There are certain situations that obviously require professional pest control services, but what about the rest of the year when it seems like pests aren’t a problem at all? Even when it seems like pests are at bay or even non-existent, your home is susceptible to future infestations that may be brewing just under your nose. Here are just a few reasons to implement preventive pest control in your home.

Reduces Risk of Infestation

A major pest infestation doesn’t just happen overnight, but it can happen right in front of you—or around or under you. A pest control professional is trained to recognize early signs of an infestation and stop it in its tracks. Regular visits from a pest control specialist means that pests have less time to settle into your home. Without regular inspections, pests will continue to multiply until they cause enough damage to catch your attention.

Prevents Major Destruction of Property

Speaking of damage, preventive pest control can dramatically reduce the chances that pests will cause damage to your property. With regular visits and inspections, a pest control professional will monitor your home and property for potentially harmful pests and eliminate the unwanted guests before they have a chance to ruin your belongings.

Cultivates a Pest-Free Environment

When you actively invest in a pest-free home, you become more aware of the sources of pest problems and start to implement proactive pest control habits into your routine. You become more alert to signs of pests and more diligent about putting food away promptly rather than letting it sit on the kitchen counter. Partnering with a trained pest control professional will help you cultivate a pest-free environment in your household.

Decreases Your Pest Control Costs

It may sound counterintuitive, but implementing year-round pest control services can actually reduce the overall cost of pest control and repairs of pest-related damage. The added bonus is that preventive pest control is far more effective than the sprays, pesticides, and traps you can buy at the hardware store. You’ll save time, money, and effort by preventing infestations before they occur.

If you need pest control services in the greater Des Moines area, choose Springer Professional Home Services. Our trained professionals will partner with you to keep your home pest-free year round. For nearly 30 years, we’ve been a trusted name among pest control professionals. Set up your free inspection today!

As winter approaches, you and your family won’t be the only ones heading inside from the cold. Pests can become a major issue in the fall and winter months as they invade the indoors to escape the harsh outdoor conditions. We’ve already discussed some major offenders in “Winter Pests 101.” Now, let’s examine how to prevent and remove these unwanted house guests.

Prevent

One of the best ways to combat winter pests is to prevent them from entering your home. Pest prevention is something that you can practice year round, but it becomes particularly important as the cold weather drives unwanted guests indoors. Here are a few ways to implement preventive practices into your fall and winter routine.

Maintain your outdoor property.

Pests will be less inclined to stick around your home if they don’t have an ideal living environment available. Maintaining your yard is key to preventing a pest infestation outdoors as well as inside your home. Be sure to do each of the following as a part of your fall maintenance checklist:

• Trim bushes, shrubs, and trees away from your home
• Dispose of all yard waste, including grass clippings, leaves, and mulch
• Store firewood a safe distance from your house

Eliminate entry points to your garage and home.

Before winter sets in, conduct a visual inspection of your home’s exterior. Seal all cracks, holes, and gaps in your siding and foundation. Caulk around your windows and doors, and install weather stripping where it is needed. While you probably won’t be using your door and window screens during the winter, now is a good time to repair those as well.

Remove garbage and waste promptly.

Store your garbage and recycling in bins with tight-fitting lids. When possible, rinse them to remove materials that may attract unwanted critters. Don’t allow garbage to sit outside of a container. Take larger unwanted items like furniture or small appliances to a recycling center or thrift store to prevent a pest hotel from forming in your garage.

Implement a regular indoor cleaning regimen.

Cleaning helps prevent pests on two different levels. First, cleanliness deters pests from making their nests and webs in your home. Second, a regular cleaning routine will help you to monitor areas in your home where pests may begin to gather.

Enlist a professional pest control company.

It’s never too early to take advantage of a preventive pest control program. Doing so will help you control pests around your home year round.

Remove

Every now and again, you’ll likely encounter an unwanted pest in your home. Here are a few ways to remove them.

• Use indoor pesticides, traps, and baits to eliminate pests from inside your home.
• Use natural materials like peppermint oil, cinnamon, vinegar, basil, and citrus to deter pests in your home
• Suck up unwanted pests with your vacuum extension and then dispose of them outside.

If you’re fighting a losing battle against household pests, contact Springer in Des Moines. Our pest control professionals will inspect your home and property, address any specific problems, and implement preventive measures to deter future invaders. For all of your pest control needs, trust Springer. Set up your free inspection now!

April showers bring May flowers, and May flowers bring stink bugs. Okay, that might not be scientifically correct, but you get the picture. Stink bugs are as prevalent as the summer crops they feed upon. You’ve probably noticed these nasty little guys in your yard, but as fall draws near and the temperature drops, they’ll be heading indoors. Here’s how to keep stink bugs out of your home.

Seal Entry Points

The best way to keep your home free from stink bugs is to keep them out from the beginning. Stink bugs can sneak in through the smallest crevices, so be sure to pay special attention to the following areas.

Siding

Seal cracks and holes in your siding with caulk. If there is substantial damage to your siding, you may want to replace it to prevent it from becoming an easy point of entry.

Windows and Doors

Check to make sure that all of your windows and doors shut tightly. If you can see light from outside coming in between your window or door and its frame, then a stink bug can definitely get in!

Screens

They may seem minuscule, but holes in your window or door screens are the perfect place for stink bugs to enter your home. Use a screen-patching kit to let fresh air in while keeping stink bugs out.

Properly Store Food

Food attracts stink bugs as well as a number of other annoying pests, so be sure to properly store it in your home. Keep tight lids on all food containers, and don’t let food sit out unattended for an extended period of time. Be sure to clean up any food or drink spills quickly, as they can attract many unwanted house guests.

Maintain Your Yard

Stink bugs love damp, dark places, so try to eliminate any potential homes for them in your yard. This includes

• Draining excess water
• Properly disposing of yard waste
• Storing firewood away from your home
• Keeping shrubs and landscaping trimmed
• Using professional pest control services if necessary

Remove Them Carefully

Unfortunately, stink bugs may still find their way into your home every now and then. If you happen to encounter them, don’t panic! Here are a few effective ways to dispose of them.

Vacuum

To avoid smashing a stink bug in your home and subsequently releasing their namesake “stink,” use your handheld vacuum extension to safely suck them up. Once you’ve collected the stink bug(s), empty vacuum bag outside. Do not use a bagless vacuum to collect stink bugs, as the smell will linger.

Household Trap

Another way to safely exterminate stink bugs in your home is disturb them while holding a bucket of water and dish soap underneath. They will tend to fall into the bucket and drown.

Kill Outdoors

If you do encounter a stink bug outside, squish away! The odor that the stink bug omits will warn other stink bugs to steer clear of the area—and your home.

If you’re in need of pest control services in the Des Moines area, trust Springer. The experts at Springer Professional Home Services will inspect your home, treat problem areas, and prevent future infestations. Set up a free inspection today!

Creating balance between a pet-friendly home and a pest-free environment can be tricky. Often, methods of pest control can be harmful to pets if you fail to take the correct precautions. If you’re a pet owner, here are three tips to follow to keep your home free from pests and safe for Sparky.

1. Remove Attractions

A primary way to combat pests is to remove the conditions that attract them. Here are a few ways to safeguard against unwanted house guests.

Food

Whether it’s food for pets or humans, keep it sealed! Open food is a major attraction for all kinds of pests, from mice to ants. Store food in airtight containers and never leave it sitting out for an extended period of time.

Yard Waste

Pests love the hiding places that yard waste provides, so don’t leave any lying around—especially if you have pets. Yard clippings, sticks, and leaves should all be burned or disposed of quickly to prevent any creepy crawlies from building their homes there.

Openings

Cracks, holes, and openings in your home are a welcome sign to pests. Leaving access points into your home is essentially saying, “Come on in!” Seal cracks in your foundation and siding, and be sure to repair holes in your door and window screens.

2. Use Pesticides

If you’re a pet owner, it’s especially important to thoroughly research any pesticides you use before applying them in or around your home. Here’s how to safely use pesticides as a pet owner.

Before Application

Research pet-friendly pest control options available for your situation, and utilize the least hazardous solution available for your problem. After you’ve chosen a pesticide, completely read through the application directions and follow them carefully to prevent harm to you or your pets.

During Application

A pesticide’s application time varies depending on the product you choose. During the time that the pesticide is in use, you’ll want to keep a watchful eye on your furry friends. Here are a few safety tips:

• Remove pet beds, toys, and food bowls from the area being treated.
• Cover bird cages, aquariums, and terrariums with towels before treating an area with spray pesticide.
• If you are using pest traps throughout your home, monitor their location and keep your pets away from them whenever possible.
• With spray pesticides, don’t allow pets near the area until the solution is completely dry.
• Don’t allow pets near poison pellets or bait.
• Whenever possible, use products that are pet-friendly and non-toxic.

After Application

Continue monitoring pet activity after you have applied pesticide. If you suspect your pet has encountered a toxic substance, seek veterinary care immediately.

3. Practice Prevention

It may be impossible to completely eradicate pests from your yard and home, but that shouldn’t stop you from actively working to prevent pest-related bites, infections, or outbreaks.

Medicate Properly

Follow your veterinarian’s recommended medication regimen for your pet. This will probably include flea, tick, and heartworm prevention, all of which will help fight against the negative health effects associated with these pests.

Avoid Peak Exposure

Try to avoid areas that are hot spots for pests (primarily mosquitoes, ticks, and wasps). Peak exposure occurs

• During summer months
• In the evenings
• In heavily wooded areas

Check Your Pets

If you and your pets have spent an extensive amount of time outside—especially during peak exposure conditions—be sure to check for any unwanted tagalongs, bites, or stings. Remove ticks immediately, and be sure to properly treat any bee or wasp stings.

Pest control can be a challenging task. When it becomes too much to handle on your own, trust Springer in Des Moines. The professionals at Springer will assess, address, and treat your pest situation while maintaining the highest level of safety for your household (pets included). Springer’s highly effective treatment takes about an hour to apply and is completely safe for pets and children after it has dried. Set up your free inspection today!

For pet owners, pest control can be a real concern. Not only can pests be a nuisance to your human family members, but they also pose a threat to your furry friends. Pet-friendly pest control is extremely important in order to maintain the health of your household. Check out these ways to keep your family (human, canine, and feline alike) healthy and happy.

Pests and Your Pets

You’re probably well aware of the harm common pests like wasps and mosquitoes can do to your family, but did you know that these nasty little guys can be just as dangerous for your pets?

Mosquitoes

We can all agree: mosquito bites are the worst! They’re itchy and irritating for sure, but when it comes to mosquito bites on your dog or cat, bites can be even more harmful. Did you know that mosquitoes can transfer heartworms through their bites? Heartworms can cause serious ailments in your pets, so it’s imperative to guard against them.

Ticks

Ticks carry a number of harmful pathogens for both humans and pets. Dogs and cats can both contract Lyme disease, a common illness transferred through tick bites.

Bees and Wasps

Just like humans, dogs and cats can have severe allergic reactions to bee and wasp stings. These stings can often result in swelling, hives, or a rash, but they may have even deadly repercussions if your pet is highly allergic.

At-Home Tips

Sometimes, the best way to protect against pests is to avoid making your home and yard attractive to them. Your pets will thank you for it!

In Your Home

• Do not leave doors or windows open without the use of a screen.
• Keep all food in sealed containers.
• Dispose of garbage in a can with a tight lid.
• Check animals for fleas and ticks whenever they enter the home.

In Your Yard

• Don’t allow standing water in your yard.
• Keep yard clippings and debris in a neat pile away from pets.
• Safely remove bee and wasp nests as soon as possible.
• Use insect repellant around your yard.

Professional Service

While prevention efforts can be helpful in keeping your pest issues at bay, sometimes, monitoring your home’s pest situation is too much of an undertaking for you alone. Fortunately, there are pest control professionals who are trained to identify, eliminate, and prevent pests in your home and yard. It’s crucial to choose a professional pest control company that takes your pets into consideration when treating your issue. Pest control services from Springer typically take an hour to complete. During application, all members of your family (including your pets) must be inside your home or completely off of the yard. After our treatment has dried, it is not harmful to your children or pets. With pest control in the hands of professionals, you’ll have more time to enjoy Fluffy, and you can be confident that your pest control efforts won’t harm your household’s health.

If pests are becoming a nuisance to you and your pets, contact Springer. As an experienced pest control professional, your Springer technician will carefully assess your home, address current problems, and treat your home to prevent future infestations. Take advantage of Springer’s residential pest control services, and rest easy knowing that you and your four-legged companions are safe from pests. Springer’s team will monitor your home for harmful pests like mosquitoes, ticks, bees, and wasps and remove them before they become an issue for you or your pets. Set up your inspection today!

Contrary to their namesake, earwigs aren’t inclined to crawl into your ear, but let’s face it—they’re gross! While they may not be a threat to your physical health, earwigs can damage plants in your yard and are generally unwelcome visitors in the home. Get rid of earwigs with these simple tips.

How to Spot Earwigs

Earwigs are thin, reddish-brown insects typically ½”–¾” in length. They are most recognizable by their long pincers, which stick out from their rear. These pincers do not pose a threat to humans as they are not strong enough to puncture the skin. Sometimes, earwigs will excrete an odorous liquid as self-defense. Earwigs do not carry diseases and are not poisonous.

How to Get Rid of Earwigs

Earwigs prefer to live in damp, cool places, either indoors or outdoors. They tend to migrate to areas where they can live undisturbed, which is why you may notice them in your basement storage room or an unattended area of your yard. If the problem seems too big to tackle, you can always contact a pro!

In Your Home

Be aware of potential earwig hotspots. Earwigs seek wet habitats, so pay special attention to rooms with running water like your kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and utility room.

1. Combine one part rubbing alcohol with one part water in a spray bottle. Spray the affected areas as well as any live earwigs. The alcohol will penetrate the earwig’s waxy outer shell and kill it.

2. Utilize a store-bought insecticide spray around your home.

In Your Garden

Earwigs feed on plants and vegetation, so you’ll likely see evidence of their destruction in your garden and landscaping. Here are some ways to remove earwigs from your yard.

1. Cover the base of your plants with petroleum jelly. Earwigs will be unable to crawl over it. They will leave due to the lack of food sources.

2. Create earwig traps by combining equal parts oil (vegetable, olive, etc.) and soy sauce in a plastic container. Cover the container with a lid, and poke holes in it large enough for earwigs to crawl into the trap. Bury several of these containers in the affected area so that the top of the container is flush with the ground. The soy sauce will attract the earwigs, and the oil will prevent the earwigs from crawling out. Dump and refill the traps as needed.

3. Sprinkle Borax around heavily populated areas like woodpiles. Be sure to keep children and pets away.

4. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the affected areas. The rough particles in the powder will scratch away the soft parts of the earwigs’ body and cause them to dehydrate and die. Make sure to wear a mask over your nose and mouth if you do decide to use this method.

How to Prevent Earwigs

Keep It Clean

1. Earwigs will cluster in damp, dark areas with lots of coverage. Keep your yard free of debris, yard clippings, and woodpiles to keep earwigs from moving in.
2. Eliminate Wet Areas
3. Don’t allow damp wood, leaves, or yard clippings to sit in your yard for extended periods of time.

Structure Proper Drainage

Make sure your home has proper drainage, both inside and outside. Downspouts should drain away from your home, and leaky pipes should be addressed promptly. Don’t allow water to sit on basement floors.

Secure Entry Points

Be sure to repair holes in screens, woodwork, and siding to prevent earwig entry into your home.

Utilize a Dehumidifier

Remove extra moisture from damp, dark areas of your home with a dehumidifier.

If you’re fighting a losing battle against earwigs, contact Springer Professional Home Services. As one of the leading pest control agencies in the Des Moines area, Springer can address and eliminate all of your indoor and outdoor pest issues. Give us a call today!

You’ve probably heard of carpenter ants and termites, but what about the lyctid beetle? Commonly referred to as the powderpost or wood-boring beetle, lyctid beetles are wood-loving bugs that get their name from the way they can turn wood into powder. I wish we were kidding, but yes, that’s right. Given enough time, powderpost beetle larvae can actually break wood down to dust. Read on to learn how to identify, prevent, and control lyctid beetles this summer.

What Is a Lyctid Beetle?

Powderpost beetles are brown and usually less than ¼” in length. They have six legs and a set of protective wings on their cylindrical bodies. These nasty little guys cause the most damage in their larval stage and have a fairly short adult lifespan.

Where Are Lyctid Beetles Commonly Found?

Lyctid beetles make their homes in raw hardwood. They typically appear in the springtime when it’s time to lay their eggs; however, their larval stage lasts throughout the winter.

How Can I Tell If I Have Lyctid Beetles?

You’ll be able to tell if you have lyctid beetles by examining the raw hardwood around your property. Lyctid beetles bore into lumber to lay their eggs and bore another hole as they emerge. Check your wooden furniture, structures, and trees for these tiny holes. The holes are typically 1/16^th–1/8^th of an inch in diameter, and you’ll likely find bunches of them together. The telltale sign of powderpost beetles is the powdery residue they leave behind from the destruction of the wood.

Do Lyctid Beetles Cause Harm?

If left unchecked, lyctid beetles can cause serious harm to any wood you might have on your property. Just like with termites or carpenter ants, it’s crucial to address your problem early.

How Do I Get Rid of Lyctid Beetles?

If you have an isolated outbreak of lyctid beetles, there are a few ways to get rid of the pests:

• Remove infested wood from your property
• Treat affected areas with a borate-based insecticide
• Inspect any potential powderpost beetle “hot spots”

In cases of serious infestation, contact a pest control professional.

How Do I Prevent Lyctid Beetles?

While infestation isn’t entirely preventable, there are some ways to protect yourself from lyctid beetles:

• Dry all rough-cut lumber in a kiln
• Use chemically treated wood
• Don’t allow damp wood (rotting trees, collapsing sheds, etc.) to collect on your property.
• Sand and varnish all of your wooden furniture
• Use a preventive borate-based insecticide
• Inspect all wood prior to purchase
• Don’t store wood near your home

If you need professional pest control in the Des Moines area, call Springer today! The professionals at Springer can tackle any pest problem and will help you prevent future outbreaks as well. If you are concerned that you may be battling a powderpost beetle or other infestation, contact Springer for a thorough pest inspection. Trust Springer with all of your pest control needs!