Eek! There’s an Earwig

The earwig is an insect that gets its name from an old wife’s tale of crawling into people’s ears. However, these bugs are nothing to fear!

These insects are a common household pest, but they can cause damage if not handled properly.

Environmental Pest Management can help protect your home from unwanted pests, including the common earwig. Reach out for a free quote today.

Read on to learn about earwigs and how to prevent this common household and garden pest!

What Exactly is an Earwig?

An earwig is commonly referred to as the “pincer bug” or “pincher bug” because of the pincers on their abdomen’s back. Earwigs use the pincers for defense against other earwigs.

These are harmless insects with a negative reputation. Many people are frightened of them because of their pincers, but they do not harm humans.

Pincer bugs produce a pheromone (scent) that they use to attract others of their kind. Many scientists believe this is the reason earwigs live in clusters or large numbers.

They are an insect with multiple species. There are over 20 different earwig species in the United States.

They live on every continent of the world, except for Antarctica.

These insects are nocturnal. They prefer cool, damp areas and are outdoor insects.

They cannot fly, scurrying where they need to go on their six legs. By the end of their life cycle, they may be around ½ inch to 1 inch long.

These bugs are scavengers and look to protect their self-interests. They thrive on a healthy food supply and a safe, protective environment.

Earwigs love plant life, so they are known to wreak havoc in gardens.

Their common preferred foods include:

Apricots
Vegetables
Plants
Flowers
Dead leaves

They are also known to feed on mites, insect eggs, and other dead insects. You can find them under rocks, woodpiles, or in piles of leaves.

They prefer the outdoors but can make their way inside via trash bags or through foundation cracks in the home.

Whether in the garden or through seeking shelter in your home, pincher bugs can be a nuisance.

How Can You Prevent Pincer Bugs?

There are a few steps you can take to prevent earwigs from getting into your home:

Fill All House Cracks and Holes

Be sure to check the foundation around your home, especially near entrances and doors. Caulk any cracks and holes as pincher bugs use small crevices to make an entrance.

Protect Your Windows

Always use a screen on your windows for protection. Make sure to cover any holes in window screens to protect the entrance of bugs.

Remove Piles of Ruffage

Pincer bugs prefer environments that offer food and protection.

To control earwigs, remove their source of supply. Remove piles of leaves, stone, and old wood that create a safe environment for earwigs.

Move Vegetation Away From the Home

Keep mulch, dead leaves, or vegetation away from the home’s foundation. They are ideal food sources for these pests.

Keeping plant debris away from the house will decrease the likelihood of entering through your doors and windows.

Fix Leaky Drains and Pipes

Because these insects love cool, moist environments, look for any leaking pipes or drains in your home. Make sure you fix any leaks if you find drippage to ensure earwig control.

Clean Gutters

Always clean your gutters and drain pipes. If backed up, they will create wet spots near the home that may attract earwigs.

Trim Your Trees and Bushes

Keeping your trees and bushes trimmed can prevent excessive shade and damp areas. Regular trimming will help to keep earwigs away!

Sometimes you do everything right, but you end up with an earwig infestation. Here is what you can do if that happens to you.

How Do I Get Rid of Earwigs?

There are a few solutions if you end up with an earwig infestation. Though harmless, they are unattractive intruders whom you do not want to visit for long!

Use Dish Soap and Water

Mix dish soap and water to spray areas where earwigs may be entering the home. This earwig control method works well in the garden and outside the house but is not efficient for indoor use.

Boric Acid Powder

Boric acid is a naturally occurring compound that can be very effective at killing earwigs. It is non-toxic but can be irritating if it gets in your eyes or mouth.

Apply treatment to areas where insects may be entering or living to remove the critters effectively.

Rubbing Alcohol and Water

You can make a mix of rubbing alcohol and water to use when you see an earwig. Spray onsite to kill the insects immediately.

Vacuuming

Vacuum any earwigs you find in your home or garden.

After vacuuming, make sure to dispose of the vacuum bag or empty it into soapy water. You want to make sure to destroy any eggs you may have managed to catch.

Light Traps

Earwigs are attracted to bright light. To attract these little bugs, place a light source by a dish-soap-and-water trap or a boric acid trap.

Earwig Pesticide

Pesticides can cover areas where you have found the critters.

Effective pesticides include Sevin, malathion, pyrethrins, and diatomaceous earth. Several of these products can be used both indoors and outdoors.

For Real Results, You Need and Exterminator

Have you tried to remove a large infestation on your own, but they keep coming back? In this case, it is best to contact an exterminator.

Professionals can evaluate the infestation to determine the best course of action. Understand it may take some time or several treatments to fully rid of the problem.

With persistence and effort, exterminators are very successful at removing these pests for good from your home!

Environmental Pest Management Will Team With You Against Pests!

Whether you have earwigs, mice, bats, ants, or any other pest, Environmental Pest Management can free your home from chaos. We work with homeowners, business owners, and apartment complexes to keep them free of infestations.

Protect your home from unwanted intruders. Contact us today for more information or a free consultation.

November 24, 2020January 23, 2024

Flea Bites: Identifying and Managing Unwanted Pests

Flea Bites: Identifying and Managing Unwanted Pests

Nothing puts a damper on summer fun like insect bites. But if you’re still getting itchy red bumps after going indoors, you may be dealing with flea bites.

Fleas like to hitch a ride on furry pets. When your dog lies in the yard, he’s an easy target. After your pet comes inside, you’re an easy target, too.

If you need help debugging your home, contact Environmental Pest Management today. Our pest control experts will provide a solution that works for you. Get your free quote today.

The Basics About Fleas

Fleas are parasites that hop onto any warm-blooded host available. Their strong claws make them difficult to dislodge. Hair or fur can make them difficult to spot.

Fleas have strong hind legs that give them the ability to jump about 12 inches vertically. Bites on your lower legs and feet are often caused by fleas.

Fleas reproduce by laying eggs. Eggs can take anywhere from 2 days to two weeks to hatch.

After hatching, flea larvae grow in dark, humid environments. The dark and humidity under a carpet is a perfect habitat for them.

After another 1-2 weeks, the flea larva spins itself into a cocoon. It emerges as an adult about four days later.

The adult flea lives about 2-3 months and may lay about 5000 eggs in that time. An adult flea can bite and feed up to 400 times a day.

How Do I Know If I Have Flea Bites?

Fleas are tiny – about the size of the tip of a pencil. They are small enough that you might not notice them if you aren’t looking for them.

Fleas can’t fly, but they jump. This little bug packs a big bite. A flea will continue to bite until it is gorged and leave a raised, itchy welt.

Take a good look at your pet. Brush his fur and look for small, black dots.

Unlike other bug bites, flea bites are likely to occur on your lower legs and feet. A series of red bumps may be the outcome of walking through a flea-infested area.

Scratching the bite may cause increased itching. Treat bites with an itch cream containing hydrocortisone. Many creams are available without a prescription.

Though uncommon, flea bites cause an allergic reaction in some people. Symptoms range from hives to difficulty breathing. If you have severe itching, swelling, or shortness of breath, seek medical attention.

Flea bites can last up to three weeks but normally disappear within several days if you refrain from scratching them.

Fleas can transmit diseases, including plague, tapeworms, and typhus, but this is very unusual. It is more likely that scratching those itchy red spots will break the skin, resulting in an infection.

What Do I Do If I Have Fleas?

If your home is infected, there are steps you can take to get rid of fleas:

1.Treat your pet and your home at the same time. Bug control requires a blitz attack. If you treat Rover this weekend but don’t vacuum until next weekend, bugs will re-infest in short order. Treat your pet with a flea shampoo, and follow up with preventive treatment. Talk to your veterinarian about the best product for your pet.

2. Vacuum. Do the floors, the furniture, the baseboards, and any other small areas of your home that fleas or their larvae could be tucked into. Take your vacuum outside to empty it.

3. Steam clean the carpets.

4. Wash all the bedding in hot water, including your pet beds and blankets. Dry them at the highest setting the items can handle.

5. Apply an insecticide that kills both adult fleas and eggs. Wear gloves and a face mask, and leave the area until the spray dries.

6. Vacuum again to get any remaining fleas or eggs.

Keep in mind that flea larvae may be dormant for weeks or months, waiting until the temperature is ideal. If you miss any eggs, you could be starting this process again soon.

Fleas In Your Yard

If you’ve just eliminated fleas from your home, you don’t want your pet to carry fleas right back in. Don’t wait to discover another round of flea bites. Take action to keep fleas out of your yard.

Fleas prefer shady, humid spaces. Your pet might also consider that shady spot a good place to relax and nap.

If Fido has fleas, and he likes to lie under the elm tree, odds are you will find fleas living under that tree.

Take these steps to reduce insect bites in your yard and new infestations in your home:

Mow the grass. Fleas like to hide in tall grass. Grass that is less than 2 inches tall deters their natural predators, so aim for 3-4 inches.
Clean out any areas of damp leaves or other debris. Fleas love to hide and lay eggs in these deposits.
Don’t overwater your yard. Fleas love soggy ground and compost.
Apply a flea killing treatment. There are several sprays and pellets on the market.

If you’re uncomfortable using an insecticide, a natural alternative is to release the fleas’ natural predators into the environment. Nematodes can be purchased at your local garden store. These tiny organisms live in soil and help control many garden insects.

Add cedar mulch around plants and in shady areas. Cedar is a natural flea deterrent.

Once your flea infestation is under control, apply a preventive treatment o a regular basis to keep them from coming back.

Consider Professional Help

Flea control requires a targeted approach.

Be flea-free without tearing your hair out (or shaving your pet’s hair off.) Contact Environmental Pest Management today. We’ll provide a solution that takes the stress off. Get your free quote today.

November 11, 2020January 23, 2024

Why You Need to Get Rid of Mice in Your Air Vents

Have you heard the sound of little rodent feet in your ductwork at night? If you have mice in your air vents, don’t wait another night to tackle the problem.

Maybe there have been telltale mouse droppings in the corners of the kitchen. You may have even witnessed the tiny creature running across the room and into a sneaky hiding place.

You are aware there is a mouse in the house. When there is one, there are more, making a home often in your HVAC system.

Homeowners often find mice in air vents because it is a dark space where they can hide and keep warm. A mouse in your ductwork has access to your whole house.

If you have a mouse infestation, it is time to call in the experts. Environmental Pest Management offers residential, commercial, and multi-family pest control management.

Our goal is to solve your problem safely, for the long-term, and at a reasonable price. Contact us today for a free estimate.

Please continue reading for our reasons why you need to get rid of mice in your air vents.

The Dangers of a Mouse Infestation in Your Air Vents

The two reasons mice are a danger are disease and damage.

Disease

Mice are in the mammal family of rodents. There are over 2,200 different types of rodents found in the family.

Altogether, these rodents make up 40% of all mammals. Besides mice, other animals in the family include squirrels, rats, chipmunks, and prairie dogs.

Unfortunately, rodents carry 35 different diseases for which humans are susceptible. Fleas or ticks can transmit diseases to humans and other mammals, including pets.

Mice droppings (both urine and feces) can be quite toxic to humans and full of harmful bacteria.

If you have a mouse infestation, you must be careful about how you eliminate the infestation. Pest control companies are recommended because the dust in mouse nests in air vents can be hazardous to breathe.

Not only can mice make you sick, but they can cause damage to your home.

Damage

Mice are notorious for causing physical damage to homes and businesses. Mice easily chew through the siding and building materials to get into your home.

Mice can even chew through electrical lines, which can ignite a fire in your home.

Additionally, mice can chew holes in furniture, wood, or cabinets. Mice can be anywhere there is food, and you may identify their presence when you find holes in food containers.

Mice need to “gnaw” to keep their teeth in a serviceable condition. You can imagine the damage several mice can create in a heating system.

If mice have found a home in your ducts, it is essential to call a professional to have them removed.

How to Get Rid of Mice in Your Air Vents

Professional pest management companies identify where mice nest in air vents. The professionals will also find favorite feeding grounds.

By eliminating food sources and exterminating nests, the mice will not be able to maintain life in the home. Pest control experts will eliminate the mice and properly clean the infestation area.

Proper clean up is important to reduce the risk of allergies, illness, and future mice in your air vents.

Once successfully eliminated, you’ll likely want to assess your air ducts’ damage and clean the air ducts.

Finally, you may want to install stainless steel mesh vent covers to keep mice out in the future. Pest control professionals can make recommendations on the best hardware to use to keep mice away, moving forward.

How Air Infiltration Can Affect the Spread of COVID

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a clean and well-maintained HVAC system can reduce the spread of COVID-19. The rate of air change is increased, reducing the recirculation of air, and increasing the introduction of outdoor air.

Have HVAC systems regularly inspected, maintained, and cleaned. Keeping the vents clean and functioning can help reduce the spread of other viruses in the home or office space.

Obviously, with a mouse infestation, the heating and cooling system is unable to work as intended. Rather than providing the environment with clean, circulated air it becomes clogged and can spread allergens and disease from rodents.

Once a pest control company successfully eliminates the mice from your ducts, you will want to have them inspected regularly. Even with the installation of barriers, mice can be drawn back to places they’ve previously been.

Steps You Can Take To Keep Mice Away

There are a few suggestions you can do to keep mice out of your home:

Clean your home or workspace
Keep food in thick or metal containers with tight lids
Clean up spills immediately
Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink
Use a thick plastic or metal garbage can
Keep compost bins far from the home
Never leave pet food out overnight

Take these steps after a reputable pest control company has removed the mice. You will find greater success with keeping the intruders away for good.

Call in The Best To Eliminate Mice in Your Air Vents

You want to ensure the mice are removed safely and will not return. Environmental Pest Management will eliminate the rodents and help you identify the source, so they don’t return in the future.

At Environmental Pest Management, we address the what, why, how, and when to find a solution for your pest concerns.

We use what is called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is a practical and environmentally sensitive approach that relies on common-sense practices.

IPM programs use current and comprehensive information on pests’ life cycles, including how they interact with their environment.

Through the use of IPM, we can manage the intruders ethically and economically.

Contact us today to book your free pest inspection. We will work to eliminate the mice so you can breathe in healthy air!

September 30, 2020February 28, 2023

What To Do If You Have Bats In Your House

a Little Brown Bat in the hand of a pest control worker

You catch something out the corner of your eye. Did you imagine it? Then you hear the flutter. Your heart flutters along with it as you realize there is a bat in your home.

Do not panic. Reach out to Environmental Pest Management for a free quote today.

Your first step is to determine if it is a single bat led astray or more than that. The two situations are dealt with very differently.

Single Bat

Again, do not panic. You can do this!

The bat is most likely lost and is frightened itself. According to The Humane Society of the United States, there are things you should and should not do when it comes to bats.

The bat will generally fly until it finds a perching place. They like to stay close to the ceiling and fly in a U pattern. Curtain rods and pants are a favorite, as they can hang on them.

Get all the children and pets out of the room and close off any interior door. Open all windows and outside access—windows, doors, and skylights. Hopefully, the bat will exit by itself.

If the bat is still there, wait until it lands before trying the next steps.

Put on suitable work gloves—not knit, as the bat claws can latch on to those. If you do not have any, roll up a t-shirt. Bats usually will not get into your hair, but a reasonable precaution.

Never use bare hands when handling a bat. If you are worried about your hair, pull it back or put on a hat. Bats usually will not get into your hair, but a reasonable precaution.

Find the bat in it’s landing spot. Have a plastic tub or a container and piece of cardboard ready. Cover the bat with your container and carefully slide a piece of cardboard under, covering the entire box.

Your bat is now trapped safely! You did it!

Next, you want to go near a tree and tilt the container and let the bat climb onto the trunk. Bats can not fly from the ground, so do not release them in your yard.

If you do have contact on your skin from a bat or wake up and see a bat, contact your doctor. Some bats may carry rabies, just like any mammal. While rabies is always fatal in humans, it is also 100% preventable with proper treatment.

Bats, Bats, and More Bats

What if you find evidence of more than one lost bat? Contact an expert. Free quotes are available at Environmental Pest Management, serving Minnesota in the Twin Cities metro area and surrounding suburbs, Rochester, East Central Minnesota, and several counties in Western Wisconsin (see below for a complete county list).

Minnesota and Wisconsin bats are generally one of two species: the Big Brown Bat or the Little Brown Bat.

Bats use open spots to get into your homes, such as attic spaces, wall cracks, and soffit/fascia areas.

Bats are looking for a place for their winter hibernation and a place where they want to breed and socialize. Bats have a choice when colder weather arrives: hibernate or migrate to a warmer climate with an available food supply.

Bats are mammals but not flying rodents. Their teeth are made for eating insects and will not damage structures or wood.

The goal is to get the bats out, without harm. Bats are a vital part of our environment. Bats eat insects, pollinate, spread seeds, and are the prey of other animals, as shared by the National Park Service.

Getting bats to join other colonies is the best outcome. There are times of the year when bat removal is not possible, such as when bats are in hibernation (they would get sealed into your house, which no one wants) and after birth, while the babies are still flightless.

Inspection of your home or business will determine the course of action. You want to rid your place of bats and prevent any future problems. Bat removal is a job for professionals who have the proper equipment.

More Information on Bats

As stated, bats are significant for insect control. They consume insects every night. National Park Service tells us more than $3.7 billion worth of pest control in the United States is saved by bats annually.

Bats help control the insect population, and other animals rely on bats for their survival. “Hawks, falcons, and owls eat bats, and mammals like weasels, ringtail cats, and raccoons sometimes attack bats while they roost,” according to the National Park Services.

Bats often are thought of blind. This statement is false, as bats have decent eyesight. The larger fruit-eating bats can see three times better than humans.

Echolocation is used for bats to “see” obstacles and hunt prey in low light, such as their prime times of dawn and dusk. Bats are curious about new objects and will fly close to check it out.

Do bats really drink blood? Yes, vampire bats do exist and drink blood from other animals. But do not worry, vampire bats live in Latin America.

With over 1,300 species of bats worldwide, bats are the most diverse mammal group other than rodents.

In warmer weather, bats seek out water, such as streams, lakes, and ponds. Bats do not like the sun or heat, and that is why you see them hanging from underneath a tree or in caves. Hiding also protects bats from their predators.

Why Environmental Pest Management

Environmental Pest Management is a company you can trust. It provides a free inspection for your bat problem, takes care of the bats in an environmentally safe way, members of professional associations, and a guarantee of satisfaction.

Wherever you live throughout Minnesota or Wisconsin, Environmental Pest Management is here for you. We know you work hard on keeping your home just how you like it, that does not include unwanted pests.

If you have any uninvited roomates you want removed, call us. We will come to your home, create a plan for you, and give you a free quote. No two homes or situations are the same, so no two plans are alike.

Call us today.

September 25, 2020January 22, 2024

Dealing With Clothing Moths

a moth on a pink, knit piece of clothing

When thinking of old clothes in closets, garment bags, plastic dry cleaning bags, and moth-balls often come to mind. The clothes kept are often victim to clothing moths over time if not monitored.

If you are dealing with clothing moths and seek relief, reach out to Environmental Pest Management for a free quote today.

If you want to take back your closet and protect your favorite clothing from destruction, we have your back. Read on for our tips on dealing with clothing moths.

Small Powerful and Mighty

The name clothing moth is quite deceptive. Webbing and Casemaking Clothing Moths also feast on items containing the protein keratin. Examples of these items are but are not limited to:

Upholstered furniture and drapes
Items made of animal byproducts such as fur, silk, leather, or wool.
Dirty clothing (contains body oils, possible food debris, etc.)

Clothing moths differ from their brethren you see around street lamps or sometimes in pantries. While they are related, their appearance and behavior vary greatly.

These moths that don’t feed on clothes are greater than a centimeter long, and will often feed on plants. A fun fact about most moths is that they are bald: a detail that one would only notice with a microscope in most cases.

A great rule of thumb if you see a moth is that if it is over a centimeter long, it is not a clothing moth.

There are two types of clothing moths: Casemaking Clothes Moths (Tinea Pellionella) and Webbing Clothes Moths (Tineola Bisselliela). Unlike their traditional moth counterparts, they are just one centimeter long and are yellow or greyish.

Being just one centimeter long makes these moths particularly hard to distinguish from one another. Webbing Clothing Moths are uniform in color. Casemaking Clothing Moths, on the other hand, are of the same color, but their wings are often speckled.

Traits that both moths share are the tufts of hair on their heads as well as their size. The next feature is what sets these fabric munchers apart from their larger outdoor counterparts. Neither species of clothing moths have mouths once they are grown.

You read correctly, and they have no mouths. So how these moths can eat clothing and fabric is the mystery here. The actual adult clothing moth does not eat fabric; their larvae do.

Hungry at Birth

Clothing moths of either species lay their eggs on clothing so that they have food when they hatch. According to an article written in the New York Times, the eggs are held to the fabric by an adhesive layer covering them.

Other cloth eating insects like the Carpet Beetle will not have this layer, making them easy to dispose of with a vacuum and vigilance. The concrete coating makes them impervious to vacuuming or dusting.

Once they are born, they feed on whatever clothing they are attached to. Among clothing moths, favorite foods are animal originated fibers, feathers, mohair, wool, and fur. They also prefer clothing that has lingering body oils or food even.

Unfortunately, though, the eggs are not typically seen until they have hatched. Their larvae leave a web that resembles dried snot. This web is a trait of both species of Clothing Moths.

A Bug’s Life

Both the Webbing and Casemasking Clothes moths go through complete metamorphosis. That is, there are four stages to their short lives; egg, larvae, pupa, and adult.

When eggs are laid by either Clothing moth species, the gestation period is four to ten days. This time frame can change drastically, depending on the temperature they are laid in. In the winter, they can take several weeks to hatch.

Casemaking moths will attach themselves to their food source with a silk thread and hang from it. Webbing moths will make cocoons out of silk where the larvae will feed. These cocoons are a definite sign of infestation.

Their development will take one to three months, depending on temperature and availability of food.

Once an adult, males immediately begin to mate as much as possible. They will only live for about a month. Their female counterparts live just as long and will lay as many as 300 eggs before dying.

In the event that larvae and eggs are found on clothing, a great DIY option is brushing the larvae off the garment outside in the sunshine. You can also take the step of dry cleaning items not damaged.

Preventing Clothes Moths and Protecting Your Closet

As with any pests large or small, prevention is the key to avoid infestation. However, prevention isn’t often thought of until the first holes are seen, and the moths are gone.

Clothing moths love to be in dark and warm places, just like the backs of our closets. Mostly because the clothes are left alone, there is no light, and it is not cleaned regularly. Sometimes even clothing kept in garment bags.

Cloth garment bags are not the best idea because clothing moths will eat through them to get the clothing in it.

The ideal maintenance plan would be moving unused garments every so often and letting light in as well. Clothing moths of either species are not keen on light or movement. This will help prevent them from sticking around.

It is also strongly suggested that the closet said garments are stored in should be deep cleaned and vacuumed periodically.

Clothes that are vintage or are not to be worn again should be placed plastic sealed containers. Vacuum sealed bags are also an excellent storage option that provides excellent protection and is a space saver as well.

Moth-balls are also a common defense, but should only be used as a last resort as they are potentially toxic. If moth-balls are used, directions should be strictly followed.

With good old fashioned cleaning and vigilance, clothing moths can be kept at bay. If you want true peace of mind, however, be sure to call Environmental Pest Management for a free consultation today.

They are well versed in both the eradication and prevention of clothing moths and any other unwelcome pests. Don’t let your most valued wardrobe pieces be destroyed.