Sorenson Pest Control Blog

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,...