Rodents and Cockroaches Linked to Allergic Asthma

Several studies have linked allergic asthma reactions to rodents and cockroaches.  People who suffer with this condition can make life a bit easier by ridding their environment of these pesky little creatures.

Tampa Bay Pest Management offers free estimates to provide an affordable quick solution to rid your house or office of these allergen ridden pests. However keep in mind that even after rodents and cockroaches have been eliminated, the hair, urine and fecal matter left behind can still trigger allergic reactions; therefore it is vital to vacuum and mop down the affected areas.  

Obviously the best solution is to prevent your living space from becoming a breeding ground for rodents and cockroaches. We have compiled some easy strategies that may help in your quest to breathe easier and live cleaner. 

For Rodent Prevention 

• Seal holes and cracks in building foundations, utility openings, and joints between materials. Use corrosion-proof materials such as copper or stainless steel mesh. Rodents can chew through many other materials and squeeze through tiny openings.
• Add rodent barriers to foundation walls to make it more difficult for them to enter a building. For example, heavy-duty wire mesh along the outside of a foundation is an effective barrier.
• Seal passages through interior floors, walls, ceilings, and kick spaces. If possible, keep kick spaces open to limit places rodents can hide. (Kick spaces are the gaps between the bottom of cabinetry or built-in furniture and the floor.)
• Keep bushes and trees at least three feet from homes. Bushes and trees near a home provide food, a living place, and sheltered passage for rats and rodents.
• Ensure trash is stored in secure containers (covered garbage cans and dumpsters).
• Store food in rodent-proof containers. 

For Cockroach Prevention

• Limit where you eat to avoid spreading food and crumbs around the house and always keep food out of bedrooms.
• Never leave food out—keep all food and garbage in closed containers.
• Wash the kitchen floor and counter tops at least once a week.
• Repair leaky faucets and drain pipes to eliminate water sources that attract these pests.
• Close up all openings around the house that might allow cockroaches to enter.
• Reduce the number of cockroaches by using environmentally safe pesticides and bait stations
• http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&sub=16&cont=414

http://www.afhh.org/dah/dah_rodents.htm
http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&sub=16&cont=414
 

Ten Pest Control Tips For Preventing a Spider Invasion

The two (2) most common spiders, of concern to homeowners and pest control professionals; are the Brown Recluse and Black Widow spiders. An invasion of either of these two spider pests, could result in dangers to your health and life. Bites should be considered serious, and require immediate medical diagnosis and treatment.

What can homeowners do to protect themselves? The best pest control strategy for deterring a spider infestation, is to reduce the pest population of other insects (food source); from inside the house or building. This approach encourages spider intruders to leave your dwelling, in search for a more dependable food supply; outside of the home.

With that in mind, here are 10 dependable pest control tips, for reducing the number of spider/pest invaders; in your home:

1. Install snug-fitting screens, on all windows and doors. It is also recommended, that you install door sweeps; as well.
2. Seal or caulk cracks and crevices where spiders/insects could enter the house or building.
3. Install yellow/sodium vapor light bulbs outside, to attract fewer insects; for spiders to feed upon.
4. Tape the edges of cardboard boxes to prevent spider/insect entry.
5. Use plastic bags (sealed) to store loose items in the garage, basement and attic.
6. Remove old boxes, unused clothing, wood/rock piles, trash and other unwanted items.
7. Eliminate clutter in closets, basements, attics, garages, and outbuildings.
8. Do not stack wood against the house.
9. Clean up dead insects.
10. Dust and vacuum thoroughly to remove spiders, webs, and egg sacs (dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed container outside).
    

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Mosquito Breeding Control Tips

The American Mosquito Control Association, www.mosquito.org, reports that there are over 2,500 different species of mosquitoes around the world. Out of all of these species, there is one thing that every mosquito has in common: they breed in wet areas. The best way to control mosquitoes is to eliminate their breeding sites.

Here are some breeding control tips:

• Do not allow water to accumulate anywhere in your yard for more than two days. Cans, buckets, pots, plastic swimming pools and tires are all containers that tend to collect and hold water. Removing these items will help control the number of mosquitoes that hatch in your yard.
• Keep your gutters clean. If leaves or other debris clog your gutters and prevent them from draining, water will accumulate in the gutter system, providing the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.
• Do not over-water your lawn or garden. This may cause water to be left standing for more than one day.
• If your cistern, septic tank or cesspool seeps, fixing the problem will help control the number of mosquitoes that plague your yard.
• Filling swampy areas, ditches and drain puddles will eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. If filling is not possible, these areas may be treated with commercial mosquito control products.
• If you have a backyard pond, stock it with mosquito fish (minnows). These fish eat mosquitoes and their larvae.
• Change the water in your wading pool or birdbaths at least once per week. Stagnant water makes the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Contact us for pest control services and pest management in Tampa Bay, FL
813.416.3692

Pest Control Tips : Shut down the ant buffet!

Shut down the ant buffet.

The reason ants are coming into your home is because it's a free-for-all. If you have a very dirty home environment ants will multiply. Make sure you clean daily; the cleaner you keep your house, the less they'll have to eat, and the more they'll look elsewhere for goodies.

• Wipe down all surfaces. Tables and counter tops should be regularly sprayed and cleaned with a mild bleach or vinegar solution. Stay on top of your regular cleaning regimen; mop and vacuum regularly.
• Put food in air-tight containers.
  
• Keep the sink clean: no dirty dishes, no standing water for ants to drink, and no food in the drain.
• Put pet food bowls in a slightly larger bowl and add some water to the larger bowl, creating a moat around the pet food that the ants can't easily cross.

Contact us today for more information about ant infestation elimination and other pest control services at http://tampabaypestmgmt.com or 813-416-3692

Preventing Roach Infestations

• Keep the kitchen clean. Clean up crumbs and spills promptly, and pay special attention to range tops, as cockroaches love grease.
• Put food away and don't even leave dirty dishes overnight.
• Empty trash regularly, and keep trash away from the house.
• Fix dripping faucets or leaks; cockroaches are attracted to water.
• Put naphthalene balls on corners; roaches hate their smell.
• Prevent bugs from coming up the drain. If you believe that the cockroaches are coming up your drains, pour regular, cheap bleach down the drains before leaving the house in the morning. For a stronger solution, mix 1 part borax with 3 parts bleach.
• Move logs and other debris away from the outside of the house. Cockroaches love piles of wood and other convenient hiding places, and as the weather turns colder, they'll migrate inside the house to keep warm.
• Seal cracks in exterior walls.
• Seal cracks everywhere you can inside your house. This takes time, but the payoff is great, because you eliminate most of their favorite hiding/breeding places. You'll need a lot of caulking, so use the big tubes with a caulking gun. Fill every crack inside every cabinet; fill the cracks on both sides of floor, door, and window moldings; fill all openings around pipes in bathrooms and kitchens. This makes a big difference and makes the whole house feel cleaner.

Contact us today for a free pest control estimate.

How To Choose A Pest Control Service

• Make sure the company offers a guarantee. You need to understand the terms and conditions and how long the guarantee is offered.
  
  
• A good reputation in the market is a good indicator of good service. Check your local Better Business Bureau or Department of Agriculture to see if complaints have been filed against the company.
  
  
• Verify that the firm you select is a member of your state pest control association and the National Pest Control Association. Membership in the National, and state or local pest control associations is a good indicator that the company has access to modern technical information.
  
  
• In the area of termite control, their commitment to further education is important, particularly with the newer baits and baiting techniques on the market.
  
  
• Seek at least 3 different proposals.
  
  
• It is important to request the plan of work revealing sites of termite activity and treatment procedures. Ask for written information on chemical treatment procedures, bait station placements, repair of wood work, warranties, and copies of insecticide labels.
  
  
• Compare bids before making decisions. Ask about liability insurance.
  

We've been in the pest control industry in Tampa Bay for over 10 years. Contact us today for a free estimate.