First, are you having trouble with pests in or around your home?
If the answer is NO, then you don’t currently need a pest control company.
However, if the answer is YES, then you may or may not need a pest control company.
Note: this information is not regarding termites; termites are a separate issue that typically need a yearly inspection by a certified pest control company.
If you are having pest problems, the first step
Barrier spraying is NOT the most effective method of preventing insects from entering a home. Insects have a part in the ecosystem, so measures should be taken to exclude the pests from the home, not kill all insects, as some can be beneficial.
Having a home that is tightly sealed, following good sanitation measures, and checking packages entering the home is the most effective way to prevent insect entry.
Here are some tips to prevent insect entry:
The first step in any pest management plan is to identify the pest. With ants this can be quite difficult because of their small size. A microscope with greater than 30x magnification is often needed to identify them. Most people won’t have access to a microscope, so you can take the specimen to your local county Extension office for identification.
Identifying the ant is important because ants have different food preferences and different behaviors that will directly affect how well
Shrews have been known to enter buildings. Rodent-proofing will exclude shrews from entering structures. Look along the foundation sill, pipes, eaves, attic screens and other places where gaps occur in the structure. Shrews have been found in attics so don’t forget to look along eaves.
Here are some ways to exclude shrews:
