Since many spiders are venomous, it's no wonder that arachnophobia is such a common fear. Thankfully, most spiders are harmless to humans, but because a handful of species are not, it is important to take spider bites seriously.

Have I been bitten?

If you wake up with localized redness or skin irritation, you may suspect that you have been bitten by a spider in your sleep. If the irritation is severe and accompanied by a burning sensation and swelling, you may have been targeted by Southern California’s most dangerous spider, the black widow.

Steps to Take Following a Bite

Most spider bites are harmless, and can be treated with over-the-counter pain medication. If you know or suspect that you have been bitten by a black widow or brown widow, however, you should seek professional medical attention immediately. If you are able to track down and capture the spider that bit you, bring it with you to the emergency care center. Once you have been treated, hire a pest control professional to inspect and treat your home and mitigate your spider problem.

Spiders to Watch Out For

Southern California has long been home to a thriving black widow population, and a less dangerous but still venomous relative of this spider has recently appeared in large numbers. Lighter in color than the black widow, the brown widow has long legs and the females can be recognized by the presence of a yellow hourglass on the abdomen.

If you would like to eliminate your property’s spider population and protect your home from future arachnid invasions, Payne Pest Management can help. To arrange to have a team of experienced pest control professionals visit your Orange County or Los Angeles County home or business, call (949) 450-9955!

Dry rot is a structural problem that homeowners should avoid at all costs. Left untreated, dry rot can create safety hazards and result in thousands of dollars worth of damage. If your Orange County home or business building falls victim to this unsightly problem, your local termite control professional will know exactly what to do to restore it to its original state. To learn more about dry rot and how Payne Pest Management can provide you with the dry rot solution you need, continue reading this article.

What is Dry Rot?

Dry rot spores are all around us, all the time, just waiting for the right conditions to present themselves. All these spores need to survive is water, air, and a food source (i.e. your home’s foundation). Signs of dry rot include brittle, chipped, or cracked wood. A closer look is likely to reveal mushroom-like growth or mycelium growth, which is white and fluffy in appearance. Dry rot reduces the integrity of the wood it attacks and creates an ideal atmosphere for the growth of mold and mildew, which can pose further concerns.

How is Dry Rot Alleviated?

The only way to effectively treat dry rot is to remove and replace damaged wood. Wood that has been exposed to dry rot but has not yet been damaged should be specially treated to protect it against future fry dry rot damage.

The Importance of Quality Wood Damage Repair

When infected wood is not treated properly, it is susceptible to additional dry rot damage. Because of its dampness, dry rot damaged wood is attractive to termites. A wood treatment professional with pest control experience can simultaneously repair your home’s wood and inspect it for termites.

Is your Orange County home or office building in need of wood damage repairs as a result of a recent dry rot affliction? To learn more about how Payne Pest Management can help, call (949) 450-9955. One of our termite control and wood repair specialists will be happy to come survey your home today!

Whole-house fumigation is the most effective way to ensure that every last termite on your property is taken care of. If you are curious to learn more about termite fumigation and how it will affect your Orange County home and family, this Q&A discussion may have the answers you are looking for.

How do I prepare my home for fumigation?

Your pest control professional will talk you through the site preparation process, but it is not as involved as you may think. You will have to leave your home, and you will need to take any pets you want to keep safe with you. However, the vast majority of goods in your home will be just fine left as they are.

What happens during pest control fumigation?

During fumigation, your home will be covered with a tent made of vinyl and nylon that is designed to keep the termiticide used from escaping. The heavy concentration of gas and prolonged exposure the termites on your property face ensures that the treatment will be lethal to all of them.

How long do I have to leave my home?

When Payne Pest Management fumigates a home for termites, homeowners typically have to leave for about three days.

Are there alternatives to fumigation?

Because drywood termites live in the wood on which they feed, it is very difficult to find and treat all of them with spot treatments. For this reason, fumigation is recommended to homeowners who wish to eradicate all termites from their property.

For how long will fumigation treatment be effective?

Fumigation will effectively annihilate the termite population currently on your property; but if long-term protection is what you are looking for, you should speak with your pest control professional about a warranty plan.

Is your Orange County or Los Angeles County home slowly being consumed by drywood termites? If so, a professionally administered fumigation treatment is your most efficient route to a termite free home. To learn more about the highly effective fumigation treatments offered by Payne Pest Management, call (949) 450-9955!

There are two termite groups that pose the most risk to Southern California property owners: drywood and subterranean. Of these, drywood termites are more difficult to detect and eliminate from a property.

To learn more about drywood termites and the steps you can take to protect your home or commercial building from their hungry wrath, check out this brief video clip. Whereas subterranean termites nest underground and travel up to ground level for feeding, drywood termites live and feed in roof rafters and building walls.

Are you a Southern California resident who is looking to have your home or business inspected and treated for drywood termites? Offering whole house fumigation, Payne Pest Management is here for you. To learn more about our termite control services and the benefits they can provide you with, call (949) 450-9955!

Have our recent blog posts left you with a desire to learn more about termites, spiders, ants, and mice? After you have explored the following resources, you will be better equipped to identify a pest control problem in your Orange County home. Once you do identify a critter problem, you will want to bring in the pros. To speak with a knowledgeable and experienced pest control professional in Van Nuys, call Payne Pest Management at (949) 450-9955!

• Read about the most recent arrival to the Southern California venomous arachnid scene in this Los Angeles Times article.
• Learn more about the science of dry rot in this HowStuffWorks.com guide.
• At FamilyEducation.com, you can read more about the signs that rodents have taken up residence in your home.
• This Minnesota Department of Agriculture resource is a good source of information about termite fumigation.
• Learn about the importance of hiring a professional to treat dry rot on your property at HousetoHomestead.com.
• Read more about controlling mice on your property in this New York State Department of Health guide.
• For more information on spider bite symptoms and treatment, read this SheKnows.com article.