Dugas Pest Control, Author at Dugas Pest Control - Pest Control and Exterminator Services

How to Avoid a Wasp Sting

Wasps hanging out at their nest While we sometimes wish we never had to deal with them, bees, wasps, and hornets aren’t leaving Baton Rouge any time soon. These insects are crucial contributors to our local ecosystems through pollination and insect regulation. As such, they’ve developed a bit of an attitude! If you disturb their business, bees and wasps, especially the latter, can dish out painful stings. Wasps in particular are capable of stinging over and over to defend their nests. Are you wondering what you can do to protect yourself from wasp stings this summer? Read on to learn from the wasp control experts at Dugas Pest Control!

Tips to Avoid Wasp Stings

If you want to successfully avoid wasp stings, the most important strategy is trying to keep them out of your yard in the first place. You can prevent wasps from showing up on your property by doing the following:

Be sure not to leave out sweet or protein-rich foods and drinks
Dispose of food in sealed bins, especially soda cans or sugary foods
Keep your lawn, plants, and trees trimmed to prevent opportunities to build hidden nests

If it’s too late and wasps have already set up shop in your yard, a different protocol becomes more important. Here are some ways to avoid stings from wasps that already live on your property:

Move slowly and cautiously around their nests to avoid drawing attention to yourself
Stay still if a wasp approaches you
Don’t try to bat the wasp away, because they will use pheromone signals to call for help
If you have to run away, do so in a straight line without waving your arms

Treating Wasp Stings

Wasps have been known to sting seemingly unprovoked. Sometimes, being in their way is enough of an offense for them to justify stinging you. If you’ve been stung, here are some ways to soothe your symptoms:

Use an ice pack or a cool rag as a cold compress
Take over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen to deal with pain
Take an antihistamine for swelling around the sting

If someone experiences nausea, faintness, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face and mouth shortly after a wasp sting, call an ambulance. These are signs of anaphylaxis, which is a serious form of allergic reaction.

Professional Wasp Nest Removal in Baton Rouge

It’s important to never try to get rid of wasp nests on your own. Wasp nests are notorious for hosting a deceptively large number of individuals, so damaging or disrupting a wasp nest can lead to dozens of stings. Call your local wasp removal experts if you need to get rid of a nest. Our technicians at Dugas Pest Control are trained in multiple types of safe, non-toxic wasp control practices. We can remove your nests and make sure no more are built. For a free quote, reach out today!

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Pest Proof Your Backyard with These 10 Tips

A backyard to be serviced in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest Control Everyone is happy to be out and about enjoying the sunshine this spring here in Baton Rouge LA. Unfortunately, the combination of consistent warmth and rainfall in our climate creates a haven of resources and shelter for all kinds of regional critters. If you aren’t careful, you could allow your backyard to become a home to many kinds of pests for several different reasons. Our expert exterminators at Dugas Pest Control are here to help prevent this. Read on for advice on how to make your backyard pest-free through the summer!

10 Pest-Proofing Tips for Your Backyard

The hot and humid weather we experience for most of the year in our region creates ideal conditions for a plethora of pests. This makes it crucial to incorporate pest prevention into your maintenance routines. Here are ten tips we suggest you take to keep a pest-free backyard this year:

Trim your plants: Keeping your bushes, trees, and shrubs neat and orderly will prevent shaded resting areas for common spring and summer pests like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
Get rid of yard waste: Piles of yard waste or scattered scraps can provide temporary shelter or even food for insects and small animals. Clear them out to discourage pests.
Deal with standing water: Standing water serves as breeding grounds for mosquitoes and a hydration source for many other kinds of insects. Pour out or cover standing water when you find it building up in gutters, planters, buckets, tarps, or elsewhere.
Mow the lawn regularly: Mowing your lawn once a week can prevent tall grass blades from trapping standing water and housing pests.
Consider garden netting: If you have a garden, you could be unwittingly offering a food source for tiny bugs like aphids and large wildlife pests like raccoons. Garden netting can keep them from robbing your plants.
Dethatch your lawn: A thin layer of thatch can help insulate your lawn to regulate temperatures and promote healthy growth, but too much of it will suffocate your grass and offer shelter to many common lawn pests.
Keep bins sealed and distant: Several kinds of insects, rodents, and wild animals are known to break into our trash cans looking for food. Seal your bins if possible and make sure that they’re as far away from your yard and home as they can be.
Ensure proper lawn hydration: Both overwatering and underwatering can cause problems for your lawn, so ensuring a regulated supply of water can help prevent pests. This can be best attained using a sprinkler or irrigation system.
Store your firewood high and far: Woodpiles stacked against the side of homes or wooden decks are common contributors to termite infestations. Keeping a covered firewood rack at a distance from your home can prevent termites and other insects from infesting your backyard.
Look for professional pest control: An experienced technician can assess your yard for vulnerabilities that you haven’t caught to help determine the best ways to go about pest prevention for your particular property.

Pest Control for Your Backyard in Baton Rouge LA

If you’re looking for a calculated approach to pest control in your backyard in Baton Rouge, reach out to your local exterminators. At Dugas Pest Control, we train our technicians to shape their services to the individual needs of each property that they service. We pride ourselves on our holistic approach to pest control, complete with site-wide inspections, safe control and exclusion practices, and preventative maintenance to ensure that our customers never deal with pests again. Contact us today for a free quote!

10 Interesting Facts About Spiders

Over the years, our spider exterminators have helped out many arachnophobes around the Baton Rouge LA area. While there are a few species of spiders that you should have a healthy fear of, the vast majority of spiders around us are harmless. We believe that less people would be afraid of spiders if they knew more about them, so we’ve laid out 10 fun spider facts for you to read through. We hope you leave with a new appreciation for these creatures!

10 Interesting Facts About Spiders:

They’re all over: Recent research shows that you’re very likely to be no more than 10 feet from the nearest spider at any time. There’s nothing to worry about, though—spiders would much rather hide than confront anyone.
Spiders are diverse: There are over 35,000 identified species of spiders in the world, and scientists believe that many more are yet to be discovered.
Spiders like to dance: Many male spiders’ courting practices involve an arm-waving, scuttling dance routine. The process can last for up to 50 minutes in some cases!
Male spiders are generous: Another common courtship tactic that some spiders practice is gift-giving. They will capture a small insect and wrap it in silk as an offering to a female of their liking. However, some spiders cut corners by wrapping up leaves or other junk.
Female spiders get violent: Varying by species, many female spiders will kill or eat the male spider before, during, or after copulation. The motive spurs from anything from an unsatisfactory courtship attempt to creating a source of nutrition for her future offspring.
Most spiders are harmless: All spiders are venomous, but it takes a considerable concentration of venom from a spider bite to seriously harm a human.
Spider silk is liquid: Before it is spun into a web, spider silk sits as a liquid in their spinning gland. It solidifies upon contact with the air.
Spider silk is stronger than steel: Although they seem weak, spider webs are actually 5 times stronger than steel! They are only easily broken on account of how thinly they are spun.
Silk has multiple purposes: While spider silk is most famous for its use in webs, spiders also use silk as transportation, whether walking across long stretches of it or using it to float through the air. Some spiders also build tunnel-like nests with it.
Spider muscles are strange: Unlike us, spiders can only retract their muscles, not extend them out. To push their limbs out again, spider pump a special fluid through them. It is this same fluid that some spiders utilize to jump long distances.

Expert Spider Exterminators in Baton Rouge LA

While most spiders in Baton Rouge want to leave you alone and can’t cause you any harm to begin with, there are a few spiders to watch out for around here, like the black widow and the brown recluse. Even if you’re only dealing with harmless house spiders, we understand that it can be unsettling to have them all around your home. If you need to get rid of spiders, reach out to our spider control team at Dugas Pest Control today for a free estimate!

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Types of Termites in Baton Rouge

Unfortunately, here in Baton Rouge LA, we have more than one type of termite to worry about. Termites are the most destructive pests in the country, and each species attacks our homes and businesses in different ways. Being able to identify different types of termites by their appearance and the damage that they cause will be a huge help in the event that you find evidence of their arrival on your property. To learn more about the different types of termites in Baton Rouge, read on. Our termite exterminators at Dugas Pest Control have put together some vital information that could protect your home or business down the line!

What Kinds of Termites Live in Baton Rouge?

There are a few different termite species living in our area that we have to watch for. These termites all attack from different angles and pinpoint different parts of our properties, so it’s in your best interest to learn to predict and prevent each kind. Here are the main four to watch out for:

Dampwood termites: Dampwood termites are generally found in damp and decaying wood close to the ground. They usually form small colonies, but they are the largest individual termites in Baton Rouge. You can prevent dampwood termites by ensuring that you don’t have any plumbing leaks and you aren’t leaving woodpiles out in the rain.
Drywood termites: On the flip side, drywood termites feed on dead trees, hardwood floors, structural timbers and furniture like rocking chairs and bookshelves. Because their colonies are quite small, it’s easy to overlook drywood termites until they’ve destroyed something inside your home. It’s important to use treated wood and close off any gaps leading from outside to your home’s interior to prevent them.
Formosan termites: Formosan termites originated in East Asia but has ended up becoming a major force in the southern United States. They are one of the most destructive and productive termites in the world, infamous for their ability to make quick work of large quantities of wood. Treated wood and carefully sealed structures paired with consistent monitoring will work to prevent them.
Subterranean termites: These are the termites that create the largest colonies and cause the most damage in Baton Rouge. You can tell that they’re on your property if you see mud tubes popping up in your yard. Subterranean termites are quite hard to prevent because they enter your home from under the ground.

Although they vary greatly in size, habits, and appetite, all four of these termites can cause extensive damage to different parts of your home.

Experienced Termite Exterminators

If you’ve found termites or evidence of termite damage on your property, reach out to your local termite exterminators for a wood destroying insect report. The termite control experts at Dugas Pest Control are trained and certified to perform many different termite removal tactics, and can have your entire property termite free in no time. Reach out to learn more and receive a free quote!

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Is There an Animal in the Attic?

Do you hear scratching or scurrying noises coming from your ceiling? Unusual noises are usually the first sign that animals may be living in your attic or walls, but there are other indicators as well. Without experience, it can be difficult to tell what kind of animal is in the attic and how serious the problem is. Our staff of experts at Dugas Pest Control can help with this assessment! We have seen all kinds of animals living in our customers’ homes and businesses in Baton Rouge, and we can help you remove them quickly and safely. Keep reading to learn more!

Signs of Animals in the Attic

When you believe that the sounds you’re hearing in your attic are being caused by invading wildlife, you should look for signs of animal activity all around your property to figure out who’s there, why they’ve come, and how bad the issue is. Here are some signs that you have animals in the attic:

Animal waste in your crawl spaces, behind appliances, and along walls
Insulation that has been destroyed or nested in
Scattered branches, leaves, or torn paper inside the attic or around the roof
Bite marks left by animals gnawing on your belongings or your building’s structural materials

Which Wild Animals Do I Have?

As soon as you know there are animals upstairs, it’s time to identify them so that you can handle them safely. Here are the animals that most commonly invade attics in Baton Rouge LA, along with the signs that indicate their presence:

Rats and mice: Rats and mice sometimes build nests in attics by tearing up insulation. Additionally, they need to chew on hard surfaces in our homes constantly to prevent their incisors from overgrowing. When you see these signs combined with scampering sounds, you can be sure you have rodents.
Raccoons: Raccoons can tear off your roof shingles or chew holes in your walls to get in. Because raccoons are nocturnal, you may hear loud bumps at night.
Squirrels: Squirrels sneak into our homes via roof vents or eave gaps, as opposed to raccoons, which are much more destructive. Squirrel noises tend to be lighter and more rapid than raccoon noises, so you can determine which pest is living above you by its sounds.
Birds: Birds, of course, have the most easily identifiable sounds. Nesting and droppings from nuisance birds spread filth and diseases, so it’s important to act quickly to get rid of them when you hear them.

How to Safely Remove Animals in the Attic

Keeping an eye out for wildlife activity and sealing off holes that could lead into your attic and walls is the best way to prevent wildlife problems. However, if wild animals have already established their nests inside your attic, the safest and most effective way to get rid of them is to hire a professional critter control company. At Dugas Pest Control, we train our technicians in safe and humane removal tactics. We also provide complete service reports to our customers to help them identify and stop similar issues from arising in the future. Contact us today for a free quote!

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What is a Wood Destroying Insect Inspection (WDI) Report?

When selling a home, it is essential that a number of checks are carried out. These include structural, electrical, and plumbing. With termites found in almost all US states, checking for these insects is also highly recommended, especially as some lending institutions require this before giving a mortgage to a potential buyer. For this reason, it is best to have a Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Report, also known as a WDI Report, filed on a property. When you have a WDI inspection, you can ensure a professional termite control company will enlist an expert to look for all signs of active or past termite activity in a property. Read on to learn all you need to know with the termite experts at Dugas Pest Control.

What is a WDIR?

A wood-destroying insect inspection report is conducted by a registered pest control company. It is written up after a thorough search through a home for either the absence or presence of wood-destroying insects such as termites. Whether you are buying or selling a home, it is an essential document for all homeowners.

1. How is the WDI inspection performed?

The termite inspection is performed visually. Here, a pest control company will check all the areas that are easily accessible to them, particularly major structural points within the building. Special attention is paid to areas that are vulnerable to attack from these insects. The contractor will look for past or present evidence of activity. This can be found in the structures themselves or wood debris left by the insects.

2. What is inspected during a WDIR?

Any permanently attached wooden structures such as decks or porches are included in the search but detached structures are not. Certain areas are regarded as inaccessible that would require any dismantling of the house. These include the inside of walls or beneath carpets or floor coverings. If these are to be inspected, the customer will need to provide access—lifting up carpets for example—and an additional fee might be charged.

3. What are the results of a WDI report?

The WDIR must include information on either the presence or absence of wood-destroying insects. This includes either finding these insects (dead or alive) or evidence that they have been at work in the structure of the home (wood debris left behind).

Although termites are the most common insects found, the report also includes powderpost beetles, old house borers, carpenter ants, as well as carpenter bees. Note, a WDIR will never act as a warranty to the fact that the insects aren’t present. Nonetheless, it is a good preventative measure.

Wood Destroying Insect Inspections in Baton Rouge LA

Although not a requirement in many cases, a WDIR should be something that is carefully considered by the realtor as well as the seller and buyer of any property to ensure the home is not infested with wood-destroying insects. Considering the fact that termites are one of the most common—and dangerous—pests in our region, it is also recommended to invest in a report. Contact Dugas Pest Control for more information on procuring a WDIR today!

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Do Bees Hibernate in the Winter?

In Louisiana, bees are one of the most active insects in the spring and summer. All types of bees are essential to our ecosystem due to the fact that they are pollinators. During the warmer months of the year, they are found in abundance in our gardens, parks, and neighborhoods. But what happens to bees when colder temperatures start to sneak in during the winter? Many bees will die off, while some actually go into an overwintering state similar to hibernation.

The experts at Dugas Pest Control are here to share everything you need to know about bees and hibernation in the winter.

Winter Bee Activity in Louisiana

Bee activity peaks in the late summer and lingers through the fall depending on the weather. Bees are less likely to be active when the temperature drops below 50°F. The three most common bees in the winter all react to cold temperatures differently:

Bumblebees: All bumblebees in a colony except the queen will die if temperatures become too cold. The queen bees will hibernate, or overwinter, by digging small holes in the dirt.
Carpenter bees: These wood-destroying bees can remain dormant through the winter in their nests. During the winter months, young carpenter bees that hatched in the summer will hibernate in their nests. During the summer, older bees will die after larvae are laid.
Honey bees: For honey bees to survive the winter, they must have a robust population with a secure hive and a large store of honey. Male honey bees die off, leaving the female bees to crowd tightly together in their hive with the queen in the middle. The female worker bees will vibrate and shiver around the queen bee, keeping alive until warmer days return.

How to Prevent Winter Bee Problems

You don’t have to worry about an infestation during the winter, but it’s a great time to start preparing for the coming months. Simple pest prevention methods can go a long way to keep bees and other insects out in the spring and summer. Seal cracks and crevices around the exterior of your house to prevent pests from entering. Consider planting your garden away from the perimeter of your property, or only growing non-flowering shrubs. Fit your windows and doors with tight-fitting screens, and make sure your trash cans have tight-fitting lids. Lastly, keep your yard tidy and fill in any holes left by animals to eliminate nesting spots for bees or wasps.

Looking For Safe Bee Removal in Baton Rouge?

A local bee control expert should be contacted if you have bee problems at any time of year. Our team will identify potential nesting sites on your property or areas where stinging insects may spend the winter. As spring and summer approach, we can also prepare you for pests. Contact us today to get started!

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Problems with DIY Termite Control

Electing to take care of things yourself rather than involve professionals always seems like an inexpensive and favorable option. However, DIY termite control is not the best option if you want to make sure you are protecting your home from serious damage. Before you spend your hard-earned money and valuable time on treatments that might not work, you need to understand why DIY is not your best option. The licensed and certified termite exterminators at Dugas Pest Control have seen it all when it comes to termite infestations and are here to tell you why it’s always best to seek the help of an expert.

How Hard Is It to Get Rid of Termites?

Termites are well-known for being difficult to remove from your home. If you don’t have the appropriate control methods, you could end up fighting a losing battle. There are plenty of options available for DIY termite treatment, but these are often less effective than those that licensed pest control companies carry out when conducting residential termite removal.

While these treatments may kill off some of the termites invading your home, a termite infestation is not truly dealt with until your house is entirely clear, and termites like to hide in quite inconspicuous places. When you use a professional pest control service, you are receiving treatment from local professionals that have serviced countless homes around Baton Rouge, know exactly where to look, and are equipped with the tools to quickly and safely remove termites.

Professional Termite Control Prioritizes Your Safety

The use of any kind of chemical around the home presents a danger to children and pets. While DIY termite control products often don’t contain as strong of chemicals as the ones used by licensed professionals, they still pose a health risk when used improperly. Pest control professionals know exactly how to apply these chemicals—our technicians are trained to use them as efficiently and safely as possible, keeping your family safe and keeping termites out.

Get Rid of Termites with Dugas Pest Control

Some people find success treating their termite problem using DIY methods. However, if the problem has already reached infestation size, the costs associated with purchasing the necessary chemicals and appropriate equipment to complete the job will quickly build up. If you compare the numbers, DIY pest control falls short of professional termite extermination services in many ways. To learn more about how we can get rid of termites for you and receive a free quote, contact our team today!

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How to Get Rid of Moths in Clothes

Are you experiencing moth problems in your closet or wardrobe? There are plenty of moth species to go around here in Baton Rouge LA, but one of the most prominent ones is the clothes moth. They live and breed in the spaces that we store our clothes, eating up their fabrics and tearing holes through them in the process. Being so small and having such a quick breeding turnaround, they can build up a significant population and cause serious damage before you ever discover them. If you’re looking for advice on how to get rid of moths in the closet, read on for some info from the experts at Dugas Pest Control!

What Is A Clothes Moth?

Clothes moths are a type of moth that feeds on animal fibers such as wool, silk, fur, felt, and leather for the woven protein, keratin, that forms their structures. If you find moths where you store your clothes, look for these features to identify them:

Around ½” long
Slender wings with tiny hairs
Ranging in color from beige to grey
Patterns and spots of different shades of brown along their wings

Pantry moths are another common moth species here in Baton Rouge, but they can be distinguished from clothes moths by their habits and some particular features. You’ll likely find pantry moths among your stored dry goods or baking materials, rather than your closet. They also have a distinct dark stripe that runs across their backs perpendicular to their outstretched wings.

How to Get Rid of Moths in The Closet

As is the case with many pests in the region, the best way to stop moths from eating your clothes is to keep them out in the first place. A good way to prevent moths is to store away your clothes that are out of season in sealable boxes. You can also choose to keep windows around your closet shut—this is how they often find their way to our wardrobes.

If you’re already dealing with closet moths, you’ve probably heard that mothballs are the best way to get rid of them. While the pesticide they contain is largely effective, it does make use of toxic fumes that can harm your pets and your family if left out in the open. There are non-toxic pheromone traps that are a safer alternative to mothballs—ask your local moth exterminators about which option they think is right for you.

Professional Moth Extermination in Baton Rouge LA

If your store-bought moth control choices aren’t cutting it, talk to your local pest control company. At Dugas Pest Control, our moth exterminators are equipped with a variety of safe and eco-conscious products and backed with decades of experience. We can quickly take out your moth problem and assess your home for the likely sources of infestation, helping you prevent moths on your own going forward. For a free quote or to learn more about how we get rid of moths in Baton Rouge LA, contact us today!

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What is Wildlife Exclusion?

Wildlife exclusion is one of the most important services that we offer here at Dugas Pest Control. Especially as the temperatures wane into winter, wild animals of all sorts are looking to take shelter on our properties, even inside our homes. To prevent wild animals from taking up residence in your home, bringing with them the risks of property damage and disease, it’s important to sign up for wildlife exclusion services administered by your local exterminators. But what exactly is wildlife exclusion? To learn more about how we keep wild animals out of our customers’ homes around Baton Rouge LA, read on!

What Does “Wildlife Exclusion” Mean?

Wildlife exclusion is the professional process of preparing homes or businesses to defend against potential wildlife problems, as well as the safe removal of any active wildlife on the property. It’s an all-encompassing service that shouldn’t just happen once. Many wild animals are adaptive and opportunistic—they will take any opportunity to find shelter or food as soon as it presents itself. By signing up for wildlife exclusion with Dugas Pest Control, you can expect the following services:

Identification of present wildlife, which often includes raccoons, squirrels, opossums, mice, or rats.
Humane removal of all active animals.
Damage repairs, waste removal, and material replacement (wood, insulation, wires, and more.)
Entry point sealing using caulk, sheet metal, or otherwise applicable materials.
Return visits as necessary to maintain a wildlife-free space.

Benefits of Wildlife Exclusion Services

Trying to deal with wildlife on your own can be ineffective and dangerous. There are many benefits to hiring professional exterminators for wildlife exclusion services:

It’s humane. We only take the necessary measures to remove animals from our customers’ properties, prioritizing humane methods in all cases.
It keeps animal families together. Many people make the mistake of removing animal mothers and not their babies, leaving the young to die. Beyond being inhumane, this can cause unpleasant odors and new wildlife presence on your property. Wildlife exclusion focuses on getting the entire family out.
It’s a long-term solution. Trapping and removing animals does not get to the root of the problem. Professional wildlife exclusion services will discourage future animals from nesting in your yard.
It’s affordable. It actually costs less money to deal with pests humanely! Prioritizing prevention with a company that looks out for local wildlife is the best option for your conscience and your wallet.

Can I Keep Wildlife Out On My Own?

There are certain steps you can take to keep wildlife off of your property, like sealing gaps and cracks in your foundation, siding, roof fixtures, doors and windows, and more. Cleaning up your yard by clearing out yard waste and trimming your plants often will also help. However, sometimes you can’t control a wildlife infestation without the help of local pest professionals. At Dugas Pest Control, we bring over 60 years of experience to the table every time we help relocate wildlife. Contact us today for a free quote!

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