How to Tell if There is a Mouse in Your House

You might be thinking mice and rats are not really a problem in the summertime but unfortunately they are a year round pest problem here in Las Vegas and Henderson and will not let up even when the temperatures are soaring.

Rodents are sneaky critters and often only come out at night when the house is at rest. Once they make their way inside and establish nests, you will start to see activity or at least signs of mice (or possibly rats). If you’re worried about a possible rodent problem in your home, check out a few of the more common signs of an infestation from our professionals at Western Exterminator.

  1. Droppings – Perhaps one of the easiest to recognize signs of a rodent problem in the home is finding their droppings around the home. Rodents often leave their droppings in cupboards or around walls in homes and garages.
  1. Rodent nests – Mice and rats will find debris from around the home to create a cozy nest for themselves in areas that are near food and water but safe from predators. Paper, twigs, grass, stuffing, and fabrics are all common nest materials as they are soft and warm.
  1. Chewed up food packages and containers – Hopefully you are storing your food in containers with lids to prevent rodents and other pests from getting inside. But even so, mice and rats are likely to attempt to access the food so you may find containers or original packaging with chew marks. This is a clear indication that you have an unwanted houseguest (or several) and that your snacks are in jeopardy.
  1. Gnawing marks on structures – For rodents to keep their teeth short they must gnaw on harder surfaces such as wood and other structures of the home. Their gnawing on electrical wiring has been blamed for many house fires making them a serious risk.
  1. Food debris – Rodents are not the cleanest guests. They may excel at staying out of sight but they are likely to leave behind piles of debris from feeding.
  1. Hearing noises at night – As mentioned, mice and rats are most active at night. If you are lying in bed and hearing the pitter patter of little feet overhead or hear noises coming from your walls then you have a problem.

If you’ve noticed any of the signs in your home, click here for more information and special promotions. We also welcome you to contact us by phone or fill out our form.

We’re ready to discuss your rodent issue and explain how our technicians are able to safely and effectively get rid of rodents in your home.

Is Your Backyard BBQ Ready?

Summer is the best time of the year for outdoor entertaining. If you’re looking forward to your next backyard BBQ, you will want to make sure that your property is ready. We’re not just talking gas for the grill and ice for the cooler- we want you to make sure that your property is pest free! Checking your property for current pest infestations and preventing future infestations is important as you start the summer season. Is your backyard BBQ ready? Here is a checklist of some things that our Las Vegas and Henderson pest professionals recommend for you to do to prevent pests in your yard this summer.

  1. Remove sources of stagnant water from the area to help prevent mosquito swarms. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so you want to check gutters, ditches, puddles and old flower planters for collected rainwater. If you have a birdbath, make sure the water is changed out regularly.
  2. Check around the property for any stinging insect nests. These can be built in the ground or in trees, the side of the home, in gutters or even in your grill- yikes! After you have taken a peek inside, keep the grill closed until you are ready to use it to help prevent any stinging insect surprises on BBQ day.
  3. Replace any window screens in the home that are broken or torn and make sure there is a screen door on all entrances. Open windows and doors are an easy way to let pests right into the home.

Before your BBQ, Graduation Party, summer party or any other outdoor events, we recommend checking around your property for any signs of pest problems. If you find something suspicious, give the pros at Western Exterminator a call. We can help you to prepare your property for outdoor entertainment season and keep uninvited guests such as ants, bees, wasps and mosquitoes from crashing your party!

If you live in Las Vegas or Henderson and would like to learn more about summer pest control services or you would like more info on ant prevention tips, ask a Western Exterminator professional today!

Now don’t forget the gas for the grill and the ice for the coolers and enjoy your summer backyard parties without the annoyance of pests in your yard!

 

Will You Be My Valentine? Weird and Wacky Mating Rituals of Bugs

Forget flowers and chocolates this Valentine’s Day. When it comes to wooing a mate many insect species have their own, unique ways of attracting the opposite sex. In honor of Valentine’s Day, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) explores some of these strange mating habits.

Bed Bugs

If you’ve ever had a bed bug infestation, you know how quickly a few bugs can turn into hundreds, but what you may not know is just how all those bed bugs came to be. Bed bugs practice a mating behavior known as “traumatic insemination” where the male pierces the abdomen of the female.

Kissing bugs

The name “kissing bug” might lead you to believe we’re talking about a disease you can pick up from smooching your Valentine, but kissing bugs are actually insects. Named for their tendency to bite the faces and lips of humans while they sleep, kissing bugs can cause welts and allergic reactions. This blood meal is necessary for male kissing bugs to mate and for the female kissing bug to lay eggs.

Termites

Female termites release ‘mating pheromones,’ much like perfume, to entice male termites. Once males locate the alluring females, they both break off their wings, symbolizing they are officially a couple.

Fire Ants

In fire ant colonies, the queen ant is in charge of egg laying, and can even control how many male and female eggs she lays. Her goal is to produce another queen, and males are needed to mate and produce a colony. Worker ants, however, have no use for males, which die after mating. When the queen needs males, she can overwhelm the colony with male eggs. The female workers kill many of the males, but they can’t kill them all.

If you live or work in Las Vegas or Henderson and suspect a pest infestation in your home or office, contact Western Exterminator to cut the courtship short. Visit lvpest.com or call us at 702-385-1269 today!

Bug of the Week ~ Giant Katydid

Giant katydids may look a bit frightening, but they are very gentle!  This is the largest species of katydid in the world. These incredible insects come from the forested mountain slopes of tropical Malaysia. During the day, they remain motionless and use their camouflage to avoid predators. At night, they use their long antennae to find food and look for a mate. The males produce an extremely loud, high pitched noise to call for a female.

Katydids are related to grasshoppers, so they look similar, but notice the long antennae and leaf-like appearance of the wings. These characteristics distinguish them from their grasshopper relatives, which have short antennae and wings folded flat over the back.

Most katydids eat leaves, but some are active predators that eat other small insects. Here is Las Vegas, our Katydids are much smaller and can provide natural pest control in the garden. A final interesting note about the katydid is that they can predict the weather. They begin singing about three months before the first hard frost and after it hits, they become silent.

Bug of the Week ~ Polka-dot wasp moth

The Polka-dot wasp moth is sometimes called the Uncle Sam Moth because of its red, white, and blue colors!  With its iridescent gunmetal blue coloring punctuated by white dots and a bright red tip on its abdomen, this insect may look dangerous, but it’s harmless. These moths and their caterpillars like to feed on oleander plants.

This exceptional moth (Syntomeida epilais) breaks a number of Mother Nature’s rules. Adult moths fly at night, however this beautiful moth flies in the daylight hours and is native to south Florida and the Caribbean Islands. Moths and butterflies emit pheromones (attracting scents) to attract mates. The female polka-dot wasp moth emits ultra sonic clicking sounds to attract a mate, not the scented pheromones like most other moths and butterflies. When the male comes within a few feet he’ll start clicking as well.

 

Bug of the Week ~ The Ladybug

Ladybugs aren’t really bugs at all, they’re beetles!
 Europeans have called these dome-backed beetles by the name ladybirds, or ladybird beetles, for over 500 years. In America, the name ladybird was replaced by ladybug.

A ladybug’s bright colors warn predators to stay away.
 Like many other insects, ladybugs use aposematic coloration to  signal their toxicity to would-be predators. Insect-eating birds and other animals learn to avoid meals that come in red and black, and are more likely to steer clear of a ladybug lunch.

Over its lifetime, a ladybug may consume as many as 5,000 aphids.  Almost all ladybugs feed on soft-bodied insects, and serve as beneficial predators of plant pests. Gardeners welcome ladybugs with open arms, knowing they will munch on the most prolific plant pests.  As larvae, ladybugs eat pests by the hundreds. A hungry ladybug adult can devour 50 aphids per day!

The Green Approach

Western Exterminator is greatly concerned about the possible health risks posed by various pests or rodents occupying your home or office. And we are acutely aware of the considerable costs you might incur to repair the kind of damage to your home and property that pests, rodents and nuisance birds can cause. That’s why we have the most knowledgeable staff and highly-trained and certified service technicians in the industry.Continue reading