https://conta.cc/3Uy5qTL The post Newsletter 03062023 appeared first on Arizona Pest Control - Pest Management Services - Gilbert Termite Inspection ..read more

Post Tension Post Tension slabs are the way to go if you want to avoid cracks and settling of your home. Its also conducive to preventing termite activity as there are generally only the outside foundation to worry about. These slabs are often used in bridges, elevated slabs, walls, and columns. Usually you will see rebar which helps to strengthen the concrete. More and more homes are being built with this feature. Of course there are always exceptions to every situation, sometimes the cable dislodges or breaks. I don’t see it very often but termites can get through the pipes entry points but ..read more

Badgers Badgers are short-legged omnivores and they are related to ferrets, minks, otters, weasels and wolverines. They prefer dry, open grasslands, though they are very adaptable. Some live in quarries, hedgerows, woods, and desert areas. American badgers are found in the Great Plains region of North America. They can also be found in the western United States, central western Canadian provinces and in the mountainous areas of Mexico. Did you know that we had them in Arizona, I didn’t? It was a surprise when I got the call and more of a surprise when I saw it. Animals take advantage of our li ..read more

Entry Points Rodents Often times we make it easy for entry points rodents access into our homes. Rodents will seek out any opportunity to get into the warmth and rain-free of your home. Why shouldn’t they, they are looking for the same things we are in life. What should you look for? Any holes, once a month check your home. Things settle and change. Feces around pool pumps or a/c. Nesting. Bad construction, areas of access for birds and rodents. Check sheds for opening and space beneath, I see lots of honeybee activity in those places. Holes in the ground, indicating something present. Check ..read more

Swarming Ants Monsoon is the time for Swarming Ants, usually it triggers the reproductive cycle with the species. This occurs in many social insects, its a way of spreading their genes further from the original colony. I was down at the dog park and noticed the ants making their way up the grass blades to get a little height in their journey. This does occur with termites but it’s just rare to see it. Honeybees do a similar thing, its just that they divide and leave. Ideally the farther away the better as this helps the gene pool to distribute the DNA away from the parent. As I mention continu ..read more

Termite Damage Drywall Out here in the Wild West, termite damage drywall go hand in hand with the mess they cause. If you’re lucky enough to see evidence on the foundation slab, but here in Arizona the stucco sometimes goes below the rock. I don’t know how they do it, but they will pop out on a picture frame and just start to eat away. In this case some type of cardboard behind a shelving unit. I’ve seen books eaten and completely ruined, the little termite aren’t big but there are many. The post Termite Damage Drywall appeared first on Arizona Pest Control - Pest Management Services - Gilbert ..read more

Centipede Centipede (Arizona) means “100 legs” – literally, but they don’t all have 100. You couldn’t fit that many legs on something that is not that big. Usually seen at night, nocturnal and the perfect time to be hunting their prey. Based on their size they might go after small bugs but we do have a even bigger Centipede Arizona here called the Giant Desert Centipede. They might go after lizards and rodents.The female is a great mother guarding her eggs until they hatch, guarding them by curling up her body around them. What is it? Is it a bug or is it a spider, technically neither but we t ..read more

Wood beetles Somewhere along the line, some wood beetles laid some eggs in this tree and the larva did some burrowing. In most cases only cosmetic damage is seen and there is no risk of secondary infestation within the home. I have seen some homes where it is a pleasing sight to have this in the wood, while others may not like the look. Ambrosia beetles create a staining within the wood and can look quite nice. Powderpost beetles are often associated with a re-infestation, I have seen art work brought back into the US with these potential issues. In one case we froze the Giraffe for approximat ..read more

Termite Pressure   Termite pressure around the Valley is a speculative issue, some areas are of course worse than others. This map was done by FMC some 20 years ago and I wonder how close it remains to being accurate to today. I would say it still applies, once termites are in an area I’m sure they won’t leave and probably continue to be a pain to homeowners. What to do? Monitor your home, walk around look up and down. Hire a Pest Professional to take a look, not a Home Inspector but a real life Termite Expert. Check out buildings, garages, sheds inside and out. Take pics and send them t ..read more

Drains & Restaurants Do you ever check bathrooms before you eat at a restaurant, I check drains and restaurants for a living? I won’t eat until I check the bathroom, if its clean then probably (probably) the kitchen is clean. If you have a restaurant, staff must be taught that part of the process is cleaning. Everyday a certain station should be cleaned and then someone needs to double check. If a customer gets something in their food, the reputation can be sullied in that visit and those reviews sites are not forgiving. Daily cleaning, certain areas. Weekly cleaning. Inspection by someon ..read more