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

What Just Bit Me? Identify Common Bug Bites

A mosquito biting a person in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest Control

Bug bites of any kind can be worrisome. Especially when you don’t catch the culprit, bug bites can leave you anxious, wondering what got to you and whether or not there are more of them waiting. Many people that wake up with bug bites after a night’s sleep misidentify the markings, which leads to a drawn-out process of catching and removing the biting pests from your home. If you’re wondering what bug bit you in Baton Rouge LA, read on. The pest experts at Dugas Pest Control are well-versed in the habits and attributes of biting pests in the region and can help you identify and remove the ones that you’re dealing with.

Pests that Draw Blood

Some blood-sucking pests might not appear as menacing as other biting bugs but are able to transmit dangerous diseases to humans. Because of this, it is important to be able to identify which kind of bite you’re dealing with. Blood-drawing pests in Baton Rouge LA include:

Mosquitoes: Mosquito bites start out as a raised, white welt and turn into an itchy, red bump, usually no more than 1/2“ across. They usually don’t come with any side effects besides pain and itchiness, but mosquitoes in tropical regions can carry deadly diseases like malaria and the Zika virus.
Ticks: Depending on the species, tick bites can look like a mosquito bite or a smaller, darker mark. They can develop a light red ring that circles the bump at a distance. If you catch a tick bite early, they will still be latched onto your body. Ticks are known for spreading the dangerous Lyme disease.
Fleas: Fleas bite our pets more often, but they bite humans, too. It won’t often result in initial pain, but it will be itchy. The worst outcome of a flea bite is an infection caused by excessive itching.
Bed bugs: If you wake up in bed with tiny, red bites aligned in a zigzag pattern on your skin, you’re dealing with a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs do not pass on diseases through their bites, but they can pick up and carry diseases on their bodies through their travels.

Other Biting Pests in Baton Rouge LA

There are other kinds of biting pests in our region, but the aforementioned pests are the ones that you should be more worried about. Some kinds of pests in Baton Rouge LA either rarely bite or cause nearly negligible symptoms. Ants, cockroaches, and centipedes fall into this category. Some ants, like fire ants, bite someone that’s threatening them only to latch on to deliver a more acute sting, similar to a wasp. Bites from these pests are very rare, though.

A few spiders in the area are able to deliver painful bites, but again, only in rare circumstances. Wolf spiders, brown recluse spiders, and the feared black widow fall into this category. If you experience a black widow bite, seek medical attention immediately.

Need Protection from Biting Pests?

If you are worried about bug bites this summer, reach out to your local pest control company to see how they can help. Our technicians at Dugas Pest Control have experience identifying and removing all of the biting pests in Baton Rouge LA and can teach you exclusion efforts to help you keep them out of your home once we’ve dealt with them. For a free quote, contact us today!

When Do Mosquitoes Sleep?

What mosquitoes look like in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest Control In the spring and summertime here in the Baton Rouge LA area, it often feels like mosquitoes are inescapable. With our warm and humid climate, mosquitoes have the perfect environment to reproduce and thrive for months on end. Even as the sun starts to set and the temperatures drop into the night, it seems that we still can’t catch a break from mosquito bites. This leaves many people wondering, when do mosquitoes sleep?

Do Mosquitoes Sleep?

Many different insects exhibit so-called “sleeping” patterns that don’t resemble our habits at all. Very little research has been conducted on how mosquitoes sleep. However, scientists believe that instead of sleeping per se, mosquitoes shut down and enter a state of almost complete inactivity. They do so at different points throughout the day, usually around midday and during the night. You can often find mosquitoes resting in heavily wooded or shaded areas during the heat of the day.

When Are Mosquitoes Most Active?

Mosquitoes are most active at times of low sunlight, dawn and dusk. They are also able to stay active through the night, but have less luck finding hosts to feed on. Most people report the highest activity at dawn and dusk in these places:

Heavily vegetated yards
Near ponds and lakes
Densely-wooded areas
At homes with pools, spas, birdbaths, or other standing water sources

If any of these features are unavoidable around your living space, you will most likely be dealing with mosquito problems for a large part of the year.

How to Avoid Mosquitoes in Baton Rouge LA

There are a few steps that you can take to avoid mosquitoes in Baton Rouge LA, including eliminating open standing water sources, wearing long-sleeved clothing, and using EPA-approved insect repellents. However, sometimes your prevention efforts can fail to give you the peace you’re looking for. When you rely on a professional mosquito control expert for help, they can set up custom barrier treatment to ensure that your particular property stays mosquito-free for months. For a free mosquito control quote or to learn more about how Dugas Pest Control deals with mosquitoes, contact us today!

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5 Signs It’s Time To Call a Professional Pest Control Company

If you find a few bugs in your home, it’s easy to assume that you can get rid of them and go on with your day. However, with many insects, the few that you find indicate that many more are going unnoticed. At Dugas Pest Control, we have been called out to assess many pest infestations that the homeowner thought could be quickly resolved. As it has turned out time and again, the problem was much deeper rooted than it would appear to the untrained eye.

If you’re worried about a pest problem developing in your home in Baton Rouge LA, the safest call is to reach out to your local pest control company as soon as you can. In some cases, this could save you from skyrocketing repair costs and uncontrollable pest outbreaks.

5 Signs That You Need Professional Pest Control

Licensed, certified pest control technicians can correct pest problems using safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible solutions. We have put together 5 major signs that you should reach out to your local pest control company:

Termites: Termites cause billions of dollars of damage around the world annually! These prolific and powerful pests can hide in your walls unnoticed for years, gradually growing their numbers. Even finding one termite in your home warrants an immediate call for an inspection.
Wood-boring insects: In addition to termites, carpenter ants and carpenter bees like to burrow through the wooden structures in our homes. So do powderpost beetles—if you allow generations of any of these insects to accumulate in your walls, you could be in for some serious structural damage.
Bees, wasps, and hornets: All of these stinging insects are capable of building nests in our walls, hanging from our porches, or on outdoor structures. It is highly unsafe to remove them yourself, especially wasps and hornets’ nests. They are not scared of attacking in large numbers.
Bed bugs: Because of their name, it’s easy to forget that bed bugs can actually infest your entire home. Professional heat treatments are the most effective method of eliminating growing bed bug populations. Some home treatments aren’t exhaustive and allow for the bed bugs to return.
Recurring Problems: On that note, if you’ve noticed that you have a recurring pest issue, it likely means that you never dealt with the initial outbreak properly. The best way to prevent future pest problems is to identify the source of the first infestation.

Reliable Pest Control in Baton Rouge LA

If you’re worried that your pest problem could be spinning out of hand, wait no longer to take action. Your local pest control company in Baton Rouge LA will be able to conduct a comprehensive inspection of your home, discovering the source of your issue and the best way to go about solving it. Remember that the sooner you deal with your pest problem, the easier it will be to resolve. Whatever your needs, contact us today for a free estimate!

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Do Mosquito Foggers Work?

Many Louisiana residents have been out for a walk in the early evening and had their stroll interrupted by fogger crews. They move up and down public streets spraying clouds of fog and making noise with their equipment. At first glance, this activity might seem unsafe, but mosquito fogging can only take place using EPA-approved products and under government authority. Still, it’s fair for this type of activity to warrant concern. What are they actually accomplishing, and how does it work?

How Mosquito Foggers Work

Mosquito fogging works by introducing a small amount of pesticide to the air in areas of high mosquito activity. It works very well to eliminate active mosquitoes, but it is not a complete solution to ongoing mosquito infestations. While its effects linger for around three days after application, it quickly loses its potency and the area will have to be retreated.

Routine treatments might have people concerned for their health, but you should remember that the amount of pesticide used in fogging products is not nearly enough to harm a human. The pesticide solution used in mosquito fogging is actually considered to be less potent than solutions used on many kinds of crops. Fogging practices are also heavily regulated by the EPA and local government.

How Long Is Mosquito Fog Effective For?

Fogging can take effect within minutes when used against adult mosquitoes, but it doesn’t affect larva or eggs. Mosquitoes that are hidden away are able to avoid the effects of the fog, which is why fogging usually takes place in the evening when mosquitoes are most active. Its effects will last for a few days, so it shouldn’t be happening every night, but some cities will plan routine treatments and provide you with a schedule.

Some mosquito control alternatives that don’t use pesticide include:

Removing or covering standing water in areas of active mosquitoes
Setting up mosquito nets
Using fans in outdoor areas, and more

When to Fog for Mosquitoes in Baton Rouge LA

Fogging should be done in the evening when most mosquitoes go out to feed. Keep in mind that most local governments are not obligated to let you know ahead of time if they have scheduled mosquito fogging, but many will issue an announcement as a courtesy. If you have any worries about avoiding mosquito fogging procedures, contact your authorities and ask to see their schedule.

If you are noticing an increase in mosquitoes in your area and no foggings are planned for the near future, reach out to your local pest control company. The mosquito specialists at Dugas Pest Control can set up a custom plan to tackle your unique outbreak. For a free quote, contact us today!

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That Buzz in Your Walls Could Be Honey Bees

What was once a faint hum in the distant background has swelled into a riotous racket. We know this problem all too well here at Dugas Pest Control. If you’re experiencing an unending buzzing coming from your walls this spring, it’s most likely a nesting colony of honey bees. Our technicians are trained to use the safest methods to remove honey bee nests from residential locations.

Why Are There Honey Bees in My Walls?

When honey bees swarm in the spring, they seek out suitable long-term nesting sites. If they can find a gap in the walls of your home that leads to safe and hidden interior space, they will not hesitate to start building their hive inside. Out in nature, bees tend to nest in the hollow spaces of older trees, so wooden homes are particularly susceptible to unwelcome bee colonies.

There are a few ways that you can prevent your home from a honey bee infestation:

Close off potential points of entry, like gaps in siding, knot holes, and openings for wires and plumbing.
Place window screens over openings that are required for ventilation.
Regularly inspect your home for unknown vulnerabilities and new bee activity.

How to Get Rid of Bees in Walls

Once you’ve determined that there is a colony of honey bees living in your wall, the next step is to figure out the extent to which the nest has developed inside your home. Recent infestations can be removed fairly easily by trained bee removal specialists. However, if the nest has reached a critical size and population, certain extermination tactics must be resorted to. No matter the amount of bees, it is always a safe idea to contact your local pest control company before attempting to remedy the situation yourself.

Our technicians at Dugas Pest Control have a deep understanding of the necessities of the relationship between pollinators and our environment, and will always choose the most humane and ecological option possible for bee removal.

Bee Removal Services in Baton Rouge LA

If you can no longer stand the buzzing in your walls, call up your local bee control experts to conduct an inspection. Our technicians have helped families all around Baton Rouge safely remove honey bees from their homes, and are prepared to handle another spring full of bee infestations. For a free bee removal estimate, contact us today!

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Questions to Ask When Hiring a Pest Control Company

Pest control is not an issue that you want to play around with. When you find that there’s been an infestation in your home, whether it be termites, ants, rats, cockroaches, or anything else, you want those critters gone as soon as they possibly can be.

So who do you call? A quick search for extermination services in your area will yield loads of results, but you’re the one that has to make the decision on who to call. Here are a couple of questions to keep in mind when you’re looking for the right pest control company.

Are your pest control treatments safe?

Some popular pesticides have been shown to contain chemicals that are harmful to plants, animals, and people that they aren’t intending to target. Ask your chosen pest control company if their products are:

EPA-approved
Environmentally friendly
Up to the latest standards of performance

At Dugas Pest Control, we take humane approaches to pest removal whenever possible, and never endanger our customers or the plants in their yard with toxic chemicals.

How do you decide your method of treatment?

Every home and every infestation is different. Ask a company that you’re considering what their method looks like when taking on a new client.

Our approach starts with a primary inspection, after which we develop a plan to make a return visit equipped with the right equipment and gameplan to remove the pests from your property and ensure that they don’t come back. Additionally, we will send a technician back to your home as many times as is necessary to rid your home of unwanted vermin.

Can I see reviews?

If a pest control company is truly professional, they should have nothing to hide. If you can’t find a link to their reviews on their website, ask to see what customers have said about them.

On the bottom right corner of all of our webpages, you’ll find a link to reviews that our customers have left us. We currently have a 4.9-star overall rating, spanning 662 different reviews! We have proudly and efficiently served customers all around the Baton Rouge area and are prepared to do the same for you.

Do you have licenses and insurance?

A trustworthy pest control company will be able to show that they have comparable licenses and insurance to the most established and reputable exterminators. It’s crucial that your trusted company has liability insurance to protect you against any further damage that is caused to your property during the extermination process.

Properly accredited companies should make the top of your list. Here at Dugas, we proudly present our certifications on our homepage, including our QualityPro certification and Better Business Bureau accreditation.

Can you prevent pests from returning?

A good exterminator stops a pest problem at its source. This means assessing the situation to find the reasons that it became an issue in the first place. As your local pest control companies what they do in terms of pest prevention. We at Dugas follow IPM (Integrated Pest Management) practices, meaning that we prioritize long-term prevention that coincides with the vitality of the ecosystem.

If you’re having a pest problem right now, contact us today. We will set up a plan to inspect your home, determine the safest and most effective method of extermination, and promptly send out our experts until the job is done.

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What Are The Flying Insects You’re Seeing All Over The Place?

Every spring, we see a huge rise in calls from people in the Baton Rouge area whose homes have been overrun by flying insects. With the current weather conditions here in Louisiana, this year’s termite swarming season is expected to be widespread. Eastern subterranean termites and Formosan termites are both swarming now, but if you’re starting to find flying insects in your house, how can you be sure if they’re termites?

Can Termites Fly?

Certain termites can fly, although they’re not very good at it. They are very weak, and can only travel considerable distances in windy climates. There is only one class of termites that can fly – these are the reproductives, a type of termite specifically tasked with spreading the colony to new homes.

A termite colony will start producing reproductives once it has reached a certain level of maturity, usually about three years of development. The reproductives will fly to new locations to mate and find a new place to proliferate. After they mate, the male reproductive sheds its wings. Finding discarded termite wings or living winged termites in your home could be a sign that there is a termite colony thriving somewhere in the wooden structure of your house. If you think you might have a termite problem, let your local pest control company know.

Termites vs Flying Ants

It’s easy to mistake termites with their less destructive friends, flying ants. Here are three indicators that the flying insects that you’re seeing are termites, and not ants:

Their appearance: Termite swarmers have longer wings, but shorter limbs and antennae. Flying ants will usually be larger – termite sizes vary by species, but some, like the Eastern subterranean termite, are as small as 10mm long.
Signs in your house: If you’ve noticed damaged or hollow-sounding wood anywhere in your house, those flying insects in your house are most likely termites. Contact a local termite exterminator to assess the extent of the damage.
Signs in your yard: If a subterranean termite colony is swarming near you, look out for tunnels on the surface of your yard. These are called mud tubes, and they are the paths that subterranean termites take from their nests to nearby food sources.

Other Flying Insects

The flying bugs around your house might not be termites or flying ants! Plenty of different winged insects reemerge around springtime, so you could be dealing with:

Mosquitoes
Bees
Flies
Fleas
Beetles, or something else

Visit our pest identification library for help narrowing down what kind of pests you’re dealing with.

Professional Pest Control in Baton Rouge LA

If you’re ready to get rid of the flying insects in your Louisiana home, it’s time to ask your local extermination experts at Dugas Pest Control for help. Our employees are trained to specialize on pests that commonly plague the Baton Rouge area. Over decades of service, we’ve helped loads of families rid their homes of pests with environmentally-friendly tactics. Reach out today for a free quote!

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How Termites Can Make You Sick

A termite infestation can cause any property owner a lot of problems. In addition to being one of the most destructive insects, termites can be costly and dangerous for a number of reasons. Although termites don’t carry and spread diseases in the same way other pests do, a serious infestation can make you sick. This is due to the mold associated with significant termite infestations. If you have a termite problem in your Baton Rouge home, mold often is also discovered due to the decay of wood.

Needless to say, mold can put you and your family at risk of becoming sick. The experts at Dugas are here to share all you need to know about the association between termites and mold problems in your property.

Do Termites Cause Mold?

Termite infestations and mold often go hand in hand because they’re both typically a consequence of rotting or decaying wood. Both termites and mold require dead wood to survive, which is why they tend to inhabit the same structures. Termites and mold thrive in moist conditions with an abundance of cellulose, which is why both problems are typically discovered at the same time. However, termites do not cause the mold themselves. When you discover termites in your home, it’s simply common to also discover mold.

The Dangers of Mold & Termites

Mold is a fungus that forms in damp conditions, often in the aftermath of a leak or flood but occasionally just when the wood is in decay. The reason why mold is so dangerous is that it releases spores into the air that can contaminate your indoor air quality. In turn, mold is infamous for contributing to respiratory conditions, including wheezing, and triggering asthma attacks. Mold in your home can lead to unsafe living conditions for you and your family. If you discover a termite problem, it’s best to also have your home inspected for possible mold or fungus issues.

Protect Your Family From Termites & Mold

No homeowner wants to deal with either termites or mold, let alone both at the same time! The best way to protect your Louisiana property is to team up with your local termite control experts. Dugas can keep you safe from termites year-round, protecting your family from mold and other termite-related problems.

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Wildlife Exclusion – The Secret Weapon in Pest Control

Whether you live in rural Louisiana or near an urban area, one thing that we all have to deal with is wildlife. Even in cities and suburban neighborhoods, the south is full of animals like possums, raccoons, squirrels, and other rodents that don’t mind being around people. The bad news is that because these pests are so used to people, they are also frequently found trying to make a home inside your home. In order to get them out, and prevent them from doing it again, wildlife exclusion is the key. This pest control method provided by the experts at Dugas Pest Control ensures your property is not suitable for nuisance wildlife invasions. Read on to learn more!

What Exactly Is Wildlife Exclusion?

Wildlife exclusion is an essential part of keeping nuisance wildlife away. It involved sealing your home to the animals using preventative measures such as sealing holes in your roof, installing screens over windows and doors, and more. A professional wildlife control expert will thoroughly inspect your property to look for vulnerabilities that could lead to animals making their way in through your crawl space or attic. The most common wildlife problems we face here in Baton Rouge include:

Opossums
Raccoons
Armadillos
& more!

Why Do You Need Wildlife Exclusion Services?

While it’s completely normal to see wildlife out in nature, you likely don’t want to share your home with them. Here’s why wildlife exclusion is so important:

First, they can cause major damage to your home. When these animals make nests in the crawlspace or attic, they can ruin electrical wiring, plumbing, or foundational material with chewing and other behaviors. By nesting to protect litters, rodents like these can cause damage to your home.
These pests can also present a danger to your family, especially small children who might not know better than to approach these animals, and anyone who tries to capture or “shoo” them out on their own. That is because many of these animals carry diseases. They can also attack if they feel threatened, which can cause serious injury.
Finally, these animals also present a danger to your pets for the same reason. If one of these animals feels threatened by a dog that has rooted them out, or if they feel like your cat, prowling through the attic for mice, presents a threat to their food source, they may attack and either injure your pet or pass on a disease.

How Dugas Can Help

If you want to avoid a wildlife problem on your property, Dugas can help. We’ll do a thorough inspection of your home, the foundation, the roof, and other access points, and find the areas where these animals got inside. After blocking off these entrances, we’ll show you how to make sure your home stays wildlife-free. Working with a local pest control company like Dugas means you can rest assured knowing your safety is our top priority. Get in touch with our wildlife control team today to learn how we can help!

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How Does Caulking Prevent Pests?

There are many little things you can do around the home to help prevent pest problems. One of the quickest, easiest, most effective ways to pest-proof your home is to use caulk around your windows and doors. Over time, cracks and crevices show up in our property, which are then used by pests to access your home! By sealing these cracks and crevices, pests will be forced to look elsewhere. With pest season just around the corner here in Baton Rouge, now is the time to learn how to prevent pests. The experts at Dugas Pest Control are here with all you need to know about how caulking can help pest-proof your property.

How to Pest-Proof Your Property With Caulk

Caulking prevents pests by closing off the access points through which they could easily enter previously. Learning how to caulk is easy and can provide you with relief from small ants and bugs in the spring and summertime. Our top tips for caulking are as follows.

Thoroughly inspect your property. Look at your window and door frames both indoors and out, as well as your baseboards, crown molding, and more. If you have major issues with your door or window frames, you may consider using weather stripping or replacing them entirely.
Choose the correct caulk. When you get to your store, you’ll notice several types of caulk. In general, silicone caulk is the most commonly used caulk for this purpose as it is resistant to moisture. It’s also a low-cost option. If necessary, purchase a caulking gun as well.
Thoroughly clean the area. Before you apply any caulk, make sure to clean any areas you will be applying caulk to. This includes removing any old caulking, old paint, dirt, and anything else that could jeopardize the adhesion of the new caulk.
Apply the caulk. When applying caulk, begin in one corner of the crack or gap and tilt the applicator at a 45-degree angle. Steadily apply the caulk in a smooth, slow line while applying steady pressure.
Let the caulk dry. If needed, smooth any bumps or fill any gaps with a small spoon. Remove any excess caulking. For best results, let the caulk dry for at least 24 hours.

Other Ways to Prevent Pests

Caulking is something most homeowners can easily do to prevent ants, beetles, spiders, and other pests. Other pest-proofing methods include clearing your yard, cleaning your property, avoiding excess moisture, and working with a professional pest control company. To learn more about how caulking prevents pests or need assistance with pest-proofing your Baton Rouge property this year, give the pest prevention pros at Dugas a call today!

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