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How Do Termite Colonies Start? Swarming & Budding

Termites are one the most destructive insects that homeowners are afraid of. They can cause severe structural damage to your house by digging into the wood and nesting inside the structure. However, the deterioration often takes time and does not happen instantaneously. In most cases, you won’t even realize you have a major problem until the termite colony has infested your whole house. So, how do termite colonies start?

A new termite colony starts when male and female termites leave their original colonies to mate. During mating season, they both develop wings and fly around searching for a partner and a suitable spot to establish a new colony.

After locating a suitable spot for their new colony, the queen begins to lay eggs that eventually hatch. The freshly hatched termites are initially in the larval stage and are not yet ready to take on a specialized role. As Larvae grow, they undergo multiple molts during which their hard outer shells are lost, and new ones are produced.

A fully grown termite takes on one of the following roles in a termite colony.

Workers

Worker termites are often the largest group within a colony, and their primary responsibility is to take care of eggs as well as feed and nurture immature termites. They can chew through plastic, plaster, and various other materials and move up to 250 feet away from the main colony, searching for food. Worker termites also maintain the colony’s internal chambers and tunnels that can be seen inside the wood or beneath the ground.

Soldiers

Termite soldiers are in charge of protecting the queen and safeguarding the colony from unwanted visitors. They are distinctive in appearance and have darker heads compared to other termites. As they have to defend the colony, termite soldiers have larger bodies and bigger mandibles than worker termites.

The Queen

The queen is responsible for laying eggs, controlling the population, and managing the colony’s growth over time. Before mating, the new king and queen make a nest in the moist soil and seal it with their waste, saliva, and soil. Within days or weeks of mating, the queen lays her first batch of eggs and starts a new termite colony.

The King

The termite king completes the breeding cycle and contributes to the colony’s viability and strength. The king’s darker color differentiates him from other termites. He is smaller than the queen and usually has a similar size as a worker termite. Apart from maintaining the colony’s growth and structure, the role of the king is mostly unclear.

Alates

Flying termites, also known as swarmers or alates, are reproductives that leave the nest to establish new colonies. They are not readily present in a colony, and sometimes it can take up to four years for a colony to begin raising alates.

Alates have two sets of equal-sized wings when they reach adulthood. However, they shed these wings after completing the swarming flight.

Swarming & Budding

Swarming or budding are the two methods by which termite colonies often spread.

Swarming

Swarming takes place when winged queens or kings leave the original colony to mate and start new colonies.

Budding

Budding usually happens when a colony is separated from its queen due to a storm or other natural calamity. When this happens, supplementary reproductives step in as a queen to help the colony thrive.

Schedule a termite inspection with Vista Pest Control if you have termite colonies! Termite infestations can occur anywhere, and it is best to address the issue as soon as possible. Schedule a termite inspection with Vista Pest Control and let our termite control experts prepare a treatment plan for you.

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Child- & Pet-Safe Ways to Solve Pest Problems

Did you know that pest control is actually a major concern to both homes and the environment in the US today? Over-the-counter products have proven to be effective, but there is the possibility of them containing serious chemicals that can endanger children and household pets if the products are ingested, inhaled, or contacted.  But don’t worry! We have documented some of the best and safest ways to combat your fears of dealing with household pests while considering both the environment, your pets, and your children.

Store Food in Airtight Packages

The use of airtight packages prevents pests such as rodents, houseflies, and ants from infesting any of your food products. Always check on fresh fruits and vegetables that may be attracting flies and if possible, refrigerate them. When there is a need to use traps for rodents, make sure they are far from curious little hands and pets.

Wrap Food/Packaging with Aluminum Foil

Aluminum foils are made of metal that rodents and mice are unwilling to chew. You can use them to seal off corners, holes, or areas that pests can use to wiggle themselves into accessing your food. Foils are generally harmless towards children and the usual household pets but do try to ask your doctor and vet for possible allergic reactions to be sure.

DIY Insecticide, Pesticide, & Biopesticide

Apple Cider Vinegar

Most over-the-counter insecticides are noted as “safe for home use”. But as a parent for both children and pets, it’s always better to be sure than sorry. Thus, a less-toxic and eco-friendly alternative is using a diluted form of apple cider vinegar. This has been proven to work on fleas and other small insects.

Baking Soda

The US EPA does recognize baking soda as a biopesticide. A mixture of equal proportions of sugar and baking soda can get rid of all insects around your household. The sugar attracts the insects, and when ingested, the baking soda forms bubbles that kill them. Although it can be a slow process, it is effective and can be used as a preventative measure. For best results, the baking soda mixture can be applied at intervals depending on the surroundings and the pest.

Citrus Oil

You may not have realized how important citrus oil can be. Most household insects hate citrus, making citrus oil prepared at home a great choice for insect repellent. To keep away indoors flies, insects, bugs, and cricket’s one can spray it on clothes, windows, doors, and furniture to control them. Citrus oil is an effective insecticide that causes no harm to household pets and children.

Pyrethrum

When you crush pyrethrum and soak it in water, then add baking soda or citrus oil, you’d have an effective homemade pesticide. One can spray the mixture to various areas infested with pests, and the results would amaze you. It can also be used on indoor plants in affected areas to remove pests from affecting the flora. The mixture is chemical-free and very environmentally friendly.

Mint Oil

Mint scent is very efficient in detouring bugs from your homestead. Pick some mint oil from your local groceries and sock it in some cotton balls or rolls and place them on strategic areas where you often see the bugs. The scent is very effective in keeping this pest away.

Garlic

Garlic is an effective natural homemade insecticide that can be used against crawling and flying insects around your house. Crush the garlic with a mortar and pestle, add boiling water to it, and leave it overnight. When ready, you can use a sprayer to apply it on affected areas or places you don’t want the pests to infest.

In Conclusion

Pest prevention is absolutely possible to do by yourself with the use of local ingredients. Apart from being eco-friendly, these alternatives are child- and pet-safe. But be reminded that there can be times when you’ll need more than just DIYed concoctions.

If the infestation becomes too much for you to handle, the best decision would be to call in professionals. This can help you save money in the long run, and assure that your family and pets are safe from diseases that can be spread by insect bites.

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7 Ways to Keep the Bed Bugs Away

Bed bugs are one of the most aggravating pests that no one wants to deal with. These vexing creatures crawl out of their crevices at night to feed on human blood, causing infamous bed bug bites. They are not always found in beds and might take refuge in any location that suits their temperature needs. If a bed bug infestation isn’t handled properly, their population can swiftly grow, wreaking havoc on homeowners and businesses.

Luckily, there are certain measures that people can take to keep the bed bugs away.

Clean Your Clutter

The most potent step to avert bed bugs is to declutter your home. A congested space provides additional hiding places for bed bugs, making detection and treatment incredibly challenging. Make sure there is no clutter against the walls, as these areas are ideal for bed bugs to hide. Get rid of the excessive stuff, replace cardboard boxes with plastic containers, and store your stuff properly to avoid a bed bug infestation.

Cover Power Outlets

Bed bugs love to hide in power outlets, so make sure to keep them covered. They also use these openings as an escape route to avoid different extermination methods. Bed bugs can dwell in these outlets for extended periods of time and only leave them when it is safe to move out. They use the wiring system of the house to travel from one location to another, spreading the infestation on a much wider scale.

Vacuum Your Home Regularly

One of the easiest ways to get rid of stray bedbugs is to vacuum your entire home regularly. Make sure to vacuum all mattresses, box springs, carpets, and floors to eliminate any infestation before it even begins.

After cleaning your house, remove the vacuum bag, place it in a sealed container, and dispose of it in a trash can to ensure further prevention.

Watch You Bring Inside

Everything you bring into your home for the first time, including cardboard boxes, used books, or second-hand furniture, should be thoroughly inspected for bed bug infestation. If they show any signs of infestation, it is favorable to get rid of them as quickly as possible.

Most delivery services use the same trucks to deliver new mattresses as well as to carry away the old ones; therefore, inspect your new mattresses carefully before bringing them into your home and ask the vendors to deliver them in sealed packages.

Limit the Number of Hiding Spots

Another effective way to get rid of bed bugs is to limit the number of hiding spots. Make sure to repair or replace peeling wallpaper and fix loose electrical faceplates. Examine entry points and openings that provide access to the inside of the walls. Seal any cracks and crevices in windows, door frames, walls, ceilings, and furniture. Never store items under your bed, as this invites bed bugs to congregate near your mattress.

Avoid Bed Bugs During Travel

Travelers carry the risk of bringing bed bug infestation to their homes from a hotel, motel, or dorm room. Therefore, consider the following points while traveling and prevent these invasive insects from entering your home.

It is favorable to determine whether your hotel room has any signs of an infestation or not. Check mattresses, bedsheets, and bed skirts for minute rust-colored patches. Also, inspect the carpet and drapes before settling into a room.

Since bed bugs can hide behind picture frames, artworks, and electrical panels, it is better to unpack your bags on a luggage rack away from the bed and walls.

Make sure to keep your clothes in a vacuum-sealed bag while traveling. This method makes your belongings less accessible to pests and prevents bed bugs from infiltrating your home.

Call for Professional Help

Hiring an experienced and professional pest control company can help you eliminate bed bugs before the problem gets out of hand. If you detect one bed bug, there will always be more hiding, and exterminating them right away will save you from future costly treatment. Vista Pest Control offers powerful, effective, and eco-friendly pest control services that make your home clean and safe by ensuring complete bed bug removal.

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Seven Benefits of Routine Pest Control Services

A pest inspection is often carried out to detect and eradicate common household pests like rodents, bees, ants, spiders, fleas, bed bugs, and other insects. Once a pest control expert eliminates these bugs from your home, you want to ensure that a new infestation does not emerge instantly. If an infestation does happen again, you want it to be identified and managed as soon as possible to avoid any health issues or financial loss.

A routine pest control service helps you evade such dilemmas, dealing with all pest-related problems effectively and resoundingly. One of the predominant features of this service is tailored solutions that are exclusively devised to suit your property. Moreover, these inspections are performed regularly to keep your living environment safe, healthy, and pest-free.

You are bound to get the below-mentioned benefits once you opt for routine pest control service.

1. Lower chances of pest infestation:

Pest infestations are a nightmare for any property owner. A regular pest control service is an optimal solution that keeps your chances of experiencing a pest infestation to a bare minimum.

In routine pest control services, the experts create a healthy and safe environment within your home that is unlikely to attract pests and other harmful insects. A Clean and hygienic atmosphere provides your entire household with the assurance that insects and rodents will never cause a problem.

2. Maintain a clean and healthy atmosphere:

The dilemma of rodents, bugs, and other pests is that they spread disease and make people sick. Rodents living underneath your home can adversely contaminate the air of your living space, causing various health issues. Routine pest control treatments can eliminate such problems by maintaining a clean, immaculate, and allergy-free environment in your home, thus keeping your entire family safe and healthy. Even though there are many other benefits of pest management, this is by far the most potent one.

3. Mitigate the risk of structural damage:

Water damage, including mold development and structural deterioration, is often caused by the moisture that gets soaked into your home's walls, floors, and ceilings. The moist and damp surroundings, along with gaps in your doors and windows, invite pests inside your home and make your property age prematurely.

Termites and rodents can also cause significant damage to your property and go undiscovered as they nibble their way through wooden beams, columns, walls, and other locations where wood or cellulose is present. Fortunately, a regular pest inspection can eliminate all such issues, ensuring no more damage occurs to your home.

4. Help you avoid financial losses:

Regular pest control is worth every penny since a severe pest infestation can cost you tens of thousands of dollars in structural damage and expose your family to serious health problems. When rodents, bugs, and other pests wreak havoc beneath your house, the price of getting rid of them, as well as cleaning up any trash and repairing any damage they have caused, can quickly pile up. These conundrums can be avoided with regular pest inspections, saving you thousands of dollars and providing you immense peace of mind.

5. You get priority services and an instant response:

When you opt for routine pest inspections from a reputable pest control company, you get tailored solutions that suit your home. A trustworthy pest control company makes sure that your property remains pest-free by arranging routine appointments. You also get informed about these inspections well in advance, allowing you to free up your schedule ahead of time.

When dealing with a pest hazard, it is vital to have professional help and guidance straight away. In the case of an emergency, you get priority attention if you have signed up for a routine maintenance program. As your pest control company is already familiar with your location, they know exactly what to do in the event of a pest infestation without having to assess your property or learn how to navigate it.

6. Keep pests and their clutter at bay:

The purpose of pest control services is to keep pests away from your property, but there is so much more to gain when it comes to periodic inspection. Spiders, for example, leave sticky webs, and even though they appear to be cleanable with a single swipe, you'll be startled to learn that even sweeping them doesn't eradicate their mess adequately. Regular pest control service deals with such issues aptly. Not only does this service keep pests away from your home, but it also cleans off their clutter effectively.

7. Ensure hygienic food storage:

Pests such as pantry beetles, ants, cockroaches, and other bugs can easily sneak into any food item that is not securely packed. These pests can waste a considerable amount of money you spend on your food items by contaminating them.

Routine pest control treatment protects your food storage area from contamination and prevents these bugs from causing a hygiene problem in your house.

Conclusion:

A routine pest control service plays an integral role in detecting bugs and implementing an efficient pest control plan to keep your living space clean and healthy. Running such services is considerably less expensive than paying for costly house repairs.

Make sure to hire a company that has certified professionals, vast experience, and cooperative customer support. Also, ask the experts to provide an in-depth inspection report and a guarantee of their work so that in case of any further infestation, you can call them again without incurring any additional expenses.

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Pest Control Services In Vista California

We know that first impressions matter, no matter what the industry. We realize that pest control issues, even if it is bed bugs, termites, roaches, or mice, or some other infestation, may be about protecting your household or co-worker, and that's important. This is exactly why we provide commercial pest control based on the finest and advanced techniques available. And because every business is significantly different, our highly-skilled professional technicians will customize a pest management method that centers on your needs.

Put our solid reputation for quality and integrity to work for your company in order to give attention to what is important, with courage. Call us today for a free consultation!

Also check the Best  Ant Infestations In Vista California

Contact Us: Vista Pest Control Company Vista, California (619) 333-8987 https://vista-pest-control.com/

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