Under the right circumstances and in the right environment, mold can be a good thing. For instance, it is vital in making penicillin and brie. It is a necessary agent in the decomposition of all kinds of organic matter, too. However, it can also be a bad thing—most especially when it spreads and grows unnoticed in your home. Mold spores tend to multiply easily and rapidly, making the problem as close to impossible to completely eradicate. This is especially true as mold has the ability to grow and proliferate everywhere, from carpet to food, paper, clothing, and even places that you can’t see like the inside of your walls, the backside of your drywall, above ceiling tiles, and around leaking/condensing pipes. Moisture control is key to solving mold problems. Because mold spores thrive in the moist and the damp, contacting a professional for a vapor barrier installation will help address the situation.
While mold is often a challenging issue to fix, it has to be dealt with immediately. When left undetected, mold can be a cause of the production of irritants, allergens, and some rare toxins, which could compromise your health. If you suspect an infestation, call Bug Stopper and ask about vapor barrier installation and other moisture control measures to help you eradicate the infestation. You can also follow the simple steps below to get started in dealing with your mold problems:
The first step to correcting a mold problem is to identify areas in the home where mold spores may be fast forming. Doing a quick audit of your surroundings will help you determine where mold spores are likely to be. Some common problem areas include ceilings where there are water stains from persistent leakage, a flooding basement, and windows that experience frequent condensation.
Dry wet areas. Mold spores thrive in moisture. Without it, they can’t grow. By keeping common problem spaces dry, it is easier to prevent spores from ever growing.
Of course, prevention is always better than a cure. To keep mold from growing inside your home, make sure that you keep common problem areas free from moisture as mold spores thrive on it. Curbing moisture through a vapor barrier installation or some other moisture management solution will help you deal with molds before they even become a problem.
There are two species native to our area, the striped scorpion and the devil scorpion, and because they prey on large numbers of insects, they’re a natural pest control! Scorpions in our area like to hide under bark that is quite flat to the tree, which is why we don’t seen them often. Striped scorpions can be identified by three dotted stripes running down the back. Contrary to popular belief, the sting of most scorpions is no more poisonous than that of a bee or wasp.
LEARN MOREThere are many species of wasps in Georgia and South Carolina. The most common you will encounter in our area are yellow jackets and various paper wasps. Yellow jackets vary in their appearance, aggressiveness and habits. As a group, yellow jackets are considered very aggressive. They can deliver a painful sting and will attack in large groups if their nests are threatened. Yellow jackets are commonly seen buzzing around trash pails and dumpsters. Paper wasps are not aggressive and only attack or sting if they are threatened or provoked. Paper wasps build their nests in hollow voids in attics, roofs, hollow fence posts and wall voids. Paper wasps get their name form their practice of building nests made of paper that they manufacture from chewed wood and bodily secretions.
LEARN MOREMillipedes and centipedes are not insects. They are closely related to lobsters, crawfish and shrimp. Centipedes can typically be found in moist areas with high humidity and are most active at night. Centipedes have an elongated, flattened body, have 14 body segments and one pair of legs per body segment. They eat insects, spiders, birds and reptiles. Depending on the species, they can vary in length from 1 to 12 inches. Most species found in our area are less than 5 inches long. Centipedes also have poison glands in their jaw. Occasionally, humans may be bitten by a centipede, but the poison usually produces a reaction similar to a bee sting.
LEARN MORESilverfish are usually seen when cabinet doors or other objects are moved. They feed on a wide variety of things including glue, wallpaper paste, starch in clothing, book bindings, rayon, and dried meats. Silverfish are active at night and hide during the day.
LEARN MOREThere are 19 Georgia and South Carolina species of grasshoppers and crickets. Male crickets produce a chirping sound at nighttime. Both grasshoppers and crickets make these sounds but crickets make theirs at a higher pitch. Males are smaller in size than females. They can be found in the kitchen when they are found indoors. They feed on food waste like crumbs.
LEARN MOREAt least 61 types of mosquito species exist in our area. Mosquito means “little fly.” They are closely related to gnats and no-see-ums. The most common diseases in our area include West Nile, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, La Crosse encephalitis, and dog/cat heart worms. To help with mosquito control, you can reduce the number of adult mosquitoes around your house by eliminating sites with standing water. Most mosquitoes bite during dawn, dusk and night.
LEARN MOREIn Georgia, there are 25 species of spiders, and there are 21 species in South Carolina. Spiders can often times be found outside of their range due to accidental or intentional misplacement from humans by cars or luggage and other belongings.
LEARN MORESquirrels, mice and rats can be a nuisance and destructive. If a squirrel population gets out of control, you will find damage to and most likely hear them running in the attic or walls of your home. Rats and mice carry diseases and parasites and can cause damage to furniture. To get rid of rodents, we will inspect the building to find where they may get in. Based on entry points, we will set traps and seal entry points. Then, if it’s possible, we will repair the damage the rodents have caused at the entry point which will help to prevent future rodents.
LEARN MOREIn Georgia and South Carolina, we share a common hatred for Palmetto bugs (cockroaches with a fancy nickname). Both smokybrown and American cockroaches are referred to as Palmetto bugs. American cockroaches are reddish brown, while smokybrowns are darker and more uniform in color. Both typically live and lay eggs in dark, moist and humid spaces like bathrooms, kitchens, crawl spaces, mulch and gardens. Palmetto bugs can carry multiple harmful pathogens. Seeing a Palmetto bug has nothing to do with cleanliness or economic conditions because they are just looking for food, and they eat anything!
LEARN MOREThere are over 12,000 ant species in the world. Only a fraction of these ant species make themselves a problem for humans. Here in South Carolina and Georgia, we only have a handful that can be considered common pests. Here is a list of the usual suspects you’ll find in your yard or in your home: Fire Ants, Carpenter Ants, Sugar Ants and Pavement Ants.
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