The summer months are in full swing, and with that comes the onslaught of bugs and pests trying to make their home in houses and commercial buildings. For businesses, it is imperative to have a trusted pest control company visit consistently, or else they risk costly damage to the property creating unsafe working conditions.
“There are a bunch of different businesses out there, and most of them do need pest control,” said Chris Maloch, owner of Legacy Termite & Pest Control in Little Rock.
“The animals do not discriminate where they want to live,” said Cory Wilson, president and owner of Critter Control of Northwest Arkansas.
Spring and summer are especially apt times for animals and bugs, since the warmth brings them out of hibernation. Becky Cranford, owner of The Bug Man in Little Rock, said mosquitoes are one bug people need to be especially aware of in the summer.
Maloch echoed that but said he also wants people to know there is hope for mosquito control.
“They think they just have to live with a mosquito problem because we’re in Arkansas,” he said. “That’s true to a degree because we can’t control a mosquito from flying in from somewhere else, but mosquito service does definitely keep the population down.”
Bats, raccoons, squirrels, snakes and mice are just some of the other pests people should be on the look out for, especially in summer months, Wilson said.
The best way to keep unwanted bugs and animals out of a commercial building is with preventative service such as monthly or quarterly sprayings and inspections.
“It helps provide a barrier for insect entrance to be addressed before an infestation is allowed to be created,” Cranford said.
Maloch said for a business such as a restaurant, his team comes monthly for preventative sprays and work, but something like an office building may need service less often. It is also important for the business owners to keep the office buildings, restaurants and other commercial buildings clean and sanitized between services, especially to keep ants and flies at bay.
Chris Maloch
Cranford said one common misstep she sees is a restaurant placing its dumpsters too close to the establishment.
“It’s a place for flies to breed and rodents to feed and reproduce,” she said.
Maloch added that keeping a building clean enough can be difficult.
“Insects don’t need that much of a food source to make a home inside of a commercial establishment,” Maloch said.
When it comes to critters making unwanted homes in commercial buildings, Wilson said, it is a good idea to look at a property every couple of months and check for anything that looks unusual.
“To protect against animals or bugs, the biggest thing is maintenance and not short-cutting proper installation or repairs,” Wilson said. “While it is not free to have preventative work done, it can save a homeowner thousands in clean-up expenses or damages from the animal.”
Termites are another bug that can cause major damage to a commercial building. To keep termites from invading a space, it is important to control moisture.
“Termites cannot survive without moisture,” Cranford said.
Becky Cranford
Moisture can often pool in buildings’ gutters if the gutters are not cleaned properly.
“This allows water to stay in that gutter, creating an environment for above-ground termite colonies. Moisture is also needed for insects to live and breed,” she said.
Maloch said there are some telltale signs to be aware of when it comes to termites. They include looking for mud tubes, which is where termites often live, or visible wood damage on the outside of a building.
“If you see it and know that something is not quite right and then you call somebody like Legacy, we can come diagnose it for you,” he said.
Maloch advised against trying to save a buck by pursuing do-it-yourself pest control. It can be just as expensive to invest in all the correct pesticides and equipment or, if not done correctly, can cause costly mistakes.
“DIY pest control can be a little problematic from a safety standpoint and effectiveness standpoint,” Maloch said. “If you have a professional come in, you’ll be better off in a bunch of ways.”
By using the professionals, business owners can be sure that they are getting the best, safest service with the newest, most effective technology, he said.
Maloch said pesticides are always changing, as are techniques such as using heat instead of chemicals to get rid of bed bugs.
Wilson said the Critter Control staff often attend training sessions or watch franchise training videos to stay in the know about the latest updates to techniques and tools.
Cory Wilson
Cranford added that pest control has changed in many ways since The Bug Man first went into business.
“[We use] more baiting treatments now for insects than when we started 50 years ago,” she said.
“The focus is really on focused treatments, hopefully focusing on the outside before a pest might even be able to get inside,” Maloch said.
When there is a pest issue, the companies often work around a business’s hours to not disrupt operations or lose the business money. However, if the problem is extreme, a business may have to close for a bit.
The pest control companies’ goal is to keep businesses pest free and clients safe.
“We strive for top-notch service across the board,” Maloch said.
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