FAQ’s and Pest Guide
Q. What are the top pest problems we face in the Coachella Valley?
A. The biggest problems we face currently are ants, termites, spiders, roaches, bee’s and rodents. We highly recommend perimeter treatments along with baiting around homes, entry points, and favorable outdoor areas. Together with interior treatments, this will control pests for a period of time; however, multiple treatments may be needed throughout the year for best results. For a quote or additional questions, please send us an Email with your name, phone number, and your question or go to our “Ask The Pro” page and submit your question.
Q. Will the products you treat our homes with be environmentally conscious to both my family and our pets?
A. The various pesticides, baits, traps, and pest management strategies used by Rudy’s Termite & Pest Control, are the very latest in technology that the industry has to offer. Environmentally conscious products along with integrated pest management strategies are used to give our customers they very best in control with less use of product and more effective results.
Q. What if I am pregnant, have a new baby, or have a suppressed immune system?
A. Just as a precaution, we ask that you leave the premises for a minimum or 2 to 4 hours. We also recommend that anyone in the home with a breathing disorder or an elderly person be taken from the home for a few hours. Rudy’s recommends exterior service only for cases such as the previously mentioned. If interior service is required, we will recommend the application of baits and/or boric acid dust products.
Q. After my first visit, when will you come back?
A. Depends on your service plan, we will contact you prior to the next service date. Speak with your service technician about pre-set appointments.
Q. If I didn’t see any pests, can I skip a service?
A. Remember, just because you don’t see pests, does not necessarily mean there are none. For us to maintain control, we must perform regular maintenance services.
Q. If I see a pest problem after my regular service will you come back?
A. It is normal to see an increase in insect activity right after our service. However, Rudy’s will return at your request as many times as necessary to gain control of the pest problem to your satisfaction.
Q. I didn’t smell anything after our service technician left.
A. Rudy’s Termite & Pest Control is concerned about your environment. We always use low-odor products to minimize unpleasant odors for our customers.
Q. When you treat inside my cabinets, do I need to wash them when you are done?
A. No. If you plan to wash out your cabinets, do so before our treatment. Also, please remove all food and dishware and loose shelf paper at this time. Be sure all cabinets are dry before putting items back in your cabinets. Ask your service technician about proper procedures for these types of applications.
Q. What if it rains?
A. All materials used in our pest management programs are designed for all weather conditions, and some products need moisture to release insecticides. Most of the time, applying a pesticide product in the rain is no different than your sprinklers coming on 3 times a day. As a normal policy, if we have an appointment with you and it rains, unless we call you to cancel, expect us for the appointment.
Q. How soon can I water after your visit?
A. We use a water-based formulation. When the application is dry (usually 20-30 minutes), you can water without losing control of pests. However, heavy irrigation like heavy rain may minimize a pesticides long term effectiveness.
Q. How can I tell what kind of bug I have a problem with?
A. If you are unsure what kind of roach, spider, termite or other kind of bug you have, the best way to find out is to have it identified by one of our licensed pest control technicians.
Q. What is the best way to catch a specimen for identification?
A. Place it in a plastic bag to give to the technician for identification. You can also bring the insect into our office for fast, accurate identification or e-mail a photo.
Q. Why should I hire a professional pest control company rather than do the job myself?
A. Pest control company’s provide trained and qualified technicians that not only know what they are dealing with but understand the technical aspects of how to deal with the pest problem. In addition, pesticides sold by home improvement or garden centers can have a residual effect for as short as 30 minutes. Many of our products used for residential insect and rodent control last at least 60 days to keep working between treatments.
Q. Why don’t you come inside my home on every pest control visit?
A. 90 % of the insects inside your home come from outside your home. By treating the outside we are preventing them from entering your living space.
Termite FAQ’s
Q. What is the difference in Pest Control and Termite Control? Why doesn’t Pest Control include Termites?
A. Pest Control covers those pests that live above the ground in your home, while Termite Control covers termites that live under ground. The treatments are different types of treatments.
Q. How do I tell the difference in Flying Ants and Termite Swarmers?
A. Termites have straight antennae, a full cigar shaped body, and 2 pairs of equal length wings. Flying Ants have elbowed antennae, an hour glass shaped body, or pinched waste, and 2 pair of wings of unequal length.
Q. What do you look for when you inspect my home? What are the signs of an infestation?
A. With a termite inspection, we are looking for pin holes in sheetrock, mud tunnels, or visible termite damage. With a pest inspection, we are looking for dead insects, entry points, and conditions that would increase pest harborage.
Q. What is the difference in a Liquid Treatment and a Bait Treatment?
A. A Liquid Treatment requires a liquid termiticide application to the soil in critical areas creating a barrier between the ground and the house. A Bait Treatment requires placing monitoring stations around the house and placing bait in the stations only when termites are discovered in the stations.
Q. How often should my bait stations be checked? And how will I know they have been checked?
A. The stations should be checked on a quarterly or bi-annual basis. At the time of each visit you will receive a service ticket with all relevant information regarding the service.
Q. When the colony has been eliminated, will the stations be removed?
A. Once a colony has been eliminated, another one could invade your property. To keep your home protected, we will offer a continuous protection plan in which the stations remain in the ground and are monitored for future termite invasions.
