Now is the time to get ready for the holidays, appointments are available to ensure a bug free holiday season!
Prevention Is The Key
Prevention Is Step One In Bakersfield Pest Control
Prevention is the key to Bakersfield Pest Control. With a few simple preventative measures, you can do your part to avoid a pest problem in your home or business. The first step is identifying the common pests in your area.
In Bakersfield, California, common pests include ants, roaches, spiders, and rats.
Check For Entry Points
Among the ways to curb infestations is by preventing pests from entering your home in the first place. Be sure to seal cracks or openings they could use to get inside. Inspect the exterior of your property for any damages or gaps in the foundation, windows, and doors. (Recent Google Blog) If you find any, seal them with caulk or weather-stripping.
Keep Your Property Clean
Another way to prevent pests is to keep your property clean. Pests are attracted to food sources, so keeping your kitchen clean and free of food scraps is essential. Keep food in airtight containers and regularly dispose of garbage. Vacuum and sweep floors often, and mop weekly. A clean home is less accommodating to pests than a dirty one! Latest Blog Post
Eliminate Moisture
Pests are also attracted to moisture, so keeping your property free of standing water is essential. Fix any leaks in your plumbing and make sure gutters are clean and draining properly. If you have a swimming pool, keep it clean and chlorinated.
Prevention is the key to pest control. However, if you’re dealing with an infestation and could use help from a professional, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help!
Thank you for reading. For more tips on Pest Control Bakersfield and prevention, please visit our website or call us.
Mosquito Bites
Dealing With Mosquito Bites
Today’s topic will be dealing with mosquito bites and how to stop the itching.
Summertime is mosquito season in the 93308, 93312, and 93314 zip codes and you have to be prepared if you want to weather the storm. I don’t know if you’re aware of this but when a mosquito bites you they use protein in your blood to grow more eggs and the reason you get bumps is a direct result of your immune system fighting the bites. Don’t let mosquitoes ruin your summer plans in the 93308, 93312, and 93314 zip codes, be prepared and know how to treat mosquito bites fast and stop the itching before they spread!
First let’s look at a few of the symptoms to determine if you’ve been bitten by a mosquito. Number 1, look for a red bump that itches, number 2, look for swelling, and number 3, look for redness around the bite.
Very important, if you start feeling aches and pains, nausea, or if you have trouble breathing contact a health professional immediately as you could be having a dangerous allergic reaction.
Remedies:
The first thing you want to focus on after discovering that you’ve been bitten by a mosquito is to clean the wound with soap and water to prevent further infection, you can do this intermediately for best results. Also aloe over the counter ointments are a big help and can stop the spreading of the infection in its tracks, we also recommend Benadryl as a good remedy to treat mosquito bites. If the infection starts to spread please see a health professional at once because you may need antibiotics.
Prevention:
Now let’s focus on how to prevent mosquito bites. Although they may seem harmless mosquito bites can transfer serious diseases such as the West Nile Virus! So please take heed to our suggestions at once, insect repellent is a huge preventative measure that we recommend, make sure the repellent has at least 20% DEET, also be careful of standing water around your home because this is where mosquitos breed and infestation occurs. Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitos and is to be avoided at all costs. Also another deterrent is to not wear sweet smelling perfumes or colognes! These have been known to attract mosquitoes as well and if you continue to have problems on your property please contact us immediately and we will treat your property and provide you with a safe and clean environment all summer long.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions concerning mosquitos or any other pests in the Central Valley. PESTX has been helping Kern County residents and business’s with their Bakersfield Pest Control needs for over 30 years!
Five Simple Ways to Get Rid of Flies
Five Simple Ways to Get Rid of Flies
Flies are some of the most common household pests. Although they are typically just a nuisance, house fly infestation can spread various bacteria, viruses, or any disease that they may carry into your home. There’s several different ways to get rid of houseflies, but here are some at-home, simple, easy, and natural ways to keep pesky house flies at bay.
Vinegar and Dish Soap
Mix about an inch of apple cider vinegar with a few drops of dish soup in a small bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and insert small holes on the top to allow for the flies to enter. Leave this bowl out to attract the flies, and trap them in the vinegar and soap fluid. The dish soap will cause the flies to sink.
Lemon and Cloves
Place a handful of cloves in two freshly cut halves of a lemon and leave out in the area where you are trying to prevent houseflies.
Cayenne Pepper and Water
Mix cayenne pepper with pater and use it as a spray around your house to prevent flies from entering your home.
Deep Clean Your Sink
Flies are attracted to drains and sinks and will often breed there. Be sure to give your sink a deep cleaning (don’t forget the drain) to prevent flies from gathering and breeding.
There are a variety of ways to prevent your home from houseflies. These are some basic at-home non-toxic ways to keep house flies at bay. If your infestation is more serious, be sure to call your local pest control professionals for advice and/or professional service!
4 Worst Pest Infestations
4 Worst Pest Infestations
Some pests are just a nuisance, others can be a threat to your overall health and well-being. We’ve comprised a list of some of the worst infestations so that you know how to best protect yourself and your home. If you have any of these pests, it’s time for you to pick up the phone and call your trusted pest control professionals.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are not known to carry disease, however, getting rid of them can be a rather difficult and often traumatizing experience. Bed bugs can be hard to kill, and may even require that furniture be professionally cleaned or even dispersed of. If you have bed bugs, be sure to call your pest control expert as soon as possible.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are pesky and rather unattractive pests that can also pose health risks to you and your family. Known to multiply quickly, infestations are a risk. Cockroach droppings can become airborne allergens that can pose a threat to children or adults with asthma or breathing problems.
Mice
Mice may not look harmful, but the effects can be. Often on the lookout for food, mice can easily contaminate your home in search of it. Traces of urine and droppings will be left in their trace that can be indicators of their presence. Mice droppings are smelly and are known to carry any disease the rodents may have.
Rats
Rat infestations can be similar to that of mice. They are out in the search of food like mice, however they are larger in size and can be a bit more aggressive than mice. Like mice, their droppings can carry disease. Rats are known to bite. Such rat bites and scratches can cause serious health problems if left untreated.
Protecting your home and family from these pests can be tricky depending on the infestation. Be sure to call your professional pest control service for help. Not only can they better answer your questions and concerns but can help you solve the problem and keep your home infestation free.
Has Your Pantry Been Invaded?
Pantry Bugs: What Are They?
If you’ve ever found pesky little insects in your pantry (particularly grains), you may have tried to identify them before. Here’s some tips on identifying pantry bugs to better equip you on how to fight off these insects or keep them away altogether.
The three most common pantry bugs are the confused flour beetle, the red flour beetle, and the grain weevil. Pantry bugs may be found nesting in:
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Corn
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Rice
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Barley
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Corn meal
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Flour
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Pasta
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Cereal
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Oats
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Rye
Confused Flour Beetle is a dark brown almost black color. They are six-legged, have long narrow bodies and can be between 3 mm and 6 mm long.
Red Flour Beetles are brownish-red in color, are 3mm to 6 mm long and also able to fly short distances. Females are known to deposit eggs on dry food products such as flour, cereal, rice, or dry pet food.
Grain Weevils are brown in color, have eight legs, and long narrow bodies. Grain weevils cannot fly, however like the flour beetles, larvae often nest in grain kernels, wheat, oats, barley, rice, or corn.
Good News:
If you are trying to rid your kitchen of pantry bugs, the good thing to know is that they are all similar enough in that they can be treated. You can protect yourself from pantry bugs in the same way, no matter what kind they are.
Easy ways to prevent pantry bugs:
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Buy grain in small quantities
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Freeze grains for one week to kill any eggs
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Store grains in tightly sealed containers
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Put 1-2 bay leaves in your containers
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Insect repellent (you can try homemade or store bought options)
Now good luck and stay safe out there, kids.
Protect Your Home from Common Pests
Did You Know…
We all want our houses to be a clean, relaxing, and safe haven to call ‘home’. Keeping a house full of humans clean can be hard enough as it is…keeping unwanted pests from calling your house ‘home’ as well, can be even harder.
Here are four ways to help keep your home clean and pest-free.
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Thorough Cleaning
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Keep places like the sink clean and free of dirty dishes sitting for long periods of time.
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Regularly clean out the refrigerator and pantry.
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Clean up spilled food and drink immediately.
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Be sure to check less common parts of your home such as the roof and basement periodically. These overlooked areas can be a breeding ground for common household pests.
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Decluttering
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Cluttered cupboards or storage spaces allow for crevices and corners where pests can hide. Be sure to keep enclosed areas like closets, cupboards, drawers free of clutter.
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Be sure to toss out any foods or perishables that are expired.
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Tight Seal
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Seal any cracks or holes that can allow for any outside entry. It may not seem like much but checking under the doors or in the corners of windows can be an often overlooked entryway for pests to enter.
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Be sure that your consumable items are sealed tight, this can prevent the attraction of pests looking for food or shelter.
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Minimize moisture
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Keep an eye out for any leaks, dripping faucets, pooling drains, or any area of your home that is allowing excessive moisture. Taking care of this can help stop pests from gathering and breeding.
No matter how hard it is to keep your home clean, there is always a chance that unwanted pests can still find a way to take residence in your home. If they do, however, be sure to act quickly. Don’t wait to get help!
Contact PESTX Today for a free quote for affordable Bakersfield Pest Control service!
SUMMER TIPS…
Stay Tuned For Summer Tips To Stay Pest Free…
Unique roach extermination technique
- Identifying & Eliminating The Source
- Lasting Roach Prevention Techniques
- Interior & Exterior Treatments
- Spotting Other Potential Pest Problems
- Follow Up ServicesNeed to Exterminate Roaches?
Summer Is Coming
Make PestX part of your team for a flea-free home
In the Summer months, we all look forward to the gorgeous weather and some sunshine to clear our cobwebs and lift our spirits. But it isn’t just us humans that love it so much. Our PestX pest control team here in Bakersfield don’t get too much time off in the summer months as we’re kept very busy by super happy fleas.
They are in their element! The warm weather has them multiplying faster than gremlins in a shower – helped enormously by the fact that we all have our doors and windows wide open and our pets coming in and out all day unintentionally bringing in stashed stowaways in their furry midst.
The first signs of having these annoying pests is usually their irritating bites, which given their tendency to carry disease and bacteria, they don’t stay un-noticed for long. The problems fleas bring into the house make them one of the most dreaded home visitors we see here in Bakersfield.
PestX are often called to deal with flea infestations but with fleas it’s rarely a matter of just fumigating the house. Pets are often one of the main culprits. When you consider that a flea goes from being laid through to adult in less than 50 days, and that a female can lay up to 50 eggs a day – if the first part of that stage has gone under the radar you could have quite a significant pest problem very quickly.
So PestX can definitely help to de-flea your home or premises but we will always advise to deal with all of the factors at the same time. If you do have pets in your house you will need to bear in mind that they will need treating too as they are very likely to be the source of the problem. You will need to treat your pet thoroughly as well as all of their bedding and we’d suggest you time this well with the PestX team coming in.
You can use specially formulated shampoos to remove both eggs and live fleas as well as use spot treatments to prevent the fleas returning over the next month or so. Flea collars are also effective in deterring fleas in the first place. We apologise if all of this seems obvious, but we will always ensure that any PestX pest control treatments tackle not only the current pests but that we minimise the risk of the pests returning.
Our reputation has been built up over years of thorough treatments so with flea control, there’s an element of teamwork here. You only need a slightly warm temperature and a lovely home for a couple of fleas, besides their delicious hosts to feed on and you’re back to square one again.
So PestX will be mainly treating your premises to fumigate them but your pets and yard definitely need to be factored in too. Patios, decking, foundations and porches are all havens for fleas to breed in the warmer weather. If you use a home based remedy, all you need is a rainstorm and all of that work has been washed away so bear this in mind too when considering your overall approach.
A well maintained garden is less of a flea risk too as they love dead plants and debris so removing these regularly will reduce the breeding grounds available to them.
If you need any advice or need a flea infestation addressing, call our team and we’ll happily get started on keeping your home flea free.
ABOUT US
PestX Bakersfield’s owner and operator Jim Ester has over 25 years of experience in the pest control industry. He is well educated, licensed, and trained in Pest & Termite control.
