Tuesday, June 24, 2025
From ants in the kitchen to squirrels in the attic, pests come in all forms, but keeping them out doesn’t have to be complicated. Associate Certified Entomologist Jim Skinner, President and CEO of A&C Pest Management, brings decades of experience to the table and shares his best advice for preventing infestations, working with your pest control professional and understanding what’s really going on behind the scenes.
How can homeowners and pest control professionals work as a team?
“It’s extremely important to give us access,” Skinner says. “Try to keep your plants high and tight, that’s very important.” Working together means preparing the home and sharing information.
“Give us access to the foundation so we can inspect and, if necessary, do preventative treatments to stop the insects from coming. We know they're out there. It's kind of like living in the woods and being surprised that you saw a deer. These insects are out there and they live with us in our environment.”
And inside the home, simple steps like moving furniture matter more than people think. “Try to move everything away from the walls so we can get access to it because where the wall and the floor meet is the area where most of the insects are going to be coming in from.”
What should homeowners do to prepare before a pest control visit?
Before a technician arrives, Skinner advises clients to tidy up specific areas and keep things simple.
“Put the food and food stuff away, give us access underneath all the sinks, the bathroom and the kitchen. Give us access to the foundation if it's unfinished. If it is finished, show us the little cubbies that we can get into.”
He also suggests not cooking during a visit and checking commonly missed areas like crawl spaces and vents. “Most people don't check the vents or their crawl spaces, if it has a vent and it also has a screen… that screen can dissolve, giving insects and rodents access into the structure.”
What are the most common pest issues and how can homeowners prevent them?
“Eighty percent of the insects come from the outside,” Skinner says. “So screens are always great.” Even small tears in screens or gaps around windows can let in pests, what professionals call “occasional invaders.”
Skinner emphasizes proactive outdoor maintenance. “Try to make sure your trees are not touching or too close. We want them six feet away from the structure. We want to keep the raccoons and squirrels off of your roof because they'll nest inside of your attic space.”
He also highlights the importance of checking unusual hiding places. “We have these camelback crickets, or what some people call sprickets… they're looking for areas that are cool with moisture.” A dehumidifier in your basement can do wonders for pest prevention!
What about mosquitoes? What can be done about them?
One of the most aggressive pests Skinner deals with is the Asian tiger mosquito. “We have the Asian tiger mosquito, which feeds during the daytime as opposed to another type, the culex pipiens, which is the Northern house mosquito. They feed at dusk and dawn.”
The best way to stop them is to remove standing water. “If you have kids toys or outside toys that collect water, empty them after it rains. Check for all the different places there might be standing water.”
He adds, “When we think about an Asian tiger mosquito, think about what the name is… They call it a bottle cap breeder because that bottle cap can fit tons and tons of mosquitoes.”
Even common items can pose a risk. “The other thing is don't overwater your plants. That little dish on the bottom, that's breeding the mosquitoes in there. Little things like a Frisbee that the kids were playing with last week and forgot to bring in. Gutters are a big one, particularly when you're dealing with northern house mosquitoes. So, make sure your gutters are pitched properly and flowing so that you don't have standing water in that area there.”
How often should pest control professionals visit?
Thanks to new technology, the frequency of treatments has changed. “Years ago, the rule was to come out every month because that's how long the product lasts. But now the products are much different.”
Skinner explains, “They have a microencapsulated product… they'll have one that's time released that goes off one that goes off a month later, another month later. So, it lasts a lot longer.”
That means most homes benefit from quarterly service. “So about once every four months, do a treatment preventatively, but you may need more than that if you're having a situation.”
What should homeowners do after a treatment to maintain results?
Staying alert and clean is key. “Just keep the property clear and keep your eye out. Be vigilant. If you see something, note it. Is it happening every day? Is it happening several times a day? Or is it just a one-off occasional invader?"
Even seemingly harmless invaders, like moths in the fall, could be traced to a root cause. “Sometimes in the fall, we get a lot of pictures of moths. Usually it's an outside moth. It's not going to do anything on the inside. It just got in by accident and it's going to disappear. And by the way, it's coming from that tree over there,” says Skinner.
Do you educate clients on what’s causing their issues?
Skinner is passionate about helping people understand what’s going on in and around their homes. “Education is everything.”
He warns against relying solely on online sources. “A lot of times, people will go to Dr. Google and look something up and be like, ‘that's the type of insect it is.’ Meanwhile, that insect doesn't even live on our continent.”
Instead, Skinner encourages homeowners to contact a professional. “Ask a professional, whether it's to shoot an email, send a text, make a phone call, there's so many means of communication that we could do.” He adds, “My staff loves to help people identify their mystery pest, and schedule appointments if treatment is necessary”.
Any final thoughts for homeowners wanting to stay pest-free naturally?
Skinner wraps it up simply: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We don't want to use a product unless we have to. We use Integrated Pest Management Technology to apply the pest control products where needed and as needed. Plus, preventative maintenance for pests typically uses less product than treating an active pest infestation”.
Even understanding bug behavior can help. “For example, mosquitoes actually feed on plants. That's where they get their nutrients. Only female mosquitoes feed on humans when they need protein for their eggs. So we treat those plants with products that will kill the mosquito but not harm the plants or people who come in contact with them.”
For more information on A&C Pest Management and how they can help you with your prevention and removal needs, visit https://acpest.com.
