Do Cockroach Infestations Get Worse in the Summer?

Cockroaches in the summer in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest ControlA cockroach infestation is bad any time of year. However, they can be at their worst in the summertime—especially here in Louisiana. Because we experience warm, humid weather in the summer months, cockroaches are more likely to infest homes. Even worse, they often breed at a more rapid rate this time of year, making their infestations quickly grow in numbers.

Because a cockroach infestation can be so frustrating, not to mention dangerous, it’s important to learn how to keep them out. The team at Dugas is here with expert info on summertime cockroach problems.

6 Ways to Keep Roaches Out

Cockroaches are hardy insects—once you have them, they can be increasingly difficult to get rid of. For that reason alone, it’s important to know how to keep them away in the first place. Our best tips to prevent cockroaches are as follows.

  1. Inspect the perimeter of your home and seal cracks. Seal windows and doors or install screens.
  2. Keep a clean home or business. Wipe or clean up any spills or messes as soon as possible. Also avoid letting clutter build up.
  3. After feeding your pets, pick up pet bowls and avoid leaving food out overnight or for days at a time.
  4. Keep all food securely sealed in airtight containers, and refrigerate unsealed food.
  5. Ensure your garbage is sealed with a tight-fitting lid, and routinely take it out when needed.
  6. Because cockroaches love moisture, promptly fix any leaky pipes or clogged rain gutters.

Why do Cockroaches Like the Summer?

Cockroaches are drawn to sources of heat, plain and simple. Most species are attracted to humidity and warmth, which is why they frequently are seen in laundry rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. Although roaches can adapt to a number of climates and environments, they thrive in the heat of the summer. This is the time of year when they breed more rapidly. It’s also the time of year when they enter homes to escape rising temperatures outside.

Cockroach Infestation Removal

If you have cockroaches, you are likely going to need the help of a professional to get rid of them. Because infestations grow to such large numbers in the summertime here in Baton Rouge, it’s best to enlist the help of a licensed cockroach exterminator such as Dugas. Our team will ensure you stay roach-free in the summer and all year long.

Tips to Protect Your Pets From Summertime Ticks

Tips to protect pets form ticks in the summer in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest ControlIt’s the middle of the summertime in the Baton Rouge area, and people want to spend more time outdoors than ever. For pet owners, they are likely wanting to take their dogs on walks and have them spend time in their backyard. However, the warmer weather brings about a rise in the prevalence of ticks and other pet parasites. Ticks are infamous for transmitting Lyme disease–although cats are largely unaffected, they can be as dangerous for dogs as they are for people.

For that reason, it’s important to learn how to protect your pets from summertime ticks.

5 Ways to Keep Ticks off Pets

In general, it’s important to stay proactive about the possibility of your pets getting a tick. Some of the ways you can help include:

  1. Keep a tidy, trimmed yard. By mowing your lawn regularly, you can make your yard less attractive to ticks. In addition, implement rodent prevention tactics to discourage rodents that could carry ticks.
  2. Use tick preventatives on your pets. Talk to your veterinarian about prevention or treatment options, including heartworm protection.
  3. Check your dogs or cats for ticks daily or whenever they go outdoors. When inspecting, focus on areas under the legs and around the neck and ears. In addition, look out for excessive scratching, licking, or grooming behavior.
  4. Avoid areas with tall grass on hikes. Ticks are known to be in areas with high grass, be careful to stay on trails when hiking or walking.
  5. Protect your family from ticks. During the summer, regularly check yourself and family members for ticks after being outdoors. They can easily hop from you to your pets!

Are Ticks Dangerous for Dogs?

Ticks feed by biting an animal or human and feasting on their blood. This could take days. When an infected tick attaches to a dog for a few days, it’s possible for them to transmit Lyme disease, a serious bacterial infection. If you notice your pet is showing symptoms of depression, loss of appetite, fever, lameness, or swollen joins and lymph nodes, immediately contact your veterinarian. Ticks can also occasionally cause anemia in pets. Cats rarely get ticks, but could easily carry them into your home where they can infest other members and pets in the family.

Help With Tick Infestations

If ticks have been introduced into your home, it’s important to always clean your property thoroughly and inspect for them, just as you would with fleas. For more information on tick prevention or for advice on your tick problem, the team at Dugas is ready to help!

How to Prevent Mosquito Breeding Grounds

Breeding grounds for mosquitoes in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest ControlMosquitoes are a big problem for residents in Louisiana. They are most active at dawn and dusk, which is when they are likely to bite people. Female mosquitoes need a blood meal before they reproduce, and will lay eggs in areas with at least a half inch of standing water. If you’ve noticed an influx of mosquitoes in your backyard, you could be unknowingly harboring mosquito breeding grounds. By eliminating these, you are able to avoid a major mosquito problem and keep you and your family safe. The team at Dugas is here to share top tips for preventing mosquito breeding grounds in your property–read on to learn more.

Where do Mosquitoes Breed Outdoors?

Mosquitoes are opportunistic and can make do with a number of conditions. In order to reproduce, however, female mosquitoes require a source of stagnant water in which to lay their eggs. Even during the summer months, there are many things in your yard that could be collecting standing water. Some of the most common mosquito breeding ground hot spots include:

  • Birdbaths
  • Gutters
  • Mud pots
  • Tree stumps and wood piles
  • Children’s play sets
  • Trash cans
  • Old tires
  • Pools & spas

Mosquito breeding ground prevention in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest Control

How to Stop Mosquitoes In Your Yard

If you notice any of the above items are collecting water, quickly dump them out and check on them on a regular basis. You may wish to consider getting covers for certain items as well. In addition to removing areas with standing water in your yard, there are four other ways to make your property less hospitable to mosquitoes:

  1. Install screens on doors and windows to keep mosquitoes outside
  2. Avoid going outdoors at dawn and dusk
  3. Fix water leaks or drainage issues promptly
  4. Keep your lawn and shrubs trimmed and neat

Mosquito Prevention in Baton Rouge

No one wants to deal with mosquitoes in the summertime, especially when you plan to spend your evenings outdoors. If you’ve done all you can to keep mosquitoes away and still are experiencing infestations, contact your local mosquito exterminators at Dugas. We have the tools and resources needed to keep our customers safe from mosquitoes year-round!

Keeping Ants Away From Your Home This Summer

Keeping ants away from your home in Baton Rouge LA this summer - Dugas Pest ControlAnts are a common problem all year long, but they tend to spike in activity during the summer. These pests are drawn indoors in search of food and shelter and, once inside, they can spread and become a serious problem. As the number one nuisance pest not just in the Baton Rouge area but nationwide, it’s very important to learn about keeping ants away from your home. No one wants to deal with an ant infestation! Thankfully, there are a number of ways you can keep them out–for good. Keep reading for summertime ant prevention tips from the experts at Dugas Pest Control.

How to Keep Summertime Ants Away

It’s likely you’ve had ants before. If you have, you likely never want to deal with them again! There are a number of ways you can limit ants’ access into your property and make your home less attractive to them overall. Our top tips for keeping ants away from your home include:

  1. Cleaning your home regularly. Sweep your floors regularly to get rid of crumbs. Ants are attracted to sugary food sources and a few crumbs will keep them coming back for more.
  2. Storing all food items properly. Avoid leaving food out uncovered. Keep food in airtight containers or store them safely in cupboards and fridges.
  3. Sealing gaps, cracks, and entry holes. Ants can crawl through the tiniest of cracks. Inspect your property and use caulk to seal any gaps, holes, or potential entry ways.
  4. Avoiding excess moisture or water. Areas with standing water or leaks will attract ants quickly. Attend to broken pipes and clean up spills quickly.
  5. Trimming back trees and vegetation. Plants close to your home can grant ants easy access into your property. Make sure tree branches, shrubs, and bushes are trimmed away from the perimeter!

What Ants are Common During the Summer?

These types of ants can be around all year long, but they tend to be more active as they infest homes in the summertime. Because there are more than 700 species of ants throughout the nation, it’s important to know what type of ant you’re up against! A few of the most common types of ants you’ll likely encounter in our area are odorous house ants, carpenter ants, fire ants, and pavement ants. All of these pose different threats and exhibit different behaviors, but all likely need the assistance of a professional exterminator to control!

Long-Term Ant Prevention in Baton Rouge

Keeping ants away from your home can seem like an uphill battle at times. Even when you’ve done all you can to keep them away, ants may still squeeze their way inside your property. In that case, it’s always best to contact a professional ant exterminator. The team at Dugas has what it takes to control any current infestation and prevent future ones from forming!

8 Bed Bug Myths Debunked

Debunking common bed bug myths in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest ControlBed bugs are a feared pest, and it’s easy to understand why. Not only do bed bugs bite, they can spread easily and be a pain to get rid of without a professional. As cases rise, more and more information is spread about bed bugs–and not all of it is true! In order to better prepare yourself for a bed bug problem, it’s crucial to learn how to separate fact from fiction. With Bed Bug Awareness Week upon us, the team at Dugas Pest Control wants to dispel common bed bug myths. Keep reading to learn more.

Bed Bug Myths That Simply Aren’t True

The following list explores common myths about bed bugs that we want to set straight:

  1. Bed bugs are nocturnal.
    • Bed bugs are active when their hosts are at rest. This obviously means they are active at night, but they can also adjust their schedule to fit yours.
  2. Bed bugs are only found in your bedroom.
    • Bed bugs gather near areas where people rest. This includes sofas, chairs, cracks in the wall, and even power outlets.
  3. Bed bugs are too small to see with the naked eye.
    • Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and can definitely be seen. Nymph bed bugs are much smaller and translucent, making them more difficult to spot.
  4. Bed bugs jump and fly.
    • Unlike fleas and ticks, bed bugs cannot jump or fly. They have underdeveloped wings, and move from one area to another by crawling.
  5. Bed bugs are attracted to messy or dirty homes.
    • This is one of the most common myths about bed bugs. Whether your home is clean or dirty, a bed bug infestation can happen in any property.
  6. Bed bugs latch onto or bon people.
    • Although bed bugs are known to hitch a ride on your purse or suitcase, they do not attach to people as fleas or ticks do.
  7. Bed bugs transmit dangerous diseases.
    • Bed bugs definitely bite, but they do not transmit diseases as mosquitoes do.
  8. Bed bugs can live a year without feeding.
    • While they definitely can survive months without a meal, it is very unlikely for bed bugs to survive an entire year.

What to Do About Bed Bugs in Baton Rouge

If you have a bed bug problem, it’s important to act quickly. DIY bed bug extermination is out of the question–trying to get rid of them yourself can actually make things worse. The team at Dugas is committed to keeping our customers safe from bed bugs all year round. To learn how we can keep you bed bug-free, contact us today!

Are You Prepared for Mosquito Season?

How to prepare for mosquito season in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest ControlEveryone loves the summertime in Baton Rouge. Warming temperatures means more time spent outdoors. Unfortunately, mosquitoes also love warmer temperatures and infamously put a damper on outdoor activities this time of year. To prevent a mosquito problem ruining your next barbecue or picnic, it’s crucial to learn how to prepare for mosquito season. The mosquito exterminators at Dugas Pest Control are here to help with mosquito prevention tips and tricks. Keep reading to learn how to keep mosquitoes out of your yard this summer!

5 Ways to Prepare for Mosquito Season

There are several ways you can make your home or property less appealing to mosquitoes. Implement the following tips now to hopefully reduce the amount of mosquitoes in your yard this summer:

  • Eliminate all standing water. Get rid of standing water in buckets, flower pots, bird baths, tarps, and more. Mosquitoes use standing water to breed!
  • Install screens on windows and doors. Installing screens on your doors and windows can keep mosquitoes from getting indoors every time you try to get some fresh air.
  • Place fish in ponds and agitate the water. Certain types of fish will feed on mosquito larvae. In addition, adding an agitator will stop mosquitoes from laying eggs in the water.
  • Keep a tidy yard. Regularly maintain your garden and lawn to keep the grass short. Also keep plants and bushes trimmed to prevent mosquito resting spots.
  • Use fans in your outdoor area. Mosquitoes hate wind and are not strong fliers. Use fans to help force them away from your outdoor areas.

Avoiding Mosquitoes When Outside

You don’t want to let mosquitoes ruin your outdoor activities this summer. Whether you have a camping trip planned or a barbecue, there are several things you can do to protect yourself against mosquitoes. In general, try to avoid going outdoors at dusk and dawn. In addition, wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and pants. To protect yourself and your family even further, consider applying insect repellent containing DEET. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and consult your pediatrician before use on children.

Seasonal Mosquito Protection

If you’ve done everything you can to keep mosquitoes from inhabiting areas in your yard but still have them, it’s best to contact the team at Dugas. In addition to mosquito repellents, we can help safeguard your property against mosquitoes in the summer. Contact our expert mosquito exterminators today to learn more.