What Are Those Bugs in the Bathroom?

What silverfish look like in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest ControlSometimes, even when we think we’ve kept our bathrooms as clean as we can, we still find that they’ve become a home for unwanted pests. The moisture and humidity that build up in our bathrooms provide essential needs for many kinds of pests in Baton Rouge LA. Whether they’re looking for drinking water, hospitable environments, or other bugs to eat, there’s something for every critter in your bathroom. To find out what pests you might find in your bathroom and how to prevent them, learn from the technicians at Dugas Pest Control!

What Pests Infest Bathrooms?

There is a long list of Baton Rouge LA pests that could find their way into your bathroom, but these three are some that we deal with all the time:

  1. Ants: These critters are attracted to excess moisture in our bathrooms for drinking water. The scent of our perfumes, soaps, body washes, shampoos, and other hygiene products are also likely to draw ants in, looking for food.
  2. Cockroaches: Infamously easy to please, roaches are comfortable eating toothpaste, soap, and grime that they find in our bathrooms. The warm temperatures, moisture, and dark cabinets keep them around.
  3. Silverfish: These insects love humid environments, which are easily created by a poorly ventilated bathroom. If you find silverfish on the floor of your shower or tub, you probably have a humidity issue that you need to address.

Humidity is also known to draw in drain flies, centipedes, and certain kinds of spiders.

What Can I Do to Keep Pests Out of My Bathroom?

You will have a much better chance of avoiding pest problems with a clean and dry bathroom. Add these measures to your cleaning routine to help keep pests out of your home:

  • Wipe down your countertops to remove any standing water and excess filth
  • Keep your bathroom well-ventilated, especially during and after a shower, to reduce humidity
  • Inspect your plumbing fixtures regularly to look for leaks or pest activity
  • Clean up any toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, or other hygiene products that spill

Whatever you can do to remove excess moisture and mess from your bathroom will contribute to a pest-free environment!

How to Keep Pests Out of Your Baton Rouge LA Bathroom

When pests are taking over your bathroom to the point where you can’t shower in peace, it’s important to let your local pest control company know. At Dugas Pest Control, we take pride in our expert ability to identify pest vulnerabilities and eliminate active populations swiftly and safely, restoring our customers’ bathrooms to proper conditions. Don’t hesitate to get rid of pests in the bathroom—contact us today for a free quote!

7 Common Household Bugs in Louisiana

There are many wonderful things about living in Louisiana, but the bugs usually aren’t at the top of the list! The warm, semi-tropical climate is favorable to pests, which is why Louisiana is known for its readily available supply of bugs and insects. Some insects are harmless, even though they may look fierce, while others carry disease. Nevertheless, all insects are a nuisance, and no family wants to share their home with them. At Dugas Pest Control, we get many calls for many types of pests. In this blog post, we’re sharing the most common household bugs and pests in the Baton Rouge area. Read on to learn more!

Common Pests in Louisiana

Termites are a common household pest in Louisiana - Dugas Pest Control

1. Termites >>

There are two types of termites in Louisiana: subterranean and drywood. Subterranean termites like to chew through the interior part of a wood structure. They then cover their tracks by filling holes with dirt or mud. By the time the damage is discovered, it’s too late. There is probably hundreds to thousands of dollars of damage. Drywood termites feast on dry wood and leave feces behind, but they don’t fill holes with dirt.

Carpet beetles are a common household pest in Louisiana - Dugas Pest Control

2. Beetles >>

There are many species of beetles, but the most common in the Baton Rouge area include carpet beetles and powderpost beetles. Interestingly, carpet beetles in their adult stage aren’t much of a problem, but as larvae, they are quite the nuisance. They feed on household items such as clothes, linens, and food.

Powderpost beetles can be just as severe as termites as the larvae create tunnels on the inside of wood structures. It won’t be until these beetles chew their way out as adult beetles that you will see signs of damage.

Mosquitoes are a common household pest in Louisiana - Dugas Pest Control

3. Mosquitoes >>

The wet, humid summers create the perfect environment for mosquitoes. Although mosquitoes are synonymous with Southern living, these insects can carry deadly diseases that can be transmitted to humans. With the recent threat of West Nile, it’s crucial to have professional mosquito repellents applied to your yard before mosquito season, which starts early Spring here in Louisiana.

Cockroaches are a common household pest in Louisiana - Dugas Pest Control

4. Roaches >>

Between flying roaches and cockroaches, the roach population certainly shows its face in Louisiana. Roaches thrive off warm, moist environments, and some, such as cockroaches, are found in high-filth areas. They can also carry diseases such as E.coli and salmonella. Baton Rouge is home to many types of roach, including the Smokybrown cockroach, American cockroach, and German cockroach.

Spiders are a common household pest in Louisiana - Dugas Pest Control

5. Spiders >>

Spiders are versatile insects that can be found in just about any climate, but the fact that Louisiana is warm and sub-tropical makes it a great location for all breeds of spiders. They especially prefer dark, moist places like underneath flowerpots or garbage can handles. Some of the most common spiders found in Baton Rouge include your typical garden spiders, fishing spiders, and bold jumping spiders. However, some have poisonous venom that can cause serious reactions in humans, including the brown widow spider, black widow spider, and brown recluse spider.

Fire ants are a common household pest in Louisiana - Dugas Pest Control

6. Fire Ants >>

With a warm climate and close proximity to Central America and Mexico, Louisiana is known for its colonies of ants, more specifically, red fire ants. Fire ants can have up to 700 colonies per acre that can include up to 250,000 crawling members. Fire ants are also fierce predators, carry disease and destroy property. If you are noticing an excess of fire ant mounds, be very cautious and reach out to your local ant control experts.

Silverfish are a common household pest in Louisiana - Dugas Pest Control

7. Silverfish >>

Silverfish have small pinchers, and although they are not poisonous, their pinchers will hurt. They have a fish-like shape and are a gray or silver color. They prefer dark, moist areas and are most commonly seen at nighttime when they leave their nest. Homeowners are accustomed to seeing these tiny bugs in kitchens and bathrooms, where there is excess moisture.

Need Help With Louisiana Insects & Pests?

Pests are a fact of life in Baton Rouge and all of Louisiana—all year long. To keep you, your family, and/or your business safe from Louisiana bugs and insects, the experts at Dugas can help. Contact our licensed pest control experts today to see how we can ensure you stay pest-free.

Should I Insulate My Home With TAP?

TAP Insulation in Baton ROUGE LA - Dugas Pest ControlTAP® Insulation is one of the best home insulation options for homeowners here in Baton Rouge and nationwide. This is because TAP not only outperforms traditional insulation in noise reduction and energy efficiency, but it also acts as a form of ongoing pest control for your home. Infused with borate, TAP wards of insects and pests that are common in Louisiana homes. Its pest control properties aren’t the only benefit of TAP, either. Read on to learn more about the many benefits of insulating your home with TAP!

What Makes TAP Insulation Different?

There are several home insulation options, but TAP Insulation has proven to be a game-changer for several reasons. TAP is energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly, and controls pests in the home. The many benefits include:

  • As an energy-efficient option, TAP can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 30%.
  • TAP is environmentally friendly by using recycled paper diverted from landfills to create the product.
  • This insulation is capable of filling the nooks and crannies that are unreachable with traditional insulation.
  • TAP Insulation is the only insulation registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  • More cost-effective than traditional insulation, TAP is a one-time investment with no need for re-treatments.
  • TAP can be installed over existing insulation and comes with a lifetime warranty.

Pests Controlled with TAP Insulation

TAP is infused with a borate. When ingested by pests, the borate will stop their metabolism. Some of the many pests controlled with TAP include: 

Home Insulation Services in Baton Rouge

Bottom line: you can’t get a better home insulation product than TAP. Dugas is proud to be your local installer of TAP Insulation. Our certified technicians are licensed to install TAP in homes. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, contact our team today!

Benefits of TAP Pest Control Insulation

TAP pest control insulation is energy efficient and protects your Baton Rouge LA property against pests - Dugas Pest ControlThe most successful, long-lasting form of pest control is pest prevention. That’s where TAP® Insulation comes in! This industry-changing home insulation service not only surpasses traditional insulation, it also works to control pest problems in homes throughout Baton Rouge LA. Made out of more than 80% recycled paper, it is environmentally friendly and is an informed investment for any property owners looking to prevent pest infestations.

Keep reading to learn about the benefits of TAP pest control insulation, a service proudly offered by the team here at Dugas Pest Control.

Pests Controlled by TAP Insulation

At Dugas, we want to provide our customers with pest-free living all year long. The biggest selling point of TAP pest control insulation is, of course, its pest management features. Within the TAP Insulation, a borate product designed to kill off pests is embedded. When some insects come into contact with the insulation, they will die off as they groom themselves and ingest the borate. Although TAP pest control insulation will not kill rodents or wildlife, there are many insects that it does kill, including:

Why Get TAP Pest Control Insulation?

TAP Insulation doesn’t just control pest infestations—it has many other benefits as well. This home insulation can be installed right over any existing installation in your home. Even better, once it’s installed, it never needs to be replaced! Additional benefits of TAP pest resistant insulation include:

  • Reduces energy bill costs
  • Reduces outside noises
  • Improves indoor air quality
  • Mold & mildew resistant
  • The borate serves as a fire-retardant
  • Made of recycled, eco-friendly materials

Our TAP Insulation Installation

TAP pest control insulation is a smart choice for any property owner. It provides long-lasting pest control, not to mention outperforms traditional home insulation in a number of other areas. Whether you own a new home or are looking to upgrade your current insulation, the TAP Insulation experts at Dugas Pest Control can help. To learn more about this game-changing service or to set up an appointment, call Dugas today!

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.

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