Ants Are The Number One Problem

For a number of years now, ants have been the number one pest problem in the country—more homeowners have ant problems than any other pest.  In reality, every unprotected household experiences ant problems either occasionally or constantly. This is because ants are continually reinvading areas in their search for food, water, and shelter.  For many species, our homes provide all or most of their vital needs.

Ant scouts are constantly on the search to find these resources. Usually unseen by us, the many tiny cracks and crevices they find to invade homes are like huge eight-lane highways to them. Ant colonies are pulsating with activity this time of year.  Nature is providing an abundance of food, queen ants are laying eggs like there is no tomorrow, and ant numbers are increasing rapidly with the warm weather. Depending on the ant species, each colony may have just one, or many egg-laying queens. Those colonies that have many queens can grow more quickly and tend to be our worst ant problems. Each of these colonies can produce hundreds of ant eggs every day. These are mostly not our native ant species, but have invaded here from other parts of the world.

You can’t control these huge monster colonies by killing just a few ants—the colony will come back quickly, and sometimes their colonies are much bigger than we suspect.  Only with regular and professional control by an ant exterminator can the ant problem be stopped and new ant problems be prevented.

Mosquito Misconceptions

Many people claim women, who we know as ‘the sweeter sex’, are just more attractive to mosquitoes. But research shows body size is more important, so men are generally more likely to be bitten simply because they are larger.  Larger bodies produce more carbon dioxide, more lactic acid, and more heat—all of which are very strong mosquito attractants.

One study shows pregnant women attract twice as many mosquitoes as non-pregnant women. This is because they exhale more carbon dioxide, and have a higher body temperature.  People with high concentrations of cholesterol, steroids, and uric acid on their skin surface also tend to get bitten more often.

Recent tests of both people and pets have shown taking Vitamin B-1 has no effect on mosquito biting.  Interestingly, there is actually no evidence anywhere that what you eat changes how attractive you are to mosquitoes.

Some kinds of mosquitoes breed in ponds and lakes, but other species need very little water. A bird bath, saucer under a potted plant, or tree hole with water in it is all they need.  It is important for every homeowner to drain weekly or eliminate anything that has water in it.

Always wear repellents and/or long sleeve shirts and pants when you are outdoors, especially during dusk and dawn when mosquito activity is the heaviest. And of course, be sure to look for a professional mosquito service like Skeeter Dave and Cayce Exterminating if you feel that the problem is getting our of control.