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The cooler weather brings all kinds of pests indoors, but in recent months there have been an unusually high number of ladybugs moving into homes; especially in the Midwest and Northeast areas of the U.S.  Even though these charming beetles have become popular in art and fashion, they were only introduced into the U.S. in the 1960’s.  Occasionally, homeowners will find that these little “ladies” have invited themselves in for a visit.

Ladybugs aren’t really dangerous and don’t create any serious hazards to health or property; however if they invade a building, they can be extremely hard to get rid of.  You can prevent them from getting in by sealing your windows, doors and pipes; especially those that are exposed to sunlight.   These pretty insects are attracted to light colored houses where they can cluster together and get lots of sunlight on the exterior sides of the house.    Since they often live in trees, you may also find that your home is prone to ladybug infestation if it is located in green areas. 

Once you have them indoors, the best way to remove them is with a vacuum.  The reality is that these critters are not meant to live inside and will eventually die themselves if they don’t have access to water and sunshine.  However, even if the adults die you may have eggs or baby lady bugs in your home which will continue to bother you.

Ladybugs might be bothersome, but there’s really no chemical solution to getting rid of them.  You can, however, use preventative pesticides on the exterior of your home in addition to your sealing efforts.  These two methods combined should ensure that ladybugs stay outside where they’re happier.  Unless you have an extraordinary number of ladybugs, however, it may be advisable to simply let them be.   After all, ladybugs were introduced into the U.S. as a way to control aphids and other pests that can destroy your garden.

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

As soon as the weather turns cool you pull out the boxes and bags of sweaters, woolens and cozy scarves and hats.  But imagine how upsetting it would be to find that some uninvited “guest” has made a snack of your beautiful (and expensive!) winter clothing.

Moths are one of the most prolific species of insects in the world.  The most common types of moths which eat cloth in North America (and other materials) are the Webbing Clothes Moth (Tineola bisselliella) and the Case-Making Clothes Moth (Tinea pellionella).

Most people do not realize that adult moths are not cloth eaters.  It is actually done during their larva stage before it entering the pupa stage, when the moth is a tiny caterpillar.  Unlike adult moths which are attracted to light, these larvae prefer dark spaces such as in a closet or chest where there are plenty of cozy coats and mittens to curl up in and will feast on your winter wardrobe as they prepare to turn into adult moths.

Many people attempt to get rid of moths and their larva by putting their clothing inside cedar chests or by using cedar hangers; however this is not necessarily going to be effective, especially after the cedar ages for a few years.   Another solution is the use of moth balls, a type of insect repellant made from naphthalene which gives off a strong, unpleasant smell.  The disadvantage of using moth balls (aside from the bad smell) is that naphthalene is a chemical which can actually be harmful to humans or pets.

While you may not be able to avoid using any chemicals completely, you can drastically reduce the amount that you do use.   The key to successful removal of moths is to remove them physically—using a vacuum cleaner and by heating the materials that have been infested to more than 130 degrees you can kill any eggs, pupa or caterpillars.  To rid your home of the adult moths, you can purchase insect traps which attract them using pheromones. 

Obviously if you feel that your problem is out of hand, you’ll want to contact a contact your local pest control provider who can offer you solutions to your moth problem, and help keep your winter wardrobe intact!

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