General Household Pest Control

ANTS

Ants are social insects that live in colonies which may reach as many as a few million members. They work together to search and harvest for food and care for their young. Their behavior is surprisingly coordinated and methodical structured for such seemingly simple insects.

Ant functions and assignments are dependent on their caste. There are three castes of ants which perform different roles in the colony:

Queens are females‚ who were fed more when they were larvae‚ so they’re bigger than the workers. The queens lay all the eggs in the colony (amounting to millions in some species). They have wings and fly to find a mate. They shed their wings off before forming a new colony. After mating‚ the queen starts a new nest (colony) and raises her first worker offspring. This is the only time in her life that the queen does any work other than laying eggs.

Workers are females or males who were fed less when they were larvae. Workers are wingless and don’t reproduce. But they perform all the other jobs in the colony‚ including gathering food‚ building the nest and taking care of the young.

Males have wings and fly to mate with queens. The males don’t do any chores in the colony. Their only job is to mate with the queens. They die shortly after mating‚ so the only time you’ll see them is during this act.

Soldiers have large mandibles for fighting. Their sole responsibilities are to protect and defend the nest from natural predators such as other species of ants‚ protect the queen and to communicate with the workers if the nest has been compromised by pesticides or natural acts such as weather.

How do ants communicate with their nest–mates to find food?

Many ant species communicate using chemical scents called pheromones. When worker ants leave their nest to search for food‚ they leave behind a trail of pheromone which greatly assists the insects as it is a marker to and from the nest. After the ant finds food‚ it turns around and follows its pheromone trail back to the nest. As it travels home‚ it again leaves pheromone on the trail‚ creating another layer of pheromones and leaving a stronger scent along that path as it goes. When other ants come across this thickly laid pheromone trail‚ they abandon their own random search for food to follow the pheromones to the food source.

Ant control can be difficult‚ as you cannot exterminate them out of their natural environment. However‚ ants in your homes or businesses can be controlled. Here are some facts about ants:

• Entry: Ants can enter through even the tiniest cracks‚ seeking water‚ sweets or greasy food substances in the kitchen pantry or storeroom areas.
• Scent trails: Ants leave an invisible chemical trail which contains pheromones for others to follow once they locate the food source.
• Nest locations: They can nest just about anywhere in and around your house including in your ceiling‚ lawns‚ walls‚ stumps and even under foundations.
• Colony size: Colonies can number up to 300‚000 to 500‚000‚ and whole colonies can uproot and relocate quickly when threatened.
• Colony Lifetime: A colony can live a relatively long lifetime. Worker ants may live seven years‚ and the queen may live as long as 15 years.
• Do–it–yourself ineffectiveness: Most do–it–yourself ant control approaches kill only the ants you see. Some truly effective treatments can penetrate and destroy nests to help prevent these pests from returning for a while before re–infestation in the same location or a different part of the home or yard. These insects can also be introduced from food store bags‚ imported vehicles‚ luggage and plants. Hence why ants can only be managed and not totally eliminated from your residence or business.

These are just a few interesting facts about ants. Thanks to their large variety and complex social behavior‚ ants can be fascinating insects. Therefore‚ if you are frustrated when there is a troop of ants finding their next meal on your kitchen counter‚ then it is very important that ants are kept in their place and out of your space by enlisting the services of The Pest Destructo Co.

Call or schedule an appointment today‚ you will be glad you did.

COCKROACHES

Appearance

Cockroaches can measure over 2 inches in length‚ with tropical species tending to be larger than those found in other climates. Cockroaches have six legs‚ two antennae and some have wings. However‚ most winged cockroaches are not particularly adept at flying.

Cockroach Facts

Some species of cockroaches invade human dwellings and are considered pests. Others are beneficial to the environment as important recyclers of decaying organic material. The pest cockroaches can be carriers of various diseases because they are commonly found near waste deposits or in the kitchen where food is present.

Cockroaches emit unpleasant odors and may also produce sound. More common species may produce quieter clicking or chirping noises. Cockroaches can wreak havoc on your home or business. So here’s what you should know:

• Entry: Cockroaches can enter your home in many different ways‚ from the outside through cracks and crevices‚ vents‚ sewer and drain pipes. They can also be brought in on products like grocery bags‚ boxes‚ purses and on our person.
• Ideal environment: Your home is an ideal breeding ground for certain pest species of cockroaches. With plenty of food‚ warmth‚ water and nesting sites‚ they can remain active all year round.
• Reproduction: Cockroaches reproduce quickly. For every one you see there can be many‚ many more hiding and multiplying behind your walls.
• Evasiveness: Because cockroaches typically are nocturnal‚ if you’ve seen one‚ you probably haven’t seen them all. The few cockroaches you see by day could mean they were likely forced out by overcrowding; a possible sign of severe infestation.
• Allergies/Asthma: The debris created by cast–off cockroach skins‚ dead bodies and droppings can aggravate allergies‚ especially in children and sensitive individuals.
• Do–it–yourself ineffectiveness: Cockroaches are better at hiding than you are at finding them‚ and their eggs are naturally protected from many over–the–counter insecticides.

Cockroach Infestation

Cockroaches can be found infesting in everything from homes to restaurants to schools and hotels to ships and airplanes. They may follow water pipes and electrical lines through walls from one room to another and even from one apartment to another.

• Cockroaches are accomplished hitchhikers. In fact‚ German cockroaches usually first get into buildings by riding in boxes‚ in furniture and in other items brought into the building. Most other cockroach species invade from the outside or from sewers or drains.
• Most cockroaches prefer to rest on wood rather than on metal and other surfaces. That’s why you’ll often find them living in wood cabinets or in cardboard boxes. German cockroach fecal material contains a pheromone that tells other cockroaches that the area is a good place to harbor. Large numbers of cockroaches may congregate in areas where fecal material has accumulated. These areas are called aggregation points.
• All dishes and food items should be removed from shelving before treating for cockroaches. Good sanitation helps put stress on a cockroach population by making them more susceptible to treatments and baits.

Let The Pest Destructo Co. Professionals assist you in your roach management program by a simple inspection‚ education and the treatment and evaluation of available hiding places in which cockroaches might live. This includes but not subjected to kitchen cabinets‚ accessible cracks and voids.

We use a comprehensive cockroach treatment plan to combat your roach infestation. With a variety of application techniques and methods available; we provide the best treatment available on the market. Following our detailed inspection and findings‚ a customized and tailored roach treatment plan is discussed with all clients‚ and you are no exception.