Protecting your Home from the Ants Marching IN

by Patrick Wyman on April 3, 2012

 

It’s that time of year again, the ANTS you didn’t invite are moving in!

The unseasonably warm weather we’ve experienced and enjoyed in Northeast Ohio has brought early blossoms and early pest invasions. Educate yourself and protect your home.

If you want to keep the Carpenter Ants outside where they belong, take some time to walk around your home & inspect carefully. Do    you have branches overhanging your roof line? Trim them back! Can you see light entering your home along your utility lines? Caulk & seal because this is both an ant & spider highway into your home.

Ants already in your kitchen & bathroom? Did you have a leaky pipe recently? How is the wax ring around the base of your toilet? A moisture damaged area creates a wonderful harborage for a nesting ant colony.

Are you a Do It Yourself (DIY) kind of home owner? The Akron/North Canton/Medina area has a variety of hardware stores that offer exterior perimeter granular applications that you can place around your home to prevent Pavement Ants &  Pharoah Ants from moving in.

Tips from the Top:

  • Keep trees & bushes trimmed away from the house
  • Clean gutters & spouting in the spring; keep free of debris
  • Keep moisture out of crawl spaces
  • Check attics for leaks & condensation
  • Keep vegetation away from foundation
  • Inspect mulch for pest activity

Pests already inside? Not a Do it Yourself (DIY) kind of homeowner? Better call a professional. Solutions to eliminate pests are available that are environmentally friendly. Epcon Lane, The Environmental Pest Control Company, can inspect and offer Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions to your problems that will keep the pesticides and pests outside, where they belong! Our Home Protection Plan (HPP) is an economical solution that offers pest control prevention & elimination throughout the pest season. Call us today and find a solution that fits your needs  & budget.

Residential customers, no worries, no contracts…EVER!

Existing Commercial customer? Receive a 20% discount on your Initial residential service solution.

Mention this article & save $25.00 off your Initial Home Protection Plan (HPP)

 

Why do I have Indian Meal Moths in my Kitchen? (and 7 tips to keep them out!)

by Christopher Brooks on February 12, 2012

Indian Meal Moths could be a secret hiding in your cupboards waiting to emerge this spring. Take these preventative steps to avoid an infestation from moving into your home this spring. 

Indian meal moth larva

TIPS to keep your home from being invaded by Indian Meal Moths:

 

1. Examine cereals, flour & dried fruit for infestations at the store & at home. Avoid purchasing broken or damaged packages. Dispose of infested packages.

2. Purchase foods in small quantities that you don’t use often in small quantities. Store in airtight containers. Don’t keep for more than 6 months.

3. Sanitation is the best method to avoid pests. Covering shelves with shelf paper & keep them clean & dry.

4. If you discover that you have Indian Meal Moths, locate the source of infestation and quickly get rid of the product. Dispose of infested foods in wrapped, strong, plastic bags or in sealed containers.

5. Pheromone traps can be used to detect moths, but the trap alone is a “monitoring tool” NOT A CONTROL METHOD.

6. The use of insecticides is discouraged around food materials. However, aerosol sprays, labeled for this use, will control nuisance moths flying around rooms.

7. It is always best to contact a reputable, licensed pest control company who has training, experience and equipment to get control & eliminate infestation.

Indian Meal Moth Identification & Prevention

  •  The female moth lays between 60 and 300 eggs
  •  Larvae appear as “white worms with black heads”
  •  Larvae will travel from their food source to pupate in cracks and crevices.
  •  They may crawl to where the wall and ceiling meet or to the top of the cupboard where they spin a cocoon. Next the new adult moths emerge.
  •  In Northeast Ohio, with the cold weather, they overwinter through March and moths emerge in April. Although adult moths live only 5 to 7 days, their major function to reproduce. Hence the reason it suddenly seems like you have a large infestation in little time.

Have conerns or questions? Give us call  & we will be glad to help. Have a possible infestation, we can schedule your service today! Call Epcon Lane at 330-724-0007

 

 

3 Great Reasons to Rodent-Proof Your Home (Plus 7 Effective Tips to Do So!)

December 2, 2011

Did you know that a mouse can enter your home through a hole the diameter of a pencil & a rat can move in through the size of a quarter? As you can see, these furry pests don’t need much of a window of opportunity to infiltrate your living space and unfortunately, they can do [...]

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Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite!

October 3, 2011

5 Things You Need to Know About Bed Bugs 1. What Do Those Little Buggers Look Like?  Although most people have heard of bed bugs, few have actually seen them. Bed bugs are 4-5mm long with an oval, flat body shape. They are reddish brown after feeding and the babies are transparent until they feed. [...]

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