All Posts By

Thomas Hobson

Mar 20
0

SEVEN EASY TIPS TO GET RID OF MICE PROBLEMS

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Are mice invading your home? If yes, then we can understand the frustration where you notice then chewing your furniture, clothes, damaging the electrical wires, and leaving the droppings all over the place.

They might seem cute to you owing to their fuzzy faces but keep in mind they are harbingers of many diseases such as plague. But, it’s quite hard to get rid of these creatures as they are smart and intelligent. They have an incredible sense of smell, hearing and can stun you with their communication.

7 WAYS TO GET RID OF MICE

Well, it might be hard to get rid of them, but it is crucial to get away with these creatures as they are unsanitary. All you need to get rid of them is to have the right approach. Let’s look at some ways you can get rid of these irritating creatures:

Mouse Proof Your House

Building a rodent-proof house is an incredibly smart move to get away from them. Begin with blocking the potential entry points where they can easily access. Don’t rely on temporarily fixing the entry points by fitting a pencil into the cracks and holes. Instead, try sealing the entry points as the mouse can squeeze itself even in the tiniest openings to get through it.

Moreover, try using weather strippings for the doors and cement all the cracks. Don’t use rubber, plastic, or wood to seal the entry points as the mouse can easily chew and tear them apart.

Use Mouse Traps

Mousetraps are another way of getting rid of mice. A classic wooden mousetrap or a sturdy metal trap with mesh coverings can solve the purpose very well. You might have seen people deploying one or two mouse traps at the entry points, but you should try using it in more numbers.

You can also use bait traps, multiple capture live traps, and glue traps in along with wooden traps. Using a combination of different types of mouse traps hold a better chance of catching the mice.

Choose a Tasty Bait

When it comes to catching mice all at once, you should understand that mice love food and comfort. If you place a nice smelling food item in the trap, they will come running behind it.

Use tasty baits that are smelling good such as chocolates, peanut butter, bacon, oatmeal, cheese, dried fruits, and many more. Replace the fresh bait with fresh food items in a day or a two.

You are advised to stay cautious even if you place the tastiest food item as a bait in the trap as they are curious and always on high alert.

Bring a Cat

Everyone knows the hate relationship between cats and mice; so, if you have pets, you don’t need to worry much about this part. If you don’t try bringing a cat at home, it will catch a mouse without demanding any effort on your part.

Also, you would be surprised to know that many farmers use farm or barn cats to catch hold of these frustrating critters.

Properly Place a Mouse Trap

When it comes to catching mice, it needs massive efforts on your part. Merely placing a trap at the entry points will not suffice, you have to make sure that these are rightly placed.

Try placing the traps perpendicular to the walls with the trigger section facing in the baseboard. Placing the trap in such a way would cause mice to run straight into the trap. Also, place the food items in their reach as they are extremely smart creatures they will not make efforts to run 10-20 feet towards the food source. Also, keep your hands off the trap once you have placed the trap; otherwise, you may ruin the whole set up.

Moreover, try changing the location of the traps every two days; otherwise, it will give a hint to these curious rodents.

Practice Good Sanitation

It is believed that mice can survive on a tiny amount of 3-4 grams of food, maybe a few crumbs would suffice. You should ensure to clean and wipe out even a single piece of food; otherwise, it will attract mice.

Clean your kitchen counters properly, eliminate residue in the sinks, floors, and any other place, wipe out crumbs, and secure your garbage correctly. Always store food in airtight containers and glass jars and keep the perishable food items in the fridge.

Avoid using plastic bags as mice have very sharp teeth, and they can tear apart anything that comes in their way.

Switch to Mice Treatment Services

If you have tried everything and still you struggle getting away from these frustrating creatures then, it’s time to call the professionals. Try contacting any mice treatment services in your area.

Stop wasting your energy and efforts on fixing the holes and other entry points and trap the mice; instead, call a professional expert. However, when you hire a professional, make sure they are specialized in this domain and try asking them about their success rate. Also, observe if they are thoroughly inspecting your house or not.

Well, if you are looking for effective and affordable mice treatment services across New York, Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut then, contact Last Stop Pest Control. Here you will get the best solution for your problem if you are frustrated and finding ways to get rid of the pesky mice.

Contact here!

FINAL WORDS

Mice are ninjas who can hide easily below your nose, but when you make an effort to find them, you will notice one scampering away out of the corner of your eye.

Even if you notice a single mouse in your house, you can expect a nest in the walls, attic, or garage of your home. Before the situation gets worse and you have to run behind them to catch hold of them, you must take necessary steps.

We hope that the points mentioned above have helped you out, and you would consider them to get rid of these annoying creatures. For more such posts, stay tuned with Last Stop Pest Control!

Mar 20
0

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TERMITES AND TERMITE INFESTATION

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Insects, mosquitoes, and mostly termites cause huge trouble at home and commercial settings. These tiny creatures can actually bring your house down by hurting its structural integrity.

Talking about termites, they pose a serious threat to mankind. Right from developing termite colonies to creating havoc at your place, termites can make your life miserable. Pest control services for home allow your place to be secure from such nuisances. Pest exterminators can inspect your property and eliminate the presence of termites and other pests to save you from potential danger and financial loss.

That being said, let’s tell you more about termites, how they can challenge your peace of mind, and how to get rid of them.

What Are Termites?

Biologically, termites belong to the cockroach family. However, they are so little that they actually look like ants. These tiny creatures can be found anywhere around your house especially outdoors. Termites basically feed upon the wood. Rather than infesting a living tree, these creatures choose to attack either rotten wood or things made up of wood.

 The termite life cycle begins from larvae of size 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm to a fully developed termite with wings. During reproduction, these organisms shed their wings and reproduce exponentially. The primary source of their living is under the ground. To tell you the truth, there are around 2000 different termite species in the world and some of them are even on the IUCN Red List.

As I said, termites reproduce exponentially and this causes a huge issue to deal with. Termites develop colonies similar to ants and bees. Equivalent to bees, these also have workers, soldiers, and the reproductive warriors along with a termite queen controlling the entire colony and egg production. The termite Queen lays an egg every 2-3 seconds which means that these creatures can take over your house in no time.

he termite colony is sometimes referred to as mound. This mound incorporates hundreds to millions of members capable of reproduction. You can find them in your backyard or in crevices at your place. These creatures have such a well-developed colony that it cannot be torn down physically. Now you know why pest control cockroach treatments become a necessity.

The termites usually feed upon the wood. To be more precise, these ingest on the cellulose contained in wood. Cellulose can also be found in a number of things including leaves, tree stumps or papers. This is the reason why termites are known to damage books above everything. Some of the species are also known to feed upon linen, cotton or leather (seems like they are upgrading themselves).

Where Can I Find Them?

Termites are minute and these cannot be seen by a naked eye. So, if you are searching for them in your house roaming for food, you might be at fault. However, these can definitely be found in minute crevices of your home especially in things made up of wood. For instance, cellars with wooden beams, wooden furniture or firewood. Still, you cannot just detect them because these can live in your furniture for years without revealing themselves. You may find your furniture in perfect shape and size but it can be a house of developed termite colonies inside.

If left untreated by pest control services near me, these structures can collapse at any given point. The worst part about the termite colony is that it can sustain for a good 1-2 years with the Queen living for more than 10 years. The colonies are always in development and increase their number exponentially over time. So, before you even decipher what is wrong, your place can become a major colony of termites.

How Can I Find Them?

As I said, you can not see them with a naked eye but you can definitely look for signs that confirm their presence in your house.

  • Find a major infestation: It’s true, you might not even have any signs of infestation at your place yet but that doesn’t account for their absence. These creatures are so smart that they can live under your roof for years without your notice. Here, you don’t have to look for telltale signs but indirect signs of infestation including minute holes in your furniture or sagging floors. If you come across such signs, it’s high time you go and Google pest control services near me.
  • Your basement can be a major threat: Termites do not reveal themselves and hide in such places that are difficult to trace. One of such places is your basement. Now, it’s time to ferret out your basement. With the help of a flashlight and screwdriver, check on your wooden beams. Tap on the beam to look for termite dust. If dust comes out of it upon tapping, it’s a sure sign that there is a developed colony inside. Secondly, if your screwdriver can easily pierce through the wooden support, the chances of infestation are on the higher side.
  • Feces can reveal their presence: Termite feces can be hard to find but these can be traced immediately. The fecal matter of termites appears like minute granules that are of the same color as the wood. The best place to look for this fecal matter is around or under wooden objects.
  • Look for a termite nest: Another way to detect termites is by looking for their nest beneath the ground. You can look for their tunnel inside wooden structures or inside your ground easily.

How To Get Rid Of Them?

If you come across such signs of termite infestation, it is better to go for termite control immediately. Mostly termite colonies are discovered after major damage to your wooden structures. In such a case, DIY termite treatments can do no good for your place. Instead of DIY, ask for professional help. A skilled person can understand the severity of the situation and help you with the right treatment procedure.

We at Last Stop Pest Control can help you kiss goodbye to termites forever. We help both families and business owners save their properties from all sorts of pest problems. To know more, visit us here.

Mar 18
0

DOS AND DON’TS OF SUMMER PEST CONTROL

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Summers mean a rise in temperature, and it also means a surge in the number of uninvited guests – PESTS.

Well, no one likes to see pests around them – they look creepy, they create a mess, and they bring truckloads of health hazards. To avoid them, pest prevention and pest control services for home is what you should opt for.

Have you ever wondered why pest problems rise in the summer, or why your home becomes the center of attraction for pests in summery time? Well, that’s because when the temperature begins to increase, pests attempt to get inside a cool, shaded home.

Do note that pests not only seek shelter in your homes, but these cold-blooded creatures also find summer season a favorable time to reproduce and extend their numbers. Throughout the summer months, you should guard yourself against many pests such as cockroaches, rats/rodents, ants, mosquitoes, flies and others. We have curated a few tips to help you in keeping pests at bay.

Summer Pest Control Tips

You must have heard about “Prevention is better than cure”, but ever wondered what you can do to prevent these pesky pests from getting inside your house?

For that, first, you need to be aware of the reasons why these pests come into your home, prevent them and then try to do pest control at home.

The main reasons why pests come home in summer are food, water, and shelter. Once you block out all three elements for them, you will see a significant reduction in your pest woes.

Next time, think twice before keeping plates overnight after dinner. Food crumbs on those utensils attract insects like cockroaches and rats. These pests carry harmful diseases and are responsible for causing asthma in children.

The same goes for water. Keep your house as dry as possible, try to fix leaky taps and faucets. These can provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Pack up the shelter by filling or seal them and you will face much fewer issues this summer.

LIST OF DOS AND DON’TS TO KEEP PESKY PESTS AWAY
DOS
  • Inspect and replace weather-stripping around windows and repair loose mortar around your house for tears, debris, leaks, or loose pieces
  • Store food in sealed containers and always keep the kitchen counter clean, ensure no food crumbs left anywhere
  • Eliminate areas of accumulating water
  • Maintain landscaping to avoid overgrowth which is favorable for pest nesting
  • Regularly trim trees and bushes near your house
  • Eliminate hiding places for pests
  • Use mechanisms to divert rainwater away from the house
  • Regularly walk around your property to check for accumulated water
  • Check for leaks around your air conditioning unit, and pick up items left scattered throughout the yard
  • Dry out and ventilate basements, attics and crawl spaces
  • Dispose of away overripe fruits and vegetables
  • Keep your backyard clean
  • Look over all your screens for holes, and repair if you find any.
  • Look around your doors and windows for gaps
  • Store firewood away from your house or shed; at minimum 5 feet distance. Try to store firewood in the racks above the ground
  • Don’t throw meat offcuts in the garbage if the garbage won’t be picked up in the next 48 hours or so
  • Keep outside furniture out, if you need to bring them inside thoroughly wipe it down first.
  • Call a professional if you notice any pest infestation in your home.
  • Keep cap to your chimney
  • Leave lights of your house on
DON’TS
  • Don’t leave pet food dishes out for long periods of time
  • Don’t let garbage compile
  • Don’t leave dirty dishes overnight in the sink
  • Don’t store firewood and building materials near the home
  • Never ignore cracks or little openings around the bottom of the house
  • Never let your aerosol spray directly toward the foundation of your house
  • Don’t let excess moisture accumulation in your home
  • Don’t give pests a free meal over your leftover food
  • Don’t remove any pest infestation on your own

List of the pests you’re most likely to come across summer and get pest control services for home

  1. Mosquitoes:  Mosquitoes are abundant during the summer. If stored water around your house, there’s a fair chance mosquitoes have already used it to lay eggs. The hot and humid climate is perfect for feeding and breeding mosquitoes; the key is to stop the reproduction cycle.
  2. Ants: In hot summer months, you’re more likely to see an army of ants marching through your home. Ants constantly hunt for food to feed a growing colony and save up reserves for the fall. These ants can be scarce during dry summers for food and water. The best way to prevent it is to keep things clean. Hungry ants can detect tiniest crumbs so be careful of putting food and water bowls outdoors. It is an invitation to ants to move closer to your home.
  3. Fleas: Pets should be treated in early summers otherwise they’ll probably start scratching and biting, usually after they come inside. Fleas infest on pests; however, if fleas are already feasting on your non-furry family members, a treatment for pest control at home will be needed.
  4. Ticks: Ticks can be particularly problematic in summer because they spread disease as people and animals spend more time outside.
  5. Termites: In summer termites grow in number. These pests lay up to 30,000 eggs a day. Pest control services for home, particularly for a termite is an absolute must if you’ve spotted termites on your property.
  6. Grasshoppers: In large numbers, hungry grasshoppers can quickly swallow an entire field in a matter of days; farmers are completely clued up about the presence of grasshoppers during the summer.
  7. Flies: Flies get back every summer. Houseflies have their name as houseflies because they invade your home during the summer to escape the heat. Flies reproduce during the hot season and conditions get worse if they get inside your house. They stick around in cold winters as well.

If you’ve spotted any of these summer pests around your property, give Last Stop Pest Control a call for pest control at home. Their expert technicians complete a full inspection before creating a custom pest control treatment plan that will keep pests away all summer long!

Get in touch with Last Stop Pest Control to book pest control services for home!

Aug 10
0

WHAT MAKES A GOOD EXTERMINATOR OR PEST CONTROL EXPERT

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Understanding Pest Control And Extermination Services And What To Expect

When it comes to pest control and extermination, the experts that handle such issues offer a range of services depending on the unwelcome or unwanted creature in question. It is important to understand that pest come in all manner of sizes and species. Some can cause physical destruction to properties while other do that and are potential carriers of bacteria, germs, and other disease-causing pathogens.

Pests are often grouped into two categories in which you have the insects and bugs, and you have the animals. For the insects, you can be dealing with termites, cockroaches, ants, bees, wasps, and bedbugs. As for the animals, you can be dealing with birds, bats, and rodents such as mice, rats, moles, and squirrels among others.

What Pest Control And Extermination Methods Are Used?

For most homeowners, pest management, control, and extermination involve the use of methods such as fumigation, use of pesticides, and traps among other standard methods. However, pest control has evolved over the years to a level where today the services offered can be categorized into the following:

1. Physical Pest Control
The methods are mostly non-lethal with some being of a preventive nature. For instance, the use of huge nets in crop fields can be used to manage the invasion of destructive crop pests. Other methods used include the use of cages, glue traps, and snares.

2. Chemical Pest Control
In this category the methods used will often include a chemical element, be it the use of pesticides or insecticides for spraying and fumigation of bugs and insects or poisons for rodents and other big animals. While some of the chemical products used are FDA approved, it is still important to exercise caution when using them hence the need to let pest experts handle the job.

3. Electronic Pest control
It is a relatively new approach to dealing with unwanted creatures in your home. It involves the use of ultrasonic devices that emit high-frequency sound waves or electromagnetic gadgets that irritate and disorient the pests’ nervous system. Some of these electric gadgets do even kill certain pests.

Why Should You Hire Pest Control And Extermination Services?

Putting in extra effort to run a clean home is always the way to go, and this is a major reason why people are often too quick to take on pest control and extermination when they see signs of a pest infestation. Most of their efforts will bear fruit and put an end to the problem before it festers. However, what they do is often a pest management measure which means the pests are more likely to return and thrive. As such, extermination services are the only option that offers lasting solutions.

Taking up the complex nature of pest extermination may pose significant risks if you do not know what you are doing. The success of any pest control and extermination service is entirely pegged on having apple knowledge of the adversary in question and how to put him down. That means you need to know about the pests eating and breeding habits as well as the most effective pest control products and methods to use on that particular pest. Given such fact, the most sensible thing to do when you have unwelcome creatures in your home is to call in the experts.

What Are The Benefits Of Hiring Last Stop Pest Control Services?

If You live in New York City or New Jersey Last Stop Pest Control Got you covered. We have a dedicated & Reliable team 24hours to give you the best Experience!

A pest invasion can happen without warning. Most pests are very resilient creatures with some that can even thrive in clean places, but nearly all pests love dirty, dump, dark places. They can be a huge nuisance and fighting may at times may you feeling like you are fighting a losing battle. Calling in the exterminators will ensure you do not have to worry about the pest anytime soon and this comes with benefits such as:

• Customized plans – Pest control and extermination is never a ‘one size fits all’ thing. The pest control specialists will assess the problem and come up with a customized plan that suits the unique pest(s).

• Safety – It is a matter of great concern especially if the fight against the unwelcome insects or animals turns into a chemical warfare. Some of the products used to get rid of the pest are hazards and require expert knowledge of their safe use, and you will not have to handle such chemicals. Also, pest control and extermination service providers are expected, by the law, to use environmentally friendly pest extermination and management methods.

• Cost – In as much as you are paying for the services, it cost will be worth it in the long run. Why do a repeat job, having to be up in arms fighting the same pests every other time? You can avoid the costs you will incur in terms of time and money by hiring the experts to get the job done in a single visit.

• Flexibility – Consider the same issues of time as mentioned with address the costs, letting the specialists deal with your pest infestation problem frees up your time allowing you to concentrate on other matters and not worry about the bothersome creatures invading your home.

Aug 10
0

6 CONSIDERATIONS WHEN LOOKING FOR COMMERCIAL PEST CONTROL SERVICES

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Just like residential properties, Commercial facilities are vulnerable to occasional pest invasions. Unfortunately, a small rodent/pest problem in such an environment can escalate quickly into a full-blown invasion. This can really damage the reputation of the business, and cause a substantial loss to your bottom-line. They key is to remain proactive to avoid pest problems in the first place.

In most cases, it’s best to hire a Commercial pest control professional than trying to do it yourself. It is very true especially in commercial properties where a pest problem is ongoing. Developing a comprehensive and a continual pest control program will go a long way in keeping your business pest free and in compliance with the rules and regulations in place. Here the top considerations you should keep in mind when hiring a commercial pest control services provider.

1. Conduct a background check on the company and its technicians
Before you allow any pest control services provider to enter your commercial property, ask to see their identification, certification, and license, paying careful attention to see if it’s current. Nearly every state in the country requires that each technician is certified and that the actively participate in annual training in order to keep the license current.

Also, check to see if the company is insured and bonded. It’s a good way to ensure that the property and the business are protected against liability. Check the company’s website and take note of the small details. Does it look professional enough? Do their values align with your own? Is it knowledgeable enough?

2. Evaluate their Knowledge and Professionalism
The sales representative, the technician, or anyone else interacts with from the company should be knowledgeable enough to respond to any pest control concerns or questions that you might have. There could be a question or two that they don’t know offhand, and if that’s the case they should be willing to say they will find out soon and let you know. In general, it’s best to get an honest “I don’t know” than to get a made-up answer.

When they send a technician to your door, the uniform and their overall appearance should look clean and professional. The equipment, truck, and chemicals will all spell “high quality” and provide you with the feeling of trust and professionalism.

3. Check Out References
Before you commit your money or contact a pest control services company, it’s important to ask for referrals from your friends, family, and other businesses in your vicinity. Be sure to check your local or state pest control Association, or go to sites such as NPMA.com where you can get a state-by-state list of providers.

It’s always a good idea to check the company rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). In case you don’t get any recommendations, you can ask the provider for good references, and then follow up the customer is provided with calls.

4. Pricing and Options
As a rule of thumb, a low price doesn’t necessarily mean a good deal. A company that claims it will remedy at your problem in a single service for a given amount of money, and you find your problem still exists even after paying for the service, you won’t have saved any money. Rather, you’ll be more likely to be frustrated, and looking to start over with another provider. This way, you will end up paying significantly more, than you would have if you chose quality or price in the first place.

If you intend to hire a commercial pest control services company for an ongoing service, be sure to discuss your options with a sales representative, or the technician. Depending on your situation, find out whether quarterly service can take care of the problem, or a monthly service will be ideal. You might want to start with a monthly (or a more frequent) plan to first alleviate the problem, and then progressively drop to a less frequent schedule. Ensure that you read the contract carefully to understand all the fine print. Ask any questions you might have before signing on the line.

5. Service
Of course, before any service is conducted, the technician should walk you through exactly what the situation is like, ask what and where you’ve seen or heard, and make sure they understand your pest problem/concerns. From this discussion, they can then inspect your commercial property via a professional eye, identifying all the problems, and setting up a comprehensive treatment plan.

In most cases, chemicals will be used for elimination. However, they should be willing to discuss the chemicals they expect to use, whether there are non-chemical alternatives and any possible effects. Upon your request, they should be able to give you an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet), as well as specimen label for every chemical used.

6. Recommendations
During the service, the commercial pest control services provider should give you a few recommendations for future prevention. Based on the services performed, this could come at any point during the service. For instance, if any structural issues are found, the technician might wait until the end to recommend a few maintenance actions like repairing holes or screen replacement.

After the service is complete, the company should offer you a report that details all the services performed, necessary follow-up, and general customer advice. It should also come with an outline of the costs.