Earwig Control & Elimination Grapevine, Texas

There is a superstition that earwigs burrow into the ears of people while they sleep. There have never been any confirmed cases of this really happening. Earwigs frighten many people because of the pincers on the back of their abdomens. Earwigs use these pincers for defense and for catching prey.

There are more than twenty species of earwigs in the United States. Depending on the species, adults range in size from ¼” to 1”. They are slender insects with two pair of wings.  Some species produce a foul smelling liquid that they use for defense. Earwigs also produce a pheromone (scent).  Scientists believe that this pheromone is the reason that earwigs cluster together in large numbers.  Immature earwigs (nymphs) resemble the adults except they do not have wings.

Earwigs are active at night. During the day they hide in cracks in damp areas. They live under rocks and logs and in mulch in flowerbeds. Earwigs eat plants and insects.

Outdoors, earwigs spend the winter in small burrows in the ground. In spring the female lays eggs in the burrow. She tends the eggs until they hatch. Then she cares for the nymphs until they can find their own food.
Earwigs are attracted to lights.  They can become a nuisance on porches and patios on summer evenings. In the morning they will be gathered under things like cushions that were left outside overnight.

Earwigs move into homes to find food or because of a change in weather.

Homeowners often find them in areas where there is water – kitchens, bathrooms, and laundries. Earwigs can also find their way into bedrooms and family rooms. They turn up in almost every part of the house.

The most important part of controlling earwigs is eliminating their hiding places. If the earwig harborages are not addressed, insecticide application will probably not control earwigs very well. There are a variety of things that can be done.

Move landscape timbers, logs, decorative stones, and firewood piles away from the foundation. Create a zone next to the foundation that is free of mulch, dead leaves, and other organic material. The “dry zone” should be 6” to 12” wide so that earwigs will avoid it. Trim trees and shrubs that cause damp, shady areas near the house.

Examine gutters and downspouts to make sure they drain away from the foundation. Set irrigation systems so that they water in the morning and allow the landscape to dry during the day.

Adjust outdoor lights to shine from the yard onto the house – insects will be attracted away from the house. If moving outside light fixtures is not practical, consider changing light bulbs to “bug light” bulbs. Repair screens on crawl space vents and make sure the vents are not blocked. A dehumidifier might help in a damp basement.

Earwigs can infest many different areas in a home. Because of that, it may be necessary to use several insecticide products to control them effectively. Assassin Exterminating & Pest Control has the knowledge and expertise to control earwigs effectively.

If you would like more information about Earwig Control or a specific insect or service, please click the link below and you will be taken to the Assassin Exterminating & Pest Control website or you can call us directly at (817) 727-8149

Box Elder Insect Control & Elimination Grapevine, Texas

While box elder bugs are considered pests due to their invasive hibernation patterns, they are not dangerous insects. They do not bite humans and do not cause damage to the structure of buildings.

The box elder bug population lives and thrives on maple or ash or seed-bearing box elder trees in summer. Box elder bugs lay their eggs on these trees and feed on their leaves and stems. Upon hatching, nymphs will molt and mature in this habitat. In winter, box elder bugs leave their host tree and migrate to nearby buildings or homes for hibernation. They gain entry through crevices and small cracks, remaining hidden within them until there is heat within the building.

To stop box elder bugs from multiplying, it is  often helpful to remove their host trees from the area surrounding your home. If you choose to plant box elder trees in your yard, choose male trees: (non-seed-bearing) since female box elder trees are more susceptible to infestation. However, box elder trees are not recommended for ornamental planting. Sealing cracks and crevices around your home's windows, doors, and foundation may also help prevent an infestation.

If you identify an active infestation within your home, contact Assassin Exterminating & Pest Control for a free quote and elimination options.


If you would like more information about Box Elder Bug Control or a specific insect or service, please click the link below and you will be taken to the Assassin Exterminating & Pest Control website or you can call us directly at (817) 727-8149

Cricket Control & Elimination Grapevine, Texas

House crickets are omnivorous scavengers. They reproduce quickly and make loud, high-pitched sounds at night. These sounds are produced when male crickets rub their forewings together in order to attract females. Research has shown that female house crickets are capable of discerning which cricket is larger through these songs alone.  Cricket sounds also vary by species.

House crickets grow up to 7/8-inch in length. They are light brown in color and feature three stripes on their heads, as well as long, slender antennae. The wings of the house cricket are held flat against the back and are bent at the sides.  Wild populations of house crickets are most common east of the Mississippi River, although there are also concentrations of crickets in Southern California and in Texas.

Female specimens have long, slender, tube-like structures known as ovipositors. These are projected from the abdomen and are intended for laying eggs. Both sexes have cerci at the back of their abdomens. Young house crickets resemble adults save for their underdeveloped wings.  The life cycle of a house cricket is typically two to three months.

If you would like more information about Cricket Control or a specific insect or service, please click the link below and you will be taken to the Assassin Exterminating & Pest Control website or you can call us directly at (817) 727-8149

Spider Control and Elimination Grapevine, Texas

Of the many species of identified spider species, house spiders are the most frequently found in human dwelling places. Although their presence is discomforting, house spiders are not necessarily lethal to humans. Small, controlled populations can even prove useful, as they consume other unwanted household pests. Several species are considered house spiders. Some of the more prevalent house spider species include the common house spider, the domestic house spider, the aggressive house spider and the brown house spider.

A house spider's body is divided into the cephalothorax and the abdomen. Like scorpions, mites and ticks, house spiders are wingless. They are classified as arachnids rather than insects and have eight, single-lens eyes.

House spider webs are typically funnel-shaped and can be located in various places within a home, including windows, ceiling corners and above or beneath fixtures. House spider webs are large and constructed of thin silk threads. They serve both as dwelling places and as traps for prey. House spider prey is paralyzed by venom injection before being broken down by digestive juices. As a result, prey is liquefied to allow for consumption.

If you would like more information about Spiders or a specific insect or service, please click the link below and you will be taken to the Assassin Exterminating & Pest Control website or you can call us directly at (817) 727-8149

Termite Damage Grapevine, Texas

Subterranean termites dwell underground in loose, damp soil. Although subterranean termite species in Africa are famously aggressive and known for the obvious mounds above their colonies, signs of subterranean termite damage within the United States are much less obvious.

Interior damage may not become apparent until infestations are full-blown. Termite damage sometimes appears similar to water damage. Sagging floors and ceilings are also common signs of termite presence. Subterranean termites also access aboveground food sources through mud tunnels they create from saliva, mud and feces. These tunnels are located near the foundation of infested homes.

Drywood termites build their colonies within wooden structures on which they feed. They can be found inside of walls or furniture. Drywood termite infestations may only become apparent after a colony has burrowed sp deeply into an infested item that the veneer cracks and the maze-like tunnels beneath become visible. Such damage is common in antique furniture pieces. Should this occur on new furniture or the floors or walls of your home, contact a pest control professional to discuss the severity of your infestation, as well as extermination options.

If you would like more information about Termites or a specific insect or service, please click the link below and you will be taken to the Assassin Exterminating & Pest Control website or you can call us directly at (817) 727-8149

Termite Control and Elimination Grapevine, Texas

Shelter tubes allow subterranean termites to leave their soil nests, cross barriers and bridge gaps to reach wood. The tubes protect them from enemies like ants and from air circulation which would dry out their soft bodies.

Termites make their tubes of "mud" – actually a combination of wood or soil particles held together with a glue-like secretion. Fresh, newly constructed tubes will be moist. Old tubes will be dry and brittle and break easily.

Shelter tubes are found on the surface of foundation walls, beams and sill plates, and along pipes or other supports. There are different types of shelter tubes, depending on function. An exploratory tube is narrow and thin and has many branches and forks that often go only a short distance. If an exploratory tube reaches susceptible wood, it may be reinforced and widened, becoming a working tube.

Drop tubes are not as common. They’re suspended down from wood to soil in protected places like crawlspaces. They are usually constructed when feeding has progressed some distance from the original shelter tube. Even rarer are free-standing tubes built from the soil up to wood. These tubes usually have a broader support base than drop tubes. Both drop and free-standing tubes are often surrounded by pieces of earlier tubes that fell. Drop tubes are lighter in color than free-standing tubes since they contain more wood fiber and less soil.

Swarming tubes or "castles" are sometimes built as flight platforms when winged swarmers are leaving the colony. They’re usually constructed 4 to 8 inches above ground, or in infested wood, and have many projections and horizontal branches. Swarmers can remain in these tubes for months waiting for the right environmental conditions to trigger swarming.

If you would like more information about Termites or a specific insect or service, please click the link below and you will be taken to the Assassin Exterminating & Pest Control website or you can call us directly at (817) 727-8149

Flea Treatment Grapevine

A Flea is specially designed for its life style, with both body and senses that enable the insect to locate a host, maneuver on the body of its host and to feed in a way that supplies its own needs and those of its
offspring.

The rear legs of a Flea are a wonder in not only what they can do but also how they do their job. The leg muscles are indeed strong and well coordinated to give the Flea maximum jumping power, much as the legs of other jumpers such as grasshoppers and locusts. The force of the jump causes the flea to tumble in mid-air as it travels upwards and outwards. Hairs facing to the rear and special claw-like "feet" help the Flea catch and hang on to its intended target. 

The body of a Flea is shaped in a manner that allows ease of movement through the fur or its host. It is thinner or flatter than most insects and equipped with body hair that has a two-fold purpose: sticking to its host and moving around on its host. With its shape and body hair, the Flea's body is likened to a Velcro dart. Responding to movement, vibrations and the warmth, carbon dioxide and humidity of an animal's breath and body, the Flea jumps upwards towards its intended target. Once it touches the target (animal) it is able to make a safe landing with the aid of body hairs that only point backwards. These backwards facing hairs give the Flea the Velcro effect needed to stick to its host and to crawl forward without falling back to the ground. Even the hairs that resemble a tiny beard serve as extra support, especially during feeding. This beard-like array (called a comb) is one of the characteristics that distinguish the Cat Flea from other Fleas.


If you would like more information about Fleas or another insect please click the link below and you will be taken to the Assassin Exterminating & Pest Control website or you can call us directly at (817) 727-8149

Termite Control Grapevine

One easy noticeable difference between Termites and Flying Ants is their shape. An Ant's body has three individual sections that when they meet look like a neck and waist. Yet a Termite has two segments, the head and the thorax, and looks more like one piece. Species of Ants have a variety of colors, from red to brown to black, but Swarming Termites are usually shiny black.

Another simple anatomical difference is their wingspans. Although both kinds of insects develop two pairs of wings just to mate, reproduce, and produce new colonies, their wings look dissimilar. A Termite's back wings are visible beneath the overlaying front wings. If you outstretch both pairs (on a dead specimen), you'll see they're actually the same length. On a Flying Ant, the back wings hide beneath the front wings, so they are shorter. Their wings have tiny, visible veins. It's easy to knock off the wings of a termite, so you'll probably see them scattered around the site of a swarm.

Finally, the last noticeable difference between Flying Ants and Termites are their antennae. Look closely and you'll see that the Ant's antennae curve or bend inwards, topped by a ball called a club. However, a Termite's antennae gently point outwards without any kinks, bends, or knobs at the end. To further identify them, you're more likely find Termites around wood, where they nest and feed, such as in the rafters in the attic or old furniture stored in the basement or crawlspace. Most Ants, of course, prefer the kitchen where they snack on sweets like sugar or fruit.

Call Assassin Exterminating today for a free inspection and estimate regarding your termite infestation.

Grapevine Termite Exterminator

If you suspect that termites have invaded your living space, it's time to hire a good termite control company. These companies offer termite inspection and treatment services. Termite's can cause significant damage to the wood in your home leading to expensive repairs. A good termite control company will be able to quickly and accurately identify the scale and severity of a termite infestation. They will also be able to give you sound advice on how to recognize and address a termite infestation, as well as arm you with information on preventative measures. Follow these guidelines and you'll be able to find a good termite control company in your area.

Hiring a Termite Control Company

Step 1:

Research termite control services. You must look into and then evaluate a few termite control companies before you select any one. Look to friends and families for referrals. Check with your chamber of commerce or the Better Business Bureau to ensure that they are established, reputable businesses -- especially for out of town companies. Fraudulent operators often work in communities where they are not known.

Step 2:

Contact the companies. Once you have a short list of termite control companies on hand, you can start reaching out to them. Ask for references and check them. This will let you determine whether the company has qualified technicians trained in termite inspection and the application of chemical treatments. Find out if the firm is a member of your state pest control association and the National Pest Control Association. Membership indicates access to modern, technical information and a commitment to high standards.

Step 3:

Schedule an inspection. Arrange for a thorough termite inspection, but find out -- in advance -- whether they're free of charge or not. You should request inspections from at least three companies. A proper inspection should include a written report and estimate detailing areas of active termite infestations, the location and number of treatments required, the materials that will be used and information on any warranties if they are provided. Ask the inspector how long the treatment will take, and whether you can remain in your home or not.

Step 4:

Read the report. Carefully review the reports and estimates, and make sure you understand them. Contact the termite control companies and ask them to answer any questions you may have. Go over the specifics of the warranty if it is offered. You will want to know how long the treatment is guaranteed to last, if a second treatment for recurring termites is free should it fall within the guaranteed time frame, and if the warranty covers damage from the application process to any area of the structure. Ask for proof of insurance.

Step 5:

Compare the estimates from each company. Check the differences between the type of materials used, cost of additional labor and any miscellaneous items or fees included in the estimate for treating the home. Based on this comparison you should be able to select a termite control company. Get a final contract from the company.

Step 6:

Review the final contract completely and compare it to the original estimate for accuracy to ensure that nothing has been added or removed from the agreed-upon cost. Check to make sure that all company contact information, current date and year and signature of the company are complete before signing. Make sure you know when re-treatments will take place.

Step 7:

Schedule your treatment. Make sure you schedule the treatment for a convenient time. If, for example, you're having guests visit, don't schedule the treatment for the same time. Confirm the length of the treatment to make sure you're prepared in advance.

Call Assassin Exterminating today for a free inspection and estimate regarding your termite infestation.