At Trio pest control — and industry-wide — we are seeing a spike in rodent activity. I personally was greeted with a husky raccoon nesting in my soffit recently, perhaps an omen for a great rodent season this winter.
Upon reflection of the COVID-19 pandemic and the parallels of the bubonic plague from centuries ago, there is a common factor: rodents.
Little can be said to the evolution of man from the 1300s to today. In the 1300s, when the bubonic plague was in full force, people relayed heavily on political and religious guidance; the science was neither widely available nor understood. Not so dissimilar to today, we have heavy biases in the news, and people lean toward their social media influences (of which the 14th-century version was word-of-mouth). Nonetheless, our industry has been blessed economically this year more than most; perhaps similar to those who were able to offer remedies and services during the plague.
Favorable humidity of more than 80 percent is believed to have been a large factor in the spread of bubonic plague in the 1300s. In 2020, as temperatures have already begun to drop heading into winter, rodents will quicken their hunt for food, water and harborage. Closed and abandoned commercial structures have been one of the many ways rodents have thrived during the pandemic.
In addition, with one of the most active hurricane seasons in recent history continue to cause issues through season’s end Nov. 30. Remember, the slightest tropical disturbance can cause structural damage favorable to rodents looking for shelter, plus a natural increase in rodent population once commercial activity returns after a storm.
Therefore, while rodents had the upper hand in the 1300s, we are much better prepared as an industry to handle the uptick of rodent activity this fall and winter. Stay safe.
There are 10 quintillion (10,000,000,000,000,000,000) insects on this Planet. Of those, there are multiple species of each that each require a different service to eliminate them once they enter your home. Once in your home it can take up to 30 days to eliminate the issue.
Why wait until Spiders, ants, cockroaches or any pest enter your home to call Trio Pest Control? Have Trio put you on a re-occurring preventative pest service today! We will arrive at your home on a Monthly, Quarterly(Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall) or Semi-annually(Spring & Fall) to keep those pesky insects from invading your home. On our Monthly and Quarterly service plans, if a pest issue occurs between services, we will arrive to eliminate the problem at no additional cost to you. Our Semi-annual service comes with a 90 day warranty with each service.
Having guests over, hosting a party or Just hate bugs in your home nor business? Call Trio today, and let us keep your house your home!
Termites. Just the name of these tiny pests can send shivers down the spine of a homeowner, and for good reason. Termites are known for sneaking into homes through cracks in the foundation and wreaking real havoc to the interior wooden structure, sometimes literally right under a homeowner’s nose. Worst of all, termites have a penchant for staying silent and subtle, making it difficult to spot their dirty work until it is too late.
Difficult, however, is not the same as impossible. If you keep your eyes open, you might be able to spot the telltale signs of a termite infestation in the works and react accordingly.
5 Termite Signs
Five common signs of termite activity include:
Tapping Sounds Ever wonder what termites sound like, or if they make any sound at all? As a matter of fact, soldier termites are known to bang their heads against the wood while feeding on wood. They are also known to make sounds in order to signal danger to other termites. Termites soldiers are noisy eaters as well, so if you put your ear close to wood that you think is being munched on by termites, chances are that you will be able to hear them munching away!
Early-Summer Swarm Termites reproduce after a swarm of their winged forms emerge on a warm spring or early-summer day. These swarms actually come straight from the ground, so if you witness this happening, you know its termites. If you don’t see the swarm, you might see a lump or large collection of little wings instead, possibly down in the cellar.
Hollow Wood Do termites really eat wood? Yes, and they love it. Hollow wood is a huge sign signifying termite activity. If you are doing a little bit of carpentry to repair a part of your home and find holes or hollows in the wood frame, a termite family has been feasting there. Sometimes you can do a quick-check for termites by rapping your hand onto wooden sections of your home, especially down in the basement or anywhere near the ground; if it sounds hollow, it probably is, and termites are probably to blame.
Tiny Mud Tunnels Nothing scares a termite more than being exposed to the elements for too long. This is why they live inside the wood they eat, and why they build tiny tunnels made of mud along, near, and around their colonies. If you see little mud tubes – usually no thicker than a pencil – running along your walls, termites have created their own highway system and are probably still lurking inside your home.
White-Looking Ants Often times people tend to mistake termites with ants. It could be tricky to spot the difference between the two insects, as they are similar in size and shape. The difference between ants and termites are primarily found in color: ants tend to be dark in color, such as red or black, while termites are light in color, usually white. It could also be hard to tell the difference between flying termites and flying ants. One way to know is to look out for discarded wings; because some termites tend to lose their wings shortly after mating. If you notice white-looking ant-looking insects or tiny discarded wings, it could be a sign that you have termites in your home.
If you see any of these termite warning signs, you need to act quickly. The longer you let termites stay in your property, the more damage they will do. If they are wide-spread enough, you might be looking at a massive repair job to ensure your home is structurally sound.
If you live in or around Indianapolis, contact Trio Pest Control and our Greenwood termite removal specialists. We offer fast, reliable service with a smile, each and every time. New customers also qualify for 10% off their first service with an online coupon. Go ahead and request your free estimate today to learn more.
As a business owner, it can seem like there is always something that is being added to your budget. Every line item that you have to add affects the bottom line and so on. When it comes to pest control it’s the same thing… another line item. It may make you wonder whether or not you really need pest control for your business. It can be difficult to juggle financial commitments while making sure that the absolute needs of a commercial facility are met.
While you may not initially place pest control as a top priority, there are a few reasons why you should definitely reconsider.
First, it’s important to keep a pest-free facility for your overall business revenue and reputation. No customer wants to purchase items from any facility—whether that be a restaurant or a clothing store—that has a pest problem. In addition to this, your items will automatically receive a bad rep even after just one pest issue arises. No one will trust your items anymore. And word spreads quickly…before you know it one customer has told another and then other businesses find out. Losing any consumers can be detrimental to the survival of your business.
Second, you may also lose employees after a pest incident. Would you want to work in an environment where there are pests around? No one wants to be around pests that are a nuisance and/or dangerous.
Lastly, but very importantly, if your facility isn’t protected from pests, your products could expose numerous people to viruses, bacteria, etc. You could potentially cause serious harm to others by not investing in commercial pest control.
As you can see, by deciding to make pest control a priority, you can protect your business from a lot of potential damage. At Trio pest control our year-round commercial pest control plans offer a variety of benefits that work together to protect the reputation and revenue of your business. We offer specialized programs focusing on rodents, insects, small flies(gnats), large flies and termites. All of the technology that we use is the highest rated and all of our solutions are environmentally friendly. If a pest problem arises in-between service visits, we will take care of the problem at no additional cost. We also cover a wide array of facilities including restaurants, hotels, warehouses, and more. If your business is in Indianapolis or any surrounding county—we’ve got you covered.
Our plans are customer driven…we always listen to our customers and use their feedback to improve our services. It’s our mission to protect your business from pests and keep them out for good. To learn more information about our top rated pest control services, contact Trio Pest Control today!
Like so many other things in life, winter means different things to different people. I’ve often noticed that one’s opinion of the cold season depends on his or her age. As a child, you might eagerly embrace the winter for its promise of sledding, snowball fights, and unexpected school cancellations. As you grow older, though, your outlook naturally shifts. With luck, you never become blind to what sometimes makes the season seem magical—the feel of fresh snow beneath your boots, for instance, or the sight of sunlight glinting off a low-hanging icicle. But veteran homeowners know too well that along with postcard-worthy scenes, winter brings a host of worrisome hazards. Some are familiar and inescapable, while others are more insidious and, for that reason, can be the most dangerous of all.
Frozen pipes and ice dams, downed trees and power lines—when the sky darkens and the mercury dips, these are the problems that most homeowners dread. The truly wise, however, dread something else too. Like a beacon in the night, a warm home fully stocked with food is an irresistible draw for countless species of insects and rodents. Don’t offer them an open invitation! True, mice and rats, cockroaches and spiders are notoriously relentless intruders, often capable of breaching even hairline cracks in the home exterior. But with foresight and care, you can go a long way toward effectively barring unwanted houseguests. It’s well worth the effort to do so. Indeed, the “ick” factor may be the least of your concerns. Household pests are capable of causing extensive, expensive damage.
Once they gain entry to your home, insects and rodents gnaw through wood, wires, and drywall, gradually but inevitably leaving no small amount of destruction in their wake. Even their nesting—in dark, warm, often moist crevices—typically results in rotten wood and mold growth, either or both of which undermine the integrity and longevity of your home. There’s one silver lining in all this. The measures you need to take to minimize the likelihood of an infestation are the very same measures you should take to maximize the energy efficiency of your home. That is, in one fell swoop, you can pest-proof your home and help lower your monthly utility bills. It all comes down to this: In a tightly sealed, properly protected home, warm air stays indoors while cold air—and pests—stay out.
One caveat is that even if you consider your home to be well defended against both drafts and pests, it may not remain that way throughout the long winter. The whipping winds, freezing rains, and falling snow that characterize winter storms create just the sort of vulnerabilities that pests capitalize on. Extreme weather puts chinks in the armor of your home in the form of the occasional blown-off shingle or a foundation crack caused by freeze-thaw cycles. If not repaired, these weak spots can lead to pest problems.
Though you may not be dealing with an infestation right now, recognize that the risk of a pest invasion never really goes away—especially in winter. So, keep a keen eye out for storm damage as the weeks pass, and sooner rather than later, consider acting on the following best practices for pest prevention:
Trim back trees to bar rodents from easy access to the underside of your roof overhang.
Declutter the basement, attic, and any utility rooms so as to eliminate any potential nesting grounds.
Examine the fascia board along the roofline, replacing any areas of rotted wood.
Repair loose mortar and replace worn weatherstripping around all windows and doors.
Store food in sealed containers and keep crumbs off the floor.
Seal any and all cracks or gaps on the home exterior with a silicone-based caulk.
Store firewood at least 20 feet from the home, not only off the ground but also covered.
Avoid ice dams by using a roof rake to dissipate potentially problematic accumulations of snow.
Hire a professional sweep to clean the stack, inspect the flue, and install a cap over the chimney.
Certain telltale signs suggest the presence of an ongoing infestation—chewed box corners, say, or piles of sawdust where you wouldn’t have expected to encounter them. At the same time, however, remember that many people whose homes suffer pest damage don’t realize there’s a problem until it’s too late. If you’re concerned about insects or rodents on your property, don’t hesitate to call in a professional who is a member of the National Pest Management Association. Trained to pinpoint the obvious and not-so-obvious signs of an infestation, these licensed pest professionals can advise you on how best to ensure the continued protection of your home from its foes.
