Standley Pest Control

Their territory can be bigger than your yard

TERMITE TUESDAY: THEIR TERRITORY CAN BE BIGGER THAN YOUR YARD.

Some Formosan subterranean termite colonies forage across more than an acre. That’s a surprising amount of territory for such small insects.

The takeaway for homeowners?

What you notice in one small area may be connected to activity beyond that single spot. Identifying the problem is an important first step in deciding how to address it.

If you’ve been meaning to ask about termite protection, give that question a place on this week’s to-do list.

Standley Pest Control is here to discuss your termite concerns and help you take the next step for your home.

www.standleypestocala.com

Fall cleanup means fewer hiding spots

That forgotten corner of the garage could be more appealing to rodents than you realize.

Stacks of stored items and undisturbed clutter can provide places to hide.

This fall, organize the garage so you can see around stored belongings, reduce unnecessary clutter, and remove piles of debris near your home.

Check for accessible food while you’re at it. Secure pet food, clean up spills, and make sure outdoor trash lids close properly.

Reducing shelter and food is an important part of prevention. Make a little room on your Monday to-do list for a home check, and contact Standley Pest Control if you notice signs of activity.

www.standleypestocala.com

FRIDAY FUN FACT: LOVEBUGS START OUT ON CLEANUP DUTY.

Before they become a windshield nuisance, lovebug larvae feed on decaying vegetation and help recycle nutrients.

Yes, those bugs you complain about at the car wash have a useful role in Florida’s environment.

Their early life is spent helping break down the plant material around them.

We can appreciate that contribution and still wish they’d avoid the front bumper. Sometimes learning one surprising detail changes how you look at an insect you’ve seen for years.

Was this lovebug fact new to you? Follow Standley Pest Control for more of the fascinating stories behind Florida’s familiar bugs.

www.standleypestocala.com

ASK CHRIS: “DOES THE TYPE OF TERMITE REALLY MATTER?”

Absolutely. Different types of termites can require very different treatment approaches. Identifying what’s present is an important first step.

A quick online search may give you something to compare, but it shouldn’t be the only basis for deciding what to do.

Similar-looking insects and unfamiliar signs can be confusing.

Take a clear photo of what you’ve found and note where you found it. You don’t need to have the answer before asking the question.

Seeing suspicious insects or signs of wood damage? Contact Standley Pest Control and let’s discuss your concerns.

www.standleypestocala.com

A tiny clue with six sides

TERMITE TUESDAY: A TINY CLUE WITH SIX SIDES.

Drywood termite droppings are tiny, six-sided pellets. Without magnification, a pile may resemble coarse sand.

That makes an unexplained collection of granules beneath wood easy to mistake for ordinary debris.

If you notice something unusual, pause before sweeping it away. Take a photo, note where it appeared, and ask for help identifying it.

A little curiosity can be useful when it comes to your home. You don’t need to know exactly what you’re looking at before reaching out.

Contact Standley Pest Control with your termite questions and let’s discuss what you’ve found.

www.standleypestocala.com

Rodents don’t always use the ground floor

When you check your home for rodent entry points, remember to look up.

Roof rats are excellent climbers, and overhanging branches can help them reach your roof.

Damaged soffits and attic vent screens may offer opportunities to move from the outdoors into sheltered spaces.

Add trimming limbs away from the roof and arranging repairs for damaged screens to your fall maintenance list.

A tidy yard is helpful, but prevention also includes the areas above eye level.

Hearing unexplained scratching overhead? Contact Standley Pest Control to discuss what you’ve noticed and the next step toward addressing it.

www.standleypestocala.com

You’ve wiped the counters, finished the floors, and finally sat down. Then an unwanted pest makes an appearance.

Finding something crawling through your home is frustrating, especially after you’ve spent part of your Saturday cleaning. You don’t have to figure out the next step alone.

Standley Pest Control offers pest control services for homeowners ready to get help with unwanted visitors.

Tell us what you’re seeing, where you’re finding it, and whether it’s happened before.

If you’ve been putting off asking for help, consider this your reminder.

Reach out and let’s talk about your pest concerns so they don’t keep taking up space on your to-do list.

www.standleypestocala.com

FRIDAY FUN FACT: FIRE ANTS CAN BECOME A LIFE RAFT.

During flooding, red imported fire ants can link their bodies together to form a floating raft, carrying colony members to safety.

That cluster on the water may be a living survival strategy.

It’s impressive teamwork, but it’s also a good reason to keep your distance from floating groups of ants.

Florida’s smallest residents have some remarkable adaptations, and this one certainly earns a place on the list of things you might not expect to see.

Did you know ants could do this? Follow Standley Pest Control for more pest facts and practical homeowner tips.

www.standleypestocala.com

ASK CHRIS: “IF I CATCH ONE RODENT, IS THE PROBLEM SOLVED?”

Catching one is useful, but it doesn’t tell you how it got inside or whether others are present.

Addressing a rodent problem also means checking entry points, removing accessible food, reducing hiding places, and watching for continued activity.

Otherwise, the same conditions that attracted the first visitor may still be there.

Think about what you’ve noticed: where the activity occurs, whether food packaging is damaged, and whether you’re still hearing noises. Those details help you explain the concern.

Contact Standley Pest Control with your rodent questions. Let’s look beyond the trap and talk about prevention, too.

www.standleypestocala.com