How to survive an ant invasion?

Although not very dangerous for health, the presence of ants can be harmful and very unpleasant. Very well organized, these insects mainly attack your kitchen in search of water and food. Generally, we observe a few ants without worrying about it and then, very quickly, they organize themselves in single file to bring back the foodstuffs and it is at this moment that we seek to act. Zoom on the reflexes to have for the extermination of ants.

1st step: Identify the ant species

Before reacting to an ant invasion, it is essential to identify the species we are facing. Indeed, there are several species of ants and each of them has its own characteristics. These have a direct impact on their habits, and therefore on the treatment to adopt to exterminate them. In short, let’s discover the main differences between the types of ants. We will focus on the three most common ant species.

The pavement ants

Pavement ants measure between 2.5 and 4mm in length and are usually dark brown in color. This type of ants lives in colonies; it is therefore often necessary to find the nest to get to the source of the problem. Although the colony generally lives outside the houses, fatty or sugary foods as well as humid places are elements that can attract the pavement ants inside your home.

Carpenter ants

Carpenter ants are 6 to 12 mm in length and live in an anthill. Outdoors, they are usually found near soft wood exposed to moisture. This can result in trees, galleries or even rotten wood where they will install their nests. Their motivation for entering homes is primarily to find food for the rest of the anthill. They will therefore also look for sugary and fatty foods.

Pharaoh ants

Finally, the third most common type of ant is pharaoh ants. The latter are smaller than their counterparts; they measure between 1.5 and 3 mm. Unlike other ant nests which have only one queen, this species can have several within the same colony due to their rapid reproduction. This type of ants are more dependent on humans than other species. The pharaoh ant particularly seeks sources of artificial heat that it can find in many places in your home. The pantry, a cardboard box or your bathroom cupboard are just a few examples.

For more information on the different types of ants and their characteristics, see our page on ant extermination .

Avoid the appearance of ants

Better to prevent than to cure, before trying to get rid of them, avoid making their installation possible. The ants who dare to venture into your home will first seek to estimate the potential of your cupboards! To prevent them from wanting to return, we must not facilitate access to food. In general, food products should be stored to be as inaccessible as possible. It is also important to rinse the dishes, used pots and close all bags containing sugar or flour. In short: limit all access to food or leftover food.

Ultimate solution: call an ant exterminator

If despite these efforts, insects have settled in your home, an ant extermination will be necessary. These pests usually enter through small places such as cracks in walls, holes or poorly insulated windows. Older dwellings have many entrances and it is difficult to identify them all. If the solutions put forward previously do not get rid of the ant colony, the ultimate solution is to call in a certified exterminator . Specialized companies ensure that the queen or queens are killed.

L’article How to survive an ant invasion? est apparu en premier sur Exterminateurs Associés Inc..

Prevent a rat invasion in winter

Advice from an exterminator to prevent the invasion of rodents and insects in winter on the last blog of Exterminateurs Associés.

While we sometimes have the impression that the bugs disappear in the winter, this is not entirely the case. Indeed, while the majority of insects do not tolerate cold temperatures, many of them choose houses to shelter during the winter and find heat there. They can thus spread quickly, especially in humid and hot places. Therefore, it is important to react quickly as soon as you notice the presence of any insect.

Mice and rats in winter: prevent them

Rodent control is important. It is necessary to plan a good external verification to locate the possible entry points. Mice and rats can easily sneak inside homes to seek warmth and comfort, mostly through open or broken sewers. However, this climate of comfort, far from their predators, is also favorable to their reproduction. Without strict measures, these rodents can quickly enter your home, mainly invading the pantry for food. They will have no qualms about also integrating the cabinets and gnawing at the electrical wires. However, if ever a rat dies in the walls, the risk of other scavenging or dermal insects being born there is higher. Besides that, the smelly corpses will be the source of these unwanted insects that can invade any room. Otherwise, when it comes to mice, bait stations in different places around the house are needed as soon as a problem arises. The purchase of equipment from a rat and mouse exterminator in Montreal is recommended to avoid poisoning and favor environmentally friendly products.

Bedbugs and insects in winter: what to do after a trip

Many of you are taking advantage of the harsh Montreal winters to fly south. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for an insect infestation to occur after a trip. These unwanted little beings very often sneak into your luggage. Your luggage should therefore be quarantined in an isolated place such as a garage or cabin, while the contents should be immediately put in the washing machine or in a steam machine. Other fragile items must undergo meticulous cleaning before entering the house. These arrangements essentially prevent bed bug infestations inside the house. Since bed bugs mainly live in bedrooms, it pays to be vigilant. Especially since these bedbugs can have several consequences on the skin such as itching and stings. They can also leave their droppings on your mattresses and sheets. It is important to immediately call an exterminator in Montreal as soon as a suspected case arises. As a professional in this field, he will know how to intervene with the bed bug treatment which will suit you best.

L’article Advice against the invasion of rodents and insects in winter est apparu en premier sur Exterminateurs Associés Inc..

Tips for detecting a mouse and rat problem

How to detect a mouse and rat problem effectively? Exterminateurs Associés gives you some advice on his most recent blog.

When the months get colder, on the threshold of winter, mice and rats begin a migration process in search of warmth and better comfort. These unscrupulous rodents therefore invade buildings and attics. Knowing how to spot a mouse and rat problem is not always easy, but it can be extremely useful. Whether in terms of hygiene, damage of all kinds or in terms of fire risks, these small animals are second to none.

Mouse and rat problem in your home

There are many distinctive signs that allow the detection of these unwanted rodents. Small droppings, close to black in color, five to ten millimeters long, can indicate the presence of mice. You will find them above all in inaccessible, hidden and dark places. Those of the rat are more significant in terms of size but are not therefore easier to locate, hiding most of the time in walls and under the floor. Uneven lengths will show the reproductive activity of the rodents. Considering an extermination of mice and rats should then be one of your priorities before it is unfortunately too late.

Noises of gnawing or other scratching

Annoying noises emanating from the cellar or the attic are never a good sign. This will very often be a sign that intruders, rodents in addition, have entered the premises. Mice and rats are in fact forced to gnaw constantly for the simple reason that their incisors never stop growing. It is also their very personal way of maintaining their teeth. Add to that the recurring scratching noises and you will be sure to be confronted with a problem of mice and rats.

Presence of fingerprints

Another way to detect the presence of rodents in its habitat will be to observe the presence of footprints in inaccessible and dusty places. The size of the latter will give important indications as to whether they are mice or rats. In any case, this will most likely mean that your home has been invested. The test of the flour on the ground will allow you to corroborate this indelicate presence and to foresee a extermination of mice and rats .

Obvious odors and other traces

An odor reminiscent of ammonia may indicate the presence of mice or rats. This emanation arises through their respective urine and can become very strong as time passes. So much so that some places may be difficult to access due to the highly fetid nature of the smell. Traces of fat can also be left by rodents on the walls or the floor when they move around. It is also an excellent way to trace their course and detect where their nest is located. In any case, do not delay in taking the appropriate measures in the event of a problem with mice and rats.

L’article How to detect a problem with mice and rats? est apparu en premier sur Exterminateurs Associés Inc..

Choosing an exterminator shouldn’t be a fluke

Choosing an exterminator in Montreal shouldn’t be a fluke.

Parasites or other unwanted little animals are likely to invade your home at all times, which is generally not very pleasant. Your concern will of course be to call a professional to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. However, selecting an exterminator in Montreal is not necessarily easy, as the offer is often large.

Let’s review the various essential criteria to choose an exterminator without making a mistake.

Evaluate the level of the exterminator in Montreal requested

When you call on a company, it is first necessary to check the qualifications of the professional who will work with you. The latter must imperatively have the licenses giving him the authorization to work with the products in question. Getting access to strong pesticides usually requires passing an exam. These aspects are highly regulated by the Ministry of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change. The company must also have a license and the technician, a certificate. Don’t hesitate to ask for them.

Seniority and experience of the company

The older the company, the more likely it will be experienced and have competent technicians. The profession of exterminator is not a profession that can be improvised and a long experience is necessary to overcome sometimes very complex situations. Knowing that the professional who will intervene in your accommodation has already conquered an identical case on several occasions will always be extremely reassuring. Another important point to consider when choosing an exterminator is to make sure that the latter has all the guarantees regarding safety. The products used can do great damage if they are inappropriate for the situation or misused. Keeping your family safe in this area is essential because some pesticides can be much more dangerous than unwanted hosts that have invaded your home. Also check the insurance policy of the company you are looking for and its ability to prevent any form of accident. These many points must be considered if you want to choose your certified exterminator in Montreal .

Guarantee and continuous training of an exterminator in Montreal

Some companies are able to offer a guarantee for a period which will vary depending on the nature of the context. This option is obviously very interesting and must be considered. In addition, it will be possible to verify whether the company in question is a member of the Association québécoise en pest management . The latter offers its members the opportunity to access continuing education. This aspect is essential insofar as developments in the field of pest control are extremely rapid. In addition, by being part of this association, the company will generally attest, as a preamble, to its seriousness. Although this base is not sufficient on its own, it is nevertheless very important. The last point to consider will be to assess the company’s communication as well as possible. The latter must be convincing, precise and above all reassuring. The first concern of the exterminator must be to accompany you and not to take advantage of the situation in which you find yourself.

L’article How to choose an exterminator in Montreal? est apparu en premier sur Exterminateurs Associés Inc..

Some tips to get rid of food moths

Food moths are small, gray to beige butterflies that are likely to invade your kitchen.

Their larvae have the particularity of feeding on your stored food, for example flour, rice, spices, cereals, pasta or even animal feed .

Suffice to say that they are real pests and that if you are confronted with them, it will be urgent to get rid of them. The most drastic and the safest method is to bring in a exterminator in Montreal .

However, there are some alternatives when the degree of infection is not too advanced. Let’s try to go through a few of them.

Getting rid of food moths is not always easy!

5 tips to apply in case of their presence

Tip 1: Throw away all contaminated food

If you discover that food moths have infested your stored food, there will unfortunately be no other solution than to throw it all away. Worse, you will also have to part with any peripheral foods that are wrapped in cardboard or plastic. The latter are indeed ideal and popular places for the pests in question to lay their eggs. This radical action will be the price to pay to get rid of food moths, at least to start the decontamination process.

Tip 2: The big cleaning of your cupboards

Once your cupboards have been emptied, it will be time to consider a thorough cleaning of them. Don’t skimp on the means. You also have the option of using cleaning products. On the other hand, no need to play the apprentice chemist. If in doubt, call an exterminator, because only he will know exactly what products to use to sanitize your kitchen.

Tip 3: Plates soaked in pheromones

These plates are small traps, based on glue, for food moths. They are safe for food and have the ability to attract males. Once these are eradicated, females will no longer be able to impregnate. This method can be very interesting to complete the decontamination process when your cupboards are empty.

Tip 4: Get rid of food moths by purchasing jars

To prevent is to cure. Acquiring glass jars will be the best way to get rid of food moths or at least not to be confronted with them again. Then do not keep any packaging boxes or bags. Transfer flour, rice, pasta or other into the jars in question. Be careful, they must be perfectly airtight to fulfill their role.

Tip 5: Vacuum the closets

The idea here is to tackle all the nooks and crannies that could not necessarily be reached through cleaning. Vacuum all sensitive areas, such as screws or any cracks detected. If you find any items in poor condition, do not hesitate to change them.

As a conclusion

Remember that while these alternatives are great ways to get rid of food moths, in the majority of cases it is probably best to call a professional. exterminator in Montreal who is competent and licensed. The latter will be the only one able to totally eradicate these pests.

To view other blog posts related to this topic, please see pest management from our blog.

UPDATE: MAY 30, 2019

L’article Getting rid of food moths: 5 tips est apparu en premier sur Exterminateurs Associés Inc..

What questions should I ask an exterminator?

If your home is invaded by rodents or other pests, you will quickly be forced to seek an exterminator. The latter will be able to solve the problem as long as he is perfectly competent. In order not to make the wrong choice, it will be necessary to prepare some very specific questions to ask your future exterminator . This will allow you to sort it out and choose the most seasoned professional who can quickly and effectively deal with your problem.

Let’s review the different questions to ask your exterminator in order to make the best choice.

How to hire the best exterminator?

Defining in the preamble the questions to ask an exterminator will be very useful for you to gauge the skills of the coveted professional.

The first thing to do, however, will be to choose three to four exterminators working in your entourage. Prefer local professionals as much as possible. A simple query through your favorite search engine will be sufficient to complete this operation. Then it will be time to prepare your questions, taking care not to omit anything. Every detail will be important and it will be better to think about it beforehand to be sure that your exterminator fulfills all the conditions to carry out the planned work.

[Infographie] Questions to ask an exterminator

What questions should you ask your exterminator?

The first thing to check and ask will be whether the exterminator is certified and a member of the AQGP, namely Quebec Association of Parasite Management .

This will give you the assurance that the exterminator is working taking into account the standards in force while respecting the code of good practice. In general, this point can be prohibitive if the condition is not met, because it is essential to call on a certified exterminator .

Then find out if the company offers a free quote and try to get specific answers as to the methods used to eradicate the pests. It will also be important for the exterminator to clearly inform you of the number of visits to be made as well as the time it will take.

In addition, check that your exterminator offers a guarantee in relation to the work carried out and that he has planned a prevention plan so that the situation does not repeat itself in the future.

Contact with the exterminator

Your questions are ready and it is now time to contact the pre-selected exterminators in order to get a more precise idea of their skills.

If you come across a professional unwilling to answer your questions or in a hurry, move on immediately. Visiting an exterminator is not something you can improvise and it must fully meet your expectations.

Over the phone, you will need to be able to make sure that the person you ask is professional, polite and knowledgeable. Once you have made the calls, compare your notes and try to determine which exterminator is best suited to intervene in your home. Take into account that deadlines and guarantees are as important as the price of the service. You will then be able to request a quote and close the deal.

L’article Questions to ask an exterminator est apparu en premier sur Exterminateurs Associés Inc..

L’article 9 tips for getting rid of bed bugs est apparu en premier sur Exterminateurs Associés Inc..

Let’s take a quick look at the five most hated pests that are likely to plague your home or apartment.

[Infographie] The five most hated pests you’re likely to see in your home

Bed bugs

Bedbugs are not necessarily the most common insects found in homes, but they are among the largest pests that must be eradicated if you are confronted with them.

This insect visible to the naked eye and brown or reddish in color measures between four and seven millimeters. It hides in corners (cracks, bedroom furniture), mattresses or box springs and feeds on blood during the night by biting the sleeper. Bed bugs have the ability to reproduce quickly by laying eggs in multiple places.

If you see bedbugs in your home, it is imperative to seek a bed bug exterminator certified. The latter will be able to take stock of the situation and intervene accordingly.

Mice

Mice are obviously not on the list of pests to eliminate, but these tough rodents can cause terrible damage to your home.

Attracted by the warm weather in your home, mice infiltrate homes in search of food and are likely to infest kitchen cupboards. Like rats, mice can carry disease and pose a serious hygiene threat.

To avoid them, it is imperative to plug all the exterior holes that would allow them to infiltrate your home, whether in walls, pipes or even ventilation.

Cockroaches

Where do cockroaches come from in a house?

This is a question you hear frequently, especially when they are swarming around your kitchen in the middle of the night. Without knowing it, they may have been brought back as a result of a trip, the purchase of used furniture or the grocery store. Another potential source of contamination concerns packaging, which represents an ideal breeding ground for the cockroach. The latter can move from one apartment to another.

Its ability to reproduce easily is a real problem and in most cases will require you to seek an exterminator.

The ants

Ants can be a real concern and are added to the list of insects to be eradicated. They are certainly not dangerous for the human being but are on the other hand likely to cause a lot of complications and seriously affect your quality of life.

The carpenter ants are capable of attacking wooden structures, ants can threaten your home and cause serious damage. If you see them in your home, then it will be urgent to identify the kind of ants and potential nests and to call in a competent exterminator as soon as possible. Only the latter will be able to overcome an infestation and make the right decisions according to the context.

Flies

Flies are among the most common insects found in homes and can turn out to be a particularly nasty pest. They do not represent a danger for humans and swallow only liquid food. When the latter is solid, they use their saliva to absorb it once it is predigested. The female is able to lay several hundred eggs. The larvae that emerge from them feed on excrement, trash, or other decaying material, allowing them to survive without a hitch and swarm around your home.

To get rid of it, it is not advisable to take the initiative to use insecticides but rather to call in a competent and approved specialist who will take care of the problem in question.

For more information about our services extermination montreal , contact us Monday to Sunday at (514) 351-8989, or complete this form :

L’article The five most hated pests you’re likely to see in your home est apparu en premier sur Exterminateurs Associés Inc..

Carpenter ants are hymenopterous insects, generally black or red depending on the species, sometimes tinged with brown, the size of which varies from 6 to 12 mm. They live mainly in the trunks of dead trees but it is not uncommon to find them inside homes. Their presence is not without risk because they can weaken the wooden structures of the house such as the frame.

In the spring, it is the mating period.

This takes place in full flight, which is why, from the month of May, we can see swarms of flying ants moving in the sky. Let’s find out a little more about the life of these insects

Photo credit: Shutterstock

What is their way of life?

Their habits

They are insects that live in hierarchical society . Each colony consists of males, sterile workers and future queens, each with a well-defined role. In the natural environment, their preferred habitat is damp rotting wood in which they dig galleries. As soon as they find ideal conditions inside houses (humidity, rotting of wood), they settle there and cause irreversible damage. Indeed, they weaken the wooden structures that they dig. This is why it is essential to carry out the extermination of carpenter ants

The reproduction

With the arrival of spring, queens carpenter ants wake up and venture outside their nest to mate. These flying ants , also called winged queens, are fertilized by males in flight. This is what we call “the nuptial flight” . Only females survive this mating. After shedding their wings, they look for a place to lay their eggs and y establish their new colony . Ten days later larvae hatch, then transform in nymphs inside of their cocoon . Later, satellite colonies are dug by the workers to extend the territory of the queen of the carpenter ants.

Their diet

These insects are omnivorous. They feed, not on wood as one might think, but on honeydew, produced by aphids, small insects and fruits . Inside homes, they love sweet products and foods containing protein (plant and animal). This is why it is important not to leave leftover food within reach.

Where can they be found ?

The places frequently invaded by ants are:

• around windows and doors if the seal is failing.
• in damp rooms (kitchen and bathroom).
• in the parquet floors and at the level of the plinths.
• in the attic, at the level of the framework.
• in the woodpiles near the houses.

Photo credit: Space for Life

In a general way, these insects look for any trace of moisture wherever she is. Be careful, their presence can reveal water damage!
But how do they get inside homes? There are several causes for this.

• Either a fertilized queen has entered the house to lay her eggs and created a new colony there.
• Either a satellite nest was created inside by the workers, the main nest being outside ( this is the most common cause ).
• Either the inhabitants of the house have inadvertently introduced them with firewood for example.

Some received ideas

Unlike termites, carpenter ants are not xylophagous . They do not digest the cellulose in wood. If they dig the beams, it is only to find refuge there. We can see the presence of small piles of sawdust near the anthills.

They can be useful and play an ecological role . They are a link in the food chain because they eat small harmful insects. On the other hand, they are the prey of many insectivorous birds. They ensure the decomposition of dead wood and stumps.

The little white balls that they move are not the eggs of carpenter ants, as is often said. These are, in fact, the cocoons of the nymphs . Carpenter ant eggs are much smaller and difficult to see with the naked eye.

If you think you have a carpenter ants infestation, call a team of extermination experts carpenter ants . They will put their skills and experience at your disposal to get rid of these annoying insects.

Related article: How to survive an ant invasion

Sources:Quebec pest control center Press

L’article The awakening of the carpenter ants in spring est apparu en premier sur Exterminateurs Associés Inc..