Venice Pest Blog

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...

Some pests invade our homes and make their presence known to an aggravating level, such as houseflies and gnats. Other pests prefer to stay hidden during the daytime and to come out at night in search of food and water, such as cockroaches and rats. When it comes to roach and rodent infestations, a question always seems to pop up: Which pest causes the most problems and should concern homeowners the most? Venice Pest Control has some useful information to help you make an informed decision and to take the appropriate measures. Roaches 101: The Ugly Truth Cockroaches have survived for millions of years and resist many over-the-counter pest control products. They breed by the hundreds in a short time and live in the recesses behind walls, under cabinets and inside boxes and personal belongings. Though many roach species exist in the world, the two most common species in the States...

Venice pest control is committed to providing our customers with the quality services they deserve and expect. Our team of experts are experienced and qualified to conduct a variety of examinations and procedures that will eliminate pest infestations from your property. We also offer a suite of peripheral services that can assist individuals who are dealing with outdoor infestations of pests, insects and other critters. Our customers have a lot to say about our services because we work closely with them to ensure complete satisfaction with the outcome. About Venice Pest Control Our company started operating in 1974 as a family business. The current owners of the company are all second and third generation members of the Lacher family, who began the company with a vision of bringing quality service to all of our customers. Our ability to receive customer input and feedback drives our self-improvement methods. We always seek to...

Ticks are a common blood-sucking pest. They're often found in grassy areas, but they can be carried into your home by family pets. Aside from being disgusting, these arthropods pose several health risks due to carrying a variety of diseases. Whether you've been out hiking or suspect a tick may have ridden indoors on your dog or cat, it's important to know how to recognize the signs of a tick bite. Symptoms of a Tick Bite Ticks secrete a substance that acts as a natural analgesic, allowing them to latch onto a host and feed on its blood for days. This means that you may not feel a tick bite or even know that you have a tick on you. This is why it's important to physically check yourself, your pets and your family members for ticks any time you suspect that you might have come into contact with one. Some...

Have you always wanted a lush, verdant lawn that is the envy of the whole neighborhood? You can't simply conjure up a beautiful lawn out of thin air, but with a bit of work and preparation, your yard can become the talk of the town. With spring now upon us and summer lurking just around the corner, there's no better time to get started. So, why wait? Roll up your sleeves and tackle these essential lawn care tips. Prepare for Growing Season As winter thaws into spring and eventually summer, your yard slowly shifts into high gear and enters its prime growing season. In order to take advantage of this transition, it's important to make a few key preparations. First, mow your lawn as short as possible and follow up with a thorough raking. This removes dead and aging grass as well as leaves, thatch and other debris, allowing maximum room...

When you picture the perfect July 4 barbecue, it will probably include many of your closest friends and family and, of course, fantastic food. Perhaps a sports event will be on a television there. Patriotic pride will likely be on display. However, in none of those images will there be insects or other pests settling down for their own serving, and we are here to help ensure that this will not be the case for you. Tips One thing that will help protect you and your guests is an insect repellent with DEET. Of course, make sure that it is applied far from any food sources. Note that this should be one of the few things you apply to your body as insects tend to be attracted to fragrances from perfume and shampoo. For the most part, candles should be avoided too if you are planning to have a barbecue at...

Thousands of people around the world come to Florida every year to bask in the sun and to enjoy the state's many venues like Walt Disney World. Unfortunately, the Sunshine State attracts many unwanted pests because of its tropical, humid climate. With Florida's high humidity, mosquitoes call this southernmost state home and create a nuisance for those who live and visit here. What Attracts Mosquitoes to Florida? It's not the heat that attracts mosquitoes but the high humidity. Florida has extreme humidity every day due to its subtropical climate. Thunderstorms build up during the extreme heat of the day and produce heavy rainfall, albeit for a short time. This rainfall leaves behind tiny puddles and fills up empty flowerpots and other containers in residential yards. Mosquitoes require water for breeding, and the afternoon storms offer ample places for the females to lay their eggs. You would think that the Florida sun...