What about TERMITE BAITS?
Termite baits have been available to pest control companies for about 15 years. We had the opportunity to field test two brands of termite baits. In one test, we worked directly with the chemical company, in the other, we worked with the university doing the research.
It became apparent to us that the bait technology was not performing as advertised. So we waited to get more technical information. As the years progressed and the bait producers made claims of dramatic progress in that technology, it became more evident that only the marketing of the baits made great advances. The bait was and is still a hit or miss approach to controlling termites. If the termite can’t find the bait and eat it, control will not occur.
We are seeing many home owners who bought bait, cancel that service because the baiting company was not inspecting the house and was missing the active termites. We see abandoned bait stations around houses on a regular basis.
Many of our competitors have made lots of money selling termite bait, often selling it in addition to a liquid treatment. The fact is, the new liquid treatments, Termidor and Premise, will control the termites faster and more economically than baits.
A BETTER MOUSE TRAP
Updated: October 2, 2009 at 11:00 am
No, there isn’t a better mouse or, for that matter, rat trap. Rodents in general have been dodging humans for thousands of years, aptly being able to co-inhabit the same space , and at the same time taking advantage of you at every turn, eating your food and living in your homes. Besides being a hungry uninvited guest, they also spread disease and filth. The bottom line is, you don’t want them anywhere near your family. With the aftermath of Katrina, rodents, especially rats, have made a stand for your territory. Sewer rats were forced out of the sewer and subsurface drain systems and into your gardens and under your house slabs. Roof rats were forced out of trees and shrubs and into your attics.
There are numerous ways to dissuade these pests, but it takes some thought and real effort on your part.
Here are things for you to do around your house that will help:
1) Don’t leave pet food out for more than a couple of hours.
2) Store pet food in a metal container like a new garbage can.
3) Keep your refuse in a closed container, don’t leave the lid off.
4) Keep your grass cut weekly.
5) Don’t leave building material / debris laying around. Get rid of it within a couple of days.
6) Cut trees back away from the house, especially limbs overhanging the roof.
7) Make sure that holes in the house are patched. Pay attention to openings where pipes pass through outside walls. Don’t plug up the brick weep holes, the house needs to ventilate. Use hardware cloth in the weep holes, if you think critters are passing through.
8) Make sure roof vents are screened.
9) Don’t leave food out overnight in the kitchen.
10) Use poisons according to label directions, don’t let children and pets have access to it.
And finally
11) Use poisons according to label directions, don’t let children and pets have access to it !!!!!!!!
Submitted by
JOE AZZARELLO
Board Certified Entomologist
Dial One Franklynn Pest Control