“Don’t go down there!” We’ve all screamed this at the TV at some point in our lives, as the horror movie protagonist inches down the stairs into the dark abyss of the basement against all common sense. Movies have trained us to be wary of basements through jump scares and night vision shots, but it’s not ghosts, slashers, or other monsters that you should be worried about—it’s real life basement pests!  

Don’t worry, you won’t need an exorcist to get rid of these common basement pests, just a qualified pest control expert. That’s where we come in, with Integrated Pest Management services that keep your Northeast Atlanta home safe from pests with smart strategies and responsible use of pesticides. Give us a call or head to our contact form to request service. 

Top 5 Fall Basement Pests

• Cockroaches – There are several species of cockroaches found in Northeast Atlanta, and they’re all likely to love your basement, especially if you have a lot of clutter, cardboard boxes, or recyclables stored there. 
• Silverfish – Much like cockroaches, there’s something about these wriggly insects that really gets to most people. That revulsion makes sense though, because these basement pests aren’t just gross, they can also do real damage to books, clothing, and other items. 
• Millipedes – While slightly less off-putting than roaches and silverfish, you won’t be too pleased to come across these long, many-legged invaders in your basement either. Millipedes feed on decaying organic matter, and while they’re mostly just a nuisance, their presence can be a sign of larger pest control or home repair issues.
• Camel crickets – Crickets aren’t so bad, right? Well, if you’ve ever unsuspectingly come across a camel cricket in your basement, you might not agree! These pests aren’t really harmful, but they are pretty unpleasant to look at. In fact, due to their long legs, they may look like huge spiders at first glance. Camel crickets are actually a major food source for spiders, so if you have a camel cricket infestation, more spiders will likely be entering your home to take advantage of the bug buffet. 
• Rodents – As temperatures drop in the fall, rats and mice start looking for shelter, and basements are like 5 star hotels to these unwanted guests. 

Now that you’re aware of the “usual suspects,” here’s what you really need to know. 

How to Prevent Basement Pest Infestations

The common denominator among all of these basement pests is that they love the moisture and humidity your basement provides, as well as the food sources and shelter found there. In order to get rid of these pests or prevent them from moving in altogether, you need to remove those factors. 

• Seal any openings where pests or moisture could be entering.
• Reduce humidity with a dehumidifier. 
• Identify and fix any leaking pipes. 
• Seal any ductwork that could be leaking condensation. 
• Do not leave pet food or other food sources lying around. Anything that could be a food source should be placed in airtight containers, including bird seed, unwashed recyclables, etc.
• Call us for residential pest control in Northeast Atlanta. We know these pests and are happy to share our knowledge with you in addition to treating your home with pesticides. Sometimes all it takes is understanding these pests, where they enter and hide, and what they need to live in order to exterminate them and keep new pests from coming in and filing the void.

If you’ve lived in Georgia long, you’re probably aware of some of the most common or worrisome pests, from ticks and spiders to stink bugs and silverfish. But how much do you actually know about these species, and how to protect your home from them? Today we’re debunking some common pest control myths and sharing the facts you need to know straight from the pros at Progressive Pest Control. 

Pests are only found in dirty homes.

While keeping your home clean and tidy can certainly minimize the extent to which pests are attracted to your home, it’s really not as simple as that. Cockroaches, water bugs, spiders, beetles⁠—even mice and rats⁠—can slip through tiny openings that you may not even realize are there. No matter how clean your house is, it’s always going to be a source of water, heat, and shelter for pests. If you see an unwanted creature in your home, don’t beat yourself up; look for places where pests could be entering and get your caulk gun ready to seal up any gaps around pipes, weather stripping, etc. 

If you don’t see any pests, they’re not there. 

Sometimes it’s easy to tell that you have an infestation; you’ll see roaches or come across rodent droppings. However, it’s not always that easy to tell that pests have taken up residence in your home. For example, termites can silently wreak havoc on a home for years before you ever actually see a termite. The best way to protect your home is through regular pest control by a trained professional who knows where to look and what to look for. 

DIY pest control is just as good as professional pest control. 

Pest control requires a lot more than just a spray bottle of poison to be safe and effective. At Progressive Pest Control, we use Integrated Pest Management to provide our clients with the best pest control in Northeast Atlanta. Our registered operators are educated in the latest pest control techniques and best practices, so we can protect your home from both seen and unseen threats. Give us a call today to request a quote or service!

You’re lying in bed at night, about to fall asleep, when all of a sudden, you hear it: scuttling, scratching sounds from above. No, your house isn’t haunted and it’s probably not a burglar. The likeliest cause is more mundane, but no less unsettling – you have a pest infestation in the attic! 

At Progressive Pest Control, we help homeowners throughout Northeast metro Atlanta evict these unwanted guests with our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) services. Read on to learn about the most common attic pests in Northeast Atlanta. 

3 Georgia Pests That Might Be Hiding in Your Attic

• Rats – Seeing a rat scuttle across the attic isn’t just unsettling, it’s unsanitary! Rats can carry diseases and bring other pests like fleas into your home. If you suspect a rat infestation anywhere in your home or property, call us right away for rat extermination. 
• Bats – Bats can actually be a beneficial animal when it comes to pest control – as long as they’re outside of your home! If you think bats have roosted in your attic, it’s important to call a pest control company for professional bat remediation. That way the bats can be safely excluded from your attic and kept outside to feast on insects and reduce the mosquito population. 
• Squirrels – These furry creatures may seem cute, but having a squirrel infestation in the attic can be dangerous. Squirrels love to chew, and they’re not very discerning about what they gnaw on. It’s not uncommon for squirrels to chew on wiring, which is a major fire hazard, not to mention the hygiene issues that can arise from squirrels nesting in your insulation and using the bathroom all over your attic. 

No matter what may be lurking in your attic, Progressive Pest Control is here to help! Give us a call for pest control services in Braselton, Buford, Lawrenceville, Duluth, and elsewhere in North Atlanta.

Trees are the anchors of landscapes and a vital part of our environment, cleaning the air, providing shade, hosting native wildlife, and beautifying our towns. But unfortunately, they can be home to the most dreaded of pests: termites! Learn which trees attract termites and what you can do about it from the termite experts at Progressive Pest Control. 

The Types of Trees That Attract Termites

• No, the number 1 culprit in termite infestation isn’t a species of tree, it’s simply a dead tree. Dead trees, even just dead branches, are vulnerable to all sorts of pests, including termites. If you have dead trees on your property, remove them completely as soon as possible to prevent termites from infesting them, and possibly moving on to your home next. Even a stump left in your yard can attract termites. If a tree is salvageable, you may be able to remove the dead wood and save the tree, but you’ll need to keep an eye on it to make sure it’s not harboring pests. 
• Termites prefer trees with a low tolerance for damage, and unfortunately, fruit trees fit the bill. The beautiful peach trees that are so famously honored throughout Atlanta’s many “Peachtree” named streets, lanes, avenues, and other roadways are easily damaged by these pests, and treating the tree for termites can be tricky because you want to kill the termites without affecting the fruit if at all possible. 
• Another common category of termite-attracting trees is the palm family. Palm trees are a favorite termite target in which the termites can feed on the root of the tree for years before you notice any above-ground issues. If you’re seeing strange patches of mud or mounds around your palm tree, you may have a termite infestation on your hands. Remember how termites love dead trees? Well they love the leaves too, so be sure to clear the brown, dead leaves from your palm trees regularly to avoid attracting termites. 

If you suspect that you have termites on your property, just want to be proactive in protecting your home from termites, or need a Termite Clearance Letter, give Progressive Pest Control a call today at 770-791-0055. 

Ticks are a major concern for anyone who spends time outdoors, but there’s no reason to let these pests keep you from enjoying outdoor adventures with your furry friends this summer. Read on to learn how to protect pets from tick bites from the expert exterminators at Progressive Pest Control. 

Get your property treated for ticks. 

While spraying for ticks will not guarantee complete elimination, it’s a good way to reduce their numbers in areas of your property that you, your pets, and other family members frequent. Contact us to set up an inspection or treatment for your yard. 

Make your yard uninviting to ticks and other pests. 

At our Northeast Atlanta pest control company, we use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies to provide the best outcomes for our clients. This means that in addition to the use of pesticides when necessary, we also advise the use of non-chemical tactics to discourage ticks from inhabiting your yard, including: 

• Placing a 3-ft wide border of gravel or wood chips between lawns and wooded areas of your property. 
• Keeping your lawn tidy with frequent mowing and clearing tall grass and brush from around lawns and outdoor living spaces. 
• Removing leaf litter, plant debris, old furniture, and other detritus that can give ticks shelter. 

Use a tick preventative. 

There are many tick and flea preventatives for dogs and cats on the market today; ask your veterinarian which one they recommend for your pets. It’s especially important to apply a tick preventative to your dog if she accompanies you on hikes or walks through woods and tall grass. The same treatment may not be suitable for cats as they are more sensitive to certain chemicals, so ask your veterinarian before administering a tick preventative to your cat. 

Check for ticks. 

If you and your furry friend have been in a wooded or grassy area, it’s important to check yourself and your pet for ticks. According to the CDC, signs of tickborne illness may take 7-21 days to appear, so it’s important to check your pets for ticks daily after they’ve spent time outdoors. 

Don’t wait to protect your animals from tick bites! Give us a call to schedule your Northeast Atlanta pest control service and keep your home pest-free inside and out. 

Summer is here in Atlanta and along with blazing heat and stifling humidity, it’s also yellow jacket season! No, we’re not talking about Buzz, the Georgia Tech mascot – we’re talking about Vespula Maculifrons, aka the Eastern Yellow Jacket. 

What are yellow jackets? 

Yellow jackets are a type of wasp common to the Southeastern United States, typically building their nests in rodent burrows underground, or in available gaps on porches, in walls, or under the eaves of a structure. They’re very distinctive with their black and yellow coloring, which can take several different forms depending on whether the wasp is a worker or a queen. Unlike honey bees, a yellow jacket is able to sting multiple times, making them a hazard if they nest in a yard or building where people will be moving through “their” territory. 

Yellow jacket colonies can house thousands, usually only becoming large enough to notice around midsummer. You may discover them by agitating their nest with your lawnmower or getting chased off your porch, and if you’ve ever been stung by a yellow jacket, you know that they’re no joke. 

What to do about a yellow jacket infestation? 

Considering their numbers, territorial nature, and painful stings, you will probably need to eliminate yellow jacket nests found near your home, pool, or other outdoor areas. However, disturbing their nests in any way can be dangerous, so you should call a professional pest control company like Progressive Pest Control if you discover the colonies of any yellow jackets, hornets, or wasps in your yard or home. Request pest control service now through our website, or give us a call at 770-791-0055 for more information about our Northeast Atlanta pest control services. 

Ants at a picnic are annoying, but no surprise. However, ants in your kitchen? Now that’s a bit too far! If you’re noticing ant invaders in your home, you’re not alone. At Progressive Pest Control, we’ve been providing Northeast Atlanta pest control for years and we’ve got the knowledge you need to keep these unwanted guests outside where they belong. 

Why Ants Enter Your Home in the Summer

Ants hibernate in their nests during colder months, but when it’s warm outside, they are on the hunt for food and water, stockpiling and fattening up in preparation for their next period of dormancy. When really hot summer temperatures hit, you may be more likely to find ant intruders as they desperately seek water wherever they can find it – especially in your kitchen! From water in the sink to food splatters on the stove, it can all be an invitation to an ant infestation. 

How to Prevent Ant Infestations (Or Evict Existing Ones)

One of the best ways to keep ants out of your kitchen is to make sure that there are no food sources out in the open. Keep stovetops and counters clean of crumbs or food debris; make sure all food is in sealed, airtight containers; and don’t leave standing water in glasses or dishes. 

Next, you’ll want to block their entry if you can find it. Make sure windows close tightly, and add weatherstripping or patches to any doors, windows, or other openings that ants could be using as a way in. 

Of course, the next thing to do is call an exterminator! We offer residential pest control in Northeast Atlanta to help you maintain a relaxing, pest-free home. We guarantee a single interior treatment to control non-flying insects, rats, and mice for six months! It takes about 14 days for all of the products we use to reach their maximum efficacy, but if you see a live pest after 14 days we will return to service that area for free.

If you’d like to get a quote on pest control, fill out our online form and someone will be in touch with you soon.