Advantage Pest Blog

Fleas in Central Florida

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 12:00:00 EST

This blog was so popular... it was time to repost: Fleas... it doesn't matter where you live in Central Florida! With a widespread problem already, here are a few helpful hints that can keep the problem under control. #1 - Make sure if you have any pets that they ARE on a professional flea program. For BEST results, you need to alternate the type of chemical being utilized, for example: I use Frontline Plus one month & Revolutions the next. We were told by a vet years ago that was the best thing & BOY WAS SHE RIGHT! PLEASE CONSULT A VET FOR CHEMICAL BEST FOR YOUR PET....

Roaches In Your Home in Ormond Beach

Sat, 23 Sep 2023 12:00:00 EST

Roaches are one of the most widespread and diverse insect groups in the world, with over 3,500 known species found in various habitats and ecosystems across the globe. In the United States alone, there are approximately 85 different species of roaches, and out of these, only 10 are found in the state of Florida. This makes Florida the home to a relatively low number of roach species compared to other regions in the country. The size of roaches can greatly vary, with some species growing up to 2 inches in length. They also come in a variety of colors, from dark brown and black to lighter shades such as tan and reddish-brown....

Florida Winter Pests

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 12:00:00 EST

The winter months in Florida bring cooler temperatures and a variety of pests that can wreak havoc on your home and yard. From rats and mice to roaches and mosquitoes, there are a few pests that are particularly active during this time of year. Understanding these pests, their habits, and the best ways to control them can help you protect your home and family from their potential damage and disease. One of the most common pests found in Florida during the winter months is the roof rat. These rodents are typically found in attics, where they can nest and proliferate. They can cause damage to insulation, electrical wiring, and other items stored in the attic....

Holiday Bugs Bring on Holiday Blues?

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 04:48:00 EST

The holidays are a time of joy and cheer, but let's face it they can be tough. The hustle and bustle, the shopping, the decorations, the gatherings, and extra responsibilities.... Now, on top of everything else, you have bugs! Whether it be the ants the are coming out of your sink or hanging around in the kitchen, or the eight legged ones that are more appropriate around Halloween, whatever the bug no one has time to deal with it during the rush of the holidays....

Fleas and Pets

Thu, 12 Jun 2014 12:00:00 EST

Summer is here, meaning people are spending more and more time outdoors, enjoying the sunny warm weather. Many times, they will bring their pets along to enjoy it too – but this can cause a problem, as they may bring back fleas into the home. If your pet has tracked these pesky critters back into your house and you are tired of the itchy feelings they cause, there are some at home pest control remedies you can try to get rid of them: Home Pest Control Remedies Check for fleas on you and around the home: put on a pair of white socks, and walk around the house....

Pests & Allergies

Mon, 09 Jun 2014 12:00:00 EST

Many people develop “summertime allergies”, blaming it on the weather and pollen in the air. But, the true cause could be the pests scurrying around your home. Did you know that roaches are actually the cause of one of the most common indoor allergens? Exposure to the cast-off skins and airborne residue roaches leave behind can trigger a response in 80% of those with asthmatic sensitivity, making them as common an allergen trigger as mold, animal dander, or cigarette smoke. But they aren’t the only pests who can cause allergies. Dust mites, fleas, wasps bees and others have been known to irritate allergies in some people....

Protecting Against Ticks

Thu, 29 May 2014 12:00:00 EST

The summer is upon us, and more and more people are turning to the outdoors for entertainment. Whether you are going camping or just taking your dog on a walk through the woods, there is a possibility you could come home with a little more than you bargained for – specifically, a tick. Ticks carry diseases, some of which can be fatal. How can you protect against ticks this summer season? Protect against ticks this summer season Use products with 20% DEET or higher on skin and clothing – this should be applied carefully, avoiding the eyes and mouth, and reapplied after several hours to ensure its effectiveness....

Surviving Lovebug Season

Wed, 07 May 2014 12:00:00 EST

If you have lived in Florida for any length of time, you realize that, much like summer, lovebug season is an inevitable part of the year. Generally, lovebugs fly into our state twice a year – during late spring, from around mid April through May, and then again in fall, as the heat begins to fade in September. While lovebugs are harmless to humans, they can definitely be a nuisance. Often times they will fly in people’s faces when they are enjoying an outdoor activity, or swarm around the backyard swimming pool. This is because they are attracted to moisture, and love to feed on moist grass....

Warm Weather Tips for Pest Prevention

Tue, 06 May 2014 10:04:00 EST

After many ups and downs this winter, the warm weather may be here to stay – and with the warm weather come many bugs, including carpenter ants, termites, ticks and others. How can you prevent these small creatures from becoming a problem? Lawn Care. Keeping your lawn cut and trim, and removing any leaf debris promptly, can help significantly cut down in bug issues. Trim trees and bushes around your home so they do not come into contact with the building. Often times, bugs can pass directly from these plants to your home. Also, remove any dead stumps that are within 50 feet of your home....

Are cockroaches invading your home?

Tue, 06 May 2014 09:32:00 EST

Did you know? There are more than 3,500 species of cockroaches in the world – and 70 of these species call Florida their home. These roaches can be difficult to kill, and will often invade homes no matter how clean you keep them or what precautions you take. So how can you help protect your home from cockroaches? First, you need to understand these creatures. They are generally nocturnal, preferring to come out at night. They are also not social insects, although you can often find them hiding in groups during the day, underneath stoves or refrigerators or in the crown molding....

Going into Termite Season

Fri, 21 Mar 2014 12:00:00 EST

Termites are active year round, but become more prevalent starting in the spring. While there is no hard and fast beginning and end to termite season, but generally it lasts from March to November. How can you prepare for termite season? Here are a few tips. Eliminate possible food sources: Termites love cellulose, found in stumps, rotting logs, and other wood. Removing stacked firewood from near your house and replacing wood mulch with alternative materials like rubber or rock can help prevent termites from colonizing on your property....

Swarming Ants vs. Swarming Termites

Thu, 20 Mar 2014 05:03:00 EST

There are a few specific physical attributes that can help you tell between flying ants and swarming termites. Flying ants have bent antennae, while those on a termite are straight. The wings on the ants are unequal length, with those near the head reaching out further than the pair behind them, while the two sets of wings on termites are approximately the same length. Ants wings are much more durable than termites wings as well – in fact, in the case of swarming termites, you will often find discarded wings on your property. Finally, ants feature a pinched waist while termites have a straight waist....

Tips to Get Rid of Fire Ants

Tue, 17 Sep 2013 12:00:00 EST

Another repost of a popular summer time blog :) UNCOOKED grits are the old southern way to get rid of fire ants. You just sprinkle the uncooked grits in and around the ant mound. Not too much though, you want them to be inticed, not buried underneath. The trick is trying to get a grit to the Queen of the colony. The newer way is called Orthene Dust made by Ortho. It comes in a can that is similar to Pringles Potato Chips. It's a tall cylinder with a foil top. DO NOT TAKE THE FOIL TOP OFF! Take a fork and poke some holes in it to make a shaker....

Heaven on Earth: Bugs Living in Florida

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 03:47:00 EST

What is Florida known for next to the sun and the surf? It is those pesky insects that are so attracted to the heat and moisture. They get on your body, your clothes, your bathrooms and even in your beds. No one wants to shower or sleep in a bed with fleas, earwigs, moths and other creepy crawly critters. Whether you are suffering from an infestation of roaches, rodents, ants, spiders, beetles, mites, wasps, or any other uninvited guests, you need the pest control specialists at Advantage Pest Services. The East Coast air is full of moisture and high percentages of humidity in which insects thrive and can overrun your home without you ever knowing....

Bedbugs Problems in Central Florida?

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:28:00 EST

We've been getting many requests & questions about bedbugs. The first question I always get is... Is it really a problem? Yes, it is! Traveling is the #1 cause of the outbreak. The larger cities that are the hubs for airlines...(Example: Atlanta Airport...our local travel through....) is one of the largest areas of the breakout. How many people do you know right here going through Orlando that traveled through these major hot spots?! Or stay in our local hotels that you like going to too! How do you know you have them? Here at Advantage Pest Services we have a FREE tester for you to find out!! Give us a call or inquiry to get yours......

Who Has NOT Had Insect Problems?

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:49:00 EST

It's hot, humid & just out right miserable! Well, insects go wild during our crazy summer days! Why? Well, it does NOT matter where you live, but how you take care of your home that helps! No matter if you are in Palm Coast, DeLand, New Smyrna or just in Daytona, Ormond or Port Orange.....bugs will find you! When the heavy rains come in the afternoon...our DRY ground can NOT handle all the water. What happens is, the bugs that live in the ground are going to seek higher ground. That usually means in your home!! If our area gets to DRY...what happens? They search for water...wherever they can....

Drywood Termite Season What to Look For

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:04:00 EST

Ah yes... Summer brings those hot and humid days especially here in Central Florida. It also brings those afternoon rain showers we are so thankful for. However, it also brings homeowners unwanted pest problems. Included in those problems is wood destroying organisms such as Drywood Termites! They can swarm to our homes from the wooded lot next door or from a forest a half of a mile away! The Drywood Termites are have clean wings that are in fact two times as large as their body. They are attracted to night-time lights around any structure, including our homes....

Fleas in Daytona, Deland & Palm Coast

Mon, 24 May 2010 12:07:00 EST

Fleas....doesn't matter where you live in Central Florida! With a widespread problem already, here are a few helpful hints that can keep the problem under control. #1 - Make sure if you have any pets that they ARE on a professional flea program. For BEST results, you need to alternate the type of chemical being utilized...for example: I use Frontline Plus one month & Revolutions the next.....We were told by a vet years ago that was the best thing & BOY WAS SHE RIGHT! PLEASE CONSULT A VET TO SEE WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR PET. Even if your pet does not go outside or don't even have a pet..........

Termite Season - FREE Pest Inspections

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:06:00 EST

Spring is here and you know what that means... Termites! Right now they are waiting for the right conditions to expend their colony outside their established homes. Is your Termite Bond up to date? Did you let it lapse? Are you a little worried that your home may have a problem? Are you worried that an inspection may cost a ton of money? Those are all very intriguing questions that you as a home owner must ask yourselves....

Termites Swarming in Central Florida

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:25:00 EST

OMG....We've never seen this! Subterranean Termites swarming in November?! We captured one occurance on video, so visit our Video Section on Home Page, than look for Termites & it will be the first video up....

Rodents Invading Your Home

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

The people of Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Palm Coast, Jacksonville, and other area surrounding the Space Coast have to prepare for the beginning of cooler temperatures. Awesome right? Yeah! However, there is one problem that can not be over looked when these awesome temperatures move in. Rodents will routinely begin to find a warm place to live. That means your home or business could be a prime target for unwanted guests like rats to move in. So here's a few suggestions for all of us to remember. First thing to remember, is they are looking for an easy way to get into your home or business....

Going Camping in Florida? Beware!

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:36:00 EST

If you are like us, we like to go camping. Even if it's in our own back yard here in Ormond Beach, it's nice to enjoy the great outdoors. The problem: Fleas & Ticks! If you are going to camp in deep wooded areas, you need to check and make sure that you don't have any of them on you! They can transfer from you, whether they are just on your clothes, to anything! If your vehicle has carpet or material on the seats, you could end up with a big problem....

Argentine Ants all over Florida!

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:28:00 EST

This information was found on AOL News: Argentine ants have spread from South America to every continent except Antarctica. A study in the journal Insectes Sociaux found that billions of the ants have now formed a global colony with enormous branches in Europe, the United States and Japan, the BBC reported. We here at Advantage Pest Services deal with Argentine ants here in Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach , Melbourne and even up in Jacksonville....

Volusia County Mosquito Advisory

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:35:00 EST

The Florida Department of Health issues advisories & alerts when animals test positive for various mosquito-borne illnesses. "Volusia, Walton, Columbia, Leon, Suwannee, Clay, Madison, and Union counties are currently under mosquito-borne illness advisories." This simply means that everyone in Volusia County & the surrounding counties needs to take precautions from being bit from mosquitoes. Everyone should know that mosquitoes are heavily out during dusk & dawn. Since it is way too hot here in Central & Northeastern Florida to wear long sleeve shirts, please don't forget to put on some mosquito repellent, best active ingredient being Deet....

Outside Maintenance Prevents Problems

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:46:00 EST

As residents of Florida, we all know that insects thrive during the spring and summer months. So our goal during this time of the year is to limit the ability for the insects to access our home. What do I mean with that statement? Insects can get into a structure very easily. For instance, improper outside maintenance of trees, bushes, and plants can invite them closer to our home. So we need to make sure our lawn care specialists trim the bushes and trees back enough that they can not create a “natural bridge” to the structure. Over grown plants and vines can also create a huge problem for our homes as well....

Cleanliness Reduces Insect Invasions

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:32:00 EST

Being a clean freak is a good thing for residents of Florida. Heck, it's a good thing who wants to reduce the risk of insect invasion. Let's face it, a tropical paradise like Florida will produce problems for people who do not want to take the extra time to clean up right after an outside barbeque party. One empty soda can can be just what is needed to entice any insect to move closer to your home. We don't really think about ants or other pests until they are bothering us. The problem can be solved before it even becomes a problem. Thats works with all areas of the house. If we take the extra time to keep things clean, the insects will not move in to the area....