Ants, Bees, Birds, FAQ, Featured, Fleas, food, General Pest Control, General Rodent, Pest Control, Spiders, Ticks, Uncategorized, Wasp
A Bug-Free BBQ
The countdown has begun! One of our favorite holidays has to be the Fourth of July! It’s a perfect time to spend with family and friends, enjoying each other’s company and commemorating the birth of the nation. Many Americans choose to celebrate with pool parties, BBQs, and major events. But just like every other outdoor activity, Pests can strike without warning! Let’s face it, bugs are JUST AS American as mom, baseball, and apple pie… in fact, bugs are worldwide!!! This year, though, we’re going to help you avoid those flying,crawling, and squirming party crashers. Below are our top tips for having a bug-free Fourth!
1) Stay Away From Water
“One if by land, two if by sea!” doesn’t just apply to Paul Revere! Given the chance, insects will come from any direction possible… Land, sea or air! Stagnant bodies of water are particularly popular with insects… in fact, that’s where many insects breed and lay their eggs.
As picturesque as having your outing by the lake may seem, consider moving the festivities (or at least the food) a bit further away to cut down on insect presence.
Also, be sure to scout out the area before setting up. If you notice there there is already a heavy insect presence, then BY ALL MEANS don’t set up shop there! Remember, prevention is ALWAYS easier and far less hassle than dealing with it after the fact!!!
2) Cover Your Food
Let’s face it… in a lot of ways, insects are just like us… they love, love, LOVE sticky sweets. And with that fine spread out on the table (hot dogs, potato salad, watermelon, and cobblers), it acts like a big target sign to attract bugs looking for a meal. The best way to stop them? Cover up! Use Tupperware containers for an eco-friendly solution, or cover your food with plastic wrap or tinfoil.
3) Put the Off ON!
Bug repellent comes in many forms, most notably in lotions (or sprays) that you can apply directly to your skin. This is useful for kids especially, as they are often unaware of potential “bug zones” and these lotions may assist in providing a barrier as they play.
If you’re averse to the idea of putting repellent on your body, there are other methods available. Some people swear by pest repellent candles or citronella “torches.” Another alternative (and not quite so “eye-grabbing” is to use insect-repellent incense. Incense can come in the form of small sticks, or in a spiral shape that slowly burns down and repels most insects (notably mosquitoes).
4) Clean Up!
Just like setting up shop near a lake can be ideal, it can also be tempting to put the trash receptacle very close to the table or close to where everyone is congregating. After all, who wants to walk away from the action just to throw food away? Well, aside from obvious health concerns about having garbage in the midst of activities, the trash can also be a HUGE attractant to wayward insects. They just LOVE the smell of fresh food! Walk a few extra steps to throw away trash and it can help you eliminate the need to swat flies or wasps while eating!
Sure, these methods won’t guarantee 100% bug eradication, but they’ll definitely reduce the amount of unwelcome visitors at your Awesome 4th of July celebration! Have additional tips or tricks you’d like to share? How about a favorite BBQ recipe? Let us know in the comment section or Tweet us so we can share it with the Pro Pacific Community! Call us today for all your pest control needs!
Ants
Common Household Items That Help Get Rid Of Ants – Organic Method
Trails and trails of ants can line countertops, floors, bathtubs etc. at the most unsuspecting times. Identifying the attractant that caused their abrupt appearance can be baffling and usually misdiagnosed. But the focus of this article is to not help you detect what’s causing your tiny insect dilemma, but give you the ingredients to resolve the problem – using common household goods.
Scour no further for how to combat the perseverance of an endless ant trail; you can accomplish this feat with some items you probably have sitting in your pantry now.
Disclaimer: This method works for most ant infestations. Severe infestations should be examined by a pest management professional (such as ourselves 😉 ) and treated accordingly. Professional pest control service is the only way to eliminate persistent pest problems.
Despite what you have heard (or read), combining corn starch and cinnamon to help with deterring invading ants. A few months ago we suggested this technique on the Pro Pacific Pest Twitter and received a reply back of success. Here’s proof if you don’t believe this testimony.
Proof That It Works:
How It Works
To effectively implement these cooking ingredients and spices in your pest control plan, you must know how each item plays into the process.
Cinnamon is used as a barricade. Ants are sensitive to scents and the strong odor that cinnamon releases is too much for the nuisance bugs. So you will use the cinnamon to contain the ants and limit their journey.
Corn starch is your catalyst. The ants will carry small portions of the corn starch back to the nest to feed the colony. Ants cannot digest the starch and it will eventually kill them.
Proper Steps To Eliminate the Ants
Step 1 – Identify the Entry Point
Follow the ant trail back to where they are entering your home. You will eventually want to seal up the entry points after you seeing no more ants.
Step 2 – Create A Barricade Of Cinnamon
Use the cinnamon like a wall or fence to keep the ants trapped within a small vicinity. For example, if ants are entering through a crack through a window, sprinkle the cinnamon along the sill or on the ground near the window where they are travelling. Make sure that it encloses their path and there is no route to get around.
Step 3 – Apply The Corn Starch
Place the corn starch in the vicinity where you trapped them. Do not pour mounds of the starch but a hefty portion to supply enough for the entire colony.
Step 4 – Observe & Repeat
Over the next few days, examine the progress of your plan. You should see a gradual decline in ants within a couple of days. If you see progress, continue applying the corn starch and cinnamon as needed.
Remember, severe infestations will require more than a couple of spices and ingredients to eradicate the ants in your home. Professional pest service is recommended for severe or unresolved ant problems.
Please leave your comments below on your success stories using organic techniques or household goods. Good Luck!
