop at nothing to enter your home. If you are experiencing pest issues, contact the professionals at Rid All Termite & Pest Solutions. Since 1997, we have served over 10,000 homeowners and businesses in the mid-south area near Olive Branch. If you have any pest control needs, visit our website or call us at 901-377-9915.

How to Prevent House Flies

June 3, 2019

Are you finding yourself constantly hitting flies with a fly swatter in your home? Before you reach for that fly swatter, you are better off finding out what is attracting them. Finding the root of the cause means you need to do an inspection, sanitation and fly pest control to stop them from returning. Hiring a professional like Rid All Termite & Pest Solutions will help you get rid of house flies the right way the first time so the flies don’t return.

House Fly Identification
Signs of Infestation of a House Fly
The one common sign of an infestation of a house fly is actually seeing the flies in your home. You may hear them flying around in your home or even larvae crawling out of where they are breeding as they pupate. If you hear them flying, you will hear a buzzing sound caused by their two wings beating together.

How House Flies Enter Your Home
Damaged screens or weather stripping of your home is the way house flies get inside. House flies are attracted to your home from air currents and different odors. They are attracted to warm air currents coming from your house on cooler days and cooler air currents on warmer days. They prefer temps around 83-degrees Fahrenheit.

House Fly Control
Getting Rid of House Flies
If you think your home has a fly infestation, it’s best you contact a pest control professional like Rid All Termite & Pest Solutions to conduct an inspection so they can look for places where eggs may have been deposited. If the breeding site is not cleaned properly or the eggs aren’t removed, the house flies will return.

Eliminating the adult house flies is the step after disposing of the breeding site. Rid All Termite & Pest Solutions will create a treatment plan based on the circumstances of the house fly infestation.

If you are looking to avoid an infestation in the first place, sanitation needs to be done. Remove trash, use sealed garbage bins, and pick up pet waste to prevent the attraction of house flies. If one of your window screens have a rip or tear in it, patch it or replace it to avoid house flies from entering your home.

For immediate help for your pest problem, contact Rid All Termite & Pest Solutions at 901-377-9915 or visit our website to see the extensive services we offer so you can get back to living your life without worrying about pests!

More Information on Fleas

January 5, 2017

Can fleas fly?
Fleas do not fly and are wingless as adults. Their preferred method of movement is for the adults to jump onto a host when that animal passes close by. Flea larvae are mobile and will move slowly from one location to another by crawling. The main reasons flea larvae move are to locate food and a protective, shaded, moist location that is favorable to the flea larvae’s survival.

Do fleas carry disease?
Yes, fleas can transmit diseases when taking a blood meal from a host or via contaminated fecal pellets. Some flea-borne diseases include:

Plague – transmitted by the Oriental rat flea
Flea-borne typhus, also known as murine typhus – transmitted by the bacteria-infested feces of infected cat fleas when they enter the body at the time of the flea’s bite or from scratching the area of the bite.
Bartonellosis –Oriental rat flea and cat flea bites may transmit cat scratch disease.
Flea tapeworm – can be transmitted if children accidently eat an infected flea or contact infected feces.
Tungiasis – a tropical area ailment that is caused by the chigoe flea (Tunga penetrans) when it burrows into the skin and takes a blood meal. As the adult female feeds, she grows larger due to the development of her eggs. The bite of the chigoe flea often results in secondary infections and itching.

Flea Bites
Flea bites result in red spots surrounded by reddened haloes. They are extremely itchy and cause great discomfort. Fleas often target the legs and feet of human victims and may infest the entire bodies of domestic house pets. Many wildlife species carry fleas as well. If these animals are associated around ones home, fleas may migrate to pets and humans. Be aware that other causes may result in human skin irritation, including other pests, allergic reactions to medications or even ingrown hairs.
In some pets flea saliva can cause allergic reactions such as FAD, and increased scratching can result in hair loss and secondary infections. In more severe cases, affected pet skin thickens and sores appear.

Category Archives: Blog

The Importance of Pest Inspection for Your New Home

Harmful Effects of Spider Infestation

Prevent Bringing Bed Bugs Home with You

Preventing Pests in the Summer

How to Prevent House Flies

More Information on Fleas

row 1 col 1 start

row 1 col 1 end

row 1 col 2 start

row 1 col 2 end