Ann was getting ready to bake cookies when something moving caught her eye on her usually clean counter. “Oh, no! ANTS” she yelled. She had previously experienced infestations of tiny ants on her counter and had tried a variety of methods to no avail. Her trusty son-in-law said he could “take care” of the problem. So, acting as a pest control sleuth, he proceeded to go outside and came back reporting that he found the source of the problem and had sprayed the nest. Relieved that she didn’t have to call a pest control company, Ann proceeded to bake her cookies with a sense of misdirected relief. But the next day the ants were back with a vengeance!
A quick walk through your local big-box store reveals many do-it-yourself pest control “solutions” that tempt a lot of homeowners to do their own pest control and “save” the expense of a professional. There are several myths that surround professional pest control that we’d like to clear up here.
MYTH #1: Anyone can spray insecticide. In reality, this is a true statement, but the key to applying insecticide effectively is 1) knowing the pest, where it lives, what it eats and what it likes. (For example, not all ants like the same kind of baits.) and 2) knowing what pest control material is effective against specific pests. WE KNOW PESTS AND WE KNOW PEST CONTROL MATERIALS!
MYTH #2: The more insecticide put down, the more effective it will be. This is absolutely FALSE! Applying more insecticide than is needed can actually reduce its effectiveness as pests may become more resistant or actually repelled around the material. WE KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT OF INSECTICIDE TO USE TO KILL PESTS WITHOUT CAUSING RESISTANCE.
MYTH #3: Training isn’t really necessary to kill pests. Again, a FALSE statement! In order to be effective at our jobs, it is required that we attend training events and pass state licensing tests. To pass these exams, we must know about the biology and behavior of the pests we control, plus methods of control. All our technicians are certified or licensed in pest control, the latter reflecting a higher level of training/education.
MYTH #4: Killing pests now is the same as it always has been. WRONG! Pest control technology continues to evolve into more effective techniques to eliminate pests with less and less insecticide, thus being more environmentally responsible. OUR TECHNICIANS CONTINUALLY KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON THE NEWEST AND BEST PEST CONTROL METHODS.
MYTH #5: Anyone can kill pests. Again, this statement is not completely false, but the job of a pest control technician is not an easy one. They must be willing go into attics, basements, crawl spaces and other less-than-desirable places to seek out and eliminate insect pests and rodents. It takes a special person who has the curiosity, drive and knowledge to be a successful pest control technician. WE CAREFULLY CHOOSE TECHNICIANS WHO HAVE THE TRAITS NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT THEIR JOB.
There you have it. Still not convinced it’s best to call a pro when you have a pest problem?
Give us a call today to find out even more! 800-650-PEST.