B&B Exterminating Blog

Every homeowner knows that having rodents in the house is something that you want to avoid. Not only can they cause damage to the walls, wiring and pipes of your home, but they can also impart an odor. B&B Exterminating Company has been working hard to keep our customers in the Jacksonville area rodent free since 1938. We have made protecting the health and safety of your home our mission, because the truth is, a rodent infestation can cause a lot more damage to your health and property than frayed wiring and bad smells. The Dangers of Infestation An active rodent infestation carries many hidden dangers. For example, most people don’t realize that rodents can carry and transmit salmonella. Unfortunately, anything a rodent in your house touches can then be contaminated. As rodents stay near the ground, it puts them in the direct path of potentially infecting the members of your...

For many homeowners, the problems that can affect your property include things like leaky pipes, aging infrastructure elements, and general maintenance and upkeep. However, if you live in Georgia or Florida, you should also know that pests are a frequent problem that can plague your home. Unfortunately, many homeowners are not aware of the extensiveness of their pest problem, so they don't take the necessary steps to prevent it from happening. At B&B Exterminators, we know what pests can do to your property, which is why we want you to understand the danger of letting them take over. Types of Pest Infestations If you want to know how pests can create massive damage to your home, let's look at the various critters and bugs that may take residence. Here are the most common ones we encounter. Rats According to recent data, about 21 million homes are infested by rats each year....

Living in the American South means that pests are a natural side effect of your environment. The hot and humid climate attracts bugs and vermin of all kinds, which is why it’s imperative that you rely on pest control to manage the impact of these pests. However, are you doing enough to make sure that your home doesn’t look appealing?All too often, homeowners will get rid of an infestation, only to have it resurface later on. Today we want to discuss several ways that you can make sure that your pests will be gone for good. Keep it Clean For the most part, bugs and vermin are attracted to food sources. Thus, if you have bits of food littering your house, then it looks like a suppertime buffet. Spills are especially dangerous because if it were something sweet (like tea), it would be like sending out a pest beacon around your...

If you grow pumpkins or simply use the fruit as a holiday decoration, remember to check for pests. Numerous insects and rodents like to feed on these delicious gourds as well as their leaves and vines. Bugs Slugs usually attack pumpkins before the plant has fully matured. The same goes for snails. When you try to protect the fruit, keep in mind that these slimy pests won't travel through sandy areas. Aphids damage a wide range of plants. A heavy infestation can cause the leaves to turn yellow. These parasites also transmit diseases from one plant to another and leave sticky droppings behind. Ladybugs eat aphids, but ants may protect them. Although they won't attack jack-o'-lanterns, vine borers can have a major impact on any pumpkin patch. These insects tunnel into vines before consuming the plant's juices. This causes the vines to dry out and prevents your pumpkins from growing. Squash...

Before rodents get inside your home, there are a few things that you can do to help ensure that they stay outside. Many of the ways to rodent-proof your home are humane options that are safe for your family and your pets. If you do happen to see rodents inside, you can contact a professional company, such as B&B Exterminating, to come to your home to get rid of the rodents and use treatments that can keep them away. Start on the outside of the home. Keep your yard clean and free of debris that rodents might want to use as a home, such as trash bags or logs. You should also minimize any bird seed that you use because small rodents enjoy eating the seed when it's on the ground. If you have a garage or a utility room attached to the home, keep the doors closed so that rodents...

The autumn season is usually accompanied by pleasant weather and a change in the color of the leaves on the trees. This creates a scenic atmosphere that is ideal for enjoying the weather just before the winter seasons begins. However, this season also attracts certain types of pests, which can ruin your ability to enjoy the fall season. To avoid these common pests in the fall, you should learn about the reason that they are attracted to the area in the first place. This information can help you to identify these pests and hopefully to avoid the discomfort that they can bring. When you know how to recognize the most common fall pests, you can protect your family and friends when you are enjoying your time outdoors. Common Autumn Pests The three most common pests will appear during the autumn months for a specific reason. When you understand the reason that...

While you're away at school, you will probably have to sleep on a mattress provided in the dorm room. However, you can usually have your own sheets and other linens with you. Unfortunately, you don't always know who has been on the mattress before you and how well the mattress and the bed have been cleaned before moving into the dorm. When you get home, there could be bed bugs in your luggage, clothing, and linens. Fortunately, there are ways to check for them and get rid of them. One option is to contact B&B Exterminating, a company that can treat the entire home for bed bugs while using products to keep them away in the future. As soon as you get home, look through all of your bags to see if there are any bugs that are easily seen by the naked eye. They usually hide along crevices of suitcases,...

When autumn approaches, it's time to change your lawn care routine to maintain your lawn's good health and prepare for the winter ahead. Adding a few simple steps to your regular fall maintenance, including raking your leaves and replanting dead areas, will help your yard start off green and healthy when spring arrives. Keep Mowing Although your grass may not grow as quickly as it did in the spring and summer, you should still keep mowing your lawn throughout fall. If you don't keep up with your mowing, you may end up with clumps of grass that winter weather can damage. Don't mow the grass too short, however; if you cut it too short, the lawn will have a harder time surviving the winter weather. Plant New Grass An especially hot summer and drought conditions can damage your lawn, leaving plenty of bare spots. Fall is a good time to lay...

Mosquitoes don't care that we want them to stay out of our outdoor space. Their life's mission is to breed and feed on human blood. Thankfully, if you utilize the following prevention tips, these flying vampires won't be able to rear their ugly heads so easily. Make Your Outdoor Space Uninhabitable Mosquitoes will flock to any area that has standing water, and this is especially true if humans and pets are present. Therefore, it's time for you to do some maintenance to your yard. Any containers that are holding an ounce of water can support the eggs of mosquitoes, so get in the habit of emptying them on a regular basis. These insects are particularly drawn to the gutters, plant trays, pet bowls and yard fountains. Rain barrels need to be sealed tightly. Keep in mind that mosquitoes aren't really restricted when it comes to breeding grounds. As opportunistic pests, they...

Several pests eat wood or damage it other ways, such as boring through it to build nests. These pests are referred to as wood destroying organisms. They can cause significant destruction to homes and other buildings, but the damage isn't always obvious to the naked eye. Most of the time, it takes experts to identify and eradicate pest problems, and fumigation may be the best solution in serious cases. Common WDOs in Florida Florida is home to numerous WDOs, including termites, carpenter ants and beetles. There are several species of each, and they behave differently. The two main species of termites are subterranean and drywood, and wood is their primary source of food. They have straight antenna and two pairs of wings that are equal in length. The most damaging type of subterranean termite is the Formosan. They can grow into colonies with millions of termites, so they can destroy wood...

Getting stung by a bee or wasp causes enough trauma to ruin your day. Unfortunately, a sting may happen unexpectedly. For instance, you may inadvertently step on a bee that is comfortably resting on your living room floor. If you are not wearing shoes or slippers, the bee may sting your foot as a form of self-defense. Nevertheless, a bee or wasp sting is not the end of the world unless you are allergic to stings. Known as anaphylaxis, a small minority of people living in the United States die from stings each year, which is why it is important to know how to treat a sting once it happens. Bring salt, water, vinegar and a bottle of hand sanitizer with you whenever you are on a camping trip. Otherwise, you may not have any available method for treating the painful sting. First, you need to remove the stinger. If you...

Fire ants are different than other types of ants. These ants have a more aggressive appearance than other ants, and this includes the pincers at the area around their face, which they use to bite into flesh. They also have a body with an unusually red color. There is a visible stinger at the base of their last segment, and it is often black. These ants will usually appear during the warmest months of the year because they like sunny weather with little humidity. They will prefer wooded areas that are dry, and this is where they will build colonies. Signs of Fire Ant Infestations The early signs of fire ants can warn you about this danger. An infestation of fire ants can start with the appearance of a mound that can become as large as 18 cm in height. Watch for this major sign carefully so that you will be...

Common lawn pests will leave signs that they are infesting your yard. For example, brown spotted areas are a common sign, and these spots can provide a warning that you have a pest infestation. However, some people mistake these brown spots for a lawn disease, and this can cause confusion. There are several bugs that will eat the grassy areas of your lawn and leave patches or spots behind. Some of the most common lawn pests include: Japanese Beetles These pests form colonies in the garden of homes and even commercial properties. They might not eat the grass directly, but they will lay their eggs in the soil of your lawn. As the eggs begin to mature, small grubs will form that need to eat the grass and the roots of your lawn in order to survive. Grubs form during the larval stage, and they will later become mature Japanese beetles....

Memorial Day is a time when you can celebrate with friends and family. However, ants are likely not a part of your holiday plans. Fortunately, there are some ways that you can keep ants from crashing your BBQ with little effort on your part. Ants usually seek out any kind of food. Since you'll have a variety of foods outside for your BBQ, try to keep items in closed containers or covered as much as possible. If ants don't have as many options when they are trying to find food, then they will seek sources somewhere else. Each person can have a lid on soda cups or cans as well because ants tend to seek out sweeter foods and liquids. If anything is spilled on tables, then clean the mess as soon as it's made. Don't leave any kind of food or drink sitting around because it will quickly begin to...

A major player in the flower pollination game, bees were sacred to many ancient cultures, including the Greeks and the Maya. Today, the bee is often more feared for its stinger than revered for its pollinating ability, leading the ubiquitous insect to a level of notoriety it doesn’t quite deserve. For instance, you may believe one (or all!) of the following five myths about bees: 1. All Bees Make Honey Of the Earth’s more than 20,000 species of bees, only about 5 percent are honey bees or sting-less bees that produce honey. The remaining bee species serve as pollinators, and they’re found on every continent except Antarctica. 2. You Can Keep Bees Away with Smart Planting Habits To a bee, there’s no correlation between home base and the flowers they pollinate. Even if you choose non-flowering plants for your home garden, bees may end up building a nest on your property....

B&B Exterminating services are invaluable in our service area, and this is especially true during the warm, humid summer months when mold and odors become a serious problem. Moisture control is the most important part of any effective plan for mold control. Preventing mold from growing is not possible if you are unable to control the moisture within the building. During periods of excessive rain or flooding, this problem becomes even more intense. Our service providers understand the dangers of allowing mold to grow in your home or office, and we have the tools and experience necessary to tackle this problem effectively. Affected Buildings Many types of properties can be affected by mold and odors that come with an infestation of pests who are attracted to mold. This includes apartment units, single-family homes, business properties, condominiums, schools and other commercial properties. The cost of running a business can soar if mold...

Property owners often miss the telltale signs—tiny piles or dustings of substances that resemble sawdust, powder, granules or mud. Closer inspection above or immediately at the site may reveal, however, a single hole, dozens of holes or decay that is more difficult to detect—each type of damage evidence of a nest, a colony and a potential infestation. The frass present at each site is often the key to identifying what type of pest might be at fault. What Is Frass? In the strictest, most technical use of the word, frass is the excrement of insects and their larvae. In some cases, frass leavings alone are present while in other cases, frass may be mixed with sawdust that the insects have chewed or reused to appear like mud, for example. How To Identify Frass Many insect pests have distinctive frass. Here are some of the most common ones. Carpenter Ants: Cone-shaped piles...

There's nothing like being outside in the sun taking care of your lawn in the spring. Maintaining your lawn helps to ensure that you have green grass and that you don't have a lot of unwanted pests lurking about. Before you begin any kind of care, make sure your mower and weedeater are tuned. Change the oil and the filters in each one. You should also change the spark plug in the mower. If the equipment that you use isn't operating efficiently, then you're not going to get the cut that you want, possibly leaving the lawn ragged in appearance. Take a walk around your yard to pick up any limbs or twigs before spreading grass seed or fertilizer or mowing. Fix bare spots in the yard before you begin any kind of regular maintenance, such as mowing once a week. Wait until the grass is about two inches tall before...

If you own a home and don’t want termites to invade and cause damage, you are likely wondering what you can do to keep termites at bay. Termites are tiny insects that will consume wooden floors, walls and support beams if they have a chance to get into your home.  When they first gain access, most homeowners won’t even spot the warning signs until the late stages of an infestation, giving the pests plenty of time to cause destruction. You will likely face costly repair bills if termites make their way onto your property, but you can take several steps to safeguard yourself from the threat.  Prevent Wood From Contacting the Ground Since termites love to infest and consume wood, allowing the wooden parts of your home to touch the ground is a great way to invite the pests inside. Keeping wood siding and beams at least 6 inches off the...

You don't have to get used to mosquitoes just because you live in Florida and Georgia. Although these nuisance insects thrive in the southern states, you don't have to move to the Central Rockies to escape from them. Regular yard maintenance and routine treatment can help keep these bloodthirsty pests away from you and your family. The Most Common Mosquito Areas The most common disease-carrying mosquitoes, such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, are prevalent throughout the Southeast, stretching as far as Texas and into much of California. Their numbers start to decline somewhat in the Central Midwest and fall off the farther you go toward Montana, Colorado and the western states. 3 Common Places to Find Mosquitoes at Home Tarps Tarps collect rainwater as they sit outside in the elements. Mosquitoes only need about an inch of water in which to lay their eggs, so it's a good idea to...