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When it comes to the pests that you might find in your home, it might seem like there an astounding number of them. And while the sheer volume of household pests that could possibly make their way into your home might seem overwhelming, there are a few that rank as the most common.

Ants

Ants are one of the most common household pests. Ants generally prefer to live outdoors but sometimes enter a person’s home looking for food. It’s a common misconception that ants are attracted to sweet things like sugar. And although this is true for some types of ants, others prefer a diet that’s made up of mostly protein, while others are happy to eat anything that comes across their path. Ants follow pheromone trails that lead from their colony to food sources, and this is why you’ll often see ants following a specific path. You can usually get rid of an ant problem on your own with things like ant traps.

Cockroaches

When it comes to household pests, most people think of cockroaches as not only one of the most common, but also one of the most repulsive. And if you’re among this group, you’re not wrong. Not only are cockroaches extremely hard to get rid of, but they also carry a lot of diseases and can cause severe allergic reactions for many people. There are some home remedies that can be tried to get rid of cockroaches but large infestations usually require a professional exterminator.

Spiders

Spiders are generally harmless and thankfully, most of them like to live outside. But living with a large amount of them is certainly enough to give anyone a serious case of the creepy-crawlies. If you have a large amount of them, there are also different traps and tricks that you can try and should work fine for you. Also make sure to get rid of any webs as these can hold spider eggs within them. If you have a real problem on your hands, capture one in a jar so that you can show it to a professional. This will give them the chance to study the spider and understand what type of spider they’re dealing with before trying to eliminate them.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs were once the most common household pest found in the United States but after people started recognizing them and becoming more aware of them, their presence seemed to have died down for awhile. Unfortunately, the cases of bed bugs being found in homes are on the rise, and they are once again becoming one of the most common household pests. They do feed on humans and they can be treated, but it usually takes a professional coming in to do the job.

Termites

Termites are the bane of many homeowners’ existence, and they can be a nightmare to get rid of. These household pests are extremely common and can do a great amount of damage to homes and other structures. Because termites get so deep into wood structures, and because there are so many of them, a professional is also usually required to take care of a termite problem.

Accuracy Plus can handle all of your pest control needs, both inside and outside. Give us a call at 888-675-0258 for a free Orange County pest inspection.

If you are currently battling against a termite infection, or you suspect one is forming, you’ll need to know which type of termite you’re dealing with. In the United States, there are three main types of termites that are most commonly seen. These are drywood; subterranean, also known as ground termites; and Formosan. Whatever type of termite you’re dealing with, they all live by eating cellulose that’s found in wood. But even though they all live on wood, these different types of termites also act quite differently from each other.

Drywood termites usually like to live above the soil, in areas such as trees, furniture, and houses. These termites live inside of the wood, and slowly destroy the structure from the inside out. Although they might not be found for years, these termites can do a great deal of damage and can completely destroy any structure that they inhabit.

Subterranean, or ground termites, live within the soil. These termites build complex networks of tunnels that allow them to crawl up them and through to nearby sources of wood for their food. Ground termites can do an incredible amount of damage, with some species eating as much as fifteen pounds of wood per week. They also have a very long travel capability, sometimes going as far as 130 feet away from their colony’s main living area to go and find more sources of wood. Unfortunately, this is also the most common type of termite that is found in the United States.

Formosan termites are relatively new to the States, being brought over from East Asia after World War II. These termites look and act much like ground termites, and weren’t actually identified as a different type of termite until the 1960s. These termites too, can do an amazing amount of damage in a relatively short time.

Facing termites can be challenging. But knowing which type of termite you’re dealing with first can help you understand the habits and ways of the termites, and that can be your biggest line of defence when it comes to battling the terrible termite.

For a free Orange County termite inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or contact though our website.

Many people think that rats and mice are members of the same family and some may think that they are even the same species, because they look so similar to each other. In fact, rats and mice are members of the same family, but they are definitely not the same species; rats and mice have both very visible noticeable differences, and different characteristics that you can’t see just by looking at them. It can be difficult to compare rats and mice because there are so many different species of each. However when the two are compared, it’s usually the house mouse (Mus Musculus) with the Norway rat, or the black rat.

There are many visual characteristics of rats and mice that are very different. Rats are much larger and grow to be an average of 6 – 9 inches in length and usually weigh anywhere from 12 – 22 ounces. Mice are much smaller, and usually only grow to be 3 – 4 inches in length, and weigh only a couple of ounces at their maturity. You can also spot the difference between rats and mice by looking at their tails. Rats have very large tails that are thick and heavy, and usually about 8 inches in length on their own. Mice on the other hand, have very tiny and delicate tails that are usually about 2 – 3 inches in length.

The head and facial characteristics of mice and rats are also quite different. Rats tend to have blunter facial features that seem to be a bit squished. Rats also have shorter, pointy ears that are very small when compared with the size of their head. Mice however, have pointier faces than rats, with their features sticking out from their face quite a bit more than those of rats do. Mice also have larger ears than rats, and they are not as pointed.

The number of chromosomes each has may account for some of their differences. Rats have 22 chromosomes while mice only have 20. Rats can also be more intelligent than mice and can be much more sociable creatures. However, rats and mice themselves do not get along and if kept together, the rats might kill the mice. Many people who have both a rat infestation and a mouse problem might be pleased to find that the rats have taken care of their mice problem.

Even though there are many differences between rats and mice, they have some similarities as well. The biggest similarity between the two is in their life span. Rats and mice in the wild usually don’t live any longer than a year. When held in captivity as pets, neither has a much longer lifespan, living only about three or four years.

Accuracy Plus can help you with your rat or mice problems, contact us or give us a call at 888-675-0258 for a free pest inspection.

If you are facing a cockroach problem, killing them sooner rather than later is your best chance of making sure that it doesn’t blow up into a full infestation. And, if you’re not facing an infestation yet, but want to get rid of the few dozen cockroaches that seem to be skittering around your home, you can use two simple items out of your pantry to get rid of them. This can be a great way to get rid of your cockroaches, without putting things like toxic chemicals into the air and onto surfaces that might be touched by children and pets. However, this method can have dangerous effects on small children and pets, so make sure that you place these mixtures in hidden areas that cannot be accessed by either.

Start by combining equal parts of sugar and baking soda in a small, shallow dish that has an open top. Remember when choosing your jar to pick one that cockroaches can get into and out of easily. Make sure the sugar and baking soda are thoroughly mixed and then place the jars in places where you’ve seen cockroaches gathering. Then, place another small shallow dish filled with water beside these dishes. Once you’ve placed the dishes in known areas of cockroaches leave them there for several days. Check them every so often to see if they need refilling and keep doing so until you notice that there are less, or no cockroaches in your home.

The theory behind this method is that the sugar in the mixture attracts cockroaches to come and eat it. When they do, they also ingest baking soda, which then sits in their stomach until the cockroach finishes eating, becomes thirsty, and takes a drink of water. Once that happens, the water reacts with the baking soda and explodes, killing the cockroaches.

This might sound like a fairly dramatic way to get rid of your cockroaches, but it could also be the one that works when you’re trying to get rid of cockroaches.

Accuracy Plus can handle all of your pest control needs, both inside and outside. Call us today at 888-675-0298 for your free Los Angeles pest inspections.

Rat poison can be a great way to get rid of rats in your home. And even when you have small pets or children, rat poison can sometimes be your best bet of banishing rats for good. Unfortunately though, if the rat poison isn’t hidden well enough or if a pet sniffs it out and finds it, the results can be disastrous. Dogs are one of the most common pets in the United States and rat poison can be especially deadly to them. In fact, dogs can become seriously ill and face death even just from eating a rat that has been killed with poison. The good news is that there is a way to tell if your dog has eaten rat poison, and a way to treat it if they have.

The first thing you need to do is determine if your dog has actually ingested rat poison. To do this, you’ll need to induce vomiting by giving your dog one to two teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide. This works best up to two hours after the dog has eaten rat poison. If the vomit is green, or even has a greenish tint to it, then the dog has most likely eaten rat poison and should be taken to see a vet immediately.

You should also keep an eye on the dog and look for signs of bleeding. Bleeding can come from the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, and might even be present in vomit, stool, or urine. Rat poison is a blood thinner and so causes excessive bleeding. If a dog becomes cut after they’ve eaten rat poison, it might continually bleed and be difficult to stop. Along with bleeding, dogs who have eaten rat poison will also bruise much more easily. These will look like human bruises and should be looked for carefully.

Rat poison also has an effect on a dog’s ability to walk. Check for signs of staggering, tripping easily, or otherwise just not seeming to walk as they normally do. Another sign that a dog has eaten rat poison also lies in the fact that they may wander around aimlessly, as though they are lost.

The last sign that a dog has eaten rat poison is usually that they begin to convulse and have seizures. If this happens, giving the dog an egg can help, but the vet should still be called immediately. Dogs who have eaten rat poison can be saved, but veterinary treatment needs to start as soon as possible to give the dog the best chance possible.

For a free pest control inspection in Los Angeles or Orange County, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to our website.

Cockroaches are known for being incredibly tough and durable and once they enter your home, it can be quite a challenge to get rid of them. One of the best ways to keep roaches out of your home is to make sure that they never get there in the first place. Preventative measures can go a long way in preserving your sanity when it comes to cockroaches and so, here some tips on how to make sure that you never fight the battle with roaches.

Cockroaches are extremely common, and can be found in places you would never think of (and probably prefer not to.) Unfortunately, that means that you can bring cockroaches into your home from somewhere else without even realizing it. Grocery stores and department stores can be places that cockroaches easily find their way into. Because of this, always make sure that you check the bags of anything you buy right after bringing it into your home.

Inspect the bags thoroughly but regardless of whether you find an actual roach in there, throw them in the garbage or recycling immediately. There may still be larvae or eggs that you’re not seeing in the bottom of the bag, and you definitely don’t want those growing into adults! Paper bags are especially known for making good inhabitants for cockroaches.

Used furniture is another big culprit that brings cockroaches into many homes. Cockroaches like to set up camp in the furniture and when the piece of furniture moves, the cockroaches just move right along with it. But that doesn’t mean that you have to pass good deals by. When you bring home your used furniture though, do leave it in an area outside of the home if possible or in the garage. Look it over very carefully and if you think that cockroaches might be living within it, you can use treatments on it such as roach bomb that will kill the roaches and allow you to clean and use your new, used furniture.

Just like used furniture, used clothing coming into the home can also bring roaches in with it, especially if the clothes are packed into cardboard boxes. If they are, remove the clothes and put them in a plastic bag that’s tightly tied. Discard the cardboard box outside of your home and leave the clothes in plastic bags for a few days. This will be long enough to kill any roaches that might be lurking inside the clothing items. Then, give them a hot water wash and hang them up, good like new!

Lastly, after inspecting everything that comes into your house, inspect yourself. If you enter areas where there are known roaches, always check the hems of your pants and anywhere else that cockroaches might be hiding. If you find any, leave your clothing outside overnight, shake them out well the next day, and then wash as normal.

You don’t have to fight cockroaches in your home. Just make sure that they don’t enter it in the first place!

Whether it is Cockroaches, Termites or some other pest Accuracy Plus can help. Call 888-675-0258 for a free pest inspection.

When it comes to ticks, most people think of the hard-shelled insect that resides on their host, and feeds off of their blood. This is an accurate description of ticks, but it only represents one kind of tick. There’s also a softer-shelled tick that does come out to feed, but then moves back into their natural habitat, which are usually small, dark crevices. If you have a lot of ticks in our around your home, it’s important to get rid of them. Not only can they be nasty creatures, that remain attached to you should a hard-shelled tick find you make a good host, but they can also carry many different diseases, namely Lyme disease.

Preventative measures are essential if you live in area that is known for ticks. One way to do this is to use a tick insecticide and place it on cotton swabs; then place the swabs inside cotton tubes. Place them outside and field mice will find them and use them to build their nest. When a tick then feeds on a mouse, it will ingest the insecticide and kill it. However, this insecticide is not at all harmful for the mouse. In America, ticks are mostly known for being active from spring until November so this is the best time to place these cardboard tubes outside.

Another way to make sure that ticks don’t come inside your house is to keep any pets indoors when you know that there are high tick populations outside. If you can’t do that, thoroughly check your pet over when they come inside the house, and possibly also give them a tick medication. Just be sure to talk with your veterinarian about any medication you give your pet as some tick medications have been known to cause harmful reactions in some pets.

To keep ticks from choosing you as a host when you go into areas that might contain ticks, dress appropriately and also check yourself to make sure that no ticks got on you. Wear long sleeves and long pants, and tuck your pants into your socks when you’re in areas that have a very high amount of ticks. Also, make sure that you always take someone with you that you can trust, so you can thoroughly check each other over when you’re finished to make sure you’re not carrying ticks around with you.

If you ever find a tick on you, it’s essential that you leave the removal to a doctor or other medical professional. This is because ticks burrow their heads right into their host while the rest of their body remains outside the host’s body. If you just pull on the tick, the head will remain inside and could cause a severely dangerous infection. See your doctor to make sure that the tick is removed – fully and properly.

Accuracy Plus can handle all of your pest control needs, both inside and outside. Visit our site for more valuable information or give us a call at 888-675-0258.

Termites are social little critters. And when it’s time to make a new colony, the males and females set off from their original colony, in order to find each other and make a new colony of their own. Sounds all well and good for the termites, but this process is actually known as termite swarming, and it could indicate a major problem in your home.

If you have a termite swarm in or around your house, you will notice it right away. A termite swarm could include dozens to hundreds of termites, crawling and flying all around the same area. Termite swarms can usually be found in and around baseboards; around windows, especially in the cracks; cracks in the foundation of a home; and other woody areas around the home. The swarm will usually last less than an hour, when the termites will eventually fly away or crawl into the nearest spot that looks good to start a colony. Even if you notice a termite swarm and then see them all go away, it’s still important to get help because you do likely have a major termite problem.

Getting an exact idea on when termites are going to swarm can be difficult. Different termites in different areas swarm at different times of the year. California, which is a hotbed of termite activity, sees many swarming seasons throughout the year. Western Drywood termites usually swarm from September to October while the Southeastern Drywood termites swarm from late May to the middle of June.

Subterranean termites  are one of the biggest problems in California. These pests are very common, very difficult to get rid of, and swarm throughout the entire year in California. They are mostly known for swarming in the spring months, but it’s not uncommon for smaller colonies to experience swarming on warmer days during the fall, winter, and early spring.

If you notice a large amount of termites in your home, it’s likely that they are going to find a new place nearby to colonize in, and could cause major damage to your home. The best thing to do, should you notice a swarm, is to vacuum up the termites that you can see and leave them in the vacuum container or bag, until you can get a professional in to help you with your problem. And because the termite problem is only likely to grow while you’re waiting, that should be as soon as possible!

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

No one wants pests in their garden. They can destroy your plants and vegetables, and can spread disease that can spread to other plants. But you also don’t necessarily want to hose down your garden with insecticide and pesticide that contains harmful chemicals. These can not only also kill your beautiful blooms, but they are also very harmful to the environment. And with so many easy steps that can be done right at home with everyday items, spending the money for these harmful chemicals doesn’t make a whole lot of sense either. Here are just a few of the things you can do in your garden to practice eco-friendly pest control.

Milk spores are terrific in the garden and can help get rid of common garden pests such as grubs. These spores can be found in nurseries and are easy to spread out over the soil. The spores also work two-fold. They will eliminate many pests and will also leave good nutrients behind in the soil.

Mites and other small bugs can be dealt with by preparing a simple solution at home with things right out of your pantry. Start by mixing one quart of water, ½ teaspoon of dish soap, and two tablespoons of cayenne pepper, or hot pepper sauce. Pour this solution into a spray bottle and allow it to sit overnight. The next morning, shake the bottle and spray entirely over garden, making sure that plants are completely covered.

Mealybugs and aphids are other pests in the garden that can be taken care of by mixing your own solution. For this one use: one quart of water; one teaspoon of Ivory dish soap; and one tablespoon of canola oil. You don’t need to allow this solution to sit but you do still need to cover the entire garden, including the plants from top to bottom.

Slugs and earwigs are other critters that can cause gardeners no end of headache. For these pests, there are two different methods you can use. The first is to place out shallow tins in the garden that are half full with vegetable oil. The pests will be able to get into the can, but they won’t be able to climb back out. The second solution is to purchase some diatomaceous earth from a nursery. Sprinkle this earth all over plants and the soil, as well as the surrounding area.

When people find pests in their garden, especially when their garden is becoming overrun with them, their first step is often to turn to toxic pesticides and insecticides. But, these simple solutions prove that there are lots of things that you can try first that won’t destroy the surrounding plants, or the environment.

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