How Can I Tell If I Have a Pest Infestation?

Signs You Have a Pest Infestation

Every pest infestation leaves behind some sign of the pest’s presence. Look for grime or other buildups on walls, smeared droppings, or bite damage on fabric and paper. See if you can smell strange odors in your basement, attic, or crawlspace. Check pest-prone areas consistently to look for changes.

If you can learn to identify pest infestations quickly, you can take action to remove them sooner. The sooner you can remove pest infestations, the lower the chance that they’ll do permanent damage… or spread. If you’re worried you have a pest infestation, look for any of the following four signs. The sooner you find evidence like this, the sooner you can take the next steps:

Old wall with smudged buildup in the lower corner - Signs you have a pest infestation

Grimy Buildup

Whatever pest infestation you have, they’re making a mess somewhere. Bugs, rodents, spiders, and beetles all prefer dark, enclosed, humid places, so start your search in the basement or attic. Look high-and-low, in corners, under furniture, along the edges of the walls, and near window frames. You might find grease stains, crumbs or other food remains, dirt smudges or even discarded hair.

Rodents, in particular, tend to familiarize themselves with set routes and then stick to them, so look for trails of grease or grime where their bodies may have rubbed off against the walls. If your floors or sills are dusty, look for trails left behind by pests moving around. Early signs like these are often subtle, so look closely, be patient, and believe yourself. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Clump of rat hair - signs you have a pest infestation

Droppings

It turns outs pests don’t practice great hygiene. There’s a reason they’re called “pests”, after all, and it isn’t because they’re fun to have around. Pests leave behind their waste just like everything else. Look for small droppings around the same pest-attractive areas you search for less conclusive evidence.

The type of dropping you may find will help you determine the kind of infestation you have. Rodent droppings are spindly or conical and solid. They’ll be small and may not look or smell like much of anything. Insect droppings are even smaller, but may also include shed or discarded skin, wings, or body parts. It’s tough to be a bug. Obviously, spiders make webs to catch prey. They tend to know their stuff when it comes to pest-catching, so anywhere you find webs, look for ways other pests may be getting in nearby.

Woman wearing clothes pin on her nose so she won't have to smell - signs you have a pest infestation

Smells

Pests can produce a wide variety of smells, and pretty much all of them are unpleasant. All kinds of pests, including ants, beetles, rodents, or other bugs often carry off food to enjoy in a secluded place. The problem is, sometimes they don’t finish their meal and it begins to rot. If you smell rotting food and you can’t find it, it could be that a pest carried a piece of fruit into your walls.

Pests may also bite through food packaging in an attempt to get at its contents, breaking an airtight seal and exposing perishable foods. If you smell particularly foul odors, it’s possible that your pests are dying in their hiding places or walls and then rotting. Of course, their droppings often smell, too. If you’ve got a strange scent in your house that you can’t quite place, and it’s definitely not pleasant, an infestation could be the problem.

Torn fabric - signs you have a pest infestation

Fabric Damage

Unfortunately, moths aren’t the only pests who damage fabric and clothing. Different kinds of beetles, ants, rodents and bugs also feed on or at least chew through vulnerable fabric. Look for small holes or tears on clothing, drapes, carpeting, furniture, and any other fabric-based stuff you may have. It may not seem particularly appealing to us, but pests don’t mind the taste of underwear one bit.

When we say “fabric damage,” we don’t just mean bite marks, either. Like anything else they’re around, pests can make fabric dirty. Look for smudges of dirt, grease, grime, or droppings on your fabric. These dirty patches may be very small, but they could get big too. Look at freshly washed and dried clothing especially. See if your fresh laundry gets dirty or damaged before you even have a chance to wear it.

 

If you find any of these four signs during your inspection, give us a call. We’ll use the info you helpfully provide to figure exactly what kinds of pest infestation you’re dealing with, where they’re coming from, and how we can keep them out. We know we can take care of your problem quickly and effectively, because we’ve done it countless times before. Happy hunting!

Do April Showers Bring Pest Problems?

Tulips in rain

April showers bring May flowers… but unfortunately, that’s not all they bring. As winter finally breaks and the world starts coming back to life, bugs and other pests are waking up, too. Just like everybody else, pests don’t love getting stuck out in the rain. They don’t even get tiny pest-umbrellas (how cute would that be?).

If given the opportunity, roaches, ants, termites, and similar pests will be all too happy to enjoy staying dry inside your home. When the rain starts coming down, pests flock to easy cover so they can stay warm and dry until the sun comes back out. Here are a couple easy things you can do to prevent pests from ruining your rainy day.

Leaves in a gutter

Clear Out Roof and Rain Gutters

Rain and roof gutters direct fallen rain water away from your home, keeping it from building up and causing leaks or structural damage. The problem is, spring tends to generate a lot of natural outdoor debris. If dead leaves, trash, twigs, and other random material gets caught in your gutters, the water that falls into them won’t flow as well.

If too much water builds in your gutters, it can overflow, causing either leaks in your home or a buildup of water and moisture around your house. Runoff and other moisture attracts all kinds of pests, who are looking for a free drink or a place to lay eggs. Mosquitos in particular swarm around puddles and runoff, and they’re the worst. To prevent this possible problem, just clear out your gutters before and after a rain. If you want to make sure they’re working, you can pour a bucket of water into them and see what happens.

Windows rained on in sunlight

Check Door and Window Sealing

Weaterstripping is easy to forget about, but door and window thresholds are probably the #1 way pests get into houses. Even worse, if there are gaps in your window or door sealing, water could leak in through them. Bugs will come by for a quick drink and discover an easy way in.

Inspect your doors and windows’ thresholds closely. If you can see light coming through underneath the door or window sealing, it means there’s a gap there big enough for pests to work their way through. Luckily, replacing weather sealing is a relatively simple and quick project. If you notice a problem afterward, you may want to consider making sure the door or window sits right in its frame.

Puddle on concrete

Watch for Puddles

Puddles can accumulate in a house when it rains for a lot of reasons. You could have leaks in your roof, siding, window frames, or foundation. Sinkholes or soft ground may form in your lawn. You might not have a sump pump.

Whatever the reason, make sure rainwater isn’t collecting in your basement, attic, crawlspace, or anywhere else. Puddles attract pests like crazy. Mop up puddles with soapy water as you encounter them, but make sure you find and fix the source of the problem too. Eventually, puddling can be a significant problem for your home’s structural integrity, so if you keep having this problem consider having a sump pump installed.

Hand wiping condensation off of window

Control Condensation

Rain means humidity, and humidity means condensation. After a long rain or during a particularly muggy day, you may notice your windows start to “sweat” with condensation. It might feel futile, but it’s worth wiping this condensation away as it accumulates. Condensation may not seem like much water, but it’s just enough to keep pests coming back.

Window and pipe condensation is usually a sign that your home is more humid than it should be, which is the #1 thing pests look for in a shelter. Look for drafts, moisture, or any other reasons why your rooms aren’t as dry as they should be. If the problem persists, consider investing in a dehumidifier or getting your HVAC inspected. Not only will managing humidity help keep pests out, it’ll make your home a lot more comfortable too!

 

Pests can put a real damper on your enjoyment of early spring, but they don’t have to! Following a few simple steps like these and taking common sense prevention measures will keep pests out, no matter how desperate they are to escape the rain.

If pests are already raining on your parade, you could also give us a call today. Griffin’s customized pest solutions will help ensure that pests get out and stay out, so you can go back to enjoying your spring.

What is Integrated Pest Management?

Hand holding house icon made of moss over green grass field

During every job, Griffin implements a customized procedure in accordance with Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is “an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common sense practices.”

Griffin is proud to be an industry leader in the application of IPM best practices. We believe that pest control isn’t just about solving the immediate problem; it’s about understanding why that problem happened in the first place and making sure it can’t happen again. This is why we believe IPM is the best way to approach pest control.

 

Bug in a magnifying glass

What It Is

The industry calls pest control “integrated” when it incorporates the whole spectrum of pest control techniques. Other pest control ideas might follow the same strategy no matter the job, IPM companies get to know what you need. Then, they design a strategy around solving your particular problem. We use the best techniques for you; not just the ones we always use.

By discovering the true source of the problem, IPM companies can use more environmentally sensitive approaches. We look for ways to reduce pesticide use. Instead, we solve the problem through less invasive methods like vector control and careful monitoring. Basically, IPM uses expert knowledge, careful monitoring, and a customized approach to ensure the most effective possible pest control without relying on pesticides.

Sealed crack in wall

How It Works

Every IPM job works differently, because we design our pest control approach based on your specific situation. Generally, however, an IPM control strategy breaks down into five broad steps:

Identification

First, the expert identifies what pest you have, how bad the infestation is, and how it happened. Correct pest identification is absolutely essential for any strategy. The best practices for preventing infestation vary considerably based on the pest you have.

Make an Action Plan

Once they’ve gathered the essential information they need, your technician will devise a formal plan for their next step. They work with you to agree on exactly what you want to accomplish, how they can accomplish it, and how long it will take.

Should new circumstances arise during our pest treatment, IPM companies return to this step, re-draw a strategy, and re-confirm it with you. Your technician always informs you before they use pesticide, and let you know exactly when and where they’ll use it.

Prevention Focus

By focusing on how an infestation gets into your home or business in the first place, IPM can address the root of your pest problem, not just its symptoms. It prevent infestations by depriving pests of the three things they look for: food, water, and shelter.

Your technician will inspect and monitor possible problem areas, addressing each possible way your pest could infiltrate your home. They’ll make sanitary and maintenance recommendations and even solve minor problems on-site. If they identify larger maintenance problems, your technician can recommend an appropriate course of action. They will also install pest barriers to cover otherwise vulnerable areas and clear clutter which pests could use for shelter.

Control

After the prevention phase, IPM professionals have found how your infestation happened and fixed the problem. Once they’re sure pests won’t fill in to replace the ones we’re getting rid of, they’ll deal with the pests that are already inside.

While a technician may decide some pesticides are necessary at this point, we’ll also use traps, heat and cold treatment, and physical removal methods such as vacuuming. As always, they only use the control techniques that work best for your particular problem.

Monitoring

After IPM experts follow our initial action plan to completion, they assess the results. The technician will revisit what the initial goal was, review every step they took toward completing that goal, analyze how effective each of those steps was, and make a final conclusion about the status of the pest problem.

If at any point IPM pros notice that pests are still finding their way in, they’ll re-assess their plan, find out what they missed, and solve the problem. At this point, they’ll also make further recommendations for how you can prevent future infestations by addressing problems and following good storage and maintenance practices.

Why It Works

IPM works because it addresses all the problems that cause pests. Instead of just killing the pests you see now, or just wiping out a nest nearby, IPM learns how and why pests target your home.

Through a combination of expertise, science, and diligence, IPM practices manage to be both safer and more effective. Chemical treatments may solve your immediate problem quickly, but IPM techniques will ensure you don’t have to worry about your pest problem again.
If you’d like to know more about how Griffin incorporates IPM into our process, check out our GreenPro certification, our official customer guarantee, and our service package breakdown. If you’ve got a pest problem, give us a call today! Deal with your pest problems permanently with Griffin. You won’t be disappointed.

Michigan’s Most Wanted

A "No Invasive Pests" logo

Pests serve important roles in maintaining nature’s balance, but only in their proper place. When human tampering alters nature, pests thrive more than they naturally would. Every role in an ecosystem is interconnected, so when one element thrives too much, it throws everything off.

One of the worst consequences of ecological disruption are invasive pests. Pests are invasive when they don’t naturally occur in the environment they inhabit. When these species enter an ecosystem, they can significantly throw off its balance.

According to the Michigan Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN), Michigan is at risk from 18 species of invasive insect. The four covered here pose the greatest threat to our environment. We consider them “Michigan’s Most Wanted,” and we’re putting the bounty out: here’s what you should know about these four desperados, and how you can help stop them.

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

The stink bug is a mottled-brown, shield-shaped bug that superficially resembles a small beetle. Adults grow to .5 to .75 inches long. Look for white bands on the legs and antennae, and black-and-white patterning along the abdomen. Stink bug nymphs tend to be orange or reddish. These pests typically live near their food sources: fruit trees, vegetable crops, and ornamental plants. Come winter, stink bugs attempt to move to sheltered areas such as houses.

According to Michigan.gov, the brown marmorated stink bug can adversely affect fruit, nut, and legume crop yields. They also damage ornamental plants. When stink bugs feel threatened, they release a foul odor. This odor also emanates from their bodies after death. Their smell and constant presence can make stink bugs an annoying pest to have around your house.

wooly adelgid on a pine tree

Balsam and Hemlock Woolly Adelgids

Balsam and Hemlock Woolly Adelgids are two different species in the Adelgidae family and Adelges genus of insects. Of the two species, only the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid has been positively identified in Michigan, but both species are on Michigan’s invasive species watchlist. Adelgids are small, pill-like bugs. As they grow they produce a distinctive wool-like wax filament covering. Look for woolly pilling on the branches or bark of trees.

Balsam and Hemlock Woolly Adelgids feed on the sap of balsam fir and hemlock trees. As an Adelgid feeds, they secrete a salivary substance into the tree. This substance stimulates unhealthy growth  that weakens the tree. Vulnerable trees may die as a result of Adelgid feeding and also become more vulnerable to weather and other pest damage.

Asian longhorned beetle

Asian Longhorned Beetle

The Asian Longhorned Beetle is one of the few pests considered so dangerous that possessing it in Michigan is illegal. The beetle is typically .75 to 1 inch long. They’re a shiny black with white spots on their bodies and white bands on their antennae. While the pest isn’t in Michigan, they’re established in NYC, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Ohio, so they may be headed this way.

Adult females dig holes into maple bark and bury eggs inside them. When the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the inside of the tree, creating tunnels in the process. Mature larvae can penetrate the tree’s heartwood, substantially compromising its sturdiness. There are more than a billion maple trees in Michigan, and all of them would be at risk should Asian Longhorned Beetles invade our state. If you suspect you’ve identified a Longhorned Beetle, contact the MISIN immediately!.

Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer

Like the Longhorned Asian Beetle, Michigan prohibits the Emerald Ash Borer. Unlike the beetle, the Ash Borer is already established here. The Emerald Ash Borer gets its name from its bright, metallic green coloration. Adult Ash Borers are about half an inch long. Ash Borer larvae are cream-colored and resemble fat worms.

Ash Borers have killed tens of millions of ash trees in Michigan. The insect feeds on ash tree foliage and lay eggs in its bark. Larvae squirm under the bark to feed, creating S-shaped tunnels under the surface. The holes produced damage Ash tree structure, depriving them of nutrients. Michigan’s currently engaged in all-out war against the Emerald Ash Borer, so if you see one, let someone know!

Invasive pests aren’t just a problem for your house or yard; they’re a problem for the whole state! If you suspect you might have an invasive species infestation near your home, let the MISIN know and then give us a call. Together, we can protect the beautiful nature of Michigan!

Michigan’s Most Pervasive Pest Problems

We’ve been in the Michigan pest control business for a long time, so we’ve seen a lot of pests. Some more than others, unfortunately. Michigan has a handful of pests that show up like bad pennies year after year to plague our homes and businesses. If you’ve been here long, chances are you or someone you know has had a run-in with these pesky creatures at some point.

Fortunately, because we deal with “the usual suspects” every year, we know quite a bit about their home-infesting MO, and even more about how to counter it. Follow these suggestions and you’ll be able to keep your property pest-free*–not just this year, but for all the years that follow too.

Spiders

Spiders have adapted to virtually every environment and can be found all over the world. If it seems like Michigan has a particular problem with the eight-legged arachnids, it’s because despite their adaptations, spiders can’t survive freezing cold. When the temperature begins to drop, spiders migrate out of their typical homes in forests, fields, and gardens in order to find shelter. Consequently, most of the spider infestations we treat originate in the Fall or early Winter.

To keep spiders out, start outside. Circle the perimeter of your home a few times. Clear away anything that’s leaning against the house. If you have a pile of firewood, move it away from your house. Regularly trim your hedges and bushes. Look for avenues of infiltration like gaps in the foundation or near utility lines and seal them. Spiders are attracted to cover near houses, because they’re good spots to build webs. Once they’ve found cover, they’ll start looking ways to get somewhere even better – inside your home. Don’t give them any opportunities.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs quickly become a problem for areas with a mobile populace and/or old buildings. They love to hitch rides with travellers. They hide in luggage, bedding, clothes, and anything else they can get into. After their inadvertent host brings them home, they make themselves comfortable and often even lay eggs. These eggs hatch, and then another building has a bed bug infestation.

The best way to prevent a bed bug infestation is to take precautions when traveling. Check in and around your hotel room’s bed right away. Studies have shown that most bed bugs are found within 15 feet of the bed. Keep your luggage off the ground and, if possible, sealed in airtight bags. You should also consider running luggage through your dryer right away when you get home. Heat is the most effective means of killing bed bugs. For a lot more info on stopping bed bugs, check out the official Michigan Manual for the Prevention and Control of Bed Bugs.

Termites

Subterranean termites are highly active across Michigan’s lower peninsula, particularly in Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Detroit. The most common, the Eastern Subterranean Termite, is the most destructive wood pest in the state. These termites live in colonies and feed on dead wood. Subterranean termites carve elaborate tunnel systems underground, which they use to access food sources from below. Termites also require moisture and warmth, so they target places where they can get moisture, warmth, and wood all at once.

Make sure they can’t get these. Termites seek out places where wood touches the ground. Limit access to wood like this. Wrap barriers around the bottom of deck posts. Treat wooden flooring to prevent rotting. Make sure wooden siding is off the ground. Remove excess cellulose (wooden) materials like cellulose mulch. The subterranean terrors are looking for moisture, too, so watch for condensation or puddling. Repair leaks immediately. If termite problems persist, give us a call quickly to spare yourself costly property damage.

Cockroaches

Like spiders, cockroaches are adaptive and can be found almost everywhere. Michigan has five varieties of cockroach: the American, German, Oriental, Brown-Banded, and Wood cockroaches. The German roach is the most annoying, because it wants to get indoors. Cockroaches are common in urban areas where they can find easily-accessible food and shelter. Cockroaches will eat just about anything, so they’re attracted to trash.

To prevent cockroaches, organize and clean. Organize your home to prevent clutter. Avoid stacking cardboard boxes, don’t keep anything on the floor, and don’t leave food out overnight. Keep a cleaning schedule. Vacuum once a week, wipe surfaces after meals, and watch for dust and grime accumulation. Cockroaches don’t need much to thrive, so you can’t give them anything. After cleaning, pay attention to moist areas and caulk gaps in your foundation or siding. Cockroaches can climb sheer surfaces, so don’t assume anywhere is out of reach!

Following these tips will go a long way toward preventing pest infestations, but the problem with Michigan’s most pervasive pests is their persistence. If you do end up with an infestation, there’s no need to panic. Just call Griffin pronto! We’ve got plenty of practice putting these pushy punks in their place, and we’d be perfectly pleased to pummel your problem, too. It would be our pleasure!

Fall’s Bounty Includes Occasional Pests

Fall’s turning leaves and cooler temperatures make you think of football, hayrides and Halloween but it also marks a rise in sightings of stink bugs and other occasional pests around homes.

Stink bugs, spiders and ants seek to enter homes at the onset of cooler weather looking for overwintering spots. Griffin Pest Solutions encourages Michigan homeowners to take the necessary steps now to deny stink bugs and other fall pests access before they invade in droves.

Stink bugs were truly an occasional pest a few years back but they have quickly spread to more than 40 states, including Michigan. While mainly a significant threat to agricultural crops, stink bugs can be a major nuisance for homeowners.

What gives them their unique name? Stink bugs release a chemical alerting their fellow pests to an area they’ve settled in and they secrete a bad-smelling, bad-tasting fluid when disturbed or when crushed. Stink bugs will gather near windows, lights, TVs or computer monitors that throw off light and warmth.

Web-spinning spiders can be found in many locations in and around a home. And while spiders are quite beneficial to our eco-system – they eat unwanted insect pests – they are aesthetically unappealing and creep people out.

Spider webs – which are often regarded as one of the strongest natural fabrics and can be built and rebuilt overnight – are half as strong as a steel thread of the same thickness and more elastic. Spider webs are found in garages, carports, eaves, attics, sheds, around windows and other places around your home.

Griffin Pest Solutions offers the following tips to keep stink bugs, spiders and other fall pests from gaining access to your home:

  • Suck and Sweep Pests Away – Regular vacuuming or sweeping of windows, corners of rooms, storage areas, basements, and other seldom used areas to remove spiders and their webs. A spider’s soft body does not survive this process. When vacuuming for stink bugs indoors, empty the contents in to a plastic bag and dispose of them immediately.
  • Seal Cracks and Crevices. Seal cracks around windows, doors, electrical outlets, ceiling fans and light switches. Pay close attention to areas including around siding and utility pipes, underneath the wood fascia or other openings.
  • Inspect Packages and Boxes. Inspect items such as boxes of decorations and grocery bags before bringing them indoors. Plants and firewood are also as modes of transportation for spiders and other pests – store firewood off the ground and away from the house.
  • Maintain Your Landscape. Outdoors, you can eliminate pest hiding places and spider web-building areas by keeping your yard free of trash, leaf litter and overgrown vegetation. Make sure to trim shrubs and plants near the house and other structures to discourage pests from establishing a foothold and gaining easy access.
  • Eliminate Clutter. Spiders seek out secluded, undisturbed areas where they can build a web to catch their next meal. Attics, crawl space and storage sheds are prime locations. Keep these areas clean and clutter-free and seal boxes with tape to prevent spiders from scampering inside.

If you have a problem with or have questions about occasional pests call or e-mail Griffin Pest Solutions at 888/547-4334 or callcenter@https://www.griffinpest.com/