1: How often should someone treat for ants?

It’s recommended to treat every 60-90 days for best ant management results. We also have options for one time treatments more on an as needed basis if you only see ants periodically. But remember where you see 1 ant. There is typically many many more nearby. Ants send out scouts to scout the area before they decide to make a visible trail.

2: How often should someone treat for general pests or bugs around the home?

This is directly related to the specific customer needs, the property, the type of bugs or pests being noticed and the customers tolerance for pests. If you don’t want to see any bugs, we recommend an every 30 day treatment. If you don’t mind seeing an occasional pest, we recommend an every other month treatment. If you don’t mind seeing a few bugs here and there periodically we recommend a treatment every 3 months. The more times we can be onsite the better control we can offer.

3:How often should we treat for bugs inside our home?

Typically we recommend to treat inside the home once or twice per year. If you are on regularly scheduled maintenance services for the exterior of your home and you notice an occasional Intruder indoors we can treat accordingly.

4:What is the difference between just using store bought chemicals or having a pest professional treat around your home?

Store bought materials can be effective when used properly. However It is actually safer for the environment to have a pest professional perform a pest treatment service. As pest professionals we are licensed and trained. We follow regulations and are environmentally aware. We have access to materials that cannot be purchased at the consumer level. We take courses to better understand a variety of pests and environmental factors that promote or impede pest activity around your home and most of all overall environmental safety.

5:What is the difference between an exterminator and pest management or pest control?

Exterminator is the term that used to be used for controlling pests. It was back when chemicals were used as a primary deterrent for pests around the home. Nowadays there is a more green and environmentally friendly approach, known as IPM or integrated pest management. It involves having an understanding of the pests biology and environmental necessities and using tactics that make the environment as least pest friendly as possible. Using exclusion, sanitation and monitoring tactics first and chemicals as a last resort. This is a much more environmentally friendly approach to managing and controlling pests.

6:How to control earwigs around the home?

Earwigs like damp areas with lots of moisture. They are generally thought to be herbivorous but now we know them to be omnivorous. We find them often in garden, damp environments and especially in yards that have lots of mulch and mulch paper where moisture can get trapped underneath and create an ideal environment for earwigs.

7:How to identify different types of cockroaches?

You can access our pest library to help identify different types of cockroaches. Also you can take a photo on your phone and message us directly. We have a professional that is always ready to id a pest and address your specific pest needs.

8:What is the difference between water beetles and oriental cockroaches? 

Orientalist cockroaches are typically misidentified as water beetles because they may come out from under the slab of your home or from under the driveway. They thrive in a cool and damp environment. When people water their grass they sometimes see these cockroaches come out from underneath the slab or driveway, so they’ve gained an affection name called water beetles.

9:How to tell if you have fleas?

If you are noticing various bites especially around your ankles you may have fleas. Fleas need a host. This can be your pet or a critter passing through the yard. We can perform a flea inspection to identify and remedy the potential infestation.

10:What are the bug bites that I’m getting on my body?

• Bed bug bites are typically found around the core of the body especially when you wake up in the morning. They usually feed an hour before day break and then go back to their hiding place which can be mattress, bed frame, or dressers near the bed which is why you get bit at night while your sleeping. Patriot Pest can perform a bed bug inspection and bed bug treatment if this is something that you’re dealing with.
• With fleas you may notice bites periodically, typically on the legs or arms. Fleas have a 14 day life cycle. They need a host which can be your pet or a critter passing through the yard. They can go 48 hours without a blood meal. Patriot Pest can perform a flea inspection and treatment if you are dealing with this.
• Spider bites typically have 2 puncture marks or pinholes within the bite mark because of the spiders fangs.