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Shelby's Pest Control Blog
Bedbugs often attack you while you are asleep and vulnerable. The tiny bugs infest your place of comfort and relaxation causing physical and mental anguish. Many families are uneducated about bedbugs and how much damage they can cause. 1. YOU MAY NOT REALIZE YOU HAVE THEM Many people are living with bedbugs and don’t even know it. Only a small percentage of people have noticeable reactions to bed bugs, while more have a slight reaction. The tiny insects have an anesthetic in their saliva that leaves their bites untraceable to many. If you do have a reaction, your doctor can’t diagnose you because the bites are seemingly random with no distinguishable shape or pattern. 2. THEY AREN’T A SIGN OF A DIRTY HOME Whether you have a clean or dirty home, bedbugs can infest your laundry, carpet, bed and furniture. They are known for their ability to travel long distances by hitching rides with unsuspecting travelers. If you find these pesky insects in your home or place of business it does not reflect your ability to keep a tidy home. 3. DIY TREATMENTS DON’T WORK Many people search for do-it-yourself bedbug treatments to rid their homes of infestations. While they may be cheap and tempting, most of them never work. Furthermore, many of the recommendations are not safe and can do more damage than good. Forcing the insects to scurry to other areas in your home or business may make your problem worse. If you think you might have a bedbug problem, call a professional right away. They are trained to handle the infestation in the most effective manner possible. Call Shelby's Pest Control Inc. in Chico for residential pest control .
If you’re not sure if you have a true flea infestation in your home, here are some things to look out for. Should you have reason to be concerned, you may want to get help in getting rid of them before they get worse. WHAT FLEAS LOOK LIKE Fleas are typical around one-eighth of an inch in length, and dark brown in color. Although they do not have wings, they are such good jumpers; they can leap up to 10 inches. OTHER INDICATIONS Usually, fleas get into your home on your pet, and that is where you will notice them. In some cases, you don’t see the flea itself, but you might spot what looks like specks of dirt. If those specks turn out to be mixed with blood, they may well be the fleas’ droppings. MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE Typically, if you see an adult flea, it probably means that you have them in other stages of development as well, such as eggs and larva. This is where the problem can get extensive, as the eggs don’t tend to stay on pets but can continue developing throughout your home and are difficult to see. If you have reason to believe you have a flea infestation, it’s important to eradicate them quickly, as well as take steps to prevent them from coming back. For more information on how to be on the lookout for fleas, contact Shelby's Pest Control Inc.
Despite your best endeavors to fend off pests from entering your property, incursions can still occur. Pests can be sly creatures, but arming yourself with the right plan and knowing what to search for and what measures to take when a problem is noticed will save you from a future pest infestation. Left uncontrolled, a little pest problem can turn into an infestation. You can avert pest infestations with these simple tips: Block Points of Entry: Getting rid of access points for pests will help keep them out of your property. This could include mending holes in walls and foundation areas. Making sure that doors are closed as often as possible should also be considered. Get Rid of Still Water: Flies and mosquitoes need water to breed, so our experienced exterminators recommend that you get rid of any standing water on your property. Make Use of a Dehumidifier. Houses with basements can get damp in the warmer months of summer, providing a sanctuary for a selection of pests. A dehumidifier can take away excess moisture. Inspect Raw Food Before Storing: Inspecting food deliveries for signs of pests and rodents before you store them in your refrigerator or pantry can help keep pests out of your property. Expert Help: Collaborating with an exterminator is the best way to lessen the threat of an infestation. A pest control expert can perform a wide-ranging checkup to identify any existence of pests or environments conducive to pests and can offer quick and low-cost solutions. If you notice a pest or discover signs that you might have a pest infestation, you should contact the accomplished exterminators at Shelby's Pest Control Inc. in Chico, California. We can help keep your property safe and free of pests.
As is true with many things in life, prevention is the best way to keep mice and rats from infesting your home. It's much easier to take some steps that deter them from ever coming into your home than it is to deal with an infestation once they've made your house theirs too. Here are three tips on how to reduce the likelihood that mice and rats find their way into your house and take up residence. CLEAN YOUR KITCHEN AT LEAST DAILY To mice and rats, kitchens are all-in-one resorts. They have lots of food and water, not to mention a bunch of different smells and some nesting materials. After nibbling on some cheese or scrounging through the trash bin, a mouse or rate may start chewing on a cereal box, paper grocery bag or popcorn bag to gather some nesting material. Of course, there are also plenty of cupboards and crevices that make for excellent hiding places. Keeping your kitchen clean will go a long ways towards preventing mice and rats from making their way there. As long as they aren't able to smell or find food in the kitchen, they're a lot less likely to initially find the room or come back if they do. In addition to keeping a generally clean kitchen, the following helps: • Wash all dirty dishes by hand or place them in the dishwasher after each meal • Wipe down the countertops with an antibacterial spray at least once a day • Wipe crumbs off the table after each meal, and carry crumbs to the trash • Empty the trash at least once a week, if not more often • Put away all food whenever it's not being eaten These simple steps take just a few minutes, but they'll greatly help keep mice and rats out of where you store, prepare and eat food. KEEP FIREWOOD AT MINIMUM OF 30 FEET FROM YOUR HOME While it may be convenient to keep firewood right outside your backdoor, stacking wood too close to your home makes it easy for mice, rats and other rodents to find their way from your firewood pile into your house. Firewood piles often attract rodents, and when the cold weather comes they may go foraging toward your home for a warmer place to live. If you have a wood-burning fireplace or stove, keep your firewood at least 30 feet from your house. This will reduce the likelihood of any mice or rats that might nest in your firewood pile finding their way into your house. You can bring a few pieces of firewood inside to place next to your fireplace or wood-burning stove so you don't have to go out each time you want a fire. (Better yet, having a gas insert installed would reduce the need for firewood altogether.) HAVE A PEST CONTROL COMPANY SEAL UP YOUR HOME Just as energy companies can seal up your home to improve energy efficiency, pest control companies can seal up your house to prevent animals from finding their way inside. A pest control expert can survey the exterior of your home in search for potential openings that would be large enough for a mouse or rat. Most homes have openings. Mice can fit through holes the diameter of a number two pencil, and rats just need a hole the size of a quarter. Whenever the pest control expert finds openings, they can use steel wool, hardware cloth and other materials to block the whole up. With materials like these in place, a rodent will have a hard time getting through. To have a pest control company come and treat your home's exterior , contact us at Shelby's Pest Control Inc.
Very few people will cheer at the sight of any insect in their home, but few pests elicit the same level of spine-chilling revulsion as a spider when it suddenly makes an appearance. Arachnophobia is a common fear for men and women, and most people want spiders out of their sight immediately. The very idea of a potential spider infestation is enough to cause many sleepless nights. Here is what everyone should know about spiders in their homes. SPIDERS PRESENT FEW RISKS About 39 different species of spiders are found in California, but not all are interested in human habitats. Many spiders prefer building their nests or webs on the ground, in trees, and in areas away from noise and activity. Only two species of spiders found in California are harmful to humans. The black widow and the desert recluse (similar to the brown recluse found elsewhere in the United States) are both venomous and can cause illness and pain and other uncomfortable side effects, but their bites are rarely fatal. SPIDERS PROVIDE VALUABLE HELP A benefit to having spiders in a home is that they are nature's little exterminators. The average spider eats about 2,000 insects a year. In a home, they are helping to eliminate common problems like fleas, ants and termites. In fact, spiders sometimes eat other spiders. The cellar spider, the long-legged creature found in most basements and other shaded areas, is even known to eat black widows. In fact, harmless species of spiders are healthy for homes because they may be able to control a population of insects that do spread disease or cause structural damage. SPIDERS OFFER WARNING FLAGS It is not unusual or even a sign of an infestation if you notice an abundance of spiders in a home during late summer and early fall. Spiders hatch in the spring and are finally fully grown by the end of the summer season so they are more noticeable at this time. Males also begin searching for mates at the same time and are much more active and visible. A good reason to take note of a seemingly unexplainable boom in their population in the home is if there is a readily available food source. A sudden deluge of spiders traipsing through a home could mean another unnoticed pest infestation may be taking place. If you notice an increase of spiders, it is a good idea to have an inspection from pest control specialists. SPIDERS CAN BE DISCOURAGED You can often control a spider population by dusting and vacuuming regularly. This clears away their webs and usually eliminates a few of the pests as well. Avoiding clutter and not keeping the attic and basement full of storage boxes will also help because it removes a spider’s favorite hiding spot. There are other ways you can discourage spider populations by taking care of things on the outside of your home. Do not stack firewood near the home or allow bushes, grass and shrubs to grow out of control. Seal up any holes in the siding and trim of the home, repair window screens and make certain doors close tightly. Logic and reason are not going to convince someone not to be afraid of spiders. It is impossible to feel comfortable in a home when a phobia-causing creature is lurking in corners. If the spiders are suspected to be a venomous species like the black widow or a recluse, it is important to find immediate help. Identifying insect and arachnid species, locating their hiding spots and eradicating the problem is what Shelby's Pest Control Inc. is trained to do. Call us today for help with any species of spider and rediscover the comfort and security of a spider-free home.
California's temperate climate is home to millions of small crawling and flying creatures, including beetles, flying insects and spiders. To keep the bugs at bay, practice integrated pest management (IPM) around your property. IPM methods are based on long-term monitoring and manipulation of the ecosystem where you live. You identify local pests and find appropriate strategies to minimize their invasion through habitat alteration, chemical and physical barriers, and other means. To develop your own IPM strategy, get the three things listed below. Get Expert Advice on Local Nuisances Whether you need to prevent future pest problems in your home or face large-scale invasions of insects, learn all you can about your local micro-climate. Ask a pest-control expert or your local extension agent to provide you with information about the pests that thrive in the soil, weather and foliage of your area. Guides are available that include pictures of the various pests near you. Images of insects can also be found online in pest-control databases. Study the pictures so that you can identify the common insects and spiders in your neighborhood. Become familiar with the life cycles of common insects and spiders too. When you know the stages of development of an invasive pest, you can apply biological controls and other treatments at the most effective times. A professional pest-control technician will also give you advice on how to protect your home and prevent insect and spider outbreaks. The technician can walk around your yard and home and show you areas that need to be sealed, reinforced or changed to make them less attractive to pests. Get Motivated to Monitor Your Property A vital component of IPM is keeping a constant eye out for insect and spiders in your location. In the home, you should inspect rooms and closets weekly for signs of pest damage. Webs, egg sacs and strange spots on walls are all signs of insect infestation. Store cereals and grains in air-tight containers and check weekly for signs of weevils and moths. Grain-chewing insects are often brought into the home in store-bought flours and other products. Check closets for moths that eat fabric, and look under cabinets and other furnishings for bugs that hide in dark places. Stay alert to notifications of new bugs in your area. Invasive pests are fond of California, and destructive species are being discovered moving across the state on a constant basis. Keep current on new invasive species in neighboring regions too. Pests affecting adjacent areas of the state may be driven to your property after wildfires, during drought conditions or via natural migration to find new territory. Get Physical With Common Entry Points Modern homes offer many small entry points that are the perfect size for insect squatters to move through and use to set up nurseries and food-rich havens. An important component of IPM is setting up physical barriers to prevent pest intrusion into your space. Areas to inspect for openings include: Attic vents and windows Utility/laundry room vents and openings Drains and other pipes Garage doors Home foundations Crawlspace cracks and crevices Screens and other barriers, including caulk, are considered mechanical or physical control of pests. For example, a fine-mesh screen over a chimney stack or rain barrel keeps most insects from falling down the chimney or into the catchment water. Cultural methods are also part of getting physical with your IPM strategy. Preventative tasks including rotating garden crops and removing host weeds can also help. Storing rubbish cans and compost away from the home and landscaping is also recommended by IPM experts. Contact Shelby's Pest Control Inc today and schedule an inspection of your property. We help property owners develop effective, safe pest-control strategies.
Bedbugs often attack you while you are asleep and vulnerable. The tiny bugs infest your place of comfort and relaxation causing physical and mental anguish. Many families are uneducated about bedbugs and how much damage they can cause. 1. YOU MAY NOT REALIZE YOU HAVE THEM Many people are living with bedbugs and don’t even know it. Only a small percentage of people have noticeable reactions to bed bugs, while more have a slight reaction. The tiny insects have an anesthetic in their saliva that leaves their bites untraceable to many. If you do have a reaction, your doctor can’t diagnose you because the bites are seemingly random with no distinguishable shape or pattern. 2. THEY AREN’T A SIGN OF A DIRTY HOME Whether you have a clean or dirty home, bedbugs can infest your laundry, carpet, bed and furniture. They are known for their ability to travel long distances by hitching rides with unsuspecting travelers. If you find these pesky insects in your home or place of business it does not reflect your ability to keep a tidy home. 3. DIY TREATMENTS DON’T WORK Many people search for do-it-yourself bedbug treatments to rid their homes of infestations. While they may be cheap and tempting, most of them never work. Furthermore, many of the recommendations are not safe and can do more damage than good. Forcing the insects to scurry to other areas in your home or business may make your problem worse. If you think you might have a bedbug problem, call a professional right away. They are trained to handle the infestation in the most effective manner possible. Call Shelby's Pest Control Inc. in Chico for residential pest control .
If you’re not sure if you have a true flea infestation in your home, here are some things to look out for. Should you have reason to be concerned, you may want to get help in getting rid of them before they get worse. WHAT FLEAS LOOK LIKE Fleas are typical around one-eighth of an inch in length, and dark brown in color. Although they do not have wings, they are such good jumpers; they can leap up to 10 inches. OTHER INDICATIONS Usually, fleas get into your home on your pet, and that is where you will notice them. In some cases, you don’t see the flea itself, but you might spot what looks like specks of dirt. If those specks turn out to be mixed with blood, they may well be the fleas’ droppings. MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE Typically, if you see an adult flea, it probably means that you have them in other stages of development as well, such as eggs and larva. This is where the problem can get extensive, as the eggs don’t tend to stay on pets but can continue developing throughout your home and are difficult to see. If you have reason to believe you have a flea infestation, it’s important to eradicate them quickly, as well as take steps to prevent them from coming back. For more information on how to be on the lookout for fleas, contact Shelby's Pest Control Inc.
Despite your best endeavors to fend off pests from entering your property, incursions can still occur. Pests can be sly creatures, but arming yourself with the right plan and knowing what to search for and what measures to take when a problem is noticed will save you from a future pest infestation. Left uncontrolled, a little pest problem can turn into an infestation. You can avert pest infestations with these simple tips: Block Points of Entry: Getting rid of access points for pests will help keep them out of your property. This could include mending holes in walls and foundation areas. Making sure that doors are closed as often as possible should also be considered. Get Rid of Still Water: Flies and mosquitoes need water to breed, so our experienced exterminators recommend that you get rid of any standing water on your property. Make Use of a Dehumidifier. Houses with basements can get damp in the warmer months of summer, providing a sanctuary for a selection of pests. A dehumidifier can take away excess moisture. Inspect Raw Food Before Storing: Inspecting food deliveries for signs of pests and rodents before you store them in your refrigerator or pantry can help keep pests out of your property. Expert Help: Collaborating with an exterminator is the best way to lessen the threat of an infestation. A pest control expert can perform a wide-ranging checkup to identify any existence of pests or environments conducive to pests and can offer quick and low-cost solutions. If you notice a pest or discover signs that you might have a pest infestation, you should contact the accomplished exterminators at Shelby's Pest Control Inc. in Chico, California. We can help keep your property safe and free of pests.