eChipmunks

Pest Control Companies really work?

Hello!! For the last 12 years, I have had a centipede problem and it seems to be getting worse each year. I rarely see any centipedes in the Winter months (Michigan), but they seem to come out in early spring and last until late fall. In recent years, added to the centipede problem, I have been getting carpenter ants. My Father used to spray the perimiter of the house with chemicals he would buy at Kmart but it didn't seem to do anything. Since then, my father has passed away and I took over the house, I was wondering if I called a Pest Control Company like Orkin, Terminix, etc if my House's problems with Centipedes and Carpenter Ants will go away. When my father was alive, I suggested it and he told me these companies are out to rip people off and tell you they need to come out once a month for a year at $100 a visit and they still don't get rid of the problem, causing them to invite themselves to come out more often and spray, making themselves more money. Was he right?

Public Comments

1. I agree with your dad. You can do the same thing that the pest companies do for much less money. I would research Wikipedia and the internet to see what pesticides work best for your pests and use that in a sprayer. Good luck.
2. It does cost around $100 a month (it cost us $80 in Vermont), but I think it was worth it. We haven't had Orkin out here for 1-2 years, and we still don't have any pest problems. And, Orkin said that they would come between visits without charge if we were still having problems. It was worth it to me, and I'd call them again if I have any more problems, if I can afford it.
3. $89 every 3 months (in my area) & free in between visits if needed by Orkin. Their normal spraying assisted in keeping the carpenter ants population down but didn't eliminate them which was making me very suspicious of their motives and said so. Then, they magically remembered these yellow pellets to toss on the lawn for the carpenter ants to take back to the nest. After that I insisted they used those pellets besides the spray. That is what really got rid of the destructive bugs. So your father was right AND wrong. * On your part, get the sprays that attach to your garden hose and spray the top of your roof and all branches you can reach with that spray. Do this 3 times a year minimum or Spring, Fall and after each heavy rain. * Take cheap vegetable oil & spray around base of home which eliminates the majority of crawly insects from getting into the home in Spring, Fall & after heavy rain. (Vegetable oil - not other kinds of oil is also environmentally safe.) * Go around outside of house, caulk or foam bottom strip of siding, around windows & doors. Do a close inspection around roof because of neighboring tree & branches. The ants probably has a colony in one of your branches and they are expanding. * We have to keep up with the outside base of home plus the tree to avoid reinfestation; plus carpenter ants are also on neighboring property. * I do NOT know if termite poisons also work on carpenter ants but I wanted to try it from Bengal company; but, they do not ship termite products to South Dakota so I couldn't try it. http://bengal.com.order/htm their Bengal Gold (not regular) was extremely effective to eliminate roaches so I thought their other products would be worth the try. I believe regular pest sprays would keep the centipedes down. * But always keep sharp eye out for the the yellow pellets for carpenter ants besides the regular spraying. * Centipedes AND carpenter ants live in dampness. Think about reduces dampness in those areas and fix rotting areas. junglecat428@yahoo.com Carole Q