5 Reasons You Need to Consider Hiring a Pest Control Company

Most people’s first reaction to pests in their home is to try to take care of the issue themselves because they think it’s easier and quicker than calling professionals. Further, when people do these DIY pest control efforts, they are only temporary and only mask the problem for a short period of time.

Only when the pests come back a second or third time are pest control experts called. By this time, diseases have been spread and allergens have emerged. Instead, as soon as you see signs of pests in your home, call your local pest control experts near mid-Missouri. This will help you get on top of the issue right away and prevent the danger of lingering pests.

A B Pest Control has compiled a list of five important reasons to call your pest control experts sooner rather than later.

1. Time and Effort
One of the number one reasons people try to take care of pests themselves is because they believe it will be quicker and easier to take care of the pests themselves. However, if you think back to a time, you’ve ever tried to defeat pests yourself, there’s a lot of time and effort that goes into it – buying traps, setting them out, trying to scout them out, cleaning up droppings, etc.

Yes, it might take a day or two to get an expert to your home, but that’s also about the same amount of time your method probably would have taken effect.

2. Cost
Experts are called experts for a reason. The amazing thing about pest experts is they are equipped with very specific equipment to get rid of different types of pests.

Additionally, after all the times you’re going to have to buy equipment and traps to get rid of pests, it will end up costing more than the amount it would have costed you to hire an expert to begin with.

3. Health Concerns
Different pests trigger different health concerns ranging from bed bugs to salmonella. With all these different allergens and diseases these pests carry, it’s difficult to get rid of what they leave behind. It’s not something the common resident knows how to do. Again, a perfect job for the professionals.

4. Prevent Recontamination
Yes, you may have accomplished exterminating all or most of the pests from your property, but have you prepared yourself for recontamination? Do you know where and what to check for, in this instance? Probably not. To avoid a whole new army of pests, call professionals.

5. Prevent Property Damage
Not all pests are going to harm your property significantly right away. However, without treatment, pests can destroy property. Additionally, pests are capable of multiplying at a very quick rate. It’s best to take all precautions possible to avoid any type of long-term damage. Pest professionals are able to determine how to strategize the least possible damage.

Again, it’s common for most homeowners to get away without calling professionals, however, they deal with a lot of long-term effects. In terms of costs, health, and property damage, it may be extremely beneficial to contact your local pest control professionals. A B Pest Control is more than happy to help with your pest concerns and wishes you a great start to the fall.

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
PEST CONTROL COMPANY

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HOW TO STORE FOOD IN THE KITCHEN TO PREVENT BUGS

As fall and winter approach, we prepare for some of the biggest holidays of the year. With big holidays, comes a lot of food. Additionally, during these cold months, pests look for temporary homes to stay out of the cold. The combination of the two can lead to a lot of infestation.

 

A B Pest Control is pleased to give you the knowledge necessary to prevent infestation as much as possible. Prevention tactics aren’t always fool proof hence why it’s important to take as many preventative measures as possible.

 

In the case that infestation does occur, contact your local pest experts at Lake of the Ozarks for consultation.

 

Resealable Containers Are a MUST

 

After holiday parties and the leftovers are piled high, storing your food in a proper manner is important. Any non-air-tight containers will allow small bugs inside. Make sure you prepare to have several air-tight containers available.

 

Serving and Storing Food

 

Pests aren’t only looking for shelter when taking over your home. They also are looking for food to munch on. Leaving foods out throughout the kitchen during a party or dinner, causes a lot of crumbs and access for pests. Instead, utilize one specific area for foods. What’s easier is to serve food to guests right out of a storage container.

 

Make Use of the Refrigerator

 

Dry food staples that are normally placed in the pantry can be stored in the fridge, instead. This is usually impactful for food items that aren’t consumed quickly. For example, flour, baking powder, or cornmeal need to be in airtight packaging and then placed in the fridge to keep bugs out. Dry items like coffee and nuts can be stored in the freezer, instead.

With such simple changes to your normal food packaging routine, you can significantly cut down in the number of small insects and pests you see during the cold months. A B Pest Control wants to ensure seamless and pest-free holidays for you and your family.

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
PEST CONTROL COMPANY

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HOW TO EFFECTIVELY CLEAN YOUR GARAGE TO PREVENT INFESTATION

 

Garages for most of us are used as an extra place in the house to store things. Whether it be extra boxes being stored or sports equipment, clutter and extra items make a great home for pests to hide out.

 

Where there’s clutter there’s usually unnoticed scraps, such as, food, dried up liquid, or leaves. These types of extra debris lying around also attract different types of pests.

 

A B Pest and Insulation is excited to present ways to help prevent future infestations. However, sometimes prevention tactics aren’t enough to keep out the unwanted guests. Keep that in mind when taking preventative measures.

 

In the case that infestation ensues after these preventative actions are taken, that’s when it’s time to call a pest control specialist near Lake of the Ozarks

Declutter

 

First and foremost, before any deep cleaning can be done, the garage needs to be decluttered and reorganized. Whether that means collecting random items lying around or going through old sports equipment that isn’t being used anymore, extra items need to be stored in airtight containers or off the ground.

 

This declutter and extra space in the garage helps in a few ways. For one, it helps clear the way to deep clean the garage. It also helps eliminates places for pests to camp out.

 

Sweep

 

Grab your broom and start eliminating any debris on the ground. Although it’s not always your highest priority indoors, it is super helpful to regularly sweep the garage, so pests aren’t as attracted to the space.

 

Any food you do store in the garage, should be kept in airtight containers like dog food or keeping food in a refrigerator.

 

Use Deterrents

 

Now that the garage is looking tidy, it’s time to use deterrents that will help discourage pests from entering your garage. It puts out unpleasant odors for pests. Remember, different deterrents are most effective on different pests. 

Now that you know how to avoid attracting pests, you can focus on preparing for the school year. A B Pest and Insulation wishes you a healthy and safe schoolyear! 

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
PEST CONTROL COMPANY

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WHY YOU MIGHT BE DEALING WITH PEST INFESTATION

 

Homeowners usually don’t prepare for pest infestation until it happens to them for the first time. It’s not something most generally think about. Once you do deal with infestation, usually it’s a good wake up call to start preparing and preventing pest takeovers. However, we want to help you prepare to prevent the issue before it even happens.

Missouri especially attracts a lot of different types of pests due to the climate. That is why pest control near Lake of the Ozarks is a big deal and why the right type of pest solution provider is needed. At A B Pest Control and Insulation in Lake of the Ozarks, we pride ourselves in service flexibility and genuineness.

Before our pest experts need to step in, we want to look at a few reasons you might start attracting or have already attracted pests into your home.

SEASONAL CHANGES

When seasons change, animals have to adapt to their surroundings. Pests are not excluded from this rule. In fact, as the weather dries up or gets colder, pests start finding ways to adapt and survive in their environment. The easiest way for them to survive is by finding shelter. Homes are easily accessible, dry, usually have a great water supply, and have lots of food lying around most times.

 

YOUR HOME MAY BE CLUTTERED

Just like humans, pests need shelter especially in extreme weather conditions. When there are cluttered areas of the home that are harder or impossible to clean, pests find it easier to access. Further, when rodents are capable of getting in, so are all other pests because rodents usually attract insects.

Not only does the clutter make it easier to house pests, but also, clutter makes it very difficult to exterminate them because those cluttered portions become inaccessible. Especially if you are thinking about bringing in a pest control company, such as, A B Pest and Insulation, we need all areas of the home cleared in order to start spraying. Additionally, it’s preferred the home be cleaned so pest control can clear out the pests afterwards.

 

NOT KEEPING UP ON YOUR HOME’S MAINTENANCE

Our adult lives get very hectic and busy. Things arise and we forget doctors’ appointments and maintenance on our cars and homes. However, a critical step in avoiding pests in your home is to keep up to date with the maintenance of your home. That means checking up on your roof, windows, AC/heating unit, and walls to make sure they are still sustainable to keep pests out. Crazy enough, termites are great at hiding in unchecked parts of your home and can hide for years before they become noticed. This can cause a lot of damage to your home.

Regardless of preventative actions, pest services are most times still necessary to maintain a pest-free environment. A B Pest wants to keep you and your household safe in whatever way we can even if it’s just to help you check the boxes for maintenance. Have a fun and pest-free rest of the summer!

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
PEST CONTROL COMPANY

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5 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR CHILDREN SAFE FROM BUG BITES

 Living in the Midwest has its pros and cons. One of the major cons is the number of mosquitoes and bugs that are out and about.

Being in mid-Missouri near Lake of the Ozarks, pests are outrageous. Besides using our pest control service near Lake of the Ozarks, we want to help you and your kiddos avoid the bites while you are all out having fun. At A B Pest Control & Insulation, our top priority is to keep you pest-free inside and outside of your home.

1.     Spray repellents

Let’s get the most obvious answer out of the way first. You’re probably sitting there telling yourself that you no longer need to read this. We promise we are covering the basics in detail that way you can check yourself whether or not you are applying correctly. Plus, we want to make sure you double check that your repellent contains no more than 30% DEET.

First, find a repellent that you like and stick with it. You will want to spray the repellent onto your hands and apply it to your kiddo in a rubbing motion. This way, they won’t inhale the fumes as you spray.

2.       Keep away from strong scents

Smelling great is nice, but if you and/or your child attract mosquitoes easily, you’ll want to stay away from any lotion or soap that has perfume or a scent in it.

3.      Cover arms and legs

Although it can get uncomfortably hot in the Missouri heat, if your child has been getting eaten up by bugs, then you might want to opt into covering up their arms and legs with clothing. Especially as it reaches evening time and the sun is going down, give them a light jacket or pants to throw on.

4.       Use resources like mosquito netting and fans

As we know, the mosquito population gets pretty high near the lake, so you’ll want to plan on covering up. If you have a stroller for the kiddo, throw on a mosquito net over top of the opening. This will keep your little one unbothered.

Similarly, if you’re sitting outside on your patio, you can cover it in mosquito netting OR plug in fans to blow away the bugs because they are not strong enough to fly through the wind of the fan.

5.       Get a repellent bracelet

Repellent bracelets are an excellent option for children especially if you know they will be outside for a long period of time. These bracelets contain essential oils OR DEET. This helps repel any bugs near your child.

These bracelets are a great option because they’re easy, however, be aware that they are not as effective as bug sprays.

Pests can put a damper on summer fun!  A B Pest can protect you and your kids at home, however, we unfortunately cannot keep you protected all throughout the day. Stay protected with these five tips and we wish you a fun and bug-free rest of the summer!

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
PEST CONTROL COMPANY

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Flea Control: Here’s What You Need to Know

Has your pet been scratching incessantly lately? If it's not caused by ticks or dry skin, it could be fleas! Even if you have found that your pet does have fleas and have treated them, the problem may persist because the fleas still have a proximal advantage to your home. And remember, fleas can live on your blood, too, not just your pets. This can mean your "minor" flea issue could be much worse than you realize! So, this week, A B Pest Control is sharing with you some information about what is entailed in treating flea infestations.

Where are these Fleas Coming From?
Flea infestations often come from pets bringing them in from outdoors. The pests attach to your pet when its outside, and then infests its fur and the places it sleeps indoors. Other animals such as rodents, raccoons, or feral cats venturing into your yard may be the culprits bringing these pesky pests into your yard. So, the most effective ways to keep fleas from getting inside the home is to eliminate outdoor flea habitats and outdoor hosts. While you can't always prevent these animals from entering your turf, you can be proactive by treating your lawn and pets with flea control products. However, in order to effectively treat for fleas, you'll first need to understand their life-cycle. Let's take a look.

Understanding the Flea's Life-Cycle
There are four stages in the life cycle of a flea: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Depending on the environmental temperature and humidity levels, the total life cycle will take anywhere from a couple weeks to several months, or even years.

1. A single adult female can lay about 40 eggs every day. Eggs take anywhere from two days to two weeks to develop, hatching when environmental conditions are just right for them. Larvae then emerges as the next life stage. 
2. If conditions are favorable, the larvae will spin cocoons in about 5-20 days of hatching from their eggs. This leads to the next life stage, called the cocoon or pupae stage. 
3. This cocoon stage is the last developmental stage before the adult flea emerges. The cocoon protects the pupae for several days or weeks before the adult flea emerges. If environmental conditions are not right for emergence, the cocoon can protect the developing flea for months, and in some cases, years. 
4. The adult flea will not emerge until the presence of a potential host is made obvious - by vibrations, rising levels of carbon dioxide, and body heat. This can be caused by your pet walking by and brushing against the cocoon, or even from you moving around your home.

Unfortunately, this life-cycle means that getting rid of fleas can require more than one treatment to effectively eliminate the problem once an infestation has occurred.

Flea Control Services
Flea prevention for both the home and yard can be difficult, and eliminating them once an infestation occurs is even harder. Without a proactive approach, any homeowner is vulnerable to an infestation. But don't worry, you don't have to face this battle on your own. If you do experience a flea infestation, call on the Lake of the Ozarks pest control company to send those fleas packing. We can help you be victorious in eliminating and preventing those pesky pests in the future!

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
PEST CONTROL COMPANY

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Fun Facts About Fireflies!

Whether you call these little glowing insects lightning bugs or fireflies, it’s hard to deny that there’s a sense of magic when they light up a summer sky. With this magic, comes some mystery. What makes them glow and how do they benefit the environment? A B Pest Control & Insulation has the inside scoop on what makes these bioluminescent bugs so special. Read on to find out more. 

 

What Are They Really?  

Despite their name, fireflies are not actually flies. They are instead a type of beetle. These lengthy bugs typically have colors of black, yellow, red and orange along their bodies and their heads are so small that they can rarely be seen from above. Their eggs are hatched within the soil of the Earth, where they also hibernate during the wintertime.  

Their Glow

Lightning bugs are easily identified by the light that they produce at the end of their abdomens. According to the Mother Nature Network, the light that they produce are the most efficient, especially when you compare this light to human-made light. Close to 100% of the energy produced during a lightning bug’s chemical reaction is turned into light. In comparison, only 10% of a light bulb’s energy is actually emitted as light, and the other 90% is lost as heat. Their light isn't just efficient though, it is also said that their glow helps fend away predators by telling them that they aren't tasty to eat.

Lightning bugs use their glows to attract a mate. According to the University of Minnesota, there are over 200 species of lightning bugs and each species has a particular flash pattern. Males use their patterns to attract females of the same species. Males that glow more often than others and have a higher light intensity are more likely to attract more females. Fun fact: some species sync their patterns up while in groups to gain the attention of females.  

Their Benefit to the Environment 

While lightning bugs are pretty to look at, are they doing anything to benefit the environment? They definitely don’t hurt the environment: they don’t bite, pinch, attack, carry diseases or poison. But due to their diets of common crop and garden pests, they are also helping the environment by keeping harmful pests away from gardens and fields. So, not only are they pretty to look at, they also aid the growing process of produce and crops. 

Where Are They Going? 

Hopefully we’ve gotten you all fired up about fireflies/lightning bugs. If you want to observe their beauty, but are having a hard time finding some in your backyard, there’s a reason why. Sadly, the lightning bug population has been declining due to light pollution and the expansion of urban areas which is destroying their natural habitats. In addition, some researchers are harvesting these glowing insects for medical research.  

Fireflies Helped in Medical Research for Decades 

While this may sound a little crazy, for decades researchers have paid people to catch fireflies for use in medical research to study diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and heart disease. They've also been used to test the bacterial content in water and milk. From 1960 through the mid 1990s, the Missouri-based Sigma Firefly Scientists Club paid a penny for each firefly it received.

 

Give Us a Call! 

We hope that next time you see a lightning bug, you’ll stop to think about what magnificent critters these insects are. Even though A B Pest Control & Insulation is in fact, a pest control company and most people associate that with getting rid of pests, we value the benefits that many pests offer to the environment. However, the next time you’re dealing with destructive pests, call up the best pest control service at the Lake of the Ozarks to take care of your pesky pest problems. 

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
PEST CONTROL COMPANY

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