Rapid Pest Solutions Blog

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. ?!?!

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. 

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!

 Rapid Pest Solutions is here for you in the New Year. If you have any questions or concerns about unwelcome pests give us a call. We have a program to fit your needs.

RAPID PEST SOLUTIONS

Christmas is less than two weeks away but it sure doesn't feel like it with temps that are steady in the 50's. While many people dislike Winter and snow, I think we can all agree that a White Christmas is nice. One of the things I like about living in this area is that we normally have snow for the Holiday. So, with weather that feels more like mid-October, I am going to provide some much needed Winter stimulus to get us in the Christmas spirit.

My favorite Christmas movie is Elf. It's bright and silly and still manages to get you the heartwarming message by the end. Will Ferrell in an Elf costume is classic.

Not quite sure what this guy was thinking. Something tells me it was a bet gone bad. No matter what the reason for this ice bath, it chills me to the bone just looking at it.

26 inches of snow over the course of 30 hours. This video makes me want to curl up under a cozy blanket with some hot chocolate and watch movies. No leaving the house until Spring!

That ice has got to be inches think. How could you possibly chisel out of that? Seriously? It would have to warm up considerably before you could get inside that car!

Now you should have that Winter vibe!

Hmmmm - Maybe we should be glad we aren't have a cold and blustery Winter. We wouldn't want to get stuck like they did at The Overlook Hotel!

Holiday Madness is upon us. Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away and from there we dive head first into Christmas. The cooking, baking, parties and shopping can be overwhelming. You know what else can be overwhelming? Bed Bugs. If you're traveling for the holiday or having company stay at your place, you are at risk! This does not mean you should shutter the windows, bar the doors and hide. It just means that you need to be vigilant. 

WHEN TRAVELING - Be aware of your surroundings. If you travel over the Holiday, make sure to fully inspect your room. You may benefit from a Bed Bug Inspection Kit. ($14.95) 

Put bags in the bathroom while you check the rest of the room. 

Most hotel headboards are attached to the wall. Use a flashlight to look behind them or lift them off the mountings to take a peek at the back.

Pull the bedding off the mattress and check around the edges and seams. Look for blood spots, black dots that look like pepper or skin casings. 

You will also want to check behind any paintings hanging in the room, the bedside tables, drawers, in the seams of curtains and the any other furniture that is in the room.

If you find evidence of Bed Bugs notify the front desk immediately. The hotel should have no problem giving you another room. Request one that is two floors away from the original room.

HOUSE GUESTS - Remember that having Bed Bugs is in no way a sanitation issue. Anyone can get them, they are picked up along the way and dropped off the same way. If you have guests staying with you over the Holidays you may want to take some precautions after they leave. 

Inspection is key. Using a strong flashlight look around the bed. Check end tables, dressers and other furniture.

Remove any bedding and run it through the wash as soon as your guests have gone.

Vacuum the area around the bed and furniture.

Keep your eyes open for any live Bed Bugs as you straighten the room. If you notice any activity, contact a pest control professional. 

So bring on the Holidays! Go see Gram and Pa over in Ohio or let Aunt Martha and Uncle Lou stay with you this time. Spend the holidays with those you love - no worries! 

If you find that Bed Bugs have made their way into your life call Rapid Pest Solutions. 

October is my very favorite month and with that comes Halloween! To me October is apple cider, carving pumpkins, kids dressed up as their favorite characters, scary movies and the beautiful colors of the changing leaves. It seems the stores want to rush us right along to the Christmas season but please, let me enjoy October! 

 Spiders scare me like no other. This house is hard for me to look at. Even though I know that there is nothing real about it.

     I absolutely LOVE bats! I think they're cute and they eat lots of mosquitoes in the summer months. Maybe the reason they are associated with Halloween is because of the Vampire Bat. Yes, there is such a thing. 

I'm not sure - but isn't the original idea of 'Trick-or-Treating' that the person gives you a treat or you will play a trick on them? What if the treat was the trick? How would things go over if the treats you were  passing out were actually chocolate covered bugs?! 

 As if the things above aren't scary enough, let's not forget the Vampire Spider.

As I mentioned earlier, not everything about October is scary and related to Halloween. There are also the beautiful fall colors and traditions. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM RAPID PEST SOLUTIONS!

If you find something scary in your house this Halloween...spiders, mice,centipedes or any other uninvited pests, contact Rapid Pest Solutions. We have a solutions to fit your needs.

There are some things that we just know. Our weather is unpredictable, puppies are cute and you don't put ketchup on a Chicago style dog. There are probably some things that only you understand based on your profession. The pest control industry is no different. Here are some things only exterminators will understand.

1. Eating In A Restaurant Will Never Be The Same - Those in the pest control industry are on high alert when dining out. Our eyes will be searching the corners for rodent stations and we will be paying attention to the smell. In case you didn't know, cockroaches have a very distinct smell. A small prayer of thanks goes out when my favorite restaurant passes my quick inspection! However, I would rather eat at place that has pest control than not. Everything should be under control if they have regular service.

2. Free Advice - Friends and Family expect to get advice and treatments for free. Ants over running the kitchen? Mice nesting in your drawers? Termites eating your home? No, there is no magic trick we can do to get rid of your pests. It will require a regular treatment. And those treatments cost money!

3. I Only Have One Mouse -  Ummm, yeah, sure. While I suppose it is possible to have only one mouse it is definitely not the norm. Usually by the time you see one mouse you have dozens. Don't be fooled. 

4. Every Issue Is A National Emergency - Every customer wants their appointment yesterday. While I understand that having ants or other bugs isn't ideal, it really isn't going to make much difference if we come later today, tomorrow or in 4 days. On the other hand, don't wait for a minor nuisance to become a full blown infestation and then be upset when you have to wait a few days for an appointment. You've waited this long without calling, a couple more days won't matter.

5. No Chemical - Many customers want to be Green, either for the sake of the environment, their families health or other reasons. The problem is you can't kill pests that way. Peppermint oil, lemon juice, dryer sheets and other homemade remedies don't work. We don't have to use an abundance of chemical, your house will not be glowing neon green after your treatment. Keep in mind, a certain amount of pesticide is needed to get the results you desire. That's all there is to it. 

Think of it this way - Your home is a castle, and pest control is the moat around it. 

The purpose of the moat was to protect the castle from invaders. Having an exterior perimeter pest control treatment is the same thing. It protects you, your family and your home from unwanted pests. Pest Control is well worth the time and money that it takes. If you would like to protect your castle contact Rapid Pest Solutions. We will provide the protective barrier to keep pests out.

You might think it's crazy to talk about a Winter vacation right now. It's only mid-September and the temperatures are still quite warm. But before you know it, there will be a chill in the air. You will wake up to see frost covering the ground. Then the snow comes. Piles of it. You will look around and say, "Why didn't I plan a warm weather getaway?". Well, right now, there is an instinct inside bugs and insects that is telling them Winter is on it's way and it is time to plan their warm weather hideaway. 

While you may choose a destination like Mexico or the Bahamas as your escape, the pests are going to choose your house. That's right - Your. House. Think about it. In the Winter you like to keep your home warm and cozy. Wind, sleet and snow is left behind as you enter the welcoming heat being kicked out by your furnace. For insects and other pests, it's Summer all year round in your home! A Caribbean getaway! Add to it all the cooking, baking and goodies that come along with the holidays and it's like a smorgasbord! Have you ever been on cruise? The food and drinks along with the great weather? Who wouldn't love that? And that is exactly what the pests will get inside your home.

How do you stop it? There are some preventative measures that you can take to help keep your home pest free this Winter. 

Inspect the exterior of your home. You want to make sure that there are no entry points for insects and rodents. 

Get rid of their food source. Keep counters and stoves wiped clean. Put cereal, pasta, crackers and other types of grains in sealed glass or plastic containers. 

Remove debris. Make sure that leaves, twigs, mulch, shrubs and the like are removed from around the foundation of the home. 

Consider creating a barrier around your home. A professional pest control company can provide a treatment around the exterior perimeter that will help keep insects OUT.

Remember that we aren't the only ones that want a warm place to escape to in the Winter. Insects and rodents are looking for the same thing. Protect your home and your family. If you would like information on an exterior Fall service to create a barrier against bugs, give Rapid Pest Solutions a call. We have the services you need with the guarantees you want.

In my mind Labor Day always marks the end of summer. In just one week that final Summer fling will be upon us, although most of the kids have already gone back to school. However, the Summer weather seems to want to stick around for awhile. This coming holiday weekend could see us at the beach, having a cookout, doing some hiking and biking and other fun outdoor activities. Because of the hot weather and the few rain storms we have had it looks like the perfect conditions for Summer's pest to join us for our Last Hurrah. The heat and rain make perfect conditions for a wave of mosquito activity so be sure to pack the insect repellent. Beware on your Labor Day picnics, the stinging insects have been out in full force all month!  Don't forget about the most common pest in our area - the ant. Prepare yourselves for these pests before you go out and you will have a more enjoyable time.  

This a large Bald Faced Hornet's Nest that we removed from a customer's house last week. 

Labor day isn't the only holiday that takes place in September. There are some other dates that may be worth mentioning. 

 9/11 - 911 Remembrance Day / Forever etched in our minds, this day is to reflect upon those events and remember those that lost there lives.

  9/13 - Grandparents Day / Be sure to honor your Grandparents, just as we do Mothers and Fathers.

  9/16 - National Play Doh Day / Who doesn't love Play Doh? Relive a moment from your childhood by playing with some today!

   9/19 - Talk Like A Pirate Day / Just for fun, use all your pirate speak today. Garrr! Shiver Me Timbers!

  9/28 - Good Neighbor Day / A big smile, a helping hand, a small gesture can go a long way in being a Good Neighbor.

 This is the time of year when stinging insects are most active. You may be seeing some wasps or bees around your home. While Honey Bees provide much needed pollination of flowers, plants and crops it might be hard to see the positive side of wasps, yellow jackets and hornets. Not only can they build nests in bushes, trees and the eaves of your home, there are also ground nesting bees and wasps. Making something as simple as walking in your yard a hazard. 

What do the different nests look like? 

 This is a Bald-Faced Hornets nest. Typically found in trees or bushes higher off the ground. The shape is somewhat round and about the size of a basketball.

 A Yellow Jacket nest may have some of the same characteristics as a hornets nest. However, wasps are not as picky about where they will build. You can find these nests at ground level, in the eaves or built in connection to something else. 

 Paper Wasps build small nests with an open comb pattern. These nests tend to be smaller and are tucked away in closed areas - the corners of the roof or under a patio umbrella.

 Cicada Killer Wasps build their nests in the ground. They are very large and will dig holes in the dirt around your home and driveway. Look for this tell-tale sign!

 Mud Dauber's build cylindrical nests. These unique looking wasps aren't quite as common as yellow jackets but if you see this type of nest be warned. 

  By the way, this is a Mud Dauber. 

If you find signs of these stinging insects around your property, give Rapid Pest Solutions a call. We are offering 20% off your service for stinging insects. 

Because Timing Is Everything!

This not for those that are faint of heart - Check out the trailer for the movie Bite.

Don't let a sting or 'Bite' get you down.

What are some of the weirdest insect stories you have heard? Or the strangest bugs you have seen? Here I have compiled some of the bizarre things I have come across on the web. If you have a strange and unusual insect picture, video or factoid, please share it with us!

*Please note this is for entertainment purposes only. 

Butterfly Attack! LOL

Those ants weren't messing around - They even took the bones!

Everyone loves kids and animals. How about kids and animals -vs- bugs?

These are the things nightmares are made of!

As you are aware we have been having a very wet June. River levels are high and flooding is an issue. You may have also noticed that you are starting to see a few ants in your home. Maybe more than a few - maybe a lot! As the ground becomes more and more saturated the ants nests and tunnels are flooded. This leads them to search for a dry place to call home. Unfortunately, that place may actually be your home. Also, this rain and water may have you half wishing for a drought. Too bad that wouldn't fix the ant problem. Dry weather is just as bad for ants moving in. During a drought they enter your home in search of water. I guess we just can't win. 

Here are some tips to keep your home free of ants during this deluge.

KEEP IT CLEAN - Ants might be coming in to find a dry place but they will also need food. Take away their food source! Depending on the type of ant they may like sweet, sugary things or they may prefer meats, fat, and oils. Safest bet? Keep food in the refrigerator or if in the cabinet make sure it is in well sealed containers. Wipe off the counters and keep the floor swept and mopped.

REMOVE THE MAP - You might see ants traveling in a line. This is because ants leave a chemical trail along their path. This is so they can find their way back to the food. It also acts as a map for other ants to follow. To help keep ants out, disable their GPS, so to speak. Be sure to clean up those trails. Warm water and an everyday detergent like Pine-Sol or Mr. Clean should do the trick.

CLOSE THE GAP - Ants can find their way into your home through small gaps and openings. The best bet to keep them out is to seal these areas up. Use caulk on windows, doors and noticeable cracks. They can get in through the tiniest of spots so keep that in mind when caulking.

RAISE THE BARRIER - Another great way to keep ants out is to have an exterior perimeter treatment done on your home. This will create a barrier against ants and other ground crawling insects, helping to keep them out no matter what the weather.  

Working as a team, these ants are carrying whole pieces of Apple Jacks cereal up a wall!

If you find ants in your home or if you would like an exterior perimeter treatment to give yourself a barrier, call Rapid Pest Solutions. We have a service that will fit your needs.

Because Timing Is Everything!

At night we lay down in our comfy beds and snuggle down under the blankets. Dreams enter and entertain us like mini movies in our minds. This is a time of peace and rest after a day in a hectic world. But wait...what was that? A small scuffle in the closet? Did I feel something on my arm? Here are some thoughts that just may keep you up at night. 

BED BUGS - Ooooohhhhhh! That's right, I jumped right in with the worst one! Although bed bugs are not known to spread disease and are not related to sanitation, what makes them so creepy is that you are their food source. They use your blood as a meal, like tiny little vampires. Now some people may say, 'So? Mosquitoes do the same thing.'  -  True, but mosquitoes don't stalk you in the dead of night in the one place that you should feel ultimate comfort and safety. Maybe it's just me but thinking that bed bugs could be quietly living in my mattress, closet or bedside table is enough to give me nightmares. Literally - I have had nightmares involving bed bugs.

SPIDERS - If you know me or read my blog you certainly know that I have some major arachnophobia. The fact that I let a spider live quietly in the corner of my bathroom ceiling was shocking. But I figured if I could see him and he stayed far away I would leave him be. The problem now is that he is gone. Just overnight, poof, vanished. This does not make me a happy camper. Combine that with the fact that a spider came running at me as I was sitting on the couch and you can imagine the terror! At night when it's quiet and I'm laying in the darkness of the bedroom, I think about those spiders that got away. Where are they now? Do they seek revenge? Is one of them lowering down  from the ceiling directly above my face right now?! Ugh! No sleep tonight.

MICE - Personally I do not fear mice. I think that they are super cute and I feel bad when they get caught. That being said, I also know that you cannot have them in your home. They cause damage and are very unsanitary. Have you ever been laying quietly in your bed and heard a soft scratching somewhere? A little rustle in the closest maybe? If you have a mouse in your house that is exactly what might happen. Even though you know it is nothing big and it is not an intruder - at least not a human one - it can make your heart race and fill you with a feeling of fear. So as you drift off into dreamland don't pay attention to those small noises.

I guess there are lots of things that can keep you up at night. Scary movies, your neighbors loud music, that work project due at the end of the week. Maybe the problem is that we let negative things into our mind. Perhaps if we thought pleasant thoughts when we laid in bed we would fall asleep faster and have a more restful night. I will leave you with some cute and positive things to think about tonight as you wait for the sandman.

Your dream vacation

The silly things your kids do

The silly things your pets do

Sunshine

Ice Cream

Laughing so hard it hurts

I love horror movies and the scarier the better. I will read ghost stories at night when I am home alone. There is something about that little thrill that you get that I actually like. One thing I don't like - Spiders! Anyone that knows me is aware that seeing a spider can actually bring me to tears. Spiders are terrifying and that led me to write this blog - Why Spiders Are Scarier Than Freddy Krueger.

(and trust me, they are)

FREDDY - Freddy Krueger haunts your dreams. If you fall asleep you become vulnerable to him. Unless you choose to pull him into the real world he is left behind when you wake up.

SPIDER - Spiders are not a nightmare at all, they are very much part of our waking lives. 24/7/365

FREDDY - Armed with a glove of razor sharp knives you may think Freddy is scary than a spider. But think of it this way, you can see that big glove coming! That makes it easier to get out of the way.

SPIDER - Spiders fight with venom. There is a chance that you won't even know you are in danger. Suddenly you notice a red lump on your arm or leg...the venom has already been injected!

FREDDY - Let's face it, Freddy can't hide just anywhere. I mean, he's human size. This limits him on where he can go. Most likely in a closet or under a bed - and isn't that the first place we would look for a boogie man? 

SPIDER - These little devils are small! They can hide anywhere. Tucked into the corner of a room, behind your headboard, in the shower. (eek!) There are so many places that a spider could hide we could never check them all. 

FREDDY - Freddy preys mainly on children. Now I'm not saying that's a good thing, but as an adult you really don't have much to worry about. I'm just throwing that out there.

SPIDER - A spider doesn't care how old you are. They don't care if you're male or female, how much money you make or what your hobbies are. They are an equal opportunity frightener. Scurrying out from dark closets or dropping down from the ceiling, right in front of your face, they will get a scream every time.

I think I have made my point. If you find your home has spiders or any other scary pest, give Rapid a call. We have a treatment to fit your needs.