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.

DIY Pest Control Gone Wrong

home pest control exterminators serving residents in Louisiana 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.

Smart Tips for Avoiding the West Nile Virus

Many of us don’t imagine getting the West Nile virus, especially because mosquitoes are are a regular part of living in the south. However, there are effective ways to protect yourself and your family, and everyone should be doing their part. Just as you would wash your hands and cover your mouth to prevent the spread of germs while having a cold, there are preventative measures you can take to avoid the West Nile virus. While the best thing to do is try to avoid getting bit altogether, we know this can be extremely difficult in the south, and it takes more diligence than just spraying on your favorite bug spray. Let’s take a look at the best way to prevent these itchy bug bites and your risk of the West Nile virus.

The Correct Use of Insect Repellents

Any time you step outdoors, you run the risk of getting bitten by a mosquito. If you’re going to be outside for any length of time, apply insect repellent to the exposed skin and spray your clothes with an EPA-registered repellent. Most EPA-registered repellents have an agent called permethrin in them that prevent mosquitoes from biting through the clothing. However, you should never place these repellents directly on the skin. Also never spray repellent underneath your clothes. When choosing bug sprays, don’t think that just because the spray has a higher percentage of the active ingredient means that it’s stronger. Instead, it means that the repellent will last longer. With this in mind, select a product that will provide you with enough protection for the time you’ll be outdoors. If the weather is cool enough, wear long sleeves or pants, and always place bug nets on infant carriers and strollers. Dawn, dusk and early evening are when mosquitoes bite the most, so exercise extra caution when out during these times.

Preventing the Spread of Mosquitoes

Not only should you avoid getting bit by a mosquito, but also you should prevent mosquitoes from breeding. Since mosquitoes like standing water, draining sources that collect water will prevent them from laying eggs. Look for standing water in flower pots, buckets, barrels, cans, water dishes, bird baths and swimming pools. Clean out clogged gutters and remove items lying in the yard that could collect water, such as old tires or wood logs. Even trash items that blow under your bushes can collect water, so do a regular sweep of the yard and look for recyclable containers and plastic bags that may have blown over from a neighbor’s yard.

Place Tight Fitting Screens on Windows and Doors

You may be careful to avoid mosquito bites when you’re outdoors, but we often forget about bug control when we’re indoors. Be sure that you have well-fitted screens on both your doors and windows. These tiny insects can easily get through screens that have holes or are loosely positioned onto doors and windows, coming into the home and serving as a potential threat for West Nile. Having adequate screens also provides additional perks, such as keeping dirt and standing water out of the windows. If you feel that your mosquito problem is severe, don’t hesitate to call a professional pest control company. Dugas Pest Control has their own unique mosquito control system that will rid these stubborn insects from your work or outdoor space – for good.

Image c/o: umaa.org

West Nile Problems in Baton Rouge

Louisiana residents joke about the prevalence of mosquitoes in the area by saying that the state bird IS the mosquito. This year has been especially challenging with the increase in mosquitoes and the virus they carry – West Nile.

2012 Stats for West Nile

Just this week, officials in the Baton Rouge area alerted neighborhoods to take extra precautions from being bit by mosquitoes because of the prevalence of West Nile. Research has indicated that the infection rate for mosquitoes is 11.1 percent for every 1,000 mosquitoes tested. That is almost twice the number that has been found in the past, and even those numbers resulted in human cases of the West Nile virus.

So far, there have been 53 cases of West Nile in the state of Louisiana, and positive samples of the virus have been found throughout the parishes. Officials have been placing mosquito traps in the Baton Rouge area to trap mosquitoes and test them for the virus. There is growing concern over encephalitis – swelling of the brain – which has been found to be part of the virus in some of the mosquitoes tested.

Concerns for Hunting Season

As always, health officials are most concerned about the very old and the very young, but the entire population is of concern at the immediate time. Not only has there been more West Nile activity this year compared to the last three to five years, but also the next three months are the peak of the season. With hunting season around the corner, this is also a concern over West Nile cases that will occur during the fall. With hunters spending long days outdoors and around trees and animals, the number of West Nile cases could spike.

Local Efforts to Prevent West Nile

Thankfully, 90 percent of West Nile cases are asymptomatic, which means you carry the virus but have no symptoms. In about 10 percent of cases, the person will develop a fever; those who are over 65 years of age are of greatest concern because they are at a higher risk for complications.

To protect yourself against the virus, Louisiana officials urge all residents to look for standing water around their home and eliminate it – regularly. That means dumping out water that sits in flower pots, buckets, swimming pools and bird baths.

Working with a pest control company like Dugas Pest Control can get your home safe from these pesky insects so you don’t have to worry. It’s important to choose a local company that understands the unique environment of the south and how these damp and wet conditions can provide mosquitoes with the perfect grounds for breeding. You can also expect to see the Baton Rouge area stepping up in its own precautionary efforts, spraying each day to control these pesky pests.

Baton Rouge bed bug info

You might have seen the news recently about the growing concern of bed bugs mass contamination across major cities such as New York, but does Baton Rouge really need to worry about bed bugs? After all, Baton Rouge is thousands of miles away, what harm can bed bugs really do here?

 

Unfortunately, bed bugs are already a problem here in Baton Rouge, but perhaps not on the large scale that they are in older, more densely populated cities like New York.

The other unsettling fact is that even if you don’t have bed bugs now, if you travel or have a visitor who brings bed bugs into your home a problem can quickly develop!

Due to their rapid reproduction cycles, if a bed bug contamination is not contained within 24 hours they can quickly spread throughout entire houses or buildings. Bed bugs are hard to view with the naked eye, but are able to travel in clothes, suitcases and cars for easy transportation. This means that a once they find a great feeding ground, such as your bed or home, bed bugs can be very hard to control thereafter.

Identifying bed bugs in Baton Rouge

Since bed bugs are tiny, microscopic bugs – they are very difficult to see or detect with the naked eye. However, you can look for signs of their existence in your environment by checking bedding and pajamas for specs of blood or bumps on your body.

Even though they are called “bed bugs,” they can be found anywhere in a residential or commercial building, although they are commonly found where people spend longer lengths of time stationary (such as the bed). People often pick up bed bugs when traveling, staying in hotels but sightings have even been found in homes, hotels and movie theaters all across Louisiana.

 

Spotting or specs of blood is the number one sign you have bed bugs in your home. Occasionally, you might have an allergic reaction to the bed bugs and may notice small bumps or bites on your body which may include a mild irritation.

But no matter what, if you notice blood, or bites, on your body or bedding you should immediately contact a pest control professional such as Dugas Pest Control in Baton Rouge to confirm and eradicate the bed bug problem before they populate inside your home and become out of control.

Minimizing the spread of bed bugs

In order to prevent them from taking up residence in your home or office in the first place, consider the following tips:

Make sure you don’t have fleas or ticks first. Many people who think they have bed bugs actually have a different pest problem such as fleas or ticks. A pest inspection can help make this determination.
If you travel, use the luggage stands in hotels for your suitcases or bags. Try to keep them off the floors and bedding.
When you return home from trips, wash your clothing on the hot cycle (and heat dry if possible) to kill any bed bugs you may have picked up during a trip
Avoid picking up used or discarded furniture such as sofas or bedding if you are not sure where they came from or if you have concerns they may have bed bugs. Often, those who have bed bugs get rid of their furniture or mattresses.

Dugas Pest Control Services in Baton Rouge

If you are concerned you have bed bugs in your Baton Rouge home or business, it is urgent that you call Dugas Pest Control. For best results you should contact us as soon as you suspect a possible bed bug infestation due to bed bugs rapid reproduction cycle. By calling immediately you can help prevent further contamination across Baton Rouge and Louisiana.

3 steps to controlling bed bugs

Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs have nothing to do with personal hygiene. Even if you maintain perfectly clean bedding habits, you can still have bed bugs living and breeding in your sheets, clothes, dressers and even the walls of your house!

Many people are unaware that bed bugs can survive in furniture, clothing, carpets and other household places, so it is important to learn how to correctly identify an infestation and get control of a bed bug problem. Additionally, bed bugs are prolific bugs and are able to spread quickly, so identifying them quickly is the key to removing them from your home.

As bed bugs primary food source are people, let’s find out how to correctly identify bed bugs and look at the best ways to remove them from your home before you become their next meal.

 

Step 1: Identify bed bugs food sources

Bed bugs are tiny, microscopic bugs which make them very difficult to see or detect with the naked eye. However, you can look for signs of their existence in your environment by checking bedding and pajamas for specs of blood or bumps on your body.

Occasionally, you might have an allergic reaction to the bed bugs and may notice small bumps or bites on your body which may include a mild irritation. If you notice blood, or bites, on your body or bedding you should immediately contact a pest control professional such as Dugas Pest Control to confirm and eradicate the bed bug problem before they populate inside your home and become out of control. Spotting or specs of blood is the number one sign you have bed bugs in your home.

 

Step 2: Listen to family members

If you are concerned you have bed bugs living in your home – listening to family members might be able to help you identify the location of the bed bugs. If complaints of bites or discomfort while sleeping come from certain bedrooms or after spending time in areas of the house commonly frequented, check family members and the immediate area for signs of bed bugs existence.

You can do this by routinely monitoring laundry for specs of blood or checking younger children who may have small bumps or bites on their body or pajamas. By listening to offhand comments you might be able to catch the first sign of an infestation and be able to remove the bed bugs before any damage is done.

 

Step 3: Call Dugas Pest Control for an assessment

If you do suspect you have bed bugs – the first step is to bag any clothes or bedding which you suspect may be contaminated to prevent the bed bugs from traveling and contaminating other parts of your home.

Your second step is to skip the “DIY” bed bug control products and call Dugas Pest Control. We will be able to tell you immediately if you have a bed bug infestation and how best to deal with the bed bugs once they arrive.

If you are concerned you have bed bugs it is urgent that you call as soon as possible because of the bed bugs rapid reproduction cycle. By calling immediately you can help prevent further contamination.

Top 10 reasons to get rid of mosquitoes using the Coastal Mosquito System

We might joke about mosquitoes being the state bird of Louisiana, but if you have a mosquito problem around your home or business it is no laughing matter.  Mosquitoes not only annoy us, but also spread potentially serious diseases even here locally in the Baton Rouge / southern Louisiana area.

If you have grown tired of poor results from mosquito control products that are “do it yourself” or purchased from a big box store, we’d like to suggest you take a closer look at the CoastalMister System™.  In fact, we even came up with a “Top 10” list of reasons this product beats any you’ve seen before.

 Top 10 Reasons to Consider the CoastalMister™ System for Mosquito Control:

  1. Health: Mosquito-borne diseases like Malaria, Yellow Fever, West Nile Virus, Gengue, and Encephalitis all pose a serious health threat. Protect you and your family against the risk today.
  2. Safety: Pyrethrum is a natural insecticide extracted from Chrysanthemum flowers; it is EPA registered, and leaves no residue. We are Eco-friendly and safe to the environment.
  3. Effective: The system kills mosquitoes, flies, and gnats. It works and it works well.
  4. Comfort: Your family, clients, and workers can once again enjoy the outdoors.
  5. Adaptability: The system can be designed to fit the needs of the most unique landscapes and outdoor areas.
  6. Convenience: The system has four operation modes giving you total control or hands-free operation. With four speeds; Automatic, manual, remote control and timer (optional).
  7. Low Cost: Pyrethrum concentrates are highly diluted and will provide months of protection.
  8. Guaranteed: Your satisfaction is guaranteed with a one year warranty.
  9. Experienced technical support: Available for installation and maintenance support.
  10. Customized: The CoastalMister System™ option gives you the flexibility to choose according to your needs and budget. Our skilled technicians are ready to help you better protect your home or business.

So why not try it today? We provide pest control services for communities in the following parishes: East Baton Rouge, St. Landry, Pointe Coupee, West Feliciana, East Feliciana, West Baton Rouge, St. Helena, Livingston, Ascension, St. James, St. John, St. Charles, Assumption, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche and Tangipahoa and hope to serve in neighboring areas soon.

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us online or give us a call today to schedule your free inspection and estimate.

Serious health issues that come from mosquitoes

While mosquitoes may merely seem like an inconvenience to some outdoorsy types, they are actually a major source of serious diseases worldwide.  Here are a few facts you may not know about mosquito-spread illness:

  • It is estimated that mosquitoes transmit deadly diseases to more than 70 million people every year!
  • Worldwide, malaria is a leading cause of premature mortality, particularly in children under the age of five, with around 5.3 million deaths annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
  • The viral diseases Yellow Fever and Dengue Fever are transmitted mostly by the Aedesaegypti mosquitoes.
  • Other viral diseases such as the Epidemic Polyarthritis, Rift Valley Fever, Ross River Fever, St. Louis Encephalitis, West Nile Virus (WNV), Japanese Encephalitis, La Crosse Encephalitis.
  • Several other encephalitis type diseases are carried by several additional types of different mosquitoes too.

Health threats in the United States

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) occur widely within the United States. Together they contribute disease to humans, horses, and even some bird species. Because of the high mortality rate, EEE and WEE are regarded as two of the most serious mosquito-borne diseases in the United States. Symptoms range from mild flu-like illness to Encephalitis, coma and unfortunately, death. West Nile virus was introduced into the United States in 1999. As quickly as 2003 it had spread to almost every state with over 3,000 cases reported in 2006 alone.

Mosquito Control Recommendation

While the facts are considerably downbeat, there are preventative and treatable options available on the market to help eliminate these pests and help curb the spread of diseases – and the one we prefer at Dugas Pest Control is the Coastal Mister system.

CoastalMister™ is an Outdoor Solutions, Inc. product and service dedicated to the prevention and relief of Malaria. With years of expert research and development by experienced scientists, chemists, and tntomologists, Dugas Pest Control is proud to offer the current Version IV to the CoastalMister System™. This system is an automatic, reliable mosquito control alternative with advanced misting light sensor patent-pending Dusk-Dawn technology.

Coastal Mister offers not only the top of the line mosquito control, but also reliable customer support and service.