Your Ladybug Guide: How to Get Rid of Them for Good
It’s safe to say that ladybugs are some of the cutest and most docile insects, with their bright red bodies and black polka dot pattern. However, they can quickly become a nuisance if not properly contained.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about ladybugs and a step-by-step guide to getting rid of them – for good!
Why Are Ladybugs in My House?
You will usually notice more ladybugs in your home during the winter months, as ladybugs tend to flock indoors to stave off the freezing cold. While not considered invasive, ladybugs can quickly add up if you have a crack or opening they can exploit.
Typically, seeing one ladybug isn’t cause for alarm, but if you are noticing large numbers of these bugs in your home, you may want to reach out to a professional pest control company.
Ladybugs do snack on insects, so seeing large numbers of ladybugs or beetles may mean that your home has more pests than you know.
What Do Ladybugs Symbolize?
In many cultures, it is believed that ladybugs symbolize luck and new beginnings. Some people also believe that ladybugs are a sign of fertility, and seeing a ladybug or having one land on you could mean that one’s family will soon be expanding.
Are Ladybugs Harmful?
Ladybugs are known for their friendly and harmless nature, as they do not draw blood or carry disease. Unlike stink bugs, they don’t release a horrible smell, and they tend to feast on insects, not plants. In fact, ladybugs are said to be beneficial to gardeners, as they prey on soft-bodied pests like aphids, which can destroy plants.
Ladybugs are very docile creatures and are not seen as threatening humans, pets, or plants.
How to Get Rid of Ladybugs: Step-by-Step
If you do find yourself with a large swarm of ladybugs, most infestations can be treated fairly easily, DIY.
1. Vacuum Your Floors
If you spot ladybugs in your home, the easiest way to remove them is by gently vacuuming them with the nozzle attachment on your vacuum cleaner. This will pick up the ladybugs without crushing them, and you can release them back into the wild afterward.
2. Seal Entrances
Sealing the entrances to your home is a crucial way to keep out pests of all kinds, including ladybugs. You can do this by inspecting your doors and window screens for any possible entryways and using a store-bought caulk to seal up any cracks or crevices in your home.
3. Use Diatomaceous Earth
For larger ladybug infestations, sprinkling diatomaceous earth where these insects travel can effectively kill them. Diatomaceous earth dehydrates insects that come into contact with the powder, making it an effective solution for dealing with many different pests.
4. Use a Light Trap
Light traps are also commonly used to manage household insects, including ladybugs. Light traps can be purchased for around $30 or less on Amazon or in-store at several different retailers and are a great alternative solution to using pest control chemicals.
5. Use an Essential Oil
There are several scents ladybugs are known to dislike, including citronella, lavender, lemon, and cloves. Using these scents in essential oil form can effectively deter ladybugs from hanging around your home.
6. Plant Lavender or Mums
Keeping lavender and mums inside and outside your home is another all-natural way to ward off ladybugs, as they hate the scents of these plants.
7. Seek Professional Assistance
When in doubt, it is always best to seek the help of a pest control professional to take care of an infestation of any kind. Anchor Pest Control offers preventative pest control plans to naturally repel ladybugs without harming you, your family, or your pets.
Contact our team of professionals for service in the tri-state area.
FAQs: Ladybug Pest Control
Can ladybug infestations damage property?
While ladybugs can infest homes in extreme cases, they are not known to damage property in any way. In large infestations, these bugs may stain carpets and upholstery with their secretions, but other than that, they are not thought to do serious property damage.
How can I tell if I have a ladybug infestation?
The biggest sign of a ladybug infestation is seeing a large number of ladybugs gathering together inside or outside of your home. Ladybugs will often gather on the sides of buildings and in the cracks of structures, so you may notice a large number of these insects congregating in these areas of your home. However, a pest control professional can assess the situation and determine whether or not you are dealing with an infestation.
Do ladybugs carry diseases?
Ladybugs do not carry any known diseases, and their presence in your home is unlikely to spread disease as well. Additionally, these insects do not draw blood, so even if they were to bite or pinch, you should not experience any adverse reactions.
Will ladybugs harm my indoor plants?
Ladybugs are not known to harm plants. In fact, these insects feed on other pests, like aphids, that harm plants by feeding on plant leaves.
Can I release vacuumed ladybugs back into the wild?
When vacuumed gently using the nozzle attachment on a vacuum cleaner, ladybugs can be released back into the wild.
How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes | Prevention and Removal
There are many things to love about the warm summer months, from sunny days at the beach to the cheerful sound of the ice cream truck driving down the street. However, there are some aspects of summer that aren’t so pleasant, including mosquitoes.
While getting a couple of mosquito bites during the summer months is to be expected, these flying pests can be dangerous to humans due to the many diseases they carry. According to the CDC, there are over 200 types of mosquitoes in the United States and US territories, and 12 of these types of mosquitoes carry diseases that can be harmful to humans.
Mosquitoes may rightfully be called one of the most dangerous bugs in New Jersey, especially since they can carry deadly disease.
This summer, don’t let you and your loved ones get eaten alive. Keep reading to learn how to get rid of mosquitoes so you can have a fun and relaxing summer.
How Dangerous Are Mosquitoes?
While most mosquito bites are relatively harmless, these pests often carry diseases like West Nile Virus, Zika Virus, and Malaria. Mosquito bites can also be dangerous to people who have an allergy to them, such as Skeeter Syndrome, which is a large allergic reaction to mosquito bites that causes significant inflammation.
Additionally, pregnant women should try to avoid coming into contact with mosquitoes as much as possible, as the diseases they spread can be harmful to both mom and baby.
How to Avoid Mosquito Bites
Due to the prevalence of diseases that mosquitoes carry, it’s critical to avoid mosquito bites as much as possible. Here are some tips:
- Limit time spent outdoors at night
- Use bug spray to deter mosquitoes
- Wear long sleeves at night
- Try to stay cool– mosquitoes are attracted to pheromones in sweat
- Eliminate standing water around your home
- Avoid wearing too many scented products
- Burn citronella candles when spending time outdoors
- Use a fan to get rid of mosquitoes: Fans can disrupt their flights, making it difficult for them to land.
How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in Your Yard
Mosquitoes can generally strike inside or outside your home. For this reason, we divided our mosquito prevention tips for both areas.
Here are some tips to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard.
- Remove standing water- Bird baths, water fountains that are not being used, and kiddie pools are all great places for mosquitoes to dwell.
- Clear debris and clutter- Things like piles of dead leaves, tree branches, overgrown vegetation, and even lawn furniture can attract mosquitoes to your yard
- Grow Mosquito-Repelling Plants- Plants like citronella and lavender are known to deter mosquitoes.
- Use an insecticide- Apply only to areas where you frequently see mosquitoes to minimize any negative effects.
- Introduce natural predators- Hang bird feeders around your yard; birds are known to feed on mosquitoes.
How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in Your Home
In rare instances, a mosquito can enter your home. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent this.
- Purchase door strips to seal any possible entryways and prevent mosquitoes from entering.
- Inspect your air conditioning unit; leaking or pooled water from your A.C. can attract mosquitoes.
- Keep mosquito-repelling plants inside. Keeping a potted lavender or citronella plant on your windowsill can deter mosquitoes.
- Use the soap and water method. Fill a dish with a combination of dish soap and water and put it in rooms where you have seen mosquitoes to catch and kill them.
As always, preventative pest control will be your best option to control mosquitoes. But when that doesn’t work, you’ll need to call in the experts.
When to Call a Mosquito Control Expert
Seeing the odd mosquito in your home isn’t usually a big deal, but if you begin to notice several of these pests flying around, you may want to contact a mosquito control expert to take care of the problem. Being that mosquitoes can carry a number of dangerous diseases, a mosquito infestation is not something to take likely. Call a trusted pest control company at the first sign of a problem.
FAQs
What smell do mosquitoes hate?
Citronella is one of the most universally recognized mosquito-repellent scents, with many people opting to burn citronella candles or even grow citronella plants outside of the home. In addition to citronella, mosquitoes are also known to dislike the smell of lavender, lemongrass, and lemon balm, so burning candles with these scents or even dabbing essential oils on your wrists can help deter these pests from biting you.
Do dryer sheets repel mosquitoes?
People have been using dryer sheets for years as a DIY way to repel mosquitoes, but there is little evidence to support this practice. Still, it doesn’t hurt to try. To use the dryer sheet method, simply rub scented dryer sheets on your arms and legs before going outside– the dandruff-like powder the dryer sheets leave behind is said to prevent mosquitoes from landing and sucking your blood.
Do mosquito bracelets work?
Mosquito bracelets are great options for people who don’t want to be bothered with applying bug spray before going outdoors. Mosquito bracelets contain scents that are known to deter mosquitoes, such as citronella, lavender, and lemongrass, and can be worn for several days before the scent wears off. However, these bracelets are typically not as effective as traditional bug sprays, so you may not get the same amount of protection when wearing these bands.
What to Do About Those Tiny Ants In Your House
Ants are some of the most common household pests, as there are over 12,000 species found across the planet that range in color and size from big black ants to tiny ants that spread quickly.
While some ants are more destructive than others, tiny ants tend to be the most difficult to contain.
These ants tend to show up on countertops, bathroom floors, and even occasionally moseying across your bedroom.
Let’s explore some reasons you may be finding tiny ants in the house and provide some tips we’ve used in the field to successfully eradicate tiny ants.
Types of Tiny Ants
Some of the most common tiny ants you may see around your home include:
- Acrobat Ants: These black ants with a red thorax get their name from acrobatically raising their abdomen above their head when disturbed.
- Odorous Ants: Commonly referred to as sugar ants, these small black ants tend to establish several sub-colonies that allow them to multiply quickly.
- Big-Headed Ants: These reddish ants with large heads tend to be fairly innocuous but may find their way into your home occasionally.
- Thief Ants: Thief ants are reddish ants that tend to steal food from other ant colonies. They have been known to contaminate food packaging.
Why Are Tiny Ants in My Home?
Ants typically make their way inside in search of food and water, and they can enter through even the tiniest of cracks and crevices. Once they are in your home, they will seek food and water from a variety of sources, including:
- Rotting fruits and vegetables
- Open garbage bags
- Greasy counter surfaces
- Leaky faucets
- Open pet food
- Unsealed food (especially sugary and sweet food)
Unfortunately, getting rid of tiny ants when they enter your home is difficult, but there are lots of effective solutions you can apply.
How to Get Rid of Tiny Ants
Non-Toxic Solutions
There are several all-natural pest control solutions for getting rid of ants that won’t harm your family or pets. Using a mixture of water and dish soap is one popular method, as this combination will stick to ants and suffocate them to death. You can also add neem oil to this mixture for extra ant-fighting strength.
Diatomaceous earth is another commonly used method for getting rid of ants and can be applied by sprinkling the powder on areas where ants frequently hang out in your home. These products are great for stemming an existing infection, but you may have to resort to insecticides and traps if you keep finding ants in your home.
Traps
Ant traps are easy to set up and are not only good at getting rid of carpenter ants, but they can effectively kill the tiny ants in your home. These traps come in a variety of different options and can be purchased at most home improvement or drug stores.
The most effective baits, such as Terro Liquid Bait, attract ants and their workers, which then bring back the poison to their colonies, wiping them out slowly over time.
Still, it is important to note that you should place ant traps in areas that are out of reach from any small children or pets, as they can contain toxic chemicals.
Insecticides
Brands like Raid, Spectracide, and Terro make their own versions of ant insecticides that can be purchased at most home improvement stores. These sprays are remarkable in their killing efficiency, but the key is proper application.
Rather than taking matters into your own hands, it is best to enlist the help of a pest control professional to ensure the problem is taken care of safely and effectively.
Should I Call an Exterminator for Tiny Ants?
If you suspect an ant infestation in your home, you should contact a pest control professional promptly. While ants may seem small enough to take on by yourself with a DIY solution, they can be tricky to deal with and may end up causing a lot of damage to your home if not treated properly.
Worse yet, misapplying insecticides can often do more harm than good, so it’s always safest to contact a professional.
Tiny Ant Prevention Tips
While many treatments exist to eliminate tiny ants in your house, preventative pest control will always be the best solution. Here are some quick tiny ant prevention tips to follow.
- Clean your home regularly (sweep, mop, and vacuum).
- Limit eating to one room of the house.
- Store food in airtight containers.
- Caulk and seal gaps and cracks in your home to prevent ants from entering.
- Fix any leaks.
- Keep trash cans sealed and empty them when they’re full.
- Wash and dry dishes after using them.
Tiny ants may not be dangerous, but they can be annoying, especially when you find some crawling across your skin. Follow these tips to get rid of tiny ants, and reach out to a professional if you need further assistance.
FAQs
Why are tiny ants in my bathroom and kitchen?
You may notice tiny ants crawling around in two main rooms in your home: the bathroom and kitchen. Ants tend to frequent these areas due to the number of food sources available to them. They may also be attracted to the moisture in these rooms, as you might see them hanging around your sink, shower, and drains.
Where do you find out where ants are coming from?
If you’re having trouble figuring out where ants are coming from in your home, use a flashlight to look behind your refrigerator, stove, microwave, and inside your cabinets. If there is a significant ant presence in your home, you should be able to spot at least a few ants dwelling in these areas.
What causes ants in a clean home?
While having ants isn’t necessarily indicative of a dirty home, these pests are attracted to places with water and a food supply, and you could be providing them with those amenities without even realizing it. Try to get into the habit of regularly cleaning in hard-to-reach places, such as behind the refrigerator, underneath cabinets, and behind the stove, to prevent ants from entering or sticking around your home.
Anchor in The Press
Have you seen Anchor in the news lately? Check us out on the web:
NJ.com - Frequently Asked Questions about Bed Bugs
YouTube - Anchor on TV
YouTube - Anchor on TV Again
Did winter mean the end of the Stink Bug?
In the winter, freezing conditions can freeze stink bugs to death. Does this mean that they are all gone? Not likely.
In laboratory tests, stink bugs create a natural anti-freeze that helps to keep the water in their bodies from crystallizing and killing them. The biggest difference is that in the lab tests, the bugs aren’t frozen for months the way that the weather has been recently.
Nonetheless, not all of the stink bugs will die. They like to hide under shingles, in attics and in walls. For at least some of them that will be enough to keep them alive and able to procreate. And procreating is something that stink bugs do very well.
Virginia Tech. entomology professor Thomas Kuhar tested the winter theory by gathering up stink bugs and putting them into 5-gallon buckets. Over the course of a winter, 95% of the bugs died. The buckets were filled with foam insulation and keep under a shelter for the season. The bugs create cryoprotectants, antifreeze proteins, help to keep the bugs bodily fluids from crystallizing. Proteins similar to these can be found in arctic creatures that survive the even longer, even colder winter in extreme climates. Ninety-five percent might seem like a lot but it only takes a couple of bugs to make a whole colony in no time.
The only real solution to keeping stink bugs away from the home is to choose a good exterminator who will find the bus where they hide and keep them away. Anchor Pest Control will use the latest scientific solutions to keep stink bugs away, all without negatively affecting the family and pets in the area.
The Great Bed Bug Caper – How to Find the Elusive Little Bugs
In the case of “Are the Bed Bugs There?,” professional ‘bug sleuths’ have a few tools.
VISUAL INSPECTION
The first tool is a brilliant detective mind. A trained professional can find insects, even when they well hidden.
A professional will look at beds, furniture, curtains, cracks and many more places. But it’s not just the pros who can look. The customer can learn to find the signs of bugs, particularly bed bugs, and be able to keep up the vigilance for themselves.
Sometimes a pro will set up regular visits or random visits to look for bed bugs after a first infestation. That will allow them to monitor subsequent outbreaks if they occur.
An exterminator can also put out bug monitors. There are ones with attractants that will being the bugs to the trap. Others will give the bugs a place to hide, then they get trapped. The exterminator will then come back and check the traps.
DNA TESTING
The second tool is DNA testing. This is the easiest and best way to prove a business’s responsibility in a bed bug infestation. It can take 24 to 48 hours and is 99.7 percent effective.The DNA test allows a consumer to prove that a particular ‘family’ of bugs.
K9 BED BUG CONTROL
The last tool has four legs and a great nose. Canine detection is 98% reliable. The best part is that the dog can find bugs that even a professional can’t see. It’s an extremely effective way to look for bugs. A well-trained dog is an amazing pal for an exterminator to be able find bugs extremely quickly. Of course, the dog is able to smell bugs long before they can be seen.
All of these tools are only effective and will solve problem in the hands of an expert. A well-trained and well-informed exterminator can turn these tools in powerful weapons against bugs. We are prepared to offer any of these services, finding our K9 Bed Bug Control to be the most effective. Do you think you have bed bugs? Call us today for an appointment!
Bed Bug Heat Treatment - How to Make Bed Bugs a Thing of the Past
We know that bed bugs absolutely can’t stand the heat, especially when the house that they have moved into is treated by Anchor Pest Control. It’s called Thermal Remediation Treatment. It is one of the most effective ways to treat a bed bug problem when you have the proper equipment. The trained staff at Anchor can help!
The process takes about a day, but leaves the home bed bug free. There is no damage to the house and we don’t need to use lots of noxious chemicals. Because it is just heat, it takes no time to recover from.
Your home will be sealed up with plastic and covered appropriately to make sure that the heat stays in. Anything that might be damaged by temperatures about 120 degrees is removed.
Our team of professionals then use our specialized equipment to heat your home up. Using fans, the entire space if heated evenly, ensuring that all of the little beasts in your home will be eliminated.
At temperatures over 120°, all stages of the bed bugs’ life, from egg to adult, can be killed by the heat. The process is completely safe, odor free and can be completed in a single day. The process requires a lot less preparation than conventional treatments and requires much less recovery time.
Whether it’s a small home or a full size commercial building, we can make the removable of bed bugs much easier and most effective with our Thermal Remediation Treatment.
Regulatory Compliance Requires Training Throughout
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Why Sentricon is the First Choice for Termite Baiting
“You have termites.” The dreaded statement that no one wants to hear. Termite infestations affect millions of homeowners all over the US each year and the prospect of getting rid of them is no easy task. Luckily, our experts have Sentricon baiting systems behind them.
Having termites in your home can mean multiple visits by a pest control company, drilling into your walls and foundation, and laying down poisonous chemicals. And even then, you have to simply hope that the chemicals kill ALL the termites and DO NOT harm you or your family. There must be a better way…and…there is.
Sentricon is the absolute best solution for getting rid of termite infestations in residential properties and here are a few reasons why.
Sentricon is safe for humans and pets
Unlike the harmful chemicals that have been used for years to kill termites, Sentricon has actually been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency as a SAFE and environmentally sound termite solution.
Sentricon is extremely easy to install into your home
When you are dealing with a termite problem, you may have already experienced damage to your wood structures. The last thing you want is for a pest removal company to begin drilling into your walls and foundation to apply termite poison. With Sentricon, that is not an issue. No drilling or disruption to your residence is required whatsoever. The non-invasive bait stations are installed by a certified Sentricon professional and can be removed or moved at any time.
Sentricon is designed to kill the entire colony, including the queen
Unlike ordinary termite poisons and treatments while try to eliminate each individual termite, Sentricon allows works such that the termite will bring the bait back to the colony. This results in the queen being killed which will effectively terminate the colony and ensure no new termites are hatched. Study after study has proven that Sentricon kills the entire colony, and thus, your entire termite problem.
So, if you hear that dreaded statement, “You have termites” don’t panic. Just pick up the phone and call (877) 623-BUGS or click here to request service, we're a certified Sentricon professional pest control company and your termite problems will soon be a thing of the past.
A Message From Our President Regarding Coronavirus
While there have been no issues at Anchor Pest Control, the impact of Coronavirus COVID-19 has been greater than we would have ever imagined. I want you to be assured that our customers’ health and safety is our top priority. We have followed the CDC best practices and implemented additional measures to keep our employees and customers safe during this sensitive time.
Such measures include:
- Education on the symptoms and awareness of all employees wellness
- Pre-shift screenings of our employees, ensuring no symptoms are present
- Consistent reminders of hand washing, using the proper techniques instructed by the CDC
- 14 Day Quarantine if anyone appears to have symptoms or is diagnosed.
Currently, scheduled exterior services are being performed as normal, routine interior services (non-issue related) are suspended temporarily, and we are handling new customer requests as needed. If you have any questions about your service or would like to reschedule, please contact our office at (732) 636-8761.
Services Impacted: Routine (Non-issue related) Interior Services Suspended Temporarily
We extended our concern for all those that have been affected directly or indirectly by the Coronavirus. Please check our website and social media regularly as we will be posting any updates as they come up.
Stay safe!
Carmen Reino
President of Anchor Pest Control