DO YOU HAVE A MOUSE IN YOUR HOUSE? We can help! NOW OFFERING – Four Month Rodent Control Program for $250 (November thru February) Offer expires 11/30/16. Mention this ad when scheduling. Residential Service Only. Restrictions may apply. Contact Rapid Pest Solutions for details. 219-836-5066
Ladies, if you’re anything like me your purse is like your lifeline. It’s always with you and holds anything and everything you, your partner, your child or your friends might need. It’s not just about carrying your drivers license, credit cards and keys. We’re talking tissues, band aids, lip balm, nail clippers, gum, paper, pens, lotion, aspirin, a mirror, loose change, dental floss, a lighter…I mean, really, the list is endless. MacGyver would have no problem escaping from the bad guy if he had access to a woman’s purse. All the things he would need are inside!
Because our purses go with us everywhere and then we bring them back into our cars and homes, I am going to point out some things to watch out for. You’re probably asking yourself, ‘What are these scary things she’s talking about?’. Roaches and Mice, to begin with. These can end up in your purse, book bag, or briefcase if you aren’t careful. Picture this, you are at the movies ready to enjoy the newest thriller. You’ve got your popcorn, pop and candy and you find your way to a comfy middle seat. You set your bag on the floor in front of you, lean back, relax and enjoy the show. Now remember that many, many people prior to you have done the same thing. The floor is covered in the sugary, stickiness of spilled soda, there are dropped pieces of popcorn and candy everywhere. Sure the theater is swept up between shows but I’m willing to bet that not every crumb is picked up. This is a paradise for roaches and mice. Theaters are dark places and it’s hard to see what might be lurking in the corners. It is entirely possible that a mouse or a roach could find their way into your bag as they forage the floor for food. The same thing goes for restaurants and public transportation. Your best bet is to keep your bags either on your lap or over the back of a chair.
The third scary thing that could come home with you is Bed Bugs. Many people think that this only applies to people that travel a lot or college kids coming home from school. The truth is anyone, anywhere can pick up Bed Bugs and bring them into their home. A few places that Bed Bugs can and have been found include, movie theaters, public transportation, schools, restaurants, the gym and of course hotels and airplanes. Do not live in fear! It may sound like I’m telling you the only safe thing to do is stay locked up at home, but that’s not the case. You just have to be careful and be vigilant. Give a visual inspection in any areas that you can. Your hotel room can be checked before you settle in. Take a look inside your locker at the gym before you put your bag in, at a restaurant a once over of your seat is an easy thing to do. In a situation where you cannot give a visual inspection or where you feel unsure, there are still precautions you can take. When you get home, put your clothing into the dryer on the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes. This will take care of anything that may have made its way into a pocket or cuff. Leave bags outside the home until you have the opportunity to thoroughly inspect them for sneaky pests.
Bed Bugs on a public bus.
Be aware of your surroundings and watch your bags. If you find that some unwanted intruders made it home with you, don’t panic. Call Rapid Pest Solutions. We have the answer to all your pest problems.
The weather is changing and Spring is in the air. This is the time for a fresh, clean start. Many people will be ticking items off their Spring Cleaning lists and this is a great time to take some steps to keep the bugs away from your home. Below are four areas that you should not skip when clearing out your home.
1. KITCHEN – The number one pest we deal with in our area is ants and the kitchen is probably their favorite spot in your home. While everyday you may be wiping the counters and sweeping the floor – it is important to clean out some other areas too. Sweep behind your appliances. You would be surprised how much dirt and crumbs collect back there! Also, clean out your pantry. Remove everything and throw away old and out-dated spices and dry goods. Before putting items back, wipe down the shelves with warm water and a bit of detergent. This will go a long way to keeping out ants as well as other pantry pests, moths and beetles.
2. BATHROOM – One thing that all insects and pests need is water. Make sure that you’re not providing them with an oasis in the desert. When cleaning the bathroom do a quick check around the toilet and tub and under the sink to make sure there are no leaks or other moisture that may attract unwanted visitors.
3. BASEMENT – The basement is a great place for creepy-crawlies to hide, including spiders, mice and centipedes. This is because many basements have dark corners and plenty of hiding places. Go through any clutter and throw away what’s not needed. If you do keep things stored in your basement don’t use cardboard boxes. Invest in some plastic tubs with lids that fit securely. Also, do a quick perimeter check keeping in mind that mice can fit through a hole the size of a dime and insects only need the tiniest crack. Use caulk and steel wool to seal these areas.
4. OUTSIDE – Take a look around the outside of your home. Does anything need to be repaired? Fix ripped screens, clean out gutters and make sure there aren’t any areas around your yard that can collect standing water. Also, make sure that bushes are trimmed back from the siding of the home and don’t store cut wood against the house.
Following this four simple steps will go a long way in protecting your home from unwanted pests. If you do find that you have an issue with insects or rodents, give Rapid Pest Solutions a call. We have individual programs to fit your needs.
HAPPY SPRING!
Don’t mistake a small sign as something insignificant. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean a larger problem doesn’t exist. Pest problems and infestations can occur behind the scenes. When you see one or two bugs that is very often just the tip of the iceberg! Once the problem becomes noticeable it is often already past the point of taking care of it yourself.
Tip of the Iceberg
There are four pests that you need to take very seriously if you see them or have evidence of them. They are mice, ants, roaches and bed bugs. Let’s take a look at them individually.
Mouse Infestation
MICE – If you see a mouse in your home or see droppings, it is very doubtful that you have just the one. Mice reproduce very quickly with a gestation period of only 19 to 21 days. Female mice reach sexual maturity at 6 weeks old and can have 5 to 10 litters a year. They will want to hide from you and will scurry out at night to forage for food. Seeing droppings means trouble.
Swarming Ant
ANTS – Ants live in colonies, so while there is a chance that a stray ant could wander into your home, it is more likely that you have a nest nearby. If an ant finds a food source in your house you can be assured they are going to bring all their friends to the party. Also, if you see swarmer ants, the flying ones, look out! Swarming ants only go out once a colony has reached its full size, which happens to be in the thousands! Seeing those flying ants most likely means that you have a full-size colony somewhere on your property or in your home.
Roaches
ROACHES – The German Cockroach is the most common roach found in U.S. homes. They are nocturnal and will come out at night to forage for food. During the day they like dark, humid, small places. They like pressure on all sides of their body. If you see a roach out in the middle of the day you need to be worried. Especially if they are in a room other than the kitchen. The main reason for roaches to be out in the middle of a room, during the day is because the infestation is so heavy that there are no suitable hiding spaces.
Bedbugs and their feces (the little black dots) on a mattress.
Bed Bug Infestation on a Mattress
BED BUGS – Bed Bugs are another type of pest that likes to hide and likes pressure on all sides. They will look for hiding spaces in and around areas where they have a food source. This means they are not limited to being in just the bed. They can and will hide in the headboard, dressers, closets, baseboards, outlets, behind pictures and more. If you have a bed bug infestation you may also find them in other living areas. Couches, love seats, recliners and other upholstered furniture. If you bring a bed bug home with you it can take only 2 to 3 months for the problem to be in the hundreds. Without treatment your bed bug populations could be in the thousands by 6 months.
If you see signs of any of these pests contact Rapid Pest Solutions today. We will do a full inspection and offer treatment options for your peace of mind. We can also help with any other pest problems or questions you may have. Let us know how Rapid can help you!
I have spent quite a bit of time explaining different types of insects, their habits, and how you can protect yourself from them. I thought that maybe it was time to take a break from being so serious and instead, post a blog for entertainment purposes only. Let’s take a look at the four superstars (both real and fictitious) that I would love to have to work on my pest control team.
Iron Man
Besides the fun that would surely come from working with a billionaire, Tony Stark is known for his business ethics and he is very well respected. With a genius expertise in Chemistry, I am sure that he could come up with some very effective pesticides. He is also known for being environmentally responsible, therefore his aforementioned pesticides would be safe for humans and the environment.
Joakim Noah
Noah is known for his high-energy play. This would make him an excellent partner in this business, which tends to be go, go, go! He has an unorthodox shooting style – perhaps he could bring an unorthodox approach to pest control. It could prove to be just as successful as his basketball career has been.
Joker – Nicholson / Ledger
Somewhat of a prankster, The Joker could bring some levity to the office environment. He is known as having no fear, which can come in handy in some situations. (we all know how afraid I am of bugs!) Another great reason to have The Joker on my pest control team is that he has been a consumer of his own chemical experiments for a long time. This has left him immune to most poisons. No worries when doing a pest control treatment!
Chuck Norris
I really don’t need to explain this one, but I will. A true American hero – Chuck Norris served in the U.S. Air Force and he is well trained in martial arts. Neither one of these things necessarily make him good at pest control, but I think the bugs would just leave rather than have to deal with Chuck Norris.
So tell me who are your favorites? Is there a superstar that isn’t on my list and you think they would be a great fit? Let me know! I would love to hear from you. While Rapid Pest Solutions is not lucky enough to have these awesome people on our team, we do have some awesome people of our own. Let us know how we can help you with your pest control issues.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
Rapid Pest Solutions now has a YouTube channel. We will be using this channel to provide you with how-to information, pest identification, entertainment and more. We have posted our intro video and you can check it out here visit here.
Send us your feedback. Comment on what we post or send us ideas of things you would like to see. This channel isn’t just for us – it’s for you, too.
