Meet Our Office Staff

This blog is really just a short piece to let you guys out there get to know us a little bit better. This week we will introduce you to our office girls. When you work side by side with 4 other women on a daily basis, things can get a bit crazy around here sometimes. But, we always have LOTS of fun!

Like for instance, Tonuya - she always claims to be "diligently working" like you see her doing in the picture to the left, and that's usually what she is doing...usually. On occasion, just when she thinks no one is watching though...you'll likely see Tonuya like this...Tonuya loves animals, she is an animal foster parent. When a dog or cat is hurt or sick, Tonuya takes them into her home and helps nurse them back to health so they can find good homes and families. Outside of work Tonuya spends her time with her 2 boys Clint and Jonathan, all of the foster animals she has, and her great family and friends.

Then, there's Alisonour resident termite renewal specialist and collection gal extraordinaire. During our busy days here at Swat, Alison takes on the business of termite renewals, collections, and tickets for our guys. And just like Tonuya, she is most often working very hard...but on occasion you will find Ali goofing off too like you see hereIn Alison's time away from work, she enjoys playing pool, throwing darts, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Next on our list is Brooke she is a recent graduate of the University of Southern Indian with a degree in Public Relations. Not only does she handle all of Swat's PR business, she also carries the Human Resources responsibility on her shoulders. For the most part, Brooke stays busy in her office, so she would like everyone to believe...we did however, catch Brooke goofing off. In what little spare time Brooke does have, she spends it planning her wedding to Travis which is right around the corner on December 26th and hanging out with family and friends.

Now, you have Stacey, she is our resident social media guru. Stacey handles all of Swat's social media and SEO. At any given time you can find her blogging, answering phones, and educating herself on the most recent and up to date practices for social media and SEO. Stacey on the other hand never goofs off...so she says. But, if that were true, how did we get this picture...? Away from Swat, Stacey enjoys watching her 2 boys Bryce and Blake play sports and hanging out with her husband Brian, family, and friends.
The other lovely lady in our "family" is AshleyAshley is our no nonsense numbers gal. She takes on the daunting task of entering tickets, sales numbers, and checks daily. According to Ash, she never has time to goof off or be silly...but those of us who work here know better...Aside from work, Ashley has 3 horses Smooch, Twisted, and Secretariat, and barrel races on the weekends. In her spare time away from Swat and the barrel races,Ashley enjoys time with her family and friends.


We hope you enjoyed reading this little blurb into the lives of our office gals. I know they all enjoyed sharing with you. Stay tuned for more from Swat Pest. We look forward to serving you in the near future.

The Black Widow Spider

Shiny black armor with an hourglass of red, she hangs before me seemingly weightless. Noise all around, she is unaware. Her only concern is the cricket disturbing her with its song. While she waits patiently and contemplates her attack on lunch, I watch with curiosity for what her next move will be. Then with the blink of an eye she jumps and suddenly... quiet. I want to be closer, but I know the price I would pay. To be bitten and injected with one of the most potent venom's secreted by an arachnid... I choose to watch this Black Widow Spider from the outside of her glass prison.

Black Widow Facts -

• THE BLACK WIDOW IS THE MOST VENOMOUS SPIDER IN THE U.S.
• PEOPLE RARELY DIE FROM BLACK WIDOW SPIDER BITES, SINCE THE AMOUNT OF VENOM INJECTED IS SO SMALL.
• THE ADULT FEMALE IS VENOMOUS. MALES AND JUVENILES ARE USUALLY HARMLESS.
• THE FEMALE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER IS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS THE "HOURGLASS" SPIDER BECAUSE THE RED MARKING ON HER BELLY IS OFTEN IN THE SHAPE OF AN HOURGLASS. SOMETIMES IT MAY LOOK LIKE 2 TRIANGLES.
• THE ADULT FEMALE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER IS OFTEN EASY TO SEE SINCE SHE HANGS UPSIDE DOWN IN HER WEB, MAKING THE RED HOURGLASS MARKING VISIBLE.
• THE FEMALE BLACK WIDOW SOMETIMES EATS THE MALE SPIDER AFTER MATING. (NOT ALWAYS)
• THE BLACK WIDOW IS NOCTURNAL, AND WILL GENERALLY ONLY ATTACK WHEN DISTURBED OR TOUCHED.

For more information on this pest and many others visit our website at http://www.swatpest.com/, or give us a call at 1-800-894-8024. We look forward to serving you!

Increase the Health and Value of your home or business

MOLD INSPECTIONS AND REMEDIATION:

Mold is a growing problem in the Tri-State. Mold not only affects your home it affects your health. Severe mold can cause irreversible damage to ones health and some homes and businesses have to be destroyed due to dangerous mold strains.

If you suspect a mold problem have a mold inspection of your home or business done today. SWAT is certified in the inspection and remediation of mold. we can perform a free inspection of your home or business for the presence of mold and if mold is detected we can work together to remediate the problem. We work closely with local companies that provide air quality tests to determine the mold strain you may have. Mold is a serious concern! Let us provide peace of mind by inspecting your home or business for mold.

MOISTURE CONTROL:

Do you have a musty odor in your home? Do your doors and windows stick or squeak? Moisture from your basement or crawlspace could be creating an unhealthy environment for you and your home. SWAT can provide a free inspection of our home to determine if there is a moisture problem. If moisture is detected we will work with you to determine the most effective cost efficient solution to the problem. Our staff will provide before and after digital photos of the problem areas to show you the precise location of the problem and show you the problem has been eliminated.

For more valuable information on mold and crawl space encapsulation give us a call today! 812-476-9708

Termite Control

Weather preventing termites in your new home or treating a termite problem in your existing home, Swat Pest offers three different [programs to fit any need or budget. Our termite technicians are experienced in the early detection and treatment for Subterranean termites. Our Termite manager was recently named a Termidore All-Star technician by BASF, a leading manufacturer of termite control products. Our termite staff truly is "The Science Behind Pest Control".

WHAT IS YOUR TERMITE CONTROL NEED?

PRE-CONSTRUCTION TREATMENT: This service provides termite control to your new home before you ever move in. This method of treatment is non-invasive and performed during the construction of your home. Once you move in you have less worry about termites damaging your beautiful new home for many years.

POST-CONSTRUCTION TREATMENT: There are two kinds of homes, those that have termites and those that WILL! Swat Pest will treat your home with Termidore the leading termite control product. The termites will be eliminated in 3 months or less...GUARANTEED!

SIGNATURE PLUS SERVICE: With this "peace of mind" program we will combine your pest management service with your termite service for easy billing process. The structure will be treated with Termidore, the leading termite control product, to eliminate any termite problem you may have. Monitoring stations will be placed on the exterior perimeter of the structure and the service technician will inspect these stations during your quarterly service. If a termite problem arises it will be detected quickly and taken care of quickly. GUARANTEED!

For more termite information, visit us at www.swatpest.com or give us a call at 812-476-9708

Your Family's Health and Safety is Our #1 Priority!

Swat Pest has the easiest, yet toughest treatment plans to keep unwanted pests out of your home. Our highly effective pest control products are designed to eliminate many different pests in just minutes. And there's never a bothersome odor for you, your family, or your pets.

Regardless of the time of year, undesirable pests can be gaining entrance to your home: crickets, roaches, millipedes, flies, fleas, spiders, and a variety of ants - just to name a few.

Protecting your home from unwanted pests is easy with Swat Pest's Three Step Plan.

Step 1 - THOROUGH INSPECTION

Interior and Exterior perimeters: garages, workshops, landscape areas, attics, crawlspaces, pipe chases, and more.

Step 2 - AN ANALYSIS & ESTIMATE

Professionally trained assessments to ensure an honest evaluation of your needs.

Step 3 - APPROPRIATE TREATMENT

Only prescribed, quality applications used to ensure the health of you and your home.

Our Pest Control Services Include:

- Treating the exterior structure, including eaves, windows, doorways, and landscaping

- Treating interior structure, taking our time to reach every baseboard, corner and space.

- Treating basements, attics, crawlspaces as needed.

- Rodent and flea control traps provided at no additional cost.

Knocking down spider webs - inside and out.

- Free termite inspections upon request.

Plus many other extras with attention to detail from our trained technicians.

Give us a call today for more information at 812-476-9708

Mold - Is it Growing In Your Home's Contents??

Once you know you have mold in your home, you need to figure out if it's growing on your furniture, clothing, linens, equipment, tools, books, and any other possession. Mold infestation of these items can be an enormous because it can re-contaminate cleaned-up areas or spread to other parts of the house, not to mention increase the overall level of mold hazard in the home. Now the task begins of finding out how widespread the mold is and exactly where it's growing.
Mold is often found on wood and fabric, especially on unfinished wood surfaces, such as the inside of dresser drawers, the undersides of tables, and upholstered furniture. Debris that accumulates in upholstered furniture, such as bits of spilled food, soil from shoes and clothing, pet dander, and skin flakes, serve as food for the mold. Mites take up residence there too.

Curtains and shades are often exposed to mold because they're up against cold windows and condensation. If they're washable or dry-cleanable, you may be able to salvage them. But if they still smell musty or still have stains after cleaning - throw them away!

Carpet and Area Rugs -
If you have wall-to-wall carpet, and it stays wet for several days, it has a very good chance of breeding mold. This is why having your home and it's contents dried out in 24-48 hours is critical following a water event.

For more information an mold remediation, call Healthy Spaces by: Swat Pest at 812-476-9708

Preventing Mold

Many people have unknowingly created mold problems in their homes. Common sense is the key in developing a lifestyle and a simple maintenance routine that will reduce the chances of mold and other allergens contaminating your home.

Here are some tips -

Flooring - Consider removing wall -to- wall carpeting if you live in a humid climate. Hardwood, linoleum, vinyl, and ceramic tile or stone are better choices. Mold grows very well in carpet, where it's difficult to remove.

Walls and Ceilings - Don't use wallpaper in a humid environment. For a decorative effect, consider a painted stencil border or a wallpaper border that covers only a small portion of the walls.

Closets and Storage Areas -

-Minimize clutter, since it encourages dust (food for dust mites) and makes inspection for cleaning up/removing mold much more difficult.

-Don't stockpile newspapers, magazines, or paper bags. All are mold food sources.

-Don't crowd clothing or other items up against closet walls.

-Check regularly for a musty smell or any other sign of mold.

For more information on mold and mold remediation call Healthy Spaces by: Swat Pest at 812-476-9708

Mosquitoes - How they work

Mosquitoes have been around for over 30 million years. And it seems that, during those millions of years, mosquitoes have been honing their skills so that they are now experts at finding people to bite. Mosquitoes have a battery of sensors designed to track their prey...Some of these sensors include chemical sensors, visual sensors, and heat sensors.

Mosquitoes use their chemical sensors by tracking carbon dioxide and lactic acid on their sources from up to 100 feet away. Mammals and birds give off these chemicals during the simple act of breathing. Certain chemicals in sweat can also attract mosquitoes, people who don't sweat much don't get nearly as many mosquito bites.

Mosquitoes use their visual sensors because in their minds, everything moving is probably "alive" and therefore full of blood, so this is a good sensor to have. Mosquitoes can also detect if a human is wearing clothing that contrasts with their background and they will zero in on you that way as well.

Mosquitoes use their heat sensors to detect live "animals" once they get close enough this sensor is one of their strongest.

The following pictures will show you the life cycle of a mosquito

1- An egg is laid on the surface of water

2 - The egg hatches in an aquatic larva

3 - The larva then changes into an aquatic pupa

4- The pupa changes into a free - flying adult

For more information on mosquitoes and their control, please call Swat Pest Management at 812-476-9708.

Blow Flies

When huge numbers of flies suddenly appear inside the home, homeowners become very distraught and often don't know what to do. The flies often look somewhat like houseflies, but may be shiny green, blue, bronze or black. These shiny, metallic colored flies are called blow or bottle flies. They congregate around windows and produce a buzzing sound.

Bottle or blow flies lay eggs in decomposing organic matter, like garbage, animal manure, decaying vegetables, grass clippings and poorly managed compost piles. These flies are important in nature in the decay process of animal carcasses and are usually the first insects to arrive—within hours or even minutes—after an animal dies.

When these flies suddenly appear inside, it means one of these disgusting sources is producing flies and should be found.

A few possibilities to chek out -

1 - The first possibility is there is a break in sewer pipes where sewage is seeping beneath the pipe where flies can get to it.

2 - A second possibility is garbage that has not been taken out often enough. During the summertime, flies can lay eggs in meat and vegetable scraps in your trash can and can go through an entire generation in less than a week. When fly maggots finish feeding, they often crawl away and pupate in dark, secluded places. Sometimes these maggots or pupae are seen by homeowners who do not know what they are. Vacuum them and discard the bag. Those missed will emerge later as flies.

3 - A dead animal carcass will produce a flush of flies. One common source is a mouse in a forgotten mouse trap or dead inside the walls after eating mouse poison. A squirrel, bird or racoon that dies in the chimney or attic can be fodder for flies. The bigger the animal, the more flies will be produced, although it is amazing how many flies can develop in even a small animal like a mouse.

These flies are attracted to the light from windows during the day so fly strips are a non-toxic method of capturing them. Of course, there is the handy and traditional flySWATter. It takes a little more work, but many people feel a sense of satisfaction after using it successfully.

For more information give us a call today - Swat Pest Management 812-476-9708

Does Your Home )or one you plan to purchase) Have Mold?

Mold, like anything else, is easy to locate if you know what to look for and the right questions to ask. There are some good indicators that include:

1 - A musty smell (Approximately 90% of homes with mold have this.)

2 - Evidence of a water leak or condensation.

Wheather you're buying a house or currently own a home and are concerned about mold, ask the seller (or yourself) the following questions.

A - What is the condition of the roof? Has it ever been patched?

B - Have you had chimney, dormer, vent pipe, or other flashing repairs done?

C - Have you had window casings or trim replaced?

D - Have you had any repairs made to your siding?

E - Have you ever replaced the hot water heater? When? Was it due to a leak? How long did it leak before being replaced?

F - How is the air conditioning unit functioning? Have you ever had the condensation line/pump back up?

G - Is the heating or air conditioning system in the crawl space or attic? If in the attic, has it ever leaked onto the attic floor or ceiling below?

Mold is found in homes more often than you would imagine. A typical home inspection is limited to visible mold and guidance on what needs to be done to correct it. Many times, mold inspection reports have ended negotiations for a home's sale.

For more information on mold remediation, please call Swat Pest and Healthy Spaces at 812-476-9708. We look forward to serving you!