Those itchy pests can really put a damper on summer fun, and they can also carry diseases.  With all of the recent rains that we’ve had, mosquitoes could be a major nuisance this summer.

So how can you enjoy the summer without worrying about mosquito bites?  You can wear mosquito repellant every time you go outside or you can work with a professional pest management company to develop a plan to prevent and manage mosquito infestations in your yard.

A professional pest management company will work with you to identify where prime mosquito breeding areas are in your yard and can provide regular treatments to your yard that will reduce mosquitoes.

“The mosquitoes are showing up earlier than normal this year, which we think is due to a combination of warm and wet weather,” said Kristin Dodd, board member of NCPMA. “Our member companies are already receiving calls about mosquitoes, and we are weeks away from summer’s official start.”

Mosquito bites can cause itchy bumps, but the pests can also be carriers of diseases such as West Nile Virus and, in rare cases, malaria and dengue fever.

“We all look forward to spending time outdoors in the summer months, and there are ways to enjoy the summer months without worrying about mosquitoes.  A professional pest management company can help homeowners develop treatment plans to reduce mosquito populations and keep their yards comfortable all summer,” Dodd said.

To prevent mosquito infestations, the NCPMA provides the following tips:

• Eliminate Standing Water—Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.  Eliminate standing water in yards by diverting water away from homes through downspouts and changing the water in bird baths, ponds and other water features regularly.  Introduce mosquito-eating fish to any standing water features in a yard.
• Timing is Key—Avoid being outside during the peak mosquito hours of dusk or dawn or wear repellant when out during those hours
• Mosquito Treatments—Have a professional pest management company apply a mosquito treatment to the yard regularly.  If a pest problem is suspected, visit www.ncpestmanagement.org to find a qualified pest management company.

About the NCPMA

Founded in 1952, the North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA), is the trade association representing the professional pest management industry in North Carolina. NCPMA promotes the continued cooperation and success of all pest management businesses in North Carolina.  Formerly, the North Carolina Pest Control Association, NCPMA is the only statewide association dedicated to representing and educating North Carolina’s pest management professionals.

To learn more about NCPMA, please visit its Web site at:  www.ncpestmanagement.org.

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What led you to pursue a career in pest management?

A summer job doing termite work and a fascination with the insect world led to being president of the company 34 years later.

Why should pest management professionals be involved with the NCPMA?

NCPMA is the best source of education and IS our voice to the political machine.  It is a must to grow and survive long term in our industry!

In your opinion, what is the biggest pest problem that North Carolinians face today?

Ants are the largest number of pest control calls we deal with.

What do you enjoy most about your job in the pest management industry?

I enjoy solving problems and satisfying one customer at a time! The worse the infestation the better I love finding a solution.

Raleigh, N.C.—Spring is a time when flowers bloom and pests start to emerge from their winter hiding places.  In addition to an increase in insects, homeowners statewide may notice the presence of some unwanted rodent pests this time of year according to the North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA).

“Many rodents such as mice can really start to become active in spring months,” said Lee Smith, entomologist and NCPMA board member.  “During winter months, rodents may reside in attics and other parts of homes in order to enjoy the comforts of climate controlled environments. In warmer months, homeowners may notice more rodent activity because the rodents become more active as they begin breeding and nesting.”

If not properly treated and managed, rodents such as mice, squirrels and rats can increase in numbers and become a nuisance and a health hazard in homes.

“Unlike some pests that are just nuisances, mice and other rodents can carry disease and can also cause damage to a home’s interior. In order to properly rid a home of these pests, it is important to have a professional pest management company like one of NCPMA’s members manage the problem,” Smith said.

To prevent rodent infestations in a home, NCPMA recommends that individuals inspect for and seal any holes and other places where rodents and pests can enter.  It is important to seal all possible entry points, as rodents can enter extremely small holes in walls.  If a pest problem is suspected, visit www.ncpestmanagement.org to find a qualified pest management company.

About the NCPMA

Founded in 1952, the North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA), is the trade association representing the professional pest management industry in North Carolina. NCPMA promotes the continued cooperation and success of all pest management businesses in North Carolina.  Formerly, the North Carolina Pest Control Association, NCPMA is the only statewide association dedicated to representing and educating North Carolina’s pest management professionals.

To learn more about NCPMA, please visit its Web site at:  www.ncpestmanagement.org.

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Over the winter, rats, mice and even squirrels seek the quiet comfort of homes. Why? Homes are warm, temperature controlled and provide shelter from weather.

After remaining relatively quiet all winter, the rodents begin breeding and nesting as the weather warms up. This flurry of activity is one of the first signals to homeowners that they have a pest problem.

Rodents can carry disease and can cause structural damage to a home’s interior, so it’s important to fix a rodent problem before it becomes a major problem. 

So what can you do if you find or suspect rodents in your home? Call a professional pest management company to rid your home of the pests. 

And how do you prevent future infestations? Begin by inspecting for and sealing any holes and other places where rodents and pests can enter.  It is important to seal all possible entry points, as rodents can enter extremely small holes in walls.

Raleigh, N.C. — The North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA) today announced the latest inspectors to receive its Wood-Destroying Insect Report (WDIR) Accreditation program. Since January 2011, the program has graduated more than 50 accredited inspectors and has renewed the accreditation of 191 inspectors.

The NCPMA Wood Destroying Insect Report (WDIR) Accreditation Program is designed specifically to train wood destroying insect inspectors in North Carolina and give them the tools they need to properly spot damage to homes from termites and other wood destroying insects.

“We are proud to welcome these inspectors into the WDIR Accreditation program,” said Kristin Dodd of Carolina Pest Management in Monroe and board member of NCPMA. “Completing the requirements of the WDIR Accreditation program shows that these inspectors are dedicated to their profession and committed to providing their customers with the highest level of service.”

WDIR Accredited inspectors must complete an 8-hour training course and pass a comprehensive written exam in order to receive accreditation.  Each inspector is trained and tested on performing a proper inspection, State laws and regulations, insect biology, construction and conditions conducive to infestation and how to properly report observations on the official state-required form.

Accreditation is active for a three-year period, at which point a renewal course must be completed. NCPMA began offering renewals of the WDIR Accreditation program in 2011.

NCPMA has designed the program to train in a way that carefully explains the fine points of proper inspection and reporting on the WDIR 100 form.  The WDIR 100 form is required on every residential structure sold in North Carolina and notes the visual evidence of the presence or absence of Wood Destroying Insects in the building.

There are nearly 300 WDIR Accredited inspectors statewide. Each inspector receives a WDIR stamp including his or her accreditation number to mark completed WDIR 100 forms.

A list of the current WDIR Accredited inspectors by city is available at www.wdir.org/list.

About the NCPMA

Founded in 1952, the North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA), is the trade association representing the professional pest management industry in North Carolina. NCPMA promotes the continued cooperation and success of all pest management businesses in North Carolina.  Formerly, the North Carolina Pest Control Association, NCPMA is the only statewide association dedicated to representing and educating North Carolina’s pest management professionals.  To learn more about NCPMA, please visit www.ncpestmanagement.org.

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What led you to pursue a career in pest management?

My family has a history in our industry in this State.  My grandfather, Clyde Smith, was head of the Department of Entomology at North Carolina State University for a number of years and also was instrumental in helping the NCPMA become established.  My father, Les Smith, started our company (RID A PEST Inc.), and I’ve always been involved in the business since I can remember.  It was kind of a natural progression to be able to work in this industry and is something that I’ve always found enjoyable and interesting.

Why should pest management professionals be involved with the NCPMA?

The great thing about NCPMA, and a large reason for which it was organized, is for fellow PMPs to help our industry by helping one another.  The old adage “a rising tide floats all boats” is why I think PMPs should all be involved with NCPMA.  Even competitors within the same service area can benefit from each other when they are brought together for the greater good of increasing awareness of the importance of the services we provide.  NCPMA brings those companies together in a way that is non-threatening and that provide forums by which we can share information with each other to allow our industry to advance and allow us to compete fairly in the market place by providing the most up-to-date products and services to our customers.

In your opinion, what is the biggest pest problem that North Carolinians face today?

The biggest problem North Carolinians face today as it relates to pests is probably ants and bedbugs.  Bedbugs are a big deal and can be very difficult to control even by some PMPs, so that pest will continue to present challenges for people in our state.  Ants have been a major nuisance pest for years and will continue to be.  New research has shown that our climate over the past several years as well as habitat changes and other environmental factors are allowing many ant species to thrive….this results in increased pressure and infestation to home and business owners.

What do you enjoy most about your job in the pest management industry?

It may be cliché, but I do enjoy mostly the opportunity to help people.  It gives you a great sense of accomplishment when, as a professional, you can take care of a problem that they were not able to control themselves and that has caused them grief.  Knowing that you have given them a good night’s rest really does go a long way toward making our professional enjoyable on a daily basis.  I would also say that I enjoy the “good” pride that comes from knowing that our industry works so hard to provide the newest and best methods, products and technology to provide that piece of mind to people.  It is very rewarding to be a part of that.

It’s early for termites, but our members are already noticing reports of termite swarms in homes.

The NCPMA offers the following tips to help homeowners prepare their homes for termite season and protect their homes from costly damage:

Renewed Annual Inspections: Have your home inspected annually by a qualified pest professional. Visit Find a Pest Pro to find a pest professional in your area.

Exterior Wooden Structures: Keep exterior wooden structures such as decks or firewood piles away from your home’s foundation as termites can infest the exterior structure first and then move on to your home.

Check for Mud Tubes: Termites may create mud tubes as a way to enter the home.  Have your foundation inspected regularly for signs of mud tubes.

Reduce Moisture: Termites love moisture.  Keep water and moisture away from your house and make sure all drain spouts are properly diverting water from your home.

Raleigh, N.C.—The mild and warm winter that North Carolina has experienced is impacting pest populations statewide which could lead to an increased number of termite swarms, according to the North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA).  NCPMA is urging homeowners to contact professional pest management companies to schedule home inspections before they spot termite swarms.

“It is always difficult to predict how plentiful termites will be in a year, but the warm and wet winter that we’ve had could lead to more termite activity than normal this year. Our member companies are already receiving calls from customers who are seeing termite swarms in their homes,” said Lee Smith, entomologist and board member of NCPMA.

According to the United States Forest Service, North Carolina is rated as Moderate to Heavy infestation for Subterranean Termites. According to the National Pest Management Association, termite infestations cause homeowners $5 billion in property damage every year.

Termites swarm during warm spring days and can infest any type of house and its surrounding areas in very little time, often going undetected while doing thousands of dollars in damages to a home.  A colony of termites feeds 24 hours a day and can chew through any wood or paper product including wood, flooring and wallpaper.

“Costly damage to a home’s structure can be prevented through annual termite inspections and treatments from qualified, professional pest management companies,” Smith said.  “Termites can feed on a home’s structure for years before there are visible signs of damage such as termite swarms. If you see a termite swarm in your home, it probably means that termites have already damaged the home’s structure.”

The NCPMA urges homeowners to schedule annual termite inspections in spring months when termite swarms can first invade a home.   These inspections help prevent and treat termite infestations before they turn into costly repairs.

The NCPMA offers the following tips to help homeowners prepare their homes for termite season:

• Renewed Annual Inspections: Have your home inspected annually by a qualified pest professional. Visit www.ncpestmanagement.org to find a pest professional in your area.

• Exterior Wooden Structures: Keep exterior wooden structures such as decks or firewood piles away from your home’s foundation as termites can infest the exterior structure first and then move on to your home.

• Check for Mud Tubes: Termites may create mud tubes as a way to enter the home.  Have your foundation inspected regularly for signs of mud tubes.

• Reduce Moisture: Termites love moisture.  Keep water and moisture away from your house and make sure all drain spouts are properly diverting water from your home.

About the NCPMA

Founded in 1952, the North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA), is the trade association representing the professional pest management industry in North Carolina. NCPMA promotes the continued cooperation and success of all pest management businesses in North Carolina.  Formerly, the North Carolina Pest Control Association, NCPMA is the only statewide association dedicated to representing and educating North Carolina’s pest management professionals.

To learn more about NCPMA, please visit its Web site at:  www.ncpestmanagement.org.

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That’s right. Fleas.

As pest professionals, we’ve noticed an increased number of calls about flea infestations over the past several months.  Why? It could be the warmer winter weather we’ve had that hasn’t killed off some of the flea populations.  It could be the wet weather we’ve had that add to the problem.

What we know for sure is that flea problems are preventable and treatable.  And, even if you don’t have pets, pay attention!  ANY house is at risk of a flea infestation.

Here’s how we recommend preventing and treating flea infestations:

• Clean and vacuum a home thoroughly and regularly, especially if pets are allowed outside and indoors.
• Visit a veterinarian regularly to ensure that all flea medications are up to date and properly applied.
• Groom your pet and maintain a pet’s fur to watch for signs of fleas or flea eggs.
• Keep your yard well-maintained to deter rodents and other animals and prevent the spread of fleas.
• Call a pest management company at the first sign of an infestation. A list of NCPMA member companies is available here.