Pest Control Frequently Asked Questions, Answers From TexPest

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Question:

I have found some strange looking weeds growing in my lake, what do I do?

Answer:

The first step in dealing with aquatic weeds is to find out what the weed is. There is a very good tool for Plant Identification at Aquaplant. It has easy photo identification, as well as management options. You can also call or email us at etexbiz@gmail.com . Do not attempt to remove them until you know what they are. Sometimes fragmenting the plant can lead to an even bigger problem. Many exotic invasive plants are illegal to transport, so don't take them anywhere. If you don't want to handle the problem yourself, give us a call, we are licensed in aquatic vegetation control for Ponds and lakes .

Question:

Do I need a pest license to trap moles and gophers?

Answer:

That depends. Surprisingly, at least to me, I am asked this question a lot, so I made some calls to the proper authorities with the State. This is what I found.

If you are a homeowner, you have the right to trap your own rodents. If however, you are a homeowner, or business owner hiring someone else to do the trapping, that person should be licensed under the Texas Department Of Agriculture, either with the Structural Pest Control Service, (formerly the Structural Pest Control Board, now under the auspices of the Texas Department Of Agriculture) or the TDA with a license in the "Turf and Ornamental" category, and having a "Nursery and Floral Certificate."

For municipalities, and other public entities, the same rules apply.

Question:

Is my problem moles, or do I have gophers?

Answer:

There is more misinformation on this issue than most. I have heard at least a hundred different methods for determining this, ranging from old wives fables to moon phases. There is a simple way to tell.

Moles move along, displacing dirt to the top and sides as they go. The tunnels are usually visible, but because they don't remove dirt, they do not make large mounds.

Gophers remove the dirt from their tunnels, piling it into mounds around the opening. Therefore moles leave visible tunnels, and gophers leave larger visible mounds.

Question:

Why are moles and gophers in my lawn?

Answer:

They are looking for food. Gophers generally eat roots. Moles eat bugs. If you have moles, you probably have grubs. Get rid of the grubs, and the moles will go away.

Question:

Why do I have grubs?

Answer:

Grubs are the larvae stage of beetles. Around here, they are usually June beetles, or June bugs. June bugs congregate around light and lay eggs in the vicinity of the light. You can change the lights color, or move, or reorient the light for a more satisfactory result.

Question:

Can I do my own chemical applications?

Answer:

Once again, that depends. If you are a homeowner, you may apply chemicals, according to the label instructions, as long as these chemicals do not fall under the states "restricted use" category. Please read and follow the label instructions, for the sake of the environment, for your own health, and because, as stated on the label of such products: "It is a violation of federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with it's labeling." There is one more compelling reason to follow the label directions. The product will be more effective! Using more of a systemic weed killer than recommended, may kill the top before the chemical has a chance to trans-locate to the roots. This will result in faster dessication, but the plant may come back from the root! Similar things can happen with insecticides. Too much may repel the insect instead of killing it.

Question:

How did they get inside my home? (Asked about insects, spiders and rodents. If you have weeds in your home, well...)

Answer:

They come in through a variety of openings. Holes and cracks, around plumbing, electrical, and communications inlets, vents, under doors, through windows, and through garage doors left open to vent heat. You might be surprised how small a rodent can become. Mice may be able to squeeze through an opening no larger than a quarter inch, while larger rats may be able to enter through holes of one half inch! When it comes to pests, any opening is a significant opening!

There are a lot of questions concerning pest control and prevention, two of the best resources are: Bugs And Weeds, an entire site dedicated to pest prevention, and Rational Environmental Solutions , a site with a lot of lawn, garden, and landscape information.

For more information, see: Rational Environmental Solutions
Texpest is the pest prevention and pest control service of Rational Environmental Solutions, an IPM based information and service company,

TexPest
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Texas Department of Agriculture Commercial Pesticide License
Email: etexbiz@gmail.com

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