Hello, Loyal “dog-blog” friends. Welcome back to this weeks edition of my blog; “What’s Buggin’ You? (sm). Because this comes to you every week, the frequency of posting allows me to bark about many diverse subjects connected to the termite and pest control world. I’ve written about many of the bugs themselves, and will continue to do so, however; it is very important to also understand pest habits in general, their lifestyle if you will. The most important lifestyle element and this will vary from pest to pest, is harborage. Loosely defined, harborage is a safe haven or the locations and conditions where pests can live, thrive, reproduce, and feed. The conditions may vary in temperature, but generally, there is moisture present and a reliable food source is close by.
Termites like living, or harboring, in colonies underground, in moist soil, very close to their food source; the wood of your home’s structure. An infestation of termites, once discovered, needs immediate attention. Who you gonna call? Call Loyal!! I was just thinking about the song, “Ghostbusters”. Forgive me; I’ll get back on track.
Inside the home, many people are anxious about encountering unwanted pests. As such, homeowners often take preventive measures as part of their seasonal maintenance routine. However; there are several rooms in a house that can be easily overlooked in the process of pest proofing – primarily the attic and basement. Rodents such as mice and rats tend to be the most common invaders of attics and basements, but a slew of insects can also make themselves at home here if given a chance. Some of the usual suspects include cockroaches, spiders, ants, and stink bugs. These tenacious pests usually seek shelter, food, and water inside; due to changes in weather, such as extended periods of rain or the onset of cooler temperatures.
Pests can find entry points into homes through almost any opening, including cracks and crevices as small as a nickel in the structure’s exterior. Once mice/rats find their way into attics or basements, they can cause serious and costly property damage. Rodents are capable of destroying insulation in attics and chewing through walls, baseboards, and electrical wires. Rodents cause up to 25 percent of house fires in the United States each year!
Luckily, there are many effective pest-proofing measures homeowners can use to discourage unwanted guests from taking shelter in the forgotten rooms in your home. It is important to pay special attention to the home’s insulation by replacing loose mortar and weather stripping around the basement foundation. In addition, items that are kept in basements and attics should be stored in plastic, sealed containers, off of the floor, and not in cardboard boxes to prevent pests from nesting inside. Attics and basements should also be kept well ventilated and dry. Moisture is well known to encourage harborage conditions. Homeowners can run a dehumidifier and install gutters or diverts.
Pest proofing the forgotten rooms of a house should be viewed as a year-round commitment to protecting one’s property and health from the threats associated with pest damage and disease. Call Loyal and one of our experienced inspectors can recommend a prevention plan to help keep your home pest free. Who you gonna call? Call Loyal!! There I go again. I really love that song! Sorry.
If you have any questions; be sure to call us here at Loyal, go to our website, or check us out on social media. Thank you for joining me for this week’s “What’s Buggin’ You?”(sm) I’ll bark at you again next week. Ruff! Ruff!
Household Pest’s Harborage – The Forgotten Rooms in Virginia
Serving the Henrico and Richmond VA area since 1960