Inter-County Exterminators, Inc. and Victory Pest Control, Inc.

Termites.

Our Company specializes in Termite Control, in addition to extermination of pests. We not only provide termite control treatment, but we also give inspections, certificates for mortgage approvals, and structural repairs. Our inspectors and technicians are specifically certified in the "Termite" category, and therefore, you can be assured a thorough and excellent job. Our inspectors and technicians constantly attend workshops and seminars so that they can be informed of the most current mode of treatment and knowledge about the field. Additionally, our trained, certified experts will be able to answer all questions that you might contain. We have a customized service for each customer and offer the best termite protection made for who you are, how you live, and what you require. You will get the most advanced termite control technology available- a timely, effective treatment. Our company is one of the finest in this area, as no one can do a better job than us.

TERMITE is a common name for a soft-bodied social insect of the order "Isoptera." Termites are easily distinguished from ants by comparison of the base of the abdomen, which is broadly joined to the thorax in termites; in ants, there is only a slender connection (petiole) joining. Our technicians are specifically skilled to identify the termite since it can be at times difficult to identify the insect among other pests such as the "flying ant." Unless the termites are swarming, you might not realize the extent of the termite infestation. Additionally, swarming can usually be found in the Spring season and therefore, you may not realize that you are suffering from termite invasion at other times of the year. Our certified inspectors probe beyond the surface to see if the premises contain termites, as termites live in the soil under and around the building and termite tunnels or shelter tubes can often be seen on foundation walls, structural timbers in basements, crawl spaces, or in garages. Termites travel to and from the wooden portions of the structure (on which they feed) through mud tunnels they build. That way they can get to the food source they require without leaving the moisture (which they also require) of the soil.

Termites can be distinguished from other pests in numerous ways. Termites drop their wings to mate, whereas ants do not usually drop their wings. Therefore, you might find their wings on a windowsill or near another heat or light source. The wings are transparent, and all four of the wings are equal in size. In addition, termites have straight antennae and wings of the same lengths, whereas ants have elbow antennas and long and short wings. Finally, another difference is that termites have straight bodies, whereas flying ants have beaded bodies.

Anyone can get termites in the house and can receive massive damage due to these pests. Termites have been around since dinosaurs and more than a billion dollars are spent annually in repairing property damage caused by termites. Termites are active 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Termites can destroy the equivalent of a foot of 2 x 4 in just 118 days. Nothing made of cellulose is in danger as they can hollow out wooden beams, gut walls, and ruin floors and wallpaper. Termites have even been known to chew through vinyl, linoleum, pipe, and underground cables. When researched, it was found that termites do more structural damage annually than fires, floods, and storms combined. Because the worker termites that do the damage do not like to be exposed to light, they have developed ingenious ways of getting into buildings without being seen while they do their destructive work. Single colonies of termites have been known to have as many as one million members. Therefore, a proper treatment needs to be used in order to alleviate the problem.

Our company is budget-minded and offers the best treatment at the lowest cost possible. After issuing an inspection and determining that the premises do contain termites, a termite crew then comes to the premises to provide treatment. The crew will drill holes and inject a liquid termiticide around the premises. As the termites tunnel through treatment zones in search of food, they are exposed to the liquid termiticide. Not only is the termiticide ingested, but remains on their bodies as well. As a result, the population of the colony will diminish as the termites return back to the central location of the colony and has contact with the other termites. We fully guarantee all of our work and offer the option of partaking in a yearly warranty program. If you decide to take part in this yearly warranty program at a yearly cost, a certified inspector will go to your home and inspect the premises for a re-emergence of termites in any area throughout the house. Although rare, it is has been seen that termites can re-occur and in this way, an elimination of the problem can be reached before it gets out of control.

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Bedbugs.

The BEDBUG is any of the small, blood-sucking bugs of the family Cimicidae, which includes about 30 species distributed throughout the world. Bedbugs are flat-bodied, oval, reddish brown, and about 1/4 in. (6 mm) long when unfed. The upper surface of its body has a papery, crinkly, flimsy appearance. When engorged with blood, its body becomes elongated and swollen, as well as the bedbug changing from a brown color to dull red. The color, size, and shape change from an unfed to a full bug is remarkable. They emit an unpleasant-smelling oily secretion from two glands on their undersurface. Bedbugs may live for several weeks to several months without feeding, depending on temperature (favorable conditions are 70-90° F). In addition, maturation from egg to adult takes about two months in warm conditions; there may be three or four generations a year. According to recent research, bedbugs may be carriers of Hepatitis B!

The common human bedbug of temperate regions, Cimex lectularis, is largely nocturnal, spending the day in crevices in walls and furniture and in bedding. Bedbugs often hide in bedding during the day and feed on the bed's occupants at night. Maturation from egg to adult takes about two months in warm conditions; there may be three or four generation a year. They will also lay eggs on clothing, particularly garments that are not clean. Bedbug eggs are white and about 1/3-inch long. Under favorable conditions, the female bedbug will lay about 200 eggs at the rate of 3-4 per a day. Eggs have a sticky coating and stick to objects. Additionally, a bedbug goes through five molts (shedding of skin) before it reaches maturity. Depending on environmental factors and availability of food, there can be considerable variation in developmental rate

While bedbugs feed primarily on humans, they also feed on other mammals, poultry and other birds. They are spread mainly by clothing and baggage of travelers and visitors, secondhand beds, bedding materials, furniture, laundry, and even moving company blankets. Nesting birds, rodents, squirrels, and poultry can also be carriers of the bedbug. Heavily used hiding places are evident by black or brown spots of dried blood excrement on the surfaces where the bugs rest, such as your bed. Eggs, egg shells, and cast skins may be found near these places. Usually an offensive sickly sweet odor can be found where bedbugs are numerous. You may see 1 or 100 at a time.

Bedbugs will feed on other mammals and poultry when humans are not available and can live up to a year without feeding. In fact, it only takes about 3-5 minutes to take a full meal. Its bite causes irritation in many individuals, and has been found to be carriers of Hepatitis B. Bedbugs normally feed at night, but if they are hungry and in dim lighting, they may feed during the day. A bedbug generally pierces the skin of humans as they sleep and injects a fluid into the human skin to aid in obtaining blood. Often this fluid causes a welt on the skin that becomes irritated, inflamed, and itchy. After becoming engorged, the bedbug crawls into hiding, remaining there for several days to digest its meal. When hunger returns, the cycle then repeats itself.

Bedbugs have become a problem in recent years as there has been an increase in traveling. Even though the bedbug infestations were common in the United States before WWII, improvements in hygiene and widespread use of DDT during the 1940s and 50s, have caused a great amount of the pest disappearing. Yet, the pests remained prevalent in other regions of the world including Asia, Africa, Central/South America, and Europe. In recent years, bedbugs have made a comeback in the United States, partly because of the increase in international travel. Additionally, changes in modern pest control practice and less effective bedbug pesticides have also been suspected for the recurrence.

However, through proper treatment, bedbugs can be eliminated. Control methods include using contact and residual sprays with the addition of an insect growth regulator. However, even though we perform this treatment, it is the responsibility of the customer to thoroughly inspect, vacuum, and laundry their bedding and clothing before the technician arrives to perform the necessary treatment. A bedbug treatment is extremely labor intensive, as it can take up to several hours to treat a home. Even after treatment, it is possible to get these pests again by carrying them in on you just like before because they are attracted to warmth and carbon dioxide. Unless you are very lucky and the problem is just starting, it is not possible to eliminate or contain bedbugs. The best bet is to call a professional, such as our company, who carefully and professionally handles these pests on a daily basis.

Eliminating bedbugs from mattresses and box springs is challenging. If there are holes or tears in the fabric, the pests and eggs may be inside and outside. For these reasons, pest control firms often recommend that infested beds be discarded. If disposal isn't an option, encasing the mattress and box spring will be helpful if bugs are still present. Some pest control firms treat seams, tufts, and crevices of bed components, but they will not spray the mattress surface, bed sheets, blankets, or clothing. Vacuuming will further help to remove bugs and eggs from mattresses and box springs that cannot be discarded. Yet, the pests and eggs that are hidden inside cannot be killed in this way. Therefore, in order to eliminate these pests is a multi-step process. People should not only vacuum and then dispose the contents in a sealed trash bag, but contact pest control professionals so that a variety of low-odor sprays , dusts, and aerosols can be used. Application entails treating all cracks and crevices where the bugs are discovered, or tend to hide.

Avoiding bedbug infestation is challenging, especially in hotels, motels and apartments because occupants and their belongings are constantly changing. This affords many opportunities for the bugs to be introduced. At a minimum, items such as bedding and furniture should be examined closely before being brought into the home. When traveling in countries where bedbugs are prevalent, it might be wise to examine the bed and headboard area for signs of bedbugs. Although the incidence of bedbugs in the United States is increasing, they remain rare in comparison to most other pests. Familiarity may help to avoid infestation or at least bring about treatment earlier.

All technicians are certified and trained specifically in the treatment of bedbugs. We have continuous training on the newest and best methods to solve bedbug infestation. As we have been family -owned since 1945, we care about each individual customer. Contact us to help eliminate the bedbug infestation.

WHERE BEDBUGS HIDE

Bedbugs can be anywhere that there is a crack and crevice, but they do prefer warmth. Some places that you can find bedbugs include: Mattresses, Box Springs, Behind Door and Window Frames, Woodwork or Baseboards, Wall Sockets, Old Books and Papers, Behind Wallpaper, Clothing, Dresser Drawers, Behind Curtains and Drapes, Crevices or Corners of Floors or Walls, Upholstered Furniture, Beds, Behind Pictures, Covers, and Bedspreads.

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Roaches.

Cockroaches, which are insects of the order "Blattodea," contain roughly 3,500 species in 6 families. Cockroaches exist worldwide, with the exception of the Polar Regions and in elevations above 2,000 m (6,500 ft). Among the most well-known species are the American cockroach, which is about 3 cm long, and the German cockroach, which are about 1.5 cm long, and Tropical cockroaches, which are often much bigger. When infesting buildings, cockroaches are considered pests. Cockroaches are most common in tropical and subtropical climates. Some species are in close association with human dwellings and widely found around garbage or in the kitchen.

Except for the wood eating "Cryptocercus" species found in China and the United States, cockroaches are generally either scavengers or omnivores; they will eat virtually anything that humans will. Although they are incapable of digesting the cellulose themselves, they have a symbiotic relationship with a protozoan that digests the cellulose, allowing them to extract the nutrients. As a result, they are similar to termites.

Female cockroaches are sometimes seen carrying egg cases on the end of their abdomen, which are then hatched from the combined pressure of the hatchlings gulping air. Development from eggs to adults takes 3-4 months, and can live up to a year. Initially, they are bright white workers, and then continue to inflate themselves with air and harden and darken within about four hours. This transient white stage while hatching and later while molting has led to many individuals claiming to have seen albino cockroaches. A regular cockroach can produce an extremely high number of eggs in her lifetime. She lays up to 100 eggs in each egg sac. She only needs to be impregnated once to be able to lay eggs for the rest of her life, allowing one single cockroach to lay over a million eggs in her lifetime.

The cockroach thrives in warm, damp environments, such as sewers, steam tunnels, basements, crawl spaces, and boiler rooms. Cockroaches are mainly nocturnal, and will run away when exposed to light. A peculiar exception is the "Oriental cockroach," which is attracted to light, thus making it a far more annoying pest. Roaches are called "the custodians of nature." They live in houses where there are crumbs to eat or the garbage can is uncovered. They lay eggs inside the house's hollow walls.

The roach is also one of the hardiest insects on the planet, capable of living for a month without food and remaining alive headless for up to a week. It can also hold its breath for 45 minutes and has the ability to slow down its heart rate. Cockroaches also have a very high resistance to radiation.

New research being conducted at the University of Florida shows that cockroaches leave chemical trails in their feces. Other cockroaches will follow these trails to discover sources of food, water, and where other cockroaches are hiding. Additionally, cockroaches adapt readily to a variety of environments, and prefer warm conditions such as found within buildings. Preventative measures include keeping all food stored away in sealed containers, using garbage cans with a tight lid, frequent cleaning in the kitchen, and regular vacuuming. Any water leaks, such as dripping faucets, should also be repaired. It is also helpful to seal off any entry points, such as holes around baseboards, pipes, doors, and windows. Once a cockroach infestation occurs, chemical controls may help alleviate the problem. Bait stations, gels containing hydramethylnon, as well as boric acid powder, are toxic to cockroaches. The key to control is to find and treat these sources directly. In many cases, the services of a professional company, such as our company, are required to achieve long-term relief.

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Rodents.

Rodents are members of the mammalian order "Rodentia," and are characterized by front teeth adapted for gnawing and cheek teeth adapted for chewing. Rodents have enlarged, chisel-shaped upper and lower front incisors that grow throughout their lives. There is a gap between the front and cheek teeth. Additionally, the cheeks are drawn in behind the incisors when the animal is gnawing, so that bits of hard material cannot be swallowed. They are variously adapted for running, jumping, climbing, burrowing, swimming, and gliding. Many of them have dexterous forepaws, which they use as hands while sitting on their haunches in a position characteristic of many rodents. The great majority are under a few inches in length; the largest, the "capybara," is about 4 ft (120 cm) long and 20 in. (50 cm) high at the shoulder.

Nearly half of all mammal species are rodents, and are found in almost every terrestrial and freshwater habitat worldwide. There are approximately 4,000 rodent species, which are divided on the basis of their anatomy into three well-defined groups, or suborders, and more than 30 families. Mice are prevalent than rats, as rats are seldom a problem in homes except in urban and rural areas. This is due in large part to their size, since rats need a hole about the size of a dime in order to gain entry into a building. Rats however, may find harborage in many areas around the home - especially in stacked firewood, stones and bricks, and piles of leaves or other debris. Outside, rats live in fields, wooded areas, vacant lots, farms, and just about anywhere people have buildings.

The "House" mouse is usually gray, but may appear darker. Mice are more numerous than rats and are more widespread throughout urban and suburban communities. A mouse can be distinguished from a young rat since the rat's head and feet will be overly large in relation to its body.

Few people want these rodents in their house. Rodents live everywhere outside and could enter at any time, but fortunately, this does not occur often. Mice are found in almost every part of the country from urban to rural areas, and are especially prevalent in urban and suburban communities. Mice are found in buildings more often than rats because they are smaller and are able to find more available entryways into a building. Mice can fit through a crack or hole 1/4 of an inch or larger - or about the width of a pencil. Mice will make their nests in many areas in and around the home, especially in stacked firewood, stones and bricks, and piles of leaves or other debris. Usually, most home invasions occur in the fall, not because of cooler weather, but because the seeds and plants on which rodents feed outside are gone. Rats and mice must then seek new food sources. Unfortunately, one of these sources may be your home. Mice are excellent climbers and are capable of gaining entry through holes around vents and around cables entering the building, through holes in gable vent screens, and through turbine and box vents on roofs. Most garage doors on homes allow enough space for mice to fit underneath, as well.

The best way to avoid invasions of mice is to (1) provide as little harborage as possible that might attract rodents, and (2) seal as many holes and cracks in the outside of the home through which mice might enter. Follow these recommendations to help prevent rodents from seeking the shelter provided by your home:

• Keep firewood stored as far from the home as possible, and store it off the ground. During the winter, store only enough wood next to the house to burn every couple of days.

• If possible, remove any piles of debris, stones, bricks, etc. If these are near the foundation of the home they serve as harborages to attract rodents. Once there, it is any easy step for rodents to enter the building itself.

• Do not allow piles of leaves to accumulate next to the home's foundation. This also serves as attractive harborage for rodents - mice in particular.

• Seal any hole or crack larger than 1/4 of an inch. A good rule of thumb is that if a pencil can fit into it, a mouse could too. Large holes or cracks should be stuffed with steel wool or wire mesh before sealing with caulk or foam, otherwise rodents could chew through to enter.

• Install good, thick weather-strip on the bottom of all doors to prevent rodents from entering. The garage door may prove difficult to seal completely, so the door from the garage to the house must be sealed tightly.

• The installation of one or two wind-up mouse traps in the garage can catch many mice as they enter. These traps can catch up to 15 mice with one setting.

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