Bed bugs use pheromones and kairomones to communicate regarding nesting locations, feeding, and reproduction. Physical methods of controlling bed bugs include steam cleaning, vacuuming, heating, freezing, washing, and throwing out items. Bed bugs prefer to hide in cracks and crevices during the daytime and come out to feed on the host’s blood at night, usually while the host is sleeping. For public health reasons, individuals are encouraged to call a professional pest control service to eradicate bed bugs in a home, rather than attempting to do it themselves, particularly if they live in a multifamily building. Alexander’s will give you specific instructions to prepare for an inspection or treatment.

The Brown Recluse Spider tends to build webs in sheds, woodpiles, closets, garages, cellars, and in other areas where they won’t be bothered. However, they sometimes wander into the home. Places you might find a Brown Recluse in your home are shoes, inside dressers, in bed sheets of unused beds, in stacks or piles of clothing, inside gloves, behind baseboards, in toilets, and other sources of warmth when ambient temperatures are lower than usual. The spider usually bites only when pressed against the skin. The bite frequently is not felt initially and may not be immediately painful, but it can be serious. The Brown Recluse bears a potentially deadly hemotoxic venom. If you believe you have a Brown Recluse issue please call Alexander’s to schedule an inspection for an assessment on how we can get the situation under control.

The most common cockroaches in Ohio are the German and American Cockroach. Cockroaches used to be looked at as a pest linked to poverty and uncleanliness, however we are now finding many cases where homes that are well maintained have cockroach problems. In most cases, the pest has been transferred into the home through an item purchased in take-out or from a market. Cockroaches have actually been found to be a source of causing allergies in people. If you find any cockroaches or other pest related problems in your home, please give Alexander’s a call and we will get everything under control for you as soon as possible.

European hornets are social stinging insects. They build communal nests by chewing wood to make a papery pulp. Most species make exposed nests in trees and shrubs, but some build their nests underground. In Ohio the nest dies over the winter, with lone queens hibernating inside until the spring. Hornets are often considered pests, as they aggressively guard their nesting sites when threatened. This is particularly true for hornets nesting close to homes.

Mosquitoes cause many diseases like the Zika Virus, Malaria, Dengue, Yellow Fever, etc. Mosquitoes cause viral diseases and they can transmit diseases from one person to another. Due to this, over one million people worldwide die from mosquito-borne diseases every year. But there is relief! Alexander’s is equipped with granule blowers and ULV spray rigs to help keep the mosquito population at bay. In the summertime, Alexander’s regularly treats cities and townships for mosquito control. If you have a population problem with mosquitoes, contact one of our offices to learn more about control and how Alexander’s can help.

Norway rats are omnivorous and feed on a variety of food sources. If given the choice, they will consume meats, fruits, grains and nuts. Dead animals also serve as a food source for these rats, and they are capable of catching small fish and rodents. They require water to drink, and they make their colony as close to a water source as possible. Norway rats typically nest in underground burrows from which they enter buildings in search of food. They tend to remain in hiding during the day. The Norway Rat population grows very quickly, so it is better to target them before the rat population gets out of control by taking some preventive methods.

Yellow jackets are common stinging insects. In the fall season these wasps will begin nesting to prepare for hibernation and often times will find hollow areas in the siding of older homes to nest in. Most of the Yellow jackets that end up in a home are due to someone or something blocking the entrance/exit to their nest. If you find a yellow jacket nest in your home, please do not attempt to block the entrance to the nest; call Alexander’s Pest Control immediately for a quick and worry-free solution.