Impact Pest Elimination Blog

During the fall, some animals tend to become especially active. In preparation for the colder weather ahead, they will be on the search for reliable sources of food and shelter. Your home could definitely become a target, and need some wildlife control. Here’s an overview of the fall wildlife in Florida. Raccoons Raccoons are considered to be some of the biggest nuisances in the state. These masked animals easily adapt to new environments, which makes them even more of a problem. They will eat virtually anything. Although raccoons tend to sleep a lot during the winter, they will be trying to store up body fat during the fall. If a raccoon happens to take refuge on your property, be very cautious. Raccoons have a tendency to become aggressive when approached. Possums Possums are just as problematic as raccoons. They have a knack for raiding dumpsters and trash cans. You definitely don’t...

Maintaining a clean, nicely landscaped yard is an excellent way to ward off some of the most common pests. Like many people, however, you may think that turf care can safely fall by the wayside when fall arrives. In reality, though, it is crucial to take steps to prepare turf for the colder months ahead. Keep reading to find out how. Tips for Caring for Turf in the Fall Get your lawn ready for the winter with these fall care tips: Clear Leaves - Stay on top of the leaf situation. If allowed to go for too long, leaves can pile up and damage your turf. Piles of leaves trap moisture and block sunlight, which leads to a decaying mess. Blow or rake leaves often to keep this issue at bay. Keep Mowing - Continue to cut your lawn throughout the fall, maintaining a height of around 2.5 to 3 inches....

With so many pest control companies competing for your business, how are you supposed to identify the right one? One thing that separates so-so companies from stellar ones is a QualityPro certification. To qualify for this certification, a pest control company must demonstrate proficiency across 16 standards. Impact Pest Elimination is proud to possess this certification; read on to learn more about it. What is the QualityPro Certification? QualityPro certification is a program that is available to U.S. and Canadian pest control companies that are members of the National Pest Management Association, or NPMA. In exchange for meeting a variety of standards, certified companies gain access to a wealth of useful resources. More importantly, they demonstrate their ongoing commitment to quality. Unsure when you should contact a pest control company? Learn when it's time to call. Signs You Should Hire A Pest Professional Benefits of Hiring a QualityPro Certified Pest Control...

While their name may suggest that they like nothing better than snuggling under the covers, bed bugs don't just infest beds. In fact, these hardy pests are quite happy to branch out and infest other spaces. What Do Bed Bugs Want? When trying to judge where bed bugs are likely to venture, it helps to understand what motivates them. Bed bugs do not care about hygiene or sanitation. They are looking for a ready source of convenient meals. These obligatory hematophagous ectoparasites only feed on the blood of vertebrates. Sleeping humans are an ideal food source, so they are only too happy to follow them home from a hotel, retail space, cruise ship, school, cab, nursing home, or virtually any other public space. Need to get rid of bed bugs? Here's how. Bye-Bye Bed Bugs Where Do Bed Bugs Hide? In the early stages of an infestation, beds are the most...

Pest infestations can enter your pantry area and destroy your food supply if you are not careful. These tiny insects may appear undetected, and they can remain in your pantry without you noticing them for a significant amount of time. When they die, their corpses can attract other insects to the area as well, and this can grow into a full pest infestation. Preventing the first stage from happening is critical to successfully protecting your food supply against pests like ants, roaches and mice. Preventing Infestations, Pantry Protection Protecting your food supply is critical to maintaining a healthy home environment. Basic precautions are often enough to prevent an infestation of pests. Many types of foods give off faint aromas and odors that will stay in the air as you go about daily life. If you are unaware of the need to package these foods in airtight containers, you may unintentionally attract...

A picnic is supposed to be an enjoyable experience, not a time for battling pests at every turn. When you venture outdoors in the summertime, you're bound to meet face-to-face with insects of every type, from sugar-loving ants to bread-hungry flies. If you want to avoid these nuisance pests altogether, it takes some careful pre-planning and good picnic habits while you eat. 3 Tips for Preventing Picnic Pests Keep the Food Covered Uncovered food attracts pests from all over the place. Ants will form lines toward breads and sweets, and flies will buzz around before landing on the first available item. Protect your food in plastic containers, and keep the lids on them whenever you're not serving the meal. Don't forget to cover everything up before you step away from the eating area for some games with your family. Clean Up as You Go Cleaning up as you serve the meal...

Yellow jackets kill approximately 50 to 100 Americans each year who experience allergic reactions to their stings. Their attractive yellow and black bodies resemble fashionable dinner jackets. Appearances are misleading because they do not belong to polite society. Yellow jackets are not rugged individualists. Instead, the purpose of a yellow jacket's life is to serve its colony. Yellow Jackets Love to Socialize with Their Fellow Yellow Jackets In the United States, yellow jackets are more visible during hot summer weather and cooler fall temperatures. Yellow jackets represent several species. Their sociable characteristics make them perfect candidates for joining social networks. Unfortunately, they do not live long enough to develop any passions in life. The queen yellow jacket represents a sole exception. Living throughout the cold winter months, the queen creates a brand new colony of devoted yellow jackets every year. Yellow Jackets Build Nests and Consume Sweet Treats Yellow jackets enjoy...

Insects play an important role in the ecosystem. They aerate soil, eat harmful insects, serve as a source of food for birds and other wildlife, pollinate flowers and make honey. However, when they invade our living spaces, they turn from friend to foe. Here are five tips for ways to bug-proof your home. Eliminate Food Supply Insects need food and water to survive. By eliminating sources of food, they will go elsewhere to nest and feed. Most importantly, if they can't get in, they won't nest in your space. Start by looking for cracks and holes in the building shell. Check for gaps around windows and doors, places where utilities enter the home and cracks in foundations and flooring. Repair any holes or cracks. Install and repair screens on doors and windows. In the kitchen, keep food in well-sealed containers. Wipe countertops after food preparation, and cover pet food bowls. Make...

During the spring and summer, insects are always lurking somewhere nearby. This year in Florida, fleas are expected to be out in full force. Pets must remain protected at all times. Like ticks, fleas can spread Lyme disease and other ailments. Here are some tips to help you fight these bloodsucking parasites. Keep Pets Out of the Neighbor’s Yard Even if you have taken the necessary steps to keep ticks off your property, these insects may still be in your neighbor’s yard. Make sure your pet doesn’t go over there. They will definitely bring fleas back home. Although training your pet will help, it’s also advisable to install a fence around the property lines. Check Your Pets Frequently To ensure that fleas don’t get inside your home, it’s a good idea to check your pets on a regular basis. Because fleas are so tiny, you won’t be able to spot them...

You may have heard that mosquitoes breed in standing water. But there are some pretty surprising water sources you might not have thought about that attract these pests to your lawn. Keep your yard mosquito-free by banishing their favorite meeting spots from your property. Keep it Clean Keeping your lawn clutter-free goes a long way toward preventing mosquitoes. While you may always strive to maintain a neat yard, even the smallest items can allow water to gather and attract these pesky, biting invaders. From a stray bottle cap to your child's plastic toy shovel, water can accumulate in any concave surface and draw mosquitoes. Do a quick check at the end of the day to ensure no stragglers are hiding in the grass. Your gutters are another popular mosquito breeding ground, so clear out debris regularly to prevent standing water. Even Out Your Lawn Water can collect in larger outdoor items...

One reason why drywood termites are so destructive is that they generally leave few signs of their presence. When termites establish themselves in the woodwork of your home, they cover up the entry hole and do not re-emerge until the colony reaches a certain size and there is a swarm of young termites looking for a place to start a new colony. The nest provides the termites with everything that they need to survive except for space for the colony to grow. As the nest starts to fill up with the remnants of digested wood, the termites will clean the nest by pushing out the fecal matter, known as frass, through small holes in the wood. It is these small piles of frass appearing out of nowhere that often provide the first sign of a termite infestation. The Termite Digestive Process: Drywood termites get their nutrition from wood cellulose. The bacteria...

If you're constantly seeing a raccoon on your property, you wouldn't be wrong to assume that it's living with you. Some rodents and insects are a big threat because they can infest and damage your lovely property without drawing attention to themselves. Thankfully, in one way or another, all pests leave behind clues that expose their presence. Some clues, however, are rather ambiguous. That's why your limited knowledge won't suffice. To protect your family and your property from the adverse effects of an infestation, it may be in your best interest to hire a professional pest exterminator when you first notice the following signs. Unexplained Property Damage If you know that your well-behaved pet didn't create those gnaw marks on your window sills or furniture, the culprit might be termites. Termites crave cellulose, the substance inside wood and plants. Although these critters are small, there are hundreds of thousands of them...

The heat turns up a notch as spring arrives in the Sunshine State, waking up winter pests and getting them ready for the humid seasons ahead. Florida is home to many different pest insects, including several species of rodents. As residences expand into the surrounding environment, people encounter more insects and rodents in their homes. If you want to get a head-start on overcoming infestations, Impact has a few pests for you to keep an eye on this spring. 3 Spring Pests in Florida Termites Termites are some of the most destructive pests in the world. They feed on cellulose within wood fibers, which makes most any wooden structure a food source. They not only consume the wood; they also build their colonies within it. Therefore, as they feed on a wooden structure, they're continuing to build and to expand their colony. Roaches American cockroaches thrive in Florida thanks to the...

Even though bees are crucial for the ecosystem around your home, having a nest or two on your property can be dangerous. Wasps are even more dangerous than that, yet they are also beneficial to the environment. Still, anyone who finds a nest of any kind of stinging insect should consult with a professional to determine what to do. In some cases, nests of stinging insects can be relocated. In others, this is not possible. It is never a good idea either to decide if a nest can be moved or to try to move it yourself without the aid of a professional. These insects can exude a series of odors that are undetectable to human beings. These odors are called pheromones. Think of them as a secret code that transmits messages undetectable to us. One of these pheromones can cause an entire nest to attack what can be perceived as...

In most parts of the world, ants are more of an annoyance than a pest. Across the globe, there are more than 10,000 different ant species. Ants are clever creatures and durable. They are also fascinating. Here are a few surprising facts about ants. Ants are Incredibly Strong Ants are stronger than you might think. The bugs are able to carry much more than their own body weight. In fact, they have the strength to carry from 10 to 50 times their weight. The amount that they can carry is based on the species. For instance, if you run into an Asian weaver ant, it can lift about 100 times its own body mass. The small size of an ant is why the bugs are able to carry so much more than their body weight. They can also generate more force due to their muscles featuring a greater cross-section area compared...

Your lawn says a lot about your home. A clean, well-maintained lawn is the envy of the neighborhood and an inviting visual from the curbside. When brown patches and bald spots show up, your grass turns from inviting to drab and unappealing. It's important to treat the problem right away to prevent the damage from spreading throughout your property. 3 Things to Do When Treating Turf Pests Inspect the damage. Do you have patches of dead, brown grass? Is the grass completely gone in some spots, leaving only dirt behind? Are the grass blades yellowing or spotted? You'll have to inspect the damage thoroughly to understand what you're up against. Certain pests cause specific damage. If you're unsure how to identify the problem, it's a good idea to talk with a professional pest control technician for some advice. Identify the pests. Some pests attack your lawn from below the ground while...

Rodents are sneaky by nature, coming out mostly at night to scrounge for food in the kitchen when you're fast asleep. These pests can hide in the most obvious and not so obvious places in your home. No matter where they're hiding, they should be found right away to prevent spreading diseases and fleas throughout your living areas. 4 Common Rodent Hiding Places Crawlspaces The area beneath your home serves as a shelter for many different pests, from insects to rodents. Mice and rats will build their nests in crawlspaces and use open spaces as small as 1.75 mm to enter your home in search of food. Once they get inside, they may relocate their nests to a warmer or cooler part of the indoors depending on the season. Attics An attic is a long way above the ground, but the distance doesn't stop opportunistic rodents from seeking these out-of-the-way spaces....

Termites are tiny enough to go unnoticed, but they are one of the biggest external threats that you'll have to face. These insects gained their notoriety by wreaking havoc on homes and businesses in an insidious fashion. Because they live and work together, they are able to destroy wooden structures rather quickly. The time frame can be as short as a couple of months. Therefore, whether it's a large or small termite infestation, it needs to be eliminated immediately. Here are two reasons you should take action now: Lowers Your Home Value Termites are very relentless and resourceful. When they move in with you and get comfortable, they will waste no time with building a new colony because their prime objective is to expand their size. Unfortunately, termites build colonies that will deface your home in one way or another. Drywood termites will hollow out just about any wooden structure to...

A wide variety of household pests can create chaos in homes across America each year. Finding the presence of these insects or other types of pests can be very troublesome. It's no big surprise that the majority of homeowners want to take care of these pests promptly. However, some types of bugs such as cockroaches may not be easy to detect due to their particular patterns of behavior. Why are cockroaches problematic and how can you recognize a possible infestation? We will address these questions in more detail below. Why are Cockroaches Problematic? While not all pests pose serious threats to humans, cockroaches are not well liked for several reasons. For starters, cockroaches tend to infiltrate the food supply of the homes that they infest. Since they are unclean insects, you would not want to consume any food that has been contaminated by cockroaches. This can lead to a great deal...

When you see a cockroach in the home, your first instinct will likely be to kill it so that there aren't other roaches inside. While they aren't all that pleasant to look at, there are some facts about roaches that are somewhat odd and interesting. If you kill a roach, make sure it's crushed completely. Roaches can live for about a week with the head missing. Roaches have small holes on the sides of their bodies that they breathe through. This means that they don't need a nose or mouth for them to breathe. The roach will die because it doesn't have a way to eat or drink. You've probably seen roaches scurry along the floor or other surfaces in the home at a high rate of speed. Most roaches can race along at three miles an hour. Since they run so fast, they can often spread bacteria and germs in...