Pinecrest, Florida Pest Control: How to Choose an Exterminator

Choosing an exterminator can be a daunting process to many consumers. Your pest control expert is trusted to enter your home and scour every last crack and crevice looking for bugs, rodents, and other pests. Further, since pests like roaches, rats, and bedbugs can lead to serious health problems it is a very important task you are entrusting them with. Where to turn? Opting for a national pest control company such as Orkin or Terminix brings a strong brand identity, but all too often they are simply overbooked by the corporate office to the point where even the most well intentioned exterminator simply doesn't have the time to effectively deal with your problem. On the other hand, choosing a small, local exterminator may leave you wondering if they have the level of resources and know-how needed to deal with your pest problem.

In my experience the following criteria are an excellent jumping off point to find a great Miami exterminator.

Attention to detail: Before spraying one drop of insecticide your Pinecrest pest control expert should first examine your property, determine what pests are cohabitating with you, and how they are getting in. Many pest control professionals skip this important step and just start laying traps and such. While this leads to pricey service contracts, which are great for them, often something as simple as door-sweeps, replacement window screens, or even duct tape will seal entry points and fix your problem. A savvy, honest, pest control expert may be able to resolve your issue  with one call if this is the case.  This brings us to our second point...

Trust and professionalism: Your Miami pest control expert is entrusted with walking around your home, even looking under the bed and in the closets. This is why trust and professionalism are critical factors in choosing your local exterminator. Dwayne Palmer, founder of Palmer Pest Management made this point abundantly clear in saying, "Listen, I know I can kill the bugs and trap the pests. What I work to focus on is showcasing my expertise to my clients. Customer service is important. I make it mandatory for me and my team to be prompt, professional, and courteous. Those three factors make sure my clients get the high level of service they deserve. Treating my customers right is simply a better way to do business. One referral is more profitable than overly extending a dozen unneeded service contracts."  Very well said.

Passion: Again, I must defer to Mr. Palmer on this one. He mentions, "It's plain as day to me. I care about my customers and their properties. The faster and more effectively I can rid them of bugs and pests the happier they are and the better my business does. It's an amazing feeling to rid a home of something like bed bugs or mice. The kids can sleep, making them well rested for school and the parents are happy." This is a man who loves his job.

In short, I began writing this to help folks develop an objective checklist to help them choose a pest control expert. As I finish writing this, it is abundantly clear to me that for people needing a Pinecrest exterminator, there is one clear choice, Palmer Pest Management. They can be reached online at http://www.palmerpest.com or by calling (305) 370-4653.

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Palmer Pest Control is the Miami exterminator to choose. When choosing an exterminator in Miami make sure to ask yourself the following questions:

• Do they care about my job?
• Will they arrive on-time and in a professional manner?
• Do they have the resources and experience needed to fix my issue?

The technicians at Palmer Pest Management get a resounding yes to the above questions. For more about Palmer Pest Management see the below video, contact them online at http://www.palmerpest.com/quote.html, or call 305-370-4653

Miami Exterminator Notice: Bedbugs Biting in Dade

Bedbug Pest Control Calls on the Rise

The National Pest Management Association (http://www.pestworld.org) recently completed the largest ever survey on bedbug infestations in the United States. The facts are in, and, while bedbugs bite, the results sting. Bedbug related calls to exterminators have risen by 81% over the past decade, and up 57% over just the last five years. Bedbug infestations aren’t only relegated to the stereotypical budget motel chains and Skid Row. Far from it, the largest surge in calls comes from apartment and condo buildings as well as single family homes. Even schools and churches are feeling the bite.

The results are based on over 500 pest control businesses located nationwide. According to the survey:

• Infestations occurred in all regions of the U.S.
• Exterminators in Miami, FL and New York City both saw an increase greater than the national average.
• 1 in 5 of the companies treated bedbugs this year. This is up from just 1 in 20 two years ago.

Bed bugs (cimex lectularius) are small reddish brown creatures with six legs. Unfed bedbugs are flat, while they become swollen and longer after feedings. Adult bedbugs are about 1/4 inch long, which makes them visible, but hard to see with the naked eye. Bed bugs are parasites which feed only on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. Excellent hitchhikers, bedbugs will hide in suitcases, boxes, and shoes until they encounter a food supply. Once in the home, they generally hide out in tight places such as behind baseboards, cracks in the paint, folded sheets, or inside of the box-spring. When night falls, they emerge looking for a blood meal. Typically a feeding takes about five to ten minutes, after which they move to a secluded area to digest for a week or two. At this time it is not thought that bed bugs actively transmit diseases, however their bites do become itchy, red welts.

Bed bug outbreaks represent terrible PR for hotels, much of which is unwarranted. Bedbugs are in fact not a sanitation issue. They are brought in by guests and have little to do with the cleanliness of the hotel itself. The current outbreak is credited to the fact that bedbugs are growing increasingly resistant to the chemicals typically used by pest control experts to treat them.

To reduce the chance that bedbugs enter your life, the following precautions may help:

• Vacuum suitcases after returning from vacation.
• Take a quick visual inspection before sleeping in an unfamiliar bed. Look for the bugs themselves or for small blood spots on the sheets or mattress.
• Never bring second-hand furniture into the home without a thorough visual inspection and cleaning if needed.

If you are currently experiencing a bedbug outbreak in your home or business it is suggested you contact a pest control professional right away. South Florida customers should contact Palmer Pest Management, the Miami Exterminator with experience treating bed bugs. Call (305) 370-4653 today.

Top 5 Miami Pest Control Nightmares

5. Ant Invasion!

Ants are the pest we are all most familiar with. Generally they are outdoor insects who do important agricultural work including aerating and fertilizing the soil. However, an ant outbreak in the home can be a real pain. Ants can contaminate food and negatively impact your quality of life. In the garden certain species of ants will destroy your vegetation. Some ants in Miami, such as harvester ants have a nasty sting which can cause allergic reactions in those people sensitive to their venom. Fire ants, which nest in mounds of up to 2 feet in diameter, are omnivores which eat meat as well as vegetation. 

4. Bed Bugs

Bed bugs used to be generally limited to flophouses, campsites, Skid Row, and Navy submarines. However as humans move into tighter living spaces such as Miami condos and apartments more ordinary people are coming into contact with them. Bed bugs are parasitic, blood sucking insects which feast on sleeping mammals. They find their prey by sensing the carbon dioxide you exhale. Bed bugs give bites which lead to sleeplessness, swelling,, and perhaps severe allergic reactions. Untreated, 1,000s of bed bugs can occupy a single room.

3. Palmetto Bug

The palmetto bug, also known as the American cockroach or water-bug, is a familiar sight to anyone who has spent time in Miami-Dade. Generally harmless, they do have the ability to bite but rarely do so. They are a major nuisance due to their large size and ability to fly. You will know when palmetto bugs have entered your home and will have a tough time sleeping until they are gone. Even though they are rather large, they have no problem squeezing into the smallest openings of cracks and cupboards. Palmetto bugs are mainly just a nuisance, but if the outbreak is left untreated they will begin to contaminate food.

2. The Mighty Alligator

As far as pests, the Florida Gator is in a class of its own. These throwbacks to the dinosaur age generally tip the scales at around 800 pounds. The largest alligator ever recorded in Florida was 17 feet and 5 inches long. Sedentary animals, alligators present little risk if left to their own devices. However, folks with children or pets that live near water should be careful and keep a watchful eye out. Once a gator is encroaching on your property you should immediately contact a Miami pest control professional. Do not attempt to trap the alligator yourself because when threatened they can instantly turn into a truly dangerous animal. 

1. Released Exotic Pets

Released exotic pets present a unique challenge to Miami pest control experts. Some are dangerous, many are poisonous, and all don’t belong in South Florida. Throughout the 1980s and 90s Miami saw an influx of wild animals including large lizards, poisonous snakes, and even small exotic mammals. As these creatures mature it is made abundantly clear to the owners that these are not pets. At this point irresponsible owners release their "pets" into the wild. Due to the rich vegetation and warm and rainy climate of South Florida many thrive in the wild and have since firmly established populations of their own. This displaces native animals, upsets the eco-system, and throws the environment off-balance. The Everglades now has a significant population of poisonous snakes and large lizards where this simply wasn’t the case twenty years ago.

Do not keep exotic animals as pets. If you have one do not release it, contact a shelter instead. Most importantly, if confronted by a large lizard or snake do not attempt to trap it. You will only hurt the animal and yourself. Instead, contact a qualified South Florida pest control expert.

Are any of the above creatures bugging you?  Get a better night sleep by calling Palmer Pest Management to schedule a free consultation. Our experts will arrive promptly and resolve your pest problem.

Miami Bed Bugs Outbreak!!! Choose your Exterminator Wisely. 3 Tips to Choose Your Miami Pest Control Expert

Bedbugs are a small, nasty little parasitic insect which feeds of the blood of humans and their pets. They operate solely at night, like a minuscule ninja that feeds unnoticed until the host awakes in the morning with raised bumps or welts. Some can go over a year without feeding, which is why expert treatment is required. When selecting your Miami bed bug exterminator use the below list to qualify them.  

1.    Do they offer a free consultation?
As a vendor they should want your business and work hard to get it. A qualified and experienced Miami pest control expert will be happy to come on site and review your problem. Bed bugs are a unique pest, and there is no one-size-fits-all model to treat them. A trusted exterminator will not shoehorn you into a generic treatment plan, but rather work to resolve your issue and your concern, allowing your family to get the peaceful night’s sleep they deserve.

2.    Do they have experience? References?
Don’t be a test case. Your Miami pest control specialist should have the knowledge, expertise, and experience needed to treat your bed bug issue. A customer friendly exterminator should have ongoing clients who are happy to recommend them. Don’t be shy, ask to speak to their repeat customers.    

3.    Do they care?
This is the most important one. Choose a vendor that is genuinely concerned about your pest problem. Here I look for small and medium size businesses that want to see your issue resolved in a timely and professional matter. Often big vendors such as Orkin or Terminix simply don’t have the time to give the attention needed. 

I would encourage anyone in Miami with a bedbug or other insect/pest issue to contact Palmer Pest Management immediately. They can be reached at 305-370-4653. Tell them the bug blog sent you for 5% off your final invoice.

Billy the Exterminator: Arrested for Roach Infestation

First published by TMZ, it is reported that super exterminator Ricky Lee Bretherton, better known as "Billy the Exterminator" was busted for felony drug possession this weekend in his native Louisiana. According to a statement by the Leesville PD after a routine traffic stop they located a "quantity of suspected marijuana as well as a container that had more suspected marijuana as well as drug paraphernalia." Bond was set at $4,198 and the A&E star was released on his own recognizance. It seems all the roaches went to his head.

While bugs in Lousiana may be getting the day off thanks to the absence of Billy, rest assured that your local Miami pest control experts are on the job. Dwayne Palmer, local Miami exterminator, mentioned "being in the middle of Spring and with warm weather approaching we are seeing an increase in our call volume. It's still not too late for preventative action. Cutting off the problem before a full blown infestation is the most effective, and affordable, method of dealing with pests." He went on to give an informative run-down of the types of pests we have here in Miami-Dade and how to prevent them from infesting your home. Subscribe here for updates on how you can protect your home against pests, vermin, and bugs.

For your Miami Pest Control needs contact:
Palmer Pest Management
19813 SW 118 Ave.
Miami, FL 33177
phn: (305) 370-4653
fax: (305) 254-9988
email: info@palmerpest.com
They handle all insects including roaches, flies, ants, bees, bedbugs, fleas and ticks, as well as small pests.