Keeping Bees and Wasps Away Naturally

A bee hovers in front of a puple bellflower

If youโ€™re spending time outside in the summer, you probably arenโ€™t alone: wasps and bees are active in the summer in the Memphis Metro. A run-in with wasps or bees can be annoying, painful or even cause a serious allergic reaction. But how can you keep wasps and bees away without loading up on bug spray? Read on to learn how to naturally repel bees and wasps while you’re outdoors this summer!

Which Plants Attract Bees and Wasps?ย 

Since bees and wasps are pollinators, itโ€™s no surprise theyโ€™re attracted to flowering plants. Here are some species of plants that bees and/or wasps are particularly fond of:ย 

  • Black-eyed Susan
  • Honeysuckle
  • Lantana
  • Lilacs
  • Perennial Yarrow
  • Poppies
  • Pale Purple Coneflower
  • Sweet Fennel
  • Wisteria
  • Queen Anneโ€™s Lace
  • Sedum
  • Snapdragon
  • Sunflowers

If any of these plants are growing near your home, consider relocating them further away on your property. Especially if theyโ€™re close to an outdoor space that you use often.ย 

Which Plants Repel Bees and Wasps?

Just because theyโ€™re pollinators doesnโ€™t mean bees and wasps like all flowering plants. The scent of the following plants repel bees and wasps:

  • Basil
  • Citronella
  • Geraniums
  • Marigolds
  • Peppermint
  • Spearmint
  • Thyme
  • Wormwood

Just as moving plants that attract stinging insects helps keep them away from your home, so does adding plants that repel them. Particularly, if theyโ€™re near outdoor spaces like patios.ย 

Stinging Insects and Food

Whether itโ€™s barbecues, picnics or sโ€™mores, eating outside is a quintessential part of summer. This can be an issue because stinging insects are attracted to food. However, there are steps you can take to reduce the chance that an uninvited guest with a stinger will ruin your outdoor eating experience:

  • Pack up and throw away food and trash as soon as possible after finishing.ย 
  • When you put food or food-soiled trash in a trash can, close the lid securely.
  • Wasps love sugary drinks. Close or cover your beverage to keep them out.

Bees and wasps are attracted to many types of foods and ingredients. However, like with plants, there are some food items that repel stinging insects, including:ย 

  • Bay Leaves
  • Cinnamon
  • Cloves
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Garlic
  • Sliced Cucumber
  • Vinegar

Since these can be found in most grocery stores and are inexpensive (often less expensive than a store-bought insect spray), they make a practical all-natural pest repellent. Just pour, slice or sprinkle them into a container that you keep near you or your outdoor space.

How to Keep Bees & Wasps Away with Essential Oils

A more portable and less passive way to keep stinging insects away naturally is to make a pest repellent spray using essential oils. Bees and wasps dislike the smell of these essential oils:

  • Citronella oil
  • Clove oil
  • Eucalyptus oil
  • Geranium oil
  • Peppermint oil
  • Rosemary oil

Simply combine essential oil and water at a ratio of two drops of essential oil per ounce of water to make a natural insect repellent. Pour the mixture it in a spray bottle and youโ€™re all set.ย 

Best Bee and Wasp Exterminators in the Memphis Metro

Natural pest repellents can help keep wasps or bees away from your home. However, they wonโ€™t be enough to deal with a serious infestation. In that case, you may need to hire a local exterminator to get rid of the bees or wasps on your property. Inman-Murphy has been providing exterminator services in the Memphis Metro since 1999. If youโ€™re looking for safe, effective bee, wasp and hornet removal, call us today for a free quote!

Best Ways to Avoid a Wasp Sting

Wasps building their nest

Wasps have developed a bad reputation around Mid-South TN. Although some people think of wasps as beesโ€™ unproductive and temperamental cousins, these insects are actually very important pollinators and even better at controlling populations of agricultural pests. Theyโ€™ve earned the right to get a bit defensive if you mess with their nests! The more unfortunate of us know what itโ€™s like to be stung by wasps repeatedly, even when youโ€™ve done nothing intentional to disrupt their business. If youโ€™re wondering what you can do to prevent wasp stings, read on for advice from the expert wasp control technicians at Inman-Murphy, Inc.

Avoiding Wasp Stings

The most effective way to avoid wasp stings is to keep wasps from building nests in your yard in the first place. Here are a few ways you can do this on your own without any pest control products or experience:

  • Be careful with your food. Donโ€™t leave out sweet or protein-rich foods and drinks for too long.
  • Toss your food, containers, and drinks in sealable bins
  • Maintain your yard to keep overgrown grass, plants, and trees from providing prime nesting sites.

If wasps have already started building nests in your yard, you have to be careful not to make yourself a target for stings. Here are some ways we recommend you protect yourself from them:ย 

  • Be cautious around their nests. Moving slowly and carefully will lessen your chances of stings
  • Stay still if a wasp flies up to you to check you out
  • Donโ€™t swat at wasps. They will quickly become angered and signal to their friends for help
  • If running away is your last resort, do so in a straight line without waving your arms.

How to Deal with a Wasp Sting

It can be easier than we would like to accidentally anger a wasp. Sometimes, theyโ€™ll sneak up on you and sting you without any prior warning. Hereโ€™s how you can ease your symptoms if youโ€™ve been stung:

  1. Make a cold compress using an ice pack or a rag soaked in cold water
  2. Take ibuprofen or another over-the-counter pain reliever
  3. Use an antihistamine to help with swelling around the site of the sting

If you or someone else starts to experience faintness, difficulty breathing, nausea, or swelling of the face and mouth after a sting, call an ambulance right away. These are common symptoms of anaphylaxis, a serious form of allergic reaction.ย 

Removing Wasp Nests in Mid-South TN

It might be tempting, but you should never try to remove a wasp nest on your own. Wasp nests often host more individuals than you would imagine, so disturbing their nest can lead to a barrage of stings. Instead, reach out to your local wasp nest removal experts. Our technicians at Inman-Murphy, Inc. are trained in multiple methods of effective, harmless wasp removal. We can assess your situation to find the reasons that wasps are nesting and help you prevent further construction in the future. For a free quote, contact us today!

Avoiding Deer Ticks & Lyme Disease

A deer tick found in Mid-South TN - Inman-Murphy Termite & Pest Control

Have you ever found a tick on your leg attempting to latch itself on? This is one of the most unsettling pest experiences you can have around Mid-South TN, but itโ€™s even worse to find out that some ticks in our area are capable of transmitting the bacteria that causes Lyme disease to humans. Like some of the many other diseases that ticks can carry, Lyme disease comes with serious consequences, so itโ€™s important to be able to protect yourself, your family, and your pets from tick bites. Read on for tick prevention advice from our team at Inman-Murphy Termite & Pest Control.

How Do People Get Lyme Disease?

Most cases of Lyme disease start with a bite from a deer tick nymph. Deer ticks are known to carry and spread Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, through their bites. Because of both their tiny, 2 mm-long stature and their anesthetic saliva, deer tick nymphs are experts at sneakily biting hosts without ever being detected.

If you end up contracting Lyme disease from a deer tick bite, the first symptoms you will notice are fever, rashes, headaches, exhaustion, and pain in your joints and muscles. However, if left untreated, you will eventually start dealing with nerve damage and arthritis. You should call a local medical professional right away if youโ€™re experiencing any of these symptoms and believe them to be related to a recent tick bite.

Best Ways to Avoid Ticks in Mid-South TN

Itโ€™s important to learn how to keep out of ticksโ€™ way to prevent bites and the potential consequences that could follow. Ticks in our area like to hide out in humid and densely vegetated areas, so we have to be cautious when spending time outside, especially with our pets and children. Here are some tips for avoiding ticks:

  • When spending time outside, wear long pants and socks to limit skin exposure
  • Keep your kids and pets on the trail when hiking or walking in areas with dense vegetation
  • Always check your body for ticks before coming back inside
  • If you do find a tick, donโ€™t grab it with your fingers. Use tweezers to pinch it close to its head and the surface of the skin, then draw it away slowly.

Local Tick Control Professionals

You should not be dealing with ticks on a regular basis. If you, your family members, or your pets are coming back inside with ticks on their bodies routinely, you might have a tick problem on your property. In this case, itโ€™s important to reach out to your local tick exterminators for help to protect yourself from dangerous bites. Our technicians at Inman-Murphy Termite and Pest Control are trained to set up barrier spray treatments to keep ticks away for months. Contact us today to learn more about our tick control services and receive a free quote!

Rain in April Attracts Pests

A tick found in Millington TN - Inman-Murphy, Inc.

It can seem impossible to keep pests out of your yard (and even your home) when spring comes around. Do you know why that is? There are many factors that play into spring being the season that all kinds of pests thrive, but rainfall is one of the most important contributors. Every year, the rainfall brings about conditions for a few particular pests to exploit, and we are the ones that have to take precautionary measures against them. If youโ€™re looking for DIY spring pest control advice for rain bugs, read on to learn from our expert exterminators at Inman-Murphy, Inc!

What Pests Does a Rainy Spring Bring?

A rainy spring leads to many benefits that pests around the Memphis Metro area use to their advantage. There are a few kinds of pests in particular that thrive after a rainy spring:

  1. Mosquitoes: The more rainfall in spring, the more mosquitoes will be bothering you during the summer. This is because mosquitoes breed in standing water, no matter the size of the source, so an abundance of rainwater pools will allow them to proliferate in peace and grow their numbers quickly.
  2. Fleas and ticks: Fleas and ticks get by by hiding in foliage, waiting until an animal that they can feed on walks by. These parasitic pests take advantage of ample plant growth after rainy springs to find perfect hiding places, which might be in your yard.
  3. Beetles: While a rainy spring makes our gardens flourish, it also gives all kinds of beetles opportunities for easy sustenance supplies.
  4. Fire ants: Fire ants and many other kinds of ants burrow in soil to grow their colonies, so a rainy spring will provide them with optimal soil texture for expansion.
  5. Termites: Sometimes called rain flies, termite swarmers come out during rainy springs to take advantage of water-damaged wood.

What Can I Do Post-Rainfall to Prevent Pests?

A rainy spring can lead to pest problems both indoors and outdoors. Here are some measures that you must take to ensure your property is protected from spring pests:

  • Seal cracks and gaps: Gaps around your doors and windows can be closed off with screens and weather stripping, and cracks in your walls or foundation can be sealed with a silicone-based caulk.
  • Clean your gutters: Leaves and other natural debris can build up in your gutters, leading to overflows that cause moisture problems or pools of standing water that attract mosquitoes to breed.
  • Prevent pooling water: Whether inside in your kitchen and bathroom or outside around your garden and patio, pooling water will always bring out thirsty bugs, so keep an eye out!

Help With Spring Pest Control

If your yard is riddled with pests every spring, itโ€™s time to reach out to your local pest control company. The exterminators at Inman-Murphy, Inc. are well-versed in springtime pest problems around Millington TN. We train our team to conduct property-wide inspections, determining the reasons for your infestation, applying pertinent pest control products safely and efficiently, and teaching you how to avoid pests on your own going forward. Reach out today for a free estimate!

A Healthy Pest-Free Environment for Your Business

Rat in a commercial kitchen in the Memphis Metro Area - Inman-Murphy, Inc.

As a business owner or manager, you know more than anyone the importance and difficulties of maintaining a clean, pristine commercial space. Customers donโ€™t think twice about their expectations of a sanitized and organized place to walk into, no matter what industry your business is in. For many types of businesses, especially those dealing with food or storage, it can be quite difficult to monitor your property and defend your customers and staff from pests with no hiccups. Thatโ€™s where our team at Inman-Murphy, Inc. comes in. We are here to offer our commercial pest control services and teach you how to prevent pests in your business in the Memphis Metro area on your own. Read on to learn!

Common Business Pests in Millington TN

In our 25 years of serving the Memphis Metro area, weโ€™ve noticed patterns in the types of pests that businesses commonly face. In order to get rid of these pests, you have to be aware of the conditions that attract them and work diligently to maintain a preventative business space. Here the most common pests that infest commercial spaces, some of which you might already be dealing with:

  • Rodents: Rats and mice capitalize on food waste and hiding spots afforded by storage spaces to sustain themselves in restaurants, grocery stores, and warehouses. Itโ€™s important to clean up spills promptly and store food properly to keep them away.
  • Spiders: Spiders take advantage of the arid corners of larger business spaces that donโ€™t see much traffic from anything besides insects. Itโ€™s important to declutter and clean often, paying attention to places that customers donโ€™t see, too.
  • Roaches: Roaches are often found in the dark and damp places, such as under sinks or cabinets, taking advantage of plumbing leaks for a source of moisture. Routinely monitoring your property for leaks will help you to avoid cockroach infestations.

How Commercial Exterminators Can Help

Having worked with plenty of business owners in the area before, we are well aware of how busy your schedules are. If you try to conduct your own pest control, you can end up spreading yourself too thin and end up falling short of the effort it takes to both conduct effective business and keep the people around you safe from the dangers associated with pest infestations.

Professional Pest Control for Businesses

For a guaranteed-effective pest control partnership, reach out to our exterminators at Inman-Murphy, Inc. Our commercial pest control experts have served all kinds of businesses and developed the expertise necessary to conduct exhaustive pest control using responsible products. Get in contact with us today for a free quote or to learn more about what we do!

How to Get Rid of Spiders in Your Home

A daddy longlegs walking on a quartz countrttop

Most spiders are completely harmless, but no one wants them to invade their home. While we like them in our gardens, weโ€™d like to keep them outside where they belong! Unfortunately, spiders are prone to make their way indoors, especially when there’s plenty of prey, warmth, and water to be found inside. The key to getting rid of spiders is to prevent them in the first place.

The experts at Inman-Murphy, Inc. are here with the best tips to not only get rid of spiders but keep them away for good. Read on to learn more!

5 Best Spider Control Tips

1. Keep Your Home Clean and Tidy

There are few things spiders love more than a dirty home. Dust, clutter, and messes encourage spiders to take up residence. This is why you often find spiders in your garage, attic, or basement. You can keep spiders out by limiting their exposure to these messy environments in the first place. This is best done by regularly dusting, vacuuming, and generally reducing the clutter in your home.ย Donโ€™t give spiders any excuse to stay and get comfortable!

2. Remove Spider Webs

While youโ€™re cleaning, remove all spider webs in corners high and low including beneath sofas or other furniture with a duster or vacuum. Watch for spider eggs lurking nearby and get rid of them immediately. Before emptying out your vacuum bag indoors, take it outside and dispose of it carefully to avoid further spreading any spiders or their eggs.

3. Secure the Perimeter of Your Home

Walk around the outside of your home and look for piles of leaves, grass clippings, or woodpiles. Trim large bushes or shrubs to keep them from touching your home or windows. Plants and bushes create great havens for spiders. By making your yard less hospitable to spiders, you can ensure they are less likely to eventually make their way into your home.ย 

4. Seal Up Cracks

As you examine the perimeter of your home, look for cracks near windowsills or doors where spiders could sneak inside. Seal cracks with caulk to keep spiders out in your garden. Not only will this keep spiders from crawling indoorsโ€”but it will also work to prevent other insects. Because spiders feed on smaller insects, you can reduce their primary food source by keeping all types of insects out of your property.

5. DIY Prevention: Essential Oils & Vinegar

Did you know spiders hate citrus and mint? Rub citrus peels in areas spiders frequent throughout your home, such as windowsills, baseboards, and ceiling corners.ย Another method is filling a spray bottle with water and a few drops of concentrated peppermint essential oils. Spray this around your home to keep spiders out with the added bonus of making your room smell great.

If you donโ€™t have peppermint oil, vinegar does the same trick. White vinegar has a million and one uses around your house. Repelling spiders is just one of them. Fill a spray bottle with water and vinegar and spray the cracks and crevices throughout your home. These DIY methods won’t be effective in getting rid of an active spider infestation but can assist in repelling the pests in the first place.

How to Get Rid of Spiders For Good

These solutions may help with average spider issues, but spider infestations may not be solved by natural home remedies alone. If youโ€™re experiencing high numbers of spiders in your home, you may have a spider infestation. You can trust the professionals at Inman-Murphy to handle your spider problem so you can sleep better at night. Contact us today to get started!

How to Prevent Winter Flies

Fruit fly in Millington TN home - Inman-Murphy, Inc.

Most people associate flies with the heat of the summer, especially here in Tennessee. Having flies infest your home is never fun, and they can confuse many homeowners when they are indoors during the middle of the winter. Believe it or not, flies are a common winter pestโ€”and theyโ€™re seeking shelter inside your home for a reason.

From fruit flies to cluster flies, itโ€™s important to learn what might be attracting these winter pests to your home in order to prevent them. Read more to learn everything you need to know about getting rid of winter flies in your property once and for all!

Common Winter Flies In Your Home

There are two flies that are typical culprits in your home during the winter: cluster flies and fruit flies. Hereโ€™s what you should know about these nuisance pests:

  1. Cluster flies
    • Big, dark gray flies with yellow hairs on their thorax and overlapping wings
    • Commonly found around windows, basements, or attics
    • Group together in dark, secluded areas to go into diapause or hibernation
    • Begin to re-emerge in the spring or on warmer days to regain heat and energy
  2. Fruit flies
    • Tiny flies that are light in color with big red eyes
    • Commonly found in kitchens or warm, moist areas like your trash or drains
    • Lay eggs in rotting fruit, food, or plant material
    • Often get indoors by hiding inside grocery bags

How to Prevent Flies This Winter

Fruit and cluster flies are common winter pests because like most pests, they cannot survive the cold temperatures outside. While cluster flies wonโ€™t reproduce in your property, fruit fly infestations can rapidly grow in size and become a real nuisance. The key to avoiding dealing with these pests is to prevent them in the first place. Hereโ€™s how to get rid of common winter fly problems:

  1. To get rid of cluster flies, itโ€™s important to seal off your home in the fall months. This means sealing off cracks and crevices around the property. Itโ€™s especially important to seal up windows and doors, as these flies tend to access homes under baseboards and window frames.
  2. To get rid of fruit flies, itโ€™s best to wipe out potential food and shelter sources. Always promptly throw away rotting food from your pantry or fridge. Take your garbage outside regularly and use tight-fitting lids on your cans. Lastly, focus on sealing cracks and crevices around windows and doors near your kitchen.

Need Help Getting Rid of Flies in Your Memphis Area Home?

If you have a fly infestation in your property this winter, itโ€™s best to contact your local fly control experts for advice. At Inman-Murphy, Inc., we work hard to reduce the conditions in your home that could contribute to a fly infestation in the first place. Contact us today to learn more!