22Jun/17

Keep Your BBQ Free of Pests this Summer with these Tips!

It’s backyard BBQ season here in Saskatchewan! Everyone wants nothing more than to kick back, enjoy a burger and some quality time with friends and family without being stung by a wasp or bitten by a mosquito. These simple tips will help to un-invite these unwanted guests from your party.

Before

  • Before the party check that your doors close securely. With a parade of people coming in and out, you need to be sure you’re not creating an ideal location for pests to enter your home. Also, check your screens for holes and repair any you may find.
  • If you have room, serve your food and beverages indoors. These items are more likely to attract pests to your party.
  • Check for water. If there is any standing water in the area where your party will be held, remove as much as possible. Birdbaths, pools, tire swings, etc. are perfect locations for mosquitoes to breed.
  • Keep insect repellent on hand for you and your guests. It never hurts to buy it in bulk during the summer months!

During

  • Wasps and other stinging insects love strong smelling shampoos, perfumes, lotions, etc. and it can encourage them to hang around. Give you guests a courtesy heads-up beforehand.
  • Keep outdoor drinks in open containers to monitor for pests.
  • Sealed coolers will be your best friend at your BBQ. They are ideal to protect food and beverages and reduce any associated smells that could attract insects
  • Clear trash/recycling right away, or place bins away from the entertaining area. Both the trash and the recycling can be a warm invite for pests.

After

  • After your meal is wrapped up you’ll probably be ready to take a load off and visit. If you’re tempted to let the dishware and utensils sit for a while, don’t. Take any dishes indoors and rinse them in the sink or use disposables.
  • Avoid leaving empty cans and bottles laying around overnight. Be sure to empty your trash from the garbage can as well.

These few simple tricks will make your backyard festivities much more enjoyable for you and your guests. If you’re having pest issues and need assistance, contact us in the Regina area today!

04Apr/17

Managers: Here Are 3 Pest Control Tips Residents Will Love You For

Managers: Here Are 3 Pest Control Tips Residents Will Love You For

 

As a property manager, your goal is happy residents.  But a pest is happy to have any residence at all.  

Recurring pest problems cause residents to move, therefore proper pest control is a fundamental part of managing your units, whether you’re a manager, investor, or an owner.

You might be overlooking an effective source of help for maintaining a tidy, pest-free property: the people who live there.  Every year renters are surveyed by the National Apartment Association, realtor organizations, and sites like Homes.com.  The resulting research gives us some powerful information about what renters want and how we can involve them to improve pest control in apartment complexes.

Here are 3 tips to get tenants to contribute while making them feel like a valued part of the pest-free team:

1.Keep Your Tenants Informed

You aren’t the only one who wants to keep bugs out.  Up to two thirds of tenants are interested in pest management tips, yet less than a quarter of property managers are giving out information.

Stand out from the crowd and distribute a list of tips a few times per year.  This can be part of a newsletter, an article on your website, or just a simple flyer.   Also, be sure to alert tenants when pest control is coming so they feel informed and know you are taking the time to do preventative service.

2.Use Environmentally-Friendly Products

Not only do tenants want information, they want product safety.  

Overuse of chemicals is a growing concern in the housing industry.  Ask your pest management service provider what can be done to make the service less hazardous to tenant health and let your residents know that their pest technician uses safe, pet-friendly products.  

3.Encourage More Communication

Only 1 in 4 renters will alert management after the first time they see a pest.  In fact, it’s estimated that 40% of pest sightings go unreported.

If multiple residents see the same type of pest during the same week, yet all fail to report it, then you’ve missed an opportunity to attack a small problem before it becomes major.

Don’t let a lack of communication generate consequences for your property:  remind residents that their help is both wanted and necessary for reporting pests and situations that could lead to infestations.

For example, tenants should know to inform you if they see garbage lingering long-term outside a neighbour’s apartment, smell on-going pet odors, observe standing water, or see similar pest-breeding conditions.  

Showing concern for your property and the health of your residents are two great ways to build loyalty.  When your tenants see that you are actively concerned about preventing and addressing pest problems you’ll make a big stride in increasing retention rates.  

A clean place to live is a happy place to live, so consider the effort you make a worthy, long-term investment in the financial and social health of your business.

16Mar/17

Implement A Pest Management Plan To Protect Your Hotel’s Reputation

You know the old adage: Trust is difficult to earn and easy to lose.  

When it comes to your hotel or resort nothing sends potential guests running for the hills like the word infested.

Just one bug-ridden hotel room can permanently damage your property’s reputation and future bookings.  This is especially true if it ends up as part of a photo review on Google or social media.

When you know which pests you’re going up against, you and your employees can proactively prevent problems.

Here’s a rundown of the most common hotel pests who coincidentally inspired one of the most famous songs of all time, Hotel California.  These guys check in any time they like, but without proper pest control, can’t ever seem to leave:     

Bed bugs  

Hotels are a top vacation destination for these miniature vampires.  When they aren’t busy nocturnally nibbling on your guests, bed bugs can be found hitching a ride on clothing and suitcases.  (Talk about traveling cheap!)  

While “chinches,” as they are called in Spanish, are thought by many to result from poor hygiene, that’s simply not the case.  Bed bugs show up even in the cleanest of places and are particularly difficult to battle since they multiply quickly.  Their numbers really start to spike in the summer as travel increases, and although they are not considered dangerous, an allergic reaction to several bites may need medical attention.

Rodents

Unless you’re hosting the annual Cheese Eating Olympics for competitive rodents in your city, you don’t want your business and rats appearing in the same news story, ever.

Rats and mice are both clever and motivated.  They sneak into buildings in search of food, cleverly wiggling through openings in walls, open basement windows and even making their way up vertical eaves troughs.    

Rather than wait for an infestation to happen, prevention and early detection are key.

Fleas and Ticks

Crawling pests like fleas and ticks are attracted to warmth, food and water, making kitchens, bathrooms, and boiler rooms a very hospitable place. Like bed bugs they reproduce quickly, so training employees to detect them early can stop them from spreading disease-causing germs to guests and their pets.

Roaches

Much like airplane crash survivors awaiting rescue in the Canadian wilderness, roaches are resilient insects that can survive for long periods of time without any food or water.  Known to come in several varieties, they just can’t seem to get off the Most Unwanted list, no matter how hard they try.

If you want to flash a “No Vacancy” sign when these guys roll up, make sure your cleanliness standards are truly 5-star.  Because they have a primal weakness for filth, cockroaches will be severely discouraged by a lack of grime and funk upon which to feast.  

Managing the expectations of guests is difficult enough without dealing with pest issues.

 

 

 

Visitors expect a safe and clean environment during their stay, and by meeting this expectation with a dynamite pest prevention plan, you’ll be adding value to your reputation and future.

Premier Specializes In Confidential Commercial Pest Control for Hotels & Lodging 

Premier Pest Management is a locally owned and operated company that values the privacy of its commercial and industrial clients, especially those in the hotel and restaurant sectors.

Our highly trained pest management technicians can arrange to visit your property in an unmarked vehicle to help keep your commercial building free of pests without drawing the attention of customers.

Though it’s possible to set traps and use insecticide on your own, true peace of mind comes when you know the job has been completed professionally and that the pest problem has been permanently eradicated.  

After all, the only visitors that should be returning are your happy customers.

 

16Mar/17

The Financial Benefits of Pest-Proof Construction

The Surprising Benefits of Pest-Proof Construction

Despite the tireless efforts of Saskatchewan termites to stop the release of this article, it’s time to let the secret out: Homeowners and contractors have a big opportunity to save money when it comes to choosing building materials.

Critters including termites, rats, mice, grey squirrels and others have a history of causing costly structural damage to buildings and homes, damaging thermal insulation, electrical wiring, drainage systems and other components.

The good news is that some of this impact is preventable.  Whether you develop or design commercial property, plan to build your own home, or want to increase your education on pest management, here are some of the best pest resistant materials on the modern construction market:   

Concrete

Concrete is recognized worldwide as a highly versatile and insect resistant building material.

Some concrete materials, such as AAC blocks, offer additional benefits like superior heat, fire and sound resistance, making them an excellent choice for hotel developers, hospitals, and the like.

Despite the fact that it’s not bug friendly, concrete does play nicely with other parts of mother nature.  Environmental studies show that sustainable forms of concrete that use recycled materials in the mix reduce global CO2 emissions.

 

Brick

For centuries societies across the world have used both brick and stone for the residential and commercial construction.  In fact, brick has become so popular that we now see it widely used in the interior of homes as an upgrade from typical interior wall finishes.  

Brick offers many benefits, including the minimization of mold growth and infestation by insects.  As an added bonus, brick is such a strong and durable building material that it may qualify you for insurance discounts.

Fiber-Cement Siding

Fiber-cement siding is one of the most innovative materials that stop termites and other bugs in their tracks. The panels are made of a mixture that includes cellulose fibers, sand and cement. Once installed, they require little maintenance and can withstand severe frost and high levels of moisture.

It not only repels wood chomping insects, but it also has a longer lifespan than some other siding options.

Metals 

From metal roofs to iron gates to custom copper eavestroughs, metal is a popular choice in modern construction design.   Bugs won’t be pleased to sink their teeth into the tough stuff, and since metal is often hot, they won’t be fond of clinging to it for long.   (Imagine rats bouncing on a hot, tin roof!)

As with fiber-cement, metal building supplies, like roofing materials, may be more expensive, but they last longer, and, as with brick, they can potentially qualify you for reduced insurance premiums.

All in all metal is a great choice for humans because it’s the least likely choice for an insect habitat.

While pest resistant construction materials are the emphasis here, they cannot stand alone. A strong preventive maintenance program is essential, especially if you’re responsible for pest control in schools and hospitals, or other businesses that host high volumes of people and food.

No matter what type of materials you select, keep in mind that a professional pest management company like Premier can help you create a pest management plan for long-term bug-free success. We’ll help you create a residential or commercial pest control plan that suits your needs.
Interested in more content related to commercial businesses? check this out!

06Mar/17

A Thought Before You Swat!

Are you accidentally killing natures own exterminators?

Drop that shoe! Not every pest deserves a trip to Squash City. In today’s blog we’ll explore a few little guys (and ladies) that are worth keeping around.

Here’s the Good, the Bad, and the Bugly.

Some bugs pose health risks to your family while others are simply annoying. Bear in mind, however, that not all creatures are created equal.

Plenty of insects provide substantial benefits to the environment and your home. Once we look past their creepy crawly exteriors, we discover that as long as they stay outside, these insects deserve a lot of respect, and even a ride out on a magazine.

 

Spiders

Spiders and ex-felons share a lot in common: their bad stigma makes it impossible to find a good job.

This reputation is often undeserved, especially for spiders. Even though they are classified as predators, few species found in Canada represent a health threat.

In reality, these eight-legged critters assist in controlling other pests in the home or garden. Studies indicate that spiders kill more bugs than any other predator combined. And, unlike ex-felons, they work for free and decline paid vacations.

Get to know which spiders are dangerous, like black widows and brown recluses. If you see a harmless looking spider in your home, slip on a thick glove and release it outdoors.

An effective technique for capturing spiders is to place a cup over the spider and then slide a piece of paper underneath to entrap it. Mr. Spider will thank you for it, and continue to loyally provide his amazing pro-bono services, eating everyone in sight, except you.

 

Ladybugs

You might be wondering, why are ladybugs important?
Ladybugs fill many important roles in nature, and being mega hungry is one of them.
Ms. Ladybug’s appetite makes her a natural born pest control professional. These little red and black insects can eat up to 5,000 pests in a lifetime. (It’s a wonder they haven’t put us out of business!)

Ladybugs typically don’t wander indoors, but when they do, they can be gently escorted out. To ensure they stay outdoors you can seal cracks around doors, screens, and windows.
In addition to eating her weight in bugs many times over, ladybugs are known to bring good luck. According to Chinese tradition, when a ladybug lands on you, it’s considered a sign that you will be granted more patience and fewer burdens.

 

Praying Mantis

We know it’s nice to say grace before a meal, and if there’s one insect that is truly thankful, it’s the Praying Mantis. Mr. and Mrs. Mantis are a fascinating insect to have around the garden, and if one happens to pop into your home for a visit, he or she deserves to live another day.

That’s because the mantis will eat nearly anything – including its own kind! It consumes most pest insects and is particularly good at controlling mosquitoes and mites. How’s that for natural pest control?

Some human mantis fans have even reported cases in which a mantis has eaten raw meat from a human hand!

In an intriguing twist of bug trivia, it is the only known insect that can turn its head and look over its shoulder.

The next time you catch a mantis staring your way, don’t get bugged out. Just say, Bon appetite, and he’ll keep munching your pest problems away.

Got bug questions? We’ve got answers! For safe, effective, and fast pest elimination contact us for a free quote. Premier Pest Management works hard to take care of your family, home and business. Your pest problems = our solutions. Until next time!

19Feb/17

Lower Pest Control Costs for Your Property in 4 Easy Ways

How to Lower Pest Control Costs for Your Property in 4 Easy Ways

Every commercial property needs a pest control plan, whether it’s a small office, restaurant, hotel or large apartment complex.  

Affordable pest control starts with a manager who takes insect prevention seriously because he or she knows it makes a financial impact.  When you minimize your risk of infestation and other expensive problems like wasp stings or bug bites to employees or guests, you contribute to the overall health and reputation of your organization.

After all, you’re in business to make money, not to finance a love nest for the blushing bug-to-be and her creepy crawling groom.

Here are 4 easy ways to prevent costly pest problems in offices.  In fact these can apply to your home, as well.

1. Guard Your Perimeter

 

The battle of the bugs outside your office is just as important as the inside.

One overlooked step to pest control is cleaning your eavestroughs.  Messy troughs are home sweet home for wasps, mosquitoes, roaches, and all their friends between.  If your property manager doesn’t schedule regular eaves cleaning, then consider take the initiative yourself to have the service performed.  

As a bonus, when eavestroughs are clean they can successfully direct water away from your office walls, which protects the external construction and roof of your property.  

2. Stop Inviting Bugs to the Party

 

The garbage can is where insects like bugs and rodents love to get together.  Shut down the fiesta before it starts by keeping all garbage in a sealed dumpster or container away from the exterior office wall.

Also, clean outdoor eating areas regularly to remove crumbs and leftovers that will attract pests.

3. Get Your Employees Involved

 

Encourage the rest of the office to keep a clean, dry workspace.  It only takes a few minutes to educate employees on the importance of office cleanliness.

Almost all of us are grossed out by bugs, so give some visual examples to get them motivated.  For example, dirty dishes are a magnet for rude, creepy crawling visitors.  “We only came for the food,” said every bug in history. (That would make a great graphic!)

Consider posting a short bullet list on how to “Pest-Proof” the office so everyone can continue to work in bug-free harmony.

4. “Splish, Splash – I Love Your Faucet Bath”

 

Are you giving away tickets to an interoffice water park?  Bugs will go splishing and splashing anywhere they can find a leaky faucet.  Have any plumbing leaks fixed pronto.

Sorry, Mr. Cucaracha – this water slide is shut down for repairs.

Premier Pest Management is an experienced provider of pest treatment and prevention services in Regina Saskatchewan and surrounding areas.  PPM serves both homeowners and business owners, and believes that education and training is a critical part of every person’s pest control plan.

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13Feb/17

Preparing for Spring: Pest Control Tips

Preparing for Spring: Pest Control Tips

Ahhhhh, spring time.  That special season is right around the corner.  We’re ready to swing open the front door, welcome the fresh air, and enjoy the chirps of birds who come from all around to send Old Man Winter packing.

Unfortunately, as the seasons change, we aren’t the only ones coming out to play.

Some of the most common springtime troublemakers are termites, wasps, ants, spiders, and beetles. While Mr. Sunshine is beaming down, these guys are gearing up – so prepare your home or business ahead of time with these helpful pest control tips. .

Examine and Observe

Your home or business needs a good examination several times a year.  You can prevent pest problems by carefully examining the exterior structures, making sure you don’t see holes or cracks in the foundation, walls, or around any windows.

Seal any holes or cracks you find before pests like ants have a chance to march in.  Adding weather stripping under doors and in windows also helps to block bugs out.   If you have any torn screens on your windows or doors we recommend replacing them.

Trim Your Greenery

Shrubs and trees close to the exterior of your home are the perfect bridge for buggie critters to stroll across and enter your home.  Make it an annual habit to cut back trees and shrubs.

You can also discourage pests from shacking up in your living space by removing plants and weeds from near your foundation.  This eliminates potential food and water sources.  You’ll want to make sure you remove any standing water where mosquitoes can breed, as well.

Put Your Cleaning Cap On

Make sure everyone in your home knows the importance of not leaving crumbs and nibbles on the counter.  Remember to completely seal food packages.  If bugs can find it, they can eat it, so maintaining a tidy house is an excellent way to prevent infestations.

Even keeping up with simple chores will help, like wiping down counters daily, regularly sweeping areas where food is consumed, and cleaning the areas where Fido and Ms. Meow chow down.  (Pests will munch on pet food, so seal that up, too!).

Your Pest Control Resource

If you want more guidance on pest problems, or you’re not sure how to properly inspect your home, contact us for assistance.

Premier Pest Management is the leader in pest control in Regina Saskatchewan and surrounding areas.

Our trained professionals can assess and solve your problem, whether you’re in need of pest control due to ants, mice, animals, insects, or any other pest that may require removal.

 

26Jan/17

See No Weevil, Hear No Weevil.

What’s a weevil?

Weevils, as many know, are a part of the beetle family. Weevils are classified as some of the most destructive pests in Canada. They are known for causing extensive damage to the agricultural industry including stored food product, crops, gardens and lawns.

There are 40,000 species of weevils in the world and about 1000 of those reside in North America.

What damage do weevils cause?

Weevils are an agricultural menace and create havoc in grains and cereals.

Sweet potato, alfalfa, rice and granary weevils are the most common in the prairies and can be found nesting under foliage or in grain based food stores.

Weevils can defoliate or cause extensive damage to entire crops as they enjoy various parts of plants as a large part of their diets. Weevils cause damage by eating plants and by laying eggs in stored foods. The process of laying eggs in stored foods such as grains, creates heat and humidity making the perfect environment for mold and fungus to grow. Aside from spoiling crops and destroying stored food, weevils can also inhabit your home.

How to detect a Weevil?

If you suspect you have a weevil problem, check all your stored goods for small, lightly coloured grubs in your grain based foods, including cereal and flour. If you are unable to detect at grub’s in your stored foods but they have a damp appearance or packaged foods are moldy, it is a strong indication you have a weevil problem.

Because weevils enjoy various parts of plants as a large part of their diets, you will noticed chewed foliage in your garden, on your lawn, or in your crops when you have a weevil infestation.

How to get rid of a Weevil?

As a homeowner, avoid weevil damage in your lawn by planting foliage, shrubs and trees that can resist insect damage, and store all food products in sealed containers.

Prevention is key, however infestation of weevils is quite possible simply because they are so difficult to detect. Professional pest control remains your best option to clear an infestation successfully or prevent from one in the first place.

Contact us

If you suspect a weevil presence, don’t panic. Contact us today.

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19Jan/17

5 Super Simple Ways To Keep Your Home Pest-Free

There are many bad habits – including leaving food accessible, that can welcome pests into your home with open arms. Did you know there are a large number of ways you could be attracting these little visitors without even knowing it?

For your home to remain pest free and protected beware of these five unknown invitations:

 

1.Moisture

Warm and moist; the perfect combination to create a fantastic home for pests. Inspect your plumbing for leaks regularly, and repair them immediately to discourage pests from moving in.

 

2.Screen damage

Small tears in your window and/or door screens may seem unnecessary to repair or replace but in reality many insects can crawl through even the tiniest holes. Replace any screens with damage as soon as possible to avoid leaving an open door for pests.  

 

3.Clutter

Piles of items, yes even non food items-can attract a variety of rodents and insects. Both species love to burrow and hide in piles of papers or other clutter so remove any items that would make creating a home easy for these little guys.  

 

4.Cracks

Small cracks around doors and windows are ones most homeowners think of monitoring but many go unnoticed. Monitor your foundation, and walls for small cracks and around appliance vents, utility lines and plumbing. Filling these small, and seemingly harmless spaces sooner rather than later can protect from a bigger problem.

 

5.Your neighbours

Do you have a neighbour that throws their grass clippings behind their fence instead of bagging them? Or maybe they don’t clean up after their beloved dog regularly or at all? The surrounding neighbourhood, and people in it are a large contributing factor to pest control in the area. Should you experience issues or have concerns it’s best to address them with your neighbour in a friendly manner before infestation becomes a reality.

 

If you encounter a problem don’t hesitate to contact us. We have a variety of preventative options available for you in Regina and surrounding areas.

10Jan/17

Enjoying a Pest-Free Winter? Maybe not.

We spend Spring time worried about ticks, Summers swatting mosquito’s and Fall Time it’s flailing season with flies and wasps.

Finally when the temperature drops and the winter sets in, we get reprieve – but where do they all these bugs go?

In case you were every wondering what happens to these little pesky pests during the winter months, here’s the lowdown on how our favourite and (and not so favourite) creatures spend the rest of their year.

Migrate South:

From monarch butterflies to leafhoppers and milkweed bugs, some insects escape to warmer climates. Can you blame them?

Go dormant:

Similar to hibernation, many insects enter a stage called “diapause”, or deep sleep, relying on the length of sunlight as a cue to bed down.

Mosquitos: These common Canadian pests spend the chilly winters outdoors. Even though we don’t see them they are still here but remain dormant. Some lay winter eggs which lie dormant in the soil until the spring. Commonly the females lay eggs in later summer or fall that then hatch in the spring when the weather warms up and sufficient rain falls. Some mosquitoes can survive winter in the larval stage.

House flies: Flies live for a maximum of two months however, some flies manage to live until winter.The larvae grow and pupate to protect themselves in the winter. In the spring the pupate hatch into adults.

Wasps: In fall, most male wasps die. The male wasps are the workers of the species and before they die, impregnate the queens. The queens seek out refuge in warm places for winter. Long, cold winters are ideal for the queen’s survival because mild winters bring them out of hibernation early where they are at risk to starve to death. In the spring, queens build nests to lay eggs in and create new colonies.

Bees: As winter approaches, bees gather the central area of the hive and create a winter cluster. They remain in the cluster for the entire winter. During the cold months a bees only job is to protect the queen. Keeping her safe and warm is the only goal. Worker bees flutter their wings and shiver around the queen as the constant motion and continuous energy is how they keep the temperature warm inside the hive. Before they retreat for winter, bees stockpile honey to sustain themselves and have enough energy to continue shivering throughout the winter.

Makes sense – most people wish they could sleep through winter too!

Brave the cold:

Insects like snow fleas (springtails), moths and some beetles can reduce their water content or replace water molecules in their cells with glycerol, which acts as anti-freeze and protects them from the cold. Wow! How unfair – insects can shed their water weight without a problem!

Join the family:

Many insects such as ladybugs, cluster flies, stink bugs and boxelder bugs find a home away from home in attics and wall voids, where they cluster in large groups or masses.

The ones that join your family to cozy up in the attic or walls over the winter can easily be given an eviction notice from us!

Get in touch with us for your winter home inspection.