Archive for the ‘Pest Issues’ Category

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What are those black bugs with white stripes?

Monday, March 4th, 2013

Have you seen this bug?

black bug with white stripes or bands

This is a smokey brown roach nymph. One of the earlier stages in its life cycle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is an early life stage of the smokey brown roach. The smokey brown roach is an outdoor roach that is sometimes called a water bug or palmetto bug. These are very similar to the american cockroach. They prefer moist environments and are more active at night. They can be control with harborage modification, chemical barriers, baiting, and exclusionary techniques.  If you see these ,it is an indication that a roach egg casing has recently been left nearby and hatched. Call HomePro for control of roaches in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Hampton Roads VA. 757-499-1078.

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Could Santa bring bed bugs for Christmas?

Tuesday, December 18th, 2012

 

Could Santa bring bed bugs for Christmas?

Virginia Beach, VA – As everyone knows, Santa brings gifts to those who have been good all year and leaves coal for those on the naughty list. But is it possible he could leave bed bugs at our homes, no matter the list in which we landed? “Unfortunately, it is possible,” says Mickey Ferrell of HomePro Pest Control, “Any of our guests could unknowingly bring a bed bug problem along with them on their next visit.” In fact, many bed bug problems originate in places other than hotels.” Most people are justifiably worried about the bed bugs when they travel or stay in hotels; however, it’s often our guests that deliver the first bed bugs into a home.” Mickey states.

And our friends may not even know that they are delivering the problem. “People pick up these hitchhikers in lots of places like movie theaters, hotels, and laundromats. So it’s certainly possible that your mother-in-law, that stayed in a hotel last night and caught a movie before heading over for Christmas Eve dinner, is carrying bed bugs but doesn’t currently have a problem at home” Mickey continues.

During the holidays we don’t need anything else to worry about like searching grandma’s purse for pests. Luckily, preventative measures can be taken to keep your home free of bed bugs this year. Mickey suggests:

1. Have guests place coats, purses, and other items in one location such as a hall closet. This will contain potential problems to one area.

2. Never place guests items on your bed. This would allow bed bugs to get to the sleeping area, where they will be best equipped to feed and begin the breeding process.

3. Vacuum sofa cushions and other cracks and crevices after your guests leave. Vacuuming can pick up adult bed bugs and their eggs.

4. Regular pest services and inspections can prevent or identify problems early, before they become bigger problems.

5. Consider a preventative bed bug treatment. These treatments offer a safe, effective way to ensure that if a bed bug is brought into your home, that it will be eliminated before it can lay eggs and infest the home. Because it’s preventative, it requires less pesticide and costs much less than a full remedial treatment.

Mickey doesn’t have any advice on how to make sure you stay on the nice list, but following a few simple strategies you can ensure that Santa won’t deliver any unwanted “presents” this holiday season.

If you would like more information on these and other pests please visit www.PestVA.com or call 757-499-1078.

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Why do mosquitoes like me more than other people?

Monday, March 5th, 2012
Mosquito yard treatment and mosquito control in Virginia beach Chesapeake and Norfolk VA

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.

Source: http://www.parade.com/health/2012/03/04-your-body-explained.html

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What are those little red bugs on (or in) my house?

Sunday, February 26th, 2012

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.

If you’d like a free pest evaluation or inspection please call our office at 757-499-1078.  If you’d like us to contact you go here.

clover mite pest control barrier chesapeake virginia beach norfolk virginia

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.

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Roof Rat Control in Hampton Roads

Friday, December 9th, 2011

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.

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Roof Rats in Hampton Roads.

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

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?

Rat vs Mouse droppings

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.

Roof rats in Chesapeake    Roof rats in Norfolk    Roof rats in Virginia Beach

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Spiders, Roaches, and Waterbugs, Oh my!

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

When summer gives way to fall occasional pests like spiders and roaches become a big problem. Most pests are not naturally equipped to survive cold temperatures and must find shelter from the coming winter. Obviously our homes are perfect for this purpose. If you want to be sure to prevent roach and spider problems it is important to create an environment that is unsuitable to pests.

What can you do?:

● Sealing up gaps and cracks is a great start. You can use caulking around windows and expanding foam on utility openings.

● Move wood piles away from the foundation of your home.

● Rake leaves frequently. Leaves that cover the ground create perfect hiding places for pests.

● Keep gutters clean.

● Keep blinds closed at night and replace outdoor lighting with yellow bulbs. These steps reduce the light emitted from your home at night. Bright lights can be the reason many pests first become attracted to your home.

● Pesticide barriers will knock the pest population down around the home and make the remaining cracks and crevices uninhabitable.

If you would like a professional to help you with these steps please consider HomePro Pest Control. As a full service company, we not only apply pesticides but also offer maintenance services, like those listed above, that are required to prevent pests from entering your home. We can be reached at 757-499-1078 or visit our website at Chesapeake Pest Control.

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Could flea and tick products be killing our pets?

Friday, June 25th, 2010

I recently learned that the active ingredients in flea and tick pet treatments (the type that you put on the pet’s neck) are the same as some very powerful termiticides. These termiticides require that all skin is covered to avoid absorbtion through the skin. I don’t understand how it could be safe to apply these chemicals directly to our pets if it’s unsafe for us. Here is a link to an article by CBSNEWS.com  that talks about the subject.

After doing your own reseach, if you find that the risk is too much for your pet give HomePro a call at 757-499-1078. We have preventative flea and tick treatment options that are as effective, but without the risk.

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Rats in my….car?

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

That’s right, more and more we are seeing rats not only invading homes but finding their way into our vehicles. It’s really not surprising, our vehicles have an unlimited number of openings from underneath that easily allow access for small animals. Our homes and vehicles offer many things that they are constantly in search of: food, nesting material, and warm shelter. 

Why does it matter? Rats chew constantly and can damage electrical wiring in the home and vehicle. This chewing can start fires or simply stop an item from operating. They carry many types of diseases that are transfered through their droppings.  And could you imagine driving to work and seeing a rat in the car? Here’s an AP story linking rats to a car fire.

So what can you do? The best advice would be to hire a pest control professional to create a program that will lower the rat population around your home. Programs should include baiting and trapping, as well as exclusion service. An exclusion service will seal openings on your home to prevent entry. Once you have made your home rodent resistant, poison baits can be placed around the exterior to remove the remaining population. If you are able to park your vehicle inside your garage that would be best, but outside is fine with the proper bait stations in place.

Let us know if you would like a free evaluation. 757-499-1078 or click below for more info about HomePro Pest Control.

Roof Rats in Chesapeake Va

Roof Rats in Virginia Beach Va

Roof Rats in Norfolk Va

Roof Rats in Hampton Roads

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Termite Infestations

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Here are some pictures of termite infestations that we’ve found. It’s amazing how quickly they can move in and damage a home. If you would like a free termite inspection in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, or any other Hampton Roads city call 757-499-1078 or click the appropriate link below to get more information.

Free Termite Inspection Chesapeake, VA

Free Termite Inspection Virginia Beach, VA

Free Termite Inspection Norfolk, VA

Free Termite Inspection Hampton Roads

Here is a single termite tube in a crawlspace

This is the largest termite tube I have ever seen

 

This is damage to the subfloor of a home. It caused severe sagging inside the home.

 

Termite shelter tubes and damage to a floor joist

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