How to Tackle Tucson Termites
Wondering how to tackle Tucson termites?
Termites, also known as “white ants” are actually closer related to cockroaches than they are the ant family. They typically hang out in groups called colonies. There are roughly 3,000 different species of termites, yet only 300 or so are considered pests. Among those 300 are the two types of termites found in Tucson, know as Subterranean and Drywood termites. Here, we interview local Tucson professionals, DSR Pest Management for tips.
Here’s what residents need to know to detect, deter and destroy termites eating them out of house and home – literally!
What are Subterranean termites?
Subterranean termites are, by far, one of the most destructive termite species. With their strong jaws adapted for chewing wood, they are able to demolish entire structures over time. This is a terrible and costly inconvenience to our local Tucson residents.
How does a resident know they have Subterranean termites in their home?
When conducting a preliminary search of your home for the presence of Subterranean termites, you’ll first want to look at the home itself.
You may notice wooden structures, like porch beams externally, or wooden support beams internally, that literally look as if chunks have been bitten off over time.
Rather than sporadic holes, it is likely that the damage will be isolated and increase outbound from there. They prefer softer parts of wood, like that between the grains.
Because Subterranean termites live in underground colonies, they rely on mud tubes to make their way from food to nest. It is unlikely you will see them at work.
Naturally, due to our Arizona climate, your best bet is to visit moist, secluded areas above ground to catch a glimpse of these Tucson termites. Also, look for mud tubes along the outside of your property.
What do Subterranean termites look like?
Should you actually find a Subterranean termite mid-munch, you will witness a six-legged insect about 1/8 inch long. They vary from creamy-white to dark brown or black-in-color. They sport long, narrow bodies and usually have an oval-shaped head, complete with wood-demolishing pinchers.
How do Subterranean termites differ from Drywood Termites?
While Subterranean termites have a reputation for being one of the worst pests around, Drywood termites can cause similar amounts of damage and with ease of access as well.
Where Subterranean termites utilize mud tubes for access, Drywood termites are air-borne bugs. Not only can they fly onto your property easily but they can also nest inside the wood. This makes their dwelling and demolition the same location.
Drywood termites create ‟kick-out” holes to push their excrement through the wood. These open areas in wood are common signs of invasion.
In addition, the tiny grains that pile up in small mounds on floors can also be a sign of their residence.
What do Drywood Termites look like?
Larger than their Subterranean cousins, Drywood termites boast a body length of about 3/8 to 1 inch in length. Their bodies are similarly a variant between creamy-white to dark brown or black-in-color with the same long, narrow and oval-like thorax.
Because of their airborne abilities, they have large wings that cover their abdomen, and sometimes, the shedding of these very wings are the only trace they leave behind, as proof of their presence.
How do Tucson homeowners prevent termites from entering their homes?
As pest control professionals in the industry since 2001, we recommend the following preventative and responsive measures for both deterrence and destruction of these home-hungry invaders.
- Ensure all paint on outside of home is maintained and not exposing wood.
- Ensure wood does not come in contact with soil or shrubbery.
- Stack firewood on a cement base and if the wood is infested, pour soapy water on it or burn the wood as soon as possible.
- Repair any cracks in concrete or masonry right away.
- Cut trees that overhang your roof area.
- Call in the specialists. Local professionals like us have a strong, working knowledge of what to look for and how rid your house of termites.
Simply visit our website to schedule an easy inspection and complimentary consultation on how best to tackle Tucson termites in and around your home.
Pest Control in Tucson
As a homeowner or renter, you enjoy the comfort of your own furnishings, a unique style and the shelter from outside elements. Namely, the Tucson heat and its insects.
Just as much as you enjoy a respite from the high temps, so do the many bugs here in Tucson.
When these insects begin to invade your personal space or comfort, they take on the name pests. And pests need to be managed.
That is where a need for the best pest control in Tucson comes in.
What pests are treated by Tucson pest control professionals?
Local pest control specialists assist with detecting and deterring home invasions by common Tucson pests. This includes termites, scorpions, spiders and more. In fact, some of the critters you are most likely to see can be found at our Tucson Bug Identifier.
Why hire Tucson Pest Management Professionals?
You want to protect your home, family, and pets against annoying pests. Your best bet is to hire specialists who know how to locate and eradicate bugs and rodents.
DIY pest control is unsafe. Options found on the internet involve mixing your own cocktails of chemicals. This can prove equally, if not more, harmful than the pests themselves. On top of that, they can also be ineffective, wasting your hard-earned money.
Why hire DSR Pest Management?
The following list shares the most popular reasons people trust DSR Pest Management to inspect and treat their home and properties:
- Bees or wasps stings can trigger dangerous allergic reactions.
- DSR Pest Management monitors your spray schedule. This ensures the timeline for re-application isn’t overdue.
- Experienced licensed exterminators can ensure bugs are eliminated and don’t re-infest homes.
- Pest infestations can damage property.
- Pests can carry harmful diseases and hazardous bacteria. This can bring illness to your household.
- Pest control that is DIY doesn’t cut it.
- Rodents cause 8% of fires by chewing wires and transmit disease organisms.
- The cost to hire a pest control company can save significant money in damaged property.
- Unless properly treated and eradicated, nearly every home will get at least a minor infestation of bugs.
How do I know Pest Management will work?
At DSR Pest Management, Inc., we have over 18 years of experience in pest control, in Tucson. Our procedures are specific to the terrain and the bugs that inhabit it.
We are not just familiar with Tucson pests, but also the safest and most effective ways to destroy them. We also can do so without compromising your home or health.
All of our techs are state-licensed & certified technicians. We are knowledgeable in the pest management industry and also dedicated to providing service that is courteous and respectful of your time and property.
We are confident that we are your best bet for pest control in Tucson. That said, we would be honored to prove that to you!
Contact DSR Pest Management and we will get back to you with a quick and dependable solution to keep your home and loved ones safe from pests. To learn more about our services, visit us online or call (520) 790-7759.
Monsoon Season Pests: What to Know
Monsoon Season Pests are headed our way…
The temperatures are dropping and we find ourselves getting just a bit of relief. Our natural instinct is to spend time outside, either in our yards or on our porches and balconies, enjoying the 20-degree break in warmth and to ogle over the changing skylines.
Within seconds, you may notice that your awe is interrupted by an increased smacking of the skin. From tiny bugs to flying insects, the monsoon season brings with it swarms of particles and pests.
When is Monsoon Season in Arizona?
Arizona’s monsoon season begins in June and continues through September. With the increase in high winds, flash flooding, dust storms, and extreme heat, new pests are coming from every direction. They are looking for a new residence where they can shield themselves from the elements. Tucson pest control companies like DSR Pest Control are here to help keep your at-home summer activities bug-free.
Which pests are likely to increase during Monsoon Season?
The inbound, inclement weather can uproot and bring in all sorts of uninvited insects. The three main pests to be mindful of during monsoon are the ants, mosquitoes, and termites.
Ants and Monsoon Season
While ants may not seem to be a big bother, they have the ability to ruin the structure of a home and the content therein.
As it rains in downpours, ant colonies flood, forcing them to look for shelter. The new wet soil helps them travel faster and further to solid ground, away from untimely showers. Namely, the inside of your home.
Arizona has its own breed of ants that differ from others. With the Monsoon Season comes three types of ants known for their destructive demeanor.
Three Types of Ants Increased During Monsoon Season
Carpenter Ants – their physical description is broad as they vary in size and colors, however, they are often found dwelling inside of the wood of your home.
The greatest issue they pose is that, while they do not eat the wood in your house, they do remove chunks of it in order to nest inside. This obviously causes damage that compromises your home’s integrity.
Crazy Ants – just as their name implies, crazy ants move sporadically so you can find them in the most random locations. From under carpets to inside houseplants, your home is likely to be invaded as they do not favor outside over inside. They dwell in both dry and moist climates making your entire home fair game.
Fire Ants – these pests are one-eighth of an inch long, either black or red, and build their nests around yards, gardens, parks, and roadsides. Their nests are typically found in open daylight and most common in disturbed and irrigated soil. This means that the Monsoon season is ideal for their traveling and re-homing.
The biggest risk fire ants pose is their aggressive behavior. They sting those who intrude on their turf. This is especially alarming for those with small children or elderly family members.
Visit our Tucson’s Backyard Bugs Insect Identifier to see what these pests look like and how we can help you eradicate them safely from your home.
Mosquitoes and Monsoon Season
As if the severe weather and road closures weren’t enough to deal with during Monsoon Season, the outside environment can also bring about pests that may be hostile to your health.
Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying bloodsuckers. They are also capable of sometimes transmitting diseases in the process of feeding.
They prefer standing pools of water where they can lay their eggs, so the Monsoon Season is the epitome of their preferred conditions.
Termites and Monsoon Season
Termites are nothing new to Arizona, however, come Monsoon Season, they can multiply. Not just via ground transfer but also by air, as many termites have wings as well. This phenomenon, called “swarming”, happens during a perfect storm of high winds and moist soil – a Monsoon’s makeup.
The greatest nuisance of these termite species is the Subterranean Termite. They are local to Tucson and known for their extensive damage to foundations and wood structures. If you find these, termite treatment will be necessary to avoid further damage to your home.
How to combat pests during Monsoon Season
Your best bet against Monsoon Season pests is to keep an eye out for home invaders and insects swarming nearby. Calling a local specialist, like DSR Pest Management, is a fast and reliable solution to significantly minimize and even eradicate the presence of these pests near your residence. Not just year-round but especially during the Monsoon Season. To learn more about our services, visit us online or call (520) 790-7759.
Keeping Your Home Pest-Free in the Winter
When it comes to winter, there are few places in the world better to be than Tucson. While the rest of the country is shoveling snow or battling ice storms, Southern Arizonans are making tee times at their local golf course, hiking one of our beautiful trails, or barbecuing in the backyard. When it comes to pest management, spring and summer are certainly peak times for activity. That said, winter months in the desert present some unique challenges of which we need to be aware.
Over the holidays, the desert climate lends itself to warm days, but because of the limited vegetation and lack of humidity, the evenings can see temperatures drop significantly. In turn, insects, rodents, and reptiles begin making significant changes to their habits that can make the area in and around homes vulnerable to invasion. Once the sun goes down, the evening climate can be just as extreme as our summer days with temperatures often dropping below freezing. Naturally, this leaves insects, spiders, reptiles, and rodents looking for alternative shelters to stay warm. Often, the place they find is inside our homes leaving us with new pest-control challenges.
PESTS AREN’T THE ONLY ONES CHANGING HABITS
Pests take the majority of the responsibility for cases we’ve seen, but they aren’t the only ones changing their habits making our homes more vulnerable. The change in temperature and holiday season presents many inviting circumstances for pests to take advantage of. Here are just are a few of the top risks you’ll face:
FIREWOOD
Whether you’re firing up the backyard firepit or live in one of the many Tucson homes with an indoor fireplace, the wood you’re using undoubtedly came from a nearby forest. Firewood is one of the easiest ways for pests to get inside. Fallen timber is a very common home for many insects such as ants, and termites.When storing firewood, be sure to fully inspect it and store outdoors to whatever extent possible. Also, be aware that wood piles can provide great cover for reptiles, rodents, and spiders, especially black widows and scorpions.
GUESTS IN THE HOME
It’s no secret how great of a place Arizona can be this time of year. This means, many of us will be hosting family and friends from out of town. Invited guests can unknowingly bring uninvited creatures into your home. So, to control against rodent intrusion, be sure to wash linens regularly and keep floors and countertops clean of debris and crumbs. This isn’t an accusation about the cleanliness of your dear Aunt Sue. Rather, it’s an indictment on the pests that like to travel and then wreak habit once they arrive.
Not to mention, this means significantly more foot traffic in and out of the home. It only takes a moment for a mouse or insect to make it’s way in and they often do unnoticed. Be sure to keep the doors closed as much as possible.
OPEN WINDOWS AND DOORS
On that note, by mid-October, many of us in Tucson have turned off the air conditioner and opened the windows to let in the fresh air. If you enjoy a nice Southern Arizona breeze in your house, be sure to install a storm gate or screen door. Also, inspect the outside of windows to ensure there are no rips or tares in the protective screens. Be aware of some of the gaps and crevices in doorways and install the necessary weather-stripping to seal it off.
STAYING PEST-FREE YEAR AROUND
These are just a few of the risks we face when it comes to dealing with pests over the winter. Many pests that were content being outside, are now seeking refuge from the cold. Snakes, mice, and small rodents will look for anyway they can to infiltrate your home to escape the frigid night time temperature and use your home to stay warm.
In short, most of us don’t mind a few “snow birds” when they head into town for the winter, but pests are never welcome. Even after every pest-control measure has been taken, your home can still be susceptible to any number of pest invasions. That’s why we recommend scheduling regular service with a reputable pest management company.
As temperatures drop, now is a great time to receive your free consultation with DSR Pest Management. A member of our expert team can discuss some of the vulnerabilities your home may be exposed to, recommend preventative measures you can take, and schedule regular service and inspection to help ensure your home remains pest-free.
We’re here to help year around and keep your home pest-free. Happy Holidays!
Top 5 Pest-Prevention Habits for Arizonans
If you’ve been in Southern Arizona for any amount of time, you’re already well aware Tucson is home to many unique critters and pests. The desert landscape and dry climate can leave pesky insects, reptiles, and rodents looking for shelter inside your home to escape the heat or the downpour of a monsoon.
Not only are Tucson homes susceptible to pests the rest of the country is familiar with, such as termites, cockroaches, ants, bed bugs, and spiders, but we have a whole slew of potential pests exclusive to our desert conditions and landscape. Snakes, pack rats, scorpions, Africanized bees, and tarantulas, amongst many others, can create distinct challenges.
Some pest problems are more difficult to control than others. Not to mention, some pests can do significant damage while others are just a nuisance. But there’s great news, if you instill a few daily habits around your home, you can limit or even eliminate most pest issues. Here are the top five habits you can start today to help prevent pests from invading your home:
1. Keep a Clean Kitchen
Having a daily regimen of tidying up the kitchen can prevent many pest and insect problems. Beyond keeping the counters clear of food and the floors crumb-free, store food in sealable containers, run your garbage disposal regularly, and remember to inspect and clean fruits and vegetables before storing, especially if you are bringing product home from some of the great farmer’s markets in town.
Also, pets can be a helpful deterrent to many types of domestic pests. Unfortunately, they aren’t very good at picking up after themselves, so be sure to clean up the area around where your pet eats and drinks, as dog and cat food can be very enticing to pests looking for a free meal.
2. Heed to the Challenges of an Arizona Yard
In Tucson, our yards create some unique challenges when it comes to keeping them pest-free. Many domestic landscapes feature large rocks making great homes for desert pests and desert-cuisine consisting of delicious fruit hanging from the cacti.
Don’t do tarantulas, scorpions, and black widows any favors by offering enticing homes. Make your yard less inviting by limiting the amount of debris in your front and backyard, rotating large flower pots and lawn décor, and picking up lawn tools and toys.
Finally, have your yard sprayed with environmentally safe pesticide. You can do-it-yourself, but we recommend hiring a professional knowledgeable about local pests and has an understanding of the most effective techniques and products. Hiring a local pest management service to spray your yard on a consistent basis is more affordable than people realize and can be done at set intervals without you even needing to be home. It’s important to be aware of the vulnerabilities in your yard and take the measures necessary to prevent it from becoming a pest-haven.
3. Seal the Entry Points
Eliminate entry points into your home by identifying places pests could potentially gain access. Inside your home, this means checking the seals of doors and windows and having a tube on calking on hand to seal any cracks or holes in the drywall, tile, or molding.
For the outside perimeter of the home, inspect early and often. Monsoon season can really do a number on a home’s foundation. The flowing water can lead to erosion and create pest access points in the just about any material including brick, stucco, and wood. Even if things looked great a couple months ago, go give your perimeter another inspection to make sure there isn’t a new open opening available to the local pests.
4. Eliminate Standing Water
This isn’t something you would think we encounter too often in Tucson, but if standing water is neglected, it can be the beginning of major issues in the pest control department. Even though we stay dry for most of the year, monsoon season can tend to linger leaving puddles and standing water in its wake. This creates a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which attract a myriad of other pests and rodents.
Additionally, check your sprinkler system as well. Without realizing it, your sprinklers can leave pools of water, especially in the shade. Make the appropriate adjustments to your irrigation settings to limit excess water.
5. Bring in the Professionals
Very often, pest problems go unseen and aren’t discovered until it’s too late. The damage is already done, and people are left with no other option but to call a pest management professional to eradicate the issue. In truth, the problems can be prevented altogether by seeking a consultation from a reputable pest management service provider BEFORE problems arise.
Here at DSR Pest Management, we use eco-friendly products with integrated pest management solutions and service residential, commercial, and industrial clients. We’ve been doing business for nearly 20 years and we are intimately familiar with the challenges Southern Arizonans face when it comes to pests. It’s no wonder we are amongst the best pest management service providers in Tucson!
Knowing When Termites Are Present in Your Home
When it comes to Termites, Tucson relies on DSR!
Termites are extremely destructive pests that can cause extensive damage to the structure of your home in just a short period of time. Thus, the key to preventing termite damage is knowing how to spot the earliest signs of a termite infestation. As soon as you think you may have a termite problem, contact your Tucson pest control expert for a professional evaluation and treatment plan to protect your home and its value.
Termite Swarms
Termites reproduce by sending out swarms of juvenile insects to find a location in which to build a new colony. These swarms consist of winged termites, meaning you may encounter a “cloud” of termites inside or outside your home. If these pests have already settled in or near your home, you may instead find their discarded wings, particularly along windowsills.
Mud Tubes
Subterranean termites create hollow mud tubes, approximately the diameter of a pencil, to connect their food source with their colony. These mud tubes may be visible on the exterior of your home, particularly near the foundation, or on interior walls and ceilings. If you find a mud tube, it is a sure sign of termite activity in the area and should prompt a call to your pest control service for a professional pest inspection immediately.
Frass
Termite droppings, also called frass, are another sign of pest activity in or around your home. These wood-colored droppings appear as termites work their way through the wood of your home, and may look like small piles of sawdust near your baseboards or in corners. If you discover reappearing piles of frass in your home, it’s a sign that termites are active and must be addressed.
Termites are a common pest problem in the Tucson area—DSR Pest Management, Inc. can help you eliminate these insects and keep them away from your home to protect your property and belongings. Please visit our website for more details about termite pest control and our other residential services, or call (520) 790-7759 to speak with a pest control expert about your needs.
