Sorenson Pest Control Blog

Do you fear that Africanized honey bees have taken up residence on your property? If so, you may have cause for concern. Of course not all of the horrific stories are true. Some are simply urban legends meant to warn away children and others prone to going into respiratory distress or anaphylactic shock. But that doesn’t mean the presence of Africanized insects isn’t reason enough to hire bee and wasp control experts. Licensed, Certified Pest Control Operators or CPCOs are highly trained individuals who have a grasp of bee and wasp control measures that exceeds their peers. Consequently, they are the best people to call regarding a potential Africanized honey bee colony. Most colonies of Africanized honey bees tend to swarm between now and the end of July. The swarms, by the way, tend to be the most dangerous when it comes to loss of life and property damage. So this...

What is 7-inches long, weighs less than an ounce and has a 4-inch tail? If you guessed a house mouse, you’d be correct.  It can scurry through cracks smaller than 1-inch across and jump a foot high off of the ground from a standing position. Plus, the females are often capable of giving birth to 60 offspring in a given year.  At first blush, that may seem pretty impressive. Unfortunately, nature’s little marvels also carry infectious, harmful pathogens with them. So, there is certainly no place for house mice in a person’s home. Thankfully, there are mouse control measures available that will successfully keep the infectious critters away. The situation and the homeowners’ preferences will help determine which ones mouse control experts use to achieve their objectives. In general, mouse control efforts start with determining the tiny mammals’ point of entry. The suspected main entry is then sealed along with any...

Yellow jackets may be considered social insects among their kind but there are very few humans that want to associate with them and with good reason. They are often extremely uncompromising, reproduce quickly and have the ability to deliver nasty stings. In addition, it’s often hard to spot their nest until it’s too late. This is especially the case with subterranean yellow jackets. Along with their above ground cohorts, they tend to build new nests each spring. As such, its best for homeowners to begin thinking about bee and wasp control now, before fledgling nests have time to grow. If left unchecked, it is common for above and below ground nests to eventually shelter more than 200,000 yellow jackets at a time! That’s pretty disturbing, considering that yellow jackets have the capability to sting and release irritating venom into their victims multiple times. According to medical experts, less than 100 people die...

Roaches are probably the most loathsome and the most prolific pest there is. They infest the walls and other hidden spaces of a private home, venturing out in search of food, leaving droppings and their dead bodies everywhere. Controlling roaches is important, not just because they look horrible and smell worse, but because they constitute a health hazard. According to the National Center for Healthy Housing, roaches are a particular danger for asthma sufferers because the debris they leave behind can be breathed in. They are also carriers of a number of diseases that can afflict anyone, especially the young, the old, and people who are already ill with something else. Controlling roaches can be very challenging, mainly because they are good at two things – breeding and surviving. They are better at hiding than most people are at finding and killing them. More roaches will always find a way to get...

No matter how vigilant you are about controlling pests at home, all of your hard work could be for naught unless you are equally diligent in the workplace. Just as is the case with residences, office spaces can often be very inviting to a host of critters, including cockroaches, ants, flies, mice and even bed bugs. Take steps today to prevent a potentially nasty and unsanitary problem at your job tomorrow. Sometimes, the most obvious advice escapes our notice. In this category are tips such as ensuring that your work area is clean. Leaving food exposed and not dumping your garbage represent open invitations to all manner of pests. Therefore, your best bet is to always store edibles in airtight containers. Take your garbage to a central dumping location at the end of each day. If your workplace has a break room or kitchen, make cleaning it a part of your...

You don't want to share your fresh, clean bathroom with a population of pests, but insects seem determined to move in. It's easy to understand their taste for kitchen cabinets, but why do bugs love the bathroom so much? What Makes the Bath Bug Central? Insects enjoy your bathroom's environment because it's warm, damp and offers easy foraging. It's an ideal atmosphere for bugs living and breeding behind walls and under sinks. They raid vanity cabinets munching on paper products and crawl around drains enjoying a constant water source. Pests don't have to travel far or work hard to set up permanent house in your bath. Which Bugs Are the Worst? Most homeowners complain about cockroaches in the bathroom, but these insects rank high on the unwanted bug list because they multiply quickly and they're hard to miss. Those annoying clouds of gnats around your sinks are actually hordes of tiny...

Mice enter homes for many reasons. Most search for food, water, or a place to escape the outside elements. Once indoors, these pests may die from old age or electrocution. A homeowner should understand the signs of dead mice and the correct way to dispose of the problems. The most common indication of a dead mouse is a strong odor coming from behind the home's refrigerator or inside a cabinet. Also, a large amount of swarming flies may signal a dead mouse as well. To locate the rodent, it is necessary to follow the scent of decay or find where the flies are accumulating. After the dead rodent is uncovered, it is essential to act quickly and cautiously. A mouse is a health hazard and must be handled with care. A rodent may carry ticks and fleas and may spread disease. A homeowner must wear gloves and use a plastic bag,...

Is anything as romantic as a chocolate-covered grasshopper? The thought of biting into one the these crunchy treats might make your skin crawl, but people have been eating insects much longer than they’ve been celebrating Valentine’s Day. Grasshoppers, ants, worms, and spiders are all standard menu items from Cambodia to Mexico, and bugs provide a sustainable source of high-quality, low-fat protein for millions worldwide. Lately, however, they’ve been popping up in some unexpected places—such as in your sampler box of chocolates. Why the sudden popularity? There’s the obvious novelty factor, and plenty of people try insect snacks out of curiosity. For many, the true surprise comes when they take that second bite and realize they’re eating something delicious. Other insect-cuisine fans are trying to be more ecologically responsible, and dining on bugs is a great way to eat well while minimizing your carbon footprint.  Chocolate-covered ants and crickets are the most...

When you look at a pile of firewood, it might remind you of all the cozy evenings you have spent in your living-room as the snow falls gently outside. What you might not realize is that the same logs can harbor several types of invasive and destructive insects. Unless the wood is stored in a dry, enclosed place, you might well bring unwanted guests into your house. Take steps to protect yourself before they put a stop to your winter cheer. You would be amazed at the variety of bugs that find firewood to be very appealing. Adult beetles of many kinds, as well as their larvae, can live under the bark and inside of the wood. These include longhorned and boring beetle larvae. If your firewood is dry, carpenter bees may find it irresistible. Horntail wasps also often lay their eggs in dry firewood, emerging when it is brought indoors....

Pests seek warmer places indoors when the cold weather sets in, and they find the most unseen places to invade homes in the winter. From dryer vents to cracks in the roof, pests can detect the slightest change in temperature and find a new way inside. Though some pests can deal with the harsh winter, others prefer to stay indoors and wait for the cold to pass. Where There's an Opening, There's a Way Inside From mice and squirrels to spiders and stink bugs, rodents and insects would rather stay warm inside than risk their lives out in the cold. Once the temperatures start to drop, these pests set out on a search for ways to get inside your home. They circle the perimeter and check for cracks around windows and doors, holes in the foundation and openings in the attic and roofline. Though you might seal windows and doors during...

Many people are familiar with the phrase that if you see one insect or other pest, there are more that you do not see. This is because many pests build their nests and colonies inside walls and in other out-of-the-way places. In addition to ants, cockroaches and termites, other pests that can quickly multiply include rodents, such as mice, rats and squirrels. Many insects and pests can lay hundreds of eggs or produce large litters. The result is a larger infestation that does more damage to your home as these pests weaken structural elements and chew through insulation and electrical wiring. In addition to contaminating food with their droppings, these pests can also carry a variety of diseases that pose a significant health risk to your family. This can be especially troublesome in winter when bugs and rodents try to move indoors to escape the elements. Your home is the perfect...

During the long winter months, some homeowners may detect curious sounds coming from the ceiling area. Although they could be nothing more than the scratching of Santa’s sleigh on the rooftop, these sounds are probably caused by pests as they scurry around the attic floor.  Winter Pest Control Controlling pest infestations during the winter is very important for the health of your family as well as the value of your property. The presence of pests can indicate a variety of underlying problems with the building’s defenses. Pests often enter through cracks and crevices that have not been filled in with caulk. They can find exposed areas where insulation is guarded by a thin slice of wood. Once they start chewing away at the wood, they can quickly nest and breed. Before very long, you could have a massive colony over your head. Common winter pests include: •Mice •Maggots •Roaches •Spiders •Silverfish...

Thanksgiving Pests Thanksgiving traveling is common, but it can have some unintended consequences. For example, many seasoned travelers still fail to realize how easy it is to pick up some bugs and pests from different areas. These critters can find a crevice or crack in your luggage, for example, which leads them directly into your home. This kind of pest is often called a hitchhiker, and they are very adept at finding various kinds of surfaces to build a temporary refuge. Bedbugs and fleas are the most common type of hitchhiking insects, but there are others as well. Protecting Your Home These pests may travel inside of the luggage that your guests or relatives are carrying. This is why it is important to prepare in advance for any problems. If you place sensitive protocols in place, you can take care of these items without disturbing the disposition of your holiday guests....

There are a variety of pests that have the tendency to invade homes through small openings in the exterior of the building. These critters normally follow several steps before they make it into the kitchen or pantry areas. The perimeter of the home might allow them to freely pass inside to bother your family and invade your food supplies. Perimeter protection services are a combination of methods and techniques designed to stop these pests from breaching the external barriers of your property.  Perimeter Protection During the cold months of winter, the perimeter of your home becomes vulnerable to rodents, spiders, bugs and insects. These critters often search for warm places to survive, and many residential homes offer a variety of entry points. These crevices and cracks are not always visible to the untrained human eye, but this is why perimeter protection exists. Our service professionals can ensure that the boundaries of...

Hallowe'en is on its way. Kids are planning their costumes and it won't be long before neighborhood porches are adorned with all manner of creepy décor. If you haven't yet decorated, but your porch is festooned with webs, you are sharing your home with scary spiders. We share a planet with thousands of different spiders, and not all of them can hurt you. Some sorts of spiders are actually good to have around. There are several, however, that can truly ruin your happy home.  Brown Recluse Mostly seen in the Midwest southward to the Gulf of Mexico, recluse spiders can deliver a bite that never heals. The Brown Recluse tends to hide but if you surprise it, you're in for a world of hurt.  Hobo Spider Another spider whose bite can cause severe skin and tissue damage, the Hobo is found mostly in the Pacific Northwest and parts of Canada but...

These pests are expected to be especially prevalent this fall.  Ants Ants move indoors as they seek refuge from the rain and cooler weather. These pests are drawn to food sources and often contaminate open containers of food. Cockroaches Roaches are known to find their way into the hidden spaces in a home when the weather turns cooler. These pests are known to carry bacteria that can get circulated into a home to make people sick. Centipedes These frightening pests do not like the cold. Warm, moist environments tend to attract centipedes. Although they usually run away when humans are near, centipedes that get close enough to bite can cause a lot of pain. Earwigs Earwigs are drawn to water, so it is common to find these pests in kitchens and bathrooms. While earwigs are not dangerous, they are a nuisance. Wasps Most people assume that wasps die off completely in...

Mosquitoes do more than ruin an outdoor picnic; they also carry viruses that can cause sickness and death in humans. By now, you've probably heard all about West Nile Virus, a rare infection that is transmitted by mosquitoes. The West Nile Virus affects people differently; while some people have no symptoms at all, others experience fevers, body aches and joint pains. However, one in 100 will develop meningitis or brain swelling, which leads to death in some cases. These deadly symptoms can take up to two weeks to appear and may last for a few weeks or months. Other Alarming Mosquito Viruses The Chikungunya virus, which originates from Central or East Africa, has affected a number of people from Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and several mainland states. Many of the infected Americans have encountered the virus as tourists; however, there's two known cases of Florida residents contracting the virus...

Just because you don't actually live in your garage doesn't mean you should let pests come and go from it freely. Pests like rodents often carry diseases. Insects do too, and they will sting people to protect their turf. Larger pests can even scratch, bite or otherwise injure members of your household. There's no doubt about it: You need to keep pests out of the garage. How can you accomplish it, though? These tips should help: De-Clutter - Pests love nothing better than finding dark, safe nooks and crannies. By de-cluttering your garage, you'll eliminate such areas and make it less attractive to pests. Eliminate Moisture - Many pests are drawn to moist areas. When's the last time you checked your garage for signs of it? After de-cluttering, take a good, hard look. Dry up any moist areas, figure out where the moisture's coming from and address the issue. Seal Holes,...

Homeowners who spot bees or wasps in their yard should seriously consider obtaining professional assistance to find and remove them from the premises. The nests can be hidden in shrubs, trees, rain gutters and other obscure areas. Many people see one or two wasps or bees without knowing where their hives are located. These are insects that can pose a serious threat to people with certain kinds of allergies. In some cases, the sting may require hospitalization.  Bees Bees have a small body, and a bee sting is typically less painful than a sting incurred from a wasp. Most people will only experience moderate pain, swelling, itching or soreness, and these symptoms may last up to seven days. In rare cases, the bee sting may cause an extremely serious and systemic reaction to the venom. This may cause the person to need immediate medical care. Although this is rare, there is...

The summertime can be rough on your pets. As they battle to stay cool in the hot and humid weather, your cats, dogs, and other furry friends may also have to deal with pests like fleas, ticks, and flies. Even if you buy the best reviewed flea and tick collars on the market, chances are that your pets will still suffer from insect bites and infections this summer. When you want to keep your dogs, cats, and other animals safe and healthy this season, you should call a professional exterminator for help. An exterminator provides more services than just routine pest control in your home or business. This professional also is trained to handle pest infestations that put your pet and your family at risk. Fleas, ticks, worms, flies, and other pests often bring with them a host of viruses, bacteria, and fungi that can jeopardize the health of your animals,...