Enjoy a Pest-Free New Year with These Resolutions

As 2016 draws near, many of us are trying to come up with some great New Year’s resolution we can keep. Whether you plan to make changes to your lifestyle, learn a new hobby or read more this year, there are a few extra resolution ideas that Amherst Exterminators encourages you to consider. While cleaning and repairing your home may not be the most exciting New Year’s activities, they can reduce pest problems, making your home a more enjoyable and stress-free place throughout the upcoming year.

Clean Out the Pantry

There is nothing that pests love more than a dark pantry with crumbs galore. Instead of worrying about ants and other insects as the weather warms up this spring, take preventative measures by putting aside some time to clean your pantry this year. Wipe down the shelves, make sure everything is properly sealed and sweep up the floor to keep bugs at bay.

Move Your Firewood

One of the most common mistakes that families make is stacking firewood next to their house. Carpenter ants, spiders and termites all like to cozy up in the wood pile and end up being carried right into your home when you go to start a fire. Start off the new year right by moving your woodpile across the yard this January to keep your home and garage pest-free.

Seal Up Cracks and Crevices

If you haven’t winterized your home yet, make a New Year’s resolution to do so in the next month. As the weather grows colder, rodents and bugs are more likely to head towards your home for warmth, and even the smallest holes can give them access. Seal up cracks and crevices around the foundation of your home and check to make sure all of your doors and windows seal tightly closed for a warm and pest-free year.

Check Areas Prone To Pests Regularly

After taking the above preventative measures, remember to check for pest activity regularly throughout the year 2016. We recommend taking time to check your attic, basement and outside walls every few weeks for signs of unwanted visitors. Even if you see just a couple of bugs, contact us right away at 716-908-2475. Insects and rodents reproduce quickly and the fastest and easiest way to stop a pest problem is to get to them before things get out of hand.

Prevent Winter Pests from Cozying Up in Your Home

As the snow begins to fall here in Amherst, New York, our thoughts immediately turn to the critters outside and where they will seek shelter. Unlike many species of birds, pests like mice and raccoons don’t travel south for warmth; they head indoors instead! With the holiday season quickly approaching, your family has plenty to do. As you are decorating the outside of your home with lights, take some time to check for signs pests to keep them from disrupting your holiday get-togethers.

 Winter Rodents

Although these critters cause problems year-round, they are especially active during the snowy winter months as they search for a cozy escape from the freezing outdoors. Mice and rats are among the most common winter pests, since their small size makes it so easy for them to make their way indoors. Carriers of a variety of germs and diseases, these pests also have a habit of chewing through electrical wires. Most often found in basements and attics, we recommend sealing up all the cracks and crevices outside your home and checking for droppings regularly.

Another animal that loves to make its den in the comforts of a human home is the raccoon. This critter can not only cause a lot of damage, but can be dangerous to deal with. If you think there is a raccoon in your home, contact Amherst Exterminators right away.

Bugs and Spiders

While a warm, crackling fire is one of the most enjoyable parts of the winter months, the wood you bring into your home may be the residence of a variety of creepy crawly critters. To keep bugs at bay this season, we recommend keeping your wood pile a ways away from the walls of your home. Also remember to add weather stripping to doors and windows to keep the smallest of critters from making their way indoors.

No matter what pests you are facing this winter, Amherst Exterminators to take care of your problem.  Contact us online or by calling 716-908-247 today!

Keep Bugs Out Of Your Christmas Tree

A beautiful way to fill your home with the smell of pine, the real Christmas tree is the preferred choice for many families. As the holiday season draws near and you and your children head out in search of your perfect tree, we at Amherst Exterminators would like to provide you a bit of advice to keep your home free of bugs and pests. Some of the most common insects found on Christmas trees are bark beetles, mites, praying mantis and spiders. None of these pests can cause harm to you or your home, but they can be an annoying nuisance as you are preparing to entertain holiday guests. Follow these words of advice to keep your home and tree bug-free this winter.

Take Preventative Measures

Instead of worrying about pests this season, take some preventative measures to remove them from your tree before bringing it inside. Visit a Christmas tree farm that has a mechanical shaker to dislodge bird nests, debris and stray pests before you head home. This will also get rid of loose needles that are bound to fall onto your floor.

Get Out the Vacuum Cleaner

Although the warm temperatures in your home will kill pests quickly, you can also use a vacuum cleaner to remove bugs sooner. We recommend steering clear of aerosol insect sprays, because of their flammability.

Regardless of what types of pest you are dealing with this holiday season, contact Amherst Exterminators to take care of the problem quickly and efficiently. Contact us online or by calling 716-908-2475 today!

Cluster Flies Love Taking Up Residence In Your Attic

If you’ve been noticing flies around your property that don’t seem like the average housefly, you may have something a bit different on your hands. One of the biggest nuisances property owners deal with is cluster flies, a specific type of fly that are a bit more aggressive than you may be used to. In fact, these flies tend to gather around windows and try to make their way into structures, sometimes even tearing through screens. We’re here to provide you with a few more facts about these flies that you should be aware of.

Cluster flies have also been called attic flies, and that’s because they tend to make their way into the attic of homes in order to hibernate. Fortunately, they tend to leave people alone for the most part, and they tend to congregate in areas of homes that are usually uninhabited, hence the attic.

Why are these flies called Cluster flies? Well, they tend to gather and form clusters around windows and inside walls. You may notice some stains left on your curtains or walls where these flies have been recently. Unlike some species of flies, Cluster flies can live for several months, so don’t expect an infestation to go away by itself any time soon.

No matter what type of flies you are dealing with in and around your property, you don’t have to deal with the problem all on your own. Contact the professionals at Amherst Exterminators today to find out how we can get rid of cluster flies in no time!

German Cockroaches Could Wreak Havoc On Your Home

There are plenty of pests you would hate to find inside your property, but cockroaches are probably near the top of your list. Many homeowners deal with at least one type of cockroach at some point, and one of the most common species is the German roach. These insects are capable of living in just about any type of environment, and they are commonly found throughout most parts of the world. We’re here to go over some of the most common signs that may indicate you have a German cockroach infestation.

 

A telltale sign that German cockroaches are in your home is the droppings they leave behind. While they may be hard to spot at first if you aren’t looking, they will soon become apparent if you have a large enough infestation. Their droppings look like small, dark balls that may appear to be pieces of pepper at first glance. You will find these on floors, countertops, and any other areas of the home that cockroaches have frequented.

In addition to their droppings, German cockroaches give off an odor that you will most likely pick up at least a few times. They give off an odor that some people describe as musty, but it is usually fairly mild. If you have many cockroaches in your home within the same vicinity of each other, you will probably be able to smell them to some degree.

The last major sign of a German cockroach infestation is the egg capsules they leave behind. It only takes a day or so for a female cockroach to carry eggs before they hatch, so it won’t be long before you may start noticing broken egg cases around the home.

If you notice any of these signs of a German cockroach infestation don’t hesitate to contact a professional to take care of the problem immediately!

Don’t Let the Name “Silverfish” Fool You

If you’re like most people, you hear the name “Silverfish” and you assume it’s some sort of fish, or perhaps the name of a rock band. Turns out silverfish are ugly bugs that you sometimes see lurking about your house.

With a silvery gray color, silverfish look like a little lobster crossed with a bee and cockroach. They have a carrot-shaped body with lots of antennae sticking out. You might see them in your basement or under your sink since they flock to cold, dark and damp places. They’re fast moving little buggers and they like to come out at night.

While silverfish are relatively harmless (they don’t bite or spread disease) they’re still bugs you don’t want in your house. To get them, try sticky traps. You can also use cedar oil and/or pieces of cedar in key spots to keep them away since they don’t like cedar and will avoid it.

Since silverfish like paper and glue, if you have a lot of cardboard boxes around, or you store old newspapers/mail, just know that silverfish love those things. They’ll even enjoy hanging around clothing and dry foods, so here’s the deal: put stuff away in plastic containers with tightly sealed lids. The more dry you keep your home or basement, the better off you’ll be. Remember, silverfish like damp places.

If you notice any cracks in your home’s exterior walls, seal them up so silverfish and other bugs can’t easily enter your home. Remove piles of damp debris located near exterior walls, too, so as not to attract bugs.

Should you have an infestation of silverfish or other creepy bugs, don’t hesitate to call Amherst Exterminators at 716-908-2475.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs From Infiltrating Your Sheets

Bed bugs are bad– you don’t want them. Just the thought of them should make you itch and scowl. The sooner you detect ‘em, the cheaper it will be to get rid of them.

Where are you likely to encounter bed bugs? Well, a lot of people come into contact with them in hotel rooms…and then bring them home to their house after their trip is done.

So, with that in mind, when you stay overnight at a hotel (or someone else’s house or apartment), you should do a basic inspection of their bedding. Look at the mattress, box spring and the visible parts of the headboard and see if you notice bugs anywhere or little brown spots. If you don’t see anything, chances are you’re safe. However, if you wake up the next morning and find bites on your skin, bed bugs might have gotten you.

Bed bug bites are usually in clusters of at least three and end up in areas of your skin that are exposed while you sleep. You’re likely to find them on your arms, neck, face and/or shoulders. They tend to look like mosquito bites.

Should you experience bed bug bites, take whatever is in your suitcase and unpack it somewhere outside your home (like in the garage). Take your clothing and put it through a hot wash or dry cycle, as heat will kill the bed bugs. To disinfect your suitcase, you can use no-pest strips that are dropped into a garbage bag along with your emptied suitcase. Seal the bag, let it sit for two weeks or so, and the pesticide does its job, killing any remaining bed bugs.

Some people resort to using a steamer or vacuum on their bed to get rid of bed bugs. However, these items might not pick up all the potential bed bug eggs, so a professional should be called in to fully take care of the problem.

In the Buffalo area, Amherst Exterminators can help you get rid of bed bugs; call 716-908-2475.

Bats Will Give Even The Most Relaxed Homeowners a Headache

Ask most people if they like “Batman,” and they’ll say, “Sure!” But ask them if they like actual bats, and they’re likely to reply, “No way!”

While bats serve a useful function, gobbling up some 600 mosquitoes per hour, they’re not the kind of pest you want in your bedroom at night, right?

Bats need less than an inch wide space to enter or leave a building. While they don’t chew on buildings, there are several things about bats that make them unwelcome around humans.

Bats can carry rabies. If you have a baby in a room and a bat is in there, you KNOW you’re going to do everything you can to make sure your baby doesn’t get bit by one. In addition to rabies, bats can spread a disease that affects people’s lungs. They can also introduce “bat mites” to your home. They’re kind of like bed bugs, and they want to feed off human skin. Yuck.

Bats can cause structural damage– not by chewing, but by their excrement. Disgusting? Yes. Their waste can drip through ceilings, ruin insulation, soak through particle board, and even cause a structure to collapse. A bat infestation could cause your property to be so devalued that no one wants to live there.

Bats are fine in the woods and in the zoo, but not in your Western New York house or office!

If you suspect bats are in your building and you want them gone, call Amherst Exterminators. Working quickly to make sure the problem doesn’t get out of control, Amherst Exterminators can be reached by calling 716-908-2475.

Be Proactive When You Have a Pest Problem

Pest control is vital. You don’t want termites, rats, spiders, beetles, hornets, ants, or any other type of pest getting out of control on your property. Amherst Exterminators manages and eliminates pests for you.

Perhaps the main reason people want to get rid of pests is because they’re regarded as dirty and some do, indeed, carry disease. If you had a baby in the house you certainly wouldn’t want them to be bitten by a rat. And if you were trying to peacefully watch TV one day and noticed a whole bunch of bees had invaded a corner in your living room, that would definitely get your attention. Pests have their place and that place is not in your home or office.

Pests have a way of invading people’s spaces. They get into buildings via ducts, cracks and holes and then end up in the walls and ceilings and attics. And then…they breed. One mated pair of whatever pest it is can yield all too many little babies, and then you’ve got quite an infestation. You do not want an infestation. This is your home or business and these visitors are NOT welcome!

Thankfully, pest control technicians like the ones from Amherst Exterminators can use chemicals that are toxic to the pests but not humans or household pets. That way, the pests are safely killed and can be cleared away, giving you, the person they were bothering, some much needed peace-of-mind.

You’re not running a pest hotel, right? Get Amherst Exterminators to get rid of pests before they proliferate. Call 716-908-2475 today.

The Ant Season is Approaching. Time for Preventive Maintenance.

The snow is gone and the weather is gradually warming up. What this means is all kinds of ants are coming out of dormancy. Many homes and businesses will experience inside activity until ants can flourish outdoors. The best solution to this problem throughout the spring, summer, and fall is to maintain good outside preventative programs using baits, residual applications, and granular around the structure. Amherst Exterminators will help solve your problem at any time just give us a call  at 908-2475. A professional staff will answer your calls 24/7 and get your appointment the same day or the next day. Happy Spring.