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3 Signs You Might Have a Cockroach Infestation

Home / 3 Signs You Might Have a Cockroach Infestation

Cockroach Infestation

A wide variety of household pests can create chaos in homes across America each year. Finding the presence of these insects or other types of pests can be very troublesome. It’s no big surprise that the majority of homeowners want to take care of these pests promptly. However, some types of bugs such as cockroaches may not be easy to detect due to their particular patterns of behavior. Why are cockroaches problematic and how can you recognize a possible infestation? We will address these questions in more detail below.

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Why are Cockroaches Problematic?

While not all pests pose serious threats to humans, cockroaches are not well liked for several reasons. For starters, cockroaches tend to infiltrate the food supply of the homes that they infest. Since they are unclean insects, you would not want to consume any food that has been contaminated by cockroaches. This can lead to a great deal of waste. Cockroaches also leave fecal debris behind that can be contaminated with various types of bacteria, making them a threat to the cleanliness and sanitation of your home.

Three Signs of a Cockroach Infestation

Detecting the presence of an actual cockroach infestation is not always an easy task. The main reason detecting their presence isn’t easy is because cockroaches are nocturnal insects that remain well-hidden during the day. They are likely to only be active at night while you’re sleeping, making it unlikely that you will spot a problem early. However, there are three common signs of a cockroach infestation that you should keep an eye out for, as follows below.

Unpleasant Musty Odor

There are a wide variety of cockroach species. Some varieties of cockroaches give off an unpleasant odor. This odor has been described by some as a musty or oily smell that is mildly offensive. This can be one of the first signs that cockroaches exist and may be multiplying within the home.

Presence of Cockroach Feces

Cockroaches eat and defecate frequently during their entire lifespan. Whatever areas they crawl through will often be littered with dried fecal matter that they leave behind. Since they prefer to remain well-hidden, you may find these droppings along the cracks of walls or in other less traveled areas of the home.

Seeing a Cockroach During the Day

Since cockroaches are nocturnal insects, it is highly unlikely to see one crawling around your home during the daylight hours. If you do see a cockroach during the day, you can almost bet that you have a potentially significant infestation. In cases where the number of cockroaches present is quite large, they may change their nocturnal behavior and start coming out during the daytime in search of food or water.

Dealing with household pests on your own can be overwhelming for many people. If you are experiencing issues with cockroaches or other common household pests, please contact us at Turner Pest Control today for assistance. We serve many Florida locations, so don’t hesitate to contact us for help.

A Look at Biting Flies in Florida

Home / A Look at Biting Flies in Florida

biting flies in Florida

If you love sunshine and beaches, then Florida is an ideal place for you. Unfortunately, humans aren’t the only creatures that love the climate in Florida. Many unpleasant insects, especially biting flies, love the Sunshine State, too. These aggressive insects can ruin a pleasant afternoon, but they can be taken care of so you can enjoy the warmth and the sunshine.

There are several different types of biting flies in Florida, and they all are after one thing: a meal of blood. It might not seem like a big deal, but they can transmit disease. They are also irritating and manageable.

Florida Biting Flies

Knowing the different species and where they like to live can help you manage them in your home, office, or yard.

Deer Fly and Horsefly

These two flies are closely related aggressive fliers. The females of these species are the biters, and they prefer to do it in the daytime. Many people find themselves allergic to their anticoagulant that they inject into the bite. Sometimes, the bite becomes infectious, as these flies are known to transmit disease between animals and humans.

Horseflies like bright sun, so a good way to avoid them is to sit in a shady area. They are relatively easy to spot because they have widely separated eyes and have bright patterns on their bodies. They aren’t hairy like other flies, and they measure about an inch in length with a wingspan about 2 ½ inches wide.

Deer flies are smaller than horseflies and have bodies that are often yellow. They are about 1/3-inch in length, and their wings are transparent. They prefer to suck on cattle and deer, but enjoy human blood, too. Their yellow coloring slightly resembles honey bees.

Deer flies have similar tendencies to horseflies but prefer areas where animals are active. They like to attack the neck and head, so the best way to prevent their bites is to cover both.

Sandfly

Sandflies are tiny insects that look like mosquitos. They have a piercing mouthpiece that drinks blood. They range in size between 1.5 to 3.5 mm in length. They are hairy with stilt-like legs and big black eyes. They do not look at all like common house flies.

The female sandfly is the one that bites humans because the blood helps them produce eggs. They also like to eat sweet plant juices and secretions. They do not fly well in the wind. So, if you are outside and have electricity, put a fan near you. They prefer to feed at dusk and during the night when humidity builds.

Stable Fly

The stable fly or dog fly closely resembles the common house fly, which is why they are so problematic. They are the same size as a housefly, but they have a projecting mouthpiece that looks like it can pierce the skin. This is one of the rare breeds that both male and female feed on blood.

Stable flies can travel up to two miles to find a meal, and they are aggressive in their attack of animals and humans. They can spread disease, especially between animals. Stable flies have ruined some beaches on the Florida Gulf Coast because they are so prolific. Humans can’t do much to avoid them, other than hire a pest control company .

Black Flies

These flies have a black body with a hump on their backs. They prefer to attack in the day and will fly near the ears and nose of their hosts. Black fly bites are especially irritating, but they aren’t as ubiquitous as other biting flies in Florida.

If Florida biting flies are a problem where you live, Turner Pest Control can help you get your home, business, or yard back. Contact us today.

Earwigs and Other Florida Fall Pests

Home / Earwigs and Other Florida Fall Pests

earwig bug in Florida

Unfortunately, pests of all sorts can be a problem year-round, especially in temperate climates like Florida. As fall hits full swing, a myriad of creepy creatures can descend upon your property and cause significant trouble. One of those pesky pests is the earwig. The folklore surrounding these creepy crawlers leads many to believe that they’ll crawl into your ear to feast on your brain. Thankfully, this is just a scary story that’s been handed down from olden times. While earwigs, and other fall pests, won’t take up residence in your head, they can cause quite the headache when it comes to your home.

Here’s what you need to know about earwigs and other fall pests in Florida during this time of year.

What are earwigs?

These pests can be found throughout the country and earned their moniker through false pretenses. Earwigs got their name from the myth that they crawl inside human ears and lay eggs in their brains. While this idea alone is frightening, the earwig’s overall appearance is a bit unsettling. These nocturnal creatures have smooth, long bodies and feature a set of pincers at the end of their abdomen, though they aren’t strong enough to actually injure you. They are reddish brown in color and grow up to half an inch long. There are both non-winged and winged species though they rarely ever use them to fly. The most common species found in Florida, the ringlegged earwig, is wingless.

Earwigs typically live in moist areas outdoors such as piles of leaves, mulch, or under wood. As they feed on decaying plant material, they set up residence near excellent food sources. However, if your area experiences a dry spell, these pests may make their way inside your home through cracks and crevices to find more favorable conditions. Specifically, during the fall months, earwigs enter homes to find a safe place to stay during the winter. Their love of moisture means you’ll find them in spots like bathrooms, basements, and kitchens. While unsettling to see in the home, they aren’t harmful to humans. They are considered a nuisance pest that feeds on houseplants and can exude an unpleasant odor if frightened. So, if you have an infestation of these creatures, it might cause a stink!

Other Fall Pests

Earwigs aren’t the only pests that come out to play during the autumn months. Some other common unwelcomed visitors in Florida are ants, spiders, termites, and lawn grubs. Of these four, the most damaging, of course, are termites. According to the University of Florida, it’s estimated that by 2040, nearly half the structures in the state will be at risk for a termite problem. These miniscule creatures cause serious damage by eating away at wood. In fact, they cause billions of dollars in damage to homes all across Florida and the country. Prevention is the best course of action to avoid these costly creatures, but treatment is a requirement once they’ve been discovered.

Lawn grubs can cause unsightly damage to one of the most prized possessions in Florida – the lawn! These little guys are actually beetles in their larval state, but during fall is when they’re the most prevalent. They feed on grass roots, which means that if you notice dead patches scattered around your lawn, you might have a problem.

How to Handle Infestations

Regardless of the pest, discovering that you have an infestation requires immediate action. Whether you’re battling earwigs in the bathroom or termites throughout your home, eradicating pests from your property is crucial for peace of mind. That’s where the professionals like those at Turner Pest Control come in. There are lots of DIY solutions on the market, and on the internet, but actually ridding your home and property of pesky fall pests is best left to those with experience. Nothing could be worse than spending money on a solution that only temporarily handles the issue to find that mere days later, you’re still overrun. The professionals at Turner Pest Control are specifically trained to deal with a variety of creatures including nuisances like earwigs and ants to costly pests like termites year-round. If you’ve discovered some unwelcome house guests this fall, let us help.

How Florida Wasps and Hornets Differ from the ‘Murder Hornet’

Home / How Florida Wasps and Hornets Differ from the ‘Murder Hornet’

With all that has come in 2022, the last thing that anyone wants to deal with is a “Murder Hornet.” Unfortunately, the non-native, invasive species has arrived in North America, but the nest was found and destroyed. However, with the danger the Asian giant hornet brings to the bee population, is it important to recognize and report them at once.

Asian Giant Hornet Facts

Florida is already home to some notable stinging insects like three types of yellowjackets and the bald-faced hornet. But, the Asian giant hornet puts them all to shame, and fortunately, it is not in Florida at this time.

The Asian giant hornet is the largest hornet species on the planet and can reach up to two inches long. They have a massive yellow-orange head with tear-drop eyes and a large jaw. They also have orange and black stripes. Their wingspans can reach three inches.

These are a species of wasps, and many people in the United States confuse them with native Cicada-killer wasps, which are also rather large. But the Asian giant hornet and the Cicada-killer wasp will only attack humans in defense. They both have other prey that they prefer, and for the Asian giant wasp, the victim is honey bees.

They are social creatures that build hives. If those hives are attacked, they will defend. Only the female wasps can sting, and their sting is painful because they are so large. Very rarely, humans have died from Asian giant hornet venom. These wasps can also bite because their mandibles are so large.

How Florida Hornets are Different

The Asian giant hornet wants nothing to do with people unless people attack it first. The Florida hornets are the complete opposite. Since the Asian giant hornet is not in Florida, residents of the Sunshine State should worry about other stinging insects.

The Southern Yellowjacket

The aggressive Florida southern yellowjacket is plain mean, which makes them dangerous to humans. The queen is the largest of the species can measure up to .65 inches, while the workers are no bigger than .5 inches. They are about 1 ½ inch smaller than the Asian giant hornet.

The southern yellowjacket likes to build their hives under house eaves or other high places, and they will make them in the ground. You can spot a southern yellowjacket by their yellow and black stripes. Keep in mind that the Asian giant hornet has an orange hue, while yellowjackets are notably yellow.

Yellowjackets are so aggressive that they will sting several times if need be. They do not want anyone near their hives, and they can sting several times without dying. If you have a hive on your home or in your yard, you should not try to remove it yourself. A professional pest control specialist can do it safely for you.

Bald-faced Hornet

Despite its name, the bald-faced hornet is just a yellowjacket without the yellow. Instead of the noticeable yellow and black stripes, this yellowjacket has a white face and a black body. Many have a few white stripes at their hind ends. They are the same size as the yellowjacket and just as likely to attack when someone or something encroaches on their space.

They like sweets, so they are easy to spot around sugary beverages, sweet fruits, and children. They also like flies, caterpillars, and other insects with soft bodies. They are native to North America, and like the southern yellowjacket, they like to build nests in aerial locations.

If you have any aggressive stinging insects like yellowjackets and bald-faced hornets that have made their homes in the eaves of your house or in trees on your property, call Turner Pest Control to safely remove them.

Top 5 Signs of Termites in Your Home

Home / Top 5 Signs of Termites in Your Home

The humid and warm climate of Florida provides the perfect habitat for wood-eating termites. The sunshine state is home to several types of these insects, including two of the world’s most destructive species that began swarming together in 2015. Watch for these five signs of termites in and around your home to catch infestations early and prevent serious damage.

Grooves or Holes in Walls, Trim and Furniture

Small holes, grooves and tunnels are usually present on the surface of termite-damaged wood. Tapping the wood with a solid object like a hammer will produce a dull, hollow sound if the wood has been heavily damaged by termites. You may also hear rattling or rustling noises inside the wood if the infestation is active.

Mud Tunnels

Termites leave tunnels through the ground outdoors when traveling from their nest to your home. They also create tubes of mud along structures they can’t burrow through, such as brick or concrete. These tunnels and tubes are often visible on the exterior of your home at the beginning of an infestation. Around these mud tunnels you might also spot termite eggs which means you need to act quickly or your infestation is going to get much worse!

Sagging Ceilings and Floors

Floors and ceilings that droop or sag are a sign of advanced termite damage. Wood that has been damaged to this extent often needs replacing. Sagging can be caused by other sources of damage, such as moisture or dry rot, but the presence of holes and grooves in addition to sagging is usually indicative of termite infestation.

Swarmers

Swarmers are adult male and female termites with wings and reproductive capability. They use their wings to fly from the nest and establish a new colony. The presence of termite swarmers in a home is a very good sign that an infestation is brewing. Because termite and ant swarmers are often confused, saving a specimen for your termite exterminator to examine is helpful.

Droppings and Wings

Termite swarmers discard their wings when they are ready to being the next phase of their life cycle. A sure sign of an active termite infestation is piles of wings on window sills, doorways and trapped in cobwebs. The sawdust-like droppings of termites are most commonly seen on floors, particularly in corners, as well as on window sills and wooden furniture.

Termites can completely destroy wood frame structures over time, so acting quickly is important if you suspect an infestation. If you see any of these signs of termites in your home, call Turner Pest Control right away to schedule an inspection. Turner uses safe, effective and targeted methods of pest control to eliminate termites without risk to your family or the environment.

What are Centipedes and Where Can They be Found?

Home / What are Centipedes and Where Can They be Found?

Here’s What You Should Know

You may’ve been startled by them. You may have heard that you should never kill them. You might even like them. Centipedes are feared and, sometimes, misunderstood. These creepy crawlers can be a nuisance for Florida homeowners for a variety of reasons aside from their startling appearance. If they infest your home, it’s likely that other pests have set up residence there, too. Additionally, centipedes bite! The toxins they release with the bite are unpleasant, though they won’t kill you. Many people insist that if you see a centipede in your house, you shouldn’t kill it because it eats other more bothersome insects. While that is mostly true, no one really wants these multi-legged creatures crawling around their home or, even worse, biting its inhabitants. Here’s what you need to know about centipedes in Florida and how to handle them.

Types of Centipedes

While a variety of centipedes call Florida home, the three most common that people encounter are house centipedes, Florida blue centipedes, and bark centipedes. Each of these centipedes can cause problems at your home, but some are more aggressive than others.

The Florida blue centipede resembles its name by being bluish-gray in color. These centipedes grow to be about three inches long and feature pincher-like fangs which contain poison ducts that deliver uncomfortable poison to their unlucky prey. If bitten by a Florida blue centipede, you’re likely to experience a sensation similar to that of a bee sting. Additionally, these pesky creatures can be pretty aggressive if they feel threatened.

The next most common, the house centipede, is one that many people are familiar with. This centipede has many long legs extending from its body which actually only measures about one inch. However, their long legs give the insect an overall length of three to four inches. This black and yellow pest will run when frightened and are not aggressive. They’ll attempt to hide rather than fight and only bit if picked up – which you should avoid.

Bark centipedes are brown in color with yellow legs. They grow up to two inches in length and have legs coming out of each segment of their body. These centipedes are quick and not aggressive. Again, you’ll likely only get bitten by one if you pick it up.

Where They Live and How to Know if You Have a Problem

Centipedes love dark, damp spaces like basements and bathrooms. People usually find them crawling along the floor or even in tubs and sinks. They enter your home through tiny cracks and crevices. If you have places with lots of moisture outside your home, they may find their way to these spots then into your house through a small space. Other pests that prefer damp places are prime targets for centipedes to feed on, so if you have one infestation you may have another. Since centipedes usually only come out at night, it can be challenging to determine whether you have a problem. Because they tend to stay in dark places, you may only know that you have a centipede infestation if you see them in your home. Your pets may also have bites, but since many species are not aggressive, the bites may be from other pests.

Extermination

While centipedes aren’t the worst or most destructive pest that can infest your home, they can still be a nuisance. Aside from the possibility of being bitten, just seeing these creepy crawlers skittering around your home can be unsettling. If you have seen one, then there are likely many, many more where that came from. One centipede can lay up to 55 eggs at one time! Once they’ve gotten in and started breeding, it’s hard to stop them on your own. Calling in the professionals, like the Turner Pest Control team, may be the most effective way to rid your home of these unwanted pests. Things like sealing cracks and entryways, removing debris inside and outside, and getting treatment for other pest problems in your home can help alleviate a centipede infestation. Since centipedes feed on other pests, getting rid of them removes the food source and can help in making your home a less attractive residence. Getting rid of pests requires professional help. Our team can assess your property and lay out a plan to control and exterminate a variety of pests, including centipedes and their food sources. Contact us today to find out more!

What You Need to Know About Florida Fruit Flies

Home / What You Need to Know About Florida Fruit Flies

The Sunshine State offers a bounty of fruits and vegetables, which means fruit flies in Florida can become a nuisance to many home or business owners. These tiny little pests are one of the most common in households and food-based businesses throughout the country. Wherever food is left to rot, fruit flies are bound to be found. If you’re dealing with an infestation of fruit flies, it’s important to know how they operate, what’s attracting them, and, most importantly, how to get rid of them.

About Fruit Flies

Fruit flies get their name from their preference for some fruits, but will truly make a feast of any rotting produce. They are common in homes, grocery stores, restaurants, or anywhere food rots and ferments. These tiny bugs are about ⅛ inch long, tan in the front, and black in the back. They have six legs, wings, and antennae. They lay eggs near the surface of rotting foods or other moist, organic material and can often leave bacteria behind. Florida fruit flies can lay up to 500 eggs in one instance and larvae feed on the surface of the produce. As the lifecycle is just about a week long, these tiny pests can become a big problem very quickly if given the opportunity.

Fruit flies in Florida and beyond are attracted to ripe vegetables and fruits left out in the open but can also breed in drains, trash cans, garbage disposals, and even mops. They only need a thin film of fermenting material to take residence. Fruit flies can gain access to your home through poorly screened doors and windows and begin breeding immediately.

They particularly enjoy rotting bananas, potatoes, onions, and other unrefrigerated produce purchased at a supermarket. They can also make their way into your home on produce brought in from the garden like tomatoes, squash, grapes, and more.

Ways to Prevent Fruit Flies

Preventing fruit flies in Florida starts with being diligent about rotting foods in your home but that’s not the only thing that can help keep them at bay. Here are some things you can do to prevent fruit flies from invading your Florida home.

One thing that fruit flies truly thrive on is humidity and, of course, Florida has plenty of that. Invest in a dehumidifier or simply keep the air conditioner running. Reducing the humidity in the kitchen, and throughout your home, gives fruit flies less of a chance of thriving.

Keep your garbage covered and taken out regularly.
Keep compost piles or containers sealed.
Regularly drain the garbage disposal or any other appliance that can hold standing water.
Clean up spills immediately and thoroughly in the kitchen and be sure to discard any rotting food.
Ensure your windows and doors have tight-fitting mesh screens to prevent fruit flies from getting in.

Keeping your home clean and tidy is another way to prevent an infestation of Florida fruit flies. Simply keeping a regular schedule of cleaning and disinfecting will go a long way in protecting your home from a nasty infestation of these tiny nuisances.

Dealing With an Infestation

While fruit flies in Florida may not be damaging to your property or your person, they’re an annoyance that you don’t have to deal with. Sometimes even the best prevention can’t truly stop an infestation from happening. Once fruit flies have taken hold of your home, it can be very challenging to get them out. Unless all breeding sites are removed or cleaned thoroughly, they will continue to multiply even if you think you’ve gotten the upper hand. Finding where fruit flies are breeding can be very challenging – especially if there are multiple places throughout the home or business.

Bringing in professionals like those at Turner Pest Control can often be the best course of action against Florida fruit flies. We’ll evaluate the problem and help eliminate these tiny pests so you can once again enjoy your home. Contact us today to learn more.

The Benefits of Wildlife Exclusion for Your Orlando Home

Home / The Benefits of Wildlife Exclusion for Your Orlando Home

removing wildlife from home

First, what is “wildlife exclusion?” This is a strategy in which you close off potential entry points into your Orlando home to prevent rats, squirrels, possums, raccoons, bats and more from getting inside. Said another way, exclusion is a wild life prevention strategy. Once animals get inside—seeking food, water, shelter, and a place to reproduce—they need to be removed rather than excluded.

It’s possible to need a combination of removal and exclusion services. When there are already critters inside the home, you’ll first need professional wildlife removal in Orlando, FL—and our trained technicians can help—and then you focus on fortifying your home to keep them out.

So, what are the benefits of wildlife exclusion? One way to look at it: consider the problems that wild animals can cause when they get into your house—and wild life prevention eliminates those concerns.

Problems with Wildlife

Challenges faced will vary by species. Looking first at the raccoon, they can seriously damage attics and roofs. On the roof, they tear up shingles and soffits, and can break attic vents. Inside the home, they gnaw through insulation to build nests and otherwise wreak havoc in the space.

Here’s a second problem with raccoons: they can carry and transmit dangerous diseases. They are, in fact, one of the most common carriers of rabies, a disease that they can spread through their scratches and bites. Infected animals also spread other viruses along with bacteria and parasites. This can happen directly—or indirectly through their waste. So, when trapping raccoons, you won’t know what diseases they’re carrying (although, with rabies, the animal may appear quite ill). Plus, when cornered, raccoons can get aggressive.

Squirrels, meanwhile, can chew on siding, insulation, cables, and wires with the last situation having the potential to start a fire. This animal can also carry unwanted diseases: ringworm, tularemia, typhus, the plague, and more. If trapping squirrels, the same caution applies as with raccoons. You don’t know what diseases they may be carrying. So, it makes sense to contact us and request the professional services of our trained squirrel trappers.

As a third example, when bats get into your home, they can carry and transmit rabies as well as histoplasmosis. The latter disease can be spread to people when they breathe in spores from the droppings and urine of infected bats. These feces and urine can leak through drywall, damage ceilings, and destroy insulation.

Bats can bring along additional pests: bat mites, bat bugs, and fleas. They aren’t the only wildlife species that can add to the pest problem in your home, either.

Wildlife Trapper in Orlando

If you need a wildlife trapper in Orlando, simply contact us online. We’ve created a special inbox for wildlife animal control requests because we know that, when you want them removed, you want it, ASAP. You can also contact us at (407) 675-5000.

Wildlife Exclusion in Orlando

You can now focus on wild life prevention to keep your family, pets, and home safe going forward. There’s no foolproof strategy, but there are plenty of tactics that can make a significant difference. Wild life prevention tips including the following:

If you have a fence, make sure it’s in good repair without easy ways for wildlife to slip underneath into your yard.
Keep your yard debris-free without piles of leaves or wood or overgrown weeds. After a storm, clean up any debris left behind.
Place your garbage cans away from the home’s foundation. If you can place them outside any fencing, do so. Keep the cans tightly lidded.
If having a picnic or otherwise cooking outside, clean up any leftovers. If you have pet bowls outside, make sure they’re empty after your pet eats.
Walk around the outside of your home, looking for cracks and crevices, including but not limited to areas around incoming pipes and cables. Caulk or otherwise seal them up well. Animals can slip into holes that are quite small.
Make sure there is good weather stripping around your windows and doors.
Cover any exhaust fan or vent openings.
Prune tree branches, bushes, and shrubs that are located near your home. These can serve as on-ramps for wildlife.
Inspect your roof regularly. If you spot any damage, repair as soon as possible.
Make sure your crawl spaces and attic are clean, dry, and well ventilated.
Address cracks in your foundation.

These steps can be quite effective with your wildlife exclusion in Orlando.

Wildlife Exclusion or Wildlife Removal in Orlando, FL?

That may sound like an odd question, but it’s not out of the question that you have wildlife in your home—even when you don’t see any of them. You may, instead, see signs of them: gnawing marks in your home, scratching sounds (especially at night), shredded insulation, animal waste, and so forth.

If you have any reason for concern, just contact us. We’ll inspect your Orlando home at no charge; determine if there’s a situation that calls for wildlife pest control; and provide you with a no-charge, no-obligation estimate and personalized plan. Then, upon your approval, we’ll take care of your problem, STAT, whether that involves trapping squirrels, trapping raccoons, or handling the bat, possum, or rodent problem.

Turner for Your Wildlife Animal Control

Turner Pest Control has been helping families like yours for 50-plus years, providing fast and effective services delivered by our experienced, courteous team. It’s not surprising, then, that we’re one of the fastest-growing companies in Florida.

When you need wildlife pest control in Orlando, we invite you to contact us. Benefits of choosing Turner include our carefully vetted and well trained technicians, including stringent background checks; reliable appointment times, ones you can count on; courteous service; and more. We work hard to earn your business—and we believe it shows.

If you need a wildlife trapper in Orlando, don’t delay. The more time that the critters are in your home, the more time they have to cause problems. Please call (407) 675-5000.

Pest Control During Hurricane Season

Home / Pest Control During Hurricane Season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts above-average activity this year. If this sounds familiar, that’s because 2022 would be the seventh consecutive year with above-average hurricane activity. Some contributing factors include the ongoing La Niña conditions, warmer surface temperatures in both the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and enhanced West African monsoons.

The Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project experts went further, stating that the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season will be “well above average.”

Storms wreak havoc as they tear through the state, including contributing to pest problems. This is true of hurricanes as well as storms that don’t officially reach that status. Here are a few reasons why:

Heavy rainfall often results in significant amounts of standing water, which is ideal for mosquito breeding. In fact, these pests only need half an inch of standing water for breeding purposes. When gutters overflow, this adds to the water problem and the resulting mosquito populations.
Heavy winds can damage properties, creating entryways for rodents and other pests to find shelter in homes. Mice can even swim to higher ground. Plus, do you know what creatures are especially capable of surviving flooding? Fire ants. They’ve been known to create giant rafts out of their living bodies to collectively save themselves during a flood.
Storms create debris, such as fallen trees or branches, which can become very effective hiding and breeding sanctuaries for pests.

In response to this year’s predicted above-average hurricane activity, it’s best to be proactive with your pest control and other precautions to protect your home.

Conduct a Home and Property Inspection

We recommend starting by performing an inspection of your property. This is a good way to determine the next steps you will need to take for your unique property and concerns. Every home is different, but they will all show wear and tear over time.

Walk around and through your home to identify structural problems that could worsen if a hurricane hits. Make any repairs that you can.
Ensure that your rain gutters are clear. Then, make sure that any rainfall flows from the gutters away from your home’s foundation. If not, address this issue.
Move any wood piles or other debris away from your home’s foundation.
Seal up potential entry points, including small cracks and crevices. Some rodents only need a quarter of an inch opening to sneak inside your house.
Make sure that screens on doors and windows are in good shape as well as any weatherstripping.

If a hurricane watch or warning exists for your area, move anything in your yard that could blow around including toys, grills, potted plants, garbage bins and lids into a garage or other sturdy shelter. This will help keep them from blowing around and becoming flying objects that can damage your home. Do this as part of your procedure when boarding up windows and doors and otherwise prepping for the storm.

If a significant storm occurs, conduct another house and property inspection after it has passed, and make any necessary repairs to protect yourself and your home from the next storm.

Manage Standing Water

Rather than waiting until standing water is significant, it is advisable to manage this issue on an ongoing basis. This involves identifying places where water collects—such as flowerpots and saucers, grill covers, bird baths, children’s toys, and so forth. If a hurricane is predicted, you can move these items into a garage so they don’t get damaged or fill up with water. With a lesser storm, you could flip many of these items upside down to prevent water collection. Then, after the storm, check for any sources of standing water and address them, as they will become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

When you’re checking for mosquito breeding areas, wear clothing to protect yourself against potential bites and apply an EPA-approved repellent on exposed skin where mosquitoes can still bite you. Besides being annoying, these insects can carry and transmit a wide range of dangerous diseases, including dengue fever, the Chikungunya virus, West Nile virus, malaria, the Zika virus, and more.

Inspect for Water Damage

Heavy rainfall can go beyond creating the ideal environment for mosquitoes. Damp debris and rotting wood can serve as an invitation for termites. This destructive pest quite literally causes billions of dollars of property damage annually.

And termites aren’t the only critters that are attracted to debris, very wet soil can create problems as ants and other creatures that typically live underground will move upwards. Cockroaches also gravitate to moist conditions, and nobody needs a cockroach infestation on top of storm and water damage.

Although some gathering of excess water may be obvious shortly after the storm, it’s important to remember what you can’t see. Wooden structural portions of your home may hold onto moisture. This can lead to ongoing growth of mold and mildew, and continual rotting of the wood—ideal circumstances for termites, carpenter ants, and more.

Addressing Power Outage Issues

If a power outage is prolonged, food will spoil in your home. This will attract a wide range of unwanted pests: flies, ants, roaches, rats, mice, and more. Put any spoiled food into tightly sealed bags and then into sealed trash cans that are kept away from your home as soon as possible to try and avoid the onslaught of unwelcome visitors.

Post-Storm: Displaced Wildlife

During a hurricane, rats, mice, snakes, and other unwanted critters will look for dry ground, which can include your garage, crawl space, or even your living space. They may seek higher ground, such as your attic. During a hurricane, the homes of wildlife will be destroyed, just as the homes of people can be. As such, displaced pests and wildlife will look for new shelter.

They may also gather in debris formed by the hurricane. So, after the storm ends, it’s important to inspect your home and property; however, if you believe a wild animal has turned your home into theirs, please do not attempt to catch the animal yourself. We urge everyone to put the health and safety of the people and pets in the house first and call in a professional to handle any 4+ legged intruders. Please remember that no matter how cute the animal may be, wild animals can be dangerous and unpredictable when cornered or otherwise approached. Wildlife control professionals will know where to look and how to safely handle the wildlife and other pests that may be in your home or yard.

Contact Pest Control Experts

Turner Pest Control offers all of the residential services you’ll need. We start with a free home inspection and no-obligation quote for the services you need: rodent control, mosquito control, termite control, lawn and outdoor services, and more.

Protect your home and family from pest problems during hurricane season and the rest of the year with professional pest control services.

IMPACT PEST ELIMINATION IS NOW TURNER PEST CONTROL

Home / IMPACT PEST ELIMINATION IS NOW TURNER PEST CONTROL

Turner Impact Press Release

To Our Valued Customers,

We’re very pleased to let you know about an exciting new partnership between Impact Pest Elimination and Turner Pest Control. Effective February 9, 2022, our teams merged and are currently working together to serve your pest control, termite, and lawn pest control needs.

Let us assure you that although our trucks and uniforms now say “Turner Pest Control,” you’ll continue to have the high-quality service you’ve come to expect from Impact Pest Elimination:
• Your services will be provided in the same friendly, professional manner
• Normally scheduled visits, total client satisfaction, and access to customer service specialists will remain the same
• Local team members will continue to service your account. The team is staying in place — we are just part of a bigger family now!
• Your same local service team and communications specialists are available to answer any questions or concerns at 800-344-9190.

We hope you’ll be as pleased as we are about this new era for our company and customers. Turner and Impact Pest Elimination share the same unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality of services and products, and a focus on bringing the best innovations to our customers. All of us at Impact Pest Elimination believe we could not have asked for a better fit as we join the two families together. We feel confident you’ll agree.

Impact Pest Elimination
Frank Miller, Founder/CEO

As President of Turner Pest Control, I’m pleased and excited to announce the combination of Impact Pest Elimination and Turner Pest Control! By uniting these two world-class organizations, it gives us the ability to better serve both of our customer bases by giving us increased density and the ability to quickly respond to any service needs you may have.

We look forward to continuing our relationship with you on the foundation of trust and respect that the Impact Pest Elimination team established over their years of excellent service. We’ll do all we can to continue to earn your business every day and with every service we perform.

Sincerely,
Cheri Michaels
President, Turner Pest Control

FAQ’s

When is the merger effective? Impact Pest Elimination and Turner Pest Control merged on February 9, 2022.

Will my service stay the same? Yes, any service you have with Impact Pest Elimination will stay the same.

I have my account set up for automatic payment. Will that continue? Yes, your regularly scheduled payments will continue on your normal schedule.

How do I contact you if I need service? You can reach us at 800-344-9190. You will likely reach one of the friendly Impact Pest Elimination Customer service representatives that you are used to speaking with along with a few new friendly voices!

I usually mail in payments for service. Where do I send payments now? Effective July 1, all checks will need to be made out to Turner Pest Control LLC and mailed to P.O. Box 952503 Atlanta, GA 31192-2503.

Do you have a customer portal? Yes, effective July 1 you will need to access it here:

https://turnerpest.myserviceaccount. com/login

You will need your new Turner account number to sign up under this portal which will be available July 1. We will be sending an email campaign with that account number on July 1 but you can also reach us at 800-225-5305 should you need assistance.

Will I receive other benefits as a Turner Pest Control customer? Yes! You will now have access to all of our services including our exclusive SMART TurnerGuard package which includes pest control, termite control and digital rodent control. You can also sign up for our customer loyalty program. You will receive 50 points for just signing up, you can also receive 25 points for adding on a new service and will receive points every six months for just being a customer. Once you hit 100 points you will receive $10 credit to your account. We also offer a customer referral program so use our form on our website and when your friend signs up, you will both receive a $25 credit to your account! Log on to www.turnerpest.com and go to the Contact tab to learn more. Once you receive your Turner account number in July you can sign up then.

Your bill is going paperless! In an effort to reduce paper waste, as well as our environmental impact, we are moving to paperless billing. If you wish to continue receiving a paper bill, just call us by July 1st. We hope you will enjoy the added convenience and control this benefit will offer.

Most importantly, welcome to the Turner family.

Contact Information at your fingertips effective July 1:

Turner Pest Control, LLC
8400 Baymeadows Way, Suite 12
Jacksonville, Florida 32256

Payment Mailing Address
Turner Pest Control, LLC
P.O. Box 952503
Atlanta, GA 31192-2503
800-344-9190
800-225-5305

www.turnerpest.com
customerservice@turnerpest.com

Customer experience improvement: phone call routing

Home / Customer experience improvement: phone call routing

New phone call routing for customers

In an effort to improve the customer experience and reduce hold time, we have updated our phone system for more efficient routing. Please make note of the changes below so you are promptly routed to the appropriate department to address your needs. Thank you for being a valued customer.

Greeting:

Thank you for calling Turner Pest Control, your call may be recorded for quality assurance purposes. Please listen carefully as our options have changed as of June 20^th.

For Business, Commercial, HOA or Condo Associations, press 1

For Residential, press 2
- For Scheduling or Account Questions, press 1
- For Billing and Payments, press 2
- For New Service, press 3
- For all other requests, press 4

To repeat these options, press 0

Turner Pest Control, an Anticimex Company, Acquires Larue Pest Management

Home / Turner Pest Control, an Anticimex Company, Acquires Larue Pest Management

Turner Pest Control Expands Services in Southwest Florida

Jacksonville, FL, June 21, 2022 — Turner Pest Control, an Anticimex company providing comprehensive pest control services to residential and commercial clients throughout Florida, has acquired Larue Pest Management. The acquisition is Turner Pest Control’s first entry into the Fort Myers area.

Larue Pest Management has served residential and commercial customers since 1978. Today, the company provides a full range of pest control and lawn services. Like Turner Pest Control, Larue Pest Management is QualityPro Certified, a distinction shared by only three percent of pest control companies in the U.S. Larue President and Owner Keith Ruebeling, a second-generation pest control operator, notes that uniting his company with Turner is “an opportunity for our team to not only continue our tradition of providing excellent customer service and smart pest control solutions, but to expand our offerings to our valued customers at both their home and businesses.”

Turner Pest Control President Cheri Michaels says, “Larue Pest Management is the right company at the right time to bring Turner’s innovations to the Fort Myers area and expand our company’s service area further southwest from our Sarasota branch. Keith’s team and ours is perfectly aligned in every area, from management to our service offerings. We look forward to working with and learning from their local pest control experts. “

For more information about Turner Pest Control and its comprehensive pest control services for homes and businesses, please visit www.turnerpest.com.

About Turner Pest Control

Turner Pest Control was founded in 1971 and serves customers throughout Florida. The Anticimex company is a member of the National Pest Management Association and is Quality Pro-Certified, which is the highest mark of excellence recognized in the industry. Ranked among the top 100 pest control companies in the U.S., Turner provides pest control, termite prevention, lawn services, and bed bug elimination services, as well as its exclusive SMART TurnerGuard which provides powerful termite control, complete pest control and 24/7 digital rodent control, all in one package.

About Anticimex: The Swedish firm Anticimex is the fourth largest pest control company globally. Founded in 1934, Anticimex operates in 19 countries and has over 7,000 employees worldwide. In the United States Anticimex operates under a number of sub brands e.g Modern Pest Services – Brunswick ME, American Pest Management – Fulton MD, Viking Pest Control – Bridgewater NJ, Turner Pest Control- Jacksonville, FL, Killingsworth Environmental- Charlotte, NC, JP McHale – Buchanan, NY, Waynes Environmental Services – Birmingham, AL, EnviroPest – Windsor, CO, Northwest Exterminating – Tuscon, AZ, Pro Pacific Pest Control – San Diego, CA and Pestban – Woodstock, GA, Clark’s Termite & Pest Control – Columbia, SC, Official Pest Prevention – Elk Grove, CA.

For additional information, please contact: Stacy McKinney, Director of Marketing, Turner Pest Control, 904-355-5300, smckinney@turnerpest.com, http://www.turnerpest.com

Pest Control in Port St Lucie: What You Need to Know

Home / Pest Control in Port St Lucie: What You Need to Know

pest control port st. lucie florida guide

Port St. Lucie’s pleasant climate makes it a wonderful place to live and visit. Pests, unfortunately, also appreciate this temperate environment. Fortunately, Turner Pest Control provides highly effective Port St. Lucie pest control and, in this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide you with information about pests commonly found in Florida, how they can affect your home and family, and how you can best respond.

Use this guide in ways that fit your needs. This can include jumping ahead to the sub-header that addresses your pest problem. If you need help right away, please contact us online or call (772) 223-9891.

Expert Pest Control in Port St Lucie

Bed Bugs

pest control port st lucie bed bug treatment

“A few decades ago, bedbugs were somewhat of a novelty in developed countries. But since the early 2000s, infestations have become more common in places like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe.” (LiveScience.com)

Bed bugs likely arrived in the United States in the 17th century while it was still a British colony. Then, when railroad transportation became popular, these blood-sucking critters hitched a ride, further spreading their presence around the country—including to more people’s homes.

For a while during the 20th century, it seemed like we’d gotten the bed bug problem under control, but one pesticide used was banned and the insects developed resistance to other treatments (Don’t worry. Home pest control experts at Turner know how to exterminate them using modern approaches.)

Bed bugs aren’t always easy to spot. These reddish-brown bugs aren’t much bigger than an apple seed unless they’re bloated after feasting on blood with eggs being downright tiny. Plus, they can resemble other pests so it may not be immediately clear what’s in your home. Signs of a bed bug presence can include:

Tiny bites, often where skin comes in contact with mattresses and bed linens; bites on a person’s back, legs, and arms can be in lines, zig-zag patterns, or clusters
Dried blood on bed sheets, usually reddish or brown spots
Musty smell on the bedding or mattress

Bed bugs can enter Port St. Lucie homes on a person’s clothing, shoes, luggage, and more. When coming home from a trip, inspect suitcases carefully and wash linens and towels in hot water. Also examine second-hand purchases before bringing them inside, particularly clothing, furniture, linens, and mattresses.

Once these insects get into a home, they settle in nicely and reproduce consistently, given a source of blood supply. Plus, they can survive for months without fresh blood. They slither their thin and flat bodies into cracks: in furniture joints, baseboards, behind loose wallpaper, and more. They survive in a range of temperatures and, unfortunately, DIY treatments seldom work.

If you suspect a bed bug infestation, here is more information about our bed bug pest removal services in Port St. Lucie. We use the latest technology, a safe and effective alternative to chemical fumigation called Thermal Remediation®.

Get Rid of Bed Bugs Today!

Mosquitoes

pest control port st lucie mosquito treatment

In an article in The New Yorker titled “How Mosquitoes Changed Everything,” the tagline reads “They slaughtered our ancestors and derailed our history. And they’re not finished with us yet.”

Mosquitoes can carry numerous dangerous diseases from West Nile fever to the Zika virus, malaria, dengue fever, and much more. Medical advances have been made to treat them, but prevention is still the best cure.

More than eighty species of mosquitoes buzz around Florida, so it makes sense to proactively reduce or eliminate places on your property where they can breed and otherwise discourage their presence. Tips include:

Get rid of or appropriately manage standing water in places ranging from watering cans to old kiddie pools.
Fix faucets and leaky pipes.
Flush toilets that aren’t used regularly because mosquitoes can breed in them.
Check your home for potential entry points; caulk around windows and doors, repair or replace torn screens; and so forth.

When possible, stay inside during dawn and dusk during the mosquito season. (Because of Port St. Lucie weather, this season can extend throughout much of the year.) If you need to go out during those times of day, wear pants and long-sleeved shirts and appropriately use mosquito repellant. If you have babies or young children and mosquitoes get inside, cover their cribs and beds with net canopies.

If you have swarms of mosquitoes on your property and you’re ready to take back your yard and enjoy being outdoors again, contact us for our comprehensive mosquito control treatments. Our pest control services in Port St. Lucie include ones that tackle these flying pests throughout their entire lifecycle from egg to adulthood. They include fast-active treatments, long lasting and ultra-low in volume. Protect yourself, your family, and your visitors with our mosquito control services.

Get Expert Mosquito Control Services

Rodents

pest control port st lucie rodent control

In “Diseases Transmitted by Man’s Worst Friend: the Rat,” the National Library of Medicine refers to the rat as a creature historically “a scourge to mankind” and quoted from Rats, Lice, and History by Hans Zinsser: “Man and rat will always be pitted against each other as implacable enemies.”

Seventy-plus species of rats and mice reside in North America, spreading more than 35 diseases directly or indirectly. They include the plague, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, rat-bite fever, lyme disease, encephalitis, Colorado tick fever, typhus and more. Rodents gnaw on structural elements of Port St. Lucie homes, damaging their integrity, and chew through wires, which can trigger house fires. Plus, once indoors, they can reproduce quickly and regularly.

In short, you don’t want rodents in your Port St. Lucie home. Signs of infestation can include:

Droppings: You may find these in pantries, cabinets, and other places where food is stored or prepared as well as in other places in your home.
Dry food packaging with holes gnawed into them
Scurrying sounds, especially after dark
Oily smears on baseboards and bottoms of walls

To proactively keep rodents out of your home:

Find potential entry points and seal them off; rodents can enter in ones as small as a quarter of an inch.
Trim back tree branches and shrubs near the house.
Seal up around utility entry points along with vents in your attic, chimney, and roof.
Inside, clean up crumbs and spills on countertops, appliances, floors, and more.
Store dry foods in airtight, chew-proof containers.
Empty pet bowls after meal time and clean up spillage.

Find Out About Our Rodent Control Plans

Termites

pest control port st lucie termite treatments

Mississippi State University gets right to the point: “Buildings that are not properly protected from termites will become infested by termites.” Although it’s not true that termites can chew through concrete, they can slither inside if your foundation has a crack as tiny as 1/32 of an inch. Plus, they use soil as an on-ramp into room additions and above-slab patios, slipping into homes in plumbing entry points, and more.

Florida is home to more than 20 termite species with these three the most common:

Formosan termites: This species is especially aggressive, not one you want around.
Eastern subterranean termites: This species is so prevalent that they actually cause more damage than the Formosan.
Drywood termites: Because they don’t need soil or much moisture, they settle into hardwood floors and other places in homes.

Once inside a home, termites eat around the clock with one single colony of size able to threaten a home’s integrity. This explains how they create billions of dollars in damage every single year in the United States.

If you suspect that termites are in your home, this isn’t a problem you can easily DIY. Professional help is best and so we offer three different levels of termite pest control in Port St. Lucie:

Premise: our most economical option
Termidor: longer, more extended protection
Altrist: our greenest termite treatment

We’d be happy to discuss which option would be best for your home. No matter which route you choose from Turner Pest Control, we take a preventative approach with our Port St. Lucie termite control treatments. Rather than a bait system, we use a soil treatment that can exterminate these destructive pets before they get into your home, a method working ten times faster than one using bait.

Expert & Effective Termite Control

Lawn Pests

pest control port st lucie lawn yard pest control

Living in Port St. Lucie means that you can enjoy time outdoors with a lush beautiful lawn. To help, we offer a wide range of outdoor and lawn services in Port St. Lucie that consist of comprehensive bi-monthly visits where we fertilize your lawn, optimize turf, and manage weeds and fungi.

Our top-notch lawn and outdoor pest control services also include pest management for critters such as fire ants, armadillos, and moles.

Fire Ants

Imported fire ants, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes, “bite and sting.” They arrived in the United States in 1930 and thrive in the “southern landscape” of the United States because of their lack of natural enemies in our country.

These pests can clamp their jaws on people and inject them with venom. This can be especially dangerous for people who have serious allergic reactions—and one single colony in Florida can have half a million members, each able to sting someone multiple times. To protect your family, ask for our highly effective annual treatment. If you bundle this with lawn care services, you’ll benefit from extra savings.

Armadillos

These creatures dig up soil and can carry Hansen’s disease, better known as leprosy, even able to transmit it to people. So, the CDC recommends that you stay away from armadillos whenever possible. If you’ve been in contact with one, you can consider talking to your healthcare provider. To get them to leave your property and stay away, request our armadillo control services, bundling them with lawn care services to save money.

Moles

These pests can do serious damage to your lawn, digging deeply to look for food. If you see a volcano-shaped soil mound, you may have moles hunting for earthworms and insects. Moles also dig tunnels closer to the surface, which creates ridges. Contact us and we can apply bait to their tracks to address the problem. Bundle with lawn care services for more savings.

Comprehensive Pest Control Services in Port St. Lucie

SMART TurnerGuard Termite and Pest Control is an all-in-one program to protect your home, the best and most complete plan offered by pest control companies in Port St. Lucie, FL. You can count on total protection and no excluded pests. You’ll never need to pay for another termite treatment while also receiving protection from ants, bed bugs, roaches, snakes, and more.

Plus, you’ll never pay more than what’s necessary with your affordable monthly fee based on the size of your Port St. Lucie home. With this comprehensive home pest control plan, there are no hidden costs or fine-print exclusions and it provide the ultimate in peace of mind.

Take Back Your Yard With Lawn & Outdoor Pest Control

TurnerClean Disinfection Misting Services

We use Nisus DSV in this misting service, a broad spectrum disinfectant that the EPA has determined is effective against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

With TurnerClean disinfection misting services, we’ll provide powerful virus protection, treating bathrooms, home offices, kitchens, living areas, and places where surfaces are frequently touched. After the treatment, you’ll just need to stay out of your Port St. Lucie home for two hours for complete drying and maximum impact.

This is just one of the services we provide that allow us to stand out among pest control companies in Port St. Lucie, FL. Next up, we’ll describe another one of our second-to-none residential pest control services.

Whole Structure Fumigation Service

With our whole house fumigation, we provide pest control in Port St. Lucie for the most severe infestations of pests like beetles, bed bugs, or drywood termites. No obligation estimates and initial inspections are free and, if you decide to go ahead with this service, our experts will guide you from start to finish.

Choose Turner Pest Control in Port St. Lucie Today

To get started with pest control in Port St. Lucie, just contact us online or call (772) 223-9891. We’ll send the best professional train technicians to use the latest, safest, and most environmentally friendly products available today.

Springtime Insects Have Taken Flight

Home / Springtime Insects Have Taken Flight

Spring is in the air. The weather is pleasant, flowers are blooming, daylight hours extend past dinner time but then you notice those annoying insects flying around. While it’s probably safe to say we’d all prefer not to be bitten or stung while outside enjoying the weather, let’s talk about some of the most common types of flying insects in our areas so you know what to watch out for.

FLYING BITING INSECTS

Asian Tiger Mosquito – These mosquitoes are found in all Florida counties and are the dominate mosquito out this spring due to the warmer weather and increased rain over the past couple of weeks. Ways to reduce breeding spots include eliminating areas of standing water found around the home like emptying birdbaths, pet bowls, and lawn and gardening equipment. This species of mosquito is unique in that it typically feeds during the daylight hours unlike many other species that feed only at dusk and dawn. Like other mosquito species, only females require a blood meal to produce eggs.

Yellow Fly – The Yellow Fly is known as a fierce biter for the prolonged pain, swelling and itching one bite can leave behind. Their yellow bodies have a black stripe with yellow fur and brilliant blue-green eyes with two purple bands. Like the other flies, the female is the inflictor of pain. Peak season lasts from April through June so cover up while outside to avoid being bitten. The good news is that they are notoriously slow. If you think you have a quick hand, you may be able to shoo them away or whack them with a flip flop.

Black Fly – This fly has a wide range of host species including humans, cattle, horses, sheep, goats, poultry and other livestock, wild mammals, and birds. The females are daytime biters that prefer low wind conditions and are not restricted to shaded or humid sites. They usually do not go indoors. You may want to keep a hat handy as this fly likes to swarm around, preferring to land and crawl on the hosts’ head, hair, ears, or any exposed skin.

Deer Fly – They can be nasty creatures because of their bloodsucking behaviors. Males of the species spend their time seeking pollen while the females feed on blood. We’re using the word “feed” rather than “bite” because the female deer fly uses its jaw and sharp parts in its mouth to slice the skin. As the host (AKA victim!) bleeds, the fly uses its sponge-like mouth to soak up the fluid. Its saliva contains an anticoagulant because this pest wants to get as much blood as possible per slice, which means that a person may bleed a bit afterward. The spots can itch and be mildly painful; these symptoms can go up in intensity if the number of bites increases.

Biting Midge: Also called “No-see-ums,” these insects are often found in mud, sand, and other moist debris surrounding the edges of ponds, springs, lakes, and creeks. The warm summer months bring the highest levels of activity from adult midges of this species. Dusk and dawn are the peak feeding times, and they prefer to have little to no wind. Only adult females bite as they feed on blood using their rasping mouthparts. Ouch! The male midges feed on nectar.

FLYING STINGING INSECTS

At Turner Pest Control, we do not provide control services for honeybees, which have an essential role in the health of the ecosystem in Florida and throughout the country.

We do provide expert services to solve any issues you may have with wasps, other types of bees, and stinging insects on your property.

Cicada killer: This is a solitary wasp, operating solo. Yet, colonies of these wasps will nest together, with each pregnant female digging her own hole. They place an egg in the hole, along with a cicada that they’ve paralyzed for their offspring’s food. A similar species uses flies for that purpose. These wasps are black with pale yellow markings on their abdomen.

Paper wasp: These wasps are aggressive and sting people, often when they’re cleaning out wasps’ nests or trimming shrubs. This variety includes wasps that are yellow with brown markings, as well as black ones with yellow or red markings.

Africanized honeybee: This type of bee, unfortunately, can be quite aggressive. They can be especially dangerous to young people, those with disabilities, and elderly people—anyone, really, who may not be able to escape quickly. They like to nest near people, which can make matters worse, and they can be antagonized quite easily.

Yellow jackets: Both the eastern and southern varieties can also get agitated all too easily, and they can repeatedly sting. These are the bees often found near trash cans and dumpsters, the tops of soda cans, and so forth. A small benefit is that they eat insects that can damage your landscaping, whether that benefit outweighs the sting risk is a personal preference.

SCHEDULE A FREE INSPECTION TODAY

For your safety, let the experienced team at Turner Pest Control take care of your pest problems. You can schedule a free inspection online or call our team at 800-225-5305.

Give Your Lawn a Spring Tune-up

Home / Give Your Lawn a Spring Tune-up

lawn and outdoor pest control

The winter break from lawn care duties is over as your lawn comes out of its dormant phase. It’s the perfect time to get a jump-start on giving your lawn its best chance to thrive throughout the hot summer months. That means giving your turf the nutrients it needs, mowing the right way, and keeping tabs on pests and weeds.

Here’s a quick guide to getting your lawn in great shape for the outdoor season and how our pros can help.

Feed Your Lawn

Potassium and nitrogen are essential nutrients that stimulate the growth of roots. A healthy root system is key to a lawn that can withstand whatever summer has to throw at it, so make sure to keep up with the recommended schedule for fertilization.

For best results, have your soil’s pH tested. The ideal pH level will vary slightly depending on the type of turfgrass you have, and can range from 5.5 to 6.5. Maintaining the proper pH level for your lawn helps your grass take up the nutrients in fertilizers.

You can also leave fertilization up to us: We have granular fertilizer application as well as “green up” lawn care treatments that include the application of the right micronutrients at the right time. We also offer optional shrub fertilization.

Change Your Mowing Schedule and Habits

Now that we’re getting into the active growing season, it’s time to mow more frequently. Although putting off this task is easy to do, ignoring it often results in cutting your overgrown lawn too short to keep from having to do it again soon.

Why does proper grass height matter? It’s all about sunlight. Too much will dry out your soil too quickly, which then puts extra stress on your turf. Stressed grass is more vulnerable to pests and weed growth.

A typical mowing schedule for St. Augustine lawns is about every five days or so during our warmest months, then twice a month when growth slows late in the season. To prevent cutting your lawn too short, use this rule of thumb: Avoid cutting off more than a third of the total height of grass blades at any one time. Grass that’s growing in shady spots should be cut even higher since it must compete for nutrients with tree roots.

Finally, check your mower blades to make sure they’re sharp. A clean, even cut helps reduce unnecessary stress on your lawn.

Watch Out for Weeds

A dense, healthy lawn is the best defense against weeds, but weeds are persistent and you’re bound to find some have made their way in. Grassy and flowering weeds can be dug out when you spot them, but you can also take a proactive approach and apply pre-emergent solutions.

In general, good weed control includes proper watering and mowing, controlling pests, and fertilization to keep your lawn healthy. The good news is that Turner Pest Control’s lawn and outdoor services can help make sure your lawn has everything it needs to be at its best.

Keep Pests at Bay

Outdoor pests are just part of the price we all pay to enjoy living in our beautiful state, but they don’t have to take over!

Here are some common pests to watch for on your property:

Mole crickets
Sod webworms
Armyworms
Chinch bugs
Lawn grubs
Ticks
Moles
Fire ants

If you notice any signs of pest problems, the best way to stop them is with a call to Turner Pest Control’s lawn and outdoor experts. We can get rid of outdoor pests and help keep them from coming back.

Water Early and Well

Water is essential, of course, but there can be too much of a good thing. Overwatering can fill the air pockets in the soil that give your turf’s roots the oxygen it needs. It can also result in a shallow root system that makes your lawn more vulnerable to disease, weeds, pests, and other issues. On the other hand, underwatering results in grass that won’t have the cell structure that keeps the blades upright and resilient.

We recommend these watering habits:

Water early in the day. Watering in the middle of the day may mean losing too much water to evaporation; watering late in the day lets your lawn stay wet too long.
Water as infrequently as possible (unless you have a newly sodded or seeded lawn). This helps prevent issues with fungus.
Water deeply. Less frequent, deep watering spurs grass roots to grow; twice a week for about 45 to 60 minutes is a good guideline for most lawns.

Let Us Do the Work

Wouldn’t you rather sit back and enjoy your great outdoor spaces than spend your weekends searching for signs of weeds and pests? That’s why we’re here!

Our lawn and outdoor service experts offer complete services, starting with an initial inspection to identify any issues and check the condition of your lawn. We’ll then develop a customized plan, including an estimate that’s based on the size of your property. Get in touch today for your free inspection and no-obligation estimate.

Perschel & Meyer Pest Management is now Turner Pest Control

Home / Perschel & Meyer Pest Management is now Turner Pest Control

To Our Valued Customers,
We’re very pleased to let you know about an exciting new partnership between Perschel & Meyer and Turner Pest Control. Effective December 1, 2021, our teams merged and are currently working together to serve your pest control, termite, and lawn needs.

Let us assure you that although our trucks will say “A Division of Turner Pest Control” and ultimately “Turner Pest Control,” you’ll continue to have the high-quality service you’ve come to expect from Perschel & Meyer:
• Your services will be provided in the same friendly, professional manner
• Normally scheduled visits, total client satisfaction, and access to customer service specialists will remain the same
• Local team members will continue to service your account. The team is staying in place — we are just part of a bigger family now!
• Your same local service team and communications specialists are available to answer any questions or concerns at 904-241-3409

We hope you’ll be as pleased as we are about this new era for our company and customers. Turner and Perschel & Meyer share the same unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality of services and products, and a focus on bringing the best innovations to our customers. All of us at Perschel & Meyer believe we could not have asked for a better fit as we join the two families together. We feel confident you’ll agree.

Perschel & Meyer
Bob Meyer, President/Owner

As President of Turner Pest Control, I’m pleased and excited to announce the combination of Perschel & Meyer and Turner Pest Control! By uniting these two world-class organizations, it gives us the ability to better serve both of our customer bases by giving us increased density and the ability to quickly respond to any service needs you may have. We look forward to continuing our relationship with you on the foundation of trust and respect that the Perschel & Meyer team established over their years of excellent service. We’ll do all we can to continue to earn your business every day and with every service we perform.

Sincerely,
Paul Drewry
President, Turner Pest Control

FAQ’s

When is the merger effective? Perschel & Meyer and Turner Pest Control merged on December 1, 2021.

Will my service stay the same? Yes, any service you have with Perschel & Meyer will stay the same.

I have my account set up for automatic payment. Will that continue? Yes, your regularly scheduled payments will continue on your normal schedule.

How do I contact you if I need service? You can reach us at 904-241-3409. You will likely reach one of the friendly Perschel & Meyer Customer service representatives that you are used to speaking with along with some new friendly voices!

I usually mail in payments for service. Where do I send payments now? Effective April 1st all payments will need to be made out to Turner Pest Control LLC and be mailed to P.O. Box 952503 Atlanta, GA 31192-2503.

Do you have a customer portal? You will continue to have access to the customer portal but effective April 1st you will need to access it here: https://turnerpest.myserviceaccount.com/login. You will need your new Turner account number to sign up under this portal which will be available April 1st. We will be sending an email campaign with that account number on April 1st but you can also reach us at 800-225-5305 should you need assistance.

Most importantly, welcome to the Turner family!

Contact information at your fingertips

Turner Pest Control, LLC
8400 Baymeadows Way, Suite 12
Jacksonville, Florida 32256

Payment Mailing Address
Turner Pest Control, LLC
P.O. Box 952503
Atlanta, GA 31192-2503

904-241-3409 | 800-225-5305
www.turnerpest.com | customerservice@turnerpest.com

Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control is now part of Turner Pest Control

Home / Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control is now part of Turner Pest Control

To Our Valued Customers,

We’re very pleased to let you know about an exciting new partnership between Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control and Turner Pest Control. Effective December 20, 2021, our teams merged and are currently working together to serve your pest control, termite, and lawn needs.

Let us assure you that although our trucks and uniforms will say “A Division of Turner Pest Control” and ultimately “Turner Pest Control,” you’ll continue to have the high-quality service you’ve come to expect from Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control:
• Your services will be provided in the same friendly, professional manner
• Normally scheduled visits, total client satisfaction, and access to customer service specialists will remain the same
• Local team members will continue to service your account. The team is staying in place — we are just part of a bigger family now!
• Your same local service team and communications specialists are available to answer any questions or concerns at (407) 292-PEST.

We hope you’ll be as pleased as we are about this new era for our company and customers. Turner and Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control share the same unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality of services and products, and a focus on bringing the best innovations to our customers. All of us at Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control believe we could not have asked for a better fit as we join the two families together. We feel confident you’ll agree.

Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control
Bob Welch, President/Owner

As President of Turner Pest Control, I’m pleased and excited to announce the combination of Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control and Turner Pest Control! By uniting these two world-class organizations, it gives us the ability to better serve both of our customer bases by giving us increased density and the ability to quickly respond to any service needs you may have.

We look forward to continuing our relationship with you on the foundation of trust and respect that the Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control team established over their years of excellent service. We’ll do all we can to continue to earn your business every day and with every service we perform.

Sincerely,
Paul Drewry
President, Turner

FAQ’S

When is the merger effective? Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control and Turner Pest Control merged on December 20, 2021.

Will my service stay the same? Yes, any service you have with Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control will stay the same.

I have my account set up for automatic payment. Will that continue? Yes, your regularly scheduled payments will continue on your normal schedule.

How do I contact you if I need service? You can reach us at (407) 292-PEST. You will likely reach one of the friendly Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control Customer service representatives that you are used to speaking with! And come May you will hear a few new friendly voices too!

I usually mail in payments for service. Where do I send payments now? Effective May 1, all checks will need to be made out to Turner Pest Control LLC and mailed to P.O. Box 952503 Atlanta, GA 31192-2503.

Do you have a customer portal? You will continue to have access to the customer portal but effective May 1st you will need to access it here: https://turnerpest.myserviceaccount. com/login.
You will need your new Turner account number to sign up under this portal which will be available May 1st. We will be sending an email campaign with that account number on May 1st but you can also reach us at 800-225-5305 should you need assistance.

Will I receive other benefits as a Turner Pest Control customer? Yes! You will now have access to all of our services including our exclusive SMART TurnerGuard package which includes pest control, termite control and digital rodent control. You can also sign up for our customer loyalty program. You will receive 50 points for just signing up, you can also receive 25 points for adding on a new service and will receive points every six months for just being a customer. Once you hit 100 points you will receive $10 credit to your account. We also offer a customer referral program so use our form on our website and when your friend signs up, you will both receive a $25 credit to your account! Log on to www. turnerpest.com and go to the Contact tab today to learn more and get signed up.

Most importantly, welcome to the Turner family

CONTACT INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control
6211 Edgewater Dr.
Orlando, FL 32810
(407) 292-PEST
prostaffpestcontrol.com

CONTACT INFO EFFECTIVE MAY 1:

Turner Pest Control, LLC
8400 Baymeadows Way, Suite 12
Jacksonville, Florida 32256

Payment Mailing Address
Turner Pest Control, LLC
P.O. Box 952503
Atlanta, GA 31192-2503
407-292-7378 | 800-225-5305
www.turnerpest.com | customerservice@turnerpest.com

Is that a Termite or Flying Ant? How to spot the difference

Home / Is that a Termite or Flying Ant? How to spot the difference

Termites can do damage year round and some termites will swarm later in the year, but Eastern Subterranean Termite peak has started and will continue through April. Spring weather typically signals the start of termite season and here’s what you need to know to protect your property.

WHAT IS A TERMITE SWARMER?

A termite swarmer is a winged adult that flies away from its colony to produce new colonies. Depending on the size of the colony, the number of swarmers can range from a hundred to thousands. Swarmers are likely coming from a nearby source such as an underground nest or wall. They will infest softwoods and solid hardwoods, including types of lumbers commonly used in structural framing and can cause extensive damage to your home or business.

HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TERMITES AND ANTS:

Swarming termites are often mistaken for flying ants as they look very similar. Below are some distinguishing traits between the two insects.

• Ants have three body parts plus an elbowed antennae with a 90-degree bend.
• Termites do not have a PINCHED WAIST like the ant and have straight antennas.
• Termites are soft-bodied and ants have a harder-body.
• Front and hind wings of termites are equal in size and held flat over the body when at rest.
• Ants have forewings that are longer than hindwings and are angled above the body at rest.

WHAT ARE COMMON SIGNS THAT I HAVE TERMITE SWARMERS OR TERMITES?

When swarmers are released from the colony, they fly towards light – you may see swarmers outdoors near windows, light fixtures and doors. Because drywood termites stay hidden within wood, wings may be the only sign of them – there could be dozens or hundreds of wings found on window sills.

Look for exit holes in drywall of emerging swarmers; cracked or bubbling paint on the drywall. Mud tubes or tunnels coming up from the ground would be a sign of termites as well. These allow termites to move from the ground into parts of the structure of your home.

PROTECTION AGAINST TERMITES

If you are concerned you have termite activity inside your home, call our team at 800-225-5305 or schedule your free pest inspection so we can have one of our trained termite technicians out to assess your problem and help you with termite treatment solutions. If you don’t see signs of termites, we can suggest an effective preventative treatment to stop termites before they have a chance to come into your home.

BUG BRIGADE TERMITE & PEST CONTROL IS NOW TURNER PEST CONTROL

Home / BUG BRIGADE TERMITE & PEST CONTROL IS NOW TURNER PEST CONTROL

To Our Valued Customers,

We’re very pleased to let you know about an exciting new partnership between Bug Brigade Termite and Pest Control and Turner Pest Control. Effective September 1, 2021, our teams merged and are currently working together to serve your pest, termite, mosquito, and wildlife control needs.

Let us assure you that although our trucks and uniforms will now say “Turner Pest Control” you’ll continue to have the high-quality service you’ve come to expect from Bug Brigade Termite and Pest Control:
• Your services will be provided in the same friendly, professional manner
• Normally scheduled visits, total client satisfaction, and access to customer service specialists will remain the same
• Local team members will continue to service your account. The team is staying in place — we are just part of a bigger family now!
• Your same local service team and communications specialists are available to answer any questions or concerns at 407-323-3239.

We hope you’ll be as pleased as we are about this new era for our company and customers. Turner and Bug Brigade Termite and Pest Control share the same unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality of services and products, and a focus on bringing the best innovations to our customers. All of us at Bug Brigade Termite and Pest Control believe we could not have asked for a better fit as we join the two families together. We feel confident you’ll agree.

Best regards,
Bug Brigade Termite and Pest Control
Scott Milliron, Owner and President

As President of Turner Pest Control, I’m pleased and excited to announce the combination of Bug Brigade Termite and Pest Control and Turner Pest Control! By uniting these two world-class organizations, it gives us the ability to better serve both of our customer bases by giving us increased density and the ability to quickly respond to any service needs you may have. We look forward to continuing our relationship with you on the foundation of trust and respect that the Bug Brigade Termite and Pest Control team established over their years of excellent service. We’ll do all we can to continue to earn your business every day and with every service we perform.

Sincerely,
Paul Drewry
President, Turner Pest Control

FAQ’s

When is the merger effective? Bug Brigade Termite and Pest Control and Turner Pest Control merged on September 1, 2021.
Will my service stay the same? Yes, any service you have with Bug Brigade Termite and Pest Control will stay the same.
I have my account set up for automatic payment. Will that continue? Yes, your regularly scheduled payments will continue on your normal schedule.
How do I contact you if I need service? You can reach us at 407-323-3239. You will likely reach one of the friendly Bug Brigade Termite and Pest Control Customer service representatives that you are used to speaking with along with some new friendly voices!
I usually mail in payments for service. Where do I send payments now? Please make checks out to Turner Pest Control, LLC. and mail to:

P.O. Box 952503

Atlanta, GA 31192-2503

Do you have a customer portal? You will continue to have access to the customer portal but you will need to access it here: https://turnerpest.myserviceaccount.com/login. You will need your new Turner account number to sign up under this portal. We will be sending an email campaign with that account number but you can also reach us at 800-225-5305 for assistance.

Will I receive other benefits as a Turner Pest Control customer? Yes! You will now have access to all of our Orlando pest control services including our exclusive SMART TurnerGuard package which includes pest control, termite control and digital rodent control. You can also sign up for our customer loyalty program. You will receive 50 points for just signing up, you can also receive 25 points for adding on a new service and will receive points every six months for just being a customer. Once you hit 100 points you will receive $10 credit to your account. We also offer a customer referral program so use our form on our website and when your friend signs up, you will both receive a $25 credit to your account! Log on to www.turnerpest.com and go to the Contact tab today to learn more and get signed up.

Most importantly, welcome to the Turner family!

CONTACT INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Turner Pest Control

Mailing address: 8400 Baymeadows Way, Suite 12 Jacksonville, Florida 32256

Payment mailing address: P.O. Box 952503, Atlanta, GA 31192-2503

407-323-3239 | 800-225-5305

www.turnerpest.com | customerservice@turnerpest.com

It’s easy to make an appointment or schedule an inspection online!

Termites: How to Identify Them and Maximize Protection

Home / Termites: How to Identify Them and Maximize Protection

It’s Termite Time

Did you know that termites cause billions of dollars of property damage every year? You read that right: Billions of dollars. So, what’s the scoop on these teeny-tiny property damage aficionados?

Meet the Termite

Termites are social insects that live in colonies that can vary in size from a few thousand to several million. Similarly, there is a range of territory that termites can cover, it could be as small as a few square feet or up to an acre. Termites feed on cellulose, which is the main structural component of plant matter – including the wood used to build various structures. Of course, termites live underground, so much of the time they are hidden. It’s not uncommon for homes to be built directly over these hidden colonies, meaning termite damage is a very real risk for every homeowner. This also means that oftentimes, it is difficult for a homeowner to detect termite damage until it has become severe.

No matter the species of termite, there are certain roles members of the colony must evolve into and play. These roles include the Queen, King, Soldiers, Workers, and Alate.

Workers make up the vast majority of termite colonies. Their responsibilities include gathering food for the colony, as well as building and maintaining the nest.

Soldiers, making up less than 5% of most colony populations, are responsible for protecting the nest. Generally, they are protecting the colony from other insects that try to intrude. Soldier termites each have a large head and intimidating mandibles which come in handy when defending their colonies. Ants are a common enemy of termites. You might think that would be good news for termite Soldiers, but ants tend to come into termite colonies in large numbers. When the Soldier is significantly outnumbered, that can be a problem for them.

Alate are the winged termites that we see during termite swarming season.

Termite Lifecycle

Before we dive in too far, let’s run through the basic lifecycle of termites and their colonies. Termites create what are called swarming events. This happens when a reproductive male and female Alate depart their mature, established colonies to create a new one. Males and females create pairs, and their wings fall off after they’ve flown to the site of their soon-to-be colony. The newly established Queen lays eggs, which become larvae. As the colony works to grow, those larvae will become Soldiers or Workers. The focus for the first several years after a new colony is established is to grow as much as possible, creating thousands to millions of individual termites. Once the colony reaches maturity, larvae will become Nymphs, which then become Alate – the future swarmers.

But how do you know if the winged insects you see are termites? After all, most termites don’t have wings and they live underground. Unfortunately, termites are not the only flying pest. Even worse, there are other flying pests that resemble termites, making identification an important step in the pest and termite control processes. The most common pest that is confused with termites is the flying ant. Treatment for flying ants will vary from treatment for termite swarmers, so it’s important to diagnose the issue before treating. An easy way to determine what kind of pest is the source of your headache is to evaluate the basic shape of the insect.

Keep an eye out for how broad the abdomen of your problem pest is, that will be a good indicator along with the wing shape. You’ll notice that ants have three distinct body segments compared to termites having only two. Termites also have a broader body shape as compared to ants. If the wings are relatively the same in shape and size, that’s a termite swarmer. Ants will have two different shaped wings of different lengths. And just like that, you now know how to discern between termite swarmers and flying ants! Now how about the different types of termites in Florida?

Types of Termites in Florida

Compared to the rest of the U.S., Florida is plentifully populated with diverse species of termites. There have been 21 species of termites recorded in Florida with a minimum of 6 invasive species. Not to brag, but that’s more than any other state. That can be blamed on our sub-tropical climate and high human activity. If you’re interested in termite distribution in Florida, check out this map created by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences with the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.

Now, for your sake (and ours) we aren’t going to cover all 21 species of termites in Florida. Instead, let’s review the main categories that termites are classified in based on their habitat and lifestyle.

Subterranean Termites

Native species: Eastern Subterranean Termite, Cuban Subterranean Termite, Florida Dark-winged Subterranean Termite

Invasive species: Formosan Subterranean Termites, Asian Subterranean Termites, West Indian Subterranean Termites

Of the over $2.2 billion spent annually on termite control in the U.S., 80% of that damage is due to Subterranean termites. They can live both above and below ground as long as there is sufficient moisture. Some subterranean termites, such as the Formosan, infest a wide variety of structures (including boats and high-rise condominiums) and can damage trees. In the United States, they are responsible for tremendous damage to property resulting in large treatment and repair costs.

Subterranean termites create a network of interconnected tubes or passages between feeding sites. These can be either above or below the surface. Generally, a colony of Subterranean termites can range in size from 100 thousand to one million. They will travel up to 150 feet to forage for food. In some cases, they will go above ground for food and enter a home through small cracks or through shelter tubes they build along the foundation. Essentially, these tubes serve as an express route for underground termites to above-ground food sources.

Unfortunately, Subterranean termites generally stay well hidden, meaning that most people do not become aware of an infestation until swarming season, when Alates take flight to create new colonies elsewhere.

Drywood Termites

Native species: Florida Drywood Termite

Invasive Species: West Indian Drywood Termite, Western Drywood Termite

Drywood termite colonies usually live in the roots or trunks of old trees, digging tunnels and feeding on wood, behavior that can cause the death of infested trees. They can also infest beams and roofs of the houses, libraries and archives, producing serious damage. However, here in Florida, it is most common for Drywood termites to stick to dry or dead trees, logs, branches, and stumps. Due the limited resources of their environments, Drywood termite colonies cannot reach the same massive size that Subterranean termite colonies can. One interesting characteristic of Drywood termite feeding behavior is that they will consume the meat of a wooden object without breaking the surface. They also produce small, hard waste – yes, we’re trying to use polite language here – which is commonly referred to as frass or drywood pellets.

Dampwood Termites

Native species: Florida Dampwood Termite

Dampwood termites are the largest termites in the Eastern U.S., but on the East coast, they are only found in Florida. They are also native to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Dampwood termites require higher humidity, as their name implies, and they also need more frequent access to water sources. Unlike Subterranean termites, Dampwood termites do not forage in soil.

Due to the Dampwood termites’ need for high moisture environments, their infestations of various structures are associated with access to water. For example, this could include homes exposed to roof leaks, siding frequently exposed to rainfall or sprinklers, and wood-to-soil contact. These sorts of damp conditions can also lead to the fungal decay of a structure, so it is in the best interest of the owner to correct detrimental conditions.

Luckily, the need for damp conditions also means habitats are less plentiful for Dampwood termites than other species. This makes them less of a threat than other types of termites, but don’t be mistaken: the damage they can do is still severe, you’re just less likely to have a run in with them.

What does termite damage look like?

Termites are usually good at staying out of sight, but there are some signs you can look out for. While spotting swarmers during swarming season is a pretty blatant sign, there are more subtle clues you can look for all year round.

Bubbling or cracked paint
Hollow-sounding wood
Mud tubes on walls or beams
Wings discarded by Alates
Termite droppings (very small pellets)
Drywall that is discolored, sagging, or has small holes in it
Buckling or very squeaky floorboards
Crumbling wood
Loose tiles
Maze-like patterns occurring in the floor, walls, or furniture in your home
Windows and doors being stuck

How to prevent termites

Keep in mind that the different types of termites each require a different control method. For example, Dampwood termites can be treated in part with the removal of moisture in the structure and by using a pretreatment on the wood used to build the structure. Meanwhile, removing moisture would not impact Drywood or Subterranean termites in the same way.

Of major concern in Jacksonville is the Formosan subterranean termite, the most destructive termites in the country. Formosan termites live in very large colonies, which makes them especially threatening since they can do extensive damage in less time than other species. Turner Pest Control’s experts have contributed to a City of Jacksonville task force that was formed to address the serious threat that Formosan termites pose to property here.

Determining which species you have simply by examining a single termite is next to impossible for anyone other than an experienced pest control technician. If you suspect a termite problem in your home, contact our termite extermination experts for proper identification and the recommended treatment method.

Turner’s Ultimate Termite Protection – What sets us apart?

Maximum applications

Some pest control providers only meet minimum specifications for treatment, which may not be enough for customers whose homes are particularly vulnerable to termite damage. At Turner Pest Control, we do things differently—our technicians treat your home with the maximum application allowed.

Thorough coverage

Our entomologists and technicians know termites: Where they hide, how they come in, and how to exterminate them. We do an extensive inspection of your home and develop a treatment plan that’s customized to your specific needs.

Our technicians will apply a complete perimeter treatment and treat under patios, in the seams where slabs join, inside concrete blocks, behind brick, in bath traps, and where pipes and other utilities give termites an entry point into your home. We also provide treatments that stop termites before they have a chance to come into your home.

Your choice of treatment

You can choose from a variety of termite treatments:

Termidor HP Treatment
Conventional Liquid Treatment
Baiting System

TERMIDOR HP: THE ULTIMATE TERMITE TREATMENT

The Termidor HP High-Precision Injection System treats the toughest termite problems without the disruption that trenching and rodding methods cause to landscapes or hardscapes in your yard. It allows for extremely precise applications of the industry’s leading liquid termite product. It is a 3,000 PSI injection. The device mixes the chemical and water at the nozzle with incredibly precise ratios, resulting in 75% less water being used as compared to conventional liquid treatment.

CONVENTIONAL LIQUID TREATMENT

This is what most people think of when they think of termite control. It’s the widely accepted “trench and treat” method. We use Termidor HE, Premise, or Altriset liquid treatment, depending on client preference and the best fit for a given home. The liquid treatment creates a barrier in the soil that prevents termites from crossing.

BAITING SYSTEMS

We use Trelona or Sentricon bait stations, which are inserted into your lawn around the perimeter of your home. Smaller stations can also be placed inside your home in areas where termites have been found. The bait systems are beneficial because the bait is brought back to the colonies by worker termites, which addresses the problem at its core.

PROTECT WITH TURNER PEST CONTROL

We’re committed to providing the latest, safest and most effective termite control. Call our team at 800-225-5305 to find out more about our comprehensive termite control.

Written using resources from UF/IFAS (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), select vendors (8, 9, 10, 11), and feedback from our in-house entomologists.

Stored Product Pests

Home / Stored Product Pests

Stored Product Pests

We’re diving into the dreaded stored product pest, aka “pantry pests,” and are eager to share these facts! You probably find these tiny bugs repulsive and hope you never encounter them but the more you know about these pests, the easier it will be for you to keep them out of your pantry and home.

So what are stored products pests? This type of species includes several dozen insects, most of which are small beetles or moths, that typically find their way to your pantry looking for a food source. It’s common for these pests enter your home through products purchased at the store where they had already entered a food package that was not tightly sealed. The female will lay eggs and when the larvae hatch, they feed on the contaminated product. Stored product pests can also find their way in from cracks or crevices in windows, doors, screens or other small openings.

Below are four types of stored product pest common in our area.

CONFUSED FLOUR BEETLE

Have you ever heard of a confused flour beetle? While confused flour beetles cannot feed on whole, undamaged grain, they are often found in large numbers in infested grains, feeding on broken grain, grain dust, and other household food items such as flour, rice, dried fruit, nuts, and beans. They are also found in crevices in pantries and cabinets. Damage to food is caused somewhat by the beetles’ feeding, but also by their dead bodies, fecal pellets, and foul-smelling secretions. In addition to creating an unpleasant odor, the beetles’ presence also encourages the growth of mold.

The confused flour beetle female deposits about 300-500 clear-white eggs on or among food materials in cracks, in bags, or through the mesh of sacks containing food. They are attracted to light even though they apparently do not fly.

SPIDER BEETLE

Spider beetles are primarily scavengers with many species feeding on both plant and animal origin materials. They feed on grain products, seeds, dried fruits, meats, fish meal, wool, hair, feathers, skins, drugs, roots, rodent droppings, insect and other animal carcasses, and plant and museum specimens. Besides being found in human food, warehouses, food-handling establishments, granaries, mills, museums, and homes, they are also found in the nests of bees, wasps, birds, mammals, as well as in bat caves and on dry carrion.

Relatively few eggs, maybe up to 100 but often fewer, are laid in, on or near larval food material. Many species are active only at night, hiding in cracks, crevices, and voids during daylight. Some can fly, others cannot… what a fun surprise!

LARDER BEETLES

Larder beetles are found throughout the U.S. and the world, so you might say they’re pretty common. The adults and larvae feed on all kinds of animal products such as dried fish, ham, bacon, meats, cheese, dried pet food, and dried museum specimens including insects, hides, feathers, horns, and hair. Adult females lay their eggs on suitable larval food or in cracks and crevices where such food is stored.

SAWTOOTHED BEETLE

These critters are found worldwide, making them a pest of concern for all of us. Even fully grown, the adult beetle is very small, about 1/10 inch long. They are flat and brown with the segment just behind the head (pronotum) having characteristic “sawtoothed” outer margins, bearing six “teeth” on each side.

Sawtoothed beetles find their way into stored grains, flour, sugar, nuts and other dry material of plant origin through cracks and crevices of imperfectly sealed containers. They are incapable of attacking sound grain kernels and often occur in food previously infested by other stored product pests. This pest may be found infesting dry goods, crawling around kitchen surfaces and occasionally underneath tree bark. Development from egg to larvae occurs in 3 to 10 days, with larvae becoming adults within 50 days. Four to six generations can occur annually.

WHAT TO DO

When it comes to stored product pests like these, your best offense is a good defense. Be sure to stay vigilant when it comes to cleaning up crumbs, securing loose food items, and generally maintaining a safe cooking and eating environment. The last thing you want to see when you open up your pantry is a bunch of these little guys, that much we know so here’s three tips to help you avoid pantry pests.

Store dried foods in plastic or glass containers that have tight-fitting lids. This will help keep the insects out so your food does not get contaminated.
Keep your pantry clean and organized. A few pieces of loose grain on the back of the shelf can quickly attract insects, where they will hide and breed, then infestation begins.
Check your pantry regularly. These insects are tiny, hard to see and can be difficult to control so you’ll want to stay ahead of any problems they bring.

Concerned you might have storage pests in your pantry? Turner Pest Control can help eliminate these pesky critters so give us a call at (800) 225-5305 or request an inspection today!

Fahey Pest & Lawn Solutions is now Turner Pest Control

Home / Fahey Pest & Lawn Solutions is now Turner Pest Control

To Our Valued Customers,

If you did not receive our initial notification from your technician, we are pleased to let you know about our exciting partnership with Turner Pest Control. Effective May 3, 2021, our teams merged together and continued to serve your pest control, termite, lawn and wildlife control needs under the Fahey brand as a division of Turner Pest Control. Effective February 1, 2022, the Fahey name will go away and you will just see Turner Pest Control going forward on your invoices, our trucks, uniforms, etc.

Let me assure you that although Fahey is now under the name Turner Pest Control, you’ll continue to have the high-quality service you’ve come to expect from Fahey Pest & Lawn Solutions:

Your services will be provided in the same friendly, professional manner
Normally scheduled visits, total client satisfaction, and access to customer service specialists will remain the same
Local team members will continue to service your account. The team is staying in place — we are just part of a bigger family now!

We hope you’ll be as pleased as we are about this new era for our company and customers. We have been serving our community for the past 78 years and we are excited about adding to our family to continue the best possible service for our loyal customers. Turner has also been serving communities across Florida for the past 50 years and we share the same unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality of services and products, and a focus on bringing the best innovations to our customers. All of us at Fahey Pest and Lawn Solutions believe we could not have asked for a better fit as we join the two families together. We feel confident you’ll agree.

Best regards,

Fahey Pest & Lawn Solutions

David and Terry Pomfret, Owners

As President of Turner Pest Control, I’m pleased and excited to announce the combination of Fahey Pest & Lawn Solutions and Turner Pest Control! By uniting these two world-class organizations, it gives us the ability to better serve both of our customer bases by giving us increased density and the ability to quickly respond to any service needs you may have.

We look forward to continuing our relationship with you on the foundation of trust and respect that the Fahey Pest & Lawn Solutions team established over their years of excellent service. We’ll do all we can to continue to earn your business every day and with every service we perform.

Sincerely,

Paul Drewry

President, Turner Pest Control

FAQ’s

When was the merger effective? Fahey Pest & Lawn Solutions and Turner Pest Control merged on May 3, 2021.

Will my service stay the same? Yes, any service you have with Fahey Pest & Lawn Solutions will stay the same.

I have my account set up for automatic payment. Will that continue? Yes, your regularly scheduled payments will continue on your normal schedule.

How do I contact you if I need service? You can still reach us at 941-366-9090 or toll free at 800-225-5305.

I usually mail in payments for service. Where do I send payments now? While we are still here at our same office in Sarasota, checks need to be made out to Turner Pest Control and mailed to our headquarters to be processed at Turner Pest Control, LLC P.O. Box 952503 Atlanta, GA 31192-2503

Will I receive other benefits as a Turner Pest Control customer? Yes! You will now have access to all of our Sarasota pest control services including our exclusive SMART TurnerGuard package which includes pest control, termite control and digital rodent control. You can also sign up for our customer loyalty program. You will receive 50 points for just signing up, you can also receive 25 points for adding on a new service and will receive points every six months for just being a customer. Once you hit 100 points you will receive $10 credit to your account. We also offer a customer referral program so use our form on our website and when your friend signs up, you will both receive a $25 credit to your account! Log on to www.turnerpest.com and go to the Contact tab today to learn more and get signed up.

Most importantly, welcome to the Turner family!

Contact Information at your fingertips

Turner Pest Control

8400 Baymeadows Way, Suite 12 Jacksonville, Florida 32256

941-366-9090 | 800-225-5305

www.turnerpest.com | customerservice@turnerpest.com

It’s easy to make an appointment or schedule an inspection online!

Home Disinfection Services Guide

Home / Home Disinfection Services Guide

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a key difference between cleaning and disinfecting your home involves the substances used to assist in the process. Cleaning, CDC defines, uses soap (or detergent) and water applied with a scrubbing motion to reduce “germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces.” Disinfecting, meanwhile, uses chemicals that destroy any post-cleaning surface germs.

The CDC notes how, in general, cleaning is enough to help prevent illnesses with disinfecting called for if someone in your home is sick or a sick person has recently visited. Or, if someone has a higher than normal risk of getting sick, perhaps because of immunity issues, disinfecting makes sense.

COVID-19, of course, has been a game-changer in the ways we live, work—and clean and disinfect homes, making disinfection much more in demand. This post will guide you through how to disinfect your home, according to CDC guidelines, and details about Turner’s home disinfection services that provide safe, effective virus protection directly to and for you.

If you already need home disinfection services, we know you don’t want to wait. So, please contact us online or call 800-225-5305 for either a one-time service or to sign up for a regular disinfecting schedule.

A Look at the COVID Virus

Home disinfection addresses viruses and bacteria beyond the one causing COVID—but this virus is one of concern for plenty of homeowners, so we’ll provide a quick overview. COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a virus: the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

COVID-19 is short for “coronavirus disease 2019” for the year it began to spread and these terms refer to the disease instead of the virus. The virus is named SARS-CoV-2 with “SARS” being an acronym for “severe acute respiratory syndrome”; CoV standing for “coronavirus”; and “2” standing for the second strain of this virus to manifest.

Because COVID-19 is an infectious disease, one that can spread from an infected person to other people via airborne droplets, it can help to disinfect a home when there is any reason for concern.

How Airborne Diseases Spread

WebMD.com notes that, because few diseases are actually airborne, people didn’t necessarily think about this concept much before COVID-19. That said, measles and tuberculosis (TB) are airborne with four other diseases sometimes being transmitted that way: chickenpox, influenza (flu), pertussis (whooping cough), and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Airborne diseases are spread when an infected person “sneezes, coughs, laughs, or otherwise exhales in some way.” Droplets carrying the disease can “linger in dust particles and respiratory droplets” and can be inhaled by someone else. This means that you don’t need to be in contact or even in the same room at the same time as an infected person to potentially catch an airborne disease.

WebMD gives this example: if you went into a bathroom where someone had been in minutes before—and that person coughed—droplets of an airborne disease that person had could still be traveling in the air currents, available to be breathed in by the bathroom’s current occupant.

In addition, droplets can “cling to surfaces,” which makes airborne transmission possible “over relatively long distances and spans of time.”

This triggers the need for disinfection in places where an infected person may have exhaled.

How Disinfectants Work

For everyday cleanups, products including soap or detergent, plus water and elbow grease, work fine and this process is what can be used daily. As the CDC shares, this can lower the number of germs on a particular surface, which in turn lowers risks of infection in ordinary circumstances.

Disinfectants, though, go above and beyond what soaps can handle, which makes them the substance of choice when someone has been sick or in geographical areas where COVID-19 is worrying. Although there are different chemical compositions of disinfectants, they all work in generally the same way: by destroying the protein/membrane that is the outer layer of a microbe.

After this protective envelope is destroyed, viral inner contents spill out, which means that a virus like SARS-CoV-2, after use of the right disinfectant, is no longer able to reproduce and spread. In common language, the disinfectant kills the virus (talk to ten scientists and you may get ten different answers about whether viruses, technically speaking, are ever actually “alive”).

Now, here’s a look at something else that disinfectants kill: bacteria. A bacterium typically has a cell wall, cell membrane, and cytoplasm—and is therefore a living creature. Disinfectant breaks apart what’s called a phospholipid bilayer, and then can either kill off the bacteria or make it non-functional, which in effect kills off its ability to be harmful to people.

Here’s more about home disinfecting guidelines and professional home disinfection services.

Home Disinfection Guidelines

The CDC recommends regular cleaning before disinfecting and then using an EPA-approved disinfectant, storing products in a safe place according to label directions to prevent harm to children or pets. Be careful not to mix products that create “very dangerous” fumes, such as a combination of bleach and other cleaning/disinfecting products. So, read labels carefully.

Use the products according to directions without overuse. Wear gloves that are appropriate for the product and additional personal protective equipment (such as protective eyewear) as needed. As you disinfect by hand, include the following surfaces:

Tables
Doorknobs
Light switches
Countertops
Handles
Desks
Phones
Keyboards
Toilets
Faucets and sinks
Touchscreens

Leave the disinfect you’re using on each surface long enough for germs to be killed. Each product should list its “contact time,” a period when a surface must be continuously wet to effectively disinfect that area. While disinfecting, open windows and doors to allow enough fresh air into the home.

Some products need to be diluted. If so, use room temperature water unless otherwise advised by label directions. Label diluted solutions for clarity.

These two cautions are provided:

Do not eat, drink, breathe, or inject cleaning and disinfection products into your body or apply directly to your skin. These products can cause serious harm.
Do not wipe or bathe pets with any disinfection products.

As another option, you can use Turner’s home disinfection services, a misting service that offers protection from the COVID-19 virus along with other viruses and bacteria.

Overview of Turner’s Home Disinfection Services

Homeowners rely upon this service to offer protection against viruses and bacteria, including but not limited to the virus that causes COVID-19. This service provides a spray mist disinfection application and a wipedown of your home’s hard surfaces. As anyone who hand disinfects surfaces through a home already knows, that’s very time consuming. Misting, though, allows us to quickly and efficiently disinfect even large areas.

This treatment is fact acting, killing pathogens in mere seconds while also being safe on all surfaces, including walls and floors. The disinfection contains environmentally friendly ingredients that naturally degrade and reaches even inaccessible places in your house.

If you’d like a free, convenient, no-obligation quote by phone, just call us at 800-225-5305. No inspection required! Preparation is minimal and requires just a few simple steps. We’ll provide clear instructions and, after the treatment, you, your family, and your pets can come back home in just two hours.

You can have a single treatment to address current concerns or schedule recurring services for ongoing protection in the long term. Pricing is customized for your home’s square footage.

Here are some commonly asked questions about our home disinfection services:

What Disinfectant Do You Use and How Safe and Effective Is It?

Our disinfectant of choice is Nisus DSV. This is a type of industrial-grade, safety-rated disinfectant that governments around the world use for emergency disease control purposes. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization lists this in their biosecurity guides and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named Nisus DSV as a disinfectant that’s effective against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19).

Research studies demonstrate how Nisus DSV effectively kills pathogens in just seconds while being safe for all surfaces. After we apply it in your home, you’ll need to wait two hours to re-enter. This allows time for complete drying and, therefore, maximum effectiveness.

Plus, ingredients in this disinfection naturally degrade within the environment, making this the right choice for Turner’s home disinfection services.

What is TurnerClean Disinfection Misting Service? What Are Specifics?

TurnerClean is the branded name of our home disinfection service, a broad-spectrum misting service that allows us to quickly sanitize large areas, including kitchens, bathrooms, home offices, living areas, and more quickly and effectively for powerful virus protection.

Our trained technicians apply this disinfectant (Nisus DSV) to your home’s floors and walls, as well as surfaces and other items. This is a very fine mist, which means that it penetrates otherwise inaccessible areas of the home to provide the maximum in coverage and protection.

As fine particles settle over your home’s surfaces, these surfaces will be damp for a short amount of time. During this timeframe, the disinfectant is doing its important work, and then the surfaces will naturally dry. If you were there, you’d see fine micron particles of Nisus DSV hanging in the air as they gradually settle on surfaces throughout the home. That said, this is the period when you, your family, and your pets can’t be in the home. Figure a two-hour drying period, depending upon the amount of ventilation.

Besides this bio-fogging process, Turner technicians will wipe down hard, heavily contacted surfaces, which can include doorknobs, handles on cabinets, beneath counters, and so forth.

Who Can Receive TurnerClean Services?

We provide TurnerClean to owners of single-family homes and condominiums within our service areas. (Although outside the scope of this post about home disinfection services, we also provide TurnerClean for a wide scope of businesses.) Each client can choose between one-time service or recurring protection.

What Should I Do After Receiving TurnerClean Services?

If any food or drinking containers were left in exposed places (for humans or pets), rinse them before use. If any surfaces still have any moisture, dry them with a paper towel and then dispose of that towel, avoiding direct contact with your hands or other body parts. Then, if you bring any new items into the home, sanitize them first.

Other than that, you can enjoy enhanced peace of mind in a professionally sanitized home. If you’ve only scheduled a one-time service and want to turn that into a recurring service for even greater peace of mind, contact us online or call 800-225-5305.

How is TurnerClean Better Than Other Options?

Ways in which we surpass other service providers include the following. We:

Use an EPA-approved disinfectant, one that allows for maximum effectiveness, efficiently killing pathogens in just ten seconds
Meet CDC guidelines; you can find more information about that in our commercial disinfectant service information
Employ tri-jet misters to create droplets of disinfectant that are as small as fifteen microns, able to get into the tiniest, most inaccessible places in your home
Train employees via a two-tier program on disinfection methodology
Combine misting and wipedown to ensure comprehensive treatment of all surfaces
Minimize the time you’ll be out of your home
Offer both a one-time service and recurring services, customized to your needs
Are available after hours and on Saturdays, as needed

In short, we get the job done right.

Choosing Turner for Home Disinfection Services

Turner Pest Control is a Homeland-Security-approved essential business, one that’s committed to your health and safety. Our company protects more than 60,000 homes and businesses throughout Florida, which includes millions of square feet of office space.

When you choose Turner for your home disinfection services, you can count on the best:

People: professionally trained technicians
Products: latest, safest, and most environmentally friendly

In 2021, we marked half a century of service, one filled with growth and innovation. Turner has become one of the fastest growing companies in Florida.

Please contact us online or call 800-225-5305 for our home disinfection services. We’re here and ready to help!

Why is my lawn brown?

Home / Why is my lawn brown?

COMMON LAWN QUESTIONS THIS TIME OF YEAR

Florida may have milder winters compared to other parts of the country, but that doesn’t mean we can avoid lawn dormancy. It’s an unfortunate truth for all of us here in the sunshine state, though the timing can vary depending on which part of the state you live in. We never want our clients to feel unnecessary stress if we can help it, which is why we’re addressing the most frequently asked lawn questions this time of year.

WHY IS MY LAWN BROWN?

Great question! First and foremost, brown grass does not necessarily mean dead grass. During the cooler months, your lawn will enter what is called dormancy.

While dormancy does not necessarily occur the same way every year, during the colder winter months, you will notice your grass browning. This could happen to varying degrees depending on the severity of the cold and timing of freezes.

As we have seen this winter, colder temperatures were a bit late to arrive, resulting in some minor oscillation between brown and green colored turfgrass for some of us in the Jacksonville area. This does not mean that the grass is dead. The grass is essentially going into hibernation when it turns brown. Similarly, for those in other parts of the state, there could have been some strange browning and greening patterns this year with the odd temperatures.

WHY IS MY GRASS STILL BROWN WHEN IT’S NICE OUTSIDE?

It is imperative to focus on the soil temperature and not the outside “feels-like” temperature. We might think that if the weather is 80 degrees, our grass should be growing. This is not the case. If the soil temperature is below 55 degrees, the grass will not come out of dormancy.

In Jacksonville, much of the grass is still firmly planted in the dormancy stage. Other parts of Florida, specifically more southern areas of the state, will likely emerge from the dormancy stage earlier than in north Florida.

WHY DOES FERTILIZER APPLICATION BEGIN SOONER IN THE SOUTH AND LATER IN THE NORTH?

This all comes down to the temperatures experienced in each region. The vast majority of the time, central and southern Florida experience the onset of spring a bit earlier than in north Florida. Because of this, the soil temperatures in central and south Florida will rise to an acceptable level for fertilizer application earlier than in north Florida. We know that every lawn is different, which is why we tailor each plan to the specific yard and location.

NORTH FLORIDA:

WHY DOES FERTILIZER APPLICATION BEGIN IN MARCH AND NOT FEBRUARY?

February is approaching fast. This is the time of year when some begin to fertilize their lawns to expedite the greening of the turf. Turner Pest Control’s granular fertilizer program begins in March and ends in April, as compared to a regiment lasting from February to March.

The risk of putting fertilizer out too early is that a freeze following application would render the fertilizer useless. The grass would not green up as intended. There is also potential for serious long-term damage to your lawn if granular fertilizer is applied too soon, encouraging aggressive growth only to be refrozen, effectively frying your turfgrass.

Our goal is to ensure the long-term health and vitality of our clients’ lawns. While this might mean your lawn could green up a couple of weeks later than those who take the risk of premature application, we strongly believe in doing the service the right way the first time.

CENTRAL + SOUTH FLORIDA:

WHY DOES FERTILIZER APPLICATION BEGIN IN FEBRUARY?

Luckily for those of our clients who live in central or south Florida, spring comes earlier there than it does for everyone else. We base our fertilizer application off the soil temperature and not the outside, “feels-like” temperatures; however, the earlier warming in these regions also applies to the soil temperatures. This means that February is the opportune time to apply fertilizer in warmer parts of the state.

All About Palmetto Bugs

Home / All About Palmetto Bugs

There are several species of roaches that have come to be called “palmetto bugs,” but the American cockroach is usually the species to which this term refers. Whatever you choose to call them, Floridians are all too familiar with these pests.

While these huge, winged creatures are certainly not desirable to have around, the good news is that palmetto bugs don’t sting or bite like so many of our Florida pests, and a good pest control plan for your Jacksonville home or business can keep their numbers down. If you already suspect palmetto presence, contact us for a free home inspection or call us at 800-225-5305.

Get Rid of Roaches in Your Home Today

Identifying Palmetto Bugs

The American cockroach is a large winged creature, dark brown in hue with a cream-colored anterior segment by its first pair of legs. The cream hue is interspersed with darker markings. You may first encounter this bug when it flies up towards lights or in damp spots, such as in basements, woodpiles, and mulch.

Smokybrown cockroaches also live in Florida and they’re called “palmetto bugs” by many people. They’re a bit smaller than the American cockroach and are dark mahogany in hue. They also have wings.

True palmetto bugs are similar in appearance (thus, the confusion). If you spot bugs that look like what we’ve described; move slowly; and have an awful smell when distrurbed, that may be a genuine palmetto bug. No matter the actual species, though, it’s natural not to want them in your home.

History of the Palmetto Bug

According to “The Fascinating History of the Palmetto Bug” by John Keasler in The Miami News, this creature probably originated in Iran (back when the country was still called Persia). Perhaps they would have stayed there had it not been for their high intelligence and ability to learn circus tricks. Seriously!

A man named John R. Palmetto recognized that these bugs could be taught to march in formation and perform acrobatic tricks. So, he created the Amazing Palmetto Bug Circus, which became quite popular. P.T. Barnum tried to buy these trained critters, but Palmetto wouldn’t sell. Instead, he took them on a national tour. When a train wreck occurred in South Florida, the circus bugs escaped and they found that they appreciated the Florida climate—and so they settled in and stayed.

According to another article, “The Meek Won’t Inherit the Earth” by Joe Workman, the bug was named by a real estate salesman who chose that moniker because the critters love living in palmetto bushes. No matter which story you believe, these bugs are part of our everyday life in Florida.

Palmetto Bugs in Jacksonville

Palmetto bugs love warm climates, especially those along the coast. They are, unfortunately, an inescapable part of Jacksonville living because we have the perfect weather conditions for bugs like these. If you’re in Northeast Florida, you’re probably not too far away from at least one of these roaches.

When they get inside a home, they tend to head to humid areas, including kitchens and bathrooms, attics and basements. They’ll hide under sinks and refrigerators and behind dishwashers, as three examples. When outdoors, they’re attracted to trash containers, trees, leaf litter, mulch, and septic tanks.

Problems Caused

Whether you’ve got a palmetto or a cockroach in your home, they can pose similar health risks. They spread salmonella, which can contaminate food supplies in your home, along with other harmful diseases. As they shed body parts and leave behind urine and feces, this can trigger allergic reactions in some people as well as asthma attacks.

Because it can be difficult to tell the difference between cockroaches and true palmetto bugs, you’ll also have to consider the diseases that roaches can spread, including the Entamoeba histolytica and the poliomyelitis virus. Although roaches don’t bite, the spines on their legs can scratch someone on contact.

Katsaridaphobia

Besides health-related problems, plenty of people have a phobia of cockroaches, which would naturally extend to palmetto bugs. In fact, a noted entomologist believes that more people fear this insect than any other kind. Plus, this fear goes way back with Ancient Egyptians creating spells to ask Khnum (the ram-headed god) to make roaches disappear.

In Ancient Rome, Pliny the Elder called them “disgusting” and John Smith in Jamestown complained about a critter he called the “cacarooch” with “ill-scented dung.” Even experts don’t know why so many of us have a strong repulsion to cockroaches, since they don’t bite and aren’t poisonous, but the reality is that this is a common phobia—making it even more important to keep them out of Florida houses.

Deterring Palmetto Bugs Around Your Home

There are two basic things palmetto bugs are searching for when they find their way into your home (and it is not to terrorize you or scare you to death). They are looking for water and warmth.

One easy way to reduce the chances of these bugs coming in is to keep your home dry and make sure you take care of leaky, drippy pipes. Also seal off holes and gaps in walls and doorways so there is no easy access from the outside. Keep your home clean and do not leave food out — human food and pet food alike can attract roaches of all kinds if they wander in. Wash dirty dishes promptly, not letting them stay in the sink overnight, and keep food scraps in airtight containers. Take your trash out regularly and put the garbage in tightly sealed containers outdoors.

Choose one specific place in your home to eat, such as a kitchen table, and stick to that location. This limits the number of places where these bugs can find food.

As cockroaches have gotten familiar with living in people’s homes, their diet has expanded. In the tropics, they ate only vegetation, but now they’ll scavenge on a wide variety of food types. They favor starch and sweets, as well as meat, and will also gnaw on cheese, baked goods, and more. In other words, they’re quite adaptable and savvy when it comes to survival so, to keep them out of your home, people have to be, too.

To help keep roaches out, you can also plant certain plants and flowers around your home that insects don’t like, making sure you avoid using mulch too close to your house, and keeping hedges, shrubs, and plants trimmed back so you don’t give the bugs a place to live right near your home.

Reproduction

As with other pests, once you have some in your home, they’ll focus on eating and reproducing. If you were to see a female palmetto when she was ready to mate, you’d watch her put her wings into the air and release pheromones to attract males to her. If you were to see a male, pre-mating, he’d be flapping his wings.

Once a female mates for the first time, she’ll stay fertile for the rest of her life. After mating, it will only take a couple of days before she lays eggs and uses her saliva to place them in a damp spot that will likely be safe. For the rest of her life (fifteen to twenty more weeks), she’ll continue to lay more eggs in sets of about fifteen.

After about fifty days, an egg hatches into a nymph with a nymph taking six to twelve months to become an adult. These rapid reproductive cycles mean that a small number of palmetto bugs can quickly turn into a much larger presence—exactly what you wouldn’t want in your Jacksonville home.

How to Kill These Pests

Seeing a palmetto bug can be enough to send some people into a panic attack. If they keep coming into your home despite your efforts to keep them at bay, you can easily sweep or vacuum them up and throw them out if you see one scurrying along the wall or baseboard. You can also put out bait traps, but make very sure you put them where children and pets cannot get to them.

Boric acid dust and tobacco juice may work against palmetto bugs, but must be applied carefully as they are also dangerous to humans and pets. Never use any toxins in areas where children or pets may find it. A safer alternative is to use a mix of vinegar and water — it may help kill the bugs but is safe for people and animals.

When to Call The Pest Control Professionals

If you frequently see palmetto bugs, it’s very likely that there are many, many more that you don’t see. To keep these abundant roaches under control, Turner Pest Control offers several flexible and affordable pest control plans. We treat entry points inside and protect your home outside.

When you contact us, you can count on the best people—trained professional technicians who arrive on time and treat each customer with respect—and the latest, safest, and most environmentally friendly products available today. Plus, we go beyond promising that you’ll be satisfied.

For fast results and long-term protection, contact us online today or call 800-225-5305.

Turner Pest Control Promotes Six Employees to Vice President Positions

Home / Turner Pest Control Promotes Six Employees to Vice President Positions

Jacksonville, FL, January 12, 2022 — Turner Pest Control, an Anticimex company providing comprehensive pest control services to residential and commercial clients in Florida and South Georgia, announced the promotion of six employees. Turner’s President, Paul Drewry, noted, “As Turner Pest Control’s unprecedented growth continues, we are pleased to announce the following promotions of six executives who will help lead us into the future.”

Brian Hawkins was promoted from Regional Director of Operations to Regional Vice President of Operations. He is responsible for managing all of Turner Pest Control’s operations south of Ormond Beach. As an owner of Bingham’s Professional Pest Management, which Turner Pest Control acquired in 2019, Mr. Hawkins brought a wealth of pest control industry knowledge and experience to his role at Turner as Regional Director.

Michael Litsey was promoted from Regional Director of Operations to Regional Vice President of Operations. Mr. Litsey joined Turner Pest Control in 2008 and worked as a technician in multiple divisions, including termite control, pre-treatment, residential and commercial pest control, and commercial sales. Over the last 14 years, his numerous achievements included managing the #1 Anticimex branch in the world. He was promoted to Regional Director in 2020 and, in his new position, oversees all operations for Northeast Florida.

Stacy McKinney was promoted from Director of Marketing to Vice President of Marketing. Joining Turner Pest Control in 2014 from the private equity firm that purchased the company in 2003, Ms. McKinney was instrumental in the company’s explosive, organic growth, consistently increasing lead generation by double digits year over year. She manages a $2.5 million marketing budget and is responsible for managing marketing strategies for 17 acquisitions to date. Ms. McKinney is also responsible for developing the company’s marketing strategies and campaigns to drive customer acquisition and retention through branding, digital and traditional lead generation, and customer loyalty programs.

Cheri Michaels was promoted from Director of Sales to Vice President of Sales. Since joining Turner Pest Control in 2020, she has managed the rollout of the company’s innovative residential SMART digital pest control program and managed the integration of 13 sales teams through mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining the company, Ms. Michaels’ career included more than 25 years of business operations and leadership experience, most recently as Comcast’s Regional Manager of Commercial Development.

Angela Nelson was promoted from Director of Human Resources to Vice President of Human Resources. She focuses on supporting rapid company growth with mergers and acquisitions by creating plans to support the business transformation. Ms. Nelson is responsible for developing and ensuring effective implementation of plans, policies, and processes for workforce planning, talent acquisition, talent management and development, employee engagement, legal compliance, employee relations, and compensation and benefits.

Ginny Zuckero was promoted from Director of IT to Vice President of IT and PMO. Prior to joining Turner Pest Control, she managed large, global projects for warehouse and store development for Walmart, assuming the role of Director of IT Store Operations over POS/Epay/Health and Wellness/Specialty teams globally. She also worked in the public sector, managing development and implementation projects across the city of Jacksonville and Duval county.

For more information about Turner Pest Control and its comprehensive pest control services for homes and businesses, please visit www.turnerpest.com.

About Turner Pest Control

Turner Pest Control was founded in 1971 and serves customers throughout Florida and South Georgia. The Anticimex company is a member of the National Pest Management Association and is Quality Pro-Certified, which is the highest mark of excellence recognized in the industry. Ranked among the top 100 pest control companies in the U.S., Turner provides pest control, termite prevention, lawn services, and bed bug elimination services, as well as its exclusive SMART TurnerGuard all-in-one pest, termite prevention and digital rodent control solution.

About Anticimex

The Swedish firm Anticimex is the fourth largest pest control company globally. Founded in 1934, Anticimex operates in 19 countries and has over 7,000 employees worldwide. In the United States Anticimex operates under a number of sub brands e.g Modern Pest Services – Brunswick ME, American Pest Management – Fulton MD, Viking Pest Control – Bridgewater NJ, Turner Pest Control- Jacksonville, FL, Killingsworth Environmental- Charlotte, NC, JP McHale – Buchanan, NY, Waynes Environmental Services – Birmingham, AL, EnviroPest – Windsor, CO, Northwest Exterminating – Tuscon, AZ, Pro Pacific Pest Control – San Diego, CA and Pestban – Woodstock, GA, Official Pest Prevention – Elk Grove, CA.

For additional information, please contact: Stacy McKinney, Vice President of Marketing, Turner Pest Control, 904-355-5300, smckinney@turnerpest.com, https://www.turnerpest.com/

Guide to Bark Lice

Home / Guide to Bark Lice

Bark lice are insects, but they aren’t a form of lice. The formal name of this critter is Psocoptera with these small, shiny, long-antennae, brown insects found on trees with smooth bark and, occasionally on hardwood ones. They can also be found on some shrubs. You may also hear this bug referred to as “tree cattle” or “bark cattle.”

If you spot a cluster of them on your trees, you may at first think they’re aphids. They resemble them in appearance. Fortunately, they don’t attack plants the way that aphids do. Instead, they eat dead plant tissue off of trees in a beneficial way, removing algae, mold, and fungi. They don’t spread diseases to people or pets.

One problem associated with outdoor bark lice is that they create webbing each year that detracts from the appearance of your trees and shrubs. (At the end of a season, the bugs remove the webs.)

Another problem arises when the bark lice get into your home where they can contaminate your food and damage books—and this is the time of year when more people may find them indoors. Why? Because they can travel inside on Christmas trees and other holiday greenery that came from trees and shrubs. Then, as temperatures warm up, they get more active and start to seek food.

Controlling Bark Lice

Outdoors, if the webs on your trees and shrubs are unattractive and bothersome to you, you can spray the area with water. It may take only one application or the insects may return and the process may take a few rounds.

When it’s time to pick a holiday tree or bring other outdoor greenery inside, inspect everything closely, perhaps using a good flashlight. Most outdoor trees will have a few bugs but, if you see too many of them, that’s a sign to pick a different tree. If your Christmas store vendor uses a mechanical shaker before giving you the tree, this will likely dislodge many bugs. Or, you can shake it yourself and do another inspection before bringing the tree indoors.

If the bark lice gets indoors, perhaps on holiday trees, the most important early step is to prevent them from accessing food in your house. Without food, the bugs can quickly die off.

This insect, unfortunately, isn’t picky about what they eat. They’ll chew on books, paper, fabric, glue, wallpaper, contact paper, mold, mildew, fungi—along with plant-based foods that people eat. In fact, they appreciate materials that go into making books so much that, when they get indoors, they’re sometimes referred to as “book lice.”

It can be challenging to keep them away from books and other cellulose-based materials that attract them, but here are a couple of strategies. Book lice often head to damp locations, such as basements, because mold and mildew can grow more easily there. So, avoid storing old books in damp places in your home. These insects can spot mold that’s still microscopic in size; so, don’t rely upon your eyes or nose to determine if a box of old books has begun to mildew.

Dispose of items that have started to mildew and use a dehumidifier in parts of your home where dampness needs to be controlled. You can also clean areas with borax and enzymes to help ensure that mold and mildew don’t have a chance to take hold.

Next up: keep the bugs out of your food supplies.Strategies include to store pantry food in airtight containers. Once you’ve opened, say, a box of cereal, transfer the contents into a glass, plastic, or metal container with a lid that will make it easy to pour the food. Clean up crumbs and wipe up spills as soon as possible, including on countertops and stovetops, and on the floor. Wash dishes promptly and put pets’ food bowls away after they’ve eaten.

Bark Lice Infestation

Once they get inside, as long as they have access to food and water and can find the damp conditions they appreciate, they’ll keep reproducing. Eggs hatch about two to four weeks after being laid and the young insects will become adults themselves in a couple of months. One single mature female lays about 50 to 100 eggs, overall.

You may also notice a cluster of these shiny bugs on the outside of your home. They’ll settle into stucco, board siding, brick and more and tunnel beneath aluminum or vinyl siding. From there, they can eat fungi, mold, mildew and more on door frames, window sills, outdoor lighting fixtures and so forth. Once a few bark lice begin to feed in these places, others will likely join them.

Identifying Bark Lice

As mentioned before, they can resemble aphids and it can be hard to tell them apart. Trained technicians at Turner Pest Control, though, can determine the species of the bug on your trees, and outside and inside of your home. If identified as bark lice—and if the preventative measures we’ve described in this post didn’t get rid of them, pronto—we can create a customized professional solution to to address your specific problem.

Turner Pest Control

For more than 50 years, our professional pest control team has innovatively served our customers, providing unsurpassed service through the use of the latest and safest products—including the most environmentally friendly products on the market today. Turner Pest Control now has 15 branches serving people and families in Florida.

We’re one of the fastest-growing companies in our region, ranked in the Top 100 pest control companies in the United States. So, when you have problems with bark lice or other indoor or outdoor pests, we invite you to contact us online or to call us at 800-225-5305.

You can always count on prompt arrival times by technicians with a professional appearance and attitude. They’ll provide a thorough home inspection and then recommend a targeted treatment plan, explaining plan specifics—and then they’ll provide unrivaled, respectful customer service from start to finish.

Turner Pest Control, an Anticimex Company, Acquires Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control

Home / Turner Pest Control, an Anticimex Company, Acquires Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control

Turner Pest Control Expands Services in Central Florida

Jacksonville, FL, December 20, 2021 — Turner Pest Control, an Anticimex company providing comprehensive pest control services to residential and commercial clients in Florida, has acquired Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control. This marks Turner Pest Control’s third acquisition in Central Florida and its 10th this year.

Owned by Bob and Elizabeth Welch, Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control has provided termite, pest control, lawn care, irrigation, and wildlife control services since 1995. The Orlando company is known for its white glove pest control services, which deliver premium service to every residential and commercial customer. President Bob Welch notes that joining with Turner “ensures our standard of excellence will continue far into the future. With our 25 years and Turner’s 50 years in the industry—and the exceptional growth of both companies—we’re confident that our customers have much to look forward to when it comes to innovations that make their lives and our communities safer and better.”

Turner Pest Control President Paul Drewry agrees, saying “The founders and team at Pro-Staff are clearly dedicated to remaining at the forefront of the pest control industry. They have the kind of vision that’s required to achieve one of the highest growth rates in the pest control business. In addition, the company’s referrals from existing customers and high customer retention rates are a great testament to Pro-Staff’s top-quality people, products, and methods.”

For more information about Turner Pest Control and its comprehensive pest control services for homes and businesses, please visit www.turnerpest.com.

About Turner Pest Control

Turner Pest Control was founded in 1971 and serves customers throughout Florida. The Anticimex company is a member of the National Pest Management Association and is Quality Pro-Certified, which is the highest mark of excellence recognized in the industry. Ranked among the top 100 pest control companies in the U.S., Turner provides pest control, termite prevention, lawn services, and bed bug elimination services, as well as its exclusive TurnerGuard all-in-one pest and termite prevention solution.

For additional information, please contact: Stacy McKinney, Director of Marketing, Turner Pest Control, 904-355-5300, smckinney@turnerpest.com, http://www.turnerpest.com

Turner Pest Control, an Anticimex Company, Acquires Impact Pest Elimination

Home / Turner Pest Control, an Anticimex Company, Acquires Impact Pest Elimination

Turner Pest Control Expands Services in Southwest Florida

Jacksonville, FL, December 14, 2021 — Turner Pest Control, an Anticimex company providing comprehensive pest control services to residential and commercial clients in Florida, has acquired Impact Pest Elimination. With offices in Sarasota, Tampa and Tarpon Springs, the company serves customers in five counties. This acquisition is Turner Pest Control’s sixth in the Southwest Florida area and its ninth in 2021.

Impact Pest Elimination has been locally owned and operated by founders Frank and Cynthia Miller for more than 36 years. Turner Pest Control President Paul Drewry points to the company’s focus on responsible pest control practices and its expertly trained technicians as just two of the areas in which Turner Pest Control and Impact Pest Elimination are closely aligned. According to Drewry, “An important part of our acquisition strategy is ensuring that customers on both sides of the equation will continue to receive the safest, most effective service available and that it’s provided by technicians who are among the most highly trained in the business. Frank and Cynthia have built an exceptional reputation for both.”

Impact Pest Elimination is a full-service pest control company that offers general household pest and rodent control, termite control and prevention, turf and ornamental care, and more. CEO Frank Miller notes that becoming part of Turner Pest Control is an opportunity to introduce new pest control solutions to the customers his company has served since 1985. “We’ve focused on innovation from the start, whether it’s our Integrated Pest Management methods or our safety standards,” Miller says. “Joining forces with Turner will allow our customers to benefit from the very latest pest control technologies on the market.”

Paul Giannamore and Franco Villanueva-Meyer of The Potomac Company represented and acted as exclusive financial advisors to Impact Pest Elimination in this transaction.

About Turner Pest Control

Turner Pest Control was founded in 1971 and serves customers throughout Florida. The Anticimex company is a member of the National Pest Management Association and is Quality Pro-Certified, which is the highest mark of excellence recognized in the industry. Ranked among the top 100 pest control companies in the U.S., Turner provides pest control, termite prevention, lawn services, and bed bug elimination services, as well as its exclusive TurnerGuard all-in-one pest and termite prevention solution.

For additional information, please contact: Stacy McKinney, Director of Marketing, Turner Pest Control, 904-355-5300, smckinney@turnerpest.com, http://www.turnerpest.com

Guide to Bed Bug Treatment and Prevention

Home / Guide to Bed Bug Treatment and Prevention

Before any of us were born, parents were already telling children to “Sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite.” Experts debate the history and meaning of this saying—yes, even at universities—but it’s the “sleep tight” portion that’s being discussed.

There’s no question what the “don’t let the bed bugs bite” part meant. Parents didn’t want the pests that hid in mattresses—ones often “stuffed with straw, shredded corn husks, or down feathers”—to harass their loved ones as they slumbered.

No matter when that saying originated, families today have that same wish—to protect everyone from bed bug bites. To help, we’ll share information about this pest along with prevention and treatment strategies that really work.

If you already know that you need bed bug treatment, just contact us online for your free inspection.

Scientific Bed Bug Overview

The bed bug (Cimex lectularius Linnaeus), the University of Florida notes, feeds off of the blood of people, as well as chickens and bats; on occasion, they’ll also feast on domesticated animal blood. You clearly don’t want them in your home—and prevention is infinitely preferable to needing to clear the house of this biting, blood-sucking pest.

Bed Bug Prevention Strategies

First, try to prevent bed bugs from getting into your house. They’ll travel inside in creative ways, including on boxes and bedding, luggage and briefcases—even shoes and clothing. Preventative tips include:

Thoroughly inspect second-hand purchases, especially mattresses and box springs, before bringing them inside. It can make sense to have them professionally inspected by a pest control expert first.
Encase your mattresses and box springs with a high quality protective cover. Inspect it regularly for tears or holes.
When you travel, consider putting your luggage inside of large plastic bags to keep the bed bugs out.
When you get home, keep the luggage in the bags in your garage. Wash clothes and linens in hot water and then put them directly into your dryer on a high heat setting.
When you bring the suitcases in, vacuum them and use a flashlight to inspect them for any bed bug presence.
Vacuum regularly and, when done, put the sweeper bag in a trash bag. Tie it up and put the bag into an outside garbage can.
Eliminate stacks of newspapers or magazines, piles of old boxes, and so forth from your home. Bed bugs navigate towards clutter because they make perfect hiding spots.
Don’t place beds near a wall and don’t allow bedding to touch the floor.
Keep clothing off the floor and off the beds.
Seal up cracks or crevices where bed bugs could hide.

Following these procedures can make a big difference, helping you to keep bed bugs out. It’s virtually impossible to foolproof a home in this way, though, since the bugs are quite small and very crafty. So, as part of your bed bug control strategies, regularly inspect for them.

Bed Bug Inspections

Check your mattress regularly because this is where you’ll find bed bugs most often. When you remove your bedsheets for washing, check them for blood spots, which may be dark colored. Then, inspect the four corners of your mattress and box springs for any signs of the critters. Also look along the seams, edging, and other parts of the mattress and box springs.

Check the headboards and bed joints along with night stands and other pieces of furniture near the beds (don’t forget picture frames). Inspect upholstered furniture, baseboards, and so forth where bed bugs might find a place to hide. When doing your inspection, also look at pet bedding.

Because bed bugs hide so well, consider having annual bed bug inspections conducted by professionals.

Bed Bug Problems

If you suspect or know that you have an infestation, this isn’t a new problem and you’re not alone. In the Paisley Caves in Oregon, archaeologists found evidence that could indicate human occupation from as far back as 14,300 years ago. Those caves also contain bones from ancient horses, camels, and more—and three different species of bed bugs that date between 5,100 and 11,000 years ago.

These species would have fed on bat blood and, at some point, when humans lived in caves with infected bats, two different kinds of bed bugs—the Cimex lectularius and the Cimex hemipterus—began to feast on human blood. By the time that people were immigrating to the Americas by ship, bed bugs were such a big problem that some ship captains may have forbidden passengers from bringing along bedding materials.

By the early twentieth century, bed bugs were a significant challenge in the United States. Then, when an Austrian scientist developed a chemical compound called dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), the bed bug problem was solved. Or, at least for a little while, until people realized how harmful DDT was to the environment.

A bed bug resurgence began about twenty years ago in part because DDT no longer suppressed their population and in part because other insecticides just didn’t seem as effective. Other reasons included how people traveled between states and countries, sometimes bringing more bed bugs with them. Plus, as people enjoyed antique shopping and thrift shop buying, the risk of taking bed bugs home increased.

Finally, because plenty of people were born in the decades when this insect wasn’t a problem, they may not recognize a bed bug when they see one.

Identifying Bed Bugs

These are small insects, brown, flat, and oval. Adult ones are about the size of an apple seed or Lincoln’s head on a penny. When this bug is immature (in the nymph stage), they’re even smaller. After they feed, their bodies become more swollen and take on a reddish hue.

Because of their size and because they’re usually more active during the night, you may struggle to spot the pest. What you may see, instead, are signs of their presence. If you have itchy bites, whether in a row or in a more random pattern, these could be bed bug bites—especially if they appear on areas of the skin that’s exposed while you sleep. People typically don’t wake up while being bitten because this bug’s saliva contains an anesthetic.

These bites can become infected. If that happens, then you will likely need to seek medical help.

Other infestation signs include spots on sheets or pillowcases. These can be blood stains or bed bug feces. You may also see shed skin or egg shells—or notice an unpleasant musty odor.

If you suspect a bed bug presence, then it’s important to be proactive in addressing the infestation. Although bed bugs may not reproduce as quickly as some pests, each adult female lays, on average, an egg per day. That sounds small. But an infestation will include more than one female and it only takes an egg ten days to hatch and about five to six weeks to mature into a reproducing insect themselves.

Bed bugs, at a minimum, can last for months without a meal (so starving them isn’t the solution). In some weather conditions, they can even last a year without food.

Looking to the Future

In 2016, Science Daily shared research from thirty-six different institutions that originally appeared in a journal (Nature Communications). This research shows that, someday, we may be able to permanently get rid of the bed bug problem. The scientists focused on insect genome sequencing—in other words, a roadmap of this bug species’ DNA and how it’s ordered—and it revealed how this pest has unique biology. More specifically, there are 805 possible examples of when past DNA issues had been repaired by using genetic material from bacteria. The researchers had already confirmed the specifics of six of these bacterial repairs by 2016.

Someday, this genetic information found in bedbugs may actually help us to understand how to stop them from biting people. How? It may help scientists to discover what bacteria the bedbugs need to continue to survive—and then we could deprive them. Plus, this report suggests that scientists can determine where a bed bug has been, where they can go, and what blocks them.

Now here’s what we can do right now to rid your home of this pest.

Bed Bug Treatments

When you’ve got an infestation, contact Turner Pest Control. Premier hotels, medical facilities, offices, and more count on us to keep their buildings bed-bug free—and we bring the same expertise when we’re providing residential bed bug treatments.

Although some people may believe that bed bugs only settle in unhygienic conditions, they aren’t picky. They are just as happy in clean houses because they don’t feed on decomposing material or any other form of dirt. They feed on blood.

This insect can find carbon dioxide, which is what humans breathe out, and respond to the moisture and heat of their food source. So, they can be found in even the most well kept homes.

When you contact Turner Pest Control, here’s our process:

We’ll thoroughly inspect your home to confirm the presence of bed bugs (rather than, say, ticks or fleas) and discover where they’re hiding out: mattresses, box springs, bed frames, furniture joints, outlet covers, baseboards, and more.
Our experts will make customized recommendations for your specific situation.
For your convenience, we’ll provide fast service, in and out of your home within four hours, so that you and your family won’t need to stay out for long.

We offer two types of bed bug treatments and our trained technicians will explain how each of them works and how they will rid your home of this unwanted pest. Plus, we offer a comprehensive prevention plan.

Heat Bed Bug Treatments

Thermal Remediation® will kill bed bugs throughout their lifecycle in just one treatment. Using high heat, there is no chemical fumigation involved. This means that you don’t have to worry about any toxins being left behind, and you, your family, and your pets can return as soon as this bed bug treatment is complete. Using heat allows us to penetrate the tiniest cracks and crevices.

Chemical Bed Bug Treatments

With this approach, after our experts confirm where the pests are hiding in your home, we’ll use a combination of the latest insecticide dust and residual contact treatments. After the initial application of this thorough and effective bed bug treatment, we’ll provide two follow up visits: one a week after and, the second, the week after that.

SMART TurnerGuard Termite and Pest Control

With the SMART TurnerGuard Termite and Pest Control plan, you’ll receive all-in-one pest protection. As part of that, you’ll benefit from bed bug control and, as needed, extermination services.

Choose Turner Pest Control for Your Bed Bug Treatments

In 2021, we marked 50 years in business, which is half a century of growth, service, and innovation. Our fifteen branches serve customers throughout Florida—more than 60,000 of them. Turner Pest Control is one of the fastest growing companies in Florida and we rank in the country’s top 100 pest control companies.

When you need bed bug treatments or another kind of pest control, you can rely upon our professional services that are personally delivered with promptness, respect, and courtesy. Our trained technicians must pass stringent background checks before they work for us.

Turner Pest Control offers affordable programs to fit your budget along with eco-friendly products. Plus, when you choose us for your pest control, there are never any contract cancellation fees.

In addition, Turner Pest Control received the QualityPro Certification designation, something that fewer than three percent of the pest control providers in the United States can say. Awarded by the National Pest Management Association, this means that you’re receiving services from a time-tested company that has proved its excellence.

This certification symbolizes our commitment to protecting our customers, people, and environment with the QualityPro designation built on the principles of Business Operations, Environmental Stewardship, Consumer Relations, and Technician Training.

To get started with your bed bug treatments and other services, please contact us online or call 800-225-5305.