All-Pro Pest Control

The summer season is one that is usually filled with laughter and excitement as well as time spent outside with your family and friends. However, it's also a time of the year when bees and wasps tend to swarm around more than at any other time of the year. There are a few things that you can keep in mind while you're outside to decrease your chance of being stung and to keep other people from being stung as well. Keep containers outside to a minimum. You should also keep water out of containers that you do keep outside because some bees and wasps tend to make their nests close to a water source. If you see any kind of wasp nest, knock it down before the insect begins to build it to a larger size. Once the larva has been laid and there are wasps swarming around the nest, it......

On average, it would take a single termite over 3,000 years to eat a 1,000 square foot home. Unfortunately, termites do not live in isolation. They live in colonies that can number into the millions, and multiple colonies can exist on a single property. They also work around the clock, so the damage can mount up quickly. In the U.S., termites account for approximately $5 billion in property damage each year, which is more than most natural disasters. Why Are Termites so Destructive? Termites do much of their work hidden from view. They typically find their way into your home around the foundation or basement and make their cozy nests within the woodwork. Once inside your home, they feed on anything containing cellulose ranging from wooden fixtures to books. By the time that you become aware that you have a termite infestation, the damage is usually quite substantial and can cost......

Cockroaches might seem like insects that won't cause much damage in the home, but if you have an infestation, there are a few things that could quickly go wrong in the walls or behind your appliances. Cockroaches often carry various types of bacteria as well, which can make people and animals in the home sick if there is a large number of the pests present. It's important to avoid providing an environment that roaches will find welcoming. This means that food should be kept stored in sealed containers and that any water leaks should be repaired because roaches enjoy finding a water source under cabinets and underneath the home. If there are roaches in your home, you'll usually see small black specks on the floor or on the countertops. These small specks are the droppings of the roaches that they leave behind. You might mistake these droppings for dirt or even......

Ants are one of the most successful and numerous insects in the world. They can be found on virtually every major landmass except the continent of Antarctica and a few inhospitable islands. Scientists estimate that there could be more than 22,000 species of ants in the world, but they have identified only 12,500 species. Fortunately, there are just four types of ants that people in the Seattle area are likely to encounter. However, each type can require a different treatment method, requiring an accurate identification of the particular ant or ants involved. Because some types of ants look very much like another type, the services of a professional pest control company may be needed to ensure that the correct treatment plan is implemented. Carpenter Ants Carpenter ants are destructive pests that are among the most common types of ants found in Seattle. These ants build their nests in wood, and they......

Bugs, spiders and rodents rank high on the list of worries plaguing many homeowners. While most pests are more creepy than dangerous, some pose a threat to your family's health and safety. Keep insect, mouse, rat and spider infestations at bay year-round with these pest-prevention tips from All-Pro Pest Control in Seattle, WA.1. Clear away clutter. Rodents often nest in piles of clutter or boxes filled with clothing and other items. The potentially aggressive hobo spider and other arachnids tend to hide out in dark, cluttered spaces like closets littered with piles of dirty clothes. 2. Get rid of cardboard boxes. Inspect all boxes for pests before bringing them inside, since this is how many unsuspecting homeowners transport cockroaches into their houses. And these filthy bugs leave behind secretions that can attract other cockroaches. Cardboard is also an excellent food source for termites and silverfish. Mice use it to build nests.3. Store......

Homeowners have many different reasons for keeping rodents out of their living areas. Mice and rats carry diseases and leave behind feces, dander and lice wherever they go. They also chew throughout the day to wear down their ever-growing teeth, which puts your walls, wires and personal items at risk. Keeping rodents out of your house is not only good for your health but also for your belongings. 5 Ways to Keep Rodents Out of Your Home Keep garbage bins closed. Rodents can sniff out food from long distances, so it's important to keep your outdoor garbage bins closed at all times. You should also keep a lid on the interior trash can as an added safety measure. Seal gaps around the exterior. Cracks around the crawlspaces make for good entryways. Whether it's a gap around a vent or a space beneath the back door, block them before rodents use these......

Carpenter ants are formidable, brazen and problematic. If you find one or two of them in your home, don't panic just yet. You only need to worry if you spot multiple carpenter ants roaming around each day because this is a telltale sign that your home is infested. What Makes Them a Threat? Carpenter ants are dangerous for one reason: They are able to inflict damage on you and on your home. All it takes is for you to disturb their nest. Without hesitation, they will attack you in one way or another. A bite from these pesky critters isn't unbearable, but it is painful and discomforting. Contrary to what you may believe, carpenter ants are only aggressive when they feel like they have to be. Their mandibles are definitely strong enough to break your skin. What makes matters worse is their ability to spray a formic acid into the open......

One of the things that you've probably noticed about living in Washington is that it can get very rainy during the year. This means that the pests have to adapt to the weather just like people. In most cases, this means seeking refuge in the hollows of trees, under logs and even inside homes. All-Pro Pest Control can eliminate pests in homes and businesses with products that are safe for the environment, family members and pets. From termites to wasps, pests need to stay out of the rain just like people would. They can sometimes find a leaf to hide under, or they could find a log that is dry on the inside. Sometimes, pests will just stay inside the homes that they have made until the rainy weather passes. Most of the time, rain and cooler weather will tend to slow down the movement of pests. This can be an advantage......

The holidays are the happiest times of the year, with food, fun and family taking center stage as you celebrate all the connections that are most important to you. You are probably thinking about how to pull it all together and get it done, but you may not have anticipated the things that can go wrong. While the food will draw your loved ones together, it also acts as a tempting beacon for pests, and no one wants their Thanksgiving dinner ruined by bugs or mice. Luckily, there are things you can do to keep your holiday pest free. Keep it Clean The best thing you can do to keep pests out of your kitchen is to keep it clean. Any time there are food particles in your space, mice and bugs will find their way to the area. While the feverish preparation for Thanksgiving can be a bit of a......

Rodents in Seattle can be a huge pain for homeowners. Quick to reproduce and difficult to catch, rats and mice can easily take over a household. If you want to ensure your home stays free of invaders, you’ll need to take some steps to discourage them. The easiest way to do that is by not luring them toward your home in the first place.  1. Fruit and Vegetable Gardens Rats and mice go wherever they can locate food, and a vegetable garden is basically like offering them a salad bar in your backyard. Ripe produce that has fallen to the ground is the perfect hassle-free food source for a rodent. That means the rodents who feed on your garden will be seeking shelter nearby, putting your home at risk. While gardens might put you at greater risk of rodent infestation, they can also provide nourishment and pleasure. Therefore, rather than removing your g......

As the warm temperature of summer begins to fade away, people prepare for fall events that they don't want to miss. Feeling excited about their plans, they often overlook the threat of fall pests, and you don't want to repeat their mistake. When pests start looking for shelter and sources of food, your home could be the perfect target unless you take action to protect yourself. Addressing an infestation at the early stages is much easier than trying to eliminate an outbreak. You will want to learn about the type of pests that you can expect and how to secure your property from the threat. Safeguarding Your Home Safeguarding your home is a smart step in the right direction when your goal is to prevent pests from causing problems. Insects and rodents will use small holes to get inside of your home, but you can inspect the parameter of your house......

The 4th of July is a time that many in America spend celebrating with their families. If you have a holiday BBQ planned for this holiday season, you'll want to ensure the comfort and safety of your guests by protecting your yard from pests that can pose a hazard to them. These common yard intruders include fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, each of which carries their own unique health risks for you, your loved ones, and your pets. Below are some helpful tips to keep away these pesky guests that often show up uninvited. Fleas If you have furry family members, it's important to protect them from fleas. Fleas are considered parasites since they feed off blood from human or animal hosts. Since they love warm weather, they abound in the summer months. As your pets play in the backyard, they can pick up these unwanted guests on their coats and bring......

Summer is a time of fun in the sun and vacationing in far away places for many families. However, this means you can also come home with some very unwanted hitchhikers: bed bugs. The information below is designed to help you detect the presence of bed bugs in your hotel or vacation area, detect them on your personal belongings, and learn what to do if you spot them. Many steps can be taken to ensure you come home from vacation safe and sound, and without any unwanted guests. What Are Bed Bugs and What Do They Look Like? Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed on human blood. Because humans serve as a preferred food source, they make the easiest target while they're in bed asleep. Therefore, bed bugs are known to inhabit and infest areas around beds, mattresses, and other sleeping locations. Of course, it's important to be able to......

Ant infestations are frustrating and can even be dangerous depending on the type of ant and the extent of the invasion. If your home is becoming an ant hotel, it’s time to find out what’s attracting them and make them leave once and for all. Get Rid of the Three Things Ants Love Three basic elements are enough to draw ants to your home. Most people are familiar with how food, especially sugar, can bring armies of ants out of nowhere. Poorly sealed containers, open pet food bags, trash cans and even small amounts of crumbs or food residue attract scouts and these return with others from the colony. Ants also like water, and they’ll appear in droves if they find a good source. This source could be your pet’s water dish, some damp dishes in the sink or a leaky pipe or faucet in any room. With food and water close b......

There are important differences to keep in mind between bees and wasps; that way, if you spot a nest in your yard, you'll be able to identify it and determine if the insects will pose a threat or not. Bees Let's, first of all, distinguish between honeybees and bumblebees. Both have black and yellow (or orange) stripes on their abdomen, though in bumblebees the stripes look more like large blocks. Honeybees are slender and small, while bumblebees are quite large and hairy. The first have a pointed tip, while the second have a rounded tip. Both will sting if provoked, but otherwise, they're harmless. Bumblebees will sting repeatedly, but honeybees have a barbed stinger, which rips away from their abdomen and kills them once they imbed it in their victim's skin. Their stings are not only painful but also capable of causing anaphylactic shock in those who are allergic to insect......