If you’re like us, you hate the idea of having creepy crawlies living inside your home. Unfortunately, however, as much as we don’t like it, pests are always going to be a problem, no matter where you live. Thankfully, though, you can mitigate the problem of having bugs and vermin inside your home by cutting off some of the primary reasons why these pests take residence in the first place. Today we want to talk about the elements that all household pests have in common so that you can know what to do about it. With these tips, you can sleep better at night, knowing that your property won’t have a giant neon sign advertising space for rent. Food All…

In wintertime, many things that have been living outdoors tend to want to find shelter for the colder months of the year. They favor human homes due to our tendency to keep them heated, but they’re not great roommates. They can cause visible damage to your home, spread disease, contaminate food storage and prep areas, and even increase the risk of electrical house fires due to chewing on wiring. The one thing better than getting unwanted rodents out of your home is not having them there in the first place. But, how? Keeping Outside Critters Out Fill Holes, Cracks and Gaps. Rodents can crawl into any entrance that is large enough to only fit their heads (average size - a…

Since we serve customers in Atlantic County and Cape May County, Rid Pest Control is familiar with every homeowner’s least favorite pest: roaches. No one wants to realize they have these pests in their home, and everyone in our service area does all they can to prevent their houses from becoming welcoming to roaches. It’s an unfortunate consequence that our humid climate and dense vegetation make this a battle that some of our customers lose. To help our customers prevent an initial infestation, or a recurrence after service, let’s look at a few of the common myths that surround roaches, and how they can be impacting your prevention methods for the worse. Common Roach Myths Roaches only infest ‘dirty’ homes.…

Rats can be terrifying pests to live with for homeowners, so much so, that it feels like there’s a tiger living with you. It is important to deal with a rat as soon as possible, as rats can make your home filthier, in addition to bringing in diseases and bad odors. Here are all the things that you can do to take care of any and all of your rat problems. Rat Traps Rat traps are the oversized versions of mouse traps. While a mouse trap is not capable of subduing a rat, these are more lethal traps that can sever your own appendages, if you aren’t careful. They don’t dismember the rat like a guillotine, but they use enough…

In our 30 years of pest control services in the Atlantic and Cape May County areas, RID Pest Control has received a lot of calls about bed bugs. When the East Coast experienced an outbreak of the pests a few years ago, often our customers were upset that they had followed directions they found online regarding the removal of bed bugs and still had an active problem. Understanding the Life Cycle of Bed Bugs The truth is, while you can treat your home for bed bugs on your own, these treatments are not likely to be effective. To understand why, you need to understand the life cycle of bed bugs. When bed bugs first hatch, they are nearly invisible nymphs.…

When it comes to pests in the home, one of the worst has to be rats. While cockroaches, ants, and other critters can definitely put you on edge, having a rat infestation can both be unsettling and damaging to your home and its contents. If you notice rats crawling around your house, your first instinct may be to set out traps. While this may seem like a good idea, it’s rarely going to solve your problem. Unfortunately, vermin are highly resourceful, and rat traps are almost never going to remove the infestation. Here’s why. They’re Too Small Imagine a rat right now. How big is it? Smaller than your palm? If so, then you’re picturing a mouse. Rats are rather…

Are rodents lurking in your home or business? Rodents can present a serious danger to both your property and the health of those who occupy it, so it is vital that any infestation is identified promptly and eliminated as quickly as possible. How can you tell if you have a rodent problem? Animal Sightings The most obvious indication of a rodent problem is an animal sighting. If you spot a mouse, rodent, shrew or other rodent scurrying past, you probably have a problem. Droppings Droppings are usually the first sign people see. Rodents have fast metabolisms, so they produce a large amount of feces. This can provide ample evidence of their presence. While stumbling on rodent dropping is never pleasant,…

Pests are a ubiquitous threat. When they invade commercial buildings, they bring a slew of problems with them, including deadly diseases. If you want to protect your business and your reputation, it may be in your best interest to get a personalized solution from a professional pest management company. Like a band of criminals, some pests will find a way to cause problems even with deterrents in place: Ants Due to their size, carpenter ants can't be overlooked, and they shouldn't be underestimated. These large ants are black, brazen and social. What makes them such a threat? One mature colony can contain approximately 3,000 members. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don't eat wood. They simply excavate moist and decaying wood to…

If you are planning to travel and want to have a safe trip without encountering bedbugs, you are likely wondering what you should do so that you can reach your goal. You can take several steps to keep bedbugs at bay and give yourself peace of mind when you need it the most. With a little effort and dedication, you will protect yourself and put your fears to rest. Seeing why you should never overlook the threat is easy once you understand the issues you could face if they follow you back home. If your effort to keep these pests out of your home fails, contacting a team of professionals at the first sign of trouble is wise. Secure Your…

If you wish to make the most of your summer so that you can have a great time with your friends and family, you are likely planning to host a barbecue. When you prepare tasty treats and cook delicious meals, your friends won't be the only ones who will want to join you for the event. A range of pests will come into your yard and cause problems if you don't stop them before they get the chance. Inability to manage pests will harm the experience of your guests, but you can overcome that roadblock when you follow a plan. Tip No. 1: Clean Your Yard The first step in keeping your yard pest free is to clean your property…

If you want to keep ants out of your home and away from your food, understanding what attracts them is an important part of the process that you can’t afford to overlook. Not knowing about the things for which ants look when they target a home will make it a little harder for you to address the problem. Since avoiding ants is a lot easier than getting rid of them, take some time to discover what interests them if you want peace of mind. Obviously minimizing ants access to spilled food and drink will help but it’s important to remember though, ants will invade even the cleanest house. Landscaping Some ants farm aphids the way we farm cattle obtaining a…

If you spot winged insects that look similar to ants, they might be swarming termites. It is important for you to understand how to tell the difference between winged ants and termites so that you can choose the correct approach to treating the problem. Here are some ways that you can tell these insects apart. Body Differences (Easiest Difference to Spot) Ants have a distinct three body parts; head, midsection and abdomen with a narrowing between the second & third section or an hourglass shaped midsection or “wasp waist”. Termites have bodies that are more uniform, with only the head and rear section obvious. Wing Differences When you look at a flying ant or a termite, you will see that…

If termites make their way into your home and you don’t spot them right away, they will multiply and cause a lot of damage. You will then need to pay expensive repair fees to reverse the impact and achieve peace of mind, but you can reduce the risk by getting termite inspections on a regular basis. When experts look for signs of termite activity in your home, they will spot the pests in the early stages before they have time to cause destruction. Hiring a professional to keep termites at bay is a worthy investment that you can’t afford to overlook if you care about your home and the people who live in it. Get an Inspection Once Per Year…

The cold weather in the winter tends to make some pests hibernate until warm weather arrives once again. However, there are a few pests that sometimes begin to invade your home to find refuge from the cold weather. Ladybugs and stink bugs try to find a warm shelter as well as a source of water and food. You'll often see these pests crawling on the windows of the house and on the sides of the house as they lounge in the sun during the day before finding a place to rest at night. Keep Your Home Warm and Worry Free Many insects are cold-blooded. This means that they have to find a secure place to stay in the winter so…

Rodents need food, water and shelter just like you do. However, you don't have to share your living space with them. Rats and mice invade homes to look for something to eat or a place to have their young. Most rodents stay away from people and build their nests outdoors far from houses. However, others may come closer to and invade your home because of certain attractors. 3 Things That Attract Rodents to Your Home Debris Rodents love clutter, trash and other debris. They can find spaces within the heap in which to build their nests and to escape from predators like cats and birds. If it's a large debris pile, it can house as many as a dozen mice…

Bed bugs are a notoriously difficult pest to get rid of. These blood-sucking parasites are attracted to the scent of humans, and they generally survive by burrowing down into the fibers of bedding and other furniture. There, they wait for a human host whose blood they can drink. Bed bugs most frequently arrive in a home through infested furniture or on the bodies of travelers. However, research has shown that bed bugs will also specifically seek out items that smell like humans and burrow into them until a host arrives. Dirty laundry is especially attractive to these parasites. Interestingly, clean laundry is not as hospitable for the bugs. This means that an important step to preventing a bed bug infestation…

Because insects are cold-blooded, winter generally offers a welcome reprieve from pests. However, some bugs seek refuge in homes during the winter months. Instinct drives these insects to seek out warm, damp spaces with an ample food supply, and the average family home fits the bill quite nicely. Your home's crawl space, garage or basement may host the perfect combinations of darkness and humidity to provide an enticing home for an insect. In the winter, pests may venture from their homes in these areas to explore your house in search of food and water. This is why it's so common to see pests inside during the winter that you may not have encountered the rest of the year. What Type…

The sight of a mouse in the house will lead most people to distraction. Just a glimpse of a rat inside can be downright terrifying. However, your first rodent sighting is not usually the first time the rodent has made itself comfortable on your property. In fact, most people do not see rodents until there is an infestation underway. That is why it is critical to stop rodents before they get to that point. The best way to do that is to educate yourself about where these unseemly critters like to live. To safeguard your home against these unwanted visitors, consider the three most common spots where rodents hide. 1. Pipes and drains. It is probably no surprise to most…

As the weather begins to turn cooler and drier in the fall, some pests will want to make your house their home. They will want to come in to find refuge from the cooler weather because they need to be in a warm environment. They also want to find a water and food source so that they can survive the winter months. RID Pest Control has all of the products needed to get rid of the pests in your home in] in an effective an efficient manner. Fleas Fleas tend to take over the inside of the home in the fall as the night time temperatures drop. You can sometimes see the fleas jumping around on the furniture or living…

The summer season is travel time for many people across the country. Each year, thousands of happy vacationers take to the roads in search of fun and adventure. Their trips lead them to places like the beach, the mountains and various destinations in between. Unfortunately, staying at the wrong hotel can have devastating consequences when you return home. If you've encountered bedbugs in your travels, RID Pest Control can help. How Do You Get Bedbugs? Bedbugs are very good at latching onto luggage, clothing and other items and hiding out of sight. If you're in an area with these pests, your chances of picking up a few and taking them home are quite high. They not only stay hidden under…