Termagon Termite & Pest Control Blog

Termites are tiny, ant-sized insects that survive on the cellulose they receive by eating wood. And they don’t care very much whether that wood comes from a fallen tree in a forest or the beams holding up your house. This is no small matter either, as the costs of termite damage in America amounts to around a million dollars per year. You might be thinking to yourself, “but my home has insulation, so that protects against termites, doesn’t it?” Not quite. Here are some things you should know about insulation’s effects on termites and what you can do to keep termites out of your house. Fiberglass Insulation First, let’s discuss fiberglass insulation. That’s the fuzzy pink stuff that comes in rolls and makes you itch if you’re not careful with it. If you’re wondering whether or not fiberglass insulation does anything to slow termites down, it doesn’t. Even though termites don’t...

Many people fail to realize how significant of a problem bed bugs can be. This is especially true for those who live in cooler areas of the country. However, for those of us living here in Arizona, there’s no such thing as too much precaution concerning these nasty critters. Once bed bugs make their way into a home, they can be nearly impossible to get rid of if you don’t know exactly what you're doing and what to look for. Bed bugs and attracted to both carbon dioxide in our breath and the heat generated from our body. This is why we are such easy prey while sleeping. When bed bugs are being exterminated from a home, more often than not, the residents need to leave overnight. While this happens more often than people realize, it's not exactly something you’d want to shout from the rooftops. Many people stay with a...

Fire ants can be fearsome foes. These insects can swarm at a moment’s notice, and their bite carries a sting that is hard to forget. For those who are allergic to their venom, fire ant bites can even be deadly. This is why it’s important to know all you can about this ferocious bug -- and why it’s important to get rid of fire ants whenever you find them on your property. But how can you do that? About the Red Fire Ant Fire ants are called that due both their their fiery red color as the pain and heat a bite inflicts. They can be found pretty much all over the South - from coast to coast -- and once they find an area to live in, they go about taking that area methodically and quickly. It doesn’t take more than a few hours for a new colony to form,...

Termite damage can appear in many forms. It can look like buckling ceilings and walls, or like mazes in wooden beams. Termites can create mud tunnels on the foundation of your home. They can also leave destruction that looks like water damage in their wake. No matter what it looks like, damage created by termites needs to be addressed immediately. Termites weaken the structures they infest, which makes those structures unsafe. Fortunately, recovery from such an infestation is possible. Here’s what to do. Addressing Minimal Damage Surface-level termite damage is considered to be fairly minor. If the termites have not reached the core of the infested material, the integrity of the structure may still be safe. That means this type of damage is pretty simple to take care of, and usually doesn’t require professional help. To fix this damage, you’ll set out to harden the wood, which makes it termite-resistant. You...

Most of us have seen fruit flies in our lives. These pesky bugs seem to appear when we want them around the least. But they don’t just appear out of thin air. Read on to find out what brings them into your home and what to do about them. Fruit Flies Love Fermentation Adult fruit flies are small, only about an eighth of an inch long. This means they can easily penetrate even the smallest gaps in your windows and doors. But what brings them inside? In a word: fermentation. Fruit flies seek out moisture and organic materials. This combination can create fermentation, which thereby creates an environment suitable for fruit fly eggs. Fruit flies can lay up to a whopping 500 eggs at one time, with the egg to adult cycle taking only about a week. Larvae feed on any fermenting mass, which allows them to grow to a reproductive...

Summer’s around the corner. Soon ants will be coming to a home near you. A few ants can be a bother but can also be a sign of an infestation. Quicker than a sunburn, you have an ant problem. Spotting ants early and knowing what to look for will prevent an annoyance from becoming traumatic. Before you panic from an ant in the butter, find out if you have a bigger problem. Can You Spot an Ant Nest? Most ant colonies outside can be spotted easily by small fresh piles of dirt or soil. You will see these piles in between patio pavers or concrete slabs. They are the entrance to nests which can be quite complex. There may be more than one entrance, so make sure to look around. Wood-chewing ants, like the carpenter ant, enjoy moist timber. Small piles of sawdust around dead logs or old wood note their...

Termites are more than just pesky critters. They’re a destructive nuisance that can damage your home and cost you money. But what brings them to your space? The truth is, you don’t get a termite infestation simply through chance. There are specific conditions that make your home conducive to these insects. Too Much Wood Termites love wood of all kinds. That includes the firewood pile you have in your backyard, the tree stump in your front yard, any living trees close to your home and even the wood mulch that’s part of your landscaping. Woodpiles leaning against your home provide a point of access for termites to get inside. Rotting wood is a breeding ground for termite colonies. Living trees that come into contact with your home’s exterior just provide another pathway for them to cause damage. Mulch holds moisture, which is another thing termites love. For these reasons, all wood...

Infestations can cause any business owner to panic and start to make urgent phone calls, but it is important to not get too desperate. You want to make sure that you have the right pest services, although it still may be pretty unclear to people what those are. The Business Needs to be Timely and Well-Organized They need to give you a concrete date and time and you should expect them to appear at that time. As a customer, you need to know this time so that you can properly plan your day. They should also let you know how long it will take them to do each task that is needed, and they should estimate these times according to the size of each room they would be working on. If your pest control service is late, or they come with bad, unexpected surprises they they could have avoided, these are...

Waking up to discover a tiny parade of ants making their way across the floor of your home is never a fun way to start your day. Your first instinct is to squash them or sweep them out the door quickly and get rid of them. If you were very lucky, this might work, but it is very unlikely. The reason why is because ants leave trails, this is why we see ants walk in lines. They are following a scent trail that was left by ants before it leading to food or worse yet, their new home. So, what can you do? Find the Source Thankfully, because ants follow scent trails if there are a large number of ants that have made their way into your house. You should be able to take your time and follow the line of soldiers back to their home. Resist the urge to spray...

By the time you see household pests crawling around your home, you may already have a thoroughly infested home. Pest populations expand rapidly when they have access to a food source, water and shelter. How fast can infestations occur? Here are some timetables for common household pests regarding how quickly they can gain a significant foothold in your home. Termites The insect that never sleeps, termites are expanding their colony non-stop on a 24/7 work cycle. Every hour they are present in your house, they are boring away at the structural integrity of your home, and if left unchecked, they can cause a catastrophic collapse in a matter of months. As soon as you see evidence of termites crawling around or see tiny tunnels or piles of wood dust around your home, you need to call a professional and deal with this serious threat to your home’s structure. Moths Food moths...

In the Southwest, it’s common to find pests in your home. To them, your attic is just as inviting as your basement, and that’s where you’ll find most of them. You can trust that Termagon professionals know what and where to look for these home invaders. Common Southwestern Region Insects Insects are the most common pests across the nation. Some are helpful to your home, because they feed on other insects but most you wish to avoid. These pests cause damage, carry diseases and eat your food. In order to protect your home, be on the lookout for these common southwestern pests. Roaches and ants tend to spread. However, they leave a trail of droppings to show where they’ve been. Unfortunately, where they have been is typically in your kitchen. Ants are so common that they are Termagon’s most commonly reported pest, which shows how easy it is for them to...

Part of keeping pests out of your home is knowing where they like to live and how they enter your home. The most common pests that inhabit our homes are insects, rodents and other small mammals. Luckily for you, deterring their entry is fairly easy once you know what to look for. Insects Insects that invade the home are plentiful. Roaches, spiders, ladybugs and other beetles, wasps and bees are all commonly found roosting in attics. These pests prefer attics and crawl spaces due to their seclusion and protection from the elements. Homeowners should regularly inspect their roof, eaves and vents for damage. Lifted shingles, bent or separated eaves, or broken louvers on vents can all supply easy entry to pests. These defects should be repaired quickly in to deter opportunistic pests from deciding your house should be their home. Some insects, such as termites, live close to the ground, making...

Owning a home is an excellent asset. However, it is also a significant responsibility. One of the greatest threats to your household is a pest infestation. Pest can bite, sting, spread disease and destroy buildings, lowering your homes resale value. However, with the right pest service, this problem can be handled efficiently and in a short period of time. Pest control is something that every homeowner with a pest problem should invest in before the problem gets out of hand. Infestations It only takes a few pests to make their way into your house. Then, in a matter of days, a colony can begin, and your house becomes infested. Rats and mice can come into your home through any opening larger than their heads. They can also chew through wood and build tunnels inside your walls. Bed bugs can latch onto clothes and blankets, entering your house without your knowledge. However,...

In the United States, bed bugs have staged quite a comeback in recent years. Their return is blamed on a rise in international travel, but you don't need to be a globetrotter to experience an infestation. The pest control experts at Termagon in Tucson, AZ, explain the many ways in which bed bugs gain entry into your home. How Did I Get Bed Bugs? Even if you don't consider yourself an international traveler, your household is vulnerable to the threat of bed bugs. These sneaky insects can invade your home in some pretty surprising ways. These include picking them up from someone else's home -- most likely an unknowing victim -- as well as from work, travel or an item brought into your house. In many of these situations, you or a family member innocently placed a belonging on an infested item. Bed bugs often hide out undetected on furniture, then...

Termites are destructive in every sense of the word, and their appalling reputation speaks for itself. Each year, property owners are forced to spend past their budgets to pay for the costly repairs that accompany termite damage. If you don't want these critters to wreak havoc on your home, it may be in your best interest to turn to a pest exterminator. Letting a professional inspect your property will be beneficial in more ways than you think. Regain Your Peace of Mind If you're like most homeowners, coming across mud tubes and droppings is going to leave you feeling a bit uneasy. Thankfully, a thorough inspection will go a long way toward eliminating your worries. Pest exterminators are experts at identifying the different termite species. While the infestation is being assessed, you can rest assured that your property will be treated with care and respect. The goal of every inspection is...

Termites are more than just a nuisance; they damage your home by feeding on the wood. This impairs the structure of the building. Termites can make their way through plaster and metal siding and feast on the wooden items within a building too. Even if your home is not made primarily of wood, you could be at risk of having termite problems. These pests often go unnoticed until considerable damage has occurred. Therefore, it’s important to know how to spot the signs of termites. Warped, Sagging Or Peeling Surfaces Drywood termites live inside of the wood in your home. They can create hollow tunnels within the wood long before they’re detected from the outside. Some signs of termite infestations mimic water damage. Floors may buckle or sag, the paint around windows may peel and ceilings can droop. As termites remove the material within floorboards, you may begin to notice that certain...

In the U.S., there are three primary types of termites and a total of 45 different species that are divided among each type. The three primary types of termites include subterranean, drywood and dampwood termites. The different types of termites have their own unique biology, which affects the areas of the U.S. in which they live and the damage that they cause. Subterranean Termites A member of the family Rhinotermitidae, subterranean termites live under the ground. These insects build the biggest nests out of any other type of insect in the U.S. Subterranean termites build mud tubes that connect from their nests to their sources of food, including the timbers of your home. These termites live in all U.S. states except Alaska. Subterranean termites cause the most damage to homes in the U.S. In Arizona, arid-land subterranean and desert subterranean termite species may both be found. Drywood Termites Drywood termites live...

Ants and termites – two similar pests with very similar characteristics. These crawling insects prefer to live outdoors but oftentimes find their way indoors to search for food and shelter. Though they're similar in size and anatomy, they differ with their dietary habits. Ants like sweets, and termites enjoy wood. The Main Difference Between Ants and Termites Some ant species, such as carpenter ants, are most like termites as they build their nests in wood. The key difference is that carpenter ants don't consume the wood as they chew and build tunnels. They only want to burrow deep into the wood so that they can have a secure place in which to raise their young. Termites also build their nests in wood. However, they devour the wood as they expand into the structure. Whereas carpenter ants only leave behind small holes and tunnels, termites leave nothing behind. They feed on the...

Wasps and bees have similar characteristics, so there is often significant confusion about the differences between these insects. Both wasps and bees build large dwellings to protect their queens, and they both rely on a network of honeycombs to protect young larvae. Wasps and bees are also both winged insects with stingers that people know instinctively to avoid. Understanding the differences between wasps and bees is important since different pest control methods should be used depending on which type of winged insects you need to eliminate. Differences Between Wasps and Bees Biologists classify both wasps and bees as members of the Hymenoptera order, but there are significant dissimilarities between their physical characteristics. Wasps have smooth skin while bees have distinctive fur on their abdomens. Bees form hives while wasps form nests. Bees tend to form large hives of about 75,000 insects while wasp nests often contain less than 100 insects. Bees...

If you have pests inside your home, you should take immediate action to prevent them from finding sources of food. Pests that find food can lay eggs, and then you could face the nightmare of having a full infestation inside your home. Pantries are one of the main areas inside a home where pests look for food, so you should take steps to prevent pests from getting into your food supply. By taking the right steps to keep pests away from your food, you can keep your family safe and avoid attracting pests to your home in the future. 1. Cover Food Items Pests often enter a home when they can smell the scent of food. You should keep your food sealed with plastic bags and airtight containers that will eliminate smells that can attract pests. If food does not come with resealable packaging, avoid using rubber bands or bag clips...