Questions tagged [pest-control]
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221
questions
0
votes
1answer
55 views
Tiny White Insects Under Peeling Stucco
I'm having trouble identifying some insects I came across crawling around my foundation outdoors. This is in southwest Ontario.
On two sides of my house the foundation concrete is covered with a ...
0
votes
4answers
98 views
Ant proofing a wall
For some reason yellow meadow ants have developed a fascination with a certain interior wall in our house. The usual gels, powders and sprays are having little effect. They do slow down for a while ...
0
votes
0answers
37 views
Cheap way to close wall cupboard
Currently we are staying in a rented house. It has several open cement wall cupboards with different sizes and shapes. I am providing the following image reference for cement cupboards.
We placed ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
Sealing gaps to prevent pest ingress
I have a shed next to a house we bought last year. The back of the shed serves as a windbreak and decorative back to a decking area but they didnt make a very good job of fixing the decorative lumber ...
2
votes
2answers
86 views
What are these black bugs and how do I get rid of them?
These bugs keep appearing from under my baseboard. The ones laying out are never moving but when I vacuumed them up, I sucked whatever would come out from under the baseboard which made some lives ...
2
votes
1answer
48 views
Drain Fly Infestation
After having a bathroom toilet drain clog cleared by a plumber by using a snake, we have experienced an infestation of drain moths. How may we eliminate the infestation?
1
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2answers
31 views
How to powder silica gel?
We are having serious cockroach problem. I was advised to mix silica gel and boric acid and powder the surfaces where roaches come in. I can't find the silica gel in powder form in my location. I can ...
2
votes
1answer
85 views
Rats - dealing with what appears to be a colony of them
Appears that we have a a large amount of rats that have taken to forming a complex tunnel system in a small patch of ground between the alley and our garage. There is an old stump, whose submerged ...
0
votes
0answers
77 views
What bug is this? And how can I get rid of them?
I recently became an expat to a southeast Asian country and found that bugs are a fact of life here, this one particular breed has really brought out the heeby-jeebies in me. This little critter tends ...
2
votes
3answers
83 views
Carpenter Ants - Bait vs Spray
Last year I had an infestation of carpenter ants, so I contacted a pest control company and paid for a year's worth of service. Now, exactly a week after the contract expired, I'm seeing them come ...
0
votes
2answers
82 views
Insects coming from gap under baseboard radiator, seeking solution
I have a ground-level apartment in Metro Detroit, Michigan and am renting.
I have old-style baseboard radiator heat with a large opening that goes across the length of it, as shown in the photo.
...
2
votes
1answer
33 views
seal gap between door and frame
i'm trying to prevent rats from getting into an outdoor shed. i've thoroughly checked the whole interior, and the only opening is from the front door (see the right door in the picture. ignore the ...
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vote
2answers
103 views
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2answers
58 views
fissures in joist: natural or insect damge
I have noticed that one of the joists in our crawl space has a small crack in it, and near to it are some small (1-2 inch long) fissures. I didn't notice it at the time, but in the photos (see below) ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Winter fly problem in the UK
I live in the northwest UK. On Christmas Eve 2018, flies started to appear in my living room during the evening. I have never had anything happen like this before. I have a very very clean house. The ...
0
votes
3answers
79 views
How to get rid of cockroaches using natural products?
They come from open junction box on kitchen wall, and they spotted around fridge. Recently been seeing one or two in bedrooms. I think its because I sprayed Raid in the kitchen. This been going around ...
1
vote
1answer
61 views
Is this a termite? What bug has been eating my wood?
Replacing some drywall revealed something has been destroying the wood behind it. While removing things to see more, I saw 3 of these kind of bugs. I originally thought carpenter ants were the cause ...
0
votes
0answers
85 views
Applying bird spike strips to deter squirrels?
I have some squirrel that love running on top of my roof that I'm trying to
get rid of.
I am considering using bird spike strips to deter squirrels from getting on my roof. I was wondering if ...
0
votes
1answer
102 views
What is this bug? And should I be concerned?
I live in a high-rise condo. I have noticed a few bugs flying or crawling around in the room lately. They look harmless, but I am not sure where they come from. They have a unique trapezoid shape. ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
How to remove wasp paper from soffit vents and siding
Paper wasps built a huge nest under the second-story eave shown below (photo taken looking straight up). I killed and scraped off the nest, but there is still paper-like residue clinging to the vinyl ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
Is this insect a pest?
I have seen many of these insects lately. Usually just on the outside of the house - around the front door or the patio - but sometimes also inside.
Is this some kind of cockroach or other pest? Can ...
1
vote
3answers
161 views
Is this a wood destroying insect?
I live in Austin, TX, USA.
Just looked under a wooden table in my dining room (shares wall with outside of house) and saw this little tubes hanging underneath. A few still had live worm-like guys ...
0
votes
1answer
201 views
Is this a drain fly? [closed]
The fly/moths have been increasing in my apartment. All my windows are closed. All summer there would occasionally be a few in my bathroom, and in the past week I sometimes come home to find tens of ...
2
votes
5answers
675 views
What foam is best for sealing radiator pipes in floor to prevent mice from getting in?
Is there a specific foam recommended for radiator pipes coming up through the floor?
3
votes
2answers
353 views
Spray can pole extender
I have a hornets' nest that I want to spray with insecticide.
The hive is approximately 20-25ft from ground level.
The insecticide that I have is in a aerosol spray can with a large actuator.
...
0
votes
1answer
82 views
Get rid of hornets: The nest has been removed, but the hornets keep rebuilding
I have what I think is a hornets' nest on the soffit of my house (I'm not sure exactly what kind of bee or insect it is).
The nest has been removed since the photo was taken, however, the hornets ...
2
votes
2answers
937 views
What to do about a rat living in drain line
We have what I think is a rat, or family of rats, that are coming out of an outdoor drain. The outdoor drain is connected into our interior drain system. They chewed through the drain cover, I ...
1
vote
2answers
77 views
Do I need to sanitize my air vents after I remove a bird from them?
I am quite positive I have a bird in my air vents. I plan to remove it tonight but I'm not sure what I should do afterwards. Should I have a company sanitize the vents/system? I just don't want any ...
2
votes
2answers
83 views
How can I get rid of a yellowjacket nest under a flat roof without using poison
I have a nest of yellowjackets (the not very aggressive european kind) that is just below my flat roof. I would normally just leave them, but I have no way of getting to the yard without passing by ...
0
votes
1answer
136 views
Pests infestation in bathroom - identification and termination
Roughly every night, these strange pests are crawling all over our master bathroom, mainly close to the ceiling. By morning time they're usually gone or I find some of their bodies scattered on the ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views
How can I kill black ants?
I have been finding black ants in random rooms in my house. On walls and/or floors.
I called exterminators and they want >$350, which I can't afford right now.
They claim they are going to lay bait ...
2
votes
1answer
43 views
How to get rid of odors in wood?
My attic floor was home to nesting mice for years before I bought the house. I've kept the mice away, but the smell hasn't lessened after a year of ventilation.
Short of replacing the wood, is there ...
3
votes
1answer
309 views
What screen to use to keep flies and gnats out at night?
Every Summer, I like having the windows open in my house. The problem is that if there is a light on, small flies and gnats always come in through the window screen as they are drawn to the light. I ...
1
vote
1answer
518 views
How to get rid of pigeons under an air conditioner outdoor unit, on the high floor of an apartment?
My family lives on the high floor of an apartment. Pigeons live under our air conditioner outdoor unit too. They cry every morning so it bothers my brother. But there is nothing much we can do. The ...
5
votes
1answer
124 views
How can I prevent wasps from nesting in my eaves?
Every season paper and / or mud wasps like to build nests in my eaves. I have no compunction with spraying them with raid when I see them but I'd like to prevent the nesting from the start if I can.
...
0
votes
1answer
286 views
Sealing siding at foundation wall
I've been trying to determine if and how siding (aluminum in my case) should be sealed along the bottom edge at the foundation wall.
I've found some small gaps that last summer let ants in and I'm ...
2
votes
2answers
193 views
When buying a rental home after many years of our occupancy, is a home inspection still necessary? [closed]
I lived in a rental home for around 8 years and am currently negotiating the cash purchase of it. Because I've lived here for so long and (this is my first home purchase),I'm very familiar with the ...
2
votes
1answer
136 views
Ideas for covering vents to stop pests getting in?
We have a crawl space under our house and the wire mesh covering the vents is shredded. I want to keep the animals out and would like some ideas on the best way to do it.
I was planning to replace ...
2
votes
0answers
61 views
Commercial pest control vs. DIY chemical solutions
I can see plenty of pest-specific topics on here, including an at-home solution. However, my question relates to general pest control, and when to know to call in the big guns.
I maintain rental ...
2
votes
1answer
59 views
Fruit fly type bugs always appear in the kitchen when the weather heats up
I have lived in my house for two springs/summers now and each time when the weather heats up it seems like the fruit fly type bugs just start spreading around the house like crazy, mostly from the ...
0
votes
2answers
149 views
Insects on Hem-Fir/SPF lumber?
What are these insects and should I be concerned? They're about 1/8" in length and don't look like termites or pine beetles. I don't see any insect-related damage to the wood but they seem to have a ...
3
votes
3answers
718 views
Can chipboard shelves be varnished?
Note: including a lot of details to avoid XY problem.
Background
I have been dealing with a minor pest (psocids, in case you're wondering, but I don't want the conversation to become about that), ...
0
votes
1answer
51 views
Help getting rid of a mice
6 days ago, I saw a mouse run down my hall and I almost had a heart attack! It was 2:30am and I just got home from work. I knew I wouldn’t sleep if I didn’t set traps, which I had none, so I drove to ...
0
votes
3answers
85 views
Dog-friendly mouse hunting strategies after a year of using standard products?
TL;DR: When commercial products have been ineffective or proven dog-unfriendly, what are some other mouse-catching strategies when the mice hide in baseboard heaters and have learned to avoid most ...
3
votes
2answers
116 views
What to use to fill mouse access point?
My wife and I have some field mice that have found refuge in our home through a gap between the foundation and the side of our house. We believe this point to be their only access, as they’ve made ...
2
votes
1answer
296 views
What should I do about the insect larvae found on my ceiling?
Found 10 or so of these things on our ceiling this morning. I live in Central Oregon. Not sure what they are--is this an indication of worse things to come? Anything I need to inspect my house for, or ...
3
votes
1answer
227 views
How can I repel or trap lizards?
I know a lizard was hiding in a certain place and unable to get rid of it.
I kept garlic, onion and naphthalene balls as some suggested but no use.
Either i would need to know a use and throw way to ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
I have a chirping sound in my house that moves around
It is not the smoke detector. We have just had rain and there was a ton of tree frogs out front in the trees. Could a tree frog be in my house making that chirping noise? (The chirping sound moves ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
What exactly is a wall void?
A termite insecticide (fipronil) is not to be used indoors, except in wall voids. If a hole was drilled in a baseboard or wall and the the foam was delivered through the wall, is this considered ...
1
vote
2answers
77 views
How to independently verify that bedbug heat treatment is working? [closed]
How can I verify that a (whole unit) heat treatment for bedbugs was or will be effective? More generally, what is the best way to verify that an apartment is (likely) free of bedbugs?
Background:
...
