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How To Get Rid of Rats in the House – The Ultimate Guide

July 25, 2019 Vinx Pest Control Rodents
How To Get Rid of Rats in the House – The Ultimate Guide

We’re always being asked how to get rid of rats in the house in DallasFort Worth, so we decided to put together the ultimate guide. If you decide you’d like to hire a pest control company for your rat removal needs, you can click here to get a free and accurate price quote. You can also call us at 972-855-8469. We’re open 24/7 so call us anytime. But, if you want to get rid of rats in your house yourself, here’s how to do it. 

When you’re dozing off at night and about to enter dreamland, there’s nothing more paralyzing than hearing that little scratch and scurrying of feet. It can happen above you, below you, or even to the side of you. At first, it may seem like your imagination is playing tricks on you, but the more you listen, the more you hear.

You have rodents! If you’re hearing the sound at night, it’s a good chance that the rodent you’re dealing with is a rat. Unfortunately, chances are, there’s more than one in your house as well. We get it—this can seem terrifying. Rats carry lots of diseases and leave behind droppings, trash, and an unavoidable funk. The good news is, you can get rid of them. It may take a little bit of time and commitment, but these uninvited house guests don’t have to stay for an extended time period. We know exactly what you need to do to kick these rodents out! 

Where do rats come from?

We’re always getting asked where rats come from. It’s a good question because they are often seen around residential areas. Well, they come from outside! Rats aren’t anything new. They’ve been around for ages (say hello to the bubonic plague) and have been causing issues since the dawn of time. There’s something about our habits that rats seem to love, and maybe it’s because we leave food out for them.

Sure, you’re not filling up Fido’s dog bowl with rat snacks, but crumbs, trash, and even the occasional bush or tree can be a full-on gourmet meal for these pesky animals. They are ready to chow down, which is why the snuggle up to humans as close as they can. Rats may be outdoor animals, but they sure love being inside. Your home is the perfect hotel for them, which is why you’re seeing rats in the first place.

What do rats eat?

Rats don’t have a very distinguished palate. As it would turn out, they will eat almost anything. Whether it be scraps, trash, rotten fruit from a fruit tree, or measly crumbs, they’ll make do. They don’t mind the taste of even the most vile food, and they just want to be near humans. We provide them some of the best cuisines in the world, which is why they are coming into your home! It’s time to stop the food service that has become your home and time to get the rats gone for good. 

How to keep rats away

Obviously, the best course of action is prevention. This is pretty much true in all aspects of life. If you don’t want something coming in, prevent it! Rats are no different. These little creatures see your house and think it’s a VRBO. Can you blame them? Your house is gorgeous! Even the messiest of places is an upgrade that these little rats are not used to. So, we get asked pretty often how to keep rats away. When it comes to prevention, there are a few things you can do.

Keep your trash sealed

If you had a free all-you-can-eat buffet in front of you, at the nicest hotel in Vegas, you’d dig in, right? Well, so will rats. When they see your trash can, it’s a buffet to them. There is so much delicious food in there that you left behind, and they don’t need much of it to stay full. They can live off of your trash can for their entire life!

As you can imagine, your trash can be quite the enticer for a little rat. They aren’t going to pass up on good food, so they’ll stick around. However, rats also like to explore. This is especially true when other rats start taking stock in their food source. When the buffet gets busy, a few rats are going to walk around and see what else is available. If they could have food and a place to stay, they’ll take it. So, when they see an entrance into your home, expect them to come on in. However, prevention is the first step. Keep those trash cans sealed so they never get to your home!

Take away their homes

Most of the time, we’d never condone taking a person’s house. But with rats, sometimes you have to do this tough job. We hate to break it to you, but you have to take away their homes. Real talk, rats love your old stuff. We’re talking old cars, cut down tree limbs, bushes, debris, woodpiles, and any other place that they can hide. These little ones are like the world’s best hide-and-seek champions. If it’s a dark place to huddle in, you can count on them finding it.

It’s time to act like Marie Kondo and redo your yard. You need to tidy up! Is that old car really worth keeping? How about those cut-down tree limbs that you see every morning and say, “Oh yeah, I need to pick those up,” and never do? It’s time to do it! Get rid of anything you’re not using and throw out the old debris that your spouse has been telling you to pick up for a year now. Seriously, this is a part of prevention that you can’t skip out on.

Fill ‘em up

No, we’re not talking about the rats. Fill up the holes, cracks, and gaps on the outside of your home. Take a quarter out of your pocket. See how small it is? Guess what? A rat can fit through a hole that size! Rats practice yoga on the daily so they are super flexible. Okay fine, you won’t find them in down dog any time soon, but we weren’t kidding about their flexibility. Any hole that is the size of a quarter or larger is fair game.

You need to fill up all of these gaps with proper materials. Ensure the weather stripping on your doors and windows is ideal, check your roof for any holes or gaps, and fill in anything that you find. Even holes smaller than a quarter can be chewed or scratched at enough for them to fit through, so it’s best to repair it all now so you don’t have to worry about it later.

Trim your trees

Trim your trees and your shrubs. Think of tree limbs as a rat highway. It’s the easiest way for them to get all the way across the yard to the top of your house! How convenient (for them). It’s best to keep about four or five feet of bareness from your home. Though they can jump, they can’t jump that far. As long as you keep it trimmed, you should be good.

Trap them

One of the most popular ways to keep rats away is to set traps. You can have traps outside or inside, but either way, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Traps are great—as long as you can access them. If you are unable to get to the traps easily, this isn’t going to work. Make sure to place them in easily accessible areas so that you can remove the rat once the trap does its job.

Another thing to keep in mind is that traps can be dangerous for your pets or children. Most people go with the traditional snapping traps, but this can cause severe damage should a loved one get by it. That’s why it’s important to use safe traps if you are going a DIY route.

Poison and Bait

Another popular route is to poison and bait rats. However, most people do it wrong. They often use baits and poisons within their home, which is extremely dangerous. Not only can children and pets get into it, which could cause sickness or even death, but it also can make the rat problem worse.

Like we mentioned above, you want to keep the rats away from the home, not bring them inside! If you’re using poison and bait indoors, it can bring the rats inside as well. On top of that, to make matters worse, the rats can take this poison and then die within your walls. This creates a whole other host of problems that could have you ripping apart the drywall to get the carcass out. Save yourself some time—don’t do this! Only use baits and poisons outdoors. Remember to put it in a place that curious pets and kids can’t get into it.

Blame your neighbors

If you have problems with rats, blame your neighbors. Okay, not really, but rats are usually a neighborhood problem. If you have rats, your neighborhood probably has a rat problem. It may be smart to get together with your neighbors and see if they are experiencing any of the same issues. If they are, there may be a neighborhood-wide problem with trash or debris that needs to be solved.

In any case, it’s smart to band together with neighbors and share treatment ideas. You never know what they are doing to keep the rats under control!

Call a rodent control company

Let’s face it, you’re not a rodent expert. It’s probably smart to leave the rats to the experts. Pest control companies have special treatment strategies to get rid of rodents for good. If you’re in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Vinx Pest Control can help. Like other professionals, our treatment methods are sure to work. They aren’t available to the public, so our traps, baits, and poisons really get the job done.

The nice thing about Vinx is that our service comes with a guarantee. We’re the experts at getting rid of rodents and can do it very quickly, but it’s even better than that. If for whatever reason the rats aren’t gone after the first go around, we’ll come back for free and guarantee our work. We come and check the traps, reset them, and make sure that your rats are no longer bumming in your home.

How to get rid of rats in the walls

It’s really frustrating to think that you have the rats under control and then you hear them scurrying in the walls. While prevention is the most important part of keeping rats away, things do happen. Sometimes, rats will get inside and cause issues. If you think you have rats inside your walls, there are a few things that can confirm it:

  • Scurrying or scratching noises late at night
  • Disturbed insulation 
  • Droppings or a foul smell

If you’re experiencing these three things, there’s a good chance that the rats are indeed in your walls. This can be frustrating because before you can trap them, you have to get them out of the walls. Rats are probably entering through a hole somewhere outside, and it’s also possible that they are coming in through the roof and into your attic. 

It’s important to note that you should never use poison while trying to get rid of rats in the walls. This is because if they ingest the poison, they may not make it out in time before they die. Rats that die in your walls are huge problems. Give it a few days and there will be an unmistakable smell that you cannot get rid of. This is the decaying carcass, and if left alone, the smell will only get worse.

There are many people who have experienced this by improperly baiting and poisoning rats. It’s much easier to leave the rats up to the professional so this doesn’t happen to you! It can be a very costly mistake because you will have to cut into the drywall to get the rat out.

How to set a rat trap

If you are going to try and trap the rats yourself, there are a few different traps to choose from. The most popular are the snap traps, which you bait and wait for the rat to eat from. This will cause a lethal snap that kills the rat once they start eating the bait. While this is effective, it is also dangerous for yourself, children, and pets. When working with these traps, always follow the instructions included with the trap. You should never use your fingers while working with these traps as it can cause serious injury.

It’s also a good idea to put a box with a small opening on top of the snap trap. This can be an added layer of protection to keep kids and pets away, but don’t count on that being the only thing that keeps them out. It’s a good idea to use snap traps in areas that children and pets won’t be in—like the attic.

There are also traps that are cage traps. While cage traps can be just as effective as a snap trap, it isn’t lethal. That means once you capture the rat, you have to find a place to dispose of it. This can be a bit more tricky if you don’t have somewhere to take the live rat. However, this is a much safer approach if you have children or pets because it won’t cause any injury should they accidentally get into the trap. 

Each rat trap is a little bit different, so you should always follow the instructions for setting it up or contact a professional for help.

How to get rid of rats in your attic

Even though your attic may be a mess, it holds some of the most important things to you. I mean, where else could you store your life-sized Santa and five boxes of high school memorabilia? So, it’s a no brainer that you would want to protect your assets and keep rats away. 

While we’re big into prevention, rats happen. If you’re hearing that squeak-squeak above you at night, rats may be making your letterman jacket their newest home. Let’s get them out of there! We get asked how to get rid of rats fast, and when they’re in your attic, this is important. They can damage your insulation, have a ton of babies, and then urinate and defecate all over the place. Sound like the worst roommates? That’s because they are!

When you’re dealing with attic rats, you want to focus on trapping. Remember, you never want to poison inside the home because these rats could end up dying in a place you never see or find. The smell will be the only thing that tells you they are there! So, traps are a great option for attics. Since there won’t be kids or pets in the attic, we recommend going with the classic snap traps. You can use peanut butter, something sweet, or even a small piece of cheese if you want to go good old-fashioned. Either way, traps can be a huge help in cutting down on the number of rats in your home.

How to get rid of rats fast

So, you want to get rid of rats fast? We’re the people to call. Here’s the thing: getting rid of rats yourself takes time. You can buy the traps, poison, and bait, but unless you do it for a living, you’re not going to do the best job. It can be hard to educate yourself on what rats love, how to get them out, and what you need to do to ensure they don’t come back. It’s time-consuming, and it’s time that you could be out doing something that would benefit you much more.

Leave the rats to the experts. We know how to get rid of rats fast because this is our job! Rodents are annoying, and we want to make sure that they get out of your home as quickly as possible. If you’re in the Dallas area, give us a call for a free quote.

Conclusion: How to get rid of rats in the house

If you want to get rid of rats, here’s what to do:

  • Prevention is key
  • Fill up all holes and gaps around the house
  • Get rid of trees and shrubs four to five feet from the home
  • Keep trash securely closed and clean up fruit trees
  • Set up poison and bait outdoors
  • Trap rats indoors
  • Talk to your neighbors
  • Call us to come and help!

Getting rid of rats alone can be a hard challenge, which is why we’re available to help. Rodents shouldn’t be bugging you. Vinx offers same week appointments and will make you a priority. If you’re in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, call us today or fill out the form below. We’re located in Carrollton, TX, and serve the entire Dallas area including Flower Mound, Richardson, Little Elm, and more.   

We’ll talk to you about what you’re experiencing and get you a free quote in just a few minutes! You can also call us at 972-855-8469 for immediate help or fill out the form below. 

Do I have to leave the house for pest control?

Do I have to leave the house for pest control?

Many people ask before we perform a pest control treatment “do I have to leave the house for pest control?” The short answer is no. In fact, we prefer that you don’t! Long gone are the days of needing to leave the house for a pest control treatment. We’ve gotten a lot better in the past few decades, and we’ve said goodbye to those toxic chemicals and hello to safer alternatives. Our chemicals are designed to be safe for both indoors and outdoors. There’s nothing worse than having to leave your home (or bed) and we don’t want to force you out. Plus, there’s no reason to go! We’ve got you covered. This is true of pest control for spiders, cockroaches, termites, mosquitoes, mice and any other animals

We’ll only treat the inside if you’re home, and the product is safe enough that you don’t need to leave. When we treat the inside of your home, we’ll spray it with a liquid treatment. The liquid treatment consists of a few different chemicals that will push the bugs out of your home. This treatment is watered down and diluted so that it is even safer for your family and pets. 

While we don’t need you to leave the home, we do ask that you wait for it to dry before your pets and children get near the product. Thankfully, this should only take about 15 minutes. The product dries quickly and won’t cause any issues or leave a residue once it is no longer wet. If your children or pets touch the wet product, it isn’t the worst thing in the world. Just make sure to wash their hands or paws off and keep it out of their mouths. It could cause some mild skin irritation if kept on the skin for a long time.

We understand that your children and pets can be sneaky creatures. One moment, you’re washing dishes and they are playing a few feet away from you. The next moment, they are bouncing off of walls and licking the tile floors. Hey, no judgment here, all kids go through their crazy stages! So, we make sure that our products are completely safe for your children. There’s no need to leave when we come and spray, but it would be best if you keep your third eye on them for that 15 minutes it takes for the product to dry. The last thing we want is for someone to get hurt!

Have no fear

When you ask, “do I have to leave the house for pest control?” You now know the answer is no, you don’t. Vinx Pest Control is here to help! If you’re in the DallasFort Worth, Frisco area and need pest control, we’re here to help. Our products are safe for all of your loved ones, and we’ll make sure the bugs are gone for good. We offer a guarantee on all of our work, and when you sign up with us, we promise your bugs will be gone. We’ll come out to do a free reservice if there are bugs in between your quarterly treatments. Contact us today for a free quote! Click here to get a quote or fill out the form below. 

What If I’m Still Seeing Bugs After Getting Pest Control?

July 09, 2019 Vinx Pest Control blog
What If I’m Still Seeing Bugs After Getting Pest Control?

Seeing bugs after getting treatment can be frustrating. You pay good money to have a pest control treatment done and it can feel discouraging to still see the bugs after your home or business has been sprayed. Sometimes, it can even feel like there are more bugs now than there were before the treatment! So, what gives? You might ask, “what if I’m still seeing bugs after getting pest control”? 

There are a few things that can happen after you have treatment. The short answer is that it could be because you had a lot of bugs to start with, you were just serviced, or this is your first treatment. The good news is that if you’re still seeing bugs, it’s not something to be worried about. Most of the time, it is harmless and the bugs will die off in a few days. However, if that’s not the case, Vinx offers a guarantee and we’re happy to come reservice. Let’s dive into why your home may be still crawling with bugs.

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Just serviced

It may seem strange, but if you were just serviced, that could be the reason that you have a lot of bugs. If you were not on a preventive treatment before, there were probably a lot of bugs to kill. When the pesticide gets on these bugs, it’s not always an immediate kill. This is especially true with ants but can also happen with cockroaches. The chemicals are designed as a type of “bait” where they go back to their colony and feed everyone else. This kills off the colony in a few days, but it can cause an increase in activity for the first few days.

While not all bugs are given bait, the pesticides can still make the bugs more active right after treatment. It usually stirs the bugs up for a few days, so it can seem like there are more bugs than ever before. In reality, they are coming near the pesticide and that’s attracting them, so it seems like there are more. These sneaky bugs were really just hiding, and the pesticide will get rid of them.

We usually say that if you are seeing bugs within the first ten days after treatment, that’s completely normal. However, if you continue to see the bugs after ten days, it may be time for some intervention from us. 

First treatment

As mentioned a little bit before, if you haven’t had preventive pest control, there could be a lot of bugs hiding out in your home that you haven’t seen before. We find that when it’s your first treatment, you can expect to see an increase in bugs for the first few days. We work to push bugs inside the home to the outside, but sometimes, the bugs try to escape the pesticide from the outside and end up inside the home. This can happen with any service include spider extermination, bee control, ant control, etc. This should only last for a few days after your first treatment. 

However, if it’s been more than a few days and you are still seeing bugs, it could be because the egg cycle wasn’t interrupted in time and these are new bugs that the pesticide never touched. When that happens, a pest control treatment should be done again. We can understand that this is a hassle, but it’s not usually an issue that repeats after the first treatment. Plus, the good news is that we do free reservices! 

Weather

Has there been a bunch of rain lately? Maybe the temperatures are soaring and the humidity has reached its max? The interesting thing about bugs is that they are affected a lot by the weather. When it’s raining, many bugs want to be out of the wetness just like we do. It’s common to see an increase of ants as they come up from underground and seek the dryness of your home. And when it’s hot out, there are always more bugs. They love the heat, and in winter often hideaway to get out of the cold. Summer is free game for them, so an increase is natural with the weather change.

However, that doesn’t mean you have to deal with them. If the weather is bringing out a bunch of bugs you’d rather forget about, we don’t blame you. The best thing you can do is give Vinx a call so we can schedule a follow-up appointment. We can’t control the weather, but we can get rid of the bugs.

Other causes

As with anything, there are a lot of reasons that bugs could be showing up after treatment. With roaches or ants, it’s important to keep food up and to not let trash stay out for more than a few days. This attracts those bugs that are looking for your leftover food. Even crumbs on the floor can attract little ants to come in and seek them out. Make sure your children aren’t hiding open food in the house because that can attract more bugs! If that’s the case and you’re seeing bugs thanks to crumbs or food, call us so we can take care of them.

A few other causes, like an empty lot near you or construction starting, can also cause an increase in bugs in your house. Even if it’s not occurring in your home, bugs may try to seek out a safer place, but thankfully, our pesticide will make sure they know they aren’t welcome!

What to do

When the bugs are crawling and you just want to have a pest-free home, we completely understand. There is nothing worse than expecting to see no bugs and then seeing an increase! We are here to help. There are a few things that you can do when you find yourself seeing marching bugs. 

The first thing to do is check the date of your last service. Whether it was an inside or outside treatment doesn’t necessarily matter. Any treatment can cause an increase in the number of bugs that you are seeing. If you’ve been with us for a while, you may not have realized that the service was done. Check your invoice and see when the service had been done. If it was recent, give it at least ten days before you evaluate. The pesticides are working, but some of them work slower than the others.

If after a while you’re still seeing bugs, give us a call. We’ll be happy to talk to you about what you’re experiencing and which bugs you’re seeing. Using that knowledge, we’ll schedule an appointment for a follow-up treatment. We call this a reservice. Because we know that our treatment works, we offer free reservices. We want you to be as happy as we are, so our guarantee is that we’ll come out whenever you see bugs.

What’s a reservice?

A reservice is a treatment of the home that occurs outside of the quarterly treatments. With the quarterly treatments that are preventive, it’s pretty rare that you will see bugs. However, there are new bugs that pop on over from the neighbors’ homes or ones that simply laid too many eggs in between treatments. When that happens, we offer a reservice. 

With a reservice, you get the same treatment again. If you’re seeing a specific bug, we’ll treat for that bug specifically to try and get rid of it for good. If it’s just an increase in all types of bugs, we’ll do a regular treatment where we treat for everything out there. We understand the importance of a pest-free home, and we know that it can take time to get there. That’s why we’re dedicated to the happiness of our customers.

How pest control works

Pest control is really a science. All of our technicians are trained and certified in this science so your home will be bug-free. In order to get your home to the tip-top shape that we want it to be in, we have to work with that science. Some bugs respond to treatments differently, which is why we always use multiple pesticides tailored to the specific bugs that you’re seeing.

Our pesticide works to draw bugs away from the home so that they never get inside. However, with the first treatment, we will also treat inside to kill off any egg sacs that may be lying around and any bugs that are still alive. Usually, this is all that’s needed to prevent bugs from coming into the home. With some bugs, like ants, we have to use a bait to kill off the colony. They eat the bait and take it back with them, so it can take a few days for them to die off. 

In addition to our inside and outside spray and our ant bait, we also use granules in the yard. These granules kill off any bugs in the yard that may be messing with your grass. This also includes ant piles, which can be large colonies that eventually get into the home. 

Bugs can be hard to kill because they have a thick exoskeleton that protects their bodies, which is why multiple pesticides are used to repel, kill, and prevent the bugs from getting near the home.

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The preventive process

Bugs are wonderful at creating babies. In fact, some bugs can lay up to 1,000 eggs at one time. So, imagine if that were in your house. It’s not a good thing, and only a pest control treatment can make sure that doesn’t happen. In order for the bugs to be gone for good, not only do you have to get rid of the live ones, but you also have to interrupt the egg cycle.

The egg cycle happens almost on a monthly basis. The first treatment you get should kill off the alive bugs and interrupt the egg cycle so those new babies aren’t going to have time to grow and lay eggs themselves. However, the only way that happens is if you get preventive quarterly pest control treatments. 

Since the pesticides wear off after a few months, when you are not getting your home treated every three months, the egg cycle comes back with a vengeance. There is nothing stopping those pesky bugs from multiplying and creating a population that rivals Dallas itself. Since no one wants a city of bugs inside their home, preventive treatment is key. While you may not see bugs all the time and think the pesticide is no longer needed, that couldn’t be further from the truth. As soon as those treatments stop, the egg cycle is no longer interrupted. 

The longer you have a preventive treatment, the fewer bugs that you will see. It will keep interrupting the egg cycle to make sure that any bugs that wander over from the neighbors’ homes won’t be able to procreate. Bugs are all around, and they can quickly come back into your home without the proper treatment. 

What if I’m still seeing bugs after getting pest control? The Vinx guarantee

When you ask “what if I’m still seeing bugs after getting pest control,” there are various reasons. It could be because you just got treatment and the bugs haven’t died immediately. It could also be because some of the eggs hadn’t been killed because of the timing in the egg cycle. Another reason could be the weather. Many bugs and insects seek heat and dryness which they can typically find in your home. So, if the temperatures have risen recently, that could be another reason you’re seeing bugs. 

If you’re seeing bugs after a pest control treatment, we want to help. If you are not a customer of ours and live in the Dallas area, we’d be happy to give you a free quote. You can fill out the form below or give our office a call. If you are a customer of ours, let us know that you’re seeing bugs and we’ll come out for that free reservice.

At Vinx, we’re passionate about getting rid of bugs. We have locations in the DallasFort WorthCharleston, and Greenville areas. We also serve areas such as Spartanburg and Simpsonville, SC. In fact, we also serve Sulphur Springs TX. We believe that they should stay outdoors where they belong and not be allowed into your home. Though it’s natural to see a few bugs here and there around the house, if it hasn’t been just a week since your last treatment, we can come out and make sure those bugs are dying for good. Fill out the form below or give us a call at 972-855-8469 so we can get rid of the bugs! 

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How Often Should You Pest Control Your Home?

July 08, 2019 Vinx Pest Control blog
How Often Should You Pest Control Your Home?

You know that moment when you’re minding your own business and a spider practically jumps in your lap? That’s the worst, which is why we’re in business doing what we love—making sure spiders stop taking over your home. To do this, you’ll need treatment four times a year.

The biggest question we get is how often should you pest control your home. Whether we’re dealing with spiders, mosquitos, or those pesky ants, we recommend getting quarterly, or every three months, treatments. We get it—every three months? What a hassle. It’s more often than your yearly physical but less often than your dental cleanings. Thankfully, we have some even better news. Our Dallas home pest control experts can do the job without you even needing to be home for the treatment!

Why do I need quarterly treatments?

Let’s go back to our spider friend from the example above. You’re relaxing, maybe watching some Netflix or the new season of The Bachelor (hey, we don’t judge) and you spot that telltale black dot across the room. You pause the show, creep up to it, then immediately jump back. Yep, that’s definitely a spider. Sure, you can grab your largest shoe or a broom to squash the spider, but guess what? That spider just laid two eggs. But, that spider underneath the couch that you don’t see? It’s a different species, and it just laid an egg sac with over 200 eggs. 

Now that your skin feels like it’s crawling, let’s talk about how pest control works. When you see a bug and you kill it, you just got some free pest control. However, you’re not catching all the eggs that those bugs already laid. This continues the bug cycle and can eventually become an infestation if you’re not diligent enough. Unlike humans, bugs reproduce and lay their eggs faster than you can pause your show, so you’ll never be ahead.

As this goes on, the eggs pile up, the bugs pile up, and pretty soon, you’re arguing with them and trying to set up diplomatic relations but pests simply don’t listen. Once you’re singing away to your favorite song in the shower and looking up to see eight legs looking to land right on your nose, you realize that things have gone too far. Spiders, ants, and any other pests need to go. You’re the owner of the house, you don’t want to be outnumbered!

That’s where pest control comes in to help. With our quarterly treatments, it will kill off the bugs that you already have. In addition to that, it’s going to interrupt the egg cycle. That means your spiders, ants, wasps, and all other pests are not going to be able to lay eggs, leaving you with a lot fewer bugs. 

Think of it as a deep cleaning for your house, but to get rid of all the bugs. The great thing about Vinx is that they will also clean. Don’t expect your technician to come in and do your dishes, but those annoying wasp nests you’ve had around for half a decade or the spooky cobwebs that only look good during October can be knocked down so your house looks great again. The pitches and eves of your home will be left cobweb and nest-free, so you can stop doing that Usain Bolt sprint every time you leave the house to do anything.

Bugs can leave you with itchy bites, but they can also do damage to your home. This is especially true with termites. You want to protect the home that you work hard for, which is why preventive treatment is necessary for this hot and humid area. 

And, not to make you itch more, but nothing is worse than finding that your home has roaches. They leave you with an overwhelming icky feeling. Cockroaches are the ultimate villains. They can squeeze into small areas that you would never imagine, and they easily chew through your packaged food, leaving behind fecal matter that can make you sick. When you live in Texas, the roach situation has to be handled in a preventive manner. Unless you want your home infested and your children or partner screaming when they see them hiding away in your pantry, that quarterly treatment is necessary.

DIY pest control treatments may work for a month or two, but they don’t work in the long run. You could be purchasing expensive chemicals that aren’t even going to make a dent in the bugs that are living in your home. Not to mention, many DIY treatments are specific to one or two pests. When you get quarterly treatments done, it handles every pest in the book, no matter how small or big.  

How much do quarterly treatments cost?

All right, let’s get to the real question everyone’s wondering—how much is this going to set you back? We get it, it’s just another cost to add to the checkbook each month. But, the good news is, it’s not nearly as much as you think. We charge on a monthly basis, which is $40 a month. Now, let us tell you why it’s worth it.

You go out for a nice dinner and spend $40. But, you spend a lot more time in your home. If you’re checking the corners and running on your tiptoes in the garage because you don’t want to step on a beetle, roach, or some other yucky bug, it’s time to take charge. Not only you, but other people live or come to your house. And, let’s not forget about your belongings. If you don’t care that your family members get bit like crazy by spiders, think of that old school toy collection or those precious high school trophies you have. Do you want those to become the bugs’ version of Times Square? We’re guessing that answer is no. For just a little over a dollar a day, you can protect your assets. All of your assets. Your body, your family’s bodies, those “glory day” belongings, and your house. 

Preventive pest control is a must, but there are a few key reasons why you should spend the $40 a month and sign up with us at Vinx. First of all, we’re experienced. All of our technicians are certified in the best practices and know more about bugs than anyone should ever have to know. We’re not here to play around but to get your home rid of all the pests. Many companies charge a base price for bugs and then charge an additional cost for rodents. We offer it at our base pest control price, so you’re really getting two services in one.

Another reason you should go with us is that we have a guarantee. Other companies come out and spray, cost more than us, and they won’t guarantee their work! They’re out to take that hard-earned money, just like the spiders are out for your blood. When you sign a contract with us, we’re there for you. We realize that some bugs are sneakier than a spy, and they may slip through the cracks with the first treatment. While we’re confident in our service, sometimes, a few bugs will get the best of us. That’s why we offer free reservices whenever you need. See a spider? Are ants marching? Give us a call and we’ll come out and re-service your home to get rid of those protesters immediately.

Conclusion: How often should you pest control your home?

Your home is your livelihood, and we want to protect it with you. How often should you pest control your home? At least quarterly. We’ll provide quarterly home pest control treatments at a great price. We typically charge $40 per month. Our company thrives on getting customers that are happy, and we do everything in our power to keep you that way. We’re proud of our reviews and testimonials, and when you go with Vinx, you’ll never be sorry. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably had a few testy encounters with some bugs in your home. We’re sorry to hear that, but we sure are happy to help. Whether it’s the pitter-patter of sneaky rodents or the trail of ants that are lining your shelves, we can take care of it. In fact, there’s nothing that we’d love more. 

If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and are looking to get rid of the bugs in your home, we’d be happy to help you out. We stand behind our service and offer an unmatched guarantee, something that you won’t find with many competitors. Fill out the form below for a free quote or call our office to set up an appointment. We promise you won’t be sorry!

Click here to get a price quote or give us a call at 972-855-8469. You can also email us at info@webforest.agency/vinx.

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes: The Ultimate Guide

July 08, 2019 Vinx Pest Control blog
How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes: The Ultimate Guide

When the temperatures start rising, we know that summer is well on its way. Unfortunately, warmer weather isn’t the only indication that summer has arrived. Mosquitoes are nuisance creatures that thrive in moist, humid climates, making summer their favorite time of year. To help you with all your mosquito problems, we wrote the ultimate guide on how to get rid of mosquitoes. 

When mosquitoes start to make their presence known, every homeowner gets busy trying to think up ways to get rid of them. Whether you make use of a home remedy, clean up potential breeding grounds around your yard, or contact a professional pest removal company to rid your home of mosquitoes, it is possible to greatly reduce the population of this annoying insect. How do you get rid of mosquitoes? Read our ultimate guide to learn more about how to bid summer’s least favorite winged creature a not-so-fond farewell. 

If you’ve got mosquito problems in the Dallas-Fort Worth area then we’d love to help. You can get an accurate price quote here. You can also give us a call at 972-855-8469 or email us at info@webforest.agency/vinx.

How Long Do Mosquitoes Live?

If you’ve got a mosquito infestation brewing in your backyard, how long mosquitoes can live is probably at the top of your list of questions. Most mosquitoes do not reach their projected lifespan as they are often eaten by other predatory animals or are killed by humans.  The complete life cycle of a mosquito from the egg stage to death from advanced age is between one to two months. However, few ever live to enjoy old age. To properly understand the average life expectancy of a mosquito, it is helpful to be familiar with each stage of the insect’s circle of life. 

  • The egg stage

Female mosquitoes require blood to remain healthy enough to reproduce. Hence, it is this strong desire to propagate the species which promotes the need for a meal of blood to prepare the female to lay eggs.

Once the blood meal has been sourced and consumed, the female mosquito selects the ideal environment where she can deposit her eggs. Her preferred locale is an area which is home to water that is stagnating or regions are known for flooding.  After the female lays her eggs, there is a gestation period of a week before the eggs are ready to progress to their next stage of life. 

  • The larval stage

The next stage of life occurs when the eggs have hatched. The mosquito larvae are quite tiny, measuring only ¼ of an inch in length. At this time in the mosquito’s life cycle, the insect does not yet have wings. Their small thin bodies are worm-like in appearance and covered in hair. Even at this tender age, the mosquito’s main body parts are already clearly formed including the siphon-like appendage which stems from the torso and that is used to suction blood in an adult mosquito. Its primary role is to permit proper respiratory function at the larva stage. 

During this stage, larvae mostly feed to gain strength and the proper nutrition to begin the molting process, something that must occur four times before the insect may progress to the next stage of life. A period of approximately two weeks in length, the larval stage is complete when the insect has increased its overall size by two times. 

  • The pupa stage

The pupa stage is largely inactive. The feeding period of development is now over and no further molting occurs. It is during this time that pupae begin to experience light and to react to it. It takes up to four days for the pupa to develop into a fully grown mosquito. 

  • The adult stage

The adult stage is achieved when the mosquito breaks through its casing. Males are most often the first to emerge. When the female emerges, there is an immediate surge to mate. Though the female mosquito can live up to two months, males typically die after only a couple of weeks. It is the female mosquito who requires a blood meal; males feast on the nectar from plants.

What Attracts Mosquitoes?

If you’ve ever wondered why mosquitoes seem to be drawn to one person over another, your observation is correct: certain people ARE more attractive to this pesky winged insect. The American Mosquito Control Association has been conducting research to determine what elements must combine to make a person a desirable host for mosquito activity. It is believed that a person’s genetics are responsible for up to 85 percent of their appeal to the mosquito population. Experts agree that the unique chemical composition of a body when present on the skin is a strong attractant for mosquitoes. Steroids, uric acid, and cholesterol tend to be three of the most popular compounds. 

Mosquitoes possess the unique ability to detect their next meal from a distance of up to 50 meters away from the food source. 

How is this possible?

Carbon dioxide is one of the biggest mosquito attractants in the world today. People who are larger in size or stature emit more carbon dioxide which helps to explain why adults and pregnant women are at a higher risk of being the recipients of mosquito bites. 

Mosquitoes are also drawn to the lactic acid released in sweat. 

How to Keep Mosquitoes Away

Keeping mosquitoes away from your home and family is an important priority. Thankfully, there are many different things you can do to greatly reduce the mosquito population in your yard. Among the top solutions are:

  • The use of window screens

One of the key components against mosquito bites is prevention. Traditional mesh window screens keep mosquitoes from entering your home, thus eliminating the worry of mosquito bites while you and your family are asleep. 

Window screens allow fresh air to permeate a home but are equipped with openings too small to permit mosquitoes a portal of entry. To ensure the utmost efficacy of a screen, carefully check them for signs of tears or breaking away from the frame and repair all vulnerabilities. 

  • The removal of stagnant water sources

For mosquitoes to reproduce water is required since the egg, larva, and pupa stages all occur in water. Few families are aware that mosquitoes can lay their eggs in the most minute amount of water including collections in cups or bowls left out in their yard.

For the best form of mosquito control, remove all stagnant water sources from your yard. This one simple act will eliminate common mosquito breeding grounds and will greatly reduce their population. 

Common items that collect water include rain gutters, eavestroughs, children’s toys, wheelbarrows, and garden watering cans. Time is of the essence when it comes to restoring items in your yard to a dry state as mosquito eggs hatch within four days and often sooner. 

  • The commitment to regular yard maintenance

Keeping your yard tidy and as dry as possible will help remove areas where mosquitoes commonly like to congregate. Though mosquitoes favor moist, humid conditions for reproduction, they prefer to recline in the shade, so keeping your grass cut and debris to a minimum is a critical part of keeping the mosquito population in your yard to a bare minimum. 

  • The proactive use of repellents and appropriate clothing for maximum coverage

Mosquitoes cannot bite what they cannot access. To prevent mosquito bites, keep as much of your body covered as you can when outdoors. However, sunny summer days aren’t the ideal conditions for sporting a turtleneck. With this in mind, making use of a mosquito repellent spray on any exposed skin will help deter these annoying insects from making a meal out of your arms or legs.

How to Kill Mosquitoes

There are several different effective methods for killing mosquitoes. Experts recommend the use of more than one type of mosquito control to achieve the greatest reduction in their overall population. 

Among the most popular methods for killing mosquitoes are:

  • Eliminate all breeding grounds

Finding and removing all mosquito breeding grounds brings opportunity for reproduction to a grinding halt. The removal of stagnant water effectively kills any eggs, larvae, or pupae, thus limiting the size of the colony. Making your yard an inhospitable environment for mosquitoes is the most effective means of controlling the population.

  • Introduce predators

There are several different animals that like to feast on mosquitoes. The inclusion of these creatures into your yard or garden can have a tremendous positive impact on the size of the mosquito colony currently in residence. Ornamental fish such as koi enjoy feasting on mosquito larvae. Other animal predators that can assist you in the war against mosquitoes include lizards, geckos, frogs, bats, spiders, and dragonflies.

  • Apply chemical treatments

There are several chemical methods by which you can kill the mosquitoes that have invaded your yard. One of the most popular treatments is the use of an ovitrap. Ovitraps contain a small amount of stagnant water that has been treated with toxic chemicals. The water is a strong attractant for the mosquitoes who enter the trap and succumb to the poison contained in the water.

Another popular chemical treatment is the use of an insect growth regulator, also known as IGR. When added to water, this chemical prevents eggs from reaching the larval stage of development. Though highly effective, exposure to IGR can be harmful to family pets. 

  • Use a flyswatter

The timeless method, a flyswatter, definitely yields great results. Though a flyswatter kills mosquitoes on contact, it requires time and effort to make an impact on the size of a colony.

What Do Mosquitoes Eat?

Male and female mosquitoes have different nutritional requirements. The male mosquito feasts on nectars found within plants and flowers. While the female mosquito also enjoys these same foods, she requires a meal of blood from a living source in order to reproduce. The protein and iron procured from the blood host is a vital component to assisting the female with laying her eggs. 

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in the House

It’s bad enough to have an infestation of mosquitoes outdoors, but it is a real nuisance to have them join you inside as well. If you’ve got mosquitoes taking refuge in your home, there are several different home remedies you can try to get rid of them. 

Here are some of the most popular ways to get rid of mosquitoes in your house:

  • Burning citronella candles

While citronella will not kill mosquitoes, its scent does repel them. Other fragrances mosquitoes dislike include peppermint and eucalyptus. 

  • Setting mosquito traps

Homemade mosquito traps are an excellent and cost-effective way to deal with pesky insects. To create your own trap, take a clean plastic pop bottle, and cut it in half. Add 2 ounces of brown sugar to 7 oz of hot water and stir until the sugar completely dissolves. Allow the mixture to cool completely. Sprinkle in a small amount of yeast to create carbon dioxide, the substance which has a powerful draw for mosquitoes. Wrap the bottom half of the pop bottle with black paper. Place the top half of the bottle inside the trap upside down to act as a funnel to guide mosquitoes down into the trap. 

  • Using a flyswatter

If you only have a few mosquitoes in your home, sometimes a flyswatter is the most effective tool.

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in Your Yard

Taking stock of where mosquitoes are hiding in your yard is a critical first step to gaining control of the mosquito population. Though it is not possible to completely eliminate mosquitoes, you can implement measures to greatly reduce then control their presence in your yard. 

Here are some of the most popular and effective ways to rid your yard of mosquitoes:

  • Remove pools of standing water

Standing water is an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. By drying up the source, you will reduce the opportunity for mosquito reproduction. 

  • Include BTI treatments to water to pools

BTI, a fungus known as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, can safely be added to pools, rain barrels, drain ditches, and retention ponds. When BTI comes in contact with a mosquito in any life stage, it causes a fatal infection. Though BTI is lethal to mosquitoes, it is safe for water-dwelling plant and animal life. 

  • Keep your yard well manicured

Keeping your yard in tip-top condition helps to eliminate areas of refuge for mosquitoes. Remove any buildup of leaves or grass clippings and maintain a well-tended lawn for best results. 

  • Add plants with mosquito repelling properties to your garden

There are many different plants that mosquitoes dislike, making them the ideal addition to your yard or garden. Among the most popular mosquito repelling plants are lemon balm, lemongrass, lavender, citronella, catnip, basil, marigolds, and rosemary. 

  • Add cedar mulch to your garden beds

Cedar mulch effectively removes excess moisture from your garden. These dehydration properties help to make your yard and garden inhospitable to mosquitoes. 

  • Make use of a repellent

When all else fails, try a repellent spray. Though repellents do not kill mosquitoes, they do keep them away from you which is an important part of disease control.

Got mosquitoes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and wish you didn’t? Try one of our top tips for helping to reduce the mosquito population in your yard. For more information on how to make mosquito woes a thing of your past, contact the professionals at Vinx Pest Control Company at 972-855-8469 or info@webforest.agency/vinx or fill out the form below. 

What Do Termites Look Like? 4 Ways On How To Get Rid Of Termites

What Do Termites Look Like? 4 Ways On How To Get Rid Of Termites

Have questions about termites in the Dallas, TX area? We created the ultimate guide to termite treatment and prevention here to help! We’ll answer questions like “what do termites look like,” “how do I get rid of termites,” “do termites bite” and more.

If you have termite problems, we offer several services to help get rid of them! You can get an accurate price quote here.

What Do Termites Look Like?

What do termites look like? In general, termites have no noticeable waist due to thickness through their torso. They also possess antennae that are completely straight and legs that are short in length. Termites come in varieties with and without wings; however, the winged variant of this pest possesses wings that are equal in size in all aspects. 

Since termites are similar in appearance to ants, a pest invasion often leaves homeowners puzzled as to what type of nuisance insect has taken up residence in their homes. To complicate the matter, both ants and termites do share a number of similarities, making it difficult to differentiate between the two. For a homeowner to identify a termite and best understand how to treat this persistent pest problem, it is important for them to determine whether they are dealing with termites or ants since treatment methods differ according to species. 

How Do I Get Rid of Termites?

Since termites are insidious creatures with the potential to destroy the structural integrity of a home, it is vital that homeowners remove them from their residence as soon as their presence is detected. The only way to permanently eradicate a termite infestation is to determine their nesting locale and exterminate them. 

Termite invasions can be very difficult to unearth and often don’t come to light until the damage has already been done to a home. When termite damage reaches this level of destruction, the assistance of a professional pest removal company is often required to eliminate the infestation and prevent further damage. Below is a picture of wood that’s been damaged by termites. 

However, homeowners can identify the beginnings of termite colonies and take action before the problem reaches epic proportions. 

Here are some steps homeowners can take to get rid of termite colonies:

  • Determine the source of the infestation

    To ascertain the presence of a termite problem, it is often necessary to do some investigating. More serious infestations are evidenced by floor decay or hollowed out sections of wood or concrete. Barring any signs of this level of structural damage, termite detection will require some extra efforts. 

The best course of action is to make use of a flashlight and screwdriver to search wooden foundations and crawlspaces for obvious signs of hollowed out wood. The screwdriver will help determine if the wood has been weakened by termite activity. Should the wood be unstable and prone to breaking, termites are most definitely at work. 

Termites will also leave behind waste materials. Termite feces is similar in color to wood but is often darker in hue and shaped like a pellet. 

A final indicator is the detection of a termite nesting ground. Infestations of a subterranean nature are evidenced by a network of tunnels comprised of mud. Pest invasions in drywood will be revealed by a constructed nest inside a wooden beam or object. 

  • Identify the type of termite in the home

The two main types of termites that are the culprits behind infestations are subterranean and drywood termites. Subterranean termites prefer to inhabit dirt regions and wood while drywood termites make their homes in wooden habitats only. Drywood termites have a preferred locale, favoring areas of the country that experience warm temperatures and in states that are nestled along coastal regions. Subterranean termites will thrive in any environment and will inhabit any region. 

Though both types of termites are destructive, it is the subterranean variety that causes the most concern. Determining the type of termite affecting a home is critical as extermination methods differ according to the variety of the insect. 

  • Choose a method of extermination 

There are many different home remedies that are reported to eliminate termite infestations. The severity of the problem will determine their efficacy.

Among the treatment options, homeowners can attempt are boric acid sprays of the affected area, cardboard traps, and the use of beneficial nematodes, a type of worm species that gains its nutrition from ingesting termites. Most often, professional pest control services are required to return a home to its former termite-free existence. 

  • Include preventative measure to avoid future pest invasions 

Termites love to flock to environments that are warm and wet. With this in mind, it is key to preventing future termite infestations that a house is kept dry. In addition to this, homeowners can make use of pest repellant sprays to help make a house an inhospitable living environment for termites to discourage an invasion.

Do Termites Fly?

Certain species of termites do possess the ability to fly. The average termite that does not bear wings is extremely light in color. By comparison, flying termites run the gamut of colors with hues ranging from light creams, beiges, and greys to dark brown and even black. The darkest colored termites are the hardiest due to their moisture-preserving qualities, a key component to their survival. Flying termites typically have four wings and measure less than ½” in size.  

Most often, the presence of flying termites is an indication of a nearby colony. They are often evidenced by shed wing particles near portals of entry into a home. Flying termites are a very serious concern. Upon detection of a few of these nuisance insects, a thorough inspection of the home and surrounding property is highly recommended as it is likely an active colony is at work. 

Do Termites Bite?

Though termites can and do bite humans, they are more interested in feasting on wood and vegetation. Most often, termites resort to biting humans and animals whenever their preferred food source is not readily available. For this reason, termite bites are quite rare. 

The Formosan termite is equipped with sharp pincers that are a deeper hue than the remainder of their shell. This type of termite makes use of their pincers as a means of defense against perceived threats. Though the pinches of the Formosan termite are painful, they have no lasting ill effects on the recipient of the pinch. 

Do Termites Have Wings?

Termites fall within three different categories with some of the varieties bearing wings and others not. The caste responsible for reproduction both has wings and the ability to fly. This variety is known as a termite swarmer. The other two castes are the soldiers whose primary role is to protect the termite population at large and workers who source for food and continue the work of destroying a home. 

Termite swarmers measure between ¼” to 3/8” and are born with two sets of wings that are light grey or smokey-hued in appearance. In size, each wing set is the same. Many people often mistake termites with wings for a winged variety of ant. Upon more careful consideration, it is easy to detect the differences between these two winged creatures. A termite swarmer possesses antennae that are straight and wings of equal proportions. The ant has bent antennae and a front set of wings that are larger than the two located to the rear of the body. 

What Do Termites Eat?

Though termite damage is revealed in the wood they select as their favorite snacking material, the nutrition they seek is found in the cellulose contained within the fibers of the wood. Cellulose is abundant in nature and can be found not only in trees and wood products but also in many different types of plants. Termites will even feast on clothing made from cotton and even paper products if given the opportunity. 

Cellulose is a critical nutrient in the termite’s diet. These nuisance creatures contain organisms within their digestive tract that effectively render cellulose into nutrition to provide them with necessary energy to continue their work of destroying a home. Because most animals lack the enzymes to properly break down cellulose particles into a viable nutritional substance, cellulose products are most often neglected by other varieties of insects and animals. 

The type of termite will determine the insect’s preferred food source. Subterranean termites prefer to feast on springwood due to its soft, fleshy nature. When infested with subterranean termites, consumed wood begins to resemble the shape of a honeycomb. Further investigation will reveal traces of soil and feces within the wood itself.

By comparison, drywood termites favor any type of wood that eschews moisture. This wood is most typically found within a home and is often used to construct framing, structural support beams, hardwood flooring, and even high-quality furniture. This type of termite avoids soil and replenishes the lost moisture in its body via the wood they make their home in. The aftermath wreaked on wood infested with drywood termites remains smooth in appearance.

How Do I Get Rid of Termites in Walls?

Often the most common way to detect termite damage is via hollowed out areas in walls. Since walls provide easy access for termites and they offer considerable space from which a termite can gain nutrition, they are a prime target for hungry termites to devour. Unfortunately, once a termite infestation is evidenced in a wall, professional extermination services are the only means to eradicate the problem. 

Termite damage to walls is easy to spot. In its early stages, almost microscopic pinholes will appear throughout the surface of the wall. These little holes may occur in the drywall itself or in wallpaper. Alternatively, lines may appear in the wall itself. These faintly glimpsed lines are often indicative of tunneling which is taking place beneath the drywall. 

Other indications a wall is affected by termite damage include:

  • A hollow response to tapping
  • Paint that appears bubbled 
  • Paint that is peeling
  • Weakened baseboards
  • Doors or windows that resist opening

Though both drywood and subterranean termites bear culpability for damage to walls in homes, it is most often subterranean termites that are to blame for this type of destruction. When this variety of termite is at work, walls and even ceilings can take on the appearance of damage from a water-related issue. If there is any evidence of weakened wooden beams, drywall that is changing color, or paint that is bubbling along the surface, termite damage is likely. 

Drywood termites prefer to inhabit studded walls and wooden furniture. Smaller in colony size, drywood termites take far longer to accomplish their work. The preferred mode of destruction for this class of insect is to consume wood beginning on the inside and gradually working outwards. Any wood that sounds hollow when rapped upon is likely home to a colony of hungry termites. 

What Kills Termites?

Though professional pest control services are often required to eliminate a termite infestation, there are several alternative treatments that homeowners can attempt on their own. 

Here are four popular DIY termite treatment protocols to consider:

  • Apply a pesticide barrier

Pesticide barriers come in liquid form and are intended for use as a spray to kill existing termite colonies and provide preventative measures against future infestations. This type of pest control treatment is reported to kill termites directly upon contact. Most often, the pesticide is implemented around the perimeter of a house, but it is also safe for use around wooden items such as tree stumps, wooden furniture, or piles of wood.

Most pesticides are not detectable by termites, meaning they are a highly effective mode of treatment. The poison in the pesticide moves at a slow rate, ensuring termites spread the toxins to other members of the colony to encourage a rapid elimination of the infestation. 

  • Setting poisoned bait traps

Many people worry that the application of a liquid pesticide barrier may be harmful to their family members or pets and prefer to use something a little less harsh. Poisoned bait traps pinpoint specific areas within a home or yard, and thus, less of the toxic material is needed to achieve the desired result. Entire colonies are often eliminated in as little as one treatment. However, rain and moist weather conditions can result in false termite elimination responses on the traps. In addition to this, poisoned bait traps are limited to use with drywood termites.

  • Treat with boric acid

Boric acid is extremely caustic yet is still considered a safe treatment method for eliminating termite invasions. Boric acid is an effective pest control protocol for most nuisance insects including termites. It is believed that the acid itself wreaks negative impacts on the termite’s ability to digest and metabolize food sources. Within three to seven days of contact with boric acid, termites succumb to death.

Boric acid is not considered to be a natural remedy; however, it is far less harmful to human beings and their pets than traditional pesticides. Boric acid can also be purchased in a powder under the brand name Borax and is available at most grocery and hardware stores. 

  • Sprinkle some diatomaceous earth

Diatomaceous earth is a safe, non-toxic termite treatment. Comprised largely of tiny fossilized aquatic skeletons, this silica substance is found at the bottom of many bodies of water including lakes, rivers, and oceans. The razor-sharp bone particles found in diatomaceous earth tear into the outer shells of termites, leeching moisture from their bodies and exposing them to dehydration which ultimately claims their lives.

Have a termite problem in Dallas, Fort Worth, or the surrounding area and wish you didn’t? Try one of our home remedies or contact us at 972-855-8469 or info@webforest.agency/vinx to make your termite problems go away!