Jacksonville Pest Control Services

Archive for April, 2010

A Safe Bet? Ultrasonic Pest Control Devices

Safety is an important factor when choosing a pest control method. Ultrasonic pest control devices offer a new way of handling an old problem. Using the latest in sound technology the ultrasonic pest control deviceattacks the hearing an nervous system of pests such as rodents and roaches to make it uncomfortable for them to stay near their food source and ultimately causing them to abandon it altogether. But beware. A careful ultrasonic pest control review may be necessary.

Limited Effectiveness

Several problems with ultrasonic pest control devices have been found. First of all there is the problem of limited range. The sounds travel over short distances. This means if a pest is out of range it will be unaffected. Some ultrasonic pest control devices have tried to combat this problem by using the electrical system of the house to send the signal thereby blanketing the house with the sound.

Another problem is that the sound is stopped by solid objects. The fix for this may be as simple as placing the ultrasonic pest control device near the places where the pests live and move. That way you can avoid any interference caused by furniture placement and other obstacles. These are by no means the only limits, but they are the chief ones.

Another obstacle that limits the effectiveness is that over time the pests can actually get used to the sound. The better devices combat this problem by changing up the sound at intervals thus not allowing the pests to get used to one sound, but have to deal with a variety of irritating sounds. This seems to be an effective way of combating the problem.

Newer Devices

In addition to ultrasonic pest control devices there are newer models that are subsonic. Instead of high frequency sounds they utilize low frequency sounds, again sounds out of reach of human hearing. These still operate on the same principle as the ultrasonic pest control device.

Further, there are now electromagnetic pest control devices that also try to influence the pests’ nervous system. All of these devices have the same thing in common; they all seek a solution for pest control that is safe and easy to use.

Do these devices work? The answer is yes and no. Some may be more effective than others. Consumers need to be aware of the benefits and the drawbacks when choosing a pest control option. The choice should be weighed carefully before deciding on an ultrasonic pest control device.

A Better Mousetrap: Ultrasonic Pest Control

The search for a better mousetrap is a never ending search. For years we have tried to find safer methods of pest control, methods that don’t involve harmful chemical. Now there are products out there that offer a seeming solution to the problem, though the buyer should beware of inflated claims. This is particularly true of ultrasonic pest control.

A Simple Concept

The premise is simple: what if you could deter pests such as rodents from entering your house and garden using simple sound waves, sounds out of the hearing range of humans and household pets but that would be so offensive to pests as to keep them in their place? What if indeed. There are ultrasonic pest control devices out there that make claims to eliminate the problem. The question is, do they work?

Ultrasonic pest control usually takes place from a device you plug into your wall outlet. It emits a sound that is carried over your house’s electrical wiring that is supposed to put up a barrier of sound to drive away pests. The problem is that most of these ultrasonic pest control services do not work.

Scientists have done experiments placing the devices next to cages filled with rodents who go about their business unaffected. Further, if a sound is offensive to a rodent it will probably be offensive to your pets too because the hearing range of these animals is virtually identical. It would be nice if they worked, but unfortunately ultrasonic pest control doesn’t.

No Easy Answer

Ultrasonic pest control cannot take the place of a qualified professional who will have other more effective methods at his or her disposal. Methods such as organic pest control can offer a safe and effective method of dealing with pest problems. A professional can evaluate the situation and target the pest for eradication in the most effective way possible and when it is done, you can rest assured that the problem is solved and that the money you have spent was well worth it.

There is no harm in experimenting, but who can afford to pay for questionable devices. Ultrasonic pest control is not proven effective and even if it does have benefit, the range is extremely limited so that pests say thirty feet away would be unaffected. Ultrasonic pest control may be something worth exploring but it is far from a given that it will work. Consumers need to keep this in mind when choosing ultrasonic pest control.

Doing What Comes Naturally: Natural Lawn Pest Control

When it comes to creating and maintaining a beautiful lawn there are a number of critical steps that need to be taken. Specifically those steps include the proper preparation of the soil, the planting of seeds, fertilizing, watering, providing the proper nutrients, etc.

In addition, another important component of maintaining a beautiful lawn is through pest control. That is because various pests can attack not only the plants and bushes that the gardener tends outside but also can negate all the hard work put into maintaining a beautiful lawn.

Therefore, the gardener or homeowner has a number of choices available to control outdoor pests. Specifically, those two pest control options can be categorized into either the use of chemicals or by using natural lawn pest control.

Chemical Lawn And Pest Control

One of the effective ways of controlling lawn pests is through the use of chemicals. This effectiveness is generally based on the fact that these products have been specifically designed to address certain pests or a broad range of destructive conditions that can affect the health of the lawn. Therefore, these products are generally proven and tested in the laboratory and are for the most part very effective in maintaining pest control or meeting the other claims of their packaging.

However, it is important that the individual utilizing these chemical products read the instructions for use and adhere to those directions. This is because the chemicals may have an adverse effect upon the children within the home or on the family pets that utilize the lawn surface.

Also, it is important that these products that are purchased and put to use are deemed as environmentally safe. This ensures that the customer of the product does their part in maintaining the safety of the environment.

The Use Of Natural Lawn Pest Control

Another option for an individual who is considering the use of pest control on their lawn is to utilize natural lawn pest control methods. These methods are often more preferable in use because they do not contain the potential of harmful chemicals or endanger individuals or pets within the home.

For example a natural lawn pest control method could be through the use of products that have been certified as organic lawn care products. These products are regulated and when their packaging declares that they are safe for the environment or have no adverse ingredients that could harm children or pets, then it is a fairly safe assumption that the products will perform as they claim.

Other natural lawn pest control ideas could be the use of an ultrasonic pest control device. The claims of these devices are to repel those pests that lurk within the lawn. Examples of those types of pests could include snakes, gophers, mice, insects, etc. However, when it comes to possibly purchasing these products it is best to do one’s homework and find out the effectiveness of these devices and their claims.

Acting Naturally: Natural Plant Pest Control

Many individuals enjoy the outdoors. As part of their enjoyment they relish in their care of the plant life. For example, many individuals care for rose bushes. This is generally accomplished by watering the rose bush, providing the proper nutrients, pruning the bush, etc.

However, a person’s efforts can be negated if they have to deal with garden pests. Some of those pests can be snails, beetles, aphids, mites, etc. Generally, these pests are destructive and can ruin a beautifully maintained garden.

Therefore, it is important that the gardener control these pests that can devastate the garden and frustrate the hard work of the gardener. Specifically, the two types of control that can be implemented are through the use of chemicals and a natural plant pest control method.

Use Of Pesticides

First of all, before discussing the benefits and techniques of using natural plant pest control, it is important to understand the potential effects when using pesticides or non- natural plant pest control. Often, the use of pesticides can have a detrimental effect on not only the environment and members of the household, but can have an adverse effect on insects that are beneficial to maintaining a healthy garden.

Specifically when an individual uses pesticides they need to make sure that the chemical agents used to formulate the pesticide are nontoxic for family members as well as pets in the home. In addition, it is important that these pesticides are utilized exactly as the directions on the package indicate.

Also, it is important that if one uses toxic pesticides that these products are stored appropriately so that they do not fall into the hands of curious children within the home.

Finally it is imperative that the pest control that is selected is not toxic to the environment. This is a critical factor to consider so that the environment is kept safe and its use does not contribute to the destruction of the ecosystem.

Use Of Natural Plant Pest Controls

Therefore, when considering natural pest control or natural lawn pest control methods it is always best to use natural products. The obvious benefit of using natural plant pest controls is the safety factor. This safety factor not only extends to the environment and safety provided for members of the household, but also does not jeopardize the well being of insects that are not a threat to one’s garden or lawn.

Specifically, many natural plant pest control tips can be obtained from a variety of resources. Some of those resources can be through the books in the library or by using the Internet.

Examples of natural plant pest control methods can include the placing of basil near tomato plants. This will help to repel flies and worms. Another tip is to plant certain vegetables near other vegetables. For example if one was to plant onions near carrots and beets this would help to repel certain types of beetles and flies from these vegetables.

One other tip that is beneficial in keeping aphids away is by spraying soapy water on plants. This helps to keep aphids and spiders away from those specific plants.

The Non-Toxic Way: Natural Indoor Pest Control

It is probably safe to say that not may people enjoy the presence of insects or other unwanted pests within the home. Therefore, individuals turn to many methods to rid the home of these unwanted pests.

In doing so there are two basic ways of handling unwanted pests. One option is the use of chemicals that help to repel these unwanted visitors or agents that will destroy these pests. Although effective, this treatment method can be hazardous to the environment, pets or the members of the family.

Another way of dealing with unwanted visitors is to use natural indoor pest control. Often these natural indoor pest control methods are the more favorable of the two choices. Therefore, it is important to know what natural indoor pest control is and what are some examples of this type of control.

What Is Natural Indoor Pest Control?

Natural indoor pest control is that method of controlling pests through the use of a natural product or combination of natural products. Generally, this method of controlling indoor pests is more acceptable than the use of chemicals.

This is because often the chemicals that are used have harmful effects. Specifically, those harmful vapors or ingredients could be harmful to children in the home, household pets and the environment. Therefore, many individuals today endeavor to use a natural indoor pest control method to minimize the adverse effects.

In addition, when the chemically based pest control products are manufactured they also can adversely affect the environment. This is because the manufacturing of these products utilize the earth’s resources and may negatively impact the earth’s environment or atmosphere as well.

Examples Of Natural Indoor Pest Control

There are many examples of natural indoor pest control products that can be used. In addition, because pests travel from the outdoors to the indoors, these natural remedies can be utilized as natural plant pest controls as well.

Examples of natural indoor pest control remedies include the use of a spray bottle filled with soapy water. Simply spray the mixture on to the ants to help deter them from entering the home or portions of the garden area.

Another natural indoor pest control concoction that can be mixed that is a deterrent to cockroaches utilizes the ingredients of bay leaves, garlic or cucumber slices where cockroaches are known to be harbored. These individual natural indoor pest control items have been proven to be effective in one’s fight against cockroaches.

Natural Insect Pest Control In And Around Your Property

Even animal lovers lose some of their compassion when insects make their lives miserable during the summer months. It is hard to maintain a peaceful attitude towards nature’s tiniest creatures when you are covered in mosquito bites or the queen of cockroaches is all but smiling at you from one of your kitchen cabinets. Most of us react to these nuisances by spraying them with insecticides that are as bad for us and the environment as they are for the insects we want rid of. The truth is that we do not need these harsh chemical sprays to eliminate bothersome insects. You can use natural insect pest controls in your home and garden and they are often just as effective but much less dangerous.

In Your Home

The creatures that can drive us mad indoors include ants, cockroaches and mosquitoes. Screens on the doors and windows of your property provide a measure of natural indoor pest control against mosquitoes. You can eliminate the temptation for ants and cockroaches by ensuring you never leave crumbs of food lying around. You should also take care to store food efficiently so that pests cannot access it.

There are also several other natural insect pest controls you can implement inside your home. Burn a citronella candle to deter any stray mosquito that gets inside your home. Use garlic, cayenne pepper, cucumber peelings, mint, dishwashing soap and peppermint essential oil to deter ants. Natural insect pest controls that work well on cockroaches include cucumber peelings, sugar mixed with baking soda, bay leaves and garlic.

In Your Garden

Insects that destroy the garden that you have worked so hard to cultivate are also a major inconvenience. Luckily there are several natural insect pest controls you can use in your garden. One such remedy is garlic fire spray which is made by mixing kerosene, water, garlic, chili peppers, vegetable oil and soap. Fish fertilizer is another natural insect pest control that works well in gardens. You can also deter pests by planting basil marigolds, sage, lemongrass and oregano and attract their natural predators with geraniums, yarrow, angelica and cilantro.

On Your Person

If you are a fan of the outdoors and you enjoy spending time in rural areas during the summer months then you will also need natural insect pest control in order to avoid being bitten. Lemon is a natural bug repellent, as is a mixture of rubbing alcohol and Avon Skin-So-Soft. You may also wish to try peppermint or lemongrass oil. It is also a good idea to wear dark clothing and avoid hairspray or any product that has a floral or fruity odor.

It’s Best To Use Natural Garden Pest Control

If you take pride in your garden in can be very frustrating when pests damage your plants since it makes you feel that you have worked hard for nothing. Most people react to these pests by purchasing chemical pesticides. Research has linked many of these pesticides with health issues such as birth defects, nerve damage, infertility and cancer.

Pesticides also cause harm to the environment and animals around us, and that includes our pets. That is why natural garden pest control is always the best option. Fortunately there are many natural garden pest controls that horticultural enthusiasts can try. However it also helps if you can accept the probability that there will be some damage since there really is no such thing as a perfect garden.

Soil And Plants

If your soil is fertile and your plants are healthy your garden will be able to flourish even if there are a few pests. You can keep your soil fertile by using compost and mulch. It is also a good idea to stick to plants that are indigenous to the area you live in. When plants are nurtured in their natural environment they tend to flourish. Bear in mind that certain plants also make natural garden pest controls. Basil, marigolds, lemon grass, sage, oregano, green bean, catnip and onion plants are just a few of the natural insect pest controls that keep undesirable bugs at bay.

Garlic Fire Spray

Some gardening aficionados hold the opinion that garlic fire spray is the best natural garden pest control around. You can make this spray by combining garlic, chili peppers, vegetable oil, soap, water and kerosene. The spray is a little smelly but the odor evaporates quite quickly. You will need to spray it again after rainfall. Garlic fire spray is a good natural garden pest control for ants, grubs, caterpillars and most small insects.

Fish Fertilizer

For some reason that is not fully understood certain insects do not like fish fertilizer at all. It can effectively get rid of mites, caterpillars and certain nematodes. Unfortunately fish fertilizer does have one major drawback. It leaves an unpleasant fishy smell around your garden for a day or two and some people find this difficult to endure. You should probably avoid using this natural garden pest control if you do not have the most understanding neighbors.

Attract Natural Predators

Attracting the right predators to eliminate unwanted insects is another good natural garden pest control. Insects like spiders, praying mantis, ladybugs and dragonflies can control the number of unwanted pests in your garden. You can attract these creatures with plants such as cilantro, geraniums, yarrow, angelica, cosmos and caraway.

Some Useful Tips For Natural Pest Control

During the spring and summer pests such as ants, cockroaches and mosquitoes can easily become a real nuisance. Most of us react to this inconvenience by stocking up on pesticides and using them to do battle. Unfortunately the chemicals in insecticides can be quite dangerous, especially if they absorbed onto the skin while they are still wet. Insecticides are particularly hazardous to small children, old folks and pets. Therefore if you happen to have children and pets or if you care for your elderly parents then you should probably avoid using chemical pesticides if at all possible. Fortunately there are a number of viable options when it comes to natural pest control.

Meddlesome Mosquitoes

You can control the number of mosquitoes and other bugs and flying insects in your yard with natural garden pest control. The first thing you should do is remove any standing water. Furthermore plants such as lemon grass and marigolds are good for repelling mosquitoes because they hate the smell. If you want natural pest control to stop mosquitoes from biting at your skin try squeezing natural lemon juice on yourself since this is another odor they dislike. People who spend a lot of time outdoors during the summer month also claim that Avon Skin-So-Soft combined with rubbing alcohol is off-putting to mosquitoes. Other natural pest controls for mosquitoes include citronella and garlic. Burning sage or rosemary around your property helps too.

Awful Ants

There is something inexplicably disturbing about seeing a trail of ants on your kitchen floor but you can get rid of them without the use of harsh chemical pesticides. One of the best natural pest controls for ants is a simple spray bottle full of soapy water. Ants also have an aversion to certain spices such as mint, cloves, black pepper, cinnamon and cayenne pepper. If you soak some paper in these herbs and put it where the ants usually enter your house it should be enough to deter them. Other natural pest controls for ants include lemon or citrus oil, cucumber, coffee grounds and vinegar. Of course you should also make a point of ensuring that there are no crumbs or open food sources in your home because these are an incentive for ants.

Contemptible Cockroaches

Cockroaches are perhaps the most revolting of all household pests. There is something particularly creepy about the way they move from A to B. Like ants, cockroaches are tempted by crumbs or packages of food that have not been properly sealed. Therefore it is important to store food correctly and clean up as you go. There are also many natural pest controls for cockroaches. For instance cat nip does no harm to humans or pets but cockroaches hate the stuff. They despise soapy water, bay leaves and cucumber slices too. Some people combine baking soda with sugar in the endeavor to get rid of cockroaches. Cockroaches love sugar but baking sod

Bugs Be Gone: Organic Pest Control Service

Having children changes things. That first baby can make life look a lot different. You see everything through new eyes: little eyes. Now those corners on cabinets seem as sharp as knives. That floor that looked clean before now looks filthy. Light fixtures, outlets, heaters, chemicals in the home all seem more threatening. Suddenly, that which seemed innocuous is fraught with danger. Having children changes things.

If you have children and are infested with pests, you know that there are two dangers involved, the disease and the cure. On the one hand, you have the dirty pests that pose a risk and on the other you have control methods that may be even more dangerous to our health and well being. How can you be sure to control pests and protect your family? You need to find organic pest control services.

How We Do It Matters

There are very effective methods out there for eradicating pests, but often they have a blanket effect that causes harm to any living organism involved. Curious pets and children are particularly at risk. Organic pest control services allow natural pest control methods to be employed that can take care of the problem. With this in mind, here are a few suggestions for finding organic pest control services.

Finding a Qualified Professional

Exterminating services offer lots of options for pest control. Be wary of those who emphasize chemical deterrents. They often take the easy way out and can do more harm than good. Look for organic pest control services that offer careful inspection and evaluation and target the specific problem.

These organic pest control services will employ traps and use chemical sparingly, using them only in areas where children and pets cannot go. They will target the cracks and crevices, the baseboards and the spaces between the foundations of the house where pests are most likely to be found. They will use the least lethal means necessary to protect the family as well as treat the house.

Understanding the Enemy

As funny as it may sound, the organic pest control service personnel will think like a bug. They will know the habitat and natural tendencies that will allow them to not only eradicate the present problem, but will prevent future infestation. The organic pest control service will be as much about educating as about spraying. Take it from me, the more you know the better prepared you will be to combat the problem.

We all want to keep our family safe. It is vital that we have a balance between preventing pests from infiltrating and eradicating pests that have taken up residence. Organic pest control services offer the best alternative to making sure the problem is solved.

A Clean Earth: Organic Pest Control Management

For most of history we have had an us against them mentality when it come to the control of unwanted pests. It is a kind of scorched earth philosophy. Often we approach pest control like a man killing an ant with an elephant gun. To kill mosquitoes we blanket entire areas with chemicals causing serious breathing problems for elderly people and young children. To stop aphids we blanket fields with insecticides that not only kill their targeted pest, but can actually take nutrition out of the food we grow, thus harming us in the process.

We must find methods of organic pest control management. Therefore we need to seek out organic pest control service so that we can stop hurting the environment and ourselves.

A Sane Approach

Instead of a blanket eradication, organic pest control management offers a targeted approach, addressing only the threatening pests while leaving everything else, including ourselves unharmed. By understanding the various pest populations and the most effective deterrents for each you can be sure you are dealing with the problem and not contributing to it.

Organic pest control management is all about using natural methodologies to control these pests. It is all about finding balance. Understanding that those things we deem pest play a role in the environment as well. Certain species, if eradicated would cause a broken link in the food chain that can result in damage to humans. This can be seen in the disappearance of bees which are the primary source of pollination for most food crops. While bees can have dangerous stings, their benefit is unassailable and organic pest control management takes that into account.

Dealing with Fear

We need to understand that pest control may involve a trade off. Those pests we deem offensive often provide necessary functions such as the removal of waste and processing or organic matter that if built up would pollute the environment. The lowly termite is an example of this kind of trade off. That which in nature is beneficial can cause untold damage to human habitation. Organic pest control management understands that it is just as effective to relocate a pest as it is to kill it. That can be better to balance things out.

We need to overcome our fear of insects and arthropods, particularly spiders. It is spiders that most effectively control insect populations because they feed on more damaging pests. Fear is no reason for eradication. Using organic pest control management can help us not throw out the baby with bath water. We need to control pests, but we also need to be selective in what we do. No one else can control the damage to the environment. It is up to us to use organic pest control management to save the earth.