Squirrel 

(Rodentia Sciuridae)

Squirrels! They are just so cute, aren’t they? The picture with this blog is one that was taken at a rest stop while on vacation. These squirrels were obviously very use to human interaction, but at the same time these rodents can cause quite a bit of damage to the unsuspecting homeowner. First it starts with hearing some scuffling in the attic, and possibly seeing some remnants of nut shells strewn around the attic or lawn from a nut tree (pecan, walnut, etc.) in close proximity to your house. Upon inspection, you might see some soffit on your house torn back, or gnawed through, fascia board damaged, or even the gutter torn back to reveal a damaged board. These are a few ways that these “furry friends” might be entering the home. Those are problems, but even bigger ones may be around the corner. Chewed electrical wiring which can cause fires (which both squirrels and rats/mice will do), fleas, ticks and the risk of salmonella infection or leptospirosis if you come in contact with their feces and urine. If the squirrel has been nesting in the attic and has done widespread contamination, the insulation may need to be removed/replaced depending on the severity of the situation.

Squirrels are rodents. The family tree includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, flying squirrels, prairie dogs and woodchucks – just to name a few. Their teeth are designed to chew and gnaw, but they do not digest cellulose (wood), and their teeth continue to grow throughout their life. Tree squirrels are able to rotate the hind feet so that they are able to descend a tree head first, looking like they are defying gravity. Squirrels live in almost every habitat that man lives in - from the rainforest to the desert. They avoid the polar-regions (too cold?) and the most arid of deserts (they need that water). Squirrels are mostly herbivores, feasting on seeds and nuts, but many will eat insects and even small vertebrates like lizards or other rodents. Squirrels typically have slender bodies with bushy tails and large dark eyes. The fur is normally soft and silky, and the color of squirrels can vary between red, grey, or even black within one species, like the eastern gray squirrel.

Most squirrels will die within their first year of life. Some adult squirrels in the wild can live up to 10 years. Squirrels that have been raised in captivity can live up to 20 years.

The homeowner or a qualified professional needs to do a thorough inspection of the property inside and out to ascertain the areas of access, what areas are affected and the strategies that need to be incorporated to take care of the nuisance. Cutting back tree limbs that may be touching or close to the home helps to reduce highways that are used as access points, but will not eliminate the problem since squirrels are very flexible and have a long jumping range (8’) eight feet straight up and (5’) five feet across. Exclusion work consists of actually fixing the areas that the squirrels are getting into the home by using wood, or metal material and securing with screws, nails, and other means necessary that the squirrel would not so easily remove. If you are not sure as to whether the problem is a squirrel or could be a rat (if the feces is not identified or not seen), it sometimes becomes necessary to monitor the situation after doing the exclusion work, and may include placement of secured glue boards or other monitoring tools to ensure the best treatment strategy possible. Depending on your location, you will have to check with a professional or with your local or state laws regarding the proper treatment, release or disposal of squirrels.

If you ever find a dead squirrel out in your lawn – don’t touch it. You don’t know what it died from. If you are not able to get local or county departments to handle the removal, make sure that you wear disposable gloves, and use a shovel to put into a plastic bag. Make sure to double bag and tie. Then dispose of as your local laws provide.

German cockroach 

(Blatella germanica)

German Roaches. These insects are normally 1/2 to 5/8 inch long and tan to light brown. They have wings but do not fly. Nymphs are similar in appearance to adults except that they are smaller and lack wings. The German cockroach is identified by two dark parallel lines running from the back of the head to the wings. The pest is usually found in kitchens (near dishwashers, stoves, refrigerators, microwaves and sinks) and in bathrooms of homes. You have them and you want to get rid of them. Now what do you do? There are a few things that the homeowner can do to help a pest professional eradicate the pest from your home. Here are a few things that will help you in your control of the German cockroaches, and sanitation is one of the first things to consider. German roaches only need a small amount of food to sustain them.

• Remove indoor trash or keep them emptied.
• Keep trash dumpsters clean.
• Make sure food is not left in sink strainers and if you have a garbage disposal, run it frequently to keep clean of food debris.
• Keep dishes clean, no residue of food remaining.
• All kitchen appliances (microwaves, toasters, ovens, refrigerators and stoves). Move them and sweep (clean) and mop underneath and behind so that all areas are food and grease free.
• All pet food needs to be picked up after pets have eaten and food needs to be stored in air tight containers.
• No food left out.
• Sweeping or vacuuming of any food particles or crumbs.
• Clean any crumbs or food particles in your kitchen cabinets.
• Wipe out all sinks to make sure no water is left, and have any plumbing leaks fixed.

German roaches love to hide in dark, small, tight places. If you are seeing them out during the daytime, you have an established infestation. Places where you would not normally think they would be. We recently took apart a coffee table and used a flushing agent. (It is essential if using a flushing agent, to use a HEPA filter or fine particle vacuum with a disposable bag to clean up the insects and debris. Throw the bag away after each job.) The initial inspection made the infestation seem light. Once we started using the flushing agent, and inspecting more thoroughly, we discovered all the areas that the German cockroaches had settled into this coffee table, as well as other areas in the kitchen. Thoroughness is key. It is important to place the proper insecticides where they will be most effective in combating the pests – in the areas they are seen and their harborages. Their excrement looks like black pepper encrusted onto the walls, appliances, furniture where they have been. These are the areas that should be inspected by a pest control professional with a good flashlight:

• Cracks and Crevices
• Behind and under refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, toasters and all other electronics
• Under tops of tables
• Under and in sinks, cabinets, drawers
• Electrical outlets and switches
• Vegetable bins and recycling bins

Disease-producing organisms such as bacteria, protozoans, and viruses have been found on cockroach bodies. Different forms of gastroenteritis (food poisoning, dysentery, diarrhea, and other illnesses) appear to be the most common diseases transmitted by German cockroaches. The cause of these diseases are carried on the legs and bodies of cockroaches and deposited on food and utensils as the cockroaches forage. Cockroach excrement and cast skins also contain a number of allergens to which people may exhibit allergic responses, such as: skin rashes, watery eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, and asthma.

House Mouse
Mus Musculus

Let's get down to the basics. Mice are pests. They consume our food, contaminate our living spaces with their feces and cause food poisoning from the bacteria said feces contains. They can carry pathogens that spread diseases to humans, and they cause damage to structures with their constant gnawing. They are responsible for a considerable amount of electrical fires that happen due to the chewing through of electrical wires in the attics and walls.

Do you have and Infestation? Mice will nest in anything nice and soft including, but not limited to: shredded newspaper, clothing, fiberglass insulation, and fur from taxidermy or anything that might be available to make their nest. Finding droppings in cabinets, drawers, or gnaw marks can indicate where the mice have been. Usually they are more active at night, but can be seen during the daytime.

What does the mouse look like? An adult mouse can be anywhere from ½ an ounce to an ounce in weight – pretty small, huh? They are about 5 to 8 inches long – this is including the about 4 inch tail. They have big ears and small eyes, and the coat is usually light gray to dark brown, usually in variation of colors thereof. You can tell the male (buck) predominately by the rather large testicles (compared to the rest of the body) that they have, which can actually be retracted (hidden) in their body. The female (doe) will have 5 pair of mammary glands which the buck will not.

Mice usually have a litter of pups containing 6 which are born around 21 days after mating. The female doe can roughly have about 10 litters a year. The pups can be mature mice as early as 6 weeks depending upon the environment. The math is staggering when you think of how many mice can be born in a year from the start of one pair of mice!

Prevention and Control starts with sanitation and exclusion which is followed up with pest control using traps, glue boards and baiting. Proper placement of pest control measures is key to reducing the populations and making sure that the family and pets remain safe while controlling the mice. Reducing harborage areas will also help to reduce the population.

Camel Cricket
Rhaphidorphoridae

Camel Crickets have also been called "Sprickets", "Criders", or I have even heard "Spider Cricket". They are cousins to the cave cricket. These crickets are usually 1/2" to 1 ^1/2" long with light tan to dark brown bodies that have arched backs and long hind legs. They are usually found in wood or stone piles, tall grass, a hole, or caves due to the moisture that is found in these areas. Many times when a pest control professional comes across these, it is due to an unwelcome infestation in a basement or crawlspace. I have entered many a crawlspace with a camel cricket infestation that sounded like it was raining from the crickets jumping down from the joists in the crawlspace. Camel crickets will spend the winter usually in their immature state or as an adult. When spring approaches, the females will find a comfortable spot in some moist soil to lay eggs that will hatch in a few weeks. These insects are not normally considered nuisance pests, but in large numbers they can be destructive. They have been known to damage fabrics on outdoor furniture, decorative plants, and fabrics and plants inside homes as well. Some non-chemical means of controlling camel crickets include: mowing/weed eating tall grass near the home, keeping excessive mulch and moisture away from foundation wall, keep your wood pile away from the house and entrance points to the home, use weather stripping on doors to keep the seal on potential entrances. Keep screens in good condition, no holes or tears, and make sure to keep moisture to a minimum in crawlspace and basement by placing a moisture barrier and vents in the crawlspace, or by using a dehumidifier in the basement. If chemical means become necessary, it is always best to check with and hire a pest professional. If you are a DIY’er, make sure that any product that you intend to use is labeled for the areas that you intend to use it for, the insects that you intend to control, and it is used strictly by the label.

Pennsylvania/Black Carpenter Ant
Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

Carpenter ants feed primarily on insect honeydew, plant juices and insects. Nests are normally found in moist, decayed wood. Carpenter ants can also build satellite nests in structures of homes. They can enter buildings around doors, through eaves, plumbing, utility lines, or even branches hanging over trees. Telltale signs can be sawdust (frass) that the ants leave from chewing the wood that may contain insect body parts. These ants are polymorphic, which means they can range in size from ¼” to ½” long. Normally these ants are black, but other species of Carpenter Ants may be dark brown, dark red or any variation of these colors. It is best to find and directly treat as many carpenter ant nests as possible, focusing on the parent colony to all the satellite colonies to help eliminate the source. Some preventive measures homeowners can take is to make sure all tree branches are cut back from hanging over the structure, trim landscaping and foliage from the perimeter of the house, and correct any moisture problems such as leaky pipes or excess moisture in crawlspace that can attract the ants. It is important to treat entry points to the house, wall voids where evidence is found, exterior perimeter of home and around base of trees that are potential harborage nest areas.

Termites
Reticulitermes flavipes

The eastern subterranean termite is the most common termite found in North America. Termites feed on cellulose which is found in most buildings, trees, wood furniture or other wooden products. They have a protozoa in their hindgut that helps them digest the wood and the workers will feed the other members of the colony. A mature colony can range from 20,000 workers to as high as 5 million workers and the primary queen of the colony lays 5,000 to 10,000 eggs per year to add to this total. The number of colonies per acre in North Carolina average about 30. Once a colony is destroyed, this does not mean your problem with termites is over. Another colony can take over the tunnels made by a collapsed or extinct colony and re-infest a structure. That is why it is so important to keep continuous protection on your home whether it is monitoring stations, conventional liquid treatment, or a combination of strategies. Homes need to be inspected every year to make sure that no re-infestations have occurred and give the pest control company a chance to make sure your home is properly protected. Once you see the alates (winged termites) that swarm, this is a signal that you have a mature colony on or near your property and may already have hidden damage in your home. Home owner’s insurance does not cover damage caused by termites, and that damage repair can cost you more than the cost of a preventive treatment on your home. Some people can mistake winged termites for winged ants. It is best to have a professional come out and identify the insect problem that you are having.

Call us today! 704-922-5500

Spring is right around the corner and it is time to think about doing your preventive measures for pest control of insects and other problems BEFORE they start to become a nuisance.

Right now, DellPest Exterminating is offering an incentive for customers that would like to do some home improvements. If you purchase Leaf proof Gutter Caps or TAP Insulation from us beginning February 21, 2014 through March 31, 2014 we will provide a free Pest One time treatment at the time of service. If you are already a current yearly pest control customer, you will receive your next pest renewal free when you purchase either of these two services during that timeframe. All you will have to do is show your representative a copy of this newsletter to receive your complimentary spray or free renewal. Don't forget that we also install moisture barrier and temperature control vents to help ventilate your crawlspace.
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