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10 Things to Know When Using an Exterminator

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10 Things to Know When Using an Exterminator

Integrity for phoneBed bugs, cockroaches, earwigs, and termites are only a few of the many different pests which can infest your home. Worse, some of these pests are difficult to remove, and can cause extensive damage. These situations require professionals. You need an exterminator. When an exterminator arrives at your home, what should you expect? Is there any preparation work you need done? Exterminator>>

Here are 10 things to know when using an exterminator.

1. Pest Control Preparation

When you contact us, we will let you know how you can prepare. You might need to clean or clear out certain areas, or make sure no one is in the house when it is serviced. Also, it is courteous to let your neighbors know about the infestation, and about the exterminator. This way, they can book services to come and inspect their home, and make sure they are free of pests.

2. The Pest Control Technician Arrives

Firstly, you will want to schedule a time with our professional pest control technicians to arrive at your home. If they are delayed on the day you are supposed to meet, they will let you know ahead of time when they expect to arrive. If no other time works for you then you can reschedule to a different date.

3. Pest Identification

Once the pest control technician arrives, they can provide you with company identification. This is especially important if this is the first time you have met this technician, so you know you can trust them. Once they identify themselves, they can enter your home and begin.

4. Pre-Service Communication

Once you are ready, the exterminator will ask you some questions to be sure they have all the information they need to commence. You will be asked what pest is infesting, how many have you seen, where did you see the pests, and other similar questions. If you can, show the technician places you have encountered the pests. Following this, the technician will give you an idea of how they are going to treat the problem and what products they are going to use to do it. If you have any questions, this is a good time to ask them.

5. Pest Inspection

Once the questions are completed, the technician will inspect your property and try to find other signs of the pests. They will both inspect the areas you pointed out to them, and look at other locations where the pests might have infested. After identifying the pest, if they discovered anything which might require a change in plans, they will discuss it with you. For example, if there is a different pest infesting your home than what you thought, they will need to take a different approach. Once again, if you have any questions or concerns when discussing this, let them know.

6. Pest Control Treatment

After the inspection, they will begin treatment. At this point, you might need to leave the property, depending on what needs to be done. They will take the time they need to ensure your problem is fixed.

7. Post-Treatment Discussion

With the treatment complete, the pest control technician will inform you of what they have done. Your home might not be safe to enter yet, but they will inform you if this is the case. Additionally, they will let you know what further steps you should take to ensure your home is protected in the future. For instance, they might ask you to replace certain window screens or apply calking to some cracks in the brickwork. They will answer your questions, and discuss the possibility of a follow-up.

8. Pest Control Service Report

After the post-treatment discussion, you will receive a written service report from the pest control technician. It will give an account of what the technician did, and their recommendations.

9. Cooperation

While the exterminator can help eliminate an infestation, you should still follow their post-treatment instructions, otherwise, you might end up with another infestation. While it might require time or money now, it is saving you from more hassle later. Some pests are difficult to remove, so if they suggest a follow-up to ensure the pest is gone, it is best to schedule one.

10. Pest Control Follow-up

If a follow-up was suggested, then you and the technician will schedule a time to meet. Once this is worked out, they can begin any needed follow-up treatment. This is important for pests such as bed bugs, which are difficult to kill.

If you are suffering from pests, schedule a treatment with Integrity Pest Management. Tulsa Pest Control>>

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Why You Need an Exterminator

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Why You Need an Exterminator

Rat-Control 250

Sometimes, an infestation is unavoidable. You find a cockroach in your kitchen, or silverfish in your bookshelf, and you need professional help. While you might believe you can remove the pests on your own, by the time you discover the problem, it’s usually too late. Many pests lay eggs prodigiously, and are highly difficult to kill. It won’t matter how m any you kill, you keep finding more and more as the days pass. You need an exterminator. Once you hire a Tulsa exterminator, you will see how, in the end, they will save you time and money.

They are Tulsa Pest Control Experts

While it might seem easy to remove the infestation by buying poison or traps and killing every pest you see, this will only remove the immediate problem. Tulsa is home to numerous pests, and not all of them are easy to kill. You could throw out all of your furniture to end a bedbug infestation, but this will only remove some of them. Others are hiding in other parts of your apartment. You might spray poison on your woodwork to kill termites, but unless you find their nest, they will remain a problem. To end the infestation, you’ll need to kill the pests at the source; you need someone who specializes in pest removal. That “someone” is an exterminator. Tulsa exterminators, through training and on-the-job experience, know how to stop an infestation. Flea control, bed bug control, rodent control, and cockroach control are all in their field of expertise. Book a Tulsa pest control technician. Tulsa Pest Control Estimate>>

Tulsa Pest Control Saves You Money

You might be tempted to not call a Tulsa exterminator because of the cost. Replacing woodwork and furniture is expensive. Purchasing endless amounts of bug spray and other tools to try to remove the problem is expensive. Ultimately, no matter what you do, you will need to spend money. In the short term, dealing with the problem yourself might seem cheaper, but in the long term, it will be far more expensive than hiring a pest control technician.

Exterminators Save You Time

Maybe you already have all the tools you need to fight back an infestation. This doesn’t change the fact that you will need an abundance of time to remove the pests. Tracking down the source of them and taking all the steps to use your equipment properly will take time. Even if you find them at one source, some insects lay hundreds of eggs in a single day, and will have already spread. Undoubtedly, there are other things you will need to do, but the infestation cannot wait. A Tulsa exterminator can do all of this work for you, and you can go about your business. All the more reason to call a Tulsa pest control company to help you.

Exterminators Protect You and Your Family

Bedbugs bites leave itchy and irritating bumps on your skin. Roaches and rodents can contaminate food and spread foodborne illness. Spider bites can be painful, if not lethal. Tulsa exterminators will do everything they can to keep you and your family safe from these dangers.

If your property is infested by pests, call a Tulsa pest control company, and they can make your home pest free. Tulsa Pest Control>>

 

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Integrated Pest Management Tulsa

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Integrated Pest Management Tulsa

Integrity Pest ManagementWhile you can always rely on a pest control technician when you have an infestation, sometimes the best way to deal with an infestation is to prevent it from happening in the first place. While this may sound difficult, it is achievable. In fact, it is the very basis for integrated pest management (IPM). Tulsa Pest Control>>

What Is Integrated Pest Management?

An IPM program believes the prevention, monitoring and control allows a more economic control of insects and other pests. If infestation is prevented in the first place, then there is no need to use so many pesticides, which will help the environment. This does, however, require a series of techniques and strategies. Nonetheless, these strategies will prove beneficial to both you, and the environment. Tulsa Pest Exterminator>>

IPM Basics Tulsa

In order for IPM to be effective, there are several strategies which need to be followed, including:

Pest Prevention Tulsa

As the name implies, one of the key elements of this entire process is prevention. A little prevention now can save a great deal of hassle later. Therefore, prevention of an infestation needs to be the goal of the control strategies.

Pest Monitoring Tulsa

The IPM site will require regular inspections to ensure its efficacy, and to determine what pests are at the site and how many are there.

Record-Keeping

Record-keeping helps IPM technicians notice any trends or patterns among the pests. They will keep record of each inspection about the pests they identify, the population size of the pests, how they are distributed in the environment, and future prevention recommendations.

Acceptable Pest Levels

IPM technicians understand that the goal is not to eradicate the pests, but to control them. Eradication would be an impossible feat, in addition to being unsafe. A good IPM program will establish what constitutes as acceptable pest levels, and will apply control techniques once the population rises past that point. This acceptable pest level will vary from site to site. One large advantage of this control method is that it will prevent the pests from developing resistances to certain types of pest control.

Evaluation 

If the program is to be successful, then continuous, regular evaluations will be required. This way, the IPM technicians can determine if the program is working or not.

Minimum Pesticide Usage 

Chemicals are a last resort for an IPM program. If they must be used, then it only requires the minimum amount of pesticides, and only the least-toxic ones. Bug Exterminator Tulsa>>

Benefits of Integrated Pest Management Tulsa

While the prevention of infestations is a large boon of IPM, there are many other useful benefits of it, including:

  • The reduction of pest population.
  • Its cost-efficiency and healthiness compared to traditional pest control methods.
  • Minimalization of pesticide usage.
  • Its environmental consciousness compared to traditional pest control methods.
  • The reduction of air and water pollution.
  • Better health for local plant life.
  • Sustainability.
  • Increasing crop production while simultaneously reducing crop damage.

… And many more. IPM is one of the best methods of pest control.

If you want to prevent pests from infesting your home, contact a Tulsa pest control company near you.

 

 

The post Integrated Pest Management Tulsa appeared first on Integrity Pest Management.

What Pests Can Damage My Roof?

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What Pests Can Damage My Roof?

Schedule-275One day, when you’re doing some work in your attic, and keep finding holes bored into the wood. Perhaps you’re relaxed, enjoying your favorite TV show after work, you hear the sound of scurrying in your ceiling. Ants, rats, and beetles are only a few of the kinds of pests which can get into your home. If your roof is damaged, then your home could be facing a decrease in value, and reduced energy efficiency. Contact a Tulsa roofer to help you out if you suffer from any of these problems. Schedule an inspection.

Roof Pests

During the winter, pests are more likely to try to infest your home as a way to escape the frigid temperatures. Your home provides them a with a good spot to find food and nest. Oftentimes, this can lead to pests getting into the woodwork which makes up your roof, as well as the singles, attic, and wiring.

These are just some of the pests which can infest your home and damage your roof, including:

Termites

Termites feed on cellulose, including paper, plant litter, and most importantly wood. Most roofs are made with wood, making them a perfect food source for termites. As they eat through the wood, they can cause leaks, and other major structural damage given enough time. Additionally, termites breed quickly, making them difficult to exterminate.

Powderpost Beetles

These beetles are named powderpost due to their destructive relationship to wood. Powderpost beetle larvae mature in wood, and feed on it to the point they reduce it to powder. Like termites, this can eventually lead to major damage to your roof.

Ants

While they do not eat wood like termites of powderpost beetles, carpenter ants do construct nests inside it. Fire ants, too, can cause major structural damage, and indoor ants will make use of the spaces created by carpenter ants.

Rats and Mice

Rats and mice will gnaw through anything to find a way into your home, and your attic serves as a perfect habitat for them. They can spread disease and contaminate food, so keeping them away from any weak points in your roof is imperative.

Squirrels

Whether gnawing on insulation, chewing through wires, or urinating on the wood, squirrels can cause damage your roof, your electric, and invade your living space.

Honey Bees

Honey bees can infest your roof, and make their homes underneath your shingles. Their honeycombs can stain the shingles, and damage them to the point of needing replacement. Need a professional pest inspection? Call Integrity today.

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Common Lettuce Pests

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Oklahoma|Pest Control

Common Lettuce Pests

Phone

(918) 245-PEST

Leafy greens, such as lettuce are an excellent source of nutrition, and are relatively simple to grow. While growing lettuce should be an easy task, like many vegetables, there are numerous types of pests which can destroy your lettuce crop. If you suffer from insects constantly destroying your lettuce, then here is some lettuce pest control information to help you deal with common lettuce pests.

Common Lettuce Pests

With all the kinds of pests out there which destroy lettuce, you should be informed of which ones are particularly dangerous to this vegetable.

Romaine, iceberg lettuce, or whatever other kind of lettuce you grow will be targeted by these pests. In certain climates or regions, you might find only some of these lettuce pest insects, but in other places you might have to deal with all of them.

Lettuce Eating Insects and Lettuce Pest Control Tips

The following are some of the most common lettuce pests:

Lepidoptera Family – Caterpillars

One of the most damaging lettuce pests is the larva Lepidoptera family, or caterpillars as they’re more commonly known. There are many kinds of caterpillars, and while each one’s feeding habits are different, they ultimately amount to the destruction of your lettuce.

With caterpillars, you can remove them with insecticide, or by introducing natural predators of caterpillars such as birds. If these don’t prove effective, contact a Tulsa pest control company to help you.

Snails and Slugs

Slugs and snails will obliterate any lettuce you’ve planted, hiding during the day in weeds, tall grass, and stones, and coming out at night to eat your lettuce.

Controlling slugs and snails can be difficult, but if you keep the area around your garden clean, this should help eliminate their hiding spots. There are natural ways to repel them, too, by using plants like lavender, sage, or geraniums, which all naturally repel snails and slugs. If you aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty, pick them off by hand after dark, but be sure to wait for two hours to ensure they’ve come out to feed.

Aphids

Aphids (or plant lice) pose multiple threats to your lettuce. Firstly, they suck out the lettuce tissue’s nutrients and water which will kill young lettuce plants. Secondly, aphid corpses are usually covered in parasites, and they can’t be rinsed off of the lettuce. Thirdly, aphids spread viruses and can cause lettuce mosaic. Fourthly, the honeydew deposits aphids leave behind leads to sooty mold on the lettuce leaves. Find  Ultrasound Services>>

Since systemic insecticides for aphids are not available, one of the ways you can control them is by introducing natural predators of aphids, like lady bugs, damsel bugs, or birds.

Thrips

The thrips of order Thysanoptera suck the sap from the lettuce, and can cause lettuce damage throughout all of the plant’s lifecycle. In addition to thrips damage to lettuce, they are also disease vectors.

Controlling thrips requires vigilance. For thrip control, you will need to prune leaves, and only use insecticidal soap. Some species of thrips will help your lettuce, so you don’t want to kill them.

Leaf Miners – Moth Larvae, Fly Larvae, etc.

The term “leaf miner” describes several types of insect larvae, from moths to some beetle varieties. The one thing they all have in common is that they live in leaf tissue, lettuce leaf included.

Only use insecticides as a last resort, and instead utilize row covers to prevent adult moths, beetles, or flies from laying their offspring in your lettuce. Furthermore, if you constantly water the plant and prune any leaves which are infested already, you can save the rest of your lettuce. If the infestation is substantial, contact pest control near you for assistance.

Beetles

The main threat beetles pose to your lettuce is when their offspring (which hatches beneath the soil) eats the lettuce roots. Different beetles require different methods of control, and Tulsa pest experts are the best equipped to handle it. Find Pool Dealer>>

Insecticides – Lettuce Pest Control

While you can get rid of pests by removing debris so they have no hiding spots, using mulch, or introducing natural predators, these sometimes aren’t enough. If you need to, you can use insecticides to handle the pest population. For example, Neemix is a natural insecticide for caterpillars and aphids made from the seeds of the neem tree. Alternatively, using spinosad can remove caterpillars and leaf miners, but be warned, some insects have developed a resistance to it.

If you need pest control quickly, then contact a Tulsa pest control expert. They’ll have the training and experience to remove any pest problem.

 

Our technicians can quickly eliminate rodents, termites, ants, bed bugs, and other pests to keep your space nuisance free. We have been providing reliable, safe pest control methods in Green Country since 2001. Trust the experts at Integrity Pest Control for all your pest control needs.

We exterminate and/or control:

Oklahoma Pest Control: Latest In Pest Management

To manage pests at Integrity Pest Management, we do more than just spray and set traps. Our integrated pest management (IPM) allows our service technicians to follow specific training procedures for the latest techniques in eliminating unwanted pests. This system monitors pest populations and uses proven strategies to rid you of the problem.

Some of our methods consist of inspections, exclusion, vacuums, and pesticides. Call us today at (918) 245-PEST whether you need to prevent an infestation, or need long term services.

Payment Types

Cash, Credit Card, Personal Check

Bed Bugs

Bed Bugs are parasidic insects of the Cimicid family that feed exclusively on blood.

Spiders

Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom.

Roaches

Cockroaches, are the most common insect pests infesting homes, food service establishments and other structures.

Rodents

According to the CDC, Hantaviruses are a group of viruses that may be carried by some rodents.

The post Common Lettuce Pests appeared first on Integrity Pest Management.

Oklahoma Ticks

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Oklahoma Ticks

Black legged tickDeer Ticks (also known as “Blacklegged”) are a common issue all across the United States, and Oklahoma is no exception. These blood-sucking pests are guilty of causing itching, irritating bites, as well as nasty infections like Lyme disease (AKA Lyme borreliosis) and Anaplasmosis.

If you want to keep your family safe, you need to know about what causes ticks to come out, and the dangers they pose for you and your family.

What Brings Ticks Out?

The process which brings ticks out begins with oak trees. Oaks produce acorns, which in turn attract mice. When oak trees produce acorns in abundance, the mice have a larger food source, which usually causes a population increase during the next summer. Ticks use these mice as hosts for food, and have a population boom of their own the following year. Unfortunately, the mice don’t remove the ticks, since the ticks don’t cause the mice to become sick. In addition, the mice are themselves vectors for disease, which infects the ticks when they feed off the mice, turning the ticks into disease carriers. Mice are capable of carrying 100 ticks, and studies show mice can infect as many as 95% of the them. Find: Roof Experts>>

Dangers of Ticks and What They Mean for You and Your Family

The heat and humidity of Oklahoma summers make Oklahoma a hot spot for ticks, and the disease they spread. Within the past fifty years, the types of disease ticks carry have been growing in number. There’s more than just Lyme disease to worry about these days. One such new one here in the Midwest is called Southern tick-associated rash illness, sometimes called Masters’ disease or STARI. With the dangers of ticks growing year by year, it’s important to contact a Tulsa lawn service near you to help you remove ticks from your property.

Is Lyme Disease a Serious Health Concern?

Flea BitesWith every passing year, the tick population keeps rising, leading to more and more cases of Lyme disease. In fact, the EPA estimates since 1991, the number of cases has doubled. Even worse, there’s no sign of those numbers decreasing. Fortunately, in Oklahoma, Lyme disease cases are rarer than other parts of the country, but you certainly don’t want to risk contracting it. If you, a pet, or a loved one contracts Lyme disease, you can experience symptoms such as arthritis, tiredness, aching joints, migraines, fever, and even neurological complications. There is no known vaccine for Lyme disease in existence.

What Diseases Are Common to Oklahoma?

One of the more common of Oklahoma tick borne disease is Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or blue disease, transmitted by the American dog tick. While treatable, Rocky Mountain spotted fever has the potential to be lethal if not caught early enough. Some of the symptoms include muscle aches, vomiting, crusted skin, high fever, confusion, headaches, and nausea.

If you want to stay safe from ticks this summer, then contact a Tulsa yard company, and see if they have a tick treatment available.

 

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Organic Aphid Control: How to Remove Aphids

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Organic Aphid Control: How to Remove Aphids

We all enjoy our gardens. However, one day you might notice the leaves of your plants turning yellow, or a black substance appearing on the plant. If this happens, you probably have aphids (or plant lice). Aphids feed on many different plants, and can infect the plant with a virus which will eventually kill it. It’s vital to control the aphids before you have an infestation in your garden and are required to take more drastic measures.

How to Remove Aphids from Plants

The following some of the basic steps you can take for repelling aphids:

Row Covers

Using row covers while you begin growing your plants will help keep aphids off of your young plants.

Aluminum Foil and Reflective Mulch

Reflective mulch, usually made from silver polyethylene, and aluminum foil serve as an effective deterrent for aphids. Place it beneath the plants to increase the light they receive, allowing them to survive longer against the viruses which aphids spread. Just make sure to only use this for your vegetable garden, and not your flower garden.

Water

Something as simple as spraying your plants with water will remove the aphids from the plant, impede their ability to return, and wash off the “honeydew.” Repeat this every day, and eventually the aphids will be completely gone.

Lure Aphids Away

Grow some of these plants in a different location than your garden, and the aphids will prefer to go for these plants instead.

Try planting:

  • Sunflowers
  • Chrysanthemum 
  • Hollyhocks
  • Larkspur
  • Vervain
  • Aster Flowers
  • Dahlia Plants
  • Nasturtium

Also plant some garlic and onions close to your garden, since the smell of both onions and garlic repels aphids.

Killing Aphids Organically – Attract Natural Enemies of Aphids

Schedule-275Aphids are resistant to many kinds of insecticides, so the most effective and eco-friendly option is to kill aphids naturally. They have a number of natural weaknesses, and all it will require of you is slightly altering the way you garden.

First, plant some mint, dill, and fennel, and don’t remove dandelions growing near your garden. These will attract some of the aphids many natural enemies, such as Coccinellidae (ladybugs/ladybird beetles) and green lacewings. A single ladybug can eat as many as 60 aphids per day. Green lacewing larvae have earned the name “aphid lions” due to their ability to consume up to 1000 aphids in just one day. They’ll even eat some of your other common garden pests. Find: Towing Service Near Me>

This is yet another reason you shouldn’t use insecticide, since it will more likely kill their predators without killing the aphids. The natural method ensures your garden is too hostile for aphids.

Unfortunately, aphids do have one ally in your garden: ants. They have something of a symbiotic relationship, since the ants eat the substance aphids produce, which is sometimes called “honeydew.” You need to remove the ants so the aphids’ enemies can kill the aphids to preserve your natural aphid control program.

Make sure there are no parts of the plants touching the ground by trimming your plants. This hinders the ants’ access to them. Furthermore, apply an adhesive substance to the lower stem to stop the ants’ ability to climb up it. You will want to wrap the stem with tape first before applying the substance, just as a safety precaution.

Alternatively, consider using neem oil as an organic way to kill the aphids.

If all else fails, contact a Tulsa pest control service near you for assistance.

The post Organic Aphid Control: How to Remove Aphids appeared first on Integrity Pest Management.

Mosquito Control for Your Yard

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Mosquito Control for Your Yard

Mosquito bites are an irritation we all have to put up with during the summer. These pests can be more than just annoying, they can potentially be vectors for disease. The West Nile Virus and, more recently, the Zika Virus are serious diseases, and put you, your loved ones, and your pets at risk. A wet springtime leads to the right conditions in warm weather that mosquitos need to flourish. You need to control the mosquitoes so they don’t infest your yard.

When Do Mosquitoes Appear?

Aedes-albopictus-on-water-from-above 259Winter doesn’t kill mosquitoes. Instead, they lay eggs in preparation for spring and go into hibernation. Generally, once the weather warms up to over 50 degrees Fahrenheit mosquitoes come out of hibernation. Here in Oklahoma, it means they can even begin appearing in February. Once the mosquitoes arrive, however, you need to develop a strategy for removing them as soon as you can.

Easy Ways to Repel Mosquitoes

Standing water attracts mosquitoes, so your first order of business should be to eliminate as much standing water on your property as you can. Otherwise, they will have the perfect breeding ground in your yard, even if there is only a minuscule amount of liquid. Check any empty flowerpots, buckets, and any other debris which can hold water, and remove the water from them. Unclog your gutters, too. If you use outdoor lights, try using bulbs which emit yellow light instead of white light. Yellow light attracts fewer mosquitoes since they cannot see it very well. Use bug spray and mosquito repellents if possible whenever you are outdoors. Finally, if all else fails, contact a Tulsa lawncare company for assistance. Find: Hot Shot Trucking>

Mosquito Reproduction Rate is Fast – Act Quickly

The warmer the weather becomes, the more the mosquitoes will reproduce. They breed and multiply quickly, and any ones which are left unchecked will lay eggs in preparation of the following year. If you only start taking measures once they begin bothering you, then you’re going to have to fight an uphill battle against them. You’ll want to not put it off, or you might need to take more drastic measures when they begin to appear.

Controlling Mosquitoes Early is a Good Idea

Mosquito on skinGetting rid of mosquitoes earlier rather than later will benefit you greatly. It will save you money, time, and hassle dealing with them as the summer progresses, and you can enjoy your lawn in peace. Lowering their population early and removing their breeding grounds before they can reach them, the mosquitoes will move on to more ideal grounds. In addition, driving them away earlier will mean fewer eggs, which means fewer mosquitoes the following year.

Think About Your Mosquito Control Strategy

While you won’t be able to prevent every mosquito from getting into your yard, if you have a good strategy prepared, it can make a massive difference. Even doing something as simple as flipping over empty containers so they won’t catch water, or wearing clothes with light colors can help. Tulsa Mosquito Inspector>

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What Attracts Ants to Your Home?

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What Attracts Ants to Your Home?

Summer comes around, and the ants are out in full force. You see them swarming everything, from discarded food to puddles of discarded beverages. Something is attracting these ants. What is it? What attracts ants?

Can Water Attract Ants?

AntsAnts require water for survival, but it won’t outright attract them. Their food sources often contain enough water to sustain them. With that said, if you live in a dry climate, ants might infest your home to find some supplementary water, since their food sources might not be enough. In addition, damp wood in your home can attract carpenter ants. If there’s just a puddle of water on a bench, or something like that, you don’t need to worry about ants coming into your home just for that.

Are Ants Attracted to Light?

A number of ant species are blind, so light shouldn’t attract them. Even for the ones that aren’t blind, there is no evidence that light draws them to a location. If you ever see a swarm of ants in your home and it seems they’re attracted to the light, there’s probably a different factor at play, such as mating season. The light is inconsequential.

Does Salt Attract Ants?

Salt is a necessity to one’s diet if they want their body to work properly, but ants often don’t have reliable access to salt. While some species are able to get their salt from an ocean, or even from eating insects, that isn’t an option for all species of ants. With that being the case, salt will indeed attract ants.

Will Ants Eat Artificial Sweetener?

Ants require a balanced diet of sorts. They need proteins, fats, and, of course, carbs. Sugar, being high in carbohydrates, attracts ants to foods with sugar in them, but what about artificial sweeteners like aspartame? Ants are not attracted to artificial sweeteners because they do not have the carbs the ants are looking for. You read some claims that while these sweeteners do not attract ants, they are viable to use as an ant poison. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Studies have shown artificial sweeteners do not kill ants.

Does Urine Attract Ants?

This might sound like an odd thing to consider, but ants can, in fact, be attracted to urine. Albeit, only with in one specific circumstance, urine from someone with type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a genetic disorder where your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, leading to high blood sugar. The high amount of sugar in your blood will eventually harm different parts of your body, including the parts which regulate the sugar levels of your urine: the kidneys. When they are damaged, they cannot regulate the glucose levels, and your urine will be high in sugar content. Your urine’s glucose levels will attract ants.

Maybe you’ve taken all the steps you can think of to prevent an ant infestation, but ants keep getting into your home. Contact a Tulsa pest management service to see if one of their trained professionals can find and eliminate the source of the problem.

 

The post What Attracts Ants to Your Home? appeared first on Integrity Pest Management.

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