Rules of Thumb
When dealing with any pest, it is important to know what tools are available and how they work. When it comes to dealing with crawling insects there are three main tools which can be incorporated together to effectively deal with the pests. The three tools include residuals, contact killers and baits.
Residual insecticides are aerosol or liquid products which leave behind a residue on the sprayed areas. This means that the surface sprayed has a minute coating which will kill crawling insects if they trespass over it. This product should be utilized in an area which is known or more prone to having crawling insects. An area like this could include the threshold of doors and windows or along the walls of the garage. Products which contain a residual include OnGuard P-1D and the EcoGuard aerosol line.
A contact killer is an aerosol which will kill insects on contact. Products such as this are used as a short term solution to insects. However, contact killer aerosols can be very useful if used properly. Contact killers will genrally have a ‘straw’ included. The ‘straw’ is red in color and is used to apply the product inside cracks and crevices. This is beneficial as this can cause a variety of outcomes. One is that any insects being hit by the product will die. Another outcome is that the insects outside of the direct blast will move away to avoid the chemical. This can cause the insects to then crawl over areas which have been sprayed with a residual. Although, most contact killers will leave a small residual behind; as long as the sprayed areas are not damp or become wet. To summarize, this product can kill insects as they appear as a short term solution, or it can be used as a flushing agent to force insects on a surface sprayed with a residual. Products which categorize as a contact killer would be OnGuard PD-5.
Another method of killing crawling insects would be using baits. These are most effective against certain species of insects. Certain species of ants, for instance, should not be treated by spraying residual insecticdes. One of these includes Pharoah Ants. Baits can come as a dust, gel or liquid. Baits are most effective when not used alongside any other treatment products. This is due to the fact that the insects must survive the journey back to their nest to distribute it amongst the colony. It is common for this method of eliminating crawling insects to take longer. This again is due to the fact that the colony must be destroyed through the bait being distributed and consumed. A few baits include Greenways Ant Gel and Greenway Liquid Ant and Roach Killer.
Contact us if you have any question regarding the proper use of our pest control products.
Flying Insect Control
Flying Insects can be dealt with similar products as crawling insects. Albeit, there are a few products which are not interchangeable when dealing with flying or crawling insects.
Wasps are best dealt with as soon as possible. If more than a few wasps are routinely around a certain part of your property, it would be beneficially to do a circle check. This would include walking around the property to inspect for an exposed nest. Exposed nests can be dealt with a blaster or foam aerosol. If the nest is in a tree or up somewhere high, use a blaster on it. A blaster aerosol is a product which can propel the chemical more then ten feet. If the nest is lower, or you have protective clothing on, a foam aerosol can be used as well. This would include using a ‘straw’ which is thrust directly into the nest. Once the straw is within the actual nest, it should be activated till the nest is thoroughly soaked. Foam aerosols start out foamy but will over time turn into a liquid. This system helps the chemical fill every nook and cranny.
Some nests though are not exposed and can be within a wall void. These are tougher to deal with as you cannot be certain how far the nest is from the exposed crack or crevice. When dealing with a nest which is not exposed, it would be best to utilize a foam aerosol or a dust. A dust does require a separate tool though to push it as far as possible into the wall. This tool includes the Geotz Duster by JT Eaton. The foam aerosol in most scenarios would be sufficient as the propellant and its ability to turn into a liquid should prove to be an effective residual. A residual is a product which leaves behind a residue. This residue will kill insects that come into contact with the sprayed area. The residual does lose its potency though in damp spaces or when rained on.
One method preventing wasps from building a nest in the first place would be to use a Rescue Wasp Bag. These bags are good at preventing wasp nests from being built since it lures in all encroaching wasps. The lure can be mixed with water and then added to the trap, but it is more effective to use flat apple juice. The Wasp Bag is hung up in a tree and looks like a built wasp nest.
While there are a variety of species of flies, there are a few methods of fly control which can work on the majority of them. One method of fly control which is constant would be to install a fly light. A fly light is useful since it uses a special UV bulb which draws flying insect in. To kill the flies, there are glue board and electrocuting fly lights. For minor to mild problems, it is recommended to use a glue board fly light. A glue board fly light is effective in kitchens, garbage rooms and other small enclosed spaces. One example would be the Envirolight FlyLight Jr. This is best for minor to mild flying insect infestations since the trap is only effective as long as there is space for flying insects to be stuck on the glue board. If the glue board is full, then no more flies will be trapped. When a problem is consistent and out of hand, an electrocuting fly light can be employed. These type of fly lights are commonly used in barns, industrial areas and other high volume spaces. An example of an electrocuting fly light includes the Gilbert 601TJ. Electrocuting fly lights lure in flying insects the same as a glue board fly light. The difference though is that is has a metal grid which has a current running through it. Once a flying insect touches the metal grid, it dies. Some electrocuting fly lights have a catch tray for easy disposal. However, if the problem is particularly bad, there are models without them. The flies simply fall on the ground. These lights are used if the catch tray is filled too often to warrant constant disposal.
Other means of eliminating flies would be lured glue sticks, contact killers and residual insecticides. One method of eliminating flies, from say a garage, would be a Catchmaster Gold Stick. These sticks have glue around its surface and reflects light. Not only does the reflection draw flying insects in, it also comes with a powerful lure. The lure is smeared on the Gold Stick to draw the flies in. This model comes both small and large. A contact killer, like PD-5, can be used to knock down single flies as they appear. A residual insecticide can be sprayed on a window sill where flies are constantly flying into or around. Once the flying insect lands or touches the sprayed area, it will start to internalize the poison and die shortly thereafter. If you are experiencing a drain fly issue, a popular product to deal with that would be Microbe Drain Magic. This product flushes out drains by cleaning the debris caught inside. It is also this debris which the flies are feeding off of. So not only will this product clean the piping, it will prevent drain flies from reproducing.