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The scary thing about bed bugs is that you can pick them up almost anywhere. Just think, you run the risk of encountering the little guys at a hotel, your office, the gym, or even a store. Bed bugs are quite good at hiding and like to hitch rides in your personal belongings when given the chance. Being unaware of their presence is the root of the issue because once they are in your home, they can be a real hassle to get rid of…unless you have help from Absolut Pest Control, of course! Now, you might be thinking that, because it’s winter, you don’t have to worry about bed bugs but you’d be wrong. As long as they have a blood host, they can continue to thrive in colder temperatures. Their bites can vary in severity as well, depending on how you react to them. Check out a few of our recommendations for preventing bed bugs in your home. Don’t forget, these critters can lay up to five eggs a day!

• Don’t Fret!

While it can be hard to rid yourself of bed bugs, it’s not impossible. Don’t fly into a mad rush to throw all bed sheets and blankets away, as most of those items can be saved through treatment. Not to mention throwing out items can get incredibly expensive. Also, by throwing out your contaminated linens, your increasing the chance of spreading bed bugs to someone else.

• Be Sure You’re Actually Dealing with Bed Bugs

People will spot fleas or ticks around their home and mistake them for bed bugs. This causes a lot of unnecessary panic and stress, so we suggest comparing the insect you’re seeing in your home to pictures of what you suspect it to be on the internet. This can help clear up a lot of general confusion. If you still find yourself unsure of what you’re dealing with, get in touch with us and we’ll get to the bottom of your problem.

• Reduce Hiding Places & Clutter

This is a big tip, as a cluttered living area provides bed bugs with ample spaces to hide. Not only will a cleaner living space make it harder for the bugs to conceal themselves, but it’ll likely improve your quality of daily life too. If you’re currently dealing with an infestation, it’s a chance to clear out your space albeit under undesirable circumstances. Simply cleaning won’t be the answer to all of your bed bug problems either, but it’ll certainly aid the situation and help prevent future issues.

• Regularly Wash Bed Sheets, Blankets, Bedspreads, and Clothing

Bed bugs can hide and lay their eggs in both your clothing and laundry hampers/containers. Remember to clean your hampers and containers on a regular basis to reduce the risk of hidden bed bugs nesting in them. If you often leave articles of clothing in a pile on the floor when they are dirty, these rules especially apply. The goal when preventing bed bugs is to remain vigilant on the cleaning front.

Bed bugs can seriously drag down your time at home, especially the most important hours when you should be sleeping. If you suspect you’re dealing with a bed bug issue, utilize our tips and contact us to terminate said problem. Don’t let the winter months lull you into a sense of critter complacency. Remain vigilant and keep your home clean! Contact us if you’re at your wit’s end.

While typically mistaken for honey bees, yellow jackets aren’t even bees at all. They may have similar sizing and coloring when compared to honey bees, but yellow jackets are actually members of the wasp family, and there are numerous varieties of them to be found throughout the United States in the summer time. While they do play the role of pollinator and predator to plant damaging insects in many gardens, they also enjoy protein and sugar rich foods, which makes them a common cookout invader.

Another similarity they share with honey bees is they are both social insects, meaning their colonies are centered around a queen. Male wasps fertilize the queen while female workers gather food, and defend the colony. As summer progresses, the queen works to produce new queens, and each year they emerge from winter to produce new colonies. Throughout the summer, one can often spot yellow jackets flying about parks, trash cans, picnic tables, or any place where food is exposed. To help keep wasps at bay, be sure to keep trashcans clean and cover dishes when eating outside. To note, yellow jackets are also drawn to brightly colored clothing and floral scents.

When you encounter a yellow jacket, it is important to remain calm. One of the most important things to remember about yellow jackets is that, unlike honey bees, they are able to sting repeatedly. Also, if you manage to squish a yellow jacket, remember that a pheromone is released that signals other yellow jackets in the vicinity to attack. So, it is always best to stay collected, move slowly, and simply try to brush off any yellow jacket that might land on you. If things get a bit crazy, and you end up getting stung, wash the sting right away. Apply ice to the site of the sting, and take an antihistamine to help reduce any swelling you might experience. Unfortunately, if you sustain multiple stings or a sting to the throat, you might require more extensive medical attention.

Yellow jackets construct paper nests in attics or walls of structures, inside hollow logs, and underground. For the most part, time is your ally when it comes to ridding yourself of yellow jackets. The entire colony dies off when winter rolls in, and they often do not build nests in the same place when summer returns. If you’re having a problem with yellow jackets building their nests within your home or other areas you inhabit daily, however, chemical treatment might have to be considered.

Are you suffering from a yellow jacket infestation that has gotten a bit out of control? Let Absolut Pest Control help! Call us at 978-388-4589, or fill out our online contact form!

For anyone that has encountered a tick, you know how nasty of a pest they can be! Their preference of food is your blood and while they’re obtaining that, they can transmit Lyme disease to you. Symptoms of this infection can include fever, headache and various other unfriendly symptoms. Without the correct treatment, Lyme disease can stay for years and result in damaging effects. To avoid the harmful effects that come with Lyme disease, Absolut Pest Control has put together a list of preventative ways you can protect yourself and your yard!

• Remove all the brush and tall grass on your lawn to get rid of where the ticks would be hanging out. Remove any leaves and grass clippings as well! As an additional tip, you can use these in your compost pile for your garden!
• Ticks aren’t huge fans of walking on gravel or wood chips so place these between your lawn and any wooded areas to prevent ticks from accessing your property.
• If you have a messy woodpile that is located in a shaded area, you can bet that there will be ticks crawling around in it. Stack wood nicely in a sunny spot for it to dry out faster and keep the ticks out! They prefer a moist, wooded area over a sunny, dry area any day.
• Some chemicals used to prevent ticks can be harmful to not only you, but your yard and those around you. Instead of using a damaging chemical, try planting an American beauty-berry bush. The leaves of this plant have been shown to prevent ticks.
• While this may not be the best option, you can invest in chickens! Not only will you receive delicious, fresh eggs, but chickens will also take care of pecking at any ticks. If you decide to purchase chickens, be sure to do your research about shelter and food.

If you’re still having issues with ticks, the best way to keep them at bay and prevent them from coming back is to contact a professional! For a free estimate on tick control, contact Absolut Pest Control at 978.388.4589 or by filling out our online form.