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Mr. Little’s Quick Tips For A Pest-Free Life: 
The Termite Edition

by Mr. Little on February 6, 2012 in Bugs, Tips with No comments
mrlitte_glass

Last week I talked about possible signs that termites, those hidden invaders that can cause serious damage to your house if left to their own desires, might be taking a more than casual interest your home’s wood infrastructure.

And since termites go at it 24/7/365, they don’t take a break from chewing away on your front porch railings, deck, floor joists and support beams. At least Menace Mouse takes some down time after snatching food from your dog’s bowl!

As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and with termites that statement rings true. Termites, like most structural pests you’ll encounter, are opportunists. They will take advantage of your “generosity” and conducive conditions that provide them food, water and shelter. Who doesn’t like a free meal?

To help you live a Pest-Free Life and keep termites from damaging your home, my colleagues and I at Western Exterminator have put a list together that can help prevent termite infestations.  You know, good termite control means you will never have to treat for termites.  Follow these steps and you’ll be much more likely to avoid these potentially expensive pests! Keep shower pans free of leaks, and all plumbing in good repair.  Termites are attracted to moisture.

  • Routinely fill in any cracks in your masonry or concrete; make sure there are no entry points to your attic.
  • When watering your lawn, don’t sprinkle stucco or wood siding.
  • Keep your gutters and downspouts in good repair and clean. Wet leaves provide moisture and food
  • Keep foundation air vents fully exposed; don’t let them become overgrown with shrubbery.
  • Avoid moisture accumulation around the foundation of your home.
  • Remove old form boards, grade stakes, etc., left in place after the building was constructed, and don’t store firewood on the ground next to the house.
  • Remove old tree stumps and roots around and beneath the building.
  • Eliminate any wood contact with the soil. An 18-inch gap between the soil and wood portions of the building is ideal.
  • Avoid planting trees to close to the house.  Vegetation should never touch your home.
  • Keep the exterior of your home well painted and in good repair.  A good coat of paint acts as a barrier for drywood termites.
  • Have your home inspected by a licensed termite inspector at least every 3 years.  Early diagnosis of a termite problem will help prevent expensive treatment measures.

Do you have questions on termites? If so, I want to hear them. You can send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com. I’ll be sure to get back to you right away with an answer.

Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator Company “The Final Word in Pest Control®”

Have a pest free day.

Don’t’ Let Termites
 Sneak Up On You

by Mr. Little on January 30, 2012 in Bugs, Tips with No comments
termite

As much as a royal pain Menace Mouse is to our residential and commercial customers, he has nothing on another pest my colleagues and I at Western Exterminator get to do battle with – termites.

Both are sneaky, silent invaders who want nothing more than to call your home, their home. And while Menace Mouse and friends prefer to eat what is inside your kitchen cabinets, termites don’t care at all about the food, they prefer to eat the cabinets!

How do you know if you have termites? We call termites the “hidden invaders” for a very good reason: They leave virtually nothing visible to the untrained eye telling you they are having your deck or kitchen cabinets for lunch!

However, after visiting more than my fair share of crawlspaces and attics during inspections, my colleagues and I have come up with the following signs that may tell you if you have a termite threat to your most valuable investment:

  • Wings on windowsills or flying termites in your home certainly are cause for alarm.
  • Wood damage can be an identifying sign of a termite infestation. If you find or break open a piece of wood and it is honeycombed or carved out, the damage was likely caused by termites, or other wood destroying organism. You can probe suspect wood with a knife or flat-blade screwdriver to see if it’s been hollowed. Severely damaged wood may sound hollow when tapped.
  • Unexplained piles of what appears to be coarse grains of sand (which can appear almost anywhere throughout the structure) may actually be termite fecal pellets sifting out of wood members.
  • Mud tubes on walls, along baseboards or in cracks and crevices indicate termites.

According to the National Pest Management Association, termites cause $5 billion in damage to structures in the United States every year and they don’t take a day off. That’s right 24/7, 365 days a year they eat, and they never gain weight! If a termite colony is left alone it can cause significant damage in just three years.

How do you beat the destructive yet elusive termites at their game? I’ll share some tips next week in my blog but if it’s been more than three years, I strongly recommend you call Western Exterminator and have a professional inspection performed on your home or office. Termites are nothing to mess with!

Our team of highly trained Inspectors will give your property a thorough, top to bottom inspection and tell you if you’re playing host to termites or any of their wood destroying pals. If you are, our Inspectors will help you choose the best treatment strategy for your particular situation.

Do you have questions on termites? If so, I want to hear them. You can send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com. I’ll be sure to get back to you right away with an answer.

Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator Company “The Final Word in Pest Control®”

Have a pest free day.

Mr. Little’s Quick Tips For A Pest-Free Life:
 The Rodent Edition – Part 2

by Mr. Little on January 9, 2012 in Tips with No comments
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Last week we discussed what signs to look for if you think rodents have decided to invite themselves in to your home or business. Trust when I say they need no written invite and forget about the courtesy of an RSVP.

If the conditions are right and they can partake of your most likely unintentional generosity by scavenging on any available food scraps, water and shelter, they’ll be there.

Remember, you play an important role in helping prevent rodents from becoming a problem. Our highly-trained service team at Western Exterminator can eliminate rodent infestations from virtually any account (try playing hide and seek with rodents on a train – it is a hoot!) but you are often the first line of defense in making sure rodents don’t inhabit your world.

How do you rid your house or place of business of these filthy and potentially destructive creatures? Aside from the ”walk softly but carry a big stick” approach I’ve advocated through the years, here are some effective tips from my expert colleagues at Western Exterminator to help keep rodents out.

Sanitation. Effective sanitation practices are fundamental to rodent control and must be continuous. And sanitation means more than just keeping things clean.  If good sanitation measures aren’t properly maintained, the benefits of our pest control measures will be lost and rodents will quickly return.

  • Storing pipes, lumber, firewood, crates, boxes, gardening equipment, and other household goods off the ground will help reduce the suitability of the area for rodents and also will make their detection easier.
  • Collect garbage, trash, and garden debris frequently, and ensure all garbage receptacles have tight-fitting covers. Store pet food in rodent-proof containers.

Build Rodents Out. The most successful and long-lasting form of rodent control in structures is exclusion.

  • Seal cracks and openings in building foundations and any openings for water pipes, electric wires, sewer pipes, drain spouts, and vents. No hole larger than 1/4 inch should be left unsealed, in order to exclude both rats and mice.
  • Make sure doors, windows, and screens fit tightly. Their edges can be covered with sheet metal if gnawing is a problem. Coarse steel wool, wire screen, and lightweight sheet metal are excellent materials for plugging gaps and holes.
  • Because rats and mice are excellent climbers, openings above ground level must also be plugged.

Do you have questions on how you can live more of a rodent-free life? If so, I want to hear them. You can send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com. I’ll be sure to get back to you right away with an answer.

Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator Company “The Final Word in Pest Control®”

Have a pest free day.

Mr. Little’s Quick Tips For A Pest-Free Life:
 The Rodent Edition – Part I

by Mr. Little on January 3, 2012 in Bugs, Tips with No comments
ratpic

Now that the holidays are behind us and all the relatives have gone home (double check the guestroom closet in case Aunt Nancy left her pet Pomeranian behind!) it is back to the business of keeping pests from invading your living and work space.

I have spent a good chunk of my years at Western Exterminator doing just that for customers. But I am not alone in this effort. I have nearly 900 colleagues at Western who are with me on a daily basis making sure those creepy, crawly and flying insects stay away for good.

As you read in my blog last week one of my New Year’s resolutions is to help our customers live a pest-free life. In 2012 I will regularly share valuable tips on how to do just that.

The first topic is one near and dear to me – rodent control. These furry little invaders know no shame when it comes to trying to invite themselves into your home or business.

They are sneaky, patient creatures (sneaky is Menace Mouse’s middle name!) that can not only cause damage to structures and electrical wires but can also transmit diseases.

How do you know if you have a rodent problem? Here are some telltale signs to look for:

Rodent Droppings. Rodent droppings and urine are some of the first signs you have rodents. Look for rodent droppings near food sources such as pet feeding areas, in storage areas and recycling bins. The droppings sort of look like a fat piece of rice and are usually black in color and ¼ to ½ inch long.

Chewed Electrical Wires. Rodents will chew almost anything and electrical wires are a popular “snack.” In fact, almost 40% of home fires of unknown origin are due to rodents chewing through electrical wire insulation!

Entrance Points. Openings as small as ¼ to ½ inch in diameter provides rodents an entrance into a structure. Remember to look high and low for openings including the foundation, around door and window frames, garage doors, vents and roofs.

Unexplained Damage. Rodents are prodigious gatherers of “stuff” when building a nest. They will chew on carpet, upholstery and drapes for nesting materials, and have been known to chew through screens to gain access – talk about pushy!

In fact, my neighbor went on vacation one time and came back to a once beautiful violet garden in her greenhouse that was completely devoid of flowers and leaves because a rodent family had taken up residence. The nerve! Needless to say, once she called me that problem was solved immediately!

Do you have questions on whether or not you have a mouse in your house? If so, I want to hear them. You can send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com. I’ll be sure to get back to you right away with an answer.

Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator Company “The Final Word in Pest Control®”

Have a pest free day.

Who Has Been Naughty Or Nice? Mr. Little Can Tell You Who

by Mr. Little on December 19, 2011 in Bugs, Tips with No comments
santabob

Tis’ the season for holiday parties with family and friends, traveling to grandmother’s house on a one-horse open sleigh (or the family SUV up the Hollywood Freeway here in Los Angeles!), and one of my favorite pastimes – holiday gift giving.

My list of who to buy for might be a little different than most. My “gift” exchange is with the creepy, crawly or flying pests who want to invade your home or business, and let’s just say I would like to deliver more than coal in their stockings!

Let’s be honest, there are not a lot of people, except for my colleagues and me at Western Exterminator, who asked Santa for an effective termite control program this year!

However, there are a few individuals, Menace Mouse and friends come to mind, which did not make the “nice” list (I’m sure he has never cracked the Top 100!) this year. And for them I have come up with the Mr. Little Gift List for helping us live nuisance pest-free.

  • For the bed bugs in your life an up-close encounter with our four-legged bed bug inspector Honey. Her nose is the perfect gift for finding where nasty bed bugs live and pointing the way for Western’s pest management professionals to deliver proven, guaranteed treatment plans to give them a one-way ticket out of town.
  • For the furry little rodents who want so badly to share your holiday meal, a “gift card” entitling them to a professional rodent management service from Western’s highly trained Service Technicians. No gift receipt necessary – they won’t be returning.
  • For those hungry little termites who don’t want to trim your house with holiday lights but who would rather actually eat the trim (You thought Uncle Arnold and his kids were bad guests!), a Western Exterminator Homeowner Protection Plan that gives you an annual inspection and if necessary, re-treatment as part of your yearly fee.
  • For those pesky flies who want to hang out around the salad bar in your employee cafeteria or restaurant. A complete inspection and service program delivered by our Commercial Services Team. It’s the gift that keeps on giving (giving flies the boot that is!).
  • Finally one indulgence for myself. Another year working with the finest pest professionals and customers in the West. And a new mallet – I always want my equipment in tip top shape!

Do you have questions about Western Exterminator? If so, I want to hear them. You can send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com. I’ll be sure to get back to you right away with an answer.

Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator Company “The Final Word in Pest Control®”

Have a pest free day and Happy Holidays!

Leaving Bed Bugs Behind This Holiday Season


by Mr. Little on November 16, 2011 in Bugs, Tips with No comments
bedbug

When I was much younger, bed bugs were a common plague that we all had to deal with. But shortly after World War II they were, well, so under control that they weren’t really noticed, except in that nursery rhyme.

However, in the last few years, they are back with a vengeance, and because holiday travel time is near, I thought I better share with you some tips on how to stay bed bug free.

Whether you’re getting ready to go to Grandma’s or Uncle Fred’s house or a five-star hotel, bed bugs should be of great concern to you, because, yes, they can strike anywhere.  (And, they’re just nasty enough to do it, too!)

Before You Leave Home. Check the travel websites to see if your hotel has been reported as having bed bugs.  Yes, some people just like to complain (Menace Mouse for one!), and you’ll have to read through the lines on those reviews, but many websites – www.tripadvisor.com is a good one – can give you a heads up that maybe you want to make a reservation at a less “buggy” establishment.

Once you confirm where you’re going, make sure to do these three things when you pack your suitcase:

  • Large plastic trash bags.
  • A small but effective flashlight (remember to check the batteries).
  • Put everything inside your luggage in smaller plastic bags.

At Your Hotel. Put the large plastic trash bags around your luggage, and store your luggage in the bathtub or on a tile floor. These areas are the least likely places bed bugs will be residing. Remember to take your luggage out of the shower before using it or you can add soggy clothes to your list of problems!

While it may be tempting, do not start your stay with a nap! Instead, immediately, search your room before you settle in. You’re looking for dark fecal spots, dried blood spots, molted bed bug shells, eggs, and of course bed bugs – dead or alive! Using your handy-dandy flashlight, inspect all the nooks and crannies of your hotel room; pull up the bedding and look closely at the folds or creases of the mattress and box springs, upholstered chairs, drawers, and headboards.

Once you’ve determined that your room appears bed bug free, go ahead and settle in. But, don’t unpack your suitcase (remember my advice about the shower). Only take the clothes out that you will be wearing, and don’t leave your shoes on the floor. I keep my prized top hat in a bag for safekeeping when I am on the road! Keep everything inside your plastic trash bags and close the plastic bag your suitcase is in immediately afterwards. Put dirty clothes in plastic bags, too.

If you discover bed bugs, contact management right away and insist on being switched to another room which is not next to or immediately adjacent to the infested room (including up and downstairs from that room).

And if you find bed bugs on your suitcase or clothes, you might want to leave them there. That may sound odd but trust me when I say you don’t want to take them home. (Bringing Aunt Rosie’s fruitcake home is bad enough!) It’s far cheaper and much less inconvenient to buy yourself a new suitcase and outfit than it is to prepare for or pay for a bed bug treatment.

When You Return Home. Carefully inspect your possessions for any hitchhiking bed bugs and make sure to thoroughly check the clothing you are wearing. I suggest you unpack your bags outdoors or in the garage, and put everything that can be in the washer. For items that can’t be washed, I recommend placing them in the dryer at the highest temperature setting for at least 10 minutes.

What questions do have about bed bugs and how to keep them off your holiday itinerary? I’m ready to help. Send your questions to me at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com. I’ll be sure to get back to you right away with an answer.

Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator Company “The Final Word in Pest Control®”

Have a pest free day!

A Mouse In The House? Mr. Little Thinks Not

by Mr. Little on November 14, 2011 in History, Tips with No comments
huntison

I want to set the record straight on my position on rodents. I thought the movie Ratatouille was very funny even if it made me think twice about dining out in Paris! Did you see the cinematic epic Mouse Hunt with Nathan Lane? More than 700 of my Western Exterminator colleagues, their families and I enjoyed the world premiere and had a good laugh. I also enjoy visiting a certain theme park, riding the rides and swapping my legendary top hat for a pair of mouse ears with my name stitched on them.

However, my issue with rodents is that they don’t seem to know their boundaries. If they want to star in movies (I’m guessing they wreak havoc on the commissary table!) or run an amusement park, more power to them. But if they want to take up residence in one of my customers’ homes or businesses, then I have a problem.

As my long-time acquaintance Menace Mouse can attest, I do not like seeing evidence of a rodent infestation in one of Western Exterminator Company’s residential customers in Phoenix, San Diego or Sacramento.

I like it even less when one of our valued commercial customers in Las Vegas or Hollywood has a mouse problem in a restaurant kitchen or food storage warehouse (Talk about taking a bite out of your reputation!). And my colleagues at Western Exterminator Company share these feelings.

Rodents have several very unappealing traits including the risk of transmitting disease, causing significant structural damage to buildings, and spoiling food supplies.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rats and mice spread over 35 diseases. These diseases can be spread to humans directly, through handling of rodents, through contact with rodent feces, urine, or saliva, or through rodent bites. Diseases carried by rodents can also be spread to humans indirectly, through ticks, mites or fleas that have fed on an infected rodent. I’m sure with this knowledge you now share my disgust!

They are, to say the least, very rude and unwelcome guests. If anyone was going to be asked to leave a party, it would be them!

As the calendar rolls through fall and colder winter weather quickly approaches, rodents look to relocate indoors searching for consistent food and water sources. After all, wherever we find it warm and inviting, so do rodents.

In my many years working with rodents (rodent management has been part of the core services offered by Western since our founding in 1921), my knowledgeable colleagues at Western Exterminator Company and I have developed proven effective strategies to keep your home or business rodent-free. My first thought is to use my handy mallet but along with my esteemed technical colleagues I realize there are less dramatic ways to eliminate rodents!

Exclusion is an important part of a successful rodent management program and there are several steps consumers can take to keep rodents out of their homes and businesses.

  • Rodent proof the exterior of homes or commercial structures. The best line of defense is to keep them out. Caulk or seal any openings larger than a dime with hardware cloth, metal or similar materials. Pay special attention around the foundation and roof or at openings where pipes or wires enter the structure. Make sure weather stripping around exterior doors, including garage doors, is in good condition. Remember, rodents can squeeze through openings as small as the diameter of a pencil, so most any opening is large enough to allow rodents inside.
  • Don’t feed the rodents. Keep pet food and other food products in sealed plastic containers and not in easily accessible areas such as attached garages, carports, screen rooms or porches. Rodents love easy access to even the smallest “buffet” so pick up Rover’s food bowl when it is not being used.
  • Check possible water sources. Rodents need water to survive, so inspect your property for possible rodent “water parks.” Remember, rodents are small and don’t need a lot of water to keep going. Limit water sources by fixing leaky pipes or removing standing water in and around structures.
  • Don’t sabotage all your hard work. Check packages and other items such as firewood for signs of rodent infestation before bringing them indoors. Rodents are very sneaky and patient creatures, and will hitch a ride in a box to gain access to the great indoors!

If you have tried one or all of these tips and still have rodents, don’t panic. Our team of highly trained pest specialists will use proven, environmentally sensitive solutions to remove rodents from your home or business. Call 800/937-8398 or visit www.WesternExterminator.com to schedule a service appointment.

Do you have questions about rodents or other pests? If so, I want to hear them. You can send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com. I’ll be sure to get back to you right away with an answer.

Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator Company “The Final Word in Pest Control®”

Have a pest free day!