Earwigs here, earwigs there...

...earwigs everywhere!

Perhaps because of rapidly improving summer weather and the desire of people here in the Walla Walla valley to spend time outdoors enjoying it, more people lately are encountering earwigs. We've all experienced the usual scenario when it comes to these - you move something on your deck or in your yard that has been sitting for a while, and suddenly earwigs are running everywhere!

Why are these earwigs here?!

Primarily, the reason you have a bunch of earwigs around your home and yard is moisture. Earwigs are mostly nocturnal creatures that seek out moist, shaded spots to spend the day - get them in the sun for very long and they dry up and die. Popular earwig hangouts include objects placed outside (coolers, planters, folded-up lawn furniture; just about anything), crack and crevice areas such as broken pavement slabs, the point where a lawn meets a patio or the foundation of your house, or in the cool, moisture-retaining environment found underneath leaf litter, mulch, decorative rock, etc.

What are these earwigs doing?

Earwigs are out there feeding on other insects, decaying plant and animal matter, and at times damaging living  plants in your landscape. One thing that they're definitely NOT doing is seeking out your ears - that's a popular myth that makes a somewhat scary looking insect more scary to people than it ought to be. Other than the occasional defensive pinch (which an earwig did to my foot last night while I was enjoying my backyard fire pit), earwigs are not going to seek out interactions with you very much, or at all.

How do I get rid of my earwigs?

Since moisture is key to an earwig's needs, eliminate sources of moisture in your home and around your yard. For the most part this will be an outdoor effort, as much of the earwig activity in your home is likely due to them accidentally wandering inside (however, be on the lookout for moisture in your home, which can be a sign of a structural problem that should be corrected). Remove leaf litter, grass clippings, etc. from the yard; move decorative rocks, paving stones, etc. away from the structure; store lawn furnishings in high and dry places when possible; clean and clear gutters and ensure that your downspouts are directing water away from your foundation, and so forth. Basically, whatever you can alter in and around your home to dry out the environment will help a great deal.

Chemical control is highly effective against earwigs, and in cases where an environment that favors earwigs cannot be altered - such as the point where your yard meets your foundation - it is necessary. A commonly available product that is effective against earwigs is Ortho's Home Defense:

This can be sprayed around the foundation of your home to provide some relief from earwigs. I say "some," however, because what this product lacks is the ability to deliver a high volume of spray deep into the places where earwigs find harborage (this is due to the relatively limited quantity of spray and the limitations of the application device it comes with, not the active ingredient). That's what I use my powered spraying equipment to do:

My equipment allows me to project the insecticides I use for this type of work deep into the places that earwigs hide, which not only kills the earwigs that are there at the time, but prevents other earwigs from moving into the space for a period of around four to six weeks.

The over-the-counter product I've mentioned here will help you to get a bit more of a handle on your earwigs, but if you would like a more thorough, penetrating knock-down of their numbers around your home and yard to get you ahead of the game, I can help. To treat directly around an average house in the Walla Walla valley area, I charge between $40-$45, plus tax when applicable (I work in both Washington and Oregon). While I'm at it I keep an eye out for other things I can treat for you, such as paper wasps, spiders, etc., which I generally throw in at no extra charge. If you like, I can also expand the treatment further out into your yard, which typically adds 50% to the total price for the job (the exact pricing depends on the size of the yard and the extent of the treated area, but the "average" house and yard around here would bring the total to somewhere around $60 before tax). If this sounds good to you, please email me or give me a call! I can typically respond very rapidly to this kind of work, often on the same day.

509-540-7946

paul@zpestcontrol.com

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

-- Motto of the U.S. Postal Service

Nothing in that motto about killing paper wasps!

For that, Z Pest delivers. 

Ants, Spiders, Mice, Weeds - Z Pest Control LLC, Walla Walla, WA

European Paper Wasps: The Battle for Your Backyard!

It is once again the time of the year when these unwelcome guests begin to make themselves known around your home or business:

This is the European Paper Wasp, an invasive species in these parts that really puts the "invasive" in the term.  Right now they're flying around all over the place, looking for suitable sites to build nests. Their preference is for eastern/southern exposed areas with nearby food (shrubs and trees that harbor aphids are a favorite), water (yours and your neighbor's sprinkler systems), and a nearby source of raw wood they can take strips from to make paper (got a wooden fence?). These things put together ping this wasp's instinctual radar, and you will find them calling your home their home year after year.

Before you completely tear down your home and reorganize it to make it less appealing to these wasps, try giving me a call! Well-timed and properly placed insecticide treatments can greatly reduce the presence of these pests in your yard, restoring it to its proper function: your enjoyment. I've been ruining the party for these wasps for years, and it's something that I enjoy doing. Give me a call at 509-540-7946 and ask me to come by for a free quote. You won't regret it, but the wasps will!

Here they come!

With the ice and snow seemingly behind us, it's getting closer to the time of the year where various creatures spring back into action! Already there are ants on the march, spiders on patrol, and soon various flying insect pests will make themselves known. This is also the point in the year where the retreating snow sometimes reveals that gophers, moles, and voles have been hard at work destroying your lawn under all of that white stuff.

That's all OK though, because this is also the time of the year that I start stirring again, too. I've been active all winter long (mainly ant and rodent stuff), but as the days slowly grow longer and the temperature outside gradually climbs back up toward nice, I start unpacking all of my gear to get it ready for the busy season.

If you're here after hearing about me for the first time on KTEL 1490, welcome! If you need my help with a pest issue, just let me know if you heard the radio ad and I'll knock 10% off of your first pest control service (cannot be combined with other offers).

Fall Spider Control

Why should you get your home treated for spiders in the Fall?

If you don't, you might have to share your bathroom with some new roommates:

As it gets colder out, some spiders will want to come indoors. Z Pest can help you prevent most of them from getting inside. With some simple treatments applied to the exterior and certain interior areas of your home, most spiders will not survive. Then you'll only have a cold toilet seat to worry about this Fall and Winter. Please call 509-540-7946 to schedule an appointment.

New gear!

A recent addition to the Z Pest tool kit:

With the addition of this spray skid to the Z Pest operation, nearly all types of insect pest treatments can be performed. If what's bugging you is up high, no problem! With this piece of equipment, I can treat it. If you need help with something that's just out of reach, but still too close for comfort, give me a call at 509-540-7946.

Paper Wasps

I got rid of several batches of these critters for a client recently:

These are European Paper Wasps, a flying insect with a particularly painful sting, but (thankfully) a fairly mild demeanor. Most of the time they'll leave you alone if you leave them alone, but left untreated on your house or in your yard, they can get out of hand quickly. As their numbers rise, so does the chance that you'll cross paths with one or several, and that's when the stingers come out! Fortunately, they're easy to get rid of and with regular follow-up treatments they can be kept away. If you need help with these, please call! 509-540-7946.

Let's get this party started!

Welcome to Z Pest Control LLC's web page! Things are just getting started around here, so check back often for changes, service updates (capability expansion), and special offers!

Please browse through the tabs above to get a better idea of what all I'll be up to, and if there's something you need help with, please give me a call: 509-540-7946.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to hear from you soon!