Arachnids or more commonly known, scorpions can be found on every continent (except Antarctica) but dry climates are their favorite. During the summertime in Texas, pest control professionals receive many calls from terrified homeowners because of scorpion sightings in their homes.

Scorpions are nocturnal, which means they hide during the day. Popular indoor hiding places for scorpions include laundry piles, closets, attics, bathroom and kitchen cabinets and crawl spaces. Scorpions hunt insects, spiders and even other scorpions.

Summertime in Texas means long warm days with evening breezes. A lot of outdoor fun and a lot of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes in Texas change species with the season, with the greatest number showing up in the summer.

The concern with mosquitoes range from annoyance to disease. Mosquitoes can transmit disease, such as the West Nile Virus. More deaths are associated with mosquitoes than any other pest on the planet. Regularly scheduled Pest Control treatments can control the different stages of the mosquito life cycle.

Interestingly, only female mosquitoes bite humans and animals; males feed on flower nectar. Female mosquitoes need protein for their eggs and must feed on blood in order to reproduce.

All mosquitoes require water to breed. Some species will breed in puddles left after a rainstorm. A mosquito only needs a few inches of water to deposit her eggs. Mosquito larva develops quickly in water. An adult mosquito may live 5-6 months.

Carbon dioxide, which humans and other animals produce can be detected by a mosquito from approximately 75 feet away, which is the primary signal to mosquitoes that blood is nearby. They have developed a sensitivity to carbon dioxide in the air. The female mosquito will fly back and forth until she locates her victim.

Proper mosquito control is vital to ensuring your local mosquito population is under control. Limit their habitat on your property by emptying any still water and keeping swimming pools cleaned and chlorinated.  Adult mosquitoes rest during the day on tall weeds, grass or other vegetation. Contacting your exterminator to spray lawn will limit their habitat on your property.

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The presence of pests on your pets and in your home is more than just an annoyance, it can be a real danger to both animals and people. We will highlight a few of these pests and the dangers they can pose.

Ticks can transmit diseases not only to pets, but to humans as well. Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are some of the debilitating illnesses they can cause.  A tick lays approximately one hundred eggs at a time. So, unfortunately they can end up everywhere, from your lawn, onto your pet and then into your home. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention have reported that more than 16,000 Americans are infected with Lyme disease each year. In humans, Lyme disease can cause fever, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, headaches and chronic joint problems. In animals the symptoms are fever, loss of appetite, lameness and joint swelling that can turn into arthritis.

One adult female flea can lay as many as 50 eggs a day. In one day, a single flea can bite your dog or cat over 400 times. Flea bites are irritating and cause itching, rash and allergic dermatitis that can lead to loss of hair. Tapeworms can be transmitted by fleas to pets. Their bites may cause anemia in young, old or ill pets.

In Texas there are at least 14 species of carpenter ants that are wood destroyers. They are social insects. Unlike termites, they do not eat wood, instead they hollow out wood to build their nests, making galleries and chambers.

Carpenter ants can bring many problems to the structure of a home. They are drawn to moisture and rotting wood. The ants normally build their nests in hollow trees, logs, posts, landscaping timber and wood used to build homes and other structures. The ants usually cut chambers with the grain of the wood, into the softer parts. They leave the harder wood as walls separating the tunnels, but cut openings to connect the galleries. They will usually enter through natural openings in the wood, or they may cut openings where there are none.

Winged carpenter ants are many times mistaken for winged termites. In Texas, it is not uncommon for both winged carpenter ants and termites (both wood-destroying insects) to swarm at about the same time. A pest control professional should be called to identify accurately, because Carpenter Ant Control and Termite Control differs.

After establishing a nest, the female ant deposits approximately 20 eggs. They become worker ants in about 2 months. After becoming adults, new workers will expand the nest, excavating new chambers and tunnels.

A pest control professional will understand the key elements of identifying the locations of where a colony might exist. They should inspect the structure, thoroughly, both inside and out. Examining tree stumps, roof edges, house trim, fences, dead shrubs, and wooden columns or porches is important. Carpenter ants may travel over 90 yards away from their nest to forage for food.

Protect your Family and Your Home! Call Pest Shield Pest Control Today (866)306-9282.

In Texas the chance of calling your local pest control company to deal with pests like ticks and scorpions is very high, especially in the summer months.

Like spiders, scorpions are arachnids. There are close to 2,000 different species of scorpions in the world, approximately 40 species living in North America. Like spiders, they have eight legs but they also have crablike pincers on the front part of their body and a stinger at the tip of its tail.

The Scorpions eyes are on the top of its head along with two to five pairs of eyes along the front corners of its head. The claws can be concerning, but the singer attached to its tail is what causes the most trouble.

Bugs, lizards and mice are the scorpions usual prey. If a scorpion were to sting a human the symptoms can be severe. The sting causes a severe burning sensation and as the venom makes its way through the bloodstream, the victim typically will start drooling and shaking. Stomach cramping is also a symptom of a scorpion sting along with confusion.

Young children are at the greatest risk when stung by a scorpion. When your pest control company visits, they should handle scorpion control as well.

The Deer Tick is typically about  the size of a small seed. Often the victim of a tick bite doesn’t even realize they’ve been bitten. Ticks usually prey on deer and mice, but will attach themselves to any warm blooded host, including humans.

Once a tick has attached itself to its host, it will drink the hosts blood for up to four days before falling off. Each year the tick infects thousands of people and pets with Lyme Disease. Lyme Disease usually begins with a rash around the bite. Early symptoms include headaches and fever. Later symptoms may include stiff joints and heart problems that can last for years.

As the summer months quickly approach, tick control through regular visits from your pest control professional should be considered.

Protect your Family and Your Home! Call Pest Shield Pest Control Today (866)306-9282.

The very best definition of a termite is an insect with an insatiable appetite for wood. Termites are wood destroying insects. The most common type of termite in Texas are Subterranean. Unfortunately they are the most destructive of termites. They require a moist environment and are usually found living in the soil. Termites do billions of dollars of damage a year in the United States alone.

Termites usually start swarming in spring. Some telling signs on an infestation in your home are soft wood, mud tubes around the exterior or interior of your house, most likely near the foundation, and/or dark or blistered wood could all be signs of a termite infestation. If you see any of these signs you may want to call an exterminator to come and inspect.

If you suspect that you have a termite problem you should not try to get rid of them on your own. Termites are very difficult to get rid of without the help of a termite control expert. Pest control professionals have the proper chemicals and equipment to destroy the infestations efficiently and safely.  This is important because termites cause a ton of damage and can go undetected for years.

There are a few safeguards you can take in your home to guard against termites. Because subterranean termites love moisture that builds up around your home, make sure to remove good living conditions from them. Make sure all faucets are shut off tightly and are not dripping. Also, make sure your rain gutters are in good condition, properly sealed and uncluttered. This will prevent the moisture that can gather near the foundation of your house.

Protect your Family and Your Home! Call Pest Shield Pest Control Today (866)306-9282.

Flea and Tick season is definitely in full swing in Texas. A flea and tick problem in your yard can very easily and rapidly become a flea and tick problem inside of your home. While playing outside, children and pets can pick up these pests and carry them in. A flea and tick infestation can be very hard to control. Being pro-active with the help of a Professional Pest Control Company is the best prevention.

If your flea control program does not include treatment that will stop the flea “cycle” then it is not going to be successful. The flea cycle includes the eggs, larva, pupa and adult stage. A flea cycle can occur almost anywhere. It can take place on a live host, such as your pet, in your yard, carpet, litter box, bed, garage, basement, in a crawl space, attic, dog house, on furniture, and so on. Fleas can and will feed on anything warm blooded. Fleas do not show favoritism. They will readily bite humans if you have a flea infestation and do not have pets.  Once an infestation occurs, a good treatment could take weeks to rid the total cycle of the flea.

Some of the best tick control methods are to cut high grass, remove weeds, leaf litter and undergrowth from around your home. You can check your yard for ticks by dragging a white flannel fabric attached to a pole across the lawn, vegetation, etc. Ticks will cling to the fabric. If ticks are present, have a Professional Tick Control company apply a pesticide to your yard. Ticks must feed on the blood of an animal (or human) in order to grow and then molt into different stages. They will then reproduce and lay thousands of eggs.

Ticks can spread diseases to people, pets and other animals. Bacteria that is present in their saliva transmits as they feed on the human or animal. This bacteria is related to the viruses that cause such serious diseases as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and human ehrlichiosis. Sometimes ticks can be found even on well mowed lawns or inside of your home. The way this happens is they will drop off of pets that enter your yard or home.

Protect your Family and Your Home! Call Pest Shield Pest Control Today (866)306-9282.

We thought we would take some time to share some of our most Frequently Asked Questions. Our professionals are ready to answer your questions!

Why do I need Pest Control? Some pests can be very damaging to your home, while others carry and spread diseases. Pest Shield Pest Control provides trained and licensed technicians to do a thorough inspection of your home to identify the pests and their hiding and breeding places. The technician will recommend a customized service tailored to your needs that will keep your home pest free.

Should I schedule regular treatments? It is a wise investment to manage pests on a regular basis because pest infestations can occur at any time of the year. Our regular maintenance rids your home and property of existing infestations and helps prevent any future infestations from happening.

Is it Safe? At Pest Shield Pest Control safety is a top priority. Pest Shield PC is State Licensed and Certified and strictly follows all EPA and Health Safety Regulations. Our professional servicemen are highly trained and experienced. We also offer chemical-free alternatives and traditional pest control solutions that use eco-friendly, organic chemicals instead of traditional pesticides.

Why are pests such a big issue to homeowners? Not only do pests make for unpleasant living conditions, they pose threats to your property and your family’s health. For example, termites appetite for wood is insatiable. They cause over $5 billion dollars worth of damage each year in the U.S. alone. Also, termites can go undetected for years while causing devastating dam-age to the structure of your home. Having the structure of your home pre-treated during construction is the best way to keep your home free from termites.

What types of health risks can pests cause? People are continually on the lookout for ways to safe-guard their family’s health at home. Many pests pose serious health risks. For example, mosquitoes do more than bite, they can carry West Nile virus and can infest your pets with heartworms. Cockroaches carry a lot of bacteria such as E. Coli and Salmonella. Pests can also cause severe allergies and allergic reactions to bites.

How is The Pest Shield Built-In Pest Control Sys-tem more effective than conventional pest control? Our system is a permanent built-in system that is installed during construction. Once installed a fine mist of pesticide can be discharged reaching formerly inaccessible spaces and effectively eliminating Texas Pests right where they nest, hide and breed. The amount of pesticide that your family and pets are exposed to are minimized. Our system saves you money! Due to the fact that the pesticide is not exposed to the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays, less service visits are needed. Convenient exterior ports means service visits are conducted entirely from outside your home.

Protect your Family and Your Home! Call Pest Shield Pest Control Today (866)306-9282.

With summer quickly approaching we’re not the only ones who want to spend time indoors out of the heat – creepy, crawly and swarms of insects want to do the same.

When large numbers of winged insects suddenly appear in or around a home, it is usually the result of an insect mating swarm. Normally insect swarms occur outdoors on a still, warm day. But if an ant or termite nest is close enough to a home, swarms may occur indoors.

Termites are social insects. When you find termites swarming in or around your home it is a positive indication that there is a termite infestation and a termite control professional should be called to inspect and eliminate the problem.

Termites can be recognized by their dark, straight sided bodies and long, equal length wings. Many people will confuse winged ants with termites. Winged ants have distinctively pinched waists and four wings that are unequal in length.  Ants and termites both lose their wings shortly after surfacing, so it is common to find reproductive ants and termites without wings.

Subterranean termites are the most common. When they’re not swarming, their nests are typically found 5 – 10 feet below the surface. The workers forage hundreds of feet, traveling underground, surfacing periodically, searching for food (wood) to feed the colony. If they find wood (usually the structure of a home) they can do a lot of damage due to the fact that their appetite is insatiable.

During our high humidity months or before and after a good rain storm is optimum time for subterranean termites to swarm. Because of these facts, this year Texas may be looking at very heavy swarming season.

Protect your Family and Your Home! Call Pest Shield Pest Control Today (866)306-9282.