Today’s pesticides are safer than ever before but the Green Pest Control solution is another option that we’ve had great success with. These green services are excellent in the removal of fleas, roaches and spiders by working naturally and effectively.

If you’re interested in looking into this more natural pest control option please contact us and we’ll walk you through all your options!

Here at Ledford’s Termite and Pest Control, we want to give you a few pointers on how to avoid these holiday insects from making your cookies crumble!

1. Check the expiration date on all baking goods.
2. Store food in air-tight containers
3. Check your kitchen for any moisture sights such as a leaky pipe or clogged drain
4. Put a bay-leaf in your dry products like flour to repeal insects
5. Finally, make sure to clean the counter tops are clean of crumbs after cooking to prevent those pests from entering your house.

We want your family to have a wonderful and pest free holiday season! Here is a simple holiday cookie bar recipe that’s sure to please all your family and friends, courtesy for FoodNetwork.com! Season Eating’s everyone!

Ingredients

• 1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated chocolate chip, sugar or peanut butter cookies
• Ready-to-spread frosting
• Assorted sprinkles

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In 8- or 9-inch square pan, break up cookie dough. With floured fingers, press dough evenly in pan.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 45 minutes. If desired, frost or decorate using ready-to-spread frosting and sprinkles. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store tightly covered.

For a fun cookie tray, frost bars using a variety of prepared frostings and sprinkles.

When you welcome Ledford’s into your home we will apply a liquid dilution of Termidor along the foundation walls of your home. We might also treat active termite areas inside your home, depending on the extent of damage and infestation. You can expect complete control of termites in three months or less of us coming to treat your home.

Have any other questions about our work or Termidor? Please contact us and we’d love to help you out.

A factoid that we posted on our Facebook feed yesterday about Black Widow spider led to an interesting question by one of our followers.

Which spider, a Brown Recluse or a Black Widow has a worse bite?

If you google both you will get lots of incorrect facts and dramatic pictures of necrotic spider bites. Ewwww. The facts ARE:

• ALL spiders are poisonous. All of them. Some spiders, like a Granddaddy Long Legs, just have fangs that are so small that they can’t penetrate our skin. (which is a good thing since G-Daddy Long Legs is the most poisonous spider in the U.S.)
• Spider bites that get infected are the real problem. Every person’s body reacts differently to the poisons in a spider’s bite, just like with a bee sting or ant bite.
• Brown Recluse spiders are surprisingly uncommon in SC according to the Clemson Entomology Institute. “It is difficult for a physician to diagnose a brown recluse bite based simply on an examination of the wound,” said Clemson entomologist Ian Stocks. He worked with Ivar Frithsen of the Medical University of South Carolina and Richard Vetter of the University of California at Riverside to analyze spider bite diagnosis data collected from physicians in the state.

They found that, in many cases, if a patient did not remember getting an injury they assumed it was a spider bite. In fact, many times the wound was caused by bacteria called MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus), which has become a significant health problem in parts of South Carolina. Brown Spiders just get a bad rap.

1. to advance beyond proper, established, or usual limits; make gradual inroads: A dictatorship of the majority is encroaching
on the rights of the individual.

2. to trespass upon the property, domain, or rights of another, especially
stealthily or by gradual advances.

Roaches do encroach! Perhaps the word encroach is a dictionary tribute to the cockroach. The world may never know. However, what we do know about roaches, we can share with you.

Once there is a cockroach infestation, it can be very hard to get rid of them. Cockroaches multiply very quickly, and they also adapt quickly, too. If only we could train them to be in the military. We could call it the Roach Regiment. They would be immune to nuclear war and we would always win. Unless, of course, the Roach Regiment was battling Ledford’s Pest Control.  Then the roaches would lose.

Seriously though, it is important to contact a pest control agency (a.k.a. Ledford’s) quickly if you see them in your home or business. Those monsters don’t mess around. You want to get to them quickly before they take over.

There are over 4,000 different varieties of cockroaches, but only about 30 of them can comfortably live with humans. This number can be further reduced to include only four varieties; the main species that cause problems in homes and businesses in America.

The four main species are the American, German, Asian, and Oriental cockroaches. These vary in size from about 1/2″ (German), up to 2″ (American). In America, the species that is most common in homes would most likely be the German variety. When you call us, we will tell them auf wiedersehen and get them to sayanara out of your home or business stat!

Once cockroaches infest a home, they are rarely seen because they are nocturnal and can live up to a month with little or no food. They can also survive by eating book bindings, furniture, glue, soap, dead insects, shoe linings, and more. There’s a new student excuse: “My cockroach ate my homework. It also ate the bed I sleep on. I’m barefoot because they ate my shoes, and I didn’t finish my science project because they ate my glue. Can I get an A for effort?”

Why give them any excuse?

Ledford’s Pest Control is pleased to offer our customers the choice of going green. We use the most eco-friendly ways to remove insects and pests from your home or business. The products are all natural, non-toxic, allergy and environmentally friendly. Many of them contain borate as an active ingredient. Borates are mineral salts that are mined from the earth and have been used to control pests for at least 300 years. They are deadly to termites, ants, cockroaches, crickets and silverfish. Scientists believe the insects die when borates enter their digestive tracts after consuming bait. And while deadly to these insects, this green product poses no risk to people and pets.

The green alternative is great for anyone with concerns about the environment. Ourgreen pest control products and services will solve your infestation problems effectively, efficiently and of course all naturally.

If you have any questions about “Going Green” with Ledford’s Pest Control please contact us in Charleston at 843-766-8298 and Columbia at 803-754-3434.

Termites

- The total weight of all of the termites in the world is greater than the weight of all the humans in the world.
- Termites have been around since the time of the dinosaurs.
- Termites eat non-stop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Termites are social insects and raise their young as a group.
- Termites have wings that they shed once they find a good place to build a nest.

Formosan Termite

An invasive species called Formosan termite lives in 11 U-S states, including South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida.  Its nickname is the super-termite because of its destructive habits.

- Formosans live in huge underground colonies.  They also build mud nests inside of walls, and can live on boats.
- Formosan termite colonies can be up to 300 feet long and there can be tens of thousands of them in a single colony.
- Formosan termites eat wood and fabric made from plants.
To avoid an infestation, make sure water drains away from your house and keep damp wood away from your home.

“People love making fresh baked treats during the winter and the appearance of even a single pest could put a damper on that tradition,” says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for NPMA. “Taking some relatively simple steps and preventative measures against pantry pests can make all the difference in making sure families enjoy their holiday baking all season long.”

How can consumers prevent these unwanted guests from crashing their holiday cookie exchanges and baking marathons? The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) suggests the following tips:

- Immediately wipe up any crumbs or spills from countertops, tables, floors and shelves.
- Store food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly in sealed receptacles.
- Only purchase food in sealed packages that show no sign of damage.
- Add a bay leaf to canisters and packages of dry goods like flour, rice and other grains- their pungent scent repels many pantry pests.
- Install door sweeps on exterior doors and repair damaged screens.
- Check expiration dates on baking ingredients before use.
- Eliminate all moisture sites, including leaking pipes and clogged drains.

If you suspect a pest infestation in your home, contact a licensed pest professional to inspect, identify and treat the problem.

To keep unwelcome holiday pests from ruining your holiday cheer try following these simple tips:

- Inspect any living decorations such as a tree, garland or wreathe before you bring it indoors. Give it a good shake.
- Remove old cardboard boxes and old wrapping paper from your storage area.
- Store seasonal decorations in airtight containers and keep them in a dry environment. Make sure the lids are sealed to keep silverfish and other small pests from entering.
- Place items made of silk or wool into ziplock bags.

The holidays may also bring some pests into your pantry where they make themselves home in foods like flour, sugar, dried fruit and cereal. The most common pantry pests are ants, weevils, beetles and Indian meal moths.

- Keep cabinets, pantries and countertops clean and free of crumbs.
- All food should be stored in plastic or glass containers with sealed lids.
- Examine pantry items before using them. Throw out expired ingredients.
- If you have any items that haven’t been used during the past year throw them out.

If you do find pests, contact us and we will make sure that your holiday season is merry and bright!

Take the necessary precautions to keep these bugs at bay. A little effort goes a long
way. Start by installing tight-fitting sweeps or thresholds on door and windows.
Replace weather stripping and seal cracks and crevices inside and outside of the home.
Check holes that allow access to gas or electric lines, outdoor faucets, clothes dryer
vents and TV wires. You can use urethane expandable foam as a permanent sealant.

Inside the home, make sure your environment is clutter-free. Don’t keep cardboard
lying around, and be sure to store food in airtight containers and keep your lids shut
on garbage cans. It’s also a good idea to inspect houseplants for insects and disease
before brining them inside for the winter.

If you have a fireplace, store your firewood outdoors away from the house and off the
ground. Only bring in wood that you plan to immediately burn. Also cutting away any
tree limb, bush or shrub within 20 feet of your roof will help keep critters from finding a
point of entry.