Redefined Pest Solutions Pest Library

If you find cockroaches in your house scurrying across counters and walls or darting behind a crack in the wall, it is more likely than not German cockroaches. German cockroaches are small roaches that have adapted to living indoors with people. Our homes, restaurants, grocery stores, schools, and anywhere else food is stored or prepared can be home to German cockroaches. 

German cockroaches and most other species are attracted to warmth and moisture. Their primary mode of transportation into homes and businesses is hitchhiking. They will crawl into boxes, onto furniture, into electronics, and other items and move wherever we take them. Once they enter our homes, they move to dark, quiet areas and emerge to forage for food at night. Their presence poses a health risk because these insects spread pathogens, bacteria, parasites, and allergens. 

Cockroach Prevention Tips: Controlling food and moisture sources is key to preventing problems with cockroaches. Repair leaky pipes, ensure your home is well-ventilated, and use dehumidifiers to reduce humidity levels. Regularly remove trash from your home, vacuum, and store your food in the fridge or airtight containers. Never leave out uneaten pet food, and keep indoor and outdoor dining areas free of food debris. 

Spiders are pests that most people aren't comfortable finding inside their homes. Though most are harmless, they are unpleasant to find hiding in the dark corners of your house or see scurrying across its surfaces. It is also essential to understand that spiders are predators and live where their insect prey lives. Therefore if you see large numbers of spiders in or around your home, there is likely a widespread pest problem that you need to address.

While the spider's creepy appearance tends to give them a bad rap, the truth is they are quite helpful. Spiders feed on and help to control the number of nuisance and dangerous insects. Most spiders in Tennessee are harmless spiders, such as the wolf spider. They have venom only potent enough to harm their prey, not people. Unfortunately, Tennessee is home to dangerous spiders like the black widow and brown recluse. If bitten by one of these spiders, they do have venom potent enough to cause health problems in people. For help identifying and controlling spiders on your property, don't hesitate to contact us today!

Spider Prevention Tips: As you spot spider webs remove them; this annoys spiders. Maintain your yard and keep the grass cut short and vegetation cut back from your house. Eliminate common entry points by replacing damaged screens, ensuring weatherstripping and door sweeps are intact, and caulking cracks in your home's exterior. Remove areas of standing water from your property that provide a water source for spiders and attract insect prey to your property. 

Living in Tennessee means you must be proactive and guard your home against various pests that call our region home. Termites are a year-round threat in the Columbia area and pose significant dangers, not to people but to our structures and bank accounts. Termites are social insects that live in large colonies and feed on the cellulose found in wood and other organic matter. Things like wood, paper, books, insulation, and sheetrock are found in our Tennessee homes and can supply termites with a reliable food source. 

If you discover evidence of termites in your home, getting rid of them is best done with the help of a professional. Termites are small insects and can make their way into our homes through minor defects in the foundation or wood making contact with the ground. Once inside, termites infest and feed on the interior of pieces of structural wood located behind walls, under floors, or above ceilings. Eliminating termites as quickly as possible is vital to limit the costly damage they can accrue. Most homeowners' insurance does not cover termite damage because their damage doesn't occur overnight and is preventable!

Termite Prevention Tips: One of the most effective ways to avoid attracting termites is to reduce excess moisture and wood debris in and around your home. Repair leaky pipes, ensure your home has good ventilation, and repair defects in homes that will allow rainwater inside. Remove things like fallen trees, woodpiles, and decaying wooden structures from your property. For professional termite control, reach out now!