B&B Exterminating Blog

There is a common misconception that mold is only found outdoors or in “old” homes that haven’t been taken care of. Mold can be found in multiple places, including the inside of your newly built home. Think about that loaf of bread you bought last week that is still in the pantry. Or last week’s leftovers you found in the back of the fridge. What about that patio door seal that came loose last month that you hadn’t yet fixed? All of these things, and more, become the perfect playground for over mold and fungi growth. So what does mold mean for over 8 common types of unwanted pests? Let’s find out. Pests Thrive In Humid Environments Unfortunately, one of the downsides to living in an area close to large bodies of water, such as the ocean, and/or frequent areas of moisture, is the inevitable breeding grounds for mold growth. Where...

Thanksgiving usually means that a week’s worth of food preparation is in order. Preparing the turkey, mashing the potatoes, stuffing, gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, rolls and pies take a lot of time and effort. But as you gather with friends and family around the table, you realize that it was worth all of that hard work. What you don’t want is unwanted pests gathering around your table and indulging in your Thanksgiving meal. How do you keep pests away during this time when food can be found in abundance? Here are five tips for keeping pests at bay this Thanksgiving. 1-Keep the Kitchen as Clean as Possible When cooking or baking in the kitchen, it is inevitable that you’ll make a mess. Crumbs fall on the floor. Sugar or flour spills on the countertops. A boiling pot can spill over on the stove. Crumbs and spills attract pests, so...

The arrival of fall means that Halloween is right around the corner. Halloween means decorating your home with spooky spiders, bats, large spiders and webs and all other sorts of creepy crawly things. Halloween should be fun and festive, but what happens when the scary things come into your home looking for candy? Here are the pests that are most attracted to Halloween candy. Ants Although it may seem like ants will eat anything, they especially love sweet foods. Any spills from sugary drinks or sugary sweets will attract a trail of ants into your kitchen. Other sugary things that will attract them are chocolate and honey. Any sugar-laden candy will attract ants if left out. Cockroaches These particularly pesky pests will eat just about anything from cardboard, toothpaste, garbage, grease or even hair. However, they are especially attracted to starchy foods, meat, cheese and sweets. So, make sure that all...

Fall is a lovely time of year with the brilliant colors of orange, yellow, red and brown. The crisp, cool air offers refreshment after a hot summer. Leaves crunch beneath your feet. Pumpkin spice lattes are the go-to drink, and everyone has garlands of leaves decorating the door frame and pumpkins sitting on their doorstep. It’s a wonderful time of year, except when the pests come. Unfortunately, Fall can bring dampness and rain, which can attract pests. How Flooding Attracts Pests There are several pests that are attracted to moisture because, just like all living things need food, they also need water. As a result, wherever there is water, it is most likely unwanted house guests. So, when flooding occurs, the residual humidity and moisture will draw out those pests. Here are three different insects that are especially fond of moisture: 1-Cockroaches Cockroaches love to make their home in a warm...

Have some unusual-looking pests invaded your home recently? Every homeowner knows the distress of spotting a strange insect crawling across the floor or wall. Here are some of the more unusual bugs that take up residence in homes in southern Georgia and northern Florida. Box Elder Bugs Box elder bugs have red or orange stripes on a black body. You’ll often find them hanging out near windows or other areas of your home with sun exposure. Most likely, they will enter your home between fall and the first part of spring. They are considered harmless to humans and pets, but they can omit an unpleasant odor if you crush one. Earwigs Humidity-loving earwigs are typically found in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. These reddish-brown bugs are considered a nuisance pest, meaning they are not harmful to humans and will not damage your home. Like box elder bugs, they can omit a...

Ants are those annoying party crashers at your picnic and stopping them is easier than you might think. You can use these five simple tips to keep your picnic free from ants. Cover Up When you are setting up for your picnic, keep covers on the food. If you place the food in containers that seal, you can keep the ants from finding it. This is important for foods that contain high amounts of sugar like fruit, sodas and desserts. You will want to remember to close the food containers every time you open them. Keeping the containers closed will reduce the ant’s attraction to the food. Setting a Decoy Instead of having the ants crash your party, give them their own. When setting up your picnic area, you should set out some sugary food or decoy a good distance from your site. The sugary food in the other location will...

Where They Bee Summer is here, and bees be out and about. While they are a beautiful part of the ecosystem and perform a vital function, they are not always welcome in the area for many reasons (allergies being the top). Fortunately, there are a few tried techniques to help reduce the buzz of bees in your home and area. 5 Ways to Keep the Bees at Bay The normal living situation is that bees find a place to nest, and then use that nest as home base to feed and reproduce. If there is no nest on your property, you only need to worry about keeping them away and preventing them from being appealed to your property. If there is a nest, it will need to be removed or destroyed to get the bees to leave the area. The top recommended methods to repel bees include: A Vinegar Spray. Common...

Termites are one of the top concerns that homeowners face. Not every house will be targeted by these pests. Many times, it can be easy to jump the gun and mistakenly assume that you have them though you do not. It can be just as easy to overlook the signs of having them, as well, if you don’t know what to spot. The sooner an infestation is noticed, the better the chances of preventing major damage to the structure of your home. Looking for Termites Things to keep an eye out for to spot termites in your house include: Shelter Tubes. As the name suggests, these are clay-like tubes that termites use for safety when crossing exposed areas such as walls or foundation. In addition to protecting from predators, the tubes maintain a dark and humid area for them and their food. Exposed Holes in Trees. If there are trees in...

Bed bugs are well known around the world as miniature nocturnal bloodsuckers who prey on your flesh while you sleep and cause painful welts. Most people, whether they’ve been bitten by bed bugs or not, have surely been warned of the dangers through the iconic rhyme. Now, however, you actually have to deal with them for yourself, and you realize that bed bugs bite whether you let them or not. Here is what you should and shouldn’t do if you have these annoying creatures in your house. What Not to Do There are many things that people do in haste when they find bed bugs in their house, which usually doesn’t solve the problem and may even make the situation worse. One thing you shouldn’t do, for example, is immediately toss out all of your belongings at the first sign of trouble. There’s no reason to throw away your valuable possessions...

Mosquitos, while painful and aggravating, are often considered a simple part of life. True, mosquitos are a type of pest that thrives throughout most of the world, and while almost everyone has to deal with them, nobody has to submit to them and their relentless quest for your blood. Here are some ways to keep these pests out of your house and your life. Seal Your Windows and Doors Your first objective is to close up any gaps or openings around your house. Mosquitoes are very small, and even the tiniest entry point will suffice for them to enter your home. Therefore, install window screens if you don’t have them, and if you do, fix any tears they might have. As for the space between the bottom of your doors and the floor, a good door strip or weather strip will keep mosquitoes outside where they belong. Deterring Mosquitoes with Natural...

As the weather warms up, more and more people are leaving the comforts of their home to be out in nature, making it the perfect time for pests to sneak into your home. Historically, people blame a lack of cleanliness as the main cause of pest attraction. Where dirt itself is not the enticing factor that invites pests into your home, having a generally unclean living space can include other attractions, like these: Food Ants and other pests love to pick up on little crumbs you may leave behind. They are attracted to sticky and sweet food, as well as greasy food. Some pests are attracted to corpses of other pests. Stink Bugs leave a disturbing odor when they die that can attract bigger pest, like rodents. To prevent your food from attracting unwanted dinner guests, store all items in airtight containers. Besides organizing your kitchen into airtight containers, disposing of...

You’ve probably seen ant colonies parading across your picnic lunch, but have you been surprised to find them inside of your home? Ants are very common pests to encounter in the house, and therefore you will most likely have an infestation in your home at one point. But how do you know when you have an infestation? Keep reading for four signs that you have an ant problem. 1. They’re Eating Your Food If you have any exposed food laying around in your kitchen, the ants will find it. You will notice many ants will surround the food and begin carrying it back to their colony. But also, be aware that ants can find their way into small cracks and crevices. So, don’t be surprised if you find ants in your pantry or any other cabinets nibbling on any food debris that they can find. As ants like to eat basically...

If you are a homeowner, you know that there is a lot to upkeep. Between keeping the inside of the house clean and clutter free and keeping the outside yard looking neat, there is a lot of time consuming work. Unfortunately, there are other things to keep aware of- such as pest infestations. Termites are a common pest infestation that you will most likely have to address as a homeowner. The damage from termites can be devastating to your home’s structure, as well as your wallet. Keep reading for signs of termite damage. Discarded Wings After termites have matured and leave to find a new colony, they shed their wings. You will notice piles of these wings either inside or outside of your home. If you notice discarded wings, you should call a pest control professional to determine how much damage has been done, as it is impossible to discern how...

Out of all of the rooms in the house, the kitchen is probably the most used room. Whether you are cooking, eating, relaxing with your morning cup of coffee and newspaper or you are entertaining friends and playing board games, the kitchen is a place where you spend a lot of your time. Unfortunately, a lot of pesky insects like to spend time in your kitchen as well. How do you handle these unwanted visitors? Keep reading to discover how to get rid of common kitchen pests. Ants Ants are commonly found in your kitchen primarily if the area is not kept clean. They love to munch on sweet things and are attracted by sweet or sticky substances. Any source of crumbs in the kitchen will attract a trail of ants. This is why it is important to keep all food items stored in airtight containers, even your pets’ food. Most...

There are dozens upon dozens of popular myths when it comes to pests in the home. You likely have believed many of them for years and have tried to prevent pests in the home according to what you have been told. Contrary to popular belief, we are here to bust three of the most popular myths about pests. Fiction: No Signs of Pests Mean That No Pests Can Exist in The Home Even if you don’t see pests or any signs of pests, they still may exist somewhere around your home. For some pests like the cockroach, they are only active at night time and only appear in total darkness, to avoid being seen by humans. They are also known to hide in more places in the home than you can imagine. There is also the termite, and the last way you want to realize that you have termites is thanks...

What Are Ants? Ants are perhaps one of the most common types of insects and are found all over the world. These social insects form in colonies with each member serving a specific purpose or job, starting at the top with the queen and going all the way down to the workers. There are thousands of different types of ants. Some types of ants can sting or bite while others have wings and can fly. Carpenter and fire ants are some of the more common varieties found in North Florida and South Georgia. Where Do They Live? Most types of ants prefer to live in nature, although, ants are resourceful and can make do just about any place. Some species build tunnels and hills in the ground while others, like carpenter ants, look for downed trees and even wooden structures to call home. What Do Ants Eat? Ants are scavengers, and...

Stinging insects like bees are a reality every homeowner will need to confront at some point in time. The chief difficulty though is determining if you have helpful, necessary “good” insects like honey bees on your property, or if you have an infestation of “bad” carpenter bees, yellow jackets, hornets or wasps. The good news is you can easily tell the "good bees" from the "bad bees" if you know their distinguishing characteristics. Here’s a quick rundown for you: “Good Bees”- Honey Bees Yellow-orange in color, honey bees are pollinators that keep entire plant ecosystems alive and thriving. If possible, a honey bee hive should be professionally removed and relocated to an apiary or bee farm by a professional bee keeper or pest control specialist. You can easily tell a honey bee from its “bad” cousins from their black and orange or gold bands along the largest part of their abdomen....

Most homes have insects living within its walls. Insects enjoy interior living quarters for the same reasons as people do: they are warm, and they have food. However, few people want insects as roommates, so here are some ways to drive unwanted pests out of your house and keep them out. How to Get Rid of Insects Since you can’t hunt down each individual fly or cockroach and personally show them the door, you’re going to need to strategize if you want to make your house as inhospitable to insects as possible. First, dry up any puddles, open water sources, or damp spots around your home: typically, around sinks, boiler rooms and bathtubs. Everything that's alive needs some form of moisture to survive, and insects are no different, therefore, if you cut any chance that they have of taking a drink, you’re bound to shorten their lifespans considerably. The same goes...

Trust us, at B&B Exterminating, we dislike rats around our homes as much as you do. The sad truth is, that with the mild climates in our mid-Florida and Georgia service areas, the environment that we live in is the perfect breeding ground for all types of rodents. Our knowledgeable technicians can not only protect your home, but they can also help you know what to look out for and when you need to call us back for a repeat treatment. Remember, we not only specialize in pest prevention, but we can also help you keep your lawn and garden areas spotless. Not only will this beautify your home, but it also does a lot of the work in preventing pests from entering your home by eliminating vegetation debris, which is a prime attractant to rodents. Read on to find out why rats and rodents are attracted to your home, how...

At B&B Exterminating, when we get a call about bed bugs, we know that we’re dealing with a serious issue. Our staff of fully-trained, professional technicians have everything they need to help you eliminate your bed bug problem, but we also know that the issue isn’t just getting rid of a pest. When our clients find that they have bed bugs, it’s often an emotional drain. The idea that these tiny parasites have infected your home and are now existing with your family can be hard to take. Many of our customers want to know exactly how they ended up with the little creatures, and they ask us for pointers on how to keep them from coming back. In all honesty, the only things that you can do to avoid bed bugs is to either purchase everything new or sterilize everything brought into the home and teach your children to not...