Tag Archives: Sure Thing Pest Control

Cincinnati Pest Control, Flying Insects, Pest Control, Prevention tips, Recurring Service(s), Seasonal Pest Control

The Early Invasion of Stink Bugs in Cincinnati

Over the weekend while I was out doing some work around the house, I noticed what looked to be a couple of stink bugs trying to make their way in. It seems they have already started the search for a location to overwinter. If you’ve had issues with stink bugs in the past, now is the time to start preparing and pest-proofing your home before they make their way in.

As you’ve probably noticed the days have been getting shorter and shorter which is the trigger for many insects including stink bugs, ladybugs, and boxelder bugs to begin searching for areas to overwinter in Great Cincinnati. Like your home or business! While treatment will help to greatly reduce the number of these over winter pests that make it into your home the best way to deal with them is prevention: pest-proofing your home to keep them from making their way in.

In the Cincinnati area, we have a great number of insects that try to make your home their overwintering hotel including the brown marmorated stink bug, Asian lady beetle, boxelder bug, and cluster flies just to name a few. Brown marmorated stink bugs are usually the first to start searching followed by the Asian lady beetle a few weeks later. If your home has had issues in the past than you should expect the same problem again this year.

 

You may ask, what measures should I take to prevent these overwinter pests?

Pest control treatment is a great start. At Sure Thing, we can perform a fall application to your home to prevent a large majority of the stink bugs, boxelder bugs, and other pests from making their way in. While this is a great method for greatly reducing the chances of these pests from entering your home or business some exclusions measures should also be taken to have the best results.

Another great method for stopping them before they make it into your home is to properly pest-proof your home. Here are some tips that you can do at home to reduce problems with fall insect invasions:

  1. Seal cracks around doors, windows, and dry vents with caulk. Cracks as small as 1/8” will allow some insects to fit through.
  2. Replace torn or damaged window screens.
  3. Seal openings around pipes and wires in the foundation and siding with caulk. For larger openings use expandable foam or other suitable materials.
  4. Check the seal/ weather stripping under the doors. While lying on the floor, look to see if you can see light coming from under or around the door.
  5. Adding a chimney cap to exclude Stink bugs and also other wildlife. Make sure to leave your damper closed when not in use.
  6. *Cover attic and roof vents with hardware cloth. The cloth should be 1/6 inch or smaller to exclude stink bugs*
  7. Remove window AC units if possible.
  8. Apply a residual insecticide to the exterior of the home. Treating underneath and around doors, windows, utility openings, and where there is a change of material.

What To Do Once They’re Inside

Once overwinter pests have made it inside your Cincinnati home or business, you’ll generally them in various places. They are commonly seen around chimneys, closets, window air condition units, attics, on shelves, and around windows and doors.

Once Stink bugs have already made it into your home a chemical treatment is not recommended as they are going to be in wall voids and other areas that can’t be accessed so you may still continue to find insects. Besides prevention, the best way to remove overwintering pests is simply to suck them up with a vacuum. Another great control measure in dark areas such as attics and basements is to use some variation of a light-baited/ funnel trap and soapy water traps.

 

Got Questions? Need help? Don’t want the Stink Bugs to invade your home? Feel free to reach out! We’re here to help!

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Customer Portal to Better Serve You

We’re excited to announce that our online customer portal is fully functional to better serve you.

View payments and service history

Request estimates and service calls

Make secure online payments

Set up autopay for scheduled payments

Get pest prevention tips

To enroll your account online you’ll need to:

  1. Visit our website “SureThingPC.com“
  2. Click on the “my account” tab
  3. Under the “Sign In” section on the right side of the screen click the “Create New Account” button
  4. At this point, you’ll need to enter your customer #, Street # (do not enter your street, just your street #), Zip code and then the email you wish to use to access your account
  5. You’ll need to access your email that you registered with. You should receive a confirmation email from customerportal@surething. Click the link in this email and you’ll be redirected to finish your registration.
  6. Create a password for your account. You should be redirected to your newly created customer portal page. (If you’re not redirected you’ll need to go back to the “my account” tab on our webpage and sign in from there using your email and newly created password.)

If you have any questions about registering your account or run into any issues please reach out to Corbin at 513.247.0030.

Cincinnati Pest Control, Pest Control, Termites, Termites in Cincinnati, Winter Pest Control

7 Reasons You Need Pest Control in Winter

Pest Control in the Winter?

With the winter- time cold temperatures that bring snow and ice to the Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky area pest control may be the last thing on your mind. But don’t be fooled by thinking all the pests have frozen and died! You might think winter is a time when nature takes a rest, but things are not always as they seem. In the world of pest control, there is still a lot of work to do. Pests such as Black Widows and other spiders, ants, cockroaches, termites, bedbugs, fleas, rats, mice and the like, may slow down a bit, but they don’t go away. In fact, they continue feeding, growing and multiplying, often in the warmth and comfort of our homes.

Warmer days also get pest moving again, when outside temperatures are on a warming trend, outdoor pests, such as Carpenter Ants, House Ants, Wasps, bees, and occasional invaders like millipedes, and stink bugs, continue their activities. It is a wise practice to maintain your protective barrier guarantee on a quarterly basis. Cutting your pest control service during the winter season as a cost-saving measure gives pests a head start for the spring, and may void warranted services.

7 reasons to continue your pest control service through the winter

  1. Autumn invading pests living inside the walls are not affected by the cold temperatures outdoors.
  2. Termites, carpenter ants, cockroaches, silverfish, and many other insects can thrive indoors as the weather is always pleasant inside!
  3. Attics provide shelter to other insects such as wasps and spiders, as they try to escape the cold.
  4. Rodents can find their way into your home if all entry points are not sealed off.
  5. When we perform a meticulous inspection of your home, inside and out, we ensure that no pest related issues are present and identify any conditions that might increase the risk of future pest problems.
  6. Inspecting and/or treating entry points like doors, windows, and weep holes provide lasting protection and ready your home for the emergence of pests in spring.
  7. When we remove spider webs, egg cases, wasp nests, and mud dauber nests, we prevent them from reemerging when the weather warms.

Remember, invasive pests want to be indoors during the winter for the same reasons you do! It is important to perform a comprehensive winter pest control treatment to insure that your home is protected year-round.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our knowledgeable office staff at 513.247.0300.

Thank You for your continued patronage,
The friendly staff,
Sure Thing Pest Control