But Seriously, Does Freezing Work?

Yes, freezing termites does work. These pests have a very low tolerance for temperature extremes, and like all of us in Southern California, termites thrive between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. But if you’ve ever taken a San Diegan to the snow, they’re likely to get uncomfortable. It’s the same for termites: They can’t tolerate cold temperatures.

The freezing method involves administering liquid nitrogen to targeted colonies inside your walls. The nitrogen freezes when it turns into gas, and termites can’t survive the resulting chill.

The Downside to Freezing Treatments

Unfortunately, freezing isn’t all cool. Although it’s proven effective, at Lloyd Pest Control, we don’t offer it as a termite treatment – and for one big reason: When it comes down to it, freezing methods aren’t safe. Using liquid nitrogen may seem like an effective solution on paper, but freezing treatments put your water pipes at risk.

Heat Treatments from Lloyd Pest Control

Although freezing isn’t a proper termite control solution, the opposite, heat treatment, is. Our Thermal Pest Eradication is patented technology for eliminating termites and other pests from your structure. We use specialized heat fans to increase the ambient temperature in your home or business to 140-160 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is maintained until the wood interior has sustained at least 130 degrees for one hour – a process that that no termite or larvae can survive. We can also apply localized heat treatments to smaller areas.

Heat treatments are also covered by our Termite Protection Plan guarantee –this ensures continued protection even after we leave. The next time termites cause a ruckus in your home or business in Southern California, let the experts at Lloyd Pest Control get the job done right.

The post Does Freezing Work Against Termites? first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

A Fish-Like Appearance

Part of the Zygentoma family along with the firebrat, the silverfish features three bristles at the bottom of its body. As its name suggests, it’s silver in color, and most are around half an inch in length (smaller than a dime). Because their legs are thin, they may appear to be crawling along without limbs – similar to a fish. In addition to their striking color and bristles, you’re likely to identify them by their two long antennae and wriggling movements.

Why They Infest

Silverfish love humidity, and your home may provide them with plenty of it. The insect’s scientific name, L. saccharina, reflects its diet of polysaccharides, or carbohydrates. They eat products found in pantries like flour and oats, as well as ordinary items like paper and clothing. Combining their preferred climate conditions with their sugar- and starch-based diet, you’re apt to have infestations pop up in the following spots:

• Bathroom: They love the moist conditions around the sink and bathtub.
• Basement/Attic: They look for cluttered spots in which to hide, as well as paper and clothing to eat.
• Kitchen: They prefer moist conditions around the sink, and seek pantry items to eat.

How They Infest

Most silverfish infestations begin outside. In Southern California’s winter when the weather is wetter and more humid, it may as well be a silverfish paradise. They find their way inside as they look for similar conditions; the controlled climate and variety of dark, uninhabited spots help them sustain populations. This environment also allows them to stick around when the weather becomes drier in the summer.

Silverfish can get into homes in a few different ways. Most commonly, they do so by squeezing through cracks and openings – remember, they’re smaller than a dime. They’re also known to crawl into boxes and bins that are brought into the home, letting them set up shop where the items are later stored (common places include basements, attics, and garages).

Their Assets, Your Obstacle

Silverfish’s meager proportions are big in helping them get in and live in our homes. In addition to that, they also have several other beneficial characteristics that support infestations and population growth. With their antennae helping them feel their way, they run fast (often with a stop-and-go motion), letting them get away from predators and quickly escape our view.

They may make a mad dash when they need to, but silverfish are still secretive creatures. They’re nocturnal, preferring the dark, and usually only seek out food while we’re asleep. In addition to staying in lesser-inhabited locations, they’re known to hang out in nooks and crannies, where females lay eggs. Put it all together, and they can live and reproduce right under our noses without us even knowing it.

A Few Potential Problems

Silverfish cause a multitude of problems once inside. Most of their effects are mild, but they can become detrimental over a long period of time. Here are the most frustrating issues they cause for homeowners:

• Damage items: With a taste for household items like paper, glue, and cotton, silverfish can be quite destructive to many of your belongings.
• Endanger our health: Although they don’t spread viruses, they often trigger allergic reactions and spread harmful bacteria.
• Attract other pests: Pests above them in the food chain, including spiders, earwigs, centipedes, and carpet beetles, are lured inside with silverfish as bait.
• Reproduce quickly: Their eggs hatch in as few as 20 days, exponentially expanding their populations and the problems they cause.

Creating a Silverfish-Free Zone

If your home offers silverfish the conditions they crave, the best way to combat them is by eliminating humidity and potential hiding places. Install a dehumidifier to dry out damp areas, and get leaky pipes and dripping faucets fixed. Check potential habitats for any signs of their presence (again, they’re sneaky), cleaning at-risk areas frequently. To prevent them from getting in at all, seal entry points and install covers on vents.

When it comes to food, keep containers (specifically, of flour, sugar, and oats) closed and clean up any spills or crumbs. If you currently store paper items like books, magazines, and files in the basement or attic, consider moving them elsewhere to avoid supporting silverfish. Without food sources, the insects will starve, forcing them to move elsewhere.

DIY: A Not-So-Effective Choice

If silverfish have infested your home, setting traps, baits, or pesticides, seems like an obvious solution. Yet, do-it-yourself pest control is only beneficial when dealing with a few insects. Trapping them in inescapable glass jars or with sticky traps is only a temporary reprieve. With silverfish’s isolated lifestyle and high reproduction rates, populations usually need help from professionals to guarantee full eradication from your home.

The Right Company for Silverfish Control

When you and your family are tired of living alongside silverfish, the experts at Lloyd Pest Control are ready to remove this nuisance pest once and for all. With the right technicians for the job, we’ll assess your infestation, then apply treatments to eliminate adults and eggs from your home. Let us be your silver lining when dealing with silverfish. If you need help eliminating this insect (or another irritating pest) in Southern California, contact us and get a free quote.

The post “Fish” Out of Water, Inside Your Home: The Troublesome Silverfish first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

In the past, bed bugs have been notoriously difficult to treat due to how resilient their eggs are to pesticides. But at Lloyd Pest Control, we provide proven bed bug control across Southern California, and we’ve developed several methods for treating bed bugs.

Preparing for Treatment

First, we enlist the help of man’s best friend. Dogs have proven to be able to detect bed bugs with unmatched accuracy (Don’t worry, we can admit a dog is better at finding bed bugs than us. Our egos aren’t that fragile.). Once our certified K-9 inspectors have nosed out the location of the infestation, we’ll discuss all your treatment options.

Treatment Options

Targeted Treatments

For isolated colonies, we may suggest targeted treatments. This process involves vacuum removal of all bed bugs from the affected area, sealing beds and encasements, and applying residual pesticides. A follow-up inspection is required to ensure eradication of all bed bug eggs.

Fumigation

For large, multi-family complexes or office buildings, we will often opt to fumigate. This is an involved but very effective process – one that requires tenting the entire complex and pumping it full of bed bug-killing gas. Residents and pets can’t be present for during fumigation, unfortunately requiring them to find a place to stay for a couple days. Also, all perishable food must be bagged to prevent contamination. So yes, fumigation is a hassle, but it is incredibly effective in eradicating all stages of bed bugs (eggs to adult).

Fumigation Chamber

We can also treat single pieces of furniture (mattress, box spring, etc.) at our on-site fumigation chamber. This treatment method offers all the benefits of fumigation without the hassles that come from tenting.

Heat Treatment

Finally, depending on the context of the infestation, we can sometimes toast gross bed bugs with our targeted, non-chemical heat treatments, which also eliminate all stages of bed bugs.

Say Goodnight to Bed Bugs

The thought of bed bugs biting us while we sleep is pretty frightening, but with the right treatment, it doesn’t have to be a thought at all. At Lloyd Pest Control, we provide several options, working to eliminate your infestation in whatever way is best for you. If you need bed bug control in Southern California, contact us today.

The post How Do You Kill Bed Bugs? first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

Even though the science and tactics have changed over the years, the goal has remained the same: to get rid of termites and document our work through proper reporting. That’s where termite reports come in.

What Are Termite Reports?

Termite reports provide important information for homeowners, sellers, and the state of California. The report will indicate if a structure has termites and other wood destroying organisms, including certain species of ants and fungi. Your property depends on it, too. When pests munch on your wood, your home becomes weaker, less valuable, and potentially dangerous to inhabit.

Why You Need a Termite Report

While it is not against the law to sell a home with termites, money lenders often require certification that a home is “free of infestation or infection” from a pest control company before putting up funds. This is not stinginess; they just want to protect their investment. Technicians from Lloyd Pest Control are certified by the California Structural Pest Control Board to conduct thorough termite inspections, and we’ll provide the proper paperwork to satisfy all lenders.

Sending (and Getting) a Termite Report

The termite report and the completion notice will be delivered within 10 working days to the person who ordered the report, as well as the property owner or the agent. Some lenders will even withhold funds until steps to prevent further infestation (noted on our termite reports) have been corrected. If you have suspicions about past termite activity, you can also request these reports from the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Termite and Termite Report Solutions

When you’re looking to sell your Southern California home, you don’t want termites holding you back. A termite report keeps you up-to-date on their presence – that’s where the phrase “free of infestation or infection” comes from. Without it, you may not even be able to sell (lenders aren’t taking any chances). Contact Lloyd Pest Control for an inspection and a report; we’ll provide free quote for termite eradication if it turns out you need it.

The post What Does Free of Infestation or Infection Mean? first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

But are they dangerous? For the most part, no. Still, as Southern California’s spider control experts, we’d like to tell you about the few spider species you should look out for.

The Three Venomous Species of Spiders

In our region, there are three main species of spiders that are actually venomous: the brown widow, black widow, and desert recluse.

Black Widows

Black widows are the spiders that routinely haunt us in our sleep. Perhaps the most notorious venomous spider, the black widow is easily identifiable by its shiny black body, severely jagged legs, and signature rust-colored hourglass shape on its abdomen. Female black widows have the strongest bite; adult male black widows are smaller and have much smaller venom reserves than the ladies. Black widows account for most of the venomous spider bites in Southern California, which often require medical care.

Brown Widows

Brown widows are non-native to Southern California, and relatively new to the region. Like their name implies, these guys are in the same family as the black widow, but the similarities end there. Brown widows look a lot different (they’re brown, obviously), and they’re far less dangerous. Their venom is fairly potent, but they inject so little that a bite typically poses no serious consequence besides pain and a small mark.

Desert Recluses

The infamous brown recluse isn’t native to our area, but its close relative in the desert recluse is. It’s the only spider in the area apart from the black widow to have medically significant venom, but there have only been a few confirmed sightings here. Symptoms of a desert recluse bite include necrosis (dead tissue) and open, ulcerating sores. Although you have a better chance of winning the lottery than being bit by this spider, in the rare chance that you do, seek medical treatment immediately.

Avoid Harmful Spider Bites with Lloyd Pest Control

These three species of spiders (and the brown recluse that you’ll likely never see) prefer to be left alone – that’s what makes them unlikely to bite you in the first place. Still, you don’t want to take any risks if they manage to become your new roommates. The last thing you want is to deal with a venomous bite (trust us, they’re not fun).

If these eight-legged pests and their obvious health concerns do show up, contact Lloyd Pest Control for professional spider prevention in Southern California.

The post Which Spiders Are Venomous? first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

Get your questions answered about rats’ health concerns, as well as how action can prevent you, your family, or a customer from getting sick.

Are Rats as Filthy as People Say?

It’s obvious why rats are thought to be unsanitary. One look at their furry bodies and fleshy tails, and words like “dirty” and “filthy” come to mind. They don’t often come out into the open, but if you’ve seen a rat scurry across your floor in the past, you probably remember how much it freaked you out. Still, are they as much of a sanitation risk as we might think?

The answer is a resounding “yes!” Rats’ icky appearance mirrors what they carry on the inside: diseases upon diseases. Among pests, only the Zika-carrying mosquito contains more. As rats munch on our food and water and leave droppings and urine behind, they spread illness, calling your property’s sanitation into question.

What Diseases Do Rodents Spread?

The presence of rats in your home or business should be of high concern, as the larger your infestation grows, the more pathogens there are to go around. The last thing you want, anyway, is a whole herd of rodents nesting in your walls. They spread several types of diseases, including:

• Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome: Symptoms include fatigue, fever, and/or shortness of breath. Initially, you may think you think you have the flu, but once diagnosed, you’ll realize you have a rat infestation. This illness is transmitted by direct contact with rat urine or feces, or a rat bite.
• Salmonellosis: Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and/or nausea. You probably know it better as a foodborne illness, but in addition to uncooked meat, it’s also caused by infected rats. Salmonellosis is transmitted by consuming food or water contaminated by rat feces.
• Rat-bite fever: Symptoms include rash, fever, nausea, and/or headaches. Like its name states, this illness is transmitted from rat bites or scratches. Rat-bite fever only pops up when in direct contact with a rat, and you may notice a rash where there’s broken skin.
• Lymphocytic choriomeningitis. Symptoms include fever, aches, nausea, meningitis, and/or encephalitis. This illness is transmitted through contact with rat saliva or urine. Often, symptoms go on long-term, and you could end up with neurological damage without treatment.
  

  

Why Else Are They a Danger to Our Health?

Rats carry disease in another way too: by hosting parasites. This pest is a popular host for fleas and ticks, who spread diseases of their own. Not only are rats affected, but as the parasites are carried indoors on their fur, they also have the ability to hop onto pets and people. A lot of what we think to be sickness spread by rats have actually been caused by parasites. The Black Plague that ravaged Europe in the 1300s, for example, was actually spread by fleas hosted by rats.

We know that rats bring in unsanitary conditions, but the opposite is true as well. This crawling pest is attracted to areas with poor sanitation already, scavenging for food in open containers, trash that’s been sitting around, and spills that weren’t cleaned up. If you run a restaurant, good sanitation is the best way to prevent a rat invasion – and a visit from the health inspector.

How Do I Keep Rats Away?

The best way to prevent rats is by sanitizing your home or business; be wary of anything that might attract them. Cut off available food and water sources, and they won’t have what they need to survive indoors in the first place. Covering up cracks, holes, and other entry points is effective, but it’s not an end-all solution; remember, rats have the teeth to gnaw through wood and siding.

If they do end up inside, you want to go with a bait or trap to eradicate them. The hope is to get rid of rats before an infestation grows, because – with their fast reproduction rates – they become incredibly hard to get rid of once inside. Place baits or traps anywhere you have noticed them. With a bait, you place poisoned pellets in tamper-resistant bait stations (safe against pets and children). For traps, you have multiple choices.

• Snap traps: This trap features a hinge that snaps shut once the rat grabs the bait. Rat traps are stronger than mice traps.
• Live traps: As implied, the rat goes through a hole in the trap to get the bait, and a door closes once it gets inside to trap it alive.
• Glue traps: Bait is placed on top of the glue in this trap. When the rat tries to grab the bait, it becomes stuck.

We also associate cats with rat control, and that brings up the question of how effective they truly are. It’s in a cat’s nature to prey on small creatures like rats, but their instincts only go so far as a solution. That’s because the fast breeding of rats prevents household felines from keeping populations under control.

Lloyd Pest Control: Rat Repellers

If you have a rat infestation that has become hard to stop, professional pest control is your best bet. Lloyd Pest Control provides rodent services to Southern California, with strategic bait and trap treatments that conquer even large populations of rats. We have the expert tools to keep your home or business free of this disease-ridden rodent.

Contact Lloyd Pest Control today to get your rat infestation under control – and keep your health in check.

The post Contaminating Crawlers: Why Rats Are a Health Hazard first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

Pests hit every major industry in Southern California, including tourism, education, food service, and retail. No matter what kind of business you own, you don’t want critters getting in the way of your operations. We get that, and we’d like to help you stay on track without them.

Pests and Businesses: A Perfect (and Problematic) Match

Each year, pests cause nearly $10 billion in damage to businesses worldwide. This number is massive, and it doesn’t even include the loss of revenues that results from infestations – this amount hovers around $20 billion a year. Who would’ve ever thought such tiny creatures could wreak so much havoc? But as they infest buildings in large groups, their strength (and devastation) comes in numbers.

It makes sense, then, why the costs are so high in businesses. Almost every building-invading pest has what it takes to cause problems in such environments, as they:

• are small enough to get through ducts, cracks, and openings
• only need small amounts of food and water each day
• reproduce at extremely high rates

Rats, for instance, only need three weeks to give birth, often to as many as 16 pups. Smaller pests, like flies and moths, reproduce at an even faster rate. But as long as your business environment offers them what they need to survive, they’ll continue to be a problem – and a costly one at that. In addition to their potential for damage, think about their possible negative effects on employee morale and social media publicity.

The Pests Most Likely to Strike

1. Rats: Rats’ fast reproduction cycle wouldn’t be as big of a deal if it wasn’t for their chewing abilities. In fact, rats have a physiological need to chew. They come indoors to seek food and shelter, and they may end up costing your business a lot of money as they chew through walls, wiring, and inventory. To keep rats under control, cut off their entry points and food sources.

2. Cockroaches: Like rats, cockroaches are often found scurrying across floors, as they slip through openings in buildings and seek out food. Most of the time, though, they tend to inhabit dark, moist spaces where they’re difficult to detect. The popular German cockroach specifically loves warm spaces. To keep cockroaches under control, cut off their entry points and clean up food sources.

3. Flies: We typically associate buzzing flies with unsanitary conditions, as all species are attracted to decayed organic material. But the pesky fruit fly causes a lot of problems for businesses in California because it craves sweet substances. It’s a major threat for restaurants, who constantly have sugars, syrups, fruits, and vegetables sitting around. To keep flies under control, take care of spills, take out the trash, and maintain a clean workplace.

4. Bed bugs: Bed bugs are usually a problem in homes, but outbreaks in hotels are common as well. They’re prevalent in our beds, as they feed on human blood while we sleep. But they’re also hitchhikers, which is how they get from one guest’s suitcase to your hotel’s clean linens. To keep bed bugs under control, check for signs of them regularly (otherwise, you won’t notice them until they bite) and call in an experienced pest control company if you see any.

5. Stored product insects: A variety of insects are known specifically to infest containers of stored food, called “stored product insects.” Common types of this pest in the region include cigarette beetles, drug store beetles, and Indian meal moths. Ranging by the species, they seek out nuts, cereal, and more. Most infestations occur before food gets to a restaurant shelf, but they can occur if containers sit around for too long. To keep stored product insects under control, rotate through stored food consistently.

How Your Food Business May Be Affected

It’s obvious why businesses like restaurants, grocery stores, and food manufacturers are prone to pest invasions. The presence of food and water brings rats and cockroaches indoors, and it also attracts flies and stored product insects. Not only would the replacement costs for food be large, but so would the potential health risks if the problem isn’t noticed in time. A customer getting sick from your specialty dish would spell catastrophe for your restaurant.

How Your Non-Food Business May Be Affected

Businesses that don’t prepare or serve food are popular spots for pests as well. Southern California is a diverse economic sector; in the region, several industries thrive – yet, they’re also at risk of pest problems. The following types of non-food businesses are notable pest hangouts:

• Manufacturers
• Offices
• Hotels/motels
• Event venues
• Popular attractions
• Retail stores
• Schools

As you can see, virtually every industry is at risk. A big reason insects and rodents do so much damage in the aforementioned industries is because companies are often unprepared. In fact, only 28 percent of non-food businesses are worried about an infestation harming their reputation. This lack of concern allows pests to work undetected, or without effective treatment even after detection.

What many business owners forget is that even if you’re not making or serving food, you still probably have food or water around. Your employees may prepare or store meals, leaving break rooms and kitchens vulnerable. Also, all businesses feature a variety of areas (walls, ducts, vents, etc.) where pests can nest out of sight. Many species of flies seek out office drains and become hard to detect, and cockroaches and rats tend to hide in tight spaces.

Professional Pest Control Gives Businesses the Best

Pests are highly destructive to businesses of all kinds. Whether it’s in your restaurant’s kitchen, your office’s break room, or your hotel’s suites, infestations pop up wherever there’s food or shelter. But there’s only so much you can do on your own to combat them. With the help of professional pest control, you’ll get your business covered more extensively.

At Lloyd Pest Control, we offer commercial services to treat a variety of businesses in Southern California. With our help, you’ll receive not only top-notch extermination, but also education on how to stop pests from showing up in the first place. With our help, you’ll be able to focus on running your business, as you have better things to think about than the presence of pests. If you need pest services for your business, contact us today and get a free quote.

The post Pests: A Big Burden on California Businesses first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

At Lloyd Pest Control, we know this wood-loving pest inside and out, and want to protect you from the structural damage it can cause.

California’s Troublesome Termites

Termites are called “silent destroyers” for good reason. Their tendency to sneak onto your property undetected makes them difficult to eradicate. They feed on cellulose-based plant material – one of the most abundant substances in the world, commonly found in our homes and businesses. Cellulose is found in wood, carpet, insulation, and a myriad of other building and decorating materials. It’s hard to imagine an insect eating wood, but termites use a special bacteria to turn cellulose into digestible sugars.

While we often demonize termites, they aren’t always bad. In California, termites thrive in the wild, benefitting the ecosystem by eating decayed wood and providing nutrients to the soil. Because they don’t have eyes, they typically seek out food sources by crawling around until they strike gold, or rather, wood. Luckily for them, cellulose is widespread enough that they don’t usually have to wander for long.

When they find their cellulose-gold on our properties, that’s when they become a problem. California is one of the most common places for termite infestations in the United States. After all, we have both a large land mass and large population, which means we’re basically a goldmine for hungry termites. In fact, at one point, it was estimated that between 60 and 80 percent of homes in the state had termites. In the southern part of the state specifically, they enjoy our ideal climate as much as we do.

Drywood Termites vs. Other Termite Species

To understand what drywood termites are all about, it’s important to know how they differ from other Southern California termite species. The three prevalent types in the region are subterranean, dampwood, and drywood termites – and their names are quite fitting. Here’s a short description of each:

• Subterranean termites: Build tunnels underground and seek out glucose on the surface.
• Dampwood termites: Nest above ground and prefer rotted or moist wood.
• Drywood termites: Nest above ground and prefer, well, dry wood, of course.

Unlike the other two species, drywood termites don’t need moist soil or wood. That’s because they have lower requirements for water and mainly get it from humid California air. They’ll seek out any place that’s wooden or cellulose-based to colonize. Drywood colonies typically number around 1,000, whereas subterranean colonies may reach six digits. But their smaller colonies make them more mobile and harder to detect.

The Most Destructive of the Silent Destroyers

As the fall approaches, most pest activity dies down. But drywood termites become a bigger problem during this season, as they swarm from September to October in California. Swarming occurs when a colony is mature, and reproductive termites leave to mate and create new colonies. Drywood termite infestations then pop up – and with costly consequences.

Drywood termites have high potential for destruction, as they’re in danger of settling anywhere cellulose is present. They typically gather in walls or furniture and may be scattered across multiple floors. Because of their silent efforts, months or even years may go by before you notice signs of their presence. By then, the damage will have been done.

Finding Them in the Woodwork

You can’t really take any preventative measures to keep drywood termites away. After all, they’re after what your property is made out of. But there are steps you can take to identify infestations and get the help needed to eliminate them. The following are the two main warning signs that they’re around:

• Wings: After swarming, flying termites discard their wings. You might find wings around the location of an infestation, specifically at a nearby window sill or light source.
• Droppings: Drywood termites excrete small, dry droppings that are the same color as the wood they’re eating. You might spot their excrement, called “frass,” beneath infested wood. It can look like sawdust or pepper.

Apart from the two main signs, you should also look out for actual evidence of their damage. This includes damaged wood, and holes that show proof of drywood termites. Also, check for hollow walls, as well as doors and windows that are hard to open or close (burrowing by termites tends to warp wood).

Stopping Them Before It’s Too Late

You probably don’t expect to have termites on your property. But it’s a reality that happens often, and if it happens to you, your best bet is getting expert help before too much damage is done. Considering how late they are usually detected, extensive professional treatment is usually necessary to stop drywood termites.

The following are the two most effective services:

• Fumigation: Your building is covered and gas is released to kill the termites.
• Heat: Your building is heated to a temperature that’s hot enough to kill the termites.

Fumigation and heat are the only methods that guarantee complete elimination of an established colony from an entire structure. While alternative treatments do exist, they’re only for local or spot control, which may not be enough to eliminate extensive drywood termite infestations.

Lloyd Pest Control Takes on All Kinds of Termites

While drywood termites are sneaky and destructive, you can limit the damage by identifying an infestation early and calling on the right exterminators to stop them. We treat drywood termites and other prevalent termites at Lloyd Pest Control. We can perform either fumigation or our patented heat treatment to combat this wood-munching pest. Additionally, we now offer Targeted Termite Treatments (T3), which afford homeowners greater convenience and the same great guarantees.

For help getting rid of problematic termites on your property, or for more information, contact Lloyd Pest Control today.

The post Drywood Termites: Lurking in the Lumber first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

Southern California: A Dastardly Antscape

Before examining what sets each species apart, let’s first examine the origin story of California ants in general.

Along with bees and wasps, ants emerged as a member of the Hymenoptera order. This may seem odd, as ants don’t seem too similar to the other two members on the surface. But, like bees and wasps, ants are social insects. This means they live together in colonies led by queens. In addition, their segmented bodies look like those of the flying, stinging insects, and many ants possess flying and stinging abilities.

The types of weather that most often bring ants indoors are wet winters and hot summers. Dense downpours and scorching heat – both common in Southern California – make the outdoors too harsh for them. To support their colonies, ants often enter homes to seek food and/or shelter. But the habits of each differ by species, and your likelihood of an encounter depends on what your property offers them.

The Notorious Odorous House Ant

Odorous house ants’ villainous characteristics make them hard to escape. They’re clever, hiding in walls and under floors to avoid detection. They’re always at work, foraging for food at all times of the day. To add to that, they crave your food, making them one of the most likely culprits of a home infestation. You may spot them in your kitchen, as they eat what we eat: sugary foods, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, and even proteins.

This species of ant got its name from the odor it produces when crushed (many compare it to the smell of rotten coconut). Odorous house ants form massive colonies that often number in the thousands. Given their powers and abundance, you might consider ant baits to eliminate infestations. When worker ants bring the poisonous bait back to their nest, the entire colony is destroyed. But to keep these wrongdoers away for good, the best thing you can do is remove open food sources.

The Invasive Argentine Ant

Picture a supervillain so power-hungry that it eliminates other competing villains. That’s the Argentine ant, who has largely displaced the odorous house ant throughout California. Unlike odorous house ants, Argentine ants prefer to nest outside, coming inside to retrieve food to bring back to their colony. Since they arrived in the US in the late 1800s, these miscre-ants have dominated our state through an enhanced set of superpowers. Their strengths include:

1. Ability to survive in conditions that other ants can’t
2. Destructive tendencies toward other ants
3. High tolerance of neighboring Argentine ant colonies

There’s good reason Argentine ants are considered one of the world’s Top 100 worst animal invaders (#48, to be exact). Not only are they a risk to other ants, but they’re also a risk to the California ecosystem. Because Argentine ants outlast native ants, they endanger plants and insects that need natives to support the local ecology. What’s worse is that our homes tend to really attract this enemy. Sweet foods like syrups and jellies make them swarm kitchens. To best control Argentine ants, baits are employed indoors, while granule or spray treatments are performed to build a perimeter outdoors.

The Destructive Carpenter Ant

Carpenter ants’ most notable superpower is their ability to chew through wood. But they don’t eat it like termites do. Instead, they take advantage of their power to tear through the wood and create nests. Carpenter ants build their homes in wooden structures, specifically ones that are moist or hollow. This includes trees, logs, fences, and window frames. If they’re on your property, you might see worker ants foraging for food, or – if you’re listening close enough – even hear a slight crackling sound as they gnaw through wood.

Like many ant species, baits are often effective against carpenter ants. But to keep the frustrating foes away for good, remove rotted wood, tree stumps, and other attractive habitats. This species is known to be more destructive than odorous house ants and Argentine ants, so professional pest control is imperative to limit their damage. Our termite division at Lloyd Pest Control also takes on carpenter ants, which – as wood-destroying organisms – require a separate license and training.

The Threatening Fire Ant

Compared to the other three ant supervillains, fire ants are by far the most aggressive. Be careful when approaching them, as they will use their power to sting if they feel threatened. They’re not afraid to get their hands dirty, and often feed on insects and rodents. Even more frightening is the chance they’ll nest in or under your home. But on most occasions, you’ll spot them nesting in a large, open area like your lawn (look for multiple large dirt mounds).

California fire ants mostly wreak havoc in Riverside and San Bernardino. While they also infest parts of Los Angeles, the closer you live to the desert, the more likely you are to encounter them. Again, baits are an option for self-eradication, but these ants require a slightly different approach. Treat each mound until all ants are knocked out. We use special granule treatments that trick the ants into destroying themselves. Who’s dastardly now?

Stop the Most Heinous Ants with Lloyd Pest Control

Southern California is a haven for ant supervillains. Our homes and businesses offer them everything that they need. Each species has different powers that aid them in their pursuits. Lloyd Pest Control understands their schemes, and our technicians are the heroes standing ready to save the day. If you’re having a problem with ants or another mal-intentioned pest, we’re here to help. With our tried-and-true techniques, we’ll allow you to live in your home without the menace of pests.

For your ant control solutions, get an instant quote or call us at 1-(800) 223-2847.

The post Profiling California’s Least Wanted: Ants first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

The Drought: A Quick Recap

California suffered quite the dry spell in 2011 – one that lasted until earlier this year. It was so bad that in 2013, our state received the lowest rainfall we’ve ever recorded. The effects were devastating: lakes dried up, trees died, and the produce industry declined. You probably recall our state’s order to reduce water consumption by 25 percent a few years back.

The drought had major effects on pest activity. Because of the lack of sustenance in agricultural regions, pests – insects and rodents alike – began moving toward cities to survive. That’s where they sought out a friendlier environment. Pests were attracted to buildings with sources of food and water, and for some, a place to cool off as well. If you saw more pests around your home the past few years, the drought could be to blame.

Recent events have created a perfect storm for pests. While the drought-stricken desert pushed pests toward urban areas, other factors attracted them as well. The reduction in water usage – specifically from lawn sprinklers, hoses, and outdoor pools – also forced them indoors to seek moisture. In addition, tree deaths from fungal infections became common, urging pests to seek shade and fruit elsewhere.

The End of the Drought: Now What?

The drought has officially ended, but our state’s typically high temperatures aren’t set to change anytime soon. In recent years, summer heat has reached far above the regional average in Southern California – and that’s bad news for property owners. Pests looking for a cooler, darker alternative to the weather will continue to seek indoor habitats. Add that to the state’s recovering dry spell, and we should expect pest activity to persist.

The Return of the Summer Pests

Many pests are already active during the summer, and recent conditions continue to encourage their presence. Rats, mosquitoes, bees, and ants are four of the most common warm weather pests, and they seek shelter in or around homes due to the heat. Here’s what attracted each them during the drought and what continues to attract them afterward:

1. Rats: Like us, rats are mammals and need water to survive. Due to the harsh climate, they’ve been searching for cooler escapes with more moisture. While they don’t fly like other pests, they have sharp teeth that allow them to tear through siding and walls to get indoors. In addition, they’re excellent climbers – roof rats, especially – and they can scour the outside of your house for openings.

2. Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes seek water as a breeding ground rather than for consumption. Unlike rats, they prefer the heat. That makes outdoor features like pools and fountains hotspots for mosquitoes. During the drought, they flocked to urban California to find standing water. As one of the most common summer insects, mosquitoes are increasingly a problem due to the warm temperatures and abundance of water sources in the city.

3. Bees: Bees’ diets consist of two things: nectar and pollen. Since plants wilt without water, bees are another pest that migrated in large numbers to find nourishment during the drought. Following the drought, bees remain prevalent in green urban areas. If you have flowers that bloom during the summer, especially if it’s a full flowerbed, don’t be surprised if you encounter bees or even a nearby hive at some point.

4. Ants: The top reason for ant infestations is access to food and water, and this motivated them during the drought as well. Many species of ants moved toward homes to support the existence of their colonies. While they often favor the heat, their search for sustenance is enough to keep them coming back to kitchens and bathrooms.

Strategies to Combat Summertime Infestations

The California drought is over, and life is going back to normal for you and your family. But with our region’s hot and dry weather tendencies, pests are sure to come knocking. Their presence is frustrating, as summer should be a time for leisure and relaxation. Still, there are many steps you can take to stop them in their tracks.

Natural pesticides and traps are a solid pest elimination option, but remember that they don’t do anything for prevention. Also, if possible, they should be avoided when dealing with bees due to their dwindling numbers. Here are a few ways you can combat summer pests from the get-go:

• Drive away bees and mosquitoes: Limit the presence of outdoor water and plant sources that attract bees and mosquitoes. Introduce plants like lemongrass and feverfew that repel mosquitoes, and place peppermint and cinnamon near your outdoor plants to repel bees.
• Keep out rats and ants: Eliminate food and water sources rats and ants crave (i.e. open containers, spills, and dripping faucets), and clean behind fridges or other places they’re likely to hide. Seal home entrance points and make sure they can’t enter through windows or doors.
• Eliminate persisting infestations: If problems linger, or you’d prefer professionals handle them, contact us at Lloyd Pest Control.
  

  

Lloyd Pest Control’s Approach to Warm Weather Pests

Pests are typically most active during summer months. Many of them enjoy the warm weather and settle in backyards where they’re able to raise a colony. Others prefer the indoors, as they hope to find refuge, food, and water. While the five-plus year drought in California is over, pests aren’t going away anytime soon. In fact, they have plenty of reasons to stick around.

At Lloyd Pest Control, we have what it takes to force warm weather pests out. Our experience and pest-specific solutions will eliminate pests from your Southern California property for good. Regardless of which pest is plaguing your summer, Lloyd Pest Control is here to help. Get an instant quote or call us at 1-(800) 223-2847.

The post The Great Pest Migration: A Consequence of Drought and Heat first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.