Why You Should Hire A Professional When It Comes To Pests

Why You Should Hire A Professional When It Comes To Pests

Let’s admit it, at some point all of us will encounter a pest problem of some kind. Whether it be ants, mice, bees or something else, we will need to get these pests out of our homes. Some may want to take the do-it-yourself approach to pest control. While this is an option, there are some reasons why you should consider hiring a professional. Take a look at the information below before you decide to undertake this type of ‘do-it-yourself’ project.

A professional will identify the pest and know what treatment to use to best rid your home of the problem. When you try and treat the problem yourself, purchasing the correct product can be confusing. More confusing can be how and where to apply it. This can become costly and a major inconvenience.

Having a professionally licensed technician service your home can bring piece of mind. They are trained in the correct use of pesticides. This is important for everyone but especially for those that have children and pets.

Also, many professional services will come with some type of guarantee. If the problem is not resolved they will work to correct it.

Having a pest problem is never a pleasant situation. Using a professional can mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and an ongoing problem.

Rapid Pest Solutions is here to help. We can answer your questions and recommend a treatment that is specific to you. Please let us know how we can help. Call us at 219-836-5066 or fill out this form and a member of our staff will get back to you promptly.

Termites: Are They Eating You Out Of House And Home?

Termites: Are They Eating You Out Of House And Home?

MARCH 16 – 22 IS TERMITE AWARENESS WEEK

Termites can cause significant damage to buildings and wood furnishings. It is estimated that they cause $5 billion in damage each year!!! There are different types of termites but the ones that we will deal with in this area are called Subterranean Termites. They need contact with the soil to survive and will tunnel through the ground to reach a food source. (hopefully not your home!)

They are fairly small with long, oval bodies that tend to be a creamy color. They have 6 legs and antennae much like an ant, sometimes even called ‘white ants’ The funny thing is that they are not closely related to the ant at all. In fact, they are a much closer relation to the cockroach.

Here are some other facts about termites.

1.            A termite colony eats non-stop. 24/7/365!

2.            A subterranean colony can have up to 2 million members.

3.            The total weight of all the termites in the world is more than that of all the                      humans in the world.

4.            Termites not only eat wood, but wallpaper, plastics and fabric made from                    plants.

If it turns out you have termites, don’t panic! THEY ARE CONTROLLABLE. Even though they eat constantly, they also eat slowly. Your house won’t fall down overnight. A colony of termites will eat about one pound of wood over the course of 5 years.

If you suspect termite activity in or around your home, contact Rapid Pest Solutions. We can help!

Looking Forward To Spring

Looking Forward To Spring

Winter has been especially brutal for us this year published here. We have had record breaking low temperatures as well as record snow! As we all look forward to spring you may be thinking that something good could come from this horrible winter. Bad winter weather means fewer bugs in the spring, right? Wrong! Although we are looking for any upside to the weather we are having, fewer bugs isn’t it. Sorry!!

The fact is, that insects are very good at adapting to the ever changing environment in which they live. Some will of course try to seek refuge in your home or business. We keep our spaces warm and toasty and they like that, too. Others will burrow into the soil, hide under rocks and in the wood of logs and trees.

Another way that some insects survive the bitter cold is by reducing the water in their bodies and producing glycerol, which acts as an antifreeze. (just like your car!)

Insects don’t hibernate. Not exactly, but it is the same principle. They go into a dormant stage called diapause. Even though they are alive, they barely move at all. Even insects that are somewhat active in the winter are extremely sluggish.

So, even though fewer insects is not an upside to this crazy winter, we can still look forward to the spring. Just getting a break from the back-breaking work of shoveling will be a treat!!!

HAPPY SPRING!

Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)

Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)

Happy Fat Tuesday!

When we hear the words “Mardi Gras” it probably brings to mind a party in New Orleans filled with costumes, floats, beads and booze. The truth is, although Mardi Gras is a celebration, there is actually some history behind those wild New Orleans traditions.

For instance, each traditional Mardi Gras color has a meaning. Purple for justice, gold for power and green for faith. There is also the traditional King Cake. A cinnamon cake topped with colored sugar, that has a small trinket baked inside for someone to find.

Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is like the last hurrah before the 40 days of Lent, when many give up something they consider to be a vice.

Check out this link to see the history behind some of the other Mardi Gras traditions that are still practiced today. (throwing beads, wearing masks and Zulu coconuts!)

The Bugs You Don’t Know You’re Eating!!!

The Bugs You Don’t Know You’re Eating!!!

In this case, I believe that ignorance is bliss! This article features information on the bugs that the FDA allows into the foods that we eat every day. If you ever needed a reason to stop eating processed foods, trust me, this is it!

(I don’t think that I will ever purchase canned mushrooms again)

Let me know what you think. Is there something here that you aren’t willing to eat again?

http://www.rodalenews.com/bugs-food

Happy Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day

A traditional Valentine’s gift is candy. A big heart shaped box full of chocolates, caramels and truffles. Sounds good, doesn’t it? What if your heart shaped box contained something different? How about chocolate – but with a twist. Chocolate covered crickets. ??? I know, sounds like something from Fear Factor, right? But there are quite a few different types of insects that you can get dipped in chocolate! If you have a sweetheart of the more adventurous nature you may want to check out these delicacies.

Either way, have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Do Bugs Give You The Creeps?

Do Bugs Give You The Creeps?

I work in the pest control industry and bugs still give me the creeps! Although some of them can look pretty cool and be kind of interesting, I certainly don’t want to run into one face to face. Sealed in a bag or a jar, ok. A picture online, even better. But the truth is we will all run into some type of bug face to face or in our homes at one point or another. Knowing the facts about what you’re seeing is important and might even make you feel a little better. There are several insects out there that are absolutely harmless, like the Box Elder. If you run into a situation where you aren’t sure the type of bug you are dealing with, send us a picture. We will identify it for you. Don’t let bugs give you the creeps!

Do You Have A Mouse In Your House?

Do You Have A Mouse In Your House?

Winter is peak season for mice to enter your home. Like us, they want shelter from the cold and snow buy tamiflu. Identifying the problem is the first step. Do you notice signs of rodent activity in your home? These signs may include mouse droppings, gnaw marks, nighttime noises and more.

A mouse only needs a hole the size of dime to gain entry into your home. Mice are able to breed year round and can have up to 20 offspring per litter. They are mostly nocturnal but will live in a wide variety of places. Mice will live near a food source and will make their nests out of various materials.

Mice are known for spreading diseases including Salmonella and Hantavirus, which are particularly dangerous to children and pregnant women. Because of this, it is important to get rid of them as quickly as possible.

If you suspect a mouse in your house give Rapid Pest Solutions a call today! We are happy to do a complete inspection and give you a quote on eliminating the nest and identifying entry points so that they can be repaired. Rapid Pest Solutions can help keep your home rodent free!

New Year 2016

New Year 2016

Today is New Year’s Eve. Tomorrow we begin 2016 – Which according to the Chinese calendar is the Year of the Monkey. The Red Fire Monkey to be exact. ?!?!

Red+Monkey.jpgRed+Monkey

New+Beginnings.jpgNew+Beginnings

A new year brings new beginnings. People look to make resolutions to change themselves for the better. You often hear that people resolve to lose weight, quit smoking, stop swearing, get in shape, spend more time with family, and many other things. Why does January 1st seem like such a great time to start these endeavors? Why don’t we feel the urge to better ourselves on May 1st? Or August 19th? July 25? I think it’s because on January 1st everything seems fresh.

  • The date is 1/1.
  • One = the beginning.
  • Over much of the country there is snow. A white blanket that covers the ground.
  • White =  fresh and new.
  • Soon Spring comes.
  • Spring = a rebirth of plants, flowers and the earth around us. 

 

Cheerleading

So if resolutions are decisions we make to better ourselves, why do so many of us give up on them before the year is out? Maybe it’s because what we set out to do is too big of an undertaking to handle all at once. We overwhelm ourselves rather than looking at the small changes that we can handle. Giving up on a resolution can undermine our faith in ourselves. And if you can’t be your own best cheerleader then we have problems! Remember, to err is human. It’s important to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and CARRY ON! A slip up does not mean you broke your resolution. Giving up completely after that slip does. Never give up.


As we move ever forward, closer to 2016 with each moment, think of small changes you can make that will lead to big changes over time. Stay strong and stay true to yourself.

2016 might be the year of the Monkey but it’s got YOUR success written all over it!

new year

RAPID PEST SOLUTIONS

Because Timing Is Everything!