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