When To Call An Exterminator - Part 2

Here are a few common questions people ask us...


What are your environmentally sound alternatives? We use state-of-the-art, low toxicity chemicals that are much less harmful to people, pets, and their environments than what is currently offered by the majority of the pest control market.

Will I have to leave the premises? Because we use low toxicity chemicals, you can usually stay home during the treatment. Flea and spider treatments require you to leave for 2-3 hours. Roaches, ants, mice, termites, and just about everything else can be taken care of while you're relaxing on the living room couch.

What about pets and children? Children need to leave during the treatment and may return 2-3 hours after completion. We ask that during treatments, you either put your pets in a room that is not being treated or remove them from the structure until the materials we have used are dry. Fish tanks need to be covered.

Do the chemicals you use have a real bad odor? Another great benefit of low toxicity chemicals is virtually odorless pest control. No longer do you need to be reminded that you received extermination by a nasty, lingering odor.

If you have any other questions or would like more detailed information, visit our web site Dave's Pest Control or call Dave at 1-800-400-6009.

Do Your Kids Need A Science Project?

Dave's Pest Control has teamed up with Pest World For Kids*, a web site that explores pest ecology as the intersection between human-created habitats and animal needs for food and shelter. Designed for students and teachers in the elementary and middle school grade, the web site offers information resources, interactive learning games, science fair kits, and lesson plans that support national standards developed by the National Science Teacher Association and the National Council of Teachers of English.

Looking for a project to do for your science fair? Try these downloadable science fair kits. They provide everything you need to get started thinking like a scientist, from forming a question to communicating results of your experiment.

Here is one kit your kids might enjoy doing -- Which Came First: The Fly or The Egg?

Fruit flies are not only pests but they are also incredibly helpful in scientific research. For this project, you will start by observing the fruit fly life cycle. Then you will follow the scientific method to test how temperature affects fly development during their life cycle.

• Age Range: Fourth Grade to Eighth Grade
• Time Required: 2 weeks to 1 month or longer (if you choose).
• Cost: Minimal - most materials are readily found in many home kitchens.
  

Click here to learn more about this science fair kit.

* Pestworld for Kids.org is part of the National Pest Management Association

Spring -- When A Lot Of What Bugs You Comes Back To Life

Spring is the time of year we think of renewed life, flowers, rain showers, and warmer days, this is also the time of year our activity springs to new beginnings. Almost all pest activity significantly increases.

Termites: Although termites are active 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, they are most evident during the spring swarm. This is when the winged reproductives (Alates) emerge in large numbers to reproduce and start new colonies. These silent destroyers, cause more damage and destruction to our homes and property each year than do all of the fires and storms combined annually.

Other Pests: This is the time of year when all of your "over-wintering" pests emerge from their hiding places to reproduce. Carpenter ants start swarming (another wood destroying insect). Also, the fire ants, wasps, pill bugs, millipedes, earwigs, mites, spiders, scorpions, silverfish, roaches, etc. become more active and populations significantly increase.

The service technicians at Dave's Pest Control will come to your home or business, assess the situation, and offer a solution that will fit your needs and your budget.

When To Call An Exterminator - Part 1

Here are a few common questions people ask us...


How do I know if I need extermination? The answer to this question is pretty simple. If you see just a few ants or just one mouse, those few ants or one mouse have a whole bunch of buddies; lurking where you can't see them. If you have even a slightly visible problem then you have a problem. Left untreated, you could have a crisis.

I have a whole bunch of pests and a lot of them. Do you have a solution? If you have a feeling one treatment isn't enough to keep your house pest free, we offer a couple of different options. The service technicians at Dave's Pest Control will come to your home or business, assess the situation, and offer a solution that will fit your needs and your budget.

More commonly asked questions to come... So bookmark this blog or add us to your RSS feed!

Spider Bites

Did you know that spiders have modified fangs that inject venom? Most spiders will only bite humans in self-defense, and few produce worse effects than a mosquito bite or bee-sting. Most of those with medically serious bites, such as recluse spiders and widow spiders, are shy and bite only when they feel threatened, although this can easily arise by accident. Funnel web spiders' defensive tactics are aggressive, although they rarely inject much venom. On the other hand the Brazilian wandering spider requires very little provocation.

Many alleged cases of spider bites may represent incorrect diagnoses, which would make it more difficult to check the effectiveness of treatments for genuine bites. While the venom of a few species is dangerous to humans, scientists are now researching the use of spider venoms in medicine and as non-polluting pesticides.

If you are concerned about the spiders in your home, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009. We'll be glad to talk with you and offer a safe and affordable solution. Dave's Pest Control: http://www.davespestcontrol.net

Our Family Protecting Your Family

Our Family Protecting Your Family... That's our tag line.
At Dave's Pest Control we not only keep your family safe from the hazards of pest infestations, we protect your home too.

Buying a new home may be the biggest investment you’ll ever make. Protecting your home from unwanted pests is the first step in protecting that investment. Pest management has become a major industry in helping preserve the value of your home. On average, termites cause over $2 billion in damages each year, and homeowner's insurance may not cover this damage.

The first step to effective pest management is defining the factors which limit the reproduction and survival potential of each pest. For instance, removing the food, water and shelter of pests have a very significant impact on controlling pest populations by itself. Coupled with appropriate chemical control measures, a longer lasting, more significant impact is made.

That's where the knowledge, training, and years of experience help identify and administer the appropriate actions to maximize pest control. So if  you think a problem may be lurking in your home, give me a call at 1-800-400-6009.  I'm happy to help.  -- Dave

Welcome To Our Blog!

My goal with this blog is to provide information and an interesting, even entertaining, perspective about the pest control industry. So, to get started, let me share a little history about how my family-owned business got started.

Dave's Pest Control has been in business in the Worcester area since 1972 when my father, Dave Penttila, Sr. started the company with little more than a handshake and a prayer.

Today, Dave's Pest Control is still family owned and operated. Our mission is still the same -- to providing the same superior customer service and products as always, and to set the standard of superior service in the Pest Management Industry that exceeds customers' expectations. Our residential and commercial clients enjoy prompt, personal service that only an independent operator can consistently provide.

I am very proud that many of our current regular service clients are original customers from the early years. I am thankful, too, that our customers feel confident when referring their friends and family to us.