Facts about German Cockroaches in Mechanicsville and Richmond Virginia
German cockroaches (Blattella germanica) are one of the most common species of cockroaches found in households and businesses throughout the Mechanicsville and Richmond Virginia area. These pests are known for their ability to adapt to various environments and reproduce rapidly, making them a challenging nuisance to eradicate. Here are some key facts about German cockroaches:
- Appearance: German cockroaches are light brown or tan and have two dark stripes running down their back. They are typically about 1/2 to 5/8 inch in length.
- Habitat: These cockroaches prefer warm and humid environments, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and areas with access to food and water sources.
- Reproduction: German cockroaches reproduce quickly, with a female capable of producing up to 30,000 offspring in a year. This rapid reproduction rate contributes to their ability to infest properties rapidly.
- Health Risks: German cockroaches can pose health risks to humans by contaminating food and surfaces with bacteria and allergens. Their presence has been linked to asthma and allergies in some individuals.
Control: Effective control of German cockroaches in the Mechanicsville and Richmond Virginia area involves a combination of sanitation practices, eliminating food and water sources, sealing entry points, and using insecticides as needed. Working with a pest control professional may be necessary for severe infestations.
It's important to address a German cockroach infestation promptly to prevent them from spreading and causing further problems in your home or business. By understanding their habits and characteristics, you can take proactive steps to keep these pests at bay.
Why Winter drives mice inside your home in Mechanicsville and Richmond Virginia
Why do they enter?
Who doesn’t lik
e to find a nice warm cozy spot inside when the weather turns cold? This is no different for mice in the Mechanicsville and Richmond Virginia areas. So, what do mice do in the winter?
Well, they do not hibernate, that’s for sure. Mice prefer to live outdoors however, when the temperature drops, they move inside anywhere they can. They attempt to enter your home for two primary reasons:
- Decreasing food
- Potential heat sources
Mice are very social animals who are prolific breeders with keen senses except for eyesight. They use their whiskers to see and typically travel along walls and stored items.
Search for food begins.
Food sources decrease during the winter months outdoors which forces them to enter your home. Mice end up finding your pantry, kitchen cabinets, and pet food stored in your garage; they also find your private hiding spot of all your favorite sweets and goodies. No food stock is safe from these furry creatures. Remember, they have the ability to squeeze through the smallest of holes and they are excellent climbers. If there is food available, they will find it.
Where is the warmth? 
As temperatures drop outside mice search for warm places to live and where better than your temperature-controlled home? They will climb the outside of your home and gutter downspouts and find an access point into your attic where your insulation makes a perfect home for them. Mice will find small entry points around the foundation of your home like AC and electrical pipelines and nest inside your crawl space insulation. They will also enter small holes inside your home and nest inside your wall voids. They will find anywhere that is warm and safe from predators.
What are the dangers of a mouse infestation? 
Other than mice having the ability to chew through wires which is a major fire hazard, the biggest concern about mice entering your home is the possible transfer of diseases they are known for carrying. Dangerous diseases such as:
- Hantavirus
- Pinworms
- Salmonella
- Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis
These diseases are transferred by their urine and feces which they continue to release while foraging. It is extremely important to trash any food with evidence of rodent activity on them. So how do you know if you have a mouse issue, look for some of these signs below:
- Gnaw marks.
- Fecal droppings
- Rub marks.
- Damaged/chewed goods.
- Tracks/footprints.
What should I do if I believe I have a mouse issue?
Since mice can transfer diseases and they present danger to your home, it is important to call a pest control professional when you believe you are dealing with a possible issue. It is even more important to prevent them from entering your home or business in the first place, which is why a recurring maintenance program is recommended. Visit allstarspest.com and learn how we can help you prevent a mouse infestation in your home or business.
Yellow Jackets during the fall in Mechanicsville Virginia
Yellow Jackets are a worldwide species identified by their typical yellow and black color pattern. They are extremely common in the United States, including Mechanicsville Virginia, especially in the summer and early fall. They are part of the Hymenoptera order and are social insects that live in nests and colonies. Their size ranges from 3/8 to 5/8 inches.
What should I know about Yellow Jackets?
The overwintering queen emerges in late spring and begins to develop her nest. She builds her nest from chewed-up cellulose material, which is used to start cells, and she then lays her eggs in each of those cells. It can take up to 30 days for the first few workers to emerge. Once they emerge, the nest begins to grow into a number of rounded paper combs attached to one below the other. The sizes of each nest can vary and contain up to thousands of workers.
What do Yellow Jackets eat?
Yellow Jackets are very beneficial insects as they help control other insect populations. The adults feed off of nectar, mostly supplied to them by the larva in their nests. The Yellow Jacket adult collects food, such as other insects, and chews them up so their larva can consume them. In turn, the Larva secrete a sugary substance (nectar) for the adult workers to eat. This process is defined as Trophallaxis.
A key point of understanding is in fall, the larva in a nest produces less nectar for adults, which results in workers foraging for sugary substance substitutes. Common areas are fruits and human trash can areas. This is why in the fall during sporting events these pests can be a real nuisance around park trash cans and common areas.
What happens to them in the winter?
Towards the end of the season, new queens and males leave the nest/colony and begin to mate. Only the inseminated females hibernate, all other members die off, including the existing queen.
The overwintering inseminated queens look for shelter in wall voids, ground voids, and arial overwintering sites. Many times, they are found flying into homes seeking warmth during the winter months.
How do I treat for them?
Nest sites are located in the ground, in hollow trees, or arial sites. The most common nest site for yellow jackets is a ground nest. Most nests have two access points; when threatened, yellow jackets become very aggressive and sting multiple times. Those of you who have been stung by them know how painful it is.
Control measures should be made at night when most of the workers are back in the nest/hive. If unable to treat at night, dust formulations are recommended as the returning members will transfer the product to the rest of the nest. Remove the nest, when possible, after treating it to void creating a dermestid beetle or other ectoparasites that develop from the dead larva, nest material, and cells left behind.
The application of liquid or aerosol products should only be used if you are treating the nest at night when most of the workers are there. After treatment, remove the nest to avoid future pest issues mentioned above.
Safety is the most crucial aspect when treating stinging insects and applying products. If possible, it is recommended to make applications using a bee pole or an extension-handle duster along with wearing a bee suit.
Yellow Jacket traps are effective in controlling the number of adults however they do nothing for eliminating the nest. The colony will continue to develop more workers than you can trap which is why you will notice a fluctuation in activity.
An All-Stars Pest Control professional is standing by and ready to answer any questions you may have when it comes to protecting your family, pets, and home.
How do I know my termite treatment is being performed correctly in Mechanicsville Virginia?
You have taken the first steps of protection against termites by scheduling a treatment from a professional termite company…. but how do you know they are doing the treatment correctly? There are many excellent pest control companies in Mechanicsville Virginia that specialize in controlling termites and pests. When you choose a company, you want to feel safe and confident they will perform the service you paid for correctly…. But how do you do that?
The first step is easy!
“The Label is the Law”
Knowledge is power and in Mechanicsville Virginia, they have made it easy for you to be as knowledgeable as you want to be with termite treatments. Pest Control and termite service companies are regulated by individual states that determine control measures' requirements and regulations. In Virginia, it is as simple as it can be as the state refers back to the product label a company is using to control termites and pests. So, what does that mean for you and your peace of mind?
Ask what product your provider is using
One simple question to your provider will give you all the tools you need to understand how they protect your home. Every company in Mechanicsville Virginia, no matter how much they charge you, must follow the label of the product they are applying.
What does the product label tell you?
It will provide a breakdown of every step your provider must take to control termites, such as:
- Where to trench and/or rod.
- How much-concentrated solution to mix?
- How much-finished solution to apply?
- The proper distance drill holes must be.
- Where the localized interior treatment must be performed.
- How the drill holes must be plugged, etc.
I know from my own experience when a professional provider who just completed a service asks if I have any questions, I just stand there with a blank face because I really don’t know what to ask. Great companies always ask you to review the completed services with them when completed and only educated consumers know what to ask. The product label gives you that level of confidence to ask questions you might otherwise not have known.
Knowledge is comforting
Consumer knowledge is key to gaining peace of mind when it comes to your home and let’s face it…. termite treatments are not cheap, and you should feel completely comfortable that your hard-earned money is being spent wisely and your home is protected as it should be.
An All-Stars Pest Control professional is standing by and ready to answer any questions you may have when it comes to protecting your family, pets, and home.
Hidden Termite Damage – What a Termite Swarm Might Be Telling You.
Okay… this cartoon termite is cute…. but in reality, the damage termites cause is far from cute. Now, this is going to sound crazy but if you noticed a swarm, you might be one of the lucky ones. No, I haven’t gone crazy…. Who in their right mind would consider themselves lucky to have a termite swarm, right? Well, the positive side of noticing a swarm is you might have found them early enough before they can do significant damage.
The following images show what an undetected termite colony can do to your home behind the walls. This kind of damage can become structural and have a major financial impact on your life.
Why do termites swarm?
The sole purpose of a termite swarm is to reproduce and expand its colony. In Virginia, termite swarms typically occur in early spring and last until late May. As the exiting termite colony matures, it becomes overcrowded, and expansion is needed. The reproductives (swarmers) take flight in large numbers and then drop their wings after the fight, never to fly again. After shedding their wings, the termites mate and then seek out sites to start their new colony. Witnessing a termite swarm can be very intimidating and at times, frightening as a swarm can contain thousands of flying termites.
What about the damage?
Back to my crazy statement as to why you might be lucky to see the swarm.
The reproductives (swarmers) do not do any damage to your home. Their sole purpose is to reproduce and lay eggs. The damage is done by the workers and soldiers in the colony, pictured to the right. The workers and soldiers work behind the scenes and usually go undetected until damage is discovered. The severity of the damage depends on how long they have been there. Typically, it takes up to 5 years of colony development before they begin to damage a structure and develop swarmers of their own.
What can I do?
So…. Though it is never good to have a swarm, you may be lucky to notice them early enough before the colony grows to significant levels and performs extensive damage.
The greatest defense against termite infestations and damage is to have a protection program in place. Bait systems and liquid treatments are the 2 forms of recommended coverage options. Annual inspections are a major part of identifying conducive conditions related to termite colonies and damage.
Call All-Stars Pest Control today and protect yourself from the unseen damage termites can be causing your home right now by scheduling your free no-obligation inspection.
Mosquito Season is here!
Here they come... Are you prepared?
Spring is here… which means mosquitos are going to take over your yard. The visions of fun in the sun will be replaced with itching and swatting. The most invasive culprit in Virginia is the Asian Tiger Mosquito.
The Tiger Mosquito gets its name due to the white strip down the center of its head and back. They can reproduce at an alarming rate of up to 400 in just as little as 14 days. WOW…. that’s a lot of extra guests at your next family cookout.
FUN FACTS
- They mainly bite during the day from sun-up to sundown
- Like most mosquito species, only the females take a blood meal as they need blood to reproduce…. YUKE!
- She lays her eggs in man-made containers around your home and in low lining areas in your yard.
- They are not strong flyers and are typically found close to their breeding sites.
- The average life span of an adult mosquito is about 3 -4 weeks.
- Mosquitos are one of the most dangerous species as they have the ability to transmit diseases.
- Tiger mosquitos feed off plant nectar and roost on the underside of leaves and bushes.
HOME REMEDIES FOR YOU!
Below are some at-home tricks you can do to limit the mosquito population around your home:
- Throw away any unused containers that hold water around your home such as buckets, children's toys, tires, building materials, etc.
- Eliminate any standing water in landscaping areas around your home.
- Empty birdbaths regularly.
- Clean gutters of any debris which can cause standing water.
- Make sure there are drain holes in the bottom of your plant boxes and holders.
- Inspect sprinkler and irrigation systems for any leaks.