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Tag: exclusive pest control

Four Tips on How to Get Rid of Mosquitos

Posted on by john

Want to know how to get rid of mosquitos? We have you covered! Fresh air, sun-kissed skin, and waves crashing on the beach are just a few things that describe summertime in Charleston. Something people tend to forget when dreaming of long days outside with the family – mosquitos. Our warm, humid environment is the perfect climate for mosquitos to multiply. Read on and we’ll show you how to get rid of mosquitos this summer.

How to get rid of mosquitos

How to Get Rid of Mosquitos:

Tip #1: Check Your Yard for Standing Pools of Water

Mosquitos rely on standing water to lay their eggs and grow populations. Fortunately for mosquitos, standing water is commonplace in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. The perfect place for a mosquito to grow its population in your yard is by seeking out water. Check for containers or low-lying areas in your yard for standing water and be sure to dump or drain any that you find. This will help you get rid of mosquitos.

Tip #2: Keep Up With Your Yard’s Landscaping

Not only do mosquitos love standing water but they’re also drawn to dark, humid spots. If you’ve let your yard grow a little wild, you’re likely inviting mosquitos in to reproduce. A great way to prevent them from settling into your plants is to choose plants that repel mosquitos. Some great plants for this are marigolds, lemon bal, citronella, lavender, catnip, and fresh herbs.

Tip #3: Encourage Natural Mosquito Predators to Visit Your Yard

Mosquitos are a tasty snack for lots of common animal species. This natural mosquito-control can help decrease the population in your yard and bring more pleasant natural visitors. Did you know many species of birds and bats love to snack on mosquitos? Dragonflies are also common predators of mosquitos. Encourage these natural predators to stop by your yard by adding aquatic plants or a small pond with a fountain to keep water from stagnating.

Tip #4: Have Your Yard Treated for Mosquitos

Our team at Exclusive Pest Control are happy to inspect your yard and spray treatments to kill mosquitos at any stage of their lifecycles. You’ll be able to enjoy your outdoor space without worrying about having to put on bug spray every few hours. Ask our team about our summer mosquito prevention treatment packages today!

It’s Time to Live Mosquito-Free

Achieving a mosquito-free backyard shouldn’t be difficult or stressful. Now that you know how to get rid of mosquitos get to it! Contact us today if you need more information and want to schedule a consult.

Bed Bug Prevention and Treating in Winter

Posted on by john

While winter can provide a welcome respite from many pests, bedbugs, unfortunately, aren’t one of them. Although they can temporarily survive when the weather drops to below freezing, bed bugs tend to prefer the same temperature range as humans. Once they have established themselves in your home, they won’t be seasonally affected like other insects. Bedbugs can enter your home at any time of the year from outside, or be brought in on luggage, used furniture, and clothing. Read on for signs of a bed bug infestation, treatments, and preventative strategies. 

Signs of Bed Bugs

While bed bugs can be difficult to see with the naked eye, these pests leave several telltale signs when they have made a home in your sheets. Bed bugs feed on blood and come out at night to bite. Their bites aren’t poisonous, but they cause raised itchy red welts. The bites are most commonly found on ankles or any skin that is not covered by clothing.

If you’re not sure if bites are the result of bedbugs or other insects like mosquitoes, examine your bedding for bloodstains, an unpleasant musty odor, shed skins, eggs, or the bugs themselves. Bedbugs can also live on bed frames, in closets, carpets, and electrical outlets, so be sure to thoroughly check the entire room.

Bed Bug Treatments 

Once you’ve identified a bedbug infestation, you’ll need to take steps to kill the adult bugs and remove their eggs. It’s recommended that you call a professional pest control company as soon as you notice signs of bed bugs. In the meantime, there are steps you should take prior to the pest control company’s arrival.

First, wash all of your sheets, clothes, and bedding in hot water and dry on the hottest setting. Vacuum the bed, mattress, carpet, and surrounding areas. Clean up any clutter around your bed and in your closet, and do a few home repairs to fix peeling paint or cracks that bed bugs may be able to hide in. Once the professionals arrive, they will identify the source of the bedbugs and use safe chemicals to completely eliminate them. 

  • bed bug

Bed Bug Prevention 

As the old adage goes, prevention is the best cure. There are a few simple precautions you can take to help prevent these unwelcome guests. Carefully examine any secondhand chairs, beds, or sofas you’re considering bringing home for signs of bed bugs. To keep bed bugs from infesting a mattress, purchase a clear plastic cover for your mattress and box spring. Bed bugs are also repelled by certain scents like peppermint, lavender, and tea tree oil, so try spraying essential oils on or around your bed to naturally keep pests away.

If you’re careful when traveling, you should be able to prevent bugs from hitching a ride back with you. Upon returning from a trip where you may have been exposed to bugs, wash clothes in hot water and vacuum out your suitcase. 


Whether you need to treat an infestation in your home or you want to prevent one from happening, our experts at Exclusive Pest Control can help. Schedule a consultation today to keep your home bug-free this winter.

How to Prevent Ladybug Swarms

Posted on by john

Ladybugs seem to be harmless creatures but look out they can leave a mess in your home. The moment the temperature drops below 70 degrees, you’ll find southerners putting on cozy sweaters, lighting our favorite pumpkin candles, and sitting out on our  front porches sipping hot cocoa. Those crisp morning breezes inspire us to dig into our Halloween candy and rewatch all of our favorite scary movies, but they can also attract creepy crawlies like spiders, snakes, and… ladybugs? Read on to understand what causes ladybug swarms in the fall, what species are known for home invasions, potential damages, and helpful tips for keeping these bugs out of your house. 

What causes ladybug swarms?

While over 400 species of ladybugs live in the U.S., it’s the Asian Lady Beetle that causes so many problems for homeowners. As their name implies, these bugs are native to Asia and surrounding countries, including China, Korea, Russia, and Japan. They were purposefully introduced to the United States to control the aphid population, earning them a favorable reputation from gardeners. As winter falls, ladybugs will vanish from our yards to hibernate, but the Asian Lady Beetles instinctively gather in huge groups to brace themselves for the colder weather. After the first freeze hits, these small speckled bugs are looking for a warm place to cozy up together – and your house may be first on their list. 

How to identify Asian Lady Beetles:


Asian Lady Beetles can be distinguished from the more common American Ladybug by two distinctive features: color and pattern. American Ladybugs are dark red with black spots, and have two white circles on their pronotum, the appendage that connects the head to the body. Asian Lady Beetles, on the other hand, are yellow or orange with black spots, and have a white “W” shape on their pronotum. If you look closely, you’ll see that Asian Lady Beetles are the unwelcome guests in your home. 

Are swarms dangerous?

Ladybugs can’t bite humans and aren’t poisonous, so while they don’t pose a physical threat, they can be an inconvenience. The little bugs tend to gather on window sills, near doors, and along baseboards, and since the air inside dehydrates them, it’s not long before you have as many dead bugs as you do live ones. Ladybugs won’t damage structures by chewing away at wood, but they do release a small amount of yellow, foul-smelling liquid if they feel threatened. The telltale stains show up on walls, carpets, and furniture, and are accompanied by an unpleasant odor. 

Tips for preventing ladybug swarms:


To help prevent ladybugs from swarming, seal up cracks and crevices, keep windows closed, and vacuum up or otherwise remove any stray bugs you happen to see. Before it gets too cold outside, consider scheduling a home inspection. Home inspections identify where pests may be coming in and if there are any existing pest colonies in or around your house. After the home inspection is complete, your pest control service can develop targeted prevention or treatment strategies to keep your house bug-free. Don’t let ladybugs haunt your home this fall.

Contact us online or give us a call at (843) 461-5169 to book a home inspection with Exclusive Pest Control of Charleston, SC.

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