r/pestcontrol

Should I unplug the fridge before using raid fogger

Should I unplug the fridge before using raid fogger

I saw instructions to unplug the refrigerator. If the fridge needs to be unplugged, is it more efficient to turn off all breakers?

*I live in an apartment on ground floor and am considering using Raid Deep Reach fogger

u/sofarepodi — 1 hour ago

Been invaded by these little bastards the past couple of days, are they house flies?

I've been invaded by these things the past couple of days my mistake I had some mouldy veg I didn't see underneath my worktop, the first day there weren't too many but they were hanging around windows like crazy. Then the next day there were about 30 and the same today, they've isolated themselves to my hallway mostly and a few in the kitchen.

I've got a zapper now and getting a fly bomb delivered in the next couple of days, did a pretty thorough clean yesterday gonna go over my kitchen again and put salt in the linings of my carpet in case of maggots trying to get out and near cracks in my kitchen and see if I've got DE earth still around.

Are they definitely house flies? I think it's the wrong time of year for cluster flies. These little bastards are doing my head in and I just want them all annihilated.

Edit I'm from the U.K

u/Sniffer_Of_Panties — 1 hour ago

Thoughts on whether this is mouse or cockroach droppings?

Question in the title, is this mouse or cockroach droppings? Penny for size there.

u/IndependentElk1429 — 2 hours ago

Please advise re: sewer flies in my office

I have these flies (not my photo) in my office, which was recently renovated. It’s not just my unit because my colleagues have also seen them. They seem to be concentrated at my end, which is nowhere near a drain or bathroom, and I’ve never seen any in the kitchen.

The trash gets taken out every day and a lot of people work from home, so there’s just not a whole lot here. The building was renovated last year, so this is the first spring/summer that we’ve had them, and I just started seeing them around when the AC might have switched on, so I’ve suspected they could be from the HVAC (either the building vents or the wall units in some of the offices) but building maintenance has been by a few times and they say there’s no condensation, it just drains. Maintenance is blaming it on office plants, which I really really doubt - I have never known this type of fly to breed in plants. Can anyone advise??

u/contrasupra — 5 hours ago

Best way to kill wasps if I can’t get to the actual nest?

I have a deck that’s about a foot off the ground so there’s practically no access under it. I have two steps from the deck to the patio. Every time we step on the steps at least four or five wasps (or hornets?) come flying out of the gaps between the wood so I assume they have a nest under there. What’s the best way to get rid of them? I can’t get under the deck to spray their actual nest with wasp killer.

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u/Delco24 — 4 hours ago

Flies by the back door

How can I get rid of flies by my back door? I have a ton of them there. Every time I open the door they get inside. And it happens often bc I have a dog who I let outside to use potty.

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u/Grand-Ad8577 — 4 hours ago

Probably a dumb question

I currently have some exterior walls exposed to the studs for a remodel.

Would it be recommended to add any kind of deterrent or pesticide to the studs/ wall cavity before I insulate and drywall?

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u/Birdman-esq — 6 hours ago

ID Request and Next Steps - Middle Georgia

Hi all

I’m from the UK and have recently moved to central Georgia temporarily with work. I’ve never really had to deal with cockroaches before, so I’m not sure whether this is a “welcome to Georgia” moment or something I should be worried about.

Last night I noticed a reddish-brown cockroach (photos attached) coming out of the overflow opening on my bathroom sink.

We moved in just under 2 weeks ago. So far I’ve only ever seen this one, and only in this bathroom. I haven’t seen any in the kitchen or anywhere else in the house. There is no other evidence of cockroaches.

I poured toilet bowl cleaner followed by very hot (~90C/195F) water down the overflow because I thought it might flush it out, but I’m at a bit of a loss as to whether this is concerning and/or what to do.

u/MoistSnack4781 — 12 hours ago

A little embarrassing, but I'm a bit scared to go in the loft because the last two times I've poked my head up there, theres been a massive spider waiting for me. Any words of encouragement? December and April this monster has been there, both in the same spot. I've had to ask a mate to go up there

December and April this monster has been there, both in the same spot. I've had to ask a mate to go up there for Xmas decorations and for the other time and it's scuttled away only to come back.

However, I don't have any fall back other than to go up there myself. Last time he went up (a month ago, when I didn't even bother looking) it wasn't there and he moved a lot of boxes. I have just poked my head up and I couldn't see it, but absolutely soaked the area around the hatch with concentrated peppermint oil.

My plan is to go up in a couple of hours, but would really like some words of encouragement from your experiences and if I'm likely to run into the beast again. I want to convince myself it died from the recent heat waves, but I'm not sure.

Thanks!

(An embarrassed arachnophobia sufferer)

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u/platinumZ55 — 11 hours ago

Which kind?

I wasn’t sure what this was at first but another sub identified this as a roach. But I don’t know which kind. Lived in my house for 6 years and have only dealt with wood roaches just a handful of times however I have not seen any nymphs. So my question is which kind of roach is this? Also found it crawling on my bathroom sink countertop.

u/Plenty-Lifeguard5308 — 17 hours ago
▲ 4 r/pestcontrol+1 crossposts

Should I be worried?

Just moved into my apartment. I've seen three of these bugs today, each in different places: 1. On the tile counter in the kitchen; 2. On the vinyl floor of the bathroom; 3. On a painted wood shelf. I thought maybe drugstore beetle but these don't seem to fly though I think they do have wings. Didn't notice them the first two days at all. There's also a small ant issue...I just want peace. Help.

u/bIIonded — 16 hours ago

i’m horrified please help

okay so i’ve been slightly paranoid since 5am

saturday night i went to bed and was woken up at 5am to a big crawling on my arm to which my instincts while asleep apparently grabbed and killed it woke up pretty much at the same time as killing it (it felt like a dream) but the bug by this point was completely obliterated and no point of trying to take a pic to get identification. i then googled “bugs with ribbed thorax” to which google gives me bedbugs or roaches. i then slept on my couch downstairs because no chance in hell was i gonna be able to go back to sleep in my bed. this morning i realized i should search the size of bedbugs to then decide (from google) it was not in fact a bedbug as it was definitely larger. now im scared i have roaches and my roommate stripped my bed while i was at work to get the sheets washed. i come home today thinking well perhaps roaches (which isnt any better but at least they dont aim to bite i guess) and i find this guy on the floor of my bedroom

so anyways please please please tell me i dont have roaches and this is just a random beetle because we live in a 100 yr old farm house

also advice on how to fight any infestation if needed would be greatly appreciated also sorry about the shitty pics i was too scared to pick it up

u/ThrowRA2444666 — 23 hours ago
▲ 12 r/pestcontrol+1 crossposts

What are these things in the kitchen?

Moved into a new place last week and saw these. Cleaned them up and also sent a picture to the landlord and they said they notice some sometimes too cause we live right by a forest.

They are on the side my toaster is on and I’m so paranoid at times I tend to clean that region like once a day. What are these? Should I extremely worried and looking to move out? I cleaned all cupboards and stuff and even the counters themselves multiple times.

u/Nsxd9 — 1 day ago

the gnat trap in living room is attracting gnats while the trap in the bathroom is completely empty despite that being where we see the most gnats

1st and second picture is the bathroom trap while the third is the living room trap. there are gnats in the bathroom and it's terrible, i have ocd and it's a nightmare to brush my teeth or even use the bathroom. i shower because the water shields me but when im done i dry off as quickly as i can and leave. they hide in this small hole in the wall i think as i saw three emerge from there once and threw a splash of water into the hole like a genius (10 or so came out which is a personal nightmare). when i wash my face or brush my teeth they go towards my face. they stick to the walls as the bathroom has the worse condensation in the world (no vents, just a open window with a screen). they stick to my face wash bottle and die there. i am so worried they will die in my toothbrush cover i keep my toothbrush in my room.

i'm just confused as to why the trap in the bathroom isn't working even though that's where most of them are? and the traps work because there's one in the living room on top of the plants near the air conditioner (mil said she's seen them come from the window unit air conditioner when it runs) and it has been catching flies. traps have been there for 4 days not one fly is in the bathroom trap

u/legendofmaddy — 18 hours ago
▲ 3 r/pestcontrol+1 crossposts

Pregnancy as a technician

I have been working in pest control for a few years. I spoke to my manager before getting pregnant. I wanted to make sure I knew what it would look like at the company first. I was told my wage would stay the same and that I would probably be put in the office. I am getting my doctors note, but it sounds like they are saying it's not a reasonable accommodation once I get the note. I understand, but I also dont see how this is legal in CA. Is this typical? They don't do production value. The hourly already wasn't good, but I loved my co-workers. But to loose about a third of my hourly is insane. I also am stuck if I want to receive the fmla benefits and have to return after leave so they can't come after me for the benefits they pay while I am on leave. I also understand logically why the pay cut makes sence. I just want to know if it's normal. I have not signed anything to transfer positions or anything like that.

What is standard at other companies?

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u/Frequent-Fold2663 — 19 hours ago

Wood roach or pest?

Hi all!

Spotted these two guys in my house tonight (North Bay, Ontario). First one was found in the kitchen at the bottom of a case of beer. Took the cans out and it was chilling in the box. The second one was outside on the front step. Apologies for the poor quality on the first picture, but we took it hastily before squishing it. I suspect these are wood roaches (a female and male respectively), which I understand are not cause for alarm. However I would prefer to get some additional opinions. I searched the house and didn't find any other signs of an infestation such as roach carcasses or body parts, egg sack casings, droppings, etc. Thoughts?

u/Any_Marzipan_8478 — 22 hours ago