[EviesGP]

Toymeister, I'm confused? If our homes were treated with Taurus SC, and it was supposed to last 10yrs, then why do you have to apply the same thing quarterly??? I'm asking, because I'm about to trench around my house, and apply this(based upon research I did last year). What am I missing? Thanks.

[Tortoise]

Check with the Sumter County Master Gardeners (University of Florida IFAS) - see talks and zoom clinic in Wednesday’s garden section of Daily Sun. Have many beneficial bugs and many pesticides kill pollinating butterflies and bees!

[Marylynn]

We were using a pest control service for a few years after we moved it. It worked fine. But I realized I could buy a bag of triazicide for $20 to sprinkle around the perimeter of my house and a spray insecticide to use inside of $20. Takes no time at all to do this every 3-4 months and the savings is nice. The bag and spray will give you a couple of years or more of applications. Was paying $80 for a quartet treatment which comes to $360 annually or $760 over two years. Doing it myself costs me $80 over two years. The savings are appreciable.

[BeauJangles]

Ditto for us only we use Superior. Great service.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

We use Lee Pest Control. They respect my interest in avoiding chemicals that can kill birds, dogs, and other "non-pests" that wander around our lawn. The chemicals they use are also safe for herb gardens, and that's important to me since I use a lot of those herbs I grow in my cooking. They also allow me to work cooperatively with them. If there are specific spots I feel need extra care, I can call them any time and they'll take care of it next time they're in the area even if it's not my scheduled day. They also apply "critter-friendly" weedkiller to spots that are prone to overgrowth. For $50 every other month I'm fine with it.

[TimeForChange]

Originally Posted by NewJerseyBoy56

What are some of the more common bugs/pests in The Villages?

Is pest control something that is easy for a homeowner to take care of rather than paying someone to do it for you?

I can assure you of one thing. If you get "German cockroaches" into your home you will pay to get them out. They are tiny, short, very fast cockroaches and they are almost impossible to get rid of by yourself. I never bring boxes either empty or full inside. They nest in the cardboard and are a pain to get rid of. It took several treatments by Dean's and the roaches are so bad they have a treatment specialist for them. The home was only a year or so old and they got into our kitchen counter and nested.

[Toymeister]

Originally Posted by EviesGP

Toymeister, I'm confused? If our homes were treated with Taurus SC, and it was supposed to last 10yrs, then why do you have to apply the same thing quarterly??? I'm asking, because I'm about to trench around my house, and apply this(based upon research I did last year). What am I missing? Thanks.

This is how I see it. The Taurus sc is in the soil for termites while I am applying above ground for above ground pests.

More speculation:. Taurus sc is more expensive than most pesticides, so a commercial firm opts for cheaper alternatives.

[queasy27]

I used to have several roaches a week inside the house despite extra trips by Massey to try to eliminate them. Last year I covered up the shower drains and have not had any inside since, although I do still see dead ones occasionally in the garage.

[Villagerjjm]

I bought my vinyl sided courtyard villa back in 2005. It came with a sticker on the breaker box that said Massey services applied the termite treatment to the under foundation and structure. While I was out riding around, I saw a Massey truck with a crew in one of the new neighborhoods being built. So, I decided to be nosey and stopped near the Massey truck. I watched as one of the Massey workers was spraying a green liquid on the particle board that the house that was being built. When he was done and came walking up to the truck, I greeted him and asked what he was spraying on the side of the house. He said it was termite control. I asked him how long it would last, and he said that once it was covered it would last for about 40 years. I asked if it was the same thing that was used under the foundation and he said yes and that it was good under there for 40 years too.
I said "40 years? It has to be really strong stuff! What is it?" His reply: BORAX and WATER! I said "20 Mule Team Borax? No way!" He confirmed it again... he said you mix it with water and it becomes part Orthoboric Acid, and humidity will keep the remainder active gradually over the years. I asked him why there was an inspection every year for termites. He said the roof eaves are not treated and any ground termites will build a mud tunnel up the wall to reach them. That is all they are looking for. Mud tunnels.
He said that alterations to the foundation, untreated additions, changes in landscaping that alter the foundation barrier or plant roots growing under the foundation are what causes the problems. Some of those alterations can actually void the contract.
So, there is one big secret out of the way!
I do my own pest control. I never spray inside the house. Never had cockroaches or bed bugs. Cardboard and suit cases stay in the garage. No Pest Strips take care of everything out there (including Bed Bugs on suitcases!) I use glue strips inside the house only as a monitor to see what does get in. Not much!!! I make it a point to spray the foundation, soffits and eaves when I spray once a year (cost: $20.00 / time: 1hour). I always spray the insect control AFTER doing a power wash with bleach. Why? The bleach may neutralize the insect control product. What do I use? Ortho Home Defense concentrate (Bifenthrin). Why? I can dilute it and use it on the plants too!

[JohnN]

It's simple to do your own if you don't mind small effort. I use the termite/carpenter ant killer from home depot and spray the perimeter each spring. Costs about $10 (1/2 of the concentrate, which usually gets 2 applications out of a bottle). I especially spray door entrances, window sills too. It's no big deal. I sure wouldn't pay Massey $60 a quarter. I get maybe one or two live bugs a year indoors after 10 years. Just use Raid. This is a very simple thing to do.

[Fenster]

Originally Posted by EdFNJ

Lotsa big ugly "palm bugs" AKA Florida cockroaches, noseeums and other annoyances.. I was tired of paying those guys every time one of those huge suckers scared the hell out of my wife so on someone else's advice on this forum I bought a bottle of Talstar P and a sprayer and followed the online instructions and haven't seen ANY bugs in 2 years. 30 minutes of spraying around the outside every 3-4 months. Been using the same quart for 2 years and have probably another 2 years left in the bottle.

Talstar P (Pro) Insecticide | Fast, Free Shipping - DoMyOwn.com

Thank you! You just saved me hundreds of dollars!

[Tomptomp]

I use the granular Telstar on the grass and gardens. I use boric acid inside the lanai and inside the house every 3 or 4 months. Works great. Much much cheaper than hiring a service.
$40 bucks for Telstar gets me 4 applications
5lbs of boric acid from amazon will last many many years. It cost about $10

[Travelhunter]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

I diy. Talstar is Bifenthrin, nothing special.

I use Tarus sc which also has the advantage of killing termites and is extremely effective with ants.

I diy because the only time that I hired someone I had ants after treatment. Doing pest control myself has been pest free. I have a vested interest in doing the job correctly.

Tarus sc Application needs to be trenched Around the foundation to be effective
It may help with termites but
A topical treatment is not recommended

[ithos]

One reason to consider a professional service is that some come with a warranty for termite damage.

My policy with Dean's covers three types of termites. At the time I checked with Masseys it only covered two types.

[Toymeister]

Originally Posted by Travelhunter

Tarus sc Application needs to be trenched Around the foundation to be effective
It may help with termites but
A topical treatment is not recommended

That is simply not true.

Here are the instructions from the manufacturer: APPLICATIONS TO OUTSIDE SURFACES OF LISTED STRUCTURES AND INTO WALL VOIDS Apply 0.06% of finished Taurus SC dilution as a low-pressure spray to the exterior of the structure where listed pests enter, trail around the structure or where they crawl and hide. Treat using a low-pressure coarse banded surface spray up to 18 inches in width around doors, windows, vents, pipes, foundation cracks, drilled holes or around any exterior openings where listed pests could enter the structure. Make sure to treat the joint where exterior siding (wood, vinyl, aluminum or other similar materials) meets the cement, brick or block foundation. Treat anywhere electrical, cable or telephone wires enter the house. This treatment should be made as a general surface spray, crack and crevice spray, or a wall void application. Taurus SC may be applied as a foam treatment into wall voids to kill and / or control the above listed pests.

I hope this dispells the errors on Taurus sc.