Termites – The Bug Guy – Pest Control OKC

Pest Control OKC: What happens to pests in the winter

April 18, 2018/in Ants, Pest Control, Termites /by The BugGuy

Pest Control OKC: What happens to pests in winter?

We all know the warmer months are the domain of pests. They seem to pop out of nowhere and invade our homes and BBQ. But why do we typically only have to deal with pests in the summer and spring? What happens to all the pests in Winter? Do they all die off or does something else happen? Pest Control OKC has some answers.

Ants: They may not be in your home during the winter, but that doesn’t mean ants aren’t nearby. Ants will engage in the Insect version of hibernation, called Overwintering. They will spend the fall gorging themselves as much as they can to put on fat. When the temperature drops and food becomes scarce, ant activity will decrease until eventually they seal their colony and hunker down for the coldest parts of the year. When the temperature rises they will reanimate and emerge, ready to invade the nearest Barbecue.

Termites: Different Termites do different things during the winter. Depending on the species and the climate, some termites use one method while others use another. Subterranean Termites will dig down deeper than they already are, below the freezing line of the soil to stay warm and wait out the colder months. Drywood termites on the other hand, will seek out dry wood to shelter in for the winter. After summer comes and the temperature reaches about 70 degrees the colony will send out swarmers to mate and find new locations to infest. If climate controlled conditions or climates that are warm year round, termites will never go inactive staying up year round. This makes homes particularly inviting to termites who can avoid the risk of freezing to death in the winter.

If you need pest control, call The Bug Guy, pest control okc, today.

Pest Control OKC: Keeping a summer home pest free

April 11, 2018/in Cockroaches, Fleas, Flies, Insects, Pest Control, Spiders, Termites, Wasps /by The BugGuy

Pest Control OKC: How to protect a summer home from infestation

You work hard, you save up, and your finally able to afford a summer home somewhere nice. But then you get there to enjoy a vacation you find it overrun with pests! What can you do to make sure that isn’t a reality? Pest Control OKC has a few tips.

Clean all cabinets and counter tops thoroughly before you depart. Clean all appliances to remove food residue and crumbs. Dust off shelves and store food such as cereal, flour and dog food in releasable containers.
Sweep and vacuum floors in the kitchen, under furniture, and around dining areas.
Check any pipes around the house for leaks, cracks and gaps and seal them before you leave to keep water from attracting pests and forming mold.
Inspect boxes, grocery bags and other packaging thoroughly. Insects may hitch a ride into your summer home from potted plants and infest your home after you leave.
Keep basements, attics, and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry. A good way to tell if you need more ventilation is the presence of mold and mildew.
Seal cracks, crevices, and other gaps in doors and windows before you leave. Doors and windows should be kept closed at all times unless well screened.
Keep garbage areas clean. Garbage should be taken out regularly and removed completely before you leave for the season. Garbage provides 2 things. Clutter and food sources. Insects like to be able to hide, from you and other predators. So cluttered places like a full garbage bin are attractive. And of course, if they can find a supply of food while hiding in their cozy garbage patch even better. Don’t give them the chance!

If you need pest control, call the bug guy, pest control okc, today.

Pest Control OKC: Fall Termites?

November 8, 2017/in Termites /by The BugGuy

Pest Control OKC is here to set the record straight on a couple of things involving termites.

Termites can be a pest year-round

While it’s true most termites reach peak activity (or swarm) during summer and spring any termite can cause damage at any time of year, regardless of weather. In addition, there are some species of termites that actually swarm during Fall months. These types of termites will eat both soft and hard wood, attacking house structures and the furniture within. They can even attack wood objects as small as a picture frame. These kinds of termites will leave a small layer of surface wood intact to hide their presence in furniture and homes. Multiple colonies can even infest a single piece of furniture. If you think you may have an Fall Termite Infestation, give The Bug Guy, Pest Control OKC, a call today.

Finding termites

Looks for small piles of sawdust near your home and furniture as well as unexplained holes. Shed wings can also be an indication of a new colony hiding somewhere in your home. If an infestation gets really bad, you may also start to notice bulges in your wood. This is because a colony, or colonies, are getting so big that they’re starting to strain the wood. Remember, it’s very easy for multiple colonies to exist in the same house at once. Once a colony digs in they can be hard to remove, luckily The Bug Guy, Pest Control OKC, can help both find and get rid of these colonies.

Just because it’s getting colder outside doesn’t mean Termites that are inside will take a break for the holidays. If you spot a termite infestation or just want to make sure your house is pest free, give The Bug Guy, Pest Control OKC a call today at 405-973-5522!

OKC Pest Control: Telling Of A Termite Horror Story

March 8, 2017/in Termites /by The BugGuy

Termite Inspections By The Bug Guy’s OKC Pest Control Team

To anyone buying a home should be a moment of joy, but for one real estate investor the events that unfolded during his first “flip and fix” home is enough to make anyone cringe. Matt Faircloth wrote about his eventful real estate journey (click here to read his full story) and among the many mistakes he made, he outlines one of them being the discovery of termites. Our OKC pest control team tells the story for you, today.

Matt Faircloth’s Termite Horror Story:

The first few mistakes Faircloth wrote about involved him purchasing a really old home. After some unfortunate events, the tax lien holder sued Faircloth. This legal action took place directly after the closing of the home, for something called “Title Raiding.” He had to go to court and defend himself, tried and failed to quickly flip and sell the home to another investor, and then failed to get a mentor; thus, jumping into dealing with the home on his own.

That leads us to the part where the roof needed to be replaced. Our OKC pest control team will give you three guesses what they found.

If you guessed termite damage, you’re correct! Faircloth had a team replace the old roof that leaked, but afterwards the roofers informed Faircloth that the roof joists had termite damage and needed to be replaced, also.

The horror came over Faircloth as he realized that in order for termites to have made it that far, they would have had to eat their way from the bottom of the home up to the roof. The whole house had structural termite damage! Right away a structural engineer came along with an architect to tell Faircloth that the house was beyond repair and that it needed to be torn down.

The Significance Of Faircloth’s Story:

Had Faircloth hired a professional (much like our OKC pest control team) to complete a full inspection of the home, inside and out, the termite damage would have been caught quickly preventing him from spending a lot of money for nothing.

If you’re planning on investing in real estate at any time this spring, please consider contacting The Bug Guy. Our OKC pest control team provides full service termite inspections and termite treatments using Termidor, the industries best products to eliminate termites for good. To reach our OKC pest control team, please call us at 405-973-5522.

OKC Pest Control: Termites Swarming Oklahoma

March 1, 2017/in Termites /by The BugGuy

OKC Pest Control: The Risk Of Subterranean Termites

The official day of spring is right around the corner and for many that means something good as warmer weather and outdoor activities are in the forecast. Others dread the coming of spring, because that means pests like termites will be likely to be swarming Oklahoma. Our OKC pest control team would like to keep you informed of what to look out for as spring approaches and the risk of termites increases.

The main destructive termite species in Oklahoma is the Eastern subterranean termite, but there are a few others that can cause concern. In most cases, as per our OKC pest control team’s knowledge, termites in Oklahoma will begin to swarm on a warm day (around 70 degrees) after a rainfall. The specifics of the most common species of termites are as follows:

The eastern subterranean termite is known to swarm during the day from March to May.
The arid-land subterranean termite is known to swarm during the day in the spring and fall.
The dark southeastern subterranean termite is known to swarm in the daylight from March to June, and occasionally in the fall.

The risk of termites is considered significant in Oklahoma, but even more so after all the increases in earthquakes. Some sources state that due to the cracks in home foundations, caused by earthquake damage, that termites are finding an easier entryway. Our OKC pest control team wouldn’t want you to take any chances as getting rid of termites is vital to the ongoing structural integrity of your home.

If you notice anything odd such as a tube made of dirt extending out from cracks, near windows, or doors this could very well be a termite tube. If you see this don’t hesitate to call The Bug Guy, your trusted source for termite inspections and treatments!

We use Termidor, the industries best products to eliminate termites for good. We also offer a one year warranty on all qualifying homes. If you have suspicion of termites in your home or you just want preventive treatment, give us a call at 405-973-5522.