The Hill Country’s Best Termite Control
Safeguard Your Hill Country Investment from Termites
Is Your Home Protected Against Termites?
For Hill Country property owners with wooden structures, the threat of termite damage is a real concern. The potential destruction by these wood-destroying insects is significant.
Termites typically swarm in February, and during this period, it’s possible to observe winged reproductive termites both inside and outside of buildings. When these swarms find an appropriate location, they settle, lose their wings, and begin mating to establish a new colony.
Contact Hill Country Pest Control for our termite control service and keep your Hill Country home safe!
New Building Termite Protection Plan
Understanding the significant damage termites can cause, we recommend preventive measures, especially for new constructions.
Hill Country Pest Control offers comprehensive pre-treatment termite control plans designed to safeguard your new building right from the start.
These plans target the base and critical support structures, focusing on areas that will become less accessible once construction is completed.
Implementing pre-treatment early and maintaining it throughout the construction phase significantly reduces the risk of termite infestations. This includes essential steps like removing construction debris and preventing moisture penetration, which are vital in deterring termites from nesting within your property.
A new home is a significant investment. Protect your Hill Country investment with our termite control services. If your building in San Antonio, Kerrville, Bandera, Comfort or other parts of the Hill Country, contact us today and schedule our termite control service.
Signs of a Termite Infestation
Termites are attracted to light and often found near windows or doors. Another indicator of a termite presence is the sight of mud tubes on the foundation walls, which termites use for protection as they travel.
Signs of wood damage following the wood grain, or tiny soil deposits around plaster and drywall, can also signal an infestation.
Although some signs of termite activity may be apparent inside a building, external indicators might not be as obvious. Termites can remain hidden for years, quietly consuming wood from beneath floorboards and behind walls.
Our team is here to help identify both obvious and subtle signs of termite infestations and activity, ensuring your Hill Country property is protected from these hidden dangers.
Termite Extermination in the San Antonio, Kerrville and the Rest of the Texas Hill Country
Should you end up with a termite infestation in your home or building, our skilled termite extermination team is ready to develop and execute a termite treatment strategy.
We primarily employ two methods: liquid termiticides and termite bait stations.
Termite Control With Liquid Termiticides
This approach involves applying a chemical barrier in the soil around your property, creating a protective shield that blocks termites from accessing your building and prevents those inside from returning to the soil. This method, when professionally applied, offers a minimum of five years of protection against termites.
Termite Control With Bait Stations
These stations combine termite food sources, such as paper or cardboard, with slow-acting chemicals fatal to termites. Installed around the building, termites are drawn to the bait and transport it back to their colony, leading to the gradual elimination of the termite infestation.
Reviews
I’ve used this company for about 20 years on a quarterly basis to spray my home, porches, deck & 6’ around my home and see no reason to change. They do a great job and I never see a live scorpion.
Note: Doing it yourself with Home Defense just isn’t enough in Kerrville or surrounding areas.”
Termite Control Service Areas:
Bandera
Castroville
Center Point
Comfort
Concan
Harper
Helotes
Hondo
Hunt
Ingram
Kerrville
Lakehills
Leakey
Medina
Mountain Home
Pipe Creek
Rio Frio
Rocksprings
San Antonio
Tarpley
Utopia
Vanderpool
Frequently Asked Questions
Termites
Subterranean termites are the most common and destructive termites for buildings and structures. They aren’t covered by home insurance and can cause expensive damage. There are three main types of subterranean termites; Formosan, Asian, and native ones. Native termites do not cause as much damage because they are less invasive and aggressive by nature. On the other hand, in the US Asian subterranean termites and Formosan subterranean termites cause $1 billion in damages annually. Termites can decrease home value and cause structural damage or in bad cases, building collapse.
Formosan subterranean worker termites will consume anything that contains cellulose. They are aggressive when it comes to choosing food sources and will eat almost anything including live trees, structural timbers, and utility poles, and are even known to chew through electrical wiring. On the other hand, Asian subterranean termites will eat through rubber and plastic to find food.
Subterranean termites have gigantic colonies. As the population grows, the workers must find more food sources. Subterranean termites, as the name suggests, like underground. They need water and food to survive so they send worker termites to leave the underground colonies and search for these things. To avoid the weather conditions and predators, they create mud tubes. If you spot mud tubes along exterior walls and/or up trees on your property these termites are likely feasting on your buildings.
These termites find moist weak wood near the ground and work their way through and up other parts of the structure. Aggressive colonies can destroy structures in a few months and go undetected for most of them.
It is crucial to know that termites are preventable. Why wait until it’s too late and thousands in damages have already occurred? A professional pest team can set bait traps that are more attractive to termites than other types of wood. These cellulose poison points will eliminate the termites at their source and prevent them from growing and destroying your building.
Call Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville today for more information.
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Subterranean termites can be identified by several factors:
1. During the warm seasons of spring and summer, subterranean termites swarm as part of their mating routine. Often occurring in the morning or night, these little pests might be mistaken for flying ants. Only fertile females and males can grow wings and swarm to find a mate. Once the mating has finished, these termites lose their wings. From here, they crawl into cracks and crevices to begin new colonies. Wings along windowsills or floorboards can be a sign of infestation.
2. Because Subterranean termites live underground, they build mud tubes or tunnels to transport food, in their case, wood, to the ground. These tubes are used to keep them protected from predators and the elements. Their bud tunnels run along walls and nearby trees. Spotting these tunnels usually means infestation.
3. Structural damage and weak walls or flooring are sure signs of advanced subterranean termite activity in your home or business. If you notice sagging walls and floors, blistering paint, and/or hollow-sounding surfaces, it’s time to call in the professionals.
If you have spotted signs of subterranean termites in or around your Hill Country home or business contact, Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville. Subterranean termites work at an aggressive pace. The damage is costly and time-consuming to repair. The sooner this is addressed with subterranean termite baiting systems, the better.
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If you’re noticing the first sign of an infestation, the best way to get rid of subterranean termites is to call a professional pest control company.
In some cases, when subterranean termites are causing damage at a rapid pace, more drastic measures may be suggested by a professional. A termite prevention program is the best choice if you don’t yet have a termite problem but live in an area like Kerr County where they are common. Preventative treatment is much easier and relatively cheap compared to the price of potential damage.
Professions have tools that monitor wall moisture and noise activity that help them access potential damage and work accordingly. They also have a license to install the most effective termite baiting system on the market, the Sentricon System with Always Active™.
The Sentricon baiting system is a newer termite baiting technology that hit the market in the 90’s. The Always Active™ component of the bait makes it an effective treatment and preventative method. DIY, do-it-yourself products, do not contain the effective materials that are only included by Sentricon for licensed use.
This system relies on professional knowledge. An expert will come to your home and strategically place these baiting devices in the ground around your home. Each container has an active ingredient called Noviflumuron, which remains active as long as it remains in the container. This ingredient prevents termites from molting from one stage to the next in the growth cycle. When the worker termites are lured to this product, they take it back with them to their colony where the rest of the termites feed on it. It is effective because it stops the termites at the source. This is the first termite treatment to successfully infiltrate the underground colonies that these termites create.
Yearly inspections are advised so the professional can refill these stations and ensure that they are working effectively. Non-intrusive Sentricon bait stations, properly stocked and monitored, can deter subterranean termites from your property for years.
If you’re experiencing termite problems, call Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville! Subterranean termites, especially non-native kinds such as Asian or Formosan termites, work incredibly fast. Termites are an urgent issue that requires immediate attention to limit potential damage.
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The main difference between the two lies in the name, Drywood termites have adapted to live only from the water in the wood they eat. They also live in the wood they infest and are usually found in out-of-the-way places, such as walls, attics, or furniture.
Subterranean termites, as their name suggests, live underground. They live in the soil beneath a building and send worker termites into structures to find food and water. Because subterranean termites need moisture and warmth to survive, they build mud tunnels to get to and from the food source and their home colony. But many other things make these pests different.
Drywood termites will eat anything that is wood. They hollow out the wood from walls, door frames, floors, attics, and furniture. They are hard to spot because you can’t see their activity from the outside. Drywood termites may not be detectable until you tap on a door frame and it sounds hollow or your wooden floors appear to swoop or bend.
Other signs of drywood termites that distinguish them are piles of sawdust-looking pellets on window sills or ledges. These pellets indicate drywood termites because they live inside the wood they infest. Drywood termites’ excrement is tiny and dry because they have adapted to severely dry conditions. They need every ounce of moisture from the wood and their digestive tracts squeeze it out completely. Drywood termites are not aggressive and invasive as subterranean termites. It takes them a while to work through structures but Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville still recommends handling a Drywood termite problem as quickly as possible.
On the other hand, Subterranean termites can only need a few months to completely decimate a building. Unfortunately, in addition to native termites, there are two invasive subterranean termites in North America to watch out for. These aggressive termites are the Formosan and Asian subterranean termites. Unlike drywood termites, they attack anything and everything that contains cellulose, including live trees, utility poles, and structural wood. Their colonies can contain multiple queens and have a few million members. They eat, repopulate, and work at unprecedented rates. These pests cause extremely expensive damage. Mud tubes running up the walls of your home or up trees on your property are a sign of these pests.
Whether you think your home has been infested by drywood termites or subterranean termites, contact a professional pest control expert like Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville. Although some termites are arguably worse than others, ideally, you don’t want any termites in or near your home. For practical and affordable solutions call Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville today!
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Contacting a professional pest control company is the best way to get rid of any type of termite. Professionals have special tools to determine the extent of termite damage by addressing moisture or noise in the walls. Termites can cause expensive damage in severe infestations and can sometimes threaten the structural integrity of buildings. In Hill Country, aggressive non-native Formosan and Asian subterranean termites are on the rise. These termites work faster and populate quicker than other termites. When dealing with non-native subterranean termites, time is of the essence as these creatures can tear through the structural beams, floors, and walls building within a matter of months.
Another reason to go with professional care is that professionals are licensed to perform tent fumigations or use modern effective solutions like the Sentricon® Colony Elimination System with Always Active™. Not only can this product exterminate termites, but it can also prevent them. Properly stocked with the appropriate bait, these stations continue to keep termites away from your property for many years. If you live in an area like Texas Hill Country where termites are an issue for property owners, prevention is a great option. It is much cheaper than treating an infection after it’s already happened and can last for years.
If you suspect there is termite activity, immediately call your local pest control company, such as Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville to perform a free termite inspection.
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In many cases, it is hard to tell if you have termites. Even if you can determine that termites are in your home, it is hard to tell the extent of the termite damage without professional tools. This is because termites burrow deep into the wood and a majority of the wood in your home can’t be seen from the outside. Drywood termites live inside the wood that they eat. Their droppings are tiny and look like sand or sawdust. Seeing this sprinkled along corners or window sills is often a sign that termites are in the building.
For subterranean termites, spotting mud tubes running along the walls or nearby trees indicates an infestation. But truly, the extent of termites can’t be determined without a thorough investigation using tools to measure things like moisture and movement in the wood.
For your peace of mind, we recommend hiring a professional to do a free consultation at your home. Once we establish that termites have not caused structural damage, we recommend purchasing a prevention package. Therefore a professional can routinely place bait around and inspect your property.
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In Hill Country, the question is not if you should get a termite inspection but rather when? Thanks to modern technology, termites can not only be eliminated but also prevented from ever damaging a home. If you live in an area where termites are common but haven’t seen any on your property, then you are a perfect candidate for preventative treatment. Preventative baiting is simple and quick for professionals to install and it can keep your home safe from termites for years to come.
If you see termite activity on your property it is in your best interest to get an inspection. This is because exterior termites only provide a small insight into what is happening inside the walls that we cannot see.
Here are a few signs to look out for:
* Small piles of sawdust-looking termite droppings
* Weak and bending walls, floors, and doors
* Swarming
* Surfaces that make sound hollow when tapped
* Areas where a screwdriver can easily be poked through
* Discarded wings near cracks or window sills
* Mud tubes running up outside walls or nearby trees
For more information or to schedule a consultation, call Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville today.
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When renting, buying, or selling a home or business, banks and other financial institutions may require a wood-destroying organism (WDO) state report when considering a loan for a home or business. In these situations, reliable pest control companies charge a flat fee to conduct and process termite inspections for state reports. The cost varies depending on the location and the size of the property. The cost usually covers the pest control technicians’ time performing the inspection, plus compiling and submitting the report.
However; many people contact professional pest control companies as a proactive prevention measure or more often when they suspect termite activity is afoot in their homes and businesses. In either case, when you contact a reliable pest control company, such as Petri Pest Control Services, for an inspection, you’re doing so to get an estimate for the treatment of a current infestation or to enroll the prospect in a program to prevent infestations. Petri Pest Control Services does not charge potential customers to perform termite inspections. Contact us to schedule your free termite inspection!
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Yes! The tent fumigation process releases chemicals that can be harmful or in some cases, deadly to humans and pets if they are exposed to the pesticides at any point in the tenting process. Before beginning, a fumigation expert should thoroughly inspect the home for any left behind pets and remind property owners that food and medicine left inside the home during fumigation can no longer be used. Even though our experts at Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville have the routine perfected, we still have each member follow a checklist of safety procedures to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
During the service, all humans and their pets need to find other accommodations outside of the home. Sometimes, this can be for a week. Additionally, you won’t be able to access anything inside your home while it is being fumigated. After the tent is removed, the home is aired out for at least another 24 hours before anyone is allowed to enter. After this technicians will continue to check chemical levels in the home until it is safe to enter but usually within 24 hours, the home is safe.
If you have questions regarding the safety of tent fumigation, Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is more than happy to answer any questions. We put customer safety first and want you to feel comfortable throughout the entire process knowing that your home is in good hands.
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In general, tent fumigation kills everything. Although it kills many bugs, it is mainly used to prevent drywood termites from causing structural damage. These termites are hard to treat and detect because they are often burrowed deep into the structure. Because direct applications of baits and repellants isn’t always an option, fumigation is the next best option. In some situations, tent fumigation may be the only option to eliminate drywood termites.
Tent fumigation is sometimes employed between tenants as an all-inclusive method to eliminate pests. Sometimes, tent fumigation is used to eliminate advanced bed bug infestations especially bugs like bed bugs who can survive for months between blood meals and are notoriously difficult to control. But most often, it is specific to drywood termites. On the other hand, tenting might be used for subterranean termites that are nesting above ground. Usually, this is ineffective because subterranean termites prefer to create their colonies underground.
Because tent fumigation is a labor-intensive and tedious process, we recommend it as a last resort. Before tenting there is lots of prep work involved such as removing food, medications, and houseplants and house pets. Also finding several day accommodations outside the home can be burdensome.
If you’re considering a fumigation treatment, call Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville for a free consultation.
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For Drywood termites, there are no-tent and tenting solutions available. When a professional pest control service member does an inspection, they will be able to tell you which options are available as every home is different. Factors such as the extent of the infestation and if the termites are in hard-to-reach areas will make a difference in which option is best.
Termites are tricky to spot because they mostly live or feed within walls and are hard to spot. Luckily, professionals can find termites in walls using a variety of methods such as trusted traditional ones and modern technology. The Termatrac for example is the latest termite detection technology to scan for drywood termite activity. Other scanners can scan for moisture or movement in the walls to track where the infestations are and the likely damage they are causing. With this knowledge, our inspection team can make appropriate recommendations.
If possible, a team member will likely recommend a no-tent solution because it isn’t as invasive and labor-intensive for the home or building owner. With our no tent solutions, termite-infested wood is directly injected with solutions. The no-tent solution requires a thorough assessment of the home where all parts of the home are checked for activity. Then, as the termite colonies are located, they are spot-treated until all of them are gone. This can sometimes take a few visits to see to completion.
However, in the case of multiple drywood termite colonies selected throughout the home and/or termite activity that is inaccessible for direct treatment applications, tent fumigation may be required to eliminate drywood termite infestations. Tent fumigation is considered the best way to eliminate complex drywood infestations and requires extensive preparation before tent fumigation can begin. For the days the building is being tented, all residents must find accommodation outside the home. Additionally, all medicine and food need to be packaged and taken from the home. Once tenting is complete, it is necessary to wipe down and sanitize the surfaces used for eating and food storage.
If you suspect you have a drywood termite infestation, book a consultation with Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville as soon as possible. When dealing with termites, time is of the essence.
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Drywood termites have adapted to living without a water source. They rely solely on the moisture from the wood they eat. They are hard to spot because they burrow deep into the wood and live in the wood that they infest. Piles of saw-dust-looking material, called “frass” are a common sign of drywood termite infestation. These pellet piles are so dry-looking because the termites extract every drop of moisture from the wood they have eaten as it goes through their digestive tract.
Other signs of drywood termite activity include:
* Piles of “frass” aka excrement
* Discarded wings on windowsills or near cracks after mating season*
* Swarming of flying termites during mating season
* Warped or blistered floors, walls, and doors that could be mistaken for water damage
* Doors and windows that don’t open and close easily
* Surfaces that sound hollow when tapped
* Areas where a screwdriver can easily be poked through
If you have noticed these signs around your home, Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville offers both tent or no tent solutions. Across Kerr County, you can count on us to get your drywood termite infestation under control.
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Drywood termites might go unnoticed for long periods of time because they live in the wood they infest and burrow deep into it. Unlike subterranean termites who create large underground colonies, the drywood termite creates small colonies within the wood’s interior.
It’s hard to tell for certain how long it takes drywood termites to cause damage. There are more aggressive types of termites such as the non-native Formosan and Asian subterranean termites that can tear through buildings in a matter of months. But drywood termite damage often takes several years to manifest into a structural problem. However, they are often quiet and hard to spot so it isn’t unlikely that years could pass before they are detected. While drywood termites may take longer to cause damage, infestations left unchecked cause hundreds of million dollars worth of damage annually in the United States.
Most professional pest control companies offer annual termite prevention and check-up appointments to protect property owners. Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville recommends annual home inspections because termite damage is often not covered by home insurance.
After a thorough inspection, we can make recommendations for how to best address the termites found or set up a prevention plan to keep your home termite free.
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Yes! If you are a home or property owner in Hill Country, you should worry about termites. Termites can cause safety issues in the home because they jeopardize the structural integrity of the building by chewing through wooden beams, doors, and walls. This damage not only needs to be taken care of as soon as possible, but it often comes with a high cost. Because termites are preventable with modern termite solutions, and because termite damage is so expensive to repair, it is most likely that termite damage is not covered by your home insurance plan.
Because termite activity might be happening in your home unchecked. This is because termites are hard to see. They burrow themselves deep into the wood and only come out for mating or out of another necessity. Subterranean termites build mud tubes from their underground colonies directly to the area of wood they are infesting. Therefore, termites can be tricky to spot until after the damage is underway.
As stated before, termites are preventable! In a high termite area, we recommend an annual check-up with a pest specialist. Professional termite companies have access to preventative baits that require licensing to distribute. During an annual visit, the specialist will refill baits and inspect your home for damage. This solution is relatively inexpensive compared to the thousands in damage that termites can cause. Additionally, it will relieve the nagging worry that your home could have an undetected infestation.
Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville offers preventative and treatment programs for different types of termites including the non-native aggressive Formosan and Asian termite populations. Don’t hesitate to call or schedule a consultation.
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While termites can wreak havoc on buildings, termites in a natural environment are helpful because they do the important work of breaking down dead trees to make way for new life and supplying nutrients that replenish the soil. Without these important decomposers, forest floors would be covered in decaying trees and wouldn’t be able to grow new life. In some areas, forest fires would be more common because more wood would increase the risk. Not only are termites an important food source to some animals but they also help create a clean and lively environment for other animals to thrive. In parts of Africa and Australia, termites create huge mounds that can be used by other animals as shelter.
Termites are helpful in the wild but they have no place in a home. Homes are built to last for generations and termites are wired to decompose wood. The two simply can’t exist in harmony. Termites can be dangerous because they cause not only cosmetic damage but also structural damage.
In many cases, homeowners are not aware of the damage until the infestation is extreme. To avoid this, we recommend going with a professional pest control service such as Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville.
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Several factors make termites hard to control. First, termites burrow deep into the wood they infest and rarely leave it. Even subterranean termites travel from their underground colonies to in mud tubes to avoid exposure to predators and weather outside. Secondly, termites only need a tiny crack to find their way into attics, wall voids, and other hard-to-reach spots.
Because of these factors and several others, termites often go undetected. It is hard to control termites because many homeowners are completely unaware of termite activity until the termites infest the inner walls of the home or somewhere they can easily be spotted. Many times, termites themselves might not be visible. Instead, homeowners might see frass (sawdust-looking excrement) or discarded wings on windowsills or near floorboards.
The tried and true ways to know for certain that termites have entered the home are also the result of a severe infestation. For example, if surfaces have a hollow noise when tapped or if a screwdriver can easily puncture the wall it is almost certain that termites have been eating away at the wood. Along with these signs, the walls, floors, windows, and door frames may look warped or appear water damaged. Blistered paint is also common.
Once termites have been detected, there are several treatment options that depend on the type of termite, the extent of the termite infestation, and if the termites are in hard-to-reach areas.
In short, termites are difficult to control because they are elusive creatures. If you think your home might have a termite problem, or are curious about preventive measures against termites, call Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville today to set up a consultation with a termite control expert.
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Bugs in General
In the big picture, several factors can cause pest infestations, including:
* Weather and Seasonal changes
* Loss of wild habitat or food and water shortages in the wild
* Non-native invasive species
Tropical storms and hurricanes can relocate pests to a nearby area while other bugs, like American cockroaches, will purposefully seek higher ground to avoid a rainy season. Homes are inviting to pests because they can supply food and water without many of the natural predators in the wild. Homes are also warm and provide shelter for pests against otherwise rough weather conditions. When these pests find a surplus of food and water in a non-threatening environment, this causes a population boom and results in an infestation.
Additionally, home and business construction can destroy wild habitats, forcing animals and bugs alike to seek a means of survival elsewhere. Not only this, but the loss of their natural habitat may leave them with a shrinking food supply in the wild.
For some pests, a home is a place to thrive. Standing water in clogged gutters, sand toys, baby pools, planters, birdbaths, and pet water bowls are ideal places for mosquitoes to breed. Termites literally eat your home as if you’re living in it. Drywood termites burrow deep into the wood and eat as they go. Subterranean termites form colonies outside the home and transport wood back to their underground colonies.
The good news is that there are things you can do to keep pests away from your home. Even mulch placed too close to your foundation can attract pests. Start by looking for clutter, unfinished wood projects, and low-light areas where bugs may be flourishing unchecked. Outside, check for dense or tall vegetation that needs trimming. Also, check for trees or bushes that are close to the home’s roof and walls. Lastly, the most important thing you can do to avoid pests is to seal cracks, holes, and crevices in your foundation.
Luckily, there is a lot you can do a lot to prevent pest infestations. If pests continue to bother you in your home professional help is always available. Sometimes, pests just don’t respond to DIY methods and professional expertise and tools are needed. Contact Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville today for more information.
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Preventing pest infestation is a lot easier than trying to get rid of pests once they’ve infested a home. However, sometimes it’s too late for prevention and the pests have already made their way into the home. Some DIY methods work, but more often than not, they don’t.
Professional pest control companies are experts at dealing with a variety of pests and specifically the kids of pests native to your region. Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is a well-established business that can help you out with pest control in the Hill Country. We are trained professionals with licenses to use different equipment that might be the key to ridding your home of unwanted pests.
Professional pest control companies, such as Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville employ professionals who are trained and licensed to use a combination of the newest technology, trusted methods, and geographical knowledge to eliminate pests in your Kerr County home.
Additionally, we recommend the following steps to prevent pests in your home:
* Seal cracks or holes around doors entryways, floorboards, and windows
* Replace or repair the screens in windows and doors and vents
* Cut back tall vines, grass, shrubs, and trees
* Keep your lawn and ornamental plants well kept
* Declutter your yard
* Eliminate standing water
* Disinfect your countertops, surfaces, shelves, and floors regularly
* Keep sink drains and countertops free of food particles
* Clean garbage containers regularly and keep a lid on the garbage
If your home’s pest infestation needs professional attention, call Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville today.
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Pests can enter homes in many ways. Some pests hitchhike in bags or packages. The most common types of bugs that enter the home like this are fleas, beetles, and weevils. These bugs come from outside and lay eggs in the home to create new populations inside your home. Other garden bugs might be brought inside by bringing live plants into your home.
While some bugs hitchhike into the home, the majority of pests will enter your home through cracks, crevices, holes in the screen, or plumbing pipes. Sealing cracks and putting up screens is the best way to fight and prevent these infestations. Rodents can fit through holes as small as 1/4th inch. Rodents are especially harmful pests because they can bring additional harmful pests like ticks and fleas with them. Ants, flies, roaches, and other pests also commonly enter homes through crevices and cracks. Checking your floors, walls, windows, and doors, for small holes routinely will help prevent pest infestation.
Additionally, outdoor maintenance is just as important as indoor maintenance when it comes to infestation. Tree branches that touch houses can act as bridges for rodents and insects to enter homes. Overgrown grass can house ticks that may be brought inside by pets. Torn vents around the outside of the home can let in a multitude of pests. Some insects can live in sewers that connect to pipes in homes such as cockroaches. They can enter homes through drains in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
If your home is overcome with a single pest type or a combination of pests, look no further than Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville. Pests attract more pests. Get the help you need and start feeling comfortable again in your home.
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In the past, many companies recommended monthly services. With modern technology, research, and new products, visits aren’t needed as frequently. In most cases, treatment will be required every quarter but this depends on several factors. Each plan will be customized to the unique needs of your property.
At Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville we find the root cause of each pest and create pest control plans that control pest populations for years to come. For example, if pests have infested your lawn, we’ll also take a look at your watering and mowing habits. Sometimes, suboptimal habits can weaken lawns and make them more susceptible to recurrent disease and infestation. Likewise, in addition to removing rodents, we will also locate and seal entry points to prevent them from reentering the home. This method of treatment and prevention gives our customers the best results we can offer.
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To stop bugs from coming into your home you need to make your home unattractive to pests and make it difficult for them to maneuver around the home.
Outdoors, you can stop bugs from coming into your home by:
* Seal cracks or holes around doors entryways, floorboards, and windows
* Replace or repair the screens in windows and doors as well as vent screens around the house
* Eliminate plant bridges that pests can use to enter your home via tall vines, grass, shrubs, and trees
* Keep your lawn and ornamental plants well kept.
* Do not stack firewood on the side of the house, preferable stack it at least ten feet away
* Declutter your yard, removing piles of anything that pests can hide in
* Store kids’ toys and gardening containers and tools out of the elements where they won’t collect water that can attract pests
* Eliminate standing water. Change birdbaths, pet water bowls or kiddy play pools every day.
* Clean gutters and make sure your downspouts drain away from your house
Indoors you should sanitize and clean to keep pests away.
* Sweep or vacuum floors regularly or after any meal scraps fall on the floor
* Get tight-fitting lids for trash cans
* Wipe down all food prep and dining surfaces after each meal or snack
* Don’t leave dishes in the sink and clean food debris from the drain area of the sink
* Use hard plastic containers to store dry goods and pet food
* Repair or replace leaky faucets
* Declutter piles of toys, papers, clothes, or other areas that pests might hide
* Instead of cardboard boxes, use thick plastic totes or hard plastic boxes for attic and basement storage
* Make a habit of checking inside boxes and packages for pests
Pest prevention starts with daily habits you can pick up over time. Sealing entry points and maintaining the outside of your home as well as the inside is equally important. Despite your best efforts, sometimes bugs and animals still find their way inside. If you find yourself in this situation, call Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville.
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This can vary from company to company. A company will usually use a package treatment plan that is specific to their local county’s common pest requests and issues. Our plan at Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is intended for the Hill Country region. This common program includes resistance against cockroaches, spiders, silverfish, and pill bugs.
From there, we also offer more specific add-ons to further personalize care. Certain pests, such as fleas and ticks, are most commonly a problem for customers who have pets. Instead of treating these in the basic package, we offer them as an as-needed add-on. Termites are another group of insects that requires specialized service and treatments. Regular pest control service, unfortunately, will do nothing to prevent termites. Lastly, mosquitoes also require a treatment service that is not included.
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Most people do not notice any strong odor if any at all. The chemicals we use are modern and approved for home use. Although not all treatments require you to leave the house, we recommend that sensitive people or pregnant women should leave the home while the services are performed. We can’t say for certain if you will or won’t need to leave the home because each service is different. For more information about each service, contact Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville today.
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Most bugs are most active Spring through Autumn. At around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, insects lose mobility. Many insects hibernate or have other means to survive the cold winters. Insects don’t become fully functional until temperatures reach 70 degrees. In April, when the weather is warm, bugs quickly multiply to replenish their populations. By summer and early fall, bug populations are at their peak.
Some pests seek refuge in homes during winter. These include roaches, ladybugs, stink bugs, and silverfish. Bugs are attracted to the shelter and warmth of a home. Especially in places where many bugs do not have winter routines, they might seek refuge in your home to survive the winter chill.
Pests can invade your home at any time of year. Our trained pest control experts at Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville are equipped to deal with any pest in any season. We not only treat the pests at hand, but we get to the source and survey your property to make adjustments that will prevent future infestations.
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Pests like kitchens because they contain the resources for survival. Just like humans, bugs are interested in food and water. Even small traces of food and water on countertops, dirty dishes, or on the floors can be attractive to bugs. To prevent bugs from infesting your kitchen, you need to make your kitchen uninteresting to pests.
The best method to keep the kitchen pest-free is to clean as you go. After each meal or snack, clean up and wipe down counter spaces. Although tedious, this process will keep your home fresh and clean. If pests persist, look for cracks, crevices, and holes in your foundation and around entry points that pests can enter through. Seal them to prevent pests from entering the kitchen.
Place all opened bags/boxes of food in airtight containers or your fridge. Secondly, clean the floors and behind appliances regularly. These often untouched corners where bits of leftovers pile up are highly attractive to bugs. If you have pets, do not leave food out for long periods. If possible, only leave out the amount of food needed per meal. Regularly clean your pet’s food and water bowls.
If you’re experiencing kitchen pests, consult a professional pest control service such as Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville to make your kitchen feel safe and clean again.
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Tiny black bugs could be several different types of bugs. Determining which type of bug is in your kitchen will help you get rid of the best.
# 1 Ant
Ants walk in lines that can easily be traced. They form these trails between food sources and their colonies. These creatures have six legs and segmented bodies that give them the illusion of a ‘waist’. They can be as small as ¼ inch or as large as a ½ inch. Most ants are black, brown, or red.
Fortunately, they pose no health threats and are not destructive. But they can be exceedingly difficult to get rid of. Baiting is the best system to eliminate ants. If you spray ants, you are only able to kill what you see which is likely a small fraction of the colony. However, when the ants take the bait, they bring it back to their entire colony, stopping it at the source.
# 2 Cockroaches
Despite the typical large roaches you might think of at first thought, there are immature roaches as well that can be tiny and black. These tiny black bugs do not have a recognizable head, thorax, or abdomen. They usually are oval-shaped and are anywhere from ½ inch to 3 inches in size. These are more threatening creatures than ants because they carry the diseases Salmonella and E. Coli. Sometimes, roaches can reach high population numbers without being noticed because they move in the darkness and scatter in the light. like It’s important to eliminate roaches in your kitchen as soon as possible before they grow into a full-blown infestation.
Cockroaches like warm, dark spaces to breed, such as under your fridge or sometimes in appliances like microwaves. Licensed technicians have the latest technology and specialty products to deal with a roach infestation. Keeping counter spaces sanitized and clear of food can help reduce the roaches’ attraction to the area. Also, store food and trash in airtight containers. The less access to clutter, food remnants, and trash, the better.
#3 Pantry Pests
Pantry pests are tiny black bugs that can be found in stored food products like cereal, flour, pasta, rice, spices, etc. Beetles and weevils make their way into the home through food boxes and find their way into other pantry items. These bugs prefer to lay their eggs in dark quiet places. Untouched items like baking flour only used on occasion or during the holidays are susceptible to these pests. To prevent this, store your baking ingredients, as well as cereals and other grains in air-tight glass, metal, or hard plastic containers. In addition, check the expiration dates of food and occasionally wipe down the corners and backs of cupboards.
#4 Fruit Flies
These flying little bugs are flies that buzz around and multiply quickly. As the name suggests, food left on countertops like fruit can attract them to your kitchen. Although gross, a fruit fly problem can be easily resolved through a solution of vinegar and water. This safe solution is effective and affordable.
Sometimes tiny back bugs can easily be resolved through DIY methods like fruit flies. In other cases, a pest control expert might be necessary. Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is a family-owned company. We have been eliminating pests in our community for 83 years. If you can’t identify the type of black bug in your pantry, call Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville for a free consultation.
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Bugs are so creepy to some people for a few reasons. It might be due to the Hollywood horror industry scaring movie fans with swarms of killer bees, gigantic oversized spiders, scorpions, and so on. Sometimes on a psychological level, humans are creeped out by bugs because of the way they look. Their antennae, tiny eyes, multiple legs, and exoskeletons can make them particularly unattractive. Additionally, bugs are creepy because some are dangerous. Some do sting, bite and carry diseases that can be transmitted to people. Ticks for example are creepy because they feed on human blood. Not only this but they carry life-threatening diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Another blood-sucking insect is the mosquito that carries malaria, yellow fever, West Nile Virus, Zika Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and other diseases. Although bed bugs don’t carry diseases that threaten humans, they are creepy because they feast on human blood while their victims sleep. Just the idea of bugs crawling on you while you’re asleep is creepy as well.
Many bugs are creepy because they can reproduce and multiply quickly. Sighting a single roach for example can cause concern that there is more hiding. Cockroaches can also be scary and even dangerous. Roaches running through pipes and sewers and then across the silverware of surfaces in your kitchen can contaminate your food. In some sensitive people, it can cause allergic reactions.
Some people think spiders are the creepiest insects of all. There are only a few species of spiders that are harmful to humans like black widows and brown recluse spiders. We might not understand why we react to different bugs differently, but these basic instincts have helped humans avoid dangerous things – like bugs throughout history. Creepy bugs are sometimes harmless and sometimes deadly through bites or the diseases they carry. Lots of people are creeped out by bugs and for a good reason!
If you are creeped out by bugs in your Hill Country home, give Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville a call. We’ll get your home or business pest-free. Contact us today to set up a free inspection in the Kerr County area.
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Scientists are still determining if bugs sense emotions like fear or pain. For most bugs, humans are seen as predators. This fear causes a trigger response for them to scatter, run or seek refuge. There are several studies on this subject such as one done in 2015 by the California Institute of Technology. Published in Science Daily, the study found that fruit flies could sense and respond to the threat of a simulated overhead predator. The flies either moved or froze until they sensed a safer environment. This research suggests that these experiments “provide objective evidence that visual stimuli designed to mimic an overhead predator can induce a persistent and scalable internal state of defensive arousal in flies, which can influence their subsequent behavior for minutes after the threat has passed.” It is important to note that this study doesn’t suggest these bugs are experiencing feelings, but they are triggering a reaction that mimics fear.
Although roaches seemingly run away when lights are turned on, these bugs aren’t afraid. They are responding to the stimuli of the lights turning on. Interestingly, bugs can’t sense human fear. They do not contain the neuro-transmitters to identify human fear. Some insects are even attracted to people like bed bugs, mosquitoes, and ticks because it is vital to their survival. For example, bed bugs are attracted to the Carbon Dioxide that humans exhale while sleeping. Ticks need a blood meal to transform into their next phase of life. These bugs are adapted to habits and patterns that help them survive, whether it be running from or gravitating toward humans.
Although bugs aren’t scared of humans, you might be scared of bugs. If this sounds like you, Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is here to help. Contact us today to set up a free inspection in the Kerr County area.
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Bugs can seem gross because they have unsettling looks and behavior patterns. Bugs have evolved for survival which has given them unique features. The creepy-crawly feeling that people associate with an overwhelming number of insects has inspired horror films by tapping into that subconscious squirmy reaction.
Many people find spiders absolutely terrifying especially because they are associated with Halloween. Interestingly, most spiders are beneficial to you and only a small number are harmful. Most spiders help control the population of other pests that enter your home by eating them. Spider webs can also be beautifully designed. It is important to determine the looks of widow spiders, brown recluses, and Australia’s funnel-web spiders because these are among the most commonly occurring and deadly spiders. Widows and recluse spiders won’t chase you. They bite reactively. Avoid them by watching your step in brush areas, especially at night. Spiders look most unlike humans than most other creatures which may contribute to the gross feeling they give people. With multiple eyes, legs, and hard outer skeletons, it is no mystery why their bodies feel so unfamiliar and unsettling.
In large numbers, spiders, worms and other bugs can terrify people. Generally, humans fear things they don’t understand. Honey bees, for example, are misunderstood. Honey bees are important pollinators that are essential to the food we eat and the air we breathe. They help plants grow and repopulate. But a lot of people think all bees, wasps, and hornets are dangerous killer bees. Unless you have a severe bee allergy, most bees are harmless in the long term. But some of this fear of bees is justified. Bees are wired to protect their hive, even at the cost of their lives. When a bee feels threatened, it will sacrifice its life by stinging the invader. A large number of bee stings can be not only painful but in rare cases, deadly. Similarly, a fear of termites, ticks, mosquitoes, whiteflies, and roaches is also justified. These bugs threaten businesses and homes alike. There is nothing wrong with fearing bugs. It’s part of being human! Educating yourself on what types of bugs are harmful and how to avoid them can help you feel safer and reduce the gross feeling they give us.
It is normal to want to keep bugs out of your home, business, or lawn. We can do general sprays around the home and outdoor spaces to regularly maintain bug populations. If this interests you, Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is available to help in the Hill Country area.
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The simple answer is – bug populations usually flourish in spring and summer and plummet in winter. They are often unable to function properly below 40 degrees. Some bugs die off in the winter, such as male mosquitoes. In some honey bee colonies, the worker bees stop pollinating and their job becomes to keep the queen warm and alive until spring. Flies hibernate in larval and pupal stages under manure and other organic matter. Most cockroaches, as resilient as they are, die at low temperatures. They often try to survive in warm homes near vents and heaters. Brown recluse spiders die at just 44 degrees Fahrenheit but black widow spiders can overwinter in a sheltered space. Some bugs will migrate to warmer climates, such as the Monarch butterfly.
Some bugs hibernate. For example, ants eat lots of food to prepare for winter and hibernate underground. Amazingly, some bugs can convert the water in their bodies to glycerol which acts as antifreeze to stay alive. However, the type of bugs you might find in your home during the winter depends on where you live. In parts of California, Texas, or Florida, the weather may allow such bugs to survive winter.
It is important to monitor for pest activity all year long. Although some bugs die during winter, many hibernate and resurface in the Spring.
Not sure who to call for professional pest control? In Hill Country, contact the experienced team at Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville. With over 83 years of serving local homes and businesses, Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is your go-to pest control company for any bug population control needs.
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Cold weather does kill some bugs, but many hibernate. Especially bugs like queens hibernate during cold weather and reemerge at the first sign of warm weather to form new colonies. Yellow-jacket males, on the other hand, die during the winter because the queen will birth new yellow jackets for the spring. Even if they don’t die, many bugs are inactive during the winter months. Some bugs hibernate under the soil, such as ants. Other insects survive in a semi-hibernation state known as diapause, in hiding areas like trees or wood stumps. Some can even convert the water in their bodies to glycerol which becomes a sort of antifreeze to keep them alive. Nymphs and eggs often survive winter and hatch in summer-like those of dragonflies or stoneflies. They remain at the bottom of lakes or rivers that do not completely freeze in the chilly weather. Most cockroaches, as resilient as they are, can’t survive at low temperatures. They often try to survive indoors by seeking refuge near the vents and heaters of buildings. Monarch butterflies migrate to warmer places before chilly weather comes.
Random spells of warmth may kill bugs in the winter if the weather suddenly becomes cold again. Warm spells in the winter may result in killing bugs when temperatures drop again suddenly. Although bugs aren’t as common in the winter, many are living year-round.
If you have seasonal pest issues, we are here to help at Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville. With over 83 years of serving local homes and businesses, Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville is well equipped to help with any pest control needs.
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Bugs seemingly disappear in the winter because the cold weather makes them less active. While many bugs die off, others find unique ways to survive the winter weather. Some find a warm area to hide. Many bugs go into various dormant states like hibernation or diapause. And a small number of bugs, such as Monarch butterflies, do disappear because they migrate to warmer climates. Other bugs, such as honeybees, spend the winter in hollow areas of stumps or other holes converting stored honey into body heat. Instead of pollinating, the honeybee’s main job is to keep the queen warm and alive. Ants hibernate in the soil until warmer weather. Some bugs significantly reduce in population size and most die off like wasps, hornets, and yellowjackets. Only the fertilized queens live to the spring. Similarly, male mosquitoes die off in the winter. But, female mosquitoes change their diet and habits to survive the winter conditions.
Some bugs enter a state of diapause which is like a semi-hibernation. These bugs enter a dormant state. A key characteristic of diapause is these bugs regulate their body temperatures by turning the water in their bodies into glycerol. This chemical exchange works as an anti-freeze to keep their bodies from freezing entirely. Bugs become inactive during the wintertime because they can’t function properly in cold weather. However, in states like Florida, California, and Texas bugs can remain active year-round as the temperatures remain warm in some areas.
If you are experiencing winter pests, or want to prevent the spring bugs from entering your home, Hill Country Pest Control Kerrville has your back. With years of experience treating private and commercial properties across Kerr County, we are ready to help with any pest control issues at any time of the year.
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