Pacific Northwest Pest Control Blog

Repelling Wasps Without Harmful Chemicals When it comes to keeping wasps away from your home, there are many options available. Some people prefer natural solutions, while others opt for chemical repellents. Here's a breakdown of the most effective methods for deterring wasps, from the convenience of store-bought chemicals to the power of natural repellents. Chemical Repellents: What Works? Pest control companies often use sprays containing bifenthrin, which is an active ingredient found in products like Ortho Home Defense. These sprays are highly effective at repelling wasps from the...

Why Ants are Invading your Home The Scout Ant: The First to Discover Food Ants are highly resourceful and curious creatures, and they’re constantly foraging for food. If you’ve suddenly noticed a swarm of ants inside your home, a scout ant likely found something appealing—whether it’s food or moisture—and left behind a pheromone trail to signal the colony. Scout ants can travel quite a distance, especially species like carpenter ants, which can forage up to a few hundred yards away from their nest! The Role of Pheromone Trails Once a scout ant finds food, it marks the path back to the...

What Happens if You Ignore a Wasp's Nest? Introduction: The Risks of Leaving a Wasp Nest Untended Finding a wasp nest on your property can be intimidating, but leaving it unchecked could lead to bigger problems. Here’s what could happen if you ignore a wasp nest. Increased Size of the Nest Wasp nests continue to grow as the season progresses. If left untreated, a nest can become significantly larger, potentially housing 50-100 wasps. While wasps are generally non-aggressive, their nests can become a danger if disturbed. Damage to Property Although wasps don’t typically damage structures...

Dealing with Hidden Wasps Inside Your Home Sometimes, wasp nests are hidden within the walls, attic, or crawl space of your home. These nests are harder to spot and even harder to deal with. If you suspect you have a hidden nest, here’s how to find it and safely address the problem. 1. Identifying the Nest Location If you notice an increase in wasp activity around specific areas of your home, check for possible entry points, such as cracks in the siding, gaps around windows, or areas where utility lines enter the house. This could indicate the presence of a nest inside the walls or attic....

Over-the-counter traps, like Terro, can seem helpful. But often, ants just die in the trap without carrying bait back to the nest. That means the colony keeps going. What Is The Best Ant Bait For Sugar Ants? If you’re serious about solving a sugar ant invasion, consider the best ant baits and products for effective control early on in your strategy. These help ensure that you are not just killing visible ants but targeting the colony, too. Professional Picks: Advion and Niban We use Advion ant gel indoors and Niban (a boric acid-based bait) outdoors. These products are more targeted and...

Why Are Sugar Ants Appearing in My Home? If you’ve found sugar ants suddenly invading your space, it’s likely because they are looking for food or moisture. The question many homeowners ask is, "Why do I suddenly have sugar ants?" While it’s common for ants to invade homes during the warmer months, certain factors can make your home especially attractive to them. These factors include: Food sources: Sugar ants are highly attracted to sugary or greasy foods. Even the smallest crumbs or a spilled drink can attract them. Cracks and gaps in your home: Sugar ants are small but resourceful....