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

Applying a pest control spray treatment in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest ControlIf 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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!

Spring 2020 – Prepare for These Pests

2020 pests to look out for in your Baton Rouge LA home this year - Dugas Pest ControlHindsight may be 20/20, but when it comes to protecting your family and home against pests this year, you can be proactive with the help of Dugas Pest Control.  We are helping homeowners prepare for the 2020 pest season by offering insights into anticipated pest activity.

At Dugas Pest Control, we have examined trends and used our field experiences and company data to determine the following five pest predictions. Along with these predictions, we are offering preventative tips to help you keep your home pest-free in 2020.

Mice

An increase in mice populations over the past several years may be attributed to warmer than usual winters. With warmer weather predicted again for the winter of 2020, mice activity may boom, which is bad news for homeowners. Mice are year-round pests that invade homes looking for two things: food and shelter.

Homeowner Tips: Mice can squeeze through holes the size of a dime. To prevent an infestation,  rodent-proof your home by sealing small cracks and crevices with a silicone-based caulk. Exterior gaps of ¼-inch or larger can be repaired with copper mesh, hardware cloth or metal flashing. Weatherproof gaps under garage doors, door frames, windows, or pipes and cables that penetrate your house.

Stinging Pests

Changing climates cause dramatic effects in the pest world, and with mild winters, experts are seeing more yellow jacket and hornet nests. Female yellow jackets and hornets are able to overwinter in freezing temperatures and will invade homes, structures, and man-made or natural voids. When temperatures rise in spring, stinging insects will surface from their hiding places, ready to start populations earlier in the year.

Homeowner Tips: Since yellow jackets and hornets can overwinter, they may be out and about at the first sign of warm weather. Be on the lookout for stinging pests, utilizing a professional pest control service as soon as you spot activity.

Ticks

With the rise of popular outdoor activities, like hiking and camping, and years of warmer than usual winters, humans and their pets are likely to encounter ticks in 2020. The Lone Star tick, the deer tick or black-legged tick, and the American dog tick are ticks of special interest. Nearly 50,000 cases of human tick-borne diseases such as Lyme Disease,  Ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever were reported in 2018. Pets may also be at risk for some of these diseases.

Homeowner Tips: During the time spent outdoors, wear an EPA-approved insect repellent. It’s also recommended to wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks, in areas where ticks may be active. During and after outdoor activity, check for ticks on yourself and any family members, including your pets.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes thrive in warm weather, and their populations increased in 2019.  If we have another relatively warm, wet winter and spring, we could experience another boom inactivity by late spring and early summer.  Areas of the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest are predicted to have above-average rainfall, while most of the U.S. is predicted to be warmer than average this winter.

Homeowner Tips: The risk of mosquito-borne diseases, such as the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) can increase with rising populations. To protect yourself and your family, dispose of standing water from your property and always wear an EPA-approved insect repellent when spending time outdoors.

Termites

Termites are the most destructive pests in North America, causing $6 billion in property damage each year.  According to experts, the two main weather factors that affect termite populations are temperature and rainfall. With warmer and wetter weather predicted for spring, the termite swarming season will be ramping up soon.

Homeowner Tips: To deter termites, eliminate earth to wood contact and avoid moisture accumulation near your home or structures’ foundation. Because termites can cause such extensive damage, raising homeowner awareness around the need for proactive protection for their homes is critical to prevent costly repairs.

The experts at Dugas Pest Control agree that a proactive approach is the first step any homeowner can take to prevent pest issues. With these 2020 pest predictions in mind, take time to evaluate your current pest control plan and ensure that you have the protection you need to protect yourself and your family from pests in 2020.