Sorenson Pest Control Blog

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,...

Whether you call them yellow jackets or hornets, they all inflict a nasty sting. Some nest in the ground while others build under eaves, equipment and in backyard trees. Wasps forage during the day and don't spend much time at home until after dusk. It's hard to spot a fresh colony because there's very little activity around the nest during the day.  Ground colonies are even harder to detect until you step in one and stir up the nest.  Wasp are difficult to control, because the nest must be found and disposed of.    Physical removal is effective if care is taken, particularly doing so at night when the adult wasps are not active but are resting on the nest. The adults may also be killed with a directed stream of insecticide from an aerosol designed for these wasps. Once the adults are killed the nest can be removed and disposed of. It's...

Signs of the Pest As their name implies, brown recluse spiders live secluded in dark, seldom-used areas. Their webs are loosely constructed and irregular in shape, with off-white strands. The spider webs do not trap prey because recluse spiders hunt for their food and use their webs only for retreats. You may find those retreats in dark, dry places like closets, crawlspaces, ductwork, basements, cellars and attics. The spiders may also spin webs under undisturbed furniture, papers and linens as well as in clothing, shoes, storage boxes and tires. Their potential for reproduction is high, so finding just one recluse at a time is uncommon. Dangers of the Pest Brown recluse spiders often hide in shoes and clothing and may bite someone who puts on an article of clothing in which they have been lurking. Reaching into a drawer or under a pile of unused clothing without first looking for spiders...

Roach Facts Roaches are some of the most common household pests in the world and some of the toughest to control without professional help. While roaches can be beneficial to the environment outdoors as recyclers of organic matter, almost all of the species that are found indoors are considered to be potentially dangerous pests. Because they target areas where they are most likely to find food and waste, roaches carry bacteria that can spread throughout your home as they travel from one place to another. In addition to contaminating food and household surfaces, old skins, dead roaches and droppings can cause asthma and allergy flare-ups in children and sensitive adults.  Are You the Victim of a Roach Infestation? Since roaches are nocturnal, occasionally seeing one during the day does not necessarily mean that you are safe from a serious infestation. To find out if you have a problem, look for roaches...

Ants are an incredible nuisance especially during the warmer months, so it isn't difficult to know that you have an infestation. They are searching for food and water, so you are very likely to see them in the kitchen and in your eating areas.  Fire Ants Fire ants are recognizable for their red head and thorax and red/black abdomen. Their nests may be found in wall voids, under carpets, rain gutters, bath traps or in the crawl spaces.  Nests most commonly are in the soil, identified by the large mound of soil raised above the surface, and they are particularly common in turf.  These pests are particularly troublesome because they can inflict painful stings on those who disturb them.   Due to the large colony size, deep nests, and painful stings, it is best to leave their extermination to knowledgeable pest-control experts instead of attempting to control the pests without professional assistance. Little black...