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?

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Summer is coming and we know that you can not wait to enjoy the warm weather and time by the pool. Unfortunately, summer time is also the favorite season of lots of insects. Not only will you  be running into some of these pests when you go outside but they also may find their way into your home. That is why we have put together a list of the most common bugs you will see this summer and a few ways that you can help avoid them. 

1. Bed Bugs

Bed bugs can infest your home year round but infestations tend to increase during the summer. The main reason for this is people go on more vacations in the summer. Trips to hotels, Airbnbs and other infested rentals can bring bed bugs into your own home. Make sure to chose your vacation spot wisely. Avoid bringing these pests into your home by washing clothing and luggage as soon as you return home from your summer trip.

Removing bed bugs from your home can be extremely tricky as they can live in multiple rooms and pieces of furniture in your home. We recommend using a professional service to make sure that you are able to completely remove bed bugs from your home.

2. Fire Ants

Fire ants thrive in warm summer weather. Fire ants can really put a damper on summer activities when they live in your yard. Their painful bites are no fun and can become infected if you scratch them too much. The biggest giveaway of having fire ants in your yard is their large ant mounds. They are especially visible after heavy showers. While there are some DIY fire ant control products available in the grocery store they are usually not strong enough to rid your yard of these pests.

For more information on how fire ants can be identified and treated here.

3. Ticks

Ticks are disease ridden, blood-sucking parasites. These little bugs can find their way into your home on pets or children that have been playing in high grass or thick foliage. They may even be hanging out in your own backyard. Not only do ticks make painful bits but they also carry Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. They also carry diseases dangerous to your pets. 

The best way to keep ticks out of your yard during the summer is to maintain a clean cut yard. When you and your family spend time in your yard make sure to use a insect repellent containing DEET. Check yourself and your children for ticks after returning from playing outside. If you find a tick on your body it is important to remove it properly and safely. Using the correct steps is especially important because if you do not the tick can actually burrow into your skin! You definitely do not want that. 

4. Mosquitoes

We all know them and hate them, next up is mosquitoes. These biting insects carry all sorts of deadly diseases including West Nile, Zika and yellow fever (just to name a few). Mosquitoes can also carry deadly heartworms to your dogs. One of the best ways to keep your home and yard mosquito free is to remove any standing water. This may be found in buckets, bird baths, old tires or anything else that may hold water. Similar to with ticks, make sure to wear insect repellent that contains DEET. 

5. Termites

Termites are one of the most destructive pests around. They are known to cause billions of dollars of property damage a year. There are about four different types of termites that are known to cause damage to homes in the US (though over 4,000 known species worldwide).Most home insurances do not cover termite damage. Termites swarm mostly during the warm months of the summer. It is extremely important to get professional help as soon as you notice termites in your home so you can avoid thousands of dollars of damage in your own home. If you notice winged termite or even left over wings it is likely that you have a termite infestation. 

6. Roaches

No one likes roaches. They are dirty, kind of scary and carry all sorts of diseases. While roaches may invade your home year round they tend to become more prominent in the summer.American cockroaches love heat and humidity. Heavy rain can push roaches into your home. One of the easiest ways to reduce the roaches in your home is to keep a tidy kitchen. Cockroaches love left overs on dishes and open trash cans. If you think you may have cockroaches inspect areas around fridges, kitchen appliances, your bathrooms and dark cabinets. Once again, one of the best ways to remove roaches from your home is doing a deep clean and sanitation of your kitchen and bathrooms. 

Protect yourself from summer pests by keeping your home and yard clean. Seal any cracks or openings you find around your home to avoid giving bugs easy access into your home. If you still have pest problems and are located in the North Houston area (Kingwood, Porter, Atascosita, Cleveland, New Caney, Humble, Texas) reach out to us at FullScope Pest Control to help with all your pest needs. 

FullScope Pest Control shares red flags that could indicate the presence of a termite infestation

Houston, TX– This year, FullScope Pest Control and the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) are working to spread public awareness about termites during Termite Awareness Week, March 8-14, 2020. With spring on the horizon, termites will begin swarming and could seek out your home for their new nesting space. Because the damage from a termite infestation can easily go unnoticed, FullScope Pest is educating homeowners on the top five signs that signal their home is infested. 

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House Fly Facts

So what is a house fly, well they are the most common fly and they are found in and around homes, restaurants, businesses and no one is immune.  Not only annoying, but can cause potential health risk because of their ability to transmit diseases.  The house fly has a very short life span, but are very effective at reproduction and so identification and control needs to be addressed quickly.  Here are the facts about the house flies and why you should be concerned.

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The whiny sound a mosquito makes in your ear can leave you perturbed. However, this feeling is almost always temporary and is, in comparison, nothing like the itch that follows after a bite from a mosquito. Why do mosquito bites itch and leave victims in so much discomfort? How long does a mosquito bite itch last? The more pressing question is, what can be done to stop mosquito bites from itching? 

Mosquito Bites and Why They Itch?             

When the saliva from a mosquito’s bite enters the body of a human being, the victim’s immune system treats it as a foreign substance. This triggers the immune system to release histamine to fight the foreign substance or infection. Histamine directs white blood cells and increased blood flow to the infection site, resulting in inflammation. This increased swelling and nerves in the neighboring membranes cause the mosquito bite to itch.

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How to Mosquito Proof Your Pool

Everyone would jump at an opportunity to escape the scorching heat of summer – however briefly. For many, there is no better way to do this than taking a dip in a swimming pool. It doesn’t matter the occasion, people from all age groups take a dip to beat the heat. One common and despised problem with pools is, mosquitoes are fond of congregating around them. This is why people continue to seek out remedies to help prevent mosquitoes from turning their leisurely swims into swat fests.  So how do you mosquito proof your pool?

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