If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Bedbugs went “underground” for several decades, disappearing from the average American household.  Only recently have they seen resurgence.  They are annoying little critters which make their home in your furniture, bedding, carpets, tapestries and other furnishings.  During the night while you sleep, they come out and feed on your blood.  One of the most common signs of bedbugs, then, is tiny blood spots on your bed linens.  You’ll also notice small, itchy bumps on your skin that are an allergic reaction to being bitten.

The best way to get rid of bed bugs is to not get them in the first place.  Bed bug prevention is fairly simple but you should be thorough:

• Inspect the items you bring into your house, especially if you like to buy second-hand or antique items.  Even if it looks clean, bed bugs survive by hanging out in cracks and crevices, so make sure you go through any new furnishings with a fine tooth comb before you bring it inside.
• There are specific bed bug protection covers made of plastic that you can buy, especially if you have regular guests or have other people house sitting for you on a regular basis.
• Even if you’ve had the same furnishings for years, it’s still a good idea to inspect it regularly (including wall hangings and art) to make sure no bed bugs have made themselves comfortable there.

If you find that your bed bug prevention has failed and you actually have bed bugs in your home, your best bet is to get a professional pest control service to come in and diagnose your problem.  They will be able to give you recommendations for managing your infestation and preventing further incidents.  Remember, having bed bugs is not a reflection of you or of your personal cleanliness.  Anyone can end up with bed bugs in their house, so don’t hesitate to call someone right away to help you get rid of them.

For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com

Bees and Hornets are extremely dangerous and treating them should be done with great care.  Remember that any time you attempt to engage with bees or hornets you run the risk of being attacked, so if you see a hive or nest on your property you should think long and hard about how you want to handle it before you do anything.

Even if you are only going to inspect the hive, try to do so at night when the insects are less likely to be active.  You should also wear protective clothing including light colored overalls, gloves with high sleeves, and a hat with a secure veil.   However, unless you have been specifically trained to handle bees or hornets, it is not wise to poke around much at all.

You have two options for removing them from your property.  First, find out if there is a local beekeeper who would be willing to come out and transfer the hive to their property.  There are many small honey producing beekeepers who may be interested in acquiring a new colony.  These individuals are experienced in handling bees and will have the equipment needed to remove them safely from your property.

The other option is to call a professional pest control service.  Obviously they will have to kill the bees, but if there is no other option for disposing of them, it is certainly a better option that putting your family at risk for serious injury.  A professional pest control service will also be trained in handling these creatures safely. 

Remember, if you have any known allergy to bee or hornet stings, or if you aren’t sure you are allergic do not risk going anywhere near a hive or colony.  Call for help immediately and stay safe!  For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com

Anyone who has had a rodent infestation in their home can attest to how difficult it is to get rid of these critters and keep them away.  Once rats or mice have made themselves comfortable in your house they will keep coming back despite your best efforts and trapping and killing them.  This is because getting rid of the pests is only half the answer.  The other half involves prevention and it requires an entirely different set of tools.

You’ll want to begin by thoroughly inspecting your entire property, inside and out.  Look for signs of rodents such as droppings or gnawing marks.  Even if there are no rodents currently in your home, these clues can show you where trouble areas might be.

As you look around the perimeter of your house, check for any gaps that are bigger than half an inch.  There are foam fillers or wire mesh that can be easily cut and fit into place.  For larger holes, you might want to use sheet metal or other durable materials.  Additionally, look for old or damaged weather stripping around windows and doors.

Your roof should be clear of any tree branches, which can be used as easy pathways for rodents to get into your home.  The roof itself should be completely secure, including all shingles, vents and the chimney.  Also, any appliance vents or pipes should be equally sealed off.

After making sure that all entry points have been eliminated, be sure that there is no ready source of food or water available to them.  That means keeping pet food inside at night and removing bird feeders or other wild animal feeders.  You’ll want to get locking trash can lids, keeping food in your pantry and cupboards sealed up.

Finally, clean up any existing droppings or other leavings that may attract future rodents.  Use bleach to clean the areas where you find evidence of mice or rats, and around the entry points even if they are sealed off.  The bleach will kill any existing scent that previous rodents have left and act as a deterrent for others.

Rodent infestations are frustrating and difficult to manage, but by focusing as much on prevention as on elimination you’ll be able to solve your rodent problem once and for all.  For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.

Squirrels are cute and fun to watch at the park, but when they decide to make themselves at home on your property the story changes.  Suddenly they are pests.

Most squirrels spend their time in the trees where they build their nests; however, they will come to the ground to look for food.  When looking for food, squirrels rely heavily on their sense of smell.  They tend to be more active gathering food in the evening hours, searching for tree buds, fruit, berries, nuts and seeds of all kinds.  During warm months they gather as much as they can to store away and will live off of it during the winter.

While it is a good idea to let wild animals be whenever you can, squirrels can cause damage which makes it impossible to ignore them.  When they build their nests they can damage the wires, siding and shingles of your home if they decide to build within your house’s structure.   They can damage your bird feeders and garden plants as they forage and bury their food.  They also spend a lot of time running across electrical wires and can cause shortages.  You may even find yourself pulling your hair out because you can hear them running in the attic or through walls while you’re trying to sleep.

How can you get rid of squirrels that are causing you trouble?  The first thing you can do is get rid of any food sources that might keep them coming back for more.  This includes bird feeders and pet food.  If you have a garden, you may also want to cover the plants with wire cages to keep the squirrels from digging through and stealing your produce.  You can also prevent them from getting inside your house by trimming trees and bushes that brush up against the structure, and sealing up any entry points that they could use to get in to your attic or walls.

Finally, if you simply can’t get rid of squirrels or if they’ve made a nest in a hard to reach place, you can trap them with humane traps or call a professional pest control service to remove them for you.  For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com

Ticks belong to the arachnid family, similar to scorpions and spiders.  They wait in nature for host animals to come by and then they attach themselves to a discreet, well covered area such as the scalp (under the hair).   They are blood suckers which attach themselves to a host and feed for extended periods of time.  Because of this they are also known carriers for infectious diseases. 

There are several kinds of ticks found in the U.S. but they are all fairly similar looking.  They may range in size from 1/16-1/4 inch and in color from black to a deep reddish-brown.  When they have attached to a host, they burrow slightly into the skin attaching themselves with barbed jaws which makes it impossible to simply pick them off.   If you attempt to remove a tick incorrectly the body may detach leaving the head in the skin which can cause a serious infection.

If you go into wooded areas, you want to wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and pants; especially hats or head coverings.  You may also want to use insect repellants, but be sure to follow instructions for applying them when you do.  Try to stay away from areas that have lots of overgrowth that can brush against you as you walk.  For as long as you’re outdoors, you’ll want to periodically check yourself and your children.  Remember that ticks are very slow feeders and may not transmit any disease until they’ve been attached for several hours.  That means you have a chance to identify and remove them before they have a chance to infect you.

If you have been bitten by a tick, you’ll want to remove it by using tweezers to grasp it’s body firmly as close to your skin as possible, and pull it straight out.  You can also save it to take to the doctor if you develop any fever or start feeling ill.

For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com

Spiders get a bad rap mostly because they are scary looking.  Movies and urban legends have only increased the public fear of these mostly harmless creatures.  In fact, spiders are fascinating and mostly helpful because they eat other much more annoying and harmful insects.  You probably don’t want to call a pest control company to get rid of harmless spiders in your yard, unless there seems to be some kind of infestation.

However, there are some spiders which are actually quite harmful.  In fact, the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider are both highly poisonous and can cause serious nerve damage and even death in small animals if they bite.  The black widow spider is about a half inch long and is totally black except for a bright red hourglass patter on her abdomen.  (Only the female black widow spider is actually dangerous.)  The Brown Recluse spider is also about a half inch long, is brown, and has a violin shaped mark on its middle section.

If you suspect that you or you or someone else in your family has been bitten by a poisonous spider, call for emergency help immediately.  If at all possible, take the spider remains with you so that the doctor can examine it and determine what kind of action is needed.

For the most part, spiders are shy and even these poisonous types will hide in places where people tend not to be.  You may not even run across them except on rare occasions when cleaning out the garage.  Unless they’re bothering you it might be worth your while to leave them be, but if you have young children or curious pets you have every reason to be concerned.

You can attempt to get rid of them by removing their webs and keeping your house clean even in the seldom used areas.  Regular, thorough sweeping, vacuuming and dusting will remove any residual nests.  Make sure your outdoor areas are also kept clean and clutter free.  If you have shrubbery, keep it trimmed as well.  Of course, you can always call a professional pest control service to help you get rid of spiders if you are too squeamish.  For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com

There are hundreds of different types of pests for which you may need to call a pest control service:  insects, rodents, snakes, spiders or anything else that moves into your home uninvited and takes over (although not necessarily your mother-in-law).  While pests are generally creepy and un-cuddly, the reason the homeowners are so keen to get rid of pests is the damages these critters can cause.

The first kind of damage pests can cause is financial.  The costs associated with pest damage to your property can end up in the thousands of dollars when it comes to termites.  Other pests may not affect the structural integrity of your home, but cause serious aesthetic damage that will affect the resale value.  In fact, every kind of pest does its own economic damage that far exceeds the costs of regular pest control. 

The second type of damage done by pests is medical, or damages to health.  At the very least they can make your living area unsanitary, but many pests also carry diseases some of which can result in serious, life-threatening illness.  As if medical problems were not enough, the sad truth is that this also results in economic damage because of the high costs associated with health care and lost work that can result when you are recovering from illness.

Each year there are millions of dollars of damages done by pests, affecting personal homes and businesses across America.  Even if you’re willing to put up with the nuisance, you must consider whether the damages to your property are worth forgoing pest control services.  After all, for a nominal fee you can have a professional pest control company customize a pest control program to treat current pest problems, and help protect your family and your property from future infestations.

For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com

Raccoons are highly intelligent, funny looking, and extremely pesky critters that have a knack for making a mess on your property.  Once they find a source of food at your house they’ll be back regularly to forage.  Unless you enjoy waking up to garbage strewn all over, dead birds, or raccoon droppings on your front lawn; you may want to find a way to control them.  The other concern is that raccoons are wild animals and they may carry infectious diseases, including rabies, which can be a risk to your family or pets.

Some people have tried scaring them off by startling them with loud noises, motion detector lights and water sprayers, or similar tricks.  Unfortunately, these are just a temporary fix.  Eventually the raccoons find a way around them.  Using poisons or pesticides is not a humane way to get rid of raccoons either, and you may end up simply injuring them rather than killing them as you intended.

So how do you get rid of raccoons?  In this case, prevention is the key.  As mentioned before, if they find an easy source of food they will consider it home.  That means you need to seal up your garbage cans or dumpsters tightly.  Remember, raccoons are very intelligent and they have opposable thumbs.  That means they have the ability to open latches or remove loose lids.  Your trash receptacles should therefore be locked down.  It also should go without saying that you don’t want to actively feed them yourself.  They are cute, but encouraging them is just going to get you invaded by a raccoon army.  If you have outdoor pets, you won’t be able to leave their food and water out all night, either.

To prevent raccoons from getting inside your house, be sure to seal off any possible openings.  Even though raccoons are slightly larger than the average house cat, they can fit into small spaces including chimneys, vents, and open seams along baseboards or roofs.  You may need to do some minor, low-cost repairs to your home exterior to ensure you have sealed it off completely.

However, if your problem is not getting better despite all your efforts, you may consider using humane traps to capture the animals without harming them.  You can always contact your local wildlife department and ask them what they recommend for trapping and disposing of pesky raccoons.

For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com

One of the biggest concerns customers of Accuracy Plus have is the dangers of using pesticides around children and pets.  Obviously the most important priority any family has is the safety of their children and the animals they care for.  But you must also balance the dangers of a pest infestation with the risks of pesticides.  Using chemicals in your home may be a last resort, but if your family’s health is in danger because insects, rodents or snakes have moved in, you may way to consider calling a professional.

Most of the issues that arise from the use of insecticides stem from consumers using them incorrectly or ignoring the manufacturer’s instructions.  The fact is that most insecticides have very low toxicity levels or can be bought in organic formulations.  Regardless, it is vital that you always follow the instructions for any chemicals that you use to avoid the risk of poisoning yourself or others in your home.  You’ll also want to store them safely out of reach of kids and pets, away from heat and sunlight. 

If you see your pet behaving oddly, stumbling around, salivating excessively, vomiting or unconscious it is possible they have managed to get into your pesticides.  Even if they are not acting strangely but you find they have been in your pesticides, you should immediately call your veterinarian and have them taken in.  Likewise, for young children you will want to call the poison control center or get them to an emergency room right away if you find that they have accidentally found their way into your chemicals.  Young children have a very low tolerance for poisons and they should get medical attention immediately.

The best thing to do if you find yourself hosting pests is to call a professional pest control service.  They will be able to use the minimal amount of pesticides necessary to control your problem and may have several options for you to consider.  They’ll also know the latest products and tools which can help you protect your family without exposing them to any danger.  For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.

For thousands of years, houseflies have plagued families in their homes.  Whether you’re trying to enjoy a meal or take a nap, these pesky critters can make you terribly uncomfortable.  What’s worse, they breed incessantly which means once they are in your home they can be very difficult to get rid of.   

Obviously the best way to avoid having flies in your home is to prevent them from getting inside in the first place.  Keep screens on your doors and windows, for example.  If you don’t have screens on your doors, don’t leave them open for prolonged periods of time. 

Once you have flies in your home, you’ll want to eliminate any chance they have to eat or breed.  That means scrupulously removing any food sources that they have access to.  Wipe up even small crumbs, and keep foods in the refrigerator rather than sitting out on the counter.  Outside, keep all garbage receptacles covered and sealed.  Make sure pet waste is removed from your yard and if you have a compost pile, be sure it is covered as well.  You also need to eliminate standing water or other sources of excessive moisture.

Once you have flies in your house there are a few ways to get rid of them in addition to cutting of their food supply.  The good news is that the lifespan of a housefly is extremely short, so controlling them can be a fairly quick process as long as they are no longer able to breed.    For the occasional fly problem, invest in a good fly swatter and hone your skills at hunting them down yourself.   Ultraviolet bug zappers can work well in the outdoors, as can flytraps coated with sticky, sweet materials like sugar and molasses. 

However, if your fly problem is really out of hand, you may need to call in a professional pest control service.  The use of insecticides is not something to be done without serious consideration, and if you need to use them it is always best to have the help of a trained professional.  For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.