Pest Points Blog

Professional tips and tricks for keeping your home and business pest free!

How Often Should You Get a Subterranean Termite Inspection?

By dawn | Mar 18, 2024 | Comments Off on How Often Should You Get a Subterranean Termite Inspection?

Subterranean termites are a homeowner’s worst nightmare, causing billions of dollars in damage each year in the United States alone. Unlike other pests, subterranean termites can go unnoticed for years, silently eating away at the structure of your home. This is why regular termite inspections are critical. But the question remains: How often should you get a termite inspection?

The Importance of Regular Termite Inspections

Subterranean termites live underground and build mud tubes to access food sources above ground, making them difficult to detect without a professional inspection. These termites are particularly voracious, capable of causing significant structural damage in a relatively short amount of time. Regular inspections are essential not only for detecting the presence of termites but also for preventing potential infestations.

Recommended Inspection Frequency

For most homes, an annual termite inspection is recommended. This frequency ensures that any new termite activity can be identified and addressed before significant damage occurs. However, several factors can influence how often you should have your home inspected:

Geographical Location: In areas with high termite activity, more frequent inspections may be necessary. Subterranean termites are especially active in warmer climates where the ground doesn’t freeze.

History of Termite Activity: Homes that have previously had termite problems should consider more frequent inspections to prevent reinfestation.

Construction Type: Certain types of construction, such as homes with crawl spaces or wood in contact with the ground, are more susceptible to termite infestations and may benefit from more frequent inspections.

What Happens During an Inspection?

A professional termite inspector will examine both the interior and exterior of your home, looking for signs of termite activity or conditions that could lead to an infestation. This includes inspecting the foundation, crawl spaces, and any wood structures around the property. If termites are found, the inspector can recommend treatment options to eliminate the colony and protect your home from future infestations.

Preventing Subterranean Termite Infestations

In addition to regular inspections, homeowners can take proactive steps to make their property less attractive to termites:

Eliminate Moisture: Subterranean termites are attracted to moisture. Fix leaks, ensure proper drainage, and use dehumidifiers in damp areas of your home.

Remove Food Sources: Keep firewood, mulch, and other cellulose-based materials away from your home’s foundation.

Seal Entry Points: Fill cracks in your home’s foundation to prevent termites from entering.

The Bottom Line

Subterranean termites pose a serious threat to the structural integrity of your home. An annual termite inspection is a small investment that can save you from the costly repairs associated with termite damage. If you live in a high-risk area or have had termites before, consider scheduling inspections more frequently. Remember, the key to protecting your home is early detection and prevention.

Don’t wait for visible signs of damage to appear. Schedule your termite inspection today and ensure your home remains safe and sound for years to come.

Identifying Subterranean Termite Infestations: Essential Signs Homeowners Must Know

By dawn | Mar 7, 2024 | Comments Off on Identifying Subterranean Termite Infestations: Essential Signs Homeowners Must Know

Subterranean termites are among the most damaging pests to homes, capable of causing extensive structural damage before they are even detected. Understanding the signs of a subterranean termite infestation is crucial for homeowners to prevent significant damage and financial loss. This blog post outlines the key indicators of subterranean termite activity in your home, providing essential knowledge for early detection and intervention.

Key Signs of Subterranean Termite Infestations

Mud Tubes: These are one of the most definitive signs of subterranean termites. These pencil-sized tubes are constructed from soil and termite saliva and serve as protective tunnels for termites to travel between their underground colonies and food sources above ground. Check your home’s foundation, crawl spaces, and walls for these telltale tubes.

Swarmers: The appearance of termite swarmers, or reproductive termites, inside your home often signifies an existing infestation. These winged termites emerge to mate and start new colonies. While seeing them outside is not always a cause for alarm, finding swarmers indoors is a strong indication of an infestation.
Discarded Wings: After swarmers mate, they shed their wings. Finding piles of discarded wings near windowsills, doors, or other entry points can indicate that termites are entering your home to establish a new colony.

Wood Damage: Subterranean termites consume wood from the inside out, leaving behind a honeycomb pattern in the wood. This damage may not be visible on the surface. Tapping on wood that sounds hollow or feels soft when prodded with a screwdriver can reveal hidden termite activity.
Frass: Unlike other types of termites, subterranean termites do not leave visible droppings known as frass. However, the presence of mud-like droppings or soil within wood or along walls can indicate their activity, as they use soil to construct their mud tubes and nests.
Tight Fitting Doors and Windows: The moisture from termite nests can cause wood to warp, making doors and windows difficult to open or close. This warping can sometimes be mistaken for water damage.

Preventative Measures

Reduce moisture around your home: Subterranean termites are attracted to moisture. Ensure proper drainage away from your home’s foundation and fix any leaking pipes or faucets.

Regular Inspections: Consider annual inspections by a professional pest control service to identify and treat potential termite activity before it becomes a full-blown infestation.

Remove Food Sources: Keep firewood, mulch, and paper away from the foundation of your home. These materials can attract termites and provide them with a food source.

Taking Action

If you notice any of the signs mentioned above, it is critical to act swiftly. Contact a professional pest control service specializing in termite eradication. They can assess the extent of the infestation and recommend an appropriate treatment plan, which may include soil treatments, bait systems, or direct wood treatments to eliminate the colony and protect your home from future infestations.

Conclusion

Subterranean termites pose a serious threat to your home’s structural integrity. By familiarizing yourself with the signs of an infestation, you can take early action to mitigate damage. Regular inspections and preventative measures play a vital role in keeping your home termite-free. Remember, the key to controlling subterranean termite infestations is early detection and professional intervention.

By understanding and acting upon these signs, homeowners can protect their properties from the silent but significant threat posed by subterranean termites. Stay vigilant and proactive in your termite prevention efforts to ensure your home remains safe and secure.

In case you missed it….

By dawn | Apr 6, 2021 | Comments Off on In case you missed it….

In case you missed it… we at Preferred Pest Control celebrated Termite Awareness Week last month! Perry and Matt sat down to have a discussion on all things termites. You can catch the replay along with other valuable information on termites on our FaceBook page as well as on our YouTube Channel.

 

Spring is right around the corner…

By dawn | Mar 1, 2021 | Comments Off on Spring is right around the corner…

Let Preferred Pest Control get your home ready for Spring!

We provide highly effective eco-friendly and family-friendly pest management specifically designed to treat and prevent pests common to the Midwest.

By selecting one of our Preferred Choice Plans, you will be on your way to the instant relief and long-term protection you deserve.

We also now offer same-day service Monday-Thursday if you call our office at 816-279-2000 before 1 pm!

The Bronze Plan:


Insects covered: Ants, beetles, spiders, wasps, crickets, rodents.

On a quarterly basis, we will provide a preventative exterior treatment for seasonal insects and rodents with standard rodent boxes.  The client also receives an extra exterior treatment to use as needed. PLUS, a 5% discount on any additional services, such as interior treatments or mosquitoes, not included on the plan.

 

The Silver Plan:


Insects covered:  Ants, beetles, spiders, wasps, crickets, rodents, roaches, pantry pests, silverfish.

On a quarterly basis we will provide a preventative pest control treatment for seasonal insects on the interior & exterior of your home.  We will also provide rodent control inside and out with our standard rodent system.  The client also receives two extra treatments to use as needed.  

Everything the Bronze plan offers PLUS, interior preventative treatments for seasonal insects, interior rodent control with standard bait boxes, TWO extra treatments to use as needed.  PLUS, 10% discount on any additional services such as mosquito control or yard treatments.

 

The Gold Plan:


Insects Covered: (same as Silver) plus termites & bedbugs.

Everything the Silver Plan gets plus protection against termites & bed bugs.  If termites or bed bugs, the two costliest pests to treat for in the Midwest, you’re covered at no additional cost!  On the Gold plan, you are upgraded to decorative bait boxes for inconspicuous rodent control. PLUS, a 15% discount on any additional services needed.

If you have any questions or would like to start your treatment please call our office at 816-279-2000.

 

Bed bugs keeping you up at night?

By dawn | Feb 1, 2021 | Comments Off on Bed bugs keeping you up at night?

Bed bug infestations can be one of the most traumatic and difficult experiences a homeowner has to deal with.  Once you have experienced a night with bed bugs, you’ll quickly realize you will never want to do it again. Thankfully we have a solution that will have you resting peacefully for a long time to come! 

Our Rest Assured Program keeps your home protected from bed bugs and you resting peacefully night after night.  Our proven Rest Assured program provides highly effective and long-lasting results for homeowners to keep bed bugs out of your home.

Monthly Rest Assured Plan includes:

  1. Thorough inspection –  An experienced pest management professional who is trained on how to detect the early signs of trouble will inspect your home for common bed bug hiding and nesting sites.  

  2. Guaranteed Service – if live bed bugs are found or if any new signs of bed bug activity are detected, we respond swiftly & at no extra cost to you.

  3. Pest Prevention – Complementary interior pest prevention treatment performed at each appointment to keep your home free of common household insects.

If you have a bed bug problem or if you are experiencing itchy bite marks, give us a call or request a free inspection online.

It’s time for you to Rest Assured!

Jamie B Music

(Click on the picture below for a short video)

 

Protecting and Preserving Health

By dawn | Jan 15, 2021 | Comments Off on Protecting and Preserving Health

Preferred Pest Control is prepared to help you preserve the quality of life you have today.

As an essential service, we will continue to do our part to protect our community’s food supply, as well as your homes and businesses, from pest-related property threats and most importantly, protect your family and loved ones from pest-specific public health threats.

How we are providing safe customer service:

  • Office Staff is working from home
  • Weekly team meetings are being held virtually
  • Wearing proper personal protective equipment (face masks, gloves & disposable shoe covers)
  • Pest Management Pros starting their routes from home
  • Pest Management Pros coming into the office one at a time throughout the day to restock on necessary supplies
  • Encouraging customers to pay online or over the phone
  • Maintain a social distance of no less than 6 feet while performing pest treatments
  • Applying hand sanitizer immediately before & after each service
  • Offering a “no-sign” option for completed service tickets

Still hesitant to have a Pest Management Pro inside? We can still service from the exterior to keep pests out. We also offer service consultations remotely over the phone or through video.

FREE Resources to Help Work From Home Parents!

By dawn | Mar 26, 2020 | Comments Off on FREE Resources to Help Work From Home Parents!

Due to social distancing to slow the curve of the COVID-19 outbreak many parents have suddenly found themselves working from home with kids by their side.  Schools have been cancelled for at least a short time, but possibly for months.  Many are adjusting to a new work from home gig.  At the same time they are scrambling to come up with a short term education plan for their kids.  Luckily Pest World for Kids is creating free resources to help work from home parents with this very issue.

Working from home with a child by your side can be challenging.  There are still deadlines to meet, but the added distractions make it difficult to focus.  Finding small activities for kids to work on by themselves is key for you to get something done on your to do list!  At this same time, you want to be grateful for the extra time you have been given to spend with them.  Pest World for Kids is helping provide FREE resources to help work from home parents with both!

Pest World for Kids has lesson plans ready for parents complete with FREE downloads, activities and games, as well as suggested age appropriate books.  They provide a variety of things to do with your kids, but also things they can do on their own.  They even went as far to give you the Correlations with National Standards for those who need it!

 

Coronavirus: Message to our Customers

By dawn | Mar 16, 2020 | Comments Off on Coronavirus: Message to our Customers

Coronavirus:

Message to our Customers

During this uncertain time, our customers’ health and well being is our highest priority. As we continue monitoring developments related to Coronavirus (COVID-19), rest assured, we are committed to doing everything we can to ensure our customers and employees are safe. Our service is essential in preserving the health of our customers and protecting property. As such, we are going to modify our normal service by attempting to mitigate any pest issues from the outside of the home. This means that we will do our best, through the steps mentioned below, to reduce/eliminate inside services over the next few weeks.

  • Suspending all interior services/treatments unless absolutely necessary.  To protect your property, food and health we will continue interior services for ants, bed bugs, roaches, stinging insects, mice & rats.  All other interior pest issues will be addressed on a case by case basis.
  • Conducting additional customer screening for any absolutely necessary interior services
  • Ensuring our team keeps a proper distance (6ft or more), wears disposable gloves and masks if entering your home, and continues regular hand washing.

As a note, we are running on normal business hours at this time. Should you have concerns regarding our services, we’re here to support you and offer flexibility to reschedule at your convenience. We encourage you to contact us at 816-279-2000 if you have questions or do wish to reschedule.​

As the seriousness of this virus increases, all of our employees have been instructed to follow the CDC’s best practices, including frequent hand washing, limiting proximity to sick individuals, and being aware of symptoms. While this has not been an issue for Preferred Pest Control yet, we will also implement 14-day quarantines for any employees who are diagnosed with COVID-19. We encourage you to do the same, so please review the most up-to-date information here.

Finally, our hearts go out to all those affected by Coronavirus. Please check back for regular updates from us as we navigate this evolving situation, and thank you for being a part of our Preferred Pest Control family.

Preferred Pest Control Turns 50!

By dawn | Mar 2, 2020 | Comments Off on Preferred Pest Control Turns 50!

Preferred Pest Control turns 50 in 2020. The Northwest Missouri based company is grateful for the relationship they have with their residential and commercial customers.  Especially those who have been with them along the journey of becoming a premier, full-service pest control company.

1st Generation: Russell Smith

Preferred Pest Control was established in 1970 by Russell Smith to provide pest extermination services for local homes and businesses in St. Joseph, MO. Taking care of customers was Russell’s primary focus and the reason for our success then and now. Our many repeat and referral customers helped us grow the business through the years.   Janet Cooperider, Russell’s daughter, remembers her dad during Preferred’s early years in this video.  She thinks Russell would be very proud to know Preferred Pest Control turns 50 this year!

Russell Smith, Founder of Preferred Pest Control

Russell Smith, Founder of Preferred Pest Control in 1970

2nd Generation: Wally & Janet (Smith) Cooperider

In 1972 Wally Cooperider met Russell’s daughter, Janet.  During their courtship Wally began helping Russell with his pest services as a way to impress Janet and her dad.  He not only fell in love with Janet, but also Preferred. Wally and Janet married on November 3, 1972 and eventually purchased Preferred from Russell in 1977.  They operated the business together for many years.  

In the beginning Wally and Janet operated Preferred as a part-time venture out of their home.  This allowed Wally to keep his full-time night job with TWA.  It also gave Janet the ability to keep the phone answered during the day (and night) while taking care of their 3 kids.  With a lot of hard work, and very little sleep, they raised their children and grew Preferred into a full-time business by 1993. They believe this growth was due to always putting the customer first and expanding their services to include termite inspections for local home sales.  Wally credits the relationships he built with local Realtors for Preferred’s success in this new area.

Janet (Smith) & Wally Cooperider, 2nd Generation Owners 1977-2015

 

3rd Generation: Perry & Dawn Cooperider

Over the next 20 years Wally and Janet saw continued success.  Both of their son’s, Robert & Perry, helped provide pest control services with Wally off and on over the years as Preferred grew.  Eventually business grew into more than Wally could do on his own, even with occasional help from his sons.   During this time Wally had an unexpected health scare.

Perry decided it was time to return to the family business help with Preferred in April of 2012.  Perry went to work right away upgrading the software Wally had previously used to manage the day to day business.  He added new lines of revenue and recognized the need to hire a team to continue growing Preferred for a 3rd generation.  Perry’s wife, Dawn, joined the team a few months later and they saw rapid growth in a short amount of time. Several team members were added allowing Preferred to expand its service area to all of Northwest Missouri. Best of all, Wally made a full recovery!  

The business eventually relocated to Savannah, MO to allow for further expansion.  In July of 2015, Perry and Dawn bought Preferred from Wally and Janet and built the office that houses Preferred Pest Control today.  Wally & Janet continue to be a valuable resource for Preferred and enjoy spending as much time with their kids and grand kids as possible.  

Perry & Dawn Cooperider, 3rd Generation Owners 2015 – Present

4th Generation: ???

Perry and Dawn appreciate all the dedication, sacrifice, and hard work that has gone into growing Preferred over the last 50 years and continue to have big dreams for the future.  They believe the BEST is yet to come!

 

Kill Bed Bugs Fast

By dawn | Nov 20, 2019 | Comments Off on Kill Bed Bugs Fast

What are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are bad news for homeowners and business owners alike.  Due to their small size and excellent instincts to stay hidden they often go undetected until it’s too late for DIY solutions.  Knowing what bed bugs look like, the areas they like to hide in and what bed bug activity looks like in those hiding areas is key to kill bed bugs fast.  Bed bugs can multiply quickly making early detection, swift action, and dedicated follow through extremely important for successful elimination.

What do Bed Bugs Look Like?

One of the reasons bed bug infestations spread so fast is because they are difficult to identify.  Depending on their stage of life, they can vary greatly in size. A baby, nymph, can be as small as the tip of mechanical pencil lead.  As if that doesn’t make it hard enough to spot they are also translucent until they have had their first blood meal. Can you imagine combing through a whole home or hotel room looking for a small clear speck?  Impossible!

Adult bed bugs can be easier to spot, but are still fairly small.  They are similar in size to an apple seed. A bed bug’s color will vary depending on how long it has been since their last feeding, but they are typically a reddish brown color.  Prior to feeding a bed bug will appear mostly flat. However, after a meal they will plump up and appear darker from the blood they just consumed.

Many people initially mistake a bed bug for a tick since they are similar is size and color.  However, there are a couple distinguishable features that will help you tell them apart. First, a bed bug will have 6 legs compared to a tick which has 8 legs.  The other main difference in appearance is bed bugs have a pronotum, fat neck for lack of a better description, where a tick doesn’t have a “neck” at all.  Acuratly identifying the problem pest is crucial to killing bed bugs fast.

Where are they hiding?

The other very important part of detecting a bed bug problem is knowing where they hide.  They are looking for shelter in areas of convenience and protection. Bed bugs are easy to smash and instinctively know to protect themselves by hiding in secure areas, but they also like to be close to their next blood meal.  Often times they will find hiding spots on the mattress or on the bed frame, but the bed isn’t the only place they will infest.  

Think about the places you spend the most time while being still.  Do you have a favorite recliner you sit in to read or watch TV? Do you spend long periods of time at your desk?  What about those waiting room chairs at your local doctor’s office? These places provide excellent feeding opportunities so bed bugs could be hiding in those pieces of furniture or in the hot zone, anything that is 2-3 feet around that area.  

How do I spot a bed bug problem early?

Once you know what bed bugs look like and where they like to hang out you will find it much simpler to spot a bed bug problem early.  Bed bugs will squeeze themselves into cracks and crevices for protection. Look along the seams of the mattress edge, the fabric folds on the corners of box springs and where the pieces of your bed frame meet.  You are not only looking for live bed bugs. You will also be looking for their shed molts (skin casings) and feces marks. The feces marks will look like someone took a pepper shaker to that area. Sometimes you can also find blood splatter in your linens if they were squished while trying to feed.

Widen your search out to the items 2-3 feet out from your bed, favorite recliner, office chair or other area of concern.  Bed bugs will hide in the seams and folds of curtains and drapes. They especially like to hide at the top near the curtain rod, in a nearby night stand or behind artwork hanging on the wall.  Other areas often overlooked are the seams between wallpaper or paneling. Also where the wall meets the baseboard or crown molding. They can even squeeze into a small hole in the wall where a nail or screw may have been previously.  

Can I kill bed bugs fast myself?

Your success rate to kill bed bugs fast will increase greatly if you catch the problem early.  If you can begin your DIY treatment methods when there are only a handful of bed bugs present and be diligent in repeating your efforts often to ensure elimination of stragglers it is possible to control them on your own.  However, it is very difficult to notice a bed bug problem until it beyond this point.  

Most of the time the people we end up performing bed bug treatments for have already tried all the over the counter products, essential oils and organic remedies they can find online.  They have thrown out or set fire to their furniture. They have replaced carpeting and even left the plastic on their newly purchased replacement mattress. However, they still can’t get rid of them.  They are better for a while, but they still linger on and eventually come back with a vengeance. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s time to give us a call.  

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