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Affordable Exterminator Services

Mid-Summer 2019: Bees/Wasps

Yellow Jackets, Paper Wasps, Bald-Faced Hornets & Mud-Dauber Wasps are all part of the “wasp” family. And they are BAD this year for the first time in many years. The mild Winter, combined with the early Spring & wet conditions this season have all contributed to this explosion in wasp activity. I started treating nests in late June. Normally I don't get calls until August. And I've already treated more nests this year than the last several years combined.

 Many people are allergic to bee/wasp stings & they should not attempt to treat any nests on their own.

Symptom: If you notice a steady stream of (what look like) bees constantly going in & out of a hole(s) on the outside of your home; they are probably Yellow Jackets. This is obvious evidence that you have a nest within the structure of your home. DO NOT attempt to spray into the hole with any store bought aerosol insecticides. And DO NOT plug up the hole that they are using. CALL A PROFESSIONAL! You are risking the possibility of forcing the yellow jackets inside your home if you try any of these ill-advised “do-it-yourself” techniques.

What we do: DSPM uses a special type of “non-repellant” material that is injected into these entry/exit holes that the bees/wasps are using. Because of it's non-repellant nature, the intruders will continue their normal activity after the treatment. Because the material also works relatively slowly, the insects will have plenty of opportunity to travel through the insecticide & take it into the nest, transferring it to the other workers & eventually to the queen. This process will only take a day or so & will wipe out the entire colony. As part of the service, DSPM will also inspect around the perimeter of the home for any other potential bee nests that the homeowner may not be aware of. If a ladder is required, the homeowner must provide one. The sprayer can reach up to 15 ft. high depending on the wind speed & conditions. Often times the nest can be accessed from a window or from a roof that is accessed through a window. So a ladder is not needed as often as you may think.

How much?: The base-rate price for treating a nest is $109 (+ 6% sales tax). For “after hours” emergency service, a $50 fee will be added. If there are multiple nests, the price may be a little more. For $149 ($40 more than base rate), DSPM may be able to do an entire exterior perimeter treatment. This includes treating along all eves of roofs, behind shutters, along bottom edge of siding, around window/door frames & any other potential nesting areas that we find during our service/inspection. This service can also be performed in the Spring as a preventive measure. The price is subjective to certain variables such as extensive ladder work, extra large houses, log homes, etc.

How soon can we get there?: Same day service is the goal, but is not always possible. But if it is an emergency, we'll do what we can. Normally, it can be taken care of within a day or two.

How long?: Bee/Wasp treatments generally take 15 - 20 minutes to complete.

Early Summer 2019: FLEAS

FLEAS are making a comeback & in a BIG WAY. For many years exterminators were rarely necessary to control fleas, due to the effectiveness of the "Frontline" & "Advantage" products available for use on pets. However, within the last year or so many flea populations have developed resistance to "fipronil", the primary active ingredient in most of these products. As a result, the local flea population has exploded.

PREVENTION: If you own pets, keeping them on the Frontline or Advantage products is still the best preventive method available. However, it is imperative that you are consistent with the application. The way fleas develop resistance is by being exposed to "micro-doses" of the poison; not enough to kill them. Over several life cycles, the offspring will gradually develop more & more resistance. Inconsistent application of these products is what allows the fleas to be exposed to these "micro-doses".

If you bring a new pet home, you should always give them a flea “dip” or shampoo treatment before they are brought into your home. This is one of the most common ways fleas are introduced into the home.

If you live in an area with a lot of trees, foliage and/or wildlife (rabbits, squirrels, etc.) around your home, you should apply insect repellant if you spend a lot of time outside gardening, etc..

TREATMENT: It is always best to have a professional exterminate for your flea problem. Retail foggers & sprays are only marginally effective & rarely will eliminate a heavy flea infestation. If I had a dime for every time someone told me they wished they had called me first, before wasting so much money on "store bought" sprays, I'd be a rich man.

FLEAS: DSPM (dspest.com) treats for fleas using a liquid residual insecticide mixed with an IGR ("Insect Growth Regulator"). We perform a fan spray application to all carpeted areas, hardwood floors w/cracks, some furniture & concrete floors (usually basements & garages) throughout the home. There is some preparation involved on the homeowner's part. Thoroughness in this preparation is crucial to the success of the initial treatment.

The average flea service takes approximately 1 - 1.5 hours to complete.

The base rate for a flea service is $160. This will cover most homes up to about 2000 sq. ft. The size of the home & the amount of carpeted areas in the home are the biggest factors in determining the final price. Outside treatment is usually not advised, but can be performed for an additional charge.

There is a "90 day, half price, re-application" warranty included with all flea services. Due to the life cycle of fleas, it is often necessary to allow up to 4 weeks for the initial service to achieve the desired result. However, if re-applications are requested, we will perform these at half price for up to 90 days from the initial visit. These are often necessary in situations where pets go outside & inside regularly in areas that are wooded & have wildlife ever present.