Carpenter ants are a type of ant that is known for their ability to damage wood. These ants can cause severe damage to homes, buildings, and other wooden structures, making them a serious pest problem for homeowners. In this blog post, we will discuss what carpenter ants are, how to identify them, and how to treat them effectively.

What are Carpenter Ants?

Carpenter ants are large ants ranging in size from ¼ to ½ inch. They are typically black or red in color and have a smooth, rounded thorax. Carpenter ants are social insects and live in large colonies, with a queen ant laying eggs and worker ants taking care of the young and foraging for food.

How to Identify Carpenter Ants?

One of the most common signs of carpenter ants is the presence of sawdust-like debris, known as frass, near wooden structures. Carpenter ants create tunnels and galleries in wood, which can weaken the structural integrity of the wood and cause damage. Additionally, carpenter ants are often found near food sources, such as sugar or honey, and may be seen crawling around searching for food.

If you are looking for a reliable and effective pest control company to treat a carpenter ant infestation in Dayton, Ohio, Pro Zone Pest Control is a great choice. Here’s why:

1) Local Expertise: Pro Zone Pest Control is a local company that has been serving the Dayton, Ohio, area for over 20 years. They have extensive knowledge and experience dealing with the specific pest problems common to this region, including carpenter ants.

2) Customized Treatment Plans: Pro Zone Pest Control develops customized treatment plans based on the specific needs of each client. They consider the severity of the infestation, the location of the nest, and other factors to determine the most effective treatment methods.

3) Safe and Effective Chemicals: Pro Zone Pest Control uses safe and effective chemicals that are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They also use integrated pest management techniques, which means that they focus on prevention and use the least amount of chemicals necessary to solve the problem.

4) Ongoing Prevention Services: Pro Zone Pest Control provides ongoing prevention services to keep carpenter ants from returning. They can identify potential entry points and seal them to prevent future infestations.

5) Excellent Customer Service: Pro Zone Pest Control is committed to providing excellent customer service. They are responsive, professional, and knowledgeable, and they will work with you to ensure that your pest problem is solved to your satisfaction.

When you work with Pro Zone Pest Control to treat a carpenter ant infestation, here’s what you can expect:

1) Inspection: The pest control technician will conduct a thorough inspection of your property to locate the nest and identify potential entry points.

2) Customized Treatment Plan: Based on the inspection, the technician will develop a customized treatment plan that is tailored to your specific infestation.

3) Treatment: The technician will apply the appropriate treatment methods, which may include baits, insecticides, or a combination of both.

4) Follow-Up: Pro Zone Pest Control will schedule follow-up visits to monitor the infestation and ensure that the treatment was effective. They may also provide ongoing prevention services to keep the ants from returning.

In conclusion, if you are dealing with a carpenter ant infestation in Dayton, Ohio, Pro Zone Pest Control is an excellent choice for pest control services. They offer local expertise, customized treatment plans, safe and effective chemicals, ongoing prevention services, and excellent customer service.

Contact us today to schedule an inspection and get started on eliminating your carpenter ant problem.

Mole control in Dayton and surrounding areas can be tricky, and understanding the problem you are up against is important to protecting your property from these little nuisances that wreak a lot of havoc.

What is a mole?

Moles are small burrowing mammals that have adapted to a subterranean lifestyle and in fact spend their entire lives underground.  They have very poor eyesight and what they lack in vision make up for with a keen sense of touch.  All moles have sensitive snouts and clawed digits that they use to tunnel through the ground with.  In Ohio, there are primarily three species of mole seen: hairy-tailed moles, star-nosed moles, and the eastern mole.

Mole range/territory

As stated previously, moles live underground and spend the majority of their time burrowing and tunneling through soil.  They are quite capable diggers, and in fact the eastern mole (prevalent in Ohio) is capable of tunneling out a 160 foot burrow in just one night!  

If you’ve never seen a mole “run” or tunnel, it is usually clear to see as a row or line of raised soil is visible in your lawn where the mole has been tunneling.  This soil will also feel soft underfoot as you step on it as there is now a hollowed out tunnel under your feet!  They will create a vast network of these tunnels all over your lawn causing a large amount of damage in a very short amount of time.  

In fact, male moles typically have a territory that covers a range of approximately 2 acres, while females generally cover about ½ acre.

Bed Bugs are probably every person’s worst fear when it comes to pest-related problems.  The thought of having them invade your personal space will literally keep you up at night!  Bed Bugs have been and continue to be a huge problem here in the Dayton area, but Pro Zone Pest Control has the solution to solve your problem.

At one time, bed bugs were thought to be nearly eradicated in the United States.  We now see them in every part of the country, from 5-star hotels to cruise ships, movie theaters, and your very own bed.  Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers, and that is how they are moved from one location to the next.  They will catch a ride on one person’s belongings and move from place to place.  

Bed bugs are blood-feeding parasites that are primarily oval in appearance with flat bodies.  Contrary to some beliefs, they do not spread any disease after they bite.  Most people also believe that you can only get bed bugs if you have a dirty home (not true!), although a tidy house certainly does help when it comes to treatment.  Here at Pro Zone Pest Control, we have treated everything from trailer homes to million-dollar properties.  Bed bugs do not discriminate!

The Bed Bug Lifecycle: The Fascinating (and Gross) World of Bed Bug Reproduction

Understanding a bit about bed bugs will help catch the problem early and help keep a small problem from becoming a large one.  

In addition to being flat and oval, bed bugs are generally reddish-brown.  Adult bed bugs are approximately 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch long and are clearly visible.  Juvenile bed bugs are called nymphs and have the same shape as adults but are more yellow-white.  

Bed bugs will feed on various hosts, including poultry, rodents, cats & dogs, but their favorite is the human.  Bed bugs go through three life stages: eggs, nymphs, and adults.  Eggs are approximately 1 mm long (about 2 grains of salt) and are very difficult to see.  They have a sticky coat and are laid in the cracks and crevices around bedding, sofas, etc.  After hatching, they become a nymph and begin feeding immediately.  A nymph will go through 5 molting stages (each requiring a blood meal) before reaching adulthood.  

Adult bed bugs will live approximately one year in optimal conditions.  Reproduction in a home or business with a constant temperature between 70 & 85 degrees is rapid, and they breed year-round.  One fertilized adult female bed bug can lay about 1-5 eggs PER DAY!  That is approximately 500 eggs in her lifetime.  Eggs will hatch after 7-10 days, and the total time from egg to adult bed bug is about 1 ½ to 2 months.  As you can see, it does not take long for a home to become overrun with bed bugs!

Bed bugs are incredibly resilient and can live for multiple months without feeding.  Some studies have shown them to survive for up to 18 months without a blood meal.  The point is you cannot wait them out!  They will hunker down and wait for you to appear and for the dinner bell rings! 

The bigger question is, how do we get rid of them?

Bed Bug Heat Treatment: Why it is the Best Solution for Bed Bug Eradication

Pro Zone Pest Control has been treating bed bugs for many years now, and our preferred method to eradicate them from a property is heat treatment.  This is a method of safely raising the temperature in your home to the point that bed bugs cannot sustain life.  Heat is lethal to all insects and arachnids (at the proper temperature), and using this principle. We have found the proper temps, methods, and equipment to remove bed bugs from your home without using a chemical application.  

Generally speaking, the target temperature desired to effectively kill all stages of life (adult, nymph, and eggs) is approximately 140 degrees. Pro Zone Pest Control will guide you through the process of preparing your home for treatment and what to expect along the way.  This is a one-day process and only requires you to be out of the home for the better part of a day.  

When heat treatment is not an option, we do have alternative treatment options that are highly effective and may work better depending upon circumstances.  Our goal is to make your home bed bug free so that you can rest easily!  

Contact Pro Zone Pest Control today if you suspect a bed bug problem in your home.

One of the most common behaviors among homeowners is NOT hiring a pest control company until they feel the infestation has gone beyond them to handle. However, when they know the situation is out of their control, their first impulse is to find a pest control company in their area and schedule service immediately.

That’s understandable as no one wants to share their home with creepy pests such as ants, roaches, rodents, & more that can cause damage to your house and affect your peace of mind. 

However, choosing the right pest control company is not as easy as it looks. Before deciding to do business with a pest control company, you should: 

1) Do your research,
2) Ask a few questions to get the information needed to make the best decision.

Always remember, these efforts are worth it if they help you find the right pest company that will do the job correctly and stand behind their work.

If you are looking to hire a pest control company in Dayton, Ohio, or nearby cities in the Montgomery County area, here are a few questions you must ask:

Q.1: How long have you been in business?

Well, this is an obvious one.

When it comes to successfully handling pest control issues, experience goes a long way. When considering hiring a new pest control company, it’s important to learn about how long they’ve been in business or how much experience they have in the industry.  You definitely do NOT want to risk your home or property with a pest control company or a team that doesn’t know the trade.

Example: 

Pro Zone Pest Control has been in the business since 2003. However, Dan Kelley – the owner – has been working in the industry since 1981. That makes the total experience of almost 40 years. Pro Zone Pest Control has been servicing Dayton, Springfield, Cincinnati, and other cities in Montgomery & Clarke counties for over 18 years. 

A few other benefits of working with a trusted, local pest control company are:

1) Knowledge of the local pests by region & season in the area.

2) Trust that they’ll be around in the future and that they’ll stand behind their work.

Q.2: Are your technicians licensed and insured?

All registered pest control providers in the United States should be licensed, bonded, and insured. Every state is different, so make sure the company you choose is licensed in your state.

Pest Control technicians need to understand safety practices, application methods, and cleaning protocols to provide you with the best service. So, make sure to find out which licenses your provider possesses before booking a pest control service with them. 

We also recommend you to check whether the pest control company you decide to do business with has different insurances needed as per state requirements. The most common types of insurance a company should have are:

1) General liability insurance

2) Professional liability insurance

A company with proper certifications and insurance ensures that they are liable for any damage caused by them to your home or property. It also protects you in case a worker suffers an injury on your property. If a company hesitates to answer your questions around insurances & certifications, that’s a red flag. Do not hire them for your pest control needs.

Pro Zone Pest Control is licensed and insured in the state of Ohio. We hold licenses for all types of pest control, mosquito control,  & termite services. If you ever have any questions about our certifications & insurance, we are happy to share with you so you can feel safe about our services. 

3) Where can I find reviews about your pest control services from current or previous customers?

Any reputable and efficient pest control company should have customers raving about their services. So, the company shouldn’t have any issues or concerns in directing you to the reviews of their services if asked. Alternatively, you can check for online reviews of a pest control company yourself. 

If a company is hesitant about sharing online/public reviews for their services, don’t think even for a second and run in the opposite direction. Here are the main/primary listings you should look for:

1) Google My Business listing of the company

2) Yelp listing

3) Facebook Page

4) HomeAdvisor listing (if the company has one)

At Pro Zone Pest Control – Dayton’s leading pest control company – we are happy to show the raving things our customers have to say about your services. You can check them on:

1) HomeAdvisor listing ⇒  185+ reviews with a 5.0 average rating.

2) Google My Business listing ⇒ 45+ reviews with a 4.8 average rating.

Q.4: Do you offer free inspections/quotes for your pest control services?

Not all companies provide a free inspection/quote because of the efforts that go into it. However, a lot of pest control companies do offer a free inspection/quote for selected services.

For example, here at Pro Zone Pest Control, we provide a free estimate for all of our pest control services.

As a customer, you should always ask whether or not the company you are choosing for your pest treatment provides a free inspection or quote. However, this should NOT affect your decision if they meet all other criteria and charge a very nominal fee for providing an estimate.

Q.5: Are the pest treatments & products you use safe for people, pets and plants?

Getting a pest control treatment done is essential. However, the safety of your family is more important than that. You don’t want your kids, pets, and other relatives to be exposed to harmful chemicals. Hence, you must ask your pest control company about the products they use for treating your pest issues.

Chemicals and products used for Pest control treatments are highly regulated and labeled for specific use. They are explicitly designed to target insects and non-mammal pests. Still, before your pest control technician arrives to perform a service, you must check if you need to leave your home during the treatment. It may be necessary depending on the pest control method OR product they plan to use.

If a pest control company avoids answering your questions around products used and safety precautions, that’s a clear indication to find another company.

Need help? Choose the Best Pest Control Company in Dayton, OH

Treating pests is too important just to hire any random pest control company to do it. That’s why we recommend you do your homework & don’t be afraid to ask any questions before handing over your home to them. If you’re not sure about what to ask, the questions we covered in this post are a good starting point. Any legit & reputable company would be happy to answer all of your questions.

If you are searching for a legit & reputable local pest control company in Dayton, Ohio, we would be happy to discuss your pest control needs with you and determine the best course of action for eliminating the problem.

Contact Pro Zone Pest Control, a trusted pest control company in Dayton, Springfield, Cincinnati, and nearby cities in Clark & Montgomery Counties, OH. We’ve been successfully controlling and exterminating various bugs in the area for the last 39 years. Contact us by phone at 1-937-903-3962 or through our website or Google My Business listing.