News & Updates from Fullscope Pest Control

Can You Tell the Difference Between Winged Termites and Winged Ants?

Spring is termite and swarming time, and when customers find them inside their homes on a beautiful spring day, Panic Happens.

But is a termite or just a carpenter ant?

We ran a poll on facebook to see if someone believed that they could tell the difference?

85% of surveyors believed they could tell the difference and would be comfortable assuming they had one over the other.   They considered themselves a “Bug Master”

15% make a strong statement in stating NO and that they would require identification from an expert.

But here is the funnier part, when asked the questions, “what are the key identifiers between winged termites and winged ants?”, only 2 % answered correctly.

Now to be real honest we polled a very small group of individuals and would love for anyone to leave a comment and answer our survey below.

With 30 years in the industry, we know alot because, we have seen a lot.  And most people will either not know, or will assume the wrong assumption of pests.  And for that reason alone calling a pest professional for a termite inspection is imperative.  Not just any pest professional make sure that they are knowledgeable about pest, can answer your questions intelligently.

Termite control is big business and proper identification could mean the difference between a couple of hundred dollars to over thousand.  Not to mention extensive damage if the pest is not properly identified. You also want a pest professional to spend quality time address any and all conducive conditions for termites, and carpenter ants.

We live in the perfect area in the world, great weather, beautiful trees and lots of moisture! But with all this lovely beauty comes all the pests, and termites are a common problem that should be addressed.

How to Become a Bug Master:

Key Identifiers when you are trying to determine if they are black flying ants or flying termites.

Winged Ants

• Antennae is elbowed
• Has a Narrow Waist
• Wings of unequal size

Winged Termites

• Straight Antennae
• Thick waist
• Wings are of equal size.

Termites need wood for consumption but carpenter ants only use wood to create galleries and do not ingest the wood.

Sometimes trying to save a few dollars can end up costing you much more when you do not know exactly what is lurking around inside your walls.  

Carpenter ants love moisture and are looking for damp rotting wood in your home, so eliminating and drying up those moisture problems can help prevent and eliminate them.

But do not assume that is it just water damage, proper inspection and identification is the key, and in the Kingwood, Humble, Porter, New Caney, Conroe areas, a yearly inspection can save you thousands in damage, and only cost $95.00.  Once it has been inspected, paying a termite renewal agreement to keep your inspection up today annually and treatment included, if something arises.

Carpenter Ants or Termites

Leading chemical manufacture Control Solutions Inc, Technical Service Manager explains in depth what we look for in carpenter ant identification.

Contact Us Today to Schedule a Termite Inspection

Termites

What do you do when you’ve found your dream home, but discover that it is crawling with termites?  

Termites damage $5 billion of property each year.  This price tag may seem daunting to someone looking at buying a house, but advances in pest control technology and the expertise of professionals should give any homeowner confidence in our industry’s ability to treat an infestation.  

In most states, lenders require that homes undergo a termite inspection prior to being sold.  If termite infestation or damage is found, it is the seller’s responsibility to address the infestation.  Interested buyers should question their home’s current owners about the history of termite damage, previous pest control treatments, and any current termite contracts.  

How difficult are termites to treat?

Recent consumer research suggests that over 70% of homeowners feel that professional pest control services are more effective than do it yourself treatments; however, this is not to say that some pests are not more difficult to treat than others, even for professionals.  

Termites are social insects meaning that they live in large groups and by the time homeowners notice termite damage there is typically a significant infestation.  However, the industry continues to invest time and money to develop new products and methods to treat these and all other pests. Our continuing education programs help to enhance current member knowledge about the most up to date treatment options.

Termites are just one pest and although they pose large property threats it is important to also remember how many other pests pose public health threats.  More and more consumers are turning to pest control professionals to help them treat this growing threat – a recent national survey found that consumers are more aware of pest-related diseases and the pests that transmit them then ever before.

How much does a termite treatment cost?

The cost of a termite treatment depends upon the extent of the infestation and damage making it difficult to generalize to a specific price.  Most companies will complete an initial inspection for free and depending on their findings will develop a comprehensive treatment program. Generally speaking, in a 1,500 square foot home costs associated with a liquid treatment can range from $800.00 to $1,800.00 and costs associated with a bait treatment can range from $650.00 to $1,500.00.  

What are the different types of termite treatments?

Currently, there are three types of treatments available for use by the professional: soil treatments, wood treatments and baits.

Soil treatments are liquid termiticides diluted with water to ensure adequate coverage in the soil. Injection of this system in the soil creates a treated area that repels or reduces the population of termites and envelops the structure with a long-term protection. This is the most commonly used system and may be used in combination with baits and/or wood treatment.

Wood treatments involve treating infested wood or potentially infested wood with liquids such as a traditional treatment or borate materials. This treatment type protects the wood from infestation and reduces or eliminates the infestation in the wood at the time of the treatment.

Baits are relatively new and involve installing bait stations in the ground. Termites then eat the bait and carry the active ingredient throughout the colony or area, thus reducing foraging, which in turn reduces the colony population. Baits are popular since there is no interior drilling, and they are less bother for the homeowner.

What is the most effective type of termite treatment?

The National Pest Management Association and the entire professional pest control industry are committed to providing highly effective treatment options for all pest issues.  The most effective type of treatment depends upon the specific infestation. A trained and licensed pest control operator can assess each infestation separately and recommend a rigorous treatment plan that will effectively control the termite population.

Why should someone hire a professional instead of attempting to control their pest problems by themselves?

Just as you wouldn’t prescribe medicine for yourself or drill your own cavities – you shouldn’t attempt to control health and property threatening pests on your own.  Professionals have the training, licensing and experience necessary to correctly identify pest species and determine the most important course of treatment. It isn’t worth risking your home or your health.

In a recent nationally representative survey of United States homeowners we found that 72% believe that professional pest control services are more effective than store bought home remedies – these homeowners are absolutely correct.  Most people who attempt to control pest problems by themselves spend more time and money than homeowners who hire a professional.

What questions should homeowners ask during a professional termite treatment?

Homeowners should find out specifics about the location and extent of termite damage.  They should ask for further information on the products and materials that will be applied in and around their home.  A federal law requires commercial applicators of “restricted use” products to be certified. The certification program is left up to the state. Homeowners can call the certifying state agencies for further information.  They should also be aware of the difference between a repair and a retreat contract which stipulates a company’s ultimate responsibility for the job.

Homeowners shouldn’t hesitate to question their pest control operators about other pests or related pest information.  PCOs are well-trained, educated and capable of discussing pests and pest-related public health and property threats. As consumers become increasing aware of and worried about the recent influx of pest-related public health threats they should feel free to contact NPMA or their local PCO to address any issues.

How long does termite treatment typically take?

Termite treatments range take less than a day depending on the location, extent of damage, and the products and materials used to treat the infestation.  

All professional pest control treatments require vigilant follow-up by the homeowner and pest control professional to ensure success.   With recent information suggesting an influx of pest-related public health threats, it is vital that homeowners remain in close contact with their PCOs during all treatments.  

What can a homeowner do to prevent termites?

The National Pest Management Association offers several tips to help homeowners prevent termite infestations:

• Since termites are attracted to moisture, avoid moisture accumulation near your home’s foundation. Divert water away with properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks.
• Reduce humidity in crawl spaces with proper ventilation or dehumidification. Prevent shrubs, vines and other vegetation from growing over and covering vents.
• Before and during construction, never bury wood scraps or waste lumber in the backfill, especially near the building. Be sure to remove old form boards, grade stakes, etc., left in place after the building was constructed. Remove old tree stumps and roots around and beneath the building. 
• Most importantly, eliminate any wood contact with the soil. An 18-inch gap between the soil and wood portions of the building is ideal.

Other Pests

Can pests other than termites damage property?

Absolutely, there are many pests that can cause significant damage to homes and to property.  Carpenter ants, carpenter bees and powder post beetles can all damage wood areas of homes and property.  Mice, rats, and other types of rodents and wildlife can contaminate food supply and chew through electrical wires and other important belongings.   

Professional Pest Control

What should a homeowner look for when selecting a PCO?

A recent national study found that over 50% of homeowners take the time to check the certifications of pest control companies before hiring them.  This is a great start when looking to select a PCO. You should make sure to do the following:

• Always deal with a qualified and licensed pest management company that is a member of national, state or local pest management associations.
• Ask friends and neighbors to recommend companies they have used successfully and how satisfied they were with the service. 
• Check prospective choices with the local Better Business Bureau for a reliability report or to see if complaints have been filed against the company you have in mind.
• If a sizable amount of money is involved, get bids from several pest management firms.
• Don’t rush a decision. Since you are paying for professional knowledge as well as skillful application of pesticides, look for someone whose judgment you can trust.
• Before signing a contract, be sure to fully understand the nature of the pest to be exterminated, the extent of the infestation, and the work necessary to solve the problem.
• Find out if the company has liability insurance to cover any damages to your house or furnishings during treatment.
• If a guarantee is given, know what it covers, how long it lasts, what you must do to keep it in force, and what kind of continuing prevention and management are necessary. 
• Buy value, not price. Beware of bargains that sound too good to be true

If you hire a PCO are you guaranteed a pest-free home?

Professional pest control companies differ in their guarantees regarding treatments. If a guarantee is given, know what it covers, how long it lasts, what you must do to keep it in force, and what kind of continuing prevention and management are necessary. 

It is important that homeowners remain active participants before, during and after all pest control treatments.   This type of vigilance helps the homeowner better understand their contract and possible guarantee, and better helps the PCO understand the homeowner’s expectations.  

What is wildlife exclusion?

Wildlife Exclusion is the practice of prevention, this may include multiple techniques, including sealing up entry points and habitat modification.

Habitat changes would include limiting food and water sources, or reducing harborage or shelter areas.

Not all wildlife should be treated equal, so it is important to rely on a local wildlife expert with industry expertise.

Steps would be taken to find the point of entry and determine the best, most effective removal methods and then the proper exclusion.

Wildlife experts will know the place to look and the questions to ask homeowners to determine best wildlife removal and exclusion methods.

Whether you have rats, or bats, in the attic or crawl space, calling on a professional in the wildlife industry is your best option. Simple steps can prevent extensive damage, cost and even health risk.

Exclusion treatments help prevent animal entry, so you do not have to deal with these issues down the road.

Wildlife Exclusion Services

Call FullScope Pest Control for your Local Wildlife Proofing and Exclusion needs.

Fastest response time, easy quotes and professional, knowledgeable team.

How much does it cost to remove animals from attic?

Wildlife removal from an attic can has different levels of cost, starting somewhere around $150.00 up to $450.00 depending on the severity and difficulty of the trapping. The best option is to call for an estimate of quote, simply call or request quote and the technician will be able to listen to your specific situation and give you a rough number on the cost.

Because wildlife control is a more specialized type of pest control service and requires a deeper knowledge of the behavior of the wildlife, such as squirrels, rats and racoons, if will cost a little more.

Trapping on the exterior of a home or garage is easier than having to trap animals that have taken up residence inside your attic or crawl space. You want a company that is professional and responsive to your needs. Quick response time is also important when you are looking for service provider in your area for wildlife control.

But in the end doing nothing will cost you more than the actual wildlife removal service. Because of the possible damage to electrical wiring, insulation and also health risk, waiting should not be an option.

We would always recommend after the wild life animal is removed that we provide some exclusion work to prevent this from happening again. Prevention is always the best policy.

How much does it cost to remove a squirrel?

When you figure out you have a squirrel in your attic or crawl space, you might be thinking about how much it will cost for someone to remove the squirrel.

Good questions, most of the time you should expect anywhere from $225.00 to possibly upwards of $600.00. The cost depends on the severity of the squirrel infestation and also the type of structure.

Most professional pest control companies that are licensed and bonded, will also provide wildlife exclusion to prevent any re-entry of the home of business. This includes sealing up the openings, suggestions on structural repairs and recommendations of vegetation removal.

Cost will also be determine by the expected number of return visits and the cleanup process needed to sanitize the infected area from animal feces and nesting materials.

You will want someone who is knowledgeable, professional and respectful of your time. The easiest way to get a more accurate cost on squirrel remove is to contact the service provider and speak directly with a professional pest expert, then can give you an estimate over the phone.

Having all the facts and information, will help the wildlife expert proceed with the most effective animal trapping method.

You can call us today for an estimate or quickly fill out the service quote at the top of the page.

What is wildlife control?

Wildlife control is basically the baiting, trapping and exclusion methods to keep unwanted guest out of your home or building. Certain seasons a home becomes the target of wildlife, whether they are looking for shelter from colder temperatures or a place to start their family. Rats, mice, squirrels, raccoons, opossums can wreck you attic and crawl spaces and even cause health issues.
Rodents and other animals are very skilled in gaining accesses to our homes and garages. With an endless array of food sources in neighborhoods, whether it is pet food, bird food, or stored items, we give them every reason to stick around.

Suburban life also lends quite well to these invading animals.

Checkout Wildlife Exclusion and Our Wildlife Exclusion Services

Wild animal Removal Services

Services We Provide:

• Residential Pest Control
• Rodent Control and animal Exclusion
• Bed Bug Elimination
• Commercial Pest Control
• Fire Ant Control
• Mosquito Misting Systems
• Mosquito Barrier Mist Spray
• German Roach Control
• Termite Inspections WDI Reports
• Termite Elimination

Pest Control Near You: Areas We Service:

Kingwood, Texas

Humble, Texas

Atascosita, Texas

Porter, Texas

New Caney, Texas

Conroe, Texas

Cleveland, Texas

Splendora, Texas

• Call to Schedule Your Wildlife Exclusion Service Today: 832-898-0190

Read the entire article on Kingwood.com about FullScope Pest Control, our services and about Derek's Family.

Couple of ways you might be inviting termites in your home

According to NPMA, here are three unexpected ways that homeowners can actually make their homes more appealing to termites:

1. Storing firewood too close to property: Many homeowners keep firewood stacked against their home or on the stoop for easy access. This is appealing to termites and can draw them toward a home and provide a point of entry. Instead, store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and five inches off the ground. Also, be careful of leaving stumps and dead trees in the yard. Rotting wood material can serve as termite fuel and eventually result in termites entering the home.
2. Clogged gutters: Cleaning the gutters is a necessary part of termite prevention. Termites love moisture and clogged gutters can cause water to pool and make insulation vulnerable to these wood-destroying pests.
3. Mulch: Mulch is frequently used near the home and against the foundation and can serve as a source of food for termites. It also retains moisture, which attracts these destructive pests. Minimize the usage of wood mulch and keep it at least 15 inches from the foundation.

“If you suspect you have a termite infestation, it is best to contact a licensed pest control expert as soon as possible to catch the damage before it gets worse,” added Salazar.  “We recommend homeowners also have a termite inspection done every year.”

Think you have a flea or tick problem?

Fleas and ticks are pretty common in the Houston, TX area and over the past couple of years have grown as a major pest concern for homeowner.  We not only want to keep our pets safe and happy, but there are health risk for humans.

Fleas are common parasites of cats and dogs and the adults are blood feeders, the flea will jump on your pet from indoors or outdoor exposure.  They can jump vertically up to 6 inches and will hitch onto the animal.

Fleas will spend most of their time on the blood source your pet, but the eggs of the flea can fall off onto your carpet or on furniture.  Where ever the pet rest, sleep and spend time are major areas of flea eggs and adults and those area should be treated by a professional as well as the pet.

Digested blood appears as small pepper specs, this is considered the feces.  It will only take about 24 hours for egg laying to occur and they can produce 40-50 per day.  Larvae will transform into pupae and in 1 to 4 weeks they remain in a cocoon until their are favorable conditions to turn into an adult flea.  

This is the main reason that empty home, quickly can have a flea infestation without there having been a pet.  Once vibrations and CO2 are present the pupae will quickly become hungry biting fleas.

Once fleas are identified it is recommended to quickly treat the home, and pet simultaneously.  Removing as much clutter from the floors, washing pet bedding, and thorough Vacuuming would be recommended.

Ticks in Your Home and Yard

The 9 legged blood sucker that can be found in our wooded areas, shrubs and yards.  We do not want to think about them, but because they can transmit diseases we need to pay special attention to our surroundings.

Ticks can be found in wood areas and can be carried back on your pet to then cause a problem, proper control methods and strategy should be employed to control ticks.  Treatment to the yard, pet and if necessary home should be performed by a knowledgeable professional.

Our pest professional can assist you in your flea and tick treatments.  Our professional designed protocols are proven to be effective in elimination.  We also offer preventative treatments for exterior control of fleas and ticks.

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY PETS FROM FLEAS AND TICKS

FullScope Pest Control offers simple ways pet owners can keep their animals safe from pests

The spring season is a time when all members of the family, including pets, wander outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and blossoming flowers. Unfortunately, it’s also prime pest season, which means pets are at risk of encountering hungry fleas and ticks that are in search of active hosts.

As such, FullScope Pest Control, a pest management company servicing Kingwood, Porter, New Caney, Atascocita, Humble, Conroe, Cleveland, Splendora, Texas, encourages pet owners to take precautions against these dangerous pests during the warmer months.

Fleas are more than just an itchy annoyance. Their saliva can cause anemia, dermatitis and can transfer tapeworms in pets.

Ticks can spread bacteria to pets and cause tick paralysis, which occurs when a female tick attaches near a pet’s spinal cord.

This condition can lead to muscle weakness, loss of coordination and in some cases, death from respiratory failure as chest muscles become paralyzed.

“In addition to the health threats posed by fleas and ticks, both pests are small in size and extremely mobile, making them difficult to detect and get rid of once inside the home,” said Derek Salazar, Owner at FullScope Pest Control. “It’s extremely important for pet owners to be cautious of these pests and contact a licensed pest professional if they suspect an infestation.”

The National Pest Management Association, a nonprofit organization committed to the protection of public health, food and property from household pests, offers these tips to keep pets pest-free:

• Check pets’ coats thoroughly for ticks and fleas on a regular basis, especially after spending time outdoors. Be aware of excessive scratching and licking.
• Avoid walking dogs in tall grass, where there is a greater chance of encountering ticks.
• Bathe pets after walks or playtime with other animals.
• Wash pet bedding, collars and plush toys frequently.
• Wash bed linens and vacuum carpets, floors and furniture regularly.
• Empty vacuum bags in an outside receptacle.
• Speak to a veterinarian about flea and tick prevention treatments.

For more information on pests, please visit FullScope Pest Control, Schedule Your Flea and Tick Extermination Today.

Call Today for a quote