When Should Termite Work Be Done? - Part 1

Termite work is a generic term. It refers to repair work done in a home to correct infestation or damage from wood pest organisms such as dry rot, fungus, termites (of which there are various kinds), wood-boring beetles and carpenter ants, to name a few.

Typically, buyers have homes inspected before they buy so that they are well-informed about the condition of the property. Of the many inspections a buyer might order, a "termite" report is a virtual certainty.

Local custom usually dictates who pays to correct wood pest damage during the course of a home sale. Sellers often pay to repair damage and infestation that developed during their period of ownership. Buyers usually take responsibility for items called in a report that are not active problems but that could become a problem in the future, like a tub that needs caulking.

Home sellers are wise to order a termite inspection report before they market their home. In areas where sellers pay to correct termite repairs, a pre-sale report lets sellers know how much they can expect to pay. It also provides information to the buyers that they will certainly want before purchasing the home.

If you're concerned about termites in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

Residential Rodent and Insect Protection Services - Part 2

Here is more information about our Guardian Residential Protection!

Guardian Home Protection is our standard program designed to defend most homes against unwanted pests. Guardian Basic program includes:

a thorough inspection of your home and surrounding property treatment of exterior foundation, eaves, window sills and trees inside treatment if necessary reports showing what was done, what materials were used, and what you can do to help us maintain control over the pests at your facility

Customized Service Programs
Since every home is different, Dave's Pest Control offers service programs that are tailored to meet your specific pest management needs. Dave's will conduct a comprehensive inspection of your home and surrounding property to identify key problem indicators like colony sources, potential entry points for rodents, evidence of termites, and more. Once identified, Dave's will recommend the best solution for your specific pest problem.

Real Estate Inspection
If you're planning on selling or refinancing your home, you will need a wood-destroying insect inspection. FHA and VA Loans require wood destroying insect (WDI) reports prior to financing. Luckily, Dave's is Wood-Destroying Insect Certified and can help you with this.

If you're interested in discussing Guardian Residential Protection Services for your home, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

Pest Control Residential Protection Services - Part 1

Maintain Your Biggest Investment
Your home is your biggest investment. Chances are you've protected your investment with a solid homeowners insurance plan. But do you have a protection plan against the threat of nasty home invaders like termites, carpenter ants, and rodents?

Wood-destroying insects like carpenter ants and termites, for example, cost us billions of dollars every year. More than 90% of the homes in the US are wood framed. But even homes built of masonry and steel serve up delicious wood treats and places to live for these pests. Left unchecked, they systematically destroy our homes and valuable wood objects in them. Most homeowners policies do not cover termite and carpenter ant damage. Dave's Pest Control can help.


Quality Service at a Reasonable Cost 
Dave's trained professionals will thoroughly inspect your home to identify both problem areas and potential problem areas. After determining the best method for eliminating any existing trouble spots and preventing future infestations, Dave and his team will come up with a customized maintenance service program to fit your unique needs. You will receive a detailed written estimate to help you make your decision to do the right thing and protect your home and family.

Dave's Pest Control prides itself on providing quality personal service to the local Worcester county community at significantly lower prices than some of the larger corporations.

Services

• Mosquito Control
• Termite Bait Systems
• Rodent Prevention & Elimination FHA and VA Real Estate Inspection
• envirocare™
• Green Pest Control Program
• Customized Maintenance

Programs Pests Covered

• Ants
• Bats
• Bees
• Bed Bugs
• Birds
• Carpenter Ants
• Cockroaches
• Earwigs
• Hornets
• Mites
• Rodents
• Silverfish Spiders
• Ticks
• Wasps

If you're interested in discussing Guardian Residential Protection Services for your home, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

Pest Threat Quiz - Part 3

Last round! How have you been doing? Test your Pest Threat knowledge! (Answers below)

QU. #1: Which disease creates a bull's eye around the original bite?

QU. #2: Do pests have to bite, sting, or crawl on people to make them sick?

QU. #3: What pest has killed more people than all world wars combined?

Dave's Pest Control
1-800-400-6009
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

ANSWER question #1: Ticks spread Lyme Disease and often the first sign is a bull's eye rash around the bite. Other clues include fever, chills, headache and extreme tiredness.

ANSWER question #2: No, surprisingly enough, you can get a pest-related sickness without ever coming into direct contact with a pest! Cockroach allergens, which consist of droppings, shed skins and secretions, have been shown to trigger asthma attacks in children.

ANSWER question #3: Fleas were responsible for spreading the "Black Death" in the 14th century. This dangerous disease killed one-quarter of Europe's population. Although, fleas shouldn't take all the blame -— they caught it from rats!

Dust Mite Trivia

The dust mite is nearly impossible to see without magnification. A typical mattress can contain tens of thousands of dust mites.

Nearly 100,000 mites can live in a single square yard of carpet!

Dust Mites primarily feed on dead skin shed by humans and other animals. They can also absorb moisture from the air. Dust Mites are most often found in beds. They may also be found living in carpet, furniture, and clothing.

Dust Mites are harmless to most people. They carry small foreign proteins, often referred to as "allergens". They don't carry diseases, but these proteins can cause allergic reactions in people by triggering the immune system to over react.

PREVENTION

* Change your sheets often.
* Vacuum frequently.
* Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.
* If Dust Mites are a real problem in your home, call Dave!

Dave's Pest Control
1-800-400-6009.
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Pest Game for Kids (Adults can play too!)

Maybe you've seen an animal or insect in or around your home. Maybe you've even caught it. Is it a pest? (No, your little brother doesn't count!) Answer a few simple questions to see if your critter is one of the common household pests that might threaten your health or damage stuff in your house.

Click on Name That Pest! Have fun!

Dave's Pest Control
1-800-400-6009.
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Pest Threat Quiz - Part 2

Ready for Round 2? Test your Pest Threat knowledge! (Answers below)

QU. #1: Can bees eat wood?

QU. #2: Where do mosquitoes get West Nile Virus?

QU. #3: Can flies bite people?

Dave's Pest Control
1-800-400-6009
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org


ANSWER question #1: A special type of bee can dig tunnels in wood to make its home. The carpenter bee prefers wood that is at least two inches thick and relatively soft. Carpenter bee tunnels are perfectly round and usually have piles of wood dust underneath them.

ANSWER question #2: Mosquitoes get West Nile Virus from birds that have the infection. The reason that mosquitoes get most of the attention is that they are responsible for spreading the virus to people. There is no history of sick birds spreading the virus to humans.

ANSWER question #3: As flies do not have teeth or a stinger, they cannot bite people. They do have needle-like hooks that they can push into victims. This sometimes feels like a sting or a bite but no teeth or stingers are involved. These hooks help them to make food easier to eat but can also spread diseases. Flies have been known to spread tuberculosis, typhoid fever and diarrhea.

The World's First Surfing Mice - The Radical Rodents

I found this fun video -- The World's First Surfing Mice - The Radical Rodents!

I could not embed the clip screen for you, but click on the link below and you'll get to the video on YouTube. You don't want to miss this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdbxLk8_C8c&p=07451E4E4D0F1581&index=5&playnext=2

Dave's Pest Control
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

The Black Widow

Female Black Widow spiders have a red hourglass shape on their backs. Males have white spots on their sides. Males only live about a year, but the female can live up to 3 years. Hungry female Black Widow spiders have been known to kill the male spider after mating, but that isn’t always the case. Geographically, Black Widow spiders can be found in the Eastern, Central and Western United States.

Black Widow spiders eat other pests. Sometimes they even eat other spiders.

Black Widow spiders tend to live in cellars and in piles of wood or trash.

The bite of a female Black Widow spider can be poisonous but not deadly to humans. The male Black Widow spider does not bite. A Black Widow spider bite is pale in the middle with a red ring around it and is followed by severe cramping, weakness, sweating, headache, anxiety, itching, nausea, vomiting, difficult breathing and increased blood pressure.

PREVENTING SPIDER BITES

* Wear heavy gloves when moving things that have been stored for a long time.
* Shake out your shoes before putting them on.
* Just to be safe, stay away from spider webs.

If you're concerned about spiders in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Mosquito Trivia

There are about 170 different kinds of mosquitoes in North America alone. These pests are part of the same family as houseflies and fruit flies, because they all have two clear, veined wings.

Best known as a summer pest, mosquitoes can develop from egg to adult in 10 to 14 days.

Dave's Pest Control
1-800-400-6009.
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Keep Mice Out This Winter

It's cold outside and mice are looking for a warm place to go this winter. Now, mice do not migrate to Florida (unless they hitch a ride with a human snow bird, that is). So watch this video for a few tips on keeping mice out of your home this winter. Of course, you can always give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

If you're concerned that you have mice "wintering" in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

Pest Threat Quiz - Part 1

Okay...I've been blogging about pest threats the past several months. Now, let's test your Pest Threat knowledge! (Answers below)

QU. #1: What pest destroys enough food each year to feed 200 million people?

QU. #2: What pest causes the most damage every year to property?

QU. #3: Do ants damage property?

Dave's Pest Control
1-800-400-6009
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org


ANSWER question #1: Rats! These pests rely on their senses of taste, touch, smell and sound to find food sources. Rats will eat almost anything including meat, cereal, fruits and vegetables. The United States has two main types of rats: the Norway rat and the roof rat.

ANSWER question #2: The underground termite causes $1.5 billion of damages every year. This termite can be found in over 600,000 homes in the United States every year. Dining on wood, books, wallpaper, fabric and paper, these pests are dinner guests that just don't know when to leave.

Dave's Pest Control is BBB Accredited

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) issues Reliability Reports on all businesses, whether or not they are BBB accredited. We are pleased to tell you that Dave's Pest Control, Inc. has been a BBB Accredited business since December 2009. Based on BBB files, Dave's Pest Control, Inc. has a BBB Rating of A+ on a scale from A+ to F.

Call Dave at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

Pest Health Threats - Part 7

Rodents can enter a building through almost any opening or crack. It is important to inspect for rodent droppings, especially in undisturbed areas such as pantries, under baseboards and along walls.

Rodent droppings most often cause allergic reactions in human beings but can also cause disease, including the potentially deadly Hantavirus. More frequently, though, rodents serve as vectors, carrying bacteria, such as salmonella, on their bodies and contaminating food sources, kitchen surfaces and equipment.

Dave's Pest Control can offer the expertise and knowledge of rodent biology to best protect your health and rid your home or business of a rodent infestation.

Call Dave at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Deadly Mating Dance...

If you're concerned about spiders in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net