Pestokill is the subsidiary of East Coast Services Group specialised in pest control in various sectors. At Pestokill we follow a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks. Our approach is designed to eliminate and prevent pests in business, industries and institutions, and have proven programs for specialized industries like health care, food processing, schools, hospitality and office buildings.
Ants form colonies that range in size from a few dozen predatory individuals living in small natural cavities to highly organised colonies that may occupy large territories and consist of millions of individuals. They are pests that damage crops and invade buildings. They also attack and defend by biting and injecting chemicals causing harm to humans, particularly children.
DIET : Most ants are generalist predators, scavengers, and indirect herbivores, but a few have evolved specialised ways of obtaining nutrition. Habitat: Ants have colonised almost every landmass on Earth. There is considerable variation in ant abundance across habitats, peaking in the moist tropics to nearly six times that found in less suitable habitats.They are active all year long in the tropics; however, in cooler regions, they survive the winter in a state of dormancy known as hibernation.
HABITAT : Rodents thrive in human-created environments such as agricultural and urban areas. They dwell on the surface of the ground, but may have a burrow into which they can retreat.
IMPACT : Ants primarily become nuisances when they invade buildings or cause economic losses. They will raid stored food, some will seek water sources, others may damage indoor structures, some may damage agricultural crops directly or by aiding sucking pests. Some ants have toxic venom that can be harmful to humans, particularly children and those with allergies.
PREVENTION : The adaptive nature of ant colonies make it nearly impossible to eliminate entire colonies and most pest management practices aim to control local populations and tend to be temporary solutions. Ant populations are managed by a combination of approaches that make use of chemical, biological, and physical methods. Chemical methods include the use of insecticidal bait which is gathered by ants as food and brought back to the nest where the poison is inadvertently spread to other colony members
Rodents are extremely diverse in their ecology and lifestyles and can be found in almost every terrestrial habitat, including human-made environments.Some species, in particular, the brown rat, the black rat, and the house mouse, are serious pests, eating and spoiling food stored by humans and spreading diseases.
DIET : Most rodents are herbivorous, feeding exclusively on plant material such as seeds, stems, leaves, flowers, and roots.
HABITAT : Rodents thrive in human-created environments such as agricultural and urban areas. They dwell on the surface of the ground, but may have a burrow into which they can retreat.
IMPACT : Some rodent species are serious agricultural pests, eating large quantities of food stored by humans. In 2003, the amount of rice lost to mice and rats in Asia was estimated to be enough to feed 200 million people. Most of the damage worldwide is caused by a relatively small number of species, chiefly rats and mice.Rodents are also significant vectors of disease
PREVENTION : Integrated pest management establishes control over rodent population with regular inspections, interventions, and evaluation of effectiveness based on continuous monitoring. Interventions include staff awareness and preventive trainings, modifying the habitat, changing farming and production practices, and biological or chemical control using pathogens or predators, as well as poisoning and trapping.
Termites have been around since the time of the dinosaurs! Termite colonies eat non-stop, 24 hours a day, seven days a week! Termites have wings that they shed once they have found a good place to build a nest.
Termites cause up to $2 billion in damage per year! All Termites are social insects and raise their young as a group. The total weight of all of the termites in the world is more than the weight of all the humans in the world.
DIET : Dampwood termites like to live and feed in very moist wood.
HABITAT : Because they need lots of moisture, Dampwood Termites usually live in damp, dying wood or in houses with leaking plumbing that keeps the wood wet.
IMPACT : Dampwood termites do not carry disease and don't usually bother buildings because there is not enough water in the wood.
PREVENTION : To avoid Dampwood termites, make sure water drains away from your house and keep damp wood away from your home.
Cockroaches have been around since the time of dinosaurs! A cockroach can live almost a month without food. A cockroach can live about two weeks without water. Some female cockroaches only mate once and stay pregnant for life! A cockroach can live for up to one week without its head! Cockroaches can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes! Cockroaches can run up to 3 miles an hour.
American cockroach is the largest cockroach found in houses. Females can hatch up to 150 offspring per year. Cockroaches don't get their wings until the become adults.
DIET : American cockroaches will eat just about anything, including plants and other insects.
HABITAT : American cockroaches live in warm, dark, wet places, because they need to be near water. They are often found in sewers and basements, around pipes and drains.
IMPACT : Cockroaches crawl through dirty areas and then walk around our homes tracking in lots of bacteria and germs. They can contaminate food by shedding their skins. Their cast off skin and waste byproducts are allergens that can trigger allergic reactions, asthma and other illnesses, especially in children.
PREVENTION : Keep cooking, eating and food storage areas clean and dry. If you see cockroaches, it is best to call a pest management professional due to the illnesses they can spread.
Bed bugs get their name because they are commonly found in beds but can also be found in other places where humans spend a lot of time: hotels, airplanes, and couches.
DIET : Bed bugs can feed on the blood of any warm-blooded animal. Their most common targets are humans because, unlike animals with fur, we have a lot of exposed skin for them to bite.
HABITAT : Bed Bugs are typically found in beds and small cracks and crevices.
IMPACT : When Bed bugs feed, they inject the skin with their saliva (this keeps the blood from clotting) and an anesthetic (this keeps the host from feeling the bite and moving). Bed bugs do not spread disease, but their bites can become red, itchy welts.
PREVENTION : Don't take mattresses or padded furniture that has been left at the curb or on the street. Have someone check your scalp at least once a month to make sure you have not been exposed. Check your bed sheets for blood spots. Keep your suitcases covered in plastic and off the floor when you travel. When you travel, take a small flashlight to help you look for bed bugs. Bed bugs are hard to see, so if you think you have bed bugs, call a pest management professional
There are more than 120,000 species of flies worldwide. Most flies live an average of 21 days and take on various shapes throughout their short lives. Baby flies are called larvae but they are also known as maggots. Medical doctors use a special species of maggots to help patients with flesh wounds, especially burn victims. Maggots eat away the damaged flesh, which helps the wound heal.
DIET : Flies do not have teeth or a stinger. Their mouths absorb food like a sponge. They can only eat liquids but they can turn many solid foods into a liquid through spitting or vomiting on it. Their tongues are shaped like straws so they can suck up their food. They eat any wet or decaying matter, but they are particularly attracted to pet waste because the odor is strong and it is easy for them to find.
HABITAT : House flies tend to stay within 1-2 miles of where they were born but will travel up to 20 miles to find food. They breed in garbage cans, compost heaps and pet areas.
IMPACT : These insects have been known to carry over 100 different kinds of disease causing germs.
PREVENTION : Keep you homes clean. Remove trash regularly and seal your garbage cans. Clean up pet waste immediately. Use fine mesh screens on doors and windows to prevent flies from getting into your home.
There are about 170 different kinds of mosquitoes in North America alone. These pests are part of the same family as houseflies and fruit flies, because they all have two clear, veined wings. Best known as a summer pest, Mosquitoes can develop from egg to adult in 10 to 14 days.
DIET : We usually say, "I have been bitten by a mosquito", but this is not completely true. Mosquitoes do not bite. Female mosquitoes feed on plant nectar and blood. They need the protein to reproduce. To get to the blood, they pierce our skin with their "proboscis" and suck our blood. Male mosquitoes feed exclusively on plant nectars. Mosquitoes are busiest at night and will fly up to 14 miles for a blood meal. They hunt for food by detecting body heat and Carbon Dioxide , the gas we breathe out.
HABITAT : Mosquitoes breed in soft, moist soil or stagnant water sources such as storm drains, old tires, children's wading pools and birdbaths.
IMPACT : Mosquitoes spread diseases such as West Nile Virus, malaria and dengue fever.
PREVENTION : Replace all stagnant water at least once a week. Remove trash from around any standing water. When sleeping outdoors or in areas where mosquito populations are heavy, surround your bed with "mosquito" netting. Screen windows, doors and other openings with fine mesh. Avoid going outdoors at night. Use insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin anytime you're around mosquitoes. DEET doesn't kill the mosquitoes. It just disorients them and they look elsewhere for food.
Brown recluse spiders get their name because of their tendency to hide in corners. They are identified by the dark brown violin shaped markings on their back. Native to Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Mississippi, they are nocturnal pests.
DIET : Brown Recluse spiders eat other bugs like cockroaches and crickets.
HABITAT : Brown Recluse spiders live in cellars and in piles of wood or trash.
IMPACT : The brown recluse spider only bites to protect itself. Its bite is painful and can produce an open, ulcerating sore. The center of their bite becomes a blister surrounded by an angry-looking red ring, which is then surrounded by a white ring. A red, itchy rash usually appears in the first 24-48 hours of being bitten. Other symptoms include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches.
PREVENTION : Don't leave clothing on the floor. Store clothes and shoes inside plastic containers and shake them out before wearing them.
There are 4,000 kinds of wasps in the United States. Typically, Wasps are most active during the day and usually return to their nests at dusk. Most wasps live less than one year and some only live for a few months. Queens sometimes live for several years. Common home remedies for stings include coating the sting site with a meat tenderizer/water solution rinse, baking soda paste or even rubbing the site with an aluminum based deodorant!
DIET : Yellow jackets eat spiders and insects. They will also feed on human food, especially meats and sweets. Unlike bees, wasps do not make honey or store food.
HABITAT : Yellow jackets like to be where humans live. They usually build their nests underground, around garbage and in cool, dark spaces. They also build nests in trees, shrubs and in holes in walls. Most yellow jacket colonies only remain active for one year. Then the queen flies off to start a new colony. The remaining bees die in the fall and the nest is abandoned. Look for yellow jacket nests during the day, because you can see them flying in and out, but destroy nests at night, when they are dormant and all there.
IMPACT : Wasps help farmers by eating pests that can destroy crops. They are dangerous because they can sting multiple times, injecting venom into the host. For most people a yellow jacket sting just causes a welt and temporary pain, but their sting can cause allergic reactions to people sensitive to this venom.
PREVENTION : Do not leave sweet drinks or meats out in the open. Call a pest management professional if you find yellow jackets around your house.
Fleas can live for about 100 days. Fleas do not fly. They jump from one place to another. A pair of fleas can produce 400-500 offspring in their lifetime. A flea can jump up to 8 inches high. That is 150 times its own height. If you could do this, you'd be able to leap over even tall skyscrapers!
DIET : Fleas are parasites that feed on blood.
HABITAT : Fleas can live on any warm-blooded animal, but seem to prefer to live on humans, cats, dogs, opossums, rats and other rodents. They can also be found on shoes, pant legs, or blankets.
IMPACT : Fleas are best known for spreading the Bubonic Plague. They also transmit the bacterial disease murine typhus to humans through infected rats. Their saliva is an allergen that can cause allergic reactions in pets and humans. Fleas can also transfer tapeworms and cause anemia in pets. Flea bites cause painful, itchy red bumps.
PREVENTION : Clean and vacuum frequently. Keep your yard clean of garbage and pet droppings. Protect pets by keeping them on a leash when outside, give them lots of baths, give them monthly flea and tick treatments and take them to the vet at least once a year to make sure they haven't been infested. If you think you have ticks in your home and property, call a pest management professional!
Ticks are more closely related to spiders and scorpions than insects. Ticks get onto pets and people by jumping. There are two main types of ticks: hard and soft. Hard ticks are found in the woods. Soft ticks have tough, leathery skin. They can be found in caves, cabins and on birds. There are about 200 species in the United States. Ticks live in tall grass or shrubs. They do not jump or fly, although they may drop from their perch and fall onto a host. Some species of ticks actually follow a host by foot until they can climb aboard! Ticks can live as long as 200 days without food or water and they can live from 2 months to 2 years, depending on the species.
DIET : Blacklegged ticks feed on the blood of white-tailed deer, which is one of the reasons why they are sometimes called deer ticks.
HABITAT : Blacklegged ticks prefer to hide in grass and shrubs.
IMPACT : Blacklegged ticks can carry the bacteria which causes Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Because ticks in the nymph stage are often hard to detect.
PREVENTION : Wear light colored clothing when you are outside. This will help you to spot the ticks before they attach themselves to your skin. Tuck your pant legs into your socks. After you spend time outside, be sure to check yourself for ticks. Ask someone to look through your hair to see if they fell onto your head and check your back, crooks in elbows and knees, etc.. Make sure you check your legs and arms very carefully
Voles are small rodents and are frequently referred to as meadow mice or field mice. They typically live about 3-6 months and there are about 70 species of voles. They have blunt noses, small furry ears, dense brown fur and a tail with no fur
DIET : The vole's diet consists of seeds, tubers, tree needles, bark, various green vegetation such as grass and clover, and insects. Voles prefer not to feed in the open.
HABITAT : Voles require dense grass cover and prefer to live outside in fields. They are very poor climbers and have difficulty reaching upper floors of buildings..
IMPACT : Voles are very destructive to gardens and will gnaw the bark of fruit trees. They can also cause damage to tree roots, which may eventually kill the trees.
PREVENTION : In addition to traps and fencing, gravel buffers can help protect gardens against vole infestation. Remove weeds, heavy mulch, and dense vegetative cover around your home. These environments provide voles food and protection from predators. Mowing, spraying with herbicides or tilling grassy areas adjacent to gardens will help prevent an infestation.
It's important to note that the selection and use of pest control products should be done responsibly, following product labels and instructions, and considering potential risks to human health, non-target organisms, and the environment. Consulting with a professional pest control service or an expert in the field is advisable for more complex or severe pest infestations.
