10 Benefits of Hiring a Professional Pest Control Company

Pest control services in Eastern & Central Virginia - Loyal Termite & Pest ControlPeople often wait until it is too late to look into professional pest control services. No matter what pest you’re dealing with, trying to take care of an infestation on your own can be tricky. If you don’t approach it the right way, you could end up allowing the pests to multiply without any signs of slowing down. Many DIY strategies fall far short of a long-term solution, and improper use of professional pest control products by untrained individuals can lead to serious health risks.

If you’ve been thinking about hiring an exterminator recently, read on for ten reasons to follow through. Our technicians at Loyal Termite & Pest Control have seen great success servicing homes and businesses around Eastern & Central Virginia and hope to help you, too!

DIY Pest Control and Health Concerns

Hiring certified pest control technicians can eliminate many health concerns that you might accidentally expose yourself to without their help. Our first three reasons to hire professional pest control are in the interest of your health:

  • 1: Controlled pesticide use. A professional will only use pesticides as a last resort, and when they do, they will use them safely. Improper or untrained application of pesticides can expose you and your family to harmful toxins. Loyal Termite & Pest Control is proud to be a Green Pro Certified Company.
  • 2: Decreased chance of illness. Many pests in Eastern & Central Virginia can pass on serious diseases through their bites or droppings. Technicians can help you avoid pest-related illnesses by handling the dirty work for you and your loved ones.
  • 3: Less itching and scratching. Mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, spiders, bed bugs, and more pests in our local area can leave you with itchy bite marks. You don’t have to endure the bites every year! Hiring a professional pest exterminator to rid your home of these biting pests!

Save Time with Professional Pest Control

Hiring professional pest control can eliminate extra tasks from your life in a more efficient manner. Our next three reasons have to do with saving you time:

  • 4: Efficient solutions. Licensed technicians have the necessary experience to resolve pest problems quickly and efficiently, much more so than the average homeowner.
  • 5: Less cleaning. Having pests in your home means constantly cleaning up pest-related debris. Getting rid of them altogether will greatly reduce the time you have to spend cleaning!
  • 6: Safer structures. If you have rodents, termites, or carpenter ants living in your home, you’re likely inspecting your home constantly for new damage. Take that task off of your plate by hiring professionals to remove the pests and stop them from causing more damage.

How Professional Pest Control Helps You Stress Less

Being aware of a pest problem in your home comes with lots of stress. Our last four reasons pertain to your mental well-being:

  • 7: Better sleep. Having a fear of bed bugs or spiders in your home can cause you to lose sleep. Get rid of this worry by finally getting rid of the pests themselves! Professionals also have options to monitor for these pests to catch a problem right at the start!
  • 8: Save money. Sticking to DIY remedies can add up after a few unsuccessful attempts. A professional pest control company can come to remove certain pests in just one session given the right circumstances!
  • 9: Learn about the process. Our technicians at Loyal Termite & Pest Control not only eliminate pests from your home but teach you about how they do it. We aim to give you the knowledge to avoid pests on your own going forward. Prevention is key!
  • 10: Peace of mind. Once your pest infestation has been dealt with, it feels like you can finally breathe again! Don’t hesitate to have a professional rid of your pest problems—you don’t have to deal with them!

If you’re ready to take the first step towards a pest-free* home, contact your local pest control company. Our expert technicians at Loyal Termite & Pest Control have helped people all across Eastern & Central Virginia live pest-free* since 1960. For a free quote, contact us today!

Mosquito Prevention: What You Can Do

 A person scratching mosquito bites as more swarm around them.Springtime in Ashland is marked by the emergence of blooming trees and flowers. With this beauty also comes an unavoidable truth: the beginning of mosquito season. The increase in temperature and rainfall creates the perfect environment for these pests to begin breeding.

Mosquitoes are opportunistic and can lay their eggs in small amounts of water. It is important to start mosquito prevention early; personal measures and professional pest control together can help you be pest-free* this year! 

The Dangers of Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are not only annoying pests that cause itchy bites, but they can also pose significant danger to humans. These pests are known to transmit several diseases through their bites. Considering mosquitoes feed on a variety of animals and humans the risk for exposure is heightened. Some diseases that mosquitoes can transmit are:

  • West Nile Virus
  • Zika Virus
  • Malaria
  • Dengue Fever

These diseases can range from mild to severe, and in some cases can even be life threatening. Mosquitoes can also cause allergic reactions, such as swelling, redness, and itching around the bite site. Overall, mosquitoes are considered to be one of the deadliest animals on the planet and are responsible for the death of nearly 725,000 people worldwide. Early mosquito prevention is paramount in protecting you and your loved ones from potential health risks! 

Mosquito Prevention Measures: What Works

If you’ve ever tried to get rid of mosquitoes before, then you know that not all DIY techniques work… in fact, many of them don’t. Thankfully, however, there are a few measures that DO work: 

  • Drain Standing Water: Mosquitoes breed in standing, stagnant water. They only need a half an inch of water to create a sufficient nursery. By removing standing water in your yard, you can prevent an infestation. Turn over any buckets, flowerpots, or other containers that can collect rainwater. Additionally, fix any leaky outdoor faucet or pipes. 
  • Use Insect Repellent: If you are spending a lot of time outdoors, make sure to use an EPA-approved insect repellent that has at least 25% DEET or picaridin. These are effective repellents that can keep mosquitoes away from you and your family.
  • Mosquito Netting: Nothing ruins a relaxing breeze on a cool summer evening like a mosquito buzzing around your face. Placing mosquito netting on your doors, windows, or around your outside seating area can prevent mosquitoes and other insects from invading your space. 

Mosquito Prevention: What Doesn’t Work

Unfortunately, not all of the ‘solutions’ on the Internet are actually valuable. A lot of online mosquito prevention techniques simply don’t work – or could even worsen your infestation by attracting new pests. Stay away from these less-than effective control methods: 

  • Citronella Candles: While these candles can be effective if you are directly next to them, they are less than ideal for large areas. Citronella candles lose their potency quickly and need to be replaced often. 
  • Essential Oils: These oils have gained in popularity over the years, but they do little to deter mosquitoes from biting you. There is a lack of standardization among essential oil products so the effectiveness is affected. Instead of trusting essential oils, stick with DEET-containing insect repellents. 

Professional Mosquito Control

While there are many ways you can prevent mosquitoes from settling in your yard, the fastest and most effective method you can use is a professional extermination service. The experts with Loyal Termite & Pest Control have been providing superior customer service since 1960. Trust our expertise to provide you and your family with the most effective mosquito control solution for you. Contact us today to get a free quote and start living your life pest-free*!

Spring Clean the Pests Away!

As the gloom of winter fades many people begin to plan for their annual spring cleaninga basket of cleaning supplies on a windowsil

marathon. Spring cleaning has many benefits such as decreasing stress, reducing clutter and  improving your overall mental and physical health. Additionally, a spring clean is the best time to check for signs of pests in your home and take preventative measures to ensure your home is not attracting any unwanted guests.

How to Prevent Pests in your Home

While you are spring cleaning, it is important to make sure your home is as attractive to pests as possible. Here are a few steps to add to your cleaning routine that will help keep pests out of your home:

  • Thoroughly Clean Areas Where Pests are Common.

Kitchens can be one of the most attractive areas in your home for pests due to the availability of food and warm hiding spaces. When spring cleaning your kitchen it is important to clean areas where crumbs or spills are common. Clean under large appliances like your refrigerator and oven. Food often gets stuck in these hard to clean areas making it an ideal place for pests.

Spring is also the perfect time to clean out your cabinets and throw away expired or unwanted food. Pests such as rodents, cockroaches and ants are known to invade cluttered cabinets and get into food. Ensure open food products are stored in airtight containers and keep an eye out for any holes or cracks where pests could enter when organizing and cleaning the inside of your cabinets.

Bathrooms are another area where pests are common. They are often attracted to easily available sources of water and are able to enter your home through drains or windows. While cleaning window sills and cabinets, check for holes around your windows and leaking pipes or faucets. Some pests will enter through drain pipes, pouring bleach down your drain will help deter any pests from entering.

  • Reduce Clutter

Many pests such as spiders, rodents or ants will use clutter as a place to hide or build their nests. Other pests, like cockroaches, are known to eat paper and other materials that often make up clutter around your home. Reducing clutter within your home not only makes your house look cleaner and decreases stress but it will also make your home less hospitable to a variety of pests. 

In addition to reducing clutter within your home, also clean any clutter around the outside of your home. Some pests will be attracted to piles of leaves or other piles of organic matter you may have in your yard. Other pests, like mosquitos, are attracted to standing water that can form in places like buckets, tarps and kids toys. Emptying and tidying any areas with standing water will help keep mosquitoes from swarming your yard in the summer.

  • Inspect the Exterior of Your Home

Pests often enter a home through even the smallest holes or cracks in the exterior therefore it is important to examine your foundation and walls for any possible entrance points before vegetation begins to grow in the spring and possibly hide any defects. If you find any holes or cracks, make sure to seal them with caulk or sealant.

During the fall and winter gutters can easily be clogged with leaves and organic matter. This debris can cause standing water which is a perfect breeding ground for pests like mosquitos and easy water sources for many other pests. Cleaning your gutters in spring will not only ensure they are effectively collecting water from your roof but also will keep pests away.

Call a Professional Pest Control Service

Spring is the best time of the year to do preventative pest maintenance to ensure pests do not become a larger problem in the spring or summer. If you are concerned about pests in your home, our team can help keep you cleaner and free of springtime bugs and rodents. With our help, we can create a plan to keep your home pest free all year long!

The Kissing Bug: What You Need to Know

A kissing bug on a white background

Kissing bugs may sound romantic, but you’re not going to love the reality of these creepy critters. The reason for their nickname is that these minuscule pests are infamous for biting people in the middle of the night, usually near the mouth. Waking up covered in bites on your face is unpleasant enough but can kissing bugs actually be deadly? The pros at Loyal Termite & Pest Control share the answer as well as advice on how to keep kissing bugs, and other insects, out of your home.

Kissing Bugs: What are They?

Triatomine bugs, sometimes known as “kissing bugs,” are parasitic insects that feed on blood. They’re oval-shaped, dark color, and normally reach lengths of between 1/2 and 1 inch. Although youngsters lack wings, adults have them and can fly. Their long, noticeable beak, which they employ for feeding, is their most distinguishing characteristic.

Kissing bugs are nocturnal so they typically hide close to animals or people who are sleeping. They tend to hide in small crevices. Although females may leave eggs behind, adults are mostly solitary and do not reside in huge groups.

Are Kissing Bugs Dangerous?

Kissing bugs are harmful, just like any other insect that feeds on blood. Although their bites are not extremely painful, they have the potential to spread infections. Chagas disease, which may have chronic consequences lasting a decade or more after the initial transmission, is the illness these insects are best known for spreading.

Chagas Disease: What Is It?

Typanosoma cruzi, a parasite that kissing bugs store in their digestive systems after feeding on an infected organism, is the cause of Chagas disease. The parasite enters the bite wound through the feces that the kissing bug generally leaves behind after feeding; it does not spread while the insect is actively feeding. Chagas disease may be fatal, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Early symptoms of the illness include:

  • Swelling surrounding the bite
  • Fever and exhaustion
  • Body pains
  • Swollen eyelids
  • Headaches
  • Loss of appetite or nausea
  • Swollen glands

Get medical help right away if you think you might have Chagas disease, or another sickness. If you think your pet has been bitten, call your veterinarian right away because other animals might also be afflicted with this illness.

Ways To Avoid the Kissing Bug

The last thing you want to see looking in the mirror in the morning is bite marks on your face from one of these bugs. The best way to avoid being bitten is to keep them out of your home. Here are some methods for keeping kissing bugs at bay:

  • Seal any gaps around your foundation, windows, and doors.
  • Repair or replace any old screens or weatherstripping around windows.
  • Clear the area around your property of rubbish and keep your landscape tidy.
  • Put your yard lights further away from your home’s foundation.
  • Let your pets sleep indoors at night.
  • Check sleeping areas frequently for bugs.

What Should You Do If You Find A Kissing Bug?

Seeing a pest in your house is never fun, especially one as ominous as a kissing bug. The CDC advises against coming into contact with the kissing bug, despite the fact that your first inclination might be to squish it immediately.

Instead of smashing it, place a transparent container on top of it and trap it. After that, call an exterminator. They’ll be able to verify the species of bug and check your home for evidence of other pests. 

Trusted Exterminators in Central & Eastern Virginia

Concerned that you may have a kissing bug in your home? Worried about other pests? Loyal Termite & Pest Control can help. We’ve been providing top-notch pest control services since 1960. Contact us today for a free quote!

TAP® Asks and Answers

cellulose insulation in an attic floor

You do a lot to keep your home running smoothly. And, while we here at Loyal Termite & Pest Control are capable of handling a wide range of residential pest control situations, we would rather you not have to call for extermination in the first place. Wouldn’t it be better to have a constant pest defense system in your home, one that can kill a variety of insect pests while also saving you money and fostering sustainability? All of that’s possible with TAP® Insulation. But why would a pest control company install insulation? And what can our services do to make your home more comfortable and improve your quality of life? Let’s talk about it below.

TAP® Insulation Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How can TAP® Insulation kill pests?

A. The loose-fill cellulose is coated with a layer of Boric acid, and when pests come into contact with them it coats their bodies. Eventually, the mineral gets into their system when they groom themselves or each other, and since insects are unable to pass it, they eventually die of dehydration or malnutrition.

Q. What Makes TAP® Insulation eco-friendly?

A. TAP Insulation is made up of over 80% recycled materials, and the Boric acid that infuses the cellulose is a naturally occurring mineral. TAP Insulation also functions as a quality insulator, and since it allows your HVAC appliances to run less and use less energy, it lowers your household’s carbon footprint.

Q. How does TAP® save me money?

A. Installing TAP® will result in you paying less for your energy bills. And since it provides a near-constant defense from a wide variety of pests, you reduce the chance of having to pay for pest control treatment. There is, of course, the cost of installation. But TAP lasts almost indefinitely and very quickly pays for itself.

Q. Does TAP® kill rats, mice, or wildlife?

A. The concentration of Boric acid isn’t enough to kill pests larger than roaches, beetles or snails. Because of that, they won’t affect rodents or larger wildlife. That’s a good thing, as it means TAP poses no risk to you, your children, or even your pets!

Q. What do I need to do before installing TAP® Insulation?

A. Possibly nothing! TAP is easily applied over existing insulation. If your current material is damaged by rodents or moisture, you could take this as an opportunity to remove it and start fresh. Otherwise, you can easily install TAP over fiberglass or spray foam for added pest-killing protection.

Loyal Termite & Pest Control for TAP® Insulation

TAP Insulation is only one of the services we offer for our friends and neighbors in Eastern & Central Virginia. You may need something less preventative and more active. Do you have a pest infestation, be it rats in the walls or ants on the countertop? If that’s the case, we have the experience and skill set you need to end the infestation. And once your home is pest-free*, we have the strategies to keep that up for many seasons to come. Want to learn more and get your free quote? Loyal Termite & Pest Control can answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to get started!

How TAP® Insulation is Changing Pest Control

As the weather gets chilly, it’s a good time to start thinking about preparing your home for winter weather as well as keeping out pests that want to get in out of the cold. Your insulation is a huge factor in your home’s internal temperature and energy bills. If it’s uncomfortable or drafty, or you experience infestations of pests and bothersome wildlife, you likely need more insulation. What if we told you that there is an insulation product on the market that can help keep you cozy and pCellulose TAP Insulation on an attic floorest-free all winter long? There is. It’s called Thermal Acoustic Pest Contol insulation or TAP® insulation. At Loyal Termite and Pest Control, we install TAP® Insulation throughout Eastern & Central Virginia. 

What’s TAP® Insulation?

TAP® Insulation is made from cellulose, an eco-friendly material commonly used as blown-in insulation, with one big difference. The cellulose used in this type of insulation is treated with borates, which are mineral salts extracted from the earth. While humans won’t be adversely affected by the borates in TAP® insulation, most insect pests will die after ingesting it. It kills a wide range of common insect pests, including:

  • Ants
  • Cockroaches
  • Stink Bugs
  • Termites

It only takes a few hours for one of our highly-trained technicians to blow TAP® insulation into your attic but once it’s done, it keeps working for decades and should never need to be replaced. In addition, it can be applied over any existing insulation you have.

What does TAP® Insulation do?

The capacity of TAP® insulation to kill insects is one of its main advantages. These pests attempt to nest inside the insulation, and as a result, become covered in a layer of boric acid. They consume the substance while grooming themselves, are unable to pass it, and as a result, the chemical accumulates in their bodies. They eventually die from dehydration or hunger, and because TAP® insulation never needs to be replaced, this cycle never ends. 

In addition to being effective at killing insects, TAP® insulation is a genuinely efficient insulator. After initial installation, homeowners can save up to an estimated 30% on their yearly energy bills, and stay cozy in the winter and cool in the summer. TAP® insulation is one of the few insulations to be both UL Classified for safety and sustainability and Energy Star approved.

Loyal Pest Control is a Certified TAP® Installer

At Loyal Termite and Pest Control, our goal is to keep our customers in Eastern and Central Virginia pest-free* and we offer all types of pest control treatments to do that. But in our opinion, the best kind of treatment is prevention. TAP® insulation is a smart way to help prevent insect infestations in your home. This winter, keep warm, save some money, and worry less about insects in your home. Contact us for a personalized quote!

Save Your Insulation from Rodents!

How do you know if you have a rodent infestation? The most common signs are evidence of poop piles or urine patches in and around the house. They may gnaw at your bagged food and stored

belongings, and when they’re at their most active you’ll hear them skittering about in your walls or above your head. If any of this sounds familiar, you need professional extermination services. We can send a rodent expert to clear out any size rat or mouse infestation that may be in your home, but that’s not all that needs to be done.  Were the rodents around your insulation? If so, they’ve likely damaged the material.

Why are rats and mice attracted to your insulation? What do they do with it, and what can you to repair and prevent? At Loyal Termite & Pest Control, we can answer all these questions and more.

Rodents in Insulation

When mice and rats get into the home, they’re looking for a source of food and a place to nest that’s relatively undisturbed. The insulation in your walls and attic provide all of that. The most popular insulation material for rodents is fiberglass batting. It’s soft and warm, easy for rodents to bite into to eat or use for their nests. And even once you get rid of rodents in your home, the damage to the insulation remains. It won’t go away, and at that point, the safest and most cost-effective solution is to replace the insulation entirely.

There are no materials that are completely rodent-resistant.  Boric-infused cellulose may deter larger pests, but there’s really no guarantee. What matters is that you don’t try and remove and replace the damaged insulation yourself. Rodents leave droppings wherever they nest, and it’s possible that their leavings are tainted with Hantavirus. Hantavirus is a potentially fatal respiratory disease that can be spread into the air if infected leavings are disturbed. That’s why we strongly suggest you leave any potential insulation replacement to the experts.

But do you have to wait for it to get to that point? What’s the best way to prevent rodents in Virginia?

Rodent Exclusion with Loyal Termite & Pest Control

What is rodent exclusion? It’s a way that pest control companies can stop an infestation before it starts. And it involves no magic tricks, just a thorough analysis of the potential vulnerabilities in your home. We can patch up holes and fill in gaps that rats and mice could otherwise slip in, leaving your home secure and your insulation unbothered. Rodent exclusion is only one step of our rodent extermination plan that’ll make sure homes in Virginia get pest-free* and stay there. We’ve been working in the area for over sixty years, and in that time we’ve developed the experience and skill set to handle the full scope of pest prevention and control.

Don’t wait until rodents leave you footing the bill on an unnecessary repair. To protect your insulation, and your home as a whole, contact Loyal Termite & Pest Control today!

Common Fall Pests in the Home

Fall pests -wasp nest in ceiling

Are you noticing an abundance of insect sightings in your home during the fall and winter? Unfortunately, it’s not your imagination — in fact, you may have a fall pest infestation brewing within your walls. It’s the result of pests trying to get out of the increasingly cold weather. Some of these insects and other creatures will migrate to warmer climates or burrow under debris, while others may decide that your home has just the perfect climate needed to thrive. This phenomenon is referred to as overwintering, and it’s important to notice warning signs before it gets out of hand.

It’s never fun when you find a resident of the Great Outdoors crawling on the countertops or in the corners of the room. What’s even worse, and what could cause even more damage, are the creatures that hide where you can’t see them. The pests most likely to take refuge here can include Asian Lady beetles, stink bugs, termites, wasps and rodents. Let’s explore more about these fall pests.

 

Asian Lady Beetle

Let’s say you find what looks like a ladybug, an orange-ish, reddish bug that may or may not have spots. If it’s larger than your usual garden darling, there’s a chance you may be looking at an Asian Lady beetle. And if you’ve found one, the odds are good of there being many, many more. Asian Lady beetles stick together in groups and use pheromones to communicate their location. That means that if one comes into your home to get out of the cold, the result can be a large infestation of fall pests. These bugs may not eat at your home’s structure or sting its residents, but their waste can stain as well as trigger an allergic reaction or breathing difficulties in sensitive individuals. You can prevent this, along with most other insect infestations, by making sure your home is sufficiently sealed from the elements.

 

Stink Bugs

It’s safe to say that no one is thrilled by the presence of a stink bug. The most common breed in the United States is the Brown Marmorated variety, which is an invasive species from Asia. These smelly squatters are flat and shaped like a shield, colored in mottled shades of brown and gray and sized around ¼” to ⅜”. They’re fond of quiet parts of your home like the attic or crawlspace, or anywhere else where they feel they won’t be bothered. And if they get discovered and feel threatened, they’ll release a deeply unpleasant odor that gives the bug its name. Because of that, it’s best to leave treatment to the professionals at Loyal Pest Control.

 

Termites

Termites are easily the most destructive pest in North America. They’re a serious problem, especially when considering that the annual cost of termite damage in the US is up to $30 billion.  Termites, if you have them, are always trying to enter your house. But fall and winter is when subterranean termites – the most damaging species – tend to burrow deep into the ground to wait out the cold weather. So if you get hit with an infestation you may not notice until spring, and by then you’ll likely be faced with a costly repair and a mess of inconvenience. Once termites can get in your home, they will consume wood and anything else that contains cellulose. Signs of termites in your home may include blisters on painted surfaces, hollow-sounding wood, unexplained pinhole-sized holes and more. 

 

Wasps

Most wasp colonies do not overwinter in the colder season, which leaves the workers to die with the oncoming winter. Fertilized queens, however, survive the cold outdoors in hollow logs, stumps or under leaves – or in certain structures, such as the attic of your home. Think right now: is your attic vent screened from the outdoors? If not, calling us to install one for you can prevent wasps and all manner of fall pests from making themselves comfortable without you knowing.

 

Rodents

Squirrels, roof rats and mice are all agile creatures and excellent climbers. You can see them making their way from branch to branch and across fence lines. With that in mind it’s easy to think that it wouldn’t be hard to get into your attic and make a nest. Luckily these rodents don’t tend to be very quiet. After some time you’ll hear them scratching or gnawing from up above or inside the walls. Those are both good signs that you have a rodent inside your attic or wall voids, and that means it’s time to call an experienced rodent exterminator like Loyal Pest Control 

 

Experienced Exterminators in East & Central Virginia

Loyal Termite & Pest Control has been proud to provide the citizens of East and Central Virginia with quality pest control services for the past sixty years. From bedbugs to rodents, if it shouldn’t be there then we can help you get rid of it. That’s why, if overwintering has invited some unwelcome fall pests into your home, we’re here to help. Contact us now for a free quote!

The Usual Late Summer Pests

An American dog tickThe end of summer might seem like the start of a stretch of pest-free* living, but this is often far from the case. Several kinds of pests actually thrive in or are even built for the conditions of the late summer here in Eastern & Central VA. If you want to secure pest-free* living situations for the last portion of your summer, you have to take consistent and targeted efforts to discourage bugs and wildlife from hanging out around your property. Read on to learn about common late summer pests and what you can do to stop them with our expert exterminators at Loyal Termite & Pest Control!

Pests That Love the Late Summer

Although late spring and early summer are the heights of pest prevalence, different kinds of bugs and wildlife are trying to break into our homes and businesses throughout the year, late summer included. We commonly see these pests during August and September in Eastern & Central VA:

  • Wildlife: Animals that hibernate during the winter do so to spend their summers out and about. We have to deal with raccoon, opossum, and squirrel problems every year.
  • Ticks: These parasitic pests breed in the late spring and early summer so that they can thrive for the rest of the hot season. Anytime you are around tall grass or dense vegetation, you have to watch out for ticks.
  • Bees and wasps: Bees and wasps are notorious for showing up in the summer when there’s food around. If you regularly barbecue outside or host frequent get-togethers, you might end up with a beehive or a wasp nest nearby.
  • Mosquitoes: If you let mosquito numbers build up around your property without taking any action, you could end up with a thriving population that lasts into the fall.

Preventing Common Late Summer Pests

Before taking matters into your own hands, it’s important to note that any serious pest infestation needs to be dealt with right away by a professional exterminator. However, if you want to get a head start on preventing the usual pest suspects of the late summer, add these tasks to your routine:

  1. Look for still water: Mosquitoes lay their eggs in pools of standing water, so if you can find and get rid of any around your property, you can prevent them from establishing a breeding population. Make sure to check gutters, planter boxes, and any other receptacles.
  2. Seal entry points: Gaps or cracks in roofing, siding, fencing, foundation, or around windows and doors can contribute to pest infestations. Install screens for your windows and doors or use a silicone-based caulk to seal holes.
  3. Be careful with trash: Taking out your trash often and using bins that seal outdoors will help prevent bees, wasps, wildlife, and more kinds of pests throughout the year.
  4. Keep a tidy yard: By trimming trees and shrubs, dealing with leaf piles and grass clippings promptly, and decluttering in general, you can reduce the chances of pests finding temporary shelters in your yard.

Summer Pest Experts in Eastern & Central VA

Whether you have a current pest problem that’s grown out of control or you want to get a head start on preventing these late summer pests, you can count on your local pest control company to help. Our technicians at Loyal Termite & Pest Control are licensed, certified, and well-versed in the particularities of pest seasonality in our region. We can put together an effective and environmentally-responsible pest control plan suited to the needs of your home or business. For a free quote, reach out today!

Ways to Repel Bees and Wasps Naturally

Close up image of wasp's face

Virginia is full of great outdoor activities in the summertime. It’s also full of bugs. While most of these bugs are just annoying like cicadas or gnats. Some, like bees and wasps, can cause painful stings, and even allergic reactions when they cross our paths. Want to keep bees and wasps from ruining your outdoor activities naturally? Read on to learn how!

 

Which Plants Attract Wasps and Bees?

Because bees and wasps are pollinators, they’re attracted to flowering plants. But they’re not attracted to all plants equally. Here are some species that especially attract bees and wasps:

  • Black-eyed Susan
  • Honeysuckle
  • Lantana
  • Lilacs
  • Perennial Yarrow
  • Poppies
  • Pale Purple Coneflower
  • Sweet Fennel
  • Wisteria
  • Queen Anne’s Lace
  • Sedum
  • Snapdragon
  • Sunflowers

If you regularly encounter bees and wasps around your home and you have one or more of these flowers growing nearby, it’s probably not a coincidence. Consider moving them further away from your home.

 

Which Plants Repel Wasps and Bees?

Despite being pollinators, bees and wasps aren’t attracted to all flowers. The scent of the following plants are strong natural repellents for bees and/or wasps:

  • Basil
  • Citronella
  • Geraniums
  • Marigolds
  • Peppermint
  • Spearmint
  • Thyme
  • Wormwood

If you’re considering adding some flowering plants to the outside of your home, particularly near any outdoor spaces, consider these plants. They’ll help keep stinging insects away.

 

Your Food Attracts Bees and Wasps

Summertime is a time for eating food outside. Barbecues, picnics and ice cream cones are just some of the classic ways we enjoy food outside in the summer. But these also attract wasps and bees. To help lower the odds that a striped stinging insect will ruin your barbecue, take these precautions:

  • Don’t leave food or food-soiled items out. Throw out trash and pack up leftovers.
  • Speaking of trash, make sure the trash can lid is tightly sealed. 
  • Keep your beverage closed or covered. Wasps are strongly attracted to sugary drinks.

Just as some plants repel bees and wasps, there are some foods that repel them too, including:

  • Bay Leaves
  • Cinnamon
  • Cloves
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Garlic
  • Sliced Cucumber
  • Vinegar

Because these items are relatively inexpensive and can be found at most grocery stores, they make a convenient natural pest repellent. Just splice, sprinkle or pour into a convenient container and leave them around outdoor spaces like decks, porches or patios. 

 

Make a Natural Bug Repellent with Essential Oils

If you’d like a little more control over the location and amount of pest repellent, this method may be for you. Stinging insects are repelled by the following essential oils:

  • Citronella oil
  • Clove oil
  • Eucalyptus oil
  • Geranium oil
  • Peppermint oil
  • Rosemary oil

You can make an all-natural bug repellent by combining essential oil and water. Use a ratio of two drops of essential oil per ounce of water. Put the mixture in a spray bottle and you’re ready to go. 

 

Best Bee and Wasp Control in Eastern & Central VA

These natural pest repellents can be very helpful. However, if you have a major infestation or a nest on your property, it won’t be enough. Call Loyal Termite and Pest Control today. We’re experts at safely removing wasps and bees and have been providing industry-leading pest control in Virginia for 60 years.