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Frequently Asked Questions Bees | Termites | Carpenter Ants | Wildlife | Birds Q. I have bees on the outside of my home. What do I do? A. First, don't panic. Think of when you first noticed them there. EX. 1 month ago...6 months. Then call us for the best course of action that will need to be taken. Q. Bees seem to be coming out of my roofline. What do I do? A. Bees will only install their nests in void areas that have no insulation. Bees need a void in order to build a hive and have secured darkness....bees hate light. Q. Every morning I wake up and find dead bees on my porch. Should I be concerned? A. Yes and No. Somewhere around your or your neighbor's home is a hive. It could be in a tree, a water meter or in the eave of someone's home. Make a quick inspection around your home, trying to determine where the hive is located. If you can not determine where the bees are coming from, call us for assistance. Q. I have bees that are located in the trunk of my tree. Can you get rid of the bees without harming the tree? A. Certainly. We at All-Time Pest Control have designed a method of extraction without harming trees or other ornamental landscaping. Q. Once you remove the bees, what can be done to prevent them from returning? A. We at All-Time Pest Control have industry proven methods of preventing bees from returning to the infected area after removal. These measures must be performed within 7 - 10 days after extraction. If these measures are not taken bees will most certainly return. We encourage homeowners to seal up all access points around their home to exclude the bees from these areas. These areas include around dryer vents, cracks around windows and doors etc. Q. We have seen a lot of black looking ants that are swarming to the windows and loosing their wings. Are these really ants? A. No. You have just encountered a swarm of reproductive termites....called swarmers. Q. After seeing swarmers, should I be alarmed? A. Not necessarily. You need to have a true termite professional to inspect your home to determine if you are truly having termites or ants. Both termites and ants, being social insects, have swarming characteristics. Q. How do I know that the termite inspection performed is being done properly? A. The first tool the inspector should use is a flashlight. If termites are found, he should be able to show you the difference between an ant and a termite. He should thoroughly inspect the exterior of your home, the attic and all plumbing areas to determine where the termites have point of entry. This should take roughly 30 - 45 minutes on a typical 2000 s.f. home. Q. I want to purchase a termite service. What steps should the inspector take upon issuing an estimate? A. The inspector should draw a treatment plan schematic of your home's floor plan which clearly outlines all areas where treatment is to be performed. Including trenching around the home, drilling around plumbing accesses or baiting methods. A warranty should be issued for a period of one year, with subsequent years offered with a renewable warranty. The inspector should supply you with their TPCL and SPCB licensing information, company contract, consumer information sheet, contract disclosure statement and a copy of the labels for the termiticides that will be used on your premises. Most reputable companies will give you 72 hours to allow you to choose which treatment plan is best for you. Q. Should I be rushed into buying a termite service simply because I have termites? A. Delaying a few weeks makes no difference. There is always time to purchase a service wisely and at your convenience. Termites work slowly, so your home will not collapse or be ruined overnight. Always obtain at least 3 estimates from reputable companies. This is one of the best ways to get an honest opinion about a termite control service. Q. The other day, I came home and discovered what appeared to be pencil shavings on my window sill. After cleaning it up, it was back again 3 days later. What kind of problem do I have? A. First determine if you have a window leak. Carpenter Ants are an excellent indicator of moisture problems. Carpenter Ants are social insects that live in colonies i.e. such as termites. Carpenter Ants excavate the wood to house a nest, whereas termites digest the wood as a food source. The difference between termites and ants is that ants have a constricted waist where termites have an elongated body that narrow in the middle. Termites have equal length wings and Carpenter Ant wings are unequal. Q. Knowing that I now have Carpenter Ants, how did they enter my house? A. An infestation occurs when all or part of a colony of ants enter from tree branches, utility line structures, cracks and crevices around windows. The most common method of entry is when ornamental bushes are in direct contact with the structure. Prevention is best achieved by replacing damp wood, ensuring proper clearance of trees and shrubs from the home and keeping all cracks and crevices around windows and doors sealed with caulk and putty, and ensuring all surfaces are well painted. Q. I have purchased chemicals from my local hardware store and have followed the directions precisely, but have seen no reduction in activity. Is it now time for me to call a professional pest control company? A. Yes. In order to properly treat Carpenter Ants, one must know the biology and habitat of said pests. All-Time Pest Control uses precision methods with low impact to resolve these problems with efficiency and accurate control measures. Q. We have been hearing noises in our attic. Sometimes at night and sometimes during the day. Do I have squirrels in my attic? A. Not necessarily. It is impossible to determine exactly what type of animal is in the attic simply by sound. We are trained professionals that locate the entry source and the habitat of certain animals to determine which animal may be present. Based upon our determination, we can competently formulate the best treatment method which includes exclusion and removal. Q. Every year I have Swallows that return to my house and build dirt nests under my foyer. What diseases do they carry and are they harmful to my family? A. Birds carry a variety of mites, parasites and their excrement can cause upper respiratory infections. It is advised that bird feeders be removed and their nests should be removed on an every 3 day term. Soon after, the birds will move on to another site. Bird fecal matter raises alarming health concerns among commercial buildings, residential dwellings and city parks. As much as we love watching birds and being close to nature, please keep in mind certain health risks associated with birds living in close proximity to humans. Bird removal has numerous way of eradication. Please call us for your Avid professional inspection. |
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