alliedpestsolutions

[alliedpestsolutions]

Roof Rats in Arizona and the importance of controlling them

If you live in Arizona, then you most likely deal with roof rats from time to time. Also known as Rattus Rattus, these rats are known as black rats. Despite their name, they are actually dark brown, they are around 13 to 18 inches long and they can transmit a variety of diseases. Unlike others types of rats, these are great climbers, which is why you will find them on the roof as well as in your living room.

Things to know about Roof Rats

Normally the Roof Rat is thin and long. It will have large ears and eyes, a scaly tail and pointy nose. Not only that, but their fur is smooth and soft. As for their underside, that can be black, gray or white depending on the situation. One thing to note about them is that their tails are longer than the body or head to begin with. If you include their tail, the overall length of a Roof Rat can be up to 40 cm or sometimes even less than that.

Their weight is roughly 5-9 ounces, although some people found Roof Rats that had 12 ounces. These rats will travel from the tree to the roof, and that’s how they tend to enter your home most of the time. You can even find them on utility lines, which makes it very easy for them to go from one place to the other without a problem.

As they enter your home, Roof Rats will focus on staying in remote and dark locations like cabinets, attics, false ceilings or walls. Although there are reports that some were found in swimming pools, attics, garages, patios, laundry rooms and many others.

What a lot of people don’t realize is the fact that Roof Rats tend to spend roughly 90% of their life above the ground. While they might enter the plumbing system of your home, normally that’s not an entry point for them.

Are Roof Rat unique to Arizona?

No, they are known to exist in many warm climates, be it Virginia, the Southern Atlantic coast and even Florida or Oregon. The first Roof Rat outbreak in Arizona took place in the Phoenix region in 2001 and in 2004 there were lots of rat sightings in Phoenix, Glendale, Paradise Valley, Tempe and Phoenix, among many others. Roof Rats are known for crawling into cars or trucks, so it’s easy for them to get around from one place to the other. As a result, the Roof Rat infestations can easily spread without you even knowing about them.

Finding Roof Rats in your home?

There are many signs of Roof Rat activity, and you need to search for them. One of the main signs is various kinds of damage to electrical wires and plastics. You should also search for other stuff like gnaw marks and gnawing sounds. Noises in the walls or the attic can also be a given here. It’s important to keep the situation under control and not panic, working with a good exterminator might be the right option and it will definitely be worth the effort.

Roof Rats will enter your home through the attic, but they also sneak via pet doors, bathroom windows and so on. They can also chew through the dry wall, plastic, wood, aluminum siding and many others. That means you really need to keep your house locked down when you are away, otherwise these pests can easily enter your home without a problem.

How can you keep Roof Rats away from your home?

The last thing you want is a Roof Rat infestation. That’s why a good idea is to figure out how to keep them out of your home. Ideally you want to consult an exterminator, just to be safe that you have the right ideas and tools to make it happen.

Trimming your trees is also a very good idea, that will limit the entry points quite a bit. If you have any holes in your walls, repair them and caulk all cracks. We also recommend you to use stucco diamond mesh for sealing holes. Remove stale water and pieces of food from your home, these will attract Roof Rat. The same thing you want to do when it comes to nuts and fruits that drop in the backyard, remove them as fast as you can. And yes, if you’re not home, close all your doors and windows, otherwise they can be a great entry point for Roof Rats.

Take good care of your landscape area too. Prune the fruit trees, remove any wood piles and store them away from your home. If you have any thick ground covers, don’t hesitate to trim them and thin out any bushes to be safe.

Getting rid of Roof Rats

The best thing that you can do is to call an exterminator from Allied Pest Solutions. The exterminator will have all the tools he needs to eliminate roof rats fast, and he also has all the experience needed to prevent any further expansion from these pests. Baiting and trapping will help a lot, so these can be some very interesting solutions to focus on. Using chemicals to eliminate roof rats can also be a very good idea. There are a plethora of options, you just need to make the right pick and ensure that the experience will always be a very good one.

Conclusion

Roof rats are a major issue in Arizona, so knowing how to prevent a potential infestation is extremely important. We also recommend you to use these tips if you want to keep them away from your home. In case it’s too late for that, you can safely rely on an exterminator. He will be able to eliminate all signs of roof rats in your home. It’s a very good idea to contact an exterminator as soon as you see any signs of potential roof rat infestations. While you can try to use baits and traps yourself if there’s just a rat or two, if you’re dealing with an infestation it’s a much better idea to work with professionals!

from Allied Pest Solutions https://alliedpestsolutions.com/roof-rats-in-arizona-and-the-importance-of-controlling-them/

[alliedpestsolutions]

Most Effective Ways To Keep Bugs Out Of Your Home

The reason why you might want to keep bugs out of your home is to prevent your family from being exposed to diseases or infections. However, what you need to understand is that keeping bugs away is not an easy task especially if you do not know which preventative measures are effective at keeping insects’ way from your home.

Effective Ways To Keep Your Home Free From Bugs

1. Prune Plants Growing Near The Structure.

Insects use tree branches that grow near the structure to access your home. That is why it is advisable that you cut down any branches that are near your structure. Apart from insects, other critters such as squirrels, mice, and raccoons also use the same plants to access the roof and other parts of the house. Therefore, make sure that the shrubs and other plants do not grow near the house.

2. Seal Cracks, Utility Lines And Weep Holes.

Insects also use utility lines as a bridge to access your home. Because of this reason, you might want to check the entry point of the utility lines and make sure that there are no spaces left for the insects to pass through. It is also advisable that you seal weep holes and cracks with a correct sealant that can contract and expand depending on the atmosphere.

3. Repair Damaged Screens.

Besides sealing cracks and utility lines, you also need to make sure that the window screens fit properly without leaving any openings or tears. That is because insects look for week openings where they can penetrate. You can temporarily fix these areas using a cotton ball before finding a permanent solution.

4. Make Sure That The Gutters Are Clean

Cleaning the gutters regularly will also reduce cases of bug infestation. Leaves that clog the gutters rot within a short period and this turns into a perfect place where cockroaches and other insects can stay. When the weather condition is not favorable for them, they crawl through the attic and find their way inside your home.

5. Inspect The Exterior Of Your Home.

To keep bugs out of your home, you are required to inspect the exterior of your home as well. Check for cracks on the foundation of the structure and any repair any damaged areas. If you do not seal the holes or any cracks found the foundation, then your home will still be vulnerable to bug infestation.

6. Keep The House Clean.

Insects are attracted to messy areas as well as bad odors. That is why it is important that you vacuum your house regularly and keep everything in order. Moreover, avoid food spills or keeping rotten food inside the house. It is also advisable that you store food in safe airtight containers such as glass or plastic containers.

7. Install A Fan

Bugs such as bed bugs and mosquitoes usually get attracted by human secretions or scent. However, with the help of a fan, you can easily get rid of such factors that attract bugs. Another reason why you might want to invest in a fan is that bugs do not like heavy winds, which is why most bugs keep away from areas that have fans installed.

8. Use Pesticides.

Another quick way of getting rid of bugs is to use pesticides. However, make sure that the pesticides you use are not harmful to your health since most brands are made using harmful chemicals. Because of this reason, it is advisable that you be careful when using pesticides around the house.

Conclusion

These are some of the effective ways of keeping bugs out of your home. Moreover, some of these things are easy to do and you do not need any kind of experience to apply these bug preventive measures.

from Allied Pest Solutions https://alliedpestsolutions.com/most-effective-ways-to-keep-bugs-out-of-your-home/

[alliedpestsolutions]

Spiders – Best Friends Or Pest?

Spiders Are Not My Friend!

Spiderman is not real.

Spiders. The very word sends chills up the spine of people all over the world. But is that the right response?

Human beings are hardwired to look at things that crawl or scuttle with deep suspicion. The fear of spiders is among the most common phobias that we have. However – sometimes that fear is very well-founded. Spiders can make life extremely difficult – and in some cases pose a threat to our health and well being.

Although spiders perform a very necessary task in nature – keeping other insect populations in control – they are often unwelcome visitors in our homes. The odd web – or even those eyes that peer from a ceiling corner are usually fine (for other people, but not me!)

However, reaching into a cupboard where there is a spider infestation can be dangerous. Any cool dark place is heaven for some of the more venomous species of spider. They thrive on the pests that also call those spaces home, but there are spiders that will not hesitate to bite if they are disturbed.

The statistics of spider bites are difficult to gather as only a small portion of the bites are reported. However, among the more dangerous of spiders in North America are the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse spider, both of which can be found in areas such as basements. They are especially common if the home has populations of cockroaches.

Bites from these types of spiders are different. The Black Widow bite will cause nausea, cramping and difficulty in breathing. The bite of the Brown Recluse may seem to be only a mild irritation when it occurs. The bite site will quickly fall prey to what is known as necrosis. The skin and underlying flesh will simply die. What was a raised red spot will turn into dead skin. If left untreated that area will grow until it may require surgery to correct.

So given the fact that spiders are simply with us for better or worse (estimates are that there are about 1 million spiders in every acre of land) – how can we reduce the potentially threatening encounter?

The answer may be more simple than you think. At least within the home. firstly, make sure that you vacuum. Clear out those webs and make sure that spiders have no place to breed. If you come across a lone spider or two capture them in a glass and release them into the wild. They do not flock back to their homes. They will happily continue to do their job outdoors.

However, there are also ways that you can make sure that spiders do not find your home attractive. Reduce your lighting during the night. Those lights are attracting flying bugs – and spiders love them. Keep your home tidy and clean – attracting insects such as cockroaches is a sure way to attract other species which will prey on them – like spiders. keep the corners and crevices of your home free of webs – and make sure that they are sealed. Lastly, make sure that you are keeping it all tidy – those old cardboard boxes in the basement are perfect places for spiders to live. Tidy them away.

The final solution is always to call in the professionals. Some spider infestations are simply too much for the average homeowner to deal with. Rather than start with store bought insecticides which will only have a temporary effect call an exterminator. Those folks have the knowledge and the equipment to deal with problem species – they are after all professionals. Let them help you.

from Allied Pest Solutions https://alliedpestsolutions.com/spiders-best-friends-or-pest/

[alliedpestsolutions]

Tempe Pest Control

Isn’t it strange when you wake up at night to have a glass of water and as soon as you enter the kitchen there are glowing eyes on the ground? You will be scared to death but when you switch the lights on you don’t find anything out there. That’s because the rats ran away when you invaded their personal space.

Rodents can create havoc in your house and they should be evicted as soon as possible. Not just rats, there are mus, flying squirrels, and a hundred other rodents that can live along with your family if you don’t take immediate action. One of the reasons why there might be so many rodents in your house is that there are fruit trees around. Rodents love to eat. They will feed around from the fruit trees and will take shelter in your house at night. This needs to stop! Your immediate step should be to get in touch with a company that keeps rodents away.

Trap instead of kill

Killing the rodents is not the right approach to getting rid of the critters once and for all. Your objective should be to trap them and make them go away. Most of the Pest Control Company set up snap traps and live traps around the fruit trees and in your house to catch the rats or other critters that are causing a nuisance. The best time to install these traps is at night. This is the time when the rodents come out to get food. They will eat on the ripe fruits from the trees or even pick on the ones that have fallen on the ground. The traps are strategically placed so that the rodents understand that they are walking into a cage of no return.

Many companies prefer to use glue boards on the trees but these boards are not as effective as you think. The glue may become hard and not work when it is needed. That is why it is safer to use snap traps to catch the rodents instead of torturing or killing them.

Sealing the entry points

The job of the rodent control team does not end once they catch the critters and return them to their original habitat. They are also responsible for sealing the entry points in the house. This will not allow the rodents to enter the house. Copper flashing and copper mesh can be installed on the doors and windows so that the rodents are not able to cut through the copper and come inside. In addition to copper hardware, you can also get hardware clothing that will seal the perch.

Once the house is safely protected from the rodents, you should turn to protect the trees. Almost all the rodents are experts at climbing trees. They can climb even the tallest trees with ease without any fear of falling. The rodent control team can start the first line of defense by installing rodent guards. These guards are basically metal sheets wrapped around the trunk of the tree. Some of the rodent guards also come with sharp pointed ends so that the rodents get injured at every step they take. This is one of the most inexpensive ways to keep rodents away from the fruit trees around your house.

Another method to control rodents from invading the fruit trees is by trimming and pruning the trees from time to time. But it is always best to wrap rodent guards first before cutting the trees. Consult your local rodent control company to see which method will be more effective in keeping the rodents away.