Last week I re-visited the Odorous House Ants because it is the most active pest right now. We are actually getting calls now for all three types of ants we deal with here in the Valley. They are the Odorous House Ant (OHA), Pavement Ant & Carpenter Ant.

One thing I forgot to mention, which applies to all three Ants is please don' t spray the trails of Ants with an insecticide. Even though the spray you have says that it controls Ants, it will probably make it more difficult for a professional to solve you pest problem.

If you have a trail and have to do something before a we are able to get out to you, please just wipe up the Ants with a wet paper towel and flush them away - Thank you

Since we're deep into winter, it's a good time to talk about a pest that shows up this time of year. It's the Odorous House Ant. You might be thinking, Ants in winter? Yes, and if you're seeing Ants this time of year,  it's usually the Odorous House Ant (OHA). 

In winter, this small black Ant will move it’s nest into exterior walls of buildings. Their nests can be found around plumbing where hot water pipes emit warmth. Like most pests, winter also decreases the OHA's food sources, so whether they are being drawn inside for warmth, or managing its dwindling food sources, the Odorous House Ant will find its way into places like bath and kitchen walls.

When winter's in full swing, and you’re seeing little black Ants near plumbed areas of your home, or running on countertops near faucets, you're most likely being visited by Odorous House Ants.  

Regrettably, OHA's are a difficult pest to eliminate. You'll probably need professional help. Non-specific insecticides don't work and store-bought products won't eliminate this pest. Many of our customers have called us after trying these products.

If you're finding ants in your home or building this time of year, give us a call. We can quickly identify them and get rid of your pest..

Phil

For my final posting of 2014, l want to take this opportunity to  say Thanks.

Thank you to a great staff - Brent, Bruce, Janette & Ryan. You make my job easy.

Thank you to great customers. We appreciate you choosing our company for your pest control needs.

Thanks to Idaho - I appreciate that our state is so business friendly.

I hope 2014 has been a good year for you. My best to you this holiday season, and together, we'll look forward to the good things of 2015.

 Phil Coulson

With each season change here in the Treasure Valley, the pest problems change too.  We’re just finishing up with the fall Spider calls and without pause, the mouse calls have begun.

From all indications so far, mouse calls will be high this year. With colder air coming, mice will be looking for warmer places to nest.

Here are some helpful hints for you to consider for reducing mouse activity in and around your home.

1) Inspect the exterior foundation of your home. You want to look for any entrances, like holes or small spaces.  A mouse can enter through much smaller openings than most people consider so here's a good rule-of-thumb:  if a #2 pencil can fit through the hole or space,  so can a mouse. If you find any openings, seal them up. I don’t recommend using expanda-foam, since mice easily chew through the foam. We suggest using Copper Mesh or steel wool. 

2) Check exterior doors--especially the garage door---for access points.  Install weather stripping or door sweeps to block entrances.

3) Since Mice feel more comfortable in an environment where they can move from place to place hidden from their predators, it helps to reduce debris around the perimeter of your house.

Those are a few of the most common tips for blocking mice from entering your home. 

As always, if you have any questions or need our services to help you with mice or any pest problem, give us a call.  We're here to help. 

Thanks to all our great customers!

Phil