Pest Frequently Asked Questions

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Many types of crickets may cause damage to paper or fabrics when large numbers of them are present. Clothing stained with food or perspiration is especially subject to attack.

The house and field crickets usually feed on plants.

There are over 2300 species of termites worldwide and about 20 species are pests of structures. Subterranean termites are the most widespread and destructive.

Earwig is the common name given to insects characterized by thin, membrane-like wings folded underneath short leathery forewings. The abdomen extends well beyond the wings, and frequently, though not always, ends in a pair of forceps-like touch receptors.

There is no evidence that they transmit disease or otherwise harm humans or other animals.

They owe their name to the widespread superstition that they crawl into the ears of sleeping people and bore into their brains. Earwig is derived from the Anglo-Saxon term, earwicga, meaning ear creature. (They do not crawl into people's ears while they are sleeping.)

Earwigs feed on leaves, flowers, fruits and fungi as well as plants.

• Altering their habitat
• Eliminating excess moisture
• Limiting the exterior lighting
• Sealing cracks and crevices
• Use of chemical insecticides

HomeTeam Pest Defense is committed to providing you with the highest level of professional and responsible pest management services. The key to our customer service is a comprehensive regular treatment plan.

1. Inspecting your home's exterior to identify potential pest problems.
2. Removing cobwebs and wasps nests within reach.
3. Injecting the Taexx system, if applicable, or applying pest control applications.
4. Treating entry points such as doors, eaves and windows.
5. Applying pest control materials around the perimeter of your home.
6. Detailed service reports and preventive tips.

We want you to be entirely satisfied. If you have any problems with pests in between scheduled visits, we will come back to retreat for pests.

When HomeTeam Pest Defense services your home, the technician will inject distribution lines inside the walls with pest control materials limiting contact with your family and pets.

It's effective because the pest control materials target pests where they hide, live and breed - inside the walls. And, it's convenient. After the initial visit, we'll service your system from the exterior locked and patented service ports. You don't have to be home for service.

HomeTeam provides several ways to pay. We accept major credit cards and checks. Plus, we can set up auto-pay for you so you don't have to even think about it. Just ask your branch for an ACH form and we can automatically deduct payment from your bank account or charge your credit card. You choose.

Yes, you can make payments online, just Click here. You will be asked for your account number, email address that is on file with HomeTeam and phone number on file.

We also have several other payment options available. We accept most major credit cards. Plus, we can set up auto-pay for you so you don't even have to think about it. You choose.

We believe in customer service! Our friendly, qualified technicians will provide our 6-Point Advantage Service when we come out to your home. Our affordable treatments are effective so you don't have to worry about pests invading your home and it makes sense to have a comfortable, pest-free environment!

HomeTeam Pest Defense installs the Taexx built-in pest control system during a home's construction. Ask your builder if they offer Taexx as a standard feature. Not all do.

For homes that are already constructed, HomeTeam Pest Defense can still offer you our pest control service with our 6-Point Advantage Service.

QualityPro certification from the National Pest Management Association means that HomeTeam Pest Defense meets certain standards.

• Practicing responsible pest control and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Providing detailed service agreements and treatment reports
• Employing trained and uniformed technicians
• Checking employee references, driving records and criminal backgrounds
• Maintaining a drug-free workplace
• Maintaining liability insurance of $1 million

Upon signing an annual service agreement, you can choose to prepay and save 5% off your scheduled treatments.

We will schedule an appointment convenient to you.

Our technician will start with an inspection of your home to identify potential problem areas. The initial visit includes thorough interior and exterior treatments. Thereafter, scheduled visits are exterior only, unless otherwise requested.

Yes. The Florida Green Building Coalition (3 points), as well as numerous other "Green" programs, provides "Green Points" for including integrated pest management practices, specifically, precision targeting of pesticides to areas not contacted by or accessible to the occupants.

Typically, damaged lines are found and repaired prior to closing up the walls. In the rare instance of a cut line enclosed in a wall, HomeTeam Pest Defense technicians can detect a damaged line during treatment and mark the line at the port box to prevent further treatments of that single line.

The Taexx system typically has 10-15 zones and will cover adequate pest control even if a zone is disabled.

The pest control materials applied through the Taexx system are registered by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Tempo® SC Ultra, manufactured by Bayer Environmental Sciences, is currently being used by HomeTeam Pest Defense technicians when servicing the Taexx system. (Product label and material data safety sheets are available upon request.)

No. Independent research by University of Georgia determined that there was no apparent clogging of the apertures (holes), and none of the apertures malfunctioned during the simulated twenty-year test.

The Taexx system, treatment equipment, and application techniques have been designed to work together to ensure clog-free lines for the life of the system.

The patented Taexx port box is tamper resistant with a locking mechanism requiring a proprietary key that is not commercially available.

No. Independent research conducted by the University of Florida concluded that, "There is more water weight from condensation after a hot shower" than results from servicing a Taexx system in a home.

Independent research conducted by Dr. Richard Lipsey, a University of North Florida toxicologist, has determined that there is no detectable level of pest control materials in the living areas of the home following the servicing of a Taexx system.

Termites thrive on cellulose material. Earth to wood contact provides them with food, moisture, shelter AND a direct way into your home. Wood debris should be removed. Old stumps, form boards and scrap lumber are very conducive to termites. Moisture is one of the most important factors in where termites occur around structures. Poor ventilation in crawlspaces can increase the humidity under a structure making it more susceptible to termite infestations.

• Leaking faucet or pipes
• Grade slope toward the structure
• Clogged gutters or down spouts
• Firewood stacked against or near structure
• Lawn sprinklers spraying water on structure
• Earth to wood contact
• Construction form boards against foundation
• Exterior siding below grade
• Wood deck or fence attached to the structure
• Excessive mulch against structure

1. Termites have straight bead-like antennae. Ants have elbowed antennae.
2. Termites have a broad waist while an ant's waist is constricted.
3. The wings of termites are equal in size. An ant has larger front wings than its hind wings.

Yes, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, cockroaches can trigger allergies and asthma. Cockroach allergen is believed to derive from saliva, feces and body parts of roaches.

The first step is to rid your home of these pests. Since they resist many types of control methods, it is best to call in pest control experts.

To help keep spiders from entering your home, be sure to regularly remove spider webs, seal cracks and crevices, eliminate harborage areas and improve ventilation in attics and crawlspaces.

Approximately 3,500.

1. Eliminating the food source.
2. Trimming bushes and hedges that are near or touching your house in the affected area.
3. Caulking or closing potential entry points.
4. Chemically treating with the appropriate insecticides either on your own or using a pest control professional.

Ants

We are located in many states across the United States, but not in every state. There are several ways to find a branch office near you. Type in your zip code and a location with contact information will appear if we service that area. Call or email the branch to schedule a service or ask questions. You can also find our locations on the contact us page of our website. Call or email the branch office in the city. The second way is to call our toll free number, 1-877-461-PEST(7378), to find the nearest branch serving your area.

• Store firewood and other lumber away from the house and off the ground.
• Dispose of garbage in closed containers -Eliminate standing water in your yard.
• Repair drips and leaks in plumbing as quickly as possible.
• Regularly check for, and block pest access points, such as holes in screens, gaps around windows and thresholds, and cracks in siding or brick veneer.

Each region of the country is supported by Builder Sales Representatives who can answer all your questions. You can email HomeTeam Pest Defense from the contact page or call 1-877-461-PEST (7378) to get your representative contact information.

On average, it takes about 45 minutes for a borate pretreatment. It will not impede your cycle time.

Exterior finishes, foundation design and insulation type effect which walls Taexx is installed. Taexx is designed to meet the specific needs of each builder. The Taexx system will be installed in designated exterior or interior walls or combination of both.

None. It only takes one to two hours to install a typical home so it will not impede your building cycle. We'll work around your schedule.

No. It is not a deterrent for termites. However, we offer other products and services that will guard against termites including our termite baiting system and termite pretreatments of wood and soil.