There are several signs to look for when inspecting your home for termites.  Luckily for us in St. Louis, we only have to deal with subterranean termites.  Why is that helpful? For one thing, they have to make mud tubs from the ground to anything above ground that they what to get into to.  These mud tubs are a clear sign of termite activity.  If they are found, start by breaking a small piece apart, if the termites are still using the tub, they will repair the break within minutes.

Another sign of termites is when they swarm.  Only a mature colony of termites will swarm.  If they swarm in your home you will find the termites near a window ledge. Most people find the dead bodies or discarded wings along the ledge as they will die off fairly quickly if trapped inside the house.

And last most common way people find termites is when they doing remodeling inside the home.  Most people find the activity when walls or flooring is removed during this process.  It is very shocking to find termite damage when it may have never been found if walls had not been disturb during the construction.

Please call us if you have any questions or concerns regarding these pests at 636-343-7900 or go to bluechipexterminating.com for more information regarding our service options.

In case you missed it.  Fox 2 in St. Louis ran a story about how fleas may be worse this year than in years past.  Click the link here to see the story.

You know, this might be true of all insects this year.  Thus far, our winter in St. Louis has been almost none existent.  Let’s hope for the best, but when all fails, remember you have a friend in Blue Chip.

The article does give some solid advice about dealing with fleas on your pet though:

One way to discover fleas early is to go over your dog with a flea comb, which can find fleas and flea dirt much better than you can just with your eyes.  If black specks fall out of the hair you’ve combed, chances are you’ve found fleas.  The best way to tell is to shake the hair pulled out by the comb over a white surface.  Then add water to any black specks you find.  If those specks melt and turn red, it is flea dirt, meaning your fleas have already made a home on your pet.

Along with fleas, ticks are expected to be bad as well, especially for pets that spend much time around water.

Please call us if you have any questions or concerns regarding these pests at 636-343-7900 or go to bluechipexterminating.com for more information regarding our service options.

Do brick homes get termites?

Short answer, yes, any structure can get termites. Now with that being said, the termites will not eat the bricks but they will get in and eat the wood studs in the wall, the sub floor, wood paneling and even the paper off the drywall.  In fact, in some commercial steel and glass structures, the termites will enter through the concrete slab and get into workers desks, stored boxes of paper or anything made of wood for that matter.

Please call us if you have any questions or concerns regarding these pests at 636-343-7900 or go to bluechipexterminating.com for more information regarding our service options.

Here’s a link to the new Bed Bug proposal introduced by Sen. Kevin Engler.  For those of you live in St. Louis (or anywhere in Missouri), this bill would be highly beneficial for those of you who live in a  multi-family housing unit.  This is one pest that almost always has to be introduced in a home either by travel (luggage), second hand items brought into the home or unknowingly brought in on by someone (on their clothing or in their purse).  So with this in mind,  a bed bug infestations can easily come through a common wall shared with your neighbor causing you a lot of worried and stress fulled nights.

As we have mentioned in a previous blog, Bed Bugs are one insect I do not recommend trying to solve yourself.  So, for those of you who need this bill to be passed, at least someone is out there in your corner trying get you some rights.

Please call us if you have any questions or concerns regarding these pests at 636-343-7900 or go to bluechipexterminating.com for more information regarding our service options.