Pinpoint Pest Control Blog

Nothing beats turkey with all the fixings on Thanksgiving. Having the game play in the background while visiting with friends and family makes this day one of the most special holidays of the year. With so much going on in the house, the last thing that you need to deal with is a pest infestation. When flies, roaches and other insects are trying to ruin your holiday, Pinpoint has some tips to help you out.

How to Keep Out Pests on Thanksgiving

Learn which pests cause the most problems

Knowing what to look for will give you a better chance at eliminating the pests. Fall pests often invade homes in search of shelter for the coming winter, such as stinkbugs and beetles. Other pests, such as roaches and ants, will also make your life miserable for the holiday. Identify the pests, and use the appropriate treatments to eliminate them.

Inspect your home for hidden entryways

Insects are getting into your home one way or another, so locate and plug up their entryways. The most common entrances are gaps around windows, doors, vents and plumbing. Use a sealant to block the holes and to stop the pests from coming indoors. If the gaps under the doors are too wide, plug them with large towels or foam rollers.

Of all the pests that call Oceanside, California, home, fleas and ticks are not only the most prevalent but also the most harmful to both you and your pets. Read on for important information about protecting your family and furry friends.

How to Avoid Fleas

Fleas have four life stages, which includes egg, larva, pupa and biting adult. They feed on the blood of humans as well as domestic animals like dogs and cats. Considering that a female flea can lay up to 2,000 eggs in her lifetime, it's important to take action immediately if you've found one flea in your home or on your pet. Not only will this prevent a major infestation in your home but it'll avoid pets from developing intense bouts of itching, anemia and tapeworms.

How Do Fleas Get Inside Your Home

• Not applying flea prevention strategies in and around your home, especially if you own cats or dogs.
• Rodents carry fleas into your yard, and your pets bring them into your home.
• Any human entering your home can also act as transportation for a flea hoping to infest it.

Tips to Prevent a Flea Infestation

• Mow your grass regularly, trim your shrubs routinely and deter rodents from entering your yard.
• Run a flea comb through your pet’s coat before going inside after a walk, and apply a monthly flea treatment.
• Vacuum your carpets once per week, or more if suspect there are fleas in your home.

How to Avoid Ticks

Like fleas, ticks also have four life stages: egg, larva, nymph and adult. And they also feed on the blood of their hosts, such as humans and pets. They fall into the arachnid classification, which means they're closely related to scorpions and spiders. What makes ticks so dangerous is that they can transmit diseases to humans, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Ehrlichia. It's more common to find a tick infestation on a dog than a cat.

The United States is populated by about 4,000 species of bees belonging to nine different families. These include such familiar members as the bumbling bumble bee, the sweet honeybee and the busy carpenter bee. All of these bees perform invaluable services to our world as pollinators.

Bees and Pollination

Plants reproduce through pollination, which refers to the pollen transfer from the male part of the plant to the female part of the plant. Once the pollen has been transferred, a new fruit, seed or nut can form. Plants often depend on the wind or animals to help with reproduction, and bees are among the most effective pollinators because they have pockets and hairs on their legs that tend to collect large volumes of pollen and they focus their attentions on one type of plant at a time. This allows for more and better quality pollination with each trip a bee makes.

The Benefits of Bees

About a third of crops benefit directly or indirectly from bees’ visits. Honeybees and other pollinating creatures, including hummingbirds, bats and butterflies, are estimated to help produce millions of dollars worth of agricultural crops. Some of these foods include apples, asparagus, blueberries, broccoli, cantaloupes, cherries, cucumbers, cranberries, watermelons, pumpkins and almonds. Honey is another food we would not have without bees.

Individuals and business owners know that pests are a common problem that they will need to address right away if they don't want to face unneeded complications. From using pest control products to sealing the cracks of your home, you can try many things in the quest to keep your property free of pests. Although they are a common problem, some pests are more harmful than others, and certain creatures will keep you awake at night. We are now going to explore some of the most dangerous pests in the world and what you can do about them. This knowledge will give you peace of mind and allow you to put your fears to rest.

Bullet Ant

Located in the rainforests of Paraguay, the bullet ant is one of the most feared insects on the planet, and those who travel to the area will want to take steps to protect themselves from the painful sting. Because of their large size, bullet ants are easy to identify. When a bullet ant attacks, you will feel the impact for 24 hours, and some people compare the feeling to a gunshot wound. Using insect repellents and wearing pants and shirts with long sleeves is a great way to avoid these pests. No matter how tempting, never overlook the threat that these creatures can present if you don't want to experience unbearable pain and discomfort.

Botfly

When it comes to insects that will make your skin crawl, nothing can compete with the botfly. This flying pest looks like a bumble bee and calls South America home. The larva of the botfly is parasitic and can live under human skin, and people who are infected can often feel the insects moving under their skin. Botflies can also cause bumps and localized pain, and the larva can live in a human host for up to 12 weeks. Those who want to avoid this threat will need to apply insect repellant on all of the exposed parts of their bodies.

Like any other natural environment, beaches are home to a wide variety of species that call these areas home. Unfortunately, many of the same insects and animals that people consider to be pests in the ordinary world can be found on beaches. People who plan to visit beaches should be prepared to chase away pests that could be in the area with repellents, and they should avoid areas frequented by pests. Beach pests can be especially problematic for people who own property that is adjacent to a beach or near the ocean. Understanding the types of pests that can be found on beaches can help people to prepare for the worst.

Types of Pests

Many of the pests that can be found on beaches are seen on dry land as well because beaches are relatively small habitats. Therefore, few species have evolved to adapt themselves specifically to the beach environment. Instead, pests found on beaches tend to be those that thrive in either the wet environment found near the water's edge or the dry sand that covers the main portion of a sunny beach. Some of the most common pests found on beaches include ticks, spiders, ants, and flies. For beaches that are less crowded, snakes and rodents can often be found in many areas.

What Beach Pests Look Like

Due to the wide variety of pests that can be found on a beach, people should be prepared to look for anything that could resemble a pest when settling down on their beach towel. Small insects that can bite should be the first thing that people check for when seeking a peaceful place to spend time on a beach. Setting a towel down on top of an ant colony, for example, could make for an uncomfortable afternoon. People should also look for potentially dangerous animals that could be present on a beach. Aggressive animals may attack people on beaches who they perceive to be walking on their territory.