Licensed Pest Control in Cordele GA professionals have the technical knowledge, equipment and chemicals to provide targeted treatment for specific problems. Ask your local service providers for a copy of their license, as well as copies of the pesticide labels they will apply to your property.
Consider a company that practices Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Contact your Cornell Cooperative Extension for IPM resources and programs.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers, and they can spread to your home from infested hotels, movie theaters, second-hand stores, and clothing shops. They also spread between apartments in a building or complex.
The best defense against these blood-sucking pests is being observant and treating an infestation early. Look for smear marks that appear like pen or marker ink on sheets, mattresses, pillows, and upholstery. These are a sign of bed bug excrement.
If you notice these marks, immediately remove bedding and launder in hot water and a hot dryer. Store any infested items in plastic bags until you can clean them. You should also clearly mark any infested furniture that you remove from your home so that others don’t unknowingly bring them into theirs. A Pest Control in Cordele GA professional can treat serious bed bug infestations with registered insecticides such as pyrethrins and pyrethroids (derived from chrysanthemum flowers and synthetic equivalents).
Ants
Ants are a household pest that can cause major damage. Using preventive measures, you can keep them out of the house.
Outdoors, ants protect honeydew-producing insects (e.g., aphids and soft scales) and tend mealy bugs they “milk” for their honeydew, increasing crop damage from these pests. They also feed on seeds, decomposing animal tissues and some fungi.
Field size, crop system and experiment duration may have varying effects on ant abundance, natural enemy abundance, pest abundance and crop damage. Further studies investigating these factors are needed.
Wasps
While solitary wasps are harmless, social wasps often cause problems. These insects hunt and feed on nuisance pests, including some that damage plants.
They also provide pollination services and are important predators of many annoying insects. However, their painful stings can be dangerous to some people.
In late summer and early fall, social wasp colonies are especially active. They are scavenging for the last of the season’s sugary foods and protein-rich insects. They’re also looking for places to build a new nest for the winter. For this reason, homeowners should never attempt to knock down or remove a wasp’s nest on their own. Instead, call in a professional for safe and effective treatment.
Mice
Mice are a serious problem in many buildings and can cause damage with their constant gnawing. They also contaminate food preparation surfaces and can cause a bacterial infection called salmonellosis. They may carry fleas that can spread plague and other diseases including Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCMV).
Mice often enter homes in autumn as outdoor temperatures drop. They can enter through openings as small as 1/4 inch across.
The house mouse is the species that usually infests homes and commercial buildings. It is nearly hairless and has large ears. Mouse droppings are pointed, about the size of a grain of rice.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) focuses on removing conditions that attract and support pests. This approach can prevent infestations without the need for chemical control. If chemical pesticides are needed, products with the least risk to humans and pets are used.
Rodents
Rodents are the most common rodent pests and cause many health hazards, including spreading rabies, hantavirus, salmonella, and other diseases. They can also spread allergens that trigger asthma and other respiratory symptoms in sensitive individuals.
Routinely check both inside and outside homes and businesses for signs of a rodent presence (droppings, gnawing marks). Remove trash regularly and dispose of it properly. Do not store woodpiles or stacks of lumber near buildings. Remove weeds, brush, and dense vegetation that provide shelter to rodents. Seal cracks and crevices that are larger than a quarter inch. Screen vents and install door sweeps to prevent rat entry.
Public education is critical to a successful rodent control program. Fact sheets containing general program information and city codes should be distributed to private residences, landlords and property managers, schools, food-handling facilities, and other local businesses.
