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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Also click this link to see pictures of flying termites:  Flying Termite Pictures

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.

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.

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