Midwestern Pest Blog

Finding out you have a termite infestation in your home is bad news. Termites can quickly cause a great deal of damage, so the sooner they’re dealt with, the better off you’ll be. Here’s what to expect during a professional pest control termite removal. Fumigation Severe termite infestations may require fumigation. It is the most invasive of all the treatment options for termites because it involves harsh chemicals, and it requires you and any pets you have to leave your home. During fumigation, pest control professionals fill your home with gaseous pesticides. Afterward, it is ventilated, so you can safely return to your home.   Depending on your home’s design and the severity of the infestation, fumigation can take between several hours and several days. When possible, many people prefer to try other options first because being displaced from your home for that long is inconvenient.  Heat Treatments In some cases, fumigation isn’t a......

There are more than 700 species of ants in North America, but Missouri has 150 different kinds of them, including the two species you’re most likely to see in your kitchen or bathroom: the odorous house ant and the acrobat ant. You usually see the odorous house ant in your kitchen looking for sweets. It has a small abdomen, and it releases a fruity coconut smell when smashed. The acrobat ant has a heart-shaped abdomen and thrives near moisture. You’re most likely to see it near the tub or bathroom window. Here are some other ant varieties that can be found in the state of Missouri.  The Eastern Black Carpenter Ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus)  This type of ant is large and named because it builds nest tunnels in already-decaying wood such as rotting logs. Because they love to eat wood, they tend to leave trails of sawdust wherever they roam. If you fin......

 As a business owner, you know that there are many ins and outs to running a business. It requires much of your time and attention, as you must make sure you are keeping your clients satisfied, your employees content and are growing in profitability. Part of achieving these goals means taking care of your building. Having routine pest control inspections and treatments can greatly benefit your company. Keep reading to discover more.   Maintain Your Reputation Even though many businesses grow through social media marketing and other means of advertising online, there is still much to be said about reviews via word of mouth. A good way to maintain your business’ reputation is to ensure that there are no pest infestations. If you are in the hospitality business, it is especially important. You do not want a bed bug infestation or cockroach infestation. It is hard to recover from this kind of i......

Over 170,000 homes exist in St. Louis, Missouri. Each one of these homes has experienced or has high chances of experiencing some type of pests. From mosquitos to rodents, there is no escaping them. However, you can prepare yourself. Keep scrolling to check out the most common pests in St. Louis, Missouri.  Ants The most common pest in the United States is ants. There are more than 10,000 species of ants from all over the world. Carpenter and pavement ants are the most common ones found in St. Louis and the surrounding areas. Just like termites, carpenter ants feed on wood. If they have access to your home, they can cause serious damage such as house collapses. Pavement ants are not as dangerous as the other ants, but they do raid food sources and attract other ants. To avoid these pests, seal up all opened foods and store everything away properly. ......

With winter approaching, you might find some unwanted pests seeking shelter inside of your home. Your warm house means safety not just for your family, but for rodents as well.  Most homes get the occasional mouse, rat or squirrel inside, so it is nothing to be embarrassed about. Unfortunately, rodents have quite the arsenal of techniques to sneak inside your home and will take any advantage they can get. How they Get Inside Mice and rats are resilient, pesky and determined. They seek out any opportunity to get inside and are more than capable. They can climb, squeeze and jump their way in. Once they are inside, they wreak havoc.  Mice and rats often find their way into your house through any hole or crevice in floors, walls and roofs. Because of their size and shape, rodents can squeeze into holes much smaller than you would expect them to. It is......

People encounter bug problems in their houses now and then. These insects can cause a lot of damage to our homes when proper fumigation is not done. However, not every pest problem you encounter needs the intervention of a professional service. Say you are in the house and you see a spider, a fly, or a roach, chances are, you can probably take care of them yourself. But what if you see a termite, a bedbug, or even a giant rat? That is when it is time to hire a professional pest control company like Midwestern to inspect your home for an infestation.  At first it may seem like you will be able to take care of the problem yoursefl but it is smarter to have your home professionally inspected. Here are a few of the several reasons you should hire a professional if you have a termite infestation.  Higher Quality Product......

One of the best parts of living in an apartment is that your landlord takes care of maintenance. However, you’re on your own for maintenance issues like having nasty pests in your home. If you see a roach or ant crawling across your floor, you need to know what to do. At Midwestern Pest Control we created this guide to get rid of the pests you are most likely to encounter throughout your apartment.  The Worst Offenders Cockroaches may be the worst nightmare you can think of, but they are not the most common pests you may encounter. That frustrating honor goes to the fly. You may also have trouble with ants, mice or bedbugs. Many of these creepy crawlies love to hang out in the kitchen or bathroom. If you leave out leftovers or let the fruit sit on your countertop, you can expect to see flies buzzing around or a......

No matter the time of year, different kinds of pests are always present in the Midwest. However, a change in weather patterns has a major impact on the overall activity of pests and the risks they may pose to you and your home. Read about the behaviors you can expect to see in pests during each season of the year. Spring Spring is prime time for many insects. Warmer weather allows dormant pests to awaken, pollen brings bees and an abundance of rain may cause certain insects to seek food and shelter in our homes. Termites, in particular, are attracted to moisture and will happily build a nest in unwanted places after consistent rain.  In addition to the emergence of pests, springtime also means mating season. Pests will actively begin to seek a mate and reproduce, often rapidly. Although much of this reproduction occurs outdoors, some pests might seek to use......

Pest control ranks high on the list of priorities for homeowners, as unchecked infestations carry serious consequences. Experts find that homeowners should conduct annual pest inspections at least once every 12 months. Some say every six months and some say even more frequently than that! If you’ve been putting it off or just haven’t thought about it at all, here are our top five reasons to get a yearly pest inspection. 1. Protecting Your Investment Your home is often your greatest investment. It provides financial leverage and can build value as you maintain it. An infestation of pests can quickly ruin that investment. Whether you’re trying to sell your home or ensure that you can enjoy it for years to come, keeping the foundation clear of harmful pests is essential. Carpenter ants and termites can especially cause serious damage by boring into structural wood and destroying your home from the inside out. ......

Fire ants are appropriately named, as their stings can feel like you are being burned. Unfortunately, these pests can be found creating nests in your yard without your knowledge, causing potential harm to you and your family. The best way to know that you have a fire ant infestation is to find their nests. Keep reading to learn how to identify a fire ant mound. Flat or Dome-Shaped Mounds If a mound is visible above ground, it will usually stand only at a few inches tall. But, they can be built up to about two feet high in rare cases. Even though the mounds are made of soil, the way fire ants build their mounds makes it appear like they are created out of the sand. These mounds will be either flat or in the shape of a dome. But don’t be surprised if you can’t see a fire ant mound dur......

Whether you own or manage an office space, restaurant, apartment building, or a healthcare facility, you know that the upkeep is extremely important. You are depended upon to keep the property safe and up to code. Unfortunately, with many shared spaces and common areas, it can be difficult to keep up with everything- pest control in particular. If pests are discovered, it can cause many issues for you and your employees/tenants/clients. Here are some common pests to look out for on commercial properties. Rodents Mice and rats are common in private homes, as well as commercial properties. As it is easy for these critters to squeeze into tight spaces, it is likely that you will find rodents in your building at one time or another. This is why it is important to frequently inspect your property. Look for holes, gaps, or damaged areas as these are easy ways for rodents to......

The Midwest is known for many things, including many unsavory rodents and pests. Spiders can be incredibly scary, especially if you’re caught off guard by them, but they have a purpose in the overall ecosystem. Let’s talk about the 5 most common house spiders in the Midwest and what that means for you. Most Common House Spiders Depending on where you are located geographically, the most common house spiders may differ. The professionals at Midwestern Termite and Pest Control have the knowledge, experience, and expertise to ensure you and your loved ones are safe and secure. According to spiderid.com, the top five most common house spiders are as follows: wolf spider, brown recluse, common and giant house spider, hobo and widow house spiders. What’s even more important to know when seeing a house spider is whether or not it is venomous. As a general rule of thumb: if you see a spide......

If you have had trouble with pests historically around your home and lawn, there are a few things you can do to get ready for the pest season. Spring cleaning and spring prep is one of the best ways to keep your pests under control this season. Here are a few reasons why spring is the best time for pest control. 1) Pest Inspection Depending on your whereabouts, pests tend to get worse in the late spring and early summer. One of the best things you can do to prepare your home and lawn is to have a pest control expert to take a look at your home and lawn for two reasons: - Look for existing pest issues - Look for potential pest issues you could be facing in the future They will be able to check the nooks and crannies of your homes for the most common and likely......

Pest control is something that often falls off of the radar, until you have what appears to be a problem in your, or your loved ones, own home. Pest control maintenance is recommended on a routine basis, both monthly and quarterly. Midwestern Termite & Pest Control is one of the oldest, and most respected pest control companies in the business. Getting their start in 1962, Midwestern Termite & Pest Control has spent over 50 years delivering best in class products and services that keep their customers, not their critters, coming back for more. Why Quarterly Treatments Matter Prevention is incredibly important, especially if you are in it for the long haul. The sooner you get a pest control treatment plan in place, the more likely you will be to built this into your budget and your routine to do’s. In addition to monthly treatments, quarterly treatments provided an extra layer of p......

A lot of problems are seasonal. Flu season comes in the winter time. Allergies generally show up in the spring. But pests are a problem you have to deal with all year-long. Of course, many pests prefer some seasons over others, however, whether it’s termites, rodents, or wasps, there will always be creatures ready to infest your home and cause you trouble. Don’t worry though, year-round pest control can take care of your pest problems no matter when they strike. Here’s what year-round pest control is, and why you need it for your house. What is Year-Round Pest Control Year-Round pest control is a one-time annual purchase which gives you access to all of a pest control companies services for an entire year. This usually includes an initial inspection and preemptive treatment, with a number of follow ups for the next twelve months. And if you have an emergency infestation, you get t......

All year long, our team can help protect your home from pests. In the winter time, there are some key steps you can take to safeguard your house. Read on for the best ideas on preventing bug problems in the winter. 1. Keep Your Home Clean Start in areas that attract bugs, such as the kitchen. The first thing to do is keep all dishes clean and food off all areas of the counters. Make it a point to clear all hard to reach areas regularly, including the floorboards. Store the pet food in airtight containers so bugs don’t get in. Also, take your garbage out regularly. These precautions will help you to have a home and kitchen clear of pests. 2. Protect Entry Points Seal entry points into the home, such as windows and doors. Caulk any potential holes or cracks where bugs can get in. Any space large enough t......

You’ve heard it many times—for every roach you see, there could be 100 you don’t see. How do you know whether you have just a few roaches or an infestation? Here are a few signs to look for. You are much more likely to see roaches at night if you have an infestation. Roaches are nocturnal, so if you turn on the light at night, they’ll scatter. Even worse, if you see a roach during the day, it is a good indication that you’ve had an infestation for quite some time and that it has grown to epic proportions that need professional services like a pest inspection. Roaches definitely prefer to stay in dark crevices, but overcrowding and a lack of food actually drive roaches out during the day. Furthermore, just because you see dead roaches, doesn’t mean your infestation is gone. In fact, dead roaches lying around likely means that you have an......

Travel the country and the pests you encounter change along with the scenery. If you live in the Midwest, a unique combination of crawlers threatens your home and gardens. Ants The hardworking ant proves to be persistent. Once this tiny creature discovers a food source, it comes back again and again — with friends. Destructive carpenter ants and less harmful black and brown ants become nuisances. They contaminate food and cause property damage. Biting Insects Ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and bed bugs love a living host. Your adventuring son, a traveling spouse or an active pet carry these pests inside your home. Small and mobile, biting insects threaten to cause disease in those you love. Stinging Insects Honey bees, yellow jackets, wasps and hornets disrupt outdoor activities. While labeled pests, bees and their compadres prove beneficial. They control other pest populations and boost the ecosystem. Still, hives hidden underground or in the w......

Summer is the perfect vacation time for your inside plants to soak up some sun. When fall hits, however, it becomes time to bring them back inside. Pests see this as prime time to hitch a ride inside. That’s why it is important to make a slow transition with an inspection so your plants are avoiding any issues. Debugging Plants Debugging household plants during the transition inside can prove to be tricky and laboring. To start, you have to ensure the pot you are using to debug the plants includes drainage holes. This is because you have to use soapy water. Only use a mild soap or a sensitive insecticide in which to soak the plants. The soapy water is used to kill pests hiding in the soil or on the plant itself. Once these are cleaned, it’s important to then meticulously clean the pot until all the water is gone. Aft......

Termites are a serious threat to homeowners. They reproduce quickly and eat round-the-clock. Within a short amount of time, they can do serious damage to your home, depending on the size of the colony. The Eastern subterranean termite is the most common species in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Many homeowners are unaware of some of the danger signs of a termite problem. An infestation can quickly occur, causing significant destruction to your dwelling. So how do you know if you have termites? Here are some of the things to expect when they are present. Wood Damage Termites eat wood from the inside out. In time, the wood is hollowed out. When you tap the wood, it will actually sound hollow. Check wood doors, doorframes and windows. Since you can’t see the termites, their destruction goes undetected. Termites target other wood in your home, including attic rafters, floor joists, flooring and t......