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As we progress through the fall season, it’s time to start preparing your home for the winter season. Pests and insects can still be quite aggressive in the colder months, so you should do everything necessary to keep them out of the home. As a pest and rodent extermination company in Torrance, CA, we’ve compiled a few tips to help you for the fall and winter.  Put food away and keep things clean. Rodents like mice and rats are still active during the winter, so it’s crucial you focus on your home’s cleanliness and sanitation. Be sure to put food...

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Bed bugs are nasty, persistent little creatures that no one wants in their home. They feed on human blood, and typically live around beds. A bed bug infestation can easily go unnoticed until you start seeing bite marks on your skin. Bed bugs hide in furniture, behind wallpaper and pictures on the wall. They typically don’t appear until nighttime. They can be extremely hard to find and eliminate from the home. If you choose to handle your bed bug problem without professional help, it can be an uphill battle. You will need to thoroughly inspect your bedding (including sheets, comforters,...

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The mere thought of spiders can make someone squirm. When spiders infiltrate the home, they set up domain quickly, and will multiply if you don’t take action. Follow these tips to eliminate your spider problems.  Seal the windows. Spiders notoriously find their way through even the tiniest cracks and crevices. Windows are often where they enter the home, and you can prevent this by using a sealant to close any small cracks.  Eliminate other insects. Spiders feed off the carcasses of dead insects. To avoid attracting spiders, make sure your home is clean and be sure to remove any dead...

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If there is one thing that annoys just about everybody, it’s having too many insects in the home. If given the choice, nearly everyone would choose to have no insects enter the home. It offers more peace of mind, and you don’t need to worry about swatting bugs away as you relax in your home.  There are a number of ways you can bug-proof your residence. While it’ll be tough to keep 100% of bugs out at all times, you can definitely do a few things to ensure your home stays mostly bug-free.  Screen the openings.  Place screens on windows,...

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The Southern California area is home to many home-invading animals, and the raccoon is definitely one of them. Raccoons are squirrely, agile animals; they’re commonly found in urban areas, and when they need a place to nest, they will break into a house.  Raccoons are not an animal you want in the home. They often carry rabies, which is incredibly harmful to the health of you and your loved ones. And they can wreak havoc to your furniture and appliances.  Do you believe that a raccoon has infiltrated your home? Run through these list of signs to confirm. A strong...

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No one likes the thought of insects swarming their home. But with the change of seasons, it can almost be inevitable that you’ll have some rise in insects. That said, there are certain insects you should absolutely avoid to ensure the health of you and your family. We’re going to list them in today’s blog post.  Mosquitos  If there was one insect that’s universally hated worldwide, the mosquito would likely be extremely high. Their bite is very pestering, but that’s not the big concern: Mosquitos can potentially carry harmful viruses.  How to prepare against them: Eliminate excess moisture from the...

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Summer has returned, and so have flies. There are few things in life more annoying than having to constantly swat the air as flies invade your space. Flies can reproduce at an alarming rate, and they can become such a nuisance during the warmer months. But you don’t need to suffer their presence. We have a few clutch tips you can use to get them out your house this summer.  Eliminate Breeding Grounds  Most of the flies that’ll enter your home will have a very short lifespan— typically 10-25 days. And due to this short lifespan, their reproduction is accelerated...

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With over 12,000 species of ants worldwide, and 200 are within southern california. It can be difficult to identify the types of ants that enter our homes.  At 1st Stryke, we have seen certain species repeatedly, and we know exactly how to identify them. Here’s a list of the common ants you’ll find within SoCal.  Argentine Ant. The argentine ant is arguably the most common household ant you’ll find in this geographic area. It aggressively invades the home and it breeds rapidly. And because of their rapidly multiplying colonies, an infestation of argentine ants are notoriously hard to eliminate.  Thief...

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Termites are known to wreak havoc on wooden furniture and structures. Termites feed on cellulose— the primary building block of trees. Termites are also attracted to certain types of wood. This is important to know if you plan on buying new furniture or building a home. By knowing the types of wood that termites love, you can potentially save hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in damages.  Subterranean termites are known for building huge nests underground. They typically prefer springwood, which is characterized by thin-walled cells. They like wood that is soft, filled with fungi, or is rotting, so they usually...

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As the summer season approaches, insects like the wasp make their presence known. A wasp infestation is dangerous and can definitely jeopardize your summer festivities, so a wasp’s nest is something you should be aware of. But you may be wondering what you should be on the lookout for. Well, 1st Stryke has a list of telltale wasps nests signs you need to be aware of for the spring and summer seasons. Swarming Insects. If you see a sharp increase in wasps in or around your home, chances are good there’s a nest somewhere nearby. Wasps will travel to and...

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