Are Pests the Reason for Your Seasonal Allergies?

Do pests contribute to seasonal allergies? Although often overlooked, pests can trigger allergy symptoms. There are ways to lessen these irritants ranging from itchy, watery eyes to difficulties in respiration.

Unfortunately, children are often most affected by these symptoms.

Whether in or out of your home, allergens cause coughing, runny nose, with itchy and watery eyes. In the worst cases, the allergens present can eventually trigger asthmatic symptoms as well.

Indoor allergen triggers include but are not limited to household pests, dust, and mold, to name a few. There may be others as well.

A trigger that may get overlooked is household pests. Examples of these pests include but are not limited to ants, bees, cockroaches, and dust mites. They are small and often go unseen if their presence is unseen.

When you are ready to lower allergic reactions and asthma attacks, call Environmental Pest Management to discuss their assistance in reducing pest allergens no matter what time of year.

How do household pets contribute to allergens?

Do pests contribute to seasonal allergies? If you are one of the over 50 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies, this is an important question. Mainly if you can prevent triggering your symptoms.

What are these triggers? Outside triggers include but are not limited to mold, pollen, and grass. They will cause sneezing, coughing, and even respiratory distress that can lead to asthma.

Coming inside may not offer you and your family relief—dust and dander trigger allergies. Just as with outdoor allergies, they cause itchy watery eyes, coughing, and sneezing.

Sadly, children are most susceptible to triggers that we live around.

Indoor allergens can initiate symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and watery eyes. Sufferers may also find themselves wheezing and having trouble breathing.

What are dust and dander?

Cockroaches and dust mites are the main contributors to dust and dander. Their saliva, droppings, and casings go into the air, causing dander that absolutely will trigger allergens and asthma if left unchecked over time. Dander contributes to itchy eyes.

Cockroaches prefer warm and moist areas. They also tend to nest where there is unattended food and waste available.

Dust mites are pests who feast on human and pet dander. Dander comprised of dead skin from both humans and animals is what is in our homes. They are also experts in pulling moisture from the air for nourishment.

These pests often tend to nest where they can find the most nourishment. An example of this would be in a bed where human skin regularly sloughs off and collects over time.

So do household pests contribute to seasonal allergies?

According to the National Pest Management Association, the dander and waste of common household pests do indeed contribute.

What can I do about pests and allergies

There are daily steps you can take to keep pests at bay. They may seem little but will go a long way in pest prevention. These include:

food is stored correctly
daily cleaning
vigilantly keeping trash and waste contained

Even with maximum effort, one cannot receive peace of mind merely cleaning, especially if there are children or people with asthma symptoms in your home.

The most effective plan is to have a professional come to look at your home. The education and peace of mind provided is priceless. It is also an investment in the ease of allergy symptoms.

Who do you call?

If you live in the greater Minnesota area or the Twin Cities, then Environmental Pest Management is a great choice. They have been serving the area since 1986 almost 40 years of serving this community faithfully.

They not only treat homes but restaurants, hospitals, and other businesses. Their priority is to be safe and use the best methods possible for each environment they enter. Their pest solution plan leaves the environment better for all.

The clients’ safety, health and environment are all taken into consideration to plan the best system for each case.

No matter the client, a thorough walk through the site will be completed. Afterward an efficient and effective plan is composed. A system that respects the environment, your family and the client are set into action.

Environmentally aware

When possible, the technicians at Environmental Pest Management will opt for non-chemical treatments. It is humane and better all-around for pets and humans, whether you are a business, hospital or a home.

A considerable amount of effort and consideration goes into creating a plan for service after the consultation. If a chemical system can be used and is best, then it will be executed.

They mean business

The dedication to service does not end at what treatments will be executed. They truly invest in the education and experience of their technicians. They are investing in licensing and training.

Any technician working for Environmental Pest Management must be trained as a journeyman for two years before being classified as a master. The training arms them with the most updated knowledge and experience to draw on.

This gained knowledge and experience make them confident in using the best treatment that will have the longest-lasting success.

Environmental Pest Management is a long-term member of both the National Pest Management Association and the Minnesota Pest Management Association.

These affiliations provide accountability and access to the best minds in the industry. These memberships offer newer treatments and breakthroughs in pest management and more knowledge in the pest management field.

The Next Step

The best thing you can do to protect your family from indoor allergy triggers is to call Environmental Pest Management for pest control services. Allow them to help you to improve allergy and asthmatic symptoms your family may face.

Environmental Pest Management has served the greater Minnesota area and the people in it for nearly 40 years. They are located in Burnsville, MN.

In conclusion, household pests do contribute to allergens in your home. They may even cause an asthmatic trigger. The best course of action is to call Environmental Pest Management today.

August 8, 2020January 23, 2024

A Dog’s Least Favorite Friend…Fleas

Approximately one-third of Minnesota’s households have a canine in residence, is yours one of these dog-friendly homes? If it is, your veterinarian probably warned you about your dog’s least favorite friend… Fleas.

But your pup shouldn’t be the only one in the house dreading these invaders. The entire family can be affected. Let’s take a closer look at fleas, and see how they compare to similar bugs, like mosquitoes, ticks, and bed bugs.

What are fleas?

Fleas are tiny, non-flying insects. They’re often not any more substantial than the tip of a pen. They are generally brown or black.

Much like bed bugs, ticks, and mosquitoes, fleas feed on blood. They often invade your home or business via a pet or rodent, and they don’t like to stay on furry animals. They can also feed on humans.

In comparing these “blood-sucking” bugs, we can look at their physical attributes to set them apart. Mosquitoes are the only insects in this group of “biters” that fly, so they’re the only ones with wings.

Fleas are generally flat with a tough shell. The shells are so hard that you may need to smash them between two fingernails or hard surfaces to squish. Bed bugs are generally reddish-brown in color and more round. Ticks come in a variety of shapes and colors but are usually flat until they fill as they feed.

Flea bites are often found in groupings on the skin. They appear as small, red, raised bites. You may also see a halo around the bumps.

These bites will look much the same on your dog as they do on your skin, but they can be tougher to see on your dog because of the hair. A quick comb through your dog’s hair will give you a better look if there are fleas.

Since fleas don’t fly, they get from place to place, or more accurately from body to body, by jumping. If an infestation in your home or business gets terrible enough, you may even see fleas jumping on furniture or the carpet!

Before it gets that bad, though, reach out to Environmental Pest Management for a free quote today to get rid of these pests.

If a flea bites you, can you catch any diseases?

While flea bites are red and very itchy, catching a disease from a flea bite is very unlikely. However, bacteria can become a source of infection in and around the bite itself.

The best way to prevent these types of infections is to not scratch at the bites. Of course, that’s easier said than done since the bites can get very, very itchy.

If you have flea bites, the best thing to do is wash the area with cool water and soap. Hot water can aggravate the itchiness. If you are very itchy or think you may be allergic, you can take a dose of Benadryl to help.

If it’s been a few days and your bites aren’t healing or are getting worse, the best thing to do would be to see a doctor, as you may have a bacterial infection in the area and need antibiotics.

Are fleas a big problem in the Minneapolis area?

Definitely!

Statistically, your dog will probably have fleas at least once while they’re in your home.

Your dog may pick up fleas from other animals, from pet facilities, or the outdoors. Fleas are most prevalent in wooded or tall grass areas, but could be found anywhere – even in your backyard!

While fleas can be found year-round, they are most common during warmer months. Here in Minnesota, fleas are generally the most active April through November.

Tell-tale signs of fleas on your dog or in your home or business include:

Little dots, like spots of pepper, on your dog’s skin. These are flea droppings.
Bites on your dog’s skin or your own, usually in groupings. These will be VERY itchy.
Black or brown “spots” on socks when you walk across the floor in your home or business. If you look closer, you’ll see these spots are fleas.

Can you prevent fleas?

There are a few things you can do to prevent a flea infestation in your home or business:

Keep your lawn mowed to prevent taller grass and more breeding grounds for these little insects to hop onto your dog.
Talk to your veterinarian about a flea collar or topical flea treatment that s/he recommends for your dog type.

If you suspect your dog has fleas or have already found some in your dog’s hair:

Vacuum your home or office thoroughly – including the upholstered items.
Steam-clean carpets, rugs, and any upholstery that you can.
Wash your pet with soap and water.

While these steps will help contain an infestation once you’ve found fleas, they are practically impossible to get rid of without pesticide treatment. However, treating a home or business isn’t something that one should tackle on their own.

Which is worse – Bed bugs vs. fleas? Mosquitoes vs. fleas?

Both bed bug bites and flea bites display as a cluster of small dots on your skin. Mosquito bites are generally larger and usually aren’t clustered together.

Those clustered bites aren’t often found in the same spots on your body, either.

On humans, bed bugs often bite on the top half of the body, whereas fleas usually feast on the bottom half of the body.

You have proof of an invasion; now what?

Fleas are very tough to get rid of and can multiply very quickly. It’s close to impossible to get rid of an infestation without pesticides. You would do best to call the professionals instead of trying to take this on yourself.

If you’re in the greater Twin Cities area and you’ve been noticing these clustered bites on your dog’s skin or your own, reach out to Environmental Pest Management for a free quote. End the cycle of itching and irritation for you and your pet.

July 6, 2020January 23, 2024

What is a Carpenter Bee?

the tropical carpenter bee, Xylocopa latipes, sits on wood, macro view

When most people think of bees, they think of honey bees, or perhaps bumble bees. But have you ever seen a carpenter bee?

There are, surprisingly, over 16,000 species of bees in the world. These species are divided into seven families of bees. Many of these bees, like honey bees, live in colonies that can grow quite large.

However, some species of bees, like the carpenter bee, live alone. If you have seen a lone bee that seems extremely large flying around, it might be a carpenter bee.

At Environmental Pest Management we take care of any bugs or creatures that are pestering you. Call us today for a free quote and start the process of getting your home pest-free.

What is a Carpenter Bee?

A carpenter bee gets its name from the fact that it burrows and lives in the wood, similar to termites. Carpenter bees will tunnel into the wood, either on your house, deck, or outdoor furniture.

Carpenter bees, though they may be a nuisance, are vital pollinators. They help farmers immensely by pollinating a wide variety of plants. We should do what we can to help bees.

Many people who have seen a carpenter bee flying around notice that they are large. However, they actually come in two sizes. The large carpenter bees are Xylocopa, and the small carpenter bees are Ceratina.

The larger species, Xylocopa, are the ones associated with damage to homes and buildings.

Larger carpenter bees can range in size from one-half inch to one inch long. If you didn’t know better, you might see a large carpenter bee and think it is a bumblebee. However, large carpenter bees have less hair than bumblebees.

Small carpenter bees are around one-quarter of an inch long. Both large and small carpenter bees have metallic coloring on their bodies with some body hair on their legs and abdomen. The males will have some yellow sections as well.

Carpenter bees tunnel through wood but do not eat it. Just like most other species of bees they eat pollen and nectar.

Galleries

For large carpenter bees to make their galleries or homes, bees undergo a long and very intensive process. Many female carpenter bees choose to inhabit a nest that has already been built because of the work required. Carpenter bees can add a foot or two of a new tunnel each year.

The design of carpenter bee galleries is remarkably similar. A female will create an entrance that is about ½ of an inch wide then bore straight into the wood for one or two inches. Then, she will make a right and create a tunnel from four to eight inches.

From this tunnel, she will create different rooms or cells in rows. She will then lay an egg with a food ball and block the chamber with wood pulp; the female will then die. Her eggs will hatch and feed on the food left for them and grow.

Small carpenter bees prefer branches and twigs for their nests, rather than homes or furniture. However, they do tunnel and create rooms for eggs similar to large carpenter bees.

Life Cycle

There are four stages in a bee’s life. They begin life as an egg, hatch into a larva, grow into a pupa, then become an adult. Depending on location and climate, how fast they progress through these stages varies.

New adults will leave their nest in April or May and feed on pollen and nectar throughout the spring and summer. When the weather gets cold, they will return to their gallery for the winter.

Interestingly, some smaller carpenter bees can reproduce without a male.

Are Carpenter Bees Dangerous?

Large carpenter bees look scary. They are large, hover around decks and homes, and make a lot of noise. Females do have a stinger but typically only sting when they feel threatened or have been provoked. There are very few instances of female carpenter bees stinging humans.

Males may seem more aggressive but do not have a stinger. They dart around defending a nest from pests or other bugs.

The biggest threat with carpenter bees is that they tunnel or burrow into wood for their galleries. They prefer plain, unfinished wood. However, their galleries can become quite large and eventually can affect the integrity of your home or furniture.

Large carpenter bees will choose doors, windowsills, railings, decks, poles, roof eaves, shingles, fences, or outdoor furniture for their home.

How to Get Rid of Carpenter Bees

There are a few things to look for if you think you might have a carpenter bee problem.

The Carpenter Bee Itself. Carpenter bees are quite large and they are hard to miss as they fly around the outside of your home. In the late spring and summer you will see them coming in and out with regularity.
Gallery Opening. This one-half inch opening is about the size of their body.
Sawdust. Sawdust will fall out of their gallery as they are boring new tunnels. Check for a small pile near a small opening.
Plant Residue or Poop. You might notice a yellow coloring from pollen or nectar left around the hole as well as brownish coloring from their feces.

Thankfully, carpenter bees are solitary. If you have one you can rest easy knowing there isn’t a large colony to deal with.

Carpenter bees prefer plain wood free of paint, stain, or finish. In many cases, a simple coat of paint or stain will keep them away. If you notice these bees around your deck or patio furniture, an afternoon or weekend of painting will likely solve the problem.

However, if they have chosen the wood on your home for their gallery, the process of getting rid of carpenter bees is a bit more complicated.

Make sure to keep your doors and windows closed, especially during the spring and summer months to deter carpenter bees. Examine the outside of your home and seal or caulk any gaps or openings you find.

Call Environmental Pest Management Today

The best thing you can do if you see a carpenter bee is to call a professional. At Environmental Pest Management, we will come to your home and give you a free quote before any work is done. We use environmentally friendly and safe products, so you don’t have to worry about your family.

Call Environmental Pest Management today.

June 19, 2020

What Pests to Look for This Fall

Fall pests are coming. We know, you’re probably looking at a cloudless blue sky on a warm day and thinking we’re crazy. Contact Environmental Pest Management and cut off fall pests before they can get started.

Most people associate spring and summer with bugs: mosquitoes, termites, bees, and ants are common hot weather infestations. You might reasonably hope and expect that fall and winter would give homeowners a break! Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

Where Do Fall Pests Come From?

Bugs and rodents really aren’t so different from you and me. As the weather gets cooler, pests and critters of all kinds head indoors in search of warmth and shelter.

Whether you are a homeowner or renting, make fall pest management part of your routine checks and maintenance. You don’t want to be caught unawares by unwelcome guests while you’re worried about keeping your home warm and dry.

Rodents

Rodents are probably some of the worst fall pests to find in your home. They’re dirty, they carry disease, and they’re destructive.

How destructive? Super destructive.

Rodents can get inside the walls of your home. Furthermore, once they let themselves in, they will help themselves to the contents of your kitchen.

They can gnaw on wires, pipes, and cabinetry. When rodents chew on these things, it can cause problems with plumbing, electricity, and cable and internet connectivity.

Rodents aren’t content to destroy your home, they have to make a mess out of it, as well. One very gross tell-tale sign that you have rodents is droppings, for crying out loud.

These particular fall pests can be quite costly, as well. Tracking down invaders living in your walls is tricky and time-consuming. The damage that rodents may cause can also be very expensive.

Don’t let rodents happen to you. Prevent rodents by sealing cracks in your foundation, and storing your food in airtight containers.

Biting Insects

Here’s a fun question: how do you make bug bites even more annoying?

Bring them inside!

When fall pests that bite like bed bugs, fleas, and spiders decide to winter with you, you’re all trapped together. For them, being indoors in a house during the winter is like living with an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Autumn is a particularly bad time for bed bugs, who can travel on clothes and backpacks. As kids go back to school in the fall, they can inadvertently bring bed bugs to share with their classmates.

Professionals can help you guard against biting insects by sealing your house and spraying in hard-to-reach places.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are probably the most famous indoor fall pest. Another dirty, ugly home invader, no one wants to be stuck in the house with a cockroach infestation.

Like rodents, cockroaches bring disease with them into your home. Cockroaches especially enjoy places where bacteria and decay are found. They thrive in sewer pipes, and then bring those germs with them into the homes where they seek shelter.

Cockroaches can hang out all over your house before you even realize they’re there. Fall colds and other seasonal viruses may be spread by these stealthy intruders. They are even known to trigger children’s asthma attacks.

Keep your home clean and sanitized, particularly the bathrooms and kitchens. Make sure you vacuum regularly. Find and seal any cracks in your home.

Of course, cockroaches aren’t necessarily an indictment of your housekeeping. However, regular cleaning can certainly help prevent these fall pests.

Ants

Ants enjoy a reputation as picnic-destroyers. If only those were the only places they hung out.

Unfortunately, ants are pretty much a year-round problem.

In colder months, ants turn up in homes and can cause all kinds of issues. Some ants are odorous ants, and they may help themselves to your food. Carpenter ants can do even worse by causing structural damage to your home.

As with preventing most other fall pests, regular cleaning and sanitizing can keep infestations at bay. Additionally, store food in airtight containers and seal any cracks in your home.

Some other ways to prevent ants is to eliminate any standing water in and around your home. Store any firewood away from the walls and foundation of your home, and don’t keep unused firewood inside overnight.

Termites

Termites are another fall pest that can get into the walls of your home and cause real, expensive structural damage.

The guidance for preventing termite infestations is very similar to the guidance to prevent carpenter ants.

Stink Bugs and Other Nuisances

Unlike the fall pests mentioned above, some autumn infestations are merely inconvenient.

Stink bugs fall under this category. Other fall pests that might show up in your home include ladybugs, silverfish, and centipedes.

Stink bugs don’t just release an unpleasant smell when they’re scared. They can also damage fabric such as clothing and upholstery.

Prevent these pests: inspect clothing and personal items when you arrive home to make sure you don’t have any stowaways.

Environmental Pest Management for Ecologically Responsible Fall Pest Prevention

Rodents and bugs want to come stay with you this fall and winter. You see there are a lot of practical, everyday things you can do to prevent fall pests. Steps include regular home inspections for cracks in the walls and foundations, and keeping clean kitchens, bathrooms, and floors.

Don’t limit these checks to your house. Keep in mind that many fall pests like to hide in clothes and personal belongings to come home with you!

On the other hand, sometimes there is only so much you can do. Fall pest infestations happen to even the most dedicated home organizers. When that happens, you need to bring in the professionals.

Don’t take on the intruders of fall all by yourself. The experienced professionals at Environmental Pest Management can help you.

We have been in Minnesota for over thirty years, and are affiliated with the National and Minnesota Pest Management Associations. Our Master Licenced Technicians bring years of training and experience to their work.

Contact Environmental Pest Management and prevent fall pests in your home this year.

June 12, 2020January 22, 2024

Mosquitoes: More than Just Biting Pests

Even if the bite is disease-free, the lasting itch and redness are enough to wish all mosquitoes disappeared forever.

If you have gotten your first mosquito bite of the year and are dreading a season of itching and swatting, call Environmental Pest Management today. We have years of experience ridding homes of biting, crawling, and pestering bugs.

What are Mosquitoes?

Yes, we all know what mosquitoes are. They are tiny little flying bugs that survive on the blood of mammals. In all, there are around 3,500 different species of mosquitoes on Earth.

Did you know that only female mosquitoes bite? On the other hand, female mosquitoes have to produce eggs and need blood to nourish those eggs.

Only female mosquitoes have the parts in their mouth necessary to suck blood, the proboscis. In this proboscis are two needle-like tubes, and both are inserted into the victim. One injects an enzyme that slows or stops blood clotting, and the other sucks up the blood.

Both male and female mosquitoes eat nectar and other sugar from plants as their food. The blood is only used as a protein to nourish eggs.

Mosquitoes are typically active in the evenings and early mornings. Some breeds are active at night and others during the day.

Mosquitoes find their victims by seeking out carbon dioxide that was exhaled, heat from bodies, or scents.

Technically, mosquitoes are not parasites. Many people qualify them as such, but a parasite lives on the body of their host. Mosquitoes rely on the blood of their victim but do not live on them.

As annoying as mosquitoes are, there is a silver lining to their presence. Mosquitoes are a common food source for many animals. Everything from birds to bats, frogs to dragonflies enjoys a tasty meal of mosquitoes.

Are Mosquitoes More Attracted to Some People?

No one likes getting bit by a mosquito. However, some people swear they get more mosquito bites than people around them. Is there any truth to this feeling?

Turns out, yes. Mosquitoes are attracted to some people more than others.

Carbon Dioxide

Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide. Everyone emits carbon dioxide when they breathe out, but some people emit slightly more. It might depend on the activity they’re doing, or the fact they are pregnant, but it is possible to emit more carbon dioxide.

Furthermore, different species are attracted to different levels of carbon dioxide.

Body Odor

Mosquitoes can smell you. And different people have different smells. Different compounds on our skin and in our sweat give us unique odors.

Mosquitoes are attracted to lactic acid and ammonia. Things like genetics and bacteria on your skin, or a combination of both, could cause mosquitoes to be more attracted to you versus your neighbor.

Body Temperature

Our bodies generate a certain level of heat, and that temperature depends on many factors. Some people’s natural body temperature is higher than others.

Furthermore, there is sweat and water vapor near your skin that attracts mosquitoes. Different things affect how much sweat and water vapor there is.

Color

For an unknown reason, mosquitoes are attracted to the color black. Wearing dark clothes seems to attract mosquitoes and their bite.

Alcohol

Unfortunately for anyone enjoying a drink by the pool or on their back deck, mosquitoes seem to be more attracted to people who have been drinking alcohol. In particular, mosquitoes seemed to be attracted to beer drinkers.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, more blood is circulating in a woman’s body, and her body temperature tends to be higher. Because of these factors, mosquitoes tend to be more attracted to women that are pregnant. Extra mosquito bites: just another fact that makes pregnancy fun.

Mosquitoes and Diseases

It’s no secret that mosquitoes carry an annoying bite. However, that bite is sometimes more than it appears. Mosquitoes carry a variety of diseases, many of which can be fatal.

Mosquitoes and the diseases they carry are responsible for millions of deaths around the world every year. Unfortunately, children and the elderly are more affected by these diseases than adults. In the fight against infectious diseases, mosquitoes are the number one enemy.

Of the 3,500 species of mosquitoes, most of the diseases humans contract come from only three families.

Anopheles mosquitoes carry the malaria disease.

Culex mosquitoes carry encephalitis, filariasis, and the West Nile virus.

Aedes mosquitoes carry yellow fever, dengue, and encephalitis.

Interestingly enough, mosquitoes don’t only infect their victims through their bites. In cases like yellow fever and dengue, a mosquito contracts the virus from an infected host and passes the virus through it’s saliva to another victim. With malaria, a parasite attaches itself to a female mosquito and enters a human when the mosquito bites.

You need to deal with any sources of standing water to eradicate mosquitoes and their offspring, also known as future biters. Mosquitoes depend on standing water to breed. Removing this breeding ground will drastically limit the number of mosquitoes you see around your home.

Call Environmental Pest Control

If you seem to get bit more by mosquitoes and want to mosquito-proof your yard, call Environmental Pest Management today. Even if you don’t notice getting bit as often, mosquitoes are not something you want hanging around your next barbecue.

While there are things you can do at home to limit the number of these pests, the best thing you can do is call a professional. Let Environmental Pest Management take care of you and your home.