Boxelder Beetles are most commonly seen sun-bathing on the side of the home where the sun hits during the day. This usually occurs in the spring and fall, when the nights are much cooler. They will even follow the sun as it wraps around your home from morning to evening. As they do this, they sometimes find themselves pressing in around cracks that lead to the inside of your home such as windows that are not properly sealed, utility lines, dryer vents, outside faucets and the such that are losing their seals or caulking. Now the problem is, once they find a way into your home’s wall voids, they get confused and do not really remember how to get out. This is where these beetles become troublesome to the homeowner. You see, as it gets colder outside, your furnace or heaters operate inside all the more; now the difference in temperature (inside to outside) is more extreme and noticeable to a confused Boxelder Beetle. So what does he do? He presses in where he thinks summer is–inside your house. Actually, the worst invasions happen as it gets colder outside because of this extreme difference in temperature.

“Ok, so what’s the harm?”, you may ask. Well, for the most part, not a lot. Only one small detail that most do not know about Boxelder Beetles: they can bite. It is true, and when they do, I have heard that it can itch for up to two weeks. After interviewing two family members who have been bitten, I have learned there is not much that can done for the itch either. The dermatologist gave up on the one. It is ok though, it did get better. Before you get all worked up, it is good to know that this biting is just a defense-mechanism. You are not food to a Boxelder Beetle. In fact, a lost Boxelder Beetle will eventually die because everything he needs is outside. What does he need? Well, first, the Boxelder Maple tree for one. The seeds on the tree (”helicopter seeds” as we used to call them when children) are the main staple for these guys. Without them, they cannot live for long. Also, they need a good place to “Overwinter”. This means they need to find some leaves or mulch they can bunker-down under for the winter. The inside of your home is not the best place for this.

“Alright, so what does one do?”, you may ask. Some say there is nothing you can do. And many believe that, but there is a way to prevent Boxelders from invading before they get inside the walls. It is called a “perimeter home treatment”. By treating the areas where the Boxelder Bugs sun-bathe with a general residual spray insecticide, you can control them before they get into the house walls. This shuts them down very effectively. Most homeowners end up calling a professional pest control company because most times it is difficult to reach some of the areas that the beetles congregate on the outside walls; others call a professional because they cannot find a product that works on them well enough, or the simply forget to treat regularly.  If you would like to purchase pest control products for these bugs, you may want to think about Demand CS or Border.

One the sure way of knowing that you have an infestation inside the home is if you find “flying ants” or “swarmers”, as we in the pest control industry prefer to call them. Flying ants inside are never a good sign. But before you get all worked up, make sure they are not termites. You will be thankful when you determine it is just ants if that is what it is! If you do determine that they are termites, call a professional company and consider having a professional treatment before you try to tackle them yourself. Mistreating a termite colony could cost you thousands of dollars in the long run. The easiest way to determine if you have ants (whether Carpenter Ants or other) is to look for three distinct body parts. With ants, the head, thorax and abdomen are all visible to the naked eye. Termites appear to only have two segments. However if in doubt, call in a pest control company to make sure. Most companies have a “free inspection policy” and will not charge to tell you what kind of bugs you have.

Another way to determine if the ants are nesting in the home is to note the time of year. If you have Carpenter Ants roaming around the house in the middle of the winter and it is cold outside, they are definitely not coming from the outside! This is also possibly something you will see in the late winter-spring. “Ok, what do I do now?” you ask, itching to kill these things. Well hold on, before we get into that, let’s talk about some habits these home-wreckers have.

The biggest thing you need to know about Carpenter Ants is that they need water to survive. Although their primary diet is dead insects, they will always need a water source. It is usually outside–such as a bird bath, a clogged gutter, poor landscaping or some other drainage issue. Worse yet, the water source may be inside. “What?” you may ask. It is true, it can be inside your home. Many times homeowners have told me horror stories about that tiny leak under the bathtub or kitchen sink they never knew about under one day… Carpenter Ants started showing up and someone suggested a leak. Or, it could condensation on pipes in a crawl space. And what about improperly sealed shower stalls? All these things contribute to attracting Carpenter Ants. They say to themselves, “Why live outside in the elements when we can live can live here with our primary staple (water).” They certainly are not stupid creatures, as King Solomon noted and encouraged lazy people to go and learn from them.

Another habit worth noting is that they are primarily nocturnal. Most of the ones you see during the day are just scouting the situation out. A lot of people report to me that they see them only in the early morning. This is the graveyard shift getting ready to clock out. They most likely found a gold mine in the sink from last night’s dishes that were washed.

Now let us talk about control. First, you must determine where the colony is hiding. It may be far away from the sightings and you may never find them without help. A good idea is to look outside during the late afternoon on the perimeter of your home for “ant trails”. If you find them going up the side of your home, follow them. Especially if they are carrying something like a dead insect-they are always going back to the nest with it and will lead you to some idea as to where it may be. It could be in the attic, or one of your eaves, a basement sill area, or simply between your walls. If you can find the nest and want to treat it yourself, using a powder or “dust” is one way to kill the colony by using a bulb-duster and pumping the powder into the hole on the outside where they disappear into. Sometimes though, this can make matters worse, you may end chasing them deeper into your house and then they manifest in areas you were not seeing them in before. Using a general spray insecticide can hold them off on the inside, but could end up causing the situation to become more severe with their speading-out in areas where they are not visible.

After treating Carpenter Ants for more than a decade, I do want to encourage you consider calling a professional who has access to professional products that may discourage the ants from moving around and dying right where they are. An example of this would be baits or non-repellents that act like a virus to the colony. If your concern is financial, please consider that mistreating Carpenter Ants could result in serious damage to your home long-term, and translate into repairs that seriously out-way the cost of a professional treatment.    You may order ant baits from our pest control products page.  To learn more click on the video below.

Got Fleas?
If you have fleas in your home, you’re not alone. Print the Flea Prep Sheet and give us call: 717-393-7879.

Have Questions About Stink Bugs? Watch the Video (below)!

WGAL Channel 8 calls Dominion “Stink Bug Experts”

Owner Gregory Pettis was recently interviewed by WGAL, explaining what homeowners can do to combat stink bugs. During the segment, Greg describes what Dominion does that separates them from other pest control companies in the war against stink bugs. To watch the story , click here: WGAL Stink Bug Story.

Lancaster Newspapers Features Dominion Senior Technician in Bed Bug Story

Ad Crabble, writer for Lancaster Newspapers, interviewed Dominion’s senior technician, Christopher Komarow in a story on bed bugs entitled, “Bedbugs are Here”. Chris explains: “No one is immune. It’s not a rich, poor, clean or dirty type of issue.” Chris’ additional comment made quote of the week in Lancaster Sunday News: “Listen, you exhale and have warm blood — that’s all it takes.”

CBS 21 Interviews Dominion on Stink Bugs

Jenni Joyce, reporter for CBS 21, interviewed Dominion owner Gregory Pettis in an exclusive story on stink bugs.  Greg explains the stink bug crisis and demonstrates how Dominion technicians are winning the war with the stinkers in residences. Click below to view Greg showing the TV crew an actual stink bug treatment in the Susquehanna Valley.

Senior Technician Featured on CBS21 TV in Bed Bug Story

CBS 21 Jenni Joyce

WHPTV CBS21 featured Dominion’s senior technician, Christopher Komarow in an exclusive bed bug story. Chris explains the rise to bed bugs in Lancaster County Pa, and who gets them and what to do. Also, the story contains samples of bed bugs that panicking residents of Lancaster brought to the Dominion office. To view an interview with Chris and Dominion owner Gregory Pettis, go to the Bed Bug Information Video. Dominion Pest Control is on the forefront of bed bug control in Lancaster & York PA. Download the Bed Bug Prep Sheet.

Dominion Featured in Lancaster Newspapers Stink Bug Article

Lancaster Newspapers staff writer, Ad Crable, featured Dominion Pest Control in his article, Residents Raise Stink Over Bugs. Dominion office manager Maria, and veteran technician Christopher Komarow contributed with interviews.  Also, Chris was captured in action for the newspaper’s online feature video.  Click below to watch.

Clipper Magazine Ad Offers Stink Bug Discount

Residents of Lancaster & York Counties are receiving Clipper Magazine’s Stink Bug Coupon offered by Dominion Pest Control. To take advantage of the savings, simply click on the picture (left) and print it out.  The coupon gives all residents of Dominion’s servicing area $25 off their initial stink bug treatment.  After printing coupon, call the office at 717-393-7879.  New customers only.  Schedules are filling up for stink bug control in Lancaster and York counties so please call right away to make reservations.

York Daily Record features Dominion Pest Control in Stink Bug Story

Gregory Pettis, owner of Dominion Pest Control, had the privilege of contributing to York Daily Record’s story by Teresa McMinn, Bugs Raise a Stink in Region. To view the video of Greg treating the Stink Bug infestation in East York that was posted on YDR’s web site, click below.

Got Roaches in Lancaster or York PA?

If you are seeing roaches in Lancaster or York PA, it’s time to call Dominion Pest Control!  We treat German, Brown Banded, Oriental, American, and Pennsylvania Wood Roaches, or any other roach you will find in PA!  Simply click on the Roach Preparation Sheet and give us a call to set up your roach treatment: 717-393-7879.  Roach Preparation Sheet English & Spanish.

New Stink Bug Control Package Now Offered Online

How to Kill Stink Bugs

After many calls and emails outside Dominion Pest Control’s servicing area, the Dominion Pest Control Products Store is now offering a Stink Bug Control Package.  The package contains everything one should need to kill stink bugs.  Also, to help understand how to kill stink bugs, you may watch our technicians online treating if you need to know how to get rid of stink bugs yourself.  Kit comes complete with pest control products and supplies. The stink bug control package will be on sale until the end of fall. Products can be individually purchased from our pest control store.

Termite Control for Lancaster & York PA

It is termite swarming season, and if you are seeing flying termites (swarmers) in Lancaster or York County PA, it’s time to call Dominion Pest Control! This year Dominion has put even more trucks and experienced technicians on the road in preparation for this year’s termite season, bringing the best control for your home and business. To make sure that you get qualified help for your termite situation, call us today! Dominion’s technicians have an average of 15+ years of pest control service, so you get the best local experience possible! No other termite company in Lancaster or York brings the commitment that Dominion offers to you and your home. We warranty all of our termite treatments and give you the option to renew your warranty for just a fraction of cost! Call the termite hotline and ask for details: 1-800-490-6979.  To see the difference between termites and ants, check out Ants vs. Termites.  To watch video of an actual termite treatment performed by Dominion Pest Control, click here: Operation Termite Elimination.

Dominion Pest Control Launches ‘Dominators’ Reality Series!

After filming eight full episodes at ten different locations, Dominion Pest Control  is proud to present Dominators, the area’s 1st pest control reality show online!  Designed to educate area residents, Dominators reality series allows you to follow us into the darkest crawl spaces, roach infested properties, and watch as we tackle dangerous hornet & yellow jacket nests, all from your computer screen!  To see official press release, scroll down.  To read episode descriptions and watch the shows, go to www.Dominators.TV. If you live in Lancaster or York, PA and you are currently experiencing a problem with Termites, Ants, Stink Bugs, Spiders, Mice, Boxelder Beetles, Roaches or other pest needing control or extermination, call us at 717-393-7879 or toll free now: 1-800-490-6979.

Lancaster New Era article highlights ‘Dominators’ : Total Domination of Reality TV.

Mary Beth Schweigert, staff writer for the Lancaster New  Era, describes Dominators Reality Series, in her feature article: Total Domination of Reality TV–  “Each 10- to 30-minute episode plays up the danger and mystery surrounding the often-misunderstood profession, with dramatic theme music, extreme close-ups and ominous narration.” To read click:“Total Domination” Part I.  Part II.

York Daily Record Pitches Story on ‘Dominators’: Exterminating Bugs, Stereotypes with Reality Show

Erin McCracken, staff writer for the York Daily News says of the Dominators, “They think in 3-D”, in her story, Exterminating bugs, stereotypes with reality show. To view Erin’s footage of the Dominators in action click below.

Dominators Reality Show Press Release

Dominion Pest Control & exterminating controls termites in all of Lancaster & York Counties.  We treat termites in Lancaster including Manheim PA 17545, Denver PA 17517, Ephrata PA 17522, termites in New Holland PA, Lititz PA 17543, Leola PA 17540, termites in  Columbia PA 17512, Marietta PA 17547, Maytown PA 17550, termites in Strasburg PA 17579, Millersville PA 17551, Landisville PA 17538, Gordonville PA , Terre Hill PA 17581, termites in Quaryville PA 17566, Mountville PA 17554, Mount Joy PA 17552, Elizabethtown PA 17022, and many more. Looking for a pest control exterminator in York PA?  Click for more information about our commitment to the residents who have termites, bed bugs, stink bugs, spiders, roaches, mice, rats, centipedes or other pest needing controlled in York PA.  We treat all of York County, PA, including York City, Red Lion, Dallastown, Dover PA, Jacobus, Felton, Shrewsbury, New Freedom, Delta, Lewisberry, Manchester PA, Spring Grove, Hellam, Hallam, Wrightsville PA, and many more towns in York PA!

A. We prefer to use baits for maintenance once control is taken. Usually some bait in the basement and attic is sufficient to control mice on a regular basis. One thing I should mention: some of the poplar “pellet baits” on the market can allow mice to transport and store the bait (and not necessarily eat it). This is also a safety hazard to children or pets. We prefer to use products that do not allow people or pets access to the bait itself. To get control, we like to investigate each situation and determine the best way to go about it. Bait is not always the answer if they have already found a food source that they like. mice will stick to what they trust, even if it means staying with your bird seed in the garage, the nuggets of dog food that fall under the refrigerator, or some other product that you have stored that one would not normally consider being mice food such as cake mix or candy. One thing I should mention: some of the poplar “pellet baits” on the market can allow mice to transport and store the bait (and not necessarily eat it). This is also a safety hazard to children or pets. We prefer to use products that do not allow people or pets access to the bait itself.  You may buy mice pest control products from our store online.

To read more with video, visit our pest information page and scroll down to mice: http://www.dominionpestcontrol.com/category/pest-information/

A. The most effective way to shut down boxelder beetles from getting in your home is Powerspraying. Some companies do not have the equipment to Powerspray, so they might tell you that Boxelders cannot be controlled. However, by using a Powersprayer, we can reach areas of your home that you may not be able to. Boxelder beetles like to sun-bathe on the side of the home that gets the most direct sunlight. We focus on areas where they congregate, and one areas such as around windows, doors, utility service lines, dryer vents, outside faucets; any place that would allow intrusion. One thing commonly not known about boxleder beetles is that they can bite.  You may buy an insecticide concentrate from our pest control products page to control them.

To learn more go to:  http://www.dominionpestcontrol.com/category/pest-information/

A. Those black ants were probably carpenter ants. They are never good news, but they can be stopped. It would be recommended to have a professional treatment sooner than later. Every carpenter ant infestation is different and requires a trained technician. Some homeowners can fight Carpenter Ants for years on their own before calling us. When we tackle carpenter ants inside, we pay close attention to rooms that are seeing them emerge. Sometimes a bait is the most effective way to control them, sometimes using a general spray insecticide is in order if it can be determined that the colony has not relocated and we are just dealing with “vagabonds” from a scrambling colony (such as your case). In situations where carpenter ants are established with a nest in the home, we try to find trails on the outside that are leading to the house and use products that act as a “virus” to the colony and kill them before they scramble all over the house.

You may purchase baits for ants from our pest control products page.

To learn more about Carpenter Ants and watch Dominion Pest Control’s veteran technician Christopher Komarow talk  about them click here: http://www.dominionpestcontrol.com/category/pest-information/

A. This is a great question. Most people don’t know if they have termites until they have a “swarm” on the inside. Every year, a healthy colony of Subterranean Termites release thousands of reproductive swarmers that try to emerge and start a new colony. These can sometimes be confused with Ant swarmers. It takes a trained eye to know the difference, so you might want to let us look at it for you if have a swarm. The other way you know if you have termites is mud tunnels stemming out of wood. Usually termites will manifest on the basement sill first, but sometimes they can be found in the garage door frame or any place you have wood-ground contact such as basement stairs that have poured concrete around the base. Termites may be in a piece of wood and not build mud tunnels or “shelter tubes”. Probing with a scratch awl is one way to determine termite activity; the awl will easily go into the wood if termites have been there for awhile. If you need a termite treatment, you may not want to wait too long before calling us—termites do quite a bit damage quickly. This is your home we are talking about, one of your greatest investments literally being eaten!  If you have termites in Lancaster, PA call us at 717-393-7879.  If you have termites in Lancaster or York PA, click here for  more information with video: http://www.dominionpestcontrol.com/category/pest-information/

A. Yes, “Thousand-leggers” or centipedes if you prefer, can be stopped even in severe cases. We use products that have long-lasting control while providing virtually no odor. Safe for pets and children too. One thing that people do not know about centipedes is that they are venomous. They can inflict a bite similar to a spider. After control is taken on the inside, we can maintain control with applications to the outside. This is great for active families who don’t have time to always let the “bug guy” in.   For an insecticide concentrate that works well on centipedes, go to our pest control products page.

A. If they just started to show up in the past year or so, they are most likely stink bugs. And if they are stink bugs, they are coming from Allentown, PA. Within the past decade, stink bugs were imported to the US and ended up in Allentown. They have now spread to more than a dozen counties here in PA. For control: Quarterly Powerspraying is the most effective way to stop stink bugs from entering a structure. We offer several other plans that include Powerspraying as a great way to stop many other insects such as centipedes, spiders, boxelder beetles, and ants from entering your home.  To purchase a micro-encapsulated product for stink bugs, visit our pest control products page.  To view a video with owner Gregory Pettis explaining more, filmed by the York Daily Record, click here:http://www.dominionpestcontrol.com/category/pest-information/

Usually termites will manifest on the basement sill first, but sometimes they can be found in the garage door frame or any place you have wood-ground contact such as basement stairs that have poured concrete around the base. Termites may be in a piece of wood and not build mud tunnels or “shelter tubes”. Probing with a scratch awl is one way to determine termite activity; the awl will easily go into the wood if termites have been there for awhile.

If you need a termite treatment, you may not want to wait too long before calling us—termites do quite a bit damage quickly. This is your home we are talking about, one of your greatest investments literally being eaten! In Lancaster and York, PA, it is important to use a non-repellent insecticide on termites so they do not move down the road to the neighbors, but instead, die right where they are. Using technology that allows the termites to transfer the product one to another, we can shut down a termite colony with one-million members within three months! Not only will Dominion Pest Control kill the current termites attacking your home, our treatment will kill any other termite colony that comes in contact with the treatment for over one decade! Now that’s taking control!  To see a preview of veteran technician Christopher Komarow tackle a termite infestation, click below.