Complement Your Spring Cleaning With Some Easy Pest Control Tips

Pest control technician working in Springfield VA - Elrich Pest Control, formerly Connor'sSo many kinds of pests come out in the spring – the mixture of increased temperature and moisture creates a perfect environment for bugs to breed, feed, and thrive. As an influx of new insects sets in, many homeowners here in the Springfield VA area are going to find that their house has been taken over by unwelcome guests. Our experts at Elrich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s, will help prepare you for the season with a list of preventative measures to take.

Spring Bugs

Before you start pest-prepping your home, you should ask: what kinds of bugs should I be expecting? Here are some common spring pests in Virginia:

These pests all operate in different ways, but many of them are attracted to the same things that you might find in your house. Before you call your local pest control company, there are some steps that you can take to make your home less hospitable for bugs.

How to Keep Bugs Out of the House

Keeping an organized house is one of the most important methods of pest prevention. This might mean a number of things depending on the pest, so let’s take a look at the three main methods to keeping your home clean and bug-free. 

  1. Sealing food: Always be sure to put away your food and seal it up properly. Ants, in particular, are known for finding any open food source, even if it’s left slightly ajar in a cabinet. Storing all of your food in resealable containers should do the trick.
  2. Close doors and windows: Any door or window left open for too long could lead all sorts of insects looking for food and shelter into your home. Install screens on your windows and doors to get fresh air in the house without worrying about pests.
  3. Eliminate moisture: Many kinds of bugs, such as termites, spiders, ants, and more, are attracted to moisture inside your house. Water outside of your house could be a problem, too – mosquitoes lay their eggs on still water. Getting rid of dampness inside the house and pouring out or covering standing water outside of the house should work to prevent many kinds of pests.

Expert Pest Control in Springfield VA

If you’re experiencing an outbreak on your property after taking all of this advice, you might be dealing with a problem that’s outside of your control. In this case, reach out to your local pest control experts. The technicians at Elrich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s, are trained to handle a wide array of issues. Our mission is to rid your home of pests and ensure that they don’t come back, all while staying up to date with the latest standards of environmental responsibility. No matter your pest problem, contact us today for a free quote!

Watch Out For These 2 Spiders

Spiders can be dangerous during the fall in the Springfield VA area - Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor'sAre you noticing more spiders in or near your home? The late summer and early fall months is notorious for the influx of many types of pests, spiders included. These eight-legged creatures typically hatch in the spring. By the time August and September roll around, it can seem like spiders are out in full force. The good news is that most spiders are harmless, even if they’re invading your home. There are two in particular, however, that you need to be on the lookout for throughout the year: the black widow and the brown recluse. Read on to learn Ehrlich’s expert info on spiders in the fall.

Black Widows and Brown Recluse Spiders in the Fall

Spiders certainly strike fear in the hearts of many people. Most house spiders are harmless and want nothing to do with you whatsoever. That said, it’s important to be on the lookout for two spiders in particular in the fall and all year long:

  • Black widow: These spiders have a characteristic red hourglass shape on its body. They build sticky, tangled cobwebs in garages, sheds, and near the ground. They can bite when they feel threatened.
  • Brown recluse: Brown recluse have a darker brown violin shape on their brown bodies. They build loose, dome-shaped webs for shelter. A brown recluse bite is known to be very painful.

Spider Prevention Tips

Whether it’s a more dangerous black widow or a small house spider, no one wants spiders invading their property. To keep them out this fall and year-round, there are several exclusion tips to make your Virginia home less attractive to the creepy crawlers:

  1. Inspect your property and seal any cracks and crevices. Inspect the inside and outside of your property for tiny spots that may be inviting spiders in, and seal properly.
  2. Install or repair screens on doors and windows. Tight-fitting screens are the key to keeping insects, spiders included, out.
  3. Thoroughly inspect boxes and used items before bringing indoors. Egg sacs and adult spiders may be taking shelter in them.
  4. Maintain and tidy your yard and lawn. Overgrown bushes, shrubs, piles of wood, and more can attract spiders to your property and eventually indoors.
  5. Regularly clean your home. By keeping a clean environment, you will prevent insects that spiders like to prey on and eliminate hiding spots for pests.

How to Get Rid of Spiders in the Fall

If you’ve done all you can to keep spiders out of your property and still are finding them daily, it may be time to contact your local pest control pros at Ehrlich. Our spider exterminators can thoroughly inspect your property to determine the root cause of the spider infestation. From there, we will use the industry’s best spider control tactics to control current problems and prevent future ones as well.

Tips for Bug-Free Outdoor Living

Stay bug-free in your Springfield VA backyard with tips from Ehrlich pest Control, formerly Connor's.More than ever, families are looking to spend time in their backyards, porches, and patios. With the weather still mild, you likely want to take advantage of outdoor activities as much as possible. Unfortunately, pests are out in full-force right now. Wasps, mosquitoes, ticks, and flies can quickly turn an enjoyable time spent in your outdoor living space sour! For that reason, it’s important to learn how to implement pest prevention into your backyard maintenance routine. At Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s, we want to help our customers comfortably enjoy their time spent outdoors without the presence of pests. Keep reading for our top bug-free outdoor living.

What Pests Are in My Backyard?

If you are going to be spending time outside, you can be sure pests will be out and about as well! Insects are drawn to a number of things right in your backyard. The most common pests you are likely to come across in your backyard include: 

8 Ways to Get Bug-Free Outdoor Living

Pest prevention is just as important outside as it is inside your home. To keep pests away from your garden, barbecue area, deck, or other outdoor living space, implement the following tips.

  1. Apply an insect repellent. Any repellent with DEET will help repel mosquitoes and ticks.
  2. Remove standing water. Mosquitoes only need a half inch of standing water to breed.
  3. Keep your lawn and shrubs trimmed. Overgrown grass or vegetation provides mosquitoes and ticks with shelter.
  4. Be on the lookout for ant hills. Even a tiny mound can contain thousands of ants inside.
  5. Thoroughly inspect wood structures. Your deck or porch may be vulnerable to termite or carpenter bee activity.
  6. Regularly clean up your outdoor space. Crumbs or spilled liquids will attract ants and other insects.
  7. Burn a few citronella candles. While not a long-term solution, this will repel mosquitoes during outdoor activities.
  8. Try replacing light bulbs. Yellow bulbs or sodium vapor lights will not attract as many insects.

Staying Pest-Free in Your Yard

It can be overwhelming to know how to keep pests away from your outdoor living space. If you find yourself with a full-blown pest problem, it’s time to contact your local exterminators. Here at Ehrlich, our team is committed to providing our customers with pest-free living both inside and outside their home.

How to Pest-Proof Your Home This Winter

A rodent is one of many common winter pests to infest Richmond VA and Ashburn VA homes in the winter months - Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor'sYou may think that pests are only a problem in the spring and summer, but infestations can happen in Virginia winters, too! While many pests and insects indeed die off in the cold weather, there are several that stick around. In fact, many pests look to invade homes to escape dropping temperatures in the winter. To prevent winter pests in your home, keep reading to learn top tips from the experts at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s.

Common Winter Pests

Overwintering pests will enter homes in the colder months to wait out the freezing temperatures. Some of the most common winter insects are ants, stink bugs, Asian lady beetles, and boxelder bugs. These insects typically won’t be seen until the springtime. In addition to these insects, there are a number of other winter pests that may invade your Virginia home this time of year:

  • Rodents: The house mouse and Norway rat will squeeze their way inside in the winter.
  • Spiders: House spiders will hide indoors in dark, secluded corners.
  • Cockroaches: German cockroaches hitchhike indoors in grocery bags and boxes.
  • Bed bugs: Known to withstand extreme temperatures, bed bug infestations are common in the winter

5 Tips to Prevent Winter Pest Problems

Preventing winter pests requires many of the same efforts of preventing pests year-round. Five ways you can prevent winter pests include:

  1. Seal cracks and crevices outside your property to keep pests from making their way inside.
  2. Place screens over vents and chimneys to eliminate entry points inside the property.
  3. Store firewood away from the home and eliminate clutter in your yard to discourage nesting.
  4. Eliminate sources of excess moisture by promptly fixing leaking pipes and clogged drains.
  5. Promptly clean up spills, dispose of garbage regularly, and avoid excess clutter.

Do You Need Winter Pest Control?

To save yourself from the surprise and frustration of a pest infestation during the winter, it’s important to know how to protect your property. Rodents, cockroaches, and spiders are common pest infestations in the winter, which is why it’s so important to implement winter pest control into your home maintenance routine. If you need help or want to learn more about how to prevent winter pests, give the experts at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s a call today!

Bugs in Your Christmas Tree? Here’s How to Get Rid of Them!

Shake out your tree before bringing it into your Alexandria VA or Leesburg VA home - Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor'sFew things signal the start of the holiday season like picking out a Christmas tree! As great as they small and as beautiful as they are, a single Christmas tree can also contain as many as 20,000 insects! No one wants a pest infestation during the holiday season, which is why it’s important to learn how to prevent Christmas tree pests in the first place. Keep reading for Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s top tips on getting rid of Christmas tree bugs and insects!

What Types of Pests are in Christmas Trees?

There are several types of insects known to infest real Christmas trees, from Douglas firs and spruce trees to balsam firs and white pines. One of the most common Christmas tree pests are aphids, which are harmless to people. These tiny bugs are often found on the lower main branches of a tree and will leave a purple-red stain on surfaces when squished.

Other common Christmas tree pests include spiders, mites, bark beetles, silverfish, moths, and praying mantises. While many of these insects are typically harmless, no one wants them invading their home, especially in large numbers.

How to Prevent Christmas Tree Pests

When you bring home your Christmas tree, the last thing you want to discover is a bunch of insects hiding inside! A few of the main ways you can prevent Christmas tree pests include:

  • Thoroughly inspect the tree. Before picking a winner, inspect the Christmas tree for irregularities, spots, damaged branches or trunk, or signs of pests.
  • Shake out the Christmas tree. Ask the tree lot attendant to vigorously shake out the tree before bringing it home with you.
  • Leave the tree in the garage at first. Keep the tree in your garage or a covered area for a few days to settle.
  • Use a vacuum to clean up. Once inside, regularly inspect your tree, vacuum up falling needles, and, if necessary, vacuum up any pests.

How to Control Christmas Tree Pests

It can be overwhelming to realize your Christmas tree is covered in pests. If the infestation is serious, you may consider returning to the Christmas tree lot to get a new one. It’s never recommended to spray any pesticides on your tree because aerosols are flammable! To learn more ways you can prevent Christmas tree pests, give the pest exterminators at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s a call today.