ANT
Ants are one of the most common household pests.
Ants come in a variety of sizes and species. They
are most likely to cause a problem during the summer
months when they enter houses looking for a water
and food source. Some ways a homeowner can
control an ant infestation can include:

• sealing cracks and crevices around the base of the home,
• making sure shurbs and trees do not touch the exterior of the
  house, and
• properly sealing food in storage containers as well as pet
  food.

If you find yourself with an ant infestation, contact a pest professional
who will be able to help you locate and target where the ants may be
comming in.

COCKROACH
Roaches can be a disturbing problem for the
homeowner. These creatures have almost no natural
enemies so they are prevalent, hearty bugs. Roaches
can be brought into the household in boxes, clothes,
grocery bags, and old books. It is important to call a
pest professional when you begin to see roaches on a regular basis
because roaches can multiply rapidly. For large infestations,
treatment normally consists of the removal of items from cabinets,
drawers, and the floor of closets in order for maximum
effectiveness. More than one treatment may be needed to control
the problem.

FLEA
Fleas can be a seasonal or year-round problem.
They can introduced into the home by a pet or
even by walking through a yard that contains
fleas. Adult fleas can lay 25-40 eggs per day!!
Fleas hatch in cycles which can make them
difficult to kill. They can even delay emerging from the pupae stage
for 4-6 months. Steps a homeowner can take to prevent a flea
infestation are:

1. Make sure your pet is on a flea control from a veterinary
   clinic every month.
2. Vaccum the entire house regularly and thoroughly,
   concentrating on pet bedding areas, cracks and crevices,
   and under couch cushions.
3. Wash pet bedding once a week.

TERMITE
Termites are responsible for $1.5 billion dollars
worth of damage annually to U.S. homes. If left
untreated, they can become a serious problem to
a homeowner. Most homeowners are not even aware
they have a termite problem until the Spring or Fall
when the termite swarmers begin to "swarm". A "swarm" is when the
colony reaches a certain population level and the swarmers leave
the colony to start new colonies. These winged termites look a
lot like winged ants. The difference is that all termites have a
"thick waist" but all ants have a "pinched-in-waist". Termites
also have antennae that look like "a string of beads", but ants
have "elbowed" antennae. Here are a few things that we recommend
to help prevent infestations in your home. These include:

1. Repair any leaking water lines or fixtures in/under house.
2. Move all wood-containing mulch at least one foot away from
   your foundation (possibly replace with sand or stones).
3. Keep all wood supports of porches, patios, decks etc. more
   than one foot from contact with your home's foundation and
   use only pressure treated wood for all construction which
   is in contact with the ground
4. Stack lumber or firewood or any wood several feet away
   from the home or building. Remove any wood debris from
   under the home.
5. Get your house inspected every year for termites by a
   pest professional. The peace of mind is worth it!

If you do have a termite problem, don't panic. Most significant
termite damage will not occur in a short period of time. Call a
pest professional that you trust and talk to them about a
treatment plan.