Protecting Homes In Western North Carolina
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    [content] => <p><a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article230619419.html">Parts of North Carolina rank among the worst in the country</a> when it comes to <a href="/pest-library/profile/mosquitoes">mosquitoes</a>. With mosquito season starting in July, an uptick in the numbers of this pesky insect occurs right in the middle of summer. Obviously, North Carolinians want to do whatever they can to keep this large horde of mosquitoes (and their scratchy bites) as far away from them as possible, and one of the easiest ways to do this is to use that easily accessible mosquito repellent. But does mosquito repellent work? &nbsp;</p>
<h3>Mosquito Repellents That Work &nbsp;</h3>
<p>Luckily, many mosquito repellents that you will find on many store shelves have been proven to be both safe and effective when it comes to keeping mosquitoes away from your person. <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/06/30/623865454/a-guide-to-mosquito-repellents-from-deet-to-gin-and-tonic">According to a 2015 study</a>, there are three separate ingredients contained in mosquito repellents that have been shown to be most effective: DEET, picaridin, and lemon eucalyptus oil (otherwise known as PMD). One or more of these ingredients are found in the following common mosquito repellents: &nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>OFF Deep Woods</li>
<li>Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus &nbsp;</li>
<li>Repel 100 &nbsp;</li>
<li>Cutter Skinsations &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<p>There are <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/06/30/623865454/a-guide-to-mosquito-repellents-from-deet-to-gin-and-tonic">a few other products</a> that experts have noted do a good job repelling mosquitoes: &nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>Victoria&rsquo;s Secret Bombshell perfume &nbsp;</li>
<li>Off Clip-On &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<p>So now we know that there are a large number of repellents on the market that do a good job of repelling mosquitoes -- in fact many more than the products listed above, which is not a comprehensive list, but just some of the most effective research for this specific study. But what about repellents that don&rsquo;t work? &nbsp;</p>
<h3>Mosquito Repellents That Don&rsquo;t Work &nbsp;</h3>
<p>There is something charming about the idea that age-old home remedies can be a great solution for repelling mosquitoes, and a feeling of modernity and tech-savviness that some newer technologies can replace repellents that have been in use since at least the 1950s. But the truth is that the tried-and-true repellents with those 3 special ingredients do a much better job at keeping mosquitoes away than anything very new, or very old. Here is a list of some mosquito repellent products that simply don&rsquo;t do their job very well: &nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>Vitamin B1 skin patches &nbsp;</li>
<li>Citronella candles &nbsp;</li>
<li>Bug-repellent wristbands and bracelets &nbsp;</li>
<li>Lemongrass and other essential oils &nbsp;</li>
<li>Sonic devices and misleading smartphone apps &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h3>Speaking of DEET&hellip;</h3>
<p>Consumers have long been concerned about the safety of DEET. If it can ward off mosquitoes, how can it possibly be safe for you and your family&rsquo;s skin? <a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-deet-bad-for-you-and-your-kids/">According to the Cleveland Clinic</a>, there is no reason to be concerned. First, as we mentioned above, DEET-based repellents are super effective at keeping mosquitoes away -- not to mention ticks to boot. Protection from the diseases that those insects can spread- like Lyme Disease and West Nile Virus- is incredibly important for health. And DEET-based repellents have been <a href="https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/reregistration/fs_PC-080301_1-Apr-98.pdf">approved as safe for application by the EPA</a>.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>But that doesn&rsquo;t mean that there aren&rsquo;t safety guidelines to follow when applying DEET, and as always there are a few exceptions to the rule. <a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-deet-bad-for-you-and-your-kids/">Again according to the Cleveland Clinic</a>, safely using DEET-based mosquito repellent requires taking the following safety tips: &nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Don&rsquo;t Overuse.</strong> Higher concentrations of DEET don&rsquo;t work better, they just last longer. If you&rsquo;re taking a short hike or spending an hour by the bonfire, reach for lower concentrations. Products with 10% DEET should repel bugs for about twp hours, while those with concentrations of 20% to 30% last around five. <br><br></li>
<li><strong>Limit exposure.</strong> Cover up with pants and long sleeves to minimize the amount of skin exposed to bugs (and bug sprays). Try not to spray on cuts or irritated skin and apply in well-ventilated areas to avoid breathing a DEET-cloud. When applying to kids, spray your hands and rub it onto their faces so they don&rsquo;t inhale the vapors. (And keep it off little hands, which always end up in little mouths.) <br><br></li>
<li><strong>Only Apply Once a Day.</strong> Unless you&rsquo;re out all day in a bug-infested forest, you probably don&rsquo;t need to apply DEET more than once a day. Skip the bug spray/sunscreen combos, since you&rsquo;ll definitely want to touch up your SPF. <br><br></li>
<li><strong>Babies and Pregnant Moms Should Stay Away.</strong> The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against using DEET products in infants under two months old. There aren&rsquo;t any reports of issues in pregnant women, but DEET hasn&rsquo;t been specifically studied in that group. Pregnant women should minimize their use of insect repellent by covering up with clothing and avoiding it when it&rsquo;s not necessary.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Getting Rid of Mosquito Infestations &nbsp;</h3>
<p>Mosquito repellent is a very useful product to ward off mosquitoes, but it isn&rsquo;t a permanent solution if you are dealing with a mosquito infestation on your property. First thing&rsquo;s first: there are a few preventative measures we recommend that you take to decrease the chances of an infestation:</p>
<ul>
<li>Remove wet and rotting leaves and leaf piles.</li>
<li>Clear gutters to allow for proper drainage.</li>
<li>Dump standing water in pots, baby pools, or buckets.</li>
<li>Only use sprinklers when necessary, to avoid oversaturating the lawn and creating standing water.</li>
<li>Water flower beds and gardens enough to saturate plants but not leave puddles.</li>
<li>Rake vegetation away from the foundation of the house.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you already have an infestation, A-1 Pest Control can help! Here&rsquo;s how our seasonal mosquito treatments work: &nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>We provide over-the-phone quotes if you know the size of the property you want treated. &nbsp;If you are unsure of your lot size or the most effective area to treat, we can provide a free in-person quote.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>Customers do not have to be home as the treatment is all exterior. Standing water in ponds and such are treated with eco-friendly products that will not harm fish, livestock, or pets. &nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>Your technician will leave a door hanger with the next treatment date and recommendations for things you might do around your property, such as dumping standing water or clearing gutters to increase drainage and prohibit mosquito breeding.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>In need of mosquito control today? Contact A-1 here and we can get started on developing your mosquito treatment plan ASAP!&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p>
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    [content] => <p><a href="/pest-library/profile/termites">Termites</a> are more than a nuisance; they can be a legitimate threat to homes and businesses. Their destructive habits cost American homeowners millions of dollars a year, and their ability to do this damage in virtual silence makes them even more threatening. That is why it&rsquo;s important to understand the phases of termite&rsquo;s destructive behavior -- it gives you the opportunity to potentially identify a problem before it becomes catastrophic and stresses the importance of proper home termite protection. Let&rsquo;s take a look at the phases of termite infestations.&nbsp;</p>
<h3><br>Phase 1: Termite Infiltration&nbsp;</h3>
<p><br>Before termites can begin inflicting damage on homes, they must get inside. Here&rsquo;s how subterranean termites- the common termite found in North Carolina- do it.&nbsp;</p>
<p><br>Subterranean termites (as their name suggests) do much of their movement beneath the ground. These soil-dwellers make their way into homes at locations where the soil touches compromised house foundations, porches, or decks. What is a compromised structure? It&rsquo;s anything with a crack, hole, or void that can act as an easy termite entry point. Once termites have discovered a way in, they will start to build what are called mud tubes (tunnels made of soil, wood, and termite saliva) to connect their colony to their food source, AKA their victim&rsquo;s home.&nbsp;</p>
<h3><br>Phase 2: Termite Feeding&nbsp;</h3>
<p><br>With a secure pathway that can now lead thousands of termites into the home, they get to work feeding. This includes munching on any plywood or wood joists on the ground floor, but that&rsquo;s just the beginning. If allowed, termites will begin to move their way upward into first-floor drywall; from there they will work their way up as they consume more wood, and their colony expands. Basically, subterranean termites typically start on ground level and will eat their way up, and termite colonies can survive for years, meaning it is not a problem that will just go away.&nbsp;</p>
<h3><br>Phase 3: Visible Damage&nbsp;</h3>
<p><br>When a termite infestation is allowed to fester for a long period of time, the damage can eventually become visible. This damage can be in the form of buckled floors (caused by moisture that the termites leave behind) or in the collapse of parts of a structure. This video does a great job illustrating the damage that termites can do:&nbsp;</p>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TxsnPbRayW0" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3><br>How to Avoid Termite Damage</h3>
<p><br>If you want to beef up your home&rsquo;s security from a termite infestation, A-1 Pest Control has a solution. We will complete a thorough inspection of your property to identify if there is existing termite activity, assess the severity of the infestation and amount of termite damage, and identify conducive conditions. Based on our findings, we&rsquo;ll recommend a treatment plan and provide you with a termite control quote. <a href="/termite-control">Learn more about our termite control process here</a>, or just <a href="/contact-us">get in touch with us</a> to schedule an inspection!</p>
<p><em>Want to learn more about termites? Check out <a href="/blog/post/it-s-termite-swarming-season-here-s-what-you-need-to-know">our blog post on termite swarming season</a> to learn more about the dangers of termites.</em></p>
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