Tim's Pest Control Blog

It is summer again, which means that you and your family are all going to be spending much more time outdoors. The weather is heating up, and you may be getting more rain as well. Unfortunately, that means that all of our least favorite pests and bugs are going to be out and about. It’s that time of year again when you need to be thinking about how you are going to protect yourself from ticks and mosquito bites. Tick bites are not only obnoxious and painful, but they are also the cause for over 300,000 cases of Lyme disease in the US, each year. So that you can stay safe this summer, here are a few ways that you can protect yourself from tick bites. Cover up Wearing more layers during summer may be the last thing that you want to do in the face of high temperatures and excruciating...

Summer is a time for fun in the sun. However, the warm weather not only attracts humans but pests as well. During the warmer weather, insects can share in your picnics. The picnics move the food and water outside and give the insects two resources to survive. The Summer Pests The summer weather sends some pests into hiding while bringing others out. The warmer weather and the summer flowers attract pests like bees and wasps . The bees and wasps become more active during the summer months and they may make their nests near your home or under an overhang. These pests are annoying, and when agitated, they sting. Another summer pest that becomes more active is ants . Sure, you can generally find them in your house during the rainy season, but they love to help themselves to your picnic. Every little crumb you leave behind is theirs for the...

The fear of stinging insects grips most of us when one is suddenly buzzing around the can of soda we are holding. Bees, wasps and hornets present a challenging problem to backyard activities. What can you do about stinging insects on your property? Be Cautious You may want to track down the nest of that stinging pest as soon as one flies in your front door, but you should proceed with caution. A person can develop a severe allergy to bee and wasp stings without warning. Even if you have been stung before with only temporary pain, be aware of the symptoms of Anaphylaxis. Symptoms may appear up to 30 minutes after a sting. The Mayo Clinic instructs you to call 911 if a sting victim shows any of these signs: Difficulty breathing Swelling of the lips, eyelids or throat Dizziness, faintness or confusion Rapid heartbeat Hive Nausea, cramps or vomiting...

The bane of good sleep, the lurking terror of second-hand furniture and the silent fear of going to a motel: bed bugs! Bed bugs are one of the most hated pests and for a good reason. They can disrupt your sleep, ruin your furniture and steal your peace of mind. At Tim’s Pest Control, we have dealt with many bed bug infestations . Here are the basic things you need to know about bed bugs: Bed Bug Appearance Bed bugs are extremely small….only 4-5 millimeters long. They are almost impossible to see with the naked eye. Bed bugs are light tan to orange in color, except when they molt when they are white. They will have a red spot of color on them if they have recently been feeding. They do not have wings, and typically hide in soft furniture like beds, couches, and chairs. Bed Bug Symptoms Since they are...

Tiny though they may be, an ant issue is no small problem. Fortunately, there are straightforward steps you can take to combat the colony in your home. Start your fight against ants with the following method. Know What Type of Ant You’re Dealing With As with any good battle, it’s important to know your enemy. Identify the ant species in your home before moving on. Research which ants look like your intruders and find out what attracts them to your home. This will help you get rid of the colony and prevent future infestations. There are two main categories of ant in each species. The first is the worker ant, which is typically the type you see marching around your home. The other is the queen, which does not move from the nest. Worker ants bring food to the queen while she focuses on reproduction. Worker ants behave in different ways...

When people think of their home being invaded by outside pests, the first thing that usually springs to mind is bugs -- cockroaches, ants and termites always top the list of unwanted insects. However, if you ask anyone who has ever had to deal with a rat infestation , they will tell you that this sort of invasion can often be much, much worse. Why is this? Most bug invasions are gross and unhealthy, but they rarely cause actual damage (termites, of course, being the exception here). On the other hand, rats are not only unhealthy -- bringing in with them the very real possibility of disease -- but they can damage your home and, if confronted, injure you and your family as well. A Case Study Take the “Jones” family, for instance. The experience of this family shows how quickly a small number of rats can disrupt your entire home...

If you have wondered if bed bugs can travel on your clothes, hair and other surfaces, this is the article you have been waiting for. The short answer to this often-pondered question is “no”, but there is more to be learned. Keep reading to learn all about this topic. Bed Bugs Don’t Travel On You, But Your Luggage Is a Different Storage Your body does not make a good hiding place for bed bugs, as it does not stay still long enough for them to nest safely. Bed bugs love hiding, and they need a stable hiding place that is not constantly in motion to safely lay their eggs. Conversely, the inside of your suitcase, your backpack and even your laptop bag are all prime nesting and traveling areas for bed bugs. They make great hiding places, they stay relatively stable and once you arrive and unpack they can spread and...

Now is the time to take the necessary steps to prevent pests from entering your home. Pests come into a person’s home to search for food, water and shelter. They can also be detrimental to human and pet life. You never want to have pests living in your home , no matter how harmless they seem. There are dozens of pests that live in the state of Connecticut, but there are always at least three varieties that Tom’s Pest Control deals with on a consistent basis. These are the most common pests in Connecticut. Ants Ants are rather harmful, and you have likely seen hundreds, if not thousands of them throughout your lifetime. However, they can be a big problem when they appear in colonies or swarms. Black ants are attracted to food, so they will frequent your kitchen often and attempt to spoil any food they find appetizing. Carpenter ants...

When it comes to pests, nothing can be quite as devastating as a rat infestation. While bugs like ants or cockroaches can pose a variety of problems, they are not as damaging or as potentially harmful as rats. Thus, if you start to notice signs of an infestation, then you have to take action immediately. The longer you wait to control your rat problem, the worse it will become. However, because rats are crafty creatures, you need to be as knowledgeable about them as possible. The more you know, the easier it will be to curb the infestation and remove it entirely. So, with that in mind, let’s discuss rats and how they can pose a threat to you and your family. The Basics: Rats vs. Mice First and foremost, you need to determine if the vermin scuttling around your property are rats or mice. Although these vermin are similar in...

When summer winds down, pest infestations ramp up as the fall season draws near. Many people wonder where various pests go once the cooler weather takes over in Connecticut and the entire Northeast. Whether it's insects or rodents, pests look for shelter to keep them safe and warm during the fall, and your home makes the perfect place for them to hide out until the next spring. 3 Common Fall Pests in the Northeast Cluster Flies Cluster flies look like large, darker houseflies. They show up inside homes from August to October and hide out in boxes, corners and other areas in your living spaces. These flies are easy to catch during the colder months as they slowly fly around from room to room. Though they don't pose a threat to people, they emit a disagreeable odor if they're crushed. Stinkbugs Stinkbugs infest houses as the cooler weather enters our area....

You can't go anywhere outdoors without seeing ants on the ground or other surfaces. Thousands of ant species crawl along the planet every day, and a few species make their home right here in Connecticut. Sometimes ants come indoors and look for food and water; they might even stay longer if they like what they've found. Tim's Pest Control has the scoop on some of the more common ants that you can find here at home . 3 Common Ants in Connecticut Pavement Ants Pavement ants measure about a quarter inch in length and have brown to black coloring. They prefer to nest underneath sidewalks and driveways as well as patios and decks. These ants will also reside near your home's foundation and get into the kitchen through cracks and crevices. They enjoy sweet foods and will also munch on trash and crumbs. Carpenter Ants Carpenter ants measure between 1/4 and...

Believe it or not, there are hundreds of thousands of beetle types in existence . These insects can be round, oval, or elongated, and their colors vary greatly. Some beetles bite people and leave painful blisters. In addition, when these bugs invade homes, they can cause a number of problems. Beetle Mania Some beetles enter houses looking for warmth, especially in the autumn. Others are hidden in pieces of firewood, in doorstep packages, and in other items, and people carry them indoors. Many beetles are drawn to human foods. If they're inside your house, they'll head for your kitchen or pantry. You may then find yourself with plenty of contaminated food. Wooden Buffets For their part, wood-boring beetles can harm furniture, support beams, and other objects. Over time, they can cause major structural damage. An example of a wood-boring beetle is the powderpost beetle. These bugs are especially prevalent in the...

If you have ever spotted ants in your home or workplace and want to avoid the problem in the future, you are probably wondering what steps will help you keep the pests at bay. Keeping ants out of your home requires you to learn how they get inside and what attracts them, and doing so is not as hard as it sounds. With that information, you can move forward without stress because you will know what you must do at each step, and the ants won't stand a chance. A little research and effort will let you make your ant issue a thing of the past in no time. Common Entry Points Learning about the most common entry points ants use to invade homes and offices will take you far, and you will know you have made the smart call after you see the results. When you know where they launch...

There's nothing like enjoying a picnic in the summer with your family and friends. No matter what size your picnic is, there's a potential that pests could take over the food that you have, making your picnic unforgettable in a negative light. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to keep as many pests as possible away from your fun time. They Have a Sweet Tooth Most pests enjoy foods that are full of sugar. If you plan on serving sweet foods at your picnic, keep them covered so that insects won't be able to smell them as easily as they would if they were sitting out on a plate. Beverages that contain a lot of sugar, such as sodas and lemonade, should be kept covered as well. Use bottles with caps that can screw on and off or lids that can be put on cans to keep...

As winter comes to an end in Connecticut, many people embrace a time-honored tradition known as spring cleaning. They thoroughly clean their homes and belongings while discarding unwanted items. Although these efforts can't always prevent pest problems, they greatly reduce the risk in several ways. Food Remnants Cleaning removes food particles and residues from indoor surfaces. This will prevent your home from attracting ants , mice , cockroaches or larder beetles . Keep in mind that a tiny crumb looks like a substantial meal in the eyes of some insects. Nesting Materials Rodents can use scraps of fabric, foam or insulation to build nests. Spring cleaning eliminates such debris from your home. This decreases the chance that you'll find a mouse nest in a cabinet, appliance or vehicle. Clutter This tradition provides an excellent opportunity to banish clutter. Seldom-used objects offer hiding places for nearly every type of vermin. Most pests...

Ticks represent a serious outdoor pest problem in the Northeast. Each year, they transmit diseases to thousands of Connecticut residents. People often find it difficult to remove the bloodthirsty parasites after they bite. If you enjoy hiking, be sure to follow these tips: Try to hike in places with well-maintained trails and some exposure to sunlight. Ticks prefer to inhabit shady areas with tall grass. However, this doesn't mean that they never venture into clearings or freshly cut lawns. Walk near the middle of the path. Don't let your clothes or belongings touch bushes, tall grass or leaves. Remember that ticks favor moist areas; exercise caution around dense forests and swamps. Try to keep any children or pets on the path and away from wooded areas. If you hike with a dog, use a relatively short leash. This will also decrease the risk of violent encounters with wild animals or fellow...

Most people look forward to the warm weather of spring each year, but you are not the only one who will enjoy the climate. When the temperature rises, bees and wasps will search for new places to build their nests, and your yard could be an ideal location.  The sting of a bee or wasp can cause pain, itching and skin irritation for most people, but it can be a little more serious for those who are allergic to the venom. The good news is that you can take several steps to safeguard your property and family from these stinging insects.  Spray Nests With Soapy Water One of the best ways to stop bees and wasps from taking over your yard is to locate and eliminate nests in the early stages. You can do so by filling a spray bottle with soapy water and looking in common nesting spots, such as...

Ants are one of the most well-known insects. Found throughout the world in a variety of ecosystems, most have encountered an ant at some point. While these insects are common, their lifestyles and social systems are not. Here are a few facts about them that make them decidedly unique. Most Ants in a Colony are Sisters Some may be surprised to learn that the vast majority of ants in a colony are female. The queen ant is responsible for reproducing, and most of the eggs she lays are destined to become female workers and soldiers, while the only responsibility of male ants is to breed with a queen ant prior to dying. The queen is the only female in a colony allowed to reproduce, although her daughters do care for their immature siblings.  Male Ants Have No Father While it may seem strange enough that there are so few male ants,...

Pest problems are often an unavoidable aspect of home ownership, so it is important to understand how to manage pests in an effective way. Since pest problems are common, a wide range of solutions have been developed to help homeowners eliminate pests. Some pest control strategies require professional assistance, but you can implement some pest control methods on your own. Deciding whether to use professional services is an important initial step to take when managing your pest problems. You should consider some of the disadvantages of DIY pest control before deciding to implement a pest control solution without seeking professional assistance.  Slow Results DIY pest control methods often require you to invest a significant amount of time. You first have to learn about the options that are available. Next, you have to purchase the products that are required to complete the job, and this can entail extra time waiting for packages...

New England winters are brutal and cover the region in snow and ice. Before the season takes hold, pests seek shelter in homes where they can stay warm and survive until the coming spring. If you don't take preventative measures to keep out unwanted pests, you might have to deal with a difficult infestation over the winter. 3 Common Winter Pests in New England Overwintering Pests Numerous insects belong in this category. Stinkbugs, ladybugs, moths and flies all remain active during the winter and invade homes in the Northeast. Each nuisance pest causes its own problems for homeowners, such as when moth larvae eat clothing and stinkbugs emit foul odors in a room. Preventative maintenance, such as sealing gaps and cracks around your home, will keep these overwintering pests out of your living areas. Rodents You can catch rodents trying to find ways inside residences no matter the season. The arriving...