Venice Pest Blog

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...

Ants are one of the most common creatures that come to mind when people hear the word ‘pest.’ However, not all ants are the same. What many people may not know is that there are actually 12,000 different species of ants out there. All these different species have their own appearance, their own region they inhabit, and their own particular way of making people's lives miserable when invading their homes. All these different kinds of ants can get confusing, so here is a guide to the most common species of ants you may find and what kind of impact they cause. Acrobat Ants Acrobat ants have two nodes on their heads and are about 2.5 to 3 millimeters long. These ants live primarily throughout the Eastern United States, they nest in damaged wood, and they will sting if threatened, although they do not typically invade indoors. Acrobat ants vary in color...

Cockroaches are fact of life in sunny Florida, but that doesn't mean they have to infest your Sarasota or Venice area home. Determining if your home is infested with cockroaches or if there is just a nearby infestation can be difficult for many homeowers. Here is what to look for when trying to spot a cockroach infestation in your home: Feces/Droppings If you notice any substance that looks like coffee grounds where you know they should not be, it is a good indication you have cockroaches. Roaches leave droppings that are indicative of their size. So, you should easily be able to tell what size bug to look for. Leave a few glue traps out to capture a roach or two to truly identify what is infesting your home. Determining where the largest number of droppings are being left is also key to wiping them out effectively since it is a...

Venice Pest Control is dedicated to helping you protect your family and your property from the pests that pose potential hazards to your health and the structure of your home. One of the leading hazards to your home are termites. These insects are small and easily overlooked, which means that they can do extensive damage to the structural components of your home before you realize there is an infestation. Termites can naturally enter your home or be introduced to your house through the placement of contaminated mulch placed near the foundation. Once they enter your home, they seek out the wooden support structures of floors and walls. The damage they cause as they chew through the wood can weaken the entire structure, and eventually lead to a collapse of some areas. Termites also experience a swarm season in the warmer spring and summer months. They may also migrate to your home...

Spiders can be beneficial to your home in some ways by keeping smaller insects away, but they are never pleasant to look at, especially when you don't know how they get inside your home in the first place. If you want to get spiders out of your home and keep them away, it's important to take a walk-through of your home to determine where they are entering as there are a few common places to look at first. Obvious ways that spiders enter your home are through cracks underneath and around the doors and windows. They could also sneak inside when you have the doors and windows open if there is enough space for them to get through. They can also enter the home by going through holes underneath your sinks and around pipes. Holes in the walls that lead to the outside are also good ways for spiders to get...

If you live in Florida, then you know that there are a few pests that are known to destroy lawns if they are not dealt with as soon as possible. A common pest in Florida that builds hills and tunnels through lawns is the ant. There are different types of ants that can make their homes in lawns. When they create tunnels, they weaken the soil in the yard, which can then cause holes to develop. One type of ant that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible and that can be exterminated by Venice Pest Control is the fire ant. They can bite and leave red marks and painful stings on the body if you come in contact with them. Another common pest is the armyworm. They are usually seen in the fall months, but they can invade your lawn in the summer as well. They feed on...

Ticks, which look like spiders, are nuisances that many Florida homeowners have to face. And, at times, they can be dangerous. Fortunately, there are quite a few ways to keep these pests away from you and your family. Ticks and Your Home Ticks often attach themselves to dogs and sometimes to human skin. Then, when the dog or the person goes inside, the ticks can find hiding spots in walls and in other places. The good news is that, without supplies of food, ticks usually can't survive more than a few days inside a house. The bad news, though, is that ticks can spread Lyme disease and other infections. These conditions can be life-threatening. To avoid ticks, you could apply an insect repellent to your skin, shoes, and clothing before heading outside. Don't forget to spray your dog as well. Then, just before you go indoors, look yourself over to make...

Pests can eat away your trees or shrubs, which exposes other vegetation in the area to danger. If you live in a region that is warm and humid during certain months of the year, you might also have an infestation of pests at some point. If you know the most common signs of an infestation, you can take precautions to prevent additional damage to your property. Protect your lawn, garden and home from pests by learning the five most common signs of an infestation: Holes in the leaves of trees will indicate a pest infestation. Many small insects will feed on the leaves of shrubs or trees to survive. They will burrow into the plant and leave large gaping holes in the leaves. Different pests will create holes of different sizes in the plants. If you see cocoons perched from the branches of your trees, you might expect to experience a...

Ants are attracted to a variety of foods, and they may appear any time during the year for this reason. However, you can initiate an effective ant-control program by sealing the foods that are most desirable to ants in sealed containers. In order to do this effectively, you need to know what kind of foods these ants will find most attractive. This information can help you to make decisions that will deter ants from entering your property. Properties of Foods Every food has certain dominant characteristics, and ants may find these attractive. Understanding the properties of the foods that attract ants can help you to identify these foods and store them safely. Although certain foods will compel ants to invade your home or office rapidly, they will also be willing to eat a wide variety as well. This is why it is important to protect your location by sealing the foods...

In addition to burgers and bonfires, the beauty of your backyard is the star attraction of any summer barbeque. An overgrown yard filled with pests and weeds will fail to impress your guests and leave you feeling embarrassed. With a little work and careful planning, however, you can keep your yard in top shape for summer gatherings. Reseed Your Lawn If any bare patches have developed in your lawn, the time to fix them is in the winter and spring. Reseeding your lawn with fresh grass seed will help your bare patches to grow in with new grass before it's time for barbeque season. Apply fertilizer and herbicides, if necessary, to help your new growth come in strong and weed-free. Prune Back Plants for Shape and Growth Over the growing season, some of your plants may have grown out of control or had several branches die. Each spring, take the time...

Most people are aware that termites eat wood. The confusing part is why they seem to focus on certain homes and how some properties end up having problems while their neighbors don't. Although termites aren't as complex as humans and other lifeforms, they still exhibit distinctive, intricate behaviors. Here's what you should know about whether your building's wooden elements might be attracting them. Termites Are Opportunistic Like most other species, termites want to get the maximum benefit for the least amount of effort. If certain wood sources are harder or more dangerous to access, then they'll stick to easier food sources. Such tendencies give homeowners many different options for combatting termite incursions. For instance, these soft-bodied insects require moisture to keep themselves from drying out and dying. While they can build mud tubes to extend their reach, you're only making it easier for them if you let debris, vegetation or other...

If you are like a lot of people, you are planning to take an exciting trip for spring break so that you can have a great time. No matter your destination, you will need to take steps to stay safe while you are away from home if you don’t want to face unneeded problems. Not many things will ruin your trip as much as bedbugs, and most travelers won’t even know about the pests until they return home. You can keep bedbugs at bay when you follow the right tips, and you will be glad that you did. Keep Your Bags and Clothes Safe Since bedbugs won’t waste time when they have a chance to get into your bags or on your clothes, learning to keep your belongings out of harm’s way is a smart move. Bedbugs like to hide in mattresses, carpet and furniture, but you can place your bags on...

If you would like to give your lawn a bright, attractive look that will grab attention and stand out from the rest, you are probably wondering how to care for your lawn so that you can reach your goal. Taking the right steps will make your lawn remain vibrant all year, but you will need to put in a little work. A healthy lawn will not only make your yard look appealing, but it can also increase the value of your home, and the following guide will point you in the right direction.  Start in the Fall If you are like other homeowners, you might think that the first month of spring is the best time to care for your lawn, but you can make your job much easier by starting in the fall. The way that you treat your lawn before winter will impact how much work it will take to maintain...

If you no longer want to live under the threat of a fire ant invasion, it's important that you go on the offensive to give your home an adequate level of protection. These pesky insects are highly brazen, but they can't thrive when their mounds and colonies are being strategically attacked. This is why you'll benefit from utilizing the following tips. Remember the Basics Fire ants are omnivorous insects that rely on three things to survive: food, water and shelter. Without a reliable source of food and water, they will likely die within 12 or 24 hours. Therefore, you can make your home less vulnerable to a fire ant invasion by improving your sanitation methods. Focus on Your Indoor Environment  Make sure you clean the kitchen area and the pantry. After each meal, properly store away food containers and discard unwanted leftovers as soon as you can. If you come across...

Hurricanes can invite a mosquito infestation to the area, and this can happen in a relatively short amount of time after the storm. It is important to be aware of the dangers associated with mosquito infestations at any time, but this becomes even more critical following a major storm. These pests will not usually become a problem until the winds die down because they will not be able to lay eggs while there are strong winds blowing through the area.  Understanding Mosquito Infestations According to the Center for Disease Control, or CDC, mosquitoes will often lay their eggs within the wet ground that is extremely moist from flooding. Hurricanes provide these insects with many opportunities to lay eggs in places that are difficult to detect. This means that most people will be unable to either prevent or get rid of a mosquito infestation due to a hurricane. Mosquito bites are also...

With Thanksgiving around the corner, Venice Pest Control wants to take the time to thank our customers for a great year. This is a special time of year when friends and family come together to enjoy a good meal and to watch the game on TV. If pests invade your dinner, it can put a damper on the holiday. We're here with a few tips to help keep the pests away for your Thanksgiving Day gathering. 5 Ways to Stop Pests This Thanksgiving Break out the sealant. Pests have a sneaky habit of getting inside homes. Sometimes it's a crack in the foundation. Other times it's a gap around a door. No matter how they get inside, it's your job to block their entrances. Use a sealant or a foam barrier to block cracks and crevices and to keep pests out this holiday season. Stock food in a protected area. With...