Advantage Termite & Pest Solutions Blog

Have you ever woken up to find that your trash cans are flipped over, and garbage scattered around your yard? How about finding that your bird feeders are cracked open or that your plants are torn up and dismantled. If that’s the case, you may have a raccoon problem. Raccoons often come out of their dwelling in search of food in trash cans. They aren’t afraid to invade urban and suburban neighborhoods and homes for any scraps of food that you may have at the bottom of the bin. If you aren’t sure if you are getting invaded by raccoons or if it could potentially be another creature in your neighborhood, here are some common signs of a raccoon infestation. 1) Flipped Trash Cans Raccoons aren’t picky when it comes to food that is available. One of the first tell-tale signs that you may have a raccoon infestation is if you...

Spiders are resilient creatures; they can live either inside or out in the cold weather. All spiders need to survive in the cold winter months is some type of shelter. When the weather begins to turn cold, an outdoor spider starts producing antifreeze in its body. This antifreeze allows the spider to lower the freezing point of its body keeping it from the cold. Once the spider begins producing the antifreeze in its system, it can look for hiding places where they will not get disturbed. These hiding places include: Under rocks or timbers, In the peeling bark of trees. Small pockets in the ground. Wood piles. Leaf debris. Under lawn ornaments. Under the covers for external air conditioner units or shrubbery. The opportunities for spiders to take shelter outside is enormous. As long as the area provides shelter from the cold and there are not a lot of disturbances, it will give...

Nothing gladdens the heart like the approach of the holiday season. There are many delights in the coming festivities, from decorating to entertaining. However, if you are not educated in the inspection of your holiday trees for bothersome pests, you may be doing more entertaining than you desire. Keep your home pest free by following these helpful guidelines. Proceed with Care The holidays can prove to be some of the most hectic times of the year. Rushing may grant you some moments here and there, yet add untold hours of ridding your home of a pest invasion. In order to win this battle, you must slow down and become intentional at the onset. Upon arrival, isolate your tree outdoors. Then try some of these simple, effective methods for inspecting your tree: Know What You’re Looking for- Educate yourself on the insects that most often inhabit coniferous trees. Look up pictures of...

For most of us, the thought of fall brings to mind images of crisp mornings, bright blue days and brisk evenings. Bring out the hoodies and warm up the hot chocolate for gatherings against backdrops of bright hues of red, orange, and gold. The trouble is, we aren’t the only ones that like to enjoy drawing around the warmth of a glowing fire or a toasty room enjoying a great football game. There are other creatures also drawn to the comforts of heat as the seasons change. When trying to guard against unwelcome guests, it is best to know as much about their habits as possible. Which is better, a warm fall or a cold fall? Let’s look at how temperature affects the habits of many common pests. It’s All About Warmth No matter the species, some basic needs tend to extend across most living things. One of those common elements...

In recent years Autumn temperatures have been on the rise in Kansas. The warmer Fall temperatures are resulting in modified behavioral patterns from some of the most despised pests around your property. As the temperature begins to cool, ants, termites, stink bugs, mice and rats are just a few of the pests and vermin that seek shelter in your home. So why would a warmer Fall be such a bad thing for you? Why is Warmer-Fall Weather Such a Bad Thing for You? As Autumn breathes the comforting imagery of your favorite sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes, and watching football with friends and family, it also sends the pests scurrying for shelter inside your home. Spiders, rodents, ants, roaches, and other pests will find a way to trespass in your home when the weather turns cold. With warmer-Fall weather in recent years, these pests are given new opportunities to terrorize you and...

Termites are one of the most destructive pests you can have in your house. They may not bite or sting, but if left unchecked, they can completely ruin your home, costing you up to thousands of dollars in repairs. If you’ve had termites all Summer long, does the coming Fall mean that you’re soon to get a break from these relentless destroyers? Not quite. Here are some things you need to know about termite behavior during cooler temperatures. What Do Termites Do During the Fall? Termites are small insects about the size of a grain of rice that live in colonies and consume cellulose, a nutrient which can be found in wood, paper, cardboard and some types of clothes. They form their colonies in all sorts of places, usually trees, as there they can live, reproduce and eat all in the same spot, though they become especially problematic when they find...

Of all the species of pests which can cause you trouble, bed bugs hit closest to home. What’s a worse place to have blood-sucking insects lurking than in the very mattress you sleep on? Luckily, bed bugs don’t have to be a problem as long as you know where they come from and take some precautions against them. Here is a quick look at the behavior of these pests and prevention methods you should know. Where Do They Come From? To start us off, let's take a look at how bed bugs get into your home in the first place. For such small creatures that are unaware of public transportation, it does seem quite odd that they are able to move around as much as they do. However, bed bugs have a couple of things going for them. For one, they’re resilient. Even if it takes them months to settle down...

All of humanity’s architectural ingenuity is vulnerable to termite attacks. While other pests can bite and spread germs, termites can bring entire buildings to the ground and cause thousands of dollars in repairs, which means that if you’re not taking precautions against them, you’re risking more than you may know. Fortunately, there are ways to keep your home safe. Here are some methods of preventing these little creatures from causing big problems. Fix Leaks and Limit Humidity One thing that termites love is damp wood. Water makes wood soft, and soft wood is much easier for termites to chew through. This means that you’re going to want to keep your home as dry as possible, and a great way to go about that is by fixing any leaks around your house which allow water to drip onto your wooden beams or floorboards. Make sure all of your pipes are intact and...

Your home is your castle and one that you do not want to share with insects and pests. Keeping your home pest free takes a little work and some behavior modifications on your part. One of the easiest ways to keep pests out of your home is by keeping your house clean. You will need to focus more on areas where there is food, water and garbage. You need to eliminate the pests and insects food source, water and habit to ensure a clean home. A Clean Kitchen One of the major food sources for pests is the kitchen. The crumbs and dirty dishes can attract pests and insects. You can remove the food source by: Making sure the dirty dishes are not sitting in the sink for any length of time. You wipe up the counters and floors to remove any crumbs. You empty the trash frequently to keep the...

If there are pests living in your house, you’re going to need to find somebody, or a couple somebodies, to get rid of them for you. This is what pest control professionals are meant for. Pest control professionals are trained to assess the situation and exterminate any bugs or insects which may be causing you harm. However, some pest control professionals are better than others. Here are four things to keep in mind when choosing the one that’s right for you. Experience Practice makes perfect. The old adage is true for everything else, why not pest control? Pest control companies which have been in business for many years are more likely to thoroughly exterminate every bug in your house, use the right amount of chemicals in the right areas, and finish in a timely manner, than startups which have opened their doors only recently. Before you hire somebody to eliminate the...

Finding termites in your home is no laughing matter. These hard-to-spot pests can easily cause hundreds, thousands, and even tens-of-thousands of dollars of damage to your home. The best way to take action against termites is to stop them in their tracks before they get started. If you haven’t had termite problems in the past, we recommend that you put a termite prevention plan in place as soon as possible. Here are two of our top ways to tell if you have termites invading your home. 1) Wood Damage One of the first things that you may notice if you have termites in your home is damage to wood areas around your house. If you have seen small holes in any wooden ceilings, walls, and flooring in your house, you may have a termite infestation. We highly recommend taking a lap around your entire house, both indoor and outdoor, to inspect...

There is nothing quite so frightening as discovering that your house is being eaten by termites. Despite their tiny size, they can cause thousands of dollars of damage. Learn how to tell if you have termite damage, and what to do once you’ve found them. How Do You Know You Have Termites? Termintes are easily confused with other pests- most commonly, the carpenter ant. These four characteristics make it easy to tell the difference between the two: A carpenter ant has a tapered middle and segmented antennae with clear blends. A termite has a box-like shaped middle and straight antennae. The termite has four wings that are all the same size, while the carpenter ant’s wings are larger in front and smaller behind. Termites also tend to hide from view, while carpenter ants are more likely to be seen. Before moving ahead with contacting a professional exterminator, it is important to...

Your bedroom should be your sanctuary. It should be the place you go to when you want to get away from all of the external stressors that affect your life. Despite the fact that your bedroom should be a special place for you to unwind, it is not immune from negative forces that can be frustrating. One of these factors is pests. No one wants to share a bedroom with bugs, but they are one of the most common places a pest can set up residence in your home. Here are some of the most common bugs you may find in your bedroom. Bed Bugs Bed bugs thrive on feeding on humans as they sleep. So, they are commonly found in the bedrooms of homes. These bugs can easily travel from place to place by jumping into suitcases, attaching to laundry or attaching themselves to objects like books. Then, they take...

When people think of pests, they often imagine black ants, wasps, mice, etc.; normal creatures you often find in North American homes. However, there are some pests which are truly unique and unusual that you may notice, often released into the United States from foreign locations. While these pests may be fascinating, if not taken care of they can cause a significant amount of harm to both your house and the ecosystem. Here are a few weird pests to look out for and the problems they may cause. Strange Pests and The Problems They Create Giant African Land Snail These massive snails have been imported into America for zoo exhibits. However, some of them have made their way into the wild and have integrated into the ecosystem. The giant African land snail can weigh about as much a grapefruit, and they are enthusiastic eaters, consuming over 500 species of plants. Not...

While the purpose of homeowner’s insurance coverage is to reduce the financial risk associated with unforeseen circumstances. Some things like termite damage can become excessive both in costs of repairs and treatment to remove the pests. A question that is often asked is, if you have termite damage can you file a claim with your insurance company to help relieve some of the costs of the repairs and removal of the pests? Unfortunately insurance companies generally deny the claims for termite damage. Insurance Coverage Claims Many insurance companies will not consider termite damage as an unforeseen circumstance and will not allow the claim. The reason is there are signs your home has termites. The most known signs include: Termite tunnels Wood damage and carvings in the wood Sagging or buckling in the floors Black flying insects that look like ants Because termite damage can continue to worsen for years, it is...

Wrong information about pests has been accepted as truth for a significant length of time. Instead of fading away, many of these myths seem to be getting stronger. It's time to set the record straight on five of these myths about pests which have gone uncorrected. Bed Bugs Are Attracted to Filth Many people believe that bed bugs only infest rooms filled with grime and clutter. However, bed bugs are no more likely to plague a dirty motel than a five-star resort. All that bed bugs are after is places where blood is in high supply. Therefore an infestation of bed bugs in a home or hotel does not signify poor sanitation or housekeeping, just bad luck. Mice Are Invertebrates The myth that mice do not have backbones come from the fact that mice can seemingly fit through any hole or crevice, no matter how small. Mice do have bones, spine...

If you live in Kansas, then you've probably seen a few spiders or other pests that look rather ordinary. However, there are a few bugs and pests that look spooky and almost look like they are designed for Halloween. Some of these pests are dangerous to humans and should be avoided while others are just looking for a meal. The Abbott's Sphinx Moth is a moth that doesn't look like the typical moth you might see flying around. They have a ragged appearance, and there is a white tail feather that looks out of place. Colors of dark green, brown, and purple adorn the moth. Fortunately, it's just like any other in the moth world and enjoys meals of insects. Another moth that has a spooky appearance is the webworm moth. It's orange, black, and white stripes make it look like a Halloween decoration. The legs appear to be larger than...

In the Kansas City metropolitan area, having a beautiful lawn requires year-round work. The region's hot, humid summers are followed by cool fall weather and harsh winter conditions. During the fall, the grasses in your yard are much weaker. Your lawn begins to prepare for winter when the temperatures begin falling. Winterizing your lawn during the fall is important to help the grasses become stronger and more tolerant. Aerating your lawn Aerating the soil in your lawn in the fall is important. This helps the ground from becoming too compact and assists with removing excessive thatch. Both of these actions can help more sunlight, air and fertilizer nutrients to penetrate into the ground so that the grass plant roots are nourished. Fertilizing your lawn As cooler weather begins, the grass plants start slowing their growth and storing sugars and other nutrients in preparation for the winter. This is the best time...

Once bed bugs get inside your home and establish a nest, catching them right away is vital if you don't want the problem to spread. Knowing the places the pests like to hide is a good step in the right direction, improving your odds of containing the threat. You probably believe bed bugs only hide in mattresses if you are like most people. The truth is that these pests can hide in many places in and around your bedroom, and learning about the other places you can find bed bugs is a powerful step in the right direction. Nightstands Looking in your nightstand for the red flags of bed bugs is a smart move you don't want to overlook. Located within 5 feet of your bed, nightstands offer shelter from detection and easy access to a host each night. You can use a flashlight to check inside your nightstand for bed...

Bed bugs are some of the most troublesome household pests. Not only can bed bugs ruin your sleep with their itchy bites, but they can also exacerbate allergy and asthma symptoms. If you decide to take an out-of-town vacation, be sure you don’t carry these insects back home. Here are some valuable traveling tips to remember. Keep Your Belongings in Plastic Bags Don’t make it easy for bed bugs to hitchhike inside your stuff. A plane’s cargo hold allows bed bugs to simply crawl from one bag to the next. Keeping your luggage wrapped in plastic bags will give you an extra layer of protection. This simply task will dramatically lower your risk of bringing home these pests. Inspect Your Hotel Room Contrary to common belief, even the nicest hotels can harbor bed bugs. Before you begin to unpack, the best approach is to err on the side of caution. Take...