The Great Indoor Migration: September Pest Control in DFW
Cooler Nights Mean More Pests
Now that September is here, the fall season has officially started. Of course, in DFW that means at least another month of highs in the 90s. But warm daytime temperatures and cooler nights still cause pests to migrate indoors.
This pest migration can cause trouble for DFW residents and business owners alike. Nobody wants to share a bedroom with a colony of cockroaches. And business can suffer when stink bugs are underfoot.
You would think that on the bright side, pests coming indoors means it’s the perfect month to spend time outside. It sounds logical: if all the bugs are inside, then fewer bugs will be outside to ruin your plans. Unfortunately, mosquitoes in DFW are as bad as ever. And they won’t be gone until well into November.
The good news is that you aren’t fighting on your own! Eco-Safe Pest Control is here to save the day, starting with a free pest control inspection and quote. We service the entire DFW metroplex, including Addison, Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving, and Garland. Whether you have rodents, mosquitoes, roaches, or other pests, we can help with your DFW pest control needs.
Texas’ Unusual Mosquito Problem
Texas has an unusually long mosquito season compared to other parts of the country. With mosquitoes as early as February along the Gulf Coast, and remaining until November, it’s a serious problem. For residents of DFW, this means mosquito control is an important part of preventing serious diseases like West Nile virus, Zika virus, and more.
You might have heard your local public health department mention the Four Ds: Drain, Dusk/Dawn, Dress, and DEET. The first D means draining standing water to prevent mosquito breeding. The second D means you should stay indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. The third D is to wear long sleeves and pants to prevent biting. Lastly, use an insect repellent containing DEET or other EPA-approved repellents.
Unfortunately, pet owners can’t always follow the four D’s. Many mosquito repellents aren’t pet-safe. DEET, the most common ingredient in bug spray, is highly toxic to both cats and dogs, causing severe neurological symptoms like seizures. Pyrethroids like permethrin are common in traditional chemical yard sprays and are deadly to cats. Even your trusty citronella candle can be harmful to pets.
Luckily, Dallas-Fort Worth residents are within Eco-Safe Pest Control’s service area. We design and test our own methods of mosquito control, which can be safely and professionally applied around pets. From our mosquito spray to our misting systems, and even In2Care buckets, we can reduce mosquito populations by up to 98%.
The Hidden Danger Of Yellow Jackets
Most Texans are used to wasps building their nests on our homes, sheds, and businesses. There’s a nest here, a nest there, not such a big deal. They may have 10-20 wasps in the colony at any given time, and even the largest colonies with hundreds of wasps can easily be taken care of by a professional.
But not everyone realizes that there’s something far more dangerous than paper wasps to worry about. Yellowjackets. And once you stumble upon them, it’s far too late.
Yellowjackets are one of the most aggressive and dangerous species of wasp out there. They are also quite common in DFW, with activity peaking in August to October.
Like paper wasps, yellowjackets will generally leave you alone unless you disturb their nest. But unlike paper wasps, they nest underground, so you probably won’t notice their nest until they’re already attacking you.
Yellowjacket colonies are also much bigger than the wasps you’re used to: they contain anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 workers. In an instant, you can go from walking in your own backyard to being stung by hundreds to thousands of wasps at the same time.
If you’re worried about the safety of yourself and your loved ones, the best thing to do is pay attention. Although you’re better off not physically searching for a yellowjacket nest (it will only end in stings), there will be signs. A colony of so many wasps will have many flying throughout the day, bringing in food for the colony. Keep an eye out, and you can get a good idea of where the yellowjacket nest is.
If you suspect there might be a yellowjacket colony in your yard, do not attempt to handle it on your own. Even if you aren’t allergic to wasp venom, thousands of stings are still enough to cause serious health problems.
Instead, call the professionals, like Eco-Safe Pest Control! Our technicians are trained to locate and remove yellowjacket colonies safely. Request a free inspection when you call 214-358-5201.
Preventing Pantry Pests
Bugs are an inevitable part of food storage, no matter how much you wish it wasn’t true. It’s such a problem that the FDA sets allowable levels of insects in our food. For example, your standard 16-ounce jar of peanut butter contains around 136 insect fragments.
And pests don’t just disappear once stored foods make it into your pantry. Grocery stores are a playground for bugs like indian meal moths, flour beetles, grain weevils, and drugstore beetles. All of these pests will happily hitchhike home with you.
So, if bugs are such an inevitable part of food storage, what can be done to keep them out of our food?
The first step is easy: selecting your groceries carefully. When you buy food like cereal, beans, nuts, dried fruits, flour, and spices, inspect them for signs of pests. If the container is damaged, choose a different item. For loose products that you scoop yourself- as Sprouts Farmers Market sells- look at the food for anything moving.
The second step is proper storage: all dry products go into sealed containers. This prevents an infested batch of food from infecting the rest of your pantry if it slips through the cracks. Pests can also come from other parts of your home, and nobody wants a pantry full of ants.
Unfortunately, preventative measures can’t fix when your pantry is already infested. If you have noticed an unusual number of moths around your home, or small beetles in odd places, you’re probably too late. Your pantry could do with a good cleaning and a pest control service.
People are usually hesitant to schedule a pest control treatment for their pantry. They fear the application of harsh, dangerous chemicals near where food is kept. Eco-Safe is different, though. Through the targeted use of natural organic pest control methods, pantry pests can be gotten under control without risking anyone’s health.
Bzzzzzzz… The Annoying Fly
We’ve all had the experience of a fly buzzing around, pushing your patience to its limits. There’s always some buzzy business going on when a fly’s around.
But flies aren’t just annoying; they’re also unsanitary. House flies love to eat garbage, bodily waste, and dead animals. When they land on your food after having a rotten-meat meal, bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli hitch a ride. Historically, flies were even known to spread cholera and typhoid fever.
From tiny fruit flies, fungus gnats, and drain flies to larger flies like house flies and blow flies, there are a few simple steps that can be taken to discourage activity. It all comes down to controlling the environment and preventing entry into your space.
Flies commonly enter homes through damaged window screens, as well as cracks and gaps around windows and doors. Sealing these entry points is the first step to preventing flies. They can also sneak indoors through open doors, so keep trash cans away from entry points to keep swarms from flying inside.
Flies can also sneak in through things you take home. Fungus gnats can ride in the soil of potted plants, and overripe fruit often contains fly eggs. You should check anything suspicious before bringing it indoors.
Flies are attracted to food and moisture, so keeping a clean kitchen is essential. Wipe down any spills, cover food when it’s on the counter, and don’t let your fruit basket get mushy. Cleaning sink drains regularly is also essential to preventing drain flies. When you eliminate food and water sources, flies that do happen to get inside won’t last long.
If you try all the tips and tricks, but still can’t get a fly infestation under control, you will likely have to call a pest control company. And when it comes to flies, Eco-Safe Pest Control is one of the best companies out there. We specialize in integrated pest management, where we consider environmental factors to create a plan that can tackle even serious infestations without resorting to dangerous and toxic chemicals. We even design and test our own products!
Rodents Preparing For Winter Indoors
Rodents cause almost 20 billion dollars of property damage every year, and much of that is from house fires. Infestations are also most commonly reported in the fall and winter, both of which are right around the corner.
So, what can be done to protect your home or business from rodent damage? The first step to home safety is to keep an eye out.
When you know what to look for, signs of rodent infestation are easy to spot. You should be looking for droppings, urine stains, and chew marks. Common areas to look for these signs are eave returns, the place where your fence meets your home, AC lines, and garage door frame bottoms. Mice can fit through holes the size of a dime, and rats through the size of a quarter, so even minor damage to your home can become an entry point for rodents.
Inside your attic, rodents will leave behind trails, tunnels, droppings, footprints, urine stains, and dark patches called sebum marks. You also might hear bumps in the night if rodents are living in your walls and attic.
If you notice signs of rodents, it doesn’t mean that you should panic. Keeping a cool head is essential to planning the correct reaction. Instead of panicking and setting out a ton of mousetraps and potentially hurting yourself in the process, call the professionals. Without sealing the entry points, rodents can keep getting inside no matter how many you remove from your home.
When you call Eco-Safe Pest Control, every service comes with a free inspection and customized quote. Our wildlife experts will identify every entry point into your home and come up with a plan to seal everything with professional-grade materials and techniques. We even utilize a special method of installing a one-way door so that rodents can leave your home without getting back in.
With Eco-Safe, you won’t ever have to resort to dangerous snap-traps again.
FAQ
Still have questions? Here are a few of the most common questions DFW homeowners have.
- Why is September bad for pest activity?
Warm daytime temperatures and cooler nights cause pests to move indoors to escape the coming winter. You would think that with pests coming inside, the outdoors would have fewer pests, but mosquitoes are still active this time of year.
- Are yellow jackets really that dangerous?
Yellow jacket stings are just as painful as other wasp stings, and there are also more of them. Your typical paper wasp nest has only a handful of wasps guarding it, whereas yellow jacket nests can have thousands of members ready to sting.
- Why are rodents dangerous to my home?
Rodents can cause many different types of property damage. They can ruin your insulation, cause moisture issues in the walls, chew through drywall and wood, and love to chew on electrical wires, which can start house fires.
- Are there really bugs in my food?
Most food is grown outdoors, where there are bugs. When we bring food indoors, the bugs usually come with it. The FDA even has acceptable levels for how many bugs can go in your food, which means there will never be zero contamination.
- Why are mosquitoes active in Texas for so long?
Mosquitoes don’t go away until temperatures get cool enough, and with Texas’ long, hot summers, that means we’re stuck dealing with mosquitoes until November.
Keep Fall Pests Out Of Your Home
As cooler nights arrive across the DFW metroplex, pests try even harder to find a way indoors. From mosquitoes and yellow jackets to pantry pests, flies, and rodents, early detection is key for preventing bigger problems later.
Eco-Safe provides professional pest control using natural organic methods you can feel safe around. We tailor our services to the needs of your home or business. Schedule your free inspection and request a customized quote today by calling 214-358-5201.