House Mice
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Mice are common pests that can cause problems for homeowners and business owners, but how much do you know about them? While they can be a nuisance by contaminating food, spreading germs and gnawing on wood and other surfaces, there are some interesting facts about these rodents.
Fact: Mice Can Get Through Extremely Small Gaps Mice can squeeze their way through gaps and holes that are the size of a dime. This makes it easy for them to find their way into buildings, where they can then build nests and scrounge around for food and water. Homeowners and business owners can help keep them out by checking for even the tiniest entry points and sealing them up. Fact: Mice Use Urine to Mark Their Territory Male mice mark their territory frequently with urine. This includes marking areas where other male mice have already left urine behind to mark their territory. Mouse urine can be a health hazard for people since it contains proteins that could lead to asthma attacks or allergic reactions. Fact: Individual Mice Can Produce More Than 100 Offspring One of the biggest problems with a mouse infestation in a home or business is that these rodents are able to build large populations in one area in a short amount of time. Female mice can produce more than 100 babies per year, which can easily turn a small infestation into one that is much harder to deal with. Fact: A Mouse’s Teeth Never Stop Growing Mice have teeth that never stop growing, which is why they frequently chew or gnaw on different materials and items. In fact, their teeth would end up growing at least a few inches every year if they didn't file them down by gnawing. This constant chewing can be dangerous or destructive, especially if mice chew on electrical wires and create fire hazards. They can also chew through drywall and wood, resulting in structural damage. Fact: Mice Have Poor Eyesight Mice aren't able to see very well, but that doesn't stop them from being able to find food, water and shelter. As these pests travel around at night, they make use of their other senses instead of their sense of sight. The other senses these rodents have, including their sense of hearing and their sense of smell, make up for their poor eyesight. Fact: Mice Have Hearing and Communication That Operates at High Frequencies Mice have excellent hearing that surpasses ours. In fact, they are able to hear ultrasound that goes up to around 90kHz. Mice also communicate with other mice through the use of ultrasound. If you have a mouse problem at your home or business. If you are located near Brockville ,Cornwall, Kemptville or any neighboring towns please contact Brockville Pest Control for services. Our team of pest control experts can get rid of these pests for you. |
Robert E, Ive had mice in attic and basement walls of my home. After 2 services from Brockville Pest Control I was mouse free. They advised me ways to help staying rodent proof and effective tips for sealing my house.. Johnathon L. I had Brockville Pest Control inspect my my home and cottage. I was delighted with the fast response and how professional they were. Awesome service Debra C. They treated my home for Ants ansd the results were fantastic. Ant free ever since !! Thank you Brockville Pest Control Paula F. I called for help and they quickly came to my rescue. I had a very large wasp nest under my deck. Brockville Pest Control sprayed and removed the main nest. They even gave a warranty thier work. No more wasps for that season. Fast and great people to deal with ! |
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter Ants
Trying to get rid of carpenter ants is a battle that home owners fight every summer. Property owners in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, as well as others regions across Canada and the U.S. have seen sheds, decks and even bunk houses destroyed by carpenter ant colonies.
Identification
Carpenter ants are normally identified as the big black ones that like to nest in moist and rotting wood, but the size of the ant depends on the role it plays in the colony. The large ones with wings are the female queens that have emerged to find a mate and search for a new place to start their own colony. The smaller ones with wings are the lucky males who are responsible for mating with the queens. The worker ants come in varying sizes depending on their job. Some collect food, while others look after the eggs or are in charge of defending the nest.
Season
Black carpenter ants usually hit their peak between the end of June and the middle of July but will arrive earlier after a short winter or an extremely warm spring.
Activity
Carpenter ants build extensive nests in damp, rotting wood. Dead logs or old stumps are prime locations. If you have decaying wood in the cottage, the carpenter ants will happily make the cabin their new home.
In the early spring, you may see swarms of flying carpenter ants. These are the males and females that are mating. When the female has finished mating she drops her wings and searches for a suitable place to start a new colony.
How do you know if the carpenter ant colony is in your cabin?
If you see the carpenter ants flying around inside the cabin in the spring, it is a sign that the nest could be located somewhere in the home.
Another way to see if the colony has been built in the home is to follow the worker ants when they are carrying food. Carpenter ants eat other insects, whether living or dead, and are also attracted to sweet substances.
A particularly bad sign is when you see the carpenter ants carrying the white eggs or larvae into the house. This means they are moving the nest from the bush into your dwelling. It may be the main nest or a satellite nest that is being set up as a type of nursery.
If you see the worker carpenter ants carrying dead bugs into the home it means the nest is likely already located somewhere inside.
Carpenter ant nests consist of a network of tunnels eaten out of the wood. The tunnels are smooth and clean. The sawdust is removed and often dumped in one location. If you find small piles of sawdust inside your home it may indicate the carpenter ants have arrived.
How do you get rid of carpenter ants?
Getting rid of carpenter ants that have moved into the house is important to ensure the structure doesn't collapse.
Ant Bait and Insecticide
Place ant traps and drops of liquid ant bait or powder around the inside your home where you see the most activity. You can also place the traps and liquid baits around the locations outside the building where you see the carpenter ants entering. This is normally around the corners, as the ants often climb up the support posts. If the ants are moving into the house, try to trace them back to the nest they are leaving. If you are spraying insecticides to kill the ants, don’t spray the ant killer near the food baits.
With the food baits, the idea is that the worker ants actually carry the poison bait back to the colony. The process can take several weeks and it is important to be vigilant and constantly replenish the bait in areas where the carpenter ants are active and appear to be feeding on the bait.
Removal
The only sure way to avoid battling the carpenter ants every year is to find and destroy the nest. To get rid of a colony of carpenter ants you should replace the rotten wood they are using for their nest. If the colony has been there for many years and the entire house is in bad shape then you just have to try and control the ants each year. Otherwise, it’s time to build a new cabin.
Store firewood a long way from the building and try to remove any old tree stumps that may be close to the house, as these are ideal places for a carpenter ant colony.
Any spare construction wood should be stored away from the cottage and elevated to keep it dry.
Brockville Pest Control
Trying to get rid of carpenter ants is a battle that home owners fight every summer. Property owners in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, as well as others regions across Canada and the U.S. have seen sheds, decks and even bunk houses destroyed by carpenter ant colonies.
Identification
Carpenter ants are normally identified as the big black ones that like to nest in moist and rotting wood, but the size of the ant depends on the role it plays in the colony. The large ones with wings are the female queens that have emerged to find a mate and search for a new place to start their own colony. The smaller ones with wings are the lucky males who are responsible for mating with the queens. The worker ants come in varying sizes depending on their job. Some collect food, while others look after the eggs or are in charge of defending the nest.
Season
Black carpenter ants usually hit their peak between the end of June and the middle of July but will arrive earlier after a short winter or an extremely warm spring.
Activity
Carpenter ants build extensive nests in damp, rotting wood. Dead logs or old stumps are prime locations. If you have decaying wood in the cottage, the carpenter ants will happily make the cabin their new home.
In the early spring, you may see swarms of flying carpenter ants. These are the males and females that are mating. When the female has finished mating she drops her wings and searches for a suitable place to start a new colony.
How do you know if the carpenter ant colony is in your cabin?
If you see the carpenter ants flying around inside the cabin in the spring, it is a sign that the nest could be located somewhere in the home.
Another way to see if the colony has been built in the home is to follow the worker ants when they are carrying food. Carpenter ants eat other insects, whether living or dead, and are also attracted to sweet substances.
A particularly bad sign is when you see the carpenter ants carrying the white eggs or larvae into the house. This means they are moving the nest from the bush into your dwelling. It may be the main nest or a satellite nest that is being set up as a type of nursery.
If you see the worker carpenter ants carrying dead bugs into the home it means the nest is likely already located somewhere inside.
Carpenter ant nests consist of a network of tunnels eaten out of the wood. The tunnels are smooth and clean. The sawdust is removed and often dumped in one location. If you find small piles of sawdust inside your home it may indicate the carpenter ants have arrived.
How do you get rid of carpenter ants?
Getting rid of carpenter ants that have moved into the house is important to ensure the structure doesn't collapse.
Ant Bait and Insecticide
Place ant traps and drops of liquid ant bait or powder around the inside your home where you see the most activity. You can also place the traps and liquid baits around the locations outside the building where you see the carpenter ants entering. This is normally around the corners, as the ants often climb up the support posts. If the ants are moving into the house, try to trace them back to the nest they are leaving. If you are spraying insecticides to kill the ants, don’t spray the ant killer near the food baits.
With the food baits, the idea is that the worker ants actually carry the poison bait back to the colony. The process can take several weeks and it is important to be vigilant and constantly replenish the bait in areas where the carpenter ants are active and appear to be feeding on the bait.
Removal
The only sure way to avoid battling the carpenter ants every year is to find and destroy the nest. To get rid of a colony of carpenter ants you should replace the rotten wood they are using for their nest. If the colony has been there for many years and the entire house is in bad shape then you just have to try and control the ants each year. Otherwise, it’s time to build a new cabin.
Store firewood a long way from the building and try to remove any old tree stumps that may be close to the house, as these are ideal places for a carpenter ant colony.
Any spare construction wood should be stored away from the cottage and elevated to keep it dry.
Brockville Pest Control
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