Each year, termites cause billions of dollars in structural damage, and homeowners, in general, spend over two billion dollars to get rid of them. There are prevention methods out there, but termites may still find your home appetizing.

Even if you can't always prevent termites, you can learn how to spot them. Read on to discover five signs of termites in a house.

1. Mud Tubes

A certain kind of termites, subterranean termites, won't leave the ground until they reach wood in the home. To do this, they bring the ground with them by forming mud tubes.

You can identify these signs of termites in a house by searching for long, thin tunnels of mud or soil. The mud tubes may also contain termite waste and spit or partially digested wood.

Mud tubes are as wide as a pencil and can appear to be flat. They are also muddy, shocker!

Subterranean termites must stay constantly hydrated to stay alive even when chewing through dry wood. Mud tubes allow this to happen by giving them access to the moisture in the soil or mud. This moisture helps to keep them from drying out in the sun.

You may find mud tubes from the ground up to the exterior sections of the home. You can often spot them on outside concrete home foundations, in between cracks in the walls or floors, or any exposed surface.
Although mud tubes are easy to identify when you see them, they are not always in plain sight. For example, you may find them inside or outside of the home in hard-to-see areas like under flooring, siding, baseboards, or wood.

2. Discarded Wings

Winged termite swarms, called alates, may seek out a new area in the springtime as their colonies expand and reach capacity. They are the only caste of subterranean termites that have wings.

If you see these winged termites, it is best to call the professionals right away. Hundreds of termites could be living somewhere in your home without you realizing it. Alates are produced to continue reproducing and expanding.

The mating season for these critters is from February to April. Once they mate or the mating season passes, alates will lose their wings. Because of this, it is possible to find a large pile of discarded wings around wooden homes.

Even though the survival rate of these termites is low, finding the wings is an obvious sign of termite infestation.

These swarming termites are most attracted to warmth and light. You may find a pile of discarded wings around lights, windows, door frames, or vents.

Flying termites will only come out of their colonies if it is at least two years old. Spotting a flying termite in your home calls for immediate termite extermination.

3. Termite Droppings

Termite droppings can look similar to coffee grounds or sawdust. Often, spotting feces from a termite is how most homeowners become aware that they have an infestation problem.

As they tunnel around in the structure of your home, they keep their area clean by removing the droppings.

If you find droppings, it usually means you are close to the source of infestation. Dry wood termites will drop small bun-shaped excrement directly below infected areas.

4. Squeaky Floorboards

If you notice that your hardwood floors are squeakier than usual, you may be dealing with termite damage beneath your floors. This is not a problem you'll want to ignore just because you can't physically see the damage.

Termites can weaken floor supports, sub-floors, and floor surfaces. When the floors are weakened, they become more sensitive to movements which is why floorboards may seem excessively squeaky.
Another one of the signs of termites in a house with wood floors is a hollow sound. This happens because termites can consume wood and create cavities in the floors and even walls.

You can tap on the wood to check if there is a hollow sound compared to other areas in the home.

5. Swollen Floor or Wall Panels

If termite damage is severe, you may discover damages to your floors and walls before actually seeing the pests.

If the floorboards are raised or you notice bumps in the wall, consider it a red flag. Often, these problems can look like water damage but actually be termites eating through your home's structure.

If you notice swollen panels or paint bubbles, your first instinct may tell you it's water damage. It is still a good idea to rule water damage out to understand if termites are the culprit.

Every termite species will leave evidence, but it can be hard to notice without a professional inspection. Your home may be dealing with dry-wood termites or subterranean termites.

Dry-wood Termites
Dry-wood termites generally infest wall cavities, garages, attics, and other areas where wood is present. You'll often find signs of these termites in window frames, door frames, foundations, or other wood framing areas.

Subterranean Termites
These termites prefer soil over wood, but that won't stop them from invading your home. These are the more destructive kind of termites that create mud tubes and are joined with a colony.

Knowing the signs of termites in a house is not always obvious. If you suspect anything unusual with your home's structure or find physical termites, mud tubes, or discarded wings, call a specialist right away.

Termites can cause thousands of dollars in damages. Even worse, they can make your home a hazardous place to live.

Joel's Pest Control is a business to be trusted with your termite inspection and treatment needs. Contact us now to receive a free quote.

From fruit flies to sand flies, or from termites to scorpions, the last thing you want is a swarm of pests intruding upon your home and making it theirs.

You might consider doing research on the internet and getting rid of the pests on your own, but be careful. If you've run out of options and the pests are still on the offensive, the solution was out of your hands from the start.

If DIY solutions could eliminate most pests, pest control companies would be out of business. But take it from Joel's Pest Control. This business model is alive and well because bugs are tricky. But we are trickier!

If you're looking for the best pest control services in Yuba City, California, look no further.

Make sure the company is accredited. Check their company reviews and their state license information. For instance, if you search, "pest control Yuba City" on Google, make sure the company is a member of a national, state, or local pest management association.

Some other areas to look out for include:

• What do your friends and neighbors think?
• Does the company have a history of providing value to customers?
• Research the pest problem. Make sure they know more than you!
• Check if the company has liability insurance
• Read the fine print. They might have to return if the problem persists.
  

If you're wondering, "Where can I find the best pest control near me?", take a good look at Joel's Pest Control. It should be one of the first sites that pop up when you look up, "Pest control Yuba City."

It depends on the service. The best pest control companies make it clear what they can and can't guarantee. They should be your top contenders. If they guarantee a particular service, they are liable to make sure that guarantee is met.

Always do your research on both the company and the pest control professionals to make sure your expectations are met.

Choosing the pest control prices with the lowest-priced service deals might look like a good idea at first, but the adage "You get what you pay for" rings true in the pest control world, too.

Cheap pest control companies looking to make a quick buck might scam you with confusing fine-print, quick and messy in-and-out service, and a team of unfriendly so-called professionals.

Sometimes you have to pay more than you'd like upfront to prevent a costly situation from becoming costlier.

You might think this question is best left to pest control professionals, but a good pest control pro will be willing to discuss with you the chemicals they intend to use.

Look out for:

• Non-chemical options
• The chemical's strength
• Container labels (Should be clear and concise)

Once the technician assesses the severity of the situation and the source of the problem, they should provide you a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). This will teach you everything you need to know about the chemicals being used.

Pest control services are numerous and abound, but the best ones have your back! Joel's Pest Control in Yuba City has been in the business for 15 delightful years. We believe our clients deserve to be treated with precision, care, and respect.

When you do business with us, you aren't just treated like another customer. You're treated like family!

Were you aware that termites can ruin a construction project?

Termites are some of the most troublesome pests to deal with because they can cause heavy damage to a structure. This damage can lead to a plethora of problems that make a structure dangerous to enter.

Many termites enter a building through soil and cracks in concrete. When inside, they'll attack wood, leaving gaps and reducing its strength. Fortunately, termite control services can use a variety of termite control products to prevent them from ever entering a construction zone.

In Yuba City, termite control is done using a variety of things. Read on to learn about five types of pre-construction termite control!

One of the most effective ways pest control services prevent fend off termites is by applying liquid treatments to the soil around the foundation. Whenever something like a house is being built, they'll also treat the soil around support piers.

Applying liquid treatments is highly effective because it prevents termites from ever reaching the wood in a building. You also don't have to worry about the entire soil getting treated. Only the soil surrounding the foundation where the building will be constructed.

Whenever larger buildings are being constructed that require slab foundations, the entire surface will be treated before the concrete is placed. Hiring termite control services is necessary for projects like this because many gallons of treatment are used, which can be difficult to apply alone. 

Soil treatment isn't done at one time. Instead, it's applied several times throughout the construction process. Whenever landscaping is done or the foundation is built, the treatment will be applied again to ensure everything is covered.

Using termite baits is a more traditional approach because it doesn't require any chemicals. In situations where liquid treatment isn't applicable, baiting systems will be used to catch termites as they approach the construction zone.

However, termite baits typically aren't placed until after construction is completed. Termite pest control services wait until afterward to prevent the baits from getting damaged during construction.

While applying liquid treatment to the soil is common, it can also be applied to wood. Applying liquid treatment to both soil and wood is optimal when constructing houses, which use a lot of wood. However, this treatment won't prevent termites from entering concrete slabs.

If a building has a concrete foundation, termite baits may also be used to prevent them from entering cracks that form over time (which are inevitable). When they enter a home through concrete, they'll try to attack untreated wood.

The wood treatment essentially prevents termites from ruining a building's structure, but it won't stop them from infesting it. If you see mud tubes on a wall, you can tell that termites have infested the building and termite pest control services should be hired.

While termite baits are effective and stopping termites from entering a building through its foundation, stainless steel mesh is another option. Steel mesh is one of the best termite treatment products because it's wrapped around the foundation, pipes, and more.

Termites are too large to enter the small holes in steel mesh and they're unable to break it. This is an effective option for anyone that's looking to substitute liquid treatments while constructing something. Like other types of treatment, it's best to use steel mesh while also using another method, such as termite baits.

Steel mesh is a type of barrier treatment, but a variety of things can be used as barriers to prevent termite invasion. Some of the other barrier treatments, such as sand and stone, are primarily used only in pre-construction. If someone wanted to treat existing buildings, they should use other methods.

Here's some more info about sand and stone barriers:

Sand
Unlike soil, sand is much smaller and impenetrable for termites. Soil often has a lot of gaps and can be broken up into tiny particles that termites can move. However, the particles in the sand are too large for termites and they don't leave gaps.

Sand barriers are often formed along the foundation of a building to prevent termites from ever reaching the concrete. It can also be mixed with soil to fill gaps.

When using a sand barrier, liquid treatment should also be used to ensure that termites don't find a way to get through the sand. However, they're effective when termite inspections are done often.

Stone
Stone barriers are similar to sand barriers in that they consist of small particles that termites can't get through. What makes a stone barrier different from a sand barrier is the size of the particles, which are too heavy for termites to move. They're also too hard for termites to dissolve.

These barriers are often placed around the foundation and beneath floors. When using stone barriers and liquid treatment, termites have virtually no way of getting into a building.

Now that you have a better understanding of some of the most common types of pre-construction termite control, you'll know exactly what to do when doing a new project. All you'll need to do is hire termite control services if you'd like to ensure that everything is done correctly.

While you can buy termite treatment and apply it yourself, we encourage people to hire services because of how much work is required. You can't get rid of termites in the same way that you can other insects. Whenever you start a construction project, hire termite control services to avoid long-term problems.

Anyone that wants pest control in Yuba City can contact us to learn more about how we can help you with termite control today!

When it comes to household pests, there's nothing quite as upsetting as discovering you have bed bugs in your home.

These tiny insects can leave painful bites behind, and they're notorious for multiplying at a rapid pace.

If you're concerned about these insects, read on for a list of five signs of bed bugs in pillows you need to know.

Bed bugs like to feed on a "host," and if they're in your home, that means they've likely chosen to attack you or your family members. Bed bug bites are one of the most common red flags that indicate they've infiltrated your house.

If you wake up with red bumps or swollen, itchy areas on your body, there's a possibility that you have bed bugs. These bites are also called papules or wheels, and they typically appear in a row on your arms, back, or legs.

Many people don't experience any reaction to bed bug bites, but others may experience itching or extreme redness. No matter what, if you notice the sudden appearance of bug bites, you should investigate your home immediately if you're concerned about the presence of bed bugs.

Bites that occur on your face, neck, or shoulders are major signs of bed bugs on pillows. Don't hesitate if you think this is the case and contact a professional bed bug extermination company immediately.

Even though they're tiny, you can still see bed bugs with the naked eye. Before you start to panic, examine your bedding, pillow, and areas in between your mattress to look for these pesky insects.

Bed bugs are approximately 1/4 to 1/3 inch long and can have a dark brown or reddish coloring. Most bed bugs are red if they've just had a meal, and they can double in size after a long feeding.

These pests tend to come out and feed at night, so you'll need to check everything thoroughly to find out where they're hiding during the daytime. Look in between furniture cushions, in rugs and carpeting, and even behind picture frames where they may be lurking in tiny crevices.

Whether your pillow is standard, made of memory foam, or filled with feathers, having bed bugs in your bedding can certainly be distressing. If you have a regular pillow, these insects tend to live in the actual pillowcase rather than the stuffing of the pillow. This makes it easier for them to move around without getting crushed. 

Memory foam pillows are much denser than a standard pillow, but that won't stop bed bugs from living between the pillow and your pillowcase. As you move around, the bed bugs may not get crushed by your head, so you won't see many other telltale signs, such as insect shells or bloodstains.

Bed bugs will even live in feather pillows, so it really doesn't matter which type of pillow you use. If you suspect there are bed bugs using your pillow as a feeding ground, your best bet is to dispose of the pillow and pillowcase immediately so they don't continue to torment you when you sleep.

Bed bugs love to lurk in your pillow because it's a perfect place for them to lay their eggs. Be on the lookout for very small oval-shaped eggs that are white in color. Check the pillow and look inside the pillowcase as well as on your mattress and sheets.

Another telltale sign is if you see small black spots on your pillow, which is an indication of bed bug feces. If you come in contact with these feces, it can cause redness, irritation, or even a possible allergic reaction.

If the bed bugs are feeding on you while you sleep, you may notice blood stains on your pillow. Another reason there could be blood stains is that you are crushing the bugs with your head while you sleep. Look for small blood-colored stains on your pillowcase when you wake up if you're concerned.

Any unusual coloring or lots of tiny white eggs is a good indication that you have bed bugs in your pillows. Don't wait until things get out of control - contact an exterminator as soon as you see any of these signs.

When you lay your head down to go to sleep, you might start to notice an unusual scent. If bed bugs infest furniture and bedding, they leave a nasty smell behind.

The scent of bed bugs is described as a little bit sweet and quite musty. Give your pillows a sniff to see if you notice a strong sweet and musty smell.

As you look at your pillows, linens, and mattress, look for dead bed bugs, too. They leave small, curled up shells behind that can also include unsightly stains if they were squashed while still digesting blood in their stomachs.

Cockroaches are a common household problem all over the world. They can also be found in restaurants, commercial buildings, institutional facilities and various outdoor areas.

These insects range in size from 1/4" to 2 1/8", and they also vary in color from black, light-brown to dark reddish brown, depending on their species. Some species of cockroaches can also fly, whereas the typical roach cannot.

Most cockroach species are usually found in moist, dark areas indoors or outdoors. However, they differ in their harborage areas and resiliency. If you have a cockroach problem, it is important to identify the type for proper cockroach control. Read on to learn more about identifying common roach species found in the Yuba Sutter area.

The first step to eliminating a cockroach problem is identification. Below are some facts and images to help narrow down your pest problem.

American cockroaches are the largest of all cockroach species measuring between 1 1/4" to 2 1/8" long. Their oval-shaped bodies are brown with a reddish hue, and they also have a yellow figure-eight shaped band that outlines their head.

These cockroaches are mainly found outdoors in drains and sewers except in the lower part of the U.S., where they find harborage underneath mulch piles, in flowerbeds, and in yards, alleys, and other shady, humid areas. However, when the weather gets too cold, or their food sources become low, they will make their way inside your home through the drains, garages and basement windows, and under doors gaps, where they are then typically found in basements, boiler rooms, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens, scouring for food and water.

Once inside, American cockroaches will feed on crumbs found on the floor and other surfaces. You may find them under appliances, behind kitchen cabinets and also in drains. They will also feed on pet food that is left uncovered.

This species of cockroach is equipped with various survival mechanisms that make them more resilient than other cockroaches. For instance, they can remain hidden in your home for up to a week without food or water, which can make it harder to pinpoint them and rid them on your own.

The German cockroach is also found throughout the U.S., and it too has an oval-shaped body, six legs, and an antenna like the American cockroach; however, it is smaller at just 1/2" to 5/8" long.

Their bodies range from light brown to tan, depending on their sex, and they also have a pair of dark stripes that run almost parallel down their backs. They also have wings like the American cockroach; however, they mostly prefer to run as opposed to fly.

German cockroaches also prefer warm, humid places; however, because it is difficult for them to survive outdoors in warm weather, they can make their way inside via used appliances, cardboard boxes, drink cartons, and in grocery bags.

Once inside, they can usually be found anywhere people dine and drink, such as in residential and commercial kitchens, dining rooms, dens, bedrooms, and more. They are also commonly found in food processing plants.

Like other cockroach species, German cockroaches will feed on just about any food; however, they will also feed on glue, toothpaste, and soap.

Because these cockroaches like to hide in crack and crevices, which can be as small as 3/8" wide, they can be hard to detect on your own. They may also require a specialized treatment due to their unique harborage areas.

Turkestan cockroaches vary in size and color, depending on whether they are male or female.

The males are just under an inch long with a burnt orange or red body and slightly yellow wings that extend beyond the tip of their abdomen. They also have ivory-colored markings that line the edge of their bodies up to their heads.

They are also commonly found indoors because they are drawn to the lights.

Female Turkestan cockroaches are larger, measuring 1" long. They also have deep brown to black bodies and the same ivory-colored markings as the males. However, unlike the males, they have short, rounded wings with light-colored stripes that line the edge of them.

These cockroaches, unlike other cockroach types, are mainly an outdoor problem. Often you will find them near utility meter boxes, in concrete cracks, and under fallen leaves, compost piles and potted plants.

They also tend to be more common in the U.S. in urban cities in the Southwest, throughout California, and some parts of the Northeast.

Because they produce many eggs, and they have such a short development period, treating Turkestan cockroaches needs to be done as soon as possible to prevent infestation.

The Oriental cockroach is another rather large roach, measuring between 25mm to 1" long. They are also oval-shaped with 6-legs and antennae, but they have a shiny black exterior. However, some may be mahogany.

Like most cockroach species, the male Oriental cockroach is smaller than the female, and they also have short 3/4" long wings whereas the females do not. However, due to their shorter wings, their lower abdomens are more exposed than other cockroaches and they also do not fly.

Oriental cockroaches are most common in the northern parts of the U.S., where they are often spotted outside near damp gutters, around landscaping beds, and traveling in and out of sewers and storm drains during the day. They can also be found under firewood and in openings and voids beneath porches.

However, during the summer, they can make their way inside through door sills, under sliding glass doors, through floor drains, and along utility pipes where they are then typically found in crawl spaces, basements, and other moist, cool places. They can also be spotted around toilets, sinks, pipes and service ducts.

Once inside your home, they will also feed on all kinds of food. They will normally go after starchy foods, garbage, and decaying organic matter.

Oriental cockroaches are also pretty resilient. In fact, they can live up to one month without food. However, they cannot live without water. You are likely see them gathered anywhere there is water.

A crucial step to controlling cockroaches on your property, no matter the species, is to keep it free of crumbs and store your food in airtight containers. Your pet's food should be kept covered. Any spills should also be cleaned up immediately since they can also attract cockroaches.

Cockroaches also like to feed on garbage, so keep the inside of your property free of trash or store it in a secure trash container.

You should also repair any leaky water sources around your property, such as dripping faucets, radiators, and pipes, to deter cockroaches since they also need water to survive.

Most cockroaches (excluding German roaches) make their way inside your property through various cracks, gaps, and openings, so you should also be sure to seal any points of entry around your home to help keep them out.

In the meantime, professional pest control services can also be incorporated for even more effective cockroach management, especially if the problem is serious.

The technician can also ensure the right treatment for your exact type of cockroach, so you don't waste time and frustration, trying to figure it out on your own.

They can also provide follow up treatments to help you stay on top of the problem and prevent it from reoccurring.