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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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The very thought of a rat in your home likely makes you squirm. We don’t blame you— those nasty creatures are the last thing you want to see within your doors. One of the worst things about rats is how they can infiltrate and pretty much invade the home. They can easily enter the house, and once they begin reproducing, you can have an ugly infestation problem on your hands. In today’s post, we’re going to discuss how you can know, without a doubt, if you have any rats in your home. Droppings. We consider rodent droppings to be the...

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From mid-March to July, bee season is in full effect. During the summer months, bees are in search of nesting areas. They typically find them in structures, buildings, or objects where they can build hives. This can cause quite the scare if you ever find one in your home, so you’ll want to take some preventative measures to keep them from nesting. Look for holes in your porch and within your walls. Holes that are at least a quarter of an inch or larger are what bees use as entry points for the nests. Spray the holes with insecticide. Whether...

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Mosquitos are a nuisance. Most people don’t properly prepare for mosquito season— leaving the pesky insects to feast on their flesh. In today’s post, we’ll help you avoid the onslaught of mosquito attacks that are approaching in the coming months. 1. Eliminate Breeding Places It takes about 7-10 days for mosquito eggs to hatch. Standing water is the mosquito’s main breeding place, so you should look to get rid of any standing water from your home. Things like rainfall and melted snow can create puddles of water. Look for leaks in the home and check for different nooks and crannies...

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