Spending the evening on your patio during the summer is dreamy. It turns into a nightmare, however, if the pests are kept at bay. Nothing can ruin an outdoor gathering quite like pests. There are several things you can do to cut down the number of pests around your deck and patio immensely so you can enjoy your evenings outside. Rentokil is here to share some tips that will help keep pests from invading your porch, patio or deck this summer.

Worst Pests Building Nests or Invading Your Porch, Patio or Deck

There are many pests that find your porch, patio or deck attractive. This is especially true when you are having a dinner party and food is involved. Flies, fruit flies, and mosquitoes are often irritating for those enjoying their backyard; as well as wasps and other stinging pests. These stinging pests will often build nests near your windows and doorways which make them a threat as well as a nuisance.

Pest Prevention Tips

The following are some steps you can take to stop allowing these pests to keep you from going outside to enjoy your outdoor space.
• Get Rid of Clutter– If your patio or deck is clutter-free and clean, it will be more likely to be pest-free. Don’t allow clutter to give pests a place to hideout. You should also get rid of all crumbs and sticky remnants from your last BBQ so you aren’t attracting ants, wasps, and bees with the sugary or greasy leftovers.
• Change the Lighting– Pests are attracted to bright lights. Replacing your current white bulbs with yellow bulbs will make your patio less appealing. Pests aren’t as attracted to an orange or yellow glow like they are to bright white.
• Plant Herbs– There are some herbs that will help keep pests away. You can plant garlic, rosemary or chive and lemongrass to help repel insects. Flowers like marigolds can be used to ward off pests as well. Having them on the table and planted around your deck or patio will keep pests at bay.
• Citronella Torches– Citronella is known to keep mosquitoes away. You have to burn several torches in order for them to be beneficial, but this oil will help keep biting pests like mosquitoes away from your outdoor space.
• Hydrogen Peroxide Pest Repellent– Many pests don’t like hydrogen peroxide. You can mix it with water and create a spray to keep bugs away. Spray the perimeter and your furniture with the mixture and you will see the mixture work its magic. Be sure to keep from spraying near food and drink though.

Pest Management

If you are having a hard time keeping the pests controlled in your outdoor space, the experts at Rentokil can help. Let us keep your outdoor space usable with our experienced pest control techniques. Don’t let pests determine the amount of time you spend outside this summer. Call us today!

Ants are a pretty fascinating creature when you really think about them. They work as a team and work hard their entire lives. But no matter how endearing their qualities may be, no one wants ants to make their house a home for an ant colony. An ant colony can have hundreds of ants in it and the thought of that many ants crawling through your home is enough to make anyone’s skin crawl. Rentokil is here to share some tips to keep ants out of your home this summer.

Ant Identification Chart

There are literally thousands of different ant species in the world. The number of ant species that infest homes in America is much smaller though. There are several ant species that are more common than others and the best way to get rid of them is to know what species you are dealing with in the first place. When you know what type of ants you have, you know what they eat and what is attracting them. This information can help you keep them out of your home.
• Pavement Ants– These ants are tiny and brown or black. They usually make their way inside your home from an outdoor nest. Pavement ants are attracted primarily to moisture inside your residence.
• Argentine Ants– While these ants are also small and brown or black, they make their nest inside your home. This usually happens in moist places with food like potted plants, sinks, and pipes. Argentine ants are attracted to the sweet honeydew produced by aphids and mealybugs from fruit trees, roses, and other plants.
• Odorous Ants– You know you are dealing with this ant because when you smash them they smell like rotten coconut. Odorous ants are attracted to moisture and standing water.
• Carpenter Ants– These can be very destructive if they are left to their devices for long. They build their nests inside the structure of your home. They are very large and dark brown or black. Carpenter ants are attracted to sugars such as honeydew produced by aphids and scale insects that feed on plants. Once inside your home, carpenter ants will feed on proteins such as pet food.

Home Sealing For Pest Control; Caulk to Keep Ants Out

Sealing all the areas that an ant can get through in your home is a good start to keeping them out. If there are cracks around your doors or windows, seal them up with a fresh strip of caulking.

Remove Food Sources in Kitchen to Deter Ants

Ants are likely looking for food if they have made it into your home. They aren’t picky and will eat any old crumb of food found on your floor. Keep your kitchen neat and tidy, free of any crumbs and old food to avoid ants. Keeping your food in tightly closed storage solutions will keep them from contaminating your food as well.

Prevent Ants in the Bathroom

As ants are attracted to moisture, it helps to dry the water on the sink, tub, and shower after using these fixtures. It is also a good idea to put the toilet seat down after use and close containers such as toothpaste tubes and lotions as well as shampoo and conditioner bottles.

Ant Control

If after trying all these tips mentioned above, you still have a problem with ants in your home, the professional pest control technicians at Rentokil can help. We know how to eliminate any type of ant you may find in your home. Call us today!

Have you ever wondered why the Utah state bird is a California Gull? It’s because they saved the Mormon settlers by eating hordes of crickets that were destroying their crops in 1848. This event is known as the miracle of the gulls. The gulls were credited to saving the second harvest of the Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley. Even though it’s called a Mormon cricket, it’s not a cricket. It’s actually a shield-backed katydid.

Identification of Mormon Crickets

Mormon crickets are large insects that can get as big as three inches and live throughout western North America. They vary in color and can be black, brown, purple, red or green. They have a shield that covers their wings. The wings are ornamental because they don’t fly, but they can move; 1.5 miles a day and 50 miles a season. They will eat anything in their path and can devastate crops. They destroy grasses and other vegetation by eating plant stems and leaves. This damages the plants’ growth and seed production, which also decreases the amount of food for livestock. Other than being a serious agricultural pest, they can also become a traffic hazard. They can create a slippery surface on roads as they march across highways and roads. They have been known to cause accidents.

Mormon Cricket Invasions

The males will chirp, and the females have a long appendage called an ovipositor that looks like a stinger, but it isn’t. She uses it to push dirt, so she can lay her eggs on the surface of the soil. Female Mormon crickets can lay up to 100 eggs every summer. These eggs will hatch the following spring. Swarms can number in the thousands. When populations explode they can form roving bands. These bands can include millions of single crickets per square meter. Infestations can last for decades and can increase in population and then decrease. Some scientists believe that infestations are related to weather. Because they have cannibalistic behavior, the swarming may be due to their need to constantly be on the move to avoid attacks from behind.

Where Do Mormon Crickets Live?

Outbreaks are common, and populations build slowly. The good news is that these outbreaks are easy to predict. For control to be effective it’s best to monitor signs of an invasion. Mormon crickets love moist, dark places like basements and crawlspaces, but you may also find them in other areas of your home. When numbers are large you may find dried excrement that looks like coffee grounds that will settle on flat surfaces.

Professional Pest Management

Smooth, physical barriers at least two feet high can be effective in keeping Mormon crickets off your property as Mormon crickets can’t fly but this may not be very practical. It also helps to keep your landscape trimmed to minimize hiding places. If you need professional help with Mormon crickets or any pests, contact Rentokil. We can evaluate any pest problem and develop an effective treatment plan.

In the summer, the goal isn’t just to have a beautiful yard; it’s to have low maintenance, beautiful yard. With our busy lives, there just isn’t time to dedicate to a long list of yard maintenance to create a beautiful outdoor space as we all want. We want a yard that is beautiful with as little maintenance as possible. Luckily, there are some things you can do that will help you keep your yard low maintenance as well as beautiful all summer long. Rentokil is here to share some yard and lawn care tips to assist you.

Importance of Pre-emergent & Crabgrass Control

While spring has already passed, you need to stow this bit of information back for the next year. Battling crabgrass all summer long is no fun. By applying a pre-emergent herbicide to your lawn, you will find that the need for battling this problem is all but gone all summer long. It keeps the seeds from last season from germinating and that is a game-changer.

Mulching Around Young Trees

If your trees are young and you want to give them the protection they need against mowers and trimmers, a 4-inch ring of mulch is the way to do it. This will protect your trees and will take away the hassle of needing to trim around them.

What Lawn Mower Heights Should I Set to Cut My Grass

Every variety of grass is different. You need to do your homework and find out the right height to cut your grass. Cold climate grasses tend to thrive when cutting at 2-2 ½ inches; while warm-climate grasses do better when cut shorter at 1 ½-2 inch.

Construct Garden Paths You Can Mow Over

If you are thinking about a path in your yard to add beauty and a clear way for people to get from one area to another, consider a path that will conform to the landscape. This way, you can mow over it and don’t have to worry about trimming it either.

Mowing Edge Border Ideas

When you have flower beds that are right next to your grass, you will be battling that grass in your flowers. Creating some sort of mowing border out of paving stones or brick will be a surface your mower can go right over and keep the grass out of your beds as well.

Mulch Flower Planting Beds

Speaking of flower beds, adding mulch to them will cut down maintenance for you as well. This will help reduce the amount of weeding that you will have to do and will also keep them moist to cut down on watering.

Lawn & Yard Care

If keeping your yard up is nothing but a burden, the experts at Rentokil can help. With our experience and training, we can help you implement many of these time-saving techniques into your yard so you can enjoy them without all the work. Call us today!

When it comes to protecting your home from pests, the most successful method is when pest control specialists and homeowners come together to fight them. There is a role for the homeowners and then there is a role for the pest control specialist. Knowing each role is essential in keeping pests away from your home. Rentokil will share each role of the homeowner and pest control professional and how your home can be pest-free.

Homeowner’s & Tenant’s Role in Pest Prevention

The homeowner or tenant is where every successful pest control program begins. It is up to those living in the home to practice prevention. Prevention starts outside and works its way inside. The outside portion of the home, including the yards, should be kept up and cleaned, along with avoiding clutter around the home including firewood stacks. Pests are drawn to overgrown grass, shrubs and even clutter. It provides them protection and in some cases feeding grounds depending on the pest. Some pests are also drawn to the feeding ground feast provided by other invading pests. Keeping the yard maintained makes many pests disinterested and much less will invade. Still working on the outside as you keep the yard and surrounding areas of your home cleaned, you will also want to prevent pests from entering your home. Seal your home by working on the outside first. Some common weak points of a home are dryer, attic vents, and chimneys which can be secured with mesh wiring. The mesh will keep pests from crawling and gaining access to your residence. Another common area is windows and doorways. Often window screens or weather stripping around windows and doors wears down and creates gaps along the edges. Replace screens and weather stripping, especially if daylight shines through. Inside the home is another responsibility for homeowners. Keep the inside clean and as clutter-free as possible to prevent shelter or hiding places for pests. Additionally, keep food sealed in airtight containers and don’t leave food out, including snack bowls or even dirty dishes.

Role of Pest Management Professionals

The role of the pest control specialist is to remove existing pests and prevent future pests that may find a way inside your home. We will treat known pest problems you’re currently having to prevent infestations from escalating. It is important to share what pests you have seen and where they were spotted. The pest control specialist can then determine where to begin treatment and using what method. We will also inspect the home noting any weakness that pests can use to enter.

Year-Round Pest Control

Together you and your pest control company can work to keep pests away from your residence for a safer, healthier and cleaner home. If your home is under an invasion of pests and you need a partner to help you control them, contact Rentokil today!

There are 12 species of wood cockroaches found in America. One is the western wood cockroach and can be found throughout the state of Utah. Each species will vary in size and color. The largest known wood cockroach is 1 3/4 inches in length. There is a lot to know about wood cockroaches. Today, Rentokil will share more about these insects and how you can help keep them out of your home.

Where Do Wood Cockroaches Live?

Wood cockroaches prefer to spend their lives outdoors. They will infest rotting or decaying wood and you will find them underneath the bark of dead or dying trees. They like damp and dark areas and often will live their entire life in the same home. If there is a drought or they are unable to seek out food, they will emerge from their homes in search of a more favorable place.

What Attracts Wood Roaches Inside My House?

When wood cockroaches invade a home, it is usually the male wood cockroach. The males, for some reason, are drawn to light. Therefore, in the darkness of night, those who live outside will travel from out of the woodpile and head for the light. Females will avoid light and stay in places with high vegetation. However, females will venture inside from time to time. Another way wood cockroaches get inside a home is that they are often brought in. People that store firewood in their back yard are supplying wood cockroaches with a home. Sometimes when firewood is brought inside the house there is a wood cockroach hiding inside it. The wood cockroach likes to feed on decaying leaves and can be found inside gutter systems or in the mulch.

Wood Cockroaches Are Active During the Day

Most cockroach species hide during the day and only come out at night to forage, which make cockroach sightings somewhat rare during the day. However, not wood cockroaches. They are known as the brave cockroach because they will roam during the day and are not frightened when people are nearby. Luckily, wood cockroaches are a temporary guest. They will leave since they cannot find food typically inside a home. For those with indoor plants, wood cockroaches may invade your home plants in hopes of finding food.

Wood Cockroach Prevention

To prevent wood cockroaches, follow these set of recommended rules or tips to keep cockroaches from invading your home.
– Never bring in extra wood logs or firewood into the house unless it is going right into the fireplace. Additionally don’t pile a few next to the door either. Only grab what you will use, and store the firewood far way form the home as possible.
– Have a lawn to act as a barrier. Wood cockroaches can’t maneuver over lawns. They don’t fly either, which helps keep wood cockroaches away.
– Keep the outside and inside of the home clean and clutter-free. Avoid having food left out and ensure garage areas are properly sealed especially when the trash is brought outside.
– Prevent excessive water leakage or moisture from occurring such as repairing leaking sprinklers, spouts and other outdoor plumbing.
– Seal all cracks around doors, windows and cover chimneys, attic and dryer vents with wire meshing.
– Lastly, keep the lights turned off outside at night. This will help keep wood cockroaches, especially the males, away from your home.

Cockroach Control

If you need help keeping cockroaches and other pests away from your home, contact the professionals. Rentokil can help care for your home lawn and keep pests out. Contact Rentokil today.

Ants are one of the most common pests there is. They will invade homes and even businesses looking to pilfer anything that looks appetizing. Their social behaviors mean if you see one ant, there are always more; no matter how many times you assault them with the most convenient cleaner you can find. Even outside enjoying some loaf time on the lawn seems to have ants nearby to deliver painful pinches when you are on their turf. With the thousands of ant species roaming the world, there are some that are more common localized in specific areas. In Northern Utah and Southern Idaho, sugar ants are one of the common ants and we at Rentokil would like to relate the fundamentals today.

Sugar Ant Identification

Many people will commonly mistake any small ant that is drawn to sweets, but a sugar ant is a part of the Camponotus consobrinus species. They range in size from 5/64-19/32 inches long. Female workers have orange-colored bodies where the male royals are winged and black.

What Attracts Sugar Ants to Your Home

These pests initially are brought in close proximity to your home because of the plants that secrete nectar, from there, the sugar ants will discover the consistent and often tasty food source inside your home. More often than not, sugar ants are not content with outdoor living and prefer comfortable indoor living, especially if there is a ready supply of sweets.

Sugar Ant Damage

Swarms of sugar ants are a nuisance, especially when they find that sweet offering, though they are not harmful. These ants are able to gnaw through the thin plastic containers, paper, and cardboard food packaging to claim their prize. Additionally, sugar ants will attack other pests that feed on them such as spiders and centipedes.

Do Sugar Ants Bite or Sting?

Sugar ants are a mild-mannered pest that doesn’t sting, but they may bite if their nest is disturbed and they feel threatened. Though the bites are not painful, some may experience allergic reactions that can be remedied with an application of antibiotic creams, however, if symptoms worsen, its recommended you seek medical attention immediately.

Where Do Sugar Ants Live & What Do They Eat?

Sugar ants, also known as banded sugar ants, are more concentrated in suburban areas because of their preference for food. They favor warmer and humid climates but in the wild, are found in forests, heaths, and woodlands and constructing their nests the holes of wood, under or around rocks, within the soil and under twigs of shrubs and trees. In the outdoors, sugar ants prefer the honeydew from aphids and will go to great lengths to protect the aphids from their predators in order to protect their food source.

Ant Control

In late spring or early autumn, the eggs that the sugar ant queen produces will hatch into new queens or males. While sugar ant workers keep guard on the ground during the autumn, thousands of alates mate in the air. If you believe you have sugar ants invading your home or landscape, call in the experts of Rentokil and our experts will rectify the problem as quickly as possible.

Utah’s climate makes a perfect home for ticks and is known to harbor various species. One particular species is the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick. As many know, summer is tick season and now is the time to be on the lookout and to be more cautious when visiting the great outdoors. Rentokil will share more about the Rocky Mountain wood tick and how to protect yourself this summer.

Rocky Mountain Wood Tick Bites & Diseases

The Rocky Mountain wood tick is found throughout several different states including Utah, as stated. This species of tick is often found in shrubs, grasslands, and lightly wooded areas. The adult Rocky Mountain wood tick primarily feeds on larger mammals while the nymphs and larva will feed on smaller animals such as rodents. Once a Rocky Mountain wood tick reaches adulthood they are able to spread deadly pathogens. These pathogens, such as spotted fever and tularemia, can, unfortunately, be transmitted to humans. The Rocky Mountain wood tick becomes active in January and will remain active until the end of November with late spring and the entire summer season being the height of their activity.

How Do Ticks Transmit Diseases?

Once a Rocky Mountain wood tick reaches adulthood they can survive up to 600 days in between feedings. Male ticks feed for a short period of time, unlike the female who will feed on a single host for up to 17 days. After laying her eggs, she will finally drop off. A single female can lay up to 6000 eggs on a host. However, during any stage of a Rocky Mountain Wood ticks development, they are able to transmit various diseases such as Colorado tick fever that affects humans. Rocky Mountain spotted fever can affect humans, dogs, and cats. The diseases or pathogens are contained inside the tick’s saliva, including a neurotoxin that can cause tick paralysis in both humans and pets. Tularemia can also be transmitted by the Rocky Mountain Wood tick which is why ticks are such a major concern.

Tick Repellent & Prevention

To help protect you and your pets from any kind of tick, make sure when going outdoors to wear long-sleeved clothing and boots with the socks pulled up over the pant legs. Make sure you wear tick repellent and thoroughly spray your legs and arms. Make sure your pets have current tick repellent collars and it doesn’t hurt to give them a quick spray down as well. If you have a pet that comes in and outside a lot, inspect them for ticks often and quickly remove any ticks found. Additionally, make sure you keep your lawn cut short to prevent a suitable living environment for ticks. Along with maintaining a clean and manicured lawn and yard, you can keep ticks out by having the perimeter clear of all vegetation. Ticks don’t like traveling unless it’s through vegetation. For further tick prevention, consider contacting a professional pest control service.

Tick Control

If you need help protecting your home and pets from disease-carrying pests as well as dangerous or destructive pests, then contact Rentokil. We can provide quality pest control and lawn care service for both commercial and residential property. Contact Rentokil today!

Wasps are one of the most irritating and terrifying insects we have to deal with during the summer months. Because they are so aggressive, getting rid of them can be difficult without getting stung. There are several things that you can do to keep them off your property in the first place. Rentokil is here to share some natural tips to keep wasps off your property this summer.

Preventing Wasps from Building Nests is the First Step

You have heard the old adage that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?” This can be said for wasps too. Working to prevent them from taking over your property is the first step in enjoying a wasp free summer. If you notice anything that they are attracted to on your property, you are better off removing it than battling the problem all summer. If there are any areas of your home that have been damaged and small holes are present, fill them in before wasps build a nest in them.

Incorporate Plants that Repel Wasps in Your Garden

Wasps aren’t necessarily considered huge flower fans, but flowers attract other insects and wasps prey on them. If you are finding wasps are around your flowers, consider replacing them with non-flowering plants. Wasps are repelled by plants like thyme, citronella, spearmint, and eucalyptus which can also make your garden beautiful in the process.

Peppermint Oil to Repel & Prevent Wasp Nests

If you have noticed there are areas of your yard or house that wasps tend to try and build their nests, try saturating a cotton swab in peppermint oil and rubbing it on those areas. You may have to apply it several times, but it might be better than removing nests over and over again. Not only are wasps repelled by spearmint plants, but they don’t like any type of mint and will steer clear of it completely.

Make a Sugar & Water Wasp Trap

Wasps are highly attracted to sugary syrups. You may have noticed in the past that when you leave sugary drinks lying around, wasps are often drawn to it. To make a sugar and water wasp trap, all you have to do is cut off the top of a 2-liter soda bottle and invert the top. You then fill the bottle with a sugar and water mixture that will attract the wasps. Once they are in there, it is near impossible for them to figure out how to get out. They will end up being trapped in there and will die.

Wasp & Nest Removal

If you find that you have wasps that you can’t control this summer, it is important that you get rid of them safely. They are extremely aggressive and if you are allergic to their venom, there is a large health risk if you are stung. The professionals at Rentokil have the ability to safely and completely remove them from your property so they don’t pose any risk to you or those you love. Call us today!

Ants are found nearly everywhere in the world, where some species are specific to different areas, most people know an ant when they see one. Though they have many similarities in appearance and habits, the various species also have distinct differences as well. Today, we at Rentokil would like to relate the fundamentals of pavement ants that are fairly common to Northern Utah and Southern Idaho.

Pavement Ant Identification

Pavement ants vary in color from light brown to black and their appendages are generally lighter than the rest of the body. They feature parallel lines on the head that lead to the thorax. Pavement ants can reach up to 1/8” long and their antennae are 12-segmented with a 3-segmented club. Generally, pavement ants are more of a nuisance, and are typically docile but will sting if they are provoked. These ants prefer to avoid confrontation and will typically choose flight as opposed to fighting. Pavement ants are omnivorous, though they prefer the sweets and meats as previously mentioned, they will eat nearly anything. They will feast on living or dead insects, grease, and the honeydew from aphids.

Where Do Pavement Ants Live?

Ideal habitats for pavement ants include underneath sidewalks, patios, and driveways. Since they prefer such places, they easily make their way into homes and businesses, typically in search of food; favoring sweets, proteins, and dead insects. Pavement ants often find entry through cracks in foundations, basement floors, and walls as well as the concrete slabs where they forage the crumbs, trash, and open containers of food. With a convenient food source, they are encouraged to stay close by. Additionally, pavement ants will also feed on pet food they can find either outside or inside. These ants will also nest under logs, boards, bricks, patio blocks, and stones. In close proximity to buildings, pavement ants have been found nesting in mulching materials as well. If they opt to stay indoors, they are known to nest within the wall’s insulation and under floors. Pavement ants can be a challenge when it comes to pinpointing their nest if you suspect pavement ants, professional expertise is recommended for effective removal. Many times, you can see piled up dirt in a mound above the pavement where they are nesting outside, and inside people frequently see them foraging for food.

Swarming Pavement Ant Colonies

Pavement ant colonies consist of multiple queens and thousands of workers. A new colony is established when the queen lays her eggs. Worker ants will tend to the queen’s brood until they have developed into adulthood. Broods are transferred from location to location, during development, to protect them from fluctuations in moisture and temperature. Pavement ants are hatched from the eggs as larval, evolve into pupal stages until they become mature adults, undergoing complete metamorphosis. Frequently during June and July, the swarmers, which are the winged males and females, are the reproducers will mate. The females will search for new nesting areas and become the queen of a new colony after mating.

Ant Control

If you suspect pavement ants in or around your property, call in the professionals of Rentokil and our experts will get rid of the pest problem efficiently.