in IN

10 Ways to Protect Your Home From Bed Bugs

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:21:13 -0500

It takes a bed bug to infest your house. Only 1 – not 10, not 100, and not 1,000. Only 1. But there are ways we can lower their risk.

Beware buying used furniture, especially upholstered. Don’t buy used mattresses. Bed bug infestations are easily brought into homes through used furniture.
Mattress encasements designed to lock out bed bugs can prevent mattresses and box springs from infestations and make home infestations easier to detect.
When you reserve a hotel room, go to the Bed Bug Registry. See if other hotel patrons have reported spotting bed bugs at your hotel.
When you check in at a hotel, ask the clerk if your room has been inspected for bed bugs in the last 6 months and is bed bug free.
Don’t bring a purse, suitcase or other bag with you when you check your hotel room for bed bugs. In the room, look under mattress covers, and under pillow covers. Look for spots of blood (bed bugs poop “blood spots”). Be sure to look under the mattress and carefully inspect mattress crevices, looking for signs of bed bugs or the “blood spots.” Look for nymphs, which are only 1/16 of an inch long.
Most hotel headboards hang on walls and are removable. Take the headboard off and look for signs of bed bug infestation.
If your room has bed bugs, leave the room quickly, report it to the manager, and find another hotel.
If you do not see signs of bed bugs, bring your luggage into the room. Keep your clothing in your suitcases with the suitcases completely closed or else hanging in the closet. Do not use hotel room drawers. Some people purchase luggage encasements to store the luggage during travel.
Carefully inspect luggage for signs of bugs, especially in the zippers and crevices. A flashlight can help you see better.
Periodically inspect your mattresses at home. Look for the signs of bugs and poop spots. The sooner an infestation is found, the easier it is to remove.

How Swat Pest Beats the Bed Bug World

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:37:09 -0500

Last year, there was an upheaval in Bed Bug World. A new bed bug video shared what bed bugs look like and showed Swat Pest removing them from a home.

Swat Pest showed how they remove bed bugs. They show there isn’t a simple do it yourself project. When Swat Pest helps a client remove bed bugs, they show the client what can be cleaned and kept and what must be discarded.

So if you see a bed bug – if it’s an adult it’s about ¼ inch long and reddish brown – and you see that its 6 legs are all quaking in their boots – it may be because they are worried the Swat Pest video put them in the spotlight and showed tens of thousands of people what they look like and they can be removed.

That video in Evansville spread through Indiana; reached Henderson and Owensboro, Kentucky; extended through Illinois, and broadened its viewership around the planet. Animal Planet’s United Kingdom shared the video which now has over 36,000 views.

Next week – how to reduce your risks of bringing bed bugs into your own home.

Eviction Letter to Evansville Indiana Rodents #2

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:41:29 -0500

Dear Papa Rat and Mama Mouse,

Don’t think we’re just going after you because you make people sick. Did you really think we wouldn’t notice everything you tore up and destroyed? Here’s the list of damages:

When you ran along the sides of rooms, you left dark rubmarks on the walls. And your urine stains really stink.
When you salvaged nesting material from paper, upholstery, books, and wood, you gnawed on it and destroyed it.
You not only ate the garden but went after the ornamental plants on the front porch.
When you gnawed the plastic, we got grossed out. Then you went after the lead and aluminum and other soft metals. That cost more. The final blow was when you tried to eat the wiring and nearly caused fires. I don’t care that you gnaw on everything you can find to keep your teeth sharp.
When you stole the cat & dog food and carried crumbs of it back to your nests, insect infestations started.
Then you went after the pet food. Really? No respect for your fellow animals?

Don’t beg for pity because we don’t have any – not for you or for any of your baby mice. Mama Mouse, if we don’t boot you out now, we know you’ll just keep having more babies. You can have 50 baby mice each year, in litters of about 6 mice each. Those mice will start having babies when they are 5 weeks old.

And we know the golden rule of rodent populations: the more available food, the more babies.

This is your warning to get out now. If we have to talk to you again, we’ll serve eviction papers and get rid of you.

SWATcerely,

Brandon the Bug Man

Eviction Letter to Rodents

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:08:00 -0500

Dear Papa Rat and Mama Mouse,

Your days trying to OccupyHome and OccupyBusiness have ended. It may be warmer inside than out, and you and your big families may be cold, but there’s no room at the inn. It’s time for you to go.

Why?

You can make people sick. How do you make them sick? Let me count the ways:

When you eat food, your urine and droppings contaminate it. If undetected, people can be at risk for bacterial food poisoning and more.
Papa rat, sometimes you bite people.
Your urine, saliva, and dander produce allergens that can aggravate asthma and allergies. Mama Mouse, it doesn’t help that you pee the whole time you’re running along the corners of rooms to keep track of where you are because your eyesight’s so bad.
You carry mites, fleas, and parasites that spread even more diseases.

That doesn’t even include risks like hanta virus or bubonic plague.

Though there aren’t studies to prove it , my experience says when mice or rats are in a house or business, stress levels increase and blood pressure raises. Hearing can also be put at risk when people yell or scream when you surprise them.

But wait – there’s more. You have got to go, and it’s not just because of safety isssues. Next week, we’ll talk about how you damage property.

SWATcerely,

Brandon the Bug Man

Identify the Pest and Remove the Damage

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 02:23:00 -0400

Pests love our homes. They love the warmth, and sometimes they love the cooler areas. Some pests love to be on the ceilings, or within the wall frame. You are not the only one who loves the warmth and comfort of your home, pests, insects and rodents also love the cozy, comfortable and safe environment your home offers. When your home offers a desired amount of moisture, food, and warm temperature it is a personalized invitation into your home for pests, insects and rodents.

Understanding a Termite

Termites are a very commonly known amongst homeowners. Termites may be small in size, but are eager to make your home their home. Their small size is an advantage, and it allows them to quickly and effortlessly enter your home through the smallest crack or hole. Termites are very determined insects constantly eating and working their way through your home without sleep.

Termites live in colonies that can house a million or more at one time. Once termites enter your home, they can cause significant damage to the wooden structure, wood work, stair case and your personal belongings. This can create a very unhealthy environment for you and your family, and can cause property damage to skyrocket, destroying your home, and costing you thousands of dollars in damage.

Pests, Insects and Rodents

It is highly recommended for homeowners to closely inspect their living environment and basement for signs of tan, reddish-brown or black droppings, especially during the hot summer months; May, June, July, and August.

Some homeowners tend to overlook inspecting the floor joists, support piers, sill plates and foundation walls-- inside and outside, underneath their home. In addition, homeowners must also search outside their foundation walls for mud tubes. Subterranean termites live and thrive in moist soil, but subterranean termites also feed on wood, and create mud passageways through the wooden structures of your home.

Structural Damage

A large majority of structural damage is invisible to the human eye. It is best for homeowners to schedule routine examinations for hidden structural damage. A homeowner can also do an easy at-home test, though this pales in comparison to the efficiency of an expert opinion.

A homeowner can use a wooden heel of a screwdriver and firmly tapping on the wooden structure of the home. Most structural damage is hidden so listen closely for the sound of hollowed out wood. Also, use a heavy duty awl to probe for damage. Since most basements tend to be dark, for extra assistance use a bright flashlight to help inspect your home.

Treatment

If you have suspicions that your home is showing signs of pests, insects or rodents, there is help and treatment available. It is best to call a professional who can evaluate your situation, confirm your suspicions and discuss the quickest, most effective and best options to eliminate, control, prevent and treat the existing wood in your home, and make any necessary repairs to protect your home from further damage.

Many homeowners attempt to remove pests, rodents, termites and insects from their home, but it is best to leave it in the hands of a professional.

Solution:

Contact the experts at Swat Pest Management, Inc. for a complete evaluation, where they can select the best approach to rid your home from further infestation. They offer free estimates for pest control in Evansville and all surrounding areas.

Evansville Home Show 2011

Thu, 05 May 2011 11:49:02 -0400

We always have a great time at the Evansville Home Show! This year we added a Kid Corner and it was very well received. The kids were able to hold Charlie our pet hissing cockroach, be entertained by the clown and magic show, and see LIVE tarantulas eeewwww!!

Hayley with Charlie the hissing cockroach...

Little Jude with Sweet Pea the clown....
The children and their parents enjoying the magic show!...

We want to thank everyone who visited us at the Home Show, we hope everyone had as much fun as we did!

Swat Pest Management, Inc. is the Tri-State's best source for pest and insect control, termite inspections and more!

Indiana Pest Control Expert Talks About Springtime Insects

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 11:05:37 -0400

Evansville, IN – Springtime seems to be the hatch door to wherever the insects hibernate during the winter. April showers bring May flowers and insect infestations in all shapes and sizes. Swat Pest Management, Inc. is reaching out to homeowners making sure each home is prepared to resist insect problems this spring and summer.

Prevention is the best way to deal with pests, especially since no one really enjoys encountering these creepy crawlers. What pests are likely to be spotted this time of year and what can be done to prevent and treat such critters? Swat Pest Management, Inc. has the answers.

Most insects are inactive until the temperature rises to about 60° Fahrenheit, when insects begin looking for food and nesting grounds. Most commonly, homeowners notice small or large black ants. The larger ant, the carpenter ant, digs tunnels and colonies in walls and creates nests inside or outside. Meanwhile the smaller ants reside in soil, but relocate to find food. The smaller ant, Pavement Ants, actually create large colonies that need to be treated in order to eliminate. Pavement Ants inundate countertops in their search for food.

In addition to ants, the spring weather also brings out bees, centipedes, and spiders—none of which tend to be a family favorite. Whether a homeowner wants to prevent these pests or eliminate a current infestation, Swat Pest Management, Inc. can help. They offer superior pest control in Evansville, IN and all surrounding areas. From indoor and outdoor inspections and treatments, to web removal and sanitation—Swat Pest Management, Inc. can help.

SWAT Experts Teach Elementary Schoolers About Insects

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 04:29:25 -0500

The kids can't get enough of our Pest Entomologist Brandon Runyon, who shares the basics of insects with elementary schoolers numerous times a month. He's not just talk, he actually brings live specimens to excite the kids and maybe scare a teacher, or two! Just kidding! From cockroaches to tarantulas, the kids get a little of everything.

But, we don't just teach the kids about bugs to waste their time at school. We want them to grow comfortable seeing these insects and learn how to respond to them. Knowledge is power and sometimes these insects are just as scared of us as we are of them!

We're your local pest control experts and we don't just teach children about these pests, but we help out the parents who want to get rid of these creepy crawlers! Contact us today; we can help with bedbugs, termites and more. We're experts in pest control in Illinois and Kentucky and have been voted number one in this tri state area for three years in a row! Thank you, we love to serve you.

Bedbug Expert in Indiana Gives Back to Community in the Fight Against Pests

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 03:59:42 -0500

Nov. 30, 2010, IN - Swat Pest Management, Inc. (SWAT) is a local company giving back to the communities this winter. It's bedbug season and SWAT has already provided free bedbug services to one family this November, as part of the "Taking the Bite out of the Holidays"-- BedBug Central's holiday charity initiative.

An army veteran on disability has become this first recipient of SWAT's free bedbug service program this holiday season.

SWAT is the preferred pest control company in the tri-state area of IL, IN, and KY. The tri-state has voted SWAT number one for the past three years. With 130 years of combined experience, the expert entomologists at SWAT are certified and experienced for any pest problem you encounter.

Contact SWAT today for pest control in Illinois, Indiana or Kentucky. They specialize in termite control and bedbug control in Indiana and the rest of the tri-states.

BedBug Central is a leading source for information about bedbugs, prevention, tips, and other resources. With leading entomologists and information, BedBug Central is a trustworthy source for all things bedbug related. View this video of research entomologist from BedBug Central, Jeffrey White, as he's being interviewed regarding the Taking the Bite out of the Holidays, on CNN.

Tri State Home Show Success

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 02:35:09 -0400

Last week in Evansville Indiana, we were in the Tri State Home Show. It was great experience and gave us a chance to speak with lot more people in a short time and learn your concerns so that we can take care of them.

More information is posted in Healthy Spaces News and Events for Tri State Home Show and for more pictures got to " Thank you "