Carpenter ants might often be considered a spring and summer pest but they can start showing up as early as late January in this part of the country.  All it takes is just a few consecutive sunny days and temperatures can warm up enough to create some activity.

When carpenter ants do appear so early it is usually sporadic.

You may not necessarily see constant activity but rather, you may see a few on one day and a few on another.  Nonetheless, just because they appear to go away for a while doesn’t mean that they are gone but rather that they are just not currently visible. During periods when they are not active and visible they generally are tending to their nest.  This is actually like humans – when it is sunny and dry you may paint the outside of your house and when it is cold and rainy, you may paint an interior room.  Such non-visible activities may include making sure that the colonies pupa are stored well where they will continue to grow and be ready to help the colony eventually damage your home!

Regular presence of carpenter ants won’t start to occur until the average daily temperatures begin to rise above 45 to 50 degrees. However, keep in mind that just because you might not see them for a while does not mean that they are not still there and causing damage.  Therefore, take the gift of having seen some as a good early sign and opportunity to address problem properly.

Backing up for a brief moment, let’s look at some causes as to why some carpenter ant activity previously unseen may suddenly be visible. It is important to realize that the odds are that at the time of first seeing them the ants usually have been there for at least a year or more. Sometimes yard work in winter or early spring can be the catalyst for causing the appearance. While IPM (Integrated Pest Management) recommends the removal of branches and foliage that come in contact with the structure as an integral part of the preventative process, doing it at the wrong time can exaggerate the problem.

Branch removal that is done during winter or very early spring can confuse the colony and cause branching out of a sub colony.  If the colony had been relying on the contacting branches as a pathway, the ants will not have access to their previous route to get outside. Because of this, they can possibly spread out to other areas in the structure looking for other perimeter openings for exterior access.  This really acts as a double-edged sword; on the positive side, it might alert you to a colony infestation that you were otherwise unaware of; on the negative side, the problem now may be spreading and on route to getting worse unless fast action is taken.

Avoiding kneejerk attempts to perform your own pest control with the first chemical you find in your cupboard.  Without getting an inspection by a professional or you easily could make problem worst.

Next, realize that carpenter ants are a normal, consistent part of the environment in many parts of country. Don’t always assume you have problem if you see one in yard (as opposed to at your foundation or inside) as that might be normal and expected for the environment surrounding your structure.  As with many creatures they are consistent; you will see then in the same area over and over again.  Applying treatments when not needed is something to be avoided and it most usually is done as a result of either misdiagnosis or lack of familiarity with the cause of the problem.

Since a carpenter ant infestation almost always start as a shoot off from another larger, establish colony, they likely will be travelling outside on a daily basis.  The purpose of the travel is to communicate with that original colony and to forage for food source (commonly other insects.)  Given that you can count on this behavior, pest control providers often are able to use this information to limit treatment to the exterior perimeter of structure and avoid interior treatment.

Carpenter ants are typically territorial.

They usually will have a smaller nest colony population than other common types of ants such as odorous house ants.  This small colony can still cause huge amounts of damage, however.  Carpenters will forage up to 100 yards away from their nest and protect that territory from other colonies (excluding the colony of original origin.)  This means that very likely only one related colony is occupying the structure (even if that specific “extended family” has multiple nests.)

A false sense of security can be derived from a nest that is only partially killed.  Since there is no consistent way of verifying, the colony will become virtually non-visible and won’t show back up again until it has regenerated itself.  It can take months to tell for certain whether a problem is fully eradicated. For this reason, opting for continued periodic service treatment is much wiser plan of attack than a one-time treatment.  Also, money spent on a more thorough treatment process will often pay for itself in as little as 6 months or a year.  Keep in mind the goal of successful carpenter ant extermination; to increase the likelihood of a more through colony kill and then start practicing preventative integrated pest management practices.

This is a lot of information but hopefully it helps you understand your ant problem better.  We find that our happiest customers are those who also have a good understanding of the true nature of the problem.  We would love for you to become one of those happy customers – give us a call today!  503-968-5950.

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Heidi_Ball]Heidi Ball

Nothing is much worse than seeing a cockroach scurry across the kitchen.They have been shown to transport a number of bacteria and viruses on their icky little bodies. They can cause some serious health problems and should be eliminated as soon as possible.

Termites and carpenter ants are a significant cause for worry. While they don’t carry the diseases that cockroaches do, they can destroy buildings and crops. Termites especially as they live in colonies from several hundred to several million in number.

In some places the battle of ticks and fleas is ongoing. Ticks can be found in tall grass and shrubs where they wait for an unsuspecting "host" to attach themselves to. They can transmit Lyme disease which indeed can be very serious. Fleas live off the blood of mammals and birds. They are great jumpers and also a great source of disease. They can transmit things as serious as the bubonic plague and also as awful as tapeworms.

Mites and bed bugs can bite and create painful skin irritation. Scratching an itchy bite from a mite can lead to secondary infection. Bed bugs feed on their host while they sleep. They use a sharp beak to pierce the skin and then feed on the blood. A full grown bed bug will feed for as long as 10 to 15 minutes. As horrible as it may sound, bed bugs are most frequently found in hotels or shelters. They are not a result of poor housekeeping or bad hygiene, they are just around.

Especially with those with allergic reactions to bees, having hornets’ nests or yellow jackets around their dwelling can be scary and dangerous. Hornets will sting repeatedly if their nests are disturbed.  Carpenter bees can also be a problem as they can drill into wood and nest in the hole.

Rats and mice can be a problem both indoors and out. Some rats, like the Norway rat, can weigh up to one pound and can be up to 18 inches long. They can cause extensive damage to buildings and homes as they can cause problems with the foundation and some of their nests can cause electrical systems to short circuit. They are large contaminators of food and can transmit deadly diseases. Mice can cause some of the same problems on a smaller scale, but carry the same disease risks.

If you are experiencing any sort of pest problem, dqpestcontrol.com ( http://www.dqpestcontrol.com) can help with   Nassau County Animal Control.  Heidi Ball is a freelance writer

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heidi_Ball http://EzineArticles.com/?Pests-That-Need-Control&id=2075044

Another common pest in the Portland area that in worthy of quick action is the odorous house ant.   While not an overly destructive pest, they can get out of control very quickly.   They usually start becoming more prevalent in the Portland area during March and April. – Tom

Usually, it is just one or two that you spot the first time that you see ants in your home. “What is an ant or two?” you might say to yourself as you either squish it, grab it with tissue is preparation for flushing or personally escort it to the back door. You might not even see any more signs of them for days or weeks.   How soon the next sighting is depends a lot on what the Portland Oregon weather is currently like.

But then there is that terrible moment when you round a corner, focus on something that doesn’t look right, and then suddenly realize that there are a dozen or two or three ants crawling all over something not intended for them! A quick rush for a can of bug spray, window cleaner or anything handy that has a list of chemical names on it is almost always the next step.

Let me suggest something different at that point. Resist spraying anything in you household cupboard on them. I know that you want them either dead, gone or both as soon as possible but believe it or not, spaying them with that handy household chemical is counter-productive. The vast majority of the time, it actually serves to make the problem worse.

The reason for this is that when you see a few ants, you are almost always only view the tip of the iceberg.

Rarely is what you see all that you have. Consider the visible ants to be the welcoming committee, announcing their presence with authority that they have moved into the house. Killing a few does nothing to solve the real problem – the nest.

Even worse, however, is that most household chemicals will form a temporary barrier. While this might sound like a good idea, in effect what is has the potential for doing is stressing the ant colony, making them work harder and eventually show up elsewhere in the structure with even more vigor. Some species, such as odorous house ants, actually respond by budding, creating an offshoot colony with its own queen. If you have ever tried holding a beach ball under water, you will soon realize a similar effect with your ant. They will just shoot up more elsewhere with more force.

The best plan of action is to call a professional pest control company by the second time you see ants.

This first time could always just be some “crawl-ins” from outdoors but if you see them a second time, they are there to stay. Services usually are very reasonable and the sooner you call, the smaller and more affordable the eradication job is. Additionally, the problem is addressed immediately and you can be back to having an ant free house instead of fighting a losing battle for a month before call for help.

If you live in the Portland Metro area and have seen an ant or two, please give us a call and we will be glad to help.

Here is a helpful article about carpenter ants.   It is pertinent to anyone in the Portland Oregon Metro Area who suspects that they may have a carpenter ant infestation.   The article is written simply, without getting into too much technical trade and research jargon. – Tom

Carpenter Ants can cause a great deal of damage to your home.

These large brown or black ants live mainly in wooded areas but from time to time might try to enter your home. This article will help you identify carpenter ants and help you prevent an infestation.

There are many potential signs of an infestation that you can look out for.

1. Look for large winged ants. These are breeders and if you spot them, you probably have a colony nearby.

2. Examine your woodwork. Look for sawdust and small slits around and on your woodwork. This will show you where carpenter ant have been working.

3. Another sign of an infestation is clicking noises coming from your walls. The ants are so voracious that you can actually hear them working behind walls. it will sound like a quiet rustling noise.

So how can you keep from getting an infestation? There are several things that you can do.

1. Do not let wood become wet. Make sure that damp areas of your home have good ventilation so that they dry quickly. If you get a water leak, be sure to fix it promptly and dry the area.

2. Trim tree branches away from your home. A branch touching your house is a good way to give ants access.

3. Clear your gutters to keep them free of debris.

4. Lastly, set up a regular pest control program.

If you think you have an infestation be sure to call a local pest control service as soon as possible. You need to take care of the problem before they do major damage to your home. If you do not have a problem take action to make sure that these insects never get the chance to move in.