This is the season of the bug, specifically, the swarming insect. Insects are everywhere and contrary to popular belief, you can’t kill them all. Some of the first to show up are the swarming insects. Mainly the ants of the carpenter and fire variety and of course, termites. None should be taken for granted. As always it is better to be proactive than reactive. If left untreated, some swarming insects can cause damage to your home. Keep the gutters clean and replace any rotted wood on the house. This includes decaying wood from trees, shrubs, and yes, you should check the mulch.

Both ants and termites can be controlled, but you have to know which one you are dealing with. This means you have to identify the offending creature. Ants are best controlled with baits. For Carpenter Ants I use “Advance Ant Bait”. I use this outside in the corners of windowsills and in cleaned gutters. For fire ants, my weapon of choice is a bait called “Come and Get It” by Fertilome. I also recommend treating the weep holes. Weep holes are the gaps in the brick just above the foundation of a house. These holes help the house breath and should not be filled in. But they are an easy entry point for insects. You can treat them with either “Roach Ridd” or “Diatomaceous Earth” (DE). Roach Ridd is 99% boric acid and is an excellent killer. DE comes in “food grade” or with some type of insecticide added. The food grade DE works in this area but I have found it slower than Roach Ridd. Both DE and Roach Ridd can be used inside. As always read and follow the label directions.

Termites are another issue. Wells Brothers can help with some termite problems. But I normally tell folks to seek professional help. That may sound like I’m passing the buck but I’m not. Destructive critters like termites need to be fought by someone that has a license to kill. Seek out the help of a professional like the folks at “The Pest Shop”.

One of the urban scourges of this century is bed bugs. They conjure up visions of times long past. Two of the major reasons for the bed bug come back are ease of worldwide travel and a lack of effective insecticides. Way back when DDT was the way to go to combat these little fellows until it was outlawed in 1972. Then we had the very effective Diazinon and Dursban as the prime weapons. The Feds took both of these products off the market in 2001. Since then it’s been a struggle.

Now bed bugs are out of control and are without a doubt, the most challenging indoor pest that we deal with. If you think you have an issue the first thing is to identify that it really is bed bugs. They do have a tendency to look like other critters, so be sure. Once you have identified them, pick a weapon.

Fogger rental available at Wells Brothers

There are both all natural and synthetic products available. Diatomaceous earth (DE), cedar and orange oil are the effective all natural products. DE works but is very slow. Between cedar and orange oil the cedar is better. The cedar product Wells Brothers has is called “The Original” by Cedarcide. It is applied with a fogger that that can be rented at Wells Brothers. We also have a product called Bug Outlaw. The Bug Outlaw is a bed bug “pitfall trap,” and an interceptive, non-poisonous glue trap, as well as an all-purpose monitoring station for most types of pests.  To use, simply sit your bed frame on top of the Bug Outlaw discs.

Synthetically, pyrethrum-based insecticides have been the most effective. The synthetics are faster than the all-naturals but still requires patience. The company Bonide has come out with new weapons for the bed bug fight. The Dual Action Bed Bug Killer RTU and fogger products kill existing bed bugs and their eggs. They also control an impressive list of other insects. Wells Brothers has their full line in stock. Whatever you choose, read and follow the label directions.

Let Wells Brothers help you take control of your pest control. Our educated experts can recommend the right products to help you and your home stay pest free year round!

When the leaves on the live oaks start to fall I know that spring is just around the corner. Spring is even closer when I get attacked by the Crane fly. Crane flies are the large flying critters that look like mosquitoes. They tend to swarm you when you walk around the house. They are not attacking, just saying hello. I have heard them called everything in the book. Most of the language used is not nice. Also, they are not mosquitoes, of either sex. What they are is harmless and annoying. The crane fly likes damp, rotting organic matter.  Crane fly larvae are often found under layers of decomposing leaves in wet locations such as gutters and ditches in December and January. Adult Crane flies start appearing in late February and March.

While the Crane Fly is harmless, if needed you can use a general purpose insecticide to kill them. Or you can repel them with yellow light bulbs in exterior fixtures. They will have less of a breeding environment if you keep the gutters clean. Clean gutters will also help eliminate breeding ground for the real mosquitos.