Pests

Ants:

We often are called on to deal with Carpenter Ants, Common House Ant, Pavement Ants, and Pharaoh Ants

• Ants are the number one pest problem in the country. Ant control can be difficult, but there are some things you should know about how ants' behavior can lead to big headaches for you and your home:
• Access: Ants generally access our homes through even the smallest cracks. They are searching for water and sweet or greasy food remnants where we use and store them.
• Scent trails: Almost every species of worker ant we encounter creates a scent trail containing 'pheromones' that act like a bread crumb trail for the rest of the ants in the colony to follow back and forth to a food source.
• Nest locations: Ants of all species can pretty much find satisfactory nesting conditions around our homes and even inside our homes. Some common nesting sites are in soils, in wall cavities, and tree stumps to name a few. We find nesting sites inside as well in crawlspaces, and out of the way areas along the interior and exterior of our foundations. An ant colony varies in population anywhere from a couple hundred thousand to half a million. Being closely knit and very protective of the colony, it is not unusual for the entire colony to relocate when they find themselves threatened. When left undisturbed, ant colonies can last for years in one place. Worker ants generally live half of the life of the colony queen's life of 15 years or so.
• Pilot Termite & Pest Control has access to very effective treatments and procedures that are not typically available to the general public. The primary goal of a professional treatment is to destroy the nest and prohibit the ants from returning. There are different treatments available for the many types of ant issues we are called on to address that again are not available to the homeowner.

Termites:

In the northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan region, cellulose based homes and other structures are prone to constant attack by the Eastern Subterranean Termites.

• Termites are the only known organisms to actually ingest wood and other cellulose based materials. The ideal moisture content of these materials for termites is what they are attracted too. Keeping these products as moisture free as we can goes a long way in deterring full-blown infestations This is key to sending termites away from your home if they have found conditions non-conducive to their survival.

Controlling moisture and water issues like high humidity, leaking plumbing, roof water controls like clean gutters and extended downspouts, and controlling ground cover adjacent to framing and foundations are only a few steps that can aid in creating less than favorable conditions for termites.

There are some signs you can be on the look out for that might indicate an active termite infestation on your property:

• Early springtime brings with it 'swarmers' or reproductive 'winged termites'. Look for what might appear to be flying ants in or around your home. Learn the difference between ants and termite swarmers. Look for discarded wings in window openings and on porches and decks.
• Shelter tubes or mud-tubes on your foundation inside or outside as well as on wood structural members like floor joists.

Roaches:

Cockroaches have been around for centuries and will probably be around far longer than any of us will be. In our area we seem to deal with two or three species although there are sometimes surprise visits by other species that are not generally associated with our region. We tend to see more of the German and American Cockroach and sometimes the Asian Cockroach in our homes and gathering places.

Overwintering Pests:

When early fall brings cooler weather with it, the Overwintering insects� tend to start the phones ringing. What is occurring is the adult insects like the Asian Lady bug, Box Elder Bug, and Cluster Fly families are seeking a warm place to spend the winter. Normally we'll get a call that the bugs are covering the wall, and most often on the warm� side of the building. They are actually seeking refuge from the winter cold and want to take advantage of any sunshine they can over the winter months. When the convergence begins we tend to see the insects listed heading toward the soffits of our houses and garages. Then after the winter weather exits and springtime calls, so do our clients. At the first sign of nice weather with sunshine, the insects reemerge and cover the walls on the warm side of the home again.

Occasional Invaders:

The family of pests known as the occasional invaders is an opportune bunch. These insects gain access to our homes and other buildings for much the same reason we head inside when weather turns nasty outside. For different reasons related to climates, whether it's too warm, too cold, too wet, or too dry, these occasional invaders seem to show up where we don't want them to be. There are those that are looking for water, those seeking food, others only shelter. Some seek out bright light and become food for others. Like the name implies, they are occasional since very few can sustain themselves inside our homes for any extended time.

Stinging Insects:

Just when you thought it was safe to go outside, the stinging insects show up and ruin the party. For the most part, wasps and most species of bees are very beneficial to nature and the environment. The downside of the stinging insect's existence is that they are not very beneficial, at least directly, to our families and us. Certain people and even their pets are allergic to stings for example. Some of the stinging insets are also found to be somewhat destructive to our homes and buildings.

Right when the weather changes from winter to springtime, the stinging insects begin to create new hives and to form new colonies. As the season progresses so does the expansion of these colonies. As the weather starts to cool some, not unlike many of us, stinging insects like the wasps and bees become a bit grumpy we'll say and really aren't that nice to be around. The constant search for pollen and water seems to get under their skin and if we interfere with their activity, they do what they can to get even.

Flies:

Flies have a bad reputation and are often associated with decaying foods, gunk, and just plain filth. Because they are quite mobile and really don't have many natural enemies, they persist and spread germs and bacteria contaminating any surface or object they come into contact with. Needless to say that controlling flies is very important to us all.

Stored Product Pests:

Meal Moths, Grain Weevils, and varieties of the Flour Beetle can be found in any product stored in our homes that we tend to keep around for a while. Cereals and other grains, flour, seeds of many types, pet foods etc. are only a few of the products that attract the stored product pests. In a lot of instances we'll discover that an infestation was started where there was none before by being introduced by such things as squirrels and birds who nest and collect all sorts of grains, nuts, and other similar products close to our homes where they can find access to our stored products. The female adult pests lay eggs where there is plentiful sustenance. The larvae will feed on grains, rice's and other food sources and even create webbing for protection of their feeding places.

Spiders:

Spiders are everywhere and we must learn to coexist with them. For the most part, many species are very beneficial to humans. Although there are a couple spiders that we all should be concerned with for our safety, the black widow and the brown recluse spider, most spiders we encounter don't have the bite power to even penetrate our skin. When they do happen to get a good bite the end result is normally not much more than discoloration and maybe a little swelling.

As we all learned back in grade school, spiders and insects differ in the number of legs they have as well as primary body parts. Spiders of course have 8 legs, they don't fly and they don't have antennas like many insects do.

Spiders are predatory and feed on insects primarily. Not all but many species of spiders spin webs in order to catch their dinner.