Sorenson Pest Control Blog

The words ‘bee’ and ‘wasp’ are often used interchangeably. After all, they both look very similar to each other, they both build hives, and they both cause excruciating pain when they sting. However, there are many notable differences between the two insects, from the shape of their bodies to the benefits they offer to the environment. Here are some of the biggest differences between bees and wasps and how you can tell them apart. Bees   Bees are rounder in shape and have a wide abdomen and thorax. Their bodies and legs are covered in small hairs, and their legs are wide and flat. Bees create nests in out-of-the-way areas that are protected from the elements and can be found in trees, attics, under decks, inside walls and any other small, secluded cavities they can reach. Bees are responsible for most of the pollination needed for the fruits and vegetables we...

An evening spent outdoors with your family and friends can quickly turn into a disaster by an invasion of annoying pests. Many pests can also spread diseases and produce painful effects from their bites or stings. Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to enjoy the outdoors pest-free. Use Bug Spray While there are pests that will not be deterred by the use of bug spray, it will help stave off some of the common ones. If you are camping in a moist environment that is home to swarms of mosquitoes, bug spray will allow you to safely relax without being bothered. Keep Your Patio Area Clean A cluttered and dirty patio can prove to be a major attraction for unwanted pests. Insects and rodents will often look for places to take shelter, and clutter on your patio can provide this for them. Clean up any spills or food that...

Head lice might not be fatal, but it definitely isn’t pleasant. Lice can spread over your scalp quickly, causing itchiness and irritation to your skin and hair. Lice are most commonly spread with kids at school and in childcare settings, where lice and germs can be passed around rapidly. If your kids are exposed to lice, you can be quickly exposed as well. In any case, here are some quick and easy tips for preventing head lice.   1) Don’t Share Things that Touch Your Head One of the best ways to prevent lice from spreading is to not share anything that touches your head. Lice can easily and quickly spread from child to child or child to parent if you happen to share the same brush or comb. The same is true for sharing any type of hats. Make sure that once you have identified who has lice in your...

The first step in combating fleas for your pets is knowing their life cycle. The peak season for fleas is the summertime months. The flea eggs live in the ground. Once the larvae hatch, a flea can mature to adulthood on an average of two weeks during the summer. Outside Protection When it comes to protecting your pet from the outside elements, the best thing to do is yard maintenance. There are two ways to reduce the flea population outdoors; heat and water. So when you keep your lawn cut short, the sunlight warms the ground and kills the flea larvae. After mowing your lawn, you should water it. This will drown any eggs where the sunlight does not reach. Also check for any shrubbery that is close and covers the ground. Trimming the bushes will allow the sun and water to penetrate the ground and kill the eggs. Many people...

The idea of lice in a child’s hair can be unsettling for any parent. But, if you think there is a chance that your child might have lice, it is essential to check your child’s head and take action if necessary. Here are some helpful hints on how to check your child for lice. Be on the Lookout for Symptoms Children who have lice exhibit specific telltale signs. So, be on the lookout for the following symptoms: A tickling feeling on the scalp. The sensation that something is moving in the hair. An Itching feeling on the scalp. Sores on the head that are caused by excessive scratching. Irritability. Trouble sleeping. Inspect Your Child’s Hair Use a comb and a magnifying glass to look closely at your child’s scalp. Start your inspection at the base of the neck. Divide your child’s hair into small sections and look carefully for lice and...

Integrated Pest Management, often referred to as IPM, is an environmentally friendly approach to pest control that focuses on biological control and habitat management. A combination of IPM practices is applied over time to reduce and eliminate pest populations. On-going monitoring allows the pest control technician to gauge the results of the IPM strategy. Pesticides are used only as a last resort to manage unwanted pests. During fall, IPM can be a useful approach to controlling pests. Colder days and nights can herald the beginning of uninvited houseguests seeking warmth and plentiful food. Here are some of the fall pests In Northern California that are easily managed with IPM. Cockroaches Cockroaches are common and unwanted bugs. They slip into your house through crevices, cracks and small holes around foundations, doors and windows. Once inside, they avoid human contact, hiding in dark places like pantries, cupboards, drawers and behind appliances. They are...

While you may not realize it, pests are much smarter than given credit. They are well aware of when there’s no activity inside your home. They wait for these times to become the most active, creating the worst problems when no one’s around. Because of this, going on vacation can be a drag upon your return. That is, unless you take the time to prepare your home. When planning to leave for vacation, it’s important to invest additional time making sure your home is safe. Yes, lock doors and close all of the windows. That being said, you also need to make sure your home is ready for the pests who may be visiting. The following are just a few steps you can take to guard against nasty critters. Don’t leave out trash or food. While this may seem like a no brainer, it’s often one of the steps overlooked as...

Most varieties of spiders are so small that their bites either are not strong enough to pierce human skin or merely cause minor irritation such as red bumps or marks. Other spider bites can be venomous and truly dangerous to your health. Continue reading to learn what to do if you believe that you’ve been bitten by a poisonous spider. Spider Bite Protocol First, identify the bite mark. It is possible that you may not have even seen the spider biting your skin. Look for redness, bumps, welts, itching, pain, swelling or blistering on your skin. Sometimes, the bite mark can have a “bullseye” look to it, meaning there is a red ring around the raised bite mark. More severe symptoms of a spider bite is muscle aches and cramping, sweating, difficulty breathing, marks or bumps that are dark red or purple, nausea, headaches, loss of balance or swollen lymph nodes....

Many people believe earwigs can hurt you. The old wives tales talk about the earwig crawling into your ear and burrowing into your brain. But, that old wife’s tale is not true. The most that this pest can do is destroy your plants and gardens. Earwigs are a pest that are just annoying and a nuisance to humans. Earwig Characteristics The earwig is an intimidating looking insect. The intimidation factor comes from the long pincers. An earwig has distinct character traits: Their color is reddish-brown. It grows to approximately three quarters of an inch. It has six legs. Earwigs have two antennas. They have pincers near their tail. The food source is other dead and live insects and plants. Earwigs do not burrow. They live in clusters in damp and cluttered places. Earwigs are nocturnal pests. Causes Harm? Although the earwig has pincers, it is not poisonous. When an earwig pinches,...

Spiders are one of the most unsettling types of pests you see crawling across your bathroom wall. Between their eight, needle-like legs, their macabre hunting methods, and the speed at which they scurry under the couch and out of sight, there’s more than enough about them to send shivers down your spine. While spiders are usually not one of the more harmful pests and can actually be a bit of an asset around the house, it’s fair if you don’t want them strutting through your living room while you’re entertaining guests. Therefore, here are three ways to prevent spiders in your house, or if you prefer, relocate them. Use Natural Deterrents You don’t need to invest in expensive and harmful pest treatments to handle a spider infestation. Instead, there are numerous natural ways to keep them out. One of these is vinegar. Just combine vinegar and water in a spray bottle...

Never try to deal with pests on your own. You may think you would be saving money by purchasing goods yourself, however, your efforts might take a long time or it might not even work at all. Compared to pest control services, trying to handle pest problems yourself can be a challenge, unless you have experience in pest control, yourself. Pest control services are considered worth the money for a number of reasons. For starters, it’s the best method to help you remove pests from your home, and it is the only method that requires next to no effort on your end. Many homeowners do not wish to deal with pests up close and personal, and hiring pest control services will help with this. Why Professional Pest Control Is Worth It Only pest control experts are able to identify the certain pest you are dealing with in addition to what is...

Fleas are nasty pests to have in your home, and you can easily be susceptible to them, even if you are not a pet owner. But, you can easily control and eliminate fleas in your home with a little work. Keep reading to learn what to do if you have fleas in your house. Determine Where They got In Your first step in eliminating a flea infestation is to find out how they got into your house. If you have an animal, there is a good chance they are the culprit. But, that is not the only way fleas can get into the house. They could have attached themselves to you if you have been in contact with another animal who had fleas. Wild animals like raccoons have also been known to take refuge in a house and leave fleas there in the process. The way the fleas got in will...

Living in California has plenty of perks: beautiful weather, access to world-class beaches, and some of the best cities in the world. However, as with any state, California has its share of problems, both human-made and natural. While most people are concerned over elements like wildfires and earthquakes, we want to talk about another plague upon the Golden State: fire ants. Unfortunately, these vicious critters have been making their way through California like an invading army. Attempts to beat them back have failed, meaning that many Californians have to deal with them regularly. If you’re worried about a nest of fire ants in your yard, or you want better solutions to deal with the ants that are already there, we’ve compiled some of the best methods for preventing these bugs from ruining your life Also, because there are many different so-called remedies out there, we’ve also decided to dispel some of...

Cockroaches are pests that are most famous for being nature’s perfect disease distribution system. Many species can live for a month with no water, and up to two or three months with no food. We’ve covered warning signs that you may have cockroaches in your home (finding eggs, feces, or a single roach). If caught early enough, there are measures you can take to stop the infestation. Roach Control As they are drawn to food, keeping a home clean and all food stored in sealed containers is usually enough to curtail roaches from setting up residence. But that’s not always enough. Roaches also feed on adhesives, starch from paper, even certain organic fabric such as leather. If a cockroach determines that you have enough of one of these, they can overlook cleanliness. Once it has been determined that roaches have moved in, there are actions that can be taken on your...

It’s every homeowner’s nightmare to realize that bees have taken up residence in your walls or attic. You might not even be aware of the problem until you notice bees or wasps flying around on the inside of your home or stains on your ceiling. If you have a colony of bees that have taken up residence, contact us at Sorenson Pest Control immediately. A single colony of bees can cause severe damage to the interior of your home, and when you add in the risk of being stung, concerns about allergies and the fact that some species of bees will return to a nest annually, it’s clear that you need professional help. When you notice flying, stinging insects, the first question that needs to be answered is what type of stinging insect you have. In our service area, there are several types of stinging insects that might find their way...

For many homeowners, finding rodents in the home can be a very terrifying experience. They are much larger than most insects, they have far greater mobility and have instincts comparable to house pets like the dog or cat. The rat is slightly larger than the mouse, however, and it is important to establish which kind of rodent that you are living with in order to choose the right course of action. Should I Catch A Rat with A Mouse Trap? Of course, one of the most popular ways of catching and subduing mice is using mouse traps. The one problem with mouse traps is that they are only designed to catch mice. That high-velocity bar can kill a mouse with one swift motion. Rats, however, weigh much more than mice. That bar can clamp down on the rat, but the worst it could possibly do is pinch its skin. A rat...

No matter what time of year it is, your home may be home to more than just your family. Each year, new types of pests are looking to be your secret roommate, rent-free. Although your house may be spotless, if you have a crawlspace, you can have a serious infestation that you do not know about. Why Your Crawlspace Invites Pests There are many reasons why your crawlspace is a pest’s dream home like the moisture, insufficient airflow, food and shelter from larger animals. The heat from the insulation makes it warm, and for smaller pests, it is easy to access. These pests can become a severe fire and safety hazard, including the possible diseases they may bring, like rabies, salmonella and other bacteria or viruses. Due to these issues, you need to know what you may have crawling in the dark under your feet. The Six Common Pests These are...

Spooky spiders and creepy crawlers might be staples in scary movies, but no family wants these nasty pests to move in. Unfortunately, the hot-but-beautiful climate in California provides perfect conditions for spiders to thrive. Whether you live in the foothills or in an agricultural community with lots of wide open spaces, you're likely to run into spooky spiders from time to time. Here's what you need to know about the most venomous and destructive of these spiders. Which Creepy Spiders are Hiding Out in California? A wide variety of spiders live throughout the mountains and Central Valley areas of California. Grey house spiders, wolf spiders and orb weavers are among the most common and harmless spiders in the area. Of course, California natives and transplants alike generally know that the area is home to some more intimidating species too. Black Widows Black widows are found throughout the U.S., and California is...

Earwigs are fascinating insects belonging to the Dermaptera insect order. The insects are predominantly creatures of the night and are rarely viewed during daylight hours. Earwigs are typically brown, black, yellow or red and have long bodies. The insects prefer living in the woods. Yet some homeowners do find earwigs residing in their homes, especially in damper locations such as bathrooms, kitchens and basements. Earwigs do not bite people but prefer pinching or stinging them with their forceps. The sting may cause pain but does not present an emergency situation. Earwigs benefit humans in that they enjoy eating other insects. On the other hand, earwigs are pests in the common garden or commercial agricultural field because they also enjoy munching on plants including fruits, flowers and leaves. Here are a few fun facts about earwigs: 1. Female earwigs are devoted to their offspring. A female earwig is fiercely devoted to her...

Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is an important concept in the pest control industry. The public awareness of it can be improved, and our company takes the initiative to provide information about this system to the public. Once you understand the concept of IPM, you can make an informed decision about your pest control requirements. Homes and businesses can benefit from this approach to pest control because it evaluates each method in a way that makes practical sense. The end result is a customized approach to pest control that will allow you to maintain a pest-free environment all year long. About Integrated Pest Management This is an approach to pest control that is designed to reduce and suppress the pest population beneath a particular threshold. In other words, it is a method of pest control that uses many different techniques to prevent pests from breeding in your area. It also reduces...