Ladybugs for controlling pests in your garden are the most popular and widely used beneficial insects for commercial and home use. Ladybugs can consume up to 50 to 60 aphids. An aphid is a minute bug that feeds by sacking sap from plants that reproduces rapidly, often producing live young without mating. Ladybugs can consume this amount per day and will also eat a variety of other insects and larvae including scales, mealy bugs, leaf hoppers, mites, and various types of soft-bodied insects. They are also called lady beetles or ladybird beetles, are a very beneficial group of insects. Ladybugs are natural enemies of many insect pests and it has been demonstrated that a single ladybug may consume as many as 5,000 aphids in its lifetime.

Within a year, there can be as many as 5-6 generations of ladybugs as the average time from egg to adult only takes about 3-4 weeks. In the spring, adults find food and then the females lay anywhere from 50-300 eggs. The tiny eggs are yellow & oval shaped and are usually found in clusters of 10-50, near aphid colonies. The eggs take 3-5 days to hatch and the larvae voraciously feed on aphids for 2-3 weeks before they pupate into adults.

Apart from aphids, they also require a source of pollen for food and are attracted to specific types of plants. The most popular ones have umbrella shaped flowers such as fennel, dill, cilantro, caraway, angelica, tansy, wild carrot & yarrow. Other plants that also attract ladybugs include cosmos (especially the white ones), coreopsis, and scented geraniums, dandelions.

You can buy ladybugs. It is best to order fresh healthy ladybugs and have them delivered directly to you from a reliable source.

We at Southern Pest Control hope you enjoyed reading this information. Unlike Ladybugs you will encounter many unwanted pests in the Spring. We at Southern Pest Control can eliminate unwanted pest problems at an affordable rate. We have been serving the Gulf Coast Region for over 37 years. Please visit our website at www.southernpestcontrol.biz to learn more about us and meet our team of trained professionals.

 

Happy Thanksgiving from Our Family at Southern Pest Control to all our Families, Friends, and Customers

 

Many people ask themselves this question when bugs and insects invade their homes.

Below are areas you need to consider before deciding to DIY.

Expense

The obvious statements I that you will save money when you do it yourself.  Although the initial investment is more expensive with a professional, it may end up being the cheaper alternative.  If the in-store pesticides are not effective they may result in the growth of your pest control problem.  Continuing to buy in store products can get expensive.  Not to mention the potential damage to your home that pests can cause.

Knowledge

Even though you can read the instructions thoroughly, with an experienced and knowledgeable exterminator will be able to quickly identify and treat your problem.  They are also able to answer any questions that you have about prevention or other issues that you are experiencing.  Their experience and expertise can keep your home and family healthier than just reading the instructions on a label.

Risk

Chemicals of any kind can carry a risk.  Applying chemicals that you are not knowledgeable about could potentially cause harm to humans, pets, or plants in the area.  By hiring an experienced and knowledgeable pest control company, most risk is removed from the homeowner.  Be sure to read all contracts and get reviews from past customers before hiring a pest control company.

Effectiveness

For small pest problems, store bought exterminating products can oftentimes be effective.  For a bigger infestation, it can be more difficult with store bought products.  Pests are adaptable creatures and can get become immune to certain chemicals after a certain amount of time. A reliable pest control company will have up to date information and products to treat your infestation.

We at Southern Pest Control have been in the Pest Control Business over 37 years in The Gulf Coast Area. Our trained professions can help you from your initial phone call, to the technicians first visit, to a final resolution to eliminate your pest problem. Please call us at 800 527-9832 if we can help. You are also welcomed to visit our website, www.southernpestcontrol.biz  to learn more about us and all the services we offer.

 

Many customers want to know, very basically, what the purpose of a crawlspace is. In essence, as its name implies, is a variation of basement in which one crawls around. It may be as small as a foot tall, and the surface is often bare earth. Traditionally, crawlspaces are built on homes lacking either a basement or that are not built on a slab. Many buildings, especially commercial buildings, have a crawlspace between some walls. The primary purpose of a crawl space is to promote air circulation through the home and allow easy access to plumbing, electrical and other such maintenance, repair and installation needs. Crawlspaces offer an expedient and efficient way to access pipes, substructures and a variety of other areas that may be difficult or expensive to reach otherwise. Older homes in areas where basements are rare have high foundations with crawl spaces that allow cooling air to circulate throughout the home.

Though a crawlspace cannot be utilized as a living space, it can be used for storage of infrequently used items. One should be cautious in doing so, however, as moisture from the damp soil, along with humidity from crawl space vents and water seeping through permeable concrete, can and will create a breeding ground for mold and mildew to form on any organic surface, including cardboard boxes, wood floors and even some types of insulation. Overall, a crawlspace can serve a variety of purposes, not the least of which is the actual foundation of a home. And, as such, it should be treated like the rest of the home.

Mold issues are not uncommon in a crawlspace. We at Southern Pest Control have the expertise to ensure that your crawlspace is mold free. With our CrawlSpace Care, natural ground moisture vapors and hot humid air entering through the foundation vents will be a thing of the past.

CrawlSpace Care is a system that was developed for closing and protecting your home’s crawl space. Using innovative technology, the CrawlSpace Care system reduces moisture underneath your home, which can lead to low energy bills and improved indoor air quality.

Please call us at 800 527-9832 to set up a free inspection and an explanation of how our service works.

Mold Crawl Space

Mold Symptoms 

Mold in your home can cause symptoms such as

• Asthma
• Sore eyes
• Itchy skin
• Runny or blocked nose
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Sore throat

Often people do not realize these symptoms are caused by mold in the home. They might instead think they have a cold or something else.

One sign that these symptoms are from mold is that the symptoms decrease when you leave your home. Another sign is that multiple people in your home suffer these symptoms.
Mold Smell

Another sign of hidden mold is a moldy smell. If the smell is worse in certain rooms then the mold is probably growing near that area.

If the mold smell gets worse when the air conditioning or heating is on then there could be a mold problem in the HVAC, or in your air conditioner or heater.
Seeing Mold

Sometimes people see mold without realizing. You might have to look closely to identify mold. People often have mold growing in their bathroom, on the grout between tiles. However they do not realize it is mold.

People also might ignore small amounts of mold, even though they can see it. However small amounts of mold means there is enough moisture for mold to grow. It can mean there is more mold in the home.

 

If your house has a crawl space, you’ve probably noticed the foundation vents on the outside of your home. The original purpose of these vents was to circulate and replace tile air in the crawl space with fresh air from the outside. For many years, this system appeared to work very, well. New Scientific Studies have shown that conventionally vented crawl spaces may not only cost you more energy dollars, but may also cause serious threats to your indoor air quality.

 

We at Southern Pest Control can help you and your family with potential mold issues involving the crawl psace in your home. Please visit our website at www.southernpestcontrol.biz to learn how we can help protect you from dangerous mold in your home with our CrawlSpace Care System.

 

Despite their role in an adorable bedtime proverb, bed bugs are pesky little pests. They sneak into your bed, your furniture, even your carpet, and while you sleep or watch TV, they bite you. The next morning, you’re left wondering why you’re red and itchy.

Bed bugs are small, flat, oval-shaped insects. They do not have wings and rely on humans to carry them from one place to the next. Bed bugs are a reddish-brown color and can be between 1 and 7 millimeters. They feed on blood from humans or animals, and they’re most active at night, feeding on their victims while they sleep.

What do bed bug bites look like?

 

Some people will not experience a reaction to a bed bug bite at all. Those that do experience symptoms of a bite are likely to experience one or more of the following:

• a bite with a red, swollen area and a dark red center
• bites in a line or grouped together in a small area
• blisters or hives at the bite site

Bites can happen anywhere on the body. Most commonly they occur on areas of skin that are exposed while sleeping, such as the face, arms, legs, and hands.

What are the symptoms of a bed bug bite?

 

Bed bug bites don’t always appear immediately after you’re bitten. They sometimes take a few days to begin causing symptoms. It should also be noted that bed bugs don’t come out to feed every single night. In fact, they can go several days without eating. It may take a few weeks to notice that your bites are part of a larger pattern.

Bed bug bites are often very itchy. You may experience a burning sensation on the skin several days after you’ve been bitten. You won’t feel the bugs bite you because they excrete a tiny amount of anesthesia into your body before they bite.

If you scratch the bite, you may cause a secondary infection that can lead to swelling and bleeding.

What other bites resemble a bed bug bite?

Good news: Unlike many other biting bugs, bed bugs do not transmit diseases when they bite you. The biggest problem bed bug bites pose is that they are likely to cause a skin infection around the bite site as a result of excessive itching and scratching. You may also be more likely to experience insomnia as a result of worrying that you will be bitten again.

If you are allergic to a bed bug’s bite, you may experience more dramatic symptoms. The most common symptoms of an allergic reaction to a bed bug bite include engorged bite marks, painful swelling and burning at the bite site, and in rare cases, an anaphylactic response.

If I have them in my home, how will I know?

 

Bed bugs like to hide where you sleep. If you find bites and suspect bed bugs, search around for them. You may not see the bugs themselves, but you might see tiny black dots (their droppings) or red smears, signs they’ve been biting you.

Most common hiding sites for bed bugs in your home:

• bed frame
• headboard
• mattress
• box springs
• pillows
• bed skirts
• in the crevices and seams of furniture
• in carpeting at baseboards or under furniture
• in curtains or other fabrics

 

This information came from the healthline website. We at Southern Pest Control hope that this information helps you have a better understanding of bed bugs. We have been helping people like you get rid of beg bugs in their homes for many years. We use an environmental safe process to eliminate these pests from your home.

Please call us at 800 527-9832 if we can help. Also please visit our website at www.southernpestcontrol.biz to learn more about us and meet our professional team.

 

 

 

 

Reports of mice sightings increase exponentially during the cold part of the year. This rise in mouse encounters is caused by many factors, but the simple answer is that people see more mice in their homes because there are more mice in their homes.

This rodent population undergoes a huge boost in the winter due to mice who wouldn’t normally live indoors looking for shelter.  When it’s warm outside, most will live in an outdoor habitat like the roots of a tree, bushes, tall grass, or hollow logs where nuts, berries, seeds, and other varieties of foods they prefer are easier to come by.  But when the weather turns too cold to withstand and their food sources disappear, mice need to find someplace where they can survive until spring.  Houses and other buildings offer warm, secure attic and wall spaces as well as access to food and water, which attracts these rodents seeking a winter home.  Even structures that aren’t temperature controlled, like garages and sheds, offer protection from the elements.

Their peak season to mate peaks in the fall. It takes mice about a month to reach full maturity, which means that when winter arrives there is a large population entering your home to escape the cold winter. Also when they enter your home they can continue producing broods, so you can easily see a small number of mice can quickly escalate into a huge infestation in a short period of time.

New entry points in your home allow a greater opportunity for them to get in. Lower temperatures cause building materials to contract which can create cracks and crevices that allow mice to easily enter your home.

We at Southern Pest Control have been your pest control Biloxi MS, for over 35 years. We have all the expertise needed to keep mice and other rodents out of your home all year long. Our technicians are not only well trained but also equipped with all safe solutions that will not be harmful to you, your family, and your pets. Please call us at 800 527-9832 this winter to insure you stay rodent and pest free.