FAQ

How are pests controlled inside if treatment is outside?

After we have eliminated any problems inside your home, we focus our attention outside to address areas where pests can gain entry or where they might find food or water sources. After those access points are eliminated we create a barrier of protection. By keeping pests outside, we eliminate or reduce the need to go back inside your home. If you are enrolled in the City Pest Control’s Quarterly Pest Management Plan and you have a problem inside in between services, we will return for a service at no additional cost to you.

Why should I hire a professional Pest Prevention service?

Regular physical exams. Regular dental checkups. Regular HVAC checkups of your home or business. Regular auto service. Regular pest control service. The key word here is “regular.” You may feel that one call from your pest control professional should take care of the problem for the whole season. Not so, industry experts say.

Through extensive training, our technicians are like pest detectives! Our technicians can find pest-producing situations even before a problem happens. That is why regular service is so important.

What are some general guidelines for choosing a pest management company?

  • Look for a reputable company with knowledgeable and professional representatives and a great image. Ask friends and associates to recommend companies they use or have used.
  • Look for members of state and national industry associations such as the National Pest management Association (NPMA) that provide ethical guidelines and technical information.
  • Be certain the company is licensed by your state’s regulatory agency.

What training do the technicians have?

Our technicians are certified and licensed by the Indiana Office of the State Chemist at Purdue University. Our technicians have 40 years of combined experience in the pest control business.

Why do I need ongoing pest treatment?

In any pest control program, ongoing maintenance is necessary to ensure control of any infestations and to help prevent future ones from occurring. Pests want three things: food, water, and shelter – all things that are inside your home. They often are relentless in looking for ways to be active as the weather changes, requiring different treatments as the seasons change. We partner with our customers, encouraging them to take simple steps in addition to the appropriate pest treatment provided by a licensed professional, to help keep potential pest in their place all year round, and to help keep your home protected.

How long do I have to leave the premises after a service?

Because we use low toxicity chemicals, you can usually stay home during the treatment. Flea and spider treatments require you to leave for 2-3 hours. Roaches, ants, mice, termites, and just about everything else can be taken care of while you’re relaxing on the living room couch.

What about pets and children?

Children need to leave during the treatment and may return 4-6 hours after completion. We ask that during treatments, you either put your pets in a room that is not being treated or remove them from the structure until the materials we have used are dry. Fish tanks need to be covered.

Do the chemicals you use have a real bad odor?

Another great benefit of low toxicity chemicals is virtually odorless pest control. No longer do you need to be reminded that you received extermination by a nasty, lingering odor.

How long does treatment last?

Typically, most chemical residues last at least 60 days. Treatment effectiveness varies by type of pest. Ask your professional service technician about your particular circumstance.

Do I have to sign a contract?

At City Pest Control it is not required that you sign a contract for a regular Quarterly Pest Management Program. You can call and explain your pest problem. We will let you know the best management program for the best control and how much it will cost. When our service technician comes to your house for the service, he will explain your options for continued pest management.

What are the health risks associated with common pests?

Pests can transmit a number of potentially serious diseases, illnesses and allergies.

  • Cockroaches: Asthma, allergies, and food poisoning
  • Ticks: Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever
  • Fleas: Dermatitis, murine typhus and bubonic plague
  • Rodents: Hantavirus Pulmonary syndrome, murine typhus, salmonella and rat-bite fever
  • Mosquitoes: West Nile Virus, encephalitis, Malaria
  • Fire Ants: Severe allergic reactions including anaphylactic shock
  • Bees/Wasps/ Yellow Jackets: Severe allergic reaction including anaphylactic shock

How do I keep spiders out of my home?

It is important to note that if have a spider problem; you likely have a pest problem. Spiders are predators and make a living, eating pests such as bugs. They may wander in your home searching for these pests. If you want to rid your home of spiders, a great first step is to contact a licensed pest management professional to first rid your home of the spider’s food source which is other pests. Finally, there are some highly effective strategies we recommend you can do to make your home less attractive to spiders:

  • Seal off potential entries like crack and crevices, spaces under doors( install door sweeps), holes in screens, etc.
  • Inhibit their ability to create webs by cleaning, dusting, removing clutter etc.
  • Reduce lights on the outside which may attract other pests.

How do I know if I have termites?

Reproductive (swarmer) termites usually emerge from late March to early June, when billions of winged termites fly from their nests to start new colonies. Swarmers resemble winged ants with straight antennae, a broad waist, and both pairs of wings equal in length.

  • Swarmers are attracted to sunlight and are usually found around windows.
  • Additionally, mud tubes on your foundation, sill plate, or header and floor joists are signs of a termite infestation.
  • Tapping or probing with a screwdriver can locate damaged wood. Damaged wood will sound hollow. If the area is still active, you may see worker termites inside.
  • Also, be sure to remember that termite galleries in wood are mud-filled and run with the grain.

When should my house be treated for termites?

We offer a free inspection of your home to determine if there are termites present. Contact us to schedule an appointment.

Is there financing available for termite treatments?

When City Pest Control installs a Sentricon Termite Colony Eliminating System around your home, you have up to one year to pay for this service. The installation fee will be divided into 12 equal payments. There is no interest charged for this service. See the page about termites on our website for more information about the Sentricon System.

We have bats in the attic, what should we do?

  • First, find out if you are dealing with nursing colony. Bats have their young in June-July. No sealing or batproofing can be done in June or July. If you remove the adult bats before the pups can fly out, they will die in the building. Not only is this inhumane, but it is also impractical because bat carcasses are hard to find and get rid of.
  • Don’t get rid of bats during the winter when they are hibernating. There won’t be enough food for them to survive outside. If the bat population is decimated, you’ll probably notice more insects like mosquitoes and garden pests.
  • Determine where the bats are getting in and out. Look for bat dropping (guano) on or below the entrance.
  • Try to avoid inhaling the bat droppings.
  • If you can’t identify the openings by the dropping, watch carefully to see where they emerge from at dusk.
  • These are some common points of entry:
    • Broken or poorly-fitted screens
    • Loose or missing shingles or tiles
    • Places where flashing or boards have come loose
    • Locations where pipes or wiring enter buildings
    • Where walls meet the eaves at the gable ends of an attic
    • Where porches attach to the main part of a house
    • Where dormers meet the roof
    • Cracks and crevices where siding forms corners, or at places where it meets windows, doors or chimneys.

Prevent the bats from re-entering:

  • After they leave at night to feed, nail or staple a screen of fine hardware cloth over the opening. By the next night only some of them will be gone, so you’ll need to remove the covering so the stragglers can leave to feed.
  • Ideally, you should use one-way exit devices. This is what professionals use. Once all the bats are gone, the devices are removed and the holes are permanently sealed.

If you have questions or would like a quote for batproofing contact us.

What is the difference between cockroaches and waterbugs?

In this area of Indiana, the most common roaches seen are the german cockroach, the oriental cockroach, the brown-banded cockroach and the American cockroach.

  • German cockroaches can be found all over the world. They are the most common cockroach in the United States. Each German cockroach can live about 100-200 days. They commonly found in kitchens or food areas.
  • Oriental Cockroaches probably get their names from trade ships but they are actually from Africa. They are large and very dark compared to other cockroaches. They usually travel through sewer pipes and drains. They prefer dirty places and cooler temperatures than other cockroaches. An Oriental cockroach creates a strong smell and is considered one of the dirtiest of all the cockroaches.
  • Brown-banded cockroaches get their name from the two light bands they have across their dark brownish bodies. The male’s wings are larger than the female’s wings. Brown-banded cockroaches often hide their eggs in or under furniture. They usually live 5-6 ½ months.
  • The American cockroach is the largest cockroach found in houses. Females can hatch up to 150 offspring per year. Cockroaches don’t get their wings until the become adults. American cockroaches are also known as “waterbugs” because they are so commonly found near rich water resources, like puddles and water pipes. American cockroaches are nocturnal. They rest by day and forage for food at night.

Cockroaches typically become established in homes after being introduced in grocery bags, with laundry or, in some cases, wandering in from outdoors. Once cockroaches become established they are prolific breeders capable of producing several thousand offspring in a year.

Cockroaches prefer to live where there is food, warmth and moisture. Since cockroaches flourish where food and moisture are readily available, sanitation is an important step in prevention and control. Empty soft drink bottles, cardboard boxes and paper bags should not be allowed to accumulate. Food containers should be sealed and any crumbs or spillage cleaned up.

Unlike many household pests, cockroaches are prevalent year-round, causing homeowners and businesses to eventually seek some form of control.

Cockroaches can impact our homes as they track in lots of bacteria and germs by crawling through dirty areas and then walk around our homes. They can contaminate food by shedding their skins. Their cast off skin and waste byproducts are allergens that can trigger allergic reactions, asthma and other illnesses, especially in children.

Best Ways of Prevention:

  • Keep your home clean and dry.
  • Vacuum often and seal cracks in and around your house.
  • If you see cockroaches, it is best to call a pest management professional due to the illnesses they can spread. Your service technician would like to see a specimen of the insect for a positive identification.

How do we get rid of moles?

Mole traps are very effective for controlling mole populations. Until recently this was the only real option available. However, Bell Laboratories has introduced a mole bait called Talpirid, which has been proven effective at killing moles. It is available for purchased at the City Pest Control office for do-it-yourselfers.

I live in a rural area, and I have a problem with field mice every year. Is there anything I can do to eliminate them and keep them out for good?

If you live by a field or in the woods, it is likely that you will always have to deal with mice every fall and winter. Your best strategy is to seal as many openings and holes in the exterior walls as possible and to put weatherstrips on the bottom of all doors, especially the garage door, to prevent mice from entering. If you can stick a pencil through a crack or hole, a mouse can squeeze through it. Place live traps inside the garage on either side of the doorway to catch mice and rats as they enter. Check the traps often. Make sure all foundation and attic vents have 1/4-inch hardware cloths tightly fitted over the opening and do the same for any turbine vents in the roof. Trim all tree branches at least 10 feet from the roof.