Stinging Insect Season: Protecting Your Home in Summer

Mud dauber wasp on flowers - prevent stinging insects this summer!

As the warmer months approach, so does the arrival of stinging insects that can disrupt outdoor activities. If you own a home in lower Michigan, upper Indiana, or upper Ohio, you should prepare for stinging insects that might nest and swarm your yard.

Stinging insects can be more than a nuisance. They can also harm your health and threaten your safety. To enjoy your yard without fear of these unwanted visitors, you must take steps to deter them.

Identify the Stinging Insects in Your Area

To keep stinging insects away, start by knowing the kinds of insects in your region. Various types of stinging insects have different behaviors, habitats, and preferences. Here are some brief descriptions of the most common stinging insects in Michigan:

Stinging Insect Prevention

The last thing you want is a horde of bees or wasps inside of your home. Thankfully, prevention doesn’t have to be too time consuming or difficult. To prevent stinging insects from entering your house, follow these quick tips:

  • Fill any holes or cracks in your walls, roof, or foundation.
  • Cut any plants or branches that touch your home.
  • Keep your gutters and downspouts clear and clean.
  • Use mesh or screens to cover any openings or vents.
  • Get rid of any old or unused items they could use for shelter or nesting.
  • Avoid luring stinging insects with food or water.

Call a Professional Exterminator

If stinging insects are bothering you in your yard, contact a professional exterminator who can get rid of them safely and efficiently. Griffin Pest Solutions is a trusted and reliable pest control company that can help you with any stinging insect problem.

Do not let stinging insects ruin your summer fun. Contact Griffin Pest Solutions today for a free quote on their stinging insect control services. Our team of fully licensed pest control technicians has proudly served local homeowners since 1929, and we implement Integrated Pest Management techniques to keep infestations from returning in the future. Whether you’re dealing with an active infestation or you just want peace of mind, we’ve got you covered!

 

Pest Control Insulation

A worker blowing pest control insulation into an open wall.

Many homeowners deal with pest control on a yearly basis. In the lower Michigan Peninsula, pests come around in the spring and summer time. During the winters months when pests are in hibernation, it is easy to forget how important year-round pest control is. TAP Insulation has you covered – it is an ongoing and long-term pest control solution that can prevent pests from even entering your home!

What Is TAP® Insulation?

TAP (Thermal, Acoustical, Pest Control) insulation is made mainly from recycled paper products that are destined for the landfill, such as ground up newspaper.  After being chopped into small pieces the paper is run through a disk mill which grinds it into “cotton-ball-like” fibers. TAP insulation works on three different fronts to ensure your home is warm, quiet, and pest-free year-round. 

  • Thermal: TAP Insulation uses the cotton like fibers to create air pockets. As heat rises, these air pockets help to slow down and trap rising air. As a result, this keeps your house warm in the colder months and cooler in the warm months. 
  • Acoustical: The plush texture of TAP insulation can help muffle noises from your home. The same features that help TAP insulation retain heat will be the ones keeping your home from sounding like a concert hall.
  • Pest Control: Through a patented process, the insulation is treated with a borate solution, which is a natural insecticide. As insects attempt to infiltrate your home they’ll be covered in borate. When the insects clean themselves, they are unable to pass the borate through their system and will ultimately die. Pests won’t be able to make it through the insulation before they pass away – keeping your home pest-free.

TAP Insulation Benefits

Insulation is important to any home, but TAP goes beyond just insulation. It is the only insulation that is registered by the EPA for its insecticide properties.. This special insulation offers a number of additional advantages:

  • Cost Effective: A one-time treatment lasts for years to come.
  • Safe and Non-Toxic: This insulation is generally made from recycled, natural materials that are non-toxic. This makes it safer for homes with children, people with sensitivities, and pets.
  • Improved Energy Efficiency: TAP insulation has earned an Energy Star because contains more than 80% recycled material. It will keep your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter
  • Eco-Friendly Pest Prevention: Treated insulation is environmentally friendly and does not contribute to pollution of the water, air, or soil, like conventional chemical pest prevention methods may.
  • Long-Lasting Protection: Unlike chemical pesticides, which need to be applied frequently, TAP insulation can provide long-lasting protection from your home from new and existing pests.

Why Go with Pest Control Insulation?

Many insulations on the market have been treated with pesticides so you may be asking why you would need TAP insulation. It’s important to note that pesticide-treated insulations simply protect the insulation itself. They do not prevent pests from entering your home. This leads to invading pests going through the insulation and straight into your home! 

In contrast, TAP insulation is designed to keep pests out long-term. Pests only need to come into contact with the insulation for it to work. With the insulation actually providing a barrier from inside of the house there’s no need for repeat visits from a pest control company to treat the perimeter of the house. Considering TAP Insulation is a pesticide, it needs to be installed by a licensed pest control company. Griffin Pest Solutions is certified and trained to apply TAP insulation and other pest control measures you need. Our trained technicians are certified and ready to provide you with this long-lasting solution!

Spring Cleaning – Prevent Pests Inside

A woman spring cleaning windows for pest prevention.

After a cold and snowy winter, all of Michigan celebrates the arrival of spring. Here in the lower peninsula of Michigan, springtime is one of the most beautiful times of the year. The Crocuses, Daffodils and Tulips are starting to peek up out of the earth, soon to show their brilliant colors. Along with routine spring cleaning, focus on the areas below to prevent pests from getting inside. Griffin Pest is committed to bringing our community prevention tips to keep pests away before they ever become a problem. For information on pests that are common in our area, look at our Pest Identification Library.

Pests Inside

  • Kitchen – Prevent ants and cockroaches by cleaning your kitchen surfaces regularly, as well as appliances such as toasters and grills. Clean out your pantries, an unkempt pantry is like a buffet line. Clean your fridge, and cabinets by removing expired and unwanted items. Scrub your drawers with bleach or kitchen cleaner, and afterward, sweep and mop your floor. Even random crumbs can be enough to create the need for pest control.
  • Bathroom – Moisture in your bathrooms can attract cockroaches and silverfish.  Regularly wash shower curtains, dry bathroom surfaces, and clean out drawers and cabinets. Pests may enter through window sills, and drains. Check screens and any gaps around window sills. Pour bleach down drains as pests may come up your drains. Check pipes under the sink for any leaks, as water attracts pests. 
  • Basement – In your basement insects thrive in the dark, and out of sight. The dark allows them to avoid predators when they search for food, which is often at night. They hide in crevices, which is why they are less likely to be seen until it’s too late – especially in an unfinished basement. 
  • Declutter – Remove clutter inside your home, basement, garage and sheds. Storage spaces are ideal for spiders, cockroaches and rodents as they are often dark and filled with lots of clutter. These conditions are perfect for breeding and hiding.

Pests Outside

  • Home Exterior –  Look for cracks and holes in the foundation or openings around windows. Ant problems can usually be traced to tiny fissures around windows. Remember, insects must enter your home before they can pose a real pest control problem. Ants are especially diligent about locating new entry points. Seal any cracks you find and repair or replace screens in windows. By eliminating any openings in your home’s periphery, you’re taking the first step in pest control. 
  • Trash Cans – Trash cans are an area that commonly hold food and will act as a magnet for pests. The trash can is a common weak point in pest prevention and control. Store your cans away from the house if possible. Ensure your trash cans have a tight-fitting lid and are lined with trash bags.
  • Firewood – Store firewood away from your home and off the ground, if possible. Piles of firewood are attractive to pests such as termites. A stack of firewood acts as both shelter and a food supply. To keep pulp-eating pests out of your home, move your firewood pile away from any buildings. 
  • Garden Maintenance – Try reducing pests from entering your home by placing plants away from your home’s structure. Many residential pests are fully capable of surviving in nature as well as inside your home. Maintaining a clear, plant-free zone around your home is an excellent habit for pest prevention and control.
  • Remove Water Sources – Removing water sources will have a great reward in the reduction of mosquito breeding. People often ask how they can get rid of the mosquitoes that are in their yards, patio, or area around their homes. The ideal approach for controlling mosquitoes is to never let the population explode in the first place. You can do this by making your entire yard less attractive to mosquitoes.
    • Be sure to eliminate (or treat) any of these breeding grounds in your yard. 
    • Lawn or yard ornaments with standing water features
    • Buckets that accumulate rainwater or runoff
    • Puddles
    • Landscape ponds
    • Bird baths
    • Ruts that hold standing water
    • Clogged gutters and downspouts
    • Plant bowls saucers
    • Other items that can collect rainwater or runoff – such as a wheelbarrow that is not turned upside down

Spring Pest Prevention and Control

If you have or suspect a pest problem or would like to know more about protecting your home and yards, call our team of experts at Griffin Pest Solutions. Our team is innovative, reliable, and ready to meet you and your property in whatever you might need. Above all, Griffin Pest Solutions has 90 years of experience. Call us today for your free quote!

Say “Auld Lang Syne” to Pests This New Year!

friends holding sparklers outside under lights

As we cross the threshold from this year to the next, many of us have aspirations to fulfill in the new year. Now that we’re opening the first page of a brand-new calendar, what are you going to do differently? Maybe you’ll exercise more, be more frugal, or pick up a creative hobby. Whatever you do, prioritizing pest-fee habits in your household is a great addition to your New Year’s plans. Griffin Pest Solutions is ready to treat pest infestations of any variety for homes and businesses across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, but we’d rather you never get an infestation to begin with. And you can help make that happen with these three simple, pest-deterring resolutions!

Resolution One: Declutter Your Home!

Spring cleaning shouldn’t only be relegated to when the world outside is in bloom. You should be clearing clutter from around your home on a regular basis for many reasons. It’ll keep important things from being lost and improve the aesthetics of your home. More than that, avoiding a mess in your household will remove dark and secluded places where roaches and mice can nest and hide. So, this new year, take the time to clean from the core of your home to less-frequented areas like your pantry, closets, basement and other storage spaces. That way you’ll enjoy all the benefits of a neat and orderly home, while also knowing that pests have fewer places to hide.

Resolution Two: Clean Your Kitchen!

When pests make their way into the home, it’s because they’re looking for food, shelter and warmth. By clearing clutter you’re removing potential shelter, and by keeping your kitchen clean you’re limiting the percentage of available food supply. This can involve many things, like keeping your pantry goods in sealed containers and taking out the kitchen trash regularly throughout the week. Don’t let dirty dishes pile in the sink, and every time you cook you should make sure to clean crumbs and spills as soon as they happen. With all of that in mind, your kitchen will look better, run smoother, and be free of pests.

Resolution Three: Store Your Firewood Right!

We’re in the cold season in the Lower Peninsula, and many homeowners are getting through the weather huddled by the fire. But where are you keeping your firewood? Many pests, from spiders and ants to overwintering wasps, hide in logs. You bring the wood in, and without realizing it you invite the bugs in too. So what can you do? We suggest storing your firewood on an elevated surface at least twenty feet away from your home. Only take what you plan on burning at a time, and always inspect the wood before you bring it into the home. That’s the best way to make sure you don’t invite any unwelcome guests to warm up by the fire.

Griffin Pest Solutions for Pest Control in Michigan

Sometimes you can do everything right and still get pests. When that happens, you need a qualified team ready to help – that’s where Griffin Pest Solutions comes in. We have over ninety years of experience in pest control for homes and businesses. Our team is innovative, reliable, and ready to meet you and your property in whatever you might need. The New Year is a chance to do things better, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it on your own. If you need pest control, you can get the best in town with Griffin Pest Solutions. Contact us today to get started!

Why Do I Have Stink Bugs?

stink bug perched on a window screen

Stink bugs are Michigan’s newest invasive species. These smelly pests originally came to the US from Southeast Asia in 1998. Since then, they’ve spread to nearly every state by stowing away on packages and travelers. Stink bugs seem particularly prevalent in Michigan because our humid, heavily forested environments are perfect for them.

If you feel like you have more stink bugs in your home than most people, it’s probably not your imagination. They really do prefer some homes over others. Here’s what the nuisance pests want, why they’re so attracted to your home, and how to get rid of stink bugs.

What Are Stink Bugs?

what stink bugs are

The Stink bug that has invaded Michigan is known as the brown marmorated stink bug, or Halyomorpha halys. The brown marmorated stink bug is a marbled-brown colored bug with smooth shoulders, alternating black and white striping along its abdomen, and white bands along its legs and antennae. Their bodies are shaped roughly like a shield, and they’re almost as wide as they are long. Adult stink bugs only measure up to .5 to .75 inches long. Nymphs generally look red and orangish and get darker with age.

The ominous name comes from the fact that, when threatened, stink bugs secrete a foul-smelling odor. They also release that odor when they’re killed, especially if they’re crushed. Stink bug excrement and secretions can also stain surfaces such as walls and flooring.

Where Did All These Stink Bugs Come From?

Brown marmorated stink bugs are an invasive species originally native to Southeast Asia. They made their way to the US starting around 1998 and spread very quickly. In Michigan, they live around the tree fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, and legumes they feed on. During the spring and summer, they’re common around farms and gardens where they may be considered serious crop-destroying pests. 

stink bug crawling on a wall

The ideal stink bug hideaway has several distinctive features. First and foremost, it needs to be warm. Stink bugs can’t survive freezing temperatures for long periods of time, even in diapause. Next, it needs to be quiet and inaccessible. Stink bugs are completely defenseless while they’re in diapause, so they need a place where they won’t be in danger. The darkest, tighter, and more secluded the crack, gap, or alcove, the better.

As you might imagine, stink bugs most often take shelter in attics, basements, crawl spaces, and other out-of-the-way locations. They’re especially fond of small, tight cracks they can slip through to stay hidden and safe from would-be predators. When spring comes, the stink bugs simply crawl out from where they got in. Almost all the stink bugs you see in your home in spring were probably there all winter. In spring, stink bugs already got in, and now they’re trying to get out.

Why They Are a Problem

These pests might (certainly!) smell bad, but they are not dangerous. For most homeowners, they’re a minor, if smelly nuisance. Stink bugs feed on outdoor and indoor ornamental plants, such as shrubs, hostas, bushes, and gardens. Their secretions and excrement can also stain furniture and other surfaces such as floors and walls. The bugs may move into homes during the winter, but they don’t nest, reproduce, or lay eggs in homes.

The real reason experts consider stink bugs such an issue is because they feed on vegetable, fruit, nut, legume, and vegetable crops. Crop yields in the Eastern United States have been significantly affected by stink bug damage in the past. In other words, stink bugs are an invasive pest that affects food supplies more than individual homes. Controlling them remains important even if they don’t directly bother you.

Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) perched on the side of a home.

Why Are Stink Bugs in My Home?

Now that you know what stink bugs want, you can probably guess why there are so many near you. Yards with gardens, fruit trees, thriving ornamental plants, or berry bushes attract stink bugs during the spring and summer. Homes that receive a lot of sun exposure during the day are particularly attractive to nearby stink bugs. If you have a thriving yard and your home gets plenty of sun exposure, then it’s a great destination for stink bugs all year! 

Stink bugs aren’t actually a threat to you or your home. They can’t bite, sting, spread disease, or even cause structural damage. At worst, the bugs smell pretty gross.

The biggest problem is that they will enter your home starting in fall given the chance. Stink bugs need to shelter in warm environments if they’re going to survive the winter. They’ll find cracks and gaps around the areas where they congregate and use them to enter your home.

How Do You Get Rid of Stink Bugs?

The best way to deal with stink bugs is to keep them out in the first place. Most home infestations happen in early winter when the bugs seek shelter to keep warm. Replace damaged screens and weather stripping, secure window and door framing, and seal gaps in your foundation or walls. Stink bugs crawl into homes through air vents and chimneys so install screens over these openings. Pay special attention to problem areas of your home, such as the attic or basement.

Vacuuming up stink bugs in home

We know it’s tempting, but don’t crush the stink bugs you run into in your home. When stink bugs are crushed, they automatically excrete their foul-smelling liquid odor. Not only does this stink and stain surfaces, but it also attracts other stink bugs! Instead of crushing them, we recommend you vacuum up the stink bugs you find. After you’re finished, throw out the vacuum bag in your outdoor dumpster. Wipe down surfaces where you found stink bugs with soapy water.

Check areas where stink bugs may have hidden when they were congregated. They’re fond of entering buildings through cracks in windowsills, door frames, and baseboards. Wash these areas with soapy water and seal them with caulk. Stink bugs hate the smell of soap (natural enemies, we suppose), so washing their usual entrances will help keep them away. Remember, stink bugs are surprisingly flat, so they can fit through cracks smaller than you’d think.

Stink Bug FAQ

What do stink bugs eat?

Stink bugs will eat just about any food crop from apples to soybeans to pecans. They are a dangerous nuisance to gardens, orchards and farms capable of attracting others when a food source has been located. They also eat other insects and insect larvae.

Do stink bugs bite?

No. Their mouths simply aren’t designed to pierce human skin. Beside their defensive (and offensive) smell, stink bugs aren’t harmful to humans unless you are allergic to stink bug toxin.

Do stink bugs fly?

Yes. They have two sets of wings that they use to find food and mates.

What does stink bug “stink” smell like?

Depends on who you ask. Common descriptions include rotten vegetables, cilantro, skunk spray and burnt tires. The odor – however it appears to you – usually dissipates within and hour.

Get Rid of Stink Bugs For Good

If you’ve got a home infestation and you’re still wondering “How do I get rid of all these stink bugs?”  Call or contact Griffin today. We handle stink bugs in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. We’ll clear your home and keep stink bugs from coming back.

Why’d It Have to Be Snakes?

why did it have to be snakes?

Keeping Snakes Away

With our long winters, sweltering summers, and wild weather changes, you’d think we wouldn’t have to worry about snakes in Michigan too. It’s definitely too cold up here, right…?

Wrong! Turns out there are 18 species of snakes native to Michigan. They can thrive here just as easily as they can farther south, they just have to get a little creative to keep warm during winter. This means either hibernating in a nest called a “hibernaculum” or sneaking into a cozy house. Don’t worry, most of them are harmless and we’ll teach you how to keep snakes away from your home and yard.

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eastern massasauga rattlesnake

Where Did They Come From?

Of the 18 types of Michigan snakes, only one of them – the Eastern Massasauga – is venomous. Lucky for you, these snakes are shy and rarely seen. They’re also listed as a threatened species. If you are bitten by a Michigan rattlesnake, seek medical attention immediately.

Snakes are considerably more common in the lower peninsula than the upper. They prefer the south’s wetlands, swamps, and marshes which are more akin to their ideal habitats. Away from this terrain they adapt by finding safe, quiet, secluded areas to dwell. Often under a porch or in an overgrown yard.

Snakes manage their body heat very carefully. Even though they need sunlight to keep warm and active, too much will dry them out and they’ll die. That means they need an environment with a lot of shade, vegetation, humidity, and places to cool off. Wet places like swamps provide this plus an abundance of prey. If you live near a prime habitat like a marsh or a brackish lake you may end up seeing more snakes in your neighborhood.

red belly snake

Why Are There Snakes in My Home?

It’s all about shelter. You’ll probably start seeing snakes starting in late summer, when they get serious about finding a place to stay over the winter. The environment where snakes build their hibernaculum needs be dark, warm, enclosed, hidden, and underground. Chances are that your home’s crawl space, basement, foundation, or walls check off all these boxes.

Snake infestation may be a sign that you’re hosting other pests, too. As predators, they’ll often chase prey into a home. After they move in, they’ll make themselves comfortable in the tightest, darkest, warmest, and most hidden area they can find. If you suspect you have snakes, they’re probably under floorboards or basement furniture, in tight corners, or in damaged insulation. If you’re going to look for them, be careful! Snakes are afraid of humans and may lash out if cornered.

foundation cracks that might let snakes in

How Did They Get In?

Finally, a little good news. Snakes have more limited home-infiltration options than most pests. They can’t fly, and they’re not particularly adept climbers. Unlike rodents or other burrowing pests, they can’t chew or dig their way in, either. If snakes got into your home, they got in from the ground. Most likely, they found a small crack in the foundation or the baseboard.

Snakes can twist and contort themselves into small spaces. Even a tiny gap between a low window and its frame can be an access-avenue. Cracking molding, baseboard, or even improperly seated doors may be vulnerable if snakes can slip underneath them. Unfortunately, it’s also possible that the snakes in your home were simply born there. If adults can reproduce in and around your home, they will.

How to Keep Rattlesnakes (and other common Michigan snakes) Away

The best way to keep any kind of snake out of your home is to deprive them of the things they want – food, shelter, warmth, and shade. Start outside your home. To get rid of snakes in your yard, look for sources of cover and food.

  • Mow overgrown grass.
  • Trim bushes and other vegetation.
  • Remove any leaves and brush.
  • Harvest ripe or fallen fruit.
  • Keep birdseed in feeders and not on the ground.

If snakes can lounge around in the shade on your lawn undisturbed, they’re more likely to stick around. Spoiled birds and rodents might be easy snake prey. Limit the amount of food you’re leaving out to attract them.

Once you’ve completed your lawn maintenance, walk the perimeter of your home. Look for gaps and cracks in the foundation where a skinny squatter might slither in.

  • Seal around utility lines, windows and doors.
  • Repair screens.
  • Fence beneath decks and porches.
  • Clean basements and other cluttered areas.
  • Remove house pests like mice.

Outside, make sure your home is secure. Inside, get organized – dust, vacuum and remove clutter. Snakes thrive in cluttered environments with plenty of hiding places. Take those hiding places away. Also take away any potential food sources snakes might find in your home.

Snake Control and Removal for Michigan, Indiana and Ohio

Following these steps will help snake-proof your home long term, but they may not do much to the snakes that are already around. We don’t recommend trying to take any freeloading snakes out on your own.

Griffin has the experienced pest control experts and knowhow to handle any and all of Michigan’s native snakes including rat snakes and garden snakes. If you have a snake problem–or any other pest problem, for that matter–let us know. We’ve got your back (and your ankles).