More Pest Facts

Here are a few more fun facts about insects and rodents!

Did you know . . .

• Mice feed 15-20 times a day. 
• Poisons in the body of a Monarch butterfly are sufficient to kill a small lizard and cause severe vomiting in large birds. 
• Rats can squeeze through a space as small as a half dollar. 
• Crickets are omnivores and eat both plants and animals.

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

Dave's Pest Control
1-800-400-6009
A Central Massachusetts Extermination and Pest Control Company
Worcester County Pest and Rodent Exterminators
www.davespestcontrol.net  

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Rats Under Your Roof

Ever sit in your livingroom or bedroom and hear a thump, thump, scratch scratch coming from within the ceiling above? You just might have roof rats....

Roof rats get their name from their tendency to be found in the upper parts of buildings, and can also be found under, in, and around structures. They only need a space of one-half inch to get into buildings.

Ranging in size from 6 to 8 inches in length, not including their tails, they have very poor vision and are color blind. They do have extremely strong senses of hearing, smell, touch and taste.

Roof rats are known for the damage they cause by chewing on materials and eating stored foods.

Roof rats secured their place in history by spreading the highly dangerous bubonic plague. They support many ectoparasites and urinate on food.

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

Dave's Pest Control
1-800-400-6009
A Central Massachusetts Extermination and Pest Control Company
Worcester County Pest and Rodent Exterminators
www.davespestcontrol.net

Rat Facts

Did you know that rats destroy enough food each year to feed 200 million people? 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.

If you're concerned that you have rats 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

A "Mischief"

Did you know that a group of rats is called a "mischief?" And did you know that there is an Indian temple, overrun with rats, where people go to pray with the rats who they believe to be deceased loved ones reincarnated as these rodents?

Whether it is the man on "Hoarders" living with 2500 rats, or NPMA expert Greg Baumann discussing the love-hate relationship with rats on The History Channel's Modern Marvels, those creatures do hold a fascination for us. (Well, some of us!)

However, it is important to remember that rats do pose health threats. Rats are vectors of disease, often contaminating food, and can cause many serious illnesses and diseases in human beings.

If you're concerned that you have rats 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

Commuter Rat

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

Roof Rats

Roof rats get their name from their tendency to be found in the upper parts of buildings, and can also be found under, in, and around structures. They only need a space of one-half inch to get into buildings.

Ranging in size from 6 to 8 inches in length, not including their tails, they have very poor vision and are color blind. They do have extremely strong senses of hearing, smell, touch and taste.

Roof rats are known for the damage they cause by chewing on materials and eating stored foods.

Roof rats secured their place in history by spreading the highly dangerous bubonic plague. They support many ectoparasites and urinate on food.

If you're concerned that you have rats 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

Not for the squeamish...

Be glad you don't live here...



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

Preventative Pest Control Methods - Part 2

There are numerous steps that you can nontoxic methods and products available to eliminate pests. Here are a few suggestions.

Traps:
There are many kinds of traps available that target many kinds of pests. Some examples are sticky traps for cockroaches, glue boards for mice, flypaper, bug zappers, and traps specifically for rats, gophers, or moles.

Pheromones:
Pheromones, essentially insect scent hormones, can be used in traps as bait. By emitting the scent of the female insect, pheromones can be used to lure males into a trap, where they are caught in sticky glue. Insects are only attracted by pheromones emitted by their own kind, so you need to know exactly what kind of insects you're trying to eliminate and plan accordingly.


Repellents:
 There are nontoxic repellents available for pest control. Mosquito repellents are the most popular, but if you look around, you can find repellents that target other pests. Some herbs, like eucalyptus and wormwood, are known for repelling animals and insects.

Biological Control:
Biological control is more often used in agriculture but can sometimes be used in home and garden situations as well. Basically it means using desirable organisms to eliminate undesirable organisms. For instance, planting certain plants in your garden can deter certain pests. For example, spearmint repels ants. Garlic repels Japanese Beetles. Indoors, spiders eat fruit flies and houseflies, so it may be worth leaving some of those webs around.

If pests are getting the better of you 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

Preventative Pest Control Methods - Part 1

There are numerous steps that you can take to minimize your exposure to pests. Here are a few suggestions.

Sanitation:

As they say, cleanliness is next to godliness. And it keeps pests out, too. Keeping your home clean is the most effective pest control method. If you don't leave food or dirty dishes lying around the house, animals and insects won't be attracted to the smell. Sweep and vacuum regularly. Remember, just because you can't see a crumb doesn’t mean they don't exist. Clean inside pantries and cabinets, under and around the stove and refrigerator at least once a year.

Screens:
This may seem obvious, but screens on doors and windows are a simple and relatively cheap way to keep insects out of the house. Also, screens on crawlspaces keep rodents from obtaining easy access routes into the house.

Caulking:
By caulking cracks in your house, you can minimize places for insects to hide and nest. Target bathrooms and the kitchen, especially doors and windows.

If pests are getting the better of you 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

How Well Do You Know Your Pests - Take 2

Many of you enjoyed the quiz I gave you last month, so here's another one to test just how well you know your pests!

1. What pest can burrow straight into the ground?
2. What pest can live without drinking water?
3. Is the old rhyme "Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite" a myth?

Scroll down for the answers.
Dave's Pest Control Central MA
http://www.davespestcontrol.net

1. Rats! Rats are clever pests that are capable of digging three feet straight into the ground. They have also been known to chew through building materials such as glass, cinderblock, wire, aluminum and lead and climb inside pipes with diameters between one-half and four inches.

2. House mice do not need to drink water to survive. They get all the nutrition they need from food. These mice prefer eating nuts, grains and sweets and are not particularly fond of cheese!

3. Bed bugs are real insects that like to make their homes in human beds and feed on human blood at night. These tiny bugs hide in cracks in and around human environments and are very difficult to spot.