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There are lots of different types of ants, but no matter which kind you have, the chances are that you want to get rid of them. Ants can be a real nuisance, getting into your food and just by being there every time you turn around. So, if you have ants, how do you get rid of them? There are a few different ways to get rid of ants but the first thing you might want to do is determine which type of ants you have. Although many of these tricks will work for many different kinds of ants such as pavement ants, black ants, and red ants, there might be a specialized product out there that can help you control a specific type of ant.

The first thing you’ll want to do is to apply caulking to any cracks you might find in or near your house, as this might be where the ants are coming from. The safest and least toxic caulking is silicone. Another way to get ants to stop using a specified route is not by sealing it but just by deterring them from using it. This can be done by sprinkling strong spices and items with strong odors in the cracks. Things like paprika, chili pepper powder, dried peppermint, or borax will all work.

If you’re having a problem with ants in your garden, the chances are that you have other insects that are attracting them so you’ll have to get rid of the initial insects first. Bugs like aphids, whiteflies, and mealybugs all secrete a sticky sweet substance that ants love. Get rid of all the pesky insects, and you’ll see your ants go too! If you have shrubs or trees in your garden that ants are all over, apply a sticky ant trap up along the bottom of the bark. Ants climb trees looking for food and once they step on the sticky tape, they won’t be able to get off and ruin your foliage.

And if you see an anthill that you know is going to be a big problem, you can create your own non-toxic ant killer and pour it over the anthill. This concoction can be made by taking orange and lemon peels and mixing them with water. Mix these together in a blender and then just pour it over the anthill. This will be enough to kill the ants and get rid of your problem, and it’s safe too!

For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258.

There are hundreds of ant species living in the U.S., but one of the largest and most easily identifiable is the Carpenter Ant.  These creatures can range between 3/8”-1/2” and are either red or black.  Carpenter ants are actually quite common and may be spotted indoors or out.  They seek out sugar and proteins in the form of other insects.  The do their foraging at night and can travel up to 100 yards from their nests to find food.

Despite their name, carpenter ants do not eat wood.  They do, however, tear wood away as they build their home and tunnels leading to and from it.  They are particularly fond of moist or rotting wood such as tree stumps, old boards or logs left outside in a pile, or within old walls or floorboards.   This means that if you hope to prevent a carpenter ant infestation, it is vital to make sure high-moisture areas are drained and wood that is not piled up and allowed to rot on your property.  If you keep firewood, be sure it is in a dry spot where air can circulate around to keep it from getting soggy.

When you walk around your property, look for piles of wood chips or sawdust, swarms of ants, or even individual ants carrying pieces of food.   All of these are an indication that a nest is on your property.  To ensure that the ants are destroyed and do not come back, you will need to destroy the colony.  In this case, you should definitely call a professional pest control service. 

Professional pest control companies like Accuracy Plus California have experience locating and removing all kinds of pests including carpenter ants.  Using the latest equipment and methods, we can effectively eliminate pests and help to ensure there is no re-infestation in the future.  For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.

If you live in the southern part of the U.S. chances are good you’ve come across fire ants at some point.  Most people in the southern states have actually been bitten by fire ants at least once; and it’s not something you quickly forget.  But fire ants are a fascinating species of insect.  That doesn’t necessarily mean you want to make them at home in your yard, but you might still be interested to know some facts about these amazing creatures:

1. Fire ants are not native to North America.  They were introduced to the U.S. in 1918 from South America.
2. The chances of fire ants spreading to the northern U.S. states is limited because the freezing soil during the winter months limits colonies from spreading in that direction.
3. The majority of the ants in a fire ant colony are female workers.
4. Fire ants are omnivores, eating both plant and animal matter.  They prefer high fat foods.
5. The workers that forage for food exit to the surface up to 25 feet away from the mound.
6. Adult ants cannot swallow solid food.  Instead, they carry it back to the mound and feed it to the larvae which digest it and regurgitate it up in a liquid form that is then shared by the adult ants.
7. It takes months for a colony to build up a mound large enough to be seen on the lawn. 
8. Fire ants can invade farm equipment and are actually responsible for more than $6 billion in losses from crop and equipment destruction each year.

As interesting as they are, fire ants can be dangerous to your pets and kids—at the very least causing pain and discomfort, and at worst causing death or permanent damage.  If you notice fire ants in your yard, call immediately to have our representative visit your home and assess the situation.

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

Some bees are welcome guests around the house – after all, they do all the hard work of helping our flowers grow – at least, the honey bee does. But most people lump a lot of irritating pests into the “bee” category, including wasps, yellow jackets and Africanized bees.

So, how do you tell the difference between the bee varieties? Here are some tips for distinguishing them:

Yellow jackets and wasps – about the same size as a honey bee, but their yellow and black stripes are clearly defined – dark black, bright yellow. Honey bees have much more subtle coloring, almost a brownish tone to their stripes.

Carpenter bees – these bees are usually quite large, bigger than ¾ of an inch. Carpenter bees are harmless for the most part, although they do drill small holes to lay eggs.

Africanized bees – it’s hard to tell these bees from the European variety. Of course, these bees have different temperaments and are very territorial about defending their territory.

If you’d like more information about some of the bee varieties in California, click here.

If you believe you may have wasps or yellow jackets, go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.
We’d be happy to get rid of these pests, so you can enjoy the outdoors.

Summertime in Southern California is just about perfect – we love to hit the beach whenever we can, enjoy the balmy days and nights, and take advantage of the long, summer days.

Unfortunately, there are some pests that are enjoying the summer season just as much as we are – ants, spiders, cockroaches, and silverfish. This is prime time for them to build nests and breed. While you enjoy the beach, you may come back to a home with a lot more critters running around.

Here are my suggestions for keeping summer pests under control:

• Get rid of any piles of debris from your yard – this includes lumber, firewood, or even bricks. All provide great nesting places for pests, especially ants;
• Watch your sprinkler system – redirect your sprinkler heads if necessary so they don’t spray on your house foundation;
• Seal cracks in the house exterior;
• Keep garden mulch low – less than 2 inches thick. Keep it away from your house foundation;
• Put screens on foundation and attic vents;

These are some of the simple ways you can control pests. Give me a call and I’ll help you determine if you have a pest infestation and give you more ideas of how we can control it, so you’ll have a pest free summer, or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com for more information.

You could have pests in your home without even realizing they exist – all the while they slowly eat away at the wood in your home. Fortunately, the type of pests that eat into wood – such as carpenter ants, termites and powder-post beetle – aren’t necessarily fast acting. You can have an infestation without your home being quickly eaten away, but you do need to take action.

How can you tell if pests are eating away at the wood in your home? They usually leave behind some distinctive signs:

• Look for holes in your wood work (window sills, baseboard, trim). These holes are really tiny – about the size of a pencil lead.
• Check for signs of recent sawdust – if you see little mounds of sawdust near or on your woodwork, that’s a big clue to pests at work.
• Look for coarse sawdust near piles of wood outside.
• Check for damage by pressing on wood work with a screw driver. Termites hollow out wood work, so damage may only be visible by pressing into their hollowed out area.

If you suspect you have carpenter ants, you may hear the ants at work. If you hear rustling in your walls, you may have a problem with carpenter ants. Termites are more visible, you will see signs of termite mounds, or you may see a swarm of termites around your home.

I recommend that you take action as soon as you think you have a problem with wood damage. I’m happy to come out to your home to check your wood work and help you determine which types of bugs are affecting your home and assess how much damage has been done, if any. Contact me at www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.

California is truly a land of imports. Most of the time, we enjoy those imports, but occasionally we come across a particularly noxious item, such as the red imported fire ants. Red imported fire ants started out in South America and have gradually infested many states of the southern United States.

Fire ants are very difficult to eradicate, and they are known for the viciousness. Part of their name derides from the fact that a sting from a fire ant feels like a burn, and will result in a large welt or several welts. Being bitten by a fire ant is a painful experience.

If you aren’t sure what a fire ant looks like, this website offers some excellent close-up pictures of the ants.  You may be able to detect the presence of fire ants by their distinctive mounds. Unlike regular ants, that create small mounds with a single opening, fire ants create a mound that looks like a small gopher hole. In California, we’ll often see these mounds as large sandy, patches in our grass. Don’t investigate too closely – if you suspect fire ants, you want to avoid them, because they can cause serious health problems.

We are happy to help you get rid of these terrible ants, so that you can enjoy your outdoors without fear of getting hurt. Simply go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com for more information.