Have You Fallen for these Do-It-Yourself Pest Control Myths?
If any pest control tip from your neighbor starts with “I’ve heard…”, then you can probably assume it’s a myth. Faulty do-it-yourself methods have been circulating for nearly as long as pests themselves. For example, ancient Egyptians believed that fat from an oriole worked against flies and fish eggs against fleas (Ebers Papyrus). While our techniques have evolved considerably since that time, pest control myths still exist today. See if you’ve heard any of these myths below—or even said them yourself.
Modern Day Myths
- “The best mouse bait is cheese.”
- While a mouse might come out of hiding to nibble that piece of cheese you’ve left out, it isn’t nearly as effective as some other foods. According to Mouse Trap Bait, (http://www.mousetrapbait.org/) mice are attracted to sweet and fatty foods that have a strong aroma. You could use candy, pet foods, butter, marshmallows, and many other items. Whatever you choose, make sure you are able to stick or tie the bait to the trap; if you don’t, the mouse will run off with a free treat and you’ll still have a pest problem.
- “Fido and Whiskers will keep any pests away.”
- While your dog or cat can scare off the occasional rodent, a full-blown infestation is much more than a pet can handle. A pair of brown rats, if uninhibited, could produce up to 2,000 offspring in a year (http://discovermagazine.com/2006/dec/20-things-rats). You see how a few unwanted guests can turn into a small army. Give your pet a break and call Interstate Pest Control.
- “My house is spotless. There couldn’t be any pests here.”
- We are all for cleanliness, but the state of your house actually has little to do with pest problems. Bed bugs, for example, enter your home by hitching a ride on luggage, clothing, or pets. From there, they don’t care if your house is dirty or clean—they only want to settle in your couch or bed. Another false assumption is the idea that pest problems are always visible. In fact, an infestation isn’t usually visible until it has become a huge problem. Termites and carpenter ants are notorious for wreaking havoc on a home’s interior without ever making their presence known. Waiting to see these little intruders in the open could turn out to be a big mistake.
Real-Life Results
You can search far and wide for the next do-it-yourself trick for pest problems, but nothing beats your local Interstate Pest Control expert. Whether there are bed bugs keeping you up at night or ants aggravating you in the day, our experienced technicians can handle anything. So don’t waste your time with myths when real results are just a phone call away.