15 / Mar / 2021
Long-held beliefs and old clichés warn that it’s unwise to assume things. The reason being that you could be wrong about whatever you’ve concluded. There can be major consequences for being incorrect about pests in Irvine. People sometimes think that an insect or creature is harmless, when in actuality, it’s quite dangerous. They might presume innocence because the critter is cute and furry, commonplace, or doesn’t have a particular feature. For instance, folks would naturally be uneasy about a venomous species.
Crickets are often thought to be inoffensive and without risk, but this isn’t true. The jumping bugs multiply very fast and can nest in spots that are hard to get to. Thus, they are rather challenging to get rid of. Learn what the hazards are with crickets and how you can prevent them in Irvine with Malang Pest Control.
House crickets, as you might guess, are seen the most in human dwellings. The yellow-brown insects have a trio of bands along their heads. Lengthy antennas, wings, and big hind legs are among their features. When fully developed, they are 0.75 to 0.87 of an inch long. Their smaller young have all the same physical characteristics, except for wings. Extreme temperatures and being low on food sources are what inspire crickets to penetrate domiciles. They will slip through openings in windows, doors, and foundations. Most likely, you’ll find them in basements, kitchens, bathrooms, fireplaces, and heaters. Those spaces provide the warmth and moisture they’re drawn to. Pet food, fruit, and vegetables are some of what they’ll munch on. Crickets also consume other bugs, so their activity implies a larger pest problem. Additionally, they’ll eat:
The aforementioned items are bound to be stained with excrement if crickets get to them. Even worse, these bugs can taint meals and surfaces with their waste. They also have affecting bacteria on their skin. If the critters don’t ruin your belongings or make you sick, they’ll keep you from sleeping with their incessant chirping. Males make these noises to communicate with females for mating.
When crickets are outdoors, they’ll be feasting on organic matter and nestling under logs, mulch, and rocks. Don’t count on them staying in nature though. Being in the yard, they’ll be too close to the coziness of your abode to resist it and they can pass through gaps of any size. To keep them from being on your land at all, take these actions:
Malang Pest Control has successfully been in business for over a decade because we’ve set our standards high. We provide budget-friendly services that are customized and designed to eradicate the critter in question. Our experienced technicians will use organic or botanical treatments to end cricket populations on your property. This ensures the desired results, while keeping humans, pets, and vegetation safe. Plus, it will be gentle on the environment. You’ll get a free inspection when you call Malang Pest Control today, so don’t think twice!
There are some pests you’re likely quite familiar with as a home or business owner. Pests such as flies, ants, spiders, and stinging insects are common pest problems in Irvine, and you likely know a little bit about them and the potential problems they can cause. However, many other pests can invade your property, and you might have questions about them that we can answer.
One of these strange pests is the silverfish. These insects are very odd-looking and look more like a prehistoric fossil than a bug. They have long, narrow bodies and are usually a silver color. They also have three thin appendages sticking out of the end of their bodies and a long pair of antennae. Because of the way they look, it’s easy to assume that silverfish are a dangerous pest that can bite and sting, but overall they are just considered a nuisance.
However, you will not want silverfish around your property, so this guide will give more information about them and how you can prevent them.
Silverfish don’t sting or bite, and they also don’t spread any illnesses. They aren’t a health threat to either people or pets, so you won’t have to worry about anyone around you getting sick or hurt.
However, silverfish can do some damage to belongings. They aren’t the most destructive pest around, but they can still ruin valuable items especially if an infestation is left alone over time. They like to chew on anything that has sugars and carbohydrates, so they often destroy food, books, and wallpaper. While they don’t spread diseases, you will still need to throw out any food that they get into.
While silverfish are overall nuisance pests, they can still cause problems for you as silverfish behavior leads them to destroy things around your home. To keep these creepy pests out, you can follow these seven preventive measures.
While silverfish aren’t going to hurt you, it’s still frustrating to deal with them damaging items that you care about. And, even if they haven’t done much property destruction yet, they are still very unsightly to have around. If you have silverfish in your home or business, the most effective way to remove them is with assistance from the experts at Malang Pest Control.
We have over ten years of experience in the area providing residential and commercial pest control, and we use high-quality products and the best practices in the industry. We even offer free inspections and have customizable plans to meet your budget and pest control needs. To get started today, give us a call at (949) 334-2793 or send us a message online.
Rodents are a dangerous pest that present numerous dangers to the homes they infest. Between damaging property, spreading disease, and contaminating anything they come across, rodents are a headache-inducing pest no one wants to have.
However, they’re also notoriously difficult to eliminate. Due to their fast reproductive rate and ability to get into almost anywhere in homes they invade, Irvine residents are always better off leaving their pest problems to the professionals.
Rodents spread bacteria through their urine, droppings, and saliva, transmitting diseases like murine typhus, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, and rat bite fever. Plague is a disease that both roof and Norway rats can carry, but in California it is more commonly associated with squirrels, chipmunks, and native woodrats. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is rare but often associated with rodents.
The second big problem rodents bring to buildings they invade is property damage. Rodents are known for causing a lot of property damage due to their persistent gnawing. We derive the word “Rodent” from the Latin word “rodere” means “to gnaw,” and gnaw they do! Rodents gnaw, eat, and contaminate any food items they come across. They gnaw electrical on wires, wood, and walls. They’ll also tear up insulation in walls and ceilings for nesting, including soft metals such as copper and lead, as well as plastic.
This area of California has several rodent and related species marauders but as elsewhere in the U.S the most common rodent pests are the Norway rat, the Roof rat, and the house mouse.
At 7-9 ½ inches long, the Norway rat aka sewer rat, brown rat, or common rat are the larger of the two species with tails shorter than its body length, a stocky appearance, and small ears. They are brown with scattered black hairs; gray to white underside with a blunt muzzle. They reach reproductive maturity within several weeks. Norway rats tend to be the most problematic in coastal or downtown areas.
Roof rats, aka black rats, fruit rats, or house rats, are smaller and sleeker, with tails that are longer than their bodies, with their 16″ total length made up of 6-8″ body plus 6-8″ tail. They have light undersides with a long thin with scaly tail, large ears and eyes. They typically live indoors in attics and outdoors in trees and dense vegetation. They reach reproductive maturity within a few months, allowing them to reproduce quickly.
House mice have slender grayish brown bodies 2 1/2 – 3 3/4″ long with a slightly pointed nose, black protruding eyes, large sparsely-haired ears, and a nearly hairless tail with scale rings and a cream belly. Adults weigh from 1/2 to 1 ounce. In the wild, they often feed on seeds and grain, but will prefer sugar whenever present. Their eclectic diet can include bacon, chocolate, candies, butter, and nutmeats.
It is rare to find both rats and mice inhabiting the same space as rats will chase, hunt, kill, and eat mice.
The quicker you can identify a rodent infestation, the faster you can take steps to eliminate it. Here are some key warning signs that can tip you off to a rodent infestation early:
Damaged fruits and nuts, such as walnuts, oranges, and avocados.
Signs of gnawing on plastic wood or rubber materials.
Droppings found close to a rat runway or feeding location.
Gnawing sounds from attic, subfloor areas and wall spaces.
Sighting them on fence posts, in your garden, or in your basement.
Burrows in the ground near foundation or slab and pipes
holes in your exterior and interior walls and finish boards.
However, due to the dangers rodents cause and the difficulty that comes with trying to treat them, prevention is always the best idea when it comes to rodents.
If you want to keep your home protected from the many problems rodents bring, here are some effective prevention steps you can use to lower your risk for infestation:
Keep all food sources locked in gnaw-proof cabinets or containers.
Seal all points of entry including cracks around doors and windows.
Screen dryer vents and chimney openings.
Repair all holes in fascia and soffit boards immediately.
Keep garbage in sealed bins and dispose of it regularly.
Keep tree limbs cut back from the roofline and trimmed to prevent any chance of nesting.
Clean rain gutters of squirrel treats like seeds and edible detritus of all kinds.
Routinely harvest ripe fruit and pick up all fruit that has fallen to the ground.
Control snails and clean up pet feces.
Repair leaking or sweating faucets, sprinklers, and other piping.
Controlling invasive rodents is a lot of work and if you do not have the time, tools, or expertise, the most effective & safest way to get rid of rodents is to contact the professionals at Malang Pest Control. We have all the tools and knowledge you need to eliminate your rodent problem quickly and completely. Contact us today and eliminate rodents from your life today!
A mouse or rat’s overgrown incisors are perhaps their most defining feature, but they are certainly not just for show! In fact, these teeth can even be dangerous to the rodent itself. A rodent’s teeth don’t stop growing over time, so if left unchecked, they may grow so long they pierce the rodent’s skin and eventually kill them. It should come as no surprise, then, that a rodent’s teeth have an exceptional bite force ratio, allowing them to chew through an extensive array of food and other materials. Sure, one single bite may not be able to chisel holes in lead, but that doesn’t mean lead is off the menu for good. Rodents are creatures who like to nibble excessively, and if left alone to chomp away, they can penetrate clothing fabrics, wiring, wood, bricks, concrete cinder blocks, aluminum, piping and yes, even lead.
The hazardous potential of rodents don’t stop at their teeth; it extends through their intestinal tract and out the other end. That’s right, the droppings of a rodent are disgusting for many of the same reasons as any other creature’s, and some additional reasons as well. Some humans can be allergic to rodents, their feces, and their urine, so being too close may trigger sneezing, rashes, sores, and swelling. Moreover, a furry pest’s droppings can serve as central areas for viral transmission. Just like fleas, ticks, and other parasitic pests, rats and mice are carriers for disease, including: rat-bite fever, typhoid fever, salmonellosis, plague, Lassa fever, tularemia, and food poisoning. On top of this, rodents are known to carry fleas and ticks of their own, which mean layers upon layers of additional potential illnesses and health risks.
The safest, most effective way to deal with rodent infestations is not to try to end them by yourself. Call in the experts! For specialized rodent prevention and pest treatment strategies you can rely on, you don’t need to wait. Reach out to Malang Pest Control, and know your rodent problems are about to be history.
What has six legs, lives on every continent except Antarctica, and resides anywhere you work, live, or play? If you guessed ants, you are correct.
There are over ten thousand different ant species. These fascinating six-legged creatures can live in virtually any environment. Belonging to the same order as wasps and bees, they are comprised of three parts: a large head, a narrow thorax, and an abdomen. At the end of each of their six legs are claws. Ants are possibly the strongest animals (for their size) on the planet with the ability to lift 50 times their body weight. They have two jaws equipped for gripping and carrying these “heavy” items.
While they don’t have ears, ants have two antennae that house their sense receptors, the most powerful of which are their odor receptors. The odor receptors of ants are exponentially stronger than other insects, which enable them to find food particles even as small as a crumb. When an ant locates a source of food, it communicates using pheromones to provide a type of GPS coordinate to the buffet. But what if that buffet is in your home?
Malang Pest Control is your source of information on ants. We provide the service and tools needed in our ant control service to protect your Irvine home against ant invasions.
Ants are considered the number one nuisance pest by the National American Management Association. They are not harmful to your property or your health. But man, there’s nothing more annoying than opening a cupboard to find a single file line of marching ants headed straight for the organic honey. No ant is welcome inside your home.
If you have had the experience above, you might have dealt with a variety of ant species collectively called sugar ants. Sugar ants include carpenter ants, odorous house ants, and Argentine ants. Odorous house ants emit a rotten coconut smell when crushed.
Odorous and Argentine ants are small dark brown or black ants. Relatively harmless, these two types of ants are highly attracted to sweets. They find a route into your home through cracks and make their way to your kitchen, where they can contaminate food items. Once inside, they build their nests in warm moist areas.
Carpenter ants are the most dangerous type of ant to your home. Like termites, large colonies of carpenter ants target and damage wood, but not by eating it. They tunnel through the wood to create nests, leaving behind trails of sawdust-like particles. Carpenter ants need moisture to survive, so they look for soft, wet, or rotting wood.
Notorious red fire ants can be dangerous to your health. Common in California, the red fire ant nests in mounds above the ground. When their nests are disturbed, often inadvertently by pets or humans, red fire ants sting, injecting venom that can cause painful burning, itching, and swelling in its victims. The venom could be life-threatening for pets or people who have allergies to fire ants. A fire ant sting to a family member with an allergy can cause anaphylaxis shock and potentially death, if untreated. Secondary bacterial infections introduced from the sting are also a cause of concern as victims scratch and scrape at the irritated skin.
The yellow and light brown Pharaoh ant is known to transmit dozens of diseases like staphylococcus and salmonella. Pharaoh ants are a hospital’s worst nightmare as they have been known to enter the mouths and wounds of patients, exposing them to bacteria. In your home, these ants target your cabinet and can track harmful pathogens in and around your food supply.
No matter what type of ants may plague your home, contact the professionals at Malang Pest Control for pest solutions in Irvine, CA.
Fire ants are a problem no one wants to have, for a number of reasons. Between the pain of their stings, the potential danger those stings can carry, and the difficulty that comes with trying to treat a fire ant infestation, keeping fire ants at bay with fire ant control is a necessity for Irvine residents. Unfortunately, Irvine residents are no stranger to fire ant mounds covering their yards, especially in the warmer months of the year.
In this blog, we’ll take a look at fire ants, the dangers they pose to homes and yards they invade, and what Irvine residents with fire ants on their property need to do to keep themselves protected.
Fire ants are named for two reasons: their fiery red coloration and the burning sensation their stings leave on those unfortunate enough to come into contact with them. They range from roughly ½ – ¼ inch in length, with reproductive castes growing slightly larger than their worker counterparts. Beyond their coloration, they can be differentiated from other ant species due to the two nodes on their thorax that aren’t found on other ants.
Fire ants are unique among ant species in that their primary method of defense is their powerful stingers. While they have biting mandibles like other ants, they primarily use them to hold their prey in place in order to sting them, rather than simply using their bite as the primary method of attack.
Most of the country sees fire ant mounds around the yard as spring arrives and the temperature starts rising. Unfortunately, the high heat and humidity that Irvine provides makes it the perfect breeding ground for fire ants for much of the year.
Because fire ants sting instead of biting, they carry a severe risk that is not present in other species of ants. Stings are more than just painful: in large numbers, the venom each sting transmits can be seriously dangerous to people – even fatal. If you accidentally step on a mound, you could find yourself in a harmful and dangerous situation.
The risk is especially great for people with allergies. People with allergies to fire ant venom can experience life-threatening reactions, specifically anaphylaxis, wherein the person will develop hives, swelling in the throat and tongue, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and other symptoms. In severe cases, the rapid loss of blood pressure can send the victim into shock and cause them to lose consciousness.
Fire ants can also be dangerous to pets, particularly dogs. Dogs wandering around outside can easily stumble into fire ant hills, and dog food attracts them, so failure to monitor your furry friends while they’re playing outside could leave them covered in stings that could put their health at serious risk.
Fire ants are notoriously difficult to eliminate from yards they infest. In an infested yard covered with fire ant mounds, you can’t destroy one colony at a time and have any hope for success. Through a process known as “budding,” a threatened colony will split itself off into multiple colony groups that will disperse throughout the property and create their own new colonies, starting your problems all over again. This is also why untreated fire ant populations tend to double or triple every few months.
Due to the threat fire ants pose and the difficulty associated with getting rid of them, affected homeowners have only one realistic option to rid themselves of this problematic pest: call a professional for help.
Luckily, the pest control professionals at Malang Pest Control have got you covered. We have years of experience protecting homeowners in Irvine and across California from fire ants and numerous other pests. Contact us today and find out why a professional fire ant treatment from Malang is the perfect solution for any fire ant problem you’re facing.
How good is your sense of smell? Can you pick up the fragrance of a rose from a block away, are you able to tolerate being in the same room with a pet that was sprayed by a skunk, or are you somewhere in between? If your nose is more sensitive than most, you should have no problem smelling the pests we are talking about today.
Although not as intense as skunks, odorous house ants are smelly pests that cause more than a stink around the home. The question is, how dangerous are they, and what is the best way to prevent them from invading? We have your answers here.
From a distance, odorous house ants look like any other common home-invading ant. They are black or brown, one-eighth to three-sixteenths of an inch long, and have the typical three body segments you are used to seeing. The only significant difference is that their abdomen is uneven and crooked. With close inspection, this one detail will give these smelly pests away.
When crushed, odorous house ants produce a scent often likened to rotten coconuts. As infestations grow within a home’s walls, this scent will become much more noticeable, even to those who don’t have a good sense of smell.
Odorous house ants live primarily on a diet of protein and sugar; this includes pretty much all of the food inside your cabinet, pantry, and fridge. When searching for food to feed their colony, these pests will look for anything easy to gather like crumbs under your couch, a pie left out on a countertop, or food from your pet’s bowl. Odorous house ants will even search for food inside trash cans.
Thankfully, odorous house ants are not dangerous pests and aren’t known to carry diseases like some of their close relatives. What they are known for is contaminating food. When these pests infest homes, they don’t discriminate on where they go or what food they crawl through. Needless to say, if you enjoy your food without ants on it, these pests are the last creatures you want inside your house.
Odorous house ants don’t just invade homes to find food. They will often come inside to avoid inclement weather or to find a reliable source of moisture. If your home has leaky pipes, broken gutters, sources of standing water, left out food, or crumbs around, these pests will be much more likely to invade.
Odorous house ants require two things to cause problems around your Irvine home; a way in and a good reason to stick around once inside. The more you limit their access to your home, water, and food, the less like you will be to have a problem with these pests. We recommend starting with a thorough cleaning of your house. Once your home is clean, practice storing leftover food inside airtight containers. You don’t want ants finding anything to eat if they come indoors.
To stop odorous house ants from coming inside, make sure to seal up your home’s exterior completely. Use a caulking gun to fill in gaps and cracks in its foundation, repair or replace window and door screens that are damaged, and make sure all of your door sweeps and weatherstripping is in good condition.
The most important step in odorous house ant prevention is quality ant control. If you are looking for a reliable pest control provider in your area, look no further than Malang Pest Control. Our expert team has what it takes to guard your home against all sorts of common invasive pests, including odorous house ants.
Call us today or reach out to us through our website to find a plan that best suits you and your home’s individual needs. Learn more about our Irvine, CA pest control services.
What is your worst fear when walking outside? Do you fear crossing paths with a bear, or perhaps stepping on a hive of wasps? If you are here today, you might have a fear of fire ants or at least the pain they cause. To help keep these painful pests off your Irvine property, here are a few things you ought to know.
It is not hard to identify fire ants, especially if they are biting and or stinging you. You heard us right; these pests don’t just bite, they sting as well. If you ever find yourself walking outdoors in bare feet and wander too close to a nest of fire ants, you may find out first hand how painful their attacks are.
Of course, identifying these pests by the pain they cause alone is not preferable. To tell if your yard has fire ants without stomping on their nest in your bare feet, look at their color and size. Fire ants are one-eighth to three-eighths of an inch long and dark reddish-brown. When building their nest, fire ants gravitate towards hot, sunny, and dry areas, sometimes devoid of grass or vegetation.
The good news is that fire ants do not spontaneously combust or produce fire in any way. The bad news is that their stings will make your skin feel like it is right up next to a fire. Although a single sting is not terribly painful, several in one location are fairly unpleasant. Upon being stung, the first thing you will notice is a pinprick of pain, followed by an intense pinching or burning sensation. Itching typically follows and can last for a few days. As long as you avoid scratching the wound, no more serious problems will occur. If you are allergic to insect venom, your reaction to a fire ant sting could be more severe. Consult your doctor to understand your risk.
Out in nature, when fire ants nest around water sources, they can prevent wildlife from being able to hydrate themselves, sometimes leading to dehydration and even death. In addition, fire ants can fatally damage plants by tunneling through their roots and stems. If you have a garden or value the quality of your grass, these pests are the last creatures you want living on your property.
Because fire ants primarily live outdoors and rarely invade homes, prevention is often difficult. That said, here are a few tips our experts recommend you try:
For the best results, pair the steps above with a professional treatment plan courtesy of Malang Pest Control. Our team provides quality, friendly service, and reliability. If you are looking for a long-term solution to fire ants causing trouble around your yard, we are your best choice.
Reach out to us today to discuss your ant treatment options or to schedule your Irvine property for a thorough inspection. We promise you will not be disappointed. Find out more about our Irvine, CA pest management offerings.
It’s that time of year again! As summer comes to a close, ants can continue marching in for all that your Irvine home offers. Ants, arguably, have the easiest time entering the home as they can squeeze through the tiniest cracks. However, there’s no need to give up on the joys of California living. There are several ways to keep these ants at bay, and we can help!
First, it’s important to understand the types of ants that are common in Irvine.
As ants come into homes looking for shelter, food, and water, it’s no surprise that they are common in kitchens and bathrooms. They prefer sweet foods, but even small spills or other fragrant substances are attractive to ants. Once an ant locates a food source it will mark the location with pheromones for other ants to follow. If possible, it’s a great idea to eliminate that initial unwanted house guest!
An essential first step in repelling ants in the home is to identify entry points. These can be torn or broken screens, door sweeps, windows, etc. Any crevice is an invitation for ants. Seal up any gaps, especially in windows and doors, to prevent entry. Caulking cracks in the foundation and walls is another great way to ensure that your home is adequately sealed.
Beyond limiting entry points, it is also important to limit factors that might attract ants in the first place. Be sure to regularly conduct a deep cleaning of household surfaces, especially in the kitchen and bathroom nooks and crannies. Wipe down surfaces around furniture and appliances. Clean floors. Seal up any access to food in the home in airtight containers, including pet food. Empty trash cans. Treat the war against ants as one of attrition by eliminating their food sources. This is crucial as ant colonies generate and spread quickly!
Aside from limiting food sources, there are a few other ways to repel ants. Ants are always searching for water. Clean any moist areas and take care of spills quickly. You can also invest in DIY ant repellant techniques and over the counter remedies at the first sign of ants on your property.
Ants are invasive, and it’s often the case, especially when infestations are large, that they can get out of control! Not to worry! Malang Pest Control has you covered with our team of professionals. We can help you get rid of pesty ants quickly and easily with safe products, year-round treatments, and a service guarantee. Our professionals will help get you back to enjoying your home. Want to know more about our process? Check out our FAQs page!
Give us a call today at (949) 398-2525 or schedule an appointment online. Our goal is to provide the best pest control you’ve ever had!