Don't let mosquitoes get the bite on you! Call HomePro to control mosquitoes in your yard this summer. Serving Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Norfolk, VA.
According to Parade.com it’s not all in your mind but an actual issue that many people face. They say that carbon dioxide output, heat, movement, and skin secretions (gross!) are all things that can attract mosquitoes to you over other people around you.
You might not be able to control your skin secretions but you can control mosquitoes in your back yard. HomePro’s MosquitoPro service is a yard treatment that controls mosquitoes for about a month per treatment. It’s safe for your family and pets and best of all it keeps you bite free without bug spray. If you would like more information call our office at 757-499-1078 for a free, no hassle estimate.
P.S. One study showed that people that drink beer are preferred to those who don’t. So if you drink beer in your yard, it might be a good time to call.
Every spring and fall HomePro Pest Control receives numerous calls about little red bugs that invade by the thousand. The sight of this red moving cloud is enough to make anyone panic. The culprit is the clover mite.
Clover mites are not a mere insect but rather an arachnid, in the same family as spiders and ticks. Luckily, this pest isn’t as sinister as its relatives and has no known way to harm people or pets. Clover mites feed on grasses and clover, as their name suggests, and are found in lawns that are regularly fertilized. When the temperature rises these pests will seek out the sunny and warm side of the house. As they climb the side of the home often they will enter tiny cracks and crevices. They aren’t seeking anything that is inside the home but just sorta wandered in during their travels.
What can you do?
1. Reducing moisture close to the home.
2. In some instances, a gravel barrier between the lawn and grass has been effective.
3. Reduce the frequency of lawn fertilization. (although this could result in a less than stellar lawn)
4. Call HomePro Pest Control to apply a pest barrier to prevent and eliminate these and other pests. Our pest control treatment is not only effective against clover mites but also ants, roaches, silverfish, earwigs, spiders, fleas, ticks, and many other insects.
What not to do:
1. Don’t squish or try to wipe them away. They will leave a stain on the surface that they are wiped from. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove them from interior surfaces or a water hose on exterior surfaces.
2. Don’t rely on over the counter insecticides. Clover mites are best handled with pesticides designed for tiny insects that have large populations. Most do-it-yourself pesticides are primarily designed with larger pests, such as roaches, as the main target and are not as likely to be effective.
Here are some clover mites on a blade of grass. Call HomePro for all your pest control needs including pest control barriers to prevent bugs like this one. We serve the entire Hampton Roads area including Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and Norfolk, Virginia.
Here is a video of roof rats that were found in Virginia Beach recently. Roof rats have become a huge problem throughout the Hampton Roads area. You will notice their unbelievable ability to climb and maneuver. It’s this ability that allows them to enter your home in areas that seem unreachable. Take a look and give us a call (757-499-1078) if you think you might have a roof rat problem. Our initial inspections are always free.
It’s that time of year when a normally silent and hidden termite colony decides to make itself known, by sending 1000′s of colony members out and into our homes. This is usually the first indication a homeowner has that there is a termite problem. Unfortunately, it’s a problem that has been developing for possibly 5-10 years.
Flying termites, also known as swarmmers, are the reproductive class of the termite colony. They leave the colony in an attempt to create a new one. These swarmmers, fly out of the ground, find a mate within the same swarm, and then attempt to make it back into the ground at a new location. They will then begin the process of colony creation. These reproductive termites only leave a mature colony, which is a colony that is usually 5 years old or more.
If you see a swarm, collect a few in a sandwich bag. Then call HomePro at 757-499-1078, we will send someone out to determine if the insects are in fact termites and whether or not there are any termites damaging your property.
This is a common question that we get from homeowners, “Can I get termites by spreading mulch around my house?”. The answer is two part. First, yes it is possible to scoop up termites with mulch and spread them around your home. Second, it really doesn’t matter because the termites that you would bring have no reproductive abilities and would be so few in number that they would have no chance of causing any real damage. Once removed from their original colony, they will likely die within a few days or weeks.
The termites that plague homes in our area (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, and the rest of Hampton Roads) are subterranean termites. Subterranean termites live in the ground and are all around our homes. The number of termites already around a home, would dwarf the number of termites you could pick up at the lawn and garden center by 1000 times or more. So they are a much bigger concern than the termites that happen to be found in the mulch.
Mulching your flower beds will hold moisture in the soil adjacent to the home. This makes it more suitable for a termite infestation and will increase your risk for termites. So mulch can increase your risk for termites but not because termites are living in the mulch. Getting a yearly termite inspection and keeping your property under a termite policy are the best ways to ensure you are termite free.
Snow offers an easy, safe, and free way to determine if you need more attic insulation. Walk outside and take a look at your roof. If you have a shady spot where the snow is gone or melting it means that you are loosing heat though the attic, which means you are loosing money every month the same way. Many homes have less that 1/2 of the recommended amount of attic insulation, so you aren’t alone. To do something about this give HomePro a call at 757-499-1078. There are only 5 days left before the tax credit is over, so don’t wait.
2010 might be remembered as the year of the roof rat in Hampton Roads. This year there has been a very noticeable increase in roof rat activity. Usually these pests will invade homes that are in close proximity to a natural water source: lakes, rivers, ditches, etc. However over the last 12 months, HomePro has received many calls in areas that are quite removed from these natural habitats. How do you know if you have a roof rat problem?
The difference between Rat and Mouse droppings
1. Droppings in the crawl space or attic are a definite indication of a rat problem. You have probably heard the saying “Where there is smoke (poop), there is fire (rats). OK maybe not, but its true.
2. Scratching or rustling sounds at night. Roof rats are mostly nocturnal (awake at night) so you will hear noises at different points of the night. If you hear these noises during the day, you may have a squirrel or mouse problem. However, some heavily infested homes have shown roof rat activity during the day.
3. Smells. Roof rats don’t care where they relieve themselves. Overtime an area that is frequented by rats will begin to smell like a hamster cage or pet store. It’s a smell most people will recognize.
4. Gnawing or Chewing marks. Roof rats are nervous nibblers. They constantly chew to wear down their incisor teeth. They will chew on wires, hard plastics, wooden furniture, wall studs, or any other hard surface. They can remove the covering on electrical wires which is the cause of many home fires.
Roof rats are a difficult pest to resolve. The best first step in control, is to seal all entry points around the home and in the crawl space and attic. Otherwise you are battling a never ending pest, because as soon as you remove one the next takes it’s place. Over the counter rodenticides (rodent poison) usually require multiple feedings to work. If a rat eats this type of bait, it will probably make them feel sick before it kills them. They will then avoid the bait, effectively making it useless. For this reason, we don’t recommend hardware store poisons. If you plan to tackle this pest without professional assistance, you should seal the holes and buy good quality, large rat traps.
If you would like professional assistance, HomePro Pest Control offers a full service rat program. We will seal entry holes, set traps, and introduce the population to professional strength rodent baits. We will then clean the traps and refill bait stations as necessary. It’s no mess or work for you. Give us a call at 757-499-1078 to get a free estimate.
It’s estimated that more than 50% of a home’s air enters through the crawl space. If that’s the case, then you better have a nice thick layer of insulation. Otherwise you’ll be dealing with cold floors and high utility bills.
It is recommended in Virginia to have R-19 valued insulation under your floors(6 1/4 inches thick). It’s HomePro’s advice to avoid sprayed-on style insulation. This type of insulation creates a moisture rich environment for termites and hides their activity until its way too late. Kraft faced fiberglass insulation is the best option because it is easily installed and can be moved during a termite inspection.
If you suspect that you need insulation or are simply unsure, give us a call at 757-499-1078. We’d be happy to provide you a free, no-obligation evaluation and estimate (within our service area).
In our area, it is recommended that the r-value of your attic insulation be R38-R40. R-value is the metric used to measure the insulation’s ability to keep heat in or out. A good rule of thumb is to take a look in your attic, if you can see the rafters or joists that make up your ceiling then you need to add some attic insulation. If you find that you need more insulation, give us a call a 757-499-1078. The federal energy tax credit ends 12/31/10, don’t miss out. Or check out our site at Attic Insulation Hampton Roads
