Insect Control Archives - Dugas Pest Control

Are bedbugs hitching a ride into your home?

Bedbugs have been in the news a lot for the past few years. You may have felt safe here in south Louisiana, but they are showing up in our area, and just a few of these hitch-hiking pests can turn into a full-fledged infestation.

Unlike other pests, bed bugs don’t feed on filth (they feed on you!), so spotlessly clean homes, hotels, and businesses can still have a problem with these small, agile bugs.

Just a few of these tiny pests can quickly multiply, feasting on your family and spreading to unsuspecting guests. Our technicians have been seeing bedbugs at customers’ home in the area – learn how to stop them in their tracks.

Prevent hitch-hikers when traveling

It’s summer, which means vacations, travel, and visiting your friends and family. Unfortunately, this also means that you’re visiting lots of places where bedbugs love to live.

Bedbugs can hitch a ride on your clothes if you sit on upholstered furniture like chairs and couches that are infested. Any public place, like doctor’s offices, malls, or airports can have bedbugs just waiting for a ride to their new home.

Just 1-2 nights at a hotel can put you at risk for bringing home bedbugs. They can easily hide in your luggage, even in the tiniest cracks, as they flatten themselves down to find tiny crevices to rest in during the day.

When staying in a hotel, remember that online bedbug ratings and reviews aren’t the best way to determine whether a hotel is “safe.” Infestations can change from day to day and room to room, plus, there’s no way to ensure these reviews are real.

Before you get comfortable in your home away from home, check for signs of bedbugs:

Use the flashlight feature on your phone and take pictures of anything suspicious.
Put your luggage in the bathtub until you’re confident your room is safe – there’s nowhere for bedbugs to hide in the tub.
Look behind headboards and under beds. Tiny dark spots show where bedbugs have been.
Strip the mattress, making sure to check seams where bugs love to hide, again checking for tiny stains.
Check behind and inside night stands and dressers, they have cracks that can make a convenient home.
Check your sheets in the morning; if bedbugs have been snacking on you during the night there will be tiny blood spots on the sheets.
You may also spot cast shells or fecal stains.
Any decorative grooves on furniture can provide a good place for bedbugs, even on leather or metal (like around or in screws and grommets).

You can check your home for bedbugs the same way, paying special attention to box springs.

If you think you have bedbugs

There are a lot of treatments that promise to rid your home of bedbugs quickly and easily. The problem is, you may have these pests hiding in places you haven’t looked, or don’t expect them. Treating just a few rooms will cause bedbugs to relocate, regroup, and return.

Dugas Pest Control has comprehensive bedbug treatments to eradicate these pesky bugs and prevent them from spreading through your home. Contact us with your bed bug questions.

Asian Roaches are here in Louisiana

Have you heard of Asian Roaches? If you haven’t yet…you’re about to!

The reason? Your neighbors are already talking about them.

Of course, no one wants to think about roaches if they don’t have to, but Asian Roaches are a new invasive species in Southern Louisiana, and we’re starting to see them at our customer’s homes.

Here’s what you need to know about this newly-arrived pest.

How Can I Identify Asian Roaches?

Asian Roaches look almost identical to German Cockroaches. In fact, you might need to use a microscope to tell the difference!

However, they have very different habits and habitats.

Asian Roaches could also be referred to as “garden roaches.” Believe it or not, they would rather live outside. They love moisture, especially leaf litter and mulch. They’re often transferred to your yard in loads or bags of pine or bark mulch.

Asian Roaches are also strong fliers, traveling up to 120 feet on strong wings. They are attracted to light, light colors, and aren’t afraid of people (unlike most roaches who scuttle away when a light comes on). So if you spot one in your house, it’s probably just attracted to your lights.

German cockroaches would prefer to be in your home. They love garbage cans and anything sticky, and they prefer dark places with no people around.

If you think you have Asian Roaches, a pest control expert can tell you for sure.

If Asian Roaches Stay Outside, What’s the Big Deal?

Even though Asian Roaches may not want to move into your home, they can be a real nuisance and even a danger. All roaches can transfer disease, so this is a health concern.

Besides that, Asian Roaches are aggressive and often displace the other kinds of roaches in an area.

Hundreds of thousands have been found in just one acre of land – when Asian cockroaches decide to move into an area, they usually become dominant.

With such a large population, strong wings, and the possibility of disease, these pests are undesirable to say the least, especially if you enjoy spending time outside your home.

The Good News

Fortunately, Asian cockroaches aren’t as resistant to pesticides as German cockroaches.

However, their outdoor habitat means that traditional roach treatments designed for the interior of your home don’t work well to control them.

Dugas Pest Control is an expert in all types of pest control. If you suspect that you may have Asian roaches, don’t wait until they take over your yard. Call us and one of our expert technicians will identify what types of cockroaches you have and eliminate them!

How a love of animals led to a career in pest control

Meet Debbie!

She’s one of our pest control technicians and she’s been with us for almost 4 years now.

It might seem unusual that we have a woman working as a technician in our industry, but the pest control world offers wonderful opportunities for people with all sorts of interests.

You see, Debbie has always loved nature, animals, and the outdoors. In fact, she started out working at Audubon Zoo at just 18 years old!

After many years of working as a zookeeper, curator, and educator, she moved on to another career with animals: managing an animal shelter.

Even though both of these jobs had serious challenges and tough situations, Debbie has always loved helping, learning about animals and educating people.

Then one day as she was considering a career change, her interest in the natural world led her to us in what most people refer to as the pest control business!

It was an amazing coincidence – Debbie wanted to work outdoors and manage her own schedule, and our job post was the first thing she saw. She applied at Dugas, and the rest is history…

Know Your Enemy

It seems like an unusual career change, but a love of learning about science and nature makes Debbie a great pest control technician.

“I’m not the annihilator,” she says, “but I know that pests can get out of control, especially with our climate and terrain. All the standing water this year is a perfect example.”

By learning how to identify bugs, knowing their habits, and staying aware of the dangers they present, Debbie has quickly become one of our top pest control technicians. Once she performs an inspection, she has the knowledge and expertise to determine the best way to solve your pest problem.

She loves the challenge!

Knowing the difference between similar-looking pests and their habits helps Debbie create a customized plan to keep your home pest-free as well as safe from the diseases they can carry. She even collects some insects to show to other technicians!

So even though it seems like a former zookeeper and animal lover with 3 dogs (and maybe a foster or two), 3 miniature horses, a Cockatoo, and a Macaw might not be what you expect in your pest control technician, Debbie’s interest in nature and knowledge about animals and bugs inspire her to solve pest problems for her customers each and every day.

Next time you see Debbie in one of our vehicles headed to a job, give her a wave! We promise she’ll smile right back 🙂

Don’t take any chances with West Nile virus

Pretty much everyone in South Louisiana can agree that mosquitoes are one of the drawbacks of the warm summer season.

The stinging.

The buzzing of that one evasive mosquito – right in your ear.

And now… the danger to you and your family’s health.

With West Nile virus found locally, our customers (especially those who are expecting a baby), are taking no chances this summer. With so much standing water everywhere, mosquitoes have been especially persistent this year, and local mosquito control boards have ordered extra spraying to control the population.

Why worry about West Nile?

If an infected mosquito bites you, the most common illness contracted is called West Nile fever. Symptoms include fever, body- and head- aches, vomiting, fatigue and a skin rash.

About 1% of people get something called West Nile encephalitis or meningitis, which is extremely dangerous. This infection causes swelling of the brain, the membranes around it, and the spinal cord. The symptoms are more severe than West Nile fever, and additional symptoms like a stiff neck, disorientation, tremors, even seizures or partial paralysis can result.

Who’s at risk?

Anyone can contract West Nile, but some people have a higher risk if infected. People over 50, those with cancer, diabetes, and hypertension, and of course pregnant women are all at a higher risk. West Nile can cause brain damage in unborn babies, even in mild cases.

Pets can also be infected, although many flea and tick treatments also repel mosquitoes.

What can you do to protect your home and family?

You can take steps by staying indoors at dawn and dusk and using a personal mosquito repellent with DEET, but this only prevents bites without eliminating mosquitoes.

At Dugas, we control mosquitoes with a variety of techniques. Our mosquito suppression treatment reduces mosquito populations by up to 90%, and we offer 6-12 month annual programs to keep your yard mosquito-free year-round.

Our automated mosquito misting systems kill and repel mosquitoes around pools, porches, and patios during pre-set times of the day. They are easy to maintain and professional support is available.

Our technicians will also inspect your yard and around your home to identify places mosquitoes might live and breed, like standing water, overgrown or dead vegetation, and clogged gutters.

What Are Silverfish and Why Are They in My Baton Rouge Home?

Silverfish are eight-legged insects that have scales on their bodies, which allow them to move very fast. This swift movement makes them resemble a fish, hence the name silverfish. And yes, they are all over Baton Rouge in homes and commercial buildings!

They are silver or gray in color and approximately 0.5 to 1 inch in length, with long antennae. Silverfish are often found in wet, damp and moldy areas, but they’re also commonly drawn to moist areas in the home like bathrooms, crawl spaces and attics. They prefer dark areas and are nocturnal, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find one trapped in your sink or bathtub first thing in the morning.

Some may also find it’s close cousin, the “Firebrat”, so called because they like to hang out near hot areas such as hot water heaters. Thus the name “firebrat”!

Why Are There Silverfish in my Home?

Silverfish live behind baseboards, near plumbing and pipes or in small cracks. They may have been there all along because they lived in the existing foundation of the home. This is especially common in warm, tropical areas where silverfish were originally native to. Now however, silverfish can be found just about anywhere, including damp, cool areas of your home as well.

There is another way that silverfish can get into your home: you brought them there. It’s not uncommon for pests to be brought in from a cardboard box or secondhand item. Once the silverfish are in your home, they begin looking for a dark, moist area. They are drawn to bathrooms and attics, but they are also likely to find a home in your pantry where there is food and darkness.

Do Silverfish Carry Disease?

Whether you find a silverfish lurking around your pantry or crawling around your bathtub, the first thing you think is, “Is this pest dangerous to my family?” Fortunately, silverfish are not disease carriers, and they do less damage than ants, roaches or termites. Silverfish are often drawn to bookcases and shelving, so they may eat away at your books as they enjoy eating the book paste.

How Can I Prevent Silverfish?

Vacuum often, concentrating around baseboards, cracks and crevices. If you find silverfish, remove their sources of food and kill the eggs. You can also work with a pest control company such as Dugas Pest Control to lay silverfish traps where the insects have been seen.

Learn More >>

Where Does Louisiana Rank on the Worst Bed Bugs List?

When it comes to the itchy, crawly, blood-sucking bed bugs that keep people up at night, it’s always the big cities that are hardest hit. There are two reasons for this. The first is that there are more people living and working in large cities, creating a greater chance for bed bug infestations. Second, people travel to large cities, so there is a higher chance that someone from another state or country will bring bed bugs along with them.

Bed Bugs Found in Large Cities across the U.S.

So where does Louisiana rank on the worst bed bug lists? For once, none of the major Louisiana cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge are near the top of a negative list – in this case, the worst states for bed bug infestations.

The states that continually top the charts according to pest control companies include the following:

Cincinnati
New York City
Chicago
Detroit
Washington DC
Columbus, OH
San Francisco

These findings are based on the number of treatments that have been needed in these locations.

A Growing Problem in Louisiana

Even though we aren’t high on the “worst” list, Louisiana is not exempt from bed bug infestations, and these problems are becoming more common across the world, Louisiana included. At Dugas Pest Control, we work solely with Louisiana residents, so we’ve seen our fair share of bed bug infestations, even if they still fall under the radar compared to cities like New York City and Chicago. Nevertheless, all bed bug infestations are the same: difficult to get rid of.

Louisiana’s warm, sub-tropical climate is always favorable to bug species, and with large cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge where many people travel to, there is always a risk of bed bugs. Although we don’t want to it to happen, we expect to see more cases of infestations over time. In 2010, the bed bug problem started creeping toward our state. This same year, there were 16 LA hotels that had complaints against them for bed bugs.

So when asked the question of whether or not Louisiana will be as badly affected by bed bugs as large cities like Boston or Cincinnati one day, we can only assume that it’s a strong possibility.

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Your fear of bugs may actually be entomophobia

When you see a bug is your reaction worse than simply being “grossed out”? Many people have strong reactions to seeing a bug, even if the bug in question is not harmful or near them. Let’s find out why.

Entomophobia is fear or aversion to insects and can also be referred to as insect phobia. When an individual with entomophobia comes into contact with an insect, they have a slight to a severe emotional reaction that includes anxiety or panic. Let’s take a closer look at this unique phobia, what the signs and symptoms are, and if there is anything that can be done to change the attitude the individual has toward insects.

Signs and Symptoms of Entomophobia Include:

–      Feeling of panic
–      Feeling of terror
–      Feeling of dread
–      Rapid heartbeat
–      Shortness of breath
–      Trembling
–      Anxiety
–      Uncontrollable crying
–      The need to leave the area

Diagnosis

Because the symptoms associated with entomophobia are related to other phobias, it takes an experienced, certified healthcare professional to reach a diagnosis. Generally, a psychologist or therapist will meet with the patient, show him or her photographs of insects and record what responses occur. These professionals will look to see what exactly is triggering the strong emotion: crawling objects or the insects themselves.

Treatment

Entomophobia is treated in the same manner as other phobias. Ongoing therapy and counseling are provided for the patient, along with the adequate medications. Often times, there is an underlying reason for the phobia, so this will hopefully be addressed during the therapy sessions. The insects will be introduced slowly to the patient so that he or she can eventually overcome the phobia to insects.

Interesting Facts

Many times, people associate aversion with phobia. Yet these two terms are not synonymous. It is innate that humans are turned off from insects; we know this firsthand. A phobia, however, is what causes the immense fear and irrational behavior. Sometimes if the aversion is strong enough, it can turn into a phobia over time. The most notable cases of entomophobia have been with bees and ants. Industrialized countries are more likely to suffer from extreme phobias or aversions to insects because they are not used to insect infestations as in underdeveloped countries.

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Signs of a Louisiana Pest Infestation

Louisiana residents have a unique take on wildlife. Since so much of the Louisiana economy relies on natural resources, we take the time to appreciate the naturalistic habitat around us. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see organizations and annual festivals that raise awareness of animals placed on extinction lists in order to draw more attention toward wildlife and preserving its virtue.

That’s why when signs of insects, bugs and small animals are seen around the home, many residents are unsure of whether or not they have an infestation or if it’s just the local, Louisiana wildlife!

Remember, infestations can happen to anyone as the direct source of the problem is that the species – termites, mice, squirrels, rats, ants, mosquitoes – find a place that meets their need for food, shelter and water.

Here are the signs to look for that may indicate a Louisiana pest infestation.

– Look for damaged window screens, woodwork and fences. Animals and insects find damaged areas as a way of entry into your home or yard.

– Check your lawn for soft spots and areas of sudden dead grass or plants. This could indicate that small mammals have made a burrow and damaged the root system.

– Inspect woodwork for holes and burrows. Places to target include wood floors, furniture and windowsills where small insects like beetles and bees make their way through.

– Nesting animals and insects use shredded materials to build nests. If you find shredded papers and cloth, this could be a sign of nesting material.

– Inspect crawlspaces or areas near the home the areas for gritty, grainy mud on the walls. In order for termites to travel without direct sunlight on them, they build mud tunnels.

– Winged insects could signal a termite or ant infestation, so be on the lookout for piles of these winged creatures.

– If you find suspicious dirt-like residue, pay attention to it. It could be droppings from insects or animals; although animal waste is generally larger and smellier. Waste from bed bugs and roaches can be small and even dusty.

– Rodents, bed bugs and roaches leave streaks on walls and furniture. Rodent fur leaves oil deposits on walls and furniture. If you notice any strange dirt or oil, take note of its presence and frequency.

– Be on the lookout for animal or insect parts. Obviously, a mouse running through your kitchen is a surefire sign that you have mice, but wings, casings from insects and dried bugs that look like dust are also just as critical.

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DIY Pest Control Gone Wrong

It’s not uncommon for homeowners to tackle jobs around the home on their own – yet there are some jobs that are better left to the professionals. One of those jobs is pest control; more specifically, the jobs that require eliminating the home of stubborn pests such as bed bugs, mice and termites. And despite the nuances of successfully controlling pests around the home, a recent study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that out of the 111 people that were surveyed, 99 percent were taking pest control matters into their own hands.

The Main Differences between Professional Pest Control and DIY Pest Control

There are many differences between professional pest control and DIY pest control:

First, pest control companies have the education and experience needed to properly exterminate bugs and pests. You should always work with a company that is licensed and certified to ensure this level of excellence.
Second, pest control companies know the proper methods for bug extermination.
Finally, professional companies have access to the most effective and innovative products. In fact, some have their own unique patents that you won’t find at the home improvement stores.

DIY Pest Control Gone Wrong

So what can happen if you try to exterminate a pest problem on your own? With more families trying to save money, it’s no surprise that they try to resolve the problem themselves. But there are a number of things that can happen, and the consequences can be disastrous.

– Extreme high temperatures can kill bed bugs. Yet people who don’t know how to properly execute this procedure have accidentally burned down their homes or have harmed themselves and others in the process.

– Fogger cans can be used on such insects as bed bugs. However, when used in high concentrations, they can lead to illness or in some cases even death, which happened to a lady living in North Carolina who used 18 cans of fogger.

– People tend to leave mouse traps out in the open. However, by the time a mouse travels to the trap, it leaves bacteria and germs in your living space. These germs can lead to illness in humans.

Bottom Line: Pest Control is Best Left to the Professionals

There are many other problems that occur in DIY pest control. People don’t know all the places to look for infestations, they don’t know how to properly use products and they end up spending more time and money to correct the problem on their own. If you’re dealing with pests around your home, call in the professionals. You’ll be saving time, money and headache, plus getting the problem taken care of the first time around.

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Mosquito Control: It’s Not Just a Backyard Problem

Living in Louisiana, you’re used to seeing mosquitoes cross your path. Yet this year, state and health officials are urging residents to be on guard due to the increased risk of infected mosquitoes. The West Nile virus is carried by mosquitoes and spread to humans when they are bitten.

There has been an increasing number of West Nile cases reported across the country, Louisiana included. Protecting your home and your family is the first step to preventing the West Nile virus, but the community must take an active role as well.

Working Together as a Community

The first step in working toward a solution for mosquito control is to see if there is already a group organized for your community; many neighborhoods already have a mosquito control plan in place. Here, residents can participate in the control efforts and make a difference in their community. These efforts include hiring a professional pest control company such as Dugas Pest Control and notifying local residents of what they should be doing to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes. When everyone is informed, neighbors can do their part to remove standing water while the community can schedule regular spraying from a professional company. When individual neighbors and the community come together, the best defense in preventing the spread of West Nile is formed.

Hiring a professional pest control company is helpful because they can target an area at large, identify potential breeding grounds and ensure that future infestations are avoided. It can also help to have a professional survey the area so that there is a neutral party instructing neighbors of what to do to avoid the spread of West Nile. After all, if one neighbor has a standing water in their backyard, the whole neighborhood will experience a mosquito infestation. Prevention is a community effort, and it requires everyone to work together for one solution. Notifying neighbors of what they can be doing in their own backyards – dumping out standing water, tightening screens on doors and windows and perhaps investing in a misting system – is an effective strategy for making sure that everyone is doing their part and has the correct information at hand.

Mosquito Control Beyond the Backyard

Pest control companies are also urging residents to protect themselves anytime they are outdoors, not just in their backyards. People are often diligent about protecting themselves near their own homes because that’s when they tend to be outdoors the longest, but it’s important to take the same precautions any time you head outside. Mosquitoes are everywhere – not just your backyard.

That is why health officials are stepping up, spraying parks, hiking trails and other public places in an effort to reduce mosquito infestations. Even though mosquitoes are a nationwide problem, working together is the most effective way to fight the heightened threat of West Nile.

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