06.19.11
Posted in DYI Tips at 6:00 pm by Administrator
Hello again pest control customers of A.N.T.T.S = (A North Texas Termite Specialist)! We try to keep our pest control clients from Tarrant County, TX (Keller, Southlake, Grapevine, Colleyville, etc ) posted on the different pest control seasons and the pest and termite control specials we are running at the time. Well with this hot and dry weather fleas are on the rise! If you pet goes indoors and out then you are just waiting for a problem. Fleas love to jump on pets and use them as a blood host for reproductive purposes. The they come in and lay their eggs in your carpet or under couch cushions. I you happen to leave with your pets for a few days then come into the home by yourself you will be swarmed with fleas trying to take a blood bath. How else can one get fleas well we recently had a customer who was only taking their cat to the vet for a cleaning and a trim but ended up with a huge flea problem days later! How you ask ? Well I can tell you from personal experience from treating many vet clinics and none in particular that the area of the office where they do the flea dips and shampoos is loaded with fleas and flea eggs! So if they do not have that area treated monthly then chances are they will pass from the vet dipping area to your pet. Then a month later you will be paying that same vet to dip your pet! The best way to treat them at your home is to have it done professionally. You can try on your own and many have but without a real success rate. The reason being is fleas have a 4 stage life cycle. Egg, larvae
, pupa and adult. So if you fog your home with a store bought flea & roach fogger you will kill some of the adults but most of the flea population will still be at large. When we treat we use a combination of professional pest control products which include a long residue and growth regulator to inhibit reproduction. Things you can do to help are keeping grass cut to a few inches, washing all floors and cleaning all carpets. It does not hurt to vacuum inside couch crevices and clean up crumbs from couch potato activity. We at A.N.T.T.S Have a real good success rate and do not charge for retreats after the initial pest control flea treatment. So remember to check your kitty at the vets exit door for unwanted free riders before you leave the office. Have a safe summer.
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05.08.11
Posted in DYI Tips at 5:49 pm by Administrator
Hello again from A.N.T.T.S = A North Texas Termite Specialist. As we have said many times before we are not just termite control specialist we specialize in all pest control problems and one main one is ant control. After the heavy rains a week ago all ant species become more active and swarm just like termites! But like the ole saying goes ” If it looks like a ant it is most likely a ant”. We do get a lot of people calling thinking they have termite swarms when in fact it is just carpenter ants, Argentine ants (black ants). The ant like most other insects main goal in life is to reproduce and expand their colony so they swarm when conditions are right such as after rain or when it warms up. Early to mid spring is a great time to protect your home from the pest. Although they do not do much damage if not any ? They can be a real pain to live with. Nothing worse than crunching into that late bowl of cereal only to find 3 bites into it that it has little protein snack additive ants walking around in it. Now on the other hand Carpenter ants can do damage if left untreated but nothing compared to termites. Carpenter ants do not eat the wood for food but can chew out cavities to make room for their eggs and the rest of the colony. Back to the black ants which have been a real problem in the last few years. The Argentine ant is fairly new to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The Pharaoh ant (red ants) have been a pest for longer but will address them later. The black ants are real tough even for pest control professionals to treat. We can tell you up front when quoting a price to treat them that a return visit is likely ? But we always go back if need be. First off you the home owner can help aid in us getting a better grip on the situation. You need to remember that the ants you are seeing are foragers and they are in fact looking to feed their brothers and sisters by taking food back to the colony. So try to have food droppings (crumbs) cleaned up and counters free of sugar and other sweet or greasy substances. We use baits a lot and try to use their hunger to feed their
colony against them so the less food competition the better. We also will scout and inspect the outside perimeter to see where they are trailing into the home ? sometimes we have found them going around 3/4 of the base of the slab foundation to find one crack to enter a home. They can also come up through a pipeline or electrical entry point. Theses are areas we treat with a residual pest control product on the perimeter and we like to treat the indoor plumbing entries also. Now with the black or red ants we have found that a pretty good baiting system available to pest control professionals has been working well. We have gel, powder and liquid baits available. Each home and ant to be controlled is different and sometimes it may be a trial and error situation until we nail it on the head. I can tell you that within your warranty period with A.N.T.T.S
we will go back as many times needed as long as you give it a initial period of 7-10 days for the products to work. All we need is a call and we will come back and do whatever needs to be done to get rid of you ant problem. Other things you can do to help us out is trim all foliage from touching the house. Clean floors, counters and back splash as much as possible. When we are scheduled to come out remove small items from floor and clean out all plumbing areas (under sinks, etc). All this helps us to be able to reach the areas needed to get best control. We do ask that small children and pets be out of the treating area even though the baits we use are pretty much odorless and real safe to use indoors. If you are having a ant problem and have spent money with no success give us a call 817-366-3130 and we would be happy to solve you ant problem for good. Have a safe and happy summer!
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04.24.11
Posted in termites at 7:41 pm by Administrator
Termite season is here! For the last 3 weeks termites have been swarming all over the DFW area. Calls coming is from Arlington, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Keller, Southlake, Grapevine are the norm for us at A.N.T.T.S = A North Texas Termite Specialist located in North Richland Hills, TX. We do termite inspections and termite treatments on a daily basis all over the Metroplex and now is the time to have a termite or pest control inspection at your home. Termites swarm early spring every year and can swarm for months depending on the weather and temperature ? If it stays warm and humid I have seen them swarm until early June. Things you will see is actual termite reproductive swarmer’s that look like ants with wings but there is a giant difference to us pest control professionals ” If it looks like a ant it’s most likely a ant “. Meaning we get calls all the time from residential customers or even commercial companies that are freaked out thinking they have termites because they heard termites fly and have wings ? Well they do but so do all ant species! The main difference is the body and the wings. Termites have a solid black body kind of cigar shaped and the clear white wings are double the size of the body, the wing starts just past the head and goes past it’s butt about a 1/4 in. As far as ants their body is 3-parts head, thorax and abdomen. They have the distinct pinched belly and the wings are only as long as their body. They can be black, red or multi colored. Also termites will drop their wings soon after they break through your wall and pair up with a mate. Termites will usually show up on a inside exterior wall or by a plumbing area and up high. Their colony is looking to expand so they chew through the sheet rock and build swarm castles (mud packs) on the sheet rock until they are ready to fly! When this happens they fly out by the thousands and the phone starts ringing at A.N.T.T.S. We recommend getting a thorough inspection and estimate by a couple local pest control companies. Prices are based on linear feet not sqft. We need the total feet around the perimeter of the home to determine the amount of Termidor we will use (Chemical) ? Termidor is the only product we use it has been effective in killing termite colonies now for almost 15 years and could last longer we just don’t know yet until that time has passed. In ground boards test it has been 100% effective for at least 10 years now. When we treat we like to have it look like we were never there by means of trenching, rodding and drilling of patios. We then put soil back and plug all drill holes. Termites can still be active for up to 30 days due to the nature of the product which is a good thing so they will distribute throughout the whole colony. If you would like your home inspected for termites or you think you may have termites feel free to call 817-366-310 and we would be happy to help you out. Thanks from A North Texas Termite Specialist. We also do full service pest control for all pest such as ants, roaches, spiders, bees, rodents etc!
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03.20.11
Posted in termites at 7:15 pm by Administrator
Well it’s that time of the year again! Seen my first termite swarm yesterday in Bedford, TX while doing a termite inspection (WDI) report. This time of the year from late March to April is when they start to break through walls and get ready to fly out looking to start new termite colonies. Termites will show up around pluming or exterior walls, usually up high on the ceiling. It looks like little dots of mud at first but the grow like little fingers called termite swarm castles. When they are ready the termite swarm’s break out of the hole and fly out by the 1000’s It is quite a site to see. This is also the time of the year when we get frantic calls for every winged ant people see thinking it s termites. There is a big difference between carpenter ants and termites first the color, termites swarms are solid black and around the TX area the ants will be red & black or a copper color. Then the body shape ? Ants have 3 distinct parts the head, thorax and abdomen. Termites are a head and body shaped like a cigar. Carpenter ants the wings are about the length of their body but the biggest difference with termites is their wings are double the size of their body and a clear white in color. When they fly they fly very erratic like a bat. We do free estimates but when you call a local pest control company DFW you really need to be specific when describing your insect. We just do not have the time or the gas to waste on a call that is totally sure they have termites and when we get there its ants! This is why we ask so many questions and may request you email a close up photo so we can quickly identify whether or not you have a termite problem ? When we determine you do have termites we will come out free of charge and look around your home and see if there are any termite mud tubes on the foundation and also will measure the linear footage of the house to get a estimate for a termite treatment. All pest control exterminators have to price the same way based on linear feet not sqft ? We get that a lot. Most homes are real cut and dry when it comes to treating. We trench the soil against the foundation just enough to hold 4 gallons per linear foot (per foot of depth) and we put soil back so you will not even notice we were there. When it comes to slab joint such as patios or decks we need to drill a 1/2 inch hole and pump chemical (termiticide) under slab. Sounds way worse than it is. Most homes treated we will give a 1-3 year warranty but most termite products can last well over 10 years or more. If you think you may have a problem and would like to speak with us we would be more than happy to help you out. We service the whole DFW area along with Tarrant County and love to work in the Hurst, Colleyville, Keller, Grapevine, Watauga, North Richland Hills areas because we are located in 76182 Please tell you friends and especially your neighbors you have A.N.T.T.S coming out and we would be happy to meet with them while there. Enjoy your spring and have a safe summer
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01.23.11
Posted in DYI Tips at 5:56 pm by Administrator
Bed bugs (Cimicidae) blood sucking parasites that feed on human blood preferably but will suck on any warm blooded animal. A long time ago these bugs were a huge problem around the world but with the introduction of sanitation and pesticides they were brought under control for the most part. I myself have been in the pest control business for almost 30 years and can honestly say we never had any dealings with them until about 2 years ago. They are easily taken home by piggy back in your luggage, pant leg etc. Many hotels and motels have reported infestations of bed bugs recently and finding them in your home is becoming all to common. They are reddish-brown oval and wingless, not totally nocturnal but do like to feed at night and like to live close to their blood source hence the name bed bug. Bed bugs can go a year without feeding but like to feed about every 8-10 days so this is why they can survive so long and go undetected. Bed bug detection can be easy if you know what and where to look. You want to check every hotel room before you lay down for the night! I always search for bed bugs before I unpack in my room. If I see one sign I go right back to the desk and request a room far away from the original one and if the next room has signs I get my money back and start searching for another hotel. What you want to look for is blood smears on the sheets. Pull the head board of the wall if possible and look for actual bugs and egg casings. They love to be in tight crevices so look at mattress seams and lift mattress to inspect supports and baseboards under bed.
If you do find out you have brought home this blood sucking parasite (bed bug) then you really need professional help! Some pest problems can be tackled on your own but bed bugs are even giving pest control exterminators a tough time. Once you find a local pest control company you want to get your home ready for treatment for the best results. Strip and wash all bedding and wash all clothes in hot water. Empty all dresser draws and put them where they can be easily treated. Remove all small items from the floor and wash them prior to the treatment, you don’t want to be washing floors after the pest company comes for at least 2 weeks. Ask your treating company for a prep sheet and ask many questions to speed things up when they arrive.
Our company A.N.T.T.S has treated many homes with success but there is sometimes a 2nd and 3rd treatment involved in some cases due to the nature of the bed bug. They can be tough buggers to treat but with cooperation from the homeowner and using the right products you can be successful in eradication of bed bugs in your home or business!
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11.07.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:16 pm by Administrator
Hello fall and rodent season around the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The upcoming colder months are perfect conditions for rodents like mice and rats to enter your home. As local DFW pest control professionals we do receive a lot of new calls about people hearing scratching and scraping in their walls. With cold weather and open gaps is a recipe for a rodent problem. The best thing you can do as a homeowner is go around your home with a caulking gun and steel wool to seal up any cracks and holes that are bigger than a dime. It does not take much for the rats and mice to get in. They are coming in for a few things like food, shelter and water. After you do your blocking be sure to keep dog and cat food in a secure bucket. Keep all other foods locked up tight and don’t leave food scraps laying around. With water fix any leaking pipes and check under your refrigerator drip pan to make sure there is no standing water. You do not want to make it any easier for these sneaky critters. If all these steps are done you can greatly reduce the possibility of a rodent problem. But if you still here scratching or are seeing mice or rats running around your home you may need a professional pest control company at this point. This is where we might be of assistance to you! We can come out and do a inspection to see where the little varmints are getting in and take control measures to rid the home of any active rodents through the use of baits and traps. We have been dealing with rodents for years and have not come up with a problem we have not been able to take care of yet. Feel free to visit us on the internet or call 817-366-3130 Have a great Thanksgiving and Christmas 2010!
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10.21.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:08 am by Administrator
Hello again from A.N.T.T.S = A North Texas Termite Specialist located in North Richland hills, TX serving the Dallas and Fort Worth area for all termite and pest control problems. We do specialize in termite inspections and treatments but pest control is really our biggest service. We have had a huge increase in bed bug calls lately from nervous home owners who have been reading and watching the news. I would say Bed Bugs are back but really they have never went away totally. We have been doing bed bug inspections and treatments for years and can tell you they can be tough little buggers to kill. You can try to take care of them on your own but in most cases we see people spending almost as much on store bought pest control products as they would if they hired a professional pest control company. It all starts with a good inspection as in most cases with pest service. We go in with our very expensive new flash lights that are bright enough to blind a person and we thoroughly inspect all cracks and crevices and around all bedding especially the headboard. They are lazy little bed bugs and like to take the shortest route to your blood so will most likely be found close to where your body lays. We look at sheets for blood smears and dead cast from bed bugs the come up with a treatment plan. Most plans include a good cleaning of linens and clothes in the general infested area. We also vacuum around headboard and baseboards to help take down the active numbers to help increase our chances of total control. We do not think its a good idea to just spot treat a home for bed bugs although can work on new infestations so long as it has not had time to get out of hand. we like to treat the entire home with a residual pesticide along with a IGR (insect growth regulator) to help with reproduction. Dust seem to work goodl as well as liquids. Our biggest suggestion to the Dallas/Fort Worth residents about the bed bug hysteria is not to panic! Do some research about bed bugs and do a little inspection yourself to see with your own eyes whats lurking under your bed ? Save any and all insects in a vile or plastic bag to show your pest company for a better identification. Then price shop! Yes we are saying price shop because you will see that you will be getting prices anywhere from $150.00 tp $2500 and up to treat a home for bed bugs. We are not the cheapest and not the most expensive but we stand by our work and will not stop coming out until they are gone for good and we never charge to come back during the warranty period. We will be posting info on bed bugs at our website very shortly and hope to hear from you and read some comments about your bed bug experiences.
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09.12.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:15 pm by Administrator
Hello once again DFW residence ! It’s that time of the year again when everyone is getting ready to start their big remodeling projects around the home. I always say there are two termite seasons for us pest control companies. First season is the obvious spring termite swarm and the second is the fall remodeling termite season. Around this time is when we start receiving calls like ” I am redoing our bath and found some strange mud inside the walls ?” We hear it all the time! Termites will only show themselves in early spring when they swarm out to start new colonies. But if you are remodeling and get lucky enough to expose them we have a few tips for you. First do not spray anything on them! This can effect what we use and can move them to another area. Secondly take some photos so you can email them to us so we can maybe identify via email. We also recommend you stop any construction until we can come by and investigate to come up with a treatment plan. Now these days termites are not a death sentence to a home! They are very treatable and the product Termidor is very effective for years to come. At A.N.T.T.S = A North Texas Termite Specialist we can offer spot or full termite treatment applications that come with renewable warranties that transfer for free to any new buyer. So if you are redoing your kitchen or bath and find something you think may be termites, carpenter ants or something else remember to photograph and call us or your local pest control company to come and inspect. After the termite treatment you can go about your business and close up the walls and finish your dream remodel project. Just always remember to deal with a licensed pest company and you will be fine. Thank again for reading and we welcome comments.
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