July month

Spiders

Just like all spiders, the species that live in our homes have eight legs. Their bodies are divided in two parts: the cephalothorax (the head and thorax together) and the abdomen. They never have wings. Their shapes, sizes, and colours vary.

Development and Behaviours

Female spiders usually lay their eggs in a bag woven with silk threads. They deposit the bag in a sheltered place or keep it with them. They hibernate, no matter what stage they are at in their life cycle. The eggs usually hatch a few weeks after they are laid. The young who hatch already look like adults. They do not undergo metamorphosis but will molt a few times before reaching their adult size. While most spiders come from the outside, a few species have a tendency to make their home inside our homes. They feed on insects that they hunt or that they capture in their webs. They also have silk-producing organs that spin webs used to build nests, capture prey or build cocoons that protect the eggs. Spiders may have up to eight eyes, but, interestingly enough, most of them are myopic. Most spiders are nocturnal and timid, and they prefer fleeing to confrontation.

Prevention

It is recommended that you limit evening exterior lighting a minimum, and that you keep light away from doors and windows, both before and after treatment. Light attracts insects which, in turn, attract spiders.

Recommendations

Using a broom or vacuum cleaner, frequently clean baseboard heaters and corners of rooms to eliminate any food debris.

Outside, yellow electric lights don't attract as many insects and, consequently, not as many spiders near the house.

Pavement ants

Pavement ants are small, and as their name states, make their nests under pavement. Their nests may be easily recognized by the small mounds of sand found on the ground in pavement cracks or in the grass. They are very active at the end of the spring and in early summer. Pavement ants range in colour from light brown to black with an appendage that is lighter than the rest of the body. They are 2.5 mm to 3 mm long and are slender with bent antennae. They also have parallel lines on their head and thorax.

Development and Behaviours

Ants are social insects that live in colonies and their favourite food is aphid honeydew. They also feed on live or dead insects, flower nectar and any sweet organic matter within their reach. They make their nest in sandy soil in lawns and other surfaces. The exterior of ant nests are visible as several small mounds with little openings. They get inside buildings through cracks in the building’s foundations, often after heavy rain.

Recommendations

If ants are present near your house, have the visible nests on your property treated. By excavating the sand under paving stones, ants end up creating uneven areas under the stones. They often try to enter buildings looking for water and food, causing problems that can require intervention by a pest management technician. Most of the time, ant colonies can be eradicated by an outside treatment consisting of the safe application of a long-lasting insecticide against these invading visitors. Contact us to obtain a free estimate.

Wasps

Wasps are also known as “yellow jackets” or “hornets” and are between 10 mm and 25 mm in length. They are easy to recognize with their black abdomens with yellow or white rings. These are social insects who live in colonies with one or many queens, workers, and males.

Development and Behaviours

When wasps build their nests near homes, or even in the house’s foundations, they can be a danger for both humans and pets. If they are disturbed, they will not hesitate to use their stingers in order to defend their hives. Getting stung by a wasp is quite painful. In addition, it is estimated that approximately 17 % of the population risk having an allergic reaction that can even cause anaphylactic shock.

Recommendations

When a wasp nest is visible, keep people and animals away from it before destroying it. Spray directly into the opening of the nest. It is recommended that this work be done when the sun has set, to prevent the presence of wasps still flying outside the nest. It is not recommended to knock the hive down by spraying water, because this causes the wasps to be more aggressive and to stay nearby. They may even attempt to repair their hive. In certain cases, the nest may not be visible or be inaccessible if it is established within the building structure or up high. In all cases, our technicians have the expertise and know-how to get permanently rid of a wasp infestation.

Houseflies

Houseflies are the most common variety, in both urban and rural areas.  They vary in size from 4 mm to 7.5 mm. These flies are a problem since they are knowns to be vectors for the transmission of a multitude of pathogens, such as salmonella, E. coli, certain streptococci, dysentery and several parasite worms.

One housefly can lay from 350 to 900 eggs over its life cycle. These eggs hatch between 8 and 20 hours after they are laid, depending on the temperature. They reach maturity in three to seven days. Larvae can migrate long distances to find a suitable place to transform into pupas. In certain cases, they can cover several dozen metres. As a result, the presence of larvae in a specific location does not necessarily mean it is the location of the main infestation. That is why an in-depth inspection of the building is needed.

Our technicians are trained and capable of giving you answers and solutions if you are experiencing a fly infestation. Contact us now for an estimate!