Addison Blog

Every year, spiders eat between 400 and 800 metric tons a year. This means in just one year, all of the spiders in the world could eat every human on Earth. This may sound scary to you, but spiders are a lot less scary when you understand their purpose. You can do this by knowing what to expect if you find a spider in your home. Spiders You Can Expect in Texas In Texas alone, there are 900 species of spiders. Thankfully, they are mostly harmless. Two spiders that have a bad reputation for being dangerous to humans are tarantulas and trapdoor spiders. These spiders can be painful, but still safe to humans. Two spiders that are both painful and harmful, are the brown recluse and black widow spiders. If bitten by one of these spiders, you need to seek immediate medical attention. Since these spiders can be dangerous, it is...

The French word for the moth is ‘le papillon de nuit,’ which literally translates as ‘the butterfly of the night.’ Certainly, a more flattering name than ‘the eater of the sweater.’ Still, however pretty and harmless moths may seem, you shouldn’t allow them anywhere near your expensive clothes. If you’re worried about a moth infestation in your house, here are five ways to keep them away from your closet and your life. Clean Moths generally enjoy cluttered environments as it gives them places to hide. The first step towards preventing moths is to clean anywhere they might show up, including drawers, cabinets, cupboards, bureaus and closets. You should also give your house a good vacuuming since moths have been known to feed on dust. Use Repellents Mothballs are an excellent way of getting rid of moths. Drop a few around your clothes and other important fabrics, and it should make a...

Many people know that pests are attracted to moist environments, but fewer people know why. The answer is very simple. Everything alive needs water. Pests are alive, therefore they need water to survive. Now, pests are smaller, which means that they can live on much less of it than humans; the water accumulated through the humidity in your house should suffice for them. So unless you plan on opening up a B & B for cockroaches, you’re going to want to make sure that the moisture and humidity levels in your home are as low as possible. Here are some ways to keep them in check. Inside Your Home Keeping the humidity low inside your home is incredibly important, considering that inside your house is where pests can give you the most trouble. To begin, go around your house and inspect your pipes, specifically around your toilets and sinks, to see...

Do you think you might have termites in your home? Don’t worry. Termites are terribly destructive creatures, but fortunately, there are many pest control specialists that are just a phone call away. However, how do you find a company that will do good work at a reasonable price? Here is how to go about hiring professional termite exterminators to solve your pest problems. Doing Research DIY pest control is never ideal, especially when it comes to termites, so it's important to hire a good company that can help you out. The first step is to make sure that it is actually termites you’re dealing with. Pest control companies can specialize in anything from wild animal removal to lawn care, so you don’t want to hire just any company and hope that it works out. If it is in fact termites, however, then go online and look up six or seven local...

The ‘out of sight, out of mind’ approach may work for some things, but not pest control. You may think that as long as pests like rodents or snakes are not making their way through your living room while you’re trying to entertain guests, that you don’t have an issue. However, even if you don’t see them, pests in your attic, basement and crawlspaces can still create problems in your life. Here are some ways to keep them out of these areas, for you and your house’s sake. How Unseen Pests Can Cause Harm First, here are some ways that pests in your basement, attic and crawlspaces can still create problems even if you aren’t seeing them on a daily basis. For one thing, animals inside your crawlspaces can tear apart your insulation to make nests for their young. Rodents are especially notorious for chewing through wooden beams and electrical wires,...

Calling a pest control specialist isn’t a one-way street. As much as you may love calling for their service and waiting for pest control to work their magic, there are a few things that they are going to need from you to get ready for them. In fact, that is a decent amount of prep work that you can do to make sure that your pest control specialists are as quick and effective as possible. Plus, doing some work on the front end is going to help you save time and money. 4 Ways You Can Prepare for your First Pest Control Visit So what can you be doing to get your home ready for your first pest control visit? Here are some of our top tips you can use prep your home for your first or next pest control visit. 1. Seal the Cracks One of the first points of...

You’ve heard that roaches could survive a nuclear bomb. You may be tempted to dismiss this as an exaggeration. Interestingly enough, Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters, actually tested this. They found that roaches can survive radiation levels to a certain level, far beyond what would kill a human being. This resilience is what can make roach pest control, especially in warmer months, such a difficult task. The following tips will assist in preventing and eliminating these dangerous pests from your home. The Risk of Roaches Beyond just the creepy-crawley sensation one gets upon seeing a bug in their home, roaches carry some pretty severe risks to both your family’s well-being and the well-being of your home. The results can be pretty severe: Roaches spread at least 33 known types of bacteria. This includes potentially life threatening ones, such as E. Coli and salmonella. Their saliva, urine and fecal droppings all contain allergens that...

Many people believe that ants are practically a household feature. They think that no matter where they choose to settle down, there is going to be thousands of ants who have already had the same idea. However, while ants may always want to get inside your place of residence, they are not a permanent fixture, and there are many ways to make your house as inhospitable to them as possible. Clean Up Any Open Water Sources in Your House Like all living things, ants need water to survive. Although most houses and apartments have a multitude of water-based appliances, from sinks to washing machines to toilets, as long as you dry up any puddles which build up in bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens, ants will have a difficult time finding the water they need to live. Try using disinfectant as well to help remove the drinkable moisture. Also, if you have...

Let’s take a look at your pantry: there’s flour, spices, chocolates, and… mice?! One of these things are not like the other, and it’s pantry pests! Not only do they ruin your food, but they’re not paying rent! No need to get out of a lease, because if you follow these quick tips, you can make sure all pantry pests avoid your kitchen. Kitchen Items that Attract Pests The gold mine in all kitchens is wherever the dry-stored items are, like cereal, rice, even pet food. These types of food provide both nourishment and shelter, as pests like moths or beetles can use them to make burrows or nests. The preferred items include rice, soybeans and corn. Another item that is known to attract pests are pharmacy items and spices. Pests like Drugstore Beetles love to lay eggs there to make sure that they are safe, and their eggs can hatch...

Having to deal with the unwanted house guests can be annoying! But, if you take a little time and follow some simple tips for your garbage disposal, then you can reduce your chances of seeing pests in your home. These tips will help you remove the food supply that attracts the pests. There are two different areas that you should address, indoor and outdoor. You might think that once your garbage is outside you do not need to worry, but if the trash is close to your home, the pests may find their way in. So, to keep the pests from inviting themselves in, make sure to follow both the indoor and outdoor tips. Food Disposal Indoors One of the best ways to deter pests from coming into your home is keeping areas where food is stored or thrown away as clean as possible. You need to take a little extra...

An infestation of bed bugs can be one of the most unpleasant experiences someone can have. Bed bug bites cause painful and irritating rashes, and they are difficult to find and exterminate. The best way to deal with a bedbug infestation or to prevent one entirely is to understand bed bugs by learning what they are and how they behave. Read through these important facts about bed bugs to prepare yourself against these tenacious pests. Bed Bug Fun Facts Bed bugs don’t only live in beds. Bed bugs can be found in carpets, furniture, and closets. They can also hitchhike in bags, clothes and car seats. So if you return from a vacation or if your kids return from college, make sure there are no bedbugs latched on before entering your house. You can’t tell bed bug bites from mosquito bites, spider bites or wasp stings. However, you can tell if...

If you have ever noticed moths flying out of your closet and discovered that some of the clothes stored there had developed holes, you may have assumed that the moths were responsible for the damage. If the moths belonged to one of two species, you could be correct. However, the flying moths were adults and did not cause the damage directly. Instead, it was their offspring that used your clothes for food while in their larval stage. Why Do Moth Larvae Feed on Clothing? Moth larvae feed on keratin, a protein found in wool, silk, fur, cashmere, feathers, leather and even pet and human hair. Without a keratin-rich diet, the larvae would not be able to develop into adults. The holes in your clothes show where the larvae have been feeding on the fabric. Incidentally, these moth larvae will also feed on furniture, rugs, carpets, drapes, bedding and virtually anything else...

Rodents, termites and other invaders will look for warm places to spend the winter so that they can survive during the cold months, and you could be the ideal target. Getting rid of pests after they have entered your home is not always easy, but stopping the problem before it starts saves you time and money. Learn the top pest-proofing tips to keep rodents and other unwelcome guests at bay this fall. Seal Your Food Open containers of food are like a pest magnet that attracts insects and rodents to your home. Pests can detect the smallest amount of food and will not waste the chance to launch an invasion when resources are near, and you can’t afford to take the risk. Placing your food in sealed containers and zip-lock bags is a great way to reduce the threat and put your fears to rest. Seal Cracks and Holes Small cracks...

Home and business owners count on Addison Pest Control for pest services that get the job done. We offer a wide range of preventive treatments and extermination services to suit all your pest control needs. But did you know we also offer lawn care services? The Addison team provides the same level of quality to our Frisco and Dallas lawn care customers that they've come to expect from our pest control technicians, wildlife exclusion specialists and handyman professionals. Get a Healthy, Beautiful Lawn Proper lawn care is an important part of your home maintenance routine. Professional lawn services help ensure the health and beauty of your yard. A thriving lawn enhances your home's curb appeal and provides a safe, comfortable place for your family to enjoy the outdoors. Whatever the size of your lawn, ensuring its health is a must. Whether you live in the city, suburbs or country, a well-maintained...

Mosquitoes are one of the biggest summertime pests, largely because they carry the threat of disease. The West Nile virus, malaria parasite, and even rare diseases, such as Chikungunya, are all carried by mosquitoes. Controlling them is crucial for both you and your family's health and the public health at large. One must know where they breed to be able to combat them effectively. Certain breeding areas, such as stagnant ponds, are obvious, but there are others that might even seem innocuous at first. Let's say you're doing some landscaping, and it begins to rain. You set the stands of the wheelbarrow down and run for cover. The next day dawns bright and sunny, and you decide to go play golf instead of finishing up the landscaping. You forget all about the wheelbarrow, which is now full of water: instant mosquito breeding ground. The same holds true of other containers left...

Wasps commonly swarm around outside when the weather is warm. However, you could have a wasp nest on your property that you don't know about that needs to be removed as soon as possible. Once a nest is made, the wasps can quickly build it up to a point where there are several wasps in one area. These wasps will begin to swarm around the yard and possibly enter the home. Addison Pest Control can remove the nest if you don't feel safe removing it and spray products that can keep wasps from lingering in the future. There are a few ways that you can remove a wasp nest from your property, but you need to take the proper care in removing the nest to decrease the chances of getting stung. Wear gloves, a safety mask and other protective gear to keep the skin covered while you're trying to remove the...

Termites can do thousands of dollars’ worth of structural damage before you’re even aware of their existence. By the time you start to see the evidence and suspect an infestation, the termite population on your property could have swelled to a million or more. A Hospitable Climate Termites thrive in the tropical climates throughout the South, Southeast, West and Southwest. Frigid winters used to keep their numbers somewhat in check, but increasingly warm winters have boosted their survival rates. The climate and conditions in Texas yards are ideal for termites. Temperatures are fairly mild year-round, and warm, humid springs encourage activity. The same rich North Texas soil that has always been good to farmers is good to termites as well. They work tirelessly to build elaborate subterranean tunnels that lead to aboveground wood sources. Your house is the ultimate prize. A Reliable Food Source Termites are crazy about cellulose the way...

Frass is one of the most readily identifiable indicators that a pest has taken up residence on your property. The term frass is the technical term for the excrement and other refuse and leavings of insects and their larvae. It is sometimes found in small piles or drifts mixed with sawdust, for example, or bits of whatever the insects are consuming or excavating. It can also appear as tiny scattered pellets near nesting areas or travel routes. Finding these deposits can be puzzling to property owners, but closer inspection usually leads to the discovery of some type of unwanted tenant. Identifying Insects Through Frass Observant home owners and gardeners can find insect frass both indoors and out. Many gardeners spot caterpillar frass scattered beneath a tomato plant, for example, and know that a hornworm is at work. Similarly, ladybugs seeking a warm spot indoors to overwinter will leave evidence in their...

Even though ants are small insects and don't appear to be a threat, there are a few interesting facts about them that make them one of the largest types of pests that could invade your home. A colony of ants can come in any shape and any size. Smaller colonies can thrive on only a few dozen ants while others have several hundred to carry out various jobs. Most of the larger colonies are seen in desert regions in the United States and in countries that include Japan and Australia. Each ant has a certain type of job to perform. Some of them stay with the queen to protect her while others seek out food to bring back to the colony. The only thing that the queen has to do is lay eggs so that the colony continues to thrive. There are other female ants in the colony, but they usually...

Damage done by termites is often not seen until it's too late. Fortunately, there are a few signs of termites that you can see if you suspect that they are in your home so that you can get rid of them before any structural damage is done. Most termites live in groups. They begin to swarm when the weather turns warm and humid. If there are termites in your home or near your home, then you can sometimes see them swarming to find a new location to build a new tunnel or nest. Some termites will swarm when they begin to mate. Soon after mating or coming in contact with a heat source, they will die off, leaving their wings behind. You can usually see the bodies as well, especially if they swarm inside the house. Examine the exterior of the home to look for termite tunnels. They can easily be...