Pest Control Archives | Page 3 of 30 | Blue Chip Pest Services

Spring Allergies: Cockroaches & Rodents

Rodents may trigger allergies. Learn more with Blue Chip Pest Services in St. Louis MO

Most people associate rodents and cockroaches with food contamination but did you know that these pests also serve as sources for allergens? That’s right. Allergen proteins have been found in the saliva, droppings, and decomposed bodies of cockroaches. They’ve also been known to appear in the hair and droppings of rodents. The allergen proteins found in these pests are known to aggravate symptoms, affect breathing and cause itchiness.

With spring allergy season underway here in St. Louis, it’s important to be aware of the potential pest allergens in your environment. The experts at Blue Chip Pest Services are here to share all you need to know about spring allergies and pests.

Pests & Seasonal Allergies

Over the past few decades, research has shown that certain types of pests may trigger allergies in people. The main culprit? The cockroach! Roach droppings, saliva, shed skin, and other parts contain allergen proteins. When you have a cockroach problem in your home or business, those allergens can contribute to allergic reactions and trigger asthma symptoms, particularly in children!

Along with cockroaches, rodent activity can be linked to triggering allergies. Saliva, skin, and urine from rats or mice have been known to cause allergy symptoms for many people, especially children. Dealing with a rodent infestation in your home can lead to an increased risk of suffering from a number of allergy symptoms: runny nose, itchy eyes, and more.

Tips to Prevent Pest Allergens

To prevent pest allergens, you need to prevent pests altogether! Simple pest prevention methods can work to reduce the number of pest allergens in your home. The top ways to reduce these pests, as well as their allergens, include: doing this and that

Keeping all food sealed in airtight containers.
Regularly take out the garbage.
Clean up all crumbs in the kitchen.
Store boxes off the floor and on proper shelving.
Vacuum on a regular basis.
Wipe down kitchen counters daily.
Clean out pet food bowls regularly.

Spring Pest Prevention Services

Pest infestations can be hazardous for a number of reasons. If you want to avoid the many dangers of pests year-round, allergies included, it’s best to team up with your local exterminators. At Blue Chip Pest Services, we are dedicated to keeping our communities pest-free and families safe from the dangers pests bring all year long. Contact us today to learn how we can help prevent pests in your home this spring!

cockroaches rodents

Best Questions to Ask When Hiring a Pest Control Company

Questions to ask when hiring a pest control company in St. Louis MO - Blue Chip Pest Services

It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to choosing a new pest control company. With so many options available in our region, how do you know you’re hiring the right people? In general, there are several things to look for in a pest control company: IPM practices, transparent reviews (that reveal a high rating), and regular services. In this blog post, we are sharing the top 4 questions you should always ask when hiring a pest control company to take care of your home or business. Read on to learn more with Blue Chip Pest Services!

Are the pest control treatments you use safe?

You can trust an exterminator knows how to safely administer pest control treatment. Always look for a pest control company that:

Uses EPA-approved products
Is committed to an eco-friendly approach
Focuses on pest prevention and IPM practices

Are your pest control specialists licensed and trained?

A trustworthy company will be able to show that they have comparable licenses and insurance to the most established and reputable exterminators. It’s crucial that your trusted company has liability insurance to protect you against any further damage that is caused to your property during the extermination process. When you choose a company like Blue Chip Pest Services, we are more than happy to share all of our accreditations with you!

What is your pest control process?

Pest control pros know there is no one-size-fits-all solution for every pest infestation. Always look for a company that will work with you to customize a pest control plan suited to the unique needs of your home or business. This is best done with:

Regular inspections of your property to pinpoint pest problems or issues that may contribute to future pest problems.
Customized pest control plans that focus on targeted treatments around your home and exclusion efforts to keep pests away.
Open communication. A good pest control company is transparent with you about the treatments needed on your property.

Will you keep pests away for good?

Pest prevention is the key to pest control! A trusted pest control company will not only work to eliminate active infestations, but also to implement prevention methods to keep them away for good. Always look for companies that abide by IPM practices, and for those that offer quarterly or annual pest control services.

St Louis’s Top Pest Control Company

At Blue Chip Pest Services, we are proud to be upfront with our customers about our treatments, processes, prices, reviews, and more. In order to earn our customers’ trust, we are happy to work with them through every step of the process. Contact our experts today to get started!

Carpenter Ants: 3 Warning Signs Your Home is Being Invaded

Carpenter ants invading St Louis Missouri home - Blue Chip Pest Services

The occasional ant crawling through your kitchen may not seem like cause for concern. You might think it’s a one-off—remove it and carry on. While this may work for small ant problems in the home, it won’t get rid of a serious infestation. You may have seen a single ant, but chances are you have hundreds lurking.

One of the most dangerous ants is carpenter ants. As wood-destroying insects, carpenter ants are often confused for termites. Blue Chip Pest Services is here to share all you need to know about identifying the warning signs your home is being invaded by carpenter ants.

Signs of Carpenter Ants in St. Louis

Most people’s first thought is that the pest they happen to catch came in through a crack or hole. It’s more likely that the pests are already making themselves comfortable inside your home. Chances are they even have a nest in your wall and have been living there for some time. Common signs of carpenter ants include:

Line of black ants. Those seemingly harmless ants that come marching single file across your mudroom floor are a warning sign—take them seriously. Maybe your child dripped her juice or the dog food left out is attracting them. But in any case, don’t discount this obvious sign of a problem as a one-off.
Sawdust in odd places. Where did that come from? Most homeowners may not even blink an eye at a little sawdust sprinkled in their storage area, but did you know that could be the work of some industrious—and destructive pests that are large in number? Carpenter ants will push sawdust out of holes.
Winged insects. Similar to termites, carpenter ants will swarm in the springtime. Winged ants will leave an existing colony to mate and form new colonies. Swarmers are about 3/4″ in size. Seeing these winged insects indicates that carpenter ants have nested nearby.

How Do I Get Rid of Carpenter Ants?

Getting rid of carpenter ants is not a DIY project. These pests are a problem for homeowners, accounting for millions of dollars of property damage every year. Blue Chip Pest Services is a certified, qualified, experienced provider of pest control services that will free your home of lurking carpenter ants. Contact our ant exterminators today to get started!

ants carpenter ants

Can Non-Wood Homes Get Termite Infestations?

There is a common misconception that termites only infest wood. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Termites are after the cellulose contained within not just wood, but other materials as well. This puts even brick homes at risk of a termite infestation—while it may be more difficult to get inside a non-wood home, they can infest a variety of items inside or outside your property. With Termite Awareness Week 2021 wrapping up, the experts at Blue Chip Pest Services are here to share all you need to know about what may attract termites to your St. Louis home.

Do Termites Infest Brick Homes?

Yes, even a home built out of brick is susceptible to termite infestations. This is because there could be other risk factors at play. Wood stored near your home, moisture issues, wooden decks, and more could all put you at risk for a termite problem. The best way to know if you are protected against termites is to work with a professional termite exterminator. A thorough home inspection will pinpoint anything in or around your property that could put you at risk for termites in the future.

Termite Infestation Risks Around Your Home

Termites are opportunistic and, with the right conditions, can become active in a number of different environments. The three things they are most drawn to include:

Moisture problems. Subterranean termites in particular are attracted to moisture, especially in soil. Standing water or excess moisture will invite termites to take up residence in your home. Always fix leaks, broken sprinkler systems, downspouts, and clogged gutters to ensure your are protected from moisture problems.
Cracked foundations. Termites will take advantage of structural vulnerabilities, no matter whether your home is wooden or brick. A crack in the structure of your property allows for termites to easily build mud tubes upon it. Frequently inspect your home for cracks and make repairs as needed. Look for other issues that could contribute not just to termite problems, but all sorts of pest problems!
Wood in contact with the soil. Even homes that aren’t made of wood can have siding, decks, porches, fences, posts, and more that contain wood. Any wood that comes into contact with your home’s exterior is at risk for termites. For this reason, avoid storing firewood on the ground near your property. Remove decaying logs or stumps, and avoid mulch. Trim back trees to avoid branches coming into contact with your home.

Keeping Termites Away From Non-Wood Homes in St. Louis

No matter what type of home you own, it’s best to team up with your local termite exterminators for year-round protection. A termite control expert such as Blue Chip can thoroughly inspect your property and pinpoint anything that may be worrisome for termite problems. Contact us today to get started!

termites

Gimme All the Holly & Jolly

Some of the “elves” in our Fenton office brought ALLLLL the cozy Christmas cheer to work today by declaring it Christmas PJ Day. Luckily for them, this is 100% Santa-approved!

Pest-Free Firewood

Fall and winter are the perfect times to cozy up to a blazing fire with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate. Or maybe a glass of wine and someone you love. Or maybe with the kids & grandkids and a fun game. No matter what the occasion, any time spent by a crackling, wood-burning fireplace makes for an enjoyable occasion. Whether you chopped the wood yourself or picked up some at the store, make sure that you’re not inviting any pests to cozy up to your toasty fire as well! here’s some tips on how to keep your firewood pest-free:

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.

Colder temperatures may tempt you to keep your firewood close to your home or even inside your home. Don’t give in! Pests — like carpenter ants, roaches and termites — love to crawl inside and hang out in piles of firewood. Insects that hide in wood piles close to homes are more likely to find cracks, holes or other openings that allow them to sneak inside your home.

AVOID WET WOOD.

Insects are attracted to wet wood. And since wet wood doesn’t burn that well anyway, it’s doubly beneficial for you to keep your firewood covered by a tarp or some other type of cover. Keep firewood off the wet ground as well by placing it on a firewood holder. You can purchase these or one can easily be crafted out of a couple of cinder blocks and lumber. Making sure your firewood stays elevated off the ground helps maintain airflow beneath the pile which reduces moisture and, in turn, prevents pests.

ELIMINATE SURFACE PESTS.

Before you bring any firewood inside your house, inspect the logs. Quickly look them over, shake them and knock them together. This should get rid of any pests that are on the surface or just beginning to emerge.

No matter who you’re spending time with around the fireplace, following these easy suggestions will help ensure that nothing “bugs” you while you’re curled up by a fabulous fire on a chilly day or night!

Before You Deck Those Halls

That smell of freshly cut tree. Hot chocolate. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. (And with zero guilt, of course, because…well, ’tis the season!) And decorating. Lots and lots of decorating. Here are some tips to keep in mind while you deck those halls::

Before bringing any live greenery indoors, give it all a good shake to force any potential pests to fall out.

As you unpack boxes filled with lights, ornaments and other decorations, be on the lookout for any signs of potential pest infestations like gnaw marks or rodent droppings.

Holiday plans usually involve some baking. Keep all baking supplies in airtight containers. Consider adding a bay leaf to canisters with dry goods — the smell will often keep the bugs away while not affecting the supplies.

Bugs vs Old Man Winter: Who Wins?

Who else saw the snow flurries yesterday morning? While it’s “technically” still fall, winter temperatures are already creeping in. When most people think about insects, spring & summer seasons may come to mind first; however, bugs don’t simply disappear in the winter. Here are some of our most frequently asked questions regarding pest control in the upcoming cold winter months.

Q: Do I really need pest control services in the winter? Don’t all the bugs die when it gets cold?

A: We treat your home year-round because insects don’t actually die off during the winter. Most simply go deeper in the soil to stay warm. Or, some pests, like ladybugs and stink bugs, even try to come inside to stay warm. Insects are actually smart enough to recognize the oncoming cold and build up supplies of food for the winter. We use different types of materials for your winter visits that penetrate deeper into the soil to target these clever pests. These materials are designed to hold up better in cold weather and are the best protection against pests from entering at the first warm spell.

Q: What can I expect on an exterior pest control visit during the winter?

A: During the winter, we concentrate on using residual dusts, baits and granular materials to prepare your house for spring. By treating early, we can help prevent the pests that appear at the first hint of spring. St. Louis winters are typically not as severe as winters in more northern climates so many species of insects are not only able to survive — but also to thrive — year round.