Our Warm Season Pest Control Offer is Back!

http://www.downspestcontrol.com/desmoinespestcontrol/promotion.php

Call us today or visit our pest control website to request service so that you can take advantage of these great deals! We guarantee that you will be satisfied with our services and our prices. Visit our ratings page to find out what our customers think about us.

Also, if you want to learn more about common bugs that live in Iowa visit our Iowa bug information site at Downspestcontrol.info

We also host a do-it-yourself pest control website where we share tips and ways to eliminate pests.

With the Warm Iowa Weather Come Annoying Iowa Pests

With the unseasonably warm winter and the unseasonably warm weather we have been so lucky to experience this month comes the bugs. Even today there are already numerous plants that think it is spring, if you take a look in your yard you probably will see some plants coming back to life. When the plants think that it is spring the bugs think it is spring too.

Because of the warm winter this year will probably be a bad year for pest invasions. That is why you should act now. We can help you control pest populations and keep them out of your home. The longer you wait to take action the more difficult it is to control the pests.

We offer a summer treatment program that is very affordable. The service is guaranteed and will be sure to keep the ants, spiders, earwigs, beetles, and other pests out of your home all summer long. Visit our site for more information or to request service. Thank you and  enjoy the warm weather!

Bedbug Services by Downs Pest Control

In Des Moines Bedbugs are becoming a growing problem. There are many reasons for this which include increased travel and lack of familiarity with the pest, but in all cases if you think you have bedbugs you need to consult with a professional. Many of the most difficult and severe bedbug infestations we have faced have been homes where occupants tried for months to battle bedbugs on their own.

Many people who think they may have bedbugs hesitate to call a professional because of the cost associated with bedbug treatments. They can be very expensive but do not hesitate to call us for an inspection and quote. Our quotes are free and you can turn to us to get help, we are dedicated to helping eradicate the bedbug problem that is growing in Des Moines.

So do not hesitate to call us, you will be surprised about how affordable and effective our bedbug treatments can be. Visit our bedbug treatment site or visit our homepage.

Thank you and we look forward to helping you solve your bedbug problems quickly!

If you think you may qualify for our affordable bedbug services visit our bedbug programs page.

Downs Pest Control Mouse Treatments

Many people ask us what we do differently to treat for mice that what they can do. Most homeowners go to the store and buy over-the-counter products like snap traps, sticky traps, and mouse poison. Although we use a lot of the same products that homeowners use or have access to, what we do is a little different that what homeowners usually do.

What our service provides is mainly expertise and access to great professional mouse products that work. We deal with mice all the time, we know how they eat, how the reproduce, how they build nests, and most importantly how to catch them. Our mouse service also allows us to use a wide variety of products that may be difficult for homeowners to get or may be very expensive. Most our rodent services include return visits, visits where we check your traps and remove any mice that have been caught. We also will return at your convenience and make the entire mouse elimination process very easy for you.

For more information about our mouse and rodent services that we offer in Des Moines and to central Iowa visit our mice treatments page or visit our homepage for more information. Mice are very common in Iowa and can cause major problems to your home and your health if not treated quickly.

Also you can contact us at 515-309-2089! Thank you and have great day!

Pest of the Week - Brown Recluse Spider

The brown recluse spider is a common insect that lives in the Midwest and can also be found in Iowa. The brown recluse spider does have a poisonous bite that can cause serious problems is not treated by a medical professional. However, the brown recluse spider does not intentionally attack humans, in fact they are very fearful of humans and do all they can to remain unnoticed. This is why they are called the brown recluse, they are very reclusive. 


Brown recluse spiders like to hide in dark places, in the Iowa outdoors brown recluse spiders can be found under rocks and in hollow logs. If indoors brown recluse spiders usually find refuge in quiet dark places where humans rarely go but there is a supply of food (insects). Places such as Iowa basements and closets are perfect places for the brown recluse spider to hide. 


The brown recluse spider is also nocturnal, they do most of their hunting in the evening hours. During they day, brown recluse spiders hide in their webs. Compared to other spiders the web of the brown recluse is very messy, stands of web seem to have no pattern and seem to be randomly strung. Most brown recluse spider bites are caused by humans accidentally invading the brown recluses space or disturbing their hiding place. 


According to BrownRecluse.org:


The bite, in general, is the result of pressing the spider with the skin during the night when the person sleeps (38%), or when people get dressed (32%) with clothes that were hung on walls or closets for a long time. Normally, the bite can be found on the face and the extremities. The spider is seen in the 60% of the cases but only identified in 13% of them.

It is very important to know if there is a presence of brown recluse spiders in your home. Most often there is not. Most often the spiders in your home are cellar spiders that are harmless to humans and they are actually beneficial because they eat the bugs that invade your home. But in rare cases brown recluses spiders are in homes, and they are a hazard to your health. Because brown recluse spiders are so secretive it can be very difficult to know if they are in your home or not. You can always place sticky traps in dark corners to monitor insect activity in your home.

We offer affordable preventative spider and brown recluse services in Des Moines and central Iowa to monitor and prevent brown recluse infestations and we also offer affordable pest control services to eradicate a population of brown recluse spiders from your home in Des Moines or central Iowa. We offer free pest inspections so do not hesitate to call us at 515-309-2089 or visit our Des Moines, Iowa pest control website for more information .

The University of Kentucky also has a very informative web page about brown recluse spiders that you can visit to learn more.

Bedbugs In Des Moines

Bedbugs are still a common problem in Des Moines. What makes them such a problem is there ability to hide and adapt. What makes them so unwanted is that they feed on human blood, which can cause severe reactions on the skin and the presence of bedbugs can also have psychological effects such as imagined bites and the feeling of bugs crawling on the skin.

Bedbugs are very difficult to eliminate without professional help. There are many products that homeowners or renters can buy to eliminate bedbugs. Many of these by themselves are not going to solve a bedbug problem. The number one key to solving a bedbug infestation is knowledge.

Bedbugs are very good hiders. Bedbugs are excellent at finding a dark crack or crevice to hide in, this makes them very difficult to spot. Bedbugs usually only come out in the middle of the night when you are asleep to feed. That makes them inconspicuous as well. Many people do not even know there are bedbugs in there home for months. Once they notice marks on their skin they head to the doctor. Often doctors are not properly trained in diagnosing bedbug bits, this is because bedbugs are a new occurrence, bedbugs have not been a problem since World War II. Bedbugs are also extremely resistant to chemicals. This is because for many years bedbugs were killed with all sorts of strong chemicals like kerosene and DDT. The only bedbugs that survived were those with DNA resistant to many types of chemicals. So today we are left with extremely resistant bedbugs. That is why knowledge is key, there is no silver bullet to controlling bedbugs, it takes expertise and experience.

Downs Pest Control offers affordable bedbug treatments. Because of our low overhead and expert bedbug treatments we are able to offer guaranteed bedbug treatments at a fraction of the cost of many large pest control companies in Des Moines. We do not offer heat treatments, which is an extremely effective and fast way to eliminate bedbugs, but it is also extremely costly and uses enormous amounts of energy. Although many companies claim that heat is the only way to eliminate bedbugs this claim is false. We have been able to effectively and quickly eliminate bedbugs with the cooperation of homeowners and renters, despite the false claims of other pest control companies in Des Moines. We do not use fear tactics, we use knowledge to build a plan to help our customers eliminate bedbugs. Contrary to many other companies our number one priority is serving our customers. We are dedicating to building our reputation by satisfying every single customer. We have an outstanding record that we are very proud of. Through the attention that we give to each customer we are able to devise specific strategies to help you eliminate bedbugs and live bedbug free. Our services are guaranteed, and we have been successful at eliminating bedbugs through mechanical, chemical, and other ways.

So for more information about our bedbug treatments or for advice call us today at (515) 309-2089.

Pest of the Week - Cockroaches

Cockroaches are a common problem in Des Moines. Even though it is winter we are still staying busy treating for cockroaches. There are a few things that you can do to help prevent and stop a cockroach infestation. Eliminate moisture, food, and hiding places. If you can do these three things that is more than half the battle. For the rest call us at (515) 309-2089. Learn more at http://ddowns.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Get-Rid-of-Cockroaches-Fast-and-Effectively

Pest of the Week- Bed Bugs!

Bed bugs have been around for a very long, long, long, long, long time. These creatures are nasty, but they are not dangerous. They were nearly extinct in America around 40 years ago, but in the past decade they have made a dramatic comeback causing an epidemic throughout America. 


Bed Bugs are parasites that feed on human blood. Because they feed on human blood at night they make their homes in beds. A mattress is a perfect hiding place for a bed bug and provides them with a good source of food every night. They hide in the seams of mattresses, cracks in bed frame, under chairs, couches, under rugs, edges of carpets, baseboards, and almost anywhere else.

Bed Bugs find their way into your home by hitching a ride in a suitcase or on your clothing. Infestations of Bed Bugs are on the rise and have been on the rise in large cities such as New York, Cincinnati, Chicago, and Des Moines for the past few years. Bed bugs were irradiated by the use of pesticides such as DDT but have returned most likely thanks to the banning of those pesticides and to worldwide travel.

Can I Get Rid of Bedbugs?

Bed bugs are extremely difficult to eradicate because of how well they hide and how resilient they are. There are some steps that can be taken though to eradicate and prevent infestations. But, due to the difficulty it is often best to call a pest professional.

How to Get Rid of Bedbugs without an Exterminator?

Removing mattresses and furniture from property, vacuuming and scrubbing infested areas thoroughly, washing laundry in hot water are all steps that can be taken to eliminate bedbugs. The longer you wait to take action the more difficult it is to get rid of bedbugs. They reproduce quickly and each night they will feed in hopes to reproduce. A few bedbugs and quickly turn in to an extreme nightmare each night. But, without knowledge of bedbugs and pest control products it is best to leave the use of chemicals to the pest professionals. Visit Get Rid of Your Bedbugs for more info.

What Will A Pest Professional Do To Get Rid Of My Bedbugs?

There is a wide variety of ways that pest control operators eradicate bedbugs. Chemical, heat, cold, steam, mechanical, and even dogs are used to sniff out the location.

Chemicals are applied to locations were the pests hide; in cracks and crevices, in the seams of mattresses, in bed frames, in walls, on baseboards. To be effective often multiple chemical treatments are needed. These are the most risky because a lot of chemical is often applied in the living space. Most often however these chemicals used are a type of pyrethrins which has extremely low toxicity to mammals.

Heat treatments have become a fad in large cities such as New York, Chicago, Las Angeles, and Des Moines.  These treatments can cost thousands of dollars but they are very effective. They are often best if used in large apartment complexes where chemical treatments have proven to be unsuccessful. The chemicals are often unsuccessful in large apartments because once an apartment is treated they run to the next.

Cold treatments are used by a large pest control company that claims the treatments kill the adult bedbugs, nymphs, and even the eggs. Not much information on how effective this method is though.

Our favorite tool in eliminating bedbugs is the bedbug dogs. These dogs are able to sniff out bedbugs and find them. This helps pest control operators locate the bedbugs and kill them. Finding bedbugs is almost the entire battle in eliminating bedbugs.

Overall, the best way to get rid of bedbugs is to contact a pest professional who has proven the ability to get rid of bedbugs and integrate some of the other steps we have mentioned that will help you get rid of your bugs.  


Visit our bedbug site. 

MUD DAUBER WASPS

Mud daubers are wasp-like insects that construct nests from mud. They make a variety of nests ranging from elaborate structures (i.e., multiple tubes several inches long or small vase-like nests attached to plant stems) to merely 'plastering' up existing cracks or crevices in wood, stone, or masonry. Many mud daubers will fill holes in round openings found in equipment and lawn furniture. There are three main species of mud daubers, the black and yellow, the blue mud dauber, and the organ pipe mud dauber.

DIET

Mud daubers use spiders for prey, but other species use a variety of insects ranging from caterpillars to cockroaches to stock the nests. Some related species that burrow into the ground catch large insects such as katydids and cicadas.

HABITAT

They create their nests in corners on walls outside the home. They will also find any other corner, or old nests to create their new nest. They are not social wasps. Though sometimes it may seem that multiple wasps are in the same spot, they are not a colony.

IMPACT

Mud daubers are not aggressive insects and rarely sting, unless they are threatened or inadvertently contacted. Although the venom is primarily for paralyzing and preserving prey, it is painful. The yellow and black mud dauber was rated a 1 on a pain scale ranging from 1 (mild) to 4 (severe), which was the same rating as the red imported fire ant.

Source: Wikipedia

SIZE: 5/8” to 1”

COLOR: Black and Yellow

Stay Clean!

Today I just wanted to emphasize the importance of keeping your home clean of clutter and food. The main reason why bugs enter your home is to find food and water. Most insects that enter your home are actually called Accidental Invaders. Accidental invaders do not puropsely try to enter your home, they just accidentally end up there. They need to scour the area to find food, and what better place to find food than in your home or trash.

The best way to keep bugs from coming in your home is to keep your home free of food and debris. Ants are notorious in finding foods and bringing in more of their friends. They release a pheromone in a trail that leads the rest to the food source. If you see ants, then that means you have a good food source for them to be there. Keeping the area clean will help prevent them from wanting to be there. Remember that even the smallest crumb can feed multiple insects.

The next thing you might want to to is limit the hiding places for the insects. Insects love tiny cracks and crevices. They will find anywhere that is tight to protect them from dangerous creatures. If you have lots of clutter on the floor or in the basement, this is just a ample place for bugs to live. It is difficult to spray within our limits if where the bugs are hiding are in your boxes of food or clothes. The best thing we recommend is organzing what you need to keep into plastic sealed containers. This will help keep the bugs from hiding in the boxes and allow us to get a safer, better spray in your home.

Just remember that food and hiding places are the main reason why bugs come into your home. Keeping your home free of food crumbs and clutter will limit the number of bugs and the ability for them to survive.

Moles- Pest of the Week

Editor's Note: For some reason, the blog did not want to publish my entry about moles yesterday. I do not know what went wrong, but let's just try to make it work this time.

About Moles Not the cutest animal Source: Wikipedia Moles are most noticed in the spring time when they search for their food and nesting materials. During the winter, when the ground freezes, moles stay deep underground in their nests to stay warm. Moles create burrows, a series of tunnels and nesting sites, which can go as deep as 10-20 feet. Moles can grow up to 6-12”, depending on the species. They usually have a dark gray fur, a slender snout, and very sharp teeth. They have tiny beady eyes that are only capable of distinguishing light from dark, otherwise they are considered blind. Moles have very large front claws that are used for digging. Diet & Reproduction Moles live alone except for when they are rearing young. They usually have about 1-6 per litter, once or twice a year. Mole babies are hairless and blind at birth. Fur begins to appear on the babies at about ten days after birth. It takes about 6-12 months for the mole babies to grow to adult size. Moles diet consists of small invertebrates, usually worms. Moles have a very big appetite; they can eat their weight in worms and other grubs every day. To get their food they usually create new shallow tunnels to find the grubs. Finding the grubs is what usually causes the grass to die. The grubs are in the roots of the grass and cause the roots to be exposed and die off. They do not eat your plants or grasses. Tunnels Moles live most of their lives underground so it is very uncommon to see a mole, but they do come to the surface occasionally for search for water or nesting material. They can dig surface tunnels at a rate of 18 feet per hour. Moles dig two different types of tunnels: shallow and deep tunnels. Shallow tunnels are the tunnels most noticed by homeowners, because it makes the ground weak and collapsible when walked on. Shallow tunnels are also used mainly to get their food. Deep tunnels are the mole’s usual main runway, since it is usually the safest from predators. Deep tunnels are anywhere between 1 foot and 10 feet deep. Moles usually dig their tunnels in soils that are loose, moist, and that have plenty of food sources (worms and grubs). Detection The most common detection of mole is the pathways they create under the lawn. When they burrow, they tend to push the soil upwards and outwards, often killing the grass roots and therefore leaving a path of dead grass that can be unsightly. Mole tunnels are about 1-2 inches wide. If you see a mole hill, a pile of dirt surrounding a hole, then that means the mole tunnels are deep. It’s an easy inspection, walk along your yard and look for ridges or soft parts in the yard.   Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between an active mole tunnel and an abandoned tunnel. A simple way to see if it is an active tunnel is to flatten the tunnel down (step on it). If the tunnel is rebuilt then it is an active tunnel, if it doesn’t after a week then you can bet on it being an abandoned tunnel. Removal There two main ways of removing moles: baits and traps. Mole baits usually come in gel form. The moles are attracted to it, eat it and die from the poison. This method can work pretty well if you use enough bait and place it in the correct places. The only problem with gel baits are that if the mole doesn't die the first time, it will stay away from the bait from then on.   The most effective and usually cheapest method of controlling moles is through traps. Some people have tried and failed using traps. This is because they placed the traps in the wrong places. Placing a trap near the entrance of a suspected mole tunnel is not as effective as actually putting a trap in a tunnel that is used for travel. Placing a trap at the entrance is like standing there with a shovel playing the real life version of Whack-A-Mole, except no moles will stick their heads up out of the holes. Spring traps, harpoon traps, and choker loop traps are all common traps used in the business. The most common trap used, and usually the most humane, is the choker loop trap. The key in placing the traps is placing more than one trap and in active tunnels.

Pest of the Week-Bees

Bees are very beneficial to our environment. We need them to pollinate plants, and they make tasty honey. Honey bees are well-known for their honey making. They have been important for thousands of years for human food consumption. Also, honey bees create bee’s wax that is also collected by humans. There has been a severe decline in bee population in the last decade and this is not good for our farmers or our food products. without the population of bees pollinating our plants, the plants will not grow as strong and healthy as they should.

Bees come in all shapes and sizes, the biggest being bumble bees. Here are three of the most common bees found in Iowa:

TYPES OF BEES

HONEY BEES
Honey bees are social bees; they live in extensive colonies that have thousands of bees in it. The colony consist of one queen bee, hundreds of drones (fertile male bees), and thousands of worker bees (infertile females). The queen lays all the eggs and is the most important bee in the colony, without the queen the colony will collapse. The drones are created from unfertilized eggs, the drone’s job is to grow and leave the colony to mate with queen bees. Drones cannot sting. The worker’s job is to care for the nest. They leave the colony for food (nectar) and take care of the eggs, protect the queen, and protect the nest.

Honey bees’ nest stay around all year. During the winter, the hive stops flying around and huddle together. They can keep the center of the huddle at a constant temperature of 85

degrees throughout the whole winter. The colony usually begins working again once spring begins. Honey bees are important, but are facing a type of disease that is killing them off in large numbers. No one seems to understand why this is happening, though. The honey bee is so important to farmers that some usually rent colonies of bees to pollinate their crops from beekeepers. CARPENTER BEES Carpenter bees are usually solitary bees, but they have been known to live in very small colonies consisting of their sisters or daughters. Carpenter bees look very similar to bumble bees, but the main difference is the lack of hair on carpenter bees compared to bumble bees. Carpenter’s abdomens tend to have a shiny black abdomen. Carpenter bees are also important to pollinating flowers. Carpenter Bees will drill holes into exposed wood. The usually will drill on the bottom side of the wood. Often in Iowa they are found drilling holes and tunnels into the wood on the bottom side of decks. The hole goes about 1/2 inch then makes a 90 degree turn below the surface and goes with the grain up to 1 foot. Carpenter bees are usually not a threat to sting. They do not eat the wood; they get their food from nectar in flowers. BUMBLE BEES Bumble bees are probably the most recognized type of insect by every one of all ages. Bumble bees are easily recognized by their yellow and black body that looks to be soft because of the hair-like pile covering their bodies. They also tend to have a louder “buzz” compared to other bees, just because of their size. Bumble bees live in small colonies of about 50-100 bumble bees. The colony is like most other social bees. They consist of a queen and workers. The queen chooses the location of the nest every year, and who lays all the eggs. The workers tend to the nest and eggs and are not able to lay eggs. Their nests are usually built in the ground and only stay around for a year at a time. Unlike the honey bees, the bumble bee does not have barbs on their stinger, so bumble bees can sting more than once. Bumble bees are protective of their nest and will only attack if their nest is threatened. This can be dangerous, because their nests are usually very hard to find and can easily be stepped on without realizing it. Bumble bees also are very good pollinators. Since their bodies are fuzzy, pollen from the anthers of flowers gets stuck on the “fur-like” pile, when they collect nectar. Bumble bees tend to go to the same flowers every day, as long as it keeps producing enough nectar. Once they collect the nectar they take it back to their nests, and put it in wax cells for food storage. Nothing to the sorts of honey bees, though.

Bites? Maybe not

One thing I have noticed with people today worrying so much about bed bugs, is that any red bumps found on their bodies must be a bug bite.This is not always the case. Red bumps and rashes can come from all sorts of things not related to bugs. It is not within our authority to look at your skin and determine whether it is red from bugs.

If you notice red marks or rashes on your sin, one thing you should do is see a dermatologist and have it professionally looked at. The job description of a technician is to thoroughly inspect for insects and spray pesticides accordingly. The job of a dermatologist is to determine what is causing problems on the skin. Most of the time, it is too hard to distinguish a difference between bug bites and other causes. If it is sometimes difficult for dermatologists, who go through years of schooling, to determine the real cause of bites, it is definitely not within our authority to confirm any suspicious ideas a customer may have.

Family safety is of the utmost importance

People's reaction to bites are different. Some people never have any signs of bites, some people skin is so sensitive that it causes heaps of troubles from the smallest encounter. This is why it can be difficult to pinpoint any problems with the skin, everyone is different.

Here at Downs Pest Control, we believe that the customer's safety is most important. We will not spray for bugs you think are biting you without any hard evidence of insects. So, if you think you have bugs biting you, do not expect us to start spraying here and there. We need to follow our prcedours and keep your safety forefront.

For more information, read this.

Pest of the Week-Cockroaches

Cockroaches are found worldwide, especially in the Des Moines area. Cockroaches are nasty and very difficult to control. If you have cockroaches the best thing you can do is call a professional to help you eradicate this problem from your home. Most often these bugs travel into your home as stowaways. Cockroaches hitch a ride in to your home in a grocery bag, or in with cardboard boxes. Once they are in your home they are very difficult to control.

What makes these pests so difficult to get rid of is their ability reproduce and survive. They crawl into the smallest little spaces and hide themselves. Often they are very good at hiding and do not come out in daylight. Proper treatment depends on a thorough inspection and accurate identification. Once it is known where the roaches are hiding and feeding they can be treated.

The only way to eliminate a cockroach infestation is to use an integrated approach to pest management. There must be multiple methods taken and the home owner must work with our Downs Pest Control technicians to eliminate the roach infestation. Sanitation combined with baits, insect growth regulators, insecticides and knowledge of different cockroaches and their eggs cycle can eradicate these nasty infestations.

Cockroaches are nasty and can carry a disease into your food. The best thing to do is to eradicate them as soon as possible! Call Downs Pest Control today for a free quote- (515) 309-2089!

Rats VS Mice

Rats and mice are one of the most destructive pests throughout the world. These species are related, but only in the way that a cheetah and tiger are related. They have a common ancestor somewhere in the past. This is just a quick chart showing the differences and similarities between these two rodents. 

Remember that Rats and Mice are two different species. A common misconception is that they are baby(mice) and adult (rat). Although it is a very appealing idea, it is not right.

Click to make larger!

Note: This is just a quick glance at the similarities and Differences, there are plenty of other facts not listed

Benefits of Bats

In a recent Science Magazine a study was revealed that bats, not the bats you can swing, can save over $3 billion in funds for the national pest control. This is good news for farmers or other areas that need to get rid of bugs.

Don't Worry Vampire Bats are not in the USA
Click here to get Images & Vampire Bat Pictures - Pictures

“This analysis suggests that bats are saving us big bucks by gobbling up insects that eat or damage our crops. It is obviously beneficial that insectivorous bats are patrolling the skies at night above our fields and forests – these bats deserve help,” says one of the study’s authors.

Yes there are downfalls with bats, like rabies or other diseases, but I believe the benefits greatly outweigh the downfalls. Less than 1% of all bat species actually carry the rabies disease, and less than 40 people have ever gotten rabies from bats in the past 40 years. Insect eating bats, which makes up about 70% of the US bat population, can eat over 1,200 insects in one hour. Multiply that by 4-5 hours of feeding by thousands and thousands of bats, and you get a lot of insects eaten every night.

I would like to place bats in the group with spiders for being one of the most underrated pest control species in the world. They get a bad rep because of the way they look. This just goes to show you, do not judge a book by its cover. You just may never know the benefits it may have.

So the next time a bat gets into your attic or home, DON'T KILL IT! Hire a professional to capture it and release it humanely. A bat's life will save everyone money on pest control.

Downs Pest Control is family owned and operated pest control company that serves Des Moines and surrounding areas. We are dedicated to helping residents and businesses in Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Grimes, Johnston, Norwalk, Perry, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, and Windsor Heights prevent and remove pest infestations. We are dedicated to safety and high quality customer service. Downs Pest Control 50309, 50310, 50311, 50312, 50313, 50314, 50315, 50316, 50317, 50318, 50319, 50320, 50321, 50327, 50391, and 50392

Mice!

Mice

Mice are the most common rodent found in homes, hotels, hospitals, schools, and restaurants. Mice are very resourceful and adaptable to any environment. Because of this adaptability mice are able to live almost anywhere. There are two types of mice that are commonly found in Iowa, the house mice and our native deer mice. Deer mice are slightly larger than house mice, and weigh about ½ to one ounce.

Mice may be smaller than a tennis ball, but the damage they can cause is insurmountable. Mice can cause over $2 billion in damage worldwide every year. They can contaminate food and water and weaken structures with their gnawing.

Mice have very bad eyesight so their other senses are very strong. Mice are also very nimble; they can fit through small holes that are only ¼ inch wide. An unknown attribute about mice is their ability to jump. Mice can jump over a foot in height, and mice can jump off a wall and use it as a springboard to jump up even higher. Mice can also run straight up a wall and scamper across small electrical wires easily.

DIET

Mice like to eat grains like cereal. They are herbivores, meaning they do not eat meat. They are very good scavengers and will eat any scraps that are left on the ground.  With their expert gnawing skills, they can easily gnaw their way through a cardboard box containing foods.

REPRODUCTION

Mice breed year round in the house, producing around 50 young ones every year. They produce around 6 young per litter, and between 8-10 litters every year. Newborn mice are hairless, pink and their eyes are usually closed. By the time mice are three weeks old they are covered in fur and making trips away from the nest by themselves. They can reach sexual maturity 4-5 weeks old.

A family of 5 mice in your home has the ability to reproduce to 25 within a couple of months and it can increase exponentially from there if it's not controlled properly and rapidly.

CONTROL

The three best ways to control mice is prevention, prevention, and some more prevention. If you don't allow your home to be suitable for mice, they will not come in.  Here are some easy steps you can take to prevent rodents.

• Seal all cracks and holes inside and outside of your home
• Block or fill the opening around water pipes or wires
• Use screens in air vents and other holes that may be too large to fill
• Make sure that the door’s bottom edge is flush to the floor
• Keep the food out to a minimum
• Keep pet food sealed in plastic containers

 

Why Choose Us?

Downs Pest Control

Downs Pest Control is a Des Moines, Iowa company dedicated to helping you live pest free. We are a company that strives to put their customers first. We try and work with you and your budget on what you really need. We love helping people, and we can never imagine taking advantage of you. Downs Pest Control is a family owned company. We offer very competitive and affordable prices.

Family Owned, Family Care

There are different levels of tolerance for bugs outside the home, but Downs Pest Control is out to help everyone live without bugs inside the home and around the home. No one should have to worry about invasions of pests. There are so many nasty little critters out there that are searching constantly for food, shelter,and water. Your home provides all three of those for you, and little critters will try to stay at your place without paying rent. Downs Pest Control specializes in ants, bedbugs, beetles, centipedes, cockroaches, crickets, fleas, mice, rats, silverfish, spider mites, ticks, and wasps.

Downs Pest Control serves the Des Moines area and is the delivers the most value of any exterminator in the Des Moines area. We pride ourselves in providing affordable high quality pest control services. We are very prompt and take pride in satisfying our customers. We believe that our customers work hard for their money and deserve the best service possible. We are locally owned and operated and are proud to serve Des Moines, Iowa and the Central Iowa area. We serve a fifty mile radius around the Des Moines, Iowa area.

Lawn Care

We just don't control bugs from getting into your home, we take care of your lawn. We have a lawn treatment program that includes, fertilizing, weed control, grub control, mowing, and aerating. So protect your home, and all of your property with one company, Downs Pest Control.

Pest of the Week-Millipedes

What is a Millipede?

A millipede is a part of the arthropods family. They have 2 pairs of legs on every segment in their body(except the first two or three segments-the head has no appendages, and the next few segments only have one pair). Even though millipede in Latin literally means "one-thousand foot",  species on average only have between 36 and 200 legs. There is a rare species that can have up to 750 legs!

Common Defense Mechanism of Most Millipedes

They typically are dark brown or reddish in color and around 1-2 inches in length. Although, the largest of this family, the African Millipede, can grow to be 11 inches long.

Behavior

Millipedes will eat almost any type of soil. They especially love to eat damp leaves or decaying organic matter. Most are only herbivores, but there are some species that are omnivorous, meaning they eat both vegetation and small insects.

Millipedes may have a bunch of legs, but that doesn't make them faster. In fact, it only slows them down. Millipedes are slow, but very powerful in burrowing into the ground. They also seem to reinforce the tunnels they create with other objects.

When threatened, millipedes curl up into a ball to protect the soft under belly of their bodies.

Reproduction

Millipede females can lay between ten and three hundred eggs per laying. This varies depending on the type of species. Within a couple of weeks, the eggs will hatch. They are not hatched with all the segments of their bodies, as they get older and molt, more and more segments will be added every molt.

Types of Millipedes

There are many types of millipedes, over 10,000 different species worldwide. These are the most common species you might find near your home.

1. Black Millipedes-Larger of the species (60 mm), usually shiny black.
2. Bristly Millipedes-Completely covered in bristly hairs, brownish in color, only grows to be about 2 mm.
3. Flat-backed Millipedes-Flattened bodies, about 20-40 mm in length, and can vary from brownish to a pale color.
4. Pill Millipedes- Commonly known as a pill bug or roly poly, only 20 mm.
5. Spotter Millipedes-Commonly found in the gardens with potatoes, corn, or bulbs. These are thin and pale with red spots on the side.

Get rid of other bugs!

50309, 50310, 50311, 50312, 50313, 50314, 50315, 50316, 50317, 50318, 50319, 50320, 50321, 50327, 50391, and 50392. Downs Pest Control is family owned and operated pest control company that serves Des Moines and surrounding areas. We are dedicated to helping residents and businesses in Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Grimes, Johnston, Norwalk, Perry, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, and Windsor Heights prevent and remove pest infestations. We are dedicated to safety and high quality customer service. Downs Pest Control

Types of Traps

There are usually three methods of pest control: traps, baits, and sprays. It usually takes a combined effort of all three of these to control the bugs. Today we are going to go over the first of the three--traps.

Traps are useful in observing bugs. Since most bugs and rodents are most active at night, a person or exterminator will not be able to see the pest. Traps are awesome because it allows us to see what type of pest is in your home or business. Each pest has a different method of treatment. The most important thing in pest control is using the right treatment.

When it comes to traps there are plenty to go around. There are many different types of traps that come in all different sizes. There are traps made specifically for ants, roaches, spiders, rodents, and pretty much all types of pests.

Even with all these different types of traps, they all boil down to two types of traps. Live traps and lethal traps.  Live traps are usually used on larger animals like squirrels, rabbits, opossums, and raccoons. Lethal traps are mainly known for use on mice and rats, but today live traps are becoming more popular and more humane way of controlling rodents.

Live Traps

Live traps used on insects are usually not as sophisticated as live traps used on bigger animals. Insect live traps are usually just sticky traps. Sticky traps are just a paper or cardboard product covered in a very sticky glue substance, catching the insects when they walk over them. This, however does not control the insect population.

Live traps used on larger animals usually have a trap door of some sort and a large room where the animal is to be trapped. This is humane and can relocate animals away from your home. This should be done by professionals on large animals like raccoons and opossums. These animals can be very dangerous and carry diseases. Also, if there are animals in your home, more than likely there will be little babies.

Lethal Traps

Lethal traps have been used since the Dark Ages, especially on rats. Lethal traps are usually only used on small mammals, like moles, mice, and rats. They kill the pest by a mechanical blow. although, this method is highly productive in controlling rodent problems if done correctly. This method does not always instantaneously kill the rodent.

The downfall to lethal traps is that if you catch the wrong animal, it will most likely kill it, and cannot be released like live traps.

When selecting a lethal trap, be sure to know what animal you are trying to capture. The size of the trap is very important. Select the right size for mice, rats, and moles. Use the smallest possible trap pertaining to the right rodent.

Now, the smartest thing to do when setting traps is setting enough and setting them in the right places. Putting down one or two traps will not ensure the capture of rodents, putting down ten or more (depending on size of infestation) has a better chance of doing so. Remember, it may take up to two to three weeks before the traps start to work. Just be patient and check the traps regularly.

Downs Pest Control is family owned and operated pest control company that serves Des Moines and surrounding areas. We are dedicated to helping residents and businesses in Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Grimes, Johnston, Norwalk, Perry, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, and Windsor Heights prevent and remove pest infestations. We are dedicated to safety and high quality customer service. Downs Pest Control 50309, 50310, 50311, 50312, 50313, 50314, 50315, 50316, 50317, 50318, 50319, 50320, 50321, 50327, 50391, and 50392