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One of the biggest concerns customers of Accuracy Plus have is the dangers of using pesticides around children and pets.  Obviously the most important priority any family has is the safety of their children and the animals they care for.  But you must also balance the dangers of a pest infestation with the risks of pesticides.  Using chemicals in your home may be a last resort, but if your family’s health is in danger because insects, rodents or snakes have moved in, you may way to consider calling a professional.

Most of the issues that arise from the use of insecticides stem from consumers using them incorrectly or ignoring the manufacturer’s instructions.  The fact is that most insecticides have very low toxicity levels or can be bought in organic formulations.  Regardless, it is vital that you always follow the instructions for any chemicals that you use to avoid the risk of poisoning yourself or others in your home.  You’ll also want to store them safely out of reach of kids and pets, away from heat and sunlight. 

If you see your pet behaving oddly, stumbling around, salivating excessively, vomiting or unconscious it is possible they have managed to get into your pesticides.  Even if they are not acting strangely but you find they have been in your pesticides, you should immediately call your veterinarian and have them taken in.  Likewise, for young children you will want to call the poison control center or get them to an emergency room right away if you find that they have accidentally found their way into your chemicals.  Young children have a very low tolerance for poisons and they should get medical attention immediately.

The best thing to do if you find yourself hosting pests is to call a professional pest control service.  They will be able to use the minimal amount of pesticides necessary to control your problem and may have several options for you to consider.  They’ll also know the latest products and tools which can help you protect your family without exposing them to any danger.  For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.

For thousands of years, houseflies have plagued families in their homes.  Whether you’re trying to enjoy a meal or take a nap, these pesky critters can make you terribly uncomfortable.  What’s worse, they breed incessantly which means once they are in your home they can be very difficult to get rid of.   

Obviously the best way to avoid having flies in your home is to prevent them from getting inside in the first place.  Keep screens on your doors and windows, for example.  If you don’t have screens on your doors, don’t leave them open for prolonged periods of time. 

Once you have flies in your home, you’ll want to eliminate any chance they have to eat or breed.  That means scrupulously removing any food sources that they have access to.  Wipe up even small crumbs, and keep foods in the refrigerator rather than sitting out on the counter.  Outside, keep all garbage receptacles covered and sealed.  Make sure pet waste is removed from your yard and if you have a compost pile, be sure it is covered as well.  You also need to eliminate standing water or other sources of excessive moisture.

Once you have flies in your house there are a few ways to get rid of them in addition to cutting of their food supply.  The good news is that the lifespan of a housefly is extremely short, so controlling them can be a fairly quick process as long as they are no longer able to breed.    For the occasional fly problem, invest in a good fly swatter and hone your skills at hunting them down yourself.   Ultraviolet bug zappers can work well in the outdoors, as can flytraps coated with sticky, sweet materials like sugar and molasses. 

However, if your fly problem is really out of hand, you may need to call in a professional pest control service.  The use of insecticides is not something to be done without serious consideration, and if you need to use them it is always best to have the help of a trained professional.  For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.

Pesticides and insecticides get a bad name these days.  With the overall movement toward green living, all synthetic chemicals have become suspect–and for good reason.  Misuse of chemicals has been responsible for millions of illnesses and deaths throughout the years.  But the proper use of pesticides has also contributed to a better life for everyone, and these benefits are rarely discussed. 

Increased Farm Production

Today, farmers can produce many times more crops than they could a century ago because they are able to protect their crops with judicious use of pesticides.  This means that the earth needs less work to grow more food—and the demands on all our natural resources are reduced.  Today’s grocery stores are full of nutritious, affordable foods thanks to modern farming techniques which includes using pesticides to protect crops as they grow.

Reduction of Property Damage

Millions of dollars of property damage has been done by termites and other pests who destroy the structure of buildings requiring costly repairs.  Additionally, the weakening of structures by pests can create dangerous situations that are hazardous to the people living and working in and around them.  Home and property owners are grateful to have alternatives in the form of pesticides to protect their investments. 

Reduction of Pest Borne Diseases

Back in the middle ages, the plague was spread primarily by rats.  Other infectious diseases like malaria, Lyme disease and West Nile virus are all spread through insects.  Thanks to pesticides, these insect populations have been controlled and contracting these life-threatening illnesses is a rarity.

Using pesticides can improve your overall quality of life, but it is important to remember that they are poisonous and can be dangerous if not used correctly.  That’s why it’s a good idea to call in a professional pest control service for your residential pest control needs.  For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.

Just because the snow is falling doesn’t mean you can give your pest control efforts a rest.  Pests can thrive in winter months simply because they find shelter in your home.  That means you have to be diligent year-round to be sure rodents and insects are not getting cozy alongside your family during the cold months.

Insects like cockroaches and ants cannot survive outside when it freezes.  So if you want to keep them out of your home, you need to make sure any entry points into your house are sealed.  A thorough inspection of your property—inside and out—will reveal cracks and crevices which can welcome tiny critters inside.  Fill all these holes or repair cracks with caulking or spackle.  You may need to consult with a handyman about the best way to make repairs, but in the long run it will save your property and your money.  Outside, make sure you keep your trees and bushes trimmed and woodpiles cleared.  Insects can use those as a pathway into your house.

You’ll also want to be sure that you keep your home interior clean and free from crumbs or other food lying on countertops or the floor.  Make sure your garbage is sealed and emptied regularly.  In your pantry, keep your food in containers with air-tight lids and make sure any open packages are clipped shut.

When it comes to rodents, you’ll also want to patch holes in the roof or attic to make sure squirrels, rats and mice don’t make it in.  Store any materials that could be used for “nesting” in airtight containers.  This can include yard clippings, pillows and furniture cushions in your garage.   If you are planning to go out of town for the holidays, make sure you have everything secured before you go.  

Protect your home from wintertime pests by making a seasonal routine of preparing your home before the cold weather hits.  Don’t hesitate to call a pest control service if you suspect you are have some uninvited guests.  Most professional pest services will help you eliminate your current pest problem and assist you in identifying problem areas for the future.  For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.

Spiders are unwelcome in many homes, and although they have a scary reputation they are actually one of the most useful and friendly critters on the planet.  Just because you’d prefer to keep them out of your house doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate them.  Here are 20 fascinating facts about spiders that you may not know:

1. Spiders are not insects.  They are arachnids.  Insects have three body sections and six legs; spiders have two body sections and eight legs.
2.  There are more than 30,000 known species of spiders.
3. Despite the fact that most spiders have 6-8 pairs of eyes, their eyesight is very poor.  They use the fine hairs on their bodies to sense movement and signal when they should run or attack.
4. The male spider is usually smaller than the female.
5. The word “spider” comes from the Old English word “spinnan” which means “to spin.”
6. Spiders digest their food before they eat it!  They inject digestive enzymes into their prey which turns the captured critter into liquid and allows the spider to suck up the mush through a special “straw.”
7. Despite its scary appearance, the tarantula is no more poisonous than a bee sting.
8. The spider’s web is made out of protein.  When it’s time to spin a new web, the spider will eat the old web.
9. The golden spider spins silk that is as strong as a steel wire of the same size.
10. Little Miss Muffet from the Mother Goose nursery rhyme was a real person.  She was the daughter of Dr. Mouffet who believed you could be healed by eating spiders.
11. Each year, spiders eat so many insects that the combined weight of their pray exceeds the weight of the entire global population of humans.
12. The largest known spider is the Goliath tarantula which makes its home in South America.  Its body can span a dinner plate.
13. Most spiders live for less than six months, but the female tarantula can live up to 25 years!
14. A spider’s silk is liquid until it hits the air and then it coagulates into thread.
15. The black widow’s venom is 15x more powerful than the venom of the diamondback rattlesnake.  However, because only a tiny amount is injected when she bites, very few people die from the black widow spider’s bite.

For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.

If you are a restaurant owner, one of the most important parts of maintaining your space is ensuring that you remain pest-free.  Aside from sanitation issues, there is your reputation to consider.  Even a single rodent or cockroach can cause your patrons to think less of your establishment, and they will tell others about it, too.  The overall impact on your business can be devastating.

To keep your property free of pests, the first thing you need to do is have a regular self-inspection.  It’s also a good idea to make sure your staff knows what to look for and have them keep their eyes open for anything that could signify an infestation.  The earlier you can address a pest problem, the more likely you’ll be to eliminate it. 

Create a checklist that you and your managers can use to identify pests, droppings, tracks and other evidence–and keep a record of your findings.   Your checklist can even include a map of the facility where you can easily mark areas where you’ve found problems.  Be sure your staff has flashlights so that they can be thorough and look in cracks, pipes, or crevices where pests can remain hidden.

Once you’ve determined you have a pest problem, you don’t want to hesitate calling a professional pest control service.  Your restaurant’s reputation may be on the line, so find an experienced company as soon as possible and make sure they have other restaurant clients.  Be sure to take the time to interview with a representative and find out specifics about how often they visit and what exactly is covered under your contract. 

In addition to hiring someone to remove and control pests, you also want to consider making improvements in your facility which can help prevent future infestations.  If you are leasing your space, make a thorough list of the issues you find and bring it to the attention of your landlord.  If you own your space, be sure to have a maintenance schedule that includes making repairs, sealing openings in floors and ceilings, and keeping the food preparation areas clean and free of refuse.

Pest control is simply part of owning a restaurant, so don’t start to panic if you find you have a problem.  Rather, look for a way to take care of it quickly and think ahead to prevent future issues.  For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.

Choosing a pest control service is an important decision.  The service you choose is going to be a partner with you in protecting your investment.  But deciding on a pest control service requires more than just opening the phone book and calling an ad that appears trustworthy.  Here is a list of things to consider when choosing your pest control service:

• Find out if the service you are considering is licensed by your state.  You can ask them for proof of their licensure as well as their insurance during your vetting process.
• Call the Better Business Bureau and your city’s Chamber of Commerce to find out if the company you are considering is a member of either, and to learn whether or not they have had any complaints lodged against them.
• Ask the service if they have any customer referrals or references that you can contact about their service.  If they provide you with a list, be sure to call and ask specific questions about their rates, dependability, and overall quality of work.
• Find out about the different types of services that are provided and what type of schedule they offer.  Find out if you can call for unscheduled visits if unexpected issues arise, and whether there is an additional charge for these visits.
• Consider how the company’s representative was when you met with him or her.  Did they dress and behave professionally?  Did they answer your questions thoroughly and were they willing to take the time to discuss your issues, or did they seem in a hurry?
• Is their contract clear, easy to understand, and fair?  Before you sign anything, be sure to read through the entire contract and ask questions if you think something doesn’t look right.  A professional service will not be impatient or brush off your concerns when it comes to the contract.

If you live in the Los Angeles area, call Accuracy Plus California at 888-675-0258 for a free pest inspection or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.

Bedbugs are on the rise, and although they have been around for centuries few people today know much about them.  After the second World War, the increased use of pesticides in the U.S. caused the infestations go become practically non-existent.  But recent years have seen bedbugs making a comeback.   It helps to know what to look for so that you can isolate the problem and address it before it causes serious problems for your family.

The adult bedbug is usually less than ¼ inch, and females can produce between 1-5 eggs per day.  The eggs hatch after an incubation period of ten days, and the babies can feed up to five times before reaching adult size. Bed bugs feed on the blood of both humans and animals, usually during the nighttime hours when they can feed undisturbed.  They locate their victim by sensing the warmth of their sleeping body and the carbon dioxide given off from exhalations.

 After biting their victim, the bed bugs secrete a small amount of saliva into the bite to prevent the blood from coagulating.  The saliva causes the skin to itch and become swollen, and may even lead to infection.  Bedbugs can leave a series of small bites or just one or two in random places on your body. 

During the times when they are not feeding, bedbugs hide in openings in your walls, in artwork, in baseboards or furniture (including mattresses).  If you happen to be staying away from home in a hotel or on a cruise ship, you can check your quarters for bedbugs with a flashlight, which should reveal crawling insects, blood spots, excrement or evidence of molting.

A few more facts about bedbugs:

• Bedbugs can live anywhere they have a source of blood on a regular basis.
• Bedbugs do not transmit diseases; however their bites can be itchy, swollen and uncomfortable.  Repeatedly scratching them can lead to infections.
• One of the first signs of infestation is small blood spots on bed linens. 
• Bedbugs are not necessarily sign of lack of cleanliness.
• Bedbugs may be able to go more than a year without blood.  That means that if you buy used furniture, it should be inspected thoroughly regardless of how long it has been sitting at the dealer’s store.
• The saliva of a bedbug contains an anesthetic which numbs the sensation of its biting.

If you suspect an infestation, it is recommended that you call a professional pest control company.  They will have special tools and the experience to identify problem areas in your home right away.  Treatment may take several visits, and you may also be required to remove or destroy furniture, clothing, rugs or artwork which is infested.  At the very least you’ll want to thoroughly clean your home along with your pest control treatment to ensure you are getting the most benefit from it.  For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.