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!

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

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.

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

Spiders

Spiders are our friends, especially in the garden. Spiders found in the garden, usually the Garden Spider, do not harm your plants. Think of them as guards to your garden. They protect your garden from unwanted pests, like aphids and beetles. If you have a garden, you should look into bringing in garden spiders for an Eco-friendly way of pest control. Plus, it's free. 

Spiders are important in the world's population of creatures. Spider's do not cause harm to humans as many of us would want to believe. In fact, spiders help us out more than we want to believe. 

Did you know that spiders worldwide eat enough insects to equal the weight of the entire human population. This is a lot more insects than how much birds and frogs eat worldwide. 

Spiders are actually protectors of our homes. We think that all spiders make webs and just sit and wait for the prey to come. In fact, less than 2% of the spider population actually makes a web. The rest of the population actually stalk and hunt their prey. Spiders will hunt down the incoming pests near your home. They are a free natural, Eco-friendly form of pest control.

This is the best kind of pest control because it saves you money! Here at Downs Pest Control that is our philosophy, we know that money is tight, and we certainly would not like it if a company took advantage of us. We believe that the customer should be treated fairly, and we will work with you on what you need to get finished.

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.

Time to Search for Bugs

In Iowa, spring time doesn't just mean warmer weather and flowers. It means plenty of checkups on your home too.  

In spring time, all the bugs start to come out of their hiding places. Unfortunately, these hiding places are usually in your home during the winter. You, the homeowner should look for any signs of bugs in your home.

What should you look for?

• Hiding places
• Cracks or holes
• Food sources
• Leaky faucets

Hiding places are important to the protection of bugs. One thing bugs don't like is being found by a bigger animal, mainly us. The best hiding places for bugs in your home during the winter are in areas that are undisturbed and have low traffic . Areas that are usually the best place to search are in the attic, in guest rooms, in the basement, under porches, in closets, and in boxes being stored in the garage or basement.

Checking in these areas not only helps you find the pests, it also disturbs the areas and helps keep them undesirable.  

Another thing you should look for in spring time are any cracks or holes created from the cold winter. Iowa always has harsh cold winters and hot summers. This fluctuation of temperature is rough on foundations and concrete. Just look at the roads, the potholes are created from water getting in cracks and freezing. the freezing water expands and breaks apart the pavement.  If you find any evidence of cracks or holes, you should fill or cover them immediately before wandering pests enter your home for food.

You should also look for food sources that pests like.  This may take some thorough inspection because the food pests like may just be little crumbs. Sufficient cleaning of the kitchen and food storage areas is highly recommended.

Fix any leaky faucets, indoors and outdoors. Water is very important to pests. Water is the basis of life. If water is leaking out all the time, it allows pests to have a good source of water. Also a leaky faucet outside can cause rotting to wood, making it a magnet to termites.

So, when you start your Spring Cleaning in Des Moines, be sure to look in these areas to keep pests out of your home.  A clean, uncluttered home gives no hiding places for 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

April is National Pest Management Month

According to the National Pest Management Association, April is celebrated as National Pest Management Month. They have been observing this for more than 30 years.

“The NPMA is pleased to have the opportunity to publicly recognize the important work that pest professionals do every day during National Pest Management Month. In honor of National Pest Management Month, the NPMA is dedicated to raising public awareness about the risks posed by household pests and encouraging homeowners to take proactive steps to prevent pest infestations in their homes and properties.”-Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the NPMA

April is a well chosen month because of the growth in activity of the pests. Spring time is coming, and warm air causes the bugs to come out of their hiding places to eat or mate. The thing you need to remember is how dangerous pests can be to you and your families health. They can carry diseases or bacteria that can get in your food. Knowing how to control pests is one of the main reasons why April is observed as National Pest Management Month.

Along with your health, pests can also destroy your personal property. Termites and ants cause millions of dollars of damage every year. With proper pest control worldwide, these losses could be avoided. The best way to control pests is through prevention. We can not say this enough.

"During April, the NPMA recommends that homeowners follow these tips to prevent pest infestations:

• Seal up cracks and small openings along the foundation of the house.
• Eliminate sources of moisture or standing water.
• Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house.
• Keep kitchens clean by wiping counters and emptying the garbage frequently.
• Keep all food containers sealed.
• Avoid leaving pets’ food dishes out for long periods of time.
• Keep trash containers clean and sealed, both indoors and outdoors.
• Screen windows and doors.
• If you see signs of pests or suspect an infestation, contact a licensed pest professional."-NPMA

Downs Pest Control strongly urges you to take these steps to keep the pests out of your home. If these steps are not taken, you might have to pay some unwanted expenditures on things you should not have to.

Todays Featured Pest- Fleas

FLEAS

Fleas. What can I say about them? They are annoying, itchy, and quite hard to get rid of. If you have pets that go outside, you may know exactly how I feel about them. Just thinking of the fleas may make you start to itch.  The fact that they can jump 200 times their own height (7 inches vertically, 13 inches horizontally) can give you the chills.

Trying to get rid of fleas can be quite the hassle. But with the right knowledge of where they hide, their lifecycle, and what to use getting rid of these guys is possible.

First thing first, there are different types of fleas that attack different types of animals. Using the right treatment is VERY important. Some pesticides or treatments used for dogs, may be strong enough to kill a cat or other small pet. Please, please, please read the instructions on the type of treatment you use before you treat your pet.

LIFE CYCLE

They are surprisingly resilient during the larvae and pupa stage. They create a hard cocoon that is almost impenetrable, this is the stage where they can wait for up to a year, just waiting for the

Life Cycle of Fleas 1.       Egg 2.       Larvae 3.       Pupa 4.       Adult

opportune moment when the time is right. This also makes it difficult to fully get rid of them because you may use all the pesticides to get rid of the eggs and adults, but the ones in the cocoon can come out long after the infestation is gone and repopulate quickly.

So after all that is said, it may sound like you may not be able to get rid of fleas. But it takes the right treatments and persistence to get rid of them altogether. You need to be able to know where the fleas are located.

LOCATIONS

The places where the pests like to hide are basically anywhere where your pet likes to lay down. They can live in gravel, bedding, couches, beds, and on the pet (or human).  If you think there may be fleas in your home, you can do a simple test. Wear long white socks, and walk around everywhere where your pets walk and lay. For some weird reason, fleas seem to be more attracted to white clothing, so you can easily notice the little black fleas that may latch on to your socks.

TREATMENTS

There are several treatments like shampoos, foggers, powders, and sprays. Some of the most recommended methods for pets are Frontline and Advantage. These are treatments for the pet and they help kill the fleas on the pet and help keep them from returning. This does not, however, get rid of the fleas in your home.

There are also flea combs to use on your pets, but this is just a short term method. It does not keep them from coming back, especially if most of the fleas are in the pet's bedding. A pet's bedding can support thousands of fleas.

You can try to buy foggers or powders for your home, but these can be dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. One thing we do at Downs Pest Control is never over-spray. Too much pesticides can make you or your family sick, and it can cause fleas to build up an immunity to these sprays.

LABELS

Be sure to read the labels, these are very important. You should not just go aimlessly around shooting pesticides around. the best way to control fleas is with a controlled method and spraying or using foggers in certain areas.  Labels of products give you directions on how to use their products safely. Safety is always number one.

PERSISTENCE

The first treatment may not get rid of all the fleas. Do not get discouraged, there may be some fleas that were hiding in a different spot or coming out of the cocoon. It may take up to three or four treatments to fully eradicate your flea infestation, but with persistence you can get passed the infestation. 

PROFESSIONAL HELP

You can always call your local family owned, Downs Pest Control to help you with your problem. We are trained licensed professionals who know their bugs. We can help you choose the right pesticides and help you locate where your problem is.

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

Choosing a Pest Control Company

Choosing the right pest control company can be difficult and time consuming. One thing you do not want to do is spend a lot time trying to decide which company to choose. You also do not want to pick a bad company. Whether you have ants, bedbugs, fleas, ticks, mice, rats, spiders, or cockroaches you want to get rid of them as quickly as possible. There are a few simple things you can do to ensure that you have chosen a good company when trying to get rid of these common pests.

1. Understand the Industry - Basic pest control (ants, cockroaches, fleas, spiders, millipedes, etc,) does not require a lot of start up costs or overhead. This is good because it keeps competition strong which leads to a better service at a lower price. It is bad because and guy off the street can say he has a pest control company. There are also many companies in the industry that are actually sales companies disguised as exterminators. They focus on sales and profits more than the quality of service they provide. This is a very good business model but from a consumer standpoint you end up paying more for less with these types of companies. You pay for the increased cost of a sales force and you  receive services that may not be necessary.

2. Know what you want before you choose your exterminator. There are many options when choosing a pest control company. You can have your exterminator come monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, or just one time. The more often you have your property treated by an exterminator the lower the price you will pay for pest control services. This is very good if you have pest problems that you see all the time. If you typically do not have pest problems or you only  have problems at certain times of the year you must ask yourself how often do I want my home treated? You must decide this on an individual basis because when you pay for a pest control service you are not only paying for the materials, the labor, and the overhead you are also paying for a bug free environment and peace of mind. You must decide what is necessary for you to be satisfied and what you are willing to pay.

3. Know the price of the pest control treatments. The price of pest control treatments can tell a lot about an exterminator. Typical an exterminator that charges low prices for pest control services sacrifices quality. At the same time in the pest control industry additional cost does not always translate into better quality. Try to find the right price.

4. Get to know your company. This may sound difficult but when you call for a quote pay attention to how you are treated and how they act. Someone from the exterminator you choose will come to your home and it is important that this person can be trusted. If the person you talk to over the phone is polite and answers your questions well there is a good chance the exterminator provides good services. If the company is slow to give you a quote over the phone,  they give you the run around, do not return calls, reschedule appointments, or act shady in anyway they probably are not a company you want to deal with.

5. Check them out on the internet. There are many places to look at on the web. Check out their website, look at reviews, check out the BBB website or even look for certifications that their company may have.

6. Ask a friend. This is the most reliable method. If a friend you know has had a good experience with an exterminator do not hesitate to go with them. Also if a friend had a bad experience with an exterminator do not go with them.


Overall the goal is to find the company that fits you. You should be able call local exterminators and get a quote fairly quickly. Most exterminators will be able to come out the same day if necessary. So do not spend too much time finding one though. If they cannot work with your schedule find the company that will.

We hope that you will be able to find a company that you can trust that will help you overcome your pest problems. Of course this article may be bias because at Downs Pest Control we try to work with our customers as partners in eliminating pests. We are in the business to help you live pest free. We pride ourselves in providing timely, efficient, affordable, and high quality services. We hope that we can help you live pest free!


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