Mosquito Population May Be Increased By Recent Flooding
by Tammy on May 6, 2011
in Pest Control Nashville
An increase in mosquito population may be in store for Tennessee due to flooding. Standing water provides the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Tennesseans should take precautions to protect themselves from West Nile Virus and other diseases transmitted by mosquito bites. Here are some simple tips to help avoid mosquito bites:
- The most likely time for bites is dawn and dusk. If you must be outside during these times, use insect repellent, wear long sleeves, long pants and socks.
- Eliminate standing water near your home. Even a bottle cap of water is enough for mosquitoes to breed.
- Keep windows and doors closed or cover them with screen to prevent entry to your home.
Mosquito populations in Tennessee are at their peak May through October.
Ace Exterminating offers mosquito services to help reduce the mosquito population around your home. Call 615-876-7185 for more details.
The Ants Are Marching…Right Into Our Homes!
by Tammy on May 4, 2011
in Pest Control Nashville
Is there anything more frustrating then finding a trail of ants in your home, or worse, your food? Ants are one of the most annoying pests to invade our space.
Ants are social insects. A nest contains one or more queen ants laying eggs and being card for by worker ants, which can invade households while foraging for food and water. They establish a temporary pheromone trail that helps other ants find the food and water. Killing foraging ants rarely solves and ant problem in homes because the colony remains unaffected.
The 3 most common ants found in Tennessee are the Odorous House Ant, Pharaoh Ant and Carpenter Ant.
For more information on ants and other invading insects, visit www.aceexterminating.info
Ace Exterminating Co. Inc. Receives 2011 Seal of Satisfaction Certification Mark & Award
by Tammy on April 27, 2011
in Bee and Wasp Control, Fungus Control, Moisture Control, Pest Control Nashville, Termite Control, Wildlife Control, brown recluse nashville
Services Select, LLC has announced the 2011 Seal of Satisfaction certification mark and award recipient companies for Nashville. The awards and certificates were presented to owners or executives of each company on Saturday evening, January 29th during the black-tie 2011 Seal of Satisfaction Awards Dinner held at Maggiano’s Little Italy.
Ace Exterminating Co., Inc. received the 2011 Seal of Satisfaction in the Pest Control category. Ace Exterminating Co., Inc. has been serving Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky since 1988 with successful pest management. Ace Exterminating Co., Inc. offers services in General Pest Control, Termite Control, Moisture Control and Wildlife Control. With Ace Exterminating Co., Inc. honesty and quality are always guaranteed.
“The Seal of Satisfaction is a federally registered certification mark with the U.S Patent and Trademark Office and a resource on which consumers can rely,” said Gary Miller, Services Select’s Chief Executive Officer. “Companies receiving the Seal have committed to uphold the highest standards of quality and exceptional service. It separates and elevates recipient companies from their competitors and certainly simplifies the life of the consumer wondering which company to contact when in need. Services Select has a 19-step evaluation and interview process, with five of those steps involving further elimination of companies not meeting the high standards and commitment required for certification.”
An independent research firm, Wilkins Research Services, conducts both the nomination process with local consumers and initial evaluation of nominated companies. From over 70 different professional services categories, consumers nominate businesses who are then evaluated using proprietary criteria. Upon eliminating companies not worthy of consideration for the Seal of Satisfaction, the research company provides Services Select with a certified list of finalist companies. Services Select personnel then conducts interviews with finalist company owners or executives to review each company’s systems, policies and procedures, employees training programs, documentation procedures, etc; to determine whether the invitation to receive the certification mark with be extended.
“We are certainly proud to recognize such an elite group of professional services companies in the Nashville area.” said Sean Tinsley, Chief Operating Officer of Services Select. “These Seal of Satisfaction award recipient executives and their employees are to be applauded for their daily commitment to business excellence and customer/client/patient satisfaction. Local consumers can call them with confidence.”
For more information about the Seal of Satisfaction please visit www.sealofsatisfaction.com.
It’s Termite Swarming Season!
by Tammy on March 28, 2011
in Pest Control Nashville, Termite Control
We can always tell when the termites are swarming by the increase in our call volume! We have received many, many swarmer calls over the past couple weeks.
Termite swarmers leave their colony and go out on their own to start their own colonies. So if you see multiple termite swarmers at your home, chances are they are trying to LEAVE your home to start another colony, which means you probably have had termites for 3 – 5 years.
Ace Exterminating Co., Inc. offers free termite inspections. So give us a call at 615-876-7185 and we’ll get someone out to make sure you don’t have termites! Or you can check us out online at www.pestcontrolnashvilletn.com or www.aceexterminating.info.
The Paper Wasps Have Arrived!
by Tammy on March 22, 2011
in Bee and Wasp Control, Pest Control Nashville
Ace’s theme of the day…WASPS! We have received lots of calls already this week on wasps. They are swarming around porches and shrubbery making people duck and sending them scurrying for cover. Here are some facts about wasps:
Paper wasps get their name from the paper-like material (cellulose) out of which they make their nests. These nests resemble honeycombs.
Paper wasps are semi-social and live in small colonies. They feed nectar and other insects such as caterpillars and flies. They spend their day out feeding and pollinating, returning to their nests in the late afternoon. This is the best time to treat for wasps, after they have returned to their nests.
Paper wasps will hang their comb nests from twigs and branches of trees and shrubs, porch ceilings, the tops of window and doorframes, soffits, eaves, attic rafters, deck floor joists and railings, etc. In the fall, inseminated females will seek places to spend the winter, and may find their way indoors.
Although it seems otherwise, paper wasps are not an aggressive species by nature, but will sting if they are disturbed or their nest is threatened.
Ace has recently included wasps in our general pest control service along with ants, cockroaches, silverfish, mice, crickets and household spiders.
by Tammy on September 2, 2010
in Pest Control Nashville
Due to the recent surge in brown recluse activity, Ace Exterminating is offering free brown recluse monitoring boards and free brown recluse inspections. Just call us at 615-876-7185 or contact us through our website at www.aceexterminating.info and we’ll be happy to mail you monitoring boards directly to your home or schedule a free brown recluse inspection. For more information on brown recluse spiders Click Here.
Are Yard Pests Keeping You Indoors?
by Tammy on June 22, 2010
in Pest Control Nashville
With summer in full swing, everyone is outside enjoying their yards: The pools are filled and the grills are going.
And the yard pests are active. Insects such as chiggers, fleas, ticks and mosquitoes make it difficult for you to enjoy spending time outdoors.
Here is some information on these lawn pests:
- Chiggers: Chigger bites itch intensely, and they can take weeks to go away. Since chiggers go for the thinnest skin on our bodies, the bites tend to cluster in places that are already delicate and sensitive. On top of that, it’s rare to get just one chigger bite — chiggers seem to travel in groups. The bites often have a red or white spot in the center. Along with the long-lasting discomfort, these spots often lead people to believe that chiggers are physically imbedded in their skin. This idea that chiggers burrow into people’s skin may be the most common misperception about them.
- Fleas: Fleas are parasites that feed on the blood of any warm-blooded body. The most common species is the cat flea, which often feasts on cats, dogs and humans. Although newly emerged fleas need to find food within a few days, adults can go for a couple of months without a meal.
- Ticks: Although ticks are commonly thought of as insects, they are actually arachnids like scorpions, spiders and mites. Ticks are among the most efficient carriers of disease because they attach firmly when sucking blood, feed slowly and may go unnoticed for a considerable time while feeding. Ticks take several days to complete feeding.
- Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes are insects that have been around for more than 30 million years. Mosquitoes can sense carbon dioxide and lactic acid up to 100 feet (36 meters) away. Mammals and birds gives off these gases as part of their normal breathing. Mosquitoes can also detect heat, so they can find warm-blooded mammals and birds very easily once they get close enough.
Ace Exterminating can help you take back your yard! Ace Exterminating offers yard services to help with these lawn pests. Call us today! 615-876-7185
Moisture and Wood Decaying Fungus
by Tammy on May 5, 2010
in Pest Control Nashville
Some fungi merely discolor wood, but wood-decaying fungi can change the physical and chemical properties of wood, thus reducing its strength.
Many insect pests are encouraged to take up residence in wooden structures by excessive moisture conditions. Termites, particularly subterranean termites, require moisture in their living quarters.
Subterranean termites provide moisture for themselves by bringing moisture and soil up from their subsurface colonies and placing it within the wood as they feed on it or around the outside of wood to form their enclosed runways. In some cases, subterranean termites may be found separated from soil contact when sufficient moisture, in the form of water leaks, is found inside a structure.
Some causes of excessive moisture are:
_ Water vapors from the combustion of natural gas that improperly vent into the attic or other enclosed areas.
_ Condensation on windows flowing down onto and into sills.
_ Moisture from crawl spaces and the dirt below (up to 100 pounds/day/1,000 square feet).
_ Absent or improperly placed drain pipes, downspouts, etc.
_ Leaking roofs.
_ Poor side wall construction.
_ Improperly sealed foundations, basement walls.
_ Direct contact of wood with soil or concrete, allowing “wick” action that pulls water into wood.
_ Improper drainage of water away from structure or out of crawl spaces.
_ Improperly fitted flashings at roof lines or shingles with improper overhang.
_ Improper moisture barriers under stucco, shingles.
_ Sweating water pipes.
_ Improper exterior grade that allows water to drain toward the structure and remain in contact with it.
_ Dripping air conditioners or swamp coolers.
_ Leaking plumbing, appliances, toilets, shower stall pans.
_ Improper seals or caulk around bathtubs and showers.
_ Lack of vents or windows in bathrooms that allow moisture from baths and showers to accumulate.
_ Plugged or leaking downspouts from roof gutters.
In recent years, the shift in building practices to larger homes that are more airtight has led to additional condensation problems. Energy conservation practices have increased the airtightness of buildings. Also, emphasis has been placed on the installation of humidifiers in heating units to create a more comfortable environment. The also increase the likelihood of moisture problems in wood. Finally, improperly installed insulation may contribute to moisture problems.
There are numerous sources of water vapor in buildings:
Mopping floors, washing clothes, cooking, baking, and so forth introduce an estimated 1 pound of water per day into the air of an average home. A poorly ventilated crawl space may produce up to 100 pounds of water per day per 1,000 square feet. These moist environments are favorable for the reproduction and survival of decay fungi, termites, and other moisture-loving insects.
Bed Bugs – Are They Sharing Your Bed?
by Tammy on March 24, 2010
in Pest Control Nashville
Hearing the words “bed bugs” is enough to make most people shiver. Bed bugs are nocturnal insects that feed on blood. Although they do feed occasionally on other animals, such as birds and mice, their favorite blood meal is humans. They are attracted to the warmth and carbon dioxide we emit when we exhale.
Adult bed bugs are approximately 1/4 an inch in length with a brown to dark red (if they’ve just fed) exoskeleton. Bed bugs like to travel. They hide in suitcases, boxes, shoes etc. and hitch a ride to a new home. Once in your home, they can hide in a variety of places, such as behind baseboards, behind electrical switch plates, cracks and crevices, behind picture frames, even behind wallpaper.
They hide during the day and come out at night to feed. They have 2 hollow tubes: one injects anti-coagulants (to keep the blood flowing) and anesthetics (so the victim won’t feel the initial bite). Feeding only takes about 5 minutes, then they return to hiding. After feeding, a bed bug will triple in size. A well fed bed bug can live 4 – 6 months without feeding again. A dormant bed bug can live up to 18 months without a meal.
Female bed bugs can lay 1 – 5 eggs a day, up to 500 in her lifetime. It takes approximately 10 days for bed bug eggs to hatch. The baby bed bugs are called Nymphs. Nymphs usually cannot be seen by the naked eye on the skin when they venture out for their first blood meal. It takes about 5 weeks for a nymph to become an adult.
Due to their ability to hide, bed bugs are very hard to get rid of. It is recommended that you hire a professional pest control company. They will know where and how to look for bed bug infestations and will have the equipment required to remove the critters. Homeowners should get rid of any clutter (boxes, clothing, papers and junk) in order to help the process. Please be advised that additional inspections and treatments are usually necessary.
Here are some things you can do to help prevent bed bugs:
- Vacuum suitcases after returning from a vacation.
- Check your bedsheets for tell-tale blood spots.
- Consider bringing a large plastic trashbag to keep your suitcase in during hotel stays.
- Carry a small flashlight to assist you with quick visual inspections.
- Bed bugs are elusive creatures, so it is imperative to seek professional pest control to address an infestation.
Click here for additional information on bed bugs.
It’s Termite Swarming Season!
by Tammy on March 19, 2010
in Pest Control Nashville
Termite Swarmers - Make sure they don't start a new colony in YOUR home!
Spring is the time for termites to leave their current colonies to start new colonies of their own. Colonies, at maturity, number from several hundred to several million individuals. A typical colony contains nymphs (semi-mature young), workers, soldiers, and reproductive individuals of both genders, sometimes containing several egg-laying queens. This allows colonies to develop quickly, and potentially cause a lot of damage to unprotected homes and buildings.
Often swarming termites are mistaken for flying ants. If you think you have either in your home, your best option is to have an inspection by a trained professional to determine if you have termite swarmers.
Ace Exterminating offers FREE INSPECTIONS! Call today to schedule yours.
