Pest Control and Bed Bug Extermination in Hopewell, VA
|
|
Bed Bug Pest Removal Company
- Before 1939 bed bugs were so common that when people traveled they carried pesticides with them “sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite” was quite apropos for the times. Then in 1939 a potent insecticide called DDT was developed and it became incredibly successful at killing insects. DDT was sprayed everywhere on crops, neighborhoods for mosquito control, in homes and forests to control boring insects. For the next 60 years, bed bugs faded into obscurity in the USA though they remained rampant in other parts of the world. In 1970, DDT was banned because it was found to be a cancer-causing agent and deadly to birds. World travel made easy in the 1990's brought bed bugs back into a USA unaware and unprepared to deal with the horrible creatures.
- Since 2009, Bed Bugs have become a rampant problem everywhere in homes, apartments and hotels, travel accommodations (planes, trains and automobiles) and really anywhere people congregate. There are new insecticides but increasingly bug bed insecticide resistance has made getting rid of them more difficult, expensive and time consuming.
- Bed bugs can travel up to 100 feet in one night to seek a blood meal. This makes it likely a neighbor's horrible bed bug problem could become yours should a bed bug travel along cables or plumbing routes from an infested home to yours. They have also been known to live dormant within a home for up to 14 months without feeding. They breed expansively and quickly. A female can lay 200 to 500 eggs in 6 to 10 months. It is thought that bed bugs don’t pass on disease but the wounds they make can become septic leading to death in some frail members of our society.
- Inspections: Our Inspectors will look everywhere these blood suckers can live. Bed bugs just don’t live in your bed because of their flat like bodies they can squeeze into very tiny crevices.
- The absolute best way to handle a bed bug infestation is to act fast: first get conformation that they are bed bugs by engaging a professional pest removal company to perform an inspection. If it turns out that you do have an infestation of Bed bugs, let the professionals kill the bed bugs- they have the training and license to use the most effective methods. Mostly what you can pick up at the corner store is inadequate so don't bother with it. Hopewell Pest Control will get rid of the bed bugs, truly, we have helped many clients- please don't despair your lives will get back to normal. Contact us at- click to call (804) 668 - 9833
- Exterminations and treatment controls are accomplished through a heat and/or a spray:
- Specialized equipment is used to raise the room temperature inside the dwelling to a extermination temperature of at least 117 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour or more.
- Chemical treatment generally involves steam cleaning household items that can’t be sprayed and washing all bedding and clothing. These steps are time consuming and inconvenient which is why most clients prefer using a heat treatment. Many Pest Control Companies will use a combination of heat and pesticides.
Termite Exterminator
- Termites normally enter a building along its foundation, through cracks, expansion joints, spaces in brick or cement block and holes around plumbing or cabling entering the home. Decks, porches, other wood structures and wood chips in contact both with soil and the home are attractive ways for termites to easily access your home. Pulling wood away from the home is a good preventive measure.
- Termite signs: The first indication of a termite problem could be the startling large swarm of winged fertile kings and Queens loosed through hastily constructed escape tubes. Once a colony gets too large, generally takes 3 to 6 years, the colony will send out a swarm of fertile insects on a mating flight to start a new colony. Termites normally swarm during daylight hours, following a rain event, between February and April- as soon as the environment warms up. This is the same time flying Ants swarm so the 2 species can be easily confused which really demonstrates the need for a professional inspection.
- The swarming termites are poor fliers only moving a short distance before settling to earth to begin a new colony- actually very few survive which is why the swarms are so large. Once a location is chosen the king and queen discard their wings to enable them to crawl along the ground easier digging out an underground nest. If a swarm is loosed inside a home and the termites can't reach earth, they will die of dehydration within a few hours probably on a window sill while trying to reach the great outdoors.
- Constant moisture is necessary for a termite body to survive without dehydrating so as termites forage for a food source they will always move through constructed mud like excrement tunnels to protect them from the drying effects of the sun or wind. The diameter of these mud tunnels will often indicate how much damage is being done to the home. Tunnels that are about 1/2 across are termites foraging for food. Whereas, tunnels 3/4 or larger diameter mean workers are moving foraged food back to the nest- the bigger tubes help them do it faster. Termite tubes with larger diameters indicates part of your homes building material is being carried down the tube to feed the termite queen and babies.
- Inspections: suspicions of termite activity in the home should be checked out right away by a pest control company. Pest inspectors know what to look for and they won't mistake flying ants for termites or visa versa. Act fast by getting help to save your greatest investment- your home.
- Subterranean Termite Treatment Drilling is the goal of chemically separating the termites from their humid soil so the termites will die quickly of dehydration. The process is used to eliminate existing termite infestations because spraying termiticides on the infested wood or the stress cracks found in Slab construction will not penetrate to the center of the cavities made by termites. This method of drilling and treating provides an effective way to kill the termite colony.
- Repellent Termiticides (pyrethroids) a fast-acting nerve toxin is highly effective against termites but low in toxicity to mammals (warm blooded, furry creatures, feed their young with milk and give live birth). Good to know for the safety of humans and their pets.
Ant Exterminator
- The kids accidentally spill maple syrup on the kitchen counter and when you come back a few minutes later to clean it a swarm of ants are all over it. You’re disgusted by this and go to the home store and pick up some ant bait stations. Quite often clients have already tried sprays or bait stations that seem to work for a little while- then they’re back! Many people, at this point, will try another pesticide thinking that if they put it on with a heavy hand it will work better. Applying pesticides incorrectly will bring danger to you and your family. Instead, engage a professional pest control company. They'll investigate and figure out what species of ant have taken up residence in your home or instead if nuisance ant invaders are foraging for food in your home and taking it back to an outdoor colony nearby. Pest Control is handled best by professionals that understand the species they’re trying to eliminate. Hopewell Pest Control technicians are well trained- Contact us- click to call (804) 668 - 9833
- Ants are most active during the dry months between July and September and while foraging for food make their way into homes through broken window screens, open garage doors, cracks in the foundation and poorly sealed windows and doors. Hopewell Pest Control offers a free no commitment inspection to discover what pests are in your home and how they got in- this will determine the most successful treatment and future control. Expanding foam and caulk are a homeowner’s best way to seal up small access cracks into a home and we’ll point out which areas need to be sealed.
- Hopewell has 4 species of ants that are pests in our homes they are:

Carpenter Ants are large about an inch and black in color with large mandibles or jaws that they use to chew up wood and spit out. They chew out tunnels in dead and moisture laden wood to build a community home. Not only do they destroy the framing in a home they also harvest food from your cupboard.
Carpenter Ants are large about an inch and black in color with large mandibles or jaws that they use to chew up wood and spit out. They chew out tunnels in dead and moisture laden wood to build a community home. Not only do they destroy the framing in a home they also harvest food from your cupboard.

Odorous Ants are found throughout the USA. Its name comes from the foul odor it emits when crushed. They are most attracted to sweet products first and then meat and grease.

Pharaoh Ants are found most everywhere on the planet and is a pest in homes and hospitals. They will nest in wood and foam insulation causing costly damage to the dwelling. They feed in drains, refuse, foods and even patient wounds in hospitals. They also spread organisms like streptococcus.

Pavement Ants are mostly found outside under cracks of pavement, stones and next to foundations. They can on occasion be found inside home under floors, in walls and in insulation. They will forage in your home entering through cracks in slab foundations or other openings. They eat many human foods but prefer greasy foods. Parking lot paving
Our free, no commitments, pest inspection will find out what type of ant is in your home and where the nest is. Once we know these things, we'll know what solutions to advise for extermination of the nest. And, we’ll also cut off the ants’ access points into your home. Contact us at- click to call (804) 668 - 9833
Wildlife Removal
- Wildlife in your home can cause a lot of damage, such as soiling of insulation, chewing holes through soffits or fascia. Squirrels, Raccoon, Skunk, Opossum, Rodents and Bats are the animals most likely to invade your home. Rodents will often chew on electrical wires causing shorts or worse yet a fire. A rodent's teeth grow continuously so they chew on hard surfaces to wear them down.
- Wildlife pests can expose your family or employees to rabies, respiratory infections and parasites, such as fleas and worms (intestinal or lung). When their dung dries, some of it becomes airborne which then travels throughout your home or office and is inhaled by the inhabitants.
- A Pest removal company performs an inspection to determine what animal is living in your home, all entry points as well as any possible future ones and if offspring are present. They will further explain what has to be done to repair damage and how to remove pests and exclude them from coming back.
- Rats can chew through cinder-block, brick, mortar, aluminum, wood, glass, vinyl and weaken concrete. They can’t chew through galvanized steel flashing, hardware cloth and steel reinforced caulks. They are a very difficult species to remove and keep from coming back.
- Control will focus on what cause the creature to enter your home in the first place and repair with materials that will prevent a repeat. For example, rodents will most likely scurry up to your attic through the walls from the crawl space or basement so the foundation should be examined carefully to stop this access.
Mosquitos and Ticks Treatment Solutions
- The Mosquito is considered the deadliest creature in the world. They transmit malaria, dengue and Yellow Fever which kills hundreds of thousands each year. Hopewell residents need not worry about the previous diseases but do need to worry about West Nile and other forms of Encephalitis. Our companion dogs can be infected with heart worm disease (a foot-long parasite that lives in the lungs and heart of its victim). This is a deadly and very costly parasite to kill. The mosquito bite is the only way heart worm is contracted.
- Mosquitoes buzzing and biting you and your family can make it almost impossible to enjoy a nice meal on your deck. Perhaps you want to plan a family reunion outdoors with a barbecue but know the mosquitoes will make it a misery: This can be remedied by engaging a Pest Control Company. Professionals are much more effective at getting rid of the mosquitoes in your yard than a DIY method with a spray from the home store because the most effective pesticides are only available to Professionals. Click to call Hopewell Pest Control at (804) 668 - 9833 for a free consultation and we'll figure out where the mosquitoes are breeding and stop it. We have impressive repellents to engage against those flying in from areas nearby as well.
- Wood Ticks live in the foliage of the moist, shady areas of your property because they will die in sunny dry areas. When your living next to a wooded area and want to cut down on the population of ticks harassing you, build a wide path of gravel as a buffer between the woods and your home. Also, choose plantings that don’t attract deer to your yard or put up a fence to keep them out.
- The best solution for a overwhelming and chronic Tick problem is to contact Hopewell Pest Control they'll be able to inspect your yard and devise solutions to dramatically reduce the amount of ticks.
Cockroach Extermination
- Cockroaches are omnivores, but are mostly drawn to starch, sugar, grease, meat and cheese. Decaying food items send off a strong odor that will bring any cockroach that smells it running to feast. There are 4000 species of cockroaches in our world but only about 30 of them are considered pests. Cockroaches are natures cleanup crew for breaking down dead and decaying matter. However helpful they are, people don’t want to live with them. There is nothing creepier that seeing a bunch of cockroaches scurrying away when you turn a light on in the bathroom at night or climbing up out of a bath drain right before you take a bath: This is the time to call a pest control company like Hopewell Pest Control.
- Cockroach signs and symptoms: Cockroaches are nocturnal so you will seldom see one during daylight hours unless your cockroach population is so large many are starving so they are forced into to the light to find food. It's more likely you will find dropping left behind on surfaces, such as under the kitchen sink, in the sink, in the bathroom closet and basement that look like coffee grounds or black pepper. Sometimes, people will see a cockroach scurry away when they turned a light on in the bathroom overnight. Don't suffer to live with cockroaches: Click to contact Hopewell Pest Control at (804) 668 - 9833
- One pair of roaches can breed up to a massive number of 300,000 buddies within a years’ time- enough to make anyone shiver. The common cockroaches invading homes in Hopewell, VA are The German cockroach, American Cockroach, Oriental Cockroach and Wood Roaches.

German cockroaches are not very large averaging 1/2 in length with their bodies colored light brown and sporting 2 black strips down their back. These are strictly an indoor species that spread to other homes or businesses by hitching rides on used furniture, old books (they eat the bindings) and used electronics. They also infest entire apartment buildings by following all the plumbing pipes and cables throughout the complex.

American Cockroaches are on the larger size (about 2 inches) reddish brown. They normally live outdoors in warm, moist and protected environment, such as under mulch, ground debris, sewers and steam tunnels. Sometimes they will move indoors when it's cold and live in kitchens and bathrooms where food and water is abundant.

Oriental Cockroach are glossy black or dark brown, 1 to 2 inches long and primarily live outdoors beneath mulch, leaf debris, rocks and garbage. They are attracted indoors to sewage, drains and leaking plumbing. They are most often found in moisture damaged wall voids, crawlspaces, drains and sewers.

Wood Roaches are a strictly outdoor species dwelling under piles of wood, inside decaying logs and under loose tree bark. They occasionally accidentally fly into a home through an open door or window but they cannot withstand the lower humidity of indoors and will quickly die within 24 hours. If you see a cockroach flying around inside your home, its likely a wood cockroach looking for a quick way out- so just show it the way.
- No worries, we eliminate cockroaches: Click to contact Hopewell Pest Control at (804) 668 - 9833 for a free inspection and we'll advise how to exterminate cockroaches in your house or businesses quickly and then explain controls to keep them from coming back.
- Costs of controls and treatments suggested will depend upon the type of cockroach and the extent of the colony.