restoration_pest

How to Safely Remove & Prevent Spider Webs

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:09:36 GMT

Spider webs are a common sight around homes and businesses, especially during warmer months when insect activity increases. While most spiders are harmless and even beneficial for controlling pests, their webs can quickly make a space feel neglected or unclean. The good news is that removing spider webs and preventing them from returning doesn’t require harsh chemicals or complicated solutions. With the right approach, you can keep your property clean while minimizing future infestations.

Tired of dealing with spider webs around your property? Here’s what to do according to the experts at Restoration Pest Management , your trusted source for pest control in Columbus.

Why Spider Webs Keep Coming Back

Before tackling removal, it’s helpful to understand why spiders choose certain locations. Spiders build webs where they have the best chance of catching prey. That means areas with consistent insect activity, low disturbance, and structural features that make web-building easier.

Common hotspots include:

Corners of ceilings and walls
Light fixtures and entryways
Basements, garages, and attics
Exterior eaves, siding, and window frames

If webs keep reappearing in the same place, it’s usually a sign that your home is providing a steady food source or ideal shelter conditions.

How to Safely Remove Spider Webs

Removing spiders and their webs is a straightforward process, but doing it properly helps prevent spiders from

rebuilding right away. Taking a more thorough, methodical approach not only improves results in the short term but also disrupts the conditions spiders rely on to reestablish their webs.

1. Use the Right Tools

A long-handled duster, broom, or vacuum with an extension hose allows you to reach high or tight spaces safely without overextending or climbing on unstable surfaces. Microfiber dusters are especially effective at capturing webs without scattering debris, making cleanup faster and more efficient. For exterior areas, consider using a telescoping pole to reach rooflines, soffits, and second-story corners where webs commonly accumulate.

2. Remove Webs Completely

It’s important to remove the entire web, not just the visible strands. Spiders are more likely to rebuild if remnants are left behind, as these can serve as anchor points for new construction. Pay close attention to corners, cracks, and textured surfaces where web fibers may cling. Vacuuming is often the most thorough option, especially indoors, as it removes both webs and any trapped insects that might attract spiders back to the same spot.

3. Dispose of Webs Properly

If you’re using a vacuum, empty the contents promptly to prevent any surviving insects or spiders from escaping back into your home. For manual removal, discard webs in a sealed trash bag and remove it from the property as soon as possible. This step is often overlooked but plays a key role in preventing reinfestation, particularly in enclosed spaces like garages or basements.

4. Wear Protective Gear if Needed

Gloves and long sleeves are recommended when working in basements, attics, crawl spaces, or outdoor areas where you may encounter spiders directly. Eye protection can also be helpful when removing overhead webs. This is especially important if you’re unsure what species may be present or if the area hasn’t been disturbed in a long time.

Preventing Spider Webs from Returning

Eliminating webs is only half the battle. To keep spiders from coming back, you’ll need to make your property less inviting by addressing both shelter and food sources. A proactive strategy will significantly reduce the likelihood of recurring web activity.

Reduce Insect Activity

Since spiders rely on insects for food, reducing other pests is one of the most effective prevention strategies. Keep doors and windows sealed, repair damaged screens, and minimize outdoor lighting that attracts bugs near entry points. Switching to yellow or sodium vapor bulbs outdoors can also help reduce insect attraction without sacrificing visibility.

Declutter and Clean Regularly

Spiders prefer undisturbed areas where they can build webs without interference. Routine cleaning, especially in

storage spaces like garages, basements, and utility rooms, removes hiding spots and discourages web-building. Regularly moving stored items and vacuuming corners ensures spiders don’t have the stable environment they need to settle in.

Use Exterior Maintenance Strategies

Trim vegetation away from your home, keep firewood stored at a distance, and regularly clean eaves, siding, and window frames. These steps reduce the number of places spiders can establish webs close to your structure. Maintaining a clear perimeter around your home also limits the pathways insects use to enter, further reducing spider activity.

When to Call a Professional

If spider webs are persistent or you’re noticing a high volume of spiders indoors, it may be time for professional pest control . Recurring web activity often indicates an underlying pest issue that requires a more comprehensive approach.

Restoration Pest Management provides targeted treatments designed to reduce both spiders and the insects that attract them. By addressing the root cause of the problem, professional services can deliver longer-lasting results and help maintain a cleaner, more comfortable environment.

Spider webs don’t have to be a constant nuisance. With consistent removal, smart prevention strategies, and support from a trusted pest control provider, you can keep your home or business looking its best year-round. If you’re ready for a more effective solution, Restoration Pest Management is here to help with expert service tailored to your property’s needs. Contact us today to learn more.

How To Get Rid of Carpenter Ants

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 20:08:49 GMT

How To Get Rid of Carpenter Ants

Removing ants from your home can be challenging, and if not executed properly, it may exacerbate the issue and allow the colony to spread throughout your residence. Numerous over-the-counter pesticides are marketed for ant control, but they often fail to address the root cause of the infestation.

What Lures Carpenter Ants

Ants invade your home because they discover an environment that offers favorable conditions along with food and water sources. Typically, ants are drawn to moisture issues, particularly Carpenter Ants. Over time, the barriers that prevent moisture from penetrating the wood in your home deteriorate. Windowsills and door frames begin to degrade, caulking cracks, and moisture seeps into these areas. When wood moisture levels rise, it creates an inviting environment for various wood-destroying pests, including ants. Carpenter Ants utilize their mandibles to excavate the wood, creating nesting cavities. While they do not consume wood like termites , they can still inflict damage, including structural harm to your home if not addressed promptly.

Black Carpenter Ants

Ants, in general, are social insects, each fulfilling specific roles within their colony. They collaborate and share resources throughout their community. To effectively eliminate ants, it is crucial not to disrupt their activities but rather to provide them with something they recognize as food or a substance they cannot detect, which will spread throughout the colony and eradicate the source of the infestation.

Carpenter Ants, in particular, can have multiple satellite colonies away from the main colony, depending on their level of establishment. The primary colony can be located up to 300 feet from a satellite colony, often found in decaying trees, logs, or nearby woodpiles.

How to Treat Carpenter Ants – Mount Gilead, Ohio

Many homeowners prefer to tackle these annoying pests on their own to save some money. While this might seem like a cost-effective choice, it can sometimes worsen the issue by embedding the problem deeper into your home, causing the colony to spread and divide. Many over-the-counter solutions, such as chemicals, essential oils, and vinegar, are designed to repel insects quickly, providing a temporary fix. This approach may push the ants out of sight, but it creates a repellant barrier that can lead to the ants splitting into two groups, allowing them to infiltrate untreated areas of your home. Consequently, this method fails to eliminate the source colony from which the ants originate.

Liquid Ant Bait

For minor ant infestations, using an over-the-counter borax ant bait can be an effective first step in the elimination process until a pest control expert can evaluate and address the issue properly. Ant baits are specifically designed to attract ants, which perceive them as food, and they subsequently distribute it throughout the colony. Borax ant baits offer a low-risk option to help prevent a larger infestation from developing.

Control Carpenter Ants – Columbus, Ohio

In the end, having ants in your home can pose a more significant problem than just the few visible in your kitchen or bathroom. Engaging a pest control professional like Restoration Pest Management, who can accurately diagnose and treat the infestation, is the most effective solution for long-term success . While homeowners can perform localized and spot treatments, a pest control expert will ensure your whole home is safeguarded against ant invasions both now and in the future.

Contact Restoration Pest Management today at 614-204-8630 for your complimentary quote.

Does Mice Repellent Work? What Homeowners Should Know

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:01:54 GMT

If you’ve heard scratching in the walls or found droppings in a cabinet, your first instinct might be to grab a bottle of mice repellent spray and hope for a quick fix. Hardware stores and online retailers are full of products promising to drive rodents away with strong scents like peppermint or household cleaners such as Pine Sol.

But does mice repellent actually work? The short answer: not if you already have an infestation, and not as a long-term solution.

As a leading exterminator in Columbus, Restoration Pest Management delivers safe and effective solutions for rodent infestations in the home. Here’s what you should know before relying on mice spray alone.

Do Peppermint and Pine Sol Repel Mice?

There is limited scientific evidence that peppermint oil or Pine Sol can function as reliable, long-term mice repellent solutions inside occupied homes.

While strong odors may temporarily deter rodents from a specific surface, mice will often adapt to smells, especially when food and warmth are available. In some cases, homeowners unknowingly mask the scent trails mice use to navigate, but this does not eliminate the underlying problem.

In short, peppermint and Pine Sol may smell clean and fresh to you. To a mouse facing winter conditions, they are a minor inconvenience.

How Mice Repellent Is Supposed to Work

Most over-the-counter mice repellent products rely on smell. Mice have a highly developed sense of smell, and certain strong odors like peppermint oil are marketed as natural deterrents. Some homeowners also attempt DIY solutions, soaking cotton balls in peppermint oil or spraying Pine Sol around entry points.

The idea is simple: overwhelm a mouse’s senses and make the area uncomfortable enough that it leaves.

In theory, strong scents may discourage exploratory activity in small, contained areas. In practice, however, the results are inconsistent and temporary.

Why Mice Spray Doesn’t Solve an Infestation

If mice have already established a nest in your home, scent-based repellents are unlikely to drive them out. Here’s why:

1. Survival Overrides Discomfort

Mice are motivated by three primary needs: food, water, and shelter. If your home provides these essentials, a peppermint or Pine Sol odor will not be enough to make them abandon a secure nesting site. This is especially true in colder months.

2. Scents Fade Quickly

Mice repellent sprays must be reapplied frequently. Peppermint oil evaporates, and cleaning products like Pine Sol lose potency as they dry. The limited deterrent effect of these products can diminish significantly within days, or even hours.

3. Repellents Don’t Address Entry Points

Even if a mice spray temporarily pushes rodents away from one area, it does nothing to seal cracks, gaps, or utility penetrations that allow them inside. Without exclusion work, new mice can continue entering your home. However, even with extensive exclusion work and addressing entry points, mice only need a ¼” in opening to get through as their cartilage skeletal structure allows them to squeeze through very small spaces. Sealing every gap on your home and preventing ventilation can lead to other types of health and structural issues.

4. Infestations Multiply Fast

A single pair of mice can produce dozens of offspring in a matter of months. By the time you notice activity, there may already be multiple nesting sites. Repellents do not remove existing mice, eliminate nests, or reduce the population.

What Actually Works Against Mice

Effective rodent control requires a comprehensive approach:

Inspection: Identifying where mice are tracking through the home evidenced by fecal matter, insulation tunneling, location of rhythmic scratching/scurrying, and chew marks is critical.

Exclusion: Recognizing significant gaps and general maintenance requirements around the residence, such as openings in utility line penetrations, foundation cracks, door sweeps, and attic vents, can be beneficial if mice are utilizing these as entry points. However, it is not feasible to seal the house sufficiently to prevent a mouse from gaining access.

Population Reduction: Strategic and safe baiting methods in areas where mice are present including, attic, crawlspace, basement and living areas with a second-generation bait, where one feeding will impact life processes and reproductive abilities of the mice.

Ongoing Monitoring: Follow-up ensures the issue does not return. Completely getting rid of all the mice in nature isn’t feasible, and you’ll always find rodents near your home. It is crucial to maintain exterior baiting and ensure the stations are stocked, providing mice with a food source before they enter your home, which is essential to prevent a return of the infestation.

This comprehensive method tackles not only the current infestation but also potential future issues.

Get Rid of Mice for Good

Relying solely on mice repellent spray can delay proper treatment, giving mice more time to reproduce and cause damage. Rodents chew wiring, contaminate food, and spread bacteria through droppings and urine. If you suspect mice in your home, it’s best to act quickly.

Restoration Pest Management provides professional inspection, baiting and follow-up services designed to solve the problem at its source, not just mask it with scent. Contact our team today to schedule an evaluation and protect your home from further damage.

Don’t Forget to Schedule a Seasonal Termite Check

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:24:50 GMT

When most homeowners think about termites, spring and summer usually come to mind. But these damaging pests don’t take a winter holiday, and overlooking the threat they pose to your property during the colder months can allow costly damage to continue unnoticed. A seasonal termite check in winter is a smart, proactive step to protect your home year-round.

Worried about termites in your home this winter? Here’s what you need to know according to the experts at Restoration Pest Management , your go-to source for termite extermination in Columbus.

Why Termites Are Still a Threat in Winter

Cold weather doesn’t eliminate termites; it simply changes their behavior. Subterranean termites, the most common type in Ohio, retreat deeper into the soil or move closer to heated structures when temperatures drop. Inside wall voids, crawl spaces, and basements, termites can remain active all winter long, often without obvious signs.

Because termite activity is less visible in winter, infestations can quietly expand, weakening wood structures before homeowners realize there’s a problem.

Winter Inspections Can Reveal Hidden Issues

A professional winter termite inspection focuses on areas where termites are most likely to seek warmth and moisture, including:

Basements and crawl spaces
Foundation walls and sill plates
Utility penetrations and expansion joints
Areas with previous moisture issues or wood-to-soil contact

Catching termite activity early, especially during the winter, can prevent extensive structural damage and reduce the cost and scope of treatment.

Why Winter Is a Smart Time for a Termite Check

Scheduling a termite inspection during winter offers several advantages:

Less disruption: Inspections can often be completed quickly while outdoor pest activity is minimal.
Early detection: Identifying issues now helps you avoid discovering serious damage during peak buying, selling, or renovation seasons.
Peace of mind: Knowing your home is protected allows you to head into spring with confidence.

Winter inspections are also ideal for homeowners who may have missed a check during the warmer months or want to stay ahead of potential problems.

Trust Restoration Pest Management for Seasonal Protection

At Restoration Pest Management, we understand that termites don’t follow the calendar. Our experienced technicians know where to look for winter termite activity and how to identify early warning signs before they turn into major repairs.

If it’s been a while since your last inspection, winter is the perfect time to schedule a seasonal termite check. Protect your home, your investment, and your peace of mind with a professional inspection from Restoration Pest Management.

Don’t wait for warmer weather. Contact Restoration Pest Management today to schedule your winter termite inspection today.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 13:33:46 GMT

Few pest problems cause as much stress and disruption as a bed bug infestation . These tiny, elusive insects are experts at hiding, spread quickly, and can turn a comfortable home into a constant source of anxiety. If you are searching for reliable ways to get rid of bed bugs, it is important to understand what you are dealing with and why professional treatment is often the most effective solution. Here’s how to deal with these troublesome pests once for all according to Restoration Pest Management , the experts in bed bug extermination in Columbus.

What Are Bed Bugs and Why Are They So Hard to Eliminate?

Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on human blood, usually at night. They hide in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, furniture seams, baseboards, and even electrical outlets. One of the biggest challenges in trying to get rid of bed bugs is their ability to remain hidden and survive for long periods without feeding.

In addition, bed bugs reproduce quickly. A single female can lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime, making it easy for a small problem to escalate into a full infestation if not addressed properly.

Signs You May Have a Bed Bug Problem

Before you can get rid of bed bugs, you need to confirm their presence. Common warning signs include:

Small, itchy bites often appearing in clusters or lines
Rust-colored stains on sheets or mattresses
Tiny dark spots (bed bug droppings) on bedding or furniture
Shed skins or live bugs hiding in mattress seams or cracks

If you notice one or more of these signs, acting quickly is critical.

DIY Methods to Get Rid of Bed Bugs (And Their Limitations)

Many homeowners attempt do-it-yourself solutions to get rid of bed bugs. While some steps may help reduce the population, they rarely eliminate the problem entirely.

Common DIY approaches include:

Washing and drying bedding and clothing on high heat
Vacuuming mattresses, furniture, and carpets
Using store-bought sprays or foggers
Encasements for mattresses and box springs

These methods can kill some bed bugs, but they often miss hidden insects and eggs. Over-the-counter products may also cause bed bugs to scatter deeper into walls and furniture, making the infestation harder to control.

Why Professional Treatment Is the Best Way to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Because bed bugs are so resilient, professional pest control is the most effective way to get rid of bed bugs for good. Trained technicians know where bed bugs hide, how to identify the full extent of an infestation, and which treatment methods will work best.

Professional bed bug treatments may include:

Thorough inspections to locate all hiding spots
Targeted treatments using industry-grade products
Heat treatments that eliminate bed bugs at all life stages
Follow-up visits to ensure complete eradication

A comprehensive approach helps prevent reinfestation and provides peace of mind that the problem has been fully resolved.

How Restoration Pest Management Can Help

At Restoration Pest Management, we understand how disruptive a bed bug infestation can be. Our experienced team uses proven strategies designed to get rid of bed bugs efficiently and safely. We tailor our treatment plans to your specific situation, ensuring thorough coverage and effective results.

If you suspect bed bugs in your home or business, don’t wait for the problem to get worse. Early intervention is key to minimizing damage, discomfort, and cost. If you are ready to get rid of bed bugs and restore comfort to your space, contact Restoration Pest Management today to schedule an inspection. Our team is here to help you reclaim your home with confidence.

How Do Mice Get Into the Attic?

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 15:20:11 GMT

Mice in the attic are a common and often frustrating nuisance for homeowners. Understanding exactly how these small but resourceful creatures find their way inside is the first step in preventing a serious infestation . Despite their tiny size, mice are incredibly adept at squeezing through tight spaces. A gap as small as a quarter of an inch, or about the size of a pencil eraser, is enough for a mouse to gain entry. Here’s what you need to know if you suspect mice have entered your attic or another part of your home—and why Restoration Pest Management is your go-to resource for rodent removal in Columbus.

Common Entry Points

Mice often exploit weaknesses in the home’s exterior to access the attic. Their climbing abilities allow them to scale walls, trees, and even utility wires that lead to the roof. Some of the most common entry points include:

Roof vents and gaps around chimneys, which provide hidden passageways into the attic.
Spaces around plumbing or electrical lines, especially where these lines penetrate walls or ceilings.
Cracks in the foundation or siding, which may go unnoticed but provide easy access.
Gaps in soffits, eaves, or overhanging roof edges, which mice can climb to reach the interior.

How Mice Find Their Way Inside

Mice are constantly searching for food, warmth, and shelter. As outdoor food sources diminish with seasonal changes, attics become highly attractive. These areas offer a quiet, protected environment where they can build nests. Their keen sense of smell helps them locate potential food sources inside the home. Once they find a small opening, their slender bodies, agility, and ability to chew through softer materials like wood, insulation, and even thin metal make entry relatively easy. A mouse can explore a property silently for days, testing various points of access until it finds a way in.

Signs of Infestation

Early detection can save homeowners from costly damage. Common signs of mice in the attic include:

Scratching or scurrying noises, especially at night
Droppings or urine stains near suspected entry points
Chewed wires, insulation, or stored items
A noticeable musky odor, often due to urine buildup

Prevention Tips

Keeping mice out of your attic requires diligence and a combination of strategies:

Inspect your home’s exterior for gaps, holes, or cracks, and seal them with steel wool, caulk, or other appropriate materials.
Trim tree branches and shrubs away from the roofline to reduce access points.
Store firewood and other materials away from the house and elevate them to prevent nesting spots.
Maintain clean areas where food is stored, both inside the home and in garages or basements, to remove temptations for rodents.
Consider installing door sweeps or mesh barriers in critical areas to further reduce entry possibilities.

Mice in the attic can cause serious issues, including structural damage, contamination of insulation, and potential health hazards from droppings and urine. Proactive prevention, regular inspections, and early intervention are essential to keeping your home safe and rodent-free. If you suspect an infestation, contacting Restoration Pest Management can ensure the problem is assessed and handled efficiently, preventing a minor issue from becoming a major one. Reach out today for fast, friendly service.

Are Insects Secretly Destroying Your Home?

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 18:25:38 GMT

You might not see them, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Wood-destroying insects can cause serious structural damage long before homeowners realize there’s a problem. Termites , carpenter ants, and Powderpost beetles are among the most common culprits, and their activity can compromise the integrity of wooden framing, floors, decks, and more. The best defense? A professional inspection and proactive prevention plan from Restoration Pest Management , your partner for effective insect extermination in Columbus.

The Hidden Threat of Wood-Destroying Insects

Wood-destroying insects are experts at staying out of sight. Termites can tunnel through soil and wood undetected, eating away at your home from the inside out. Carpenter ants hollow out damp or decaying wood to build their nests, while Powderpost beetles lay eggs in wood surfaces, leaving behind fine powdery dust as they emerge. By the time visible signs like buckling wood, hollow-sounding boards, or small holes appear, significant damage may already be done.

Why Regular Inspections Matter

A wood-destroying insect inspection is the only reliable way to identify infestations before they spiral out of control. During an inspection, trained professionals look for telltale signs of insect activity in key areas like crawl spaces, attics, foundations, and wooden structures. Even if you haven’t noticed any issues, scheduling routine inspections can save you thousands of dollars in future repairs.

Prevention Tips to Protect Your Home

Eliminate moisture sources: Repair leaks and ensure proper drainage around your foundation.
Keep wood off the ground: Avoid stacking firewood or lumber directly against your home.
Seal cracks and entry points: Close off gaps around windows, doors, and utility lines.
Schedule annual inspections: Early detection is the key to long-term protection.

Trust the Experts at Restoration Pest Management

If you suspect that insects may be eating away at your home or if it’s been a while since your last inspection, don’t wait for signs of damage to appear. Restoration Pest Management provides thorough wood-destroying insect inspections and customized prevention plans to safeguard your property from costly infestations. Protect your investment with expert care and proven solutions.

Contact Restoration Pest Management today to schedule your inspection and stop hidden pests before they cause lasting harm.

Are Bed Bugs and Fleas the Same Thing?

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 13:32:53 GMT

Noticing small bugs in your home or itchy bite marks on your body can be an unsettling experience. When these unwanted pests strike, many people wonder: are bed bugs and fleas the same thing? While both may cause irritation and disrupt your peace of mind, these two pests are very different in how they look, where they live, and how they behave. Understanding the differences is the first step in identifying an infestation and finding the right solution. The more you know about these pests, the easier it is to protect your home, family, and pets from ongoing issues.

Here are a few tips from Restoration Pest Management to help you ID these pesky intruders and restore your peace of mind. Our team is your local source for flea and bedbug removal in Columbus.

Appearance

Bed bugs are small, oval-shaped insects that measure about the size of an apple seed. They are flat and reddish-brown in color, especially after feeding. Adult bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, but their eggs and young nymphs can be difficult to spot. Fleas , on the other hand, are much smaller (around 1/8 of an inch), with long back legs designed for jumping great distances relative to their size. Their bodies are darker, shinier, and more slender compared to bed bugs, and their movement is usually quick and erratic. While bed bugs tend to crawl slowly, fleas often appear to “disappear” with a sudden leap.

Habits and Behavior

Bed Bugs: These pests feed exclusively on blood, usually at night when humans are asleep. They prefer to hide in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and furniture seams, coming out when they sense warmth and carbon dioxide. Bed bugs cannot jump or fly, so they rely on crawling to reach a host. They often spread from room to room by hitchhiking on luggage, clothing, or used furniture.

Fleas: Fleas also feed on blood, but they typically target pets like dogs, cats, or other warm-blooded animals. They can live in carpets, bedding, and upholstery, waiting to latch onto a host that walks by. Unlike bed bugs, fleas are excellent jumpers and move quickly, allowing them to travel easily between animals and people. Fleas can reproduce rapidly, with a single female laying up to 50 eggs per day, which makes infestations difficult to control without addressing both pets and the home environment.

Bites and Symptoms

Bed Bug Bites: Appear in clusters or lines, often on areas exposed during sleep such as arms, legs, and the neck. They may be itchy, red, and inflamed, and sometimes mistaken for mosquito bites. Because bed bugs inject an anesthetic and anticoagulant, many people do not feel the bites immediately. As their name suggests, bedbug infestations can lead to sleepless nights and untold psychological stress .

Flea Bites: Usually found on the lower legs and ankles, flea bites are small, red, and extremely itchy. They may have a red halo around the center. Flea bites can be especially problematic for sensitive individuals or pets who may scratch excessively, leading to hair loss or open sores.

Treatment and Prevention

Bed Bugs: Elimination requires professional pest control , as these pests are resilient and excellent at hiding. Heat treatments, chemical applications, and thorough inspections are often necessary. Prevention includes careful inspection of hotel rooms, avoiding secondhand furniture without inspection, and sealing cracks or crevices where bed bugs could hide.

Fleas: Treating both the environment and pets is crucial. Pet-safe flea treatments prescribed by veterinarians are essential to break the life cycle. In the home, thorough vacuuming, regular washing of pet bedding, and professional pest control treatments may be required. Because flea eggs can fall off pets and spread throughout the home, it’s important to treat all areas where pets spend time.

Eliminate Fleas or Bedbugs with Restoration Pest Management

Bed bugs and fleas may seem similar at first glance, but they are very different pests with unique challenges. Bed bugs primarily affect humans and thrive in sleeping areas, while fleas are typically tied to pets and spread quickly throughout the household. If you suspect either in your home, proper identification is key to effective treatment. Restoration Pest Management can help you determine the source of the problem, eliminate infestations, and provide prevention tips to restore comfort and peace of mind.

If you’re currently experiencing an infestation, contact our team immediately for safe, timely, and effective treatment.

Ohio Spiders & How to Get Rid of an Infestation

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 18:49:25 GMT

When most people in Ohio think of pests, ants, mice, or mosquitoes may be the first to come to mind. But spiders are also common (and often unwanted) visitors in homes across the state. With dozens of different species found throughout the Buckeye State, it’s not unusual to encounter them in basements, attics, garages, and even living rooms. While many spiders are harmless and actually help by eating nuisance insects, the sight of multiple spiders indoors can be unsettling. In larger numbers, they can signal an infestation that requires quick action. In rare cases, some species may even pose health concerns due to venomous bites.

Here’s what you need to know about spider infestations according to the experts at Restoration Pest Management , the leaders in spider extermination in Ohio.

Common Spiders in Central Ohio

Columbus and surrounding areas are home to a wide range of spider species, from the harmless to the intimidating. Understanding which ones are most likely to be in your home can help you take the right precautions:

House Spiders: By far the most common indoor spiders. They weave webs in quiet corners and are usually harmless, but their constant web-building can be a nuisance.
Wolf Spiders: Large, fast-moving hunters that don’t build webs but actively chase their prey. While not dangerous, their size and speed often alarm homeowners.
Cellar Spiders (Daddy Longlegs): These thin-bodied spiders are often mistaken for harvestmen but are different species. They thrive in damp, dark areas like basements, spinning long, messy webs.
Jumping Spiders: Tiny but active spiders that use their excellent vision to leap onto prey. They’re commonly spotted on walls, ceilings, or window sills.
Brown Recluse (Rare in Ohio): Not native but occasionally encountered. Identified by a violin-shaped marking, their bite can cause serious medical issues, so proper identification is essential.
Black Widow (Uncommon but Present): Very rarely found in Ohio, but worth mentioning. Their glossy black bodies and red hourglass markings are distinctive, and their venom can be harmful.

Signs of a Spider Infestation

Seeing one or two spiders indoors is normal, especially during late summer and fall when they move inside seeking warmth. But an infestation may be developing if you notice:

Multiple webs in corners, windowsills, or ceiling spaces.
Frequent spider sightings in several rooms, not just basements or garages.
Webs reappearing shortly after being cleaned away.
A noticeable increase in insects inside, which provides a food source for spiders.
Egg sacs attached to webs, furniture, or clutter.

How to Prevent and Control Spiders

The key to controlling spiders is managing both their entry points and their food supply. Here are several effective prevention strategies:

Seal Entry Points: Use caulk or weatherstripping to close cracks around windows, doors, and foundations. Spiders often enter through very small gaps.
Declutter Indoor Spaces: Boxes, clothing piles, and storage areas provide hiding spots for spiders. Keeping spaces organized reduces harborage.
Maintain Outdoor Areas: Trim shrubs, bushes, and tree branches away from the house. Remove debris and woodpiles where spiders may nest before moving indoors.
Reduce Outdoor Lighting: Bright lights attract moths and other insects, which then attract spiders. Consider using yellow-tinted bulbs that are less appealing to insects.
Clean Regularly: Dusting, vacuuming, and sweeping disrupt webs, remove egg sacs, and help spot spiders before numbers grow.
Control Other Pests: Since spiders feed on insects, addressing a general pest issue will naturally reduce spider activity.

Professional Spider Control

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, spiders can still become overwhelming. This is especially concerning if venomous species may be involved or if the infestation seems widespread. Professional pest control provides a safer, long-term solution. At Restoration Pest Management, we don’t just remove spiders. We evaluate the underlying causes, such as entry points and insect activity, to prevent future infestations. Our safe and effective treatments are designed to give you lasting peace of mind.

Don’t Let Spiders Take Over Your Home

Spiders serve an important role in nature, but that doesn’t mean you need to share your living space with them. If you’ve noticed more spiders than usual or you’re concerned about the presence of harmful species, Restoration Pest Management is ready to help. Contact us today for a thorough inspection, expert advice, and a customized treatment plan to make your home spider-free and keep it that way.

It's Bald-Faced Hornet Season in Columbus: What You Need to Know

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 14:52:53 GMT

It's Bald-Faced Hornet Season in Columbus: What You Need to Know

Summer in Columbus, Ohio means warm weather, backyard barbecues, and time spent outdoors with family and friends. But with the arrival of sunny days also comes an uptick in pest activity—especially from stinging insects like the bald-faced hornet. These aggressive pests pose real safety concerns for homeowners, businesses, and outdoor enthusiasts in the Columbus area. If you've noticed large, gray, papery nests high in trees, shrubs, or tucked under eaves, you're likely dealing with bald-faced hornets. Here are some tips from Restoration Pest Management , the experts in hornet removal in Columbus, to help keep you safe this summer.

What Are Bald-Faced Hornets?

Despite their name, bald-faced hornets are actually species of yellowjacket wasp . They are easily identifiable by their black bodies and distinct white markings on their faces and abdomens. These insects are significantly larger than most common wasps and are notorious for their aggressive nature when it comes to protecting their nests. Their aerial nests can house hundreds of workers, all ready to defend their colony.

Bald-faced hornets are known to sting repeatedly and will chase perceived threats for long distances. This makes them particularly dangerous around homes, playgrounds, parks, and businesses, where people and pets are likely to come too close by accident.

When Is Bald-Faced Hornet Season in Columbus?

Bald-faced hornet activity in Columbus typically begins in late spring as queens emerge from hibernation to start new colonies. The real spike in activity occurs during the hot summer months, especially in July and August, when their populations swell and the nests grow rapidly. This is the time when residents are most likely to notice hornets flying in and out of their nests or hovering around outdoor spaces.

During this peak season, bald-faced hornets become extremely territorial. A slight disturbance near their nest such as trimming a tree limb or mowing the lawn can provoke an attack. That’s why it’s critical to recognize the signs early and avoid triggering an aggressive response.

Why Are Bald-Faced Hornets a Problem?

Unlike bee species which can sting only once, bald-faced hornets can sting multiple times. Their venom is potent and can cause significant pain, swelling, and in some cases, severe allergic reactions. For people who are allergic to insect stings, even one encounter can be life-threatening. These hornets also tend to swarm when they feel threatened, making an accidental brush with a nest especially dangerous.

Children and pets are at higher risk since they’re more likely to unknowingly disturb nests while playing outside. Businesses with outdoor seating or operations may also find that hornet activity drives away customers and creates safety liabilities. For these reasons, it’s important to treat bald-faced hornet infestations seriously.

How to Handle a Bald-Faced Hornet Infestation in Columbus

If you think bald-faced hornets are nesting near your property in Columbus, it’s essential to avoid tackling the problem yourself. DIY sprays or nest removal methods can be hazardous and are rarely effective in the long term. Professional pest control services have the tools, equipment, and training to safely remove nests and apply preventative treatments.

At Restoration Pest Management, our trained technicians know exactly how to identify hornet nests, assess the level of infestation, and apply targeted solutions that eliminate the problem at its source. We prioritize safety and use environmentally responsible methods to protect both people and pets while ensuring the nest is fully neutralized.

Protect Your Property with Professional Pest Control in Columbus

Don’t let stinging insects ruin your summer. Restoration Pest Management provides prompt, effective bald-faced hornet removal services throughout the greater Columbus area, including nearby suburbs and rural properties. Our approach goes beyond just removal. We help identify risk factors around your home or business and offer solutions to reduce the likelihood of future infestations.

Whether you're dealing with hornets, wasps, yellowjackets, or other summertime pests , our local team is here to help keep your outdoor spaces safe and comfortable. We’re proud to serve the Columbus, Ohio community with reliable, friendly service and proven pest control solutions.

Don’t Wait—Call Restoration Pest Management Today

Bald-faced hornet nests can expand quickly, increasing the chances of a dangerous encounter. The sooner you act, the easier and safer it is to remove the threat. Contact Restoration Pest Management now to schedule your inspection or treatment. We’re your go-to experts for pest control in Columbus, Ohio.

Yellowjacket Wasp vs. Bee: Identification Guide

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 12:46:22 GMT

Bees and yellowjacket wasps are often mistaken for one another, particularly during the warmer months when both are active in yards, gardens, and parks. Although they share some visual similarities and both can sting, these insects are vastly different in behavior, physical characteristics, and the roles they play in the ecosystem. Understanding the distinctions between bees and yellowjackets is essential for homeowners, especially when it comes to determining whether a pest control service is needed.

While bees are important pollinators that contribute to plant reproduction and biodiversity, yellowjackets are more aggressive scavengers that can become a nuisance—or even a danger—when they build nests near human activity. Proper identification not only helps avoid harmful encounters but also supports the conservation of beneficial bee species. Use these tips to tell the difference and count on Restoration Pest Management for timely, professional yellowjacket extermination in Columbus.

Appearance

Bees, including honeybees, bumblebees, and carpenter bees are generally easy to recognize thanks to their fuzzy or hairy bodies, which help them collect pollen. They tend to have a more rounded, robust appearance and exhibit yellow and black coloring that is usually softer and less defined than that of wasps. Many bees have distinctive “pollen baskets” on their hind legs, especially when seen visiting flowers.

In contrast, yellowjacket wasps have smooth, shiny bodies with little or no visible hair. They have a more streamlined and narrow-waisted build, making them appear sleeker and more aerodynamic. Their bright yellow and black stripes are bold and high in contrast, giving them a more intimidating look. Unlike bees, they lack pollen baskets and are not involved in pollination to the same extent.

Behavior

Bees are peaceful creatures that prefer to mind their own business. They are most often seen visiting flowers, working diligently to collect nectar and pollen. Honeybees, in particular, are known for their gentle nature and will typically only sting if they feel threatened or are provoked. Once a honeybee stings, it loses its stinger and dies, making stinging a last resort.

Yellowjackets exhibit far more aggressive behavior, particularly as the summer progresses into fall. Their diet shifts toward scavenging for sugary substances and proteins, which brings them into close contact with humans. They are commonly found hovering around open trash cans, picnic areas, sugary drinks, and outdoor food. Unlike bees, yellowjackets can sting multiple times without dying, making them more dangerous if disturbed.

Nesting Habits

Bees construct waxy, structured hives that are usually located in protected spaces such as tree cavities, wall voids, or managed beekeeping boxes. These nests are carefully built and used for extended periods, sometimes spanning several years in the case of managed colonies. The orderly design of a beehive reflects the cooperative nature of the colony.

Yellowjackets build papery nests made from chewed wood fibers mixed with saliva. These nests can be located underground, inside wall cavities, or suspended from tree branches, eaves, or attic rafters. Yellowjacket colonies grow rapidly and can number in the thousands by the end of the summer season. Their nests are temporary and are abandoned when cold weather arrives, although new colonies may be established nearby the following year.

Why Identification Matters

Confusing a yellowjacket for a bee can result in painful, unnecessary encounters. Bees are protected in many regions due to their ecological importance and declining populations. Removing or damaging a beehive can have negative consequences for the environment and, in some cases, violate local conservation laws. Yellowjackets, on the other hand, are not typically protected and may require immediate removal if they pose a threat to humans or pets.

When to Call the Professionals

If you notice increased wasp activity or suspect the presence of a nest, it’s best to call in pest control experts before the problem escalates. Yellowjackets are especially territorial and will defend their nest aggressively. Because they can sting repeatedly, disturbing their nest without proper equipment and expertise is risky.

Restoration Pest Management provides expert yellowjacket extermination in Columbus and the surrounding communities. Our trained technicians understand the behavior and biology of both bees and wasps, allowing them to develop effective, environmentally responsible solutions tailored to your specific situation.

Contact us today to schedule a thorough inspection or to learn more about our comprehensive wasp and bee management services. Don’t take chances with aggressive pests. Let us help you restore peace and safety to your outdoor space.

What to Do About Ticks and Mosquitos in Your Yard

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:10:22 GMT

As the weather warms up and the days grow longer, spending time outdoors becomes one of the great pleasures of the season. Whether it's backyard barbecues, gardening, or simply relaxing on the patio, everyone wants to enjoy their outdoor space. Unfortunately, ticks and mosquitoes are quick to join the party. These pests are more than just an annoyance—they're also known carriers of dangerous diseases like Lyme disease, West Nile virus, Zika virus, and more. Taking proactive steps to manage these insects is essential if you want to make your yard a safer and more enjoyable place for your family and pets. The good news? With the right mix of prevention, maintenance, and professional help, you can take control of the situation and enjoy your outdoor space again. Take back your outdoor spaces with these tips from Restoration Pest Management , your local experts for tick and mosquito extermination in Columbus.

Eliminate Breeding Grounds

Mosquitoes need only a small amount of standing water to lay their eggs, which makes eliminating stagnant water one of the most important steps in pest control. Regularly inspect your yard for potential breeding spots such as birdbaths, plant saucers, buckets, old tires, pet bowls, and even kids' toys. Clean out clogged gutters and ensure proper drainage to prevent puddles from forming. Consider drilling holes in the bottoms of planters and recycling bins to allow water to drain completely.

For ticks, focus on clearing away leaf litter, trimming overgrown shrubs, and keeping grassy areas well-maintained. Ticks love to hide in damp, shady environments, especially near the edges of your lawn or in brushy areas. Removing these habitats will make your yard much less attractive to them. It's also wise to move children's play equipment, patios, and decks away from wooded or bushy edges to reduce exposure risk.

Maintain Your Landscape

A well-kept yard not only looks good but also helps discourage tick and mosquito populations. Mow your lawn regularly to reduce tall grasses where ticks like to wait for hosts to pass by. Trim shrubs, hedges, and trees to increase sunlight and airflow, which helps dry out moisture that mosquitoes and ticks thrive in. Create a barrier using wood chips or gravel between forested or brushy areas and your lawn to prevent ticks from migrating into your yard. This boundary acts as a buffer zone that’s less hospitable to pests.

Consider landscaping with plants that naturally deter mosquitoes, such as citronella grass, lavender, basil, marigolds, and rosemary. These plants not only help reduce mosquitoes but also add fragrance and color to your garden. Integrating essential-oil-producing plants into your garden design is a natural way to discourage pests while enhancing aesthetics. If you have a vegetable garden, planting pest-repelling herbs nearby can also benefit your crops.

Protect Yourself and Your Pets

It’s smart to take personal precautions when spending time outside. Apply insect repellents or essential oils to exposed skin to repel mosquitos and ticks. Wear long sleeves and pants when hiking or walking through wooded or grassy areas, and consider tucking your pants into your socks to keep ticks from crawling up your legs. Light-colored clothing can help you spot ticks more easily.

Pets are also vulnerable—make sure they are on veterinarian-approved flea and tick prevention treatments year-round. Check dogs and cats frequently, especially if they spend time in wooded or grassy areas. After outdoor activities, perform tick checks on yourself, your children, and your pets, especially around ears, neck, underarms, and the waistband area. Taking a shower within two hours of being outside can also help wash off ticks before they attach.

Call in the Professionals

If you’re dealing with a persistent or large infestation, or you simply want peace of mind, calling in the professionals is your best bet. At Restoration Pest Management, we specialize in integrated pest management solutions that target mosquitoes and ticks throughout their life cycles. Our seasonal treatment programs are designed to coincide with peak pest activity, offering maximum effectiveness with minimal environmental impact.

Our trained technicians know exactly where pests hide and how to apply treatments that work without putting your loved ones or pets at risk. We use proven techniques to treat harborage areas such as under decks, dense foliage, and fence lines. We also offer ongoing monitoring and maintenance to keep your yard protected all season long. If needed, we can adjust treatment plans based on seasonal shifts or changes in your outdoor environment.

Enjoy Your Outdoor Space Again

Ticks and mosquitoes shouldn’t keep you cooped up indoors. By combining smart yard maintenance, personal protection habits, and professional pest control, you can transform your yard into a comfortable, pest-resistant space that’s perfect for relaxing, entertaining, or simply enjoying nature. Don’t wait until the problem gets worse—get ahead of the season and contact Restoration Pest Management today for a free assessment and personalized treatment plan tailored to your home. Our team is here to help you reclaim your yard and enjoy every moment you spend outside. Let us help you take back your yard and make the most of the great outdoors with confidence and comfort.

Why Are There Holes In My Wood Siding? Carpenter Bees Could Be to Blame

Mon, 05 May 2025 14:55:08 GMT

If you’ve started noticing small, round holes mysteriously appearing in your wood siding, carpenter bees could be to blame. These large, solitary insects may look similar to bumblebees , but their behavior and nesting habits can lead to serious problems for homeowners—especially in the spring and summer months. Unlike termites , carpenter bees don’t consume wood, but they do tunnel into it with precision and purpose, creating nests for their young. Over time, these tunnels can weaken wooden structures and leave your home vulnerable to more extensive damage. Here are tips for identifying carpenter bee infestation from Restoration Pest Management , your destination for carpenter bee removal in Columbus.

What Do Carpenter Bee Holes Look Like?

Carpenter bee entry holes are typically about the size of a dime—around ½ inch in diameter—and impressively round. They’re often located in protected areas like under eaves, around trim, and along wood siding, decks, and fences. You may also notice a small pile of a sawdust-like substance (called frass) underneath the hole, along with faint buzzing sounds coming from inside the wood. These signs strongly suggest carpenter bee activity.

In many cases, the hole is just the beginning. After drilling a short, straight entry tunnel, the bee will make a right-angle turn to create a longer gallery running parallel to the wood grain. This tunnel becomes a nursery for laying eggs and can stretch for several inches—or even more if reused year after year.

Why Do Carpenter Bees Choose Wood Siding?

Carpenter bees are attracted to softwoods like pine, cedar, redwood, and cypress—especially when the wood is untreated, unpainted, or weather-worn. If your siding is older or has never been properly sealed or painted, it becomes a prime target for these buzzing invaders. They seek out dry, bare wood that offers easy access for boring tunnels and provides a secure environment for their young.

Once carpenter bees establish a nest in your siding, they tend to return to the same area year after year—often expanding their tunnel networks or creating new ones nearby. This repeated activity significantly increases the risk of structural damage, staining, and other long-term issues.

Are Carpenter Bees Dangerous?

Carpenter bees aren’t aggressive like some stinging insects. Males can’t sting at all, and females typically only sting if they’re directly threatened. However, the true danger lies in the damage they cause to wooden structures. Over time, repeated tunneling weakens the boards and trim on your home, leading to:

Soft or splintering wood
Visible damage and unsightly holes
Fungal growth or moisture buildup from compromised siding
Increased risk of woodpecker activity, as they feed on the larvae inside the tunnels

Woodpeckers can cause even more extensive damage than the bees themselves, pecking into siding in an attempt to reach the developing bee larvae inside.

How to Tell If Carpenter Bees Are the Problem

If you're trying to determine whether carpenter bees are causing the damage, keep an eye out for:

Smooth, round holes on siding, trim, or eaves
Small piles of sawdust or wood shavings beneath the holes
Yellowish or brownish staining near entry points
A few large bees hovering around or flying in and out of holes
Audible buzzing from within wooden structures

Carpenter bee infestations can sometimes go unnoticed until the damage becomes more severe. That’s why early detection is so important. If you suspect carpenter bees may be responsible for the holes in your siding, don't wait to get answers. Contact Restoration Pest Management for a professional inspection. Our experienced team can identify the source of the problem, assess the extent of any damage, and recommend the best course of action to protect your home.

How to Stop Carpenter Bees

While DIY efforts may seem appealing, the most effective and lasting way to deal with carpenter bees is through professional intervention. At Restoration Pest Management, we specialize in safely eliminating carpenter bee infestations and protecting your home from future issues. Our team uses targeted, environmentally conscious treatments that address the root of the problem—removing bees, sealing entry points, and advising on preventive strategies to keep them from coming back.

Don't risk further damage to your home by ignoring the signs or attempting temporary fixes. Carpenter bees are persistent, and without proper removal and exclusion techniques, they often return year after year. It is important to keep up with consistent treatment throughout the season and year over year to break the bees’ lifecycles. Likewise, applying a good repellency chemical early in the season is the best way to deter activity.

Don't Let Small Holes Turn Into Big Problems

What may look like a few tiny holes today could turn into extensive (and expensive) damage. Carpenter bees are persistent and often return season after season, gradually enlarging their tunnel systems and reducing the strength of your siding or other wood features. If you suspect an infestation, it’s best to act quickly.

The team at Restoration Pest Management is here to help. We offer thorough inspections, effective removal, and long-term solutions to protect your home from carpenter bees and other wood-destroying pests.

If you’re noticing holes in your siding or wood trim, don’t wait. Contact Restoration Pest Management today to schedule an inspection and take the first step toward reclaiming your home from unwanted pests.

Ants vs. Termites: Identification Guide

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:32:22 GMT

If you've noticed small, winged insects in or around your home or business, it's natural to feel alarmed. Your mind may immediately jump to pests like ants or termites , but determining which one you're dealing with can be a challenge. While both species can look remarkably similar—especially during their swarming phase—their behavior, appearance, and potential for damage vary greatly. Termites can be incredibly destructive to wooden structures, while ants are often more of a nuisance. This guide will help you learn how to tell the difference between ants and termites and what to do next if you suspect an infestation. Still not sure what to do? Contact Restoration Pest Management , your go-to for ant and termite extermination in Columbus.

Appearance: Key Physical Differences

Although ants and termites both fall under the category of small insects with six legs and antennae, there are a few visual clues that can help you quickly distinguish between the two:

Waist Shape : One of the most noticeable features is the waist. Ants have a defined, pinched waist that gives their bodies an hourglass appearance. Termites, by contrast, have a more uniform, straight-sided body with no distinct narrowing at the waist.
Antennae : Ants have elbowed or bent antennae, which are quite different from termites’ straight, beaded antennae.
Wings : If you spot winged insects, take note of the wing shape and size. Ants’ front wings are longer than their back wings, and their wings are typically more angular. Termites, however, have two pairs of wings that are equal in size and extend well beyond the length of their bodies, giving them a more delicate, symmetrical appearance.

Behavior and Habitat: Where and How They Live

Understanding the habits and preferences of ants and termites can offer more clues:

Ants are opportunistic foragers and are frequently seen trailing along surfaces as they search for food sources inside your home . They tend to nest in walls, under floors, in cracks, or in damp, decaying wood. Ants are especially active during warmer months and are usually more visible than termites.
Termites , on the other hand, are secretive by nature. They thrive in dark, moist environments and prefer to stay hidden from view. Termites build colonies underground or inside the very structures they infest. A common external sign of termite presence is the appearance of mud tubes running along foundation walls or other wooden structures. These tubes provide moisture and protection as termites travel between their colony and food sources.

Damage Signs: What to Watch For

Damage caused by these pests can also help in identifying which insect is to blame:

Termites feed directly on cellulose found in wood, paper, and other organic materials. Over time, their feeding can result in significant structural damage. Symptoms of a termite problem include hollow-sounding wood, blistering paint, sagging floors, stuck windows or doors, and small piles of wings left behind after a swarm.
Ants , while usually less destructive, can still pose problems—especially carpenter ants. These ants don’t eat wood but will tunnel through it to create their nests. This can cause weakening of structural elements if left untreated, although it typically progresses more slowly than termite damage.

Seasonal Activity and Swarming

Both ants and termites experience a swarming season when young reproductive insects leave their nests to form new colonies. This is often when homeowners first notice an issue.

Termite swarms usually occur after periods of rainfall, especially in the spring and early summer, when conditions are humid.
Ant swarms are also common in the spring but tend to occur on warmer, sunny days, sometimes after rain. Because both pests swarm around the same time of year and in similar weather conditions, misidentification is common.

Call a Professional for Peace of Mind

Even with this information, it can still be difficult to confidently identify whether you're dealing with ants or termites—especially if you're seeing winged swarmers or only subtle signs of damage. That's where the experts come in.

At Restoration Pest Management, our trained professionals are equipped with the experience and tools to determine the exact nature of your pest problem. Whether it's a minor ant infestation or a potentially serious termite issue, we’ll provide an effective, customized solution to protect your property and restore your peace of mind.

Don't wait until the damage becomes worse. Contact Restoration Pest Management today for a thorough inspection, expert identification, and targeted treatment options that work.

What Does Mouse Poop Look Like? A Columbus Homeowner’s Guide

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 12:37:44 GMT

If you suspect mice in your home in Columbus, one of the first signs to look for is their droppings. Mouse poop is a key indicator of an infestation and can help you determine where these unwelcome guests are hiding. Understanding what mouse droppings look like, where to find them, and how to properly clean them up is crucial in keeping your home safe and pest-free. Mice are notorious for sneaking into homes, particularly during colder months, and their droppings are one of the most obvious clues to their presence.

Identifying Mouse Droppings

Mouse poop is small, dark, and pellet-shaped. A typical mouse dropping measures between 1/8 and 1/4 inch in length and has a spindle-like or rod-shaped appearance with pointed ends. The color of fresh droppings is usually dark brown to black, but as they age, they become lighter and may take on a grayish hue. Fresh droppings tend to be soft and moist, while older ones harden and become crumbly over time. If you find an accumulation of fresh mouse droppings, this indicates recent or ongoing rodent activity in your home. Identifying the freshness of droppings can help determine whether the infestation is still active or if the mice may have moved on.

Where to Find Mouse Droppings in Your Home

Since mice are nocturnal creatures that tend to stay hidden, you may not always see them, but their droppings provide clear evidence of their presence. Mouse poop is often found in areas where rodents search for food, build nests, and travel throughout the home . In kitchens and pantries, droppings are commonly discovered near food sources, inside cabinets, behind appliances, and along baseboards. Mice are drawn to dark, cluttered areas, making basements and garages prime locations to find droppings, particularly near storage boxes and along walls where they tend to run. In attics and crawl spaces, droppings may be found near insulation, around nesting materials, and near entry points where the mice have chewed their way in. Utility rooms, including spaces near water heaters, furnaces, and pipes, can also harbor mouse droppings, as these areas often provide warmth and shelter. The more widespread the droppings, the more severe the infestation is likely to be.

Mouse Droppings vs. Other Pests

Not all droppings found in your home belong to mice, so it's important to distinguish them from other common pest droppings. Rat droppings are significantly larger, measuring around 1/2 inch, and have blunt ends rather than the pointed shape of mouse droppings. Cockroach droppings, on the other hand, are much smaller and resemble coffee grounds or black pepper specks. Because they can often be mistaken for dirt or dust, careful inspection is necessary to identify them correctly. Squirrel droppings, another potential source of confusion, are rounder, larger than mouse droppings, and often found outdoors or in attics. Being able to differentiate between various types of pest droppings can help determine the best course of action for pest control.

Health Risks of Mouse Poop

Mouse droppings are more than just an unpleasant sight; they can pose health risks to you and your family in severe infestations. Mice are known carriers of bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can be transmitted through their feces. Most homes in Ohio at one point or another have had mice inside whether in living areas or attics. Being aware and taking precaution if mice are in your home is important to not allow an infestation to become severe. Severe infestations can lead to hantavirus, which is a respiratory illness contracted by inhaling infected rodent fecal matter. Although rodent fecal poses a threat of hantavirus, the likelihood of contracting this is low as, according to the CDC there are only about 35 cases reported every year in the U.S. In addition, mouse droppings can carry salmonella, which can contaminate food surfaces. Ensuring that countertops and areas where food and tableware are stored are cleaned and sanitized after rodent fecal is found is important to reducing the spread of rodent borne illness to humans. Given these risks, proper handling and disposal of mouse droppings are critical to maintaining a healthy home environment.

What to Do If You Find Mouse Droppings

Discovering mouse droppings in your Columbus home requires immediate attention to prevent the infestation from proliferating. Before cleaning up droppings, always wear protective gear such as gloves and a mask to avoid direct exposure. It is recommended to ventilate the area by opening windows to improve airflow and reduce airborne particles. To properly clean up mouse droppings, spray them with a disinfectant or a mixture of bleach and water before wiping them up. Never sweep or vacuum droppings, as this can cause harmful particles to become airborne. After cleaning, dispose of the droppings in a sealed plastic bag and immediately wash your hands thoroughly. Finding mouse droppings in your home is a sign of an active infestation requiring professional pest control services may to fully resolve the issue.

Get Expert Mouse Control in Columbus, Ohio

Finding mouse droppings in your home is a strong indication that rodents have taken up residence in your space. While DIY cleanup can help address the immediate problem, a professional pest control service can provide a comprehensive solution to eliminate the infestation and prevent future occurrences. At Restoration Pest Management, we specialize in effective rodent control in Columbus, Ohio. Our expert team will conduct a thorough inspection and implement customized treatment plans to eliminate mice from your home. Don't let a mouse problem compromise your family's health and safety. Contact us today for a free inspection and let us help you take back control of your home with reliable and effective pest management solutions.

What are the swarming insects in my home?

RBLANTON@RESTORATIONPESTMANAGEMENT.COM (Rebekah Blanton) — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 20:20:12 GMT

Termite infestations may not be something most people think about until they see swarming termites in their homes during late spring or early summer. Termite swarming can happen in both homes and businesses, and even though no one wants them around, these swarms can provide useful information.

Termites are attracted to moist wood

Termites are a very beneficial part of the eco system in that they decompose dead plant matter, replenish soil nutrients and support plant growth. This is great for the environment and the cycle of life but not so good when they get into your home. Termites are attracted to your home when it presents conducive conditions in which termites thrive in, moist wood. Termite infestations are often found when homeowners are replacing their windows or doors. Over time, sealants and caulk break down allowing moisture to get into the framing creating a termite friendly environment.

Swarms are signals of a larger infestation

A termite swarm signals the presence of a termite colony in a home. Since termites typically work unseen, swarming is a clear and noticeable sign of an infestation, unlike other less obvious signs that might go unnoticed for years, leading to increased damage. Termite swarmers, known as alates, are the reproductive members of a colony. Unlike worker termites that cause damage, alates’ purpose is to reproduce and create new colonies. They do not bite, sting, or eat wood. Before a swarm, alates prepare a launch site, then they fly briefly to mate and find a new home, often resulting in low survival rates since many die quickly from dehydration, especially if they swarm indoors with no access to soil.

Professional chemicals are essential for colony elimination

When faced with a swarm, many consumers instinctively reach for an aerosol spray, which can complicate cleanup and give a false sense of security. Most over the counter pest control products are repellent based products which do kill on contact but then pushes the bulk of the colony away from the area sprayed into untreated areas of the home further spreading the infestation. Allowing a Pest Management Professional to treat with products designed for long term eradication of a termite colony will significantly decrease cost of eliminating the colony and protect your home long term. The goal is not to just kill the insects that are seen, but also the whole colony that are in unseen areas of the home and ground.

What can I do if I see termite swarm activity?

Calling a Pest Management Professional like Restoration Pest Management for an inspection as soon as possible will help in identifying the insects and providing proper treatment. Both Termites and Carpenter Ants swarm in a very similar way, however treatment for each can be quite different. If you start seeing flying insects in Spring-Summer it is important to get a clear close up picture of one of the insects before the swarm moves on.

Do not spray swarmers with any over-the-counter type pesticides. Termites and Ants both need to be treated with non-repellent chemicals that allow the insects to track the chemical throughout the colony wiping out the entirety of the colony, not only killing the insects that are seen on the surface.

Vacuuming up swarmers and not allowing them to mate and start a new colony is helpful in not enabling the colony to proliferate. However, this does not solve the issue of the current colony that can be hiding unseen in the walls of your home.

Looking for the best way to get rid of termites in Columbus, Ohio? Restoration Pest Management offers customized treatments to keep termites out of your home for good. Our experienced team uses reliable and efficient methods to control termite colonies around your home. Contact us today for a consultation and take the first step toward protecting your home from termites.

Why Do Ants Come in the House?

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 13:47:50 GMT

Ants are some of the most persistent and common household pests , often appearing in kitchens, bathrooms, and even bedrooms. If you've ever wondered why ants suddenly invade your home, the answer lies in their search for food, water, and shelter. Understanding the reasons behind ant infestations can help you take the right steps to prevent them. If you're dealing with an ant infestation in Columbus, Ohio, Restoration Pest Management offers expert pest control solutions to keep your home ant-free year-round.

Food Sources Attract Ants

Ants are constantly foraging for food, and even the tiniest crumbs or spills can attract them. Sugary foods, proteins, and greasy residues are particularly appealing to these pests. If food is left out, trash is not sealed properly, or countertops are not wiped down regularly, ants will detect these food sources and create trails leading straight to them. Additionally, pet food left in bowls or uncleaned spills from beverages can further entice ants into your home. They have an incredible sense of smell and can detect food sources from a significant distance, making it crucial to maintain cleanliness in your kitchen and dining areas.

Water is Essential for Ant Survival

Just like any living creature, ants need water to survive. Leaky pipes, dripping faucets, or condensation around sinks and tubs can provide the moisture they need. This is why you may often find ants in bathrooms or kitchens, especially during dry weather when natural water sources outside are scarce. Some ant species, like Odorous House ants and Carpenter Ants are particularly drawn to moisture-rich environments and can establish colonies near water sources. Even small amounts of standing water, such as in potted plant trays or pet water dishes, can attract ants. By eliminating excess moisture, you can reduce the chances of infestation.

Seeking Shelter from the Elements

Ants will often enter homes seeking refuge from extreme weather conditions. Heavy rain can flood their nests, while hot and dry conditions can drive them indoors in search of a more stable environment. Cracks in walls, gaps around windows and doors, and unsealed utility openings provide easy entry points for ants looking for shelter. In colder months, some ants may even seek warmth inside walls or under flooring. Understanding seasonal patterns can help homeowners anticipate and prevent infestations before they occur.

Scent Trails Lead the Way

Once an ant discovers a reliable food or water source in your home, it will leave behind a pheromone trail that signals other ants to follow. This is why a few ants can quickly turn into a full-blown infestation. The more accessible the resources, the more ants will continue to return. These pheromone trails are highly effective and can persist even after the initial food source is removed. It is important to seek professional ant treatment to ensure proper non repellent chemicals are used to allow the ants to go through the chemical and track it back to the colony.

Nearby Colonies and Nesting Sites

If you notice a frequent ant presence in your home, there may be a colony nesting nearby. Some species, like Carpenter Ants, may even establish nests inside your walls, wooden furniture, or insulation. These ants can cause structural damage over time, making early detection and intervention crucial. Outdoor colonies in soil, under logs, or in mulch can also contribute to indoor infestations, as worker ants search for resources. Regularly inspecting both indoor and outdoor spaces can help you identify potential problem areas before they escalate.

How to Prevent Ants from Invading Your Home

To keep ants from making themselves at home, consider these preventive measures :

● Keep food sealed and stored properly – Avoid leaving food out and wipe up crumbs and spills immediately. Store dry goods in airtight containers and regularly clean pantry shelves.

● Clean up regularly – Maintain a clean kitchen and take out the trash frequently. Sweep floors and vacuum carpets to remove food particles that might attract ants.

● Eliminate water sources – Fix leaks, remove standing water, and ensure proper ventilation to reduce moisture. Pay special attention to areas under sinks, around appliances, and near air conditioning units.

● Seal entry points – Use caulk to seal cracks, install door sweeps, and repair damaged screens. Checking window frames, utility pipe entry points, and foundation gaps can further help in preventing access.

● Address outdoor nests – Regularly inspect your home’s perimeter and remove potential nesting sites. Keep shrubs and plants trimmed away from the house, as branches can serve as bridges for ants to enter.

Looking for the best way to get rid of ants in Columbus, Ohio? Restoration Pest Management offers customized treatments to keep ants out of your home for good. Our experienced team uses reliable and efficient methods to keep your home ant-free year-round. Contact us today for a consultation and take the first step toward a pest-free home!

9 Signs of a Rodent Infestation in Your Home or Business

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 14:19:37 GMT

Rodent infestations can cause significant problems if left unchecked, from structural damage to health risks for occupants. Recognizing the early signs of a rodent problem is crucial for control and prevention of these unwanted pests. Read on to learn about some of the common indicators that rodents may have invaded your home or business. And if you’re a property owner in need of rodent extermination in Central Ohio, contact Restoration Pest Management for fast and effective service.

Droppings

Mouse poop is often the most obvious sign of an infestation. These small, pellet-like feces are typically found near food sources, along baseboards, or in hidden areas like cabinets and pantries. Mouse droppings are smaller, while rat droppings are larger and more oblong. Checking for droppings regularly in high-risk areas can help identify an infestation early before it becomes severe.

Gnaw Marks

Rodents have strong teeth that never stop growing, so they constantly gnaw on materials to keep them in check. Look for chew marks on furniture, wiring, packaging, or structural elements like wood and drywall. Fresh gnaw marks are lighter in color and become darker over time. Electrical wiring damage caused by rodents can lead to fire hazards, making it essential to address this issue quickly. Homeowners in Fredericktown can protect their properties by recognizing the early signs of a rodent infestation before it escalates.

Noises in Walls or Ceilings

If you hear scratching, scurrying, or squeaking sounds, especially at night, it’s a strong indication that rodents are present. They are most active after dark and often nest within walls, ceilings, or attics. Pay attention to repetitive noises coming from the same areas, as this may indicate a nesting site or frequently used pathways.

Nests and Shredded Materials

Rodents build nests using soft materials like shredded paper, fabric, or insulation. Check hidden areas such as behind appliances, in attics, or under furniture for nests or scattered nesting materials. The presence of nesting sites often signals an established infestation and may also include droppings or food remnants nearby.

Grease Marks and Tracks

Rodents tend to travel along the same paths, leaving behind greasy smudges or marks from their fur. You may also notice small footprints or tail marks in dusty areas. These tracks can be especially visible in basements, garages, or other less frequently cleaned areas, providing clues to their movement patterns. If you're experiencing rodent problems in Galion, Restoration Pest Management offers reliable solutions tailored to your needs.

Unpleasant Odors

A strong, musky smell is often associated with rodent infestations. This odor comes from their urine and can become more pronounced as the infestation worsens. In enclosed spaces like cupboards or crawl spaces, the smell can linger and signal an urgent need for intervention. Business owners in Centerburg can prevent costly damage by addressing rodent issues as soon as they're detected.

Damage to Food or Packaging

Pet Behavior Changes

If you have pets, their behavior can provide clues. Dogs or cats may become fixated on certain areas, bark, or paw at walls where rodents are hiding. Pets often have heightened senses and may detect rodent activity before it becomes visible to humans. Unusual interest in specific spots should not be ignored.

Rodent Sightings

Seeing a live or dead rodent is the most clear and obvious sign of an infestation in your home or business. Since rodents are nocturnal and avoid humans, spotting one during the day often indicates a significant problem. Multiple sightings or discovering carcasses may suggest that the infestation is widespread and requires immediate professional attention.

What to Do If You Suspect a Rodent Infestation

If you notice any of these signs, it’s essential to act quickly. Rodents reproduce rapidly, and a small problem can escalate into a full-blown infestation. Contact Restoration Pest Management to assess the situation and implement an effective solution.

Proactive prevention and early intervention can save you time, money, and stress while protecting your property and health. Residents of Fredericktown, Galion, and Centerburg turn to us for proven pest management solutions that work. If you believe your home or business is affected by rodent activity, contact us today for a thorough and timely solution.

How to Prevent Mice from Entering Your Home

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 14:34:02 GMT

Mice and other rodents are a frustrating and persistent problem for homeowners, especially during cooler months when pests seek the warmth and safety of indoor spaces. These small intruders can cause damage to your property, contaminate food, and spread disease. Fortunately, with the right preventative measures, you can get rid of mice and keep them away. Try these proven tips for eliminating mice from your home.

Seal Entry Points

One of the most effective ways to prevent mice is by sealing potential entry points around your home. Mice can squeeze through holes as small as a dime, so thorough inspection is key. Our first priority is to look for cracks in the foundation, gaps around utility pipes, and openings near windows and vents. Once identified, seal these areas by packing them with a durable material like steel wool, caulk, or hardware cloth. Older homes, which are more likely to have wear-and-tear issues, often require extra attention to detail.

Rodents Using Your Landscaping

Mice are resourceful and often use outdoor elements as stepping-stones into your home. Keep bushes and vegetation trimmed back from your home’s foundation to reduce potential hiding spots. Firewood, debris, and compost piles should be stored at least 20 feet from your house. Outdoor maintenance is especially critical for homes near wooded or rural areas where mice thrive.

Dealing with a mouse infestation in Cardington, Centerburg , or Chesterville? Contact Restoration Pest Management today for a fast and effective solution to your rodent problem in the Mt. Gilead area.

Maintain a Clean Environment

A clean and organized home is less attractive to mice. Store all food in airtight containers to eliminate easy access, and clean up crumbs and spills immediately, particularly in the kitchen and pantry. Trash should be stored in tightly sealed bins, and areas like basements, garages, and attics should be decluttered regularly to remove potential nesting spots. This is particularly important if you have outdoor storage spaces or sheds where mice are known to hide.

Set Traps as a Deterrent

Traps are a practical tool for preventing and addressing minor mouse activity. Position snap traps, glue traps, or live traps in areas where you suspect activity, such as basements, crawl spaces, or along baseboards. Be strategic about trap placement, targeting areas where mice are likely to travel—just be sure to keep them out of reach of children and pets.

Consider Professional Pest Management

Professional pest control services are the best solution (and sometimes the only solution) for persistent infestations. Restoration Pest Management provides comprehensive solutions to help protect your home from rodents. For homeowners seeking an exterminator in the Mt. Gilead and Northern Columbus area, we ensure a safe and effective resolution that protects both your family and property.

Protect Your Home Year-Round

Preventing mice from entering your home requires vigilance and effort, but the benefits far outweigh the risks of dealing with an infestation. By sealing entry points, maintaining cleanliness, addressing outdoor hazards, and using traps strategically, you can create a mouse-proof environment. For long-term peace of mind, Restoration Pest Management is here to help with customized pest control solutions that meet your needs.

Rodent Treatment Columbus Ohio and Rodent Exclusion Tips

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 03:12:01 GMT

Winter is coming! Rodent Treatment Columbus Ohio

Rodent treatment Columbus Ohio is important as the winter season coming. It is important to make sure that your home is secured from little intruders. Rodents are looking for a place to make their home, that is warm and out of the winter elements. Getting your home ready for winter while considering preventive rodent treatment Columbus Ohio before winter can help keep out those unwanted pests and rodents.

Ways rodents can get into your home and what to look for:

First, take a walk around the exterior of your home and look for holes and voids in the joints of the home, in the roof soffit, and around penetrations, pipes and venting coming through the walls. Look for larger cracks and holes in the foundation or near the sill plate. Most voids can be sealed with caulk or other inexpensive home repair products. You may need to use a more in-depth approach if you find larger holes and voids. One material that rodents do not like is construction grade steel wool. Packing holes with steel wool will keep rodents out as it irritates their face and they cannot chew through it. Because rodents have cartilage and not bone, they can fit through spaces that are a quarter of an inch wide. Therefore it is important that even the small cracks are sealed.

Secondly, on the interior of your home be sure that where you live is sealed from the voids and spaces in the drywall. Inspect your home for holes in the walls, openings under your sinks, around plumbing penetrations and any voids that there might be in the floors. Seal up all holes and voids to prevent rodents from getting into your living spaces through your walls.

Last, take a peek up in your attic and look for little running paths in the insulation. Rodents will create runs as they follow one another in search for food and lodgings. Look for rodent fecal matter which will tell you if you have had mice in your attic. Making sure you do not have a current rodent infestation will help decide what type of rodent treatment Columbus Ohio you need.

Rodents Can Climb:

While rodents may seem like creatures that only crawl along the ground, they are fabulous climbers. They can scale surfaces that are smooth and can very easily climb up the siding of your home. Rodents also find easy ways into your home by trees that are near your home. Cutting back tree limbs and keeping landscaping off of your home will help to make it a bit more difficult for the rodents to enter.

Rodent Treatment Columbus Ohio:

Pre-treating for rodents can help stop an invasion in its tracks. Setting traps around your home is time consuming and requires a lot of manual labor. You are constantly checking, resetting, and disposing of deceased rodents. Restoration Pest Management takes the approach of baiting. This requires very little attention and requires only checking the stations four times per year. Placing bait stations around the exterior of your home can give the mice a food source they can get with very little effort. With a food source easily at their disposal they will not need to forage for food in your home. By the time they eat the bait, they will not have the energy to burrow into your home.

If you already have an active infestation, we will also add interior rodent stations. The baits that we use are not secondary toxins, meaning that according to the label they will not harm larger animals that may eat the poisoned rodents. These chemicals also dehydrate the rodents and they will make their way outside to find a water source.

Call Today!

If you are having a rodent infestation or you want to take preventive measures to keep rodents out of your home this winter, Restoration Pest Management can provide all of your rodent treatment Columbus Ohio needs. Call us today to schedule an appointment! 614-204-8630 . Click here to schedule an appointment.

How To Get Rid Of Ants

rblanton@restorationpestmanagement.com (Rebekah Blanton) — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 21:26:15 GMT

How To Get Rid Of Ants

“How to get rid of ants?” This is a lingering question in the mind of homeowners every spring. Right around April, when the weather starts to warm up in Columbus, Ohio, ants make their appearance in homes across the state. They seem like harmless creatures, but they can actually do a vast amount of damage to homes and structures .

Ants (“Lasius neoniger), are one of the most irritating pests you can find in your home. Ants in Ohio are not known for their stings or bites like they are in the southern United States, however, they can cause major damage to homes and structures. There are several different types of ants in Ohio and it is important to properly identify which type of ant you have as each species will need a different method to eliminate. Different types of ants are attracted to different types of food sources. Some ants like fats and oils, others like protein and still others only feed on sugar. Properly identifying ants in Columbus, Ohio will determine what treatment is used in eradicating the infestation.

It is important to note that ant treatments are not a one and done deal most of the time. Ant colonies vary in size and there could be more than one colony on your property. Ants also leave pheromone trails that a new colony can find the following year and the infestation will start over again. Once the initial colony has been eradicated it is important to continue preventive pest control to ensure other colonies do not re-infest.

Types of Treatments

Many people when thinking about the question, “How to get rid of ants?,” think that ants are something that can be controlled with over the counter pesticides. It is true that there are a lot of chemicals out there that can kill on contact and put a repellent barrier throughout your home. However, if a repellent is placed in the home before the colony is eradicated this can lead to the colony moving somewhere else in the home where the chemical has not been applied. Also, chemicals that kill on contact and instantaneously do not give the ability for the ants to track it back to the colony. Ants are very social insects in that they feed each other, clean each other and take care of one another. Using a chemical that that kills slowly and can be tracked back to the colony ensures a broader and more thorough treatment.

Types of Ants

Although there are many types of ants in Columbus, Ohio, the ants we encounter the most are Carpenter Ants, Odorous House Ants and Little Black Ants.

Carpenter Ants (Camponotus spp.) are the most destructive species of ants to a structure as they need moist wood to create colonies to produce offspring. Carpenter ants prefer an environment that is moist and has a constant water source. Often you will find them in kitchens, bathrooms, window sills and on the sill plate of the foundation. They feed on proteins and sugars. Carpenter ants vary in size depending on their sex and the role they play within the colony. There are also ant swarmers that appear in early spring. These swarmers are looking for suitable environments to start a new colony. Many people mistake carpenter ant swarmers for termites as they can look similar. It is always a good idea to have a professional come and diagnose the insect to be sure the proper treatment is completed.

Odorous House Ants (“Paratrechina”) are easy to identify as they have an interesting odor and they come in droves. When these ants are smashed between your fingers they let off a “rotten coconut” smell. They are commonly found in kitchen areas and other areas where food is kept or stored. Although these ants do not cause a lot of structural damage they are annoying when you find them in your cupboards. They are looking for sweets and other food to forage.

Black Ants (“Monomorium minimum”) are a common house ant that is looking for a suitable nesting environment consisting of a water source and food source. These ants are not exclusive on what they will eat. They feed on anything inclusive of sugar, proteins, fats and oils.

Understanding the species, behavior and life cycles of ants is imperative in providing a comprehensive treatment in getting rid of this pest. At Restoration Pest Management our method of eliminating ants is:

Using the proper bait for the ant species with the proper type of food source that then can be fed to subsequent ants back at the colony.
Using a tracking chemical that thy ants will pick up and then transfer externally to other colony members,
Using a sterilizing agent that will prevent the ants from being able to reproduce.
Once the main issue has been taken care of and there are no more ants inside the structure, a preventive residual exterior chemical will be used to keep the ants out of the home year after year.
To ensure your home continues to be “ant free” we recommend quarterly or semi-monthly treatments to keep the pests out of your home.

Call us today!

If you are experiencing ants in Columbus, Ohio and have the lingering question in your mind, “ How to get rid of ants ?” give us a call today! 614-204-8630

Click to Schedule Service

For more information about ants in Ohio visit The Ohio State University Extension

Swarm Season

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 03:06:32 GMT

Are Those Termites Flying Around Your Property?

As the most destructive type of insect found in Columbus and across Ohio, termites cause great concern for many residential and commercial property owners. The most common and harmful types of termites are Subterranean. They build their colonies underground near their preferred food sources -- trees and various kinds of wooden structures, including homes and commercial buildings. Living and working underground, Subterranean Termites are not customarily seen above ground, even when they have established large colonies. However, they are usually on the search for new food sources and suitable places to form new colonies, and during “swarm season,” they will fly around above ground looking for areas for expansion.

What And When Is The Termite Swarm Season?

The swarm season typically runs from late February or early March through May. When the weather starts to warm up, and the soil is moist, termites will leave their established colonies to search for locations for new colonies. There are specialized termites from a mature colony that are winged. Visible flying termites during swarm season may be venturing out from a colony near your property, or they could be coming from one that already has access to your buildings. Even though the swarming termites are visible, they are only a part of the functioning colony. Many worker termites remain underground to feed and develop the existing colony at all times.

Swarmer termites, or alates , take to the air in search of a favorable location for a new colony, and they mate while swarming. After mating, they lose their wings and begin looking for moist soil that is loose enough to burrow into. Without moist soil, the termites will soon dry out and die above ground. Once a group of termites has dug deep enough to begin a new colony, a female will transform into a queen for the new colony and start laying eggs in high volume, as many as 20,000 in a day. It may take up to five years for the new colony to mature into a fully developed termite home, but as long as wood is available, the they are likely to make the space a permanent home.

Are Those Termites Or Ants?

Some species of ants have wings and also swarm in ways similar to termite swarming behavior. While ants are often pests in and around all types of buildings, for the most part, they do not cause the same kind of structural damage as termites. Carpenter Ants will tunnel through wood, but they do not eat wood as termites do.

Ants are also likely to be seen flying around at times of the year outside of the narrow termite swarm season. Even though termites are usually only visible above ground during their swarm season, they are always hard at work underground feeding on structural wood and keeping their existing colonies growing.

Flying ants and termites both have four wings, although the shapes are noticeably different. Termites have four equally sized wings, while ants will have larger wings upfront with a smaller rear pair. Termites have straight antennae, and those of ants are angled more sharply. Ant wings are usually about the same size as their bodies, while termite wings extend out about twice as long as their main body. Ants have narrow waists and termites have more cylinder-shaped bodies.

Whether you are experiencing swarming termites or flying ants, the potential for damage from infestation is significant. If the insects flying around your property are present during termite swarm season and appear to be termites rather than ants, you should have your property and the flying insects inspected immediately. Depending on the results of a professional inspection. Whether termites are swarming from existing colonies or are looking to set up new living quarters near your buildings, treatment plans can differ significantly. As always, the key to effective control and protecting your building is eliminating any existing colonization and excluding any termites from using your wooden structures as a food source in the future.

Rely on Restoration Pest Management for fast and accurate species identification and a comprehensive recommendation for controlling and excluding whatever kinds of bugs you might be having trouble with. We are the leading pest control provider for Columbus, and our customer service is second to none. Contact us today for further information and assistance with insects spotted during the swarm season.

Tips For Avoiding Termites

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 19:23:44 GMT

Of the approximately 2,000 known termite species, the one thing they have in common is a love for wood. They are a serious threat to home and business owners, causing over $5 billion in property damage annually; damage which is generally not covered by a homeowner's insurance. While standard homeowners' policies cover damages and perils that are sudden or accidental, infestations are considered to be caused by a lack of preventative maintenance and, as such, is the homeowner's responsibility. Columbus ranked #42 in the most termite-infested cities in the U.S.

Common Termite Species

Eastern Subterranean Termites

By far the most widespread and destructive species in the U.S., they live in underground colonies building mud tubes for safe, sheltered passage. These colonies can expand to live above ground when provided moisture, such as a blocked rain gutter or a leaky pipe. They're preferred foods are softwood and newspapers.

Formosan Termites

Also widespread across the U.S. are the invasive Formosan Termites. Not native to North America, Formosans were likely imported from China or Japan. Larger than other species, they can create massive underground colonies of thousands, devour and destroy large volumes of wood at a rapid rate.

Drywood Termites

Unlike their subterranean cousins, Drywood Termites do not need to be near the soil, nor do they create mud tunnels. Preferring to eat wood with a moisture content below 12%, they establish their nests in roofing materials, wooden support beams, furniture, and hardwood floors. While most prevalent in the southwestern region of the U.S. and Mexico, Drywood Termites can be transported to all corners of the United States via infested furniture and lumber.

Dampwood Termites

Opposite of Drywood species, Dampwood Termites prefer wet, decaying wood like tree stumps or old woodpiles. While not as interested in the drier wood that makes up most homes and buildings, your utility poles, fences, and untreated outbuildings all ring the dinner bell.

Signs of a Termite Infestation :

Discolored drywall
Small, pinholes in drywall
Squeaky floorboards
Crumbling, damaged wood molding
Maze-like damage patterns in furniture or floorboards.
Mud tubes climbing the foundation of your buildings
Swarms of flying termite on your property or termite wings discarded after swarms.

Tips for Avoiding Termites

Keep Wood Away From Buildings

Woodpiles stacked against the side of your house keeps it in easy reach during chilly winter months, but it also provides an easy source of food adjacent to warm shelter. The same goes for wood-based products stored in attics or crawlspaces. To minimize risk, stack or store all wood-based products several yards from buildings, and keep the wood elevated off the ground.

Keep Foundations Dry

Like any other living creature, termites need moisture to survive. Improper drainage creates another ideal living condition for these wood munchers. Maintain your downspouts so that they are diverting rainwater away from your home's foundation. Exterior faucets and air-conditioning drip can also cause pooling water, as can gutters clogged with leaf debris, which collects moisture as it decays. All of these issues can create an ideal environment for termite infestations.

Clear Foundations of Mulch

Wood mulch is a simple, inexpensive way to increase the aesthetic value of your home.

Unfortunately, it can also create the perfect ideal living conditions for termite activity. It's best to keep mulch raked away from foundations by at least six inches and to make sure that it never comes in contact with siding, or the framing of doors and windows.

Keep Overhanging Tree Limbs and Bushes Trimmed

Tree branches above your roof, or overgrown bushes against the sides of buildings, create sheltered areas, allows for moisture build-up, and give pests, including termites, an easy path into your home. They can also cause blockages and drainage issues in gutters, which becomes an ideal habitat for an aerial infestation.

Have Professionals Inspect and Treat Your Home

While all of the above steps can make homes and buildings less appealing to termites, the best way to deal with these voracious pests is to hire a trained professional to do an annual inspection. Included is a search for infestations, as well as find and seal any hidden openings that could allow termites to enter. These infestations can go unnoticed for years, and it requires a trained and experienced eye to spot the signs and identify what species are feasting on your property and inside your home.

Treating your home or new property for termites, as a preventive measure, is a wise investment. Contact Restoration Pest Management today and take your property off the lunch menu!

Why Do We Lose It Over Roaches

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 02:55:02 GMT

Entomophobia (also referred to as insectophobia), is the fear of insects. This is a relatively common fear in the western part of the world, especially in urban areas that provide a more attractive habitat for bugs. What is it about bugs, and specifically cockroaches, that freaks us out so badly? To answer that question, we need to take a look at our own evolution and how it's hardwired our brains to react to certain stimuli.

Hardwired Reflexes

Fear and disgust are the two strongest and most universally negative human emotions. Both have developed in the oldest part of our brains to identify threats and help keep us alive.

Fear

We assign diverse levels of fear response to different situations or items, based on the threat they appear to present.

That's why we cringe at the sight of a big, winged palmetto bug, but not a puppy.

Disgust

Our disgust response is equally compelling, warning us of potential disease or contamination. The sight and smells of decay, dead animals, and fecal matter are among the strongest disgust responses. Creatures like rats, mice, and roaches trigger this same response.

Nurture (the combination of environment and learned behavior) can build atop these foundational instincts, as well. A small child seeing a parent scream in fear, run away, or smash a cockroach (all reactions outside the norm of the parent's behavior, and signaling danger) will associate the same fear and loathing to cockroaches. It's not just kids that are susceptible to this type of conditioning, either. What percentage of the population do you suppose had an aversion to clowns prior to "IT," the bestselling novel and movie by Stephen King?

The roaches oily, greasy appearance, ureic smell, and chosen habitats (dark, dank, & dirty) are all conditions that our brains are wired to be wary of. Then there's their speed. Anything that can move faster than we can, will trigger the fear response due to our ancestor's need to outrun hungry predators.

Cockroaches can travel over 3 miles per hour. Relative to their size, that's the equivalent to a human sprint of 200 mph. In other words, the speed of a cheetah. Let's face it; fast zombies are scarier than slow zombies. And while, of course, a charging cockroach does not present the same threat as a charging cheetah (or a zombie for that matter), our hardwired instincts don't work that way. Instead, they keep a remarkably simple rating system: "safe" or "dangerous," and then assigning a level of response based upon that judgment.

Fear of Contamination

The base fear behind most insect fears is that of contamination and sickness. Cockroaches are incredibly filthy. Not only do they harbor disease-producing pathogens but, given their environment, they carry a wide variety of bacteria on their feet, legs, and bodies. The same can be said for a kitten, by the way, but again, our hardwiring rates them as "soft and adorable" and not "disgusting and dangerous." Roaches can cause or exacerbate many diseases, including:

Typhoid
Dysentery
Polio
Salmonella
Staphylococcus
Streptococcus
Eczema
Asthma

Cockroaches could destroy food stores, too, which would have been another cause of revulsion to our ancestors, who often faced starvation in winter if their food supplies ran short. Add to this the roach's "sneaky" behavior and desire to avoid detection even as it creeps into our most personal spaces.

Cockroach Facts

They can live for more than a week without their heads , and eventually die only because they have no other means of ingesting water.
Cockroaches have around 4,600 sub-species.
They are known to carry allergens that will cause problems people living with asthma.
Roaches are transporters of bacteria across all surfaces they touch.
Most people have an adverse reaction towards cockroaches because of their size, armored-body look, and shiftiness of movement.
Roaches mate only once but will produce 300-400 offspring from that mating, each of which will be ready to reproduce in only 3-4 months and can live up to 4 years. This is the main reason why it's so important to contact a professional exterminator as soon as you see or suspect the beginning of an infestation.
Cockroaches have been around since the dawn of man. They have adapted to the planet's many changes and are likely the most repulsed creature around the globe.

Insects have always spread disease and destroyed property. Those who lacked a sense of caution towards them, tended to sicken and die off, leaving the people that feared them to dominate the gene pool and, hence, we've evolved to avoid most creepy-crawlies automatically…like cockroaches.

The Mental Toll Of Bed Bugs

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 00:33:14 GMT

Why Bed Bugs Take Their Toll On Us

The name "Bed Bug" comes from the pest's most common hiding place, but it also is because these bugs are the stuff of nightmares. You're probably aware of how a run-in with these creatures can turn your life upside down. What you might not think about is this, once the bugs are dealt with and gone, the psychological effects they leave behind can carry on for years. Ohio has four cities ranking on the list of "Worst Bed Bug Cities in the U.S." If you suffer from any manner of psychological distress regarding Bed Bugs, you are far from alone in this beautiful state.

The Effect On The Psyche

The National Institutes of Health lists a cornucopia of mental disorders that can develop from a Bed Bug infestation. Many of those effects mirror the symptoms of PTSD: trouble sleeping and bouts of nightmares when you do fall asleep, anxiety, flashbacks, even hyper-vigilance, thinking you see the bugs everywhere you go. The lack of rest and insomnia only compounds a person's stress levels. The lack of sleep and stress can lead to poor eating choices and weight gain and things spiral faster than the Bed Bugs can breed. This isn't something that affects a few people once in a while; the National Institute Of Health ( NIH) says 81% of the people it studied were left with at least some psychological distress after an experience with Bed Bugs that require professional care to overcome.

A clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU, Dr. Katherine Maloy , explained part of the reason Bed Bugs get into people's heads and stay there is because they've invaded what is usually a very special and intimate place. If you're in the middle of an infestation, it's hard not to worry about what it will take to get rid of them, and what's going to happen in the meantime. The process of getting rid of Bed Bugs is not something homeowners can deal with on their own, and that can cause stress for some people too. Once they're dealt with, anxiety about them can stick around for years. Since they were there once and got in without your knowledge, the fear they could come again lingers.

The bites Bed Bugs leave can also cause stress, or PTSD later on. The Ohio Department of Aging says Bed Bugs bite people while they're fast asleep, targeting any skin they can get their mouths on. The bites leave rows of itchy welts than can swell up after about a day, and become very red. Once thought to not carry any diseases, it is now known that Bed Bugs can carry the parasite which causes Chagas' Disease. It is a serious problem to deal with as it is going on and the issues can remain once the bugs have been eradicated. You may start to think any bite at all is a sign of Bed Bugs, even if the bites are not all that similar. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says some people's quality of life was so reduced, they even resorted to ingesting insecticides to try to ward off the bugs.

Society's View Of Bed Bugs

There are also social stigmas to deal with: some people think Bed Bugs imply someone keeps a dirty home or has poor hygiene. That is not at all true. There is no discrimination across social, economic, or racial boundaries. Bed Bugs can hitch a ride in your clothing or purse from anywhere and hop off the second you walk in the door. Animals can bring them in, too, and the bugs will spread to even the cleanest of households. Everyday Health reports some people withdraw from their social circles after getting Bed Bugs as they are worried people will fear them, and that they can spread the infestation to other homes. That can lead to depression and anxiety if it goes on for too long.

Ease Your Mind

"Restoring Your Peace of Mind," is our motto, and we aim to stick by it. If you do have a problem with Bed Bugs, Restoration Pest Management will be patient and understanding, making sure to listen to what you are experiencing. We will make sure to walk you through every step of the process, so you don't have to feel stressed, wondering what's to come. Our Bed Bug elimination service is state-of-the-art, and it's as fast as it is effective, so you can get back to your normal day-to-day right away, and get a restful night's sleep knowing you are in the hands of the best pest control company in Ohio.

Why Local Pest Control Is Best

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 21:01:46 GMT

Local Pest Control Is Better Than Big Chains

Restoration Pest Management has been part of the Columbus community for years. With over 16 years of experience, our certified pest control technicians are more than familiar with the pests specific to Ohio, and the best ways to get rid of them. Many of our experts have also worked in other climates, like Texas and South Carolina, and they bring that perspective here when they work to get rid of creepy crawlies around here. Where other big chains might bulk buy whatever chemical they feel like throwing out en masse, Restoration Pest Management uses the best products for your home or business. We know the challenges specific to our area and climate and know how to work around them. We know how to stop pests from reaching you before they get there.

The Support Ohio Local Economies Coalition says that every dollar spent with a local business multiple by two to four times as it feeds back into the local economy. If you were to spend $100 with a company founded and operated out of your community, $68 of that would stay in town. But if you buy from a business that isn't owned locally, like a national chain, less than half of it remains – only $32 is left to boost your city.

Small local businesses like Restoration Pest Management make up the most significant portion of employers nationally, creating 70% of new jobs in the U.S. As our company grows, we're able to hire more people from the Columbus area. We buy many of our products right here, to use here. Everything we do feeds back into the our local economy.

We understand the climate challenges in our area. For instance, Ohio is seeing more and more rain every year, adding to the risk of eroding fields, weed growth, and the spread of insects. This past year was the wettest on record, and intense downpours are happening twice as often as they used to. All that standing water is a breeding ground for insects and attracts other wildlife from far away. That's all on top of the invasive insects making their way into the state, like the Asian Longhorned Beetle that can destroy perfectly healthy trees around your home, and the Gypsy Moth that has survived over 40 statewide eradication attempts carried out by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Since we live in this community, we see those changes happening and the new pests making their way in, and we know how to adapt and respond.

With Restoration Pest Management, you know you're working together with someone who lives in the same town. Our technicians send their kids to your community schools, eat at the restaurants here in town, and buy things from other local businesses – one neighbor, helping another. A strong environment for local businesses creates a more unique and booming community. Those other big national chains may not be overly concerned about whether you think they did their best. But at Restoration Pest Management, our business depends on our friends and neighbors in the Columbus community, so we will always work our absolute hardest to make sure each and every customer is satisfied.

Our motto at Restoration Pest Management is "Restoring your peace of mind." With your health and wellness as our top priority, we will make sure every inch of your home or business is pest-free, clean of any disease-carrying debris left by the insects or animals, and protected from the pests coming back. Because we know every home or business is unique, we offer several different preventative service plans with varying ranges of price, as well as a la carte services for pest removal and control. We take on every project with integrity, determination, and a desire to wholly impress every customer.

When you're looking for a pest control company to take care of your home or business, we urge you to choose Restoration Pest Management. We want to do our best to help make this area its best. Call or email our trustworthy team today to learn more about our process of Evaluating, Executing, and Exterminating that ensures results. Our technicians will do a comprehensive examination of your home or business, form a plan specific to your needs, get rid of every pest problem we find, and make sure it doesn't happen. Call today and keep it in the local family.

Keep Bugs Out Of Your Home

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 19:15:58 GMT

Stop Bugs Before You See Them

As we all know, insect infestations can become a real nuisance. Whether they are causing damage to your property, creating health hazards for family and pets, or adding additional costs to your budget by requiring an infestation treatment by an exterminator, keeping pests out of your home by regularly treating your property is the most effective way to keep you and your living area safe and pest-free before these insects become a severe problem.

Not All Bugs Are In Plain Sight

There are hundreds of species of insects that would love to become your next uninvited guest, and not all of them like to announce their arrival. Many pests such as spiders and ants live in areas of your home without ever being detected, while insects such as cockroaches and bed bugs survive by staying hidden throughout the day, protecting themselves in their favorite hiding spots such as your mattress, cabinets, and where you store your food, choosing to feed only at night or when you’re not at home. With survival instincts such as these, it may be difficult even to realize you have a severe infestation until it becomes an overwhelming problem.

Other creepy crawlers can be challenging to detect due to their size. The common flea’s size may range from as small as 1/12 to 1/6 of an inch long, making them extremely difficult to see unless you are specifically looking for them. Regularly treating your home for pests such as these may end up removing unwanted insects you did not know you even had.

Waiting Until It’s Too Late

Depending on the severity and species of an infestation, waiting until they have overtaken your home can result in a frustrating predicament for all homeowners. Regular treatments, especially during the colder months, are the first line of defense against insects who become more active during the spring and summer. Pests such as cockroaches are not only a disgusting nuisance that spread multiple illnesses and can survive a week without their heads, but they are also extremely resilient to the cold, surviving temperatures as low as 32 degrees. Ants will spend the winter hunkered down inside their colonies underground, while others will hibernate in a dormant phase called diapause. Once the warmer weather begins, these insects return, seeking to claim your home as their own.

Whether you are trying to protect your home or your health, regular pest treatments are an effective way to stop infestations before they begin, keeping you and your home prepared for whichever insects the change of weather might bring.

Fewer Chemicals Inside Your Home

Whether you are treating bed bugs, fleas, or roaches, managing an insect infestation inside your home will require chemicals in the form of pesticides and sprays. Though they are safely used by an experienced pest control professional, it is understandable that some homeowners may want to limit the number of chemicals inside their living space. Fortunately, regular treatments to the perimeter of your home can keep bugs out before they find a way in, especially during the warmer months. Treating the foundation and soil around your home in the fall and winter can limit the number of pests you may encounter in the spring when insects become more active begin their hunt for new places to reproduce.

A routine proactive treatment will also result in fewer needed chemicals than managing a full-scale infestation. While regular treatment for pests includes the interior perimeter of rooms, hallways, and outside the home, an infestation may spread into all areas of your property, requiring treatment of crawl spaces, attics, or wherever else they have decided to call home.

Stop An Infestation Before It Starts

Regardless of the season, the inside of your home will always be more attractive to pesky pests than the great outdoors. With this knowledge, regularly treating your home for invading insects can save not only your property but also your health and budget from serious complications down the road, before an overwhelming infestation occurs. Reduce the bugs and chemicals inside your home with regular treatments throughout the year by our team at Restoration Pest Management. Since 2004, our certified pest control experts have been protecting homes in the Columbus area, stopping infestations in their tracks. Whether you are proactively protecting your property from ants and fleas or removing a full-scale cockroach invasion, our team will ensure your pest problem is solved.

Why Are They Called Bed Bugs?

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 05:41:04 GMT

And Other Interesting Things You May Not Have Known

Whether you have dealt with these relentless parasites yourself, or know a friend or family member that has, Bed Bugs are simply the stuff of nightmares. Notorious for ruining relationships, plaguing entire cities, and even affecting our mental health, there is a reason major news publications and government agencies are putting them in the spotlight. Hit pieces against these uninvited roommates are common, with ominous titles such as " How Bed Bugs Invaded New York " and " Are Bed Bugs Killing Relationships and Romance? ", urging all to steer clear of these invading pests or face the dire consequences. Unfortunately, there is quite a bit of truth to their warnings. Found in all 50 states, Bed Bugs continue to be a rising problem for every area in the country, setting up shop wherever you unknowingly carry them, and provoking litigation against landlords everywhere.

Why Are They Called Bed Bugs?

It may come as a surprise to many, but the name "Bed Bugs" is not an entirely accurate moniker for these bloodsuckers. They have likely earned this name due to their habit of feeding on hosts as they sleep, thus retreating into the nearest hiding spot, which just so happens to be your bed. Though they're synonymous with beds, they will live in almost anything that provides protection, often hitching a ride inside clothing, suitcases, furniture, and even been found in shoes. Regardless of where you find them, the Bed Bug nickname has stuck, striking terror into tenants and homeowners across the country.

Bed Bugs Have Been a Known Nuisance for Thousands of Years

Though an infestation may have you rightly asking why karma is punishing you, remember that Bed Bugs have been harassing us for centuries. Aristotle first mentioned these bothersome bugs in ancient Greece, and they have been recorded in the modern world ever since. They were even believed to hold medicinal purposes, used for treating snake bites and hysteria, instead of causing hysteria as they understandably do today. Though they were almost eradicated due to the use of the powerful pesticide DDT, they rebounded significantly since DDT was banned by the EPA and have become resistant to milder pesticides.

Bed Bugs Don't Discriminate

There has been a common myth associated with Bed Bugs, they are attracted to unsanitary conditions. This could not be further from the truth, as Bed Bugs are found in all types of environments. Though more densely populated areas such as cities are known for widespread infestations, that is due to increased opportunities to be carried from building to building. Bed Bugs have been found in 5-star hotels, expensive restaurants, and even the headquarters for the New York Times .

Unsanitary conditions may give them more places to hide; it does not attract them more than any other place where possible meals congregate.

Infestations Are Causing Anxiety and Isolation

A 2011 survey had found that one out of every five Americans has either had an outbreak or knows someone who has. With occurrences happening that frequently, it's easy to see how these tiny pests are causing enormous amounts of anxiety. Multiple studies have compared the mental consequences of Bed Bug infestations to similarities in PTSD patients, yet another reason Bed Bugs have been declared a public health crisis by the CDC and other government agencies.

Bed Bug Spit Contains an Anesthetic

Waking up to itchy welts and mild rashes is a clear cut sign that you may have been a Bed Bug's lunch, but have you ever wondered why you don't feel their bites? Bed Bug saliva contains a mild anesthetic, numbing the bite location so they can keep on feeding without interrupting your beauty rest. How nice of them!

Don't Tackle Your Infestation Alone

Their eggs are almost too small for the eye to see, reaching only 1-millimeter-long, while the insect itself can range up to 4 millimeters. Due to that small size and nocturnal habits, they can easily go undetected for long periods. These creepy crawlers also possess surprising survival instincts, purposefully avoiding meals during times where they can be detected. Known as the premier pest control company in Columbus, Ohio, our team at Restoration Pest Management will do just that, rid your home from current Bed Bugs and protect you from further invasions with our Peace of Mind service plans. Do not struggle alone, seek out our dedicated team with over a decade of extermination experience today.

Why Are We Afraid Of SPIDERS!?

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 00:15:55 GMT

And Other Creepy Bugs

The fear of spiders and related insects is one of the most common phobias in western society, ranging from mild disgust to paralyzing terror. Arachnophobia (the extreme fear of spiders and other arachnids), along with snakes and bats, accounts for 40% of all people living with phobia in the United States.

But why are we so afraid of spiders in particular? And why do they frighten us so much more than other, even potentially more dangerous, insects? The fact is, less than 2% of arachnid species are dangerous. Spiders don’t carry life-threatening diseases like fleas and mosquitoes, which can spread everything from the West Nile Virus to Bubonic Plague, nor do they feed on human blood like ticks or bed bugs.

Yet, folks who will swat a mosquito without a second thought may refuse to go into their own home if they think they see a spider inside. And, sharing these facts with them is likely to be of little help as they use you as a human shield to escape that Daddy Longlegs.

There are several theories as to why we react to these “creep-crawlies” the way we do, from learned behavior to evolutionary conditioning, to (our favorite) the “Alien Factor.”

Let’s take a look…

Evolutionary Response

Disgust is an involuntary rejection response that has evolved in humans and other animals to help prevent disease, sickness, and death. Science rates these reactions, their severity, and their causes, by what is referred to as Disgust Relevance.

The commonality in the factors of disgust relevance is that all can be vehicles for the transmission of diseases that were overwhelmingly fatal in more primitive times and often credited to the supernatural. People who were pre-inclined to these disgusts, and so avoided those elements, tended to live longer, healthier lives, while those who didn’t died off. They also were more likely to model and encourage these prejudices to their offspring, lessening their chance of exposure, as well. Over eons, this trait grew genetically stronger and more common, as it was passed along.

Disgust Relevance can include things that, while not dangerous themselves, tend to be associated with things which are.

It also includes a range of widely feared, though rarely dangerous non-predatory animals, creatures like bats, lizards, slugs, rats, leeches, snakes, mice, cockroaches, and…of course…SPIDERS!

Some animals became considered Disgust Relevant by being associated with the spread of disease, for example, cockroaches and rats (though in all fairness, the rats were framed - as were spiders - it was the fleas that the rats carried that spread the Black Death.)

Social Conditioning

If, as a small child, you ever saw a parent or older sibling scream in fear and flee the house at the sight of a tiny spider...well, it leaves an impression. Studies show that in European countries, where it was once commonly accepted that spiders spread diseases like the black plague and cholera, that arachnophobia is far more common.

In the Middle Ages, any food touched by a spider was considered to be infected. If a spider fell into the water, wine, or milk, it was believed to become poisoned, and had to be thrown out. Conversely, fear of spiders is significantly less common outside of Europe, in countries that didn’t have these myths. India, Africa, South America, and aboriginal Australia had little fear of spiders, and, for many cultures, spiders were considered to be a sign of good luck or even a culinary delicacy. Even today, spider phobias are still widespread (movies like Arachnophobia and 8-Legged Freaks probably aren’t helping.)

Endless “memes” showing people burning or blowing up their houses or using machine guns or flame throwers to deal with a single spider, feed into our rationalization of extreme fear and disgust. The circular thinking being: If all of these people are terrified of spiders, spiders must be terrifying! Let’s face it, how many of us can watch Raiders of the Lost Ark, and NOT get the heebie-jeebies when Indy has tarantulas crawling all over him?

The “Alien” Factor

Ask people why they don’t like spiders, and a majority of the responses will be “they’re just…creepy!” Perhaps not the most scientific of explanations, but it’s still a relevant answer to explain a reaction that responders themselves may not fully understand.

The human brain prefers symmetry. It processes optical data (what we see) far better when it involves smooth, linear, predictable motions (horses running in the pasture.) Sudden and erratic movements, especially those whose progress can’t be anticipated or predicted, are more challenging to process, eliciting a negative response from the limbic system in our brain. In other words, spiders may make us uncomfortable simply because their movements just feel wrong.

Skittering in short, erratic bursts of speed, able to dart in any possible direction on disproportionately long legs, and often changing course for no perceivable reason, their movements seem unnatural. Other insects that move erratically, like cockroaches and scorpions, rate high on the list of animal phobias. Snakes share these “unnatural” characteristics, as well.

Our evolutionary defensive response to the strange or unnatural is, of course, fear.

Here at Restoration Pest Management, we can’t tell you why so many people are afraid of these 8-legged critters. Maybe it’s an evolutionary response, or social conditioning, or even an “alien” factor. Or maybe, just maybe, at the end of the day, the fact is… Spiders are just creepy!

DIY Bed Bug Treatment Craze

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 16:58:28 GMT

The DIY Bed Bug Craze - Should You Hop On This Train?

"Bed Bugs" most of us get itchy all over just thinking about them. The idea of sharing a bed with dozens of tiny blood-sucking insects, not to mention their shed skins, droppings, and eggs; could any expense be too high to avoid waking up to that?

Well, a growing number of homeowners delay or avoid hiring licensed, professional exterminators like us, and resort to home remedies or cheap pesticides to do the job themselves because they do fear our services are too expensive. From mothballs to baking soda, talcum powder to tea-tree oil... there's someone on the all-knowing internet promising us that it's a miracle cure. Some people are even suggesting dousing infested areas with rubbing alcohol (p lease don't turn your bed into a giant can of Sterno). What makes these products so inviting is the idea that they can save you a lot of money, that they are easy to use, and that they are just as effective as the ones that exterminators use (FYI…they're not.)

Like any DIY project, there's more than just the cost of materials to consider. Things like:

The quality and effectiveness of the treatments.
Cost of additional equipment (personal and furniture protective gear, clean-up materials, etc.)
The value of your time, of course.
The investment value of your home.
Whether or not you have the skills/knowledge to do it right the first time.
DIY cost and effort do not guarantee results.
No insurance against damage to your property or belongings.

And, most importantly, of course - the stress and health risks to your family. Not only are they at risk from allergic reactions and infection from bites, but anxiety, sleeplessness, and even phobias. Not to mention possible reactions to unfamiliar or over sprayed chemicals.

When you factor these into the equation, it becomes clear that a better price doesn't necessarily equal the better value. As with many home remedies, a few of these can help in getting rid of some of your infestation, they rarely achieve 100% success...and when it comes to Bed Bugs, with their frightening speed of reproduction, it is literally all or nothing.

The truth is that most folks don't even realize that they have a Bed Bug issue for several days, by which time these little nasties can become an entrenched and rapidly growing army. One that must be defeated quickly and efficiently, before it can spread to the rest of your house.

Knowing where to look is another critical skill. Most people hear "Bed Bugs" and think, "Well, they must be in the bed." Bed Bugs are also happy to nest in couches, headboards, stuffed animals, chair cushions, purses, coats, and even inside lamps, electrical outlets, computers, digital clocks and shoes. And, again, to avoid the risk of re-infestation, we know how to get them all.

As professional exterminators, we will locate the source of the infestation, formulate a targeted plan of treatment, use professional-grade products, and, with our training and experience, maximize the impact of the extermination. That's a good investment!

Do You Need Year Round Pest Control?

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 17:14:52 GMT

An Ounce Of Prevention - Year Round Pest Control

You might think that during the colder months our homes and businesses are safe from rodents and pests. This is a natural mistake – we may not see them as often, but they're still there. Where do they go when it gets cold outside? The same place you do – inside! Some pest problems even get worse in the colder months, so it's essential to keep your pest control plan active year-round. At Restoration Pest Management, we are experts at providing solutions to all sorts of pest problems in Columbus and the surrounding areas.

So what kind of issues can arise in the off months?

Rodents

One of the worst offenders in the rodent world is rats. Their teeth never stop growing, so they must constantly chew to keep them worn down. One of their favorite things to gnaw on is electrical wiring, so if they make their way into your charming, warm home or business during cold weather, you can have a real problem on your hands. Not only can this disrupt your electricity, in some instances it can even cause a fire. This devastation is easily preventable if you keep your regular pest control services throughout the year.

Another issue with all rodents, including common mice, is the parasites they can bring into your home. Fleas, ticks, and other travelers that can hitch a ride on these nuisances can cause all kinds of health concerns, some of which are even deadly. The Bubonic Plague, better known as the Black Death, was spread just like this, and it wiped out as many as 200 million people throughout the middle ages. Mice will seek out warm, soft things, like your insulation, during cold months to line their beds, so keep an eye out for even tiny holes in your property.

Even more disturbing, there are reports of increasing numbers of Coypu, otherwise known as Nutria, by local scientists. These rodents are extremely destructive and are most active in winter due to the scarcity of food. If one of these pests gets into your home or business – look out! They will destroy your lawn and garden in their search for food, they're hideous (think a giant rat, usually around 15-20 lbs but can get close to 40lbs), and can carry all the same germs and parasites as other rodents – plus they breed year-round, so don't think the cold will drive them away.

Cockroaches

Roaches are yet another pest that survives throughout the winter, and colder months drive them further into your property. While many cockroaches come from tropical climates and will die if it gets frigid, in our neck of the woods, it rarely gets to the lows needed to kill them off. Just one female cockroach can lay tens of thousands of eggs in their short lives, so taking care of roaches as soon as you see only one is imperative. Your home or business is a warm and cozy place for her to grow her family in the cold months and offers plenty of food and water for them, no matter how tidy you are.

Nesting Insects

One of the most common (and most tenacious) of the nesting insects are Argentine Ants. These hardy ants have a lot of queens that connect their colonies through tunnels. While it may seem like this would lead them to be more sedentary, they are quite mobile. They can hibernate, but they prefer to remain active and multiplying. They'll go to any lengths to escape the cold, and your property is just what they're looking for. Getting rid of Argentine Ants if very difficult for a novice. It requires expert knowledge and specialized skill, so making sure you are diligent about your pest control regimen throughout the off-season will save you a lot of time and money in the form of property repairs in the future.

It might make sense that colder weather might make pest numbers decline, but that's far from the truth for many of California's most common offenders. Making sure you protect your home and business, even through the off-season or colder months of the year is essential in having a comprehensive prevention plan for your property. Call us today for a free estimate.

What Is Integrated Pest Management

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 16:51:45 GMT

Pest Control That Works

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) originated following World War II as a coordinated and scientific approach to management and control of agricultural pests. IPM has been developed further over the years to promote scientifically proven and eco-friendly pest control methods in many other environments. IPM provides a logical and structured approach to pest control for all residential and commercial buildings as well as lawns and gardens.

IPM is an ongoing process whereby pests are studied and analyzed in a given environment to determine the least hazardous method available to eliminate the subject pest and prevent damage.

There are four necessary steps involved in implementing IPM: (1.) Identify the species of pest invading the subject environment and determine where the pests are coming from; (2.) Identify the food, water, and shelter in the subject environment the pests are using; (3.) Assess whether traps or non-toxic methods along with other control methods would be sufficient; and (4.) Monitor and assess ongoing pest control methods.

IPM goes far beyond merely killing pests that in an environment with pesticides that might not be necessary for the situation (or might make things worse). IPM focuses on prevention and exclusion in addition to merely poisoning existing pests. Through careful study of the environmental factors present in a treatment area, along with scientific approaches to the structural exclusion of pests, IPM provides efficient strategies for elimination of pest more permanently.

IPM methodology also calls for proper pest identification and knowledge of the characteristics and behaviors of varying pest species, and that is the key to the entire IPM process. Our education and experience allow for the correct identification and understanding of the problem pest in your environment.

Once a pest is identified, proper control techniques can be evaluated. An integrated approach using the best combination of control methods provides for more efficient pest control. The different types of control methodologies include biological, cultural, mechanical, and chemical controls.

Biological control includes the use of a pest’s natural predators to control a given pest. A given pest may have natural predators that offer protection in an environment. Controlling or eliminating a pest’s preferred food source is another type of biological control.

Cultural controls are intended to reduce a pest’s ability to reproduce and establish populations. These control methods include water maintenance and soil treatments. The general idea is to look for ways to make an environment unfriendly to the subject pest, which usually means making the environment better for people and for the animals and plants that need to be protected.

Mechanical controls either kill pests or exclude pests from an environment by preventing their entry. Mechanical controls include traps of all types to capture or kill pests. These types of mechanical devices can be useful in properly understanding precisely what kind of pests are present. Mechanical controls also include the use of physical barriers to prevent entry into a given environment by pests.

Chemical controls involve the use of proper pesticides. IPM practices are designed to minimize the use of chemical controls to protect humans, animals, and plants that are not the target of the pest control process. IPM calls for the use of the most effective pesticide that can be used minimally and in ways that are safe and have the least impact on the environment.

A key component of IPM is thorough and effective environmental monitoring after control methods have been implemented. Continual feedback and analysis allow for any modifications to the control methods used to address any pest problem properly. IPM is designed to be used as an ongoing process of monitoring a controlled environment to treat changing conditions.

Use of IPM reduces and excludes pests, reduces the necessity of pesticide applications, and saves money for home and business owners, all while protecting the home or business environment and its inhabitants. Reduced pesticide application means less allergic reactions or adverse health reactions for your family and pets at home, or your employees and customers at your business. Implementation of IPM saves money in the long term, as exclusion and control methods prevent future pest infestation.

At Restoration Pest Management, we use modern IPM methods to assess your particular situation accurately and advise you on the best available pest control methods available. Our approach is designed to logically and safely protect your home or business most effectively. Call us today for an inspection and assessment of your property’s pest control needs.