Bed bugs are tiny, parasitic insects that feed and survive on human blood. Bed bugs are a fairly common nuisance, and can spread diseases with their bites. The following are some of the ways to identify a bed bug bite, and ways to deal with the pest problem. Identifying and Treating a Bed Bug Bite Bed bugs will bite anywhere on your body where there is skin, typically the exposed areas while you’re sleeping. Almost all bites from a bed bug will produce some degree of discomfort, such as irritation and itchiness. There are several symptoms associated with bed bug bites such as a burning sensation, raised itchy bumps, hives, blisters and inflammation. The pattern of the bites will often be in a line or zig-zag formation. You may also find spots of dried blood on your skin or sheets from the bites. There is also an increased risk of...

Stinky bugs, as their name implies, are foul smelling creatures that wander into our homes in the winter months to escape the cold. They usually come in through very small openings, and once inside, are difficult to get rid of. As the temperature drops, many of us are going to have to deal with these insects very soon, so to help you get a head start on preventing them from invading your house , here are some tips for managing a stink bug infestation. Seal Entry Points The best way to handle pests is to keep them from getting into your house in the first place, so seal off any entry points that stink bugs could use to sneak in. This means repairing window screens, making sure your doors are airtight and sealing any cracks around sidings and utilities pipes with caulk. Turn off the Lights Even though this is...

No pests are liked very well and roaches may be the most despised of them all. Just the thought of these disgusting creatures crawling around your kitchen sink is enough to make one's skin crawl, so the question is: How do we get rid of these obnoxious pests? Let’s find out. Here is a three step program to eliminate cockroaches from your house once and for all. Clean and Declutter Your House The most important step you can take before, during, or after your cockroach infestation is to keep your home as neat as possible. This means cleaning away all loose food and water sources and organizing your belongs to reduce potential hiding spots. As to the first part, it’s vital that you remove any crumbs or puddles of water so that roaches won’t have anything to eat or drink, so vacuum the carpets regularly, disinfect floors and countertops, and...

Even the thought of head lice cause people to recoil in disgust and experience dreaded sensations of itching. The image of insects taking residence in your hair or on the heads of your family members truly is unnerving. For years, rumors of how lice invade a home have made these crawly creatures the objects of lore. But, in fact, lice are vermin with specific patterns and habits that can be safely and professionally eliminated like any other creature. Understand the common myths about lice, and arm yourself with knowledge for protection of yourself and your loved ones . Five Myths About Lice #1 Only Dirty Heads Attract Lice It is simply not true that lice infestation is a sign of lack of hygiene either in the individual or the home. This only shows that there has been direct contact with an infested person. Don’t feel ashamed if you find evidence...

Winter is coming, and that means that you’re going to be spending less and less time outdoors as the temperature drops. Unfortunately, this also bodes true for rodents such as raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, and, of course, rats and mice. Some people believe that rodents are less of a problem in the cold weather, thinking that they spend the season hibernating; however, they are, in fact, active all through the winter and eager to use your house as a shelter. Here are some facts about rodent behavior in the cold and what you can do to keep them out of your home. How Rats and Mice Handle the Cold Just like us, rodents are mammals, which means that just like us, they need to keep their internal body temperatures warm. They want to come inside our homes for the same reason that we do: The heat. Add to this the fact...

Whenever you read any information about pest control, it is usually centered around homeowners. Unfortunately, pests are an all-inclusive annoyance, regardless of if you own a home or rent an apartment. It can be stressful trying to figure out how to rid your home of pests if you don’t know the difference between house pest control and apartment pest control. How Apartment Pest Control and House Pest Control are different: In an apartment complex , multiple families live in one structure, with the possibility of pests spreading to multiple families, unlike a single-family home. This is why apartment complexes have different treatment processes, as shown below: Most apartment management includes a pest policy in your lease to discuss who is at fault for an infestation and how to treat the area. For both, it is important to keep your area clean. If you live in an apartment, you may have...

Do you see flies around your home? It’s a problem many people face in the spring, summer and fall. They don’t just appear out of nowhere, though. Read on to find out more about flies, including what attracts them and what you can do about it. Are Flies Really a Problem? In a word, yes. Flies may seem harmless, but they do pose a real danger. The species that fall under the category of “filth flies" are more than just a nuisance. They’re pests that can spread gastrointestinal diseases, ranging from food poisoning to dysentery. Flies lay eggs next to where they get their food. This can be close to your own food. A situation like this puts you at risk of getting sick. What Attracts Flies? As was mentioned before, flies go where there is food. As such, they’ll congregate with other flies, as they know that is where...

No one looks forward to the summer for the mosquitos . These insects certainly are a nuisance. Fortunately, we know more about them than we used to, including why they bite some of us, but not others. Read on to discover more about them! Your Genes Mosquitos know it’s what’s on the inside that counts. In this case, we’re talking about blood. But we’re also talking about what makes us, us. Scientists have discovered that genetics make up about 85 percent of the reason we get bitten by mosquitos. Our genes influence the way our bodies carry out certain processes, as well as our overall chemistry. As such, scientists have been able to identify what elements of that chemistry cause mosquitoes to swarm. For one, folks with a concentration of steroids or cholesterol on their skin are more likely to attract mosquitoes. Keep in mind that this is not the...

Did you know that termites never sleep? They stay up all day and night building their colonies, and they could be doing so in your home right now. Thinking about the damage they could be doing to your home may keep you awake at night too! To the untrained eye, termite damage can go unnoticed for months or years. If there is even a small warning sign of an infection, it is imperative that you take control of the situation and start to eliminate them as soon as possible. Preventative Measures Besides being hyper-observant, there are some actions that you can take to make sure termites don’t continue to get into your home. This could be removing yard clutter like firewood, old piles of wood or stumps and rerouting gutters to deposit water, so it is away from your foundation. Making sure any entrances are covered could also help keep...

Ants : We all know what they are: six-legged insects that can get inside your house looking for crumbs and particles of food to take back to their home base. They’re not typically considered threats, but if many of them build a colony near your home, they can show up frequently. What Attracts Ants? As with many pests, they are drawn to pleasantly warm air, many sources of food, shelter from rain and safety from other animals. Once an ant finds a great source of food, they will notify the other ants in their colony and plan a great search for it. There are other ants that should be dealt with by pest control services quickly, such as the fire ant, that can sting anything that poses a threat to their colony. But we’re here to talk about regular ants and what you can do if you see them marching...

Wildlife can be an amazing thing to observe, as long as it’s outside of your home. Intrusive wild animals are a real problem for many people. A lack of understanding about how to take care of this problem can make it worse. Read on to find out more about three common types of intrusive animals and learn how you can take care of some of the issues they present. Raccoons Raccoons are common animals that are easily recognizable by the distinctive rings around their eyes and tail. These nocturnal mammals are excellent climbers and adapt well to a variety of different environments. They are also common carriers of rabies, which is a potentially fatal disease for humans. This set of traits makes them a particularly tricky pest to get out of your home. The only viable way to get rid of raccoons in your home is to catch and remove...

After a long winter, the warmer months seem heavenly. We can spend time outside, enjoy our yards, and get reacquainted with our old friends, the mosquitoes! Of course, nobody actually likes mosquitoes, but you can’t get through summer without one or two bites. They won’t be the only pest you run into, however, so you can’t slack on pest control in the warmer months. Here’s what you need to look out for come spring and summer. Bees and Wasps While these pollinators play an important role in the environment, bees and wasps taking up residence in and around your home puts you — and them — at risk. While you can find many over the counter products for dealing with bees and wasps, Germantown Pest Control can do a more thorough job by using environmentally friendly techniques. Termites They say love is in the air when spring hits, and for...

Mosquitoes are nasty bugs that can wreak havoc wherever they are. When they are outside, it is bad enough, but the situation can get even worse when the pesky biting bugs invade the interior of your home. Here are some tips on how to deal with a mosquito infestation inside your home. Unintentionally Inviting Mosquitoes Into Your Home If you have an infestation of mosquitoes in your home, there is a good chance that you have invited them there without realizing it. To keep mosquitoes from coming into your home, you need to take a few simple proactive steps to make sure they stay outside. First, make sure your house is properly sealed. Make sure your windows and doors are sealed tightly, and if you like to keep them open, make sure they are properly fitted with screens that do not have welcoming holes or tears that the bugs can...

Ants are a common household pest, and they can range from annoying to hazardous and damaging to your home. By carefully observing ants around or in your home, you can find out what type they are and what danger (if any) that they pose to you and your family. Here are the main types of ants we commonly see in the Tennessee and Northern Mississippi area. Acrobat Ants Acrobat ants are unique in that the worker ants of this species will strike a defensive posture when they are threatened which makes them look like a scorpion. They lift their abdomens above their heads, and it’s easy to see why they are known as the acrobat ant. These ants do sting, but fortunately, they don’t usually try to come inside houses. Argentine Ants If you step on an ant and notice a strange musty smell, you are most likely dealing with...

You’ve heard it many times—if you see one roach, you likely have many more. But how do you know whether you have just a few roaches or an infestation that is not likely to go away without professional intervention? Here are a few signs to look for. Seeing is Believing You’re more likely to see roaches at night if you have an infestation since they are nocturnal insects. If you turn on the light, they’ll scatter. Even worse, if you see a roach during the day, it is a good indication that you’ve had an infestation for quite some time and that it has grown to epic proportions that need professional services. Roaches definitely prefer to stay in dark crevices, but overcrowding and a lack of food actually drive roaches out during the day. Just because you see dead roaches, doesn’t mean your infestation is gone. In fact, it likely...

Termites are destructive creatures. Although they are diminutive in size, they can wreak untold havoc on a home. Keep reading to learn about the extreme damage termites can do. What are Termites? Simply put, termites are insects that eat wood. In a single year, they can cause billions dollars worth of damage to homes in the United States. One of the biggest reasons termites are so destructive is that they go virtually unnoticed as they eat their fill of wood. When homeowners finally discover termites , it is often too late, as irreparable damage has already been done. Most of the time, people discover they have termites when they notice the damage. Signs of Termites Even though it is difficult to know if you have termites, there are some signs that can point you in that direction. If you notice any of these tell-tale signs of termites, you need to...

When you think about where bed bugs hide, you probably think about mattresses and box springs. Even though these are common areas for the small bugs to hide, there are a few other common places that you might want to look if you suspect that the pests are in your home. If you do discover bed bugs , you can contact a professional like Germantown Pest Control & Termite to come to the home and treat for them while preventing future outbreaks over time. Couches and chairs are common places for bed bugs because you will usually transfer the bugs from your mattress to these areas when you sit down. Look at the crevices of the cushions on the couches and chairs in your home. If you're staying in a hotel or motel, then you should examine these pieces of furniture as well. Sometimes, bed bugs will hide underneath the...

A mouse or two in the home is a common occurrence for many people. Traps are set, the mice are caught, and the problem is quickly solved. However, if you have roof rats, which are commonly seen in homes in larger cities, then it might be a good idea to have a professional like Germantown Pest Control & Termite to help get rid of the rodents. Roof rats are often larger than house mice , and they can quickly damage the wires in the home as well as other components, especially in the attic and walls as this is usually where they live. Rats are usually more active at night, which means that you usually won't see or hear them until this time. Fortunately, this is also a time when most of the people in the home are asleep or quieter than they are during the day, making it easier...

Although wild animals may look cute and adorable, allowing them to take refuge on your property is not a good idea. Not only can animals cause property damage, but they also carry nasty diseases. Here is some of the wildlife that we tend to encounter in our area. Snakes Understandably, a lot of residents tend to have a deep fear of snakes. The truth of the matter is that these slithery serpents actually help eliminate other pests such as small rodents and cockroaches. While some snakes are nothing more than just a nuisance, others can be quite dangerous. The copperhead, timber rattlesnake, water moccasin, and pigmy rattlesnake are all venomous. If you happen to encounter a snake on your property, call a professional immediately! Squirrels Known for harvesting nuts, squirrels are among the most common animals in the area. While squirrels may appear to be harmless, they have the potential...

Mosquitoes can really ruin a backyard barbecue. Not only do they make you develop itchy bumps, but they also can carry disease. It’s hard to eat, drink or enjoy yourself when you’re swatting away these bloodsuckers. You can take measures to reduce mosquito activity on your property, though. Get Rid Of Stagnant Water Most people are aware that stagnant water can provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes. That means that birdbaths, rain barrels and water features in your yard can lead to swarms. However, you might not know that improperly maintained swimming pools can harbor these pests. Even the smallest amount of water can become a breeding area for mosquitoes. Don’t leave out trash or debris that can collect rainwater. Thin Out Your Garden You might love the shade that your garden provides. The bad news is that the mosquitoes love it too. The insects seek shelter in areas that...