Laveen, Arizona is prime real estate for honey bees both Africanized and European, and the Africanized honey bee is known to swarm 4 or more times a year compared to the European Honey Bee which only swarms once or twice if even that depending on conditions. Phoenix and the metro area as well as other Arizona cities have become a hot spot for Africanized Bees and the activity has increased every year. It is very important that you treat all bee colonies and swarms as if they are dangerous as one mistake can be a very painful one. Trying to treat bees yourself can end up with serious injuries and even fatalities for you and your neighbors as well as pets.

Normally, people and bees can coexist, however, with the migration of aggressive Africanized honey bees into the Valley in recent years, experts expect to see an increase in bee incidents. Bee attacks usually occur when bees are swarming or if they are protecting their hive. If someone tries to remove the bees or a hive, agitates the bees by swatting at them, or startling them with the noise from power equipment such as lawn mowers or blowers, a stinging emergency can happen.

If they land on the structure of your home or are coming and going in an eave or into the stucco or siding etc. or there is visible honeycomb on any structure around your property then they do need to be removed properly by Bug Guardian Pest Prevention.

As the weather changes, pests and rodents seek out a cozy and warm place to hide. Usually, this means that they end up in a home, becoming a nuisance for those who live there. These tiny creatures intrude in objects like paper, food products and wood. Often, homeowners will resort to using pesticides and insecticides themselves to get rid of these pests, but this can be challenging and dangerous to do alone. Instead, consult a professional pest control company to handle your home invaders.

Professional pest control companies have received training to handle the chemicals responsibly, and employ practices that keep your family safe. Most pest control professionals offer affordable services that you can employ on a contractual basis. Here are some of the reasons to hire an expert.

KEEP YOUR FAMILY HEALTHY AND SAFE

Pest infestations can come with diseases, including food poisoning, asthma and allergies. The longer that pests are in your home, the more dangerous these conditions become. A pest professional will not only eliminate the pests in your home, but will provide tips on how to keep them out in the future. These methods include keeping the surroundings and area free of clutter, removing any stagnant water to prevent the breeding of flies and mosquitoes and proper food storage techniques.

ELIMINATE CHEMICAL RISK

Handling chemicals always comes with a risk. While most readily available DIY pest treatments have been approved for home use, you should always use caution when handling chemicals you aren’t familiar with. A trained pest technician knows when to use the appropriate chemicals so as not to cause any harm to humans or pets.

PEST IDENTIFICATION

Occasionally, homeowners may have trouble identifying the proper treatment for the pests they have. For example, there are numerous types of ants, and each one requires a different method of treatment. Homeowners may spend hundreds of dollars on trial and error to eliminate their pests, but a pest professional will be able to quickly identify and treat the issue.

SAVE TIME

A professional pest control company can provide quicker and more effective results than if you tried to fix the infestation yourself. Because of their experience and chemicals that may not be readily available to consumers, they can quickly implement extermination plans and efficiently eliminate all pests in a relatively short amount of time.

AVOID DAMAGE

Some pests, like termites and rodents, can cause expensive damage to your home if left untreated. Avoid having to make expensive repairs to your walls, carpets, wiring or foundation by hiring a professional to address the issue.

Q:  MY DOGS GET FLEAS EVERY YEAR.  WHAT CAN I DO TO STOP THEIR SUFFERING?

A: Fleas are a common problem of dogs and cats.  There are a few options to help prevent fleas from entering your home.  Some of these options involve your pet, while others require mechanical changes to the environment.  By using multiple options, you can help ensure fleas do not enter your home and bother your family.

By eliminating the habitats in your yard where fleas are most likely to occur, you will take the first proactive step for prevention.   Fleas tend to like it where it is moist, warm, shady, and where there is organic debris. They will also tend to be where pets spend more of their outdoor time such as patios, dog houses, etc.  Rake away leaves and grass clippings to reduce the number of places fleas can live.

For your pet, there are a few options for ongoing coverage.  Have your pet get shampooed with a flea-control product or purchase a product that you can apply to your pet on a regular basis.  The problem with these options is that many fleas have become resistant in varying degrees to the pesticides contained in these products.  Although these products will have some other value for other parasites such as ticks and mites, their level of control for fleas can be hit or miss at times.  Flea & Tick Collars can be effective, but must be applied properly.  To get the right degree of snugness, you should just be able to get two fingers between the collar and your pet’s neck.  Some collars lose effectiveness when they get wet, so make sure you verify how long they will last in the environment by reading the label.

Your pets are not the only animals that travel in your yard and deliver fleas on your property.  Stray dogs and cats as well as naturally occurring wildlife can be a source of fleas.  Try to discourage these animals from entering your yard by keeping your trash inaccessible, eliminating potential harborages for these animals, and by not leaving food out for them.  Even if you do not have any pets, fleas can be carried into your home by your family as well.  Adult fleas respond to movement, vibrations and carbon dioxide.  By simply walking around and breathing, you are attracting fleas to you.

On the inside of your home, you can vacuum your home on a regular basis to help pick up fleas.  Vacuuming will suck up many flea eggs and disrupt their reproductive cycle.  This will also remove dirt and debris that flea larvae use to create a cocoon.  The debris that they use also helps to camouflage the pupa while it develops.  Adult fleas consume blood as they feed, leaving behind droppings that have blood remnants in them.  These droppings dry out quickly and are left behind for flea larvae to develop.

The resolution usually needs a 2 tier approach for resolution.  You will need to visit your vet and have a pesticide treatment given to your pet.  This can be a shampoo, a topical application or an oral dose given to the pet.  Be cautious about over the counter applications since the dosage is determined by weight.   A veterinarian will be able to determine what your best option is for your pet.  Flea combs are often overlooked for removing fleas.  Comb your pet and then place the fleas in soapy water to kill them.  Combing a pet is very time consuming, but it will provide some immediate relief for your pet.

A pesticide treatment is usually necessary to resolve a flea issue and they are not usually resolved in one treatment.  Multiple applications are usually required.  A product that will kill any adult fleas and also stop the development of eggs and larvae is preferred.  Many over the counter treatments use active ingredients that the fleas have developed resistance to.  If you choose to treat your home with an over the counter treatment, you may elongate how long it takes to resolve the issue.  I usually recommend that a pest management professional performs the treatment since most homeowners do not have the education on where to look for flea harborages.

Most flea treatments take multiple applications, so you will have to be patient while going through the process.  A pest management professional will usually be able to resolve the problem faster and provide guidance on how to prevent fleas from reoccurring again given your personal situation.

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when it comes to pest control comes down to do-it-yourself solutions gone awry. Oftentimes, the very pest he or she is trying to eliminate or prevent is actually drawn indoors more-so through the use of misplaced baits and/or traps.
When dealing with pesticides and baits/traps, it is 100% necessary to be trained in the use of chemicals and to understand what the repercussions could be for you and your family.
Pests can make their way into any home. The negative connotations associated with a possible pest issue should not hinder a homeowner from reaching out to a pest control company that will handle the problem most efficiently and professionally. DIY solutions are not a quick fix, and can potentially cause even more of a headache. Reach out when you need help to receive professional insight and solutions.
When it comes to pest control, expertise is important – not just because it’s the fastest way to eliminate pests, but because it’s critical to controlling pests safely. Too often, we uncover botched DIY pest control attempts that ultimately result in a call for professional help. While that’s concerning from a pest control perspective, and can cost homeowners more money in the long run, it is even more upsetting when the methods attempted put homeowners at risk for harm.
Other instances of misdirected DIY are less dire…for example, using traps to kill ants but never identifying their source. (In most cases, this means that ants will return.) Knowledge is the most powerful form of pest control, so before covering your home in traps, consider turning to a professional who is certified to keep family members and pets safe and sound.
The DIY pest control market is strong, with homeowners seeking ways to manage pest control needs on their own. Home pest control remedies aren’t always effective, however, so it is important to consider the long-term cost when thinking about DIY.
DIY pest control can in the worst cases be dangerous. There are instances, Froio says, where people have burned down their homes or harmed or killed others when using pest control materials and methods that they don’t understand. Many times, people also over-apply pest control materials, which can be dangerous to the occupants of the home.
Bug Guardian Pest Prevention is here to help. Beyond addressing your immediate pest control needs, we’ll help you understand the pest prevention and exclusion techniques, both indoors and out, that lead to more effective solutions.

Raising a family with kids in Queen Creek, Mesa or Gilbert means you are probably spending a lot of time outdoors, soaking up the beautiful weather this time of year. Warmer temperatures also signal an increase in activity for all pests so we want to help you address your pest control needs while keeping your family safe.

1. Understand Pesticide Terms

Did you know that the warning labels on pesticides actually have different keywords to look for that will help you know which pest control method is the least toxic. It is important to note, these words only describe the short-term toxicity of the product so there may be other long lasting effects. That is why it is always important to keep any pesticide in a safe, locked away location that children can’t get into. According to the National Pesticide Information Center, the three main words on pesticide labels include: CAUTION, WARNING or DANGER. Caution on the label indicates the product is slightly toxic if inhaled or eaten and will cause minor eye or skin irritation. Warning means that if the pesticide is inhaled or eaten it is moderately toxic with a more severe irritation to eyes and skin. Danger is the highest level of toxicity and should include the label ‘Poison.’ This means that the pesticide is highly toxic if eaten or inhaled and may cause severe damage to the eyes or skin. If a child ever comes in contact with any type of pest control product always be sure to call Poison Control or take them to the doctor right away.

2. Try to Prevent Pesticide Exposure in Kids

Trying to keep pests out in the first place is a good start to avoiding use of pest control methods. Some basic home maintenance can help deter pests, for example, sealing all gaps around your home and caulking around doors and windows can reduce the entry spots for bugs. It will also help to keep the outside of your home cleaned up by trimming all shrubs and trees away from your house and ensuring trash can lids are secure. Unfortunately, some household pests require the use of pesticides to get rid of an infestation but how and where you apply them can make all the difference in your family’s safety. There are some chemical-free pest control products on the market or as we mentioned above, using the least toxic pesticide is denoted by a ‘CAUTION’ label. Always following the label instructions very carefully will also help you to prevent overuse of the product. Instead of pesticide sprays or bug bombs, we recommend using crevice treatments or enclosed bait stations since these methods decrease the likelihood of pesticide exposure.

3. How Pest Control Products Harm Children

We have to remember that children learn about the world around them differently than adults. For example, infants and toddlers put things in their mouths and they are in more contact with the ground while learning to crawl and walk. Plus, children’s bodies are less able to detoxify and get rid of harmful chemicals as quickly as an adult. For all these reasons it is very important to understand that any pest control used can affect kids more than their adult caregivers. This is where it comes in handy to have a local pest control company assess your home and figure out a pest management plan that is kid-safe and gets rid of those bugs!
Armed with this knowledge, we hope it will help you decide how to tackle your home pest control issues while keeping your family safe. Many pest control companies have kid and pet safe options so always be sure to ask about them. Feel free to contact us for any pest management questions or for an assessment because we are always here to serve the Queen Creek community and all surrounding areas!

Moving into a new home is an exciting and special moment, but it can quickly become stressful if the house has pest-related issues. Some pests have the ability to mask their prominence, and an otherwise clean looking home can, in fact, be harboring an insect or vermin problem. But there some things to check in your new dream home before moving in that can help alleviate any concern about a pest problem. However, if you have already moved into your new home, the Arizona pest prevention experts at Bug Guardian can do a thorough examination and bring a professional edge to pest prevention in your new home. So, if you are moving into a new abode or have recently moved, here are some quick things to be on the lookout for.

• Chewed or Frayed Wires: This can be an obscure problem, especially when moving into an entirely new home devoid of many long-term wires or cords. However, nearly any home will have some form of remaining wires (or even carpeting), and it is important to check these for any signs of rodent damage. Chewed through cords can be a sign of a lurking rat or insect issue.
• Droppings: Generally, these are not going to be out in the open. Most pest droppings are hidden within the same areas as the rodents themselves. So, be thorough in checking areas of the home you may not even take a look at in the home buying process (attics, behind stoves, under any remaining furniture). Clearly, a large amount of droppings could portend to some ominous things.
• Dead Bugs: Well, we hate to the bearer of bad news, but if your amazing new home seems to have an abundance of dead bugs, odds are it has quite a few live ones somewhere, too. Similar to the advice with the droppings, look in areas that are less likely to have been disturbed or cleaned. Nearly every house in Arizona is going to have some level of dead bugs in it, but identifying a true hidden pest problem can simply come from the quantity you may be seeing.

These are but a few of the many ways to check a new home for a possible pest problem. Call the professionals in Arizona pest prevention at Bug Guardian for an exceptionally thorough inspection of any new home or business you have moved into. There’s nothing better, after moving in, than a feeling of security of knowing that you are pest-free.