B&B Exterminating Blog

Ancient wisdom tells us that when a fortress is vacant, it is difficult to defend it against invasion. Few of us have fortresses to protect from attacking armies, but many of us have homes to protect from pests. And when we leave our houses empty during a short trip, it’s easier for pests to enter and spread. If you’re planning on travelling for a couple of days, you may be worrying about what creatures might come into your house in your absence. However, with just a few preparatory measures, you can make sure your house is safeguarded from pests while you’re gone. Here is how to protect your house from pests before you leave. Clean Your House Pests are primarily drawn to our homes by the food we eat, and they don’t discriminate between food on a plate, on the floor, or in the garbage. You should keep your home clean...

Mice may be cute to look at for some people, but they are an enormous nuisance when loose inside your home. Mice are not the cleanest of animals. Aside from leaving their waste all over everything, they carry a variety of diseases. As if that wasn’t bad enough, they damage structures and home contents with their incessant chewing. They can also create fire hazards when they start gnawing on your wiring. So how do you keep mice out of your home? Make Your Home Unattractive to Rodents If you know what mice are looking for in a nice, comfy home, then you can start to eliminate certain rodent amenities. Mice love areas that are warm, dark and have lots of access to food. Proper food storage goes a long way toward making your home unattractive to mice. Try to keep all food in airtight containers, even if it’s shelf-stable. Clean up...

It isn’t at all uncommon for homes and businesses to have an occasional fly or two. In fact, it’s almost expected if you live in areas where moisture and warm temperatures are the daily norm. Flies thrive in these environments and, unfortunately, aren't just prevalent during the warmer seasons throughout the year. Here’s what you need to know about flies during the winter season. It’s Winter, Why Do I Have Flies With over 100,000 types of flies, all of which respond to climatic changes , finding the right treatment will ensure your winged invaders will be gone in no time. But, to find the right treatment, you will need to locate them, and take action from there. Although flies have a very short lifespan once hatched, it's the stuff you can’t see that become the surprise culprits for winter infestations. You’ll likely find winter flies around sinks and drains, above, around,...

Lawn care has become what seems to be a status symbol these days. From the greenest of grass, to the most lavish landscaping, when it comes to lawn care; there is no expense to be spared. But, to the vast majority of the population, a well kept, seasonally prepared lawn, is everything we can hope and plan for. Here’s a few need to know items to keep your lawn prepared and kept during each and every season. Importance Of Seasonal Lawn Care There are a variety of factors when it comes to your caring for your lawn. From where you live, the seasons, water supply, and even the type of soil ca all can play an important role in lawn care. HGTV published a recent article that provided 15 lawn care tips for a healthy and happy year round landscape. By following these simple lawn care strategies, they will keep your...

How often does a company or person welcome you to “bug them” with any and all questions you may have related to a specific topic, area of interest or concern? I’ll bet it doesn’t happen often, if ever. Since pest control can be such a broad topic with many considerations, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of questions to make sure your pest control treatment plan and services align to your individual needs. B&B Exterminators leads the industry with their integration approach to proactive and reactive pest control services and more. With over 25 years experience, their trained and friendly staff are ready to answer any questions you have to ensure you receive best in class service, guaranteed. How Do Pests Get In My Home When it comes to pest control, there isn’t ever going to be a good or bad time to ask questions, especially when you are in the...

If you’re like the vast majority of the world, the holidays are to be filled with happiness, laughter, and memories that will last a lifetime. As family and friends gather to celebrate and share in these moments, the planning and execution can at times be a bit overwhelming and stressful, to say the least. The holidays are also associated with cooler temperatures, where you typically find warmth in the comfort of your own home. But, don’t be surprised if you find out that you aren’t the only one that is seeking shelter from those dropping temperatures. Just like people, certain pests are no more fond of the cold than you. Here’s a few tips for keeping pests from adding to your holiday stress. Make Pest Control A Priority As if there isn’t enough to do around the holidays, adding another item to your checklist might just take your stress to the...

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...