Termites

(by Robert Holyfield)

This is the time of the year that Termites let you know they exist in your world. In the spring when the temperature and moisture conditions are favorable, you may see thousands of these critters swarming from the ground or worse yet the inside of your home. January to May is the time of the year the Eastern Subterranean termite swarms in north Florida. If you notice a lot of dead bugs in the bathtub or shower or on a window ledge, you may have a problem and need to seek a professional inspection. Occasionally Termites will swarm through the attic and out the vents and can go undetected for years causing major damage. Swarming termites closely resemble winged ants with some differences. An ant will have four wings, two long and two short. A termite will have four wings of equal length. An ant will have three sections to the body where a termite will only have two. The antennae of the ant will elbow where the termite will be straight. The reason you find them in heavy numbers at windows is they are trying to get outside to pair up as a King and Queen and start another colony. This is the process they do to keep their species from going extinct. Of the hundreds to thousands of termites that swarm from a single colony, only a few will survive.

Other signs to look for would be mud tunnels going up the outside of the house, tiny holes in the sheetrock with dirt or mud, bubbling paint, and or discarded wings (from swarmers) near doors, windows, & in cobwebs.

Americans spend around 5 billion annually repairing damage caused by these little critters. Termites are located throughout the US with the Eastern subterranean termite being the most common and widely distributed termite in the USA. FACT: A queen termite can live more than 15 years and lay one egg every 15 seconds for most of her life.

There are three main ways of fighting termites; repellent termiticides, non-repellent termiticides, and baits.

Repellent products do just that. They repel the termites and leave them to regroup to fight another day. Non- repellent products such as Premise and Altriset actually want termites to come in contact with them as they will spread the product throughout the colony. Baiting is the third way of combating these critters and Dow’s Sentricon baiting system has been providing protection since 1994. With Sentricon, bait is introduced to the termites to eliminate the colony. Bug Out Service also uses a product called Altriset made by DuPont. It is the only termiticide on the market to not carry a signal word on the label making it one of the greenest products around. We use this product along with the Sentricon baiting system providing a one, two knock out punch on termites.

Prevention tips: No home is termite proof but there are things you can do to improve your chances of not getting them. Look for conducive conditions (conditions favorable for termites).

1. Keep wood siding away from touching the ground.

2. Keep firewood away from the house.

3. Divert water away from the home with downspout extensions.

4. Try using alternative landscape materials such as rubber mulch or rocks.


As always if you need any help on termites or other critters.
Give us a call!

Bug Out Service

904-743-8272


************ Free termite inspection and estimate ****************

Drywood Termites

(by Robert Holyfield)

Drywood Termites are social insect s that live in colonies in sound wood. They are much larger than our more common Subterranean Termites yet their colony size is much, much smaller. You are less likely to get an infestation of this termite, however the cost to get rid of them can be much larger. They are found more along the coast and the southern part of the state. Older areas of the city are also hot spots for this termite. Downtown, riverside, green cove springs and along most any waterway. They spend their entire life inside the wood they are consuming. The more common Subterranean Termite lives in the ground and makes mud tunnels to get to their food source. Drywood Termites can enter a structure through attic or foundation vents, under eaves and fascia boards, and through cracks and joints of exposed wood. Some of the common places they will start in a home is fake wood shutters that are deteriorating or wooden columns doing the same. These openings provide an easy entry point for the little buggers. Once inside the king and queen start the new colony. After the colony has matured, (usually three years) they produce swarmers to leave the colony and start a new one elsewhere. They usually swarm at night and are attracted to light. Antique furniture is a really good carrier of this termite. Many pieces have a infestation and can spread to your home by way of them swarming from that old dresser you fell in love with that’s now in the corner of your bedroom!! Be on the look out for tiny fecal pellets that they kick out from the wood they are consuming. These pellets are much smaller than a grain of rice and are hard with distinctive groves with six sides. They clean out the area they are eating on a regular base so you will see these pellets lying around the infestation. Drywood infestations are difficult to deal with. Most of the time the infestation is localized as they are near the original entry point. But sometimes the infestation is not found until the colony has grown and spread through swarming to areas you might not detect. Treatments range from just removing the piece of wood that they are infesting, all the way up to fumigation where they put a tent over the entire house and gas them. This is the best surest way of treatment as it penetrates all areas that are accessible and not accessible .

PREVENTION:

Keep a good paint and seal on all exterior wood. If you have wood siding, pay close attention to the base of the siding with sealant and paint. Use fine mesh screening on vent openings to attic and off grade construction. Caulk and seal all cracks and joints around windows and doors. Replace any rotten wood promptly! These are no guarantee you will not get an infestation, but are good maintenance tips that will sure aid in prevention.

As always if you need us give us a call.

Bug Out Service

(904)778-2280

Free termite inspection and estimate on any home. We can provide you with termite coverage for two years with a cost of less than most companies charge you for the initial treatment.

BUG PROOFING

(by Robert Holyfield)

Cold weather is here and a little house maintenance may be needed this time of the year if you want to stay warmer and keep out unwanted pest! This is the time to do some sealing and pest exclusion. Start by inspecting all your windows and doors. Check the screens for damage and replace or repair if any damage is found. Look for cracked or missing caulk around them also and replace with fresh if needed. Walk around your house and pay close attention to the eaves. Most have ventilation screens that may have rotted away over the years. This can allow a multitude of critters access to your space! Rats, wasp and roaches to name just a few. If you have a crawl space construction, check the ventilation screens around the base of the foundation. Hardware wire is best for these areas. Check all doors for light coming from underneath. Remember if you can see light, you can expect unwanted company as well as a big change in temperature. Pay attention to where water pipes and wiring or cable go into the structure. These areas need to be filled with caulk as well. Keep the chimney flue closed when not in use & be sure to inspect the sides of your large garage door. It may need weather stripping, you would be surprised how many have none at all. Garages that have windows gather a large population of dead insects on the ledges. Vacuum them up to deter spiders from these areas. Don’t forget your dryer venting to the outside. If yours is like mine, it may need replacing. The flap will stick open and with a 3 inch opening you don’t even want to know what can venture in!!!!

Pay attention to these tips and maybe your electric bill will be a little lower and you won’t be chasing or getting chased by critters.

Remember we do lawn and shrub service as well as general pest control and termite control.

As always, if we can help, give us a call.


BUG OUT SERVICE
     904-743-8272

2011 Super Service Award

Bug Out Service Earns Coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award

Award reflects businesses’ consistently high level of customer service

Bug Out Service has been awarded the prestigious 2011 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the businesses rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service and health providers.

“Only a fraction of the businesses rated on Angie’s List can claim the sterling service record of being a Super Service Award winner because we set a high bar,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “The fact that Bug Out Service can claim Super Service Award status speaks volumes about its dedication to consumers.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their clients and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2011 Super Service Award logo next to business names in search results on AngiesList.com.

Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 2 million consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine and help from the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Take a quick tour of Angie’s List and view the latest Angie’s List news.

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Don't Fall Behind

(by Jeremy Maneol)





Fall temperatures are finally here and after the hot and dry summer we just endured, the change is welcome! Our lawns have really suffered from the extended lack of rain this season and some have taken it harder than others. The next challenges we face when preparing are lawns for winter are compounded by the fact that many of our lawns are entering the cold weather months in a weakened condition.

So what do we do now to prepare them for what might be another very cold winter? Will the lawns survive? How much damage will occur? These are all great questions, but there are many other factors to consider when evaluating plant heartiness.

Believe it or not the turf grass as well as shrubs have already begun preparing themselves for the cooler months. You may have notice a slow down in growth of all plants right now. This is because the plants are beginning to put more energy into the root system and also beginning to store vital nutrients in the root system for the winter.

So now that we know the plants are doing there part, what do we do to help?

Fall Tip #1: Keep watering your lawn.

The days are cooler and shorter. So your lawn probably won't show quite the same distress it would have during the summer if you let up on your irrigation. Try not to over-water… about once every 10 -14 days will probably be sufficient with out rainfall. It’s best to set your irrigation to the manual position.

Keep up the watering, though, because the better condition your lawn is in when it becomes dormant during the winter, the better condition it will come back in next spring.

Fall Tip #2: Spray for perennial broad leaf weeds.

These pesky weeds, of which dandelions are a particularly common and particularly annoying variety, can be hard to treat. You might be tempted to spray them in the spring when they are in full bloom. Waiting until fall, however, is your best choice.

As the weather cools, the weeds transport nutrients from their leaves to their roots in anticipation of the winter ahead. Spray them now, and they'll take the herbicide down to the roots along with the nutrients. You will see much better and longer lasting result from the herbicides.

Fall Tip #3: Fertilize your lawn.

Spring can be a tempting time to fertilize - you'll see fast results and who doesn't want that? But patience is the winner when it comes to fertilizing, and although you'll have to wait months for the payoff, fall fertilizing will strengthen your lawn's roots, not just cause top growth (which is what spring fertilizing does). With stronger roots, you'll have a thicker healthier lawn for the entire growth season to come.

Fall Tip #4: Put the mower away.

This is probably the hardest thing to do, but if you allow the turf to grow a little higher than normal it will be better protected through the winter months. Basically the higher turf will act like a blanket or insulation for the root system. Now if you are in area where mowing is an absolute must, then try to mow as high as your mower will let you. Whatever you do try not to go out and mow it a little shorter thinking it will keep you from having to mow for a while. These are the lawns that generally will receive the most winter injury.

There are no special chemicals or fertilizers out there that can guarantee against winter injury, but when proper fertilizers and proper cultural practices are followed then at least your lawn will have a fighting chance.

As always if you need us, give us a call!

904-743-8272
For a limited time: free initial charge for lawn or pest control service when paying for the year up front!