EcoPest provides services to residential and commercial clients. Pests covered include, but not limited to, ants, bed bugs, roaches, fleas, spiders, stinging insects, occasional invaders and rodents.
Ant Control: There are two categories of ants. General structural ants that are merely a nuisance and the wood destroying carpenter ants. For both categories of ants, our goal is to identify the nest(s) and possibly eliminate them. Widespread use of chemicals indoors is discouraged. Carpenter ant treatment can be challenging. They may have two nests, a primary nest and a satellite nest. The primary nest is usually located outdoors in wood piles, logs, stumps or trees while the satellite nest is the one usually encountered in structures. They are established in areas with high wood moisture content resulting from water leaks e.g. around chimney flashings, attics, wood siding, bath tubs, windowsills, door frames, porch supports, soffits, shingles. They may also nest in fiberglass and foam insulation. Locating and treating the primary and satellite nests as well as correcting the contributing factor is the best long-term solution.
Bed bug Control: See bed bug control page.
Roach Control: There are several species of roaches in the Kansas City area. Each species has their unique behavior and therefore require an appropriate treatment method. It’s therefore important to know the species involved prior to applying treatment. As an example, the wood roach, which looks very similar to the German roach (to the untrained eye), is an outdoor pest that may come indoors occasionally. Unlike the German roaches, wood roaches don’t reproduce indoors. Therefore, treatment for this species is focused on the exterior of the structure.
Fleas: Fleas are parasites that attack our fury friends; cats and dogs. In their absence, humans become the target. A successful flea control requires good preparation from the home owner. All carpeting should be thoroughly vacuumed and the contents emptied. Items should be kept off the floor as much as possible.
If a pet is present, he/she should be taken to the vet for treatment. During treatment, home owner or business owner may have to vacate the structure during treatment and return at least two hours later. It should be noted that during treatment, one stage of the flea’s life cycle is protected from the chemical. This is the pupal stage. This immature stage is incased in a cocoon that prevents contact with chemical application. Therefore, adult emergence can go on for up to two weeks after the initial treatment. Customers are therefore advised to wait at least two weeks before they schedule follow up visits.
Spider Control: We treat for general spiders, including the brown recluse spider. Our brown recluse control plan includes targeted chemical applications (cracks, crevices and voids) and monitoring and trapping using glue boards. Because of the reclusive nature of the brown recluse spider, total elimination cannot be guaranteed. The goal is to lower the population to a level were sightings are minimal. Our general spider control plan includes the removal of spider webs on the exterior of the structure upon treatment.
Stinging Insect Control: These include mud daubers, yellow jackets, cicada killers, umbrella wasps, etc. Not included are honey bees in structures. Honey bees are in decline; therefore,
we try to protect the bees and their habitat. All honey bee related calls are referred to a bee keeper. Mud daubers, umbrella wasps and cicada killers are solitary in nature. We treat those during the day time hours. Since yellow jackets are social; we schedule treatment at dawn when all of the foragers are back into the nest. Treatment type and price varies depending upon where the nest is located i.e. structural void versus in the soil.
Occasional Invaders: These include Pillbugs (rolly polies), ground beetles, house centipedes, wood roaches, boxelder bugs, clover mites, oriental lady beetles, mites, stink bugs, etc. For the most part, treatment methods are geared towards the exterior of the structure.
Rodents: Rodents covered are mice, rats and voles.
Of the three, the vole does not spend time in structures.
Voles make surface runways on lawns making the lawn very unsightly. As for rats and mice, our first step is to identify possible entry points into the structure. The second step is to determine what is sustaining them. Finally, we need to determine how to safely eliminate them and prevent future occurrence. Stopping mice from getting indoors can be a challenge, since they can get into openings the size of a dime.