Lights Out Exterminating is a professional pest management company, specializing in scorpion extermination, based out of Mesa, Arizona
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Is there any insurance that covers termite damage?
Generally speaking, the answer is a resounding NO. Almost all homeowners insurance specifically excludes damage done by wood destroying insects, termites included. In the United States it is estimated that over 5 billion dollars in damages occur due to termites annually.
It's because of this figure, that many insurance companies pulled termite damage from home policies in the late 80s to early 90's. Based of the amount of annual damage, I shiver to think what would happen to one's insurance premium if you ever had to make a claim.
Often times if you have a termite treatment on your home or business a warranty or guarantee may be issued for a period of time. Does this count as termite damage insurance? Usually not. What is the common practice of termite control companies, including Lights Out Exterminating, is to issue what amounts to a service warranty. What a service warranty entails is that, for the period of the warranty, any additional treatment costs will be absorbed by the treating company. This translates as no additional out of pocket costs for the homeowner during the service warranty period.
It is very important to understand the extent of any warranty that comes with a termite control treatment. For instance, these are common clauses found in the legalese of termite control agreements or contracts.
* So what may cause destruction to the treated area? Essentially any soil disruption within 6-18 inches of the home. In reality, the treated area is only about 6 inches from the stem wall, but some companies may establish an 18 inch "do not disturb" area around the home. Common causes of soil disruption include: Installing irrigation lines, satellite dish wiring from the dish to the home, exterior painting and many others. More times than not, other home service vendors do not even think about the possibility that their work could void your termite warranty or cause you to incur costs to restore a termite treatment.
True Story: We had Direct TV installed at our home a few months back and when I went out to check on the guy, I saw that he had dug up almost the entire length of our back yard foundation to hide his wiring. I asked him if he knew what he had done, and he said no, that's how he was taught to hide his wiring. I then filled him on the fact that he voided our new build pre-treat warranty, he was astonished. Not a big deal, our five years is almost up and the treatment was junk because we have had termites 4 times in 4 years, twice in the same spot. But it just proves that no one thinks about termite treatments and how their work may impact an existing treatment.
** The treatment is performed on the structure as it exists, so it makes sense that when add onto it, the addition won't be covered. More times than not, when you have a contractor add on to your home, they will hire a company to pre-treat the addition. This isn't always the best idea though. Some contracts state that if any other treating company provides service they reserve they right to void the warranty. Unless you aren't satisfied with your current warranty and treatment provider, it's always a good idea to have them pre-treat any additions to the home. It can get weird when one company warranties one part of a home and another warranties the other. Plus, it can get frustrating when termites are present at the point where the two different slabs meet and there is a dispute to as to who is responsible.
*** What is a conducive condition? Anything that increases your risk to getting termites. This includes such things as faulty grade, earth to wood contact and excessive moisture. Earth to wood contact is usually the most relevant. Say you install a wooden porch onto your home, termites now can enter the structure via the porch and never enter into a treated area. The same thing is possible with wooden fences attached to the structure. Often times the agreement or contract indicates that when/ if such conditions are identified, they require correction within a certain period of time. If corrections are not made, the warranty can be voided.
Realistically not many warranties are voided, once you've gone through the expense of a termite treatment most home owners are cooperative in making sure nothing jeopardizes the warranty. However, there are companies out there who look for nothing more than to generate additional revenue by scrutinizing such conditions around your home.
There are now termite control companies who are offering actual termite damage insurance or certificates. But I want you to think about this fact: Multi-billion dollar insurance companies won't insure your home for termite damage, but a termite control company will? Doesn't make sense does it?
So why do they? Because they don't intend to pay out often or greatly limit their liability. They often have very low maximum benefits which means you are still paying out of pocket to repair any significant damage. Another point of interest is that the adjuster, that determines the extent of the damage and your benefit ,is an employee of the termite control company and not a third party adjuster. Another clause is that they may require that termites be present to qualify for a damage benefit. Which is fine, but make sure that they do not treat the area first, then come to look at it. Guess what? There aren't going to be any termites present after a treatment.
Termite damage certificates are wrought with loop holes and conditional clauses, so be very wary of the small print. In almost all cases of these certificates, the benefit is not to the consumer. I've seen many of them from local to national companies and every one of them gives me a chuckle because of how many legal ways out of paying any sort of benefit they contain.
As with any sort of contract or service agreement, it is very important that you understand the extent of the service/and or warranty and your rights under that agreement. If you have questions, be sure to ask them and you are satisfied with the response before putting pen to paper.
It's because of this figure, that many insurance companies pulled termite damage from home policies in the late 80s to early 90's. Based of the amount of annual damage, I shiver to think what would happen to one's insurance premium if you ever had to make a claim.
Often times if you have a termite treatment on your home or business a warranty or guarantee may be issued for a period of time. Does this count as termite damage insurance? Usually not. What is the common practice of termite control companies, including Lights Out Exterminating, is to issue what amounts to a service warranty. What a service warranty entails is that, for the period of the warranty, any additional treatment costs will be absorbed by the treating company. This translates as no additional out of pocket costs for the homeowner during the service warranty period.
It is very important to understand the extent of any warranty that comes with a termite control treatment. For instance, these are common clauses found in the legalese of termite control agreements or contracts.
- Intentional or unintentional destruction of the treatment. Since treatments for subterranean termites involves treating the soil immediately adjacent and/ or under the slab any disruption of the treated areas can 1) void the warranty or 2) retreatment of the disturbed area can be chargeable to the consumer.*
- Additions to the home will not be covered by the existing agreement or contract.**
- Allowing conducive conditions to circumvent the treatment.***
* So what may cause destruction to the treated area? Essentially any soil disruption within 6-18 inches of the home. In reality, the treated area is only about 6 inches from the stem wall, but some companies may establish an 18 inch "do not disturb" area around the home. Common causes of soil disruption include: Installing irrigation lines, satellite dish wiring from the dish to the home, exterior painting and many others. More times than not, other home service vendors do not even think about the possibility that their work could void your termite warranty or cause you to incur costs to restore a termite treatment.
True Story: We had Direct TV installed at our home a few months back and when I went out to check on the guy, I saw that he had dug up almost the entire length of our back yard foundation to hide his wiring. I asked him if he knew what he had done, and he said no, that's how he was taught to hide his wiring. I then filled him on the fact that he voided our new build pre-treat warranty, he was astonished. Not a big deal, our five years is almost up and the treatment was junk because we have had termites 4 times in 4 years, twice in the same spot. But it just proves that no one thinks about termite treatments and how their work may impact an existing treatment.
** The treatment is performed on the structure as it exists, so it makes sense that when add onto it, the addition won't be covered. More times than not, when you have a contractor add on to your home, they will hire a company to pre-treat the addition. This isn't always the best idea though. Some contracts state that if any other treating company provides service they reserve they right to void the warranty. Unless you aren't satisfied with your current warranty and treatment provider, it's always a good idea to have them pre-treat any additions to the home. It can get weird when one company warranties one part of a home and another warranties the other. Plus, it can get frustrating when termites are present at the point where the two different slabs meet and there is a dispute to as to who is responsible.
*** What is a conducive condition? Anything that increases your risk to getting termites. This includes such things as faulty grade, earth to wood contact and excessive moisture. Earth to wood contact is usually the most relevant. Say you install a wooden porch onto your home, termites now can enter the structure via the porch and never enter into a treated area. The same thing is possible with wooden fences attached to the structure. Often times the agreement or contract indicates that when/ if such conditions are identified, they require correction within a certain period of time. If corrections are not made, the warranty can be voided.
Realistically not many warranties are voided, once you've gone through the expense of a termite treatment most home owners are cooperative in making sure nothing jeopardizes the warranty. However, there are companies out there who look for nothing more than to generate additional revenue by scrutinizing such conditions around your home.
There are now termite control companies who are offering actual termite damage insurance or certificates. But I want you to think about this fact: Multi-billion dollar insurance companies won't insure your home for termite damage, but a termite control company will? Doesn't make sense does it?
So why do they? Because they don't intend to pay out often or greatly limit their liability. They often have very low maximum benefits which means you are still paying out of pocket to repair any significant damage. Another point of interest is that the adjuster, that determines the extent of the damage and your benefit ,is an employee of the termite control company and not a third party adjuster. Another clause is that they may require that termites be present to qualify for a damage benefit. Which is fine, but make sure that they do not treat the area first, then come to look at it. Guess what? There aren't going to be any termites present after a treatment.
Termite damage certificates are wrought with loop holes and conditional clauses, so be very wary of the small print. In almost all cases of these certificates, the benefit is not to the consumer. I've seen many of them from local to national companies and every one of them gives me a chuckle because of how many legal ways out of paying any sort of benefit they contain.
As with any sort of contract or service agreement, it is very important that you understand the extent of the service/and or warranty and your rights under that agreement. If you have questions, be sure to ask them and you are satisfied with the response before putting pen to paper.
I'm not sure which product I should I have my home treated for termites, what do you recommend?
This is one of the down sides to having multiple companies out to provide an estimate for termite control at your home or business. You are going to hear different and sometimes conflicting things about the products they are attempting to sell.
It's not often you will hear a company say this, but even if we aren't your choice to provide the service, we highly recommend the product Termidor. You can check out the manufacturer's site by following this link, Termidor Home.
I've personally been lucky enough to have worked with Termidor since it was released on an Experimental Use Permit (EUP) in Arizona. Not only have I used the product since those days, but for a number of years I managed the termite records for a termite control company. Here is one important observation about the product from both a use and records side of it.
The manufacturer of the product is so confident in it that they actually have a rebate program available to certified Termidor professionals, which means that if the structure is treated according to their minimum standards and you register the home in their data base, they will actually reimburse the costs of retreatments to the termite control company. No other manufacturer offers such a guarantee with their product in the pest control industry. This speaks volumes for the confidence they have in their product.
The second closest product is Premise by Bayer. In my opinion, it is a distant second. It is attractive to termite control companies because it is less than half the cost of Termidor and the performance, in my opinion, matches its price.
One thing to be careful of is that the active ingredient of Premise is now off its copyright and available for formulation in third party products and generics. Often times a representative will compare the generic to Premise, even saying as much as "It's just like Premise." It's not. Even if the active ingredient is no longer proprietary, the recipe that makes a finished product is. Which means the "other ingredients" cannot be duplicated exactly. What you may not be aware about is often times, these "other ingredients" are composed of preservatives, synergists and other chemistries that improve the efficacy of the active ingredient. So to say it's the same as, is just an attempt to sell a lesser product under a recognizable brand.
It's a shame to say, but I have witnessed multiple companies in the Phoenix metro area bait and switch Premise for a generic called I Maxx Pro. So if Premise is the material you are being offered, be sure to fully inquire that it is in fact Premise and not a generic.
Currently the active ingredient for Termidor is still on patent, so there is no generic to it. It is due to come off patent shortly, but until then there is no similar alternative to Termidor. Another great thing that the manufacturer of Termidor has in place is that the material is price locked to encourage competition. It's for this very reason that some termite control company's do not use it. If they can't get a volume discount they won't purchase it. The only way to get it any cheaper is to buy it "off the back of a truck", which also sadly happens.
There are other materials that are available for use for termite control but Termidor and Premise would be the most popular for their own unique reasons. Again I will reiterate this, even if you don't use Lights Out Exterminating to provide your termite control , or you live outside our service area, Termidor should be the product of choice. It has reached 15 years of effective control in its test sites and still counting.
Because after all, If you aren't asking for Termidor, you are asking for trouble.
It's not often you will hear a company say this, but even if we aren't your choice to provide the service, we highly recommend the product Termidor. You can check out the manufacturer's site by following this link, Termidor Home.
I've personally been lucky enough to have worked with Termidor since it was released on an Experimental Use Permit (EUP) in Arizona. Not only have I used the product since those days, but for a number of years I managed the termite records for a termite control company. Here is one important observation about the product from both a use and records side of it.
- If you use it according to the label, at the proper concentration and in the proper amounts, it does not fail where it has been placed. Most termite retreats are in areas where the product was not placed, meaning they entered through an untreated zone.
The manufacturer of the product is so confident in it that they actually have a rebate program available to certified Termidor professionals, which means that if the structure is treated according to their minimum standards and you register the home in their data base, they will actually reimburse the costs of retreatments to the termite control company. No other manufacturer offers such a guarantee with their product in the pest control industry. This speaks volumes for the confidence they have in their product.
The second closest product is Premise by Bayer. In my opinion, it is a distant second. It is attractive to termite control companies because it is less than half the cost of Termidor and the performance, in my opinion, matches its price.
One thing to be careful of is that the active ingredient of Premise is now off its copyright and available for formulation in third party products and generics. Often times a representative will compare the generic to Premise, even saying as much as "It's just like Premise." It's not. Even if the active ingredient is no longer proprietary, the recipe that makes a finished product is. Which means the "other ingredients" cannot be duplicated exactly. What you may not be aware about is often times, these "other ingredients" are composed of preservatives, synergists and other chemistries that improve the efficacy of the active ingredient. So to say it's the same as, is just an attempt to sell a lesser product under a recognizable brand.
It's a shame to say, but I have witnessed multiple companies in the Phoenix metro area bait and switch Premise for a generic called I Maxx Pro. So if Premise is the material you are being offered, be sure to fully inquire that it is in fact Premise and not a generic.
Currently the active ingredient for Termidor is still on patent, so there is no generic to it. It is due to come off patent shortly, but until then there is no similar alternative to Termidor. Another great thing that the manufacturer of Termidor has in place is that the material is price locked to encourage competition. It's for this very reason that some termite control company's do not use it. If they can't get a volume discount they won't purchase it. The only way to get it any cheaper is to buy it "off the back of a truck", which also sadly happens.
There are other materials that are available for use for termite control but Termidor and Premise would be the most popular for their own unique reasons. Again I will reiterate this, even if you don't use Lights Out Exterminating to provide your termite control , or you live outside our service area, Termidor should be the product of choice. It has reached 15 years of effective control in its test sites and still counting.
Because after all, If you aren't asking for Termidor, you are asking for trouble.
I have termites, what are some things I should look for in a termite control company?
The answer to this question is going to be specific to Arizona, although some of the information can apply just about anywhere, but the links on this entry are AZ specific.
These four things will help make sure that administratively, the termite control companies you may be considering are up to par.
You may be wondering, why not check the BBB? And I will tell you why I no longer consider them a reliable source, even though I am a member and accredited. You may not know this, but accreditation is not earned, it is bought. You buy your accreditation, and the amount you pay is based off of how many employees you have (if you look through the smoke screen, it is based off of how much money the company earns). Then, you can completely ignore your consumers complaints and lose your accreditation, but as soon as you fix those problems you get it back and you get your A+ back in just a few weeks. Sure the complaints are logged, but then you get this message on your profile.
The Arizona Office of Pest Management encourages consumers to get at least three estimates for termite control and I would agree with this. It gives consumers a good cross section of what to expect, their treatment options and warranty options.
At Lights Out Exterminating , our company is licensed and insured (to twice the industry minimum), we also have a pristine record with the Office of Pest Management and the Better Business Bureau
- The company/companies you invite out to your home should be licensed for performing termite control. This links to the Arizona Office of Pest Management's, the governing agency of the pest control industry in Arizona, company search utility. Type in the name of the company and search, then click on the business license number and it will display what categories they are licensed to do work in.
- You want to make sure that the license is "ACTIVE" Do not be concerned about the expiration date, it is always 12/31 of the current year. We are required to renew our licensing annually.
- In order to be licensed, a termite control company is required to be insured, however it is still important to ask.
- You can check to see if the company has any complaints, by using this utility , on the AZ Office of Pest Management's website.
These four things will help make sure that administratively, the termite control companies you may be considering are up to par.
You may be wondering, why not check the BBB? And I will tell you why I no longer consider them a reliable source, even though I am a member and accredited. You may not know this, but accreditation is not earned, it is bought. You buy your accreditation, and the amount you pay is based off of how many employees you have (if you look through the smoke screen, it is based off of how much money the company earns). Then, you can completely ignore your consumers complaints and lose your accreditation, but as soon as you fix those problems you get it back and you get your A+ back in just a few weeks. Sure the complaints are logged, but then you get this message on your profile.
- When considering complaint information, please take into account the business's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.
The Arizona Office of Pest Management encourages consumers to get at least three estimates for termite control and I would agree with this. It gives consumers a good cross section of what to expect, their treatment options and warranty options.
At Lights Out Exterminating , our company is licensed and insured (to twice the industry minimum), we also have a pristine record with the Office of Pest Management and the Better Business Bureau
I have a large mass of bees in a tree, what should I do?
Typically when you see a large mass of bees similar to the photo below, it means that a swarm of bees has come to rest in that location.
When a bees leave a hive, they usually all leave together and travel in search of a new location. The swarm will come to rest typically in a shaded location and send out scouts to explore the area looking for a suitable site to build a hive. When the bees are in a mass they are usually in a passive state, even Africanized Honeybees, so the risk is relatively low. (not that I would recommend throwing something at them, but if you leave them alone they don't typically go on the assault.)
So, is it necessary to perform any controls on bees in this state? This is a tough question and is open to much debate. Bees are an essential part of our ecosystem, however there is the potential for danger to humans. If the swarm has parked themselves in a high pedestrian traffic area, it may be necessary to remove or eliminate them. If there is little risk, then allowing them the opportunity to move one on their own accord may be the best option. They typically disband after 24-72 hours. It is possible that once they disband they may establish a hive and honeycomb in an area where they are a threat to humans and then must be eliminated.
The swarm pictured above was there for almost three weeks. Certainly odd behavior for a swarm of bees. That's because it wasn't in fact a swarm... it was a hive. Tree based hives are a rarity in the desert because of the difficulty of maintaining honey in a stable form. Our excessive heat causes it to liquify which makes it that much harder for the bees to sustain themselves and produce offspring. Only after treating the bees was the hive readily visible, as pictured below.
At Lights Out Exterminating, we highly recommend that bees, Africanized or otherwise, be treated at during non-daylight hours. Bees are essentially coldblooded, meaning they are less active when temperatures are their lowest. (10- 20 degrees can make a huge difference in bee behavior) Also, bees detect threats both by site and carbon dioxide emissions. Treating them at night takes away one of their senses and puts less risk on the applicator, the homeowner, neighbors and their outdoor pets. Finally, servicing bees at night ensures that the maximum amount of bees are present when the application is made allowing better control.
Things we recommend to watch out for in regards to bee control are:
If you haven't read our other bee entries, you can find them under Bee Control
Here are more photos from this bee control service. Some of the photos aren't as clear as they could be because the service was completed at night.
This is the immediate fallout from the initial application to the hive.
For reference size, the honeycomb is laid out on a standard 13 gallon kitchen trash bag. And the bag was placed over the top of the bees from the picture above this one, so you can get an idea of how many there were. The honeycomb mass weighed in at just under 10 pounds and represents almost 90% of the complete mass. Some fragments remained in the tree, mostly where the comb was attached to tree limbs. It was difficult to access because it was almost 20 feet off the ground in a tree. It was not as honey laden as most of the structure based hives I have run across.
If you are in the Phoenix metro area and need a consultation as to whether or not corrective bee control may be necessary at your home or business feel free to contact us.
Lights Out Exterminating Bee Control
When a bees leave a hive, they usually all leave together and travel in search of a new location. The swarm will come to rest typically in a shaded location and send out scouts to explore the area looking for a suitable site to build a hive. When the bees are in a mass they are usually in a passive state, even Africanized Honeybees, so the risk is relatively low. (not that I would recommend throwing something at them, but if you leave them alone they don't typically go on the assault.)
So, is it necessary to perform any controls on bees in this state? This is a tough question and is open to much debate. Bees are an essential part of our ecosystem, however there is the potential for danger to humans. If the swarm has parked themselves in a high pedestrian traffic area, it may be necessary to remove or eliminate them. If there is little risk, then allowing them the opportunity to move one on their own accord may be the best option. They typically disband after 24-72 hours. It is possible that once they disband they may establish a hive and honeycomb in an area where they are a threat to humans and then must be eliminated.
The swarm pictured above was there for almost three weeks. Certainly odd behavior for a swarm of bees. That's because it wasn't in fact a swarm... it was a hive. Tree based hives are a rarity in the desert because of the difficulty of maintaining honey in a stable form. Our excessive heat causes it to liquify which makes it that much harder for the bees to sustain themselves and produce offspring. Only after treating the bees was the hive readily visible, as pictured below.
At Lights Out Exterminating, we highly recommend that bees, Africanized or otherwise, be treated at during non-daylight hours. Bees are essentially coldblooded, meaning they are less active when temperatures are their lowest. (10- 20 degrees can make a huge difference in bee behavior) Also, bees detect threats both by site and carbon dioxide emissions. Treating them at night takes away one of their senses and puts less risk on the applicator, the homeowner, neighbors and their outdoor pets. Finally, servicing bees at night ensures that the maximum amount of bees are present when the application is made allowing better control.
Things we recommend to watch out for in regards to bee control are:
- Is the service necessary? Swarms are temporary, pose little risk and typically disband within a few days. Hives on the other hand should be eliminated from residential and commercial areas because of their defensive nature in regards to their honeycomb and young.
- When will the service take place? Unless it is an absolute emergency and the bees pose an immediate risk to the public, a non-daylight service is safer and more effective.
- How will the bees be controlled? Live removal, performed by beekeepers, or Chemical controls, performed by a pest control professional. Live removals, although more environmentally friendly are much more costly and time consuming than a chemical application. Be wary of soap applications for bee hives, although soap can be a mechanical control, it only controls the bees it touches and offers no residual, soap applications typically have little or no guarantee. Which brings us to...
- Is the service guaranteed? Live removals don't typically come with a guarantee because the bee keeper doesn't leave until the have in his/her possession. Chemical controls will typically come with a warranty of at least a month. Soap Applications typically have a guarantee of 7 days or less, if at all.
If you haven't read our other bee entries, you can find them under Bee Control
Here are more photos from this bee control service. Some of the photos aren't as clear as they could be because the service was completed at night.
This is the immediate fallout from the initial application to the hive.
For reference size, the honeycomb is laid out on a standard 13 gallon kitchen trash bag. And the bag was placed over the top of the bees from the picture above this one, so you can get an idea of how many there were. The honeycomb mass weighed in at just under 10 pounds and represents almost 90% of the complete mass. Some fragments remained in the tree, mostly where the comb was attached to tree limbs. It was difficult to access because it was almost 20 feet off the ground in a tree. It was not as honey laden as most of the structure based hives I have run across.
If you are in the Phoenix metro area and need a consultation as to whether or not corrective bee control may be necessary at your home or business feel free to contact us.
Lights Out Exterminating Bee Control
What are these mud and dirt tunnels/tubes I see in or around my home?
If what you seeing looks similar to this,
or if it is in a home or business, it may be on a wall or even suspended from the ceiling like in this photo.
Then what you are dealing with are subterranean termites. Last I read (which was some years ago) is that the Phoenix Metropolitan is in the top ten for termite pressure in the nation. So, the saying that " You either have termites or will get them." is pretty accurate, although it may be years or decades before a home gets termites, it is an eventuality.
Now, for the good news. The most prevalent termite species in Arizona is not a very aggressive consumer, as compared to some of its cousins. They typically have much smaller colonies in comparison to other species in the US. Which means, when you find them you've got time to make an educated decision about how you will go about controlling them.
If you have or suspect you have termites, it is best to request an inspection for your home or business from a licensed termite inspector. (pest control, termite control and termite inspection all license differently in Arizona and not every individual or company is licensed to do all three) Just about every termite control company in Arizona will offer this inspection at no charge, however not all inspections are equal. At Lights Out Exterminating , the goal of our inspection is to identify where the termites are, how they have come to be there (its not always straightforward, particularly if you have termites inside) and to take measurements so that we can propose a treatment for you. During the presentation of the estimate, we will also point out things about your home or landscape that increase your risk of getting termites and what you can do to correct that.
Here is a list of things that the inspection cannot tell, and there are no practical ways to determine:
If you are going to seek both a professional inspection and treatment, avoid disturbing or destroying the tube(s) so that the termite inspector can see it as it naturally occurs. Additionally avoid doing any self treatment if you intend to have a professional treat it. Some termiticides are not compatible with certain other chemistries.
For example, I had an encounter with a homeowner who pre-treated his home during the construction process with diesel fuel because he heard that it repelled termites. It does not. Now, because diesel fuel is petroleum based, the petroleum is preventing any termiticide from working properly and his home is being consumed slowly.
or if it is in a home or business, it may be on a wall or even suspended from the ceiling like in this photo.
Then what you are dealing with are subterranean termites. Last I read (which was some years ago) is that the Phoenix Metropolitan is in the top ten for termite pressure in the nation. So, the saying that " You either have termites or will get them." is pretty accurate, although it may be years or decades before a home gets termites, it is an eventuality.
Now, for the good news. The most prevalent termite species in Arizona is not a very aggressive consumer, as compared to some of its cousins. They typically have much smaller colonies in comparison to other species in the US. Which means, when you find them you've got time to make an educated decision about how you will go about controlling them.
If you have or suspect you have termites, it is best to request an inspection for your home or business from a licensed termite inspector. (pest control, termite control and termite inspection all license differently in Arizona and not every individual or company is licensed to do all three) Just about every termite control company in Arizona will offer this inspection at no charge, however not all inspections are equal. At Lights Out Exterminating , the goal of our inspection is to identify where the termites are, how they have come to be there (its not always straightforward, particularly if you have termites inside) and to take measurements so that we can propose a treatment for you. During the presentation of the estimate, we will also point out things about your home or landscape that increase your risk of getting termites and what you can do to correct that.
Here is a list of things that the inspection cannot tell, and there are no practical ways to determine:
- How long the termites have been on the property. Because of their random behavior, they can be in a home for years and cause little or no damage or just a few months and cause noticeable damage.
- A tube does not mean they are active. It just an indication of a termite presence, past or present. Tube growth and actual insects present in the tube are indications of "active termites", however, just because you don't see the insects themselves doesn't mean they are inactive. Many companies will abuse the word "active" to incite fear and increase the likelihood of a purchase.
- The extent of the damage. The only way to determine the actual extent of damage is to perform a destructive inspection which involves tearing open walls and flooring.
- The age of the damage. Unless termites are physically present no one can determine the age.
If you are going to seek both a professional inspection and treatment, avoid disturbing or destroying the tube(s) so that the termite inspector can see it as it naturally occurs. Additionally avoid doing any self treatment if you intend to have a professional treat it. Some termiticides are not compatible with certain other chemistries.
For example, I had an encounter with a homeowner who pre-treated his home during the construction process with diesel fuel because he heard that it repelled termites. It does not. Now, because diesel fuel is petroleum based, the petroleum is preventing any termiticide from working properly and his home is being consumed slowly.
I have scorpions at my home or business and have used many companies with little or no success, what do you do that is different?
First, remember that not all pest control is created equal. Like any other profession, just because we all have access to the same tools, doesn't mean that the results will be identical.
Now, what sets Lights Out Exterminating apart?
Here are a few things:
1.) Not all pesticides are effective against scorpions. In 1999, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension came out with a document on how to control scorpions. There is some very good information in it and some information that has since been proven to the contrary. It is a shame that they have not updated with more current information. Here it is for your viewing pleasure.
Scorpions: UoA Cooperative Extension
Now, we want to look specifically at this portion of the page: Tips for Professionals
At Lights Out Exterminating, we use the following active ingredients in out Scorpion Management Service: Cyfluthrin, Lambda-Cyhalothrin, and Deltamethrin. Why not the others? These three represent the best of that collection of active ingredients. Also, there has been new strides in active ingredients, so there are actives that are not on this list that are effective against scorpions. (again, it is a shame they haven't kept this publication current)
Then there is the issue of mixing the proper strengths of these products. For all the products that contain these active ingredients, the maximum dosage must be used. Then it has to be properly applied, meaning the right amount of surface area needs to be treated. Did you know most labels recommend a perimeter treatment at least 6 feet out from the structure of the home? One of the biggest shortcomings is not putting enough product between the scorpion and your home. Exposure is based on time and concentration. Increasing the surface area treated will increase the scorpions time of exposure as it walks across it.
Many pest management companies know of this document, but there is one part that is largely ignored and definitely not communicated to the public. If you scroll down on the Tips page, you will see it. Which brings us to,
2.) Scorpions are nocturnal. Inspecting for scorpions is a futile effort during the day, let alone actually treating one directly. "But wait, you just gave a list of products that work." Yes, I did. These products do work, if the scorpions have ample exposure to them at the proper rates. Then it takes time for the active ingredient to kill the scorpion, this can take anywhere from between a few hours to even a few days as the product ages. However, a direct application will kill a scorpion in less than 50 minutes depending on the active ingredient and the formulation.
Which brings us to effective scorpion management. Serving the home at night allows us the opportunity to treat the scorpions on contact, physically remove them from the property and determine whether or not there are any special areas of concern in the home or on the property. None of these three things can reliably be done during a day time treatment.
31 scorpions eliminated and removed from a home in Gilbert, AZ... can your daytime service do that?
3. Scorpion Control is multi-faceted. If you take the time to read the full document from UoA, you will see there is much more than just applying pesticides and black light collecting to ensure scorpion management. This is where home owner cooperation comes in; if you are just hoping to throw some money at scorpions and hope they go away, it isn't going to work. There are many things that a home or business owner has direct control over that will improve the effectiveness of a pest management regime.
If you hire a scorpion control professional, they should take the time to instruct you on these things that you can do. One downfall to this industry is the volume mentality, it is all about doing as much revenue as possible in a fixed amount of time. Often times communication is the aspect of pest control that gets ignored first. At Lights Out Exterminating, being a small company has its perks, add that to the owners background in sociology and you will be hard pressed to find another company, not just a technician, that is as focused on the interpersonal relationship as it is the business relationship. (that's probably why almost 50% of our new clients are referrals)
4. Formulations make the difference. A formulation is how the active ingredient is delivered. For instance, liquid residuals or sprays come in many formulations. Powders, multiple types of concentrates, and even tablets are some types of formulations. Even if you take the same active ingredient in different types of formulations, each formulation will perform differently. Choosing the right formulation is critical to the outcome of the application. One reference material, that is largely unknown to most but the most science based pest management companies, the Mallis Handbook of Pest Control spends more time on using non-sprays in its scorpion management recommendations.
Spraying is actually an afterthought in the Mallis Handbook's scorpion management section. "But wait, all my company does is spray." Because it is the fastest, cheapest and that is what most consumers expect; it is not the most effective application that can be made. So what is? For that you will have to contact Lights Out Exterminating , we aren't in the business of training our competitors, but if you are willing to invite us out to your home or business we can provide a free inspection and analysis. After which we can make recommendations for what we can do and more importantly, what you can do to finally conquer scorpions.
Find out just how more effective Scorpion Control can be, when you turn the "Lights Out."
Now, what sets Lights Out Exterminating apart?
Here are a few things:
1.) Not all pesticides are effective against scorpions. In 1999, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension came out with a document on how to control scorpions. There is some very good information in it and some information that has since been proven to the contrary. It is a shame that they have not updated with more current information. Here it is for your viewing pleasure.
Scorpions: UoA Cooperative Extension
Now, we want to look specifically at this portion of the page: Tips for Professionals
At Lights Out Exterminating, we use the following active ingredients in out Scorpion Management Service: Cyfluthrin, Lambda-Cyhalothrin, and Deltamethrin. Why not the others? These three represent the best of that collection of active ingredients. Also, there has been new strides in active ingredients, so there are actives that are not on this list that are effective against scorpions. (again, it is a shame they haven't kept this publication current)
Then there is the issue of mixing the proper strengths of these products. For all the products that contain these active ingredients, the maximum dosage must be used. Then it has to be properly applied, meaning the right amount of surface area needs to be treated. Did you know most labels recommend a perimeter treatment at least 6 feet out from the structure of the home? One of the biggest shortcomings is not putting enough product between the scorpion and your home. Exposure is based on time and concentration. Increasing the surface area treated will increase the scorpions time of exposure as it walks across it.
Many pest management companies know of this document, but there is one part that is largely ignored and definitely not communicated to the public. If you scroll down on the Tips page, you will see it. Which brings us to,
2.) Scorpions are nocturnal. Inspecting for scorpions is a futile effort during the day, let alone actually treating one directly. "But wait, you just gave a list of products that work." Yes, I did. These products do work, if the scorpions have ample exposure to them at the proper rates. Then it takes time for the active ingredient to kill the scorpion, this can take anywhere from between a few hours to even a few days as the product ages. However, a direct application will kill a scorpion in less than 50 minutes depending on the active ingredient and the formulation.
Which brings us to effective scorpion management. Serving the home at night allows us the opportunity to treat the scorpions on contact, physically remove them from the property and determine whether or not there are any special areas of concern in the home or on the property. None of these three things can reliably be done during a day time treatment.
31 scorpions eliminated and removed from a home in Gilbert, AZ... can your daytime service do that?
3. Scorpion Control is multi-faceted. If you take the time to read the full document from UoA, you will see there is much more than just applying pesticides and black light collecting to ensure scorpion management. This is where home owner cooperation comes in; if you are just hoping to throw some money at scorpions and hope they go away, it isn't going to work. There are many things that a home or business owner has direct control over that will improve the effectiveness of a pest management regime.
If you hire a scorpion control professional, they should take the time to instruct you on these things that you can do. One downfall to this industry is the volume mentality, it is all about doing as much revenue as possible in a fixed amount of time. Often times communication is the aspect of pest control that gets ignored first. At Lights Out Exterminating, being a small company has its perks, add that to the owners background in sociology and you will be hard pressed to find another company, not just a technician, that is as focused on the interpersonal relationship as it is the business relationship. (that's probably why almost 50% of our new clients are referrals)
4. Formulations make the difference. A formulation is how the active ingredient is delivered. For instance, liquid residuals or sprays come in many formulations. Powders, multiple types of concentrates, and even tablets are some types of formulations. Even if you take the same active ingredient in different types of formulations, each formulation will perform differently. Choosing the right formulation is critical to the outcome of the application. One reference material, that is largely unknown to most but the most science based pest management companies, the Mallis Handbook of Pest Control spends more time on using non-sprays in its scorpion management recommendations.
Spraying is actually an afterthought in the Mallis Handbook's scorpion management section. "But wait, all my company does is spray." Because it is the fastest, cheapest and that is what most consumers expect; it is not the most effective application that can be made. So what is? For that you will have to contact Lights Out Exterminating , we aren't in the business of training our competitors, but if you are willing to invite us out to your home or business we can provide a free inspection and analysis. After which we can make recommendations for what we can do and more importantly, what you can do to finally conquer scorpions.
Find out just how more effective Scorpion Control can be, when you turn the "Lights Out."
I am finding these black particles by my front/back door and around the perimeter of my home/business, what is it?
If what you are seeing, looks similar to this,
or this,
then what you are seeing are cricket droppings. There are other pests that may leave droppings in such quantities that it begins to accumulate, such as drywood termites and cockroaches. The majority of droppings or fecal pellets that most home or business owners in the Phoenix metro area will encounter are from the house cricket.
What most consumers don't realize is that the crickets are actually living in the walls and the droppings you are seeing are actually falling out of the exterior walls. And... that they have been there a relatively long time. The cricket droppings tend to stick in the wall voids when they are first excreted and over time, as they dry out, they will eventually fall out of the wall voids. For example, I have a client from Apache Junction near the base of the Superstition Mountains, who was overwhelmed with crickets before hiring Lights Out Exterminating. The treatment was extraordinarily effective and they have not had crickets since, however, over a year later, I can still tap on the wall they were living in and droppings will fall out.
Check out this video to see the crickets evacuating from the gaps in the exterior wall during a service we completed recently in Apache Junction, near Ironwood and Baseline.
As you can see from the video, crickets can easily occupy the exterior walls of your home or business. Due to how a home is constructed, it is very easy for these pests to travel from inside the wall voids into the interior of your home.
Now imagine if we did not perform the application we did: 1.) to directly treat the areas the crickets were nesting in and 2.) flush the crickets into the open so they can easily be sprayed, increasing the speed of the knock down. Spraying alone would not get the results that our treatment provides, because the spray will never be introduced into nesting sites. Sure, you will kill some crickets over time, but you will never solve the problem.
Here is a snap shot of the end result.
Author's note: many, many crickets were harmed in the manufacturing of this post.
or this,
then what you are seeing are cricket droppings. There are other pests that may leave droppings in such quantities that it begins to accumulate, such as drywood termites and cockroaches. The majority of droppings or fecal pellets that most home or business owners in the Phoenix metro area will encounter are from the house cricket.
What most consumers don't realize is that the crickets are actually living in the walls and the droppings you are seeing are actually falling out of the exterior walls. And... that they have been there a relatively long time. The cricket droppings tend to stick in the wall voids when they are first excreted and over time, as they dry out, they will eventually fall out of the wall voids. For example, I have a client from Apache Junction near the base of the Superstition Mountains, who was overwhelmed with crickets before hiring Lights Out Exterminating. The treatment was extraordinarily effective and they have not had crickets since, however, over a year later, I can still tap on the wall they were living in and droppings will fall out.
Check out this video to see the crickets evacuating from the gaps in the exterior wall during a service we completed recently in Apache Junction, near Ironwood and Baseline.
As you can see from the video, crickets can easily occupy the exterior walls of your home or business. Due to how a home is constructed, it is very easy for these pests to travel from inside the wall voids into the interior of your home.
Now imagine if we did not perform the application we did: 1.) to directly treat the areas the crickets were nesting in and 2.) flush the crickets into the open so they can easily be sprayed, increasing the speed of the knock down. Spraying alone would not get the results that our treatment provides, because the spray will never be introduced into nesting sites. Sure, you will kill some crickets over time, but you will never solve the problem.
Here is a snap shot of the end result.
Author's note: many, many crickets were harmed in the manufacturing of this post.
Question Submission
If you have a pest or service related question, we would love to hear from you. You can email us at info@lightsoutexterminating.com or send us a message or leave a post on our face book page. Another option is via Twitter, our username is LightsOutExt.
Just a few things about consumer questions:
If you like our blog, please consider subscribing either via email or through RSS feeds. And of course, feel free to share our site with friends and family you think may find value in our features,
Jason Sams
Owner, Lights Out Exterminating
Just a few things about consumer questions:
- If you are asking questions about an unknown pest, please be sure to include a photo. Insects and Arachnids typically share very common structures and it is sometimes the smallest detail that separates one species from another.
- If it is a service related question and you are using another company, please do not include the name of your current pest provider... for legal purposes.
- Please only submit questions regarding Arizona pests, our expertise is specific to the valley and Arizona, we may be unfamiliar with pests outside the Sonoran Desert. And identification would take much longer and any advice may not be accurate because not too many other locations share Arizona's construction practices or climate.
- Only serious questions will be answered and or/featured.
- If it is of medical importance, please note we are an Exterminating company and will not make any medical advice or diagnoses, contact your Primary Care Physician for answer to medical questions.
- We request that you gives us your first name and city of origin so that we may credit you with the question.
If you like our blog, please consider subscribing either via email or through RSS feeds. And of course, feel free to share our site with friends and family you think may find value in our features,
Jason Sams
Owner, Lights Out Exterminating
I keep hearing this weird buzzing noise coming from my trees, what is making that sound?
If this is the noise you are hearing, then what you are hearing is the male Cicada performing a mating song in an attempt to attract a mate.
The Cicada, as translated from Latin, actually means "Buzzer" and buzz they do... sometimes excessively... into the night... when you are trying to sleep. This "song" is performed by the males only and once they attract a female and mate the female will lay her eggs in the bark of the tree. Once the eggs hatch, the larva will drop to the ground and burrow into the soil where they will feed on the roots of trees for many, many years.
When they emerge from the soil they are actually wingless and go through a molting process, similar to a butterfly, but without the cocoon. This is what the husk left behind looks like.
You will typically find them a few feet off the ground and just about any vertical surface, such as: trees, cacti, the exterior walls of your home and the block wall that surrounds your yard, as pictured below.
So if you have ever seen these husks and wondered exactly what they are, they are the immature form of the Cicada. So what exactly does the Cicada look like? Luckily, I was able to find a male in a tree relatively low to the ground so I could capture a photo or two of him.
And another...
Now that we have solved the mystery of what makes that awful buzzing noise and what is leaving behind those strange husks, you are probably wondering how to get rid of them. Unfortunately because the majority of a Cicada's life is spent underground, it is very difficult to treat prevent them. Compound that with the fact that the molting process doesn't take very long before they emerge with wings and take to the trees, there really isn't much of an opportunity to treat them. Once they are in the trees, spraying for them becomes very difficult and potentially dangerous because you can't control where the product may go, add some wind to the mix and it just isn't worth it.
The mating season doesn't last very long, just a few weeks around monsoon season, so patience and time will solve the problem eventually... until next year that is.
Why don't scorpions chase thier prey?
Scorpions are ambush predators, so you won't find them chasing down much of anything. They prefer to establish themselves in an area were there is enough insect traffic so they can stealthily attack their prey. Scorpions do not have very keen eyesight, instead their most prevalent sense is actually touch.
Scorpions are covered with tiny hairs that sense things that disturbances in the air around them, ground vibrations and temperature changes. These hairs give them a tactile sense that is far superior to anything we can experience. There is no scientific explanation in how scorpions are thought to "see", but I would venture a guess that they are at least able to determine movement. So when you add even a primitive form of sight to such a sensitive sense of touch, the scorpions have proven themselves very apt ambush predators. If this combination wasn't successful, there wouldn't be nearly as many of them as their are in the Phoenix metro area.
From observing my Stripe Tailed scorpion, he likes to situate himself in a part of his terrarium that acts like a bottle neck. So when the crickets I feed him are exploring their new habitat, he is able to pin them down in the corner and enjoy his meal. In his "spot" the crickets will either come from the left or right along the terrarium sides,he hides under his log and as they come into the corner he reaches out, grabs them, stings them and pulls them under the log. This action is quite fast, most of the time I can't even register the sting ( it happens in less than "the blink of an eye") Even though the crickets can come up behind him from the other side of his log, he sits motionless as they crawl across him, until they are in the perfect position.
My Stripe Tailed scorpion feeding on a cricket. You can barely make it out, but in the lower left corner you can see part of his log that he hides under. That area he is currently in is essentially his "killing field".
Scorpions are covered with tiny hairs that sense things that disturbances in the air around them, ground vibrations and temperature changes. These hairs give them a tactile sense that is far superior to anything we can experience. There is no scientific explanation in how scorpions are thought to "see", but I would venture a guess that they are at least able to determine movement. So when you add even a primitive form of sight to such a sensitive sense of touch, the scorpions have proven themselves very apt ambush predators. If this combination wasn't successful, there wouldn't be nearly as many of them as their are in the Phoenix metro area.
From observing my Stripe Tailed scorpion, he likes to situate himself in a part of his terrarium that acts like a bottle neck. So when the crickets I feed him are exploring their new habitat, he is able to pin them down in the corner and enjoy his meal. In his "spot" the crickets will either come from the left or right along the terrarium sides,he hides under his log and as they come into the corner he reaches out, grabs them, stings them and pulls them under the log. This action is quite fast, most of the time I can't even register the sting ( it happens in less than "the blink of an eye") Even though the crickets can come up behind him from the other side of his log, he sits motionless as they crawl across him, until they are in the perfect position.
My Stripe Tailed scorpion feeding on a cricket. You can barely make it out, but in the lower left corner you can see part of his log that he hides under. That area he is currently in is essentially his "killing field".
