The Cockroach An outcast, A creature we despise, It looks so small and tiny, And has gimlet eyes, It stalks the drains and kitchens, And scavenges in the night, And climbs upon our plates of food, Such an unwelcome sight. --Simon Clark Aside from termites, cockroaches are the number one expense when it comes to pest control in the United States. It's a huge slice of the 7.5 billion dollars spent in the US on pest control a year. With that kind of money going out, it's extremely important to make sure that your hard earned dough is being put to good use, so proper identification and treatment is essential. Biologically speaking, most of these home invaders are very similar to one another in the idea that they prefer dark hideouts. Cracks and voids are typically where these guys like to hang out. They do this, so they can avoid air movement. Roaches are not a huge fan of vibration and air moving over them. Cockroaches are omnivorous which means they don't discriminate when it comes to their dinner menu, and these little guys are hungry to eat both plant or animal matter. Have you ever flipped a light switch and been witness to cockroaches scattering about as if they've been caught red-handed in a conspiracy meeting? This is instinctual for cockroaches because for the most part they are negatively phototactic--in simpler terms, what this means is they don't like the light, and when a light is switched on quickly, these guys are frightened and go to seek out the comfort of their dark, tiny, damp homes. There are a few roaches who are drawn to light, but they still aren't a fan of being startled quickly with light. As pest control experts, knowing who we're battling is a key element in successful pest control strategies. In the United States, there are approximately 69 species of cockroaches, but less than 10 of them are what we would consider home invaders. In the Charleston area, we encounter 5 species that Champion Pest Management works to protect you from under our service agreement. It's extremely important for our techs to first identify what type of pest you may be dealing with in order to customize the best treatment for your home or business. In this post, we will discuss some basic characteristics of these 5 species and how they vary from one another. In the weeks to come, keep an eye out for our roach series where I'll devote more attention to each type of cockroach. German Cockroaches
American Cockroaches
Smoky Brown Cockroaches
Brown-Banded Cockroaches
Asian Cockroaches
Other than Being Scary Looking, Why are Cockroaches so Bad for our Homes? Alright, so maybe after all this, cockroaches don't seem so scary right? Maybe we can all live together in peace and harmony? Not quite. Cockroaches have been around for an extremely long time. There are some roach fossils that date back 320 million years! They will probably be around much longer than we will be to be honest. So what's the point? Why fight it? Well, cockroaches can be dangerous to our health as humans. These creatures are not only creepy to look at, but they can make your living arrangements downright perilous.
Why you Shouldn't be too Fearful While the idea of a roach infestation can seem quite scary, it really isn't a time to loose your composure. If you fear an infestation in your home give us a call at Champion Pest Management. We're happy to come out, inspect, identify, and treat your home. Together, we can keep your home safe and pest free. 843.860.4791
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Remember, mosquitoes breed in water, and we definitely have plenty of that in the Charleston areas. Mosquitoes don't need much though. They can even breed in just a cupful of water! Get on board with our proactive mosquito treatment, and call us today to schedule your mosquito yard spray. 843.860.4791
We're quickly approaching the end of National Pest Management Month, and it's a good time to look at your pest control strategies for you home. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) takes this time each year to give recognition to the hard working professionals in the pest control industry for their role in the protection of people's home and health through regular pest management. It's important to recognize how important your regular pest control is to maintain a high quality of life. "The NPMA is pleased to have the opportunity to publicly recognize the important work that pest professionals do every day during National Pest Management Month," says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the NPMA. "In honor of National Pest Management Month, the NPMA is dedicated to raising public awareness about the risks posed by household pests and encouraging homeowners to take proactive steps to prevent pest infestations in their homes and properties." In all reality, most insects fall into one of three categories. They either eat your home, they take over your home leaving behind feces, OR they feed on you making your life miserable potentially transmitting diseases. Pests like termites and carpenter ants can cause millions of dollars in home damage a year; rodents and cockroaches come into your home, and if not handled properly these pests can take over claiming your home as theirs; pests like mosquitoes and bed bugs use humans as blood hosts potentially spreading diseases through the blood stream. Not so fun if you ask me.
The important thing about pest management is setting up regular maintenance and staying on a regular cycle. I can't stress enough how important it is to stay on the suggested pest control cycle (whether it's quarterly for general pests or every 3 weeks for mosquitoes and fleas). After a few treatments, you may find yourself saying, "Wait a minute, I'm not seeing bugs anymore. Great job! I don't need you anymore." BUT the probability is that you're not seeing bugs because you're seeing us every 3 months. In my opinion, I think we're a little easier on the eyes.
Give us a call today to schedule your appointment. 843.860.4791
Few things are more beautiful and more memorable than a bride saying her "I Dos" in that perfect outdoor wedding scene. Weddings should be a picture perfect day. When each and every detail is planned, these amazingly beautiful events can go off without a hitch. Unfortunately, if pest control is taken for granted, you may find yourself and your guests under attack. As outdoor weddings become more and more popular, so does the threat of nasty, blood-sucking, disease spreading mosquitoes attacking your special day. Any outdoor event you may be planning doesn't have to be ruined by the threat of an attack. You can fight back. This is where a quality mosquito treatment becomes key. A mosquito treatment to your party venue is imperative for the comfort of your guests. Being pest free will take your epic party to the next level, and it will help insure that EVERYONE but the mosquitoes have a great time. Champion Pest Management is here to help you in the fight against mosquitoes and reach a party of epic proportions. Our qualified technicians will come out and treat the site a few days before the scheduled event to ensure that the treatment is set and begins working before any larvae hatches.
Don’t let mosquitoes ruin your special day. Call Champion Pest Management, and we will treat your outdoor event space. 843.860.4791
Spring is upon us, and with spring comes warmth and rain. With warmth and rain, come the termite swarmers. So, what exactly are termite swarmers?
If you happen to see signs of swarmers (ex. a mass of flying insects at night near lights sources, abandoned wings either in your home or on your porch/deck) it's important not to panic. This is NOT an indication that your home is infested; however, they are indeed a sign that termites are nearby, mating, and looking to build new colonies. Chances are if you're seeing swarmers, there's an already mature colony not too far away from your home. While it is true that it is important not to panic, you really should take this season seriously. This is a great opportunity and visual cue and warning to have your home inspected and placed under either a termite protection bond or a termite service plan.
Charleston, SC is an area of extreme high risk. Both subterranean and drywood termites are known to damage homes in South Carolina. In particular Formosan termites were first discovered in the continental U.S. in Charleston in the 1950s. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Americans spend more than $1 billion annually to repair property damage caused by Formosan termites. Why take that risk with the most important financial investment you've made? Call Champion Pest Management to schedule your free termite inspection. 843.860.4791
At Champion Pest Management, we appreciate and value the importance of word of mouth and customer loyalty. We would not be us if it wasn't for all of you wonderful community members. You are a part of the Champion Pest Management family, and we thank you for being here. More than just words though, we would like to shower you with appreciation. We are Charleston strong and growing everyday. We feel as though it's time to start paying you back. We understand that it takes happily involved customers for our business to grow. We have come up with a referral incentive that will benefit our existing customers, and help bring other homeowners into the Champion Pest family. The way this works is really quite simple. You are all so wonderful, and I'm sure each of you has a friend or relative with a home in need of Champion Pest Management's services. All you simply need to do is pass along our number, and let them know how we are here to take care of their every need. When your friends call, they simply share your name with us, and voila! You're getting 20% off. IT'S KIND OF LIKE FREE MONEY! There is no limit to the number of referrals you send us. You have 10 friends? Well once those 10 friends are our 10 friends, they will be saving you 20% off your next 10 services!! WOW!! Such nice friends you have So, what about the newbies? Have no fear. We have great deals for those new customers too! We're going to make it even easier for you to refer your neighbors and friends! Please share these coupons with them. All they need to do is mention they saw the ad along with you name, and EVERYONE is a winner. New customers can use our contact form right here on our website, or they can call us directly. It's so easy to save money AND get quality pest control service in the Charleston areas. Go ahead and give Champion a call today. We are looking forward to taking care of you and ALL your friends and neighbors for a long time! 843.860.4791
The fairest Home I ever knew Was founded in an Hour By Parties also that I knew A spider and a Flower -- -Emily Dickinson Our homes are considered to be a safe haven, a place of comfort, ours, not a public domain, private, a haven for family and friends. What exactly do you do then when your home becomes the exact opposite of that? What do you do when your home is no longer just YOUR home? If you're not careful, you may find yourself in a situation where you're not the only residents in your home. The problem is that you may not realize that you're indeed having to share your home until it's too late. Whom, you may ask, are you sharing this home with? The answer is quite simply rodents, bugs, spiders, and other pests. I'm sure these guys are not exactly who you had in mind for co-signers on your mortgage. This time of year it's especially important to be sure your home doesn't have a welcome sign out for any ol' pest to come along and join you. In the winter months, rodents are looking for warmth just like we are. However, squirrels in particular are looking for a little more than just warmth. Between the months of February and April are typically when squirrels have their first of two litters of the year. Because of this, squirrels are looking for not only warmth, but a safe place for the first six to eight weeks of their babies lives. What better place out of harm's way than in your attic?
What Greg found was a possible squirrel's nest being built between the hardware cloth and the gable vent. These findings were reported to the homeowner. It was suggested that Champion Pest Management reapply the hardware cloth to the exterior of the gable vent before this potential nest became a home. Unfortunately, the homeowners didn't act quickly enough. When the CPM technician returned to fix the exclusion, Greg found no other than a baby squirrel in the nest. Along with the baby, Greg discovered where the mommy squirrel had chewed through the hardware cloth (possibly during labor), and left the homeowner's attic vulnerable to infestation. Greg patched the hole, but he'll have to wait to return to fix the placement of the hardware cloth on the gable vent. Check out the video below of the baby squirrel and mommy squirrel in the gable vent. Now, is a great time to have your checked home for proper exclusion. Give Champion Pest Management a call today for your free quote.
843.860.4791
A very Happy Valentine's Day to everyone from Champion Pest Management. Call us today for your free inspection.
843.860.4791
Swarmer termites come about after the nymph stage in the termite life cycle. Essentially, nymphs become workers, solders, or reproducers. Swarmers are the reproducers. Their role in the life cycle is to come out in the open to find a mate, go back under ground, reproduce, and become the future king or queen of a new termite colony. Once these swarmers are back in the ground and reproducing, a queen can have hundreds to thousands of eggs per day! A large enough colony could have millions of termites working together and could potentially eat at least a pound of wood a day. That's enough termites to eat your home and your neighbor's home in no time. Unfortunately with termites, a lot of damage is done before we as homeowners really begin to see any signs. Bottom line is this: Termites are active year round. It's in the warmer months that we see them, and they are on our minds. The only reason we see them is because they are out and about trying to get some action. In the cooler months, they may be settled and getting fat for the winter. The only problem is they are getting fat off your home. For a free home inspection, call Champion today
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About UsChampion Pest Management is a locally owned, family run, pest control company operating in Charleston, SC and the surrounding areas. Archives
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