Tim's Pest Control Blog

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 prefer to hide...

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 the...

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...

You've tweaked your stuffing recipe, had the carpet cleaned and picked out the perfect centerpiece. So, what happens if pests threaten to ruin your holiday plans? Don't let bugs or rodents take over your gathering. Head off an infestation so you and your family can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner without the threat of unwanted guests. Find out how from Tim's Pest Control. Home (Not so Sweet) Home Your home is cozy and inviting. Unfortunately, pests enjoy crashing the party for just that reason. From silverfish to spiders, bugs make themselves right at home if conditions are right. While many insects aren't dangerous to your family's health or safety, they can do a lot of damage to your home and its contents. And everyone is bound to be uncomfortable with the prospect of creepy crawlers running rampant. Pests: A Danger to Your Home Mice and rats can be found chewing on wiring, creating...

In the summer months, gardens are filled with the buzz of honeybees. They are extremely active as they go in and out of their hives. However, when winter hits, where do these flying creatures go? As the outside temperatures plunge, bees naturally begin to gather so that they stay warm in the cold times ahead. Even though they are not visible, bees remain active throughout the entire winter season. They do not hibernate or die after they lay their eggs. Since bees are cold blooded, it is essential that they remain warm. How do Bees Stay Warm? Bees cluster. Their main job is to take care of the queen. She must remain safe and warm. Worker bees flutter their wings and shake their bodies. This movement keeps energy flowing so that the hive temperature stays comfortable and warm enough for them to survive. However, bees need a form of food to...

Ants are one of the most common pests that result in homeowners contacting a pest control company for help. Ants are especially common during the warm summer months. Because they come in such large numbers and can quickly infiltrate your pantry and food supply, an ant problem can be difficult to manage. Could you be attracting ants into your home without being aware of it? The following are the top three things that can attract ants to your home and what you should do if you have an ant infestation. Food Sources Almost any food that is good for you and your family will likely serve as an excellent source of nourishment to ants as well. Ants are attracted to most types of human food, but they are especially fond of sweet foods. Many types of ants are drawn to jelly, syrup, honey, candy, and other rich sources of sugar. Many...

Hiding in the smallest of cracks and crevices in your home during the day, bed bugs are some of the toughest pests to both spot and exterminate. If you wake up with itchy bites on your body, chances are you might have a bed bug infestation. With that said, here's what you need to know about bed bugs and how to get rid your home of this pest.  What Are Bed Bugs? Although they're visible to the naked human eye, bed bugs are small pests that measure three-quarters of an inch in length. They bite you while you're sleeping and feed on a few drops of your blood; the female bed bugs will lay up to 200 eggs at a time afterward. Even though their bites pierce your skin, they don't hurt enough to feel them. Bed bugs can live for as long as a year without food, and they fortunately...