Tag Archives: spider control

Quit Making The Same DIY Pest Control Mistakes & Learn Proper Pest Control

Ants / February 14, 2022

If you’ve encountered a pest control problem in your home, it’s likely you’ll try and control the problem yourself using DIY pest control. Well, after you shake your fist and ask, “how could this happen to me?!” like you’re the main character in your own Shakespearean Tragedy.

We hate the be the bearer of bad news, but sometimes DIY pest control can cause more harm than good. Especially if you’re treating pest control as a one-size-fits-all solution.

To help you avoid falling at the first hurdle, we’ve gathered the most common mistakes. This way, you can learn from other’s errors and become a master of proper pest control.

READ MORE: DIY PEST CONTROL IS MORE DIFFICULT THAN YOU’D THINK

Mistake #1: Squish And Move On

The litre of orange juice you drank earlier is wreaking havoc on your bladder. So, in a hurry you dash off to the basement bathroom. There, you encounter a handful of cockroaches casually strolling along the bathroom floor. Nature is urgently calling, so you quickly squish them and continue to take care of your own business. Once done, you wipe the roaches’ remains off the floor with a paper towel.

“Goodbye cockroaches!” you say smugly as you toss them in the garbage. However, if you thought that was going to be the last time you encountered roaches, you’re sadly mistaken.

Without finding the original source of cockroaches, spiders, ants, or any other household pest problem, you’re likely to have a new problem pop up in a couple days. Until you discover how those buggers got into your home in the first place, you’ll be dealing with a whole new group of creepy-crawlies on the bathroom floor tomorrow or the next day.

Once you’ve discovered how they entered your home, it’s important to seal any cracks, gaps or holes surrounding your windows, doors, seams, and foundation.

From there, it’s a good idea to spend some time researching the proper pest control methods for your pest. This could mean setting pest-specific traps, utilizing insecticide, or hiring a pest control company like Terminix Canada.

Mistake #2: One Trap Doesn’t Fit All

Just like bigger critters, each pest is unique. As much as you may hate them all equally, wants, needs and desires differ from pest to pest. You wouldn’t use honey to attract horses or a mouse trap to catch a dog, so why are you using the same traps for all pests?

Buying a generic trap for all pests is one of the most common mistakes made by homeowners. In order for your traps to be successful, and not just a waste of money, you’ll have to investigate exactly what kind of penny-sized monster you’re dealing with. This will allow you to successfully buy the necessary traps, insecticides, or other insect deterrents.

If you are unable to decipher what kind of pest is wreaking havoc in your home, now is a good time to put the traps down and pick up the phone. Consult with a local pest control company that can identify the pests that are plaguing you, and help you sort the problem out effectively and efficiently.

READ MORE: DO CATS KEEP MICE AWAY? PROS & CONS OF THIS DIY PEST CONTROL METHOD

Mistake #3: Know Your Enemy

Even once you’ve determined exactly what pest has invaded your home, do you really know the best way to wage war? It’s important to truly understand who and what you’re up against.

Many homeowners place traps where their pest adversaries aren’t hanging out. For instance, you won’t find rodents in the middle of a room. Instead, you should be placing rodent traps along walls, behind the refrigerator, and in other dark corners.

Additionally, you may catch a few adult mice in a couple of days with your traps. However, odds are that there are still young mice lingering around. Therefore, it’s best to leave rodent traps out for a few weeks, so you can catch the remaining runts of the litter.

If you don’t get rid of the entire infestation, then they will simply multiply back to the levels they were at when you first discovered you had a problem. Two mice is all it takes to soon create a mischief of mice. 

Mistake #4: Don’t Neglect Your Pet

We know you would never purposely neglect your pet. However, it can be easy to do when trying to remove an unknown infestation from your home. If you think you may have a flea, tick, or parasite infestation, you must also treat your pets for the potential problem.

If you leave your pet untreated, you risk causing them prolonged health problems. Additionally, you’ll never fully be rid of the infestation until your pet is pest-free. Your loveable fur-ball is the perfect vessel to smuggle pests into your home or provide them a safe shelter to continue to procreate in.

Mistake #5: Not Calling The Experts

Sometimes you’ll be tasked with a pest infestation too great to handle on your own. In these circumstances, it’s best to swallow your pride and call in the pros!

If you are looking for tried-and-tested pest control services in your home, contact Terminix Canada today for a free consultation. We can help you get to the root of your pest control problem and implement effective, efficient, and affordable pest control solutions.

Find your local Terminix Canada branch today, so you can stop waging a losing war against pests.

The Most Venomous Spiders In Ontario

Residential Pest Control / October 11, 2021

So you want to read about the most venomous spiders in Ontario. If you suffer from arachnophobia, reader discretion is advised!

In short, no pest elicits the same kind of fear and revulsion that spiders do. With their spindly legs, multitude of eyes, and venomous bite, they’re nature’s favourite little nightmare machines. But luckily, we Canadians don’t really have to worry about the truly dangerous varieties of spiders, right?

Think again.

With over 14 million people calling Ontario home, it’s Canada’s most densely populated province. As such, it’s no wonder that human and spider have endured countless face-to-face interactions over the years. But what happens when you encounter venomous spiders in Ontario head-on?

Carry on reading to learn more about deadly spiders in Ontario, how you can identify them, and what you can do to remove them.

How Common Are Poisonous Spiders In Ontario?

Firstly, it’s exceedingly rare to encounter dangerous spiders in Ontario. This isn’t to say they’ve never been discovered in the province however.

Back in October 2010, CBC reported that a fourth black widow spider had been discovered in the Greater Toronto Area. Frighteningly, Mississauga resident and winemaker Tony Nicoletti discovered the black widow spider dangling beside a broom in his garage.

In a rare spate of black widow discoveries, it was the fourth time in quick succession that a GTA winemaker had encountered a black widow spider. The first two black widows were located in Woodbridge with a third discovered in Newmarket.

With a terrifying appearance and a bite 15 times more poisonous than a rattlesnake’s, the fact is black widows make arachnophobia seem less like a phobia and more like a legitimate fear.

However, if you arm yourself with relevant black widow spider facts, you won’t have to worry about black widow spider bite symptoms in Ontario ever again.

Seriously, Are There Black Widows In Ontario?

So you’re questioning, “are there black widow spiders in Ontario?”

Would we lie to you?

Black widow spiders are more than just the most venomous spiders in Ontario. They’re the second most venomous spider in the world, just behind the Brazilian wandering spider. However, whereas Brazilian wandering spiders are located solely in South America, black widow species can be found across the United States and Southern Canada, in British Columbia, as well as Southern Ontario.

Of course, everyone’s favourite black widow spider fun fact is that the females eat the males after mating. However, did you know that black widow hatchlings have amber and white colouration? This is until they mature into that slick black carapace with sinister red markings. You know, the spiders we’ve all seen in our worst night terrors.

However, despite their sinister appearance and vicious neurotoxin, black widow spiders are actually quite docile. Ultimately, they will not attack humans unless provoked, even going so far as playing dead. Even if you do have the poor fortune of getting bit by one, a black widow spider bite has a less than 1% mortality rate.

Even for the second most venomous spider in the world, spider mandibles are made for neutralizing very small prey, not fully-grown humans. While a black widow spider bite has a variety of deeply unpleasant symptoms, a healthy adult should be able to recover in a matter of days. Of course, if such an unlikely event should occur, you should still seek immediate medical attention and call Terminix Canada for expert spider control and removal.

What About Other Venomous Spiders In Ontario? Is The Brown Recluse In Ontario?

The brown recluse spider is not common in Ontario. However, there have been one-off encounters and reported bites over the years. Sometimes, spiders like these can sneakily find their way to Canada in cargo vessels shipping goods from the United States.

You won’t want to come face-to-face with the brown recluse spider either.  A brown recluse spider bite contains venom, filled with a complex collection of enzymes. This causes hemolysis; characterized as the rupturing of blood cells. Bites are painful but they very rarely kill people. Read more about the brown recluse spider here.

Leave Spider Control And Spider Removal To The Professionals At Terminix Canada

Worried about whether there are black widows or brown recluse spiders in Ontario homes like yours? Don’t hesitate to call Terminix Canada for a free consultation. In both Ontario and across Canada, we’re a leading provider of spider control and spider removal. Call us today and let us alleviate you from your spider fears.

Beware The Brown Recluse Spider

Residential Pest Control / October 04, 2021

The brown recluse spider is much like its reclusive human counterpart. It’s an unfriendly, unhinged sort that will happily seclude itself from the world.

Rather worryingly however, the brown recluse spider is still small enough to be comfortably hidden and nestled in your home.

Armed, Dangerous, And Intent On Being Left Alone

The brown recluse spider isn’t usually out on the prowl. But consider these eight-legged-loners lock, stock, and smoking barrel if they’re disturbed or feel threatened. Much like you when you’re unwittingly throwing on a pair of pants they’ve inhabited.

The Aftermath Of A Brown Recluse Spider Bite

A brown recluse spider bite contains venom, filled with a complex collection of enzymes. This causes hemolysis; characterized as the rupturing of blood cells. Bites can lead to fever, convulsions, itching, nausea, muscle pain, and in extreme cases, necrosis (the death of living cells). Necrosis involves painful, purple and black, ulcerous, slow-healing wounds.

Needless to say, these anti-social arachnids aren’t in the business of making friends.

What Is The Average Brown Recluse Size?

An adult brown recluse spider is typically 1/4 to 1/2 inches long. As the name suggests, these spiders are brown to tan in colour. Moreover, a brown recluse spider’s legs are smooth and the same colour as its body.

Brown Recluse Spider Found! What Brown Recluse Locations Have Been Revealed In Canada?

The brown recluse spider’s roots lie in the south central regions of the United States. While the spider’s presence in Canada is often debated, there have been countless bite cases cited throughout the country. Similar to a nomadic drifter who plays by their own rules, brown recluse spiders sneakily find their way to the Great White North. They’ve been known to infiltrate cargo vessels shipping goods into Canada from the United States.

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire and where there’s spider bites, there’s spiders. The strength of any recluse (spider or human) is stealth. More common than not, you won’t find anyone who doesn’t wish to be found.

All Artists Are Recluses

Many virtuoso violinists are known for their strange, anti-social behaviour. A lack of understanding of the outside world is part of being an artist, right?

Similarly, the brown recluse spider has violin-shaped markings on top of their cephalothorax (fused head and thorax). These point towards their bulbous abdomen. This is why the brown recluse spider is often called the violin spider too.

The violin-like markings have unique intensities that vary with age. Older brown recluse spiders have darker violin shapes. For their younger siblings‚ the markings are brighter.

How To Spot And Where To Find A Brown Recluse Web

Consistent with their oddball nature, the brown recluse spider builds irregular webs. These webs are usually found in woodpiles, sheds, closets, garages, cellars, and airflow systems. They shelter themselves from the rest of the world within the confines of disorderly thread.

Once they’ve snuck into your home, they’ll construct their avant-garde webs in cardboard. This mimics the rotting tree bark they typically inhabit. They’re also found inside shoes, dressers, seldom-used bed sheets, and work gloves.

What Brown Recluse Spider Bite Treatment Exists?

A brown recluse spider bite is rare and seldom kills people. When bites do take place however, it’s important to know what to do next.

You should contact poison control if you are ever bit by a venomous spider and seek medical attention too.

Leave Spider Control And Spider Removal To The Professionals At Terminix Canada

We don’t know about you but we certainly have the heebie-jeebies. Fear not however! Terminix Canada practices environmentally friendly spider control and spider removal. Using tried-and-tested techniques, a Terminix Canada spider exterminator will keep the mysterious brown recluse spider out of your home.

Even if these creepy eight-legged outcasts aren’t littering the streets of Canada, there are legions of other insects and wildlife that are capable of burrowing their way onto and into your property.

From pest removal to wildlife control, call us today and get a free consultation.

Spring Cleaning – The Best Way To Keep Spring Bugs Out

Cockroaches / April 28, 2021

Spring is a time for renewal, refreshment, and restoration. With lighter evenings and warmer weather, many Canadian homeowners feel rejuvenated to tackle a new project or pick up from where they left off in winter. Take it from Terminix Canada; the best way to channel these inner desires is to take some preventative spring pest control measures.

Why? Because spring is breeding season for many types of pest. Ultimately, if you stand still, spring bugs will feel more than at liberty to make your home theirs. That’s why Terminix Canada has listed four places in your home where spring cleaning and spring bug maintenance should take place. By being proactive, you can prevent spring bugs from appearing and killing your springtime buzz.

4 Places Where Spring Bug Maintenance Should Take Place

  1. Kitchen
  2. Washroom
  3. Basement
  4. Outdoor Areas

Clean The Kitchen

While human populations are grounded from vacation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s not the same for spring bugs. Ultimately, your kitchen is the biggest pest holiday destination of them all! It’s open for business if you do nothing about it. Pests love food and since your kitchen is where the food is, bugs like ants, flies and beetles can’t get enough of your food preparation space.

Nevertheless, by thoroughly and diligently cleaning up food spills, crumbs, and overripe fruits from the countertop, you will make your kitchen less appealing to spring bugs.

For your annual spring clean, first remove everything from your cabinets and pantry. Get rid of stale spices and dated items. Put open packages into airtight containers. Next, wipe down the inside of your cabinets and put in new shelf paper. Then, pull your appliances as far from the wall as possible and vacuum behind them. The last thing to do is give the counter and floor a real scrubbing with a sponge soaked in warm water and a bit of dishwashing liquid.

Tidy Up The Washroom To Wash Out Spring Bugs

Cockroaches and silverfish are just some of the springtime critters that love moisture and make their homes in washrooms. Ultimately, reducing any areas of concentrated moisture is essential for effective cockroach and silverfish control. If you have a dehumidifier handy in your home, we recommend using it to dry out your washroom and other areas.

Elsewhere, while you’re in the washroom, wash your shower curtain and liner. Clean out your medicine cabinet and check under the sink and around the tub and toilet for leaks as well. Remember, leaks lead to moisture build up on the floor and in the pipes themselves. Should you uncover any leaks in your space, call your local plumber.

Better The Basement

Pests like spiders and wildlife like rodents enjoy harbouring in dark corners and cluttered areas of your home. These favourable conditions are often found in your basement. This is why we recommend taking some time during your spring cleaning to truly go through your basement looking for spring bugs.

We’re talking about eliminating clutter wherever possible, storing items in plastic bins with secure lids, and reducing cardboard box use too. Damp cardboard boxes provide another springtime oasis for a number of pests, especially silverfish.

Before you return upstairs, finally inspect your basement with a magnifying glass. Look out for any gaps and crevices that require caulking. Remember, even the tiniest cracks or crevices provide pests and wildlife ample access to the interior of your home.

Audit The Outdoors For Spring Bugs

So far, this blog has addressed places where spring cleaning and spring bugs maintenance should take place inside the home. But don’t forget the outside too!

You’ll want to perform a complete inspection of the outside of your house. This includes noting any damage that might have occurred during the winter. Replace any rotted roof shingles, and unclog the gutters and downspouts. Repair any ripped screens, put in new weather-stripping where needed, and patch-up loose mortar around the windows and foundation.

As far as landscaping, trim back bushes and branches so that pests can’t use them as tightropes into your home. Get rid of any rotted tree stumps and make sure mulch is at least 15 inches away from your foundation. Termites love rotting wood. If you come across any bee, hornet or wasps nests, do not engage. Terminix Canada has the treatments you need for wasp removal and hornet removal.

Since bee populations are in danger, we often recommend customers contact local beekeepers to safely rehome bees and their bee hives. However, in cases where bee hives are located in an area that poses a danger to human safety, especially in cases of allergies, we are able to control the threat and safely remove bees from your property. Contact us today and see your flying insect control problems buzz off for good!

READ MORE: THE BEST WAYS TO KEEP YOUR DECK SAFE FROM TERMITE DAMAGE

Get Rid Of Spring Bugs With Terminix Canada

Pests don’t care about your home. So why suffer? If you believe your home is infested this spring, locate and contact your nearest Terminix Canada branch today. Simply tell them what happened, and they’ll take care of the rest – building the pest control program you need.

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