Do Ticks Die During the Winter?

A tick in Central Iowa - Springer Professional Home Services

Winter is often seen as the season of pest invasions. All sorts of critters are sneaking through the cracks in our walls and the gaps around our doors to find some warmth and shelter during the harshest season. While it’s rough out there for many, ticks are one of the more resilient pests in Central Iowa, able to tough it out through unfavorable conditions. If you’ve seen more ticks than you expected to this winter and are wondering what you can do to avoid them, read on for advice from the technicians at Springer Professional Home Services.

When is Tick Season in Central Iowa?

Ticks are one of the most feared pests in the state during the summer. When we walk our dogs or go on hikes, many of us try to steer clear of tall grass or densely wooded areas so as to not pick up ticks on our way back home. Ticks thrive in the heat, and especially in the combination of heat and humidity—they prefer to live in places averaging 85% humidity or higher.

So, if heat and humidity are so important to them, do ticks die in the winter? Although it isn’t an ideal season, ticks do what they can to make it through the cold, and do so in surprisingly high numbers. Here are some of the ways they adapt:

  • If they find an unsuspecting host, they can latch onto them for a long time, hiding in their fur when they aren’t feeding.
  • Without a host, ticks look for piles of leaf litter or other decaying foliage on the ground for shelter.
  • For a more stable source of insulation and protection, soft-shelled ticks burrow underground.

Avoiding Winter Ticks

Once temperatures consistently sit below 45 degrees, and especially when the ground is covered in ice, snow, or water, ticks have a difficult time finding eligible hosts. However, if you aren’t careful, they can still sneak up your leg or onto your pet’s back. These are a few ways we recommend that you take precautions against ticks this winter:

  1. Conduct tick checks when your pets come back inside. After a walk or running around in the yard, make sure your pets, dogs especially, don’t have any ticks hidden within their fur.
  2. Maintain your yard waste. If you let piles of leaves sit around for too long, they can easily become tick hotspots. Dispose of any yard waste as often as you can.
  3. Contact your local tick exterminators. A professional tick barrier treatment is the most effective method of keeping ticks out of your yard all year long.

Professional Tick Control for the Winter

Unfortunately, deer ticks, which have the ability to spread Lyme disease to humans, are about and about in the Des Moines area. To protect your family from these dangerous pests, make a plan with your local pest control company. At Springer Professional Home Services, we take the dangers of ticks very seriously, so we develop individualized plans for each of our customers to ensure that their tick control plan fits their property and their needs. For a free quote, contact our team today!

Repair Your Window Screens to Help Keep the Bugs Out

Fix torn window screens in Central Iowa - Springer Professional Home Services

Do you have an ongoing pest infestation that you can’t find the source of? In every season, pests take advantage of access points into our homes that are so small they go unnoticed. Some of these gaps are more easily noticeable, like leaky pipes and gaps underneath doors, but have you checked your window screens? Even a few fibers tearing in a window screen can provide a gap big enough for all kinds of pests to sneak through. If you’re looking to keep your home in Central IA in the best shape, free of pests, read on for advice from the Springer Professional Home Services team.

What Pests Come In Through Window Screens?

If you leave them the opportunity, all sorts of pests will use your broken window screens as entryways into your home. Windows tend to be an easy place for many species of insects and arachnids to climb through. Here are some of the pests you can expect in your home if you don’t repair your window screens in Central IA:

If you’ve been noticing any of these pests in your home lately, check around all of the windows in your home. You might find a torn window screen or a broken frame, leaving a gap for bugs to sneak through.

How to Repair Your Window Screens

Because many of the aforementioned pests thrive in the warmer seasons of the year, winter is the perfect season to start preparing your home to take on the new year pest-free*. Here are a few ways you can keep your windows in the best shape to prevent pests:

  • You can buy screen repair kits for under $3.00 at your local hardware store. They are easy to use, require no tools, and save you time and the expense of getting your entire screen replaced.
  • If your window screen is torn considerably or you don’t have one in the first place, window screens are a great investment to help keep pests out in every season.
  • In the winter, use weather stripping. Not only will it keep your home warmer and decrease your heat bill, it will also keep smaller pests like ants and ticks from sneaking through the gaps!

Professional Help Keeping Bugs Out in Central IA

If you have already fixed your windows but your pest infestation persists, it might be coming from a source that you haven’t discovered. For a complete property inspection to determine the sources of pests in your home, reach out to your local pest control company. The experts at Springer Professional Home Services can locate access points that go unseen to the untrained eye. For a free quote, contact our team today!

Protect Your Firewood from Termites and More

Termites found in Central Iowa - Springer Professional Home Services

As winter approaches, we all look forward to the traditions of the cold holiday season. Warming up around a fire is a comfort that everyone enjoys in the winter, but did you know that your wood-storing habits could be inviting dangerous pests into your home? Without taking the right steps to store your firewood in a safe manner, you could end up with a home teeming with insects in a time where that should be the least of your worries. If you are looking for ways to protect your home from pests in Central Iowa, the technicians at Springer Professional Home Services are here to help you!

What Pests Do Woodpiles Attract?

Certain critters like to hang out in woodpiles and not cause any trouble. Earwigs, moths, certain species of spiders, boxelder bugs, and more pests will not do more than cause a slight disturbance in your routines. However, there are some insects that you have to watch out for, including:

No one wants stinging insects like bees or wasps inside their home, but when it comes to woodpile pests, they aren’t the only ones to look out for. Wood-boring insects like carpenter ants, powderpost beetles, and termites can damage the structures of your home, with termites capable of causing thousands of dollars in damage all on their own.

How to Keep Pests Out of Your Firewood

Avoiding a pest infestation caused by woodpile mishaps means taking great care in storing and transporting your logs. Here are Springer Professional Home Services’ top tips to keep pests out of your firewood and out of your home:

  1. Keep firewood covered and elevated: Termites and carpenter ants live underground, so woodpiles that touch the earth give them easy access to food and nesting sites. You can use a tarp and a firewood rack or any other similar means to elevate and cover your woodpile.
  2. Store your woodpile away from your home: If you keep your woodpile leaning against the outer structure of your home, wood-boring pests can find easy access points to internal structures that they will then tear through.
  3. Burn older wood first and quickly: Take older wood inside to burn, as it is more likely to be pest-ridden. If you place it in the fire right away, there is little chance of any pests spreading.

Pest Control for Iowa Winters

If you think that pests are getting into your home through your woodpile or otherwise, let your local pest control company know. The experts at Springer Professional Home Services have been keeping Central Iowa families safe from pest infestations for [year] years now, and have seen it all in the process. Contact us today with any questions and receive a free quote!

What Should I Do if I Have a Mouse in My House?

Mouse in Iowa home - Springer Professional Home Services

You’ve heard the scurry of tiny paws across the floor, you’ve noticed a few gnawed-on cords—it’s time to face the facts. You have a mouse in your house. There’s no need to panic, but you do need to take action. Mice have one of the quickest reproduction rates and can cause quite a bit of destruction to your property. Letting the problem go on without taking the steps to get rid of the infestation is downright dangerous, especially considering the health threats posed by rodents. At Springer Professional Home Services, we are committed to providing our communities with the knowledge and resources they need on how to deal with infestations in their home. Read on to learn everything you need to know about getting rid of mice in your Iowa house!

Inspect Your Property For Mice

Before you do anything else, you’ll want to check the area where the mice are congregating. If there’s an obvious point of entry, you’ll need to address it promptly. Delaying action could lead to damage or danger in your home. Inspect the areas where a mouse has been spotted, and check for and repair any damage. This includes:

  • Removing or repairing electrical cords
  • Cleaning up any food or crumbs
  • Removing mouse droppings and sanitizing affected areas

Once you’ve handled the immediate issue, you can begin to formulate your strategy. Focus on problem areas, and don’t ignore signs of a larger infestation.

Mouse-Proof Your Home

After you’ve taken care of problem areas, it’s time to mouse-proof your home. While it may take some time to eliminate the rodents that have already made it inside, there’s no reason to allow any more of their furry friends in your house. Start outside by inspecting the exterior of your home. Seal any cracks in the siding or foundation, and repair loose or damaged trim.

Once you’ve addressed external entry points, move inside and seal any holes with steel wool and caulk. Never underestimate a rodent’s ability to fit through an entry point, no matter how small. When it comes to mouse-proofing your home, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Setting Mouse Traps

Once you’ve eliminated the chances of future unwelcome house guests, it’s time to address your current mouse situation. There are various methods of extermination, but the primary option is the tried and true mouse trap. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • When available, choose a spring-loaded trap over a sticky trap. Mice are alive and can urinate when stuck in a sticky trap, and their bodily fluids can transmit diseases.
  • You may need to try several different kinds of bait on your spring-loaded traps in order to find something that’s appealing to the mice in your home.
  • Position spring-loaded traps perpendicular to the wall in areas with high mouse traffic, like behind a piece of furniture.

Get Professional Mice Control

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you can’t eliminate the entire mouse population in your home. When damage continues and time drags on, it may be time to call in a professional rodent exterminator. Pest control experts will work with you to not only rid your home of vermin for good, but also to prevent future rodents from infesting your home. Some of the best rodent exclusion tips a professional will provide you with include:

  • Keeping all food in sealed containers.
  • Closing doors and windows when not in use.
  • Repairing holes in siding, foundation, and screens.
  • Using mousetraps in gateway areas like the garage.
  • Scheduling regular pest control services.

If you’re fighting a losing battle against mice and other rodents, Springer Professional Home Services is here to help. Our experts can assess the situation, treat the problem, and protect your home from future infestation. Contact us today to get started!

Watch Out For These Pests This Winter!

Asian lady beetle in Iowa home - Springer Professional Home Services

The winters in Iowa render it nearly impossible for many types of pests to live outdoors as they normally do. While many pests disappear this time of year, overwintering insects and rodents can attempt to make their way into your home. In partnership with PestWorld, the NPMA recently released their 2021 Fall & Winter Bug Barometer® predicting a significant increase in rodent and Asian lady beetle activity this time of year.

With our coldest months still ahead of us, now is the time to learn everything you can about winter pest pressures and what you can do to prevent an increased risk of a rodent problem or overwintering pest infestation. The experts at Springer Professional Home Services are here to help—read on to learn more!

Rodent Activity in the Winter

The most concerning prediction from NPMA’s report is the expected increase in rodent activity this winter. Rodents in particular are known for heading indoors this time of year to wait out the cold months ahead. No one wants to share their home with rats and mice over the holiday season, making it important to implement winter pest control before they get indoors. The biggest concerns of a rodent infestation in your home this time of year are as follows.

  1. With their ever-growing incisor teeth, rodents are constantly chewing on a number of things in your home, electrical wires included.
  2. To build nests, rodents will tear through materials in your home, including your insulation and cardboard boxes.
  3. Rodents can directly or indirectly transmit some of the most dangerous diseases, from rat-bite fever to hantavirus.
  4. Rodent droppings can contaminate food and create a hazardous environment in your home or business.

NPMA Bug Barometer 2021

What Are Overwintering Pests?

An overwintering pest is any insect or wild animal that gets into your property, typically in the fall, for shelter during the winter months. Rather than hibernate during the cold winter, these pests will nest and remain active in your attic or crawl space until spring rolls around. One of the biggest concerns for residents in Iowa is the Asian lady beetle. Before the first frost, adult Asian lady beetles begin to seek shelter to spend the winter. This is why fall infestations are so common as they flock to the sides of your home in the late fall before coming inside. Preventing overwintering pests like these beetles requires implementing fall pest prevention tactics to keep them out.

Winter Pest Control Services in Iowa

With the holidays quickly approaching, the last thing you want to deal with is a pest problem. Especially with NPMA’s prediction of increased rodent and Asian lady beetle activity this year, now is the time to implement fall pest control services. The exterminators at Springer Professional Home Services will work with you to keep pests out all winter. Contact us to get started!

Uncovering Common Bed Bug Myths

A bed bug infestation is one of the most dreaded pest problems in Central Iowa. No one wants to deal with bed bugs—if you haven’t had them before, the thought of them is terrifying, and if you have, the memory can be haunting! But how dangerous, exactly, are bed bugs?

Although they sound like the last thing you could possibly want in your home, bed bugs actually aren’t as dangerous as many other pests in the area. There is a lot of misinformation about bed bugs on the internet, so the experts at Springer Professional Home Services are here to set the record straight!

Myths About Bed Bugs

With bed bugs already claiming so much public notoriety, it comes as no surprise to us that people accept the myths around them that have spread as fast as they seem to. Here are some purported facts about bed bugs that are actually untrue:

  1. Bed bugs only live in mattresses: Bed bugs will actually live in upholstered furniture, cracks in the wall, power outlets, light switches, and more places.
  2. Bed bugs transmit diseases: They do bite, but bed bugs do not pass on diseases through the process. They have been found to carry diseases on their bodies on occasion, though.
  3. Bed bugs are too small to see: At about the size of an apple seed, bed bugs are tiny but visible.
  4. Bed bugs are nocturnal: Because they adjust their schedules to be active when their hosts are at rest, bed bugs have been labeled as nocturnal. However, they will adjust their rest schedule to align opposite to yours.

Why You Want to Avoid a Bed Bug Infestation

Although we’ve just dispelled some of the major myths surrounding bed bugs, there are still plenty of reasons that you should be conscious of your exposure to them. Bed bugs can be incredibly difficult to get rid of without professional help. There are said to be several DIY methods of bed bug control, using products such as diatomaceous earth, baking soda, dryer sheets, and more, but they are of little use if your goal is to wipe out an entire infestation.

The best way to eliminate a full-blown bed bug infestation is through the use of heat. Washing any infested items in a high-heat washer and dryer cycle will kill any bed bugs active in the materials. From there, professional heat treatments can expel air at lethal temperatures into all of the nooks and crannies where bed bugs are living in your home.

Professional Bed Bug Pest Control

If you’re looking to put a stop to your bed bug problems right away, reach out to your local pest control company. Springer Professional Home Services technicians are trained to apply highly successful heat treatments that simply do what DIY tactics cannot. For a free quote on bed bug removal in Central Iowa, contact us today!

Moles, Voles, and Gophers: What’s the Difference?

A gopher found in Central Iowa - Springer Professional Home Services

If you’ve been noticing small mounds of dirt popping up in your lawn, scattered holes in your yard, or unusual plant decay in your garden, you could be dealing with one of a number of types of rodents that live here in Des Moines IA. Moles, voles, and gophers are all commonly found in the yards of local homeowners, and although they are active year-round, spring and fall are the two best times to try to tame their activity. If you want to learn how to keep these burrowing rodents from making homes out of your yard, read on for expert advice from the technicians at Springer Professional Home Services!

How Are Moles, Voles, and Gophers Different?

Gophers, voles, and moles are all burrowing rodents that thrive in moist, cool soil. Spring and fall see the right amount of rainfall and the levels of temperatures that create the perfect environment for tunneling and ample resources for feeding. However, these rodents have some differences that set them apart from each other. Based on what they eat, they will be found in different parts of your yard:

  • Gophers prefer to eat bulbs and plant roots, thus, they will usually live under your lawn.
  • Voles eat all kinds of plant material, including grass, seeds, bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, and bark. They are much more likely to be seen at the surface than gophers.
  • Moles are carnivores with diets limited to worms, grubs, and various kinds of common insects.

Can I Do My Own Rodent Control at Home?

Now that you know a bit more about these pests, you might be wondering what you can do to prevent them from living under your lawn or garden. Because they spend so much time underground, it can be hard to tell how to best approach your DIY pest control strategies. Some people like to use strong-scented plants like thyme, daffodils, sage, and more to prevent rodent activity.

If you’re already dealing with one of these pests, though, your approach should change. Here are a few at-home treatments that you can try:

  1. Mix a tablespoon of mixed dish soap and castor oil into a quart of water. This can be poured into any burrowed holes in your lawn.
  2. Use gopher mesh or chicken wire to create an underground fence.
  3. Set a trap using apples, carrots, or peanut butter for bait.

Although these are the best ways to trap rodents living underneath your yard, we cannot guarantee that these methods will be successful.

Professional Rodent Control in Des Moines IA

We’ve found that many homeowners in the Des Moines area have dealt with rodent vulnerabilities that they couldn’t find for years on end. With the expert touch of an expert rodent control technician, your problems can go away in a matter of a visit. Our holistic pest inspection process will leave no stone unturned and no pest undiscovered. Contact our team today to find out more about how we can help you and receive a free quote on rodent control!

What Pests Do Leaky Pipes Attract?

A leaky pipe attracting pests in Des Moines IA -

Problems with our plumbing fixtures can turn into problems with pests in a heartbeat. When water leaks from your pipes into your cabinets or walls, it can dampen the wood and cause pools of standing water, leading to an inviting environment for all sorts of pests that live in Des Moines IA. Failing to check up on your plumbing fixtures can lead to pest infestations that expand much quicker than you would expect. To avoid pest outbreaks caused by leaks in your home, read on for the Springer Professional Home Services technicians’ best advice.

Pests that Like Leaky Pipes

Leaky pipes in Des Moines can attract a whole host of pests, but these three are the most important to watch out for:

  1. Ants: If you experience a leak in one of your plumbing fixtures during the summer, it will be hard to avoid ants discovering it. When the heat of summer starts to dehydrate them, ants look for a cool, damp place to live.
  2. Cockroaches: Although cockroaches are some of the most hard-nosed pests in Iowa, they have to have consistent access to a water source in order to thrive. Paired with the hospitable hiding place that a dark cupboard or crawl space provides, roaches will find refuge wherever there is a leak in your home.
  3. Termites: Termites will add on to the preexisting wood rot that they find, boring through our homes’ wooden structures adjacent to their newfound water sources. If you find water damage from a leak in your home, keep a close watch for termite activity.

How to Avoid Pest Infestations around Leaky Pipes

When you find a leaky pipe inside your house, you have to address it right away. Here’s how to avoid leakage-based pest problems:

  • Seal the cracks that you’ve identified with a silicone-based caulk. This is the most effective strategy for DIY leak sealing.
  • Try to keep any areas seeing leakage as well-ventilated as you can. This will keep moisture from continuing to build up.
  • Talk to your local pest control company. After an initial inspection, they will be able to help you put pest prevention products in place.

Preventing Pest Issues in Des Moines IA

When your leaky pipes lead to loads of pests, you can trust your local pest control company to get rid of them for you. No matter what kind of pests are present, our technicians at Springer Professional Home Services are able to assess your outbreak, identify the root cause, and determine the best steps to take moving forward. To learn more about our services or for a free estimate on pest control, contact us today!

No-see-ums vs Gnats vs Mosquito Bites—How Do They Differ?

A swarm of gnats in Central Iowa - Springer Professional Home Services

Insects are out in Des Moines IA throughout the year, waiting for people to bite. No matter whether you’re awake or sleeping, outside or inside, active or minding your own business, you can be a target.

Flying pests are some of the hardest to stay away from when it comes to bites. There are several airborne insects in our area that can leave us with painful, itchy, or even dangerous bites. We have heard a lot of people complain about no-see-ums, gnats, and mosquitoes this summer in particular. If you think you’ve been targeted by one of these pests before but aren’t sure how to tell, keep reading. We’ve laid out some advice from our experts here at Springer Professional Home Services!

Identifying Gnats vs No-see-ums vs Mosquitoes

These three are definitely the peskiest flying pests in Des Moines IA. It’s hard to imagine that you’ve never seen them before, but it can be confusing to tell them apart. Here are a few of their identifying features:

  1. Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes are the largest of the three, growing up to around 3/8”. They have long, upward-slanted wings, a hunched back, and a needle-like proboscis protruding from their mouth.
  2. Gnats: Often found in swarms of thousands, gnats are a tiny fly variety with gray and black bodies. They form giant clouds of individuals in the spring and summer time.
  3. No-see-ums: These pests are actually a kind of gnat, but they are extremely small—only about 1/16” in length! This means that they can make it through screens we install on our doors and windows.

Differences Between These Bug Bites

One way that you can tell apart different bugs in Des Moines IA is by learning the symptoms of each of their bites. Mosquito, gnat, and no-see-um bites differ in these ways:

  • Mosquito bites: Starting as a raised white welt and receding into a pinkish-red bump, these bites are familiar to many. They are often found on arms, legs, and other places where skin is commonly left exposed.
  • Gnat bites: Gnat bites are smaller, darker, and more rough-looking than mosquito bites. They are more painful initially and longer-lasting.
  • No-see-um bites: Because no-see-ums are actually gnats, their bites will look about the same. The main difference with their bites is that they are more likely to occur in closer clusters and in less common locations, like your face.

To summarize, you can tell apart these bites by their color, their proximity to each other, and the duration of their effects.

Preventing Bug Bites in Des Moines IA

Using an EPA-approved bug spray with up to 20% DEET can be a great way to repel these insects during the summer here in Des Moines. However, it won’t work for everybody. If you need extra help with pest control this summer, reach out to the experts at Springer Professional Home Services. We have years of experience dealing with all of these pests and can teach you the best ways to avoid them on your property. For a free quote, contact us today!

What Should I Do About the Spiders in My Home?

Spiders in Iowa homes - Springer Professional Home Services

There’s no questioning why spiders are one of the most feared pests. With their long legs and speed, the sighting of a single spider running across the floor of your home can send shivers down your spine. The truth is that although spiders look frightening, most are completely harmless and actually assist in keeping the nuisance insect population in check. Regardless, spotting one—or more—of these invaders in your home can be unsettling and may even indicate a larger problem. Their presence can become especially troublesome when they seem to be growing in numbers indoors.

To reduce the number of spiders that enter your home, it’s important to make your property less attractive to them in the first place. The spider control experts at Springer Professional Home Services are here to help with expert tips on keeping spiders out of your Iowa home for good.

How to Prevent Spiders in Iowa

Spiders are driven to come indoors for the same reasons as other pests: in pursuit of food, water, and shelter! To keep them out, then, requires denying them access and making your home less attractive to spiders in general. Our best spider prevention tips to achieve this are as follows:

  1. For spiders, the best way to prevent them is to eliminate potential nesting areas—even outside your home. Keep wood and debris piles away from your house, and make sure to burn them frequently to keep them free of nests. Use a broom to keep the exterior corners of your home free of cobwebs.
  2. Once you’ve eliminated potential spider habitats outside your house, make sure to also seal any cracks in your foundation or siding. Caulk is useful to fill in the tiny cracks spiders frequently get inside through.
  3. After taking care of the outside of your house, it’s time to move inside. Vacuum at least once a week, and be sure to hit spider hot spots like the corners of outside walls, the space behind furniture, and throughout your finished basement. Dust ceiling corners weekly, and try to keep clutter to a minimum.
  4. Spiders are attracted to the other pests and insects in your home that they prey on. Preventing those pests means keeping spiders away! Basic pest prevention tips include cleaning up food and spills that typically attract small insects like ants and beetles.

Get Rid of Spiders in Your Home

If you’re dealing with an ongoing spider problem, you may wish to attempt DIY spider control methods. Consider using citrus, lavender, or peppermint essential oils when you clean. Spiders hate these scents, and they are easy to incorporate into your housekeeping regimen. You can also make your own natural spider repellent spray by mixing together 1 cup water, 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon peppermint essential oil, 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap, and 1 lemon, juiced Spray the mixture along floorboards, window panes, in basement areas, and around the exterior of your home. Homemade repellents have to be applied frequently, so it’s best to add them to your weekly cleaning schedule.

If these all-natural spider repellents aren’t working, it’s likely a sign you have a bigger issue at hand. At that point, it’s best to enlist the expertise of a professional spider exterminator.

Keep Spiders Away With Springer Professional Home Services

If left unattended, spiders can progress in their lifecycle and begin laying egg sacs. A spider’s egg sac can contain hundreds of baby spiders, which, once hatched, will further perpetuate your infestation. A pest control professional will be able to perform a thorough inspection and analysis of your case. A professional is also recommended for handling more dangerous spider problems, such as black widows and brown recluse spiders.

No matter what spider problem you’re encountering in your Iowa home or business, Springer Professional Home Services can help. To get started, contact our team of spider control experts today!