RAPID PEST SOLUTIONS WISHES YOU A HAPPY AND SAFE 4TH OF JULY!!!
Declaration of Independence
July 4th commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and our independence from Great Britain. It is a national holiday marked by displays of patriotism. Americans celebrate with BBQ’s, parties and picnics. Decorations of red, white and blue can be seen throughout cities. Many people will fly an American flag in front of their home. The day is also celebrated by parades and fireworks.
The parade will be held on Friday, July 4, 2014 at 2p. The parade route will travel North on Calumet Avenue to Ridge Road where it will head East to The Center for Visual and Performing Arts. Come and see the Rapid Team and the Bug Van!
Recently we have been inundated with calls about termites. Termites are at their peak of activity in the warm summer months although they do stay active year round. The amount of rain we have had this year really helped to increase the number of termite swarms. The only job that swarming termites have is to go out to mate and start new colonies. If you see swarming termites in your area, you need to contact a professional pest control company right away so that a full inspection can be done on your property. Many people confuse a flying ant and a flying termite. It is fairly easy to tell them apart if you know what to look for.
Notice the difference in wing size, body shape and color. Those things are easy to see. Example of termite mud tubes
The evidence that termites leave behind is very distinctive. They make tunnels that are called mud tubes. These are the tunnels that the termites will travel through.
4 FACTS ABOUT TERMITES
They live in colonies underground with as many as 2 million members.
A termite colony eats non-stop. 24/7/365.
The total weight of all the termites in the world is more than that of all the humans in the world.
Termites not only eat wood, but wallpaper, plastics and fabric made from plants.
4 WAYS TO HELP PREVENT TERMITES
Because termites thrive on moisture it is important to keep water accumulation away from your homes foundation.
Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the home.
Keep mulch at least 15 inches from the foundation.
Reduce humidity inside the home by properly ventilating crawl spaces, attics and basements. This will help prevent termite swarms.
Once you have a termite infestation, treatments can be very expensive but they are effective. There are two main types of treatments. One involves placing bait in stations around the perimeter of the home and garage. The other uses a liquid that is placed around the foundation of the home. If your property requires a service, both options will be explained to you and the individual prices will be quoted.
You know those really big, black ants that you see, the kind that look like they could have come from some bad B movie? Well, most likely those are Carpenter Ants. And they are probably the most common invader of homes in our area. While sometimes confused with termites, Carpenter Ants don’t actually eat the hard wood that your home is constructed of. Rather, they prefer moist, rotting wood and soft materials. They don’t consume it for food they merely dig through it, creating tunnels and nests. Below you will find some general information on Carpenter Ants and also some tips on treatment.
6 FACTS ABOUT CARPENTER ANTS
Carpenter Ants have 1 node, or ‘spike’ on their back just below the waist.
When outside Carpenter Ants will be found in dead and decaying trees, logs and stumps, because of this homes located in wooded areas are especially subject to infestations.
They are social insects that live in colonies. Once a colony becomes several years old it will reach a population of 2,000 – 3,000.
Once a colony reaches this size it will produce winged male and female ‘swarmers’ which will come out in the warm weather in the Spring and Summer to mate.
Large black ants found in the home are usually the first sign that you may have an infestation.
Numerous winged ants at the windows on the INSIDE of the home probably signals an indoor nest. As stated above winged ants are not produced until the colony reaches into the thousands – so this is something that would need to be addressed immediately.
Carpenter Ants do not eat wood, they just tunnel through it. This will leave a sawdust like material called frass.
Correct any moisture conditions that are conducive to the Carpenter Ants environment.
Treat with bait.
You may have a colony rebound if treatment is done incorrectly. That is why when dealing with a Carpenter Ant problem it is best to hire a professional.
Severe Carpenter Ant infestation
Above is an example of a severe Carpenter Ant infestation. You don’t want your problem to reach this level! Although Carpenter Ants don’t eat the wood like termites they can still cause a great amount of damage.
If you suspect a Carpenter Ant problem in your home, call Rapid Pest Solutions for a free inspection or click below to schedule.
Nobody wants to be the recipient of a sting. Not from a bee, wasp or hornet. The whole experience just screams NOT FUN! Unfortunately if you plan on spending any time outside this summer you put yourself at risk for a possible sting. It’s not as if the risk is incredibly high but it is there. I’m going to help you out, first by telling you how to avoid a possible sting and then by telling you how to treat a sting should you be one of those unlucky enough to get one.
7 WAYS TO PREVENT STINGS
Floral scents attract bees
Don’t Smell Pretty – Bees and wasps are attracted to sweet, flowery scents. Perfume, laundry detergents, hair care products, lotions, etc. will attract bees and wasps.
Don’t Smell Badly – Bees and wasps become agitated around the strong odor of sweat. If you’ve been working outside or working out, freshen up with unscented soap and water before any activity where you may come into contact with bees or wasps.
Dress For It – Dress in light colored, loose fitting clothing. Long pants and sleeves are best although this could make you rather warm. Stay away from floral prints and dark colors.
No Cans – When drinking outside, use a see through cup. Wasps are notorious for crawling into soda cans. Also, be careful when eating fruits or sugary foods outside as these will attract the bees and wasps too.
Be careful when barefoot. You don’t want to step on a bee or wasp.
No Barefeet – Going barefoot is my favorite! Any time I can get away with no shoes I’m a happy camper. However, wasps often make their nests in the ground and bees may be collecting nectar from the flowers. You don’t want to step on one them!
Keep Away – Try to stay away from nests and hives. Bees and wasps will defend their territory. Even the most docile will protect their home.
Stay Calm – When a bee or wasp comes into your area it is not a good idea to wave your arms about rapidly and become hysterical. This behavior will be considered a threat and will invite stinging.
What if those suggestions to prevent stings don’t work, you ask? What if I still get stung? Most important is to STAY CALM. You will want to act quickly once stung. Cooler heads will prevail.
4 WAYS TO TREAT A STING
A stinger with venom sac attached.
Remove The Stinger – Do this as soon as possible. The stinger injects venom into the body so remove it right away. Use fingernails or tweezers – just get it out!
Clean The Area – Wash the area of the sting with soap and water.
Ice It – Apply a cold compress or ice. This will help reduce swelling. (and pain)
A bee sting with a normal reaction. A dot in the middle with bulls-eye type swelling around it.
Ease Symptoms – Apply a hydro-cortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce itching. You may also choose to take an oral antihistamine (like Benadryl) to help with itching, swelling and redness.
If you are allergic to stings or have any symptoms of anaphylactic shock – seek medical treatment IMMEDIATELY.
Symptoms of anaphylactic shock include BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat or tongue, a weak and rapid pulse, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and fainting. If you have ANY of these symptoms seek immediate medical attention.
You are now armed with the information needed to avoid a sting and treat one. Don’t let bees, wasps and other stinging insects keep you from enjoying your summer. Be aware of your surroundings and you can still enjoy your fun in the sun.
If you suspect a bee or wasp nest around your home or yard, contact Rapid Pest Solutions. We can help.
Today I am going to talk about mosquitoes. Because we deal with them every summer for our entire lives, we kind of take for granted the fact that they are around. Unfortunately mosquitoes are the biggest danger to humans. More dangerous than sharks, lions and dogs, even more dangerous than other humans! They kill an estimated 725,000 people PER YEAR. Those numbers are somewhat mind boggling.
From Dusk Till Dawn / Vampire
It is important to protect yourself from mosquito bites as best as you can. The peak time for mosquitoes to be out in our area is ‘From Dusk till Dawn’. And much like the vampires in that movie, mosquitoes are out for blood. Only the female mosquitoes bite, the males feed on plant nectar. A female will hunt you out by detecting body heat and carbon dioxide. So sitting in one place may prove to be more beneficial than being up and moving around, as movement will make you warmer and cause you to breathe heavier resulting in more carbon dioxide emission.
A mosquitoes larvae requires moisture and they can breed in any form of stagnant water. This includes ponds, marshes, storm drains, etc. Adult mosquitoes like to hang out in vegetation like tall grass and shrubs. There are a few steps you can take to help decrease the mosquito population around your home.
Mosquito
5 WAYS TO HELP KEEP MOSQUITOES OUT OF YOUR YARD
Discard containers of standing water around your home. (pottery, flower pots, garbage can lids, etc)
Once a week empty wading pools and bird baths and refill with clean water
Keep your grass short and your shrubbery trimmed
Keep swimming pools clean and chlorinated
Keep gutters clean and unclogged
It’s important to protect yourself from mosquito bites. As I mentioned above, mosquitoes pose a real threat to the health of humans.
3 STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM MOSQUITO BITES
Use an insect repellent that contains DEET
Where loose fitting, light colored clothing with long sleeves and pants
Utilize screens on your doors and windows
Fight the Bite
Mosquitoes are vectors of many diseases. This means they pass them on to humans. Some of these diseases include West Nile Virus, Malaria and Yellow Fever. West Nile Virus has become a major concern in the US recently. While there have not been many cases of West Nile in Illinois and Indiana over the last few years, the risk is still there. Symptoms of West Nile Virus are very similar to common flu symptoms. In some extreme cases there may be high fever, body aches, worsening weakness and confusion. Report any dead birds such as blue jays and crows as this is one of the first signs that the West Nile Virus is in your area.
Following these steps will help to ensure that you are able to enjoy your summer. If you have any further questions about mosquitoes, their bites or how to prevent them, please contact Rapid Pest Solutions.
It’s that time of year – people will be spending a lot of time outside. BBQ’s, parties, the park and zoo, bike riding, walking, the beach – you name it. All of this time spent participating in outdoor activities puts us at risk of coming in contact with the dreaded STINGING INSECT! Da Da Dun!!!
For us in the NW Indiana and Chicago area, our most common stinging insects will include three main types, bees, wasps and hornets. There are subcategories to each of these but we are going to talk about them in a mostly general sense. Here we go!
BEES
There are several types of bees that we could encounter in our area. Bumble Bees, Carpenter Bees, Honey Bees and the list goes on. Male carpenter bees don’t have a stinger, therefore they are harmless, although they will act very aggressive. The other types of bees can and will sting, but are not overly aggressive and will usually only attack when threatened. For more information on Carpenter Bees check out this blog.
HORNETS
Hornet
There is one main type of hornet that we have here in this area and that is the European Hornet. Hornets are large, about an inch and a half long, and are yellow and brown in color. Hornets are pretty aggressive and their sting packs quite a punch. A hornet’s nest is usually high off the ground. It may be hanging from a tree or from the eaves of a house and they are approximately the size of a football.
WASPS
There are many types of wasps. Cicada Killers, Yellow Jackets and Paper Wasps are just a few that we come across in this area.
Cicada Killer With Cicada
Cicada Killers are large and somewhat intimidating looking. They are digger wasps and live a solitary life. The females use their stingers to subdue their prey rather than protect their nest. They will not attempt to sting unless handled very roughly or if you step on them. The males are harmless as they cannot sting. Although their size may seem scary, they are generally non-aggressive towards humans and will fly away when swatted at.
Paper Wasps will generally only attack if they or their nests are threatened. They are identifiable by the nests they build, which have open combs with cells for breeding. Paper Wasps will feed on nectar and other insects and are often considered to be beneficial by gardeners.
Yellow Jackets have lance like stingers with small barbs and are capable of stinging over and over. Yellow Jackets are social hunters and live in colonies. They feed mostly on sugars and carbs, such as fruit, nectar and tree sap but will also scavenge in human garbage.
Paper Wasp Nest
While you are outside this summer, be aware of your surroundings and stay away from the nests of stinging insects. If you do encounter a stinging insect, keep calm. As I said, many of these insects are not aggressive and will leave you alone. If you realize that you have some unwanted visitors nesting around your home or in your trees, give Rapid Pest Solutions a call. We can take care of these nests for you so that you may enjoy your time outside, all season long!
Previously I told the story of how I came to be in pest control. In talking with a co-worker I realized that he too stumbled into the business. And much the same as me, he loves it and wouldn’t want to do anything else. It’s strange that an industry that can elicit the most extreme responses from people can become a well-loved career. Pest Control is not for everyone. I never would have thought that it was right for me, but it is. It takes a rare breed of people to get down and dirty with the pests! Check out the story below as told to me by Wayne Ritenour.
Exterminator
“As it turns out, I didn’t choose pest control, it chose me. In my younger days I was hopping from job to job and was looking for a place to settle down. The old ‘friend of a friend’ network had me sitting in a pest control office on the south side of Chicago filling out an application. As luck would have it, I was hired on the spot and the rest is history!”
“Starting as a service tech was easy – except I was, and still am, leery of spiders and rats. This made inspecting and treating crawl spaces pretty interesting. On more than one occasion I had customers ask why they had heard a high pitched scream come from the crawl space. I would tell them I hit my head, although I’m not sure how many actually believed that. Finally after years of hitting my head in crawl spaces (wink, wink) I was promoted and I have never looked back. I was working with a large national company at that time and it had a lot of advantages including training, peer learning and promotional opportunities.”
LEFT – Spider Crickets / RIGHT – Rodent
“I have run several office locations over the last 17 years. Other than my position here at Rapid, I thoroughly enjoyed working in a small operation in Central Indiana. Going from a ‘city boy’ manager to running a very suburban branch was interesting. I always envisioned a bad Children of the Corn episode when my GPS would lead me down an ‘unnamed’ gravel road to get to a customer’s house. That aside, I have been lucky to work with some of the best people I have ever met and many that I still call friends after all these years. The story’s I tell and the way I talk about my work when I’m at home has made my son show some interest in following my career path. I can’t think of a way he could make me prouder.”
“In closing I can only say that I have truly found a home at Rapid Pest Solutions. Being involved from the start has given me the chance once again to grow in this industry. I am grateful to work with a great team and I couldn’t have asked for a better location. Come in and visit us, you’ll see what I mean.”
A Love Story
If you ever feel like you may be interested in a career in pest control, contact us. We can give you the details that will help you decide if extermination is your love story.
There are many types of positions you could pursue. Technician, Sales, Wildlife Removal, Office Staff, Inspector, etc.
You may have noticed some large dark colored bees hovering around outside your home or in your yard. Many people automatically think that these are Bumble Bees. They may in fact be Carpenter Bees and many people confuse the two. While Bumble Bees generally make their nest in the ground, a Carpenter Bee makes their nest by burrowing into wood. The holes that they make are perfectly round and about the same diameter as a finger. They will lay their eggs in the tunnels they create in the wood and they will also overwinter in those tunnels.
Bumble bees have some yellow on the body – Carpenter bees are black.
Both bees look very similar. They are both large but the Carpenter Bee has a bare, shiny body, while a bumble bee has a hairy body that has at least some yellow on it. Male Carpenter Bees may seem very aggressive. They will hover in front of people that are near their nest. But it’s really all for show. The males are harmless as they have no stingers. The females can sting but usually won’t unless they are handled or directly threatened. Both male and female Bumble Bees can and will sting. They are not normally aggressive but will defend their nest. Be aware that their stingers do not have barbs, so they can sting over and over without causing any harm to themselves.
CARPENTER BEE PREVENTION
Carpenter Bees prefer to attack softer woods that are untreated and weathered. These include redwood, cedar, cypress and pine. They are more likely to steer clear of wood that is painted or pressure treated. Some of the common areas to find Carpenter Bee damage is in eaves, trim, siding, decks, etc. You can help yourself by painting vulnerable wood. Stain is not as reliable a deterrent as paint, but it will offer some protection.
You may find wood shavings near the spot where a Carpenter Bee is tunneling or you may even hear burrowing noises. The female Carpenter Bees may reuse old holes to lay their eggs and do not always dig new ones. You can repair the holes with wood that is then covered in carpenter’s glue or wood putty. It is important that after you get rid of the bees, you repair the holes to discourage them from being used again.
Left Side – Carpenter bee larva inside the wood tunnels. Right Side – Carpenter bee in the hole it drilled.
CARPENTER BEE CONTROL
If you discover that you already have Carpenter Bees before you are able to paint the vulnerable wood, there are treatments that can be done. Some may choose a liquid spray to treat the wood, but this generally will only last 1 – 2 weeks and have to be continuously redone. If the bees have already burrowed in, you can treat the individual holes with a dust. Even though Carpenter Bees are not normally aggressive it is highly recommended that you perform the treatment at night when the bees are less active. Be sure to wear protective clothing if you will be doing treatment during the day. If you’re feeling brave you may want to attempt this yourself, in which case Rapid has a retail section where you can purchase the proper products. If not, Rapid Pest Solutions can perform the service for you. Contact us for a quote.
If you know me then you know that I cannot stand bugs. I am always asked the same question: How did you end up in this business? I’m very afraid of bugs and insects of all kinds. I have a great fear of cockroaches and spiders literally make me cry. On the other hand I don’t want to hurt anything needlessly. I’m the first one to take a roly-polie bug outside rather than kill it and I think those tiny pavement ants are cute. As for mice and wildlife, forget it. I want no part in trapping or hurting them. So how did I end up here? And why do I continue to work in this field?
The truth is my career in the pest control field happened completely accidentally. The previous place I worked had closed and I spent 10 months on the job hunt. I was picky because I knew that where ever I went I wanted that to be my final career. Let’s face it I’m not getting any younger! I found a position as a customer service rep for a local pest company. That sounded fairly harmless to me. Customer service, that’s answering the phone, scheduling appointments and posting payments, right? Wrong! I soon found that people would bring things in for me to look at. They wanted different types of bugs and insects identified. And for some reason, they always wanted to take the bug out of whatever container it was in so I could get a better look. Trust me, I can see just fine through that baggie/glass jar/plastic bowl, I promise. Because of this I had to learn about pests. I had to be able to tell the difference between different types of flies, roaches, beetles, etc. This meant I had to face my fears.
German Roaches of all ages
I remember being told that roaches had a ‘smell’ and I would always ask what they smelled like. I figured I should know in case I went into a restaurant or something. I wanted to know if I needed to turn around and leave. One of my technicians brought in a glue trap that was covered in roaches of all different sizes, in all different stages of development. He told me to smell the trap. “What?! I think not!”
Woolly Bear Caterpillar
But I needed to learn what the technicians meant when they would tell me they could smell the roaches. It took about 20 minutes, a few small screams and a tear or two, but I finally got my face close enough to smell them. And it’s true. They do smell, you will never forget what it’s like and there is no way to explain it. Everyone got a good laugh out of watching that. They also thought it was pretty funny when my manager wanted me to pet a Wooly Bear Caterpillar. That never happened.
Aside from the fun of learning about pests (I have become somewhat desensitized – although not completely) my current position offers me with new challenges. I work on the company web site, our social media sites, and other inbound marketing techniques. (this blog for instance)
The reason I’m in the pest control industry really comes down to two things:
I love learning.
I love a challenge.
I have learned more about pests than I ever thought I could handle. And I’m proud of how far I have come. I crave the challenge I get by maintaining our website and thinking of new ways to get Rapid Pest Solutions’ name out there. I am privileged to be able to work in a field I enjoy, at a job that I love. I have been lucky enough to work with amazing people and I have been trained by some of the best in the business. I have tackled my fear of pests head on and I am able to enjoy the work I do. That is how I ended up in this business. If you’re interested in a career in the pest control industry, let me know. I can give you the ins and outs so you can decide if it’s the right place for you.
Insects can fit through a very small opening in your screen.
While it is not possible to keep every single insect and bug out of your home, it is possible to make it more difficult for them to get in. I have put together five easy things you can do at your home to cut down on the insects inside.
Secure your perimeter. While this may sound like a military maneuver, you really are trying to keep the enemy (bugs) out. Make sure you use screens and replace any that are torn or damaged. Replace loose weather stripping. If there are small gaps or cracks around the home, use caulk to fix them, for larger openings, use steel wool. The idea is to close off any entry points that you can.
It’s all about cleanliness. Keep food in sealed containers and wipe up crumbs. Sweep/mop the floors. If there are any spills, be sure to clean them up right away. You will also want to keep your pet’s food in a sealed container and try not to leave their full dishes out for long periods of time.
Keep it dry. Most bugs and insects like moisture and any source can attract them. Even condensation on pipes can drip and create a place that the pests will like. Be sure to fix leaky pipes right away. Water in your basement or crawl space means trouble. Make sure you have proper drainage and use a dehumidifier if needed.
Clear the clutter. Making sure that your yard and the area around your home are neat and clear is important to keeping pests away. Keep mulch away from the foundation of your home. Clean up leaf litter and other organic debris as these are harborage sites for insects. Mow the grass often and keep it short near the house. You should also make sure that trees and shrubs are cut back so that they are not touching the side or roof of the home.
The birds and the bats. You are probably used to hearing the phrase, the birds and the bees, but not in this case. Encourage birds and bats to nest in your yard. Consider the birds the day shift and the bats the night shift. They are natural predators to the bugs and insects you are trying to keep away. Having them nest in your yard will allow them to keep the insect population down as they use them for a food source.
Indiana Bats are small and feed on many different kinds of insects and bugs.
Here you can find some additional tips for everyday pest control in your home.
Do you have any suggestions to keep pests out of the house? Share them with us in the comments section of this blog! If you discover that you have a pest problem despite taking preventative steps, you may find that you need a professional exterminator. Rapid Pest Solutions can help. We offer prompt service and competitive prices – contact us with questions or to schedule your appointment today.
Declaration of Independence
