Family Pest Control Service in Charlotte North Carolina
About Our Service:
Hello, my name is Adam. I am a co-owner of Bulwark Exterminating, LLC. My family and co-workers work hard to create the highest quality pest control service. We are excited about the opportunity to serve you.
Skyline of Charlotte, North Carolina (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Think with me for a minute. You are young, vibrant and have your entire life ahead of you. You want to leave your parents’ nest and experience the world on your own. You need a change. No, not a new tattoo or blue highlights in your hair. You want to do something big. You want to move cities and experience a different part of the country. Think of the possibilities.
Reasons You Should Consider Charlotte
There are literally thousands of places to live, so how do you decide? Let’s take a look at Charlotte, North Carolina. There are many reasons one might want to move to this city. Let’s explore some of them.
Charlotte was recently named in the top 10 fasted growing cities in the United States by CNN Money.
Charlotte is a thriving place for businesses – big and small. Among them are Wachovia and Bank of America. It’s a great place full of opportunities for professionals with established careers and those looking to get their careers started.
The cost of living in Charlotte is relatively low, including utilities that are cheaper than in many other parts of the country. In this economy, that’s a definite plus.
If you like sports, you will have your choice of pro sports teams to watch. Among others, Charlotte has an NFL team, an NBA team, a hockey team and also houses a NASCAR speedway. During all times of the year, you won’t have a hard time finding sporting events to go to.
Charlotte has great weather. Although Charlotte experiences the occasional hurricane, for the most part winters are mild and summers are warm.
Charlotte has a high level of humidity, which is great for your skin. Goodbye cracked lips and hello glowing cheeks!
The education system in Charlotte is strong. If you have children, education is most likely among your priorities when considering where to live. Charlotte’s graduation rates and test scores are both above national averages.
If you are an outdoors enthusiast, you will not find yourself bored. Charlotte is nestled between the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. You can find activities ranging from surfing and deep-sea fishing to hiking and mountain biking.
Choose Wisely
Deciding on a city to live in is not an easy decision. No city is perfect and there are pros and cons to wherever you decide to live. Charlotte has a lot to offer and is a top pick for many people. With its good weather, strong economy, fun outdoor activities and friendly atmosphere, Charlotte has many reasons to pull you in.
Obviously, there are other factors that play into your choice of where to live. Most likely, the location of your next home will be based on where you decide to work or go to school. However, if Charlotte is in the mix of possibilities, you should certainly give it some extra special consideration. If you are looking for work, a place to go to school, or even a place to retire, keep you eye on Charlotte, North Carolina.
By Jamie Bailey
Jamie has written for many years about a variety of topics. She currently writes for First Restoration DKI on topics ranging from storm damage to disaster restoration. She especially enjoys writing about home ownership and city living.
Whether it’s because of the temperate climate, great job growth, culture-rich history, or varied recreational activities, families are packing up fast and heading to North Carolina. Wondering what the top three areas to live in are? Fayetteville, Sanford, and Lake Norman NC real estate top the list. Read on for why one of these locales should be your next hometown.
1. Fayetteville
This medium-sized city of 200,000 may be best known for U.S. Army installation Fort Brag. In addition to Fort Bragg’s annual pumping of $4.5 billion into the region’s economy, the metropolitan area is full of job growth and career opportunity for those looking to either begin a family or relocate one. Fayetteville largely weathered the recession and its real estate market continues to see healthy growth, where other cities are still licking their wounds from the market crash. The city has some of the highest quality public education in the state, and its school system includes nine alternative and specialty schools. Additionally, the city includes portions of the East Coast Greenway, a set of urban trails and greenways soon connecting Maine to Key West.
2. Lake Norman Area
For those wanting more access to nature, the Lake Norman area is a great family location. Towering oaks and blossoming fruit trees line the streets, and the local Lake Norman State Park consistently ranks as one of the state’s most visited for its natural beauty and recreational activities. The Lake Norman NC real estate market is bounding with deals on waterfront homes and classic country abodes. This is front porch country, and the Lake Norman NC real estate market reflects that, with quaint southern style at a price families can afford. The area offers great public and private schools, and students interested in sports will be thrilled to learn how high local sports rank in city interests. All of the local television stations and newspapers actively cover high school sports on their prime time and front page new stories.
Located in the middle of the state and thirty minutes from major metro areas like Greensboro and the Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, Cary), Sandford is a mid-sized town with plenty of land and open space at affordable real estate rates. The Sanford real estate market includes a mix of desirable homes and architecture like rural farmhouses, historic southern style homes complete with verandas, modern condos and even gated communities. At a population of 30,000, this is a town where the mayor still waves at you and the store clerks know your name. The city school system recently added new schools, allowing for smaller class sizes and upgraded school facilities.
Carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) (Photo credit: Futureman1)
One of the most common and most destructive ant pests in the Charlotte, NC area is the Carpenter ant. In North Carolina, the Carpenter ant that is most frequently pestering homeowners is the Black Carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus). This species of Carpenter ant is also referred to as the Pennsylvania Carpenter ant. Whatever you want to call it, this ant species can be very destructive.
Carpenter Ants
One of the largest groupings of ant species is the Carpenter ant. They are most well known for their ability to tunnel through wood; and this is one of the primary reasons confuse Carpenter ants for termites. Carpenter ants do differ from termites, in that they do not eat the wood in which they tunnel. North Carolina Carpenter ants reach lengths of about 1/4 inch long, but a few ½ long ants have been spotted.
Normal Carpenter ants have black heads and abdomens, but have a dark red thorax. The Black Carpenter that North Carolina homeowners see is very similar in appearance, but is black all over. It’s important to note, that sometimes these ants can also have wings.
Carpenter Ant Destruction
Like I mentioned before, Carpenter ants build their nests in wooden structures in your home and on your property. Unused, rotten, or decaying wood seem to be the ant’s favorite nesting choices; but old, cracking furniture is also susceptible. This nesting behavior can be destructive.
Carpenter ant nesting habits destroy the integrity of wooden structures, including that of your house or furniture. These ants vigorously chew through wood, building tunnels for their nests. If you see piles of sawdust near a wooden structure on your property, it’s a good sign you have a pest problem… And that pest could be a Carpenter ant. It’s about this time you should have your home inspected by a licensed pest control professional.
Carpenter ants tending treehoppers (Photo credit: cotinis)
North Carolina Carpenter Ant Prevention
Get rid of vacant wood. Whether it’s an old decaying tree stump, abandoned construction materials, or a wood pile; get rid of it! Carpenter ants love to build their nest in this wood.
Fix leaks and eliminate standing water. Just like you and I, Carpenter ants need water to survive. Do not make it readily available.
Eradicate sources of food. Carpenter ants love to eat proteins, starches, and sweets. Clean up crumbs and food debris from around your home, and tightly seal food containers.
Close up wooden cracks with sealant. Cracks in tree stumps, wooden furniture, etc. are an open invitation for Carpenter ants to build a nest. Put up a closed sign by sealing up those cracks with a wood sealant or epoxy.
Get professional ant control. One sure-fire solution to keep those destructive Carpenter ants away is to hire an ant control professional who specializes in pest control for Carpenter ants.
North Carolina Pest Control For Carpenter Ants
If you suspect you may have Carpenter ants around your Charlotte, NC property, do not wait until it’s too late before you get some help. Waiting will only further damage the integrity of anything that’s made of wood which is located on your property. Get professional ant control!
Bulwark Exterminating
1801 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28206
(704) 321-3716 bulwarkpestcontrol.comA-1 Wildlife Control
Wilgrove-Minthill Road
Charlotte, NC 28227
(704) 334-1922 a1wildlifecontrol.netOrkin Pest & Termite Control
100 Reagan Drive #3
Charlotte, NC 28212
(866) 713-9979 orkin.com
Adult bed bug, Cimex lectularius (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Despite their name, “bed bugs” can be found in almost any part of your house and are often found far away from the bedroom. Bed bugs might be lurking in your bookshelves (avoid buying used books on the street for this reason) or in your couch (avoid buying used couches too!) or in other places too. There are several ways to tell if you have bed bugs – maybe you saw an actual bug or egg so you are 100% certain; perhaps you have woken up covered in bites leading you to believe you might have bed bugs; or maybe you have even had an inspector come to your house to confirm your fears. Either way, now that you know you have an infestation, you are probably wondering how to take care of it.
First, save a specimen.This might sound gross, but you should hold onto the physical bodies of the bed bugs in a Ziploc. Beyond helping the exterminator confirm the infestation, you might need to show them to your landlord or insurer so that you can recover your costs. You may never see an actual bug, so if you do, grab it. Take pictures of any damage as well.
Second, don’t switch to another bed in your house. Your first instinct might be to sleep elsewhere if the bed bugs are actually found in your bed. But unfortunately, all this will achieve is spreading the infestation. So don’t start sleeping on the couch, and definitely don’t stay at a friend or relative’s house. The bed bugs will be waiting for you when you get home and will have left some cousins wherever you went.
Third, consult a professional. Even if you are sure you have bed bugs, you should always get a professional pest control operator to come in, identify the pest and then treat it. Call them as soon as you suspect an infestation and get them into your home right away. Treatment takes time, so start sooner rather than later.
Fourth, check the other beds.Not everyone will know if they have bed bugs just by being bitten. Not everybody reacts to the bites in the same way, so there could be bugs in their beds without them knowing. Make sure your professional pest control operator does a thorough check of the home.
Fifth, don’t start throwing everything away.Not every piece of furniture in your home needs to be sent to the landfill. Ask your professional pest control operator what can be saved and what should be tossed. Once you know what cannot be saved, the professional can help you dispose of it properly and safely so as not to spread the bugs even further.
Sixth, do start washing your linens and clothing.Your clothing and bedding should be dealt with right away. Machine wash everything on hot and then dry them on hot for about two hours. Dry cleaning is also an option. Whichever option you choose, the key part is to put the cleaned clothing and linens in sealed, airtight bags until you are going to use them in your bed bug free house.
Finding out you have bed bugs is never fun. But if you follow the proper precautions and have patience, hopefully the bed bugs will be handled quickly and without major loss of sleep, furniture, and money.
About the Author: Michelle Lim has been writing about designer bedding for this website for years. When she’s not spending her time writing, she enjoys shopping and going on vacations with her boyfriend.
One of the most diabolical pests found in the Charlotte, North Carolina area is the Red Imported Fire ant. While these ants bite, they are notorious for very painful stings. You want more bad news? Fire ant season is just around the corner. Fire ants are most active, building their mounds and stinging their victims, from April-September.
Red Imported Fire ants prefer to build their mounds in open, sunny yards that are mowed and watered regularly. That is the majority of yards in North Carolina. Chances are you’ve come across the malevolent ants once or twice; and that means you can be stung.
Fire Ant Stings
A human leg three days after coming in brief contact with a fire ant colony (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
If you are stung by a fire ant, you will know it immediately. Stings begin as little red marks, and are accompanied by moderate pain. The sting will eventually turn into white pustules or blisters. Fire ant stings will go away after several days, unless the area becomes infected.
There are no other stinging ants in North America. So if you get stung by an ant, you can pretty much assume it’s a fire ant.
Reactions To Fire Ant Stings
Pain
Redness
Blistering
Swelling & Inflammation
Wooziness
Itchiness
Wheezing
Confusion & Disorientation
Vomiting
Treating Fire Ant Stings
If you have been stung by a fire ant, and are experiencing some of the more severe reactions (vomiting, light-headed, etc.), seek medical attention immediately. If you know you are allergic to bees, wasps, or other insects; you need to be very cautious of fire ant stings. There will likely be an allergic connection, and you will need medical attention.
If you’ve been stung by a fire ant, and are not experiencing allergic reactions, stay calm. You will be in pain for awhile. Take a pain reliever. Clean the infected sting area out with watered down bleach, ammonia, or meat tenderizer. This will help denature the fire ant’s venom.
Preventing Fire Ant Stings
Preventing Fire Ant stings is about taking extreme precautions. If you see a fire ant mound, keep your distance. Point them out to your children, and teach them to keep their distance. If you disturb their mounds in any way, the worker ants will spill out of the nest and aggressively attack the intruder. If you step on a fire ant mound on accident, multiple ants can crawl up you leg and sting repeatedly.
To best ensure your home and property are not infested by stinging fire ants, you need professional ant control.
Fire Ant Extermination In North Carolina
Bulwark Exterminating
1801 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28206
(704) 321-3716 bulwarkpestcontrol.com
A woman reached out to Channel 9 News in Charlotte, claiming she got bedbugs from the Homewood Suites Hotel while she was in town during CIAA weekend.
The woman, identified as Stephanie Eason, claims she took the bedbugs home with her without even knowing it, and now they are now infesting her Raleigh, NC home.
Eason said she checked into the hotel on February 28, 2013. During her three night stay, her and her friend saw what appeared to be bugs crawling on the couch inside their room. She contacted the hotel staff, who immediately came and sprayed to room for bugs.
It’s about the room was sprayed, that Eason began noticing red welts on her legs. She determined them to be bites; bites from the notorious bedbug.
Charlotte Hotel Treated For Bedbugs
Eason contacted the County Health department who investigated the matter. It was determined that the Homewood Suites Hotel did in fact have bedbugs.
Before the Country Health Department had arrived, the Hotel had been very proactive in treating the bedbug infestation. The room had been closed down, along with three other adjacent rooms. The rooms were treated by pest control professionals.
Eason also sought the services of a Raleigh pest control professional to eliminate the bedbugs from her Raleigh home. She is seeking compensation for the incident, and working with the hotel’s insurance company.
Bed Bug (Photo credit: agrilifetoday)
Bedbugs
Bedbugs are malevolent bloodsucking insects that are easily transferred from hotels, buses, taxis, to apartments and homes. Bedbugs are reddish-brown in color. The are flat, and look much like an apple seed.
Bedbugs hide in the bedding, mattresses, carpet and furniture; emerging to feed on human hosts. Bedbugs need blood to survive, and are very resilient and hard to eliminate. If you fear you have brought bedbugs into your home, contact a pest control professional immediately.
Charlotte, NC Pest Control
General Pest Control
Bulwark Exterminating
1801 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28206
(704) 321-3716 bulwarkpestcontrol.com
A-1 Wildlife Control
Wilgrove-Minthill Road
Charlotte, NC 28227
(704) 334-1922 a1wildlifecontrol.net
Bedbug Control
On Point Bed Bug Killing Services
915 N New Hope Rd # E1
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 964-6280
Reliable Bed Bug Removal Services
301 10th St NW # F1o
Conover, NC 28613
(704) 325-9016
Everyone here at Bulwark would like to give Charlotte and its surrounding cities a giant Valentine’s Day hug. Everybody deserves to have a valentine this year. At Bulwark, we thought we’d surprise some unsuspecting, but very deserving people to show our appreciation.
Last week we sent out an order of flowers and chocolates to three of our favorite news casters on television: Natalie Pasquarella from TV 9, Dianne Gallagher from NBC Charlotte and Kelli Bartik from FOX Charlotte – all lovely and professional young ladies. Without being too creepy-viewer, we thought flowers and chocolate was the best and safest item to send. Every girls like flowers, right?
Kelli even posted a picture of her flowers on her twitter page. We appreciate the shout-out, Kelli.
Last week we also released our newest video. We created it specially for Valentine’s Day and sent a link to all three ladies for them to view. Take a look.
We certainly don’t want to let you all make the same mistake, so here is a small checklist of things to do before Thursday.
- Schedule Babysitter
- Make dinner reservations or buy homemade meal ingredients
- Buy a semi-expensive bottle of wine
- And chocolates
- Call Bulwark Exterminating (This one is REALLY important, we can’t stress it enough.)
Only in a college town
Here’s a funny story for you. When I was in my last year of college, my girlfriend (now wife), was in school with me as well. I had a night class on Valentine’s Day and the teacher promised she would let us out early. After getting out of class 15 minutes late, and I without any plans, started to drive around town looking for a place to eat. I picked her up, and we headed over to Outback Steakhouse (Gimme a break! I was in college!). Wait time? FOUR hours! “That’ll be like, midnight?” I asked the girl. “Yeah, about”, she responded. We grabbed some pizza on the way home, popped in a movie at home, then called it a night. We both had class early the next morning.
Angie’s List Super Service Award Given To Bulwark Pest Control- Charlotte, NC
The winners of Angie’s List 2012 Super Service Award have been announced in the categories of pest control and exterminating. It is with great honor that Bulwark Exterminating accepts this prestigious award, given annually to the top five percent of companies that receive reviews on Angie’s List.
Bulwark Pest Control’s Charlotte, North Carolina branch accepts this award with great pride, because it further illustrates the company’s dedication to providing excellent customer service.
The Significance Customer Reviews On Angie’s List
A recent survey suggests that 81 percent of customers do online research before making significant purchases. These customers are primarily looking for customer reviews, in which 92 percent have confidence in this online information. That is where the customer review site Angie’s List comes in.
Angie’s List is a vessel that brings businesses and consumers together through the power of customer reviews. The 1.5 million customers that check Angie’s List before making purchases or hires can rate a company’s professionalism, price, punctuality, responsiveness, quality, and overall experience with letter grades A-F.
Angie’s List Reviews For Charlotte, NC Bulwark Exterminating
Out of the 179 reviews Bulwark Exterminating’s Charlotte branch has received on Angie’s List, 140 give an A grade; 22 a B grade. That’s impressive! Here are just a few of the many positive reviews:
Bulwark Exterminating provided complete initial service both internally and externally. We had various ants and other crawling critters not only in the 1st floor kitchen but also in two upstairs bathrooms. They come back every two months to spray outside and if any problems inside, they will spray as well. We have noticed a major difference and only once in a while see anything inside. I would highly recommend them.
Overall: A
- Phillip R.
Huntersville, NC
These guys were very prompt and courteous. Responded to calls immediately and performed the service promptly. Over all I am very satisfied with the service. I had called to get the service scheduled. Someone returned with a confirmation call. The service person called ahead before arrival. Even though he arrived earlier than scheduled, he waited for my arrival. He treated my house and explained about the bugs and how they come and go. Treated outside and inside the house. Great people to work with. Great service. Few days later received a follow up call which is great customer experience.
Overall: A
- Sankar M.
Mooresville, NC
The service person inspected the house for roaches. We had seen 2-3 of them in the previous couple of weeks. Then, I saw the offer for an inspection at a reduced price and ordered it. The service person was friendly and well-informed. He appeared to be genuinely interested in doing a good job and said he had checked outside to make sure he was using the best treatment. He told me that if the treatment did not work to please let him know. We saw a roach or two in the next week and I almost called back, but waited and have not seen another roach in, oh, at least six weeks. I was pleased and satisfied with the offer and the service.
Overall: A
- Frank M.
Greensboro, NC
(Bulwark) sprayed exterior and interior of house. Very professional. We have a two year old grandson. They were so wonderful about working around his visits, they totally understood our concerns. We will use them again.
Overall: A
- Russ L.
Mint Hill, NC
To read all of Bulwark Pest Control’s Angie’s List reviews for the Charlotte, NC branch, click on the link below:
English: The tick Amblyomma americanum (Lone Star tick) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Ticks
Ticks are blood-sucking pests that can spread many different types of diseases. Some diseases include: Lyme disease, typhus, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. When they bite, they can cause significant lesions on the skin, and infect living tissue.
Ticks eat blood, and are creatures of the North Carolina fields and woods. They will look for hosts to attach themselves to by climbing trees and other vegetation. They will then passively wait for an unwary person or animal to brush up against it. The tick will then attach itself to it’s host, until it finds an appropriate place to feed.
Avoiding Tick Bites
The best way for Charlotte, NC residents to keep from contracting a tick-borne disease, is to not get bit. Staying away from areas infected with ticks is best, but if you happen to make your way into such an area, take the following precautions:
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants while working or walking in tick-infested areas.
Wear light-colored clothing, which will make any stowaway ticks easier to see.
Tuck your long pants into your boots or socks. This will prevent ticks from making their way up your leg.
Apply a permethrin-based tick repellent to the outside of clothing, predominantly to the pant legs
Immediately wash clothing with hot water and detergent, avoiding throwing clothes on the floor or in the hamper.
After leaving a tick infested area, carefully inspect yourself for ticks. You may need help from a friend or family member, because ticks love to feed on the back of your head. Ticks will often times adhere themselves to the back of your skull, where they can hide in your hair. It’s important to note, that very young ticks and their larvae are very tiny and can be confused for a freckle on your body.
Species of Charlotte North Carolina Ticks
The Lone Star Tick
The lone star tick eagerly feeds on human blood, and will also attack and large wild or domestic animals such as deer and dogs. Adults and nymphs are abundant in the spring and summer months. The mite-like larvae of this species, sometimes called seed ticks, are plentiful in the fall months. It’s during this stage when the lone star tick will attack humans the most.
The Brown Dog Tick
This tick is active year round in North Carolina, but will rarely attach itself to humans. It’s your pets that you need to worry about when it comes to this tick. Pets need to be protected by preventing them from venturing into tick-infested areas.
The American Dog Tick
These ticks will prefer humans and dogs as hosts. They are active March-November, and live along woodland paths and in North Carolina parks. They can also be found in the shrubs of suburban homes.
Charlotte Pest Control
If you are having a problem with ticks near your Charlotte, NC property, get professional help. Save yourself the worry of contracting diseases spread by ticks. If you’re having problems with pests other than ticks; like spiders, roaches, or ants, an exterminator can help you with that too.
Bulwark Exterminating
1801 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28206
(704) 321-3716 bulwarkpestcontrol.com
It’s a tradition many of us look forward to every year. We round up the family and head to a Christmas tree lot or farm; or we head to the woods to chop down a beautiful Evergreen or Spruce. Great care is taken in selecting the perfect tree. It can’t be too tall, and its branches have to be sufficiently filled in. When selecting the perfect Christmas tree there is one thing on need to watch for; before bringing that wonderful smelling Christmas tree inside your home. It is Christmas tree bugs!
Christmas Tree Bugs
According to NBC, Christmas tree bugs may be an unforeseen present waiting for you underneath your tree this Holiday, and this present could potentially be a nightmare.
The usual tree bug culprits are aphids, bark beetles, gypsy moths, bagworms, weevils, and spider mites. If you bring them inside your home, they could hatch and multiply causing a full on pest infestation. They will get in your carpet, your bedding, and in your couch.
Many of these insects are considered harmless. Harmless or not, you probably don’t want to spend the holiday season with bugs crawling around among you and your presents.
Common Christmas Tree Bugs
Aphids–Are small sap sucking insects the flourish on plant hosts like Christmas trees. They may be green, black, brown, pink or almost colorless. They are very tiny, and have antennae, with long, thin legs. Approximately two-hundred and fifty species of aphids are known to create serious pest control problems.
Spider Mites– Can cause pest control concerns when their minute exoskeletons and feces become airborne and inhaled. This can trigger an allergic reaction in some people, and can cause several forms of allergic diseases; including hay fever, asthma and eczema.
Gypsy Moth—Range in color from white, gray, or tan. They eat the leaves of over 300 species of trees, and are one of the most destructive pests of hardwood trees in the Eastern United States.
Bark Beetles—If bark beetles have infested your Christmas tree, they will leave winding tracks that are visible throughout the trunk. Bark beetles are known to reproduce in the inner bark.
Tips On Selecting A Pest-Free Christmas Tree
Get you’re trees from a reliable source, someone who has their gypsy moth permit.
Look for trees that have a certificate.
Ask if the tree has been sprayed for insects.
Look for aphids, gypsy moths, spider mites, and their egg sacks near the top and trunk of the tree.
Look for small holes with sawdust trails (pictured right), which are a sign of bark beetles.
Shake your Christmas tree vigorously before bringing it inside your home. This can dislodge spiders and other unwanted hitchhikers.
Charlotte Pest Control
If you happened to bring any unwanted pest hitchhikers inside your home with your Christmas tree, seek the help of a licensed Charlotte exterminator. Whether you are dealing with Christmas tree bugs, unwanted roaches, or house spiders; a Charlotte pest control professional can help ensure you have a pest-free holiday.
Pest Control In Charlotte, NC
Bulwark Exterminating
1801 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28206
(704) 321-3716 bulwarkpestcontrol.com
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