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House mouse vs field mouse vs Norway Rat First lets start out by identifying what type of mouse you have in your home. the two most common types of house mice in the Evansville area are house mice, and Field mice. House Mice: -Weighs 1/2 oz to 3/4 oz - adult body length is typically 2.5 to 4 inches - tail length is about the same as the body - fur is usually light brown to black, with a lighter underbelly Field Mice: - Weighs 1/4 oz to 1/2 oz - adult body length is typically 1.5 to 2.5 inches - tail length is about one inch - fur is usually light brown or gray, with a lighter underbelly Now lets discuss some of the major differences between the two. - Field mice are very destructive in they're path to finding food. they will chew through wood, plastic, and thin sheet metal. They often make holes in the foundation or wall of homes they enter. - Field mice usually stay close to their nests; which are commonly found in grassy areas, wood piles, and sometimes in garages. - House mice more commonly referred to as 'hantavirus carriers'. they do not cause damage to property but they are known for being a carrier of the hantavirus. house mice rarely live past 12 months which makes them less harmful than field mice. - House mice are great climbers and can often be found in the upper levels of a home. Norway Rat: - reaches a length of 10-12 inches including the tail - Weighs 1/2 to 2 lbs - have a blunt nose, small eyes, and relatively small ears The Norway Rat is the largest of the these rodents. They are typically reddish brown or black in color with a lighter underbelly. How do you know if you have a mouse in your home? Having a rodent in your home can be one of the most unsettling experiences. As soon as you know or suspect that you have a mouse, rat, or other rodent in your home, it is important to take action. Mice are known for their ability to squeeze into very small spaces, so they can be hard to spot. There are a few clues that you can look for, such as if you see droppings around your home. Mice droppings are about the size of a grain of rice and have a pointed end. You might also hear noises in your walls or ceilings, especially at night. Signs of mice in your home 1. mouse droppings 2. sounds of mice 3. chewed wires or insulation 4. holes in your walls or ceilings 5. mouse urine odor 6. Gnaw Marks 7. shredded paper 8. tiny holes in food products such as cereal grains 9. seeing a mouse or mouse nest What to do if you have a mouse in your house? If you notice any signs of mice in your home, it is important to take action immediately. The longer you wait, the more likely mice will cause extensive damage. The first step in getting rid of mice is to inspect the areas where they are most active. You can do this by using a flashlight at night or when it is dark or by looking for signs that they have been there (see above). Once you have identified the areas where mice are active, you can take steps eliminate the activity. This might include using classic wooden snap traps with peanut butter traps or poison bait. It is important to be very careful when using traps or poison bait, as they can be dangerous if not used correctly. Always read the instructions carefully and follow all safety precautions. If you are uncomfortable using traps or poison bait, you can call pest control professionals. If you choose this route, make sure to do thorough research before hiring a company to ensure they are reliable and experienced. Yikes Pest Control out of Southern Indiana, would be able to offer this type of service. For information check out our website, or give us a call or text at 812-604-7206. If you live near Posey County, Evansville, r any surrounding area check out our rates HERE. How to get rid of a mouse in your house? Unless you catch the issue early you most likely have more than just one mouse. If you suspect you have a mouse infestation you need to take action immediately to get rid of these unwelcome guests. So how do you get rid of a mice that have decided to make your house their home? You have to be very strategic in your approach. Here are some tips to get rid of mice: Inspect : The first step is to identify the areas where the mice are active. You can do this by using a flashlight at night or when it is dark or by looking for signs that they have been there (see above). Once you have identified the areas where the mice are active, you can take steps to eliminate the activity. 1. Traps : One of the best ways to get rid of mice is with traps. You can use mouse traps or more advanced live catch traps . When using a trap, it is important to use bait. Mice eat just about anything they love peanut butter, so that is a good choice. You can also try chocolate, cat food, or other types of food/ pet food. Just make sure to use a small amount of the food. If you put too much, the mouse might steal the food without setting off the trap. 2. Bait stations or bait traps : Another option is to use poison bait . This option has its benefits and drawbacks. It is very effective, but can be dangerous if pets or children ingest it. If this is th option you choose make sure to place the bait in a tamper-proof container and keep it out of reach of children and pets. 3. Glue Boards or glue traps: Another option for getting rid of mice is glue boards. This is the least effective way to eliminate activity, and the least humane way to get rid of the mice. 4. Call a professional : If you are uncomfortable using traps or poison bait you can call pest control professionals. If you choose this route, make sure to do thorough research before hiring a company to ensure they are reliable and experienced. Once again Yikes Pest Control out of Southern Indiana, would be able to offer this type of service if you think you have a house mouse or field mouse inside of your home. Remember, if you find mice nests, nesting material, or dead mice in your home you should remove mice immediately. Tips for keeping mice out of your house. If you do not currently have an issue or just want to make sure more mice do not enter you home there are several preventative steps you can do to ensure that the mice stay out. 1. Make sure that all food is properly stored in glass or metal containers with sealed lids . This includes not only pet food but also any canned foods you have in your kitchen pantry. You may have noticed that mice are drawn to certain types of foods, so it is important to store food safely from these pests. 2. Keep your home clean . It is important to spend time each day cleaning out your counters, stovetops, and drawers to make sure that there are no crumbs or food residue left behind by you or your family members. If you have pets make sure they are also part of the cleaning process as well by cleaning up any food/water bowls, and pet beds. 3. Eliminate entry points : Mice can enter your home through a number of different points. Check for cracks around doors, windows, vents etc., fill in the cracks with caulk or sealant, exclude mice by replacing weather stripping if needed. Make sure to check plumbing as well as they may attempt to use the pipes to gain entry into your house. 4. Exclude outside: You can also seal up some of the holes that mice use to get into your home by using wire mesh, hardware cloth, steel wool, or metal sheeting. By excluding mice from entering your home you can lower the chance of having a rodent infestation inside. 5. Bait Stations: Another good way to make sure you don't have mice in your home is by placing a rodent bait station on the exterior of your home. These stations can be fitted to contain either active bait or snap traps and can catch activity prior to them creating a mouse population inside. Deter mice from entering your home by keeping an eye out for any signs, keeping all pet food mice may enjoy in airtight containers, sealing entry points, checking out possible nesting areas, checking out your home's foundation for any signs of access points. keeping food sources away from foundation. If you want help to get rid of the entire population of mice, mice nests, rats, or any other rodents, give us a call or text for a free quote. Yikes Pest Control 812-604-7206 www.yikespest.com

Spiders are finding their way indoors more often these days, you can't escape them. They are everywhere, including Southern Indiana. Knowing which ones to look out for can be crucial. Dangerous Spiders in Indiana Below are what I consider to be the top 3 dangerous spiders in Indiana that you will find in Southern Indiana. 1) Black Widow Spiders - The Black Widow Spider is Found throughout most of the Southern United States, this spider is very easy to identify by its jet-black color, round abdomen and the red hourglass shape on its underside. This spider is very aggressive and female Black Widow spiders have been known to kill the male after mating. They are extremely venomous but unless you happen to be allergic or sensitive to their toxin it usually would not be deadly, though they can prove fatal if untreated by antivenom. This spider is commonly found in dark, secluded areas indoors and outdoors such as underneath rocks, garages and crawlspaces. Good news though, This spider can be very easily prevented from entering your home or business by sealing openings around the outside of the structure, and applying a residual pesticide to high risk areas. You can identify the Black widow Spider by its jet black color, round abdomen and the red hourglass shape on its underside. 2) Brown Recluse Spiders - AKA fiddle back spiders This spider is usually found throughout Southern Indiana and everywhere else in the Southern United States as well. They are a light to medium brown color with a violin shaped marking on the head region, as you can see in my picture here. This spider is not aggressive at all and prefers to run away and hide in dark corners or dark areas, but will bite if they feel threatened. Brown recluse bites venom can be extremely dangerous to people who are sensitive or allergic, but is normally treatable by medical professionals. These spiders commonly get into wall voids or any area where clutter is found. Due to their reclusive nature, some people do not realize they have them in their homes for years, but it is actually a pretty common spider here in southern Indiana. You can identify the Brown recluse spider by its light to medium brown color and it usually has a violin shaped marking on the head region and six eyes located in pairs. They get to about the size of a half dollar. 3) Yellow Sac Spiders- Typically found throughout the Eastern United States, this spider is a very pale yellow color. These spiders can be identified by a small black dot just underneath its abdomen and long legs that have several joints. This spider does not build webs to snare their prey, instead they stalk their victims and attack them in the open. These spiders normally do not bite humans unless you happen to be in direct contact with them or their webs. Please note that this spider's venom is very potent but is also treatable by medical professionals if bitten. It is usually recommended to seek out immediate medical attention if bitten. Yikes Pest Control can help you control each of these types of spiders in the Evansville area. If you suspect you have a brown recluse bite, or any other spider bites you should seek medical attention or go to the emergency room. Other Indiana Spiders Yellow Garden Spider- Typically found throughout Indiana, this spider is very easy to identify by its bright yellow color. This spider builds large circular webs that are strong enough for you to walk right into. Wolf Spiders- Typically found throughout Indiana, this spider is very easy to identify by its light brown color and ability to run swiftly. They are one of the few species that will eat their young once they hatch, which is very strange if you ask me. Cellar Spiders- Typically found throughout most of the Eastern United States, this is a very common type of spider located in homes. They are not harmful to humans unless you happen to be allergic to their venom, but they can bite if you get too close. Please note that this spider's venom is not strong enough to cause harm in most cases, but it is still recommend that you avoid contact with them. Jumping Spiders- Typically found throughout Indiana, depending on the species, they can get to be about 3/4 of an inch. They are very hairy and get these large eyes that look like they glow in the dark. These spiders can bite if disturbed, but it doesn't really hurt and shouldn't cause any issues unless you happen to be allergic. Orb Weavers- Typically found throughout the Eastern and Central United States, this spider is very easy to identify by its web. Their webs are sticky and usually very large arches that build their webs directly in front of doorways and windows. Please note that this kind of spider's bite can cause severe pain but it should not cause too many issues unless you happen to be allergic. Eastern Parson Spider- Typically found throughout Indiana, this spider is very easy to identify by its black and white coloring. They are generally not harmful to humans unless you happen to be allergic, but they can bite if you get too close or disturb them. Yikes Pest Control Above was a list of most spiders you will encounter here in Southern Indiana, or at least the most dangerous ones found in Indiana. If you would like help identifying the spider you have seen, or would like to have your home treated to help prevent or control these and many more pest issues: Give us a call or Text at 812-604-7206

Brown marmorated stink bugs. This is the time of year brown Marmorated stinkbugs try to enter your home. They are an invasive species which have been in the Evansville area for over a decade. In the fall and early spring you will notice swarms on the outside of your house. Usually in late fall they will try to overwinter and trees. However, they may accidentally mistake cracks in the sill of your windows or doors for a nice place to overwinter. When this happens they will come out on warm winter days. They May come inside your house due to the warmer weather inside. However, They cannot complete their lifecycle indoors. This doesn't stop them from being a nuisance. To help control these pests Exclusion is your best option, along with a regular pest control service. Your pest control technician will treat eaves around windows and possible entry points with a liquid and a dust to help control them as they try to enter. However, this will not completely eliminate the problem. The treatment needs to be coupled with proper exclusion techniques. Early fall or late summer would be a good time for you to check your window sills, door sills, chimneys, and utilities to make sure that there are no possible entry points for them to overwinter inside of your house. Once they're in they lay eggs and There is no chemical treatment that can prevent these eggs from hatching. So the next spring or fall you will most likely see them again even if you are proactive at this point. Yikes, pest control has been dealing with Brown Marmorated Stinkbugs, since they opened their doors. Your Yikes pest control technician will identify possible entry points. And treat them to help prevent future activity. If you have any questions that you think Yikes Pest control can help with. For any issues. Please do not hesitate to give us a call at 812-604-7206. You can call or text anytime. Yikes Pest Control Evansville, Posey County, Newburgh 812-604-7206

Centipedes vs Millipedes There are may types of Centipedes and Millipedes located In southern Indiana in the Evansville/Newburgh area. This Blog is a attempt to go over the main differences. Remember, if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to reach out to Yikes Pest Control at 812-604-7206. Send us a text with a picture and we can help identify what pest you are having an issue with. Both Centipedes and millipedes are often confused with each other. The confusion comes from the fact that both centipedes and millipedes have many legs, but there are big differences between them. Centipedes are insects with only one pair of legs per body segment, while millipedes are not insects but myriapods (mil = thousand, pod = foot). Millipedes do not have a thousand legs, they have two pairs of legs for each body segment. They appear to have many more legs than centipedes because their body segments are shorter and do not appear to possess a pair of legs. A typical centipede has 15-23 pairs of legs and the body is flattened from side to side. Millipedes, on the other hand, have between 20 and 200 pairs of legs. They are rounder than centipedes and look like they have many more legs than they actually do. Millipedes are slow (short legs) and harmless, eating only decaying organic matter such as leaves and wood. Millipedes prefer moist environments. They are mostly nocturnal and some species secrete a fluid that may be toxic to predators. Some millipedes can exude a substance from their pores that smells bad or is poisonous to eat, but the great majority of them are not dangerous to humans in any way. Millipedes belong to the class Diplopoda, an ancient group of arthropods with a fossil record going back to about 400 million years ago. Centipedes on the other hand have flattened bodies with one pair of legs per body segment. They are carnivores and move quickly and aggressively, attacking and eating millipedes in addition to spiders, silverfish, insects, earthworms and even mice. Only centipedes can actually harm humans and due to their venomous bite they are considered one of the most hated insects in Japanese culture. A centipede bites when threatened, but prefers to run away from humans. Some species of centipedes secrete a strong odor from glands near the rear end. Humans usually get bitten at night because centipedes are nocturnal. The type of Centipede I most often deal with in the Evansville, Indiana area is the house centipede. This household pest is most often found in basements, crawlspaces, or cracks in pavement. However, if the population is large enough they can be found in living areas of your house. This centipede is usually about an inch and a half long and has legs that are longer than its body is wide. If you would like help identifying or protecting your home from millipedes or centipedes, please give Yikes Pest Control a call or text. We are located here in Southern Indiana. www.yikespest.com Call or Text 812-604-7206