PestBear's Blog

With the abundance of DIY instructional material available across the internet, homeowners are more equipped than ever to take control of home improvement projects. But with endless available resources comes discipline in knowing when to call in the professionals. Pest control is one project that can be deceptively difficult to perform effectively on your own. In the interest of saving you a lot of time, effort, and money, we’ll discuss a few reasons to have a professional pest inspection instead of trying it yourself. Correctly Identifying the Pest Infestation Stemming the growth of a pest problem usually entails a chemical application of some kind to target and kill the pests and prevent future infestations. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all pesticide that efficiently destroys every one of the limitless varieties of insects and their nests. Identifying the specific type of pest you are dealing with is critical to your ability to decide the...

Due to Florida’s tropical climate, gardening can be possible all throughout the year. However, that also means pests can wreak havoc on your garden. Each insect has a unique way of destroying leaves, stems, and other plant parts. Most pests do their dirty work unseen, but the damage remains quite visible. Down below are the most common pests that are found in gardens. Aphids These pear-shaped insects use their mouths to pierce through plants and suck out their sap. Aphids attack almost every species of plants, making them every gardener’s worst nightmare. Plants affected by aphids tend to have brown, curled leaves. As aphids feed on plants, they can transmit viruses. Aphids secrete a sticky substance called honeydew, which promotes the growth of sooty mold. It doesn’t take long for an aphid infestation to occur, so taking immediate action is the best preventative measure. Cutworms Cutworms are moth larvae that spend...

Cockroaches can certainly send shivers down anyone’s spine. They are gross, annoying and just a nuisance to get rid of. Plus, if you see one, it probably means more will appear soon. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent cockroaches from being attracted to your home and making their way inside. Clean and Dispose of Food Properly Perhaps the biggest attraction for cockroaches is food residue. Whether it’s bread crumbs or fruit scraps, cockroaches will do just about anything to track down a meal. Thoroughly clean areas where leftover food can collect, such as in the kitchen. Check small crevices where food can collect if left unnoticed. Cockroaches can also use dirt and other grime as a food source, so keep up with general cleanliness around the house to help fend them off. Moisturization Like humans, cockroaches need water to survive. Only, they cannot just grab a glass out of the cupboard...

Bed bugs can be a difficult problem to deal with. They are small, hard to get rid of and give you awful, itchy bites. Bed bugs are primarily thought of an inside problem, especially because of their name. It is possible that they get out into your yard. This usually happens because they are thrown out with an old mattress or simply fall off their host. What you may not know is that they are capable of living outside for a period of time with the right conditions. Where can they live outside? While bed bugs prefer to live inside with their hosts and drink their blood, they are capable of living outside. Outdoor furniture Bed bugs won't live in your lawn, but be on the lookout in areas with outdoor furniture. They may hide in patio furniture or your pet's bed, but not in the grass itself. Other outdoor areas...

The weather affects pests more than you may realize. Different temperatures, seasons, and weather patterns can contribute to an increase in pests. Here are a few examples. Hot vs. Cold Seasons During the winter, some pests need to hibernate to stay alive. Others die because they simply cannot withstand such freezing temperatures. During the winter, you will not experience the same pest problems that you will during the spring and summer months. You may experience problems with pests who are looking for warmth, like squirrels, mice, chipmunks, and stray animals. Pests like flies, gnats, ants, and other bugs will not bother you in the winter. Hot weather will bring pests out from hibernation. A variety of insects and rodents thrive in warm weather. While we might not enjoy hot, humid temperatures, most pets love this kind of weather, and this will increase their population. Once they get into your yard, they...

Fertilization is a key step in having a beautiful and healthy lawn. But, you cannot simply fertilize your yard the first chance you have a free weekend. The timing is crucial for you to get the most benefits. The best time to fertilize your lawn is in the spring. Keep reading to learn why you should have your yard fertilized in spring. Get an Early Start By fertilizing your yard in the spring, you get an early start on the process of having an excellent lawn and set yourself up for having a successful growing season. Any areas of your yard that were adversely affected by the harsh winter will have extra time to heal and get back to normal. The best fertilizer to use is one that is high in nitrogen and potassium. Root Development The roots of the grass blades in your yard are just as vital as the...

Pests have been around for as long as we have, and we have been dealing with them in one way or another for thousands of years. However, in all that time, there are still a number of facts that people get wrong about pests and pest control. Pests may outnumber us, but we have one big advantage over them: Our minds, and in order to remain pest free, we need to use them. Here are some common pest control myths that should be corrected.   Cats can Handle Your Rodent Problems First, if you have a rodent problem, your solution cannot be found in the pet store. Some people believe that cats are efficient at taking out rodent infestations, and while they may occasionally kill a rat or mouse, they are far from being able to handle an entire colony. Plus, most of the cats that are kept as pets are...

Bees are wonderful insects that pollinate plants, but getting stung by one is a painful experience. Bees can be dangerous to humans, especially for young children and people that are allergic. The following are some effective ways to treat a bee sting. Traditional Methods for Treating a Bee Sting A bee sting causes a myriad of uncomfortable sensations such as sharp pain, swelling, redness, itching, and warmth at the site of the sting. If you’re allergic to bees or get stung multiple times the symptoms can be much worse, and even life threatening. Fortunately, there are several ways to relieve the pain associated with a bee sting. Use ice or a cold compress- Applying ice or a cold compress to the affected area will greatly reduce the pain and swelling. This is one of the simplest and most common ways to treat a bee sting. Take an anti-inflammatory- Motrin or Advil...

Did you know that the lawn care you do during winter can prevent pests during the warmer months? Most people don't prioritize lawn care during the winter, but there are some routine steps you can take that will benefit you in the spring and summer. Here are a few examples. 1. Fertilize The best time to fertilize your lawn is during fall and early winter. Using fertilizer will keep your lawn healthy and will give it the nutrients it needs to live. Fertilizer kills some of the common pests you may have in your lawn. If you take the time to fertilize in the fall and winter, you will have a beautiful, pest-free lawn when the springtime comes. 2. Keep your lawn clear Picking up debris like leaves, branches, and pet droppings will impact your lawn in a positive way. Debris like that attracts pests and keep them thriving. Take some...

For many, the idea of going out into the woods, choosing that perfect Christmas tree, cutting it down and hauling it back to the house is an important and integral tradition of the holiday season. Even those who would rather visit a tree farm or nursery where much of the work has already been done know that there’s nothing quite like the presence of a live tree in the living room, spreading joy. The problem is that where you have a live tree, you have the possibility of an infestation. These trees are not just beautiful to look at -- they are home to possibly hundreds or thousands of insects, spiders and other tiny critters who, through no fault of their own, might find their way into your home this season. That’s why it’s important to try and choose a bug-free tree. But, how can you make sure the tree you...

Escaping the responsibilities of work or school by going on vacation should be a time where you are worry-free. The fastest thing to make those relaxing moments disappear are pests like bed bugs, roaches and ticks. They put a damper on your itinerary and create all sorts of stress. Here at Pestbear, we do not want to spoil your daily life or dream vacation. Below are 4 ideas to keep pests from interrupting your vacation. Key Areas to Treat for Pests One of the first areas to treat against pests is your lawn. Before these critters ever get in your garage or on your patio, eliminate them in the grass. When you choose to use Pestbear, your home, garage and lawn are all well-maintained at regular intervals to repel against pests. Unlike most pest control companies, Pestbear’s lawn program offers control against weeds, fleas, ticks, ants and lawn fungal diseases. A...

Insulation in a home serves many functions including protecting the home from pests. It’s also a space where you may see signs of a potential infestation. Inspect the condition of the insulation and make an assessment if you need more. Checking your home’s insulation now will save you time and money in the future. Warmer Weather Means More Pests Now is the ideal time to check your home’s insulation in order to prevent pests. First, examine the house for holes where pests get in. The insulation acts as a barrier from pests, so if you need to install insulation, sooner is better than later. If pests are eating insulation, then you may see tears or holes in it. Pest Control Insulation Spray insulation fills every nook and cranny in a wall. It also does not serve as a food source to pests. Added insulation can be put on top of existing...

Having your house fumigated can be a long and tedious process. It’s much easier to keep pests out of your house in the first place, so follow these five steps and enjoy a pest-free home. Reduce Entry Points One of the most important things to do to keep pests out of your house is to seal as many entry points as possible. This means replacing weather-stripping, caulking cracks and holes around gas and water lines, and making sure your doors are airtight when shut. Eliminate Moisture Also, the less moisture you have in your house, the better. Pests like ants, rats and cockroaches are so small they can find enough hydration to survive on from just the water in the air, so do everything you can to reduce moisture, such as insulating water pipes and investing in a dehumidifier. Clean Up Food Particles If pests do get into your house, you...

Living with pests in your home is a serious problem, particularly for Tampa area residents. The insects and other pests that can invade your residence can cause expensive property damage, create a negative atmosphere for your family and even bring toxic contaminants into your home. A can of Raid and a box of Borax are not going to cut it. You need expert help, and a professional pest control service is your best option for many reasons. Here’s a few considerations for calling pest control to deal with your pest problem. Consider Your Health Bugs and other pests certainly do creep most of us out, but they actually pose a serious real health risk to you and those who live with you, too. Roaches carry E coli and salmonella on their carapaces, and they can spread it to anything and everything that they come in contact with inside your home. Ticks...

Many homeowners worry about termites. Repairing termite damage can be expensive and disruptive to your life. Staying ahead of the game, so to speak, is the best strategy when dealing with termites. Don’t make it easy for termites to transition from the outdoors to inside your house. Once in your home, termites can go undetected for quite some time. So what are some helpful ways to keep termites from invading your home? Here are five effective tips for repelling termites. 1. Clear Wood Away From Your Home Termites need to eat wood or plant cellulose material to survive. Remove fallen branches from around your house and from your rooftop. Store your firewood pile away from your home and off the ground. When raking leaves, don’t leave the leaf pile next to the house, and clear any leaves from your gutters. 2. Try to Eliminate Moisture Near Your House In addition to...

Pests in your home can be frustrating. While you can try to handle the problem yourself, it’s normally better to hire a professional exterminator. Working with a professional means that you can expect quick and effective results and enjoy the peace of mind that your family, pets and home are safe. Here is what you need to know when hiring a professional to get rid of pests in your home. Working with Experts Professional exterminators undergo training to learn about a variety of pests, from how and why pests enter your home to the best methods for removing them, exterminators learn a lot. They are able to put this knowledge to use to evaluate your particular infestation and create an effective treatment plan. The type of pest and the size of the infestation determine the best course of action, and a skilled exterminator can ensure the right steps are taken to...

It’s time to get your home inspected for pests. If you have fears of a termite infestation or you are preparing to sell your home, there are a few things that you can do to prepare your house and yard before the inspector arrives. Take some time to clear these areas for the best results. Around the Exterior The inspector needs to be able to see every foot of your exterior walls. Take a walk around your home with hedge clippers to trim back any foliage that is touching the house. Do another trip around the house and garage to move any storage away from the walls. Move trash cans, garden hoses, firewood and other outdoor items at least two feet from the wall. Garage and Basement We all tend to stack boxes and long-term storage items against the walls of our basements and garages. Simply move all these things a...

Bed bugs are a problem you need to address before a complete infestation happens. Once they are in your house, they can be quite difficult to get rid of. But, there are some steps you can take to make sure they do not make it that far. Here are some tips you can use to make sure bed bugs stay far away from your home. Cover Your Power Outlets Bed bugs will use power outlets to travel from room to room and extend their infestation to other areas of a house. Simply covering the outlets will remove this possibility so you can identify them and get rid of them sooner. Put Your Clothing in Vacuum-Sealed Bags Separate your clothing by season and place anything you will not be wearing for a while in vacuum-sealed bags. That way they will not attract bugs to come in from the outside and make their...

You know the saying, “If you’ve seen one roach, you have many more that you can’t see.” Roaches love to hide away in your crawl spaces, attic and walls. Our warm and humid Florida climate doesn’t help matters either – roaches love it! How do you get rid of them if you have an infestation? Most likely, you will need a professional like PestBear to get rid of them once and for all. We’ve been providing professional pest control services for over 25 years. However, there are lots of things you can do to keep roaches at bay in your home. Here are five of our best tips we tell our customers. Seal Holes This first tip is designed to stop roaches from coming into your home in the first place. Seal all holes on the outside of your home, and use weather stripping to seal around doors and windows. Also...

Termites live in social systems that are elaborate in structure. Typically, there is a queen, a king, workers and soldiers. Some species have multiple kings and queens, though this is rare. Worker and soldier termites are sterile. Unlike other colony/hive insects (ants, bees, etc.), termites have both genders in the worker and soldier classes. Family Size Queen termites can lay up to 10,000 eggs in just one day, which is how some colonies can grow to numbers in the low millions. More often than not, they opt to keep colonies much smaller...around a few hundred thousand. Though the king and queen are the sole breeders for a colony, some species are able to change some nymph-stage termites into reproductive males and females should the king and queen need some assistance, or are no longer able to reproduce. The caste system is closely regulated, within a colony, with a preferred ratio of...