Sarasota and Manatee Counties are on fire …. with ants that is. Fire ant season in Florida is year-round but their numbers multiple in the summer months. Because of their painful bite and tendency to cause turf damage, people will go to extremes to get rid of the annoying pests. Let’s debunk a few of the myths related to extinguishing fire ants.

Myth:  Club soda will control fire ants.
Myth:  Pouring uncooked grits on mounds will kill fire ants.
Myth:  If you mix fire ant colonies, they will kill each other.
Myth:  Baking soda, vinegar, plaster of Paris, molasses and aspartame will kill fire ants.
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Fact:  Calling a licensed pest control company to assess and treat your  yard is the safest and most effective way to get rid of fire ants.

1 Million – the number of termites that can be found per subterranean termite colony

24 – the number of hours termites feast

100 – the amount in pounds of wood termites can eat in one year

8,000 – the dollar amount in damages termites can cause a homeowner if not detected
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1,000 -  the number of eggs a queen can lay in a day

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• Termites are the most destructive pest to homeowners in Bradenton, Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and the surrounding areas.
• 1 and 10 homes will get termites. Homes close to the beaches on Siesta Key and Longboat Key are especially susceptible to subterranean termites.
• Subterranean termites are the most common and cause the most damage.
• Termite protection, including our Trelona ATBS termite bait station system, is highly effective and recommended to protect your home.

A clean home is a happy home, or so the saying goes. But when you live a busy Southwest Florida lifestyle in Sarasota and Manatee county it can be a difficult task to manage. Sand from the beautiful beaches in Sarasota, Bradenton, and Venice and wet, pool footprints make cleaning a daily occurrence.  But we suggest taking a day off from cleaning when your pest control technician is scheduled to spray your home.  Waiting for the products applied by your Dunrite Pest and Termite technician to dry will increase their lifespan and give you better protection against bugs.

​https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nrqeydjZEe5ig5cFuR0AY1ret3nexZt4/view?ts=6204278f

​Moving can be stressful but adding pest control to your utility list can make it a little easier.
The only was of ensuring your home is pest free is to have pest control before moving in. When your new home is fully vacated and cleaned is the perfect time for your initial treatment. Pest control in an empty home is more effective because pests have fewer places to hid.

​Pavement ants are found throughout Florida. They construct their nests beside and under sidewalks, driveways, pool decks and foundations.
Pavement ants are easily identified by the crater-like piles they build out of excavated materials in cracks in sidewalks.
Pavement ants reach about 1/8” in length are dark brown to black with lighter legs and antennae.
They aren’t considered aggressive and don’t bite, but they do have the ability to sting.
Pavement ants can be a nuisance if they enter your home in search of food because they invade in large numbers.

​Keep your Christmas merry by being aware of what is coming into your home.
Real Christmas trees often come with unwanted passengers looking to hitch a ride inside our warm, cozy house. Aphids are the most common and usually die quickly once inside the home, but bark beetles are much hardier. So, inspect that tree!
Shipping boxes can be an even bigger problem than trees. Silverfish prefer spaces with very little airflow, so boxes are their dream home. Once they’re brought inside they will gladly move into your kitchen cabinets and food boxes.
Cardboard boxes are also a favorite snack for German cockroaches and they are extremely hard to eradicate. So, inspect your packages and dispose of them quickly after opening.
Happy bug-free holiday!