Venice Pest Blog

Fleas are mainly associated with pets, and many feel that proper preventative treatments for their cat or dog are sufficient in stopping the problem. However, fleas are more indiscriminate about where they get their food than many people realize. They feed on blood and will attach to any bird or mammal — including humans — for sustenance. If given the proper conditions to infiltrate and infest a home, they can become a major irritation in just a few days. Although hiring an exterminator is the surest way to thoroughly rid your home of fleas, there are some methods of treatment homeowners can take when they see the first signs of an infestation. Here are a few effective ways to treat your home for fleas. Deep Clean to Prevent Flea Growth Fleas can lay dozens of eggs every day. Their small size allows them to build their nests in small crevices and...

Pests may be small but they can be a huge problem. You go to your garden only to find unruly pests gnawing away at your prized possessions. These little nuisances don’t stop there, they can also spread harmful diseases to plants. If left untreated, pests can do some serious even irreversible damage to your garden. Below are some common pests that can turn your garden into a barren wasteland. Aphids It doesn’t take a gardener to know how devastating these pests can be. Aphids have a pear shape and come in a variety of colors. They can be brown, red, green, or black. Aphids wreak havoc on your garden by sucking the sap out of plants, leaving them weak and brittle. It doesn’t take long for an aphid infestation to occur. You can check for leaves coated in a sticky residue, or look for sooty mold called Black fungus. Aphids can...

When it comes to caring for your lawn, fertilization is a crucial component. Proper fertilization can prevent the spread of unwanted insects in your yard and keep weed growth under control. However, it can be difficult to know the right time for you to fertilize. Lawn care in Florida often differs from the usual rules. A humid climate and year-round sunshine are factors to take into consideration. Read these tips to help you determine when to break out the fertilizer. Grass Type While it may seem straightforward, it’s important to make sure you know what kind of grass you are working with. There are two main categories: warm-season grasses and cool-season grasses. In southern regions of the United States, like Florida, it is safe to assume that you have a warm-season grass. These lawns are used to high heat and frequent rain. Growth Period Fertilizer should always be applied during the...

Now that the summer is here and the country is starting to open up again, it’s time to start thinking about one of our favorite past-times: spending a nice, relaxing day at the beach. Sand Flies If you’ve ever been at the beach and thought that you were being overrun by mosquitoes, chances are you were actually being attacked by sand flies. These tiny insects are similar to mosquitoes in many ways. Like their winged cousins, sand flies are attracted to warm-blooded hosts (like humans) and have a long proboscis designed to pierce the skin and give the sand fly access to the host’s blood. You can tell you’re dealing with sand flies instead of mosquitoes mainly in what they leave behind -- mosquito bites leave a red, irritated welt, while sandfly bites are small, painful, and typically appear clustered together. Mosquitos One of the reasons people get sand flies and...

As the summer months approach, many homeowners begin to prepare for a warm season of outdoor fun and adventure. Of course, that fun can start in someone’s backyard. But sometimes, there’s a problem. See, with the return of summer comes the return of an array of outdoor pests, including ticks. These little guys are quite the nuisance and pack a powerful bite. They are annoying to deal with and can make your yard a bit undesirable over time if ignored. However, you can see some real benefits around the yard once you begin treatment for ticks. No More Ticks First and foremost, treating your yard for ticks solves the very problem you wanted to get rid of in the first place. Once a tick bites you, they can leave behind a nasty mark that itches and can become painful. Ticks are not exactly the kind of critter that makes you say,...

Living in Florida means that you have to adapt to your surroundings. However, while things like heat and humidity, gators, and hurricane season are apparent challenges, one that you may overlook is snakes. Fifty species of snakes live in the Sunshine state, but the vast majority (44) of them are non-venomous. In this article, we want to share the six common snakes that are poisonous in Florida. This way, you can be better prepared if and when you encounter them. Fortunately, as long as you keep a cool head and leave them alone, snakes won’t be a problem. Southern Copperhead For the most part, copperhead snakes are found mostly in the Northeast, such as along the Appalachian Trail. In Florida, they can be located around Pensacola, as well as the Apalachicola River. These snakes are so named for their auburn heads, and they have slitted eyes and brown patterns along their...

Have you ever walked into a carpeted room and noticed a random patch that appears to be thinning or is almost completely gone? Your first thought may be the typical heavy traffic wear and tear, but one of the most common indoor pests, also known to be one of the most damaging to your home, clothes, and furniture, is a pest that is smaller than the head of a dime. Move over moths, let’s talk carpet beetles. It isn’t hard to keep carpet beetles at bay, but once they settle, they’re in it for the long haul. Although commonly mistaken for a bed bug, the carpet beetle is on average 3-4 millimeters long and comes in a variety of shapes and colors. These little guys can be found just about anywhere, but most commonly indoors. While their lifespan ranges anywhere from 9 to 36 months, carpet beetles are at their peak...

House spiders are extremely common. While they aren't the worst kind of pest to have, they can be a nuisance. Thankfully, most common house spiders are not harmful to humans. It is important to know what kinds of spiders are common to have in your home, so you can be wary of those that are harmful. Here are the five most common house spiders. 1. American House Spider The American House Spider are part of a group called cobweb spiders. They normally build their webs in basements, closets, and other dark spaces. They can be brown, tan, or gray, and are not larger than the size of a nickel. They are known for making messy webs, so if you see those in your home, they are probably being made by this spider. American House Spiders are not harmful to humans or pets. 2. Brown Recluse The Brown Recluse is part of...

With colder temperatures arriving, the last thing on your mind is winter lawn care. Unfortunately, pests can be invading your lawn and your garden even during the colder months. How can you keep your lawn and garden pest free all year round? Keep reading to find out. Winter The best way to prepare your yard and garden for winter is to clear all debris before the first real frost of the year arrives. Rake up all leaves to prevent the piles to prevent them from killing your grass. Cut your grass to two inches or lower. If your grass is overgrown, it can become an attraction for pests. Make sure that all shrubbery, branches and trees are pruned and kept away from the house. As pests are attracted to any overgrown areas where they can find food, shelter and warmth, they may try to find these things in your garden and...

The word “organic” has become something of a buzz word over the last decade or so. When people hear this word it conjures up images of healthy items such as food. But did you know that your pest control can also be labeled as “organic”? If you want to learn more about what this term means and how it applies to pest control, read more. What is Organic Pest Control? Just like food, when it comes to pest control the term “organic” relates to whether or not the substances used are natural or not. Because pest control often involves a lot of chemicals, there is concern that these synthetic chemicals can cause damage to people, animals or the environment. When we use naturally-occurring pesticides and non-chemical substances, there is less damage on the surrounding environment and less cause for concern. These organic substances can include a variety of materials, including those...

Rodents are smart creatures. They do not want to spend time outside and exposed to the elements in the winter any more than people do. Their solution is to seek refuge in the warmth of people's houses. If you want to keep your house from becoming a safe haven for rodents this winter, follow these simple steps. Keep Food Securely Stored Rodents can easily survive on any food you leave out on the counters or that falls to the floor. To keep rodents out of your house, make sure all of your food products are safely stored away in sealed containers. Be vigilant about wiping crumbs off counters and sweeping them off the floor. Do not forget about your pet’s food. Rodents will happily feast on it as well. So, keep it in a sealed container that is stored off the floor when your pet is not eating. Seal Entry Points...

Cockroaches are commonly found in warm, moist environments like your basement. Then, they explore your house through drains and pipes. If you leave food out on the counter or dirty dishes piled in the sink, you could be setting yourself up as host of a big cockroach party that extends well beyond the normal places to discover the disease-ridden creatures. Some people are very surprised to find an infestation in their ovens. Isn’t That a Myth? Many people believe it’s just a myth that cockroaches will take over an oven. It is not. Cockroaches can and will inhabit your oven. Cockroaches carry E. coli, salmonella, and other sorted diseases. For most of us, it is truly horrifying to find our beloved baking appliance full of cockroaches. Why the Oven? As discussed earlier, cockroaches like warm, dark places. They also like food. The oven checks off most of the boxes on their...

Seeing pests like mice or roaches out in the open inside your home is upsetting for many reasons. The problem that most homeowners experience when dealing with pest problems is finding where the pests are hiding during their inactive hours of the day. After all, you can’t get rid of them completely until you clear out their nest, burrow or other cozy hiding place. The good news? There are places in your home that make ideal habitats for pests. All you need to do is check these places out, and get rid of the pests permanently if you find them there. If these areas are clear, then make sure pests can’t establish a foothold there and prep the area accordingly. Here’s a list of the spots in your home pests love to hide. Check them out and see if you can stop an infestation before it starts. Back of Cupboards These...

Venice Pest Control has been serving Venice, Florida and its surrounding areas since 1974. If you're looking for a reliable, experienced company to take care of your pest problems, we are the people to call! Florida has a warm, tropical climate and is home to many different kinds of pests. This area has termites, cockroaches, fleas, ticks, ants, spiders, and rodents. No matter what kind of home you live in, you might be susceptible to any one of these pests. These pests can really cause problems for you, especially if you have children and pets. But this is why we're here! We can eliminate any of these pests in no time at all. We can tackle even the most severe pest problem, and your home will feel safe again. Don't get discouraged - give us a call, and we will take care of the problem for you! Carpenter Ants Carpenter ants...

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t like spiders. While many of us can tolerate knowing that these creatures share our living spaces, ignorance is bliss. As long as we don’t see them, we don’t care about them. Nonetheless, living in Florida means that you may be sharing your home with more spiders than you might think. There are a lot of advantages to living in the Sunshine state, but having fewer eight-legged friends isn’t one of them. So, with that in mind, we want to go over the most common spiders you may (hopefully not) find at some point. Black Widow Although these spiders are well-known for being deadly, they aren’t too aggressive unless provoked (as is true with most species). Also, it’s good to keep in mind that the black body and red hourglass shape is only found on females. Males are dark gray or brown, and many...

Although pests are small creatures, they can cause lots of damage to a house. Normally, when extensive damage is done to a home, a homeowner’s insurance policy will cover the cost of repairing the damage. So, it is reasonable to assume that your policy will also cover damage caused by pests. However, that is not necessarily the case. You need to take a close look at your policy to see exactly what it covers. Keep reading to learn some valuable information about pest damage and insurance. Pest Infestations are Considered Maintenance Issues Most insurance companies consider damage that is done by pests to be nothing more than a maintenance issue that was preventable. So, insurance companies are hesitant to pay a claim for something they think likely would not have occurred if the homeowner had taken the proper precautionary steps. Therefore, the cost of repairing the damage must be paid by...

Being a homeowner brings many challenges- among them, keeping out pests. Unfortunately, insects and rodents enjoy making their own nests inside your home as it offers warmth, comfort and food. Keeping your home pest free is important not only for cleanliness but also for safety. As there are many common pests that can cause severe damage to your home, you need to be aware of them and what they can do to your home. Keep reading to find out more about common pests and the damage that they can do. Termites Termites are commonly found in basements and attics, eating away at the wooden beams in your home. These pests can tunnel underground and through your walls, beams and any other wooden structure, causing the structure of your home to be significantly weakened. Unfortunately, this means that they can do a lot of damage without being detected immediately. If you have...

When most people hear the word "fleas," they almost never think of them as a potential problem for human beings, and if you were to tell somebody that you had fleas, they may question whether or not they heard you correctly. It’s usually taken for granted that non-human animals such as dogs and cats are the only creatures at risk of these sesame seed-sized menaces. However, it is quite possible for you and others you know to suffer from flea bites. Here are some ways humans can get fleas, and how to avoid them. Humans with Fleas? Although it’s much less common for humans to get fleas than dogs, it happens more frequently than you might think. What fleas want in a host is simple: warmth, a little moisture and places to hide (namely, fur/hair). Humans have all three of those things, only with fewer hiding spots. Since dogs are almost...

There are probably just as many home remedies, life hacks and Do-It-Yourself bits of wisdom to rid your home of pests as there are species of pests. Much like infomercials, some of the ideas can be too good to be true. Some suggestions can seem unrelated to the problem, while others will seem so simple that you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it. It’s all a matter of answering the question on everybody’s mind: Does it really work? Does It Really Work? Short Answer: It depends. Certain home remedies do work but must be followed to the letter, with any deviation resulting in a dud. Some remedies are partial truths. Other remedies are just wishful thinking. One example is the idea that pouring boiling water on an ant hill will destroy the colony. While the boiling water will certainly kill any ants it comes into direct contact with, the temperature...

A roach infestation is something to take very seriously. After seeing one cockroach in the home, you should expect more to be hiding elsewhere. With that said, pest control services need to take care of your problems as soon as possible. But to make sure to try and never cause another cockroach infestation, it is important to understand how they are caused in the first place. Where Do Cockroaches Come From? The short answer to this question is that people bring them into their homes. Without the reliance on human beings, cockroaches won’t have the resources they need to survive and thrive. It is difficult for most people to imagine a natural habitat for cockroaches that isn’t somebody’s home. Cockroaches do live in settings such as caves and forests, but the real motivator for a cockroach to leave its home is for a human to go where it lives to unintentionally...