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The Pros and Cons of Mosquito Spraying: Helpful or Hazardous?

Posted on: July 7th, 2023 No Comments

Beyond being an unrelenting pest and a universal nuisance, Mosquitos are the world’s deadliest animal. They are responsible for over 1 million deaths yearly, spreading life-threatening diseases, including malaria, yellow fever, and dengue.

While these insects do outnumber us by about 16,000 to 1, different methods of pest control offer some means of fighting back.

Mosquito Spraying is a very effective and fairly accessible control method that can deliver instant results. It’s a localized solution that helps prevent the spread of disease, supports public health, and limits exposure to these annoying and dangerous pests.

On the other hand, it raises questions of safety for the environment, humans, and pets. Its effectiveness is fairly short-term and non-targeted, failing to address the source and potentially causing the development of resistance.

What are all of the different methods of mosquito control?

There are three main approaches to combating mosquitoes: source reduction, biological control, and personal protection.

1. Source Reduction

Source reduction involves eliminating areas where mosquitoes can breed.

• Effective construction and maintenance of infrastructure can reduce mosquito breeding habitats. Mosquitos breed in still water that gathers in ditches, retention ponds, and water management structures that fail to flow effectively. Planning this infrastructure with the intention of limiting breeding habitats helps to control the mosquito population.
• Eliminating still water by filling wet areas with soil and draining outdoor containers such as trash cans will force mosquitoes to breed elsewhere.
• Modifying landscapes to ensure the effective drainage of water is another important piece of source reduction.

2. Biological Control

Biological control is used to eliminate existing larvae and adult mosquitoes.

• Introduction of predators such as birds, fish, and frogs has been shown to have some impact on controlling mosquito populations.
• Larviciding introduces low concentrations of chemicals to still water to kill off mosquito larvae and pupae without impact on other water-inhabiting organisms.
• Adulticiding uses trucks and aircraft to spray pesticides and kill mosquito populations. This method will be closely examined throughout this article.

Treating large areas with larvicides and insecticides can be difficult and dangerous. It is best left to professionals. The Tabor Pest Control team follows strict guidelines and regulations to ensure environmental and personal safety and ensure effectiveness.

3. Personal Protection

Personal protection creates physical or chemical barriers between people and mosquitoes.

• Spray-on repellent confuses mosquitoes and prevents them from seeking us out.
• Nettings such as pool cages and bed nets physically prevent mosquitoes from reaching us.
• Foggers, candles, and mists apply repellents to large areas so that they do not need to be applied to us directly.

What is Mosquito Spraying?

Mosquito spraying is a method employed to reduce mosquito populations in target areas and combat the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. The process involves the strategic application of insecticides in areas known to harbor and breed mosquitoes.

Commonly used insecticides include pyrethrins, organophosphates, and larvicides. Spraying can be carried out using various methods, including ground-based sprayers, truck-mounted foggers, or aerial spraying, depending on the size and accessibility of the target area. 

The primary goal of mosquito spraying is disease prevention and public health protection, but it can also be a quality-of-life measure for those in mosquito-prone areas.

It’s typically conducted by trained professionals who follow regulations and guidelines to ensure the safe and effective application of insecticides. 

What are the Different Types of Mosquito Spraying?

Ground-based Sprayers:

• Utilized for smaller areas like residential neighborhoods or local parks.
• Involves professionals using handheld or backpack sprayers to apply insecticides.
• Allows for precise targeting of mosquito resting areas and breeding sites.

If your mosquito issue is getting out of hand, call the team at Tabor Pest Control to decide if this type of residential treatment is right for you.

Truck-mounted Misters:

• Ideal for larger areas such as parks, golf courses, or commercial spaces.
• Mounted on trucks equipped with spraying equipment.
• Releases a fine mist of insecticides to cover larger areas efficiently.

Aerial Spraying:

• Conducted by aircraft, making it suitable for vast or inaccessible areas.
• Involves releasing insecticides as a mist or ultra-low volume (ULV) spray.
• Provides effective coverage over large expanses of land, including rural or marshy areas.

Barrier Treatments:

• Focuses on treating specific areas, such as yards, gardens, or outdoor event venues.
• Involves applying insecticides to vegetation, structures, and other surfaces where mosquitoes rest or seek blood meals.
• Creates a barrier that repels or kills mosquitoes, reducing their presence in designated areas.

What are the Pros and Cons of Mosquito Spraying?

Pros

Mosquito spraying is effective, accessible, and localized, providing quick results to prevent the spread of disease and improve quality of life.

Effectiveness

• Mosquito spraying, when properly executed, can significantly reduce mosquito populations in treated areas.
• Targeting adult mosquitoes in their resting and breeding sites interrupts their life cycle, curbing their reproduction and population growth.

Accessibility

• Hiring an expert to spray for mosquitos is a fairly quick and easy process.
• Spraying can be done in small residential areas or large rural properties.

Speed of Results

• Within a short period, the application of insecticides can lead to a noticeable reduction in mosquito activity, providing immediate comfort to affected communities.

Disease Prevention and Public Health

• Mosquito spraying plays a vital role in preventing mosquito-borne diseases, thereby safeguarding public health.
• By reducing mosquito populations, it minimizes the transmission of diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, and West Nile virus.

Localization

• Mosquito spraying allows for targeted control efforts, focusing on specific areas with high mosquito activity or disease prevalence.
• This localized approach optimizes the allocation of resources, effectively addressing mosquito-related concerns where they are most needed.

Quality of Life Improvement

• By reducing mosquito populations, spraying enhances the quality of life for individuals living or working in treated areas.
• It enables people to enjoy outdoor activities, such as picnics, barbecues, and sports, without constant annoyance or the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.
• It helps eliminate the need for constant application of spray repellents, candles, and foggers.

Cons

Mosquito Spraying is a short-term solution that fails to address the source of the issue. It raises concerns regarding the environment, health, and resistance development.

Environmental Impact

• Insecticides can have a negative impact on non-targeted insects if done recklessly. Insects like bees and dragonflies can be affected. 
• Killing large populations of mosquitoes can also create problems for their natural predators by eliminating a food source.
• This leads to a lack of biodiversity.

Health Concerns

• Prolonged or improper exposure to insecticides can lead to respiratory issues, skin irritations, or other health problems, particularly for vulnerable individuals.
• Similar outcomes may arise for pets and wildlife.

Resistance Development

• Frequent and indiscriminate use of insecticides can lead to the development of resistance in mosquito populations.
• Over time, mosquitoes may become less susceptible to the chemicals used in spraying, rendering control efforts less effective in the long run.

Failure to Address the Source

• Mosquito spraying primarily targets adult mosquitoes, often overlooking the breeding sites where mosquitoes reproduce.
• Neglecting the elimination or treatment of stagnant water sources can result in a continuous cycle of mosquito populations and re-infestation.

Lack of Sustainability of Results

• Spray treatments generally last 4-8 weeks before populations return to normal levels.
• This means that the treatments have to be regular and continuous.

How Does Mosquito Spraying Compare to Other Methods?

Mosquito spraying has some distinct advantages and disadvantages when compared to other methods.

Source Reduction Methods

Spraying insecticides is much easier and more accessible than systematically eradicating mosquito breeding grounds. It does not require any terraforming or rebuilding of infrastructure. In some cases, it is completely impractical to eliminate all potential mosquito breeding habitat. 

On the other hand, source reduction is a far more sustainable method of controlling mosquitoes as it can reduce populations in a given area permanently.

Personal Protection Methods

Mosquito spraying is generally a longer-lasting solution compared to repellants. It frees individuals from the burden of constantly reapplying bug spray, lighting candles, or running bug foggers. It also allows the freedom to enjoy the outdoors beyond a netted area.

Additionally, by killing the mosquitoes rather than repelling them, it tends to be a more definitive and effective solution.

Compared to repellants, mosquito spraying poses a bigger threat to organisms and the environment. It can also be more expensive as it is not usually a DIY solution.

The Tabor Pest Control team is always ready to answer your questions. Give us a call to decide which mosquito control approach is best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

References

• https://www.rti.org/insights/mosquito-facts
• https://a-z-animals.com/blog/how-many-mosquitoes-are-in-the-world/
• https://lcmcd.com/faqs/q-what-methods-are-used-to-control-mosquitoes/#:~:text=There%20are%20four%20basic%20approaches,source%20reduction%2C%20larviciding%20and%20adulticiding.
• https://www.orkin.com/pests/mosquitoes/what-eats-mosquitoes
• https://www.buzzoffmosquitosolutions.com/difference-between-mosquito-fogging-vs-spraying
• https://activepestcontrol.com/mosquitoes/treatment/how-long-does-mosquito-treatment-last/#:~:text=For%20the%20most%20part%2C%20mosquito,size%20of%20the%20mosquito%20population.

Tags: Mosquitoes

Posted in Prevention & Control | No Comments »

Mosquito Menace: Protect Your Home and Health From Mosquitos Today

Posted on: March 22nd, 2023 No Comments

Mosquitoes are small blood-sucking pests that may not appear as repulsive as other infestations, but their potential dangers can be life-threatening. In Georgia and Alabama, the warm and humid climates make mosquitoes a common pest throughout the year.

Addressing mosquito infestations is crucial due to their ability to spread viruses such as West Nile, dengue, and Zika, as well as parasites like malaria.

Mosquitoes can thrive even in the presence of small amounts of water around your home, making effective treatments necessary to alleviate irritation from bites and prevent the transmission of harmful diseases.

What are the benefits of getting mosquito treatment?

The warm climates of Georgia and Alabama provide an ideal breeding environment for mosquitoes, with peak breeding seasons typically occurring from March to October.

Even a small puddle of water near your home can be enough for mosquitoes to lay eggs and multiply.

While mosquito bites can be irritating, the health risks they pose are far more concerning.

Eliminating mosquitoes is essential for the following reasons:

1. Health Benefits

Uncontrolled mosquito populations can quickly grow and infiltrate your home, hiding in corners and hard-to-reach places. Mosquitoes can be difficult to eliminate due to their small size and ability to fly.

At Tabor Pest Control, we know when mosquito season begins and how to effectively control their populations, including necessary preventive measures.

Improved health benefits from mosquito treatment include:

1. Reduced risk of diseases
2. Enhanced quality of life

2. Environmental Benefits

Though mosquitoes can be dangerous and irritating, not all species are harmful to humans or the environment.

Of the over 3,500 mosquito species, most play crucial roles in pollination, consuming microorganisms, and serving as a food source for predators.

Targeting specific disease-carrying species while preserving ecological balance is best achieved with professional assistance.

3. Economic Benefits

Various cost-effective methods can prevent mosquito breeding indoors and outdoors.

Some of these include:

• Installing door and window screens
• Repairing gaps in windows and doors
• Closing garage doors and other openings in the evening
• Using air conditioning to reduce indoor humidity
• Covering or emptying pools
• Removing standing water and puddles
• Changing water in vases and cleaning water-filled containers
• Filling tree holes to prevent water accumulation
• Covering septic tanks and sealing cracks

Professional mosquito treatments can address large water bodies, such as lakes, and our team at Tabor Pest Control can effectively apply larvicides and outdoor adulticides to eliminate these pests.

FAQs

Tags: Mosquitoes

Posted in Prevention & Control | No Comments »

Common Pests In Southern Alabama & Georgia And How To Identify Them

Posted on: March 1st, 2023 3 Comments

Identifying common pests can be difficult for property owners as they come with multiple species. Any incorrect identification of any insect, mammal, microbe, or organism could damage your property and health severely.

Incorrect pest identification could cost you your time, money, and energy.

That’s what we at Tabor Pest Control specialize in, where our experts help you identify the kind of pest that’s infesting your property and find an effective way to terminate it.

What’s the importance of identifying pests?

One of the common pests in the south (especially Georgia) is ticks, external parasites that feed on mammals’ blood. There are 15 species of ticks, and finding what is commonly found in properties can be challenging.

For example, the American Dog Tick is the most active spring, summer, and fall species. Wooded paths, parks, and farm pastures are their common dwelling areas.

Now, if you’re not aware of how to differentiate this particular species from the rest, you won’t be able to know to what extent they are dangerous, how they transfer, how they live, and how they interact with their environment.

Correct identification of pests helps find different strategies to manage, control, and terminate a species.

Common pests in Southern Alabama

Many pests dwell in Alabama, and in the peak pest season, it feels like all that’s around you are just pests.

Alabama’s moderate temperature is ideal for all kinds of bugs, insects, and pests to survive and make their colonies all year round.

Alabama is ranked 8^th in states with the most bugs present. Here are some of the common pests you’ll find in Alabama:

1. Ants

Ants are the most common invaders in your house and are recognized by their different colors of red, black, or brown. The most common species found in southern Alabama include:

• Little black ants
• Argentine ants
• Fire ants
• Acrobat ants

Danger level

Ants might seem harmless, but they can be dangerous for spreading diseases. As they roam in the dirt, they can easily contaminate food and various surfaces in your home with bacteria and pathogens.

You must have heard fire ants being named the most dangerous as their bite is painful and hurts the most. They are aggressive, and once they sting, their venom is strong enough to produce an allergic reaction, sometimes even becoming life-threatening.

Where to find them?

Ants can invade your home through various sources, such as attacking your trash, pest house, gardens, compost, and any moist area.

Since these are small, they can quickly get through the tiniest cracks in your property and invade your home, trying to build their nest.

For fire ants, you have to look for open and vast sunny areas as they love to reside in such places, but the Argentine ants prefer the exact opposite, which is moist areas, so keep a lookout under sinks.

How to get rid of them?

We at Tabor Pest Control have experts who can identify which kinds of ants dwell in which secret spots of your house. Contact us to get a free quote.

2. Bed Bugs

These blood-feeding pests not only exist on your bed but can be found in various other places where they can hide for up to a year without feeding if the temperature is just right and build their colony.

Danger level

Of course, bed bugs are dangerous as they bite warm-blooded mammals and can leave you feeling extremely itchy all over or cause allergies.

Another added mess they make is ruining your sleep and making you feel uncomfortable and worried.

Where to find them

We know beds are a common place for bed bugs to exist, but other places include:

• Wooden furniture, walls, and floor
• Behind wall hangings, clocks, and pictures
• Behind wall voids
• Electrical outlets and electronics
• In your pending dirty laundry

Your family, you, and your pets could also come in contact with bed bugs and bring them over from various places such as relatives’ or friends’ homes, movie theatre seats, and any other public spaces.

You can identify their traces by looking for the skins they shed after sometimes blood stains on clothes and mattresses and feeling unexplainable itchiness whenever you sit somewhere or sleep.

How to get rid of them

We have experts who can identify if bed bugs are dwelling in which secret spots of your house. Contact us to get a free quote.

3. Cockroaches

These most popularly feared pests can fly as quickly as they can crawl. Cockroaches are the world’s most resilient and highly adaptable creature, and can survive and grow in any corner of your house if you don’t eliminate their species.

There are different kinds of cockroaches, including species that share the same roof as you:

• Smokey brown cockroach
• Oriental cockroach
• German cockroach
• Asian cockroach

Danger level

Cockroaches can be pretty dangerous because they spread diseases such as Salmonellosis, Dysentery, and E.coli.

Since they can travel through gutters and survive anywhere, they carry various pathogens and bacteria infecting your surroundings.

Their shed skin and excrement also cause an allergic reaction in children.

These pests are also good at destroying your property as they can eat through anything in your home, from wallpaper to rugs, so you need to eliminate them.

Where to find them

These pests can enter through any source, from delivery parcels to traveling through drains and sinks and popping up in your bathrooms in the middle of the night.

They mostly travel through the night and come up to find their food during the night, which is another reason you wouldn’t know they exist in your home.

They would mostly hide in drains or in cracks around your home. If you tend to leave food open along with kitchen cabinets, it’s like a free buffet for them and gets inside your pantry as well.

How to get rid of them

We have experts who can identify if cockroaches are dwelling in which secret spots of your house. Contact us to get a free quote.

4. Fleas and ticks

Fleas can jump easily from one spot to another and travel this way to invade your home, but ticks can’t do the same, and they crawl and then attach themselves to a food source.

But both have something in common: they feed on blood.

Warm and humid weather is essential for their survival so they can multiply quickly. While ticks prefer to feed on human blood, fleas don’t prefer humans.

But food is still food, so it might still count as food to them at the end of the day.

Danger level

Both fleas and ticks spread lots of diseases, including causing allergic reactions.

Flea saliva is a common source of an allergic reaction, and their bite may cause dermatitis making us feel itchy and uncomfortable.

They can also infect with parasitic tapeworms, so the danger level is pretty high.

Ticks, on the other hand, may be responsible for causing the following diseases:

• Lyme
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Tularemia
• Babesiosis
• Ehrlichiosis

Where to find them

Most animals, such as pets, tend to bring ticks or fleas to our home if they’re overlooked and not given proper cleaning or bath, but any animal might also carry it, such as rats.

Wild animals should, therefore, never be played with as there’s a high possibility of them carrying both ticks and fleas.

When talking about fleas, you can find them surviving indoors as easily as outdoors, but ticks can’t breed indoors and can only survive outside.

Fleas tend to hide in dark shady areas such as bushes, thrown-away furniture, and any garbage pile. Ticks are likely found in tall grass, under leaf piles, wooded pathways, or ditches.

You can find fleas in bedding, around baseboards, inside rugs, carpets, and drapes when indoors.

You won’t even know about their eggs hidden away which only become active when they find the right temperature to hatch. Therefore, proper treatment and timely cleanliness of the house are required.

How to get rid of them

We have experts who can identify if ticks and fleas are dwelling in which secret spots of your house. Contact us to get a free quote.

5. Mosquitoes

One of the common pests around us is mosquitoes, the most annoying. They feed on our blood, and that’s how they multiply.

Despite us killing them easily with even our bare hands, a bite from the wrong mosquito species is enough to get us sick and even lose our life.

Danger level

Yes, their bites are itchy and painful. Still, they cause more harm than that by spreading numerous diseases through their bites, including the eastern equine encephalitis virus, the St. Louid encephalitis virus, and more.

They are quick to multiply and always travel in a herd, so you’ll find a bunch of them dwelling around your house or inside. They also carry parasitic heartworms, which are transmissible to dogs and cats.

Where to find them

Leftover water, which is unused, is a breeding ground for mosquitoes that are used to lay eggs by the females and hatch into mosquitoes. So still water is a major source, including even a small ditch near your home or a pond nearby.

The more it rains, the more water is going to accumulate and cause a breeding ground. In Alabama, the humid temperature is highly favorable for their growth.

How to get rid of them

We have experts who can identify if mosquitoes are dwelling and in which secret spots around your house. Contact us to get a free quote.

6. Moths

You can identify moths as scale-covered winged pests with threadlike or feathery antennae. They might appear in different bright color patterns on their wings as well.

Danger level

The larval stage of the moth, a caterpillar, can be dangerous as they’re big eaters causing a lot of damage to their surroundings, including your property.

Of course, your plants are in danger, and if they latch on to the indoor plants, you’ll quickly find them half-eaten. Their danger level differs depending on their species. While some damage fabrics, others damage your pantry.

Where to find them

You can see traces of moths in your clothes and pantry full of food items, so you’ll have to pay attention to such things. Of course, not keeping your house clean is a significant factor in attracting moths to your home.

They seek dark, quiet areas to survive. You might commonly find them in kitchens, bathrooms, closets, basements, and attics.

How to get rid of them

We have experts who can identify if moths are dwelling and in which secret spots around your house. Contact us to get a free quote.

7. Rodents

Rodents include rats and mice, which are pretty commonly found dwelling in residential areas and around them. They are quite the survivors eating away at anything with their front teeth, so dwelling on our property is easier for them.

Danger level

Rats and mice survive year-long but can be dangerous in various ways. Not only do they eat away at your furniture, destroying your property, but they also share your food with you and thus share their diseases with you.

Their excrement is enough to make things contaminated, and they spread bacteria, disease-causing pathogens, and parasites to make people ill.

It’s easier to identify their colony from the rotten smell and their chew marks.

Since they chew away at anything, this includes electrical wires and pipes, which can cause major damage to your property.

Where to find them

You can most commonly find them in gardens, trash cans, compost areas, pet foods, and outside areas.

They can gnaw away at anything, so it’s easier for them to exist in your hard if it’s not maintained or kept clean, which then becomes an easy gateway to your house.

They tend to remain in dark and quiet areas, and their movements are quick to give them away. Outside they might live near hollow trees or any such cavity inside your home.

How to get rid of them

We have experts who can identify if rodents are dwelling and in which secret spots around your house. Contact us to get a free quote.

8. Spiders

This eight-legged creature is despised and feared by many, which is why it’s essential to remove its existence from your home. Common species which invade properties in Alabama include:

• Black widow spiders
• Brown widow spiders
• Wolf spiders
• Jumping spiders
• Cellar spiders

Danger level

Some species of spiders, such as black widow and brown widow spiders, are dangerous, and their venom is strong enough to create health issues. But then there’re other common household species too.

It’s normal for them to create their web in any place where their food, such as other insects, is available in plenty.

Where to find them

Though they prefer to stay outside, they mostly move inside when the temperature drops as their prey moves indoors.

Cellar spiders can be found living in basements and humid areas of a property.

How to get rid of them

We at Tabor Pest Control have experts who can identify which spiders are dwelling and in which secret spots around your house.

9. Stinging insects

Stinging insects have their stinger at the end of the abdomen or tail to get their prey or defend themselves.

Now they have some benefits, as they eliminate insects like mosquitoes and flies, but they are also dangerous.

Some of the species existing in Alabama include:

• Wasps
• Yellowjackets
• Bald-faced hornets
• Mud daubers

Danger level

Some species can be aggressive in nature and possess venom, which, when injected, is enough to cause serious allergic reactions. Their stings are pretty painful and cause damage on different levels.

Species like mud daubers might sting if they feel threatened, but wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets are aggressive and may sting multiple times regardless of that too multiple times.

Where to find them

If you have other insects living on your property, it will be an attractive point for stinging insects to build their homes for food purposes.

Properties with huge backyards and vast gardens are prone to insects living there for water and food.

Yellow jackets can be found in recycling bins, trash cans, and outdoor eating areas.

You can find scorpions seeking humid environments to thrive, so inside the home, they can be found in basements, bathrooms, laundry areas, sinks, and tubs.

Wasps, mud daubers, and bald-faced hornets can be found living in chimneys and wall voids.

How to get rid of them

We have experts who can identify which stinging insects are dwelling and in which secret spots around your house. Contact us to get a free quote.

10. Termites

How can we forget the biggest culprit behind destroying properties that all property owners fear more than anything?

Termites cause billions of dollars worth of damage each year in the country with their colonies.

They stay easily hidden inside the wood, and sometimes all that’s remained is a hollow piece of furniture.

Drywood termites and subterranean termites are famously found in Alabama, while southeastern drywood termite is found primarily in southern Alabama.

• The eastern subterranean termite comes in from February to May during the day.
• Formosan termite comes at night during late spring.
• The dark southeastern subterranean termite comes in between March and June during the day.
• The southeastern drywood termite comes at night during the spring season.

Danger level

Termites are a big issue in states like Alabama. Their colony eats away at your property from the inside, causing lots of damage; therefore, their elimination is quite popular amongst property owners.

Where to find them

Alabama’s humid and warm weather allows subterranean species to survive as they get the perfect temperature.

They live near the moist soil forming at the dead tree trunks and can easily follow into your house through the garden and backyard through soil tubes.

They can be found inside any wood or furniture you own, on the floors, or even behind walls. The subterranean species seek water-damaged or decaying wood but also ordinary pieces of wood.

How to get rid of them

We have experts who can identify which termite species dwell and which secret spots around your house. Contact us to get a free quote.

Common Pests in Southern Georgia

1. Ticks

There are 15 species of ticks existing in Georgia. The three species you could come in contact with are:

Blacklegged tick

• Blacklegged tick commonly lives in wooded areas. It feeds on various hosts, such as deer and humans. They are reddish-brown in color and are 1/8 of an inch in length.
• Mostly active in spring and fall seasons.
• Responsible for causing Lyme disease.

Lone star tick

• Least likely to be in contact with.
• About 1/8 of an inch in length and brown in color. Females have a white spot in the middle of their back.
• Most active from April till July.

American dog tick

• Live in wooded paths, parks, and farm pastures.
• Prefer to use dogs and humans as hosts.
• Reddish-brown in color with white and yellow markings. The males are about 1/8 of an inch long, and the females are a bit large.
• It can cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
• Most active in spring, summer, and fall.

2. Termites

Eastern subterranean termites are the ones you should look out for, and they live in large colonies and cause huge property destruction.

• The workers are creamy white in color and also blind.
• Soldiers are the same size but have elongated yellow heads and large jaws to protect the nest.
• Kings and queens are dark brown or black. They are pretty large and have two translucent wings, which usually are broken off and can be seen as a sign of termite infestation.

3. Stink bugs

• They are shaped as triangular with a shield on their back.
• Emit a foul smell.
• Less than 1 inch long and approximately 17mm.
• Generally brown or tan but can have coppery or bluish metallic patches on their heads and pronotum.
• It can be encountered during the fall or early spring.

4. Odorous house ants

• Common ants that invade properties in Georgia.
• About 1/8 inch long in length.
• When crushed, they give a rotten coconut smell.

5. Rats

Rats in Georgia can carry diseases such as murine typhus, leptospirosis, and salmonellosis. Chewing away electrical wires, pipes, and property damage is an added disadvantage.

6. Norway rats

• They are larger but with short tails than their body.
• They are 10-12 inches in length with a brown/gray color.
• They are commonly found in urban areas around the basements area.

7. Roof rats

• They are slightly smaller, and their tails are longer than their bodies.
• They are black in color and have lighter underbelly.
• They prefer warm and moist climates and so are hidden in attics.

Tags: Ants, Bed bugs, Cockroaches, Fleas, Mosquitoes, Moths, Rodents, Spiders, Termites, Ticks

Posted in Pest Identification | 3 Comments »

Protect Your Home & Health: The Advantages of Professional Pest Control

Posted on: February 22nd, 2023 6 Comments

While the fall breeze is a welcoming change for people in southeast Alabama, it increases the pests population like stink bugs, acorn weevils, ladybugs, boxelder bugs, and house spiders, making things worse for property owners.

At the same time, summer is most annoyingly famous for mosquitos, while Spring brings ticks, fleas, wasps, ants, and termites with it in southwest Georgia. 

Battling with such vast species of pests can be challenging on your own, for you must ensure they’re terminated while minimizing damage to your property. Tabor Pest Control has a professional staff with vast expertise and training on these pests to help you achieve just that.

What are the benefits of professional pest control services?

As a property owner, you try to keep things sanitized, ensuring no bugs enter your home or build a colony to destroy your property from within. But you can never be sure because they’ll get in there even through the tiniest cracks you’re unaware of.

For example, stink bugs are considered one of the most difficult pests to deal with, causing a big nuisance in Alabama as they like to cluster on the sunny side of homes for warmth. 

As weather changes and fall turns up, these annoying bugs would try to get inside your climate-controlled property and cause havoc by flying around once they’ve settled their colony. 

It is difficult to find the right time to apply preventive measures and look for signs of infestation before it can take place. Our team knows how these pests work and can keep you protected. 

Cost-effective solutions 

1. Prevention of property damage 

Pests can enter your home and damage your property, leading to radical restructuring if not taken care of within time. 

At Tabor, we know when and how to do an effective treatment to minimize considerable damage. We’ll ensure that your property faces minimum damage, so you don’t lose money.

2. Reduction of health risks

Pests can affect your or your family’s health in various ways, such as causing an allergic reaction, respiratory disease, and in general, affecting you mentally. 

A hired professional from Tabor can quickly identify which pest is causing a nuisance in your space and find effective ways to eliminate it.

3. Savings in the long run

Sometimes a whole colony of pests is eating up your home’s foundation without you knowing anything about it. While a one-time pest control service can solve these extreme cases, you must also consider a long-term plan.

Sometimes pests don’t go quickly, and pests might reoccur under certain weather conditions or depending on where your property is located. For such cases having a continual maintenance plan is necessary.

This would save you a lot of money in the long run. It’s difficult to predict the costs as it’s based on the kind of service you’re getting, the size of your property, and the location of your property.

✅ We at Tabor Pest Control understand the value of hard-earned money and quality of work, which is why we are dedicated to providing excellent personal service. If a customer is unsatisfied at any time, Tabor guarantees that its technicians will not return until the problem is solved. If not, Tabor refunds the last service payment plus 10%.

Access to expert knowledge 

1. Identification of pests

A mistake in identifying the kind of pest infesting your house can do more damage to your health and property. It would also lead to using the wrong treatment, which would also be a waste of money.

Tabor has cultivated its employees’ pest control expertise and has built its reputation on their service. 

All staff has completed extensive training programs through instruction that includes classroom, online, and hands-on continuing education.

As a result, employees are up-to-date on the latest techniques and products.

An in-depth knowledge about the species of pests helps early detect the kind of weed, insect, animal, microbe, or any other organism. This correct identification can help to quickly handle the situation and use the proper control treatment to eliminate them. 

2. Use of safe and effective treatments

When you identify the pest by yourself, you would just get the kind of treatment you think is right and spray it everywhere, which is a waste of money, resources, and the effectiveness of treatment.

With a professional, the benefit is that we have various ways to remedy the situation. While chemical treatment is one of them, we would try other treatments first.  

Knowing the kind of pest we need to attack in different ways will be used to eliminate its presence. We wouldn’t use unsafe products which could harm your children and pets. 

3. Implementation of preventive measures

Preventive measures include various things such as removing the pests’ food source, blocking their entry and exit, and using fewer pesticides or effective ways to utilize them when needed. 

A professional not only uses chemicals to kill the pests troubling you but also uses other preventive measures to do the job.

Convenience and flexibility

1. Scheduled inspections and treatments

When you get services from a professional at Tabor Pest Control, you can benefit from the scheduled inspections followed by treatments if necessary. 

At Tabor, our customized Home Protection Plan, offered as a monthly or quarterly service, provides that ongoing defense against many of the most common home-invading pests, such as roaches, wasps, rats, mice, ants, crickets, as well as other not-so-common pests

2. Minimal disruption to daily activities

In our day-to-day lives, we already have enough on our plate with responsibilities on both work and personal fronts.

Sometimes we get so busy that we forget to check or ensure our property isn’t infested with pests. But with a hired professional, you wouldn’t have to worry as they’re scheduled at specific times, causing minimal disruption to your daily activities.

When the inspections are scheduled, we won’t take a long time at each of these inspections and will be done with things quicker. It will bring you and your family peace of mind helping you not unnecessarily worry about what kinds of pests are lurking around your house. 

3. Availability of emergency services

Pests contain different organisms infecting your property, causing you and your family trouble.

At Tabor Pest Control, we offer our customers free emergency service visits. 

If you encounter pest problems between regular appointments, all you have to do is pick up the phone and call, and we will come right out at no extra cost. 

You just need to sit back and not worry about what kind of pest is infecting your house and which treatment would be effective because we will take care of it all. 

Pros and cons of DIY pest control 

In haste to get rid of pests and to be cost-effective, you try to google a few things and then buy a treatment plan to spray on the pests. 

While you think it’s helping you, you don’t realize that you’re doing more damage to your house with the slightest mistake of failing to recognize the correct pest species. 

Do-it-yourself pest control has its pros and cons before you decide to commit to it. Let’s take a look at some of those down below:

Pros of DIY pest control	Cons of DIY pest control
You can save money by buying all the treatment products and eliminating the infestation yourself.	You can quickly fail to recognize the pest and thus buy the wrong treatment products wasting your money.
You can buy the highest quality material leaving no room for doubt.	Sometimes you don’t even need chemical products to remove the infestation. Professional pest control services can provide other preventive measures to ensure your family’s safety.
You can spray where you think is the best place for infestation, avoiding areas where most of your family members stay.	You wouldn’t know the hidden places where the infestation is happening. Not wearing proper gear and poor handling can cause the infestation to spread to other parts of the house.

FAQs

When’s the best time to get professional pest control started?

It’s best to hire a professional pest control in early Spring. That’s when you can destroy the colonies and prevent nests from forming. It will last longer as summer is prime time for insects to multiply and form colonies on your property. 

How long does pest control usually take?

It depends majorly on the level of infestation your property is facing and the size of your property. The location is another important factor as some places easily get infested more often than others. 

The kind of treatment would be using pesticides depending on the pest, preventive measures, or a combination of both. 

Preventive measures usually take about 30 minutes, but extermination may need a full day. 

What is the best benefit of pest control services?

The best benefit undoubtedly has to be cost-effectiveness and minimizing damage to your property. By hiring professionals from Tabor Pest Control, you can trust us to know about different pests and how to best terminate them without causing damage to your property. 

In the long run, our services would save you a lot of money as compared to trying to DIY pest control. If not controlled or prevented within time, pests can cause considerable property damage.

What should I expect from Tabor’s professional pest control services?

We at Tabor Pest Control focus on the following:

1. We Inspect: We will inspect your home from top to bottom, inside and out, for current or potential pest problems.
2. We Design: We will conduct a thorough inspection and design our service to eliminate the pests invading your home in various seasons.
3. We Service: We will service your home with various products.
4. We Monitor: We will place monitors and traps strategically to catch pests.
5. We Report: We will report our findings at each service.
6. We Reservice: At your request, we will reservice your home to control the pest that is being a pest to you.

Tags: Mosquitoes, Pest Control Services, Stink Bugs

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