News Category
Bed Bugs Continue to plague the entire nation including the Springfield, Joplin and Branson Missouri areas. Attached is an article from Forbes.com www.forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2013/04/27/spring-2013-bed-bug-alert-theyre-now-in-taxis-hospitals-schools-and-college-dorms/ discussing the national trend, and we have seen similar results locally. Republic Pest Control services the Springfield, Joplin and Branson Missouri areas for General Pest Control and Extermination such as Ants, Spiders and other Household Pest as well as an expanded service area for Bed Bug Heat Treatments or Thermal Remediation.
Spring pest a nuisance or a danger?
Republic Pest Control a locally owned pest control company and exterminator wants consumers in Springfield, Joplin and Branson to be on the lookout for spring pests, now that the weather is beginning to break here in Southwest Missouri. Ants, roaches, spiders and other pests that overwinter will likely start to become more active in the next few weeks.
Now that spring has finally begun, and once temperatures are consistently above 70 degrees, pests will begin making their way out in full force. Insects stay in a hibernation-like state during the winter since cold temperatures slow down their metabolism and reproduction cycles, but as the weather begins to warm, their systems start moving again.
Ants
Many homeowners consider ants to be one of the most serious pests. Ants can infest homes by coming in through the tiniest of cracks, and controlling them can be difficult because they leave an invisible pheromone trail for others to follow once they find a food source. There are three main categories of ants: nuisance (such as Odorous House Ants), health (such as fire ants) though these haven’t arrived in Southwest Missouri yet and structural (such as carpenter ants).
Another common sign in the spring is a group of ants with wings which are often confused with termite swarms. It’s a common misconception because of their similar appearance. Correctly identifying an ant infestation determines the best treatment method.
Roaches
In addition to entering a home through cracks and crevices, vents and pipes, other items like grocery bags, boxes and purses can transport cockroaches and their eggs. Because cockroaches are nocturnal, if you see one during the day, that means they were likely forced out by overcrowding—a possible sign of a severe infestation.
Cockroaches are filthy pests. They pick up germs on their legs and bodies and can spread disease, contaminate food and cause allergies and asthma. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), roaches can also carry organisms that cause diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever and viral diseases.
Oriental Roaches burrow in mulch or bark for the winter. However since the ground temperature has been getting warmer, you may start to see more and more of them as the temperatures begin to rise.
Spiders
One of consumers biggest concerns with spiders are that they could bite, sting or attack me, or they’re just creepy. However, there are only two species of spiders in Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas that are harmful to humans, the brown recluse and the black widow. Most other spiders are just nuisance pests and like to feed on other insects, so if you see spiders around the inside of your home, that could be a sign of a larger pest issue.
Sanitation is an extremely important factor when it comes to helping to prevent spiders. Some spiders like moisture and others like dry, quiet and warm areas.
Here are some tips to help prevent ants, roaches and spiders from being attracted to your home:
•Remove all unnecessary food and water sources.
•Seal cracks and crevices around doors and windows.
•Clean up spilled food and drinks immediately.
•Keep gutters clear, and direct water from downspouts away from your home.
•Thin vegetation and do not pile mulch or allow soil to accumulate against your home’s siding. This could provide access for ants and roaches to enter your home.
Of course preventive services such as the Pest Armour Programs available exclusively through Republic Pest Control. Give us a call today to find out more! 417-732-4295 or you can find us on the web at www.republicpest.com
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Call Republic Pest Control at 417-732-4295 or find us on the web at republicpest.com
The difference between swarming Termites and Swarming Ants!
When swarms of flying insects are inside or outside of your home, it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between flying ants and a swarm of termites. It is very important, because ants are generally just a nuisance, whereas termites can cause extensive, and often times very expensive damage to a home.
Wingless Ants and Termites
People generally don’t confuse a wingless worker ant with a wingless worker termite. A worker termite is soft-bodied, light in color, and usually not seen in the open. A ant worker is dark with a hard shell, and often seen inside the home and out.
Sightings of the termite workers are uncommon because when exposed to our relatively dry atmosphere for even a short time, they will dry out and die. A sure way to confirm the presence of termites is to find these “maggot-like” insects. Most people say they look like pieces of cooked white rice with legs.
Winged Ants and Termites
It is more difficult to tell the difference between ants and termites in their winged form, otherwise known as swarmers or alates. In this stage, termites and ants look very similar to each other.
Ant and termite swarmers will both swarm in similar weather conditions and usually at the same time of year. Both termite and ant swarmers have black bodies with wings. But beyond that, their physical differences can help you tell them apart.
BODY
Termite: A termite has two distinct body segments with a waistline closer to the head than the tail.
Ant: An ant has three distinct body segments with two waistlines nearly equidistant from each other, like a snow man.
WINGS
Termite: Termite swarmer wings are long and narrow, extending a body length or more beyond the rear end or abdomen. The wings of termites also tend to lay back very straight, parallel with the body.
Ants: Ant wings extend just slightly past the end of the body. Their wings also tend to lie at a slight angle to the body, pointing away from the body at the bottom.
When Insects Swarm
Seeing a swarm, especially indoors, is a very dramatic event, some would even say traumatic. Usually you’ll see an exodus of several hundred or sometimes thousands of winged insects in just a few minutes.
Reproductive ants and termites usually swarm in the spring, in order to perpetuate the species. The bugs often swarm when the soil is moist, often after a rainfall, which makes it easier for them to burrow down into the ground to start the new colony.
Don’t let the swarm of winged ants or termites worry you. Swarmers usually live less than 24 hours unless they successfully burrow into soil. Consider the event an urgent warning that there is a colony nearby.
If the insect swarm stops or appears to leave the area, don’t assume the problem is gone. In the case of swarming termites, reproducing termites create the swarm, but worker termites are continually eating wood all year.
Republic Pest Control offers Termite inspections as well as two treatment options. Liquid Termite treatments offer long term control, however these treatments are much more invasive than the alternative Termite Bait Systems. We even offer a combination of the two types of treatment if the situation will allow.
Call Republic Pest Control at 417-732-4295 to schedule an inspection or find us on the web at www.republicpest.com.
Termites have made their presence known in Springfield, Joplin and Branson
These wood destroying insects have the ability to remain undetected in your home for years while they attack the structure of the house and other wood by-products contained within as well as the trees and shrubs in your yard. Termites will hide behind walls, insulation and even in the wood that is exposed by leaving only the outer surface intact. While elusive by nature, there are some clear and obvious signs that termites are present in your home including;
•Small holes in wood
•Crumbling drywall or plaster
•Warped doors
•Sagging floors
•Small mud tubes leading to your home’s foundation
•Swarming termites
•Dead termites
The Solution To Your Termite Problem
Though termites do not pose a health risk to your family or pest they will cause costly repairs to your home and property if left unaddressed. With Republic Pest Control by your side you can get rid of termites in your home for good. Our comprehensive termite services are ideal for homeowners in the Springfield, Joplin and Branson Missouri areas include:
•A careful inspection of your home and yard to determine if you have termite activity
•Detailed evaluation of the termite problem to identify how severe an infestation you have on your property
•A tailored termite elimination plan according to your needs as a property owner
Contact Republic Pest Control for all your Termite and Pest Control needs in Springfield, Joplin, Branson, Ozark, Nixa, Republic, Rogersville, Aurora, Monett and surrounding areas!
Contact us at 417-732-4295
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National Termite Awareness Week!
The National Pest Management Association recognizes the first full week of spring as Termite Awareness Week! Surveys finds half of Americans have never had their homes inspected.
Termites alone cause over $5 billion in damage annually!
Subterranean termites live in underground colonies or in moist secluded areas above ground that can contain up to 2 million members. They build distinctive “mud tubes” to gain access to food sources and to protect themselves from open air. Termite colonies are organized into castes depending on tasks — workers, soldiers and reproductives. The characteristics of a subterranean termite are dependent on the termite’s role in the colony. Cream-colored Worker subterranean termites are 1/8 to 3/8′s of an inch in length. Soldier subterranean termites are of a similar body length, but are distinguished by their powerful mandibles. Soldier termites have cream-colored bodies and brown heads. Reproductive subterranean termites are approximately one inch long.
Pest Facts
Color: Creamy Brown
Legs: Six
Shape: Long, narrow, oval
Size: 1/8 Inches
Antennae: Yes
Flying: Yes
Region: All 50 States
Cause serious damage to structures often long before they are discovered — more than $1.5 billion in property damage a year to over 600,000 homes in the U.S.
•Feed on books, papers or anything containing cellulose.
•Favor warmer climates and actively avoid light.
•Live in underground colonies — some containing over two million members.
•In a larger nest, a queen and king may live for 15 years, with the queen laying up to one egg every 15 seconds for most of her life.
Habits
Subterranean termites live underground and build tunnels, referred to as mud tubes, to reach food sources. Like other termite species, they feed on products containing cellulose. Subterranean termites swarm in the spring — groups of reproductive termites go off to start new colonies.
Habitat
Subterranean termites need contact with the soil to survive and live underground. They can build tunnels through cracks in concrete.
Threats
Subterranean termites are by far the most destructive species. They can collapse a building entirely, meaning possible financial ruin for a homeowner. The hard, saw-toothed jaws of termites work like shears and are able to bite off extremely small fragments of wood, one piece at a time.
Prevention
Avoid water accumulation near your home’s foundation. Divert water away with properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks. Reduce humidity in crawl spaces with proper ventilation. Never bury wood scraps or waste lumber in the yard. Most importantly, eliminate wood contact with the soil. Maintain a one-inch gap between the soil and wood portions of the building.
Termite Inspections from Republic Pest Control
Termite inspections are a very inexpensive service that we provide. These inspections are of accessible areas, your technician will report any activity or conducive conditions so that you can correct these and better protect your home!
Termite Treatment
At Republic Pest Control we offer both the Termidor Liquid treatments and the Hex-Pro Termite Bait System.
Contact us today at 417-732-4295 to schedule your inspection!
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Brown Recluse Spider
Brown Recluse Spiders in Springfield Joplin and Branson Missouri
Call Republic Pest Control at 417-732-4295 or find us on the web at republicpest.com
The site of a brown recluse spider can evoke fear and conjure up images of ulcerated wounds brought on by their venomous bites.
While bites can cause wounds and you should be careful, Brown Recluse are rarely aggressive and most bites result in minor to moderate skin irritations, said Richard Houseman, University of Missouri Extension urban entomologist.
”I think it is a serious thing to worry about, but only 2 to 3 percent of bites cause a skin reaction bigger than the point of a pencil. People worry that if they get a bite they’re going to lose their arm,” Houseman said. “Most people have (brown recluse spiders) in their home, especially when they have lived in a house for a while.”
As suggested by its name recluse, the brown recluse spider is rarely aggressive, and bites from the species are uncommon. The spider usually bites only when pressed against the skin, such as when tangled within clothes, towels, bedding, inside work gloves, etc. Many human victims report having been bitten after putting on clothes that had not been worn recently, or had been left for many days undisturbed on the floor. However, the fangs of the brown recluse are so tiny they are unable to penetrate most fabric.
While the majority of brown recluse spider bites do not result in any symptoms, cutaneous symptoms occur more frequently than systemic symptoms. In such instances, the bite forms a necrotizing ulcer that destroys soft tissue and may take months to heal, leaving deep scars. These bites usually become painful and itchy within 2 to 8 hours. Pain and other local effects worsen 12 to 36 hours after the bite, and the necrosis develops over the next few days.[19] Over time, the wound may grow to as large as 25 cm (10 inches). The damaged tissue becomes gangrenous and eventually sloughs away.
Pest Facts: Brown Recluse Spiders
Description
Brown recluse spiders have a characteristic dark brown violin marking on their back.
Pest Facts
Color: Light to dark brown, with characteristic dark brown violin marking on back
Legs: Eight
Shape: RoundSize5/8″
Antennae: No
Flying: No
Region: TX, LA, AR, OK, MO, KS, NE, IA, MO, IL, IN, OH, KY, TN, MS, AL, GA
Habits
Brown recluse spiders are nocturnal and eat other bugs like cockroaches and crickets. Male brown recluse spiders wander farther than females and will crawl into shoes or other clothing.
Habitat
Brown recluse spiders often live outdoors in debris and wood piles. They can be found indoors in storage areas and dark recesses.
Threats
Like the black widow spider, the brown recluse spider bites in defense and does not bite humans instinctively. They will bite humans when the clothing they are hiding in is worn. The brown recluse spider bite is painful and can produce an open, ulcerating sore.
Prevention
To avoid brown recluse spiders, avoid keeping clothing on the floor. Store clothing and shoes inside plastic containers, and shake out all clothing that has been in a hamper before wearing or washing.
Ants and Termites have began showing there ugly little heads around Springfield Joplin and Branson
Ants and Termites have began showing there ugly little heads around Springfield Joplin and Branson the last couple of weeks. We have received calls of Termites swarming in some clients homes and offices. This is a very early start to the swarm season for Southwest Missouri, however we believe that these are just a few rare events, and that we will continue to see increased activity as we see more Spring like temperatures and weather patterns.
One of the most common ants found in the Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas are Odorous House Ants. These ant gets there name from the strong, rotten coconut-like smell it gives off when crushed. These ants range in size from one-sixteenth of an inch to one-eighth of an inch long.
Odorous House Ants Characteristics
Color: Brown or black
Legs: Six
Shape: Segmented; oval
Size: 1/16-1/8 inches
Antennae: Yes
Flying: Winged swarmers
Habits: Odorous house ants like to eat sweets, but in early spring will focus on proteins for increased egg production.
Habitat: Typically living for several years, these ants make their homes in exposed soil and wall voids, but can often be found overwintering in crawlspaces.
Threats: These ants do not pose a public health risk, but they can contaminate food and should be avoided.
Prevention: Eliminate standing water. Pests such as odorous house ants are attracted to moisture. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. Sometimes pests use these branches to get into your home. Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the bottom of your house. Sometimes pests use these to get into your home. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.
If you would like to learn more about our Pest Armour home protection plans give us a call at: 417-732-4295
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Check out this article discussing Bed Bug Detection using a canine named Liberty Belle, this is the same canine that we have used in the past.
TULSA, Okla., July 18 (UPI) — Tulsa, Okla., library officials called in a secret weapon Wednesday to deal with a bedbug infestation: Oklahoma’s only bedbug sniffing dog, Ms. Liberty Belle.
The Tulsa Central Library was evacuated Tuesday after a library patron reported being bitten, the Tulsa World reported. Only a few chairs at the library were believed contaminated and were to be destroyed.
“This was an isolated case contained to a 1,000-square-foot area,” said John Fancher, communications coordinator for the Tulsa City-County Library in a press release. “The total area of Central Library is 135,000 square feet.”
Ms. Liberty Belle, the bedbug-sniffing beagle, was summoned from Norman to investigate the extent of the contamination, after which an exterminator was to be called. Library officials said the library will not reopen until the bedbugs have been expunged.
Roof Rats have not been widely distributed here in Missouri, however there has been the occasional border crossing due to interstate commerce. Roof Rats are rarely ever seen in our immediate area, but one or two may jump a produce truck into a food warehouse or processing facility in our area and if not dealt with swiftly can reproduce very quickly. The more common Rats in our area are the Norway Rat and the Eastern Wood Rat, more commonly known in our area as the Pack Rat.
• Roof rats are largely commensals and live in close association with people. They travel along pipes, beams or wires, around the studding, or along the horizontal ceiling joists, often leaving a dark-colored layer of grease called “rub marks”.
• They breed throughout the year, with two peaks of production in February & March and in May & June. The gestation period is approximately 21 days, and the number of young per litter averages about 7.
• In residences where rats may be living in the attic and feeding outdoors, the damage may result in tearing up insulation for nesting or gnawing electrical wiring. Roof rats are not exclusive to the roof and attics; they may also get into the kitchen or any other area with stored food products.
• Ranging in size from 6 to 8 inches in length, not including their tails, they have very poor vision and are color blind. However, their other senses (hearing, smell, touch and taste) are extremely refined.
• Scientific name “Rattus rattus,” they are sometimes referred to as “black rat” since their coloration can be a lot darker than other rats or mice.
Contact us by phone 417-732-4295 or by filling in the for below
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re posted from the National Pest Management Association
The National Pest Management Association recommends tips to keep your home from turning into a haunted house this Halloween
FAIRFAX, VA (October 25, 2012) – It’s no wonder that haunted houses are decorated with fake rats, rubber bats, plastic spiders and stringy spider webs. After all, having these pests in your home can be a true nightmare – and unlike the spooky decorations, real pests can hang around long after Halloween is over. In order to keep your home from turning into a haunted house, the National Pest Management Association recommends that homeowners take steps to pest-proof this Halloween.
“In the fall, we often hear from homeowners who are dealing with pests like spiders, bats and rodents, so it’s no coincidence they are associated with Halloween,” explains Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the NPMA. “Halloween is a fun celebration of all things creepy, crawly, but the holiday also serves as a reminder that the real-life versions of these pests can cause serious issues inside our homes.”
Spiders, while beneficial in controlling other bug populations in the home, can sometimes bite humans. Brown recluse spiders, for example, inject poisonous venom with their bites. These spiders are commonly found in woodpiles, basements and closets.
Bats tend to enter our homes through chimneys or vents, and may hide out in attics or other dark, secluded areas of a home. Infected bats can spread rabies, and their droppings can spread organisms that cause the lung disease, histoplasmosis.
Rodents like mice and rats can spread hantavirus and contaminate food. They can also gnaw on electrical wires, which can spark fires.
The NPMA offers these tips for preventing a pest infestation this Halloween season:
•Seal cracks around the home’s exterior, especially where pipes and wiring enter homes.
•Do not leave food lying around, as it attracts pests.
•Store fire wood at least 20 feet away from the house and five inches off the ground.
•If you see signs of an infestation in your home, contact a licensed pest professional.
Don’t let your home in Springfield, Branson or Joplin Missouri be haunted by pest this fall contact Republic Pest Control. 417-732-4295
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