FAQ

Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They are often found in bedding, furniture, and other areas where people sleep or rest.

They are relatively easy to identify when discovered. Adults are brown to red-brown in color, flat and oval in shape. Nymphs (immature young) are translucent (clear) in color and their abdomens darken once they’ve had a blood meal. Bed bugs can move quickly when discovered in daylight since they are sensitive to light due to being primarily nocturnal. Bed bugs are known to be lazy feeders, essentially falling off of their hosts when they’ve filled their needs. They crawl slowly back to their hiding places which are usually in or around beds or furniture where people spend large amounts of time. This would be like if you slept next to your refrigerator so you could get up and eat and go right back to bed. Furniture can be difficult to inspect because of the way it’s manufactured but it’s important to know that bed bugs can live clutches of their eggs in the smallest of areas or openings.

Bed bug victims sometimes experience red bump-like marks where the bites have occurred but this is not in every case. Some people show no signs of bites at all. We have seen cases where a husband and wife share a bed and the wife has bite marks but the husband has none even though his side of the bed has the most activity. When bed bugs excrete the consumed blood, it will darken when exposed to the environment and will appear as black spots or smears on the bedding.

Effective treatment for bed bugs often requires a combination of methods, including heat treatment, insecticides, and thorough cleaning. Professional pest control services can provide the most effective solutions.

Yes, we use safe and effective methods for bed bug control that minimize risks to your family and pets while effectively eliminating pests.

Signs of a bed bug infestation include bites on your skin, small blood stains on your sheets, and the presence of bed bug shells or fecal spots in your bedding or furniture.

Our bed bug control process includes a thorough inspection, targeted treatment using advanced products, and follow-up visits to ensure complete elimination.

No. As long as our technician can treat all areas of your property. Your technician will leave a service report upon completion of your treatment so you will know your yard has been serviced. The service report will include your date and time of service as well as any comments and helpful hints the technician may have to help you keep your property protected from mosquitos, ticks and other pests.

Yes. We are trained and licensed to handle most pest issues including ants, bed bugs, spiders and many other local pests. 

To minimize mosquito attraction, eliminate standing water, maintain your yard by trimming overgrown vegetation, and consider using mosquito-repelling plants like citronella or marigolds. Regular pest control treatments can also help keep them at bay.

New England is home to several mosquito species, including the Eastern Saltmarsh mosquito and the Asian Tiger mosquito. Each species has unique behaviors and habitats.

Mosquitoes are small flying insects with large front and rear legs (relative to their entire body) and slender body segments that are classified as “flies.” There are key differences between male and female mosquitoes. Like most flies, male mosquitoes usually only live 5-7 days after emerging as adults and mating. Males do not seek out blood for food; they rely strictly on nectar or plant sugars. Males will form large swarms at dusk in spring and summer and females will fly into these swarms to mate. Females will seek out a blood host (they’re ectoparasites of all mammals) only when she has been impregnated, otherwise she consumes plant sugars for energy. Once a blood meal is found she will rest under plant leaves and vegetation while she digests. The female will then lay her eggs and begin the process again. Most females will die within 2 or 3 weeks naturally and the process occurs over and over during the summer months.

Like all flies, mosquitoes undergo the same four-stage life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The second and third stages are aquatic. Depending on the particular species, the female mosquito lays her eggs, either individually or in attached groups called “rafts.” The word mosquito is Spanish and means "little fly." Male mosquitos do not feed on blood but rather nectar from flowers. Female mosquitos suck blood for egg development.

Not usually during a normal service. Mosquitoes do not normally seek shelter in the grass. Our goal during the inspection of the property is to identify the “hot spots” where mosquitoes might be most active. The most common areas to find mosquitoes during the day include: the underside of plant and tree leaves , under decks and in damp shady areas around the property. We do recommend that you keep your grass short during the mosquito season.

Our product of choice is Talstar which is a residual pyrethroid insecticide. It kills on contact and provides a residue which will continue to kill mosquitoes for weeks. The active ingredient Bifenthrin is family and pet friendly and is odorless, leaves no staining and retains its effectiveness after rainfall.

Family and pets should not be outside during the application of the spray treatment, but once dry you can touch the grass, walk around barefoot and enjoy your yard.

Yes. The standard barrier spray treatment is also effective on fleas and ticks.

Yes! All of our technicians are fully trained and licensed applicators in Massachusetts and/ or Rhode Island. They must also pass full background checks prior to being employed. We carry full insurance coverage.

Yes. However, our all-natural treatment needs to be applied more often to be effective and it repels mosquitoes rather than eliminating them. The all natural treatment also has an odor.

Please close all first-floor windows, eliminate stagnant and standing water from around your property as much as possible, reduce or remove excess vegetation, and keep lawns short.

Both rats are considered medium in size, weighing 9 to 12 ounces and approximately 10 inches in length with naked or scaly tails. Their coat color can range from black, brown, grey or mixes of all 3. Both rats have small ears and blunt noses. Rats can become sexually reproductive within 5 weeks of birth. Pregnancy lasts approximately 21 days and each litter can yield 7-14 babies.

Black or Roof Rats prefer to nest in higher sections of building, walls voids, trees, etc. Excellent climbers.

Brown rats or Norway rats prefer to nest closer to the ground or water areas.

Rats in general are omnivores and considered “commensal” which means they live along side of humans and they benefit from our waste.

Control options for rats include trapping, strategic bait placement, exclusion services, and active burrow treatments. Each method has its advantages, and a combination of strategies is often the most effective approach.

Silverfish are small, wingless insects that thrive in damp, dark environments. They are often found in basements, bathrooms, and kitchens, where they feed on starchy materials like paper, glue, and food. Their presence indicates a moisture problem in your home.

• Common spiders in Rhode Island and Massachusetts include the house spider, wolf spider, and cellar spider. Each species has its own habits and preferences, but they all seek out similar environments that provide food and shelter.

Yellow jackets are the most common WASP found in the eastern United States; they’re not actually bees. Easily identified by their bright yellow and black stripes on their abdomen, yellow jackets are prolific hunters and nest builders. Sometimes yellow jackets are confused with Hornets because of their colors but Hornets have much larger heads and most hornets in our area are black and white striped (bald-faced hornet) or yellow and red/brown (European hornet) These wasps do not pollinate but benefit the ecosystem by controlling smaller insect populations that damage crops and food items.

Only the queen can survive the winter, living off of fat stores she built up during the summer and nesting in tree hollows, spaces in the ground, etc. Queens emerge in early spring (sometimes by accident on a warm winter day) and search for a place to build a nest. Nesting sites might be at the top of a roof peak, behind window shutters, under a pool deck, etc (typically this is the German Yellow jacket) and even underground nests (typically the Eastern Yellow jacket).

Once the first group of eggs hatch, the queen will retire from nest building and only focus on egg laying. Populations can reach 3,000-5,000 by mid to late summer and nest size can easily triple within 2 weeks of ideal weather. All female yellow jackets can sting (repeatedly), often “marking” a person with a pheromone or chemical that will attract more yellow jackets to attack.

Control options include professional pest control services, traps, and insecticides. It's important to address nests early to prevent aggressive behavior.

The best way to determine if termites are in your home is with a thorough inspection from a pest management professional. Unfortunately, termites don’t always leave apparent warning signs and detection can be difficult without professional help. 

There are estimates of how much termites cost homeowners each year in damage repair throughout the internet. Most of these estimates are in the billions of dollars which is a significant reason to be aware of early warning signs. If You are concerned about termites in your area or would like information about termite prevention call us for a free consultation.

Look for hollowed-out wood, mud tubes on exterior walls, or discarded wings near windows and doors. These can all indicate a termite presence. Regular inspections can help catch these signs early.

There are three main types of termites: subterranean, drywood, and dampwood. Each type has different behaviors and risks, so understanding them can help in prevention and treatment. The subterranean termite is the most common in New England. 

Termites cause damage in hidden areas, behind walls, under floors, in crawl spaces, attics and basements. This damage can be truly devastating, costing individual homeowners thousands of dollars in structural repair. Termites work 24 hours/7 days a week at damaging the wood in and around a structure.

Termites can enter homes with as little as 1/32-of-an- inch opening and usually unseen through shelter tubes in hidden areas.

Termites often leave wood that sounds hollow when tapped. Look for small holes or frass, which is termite droppings, as signs of damage.

Typically termite control can be achieved in less than a few months, however, factors beyond the control of the bait or PMP (such as colony size, location, environmental conditions, and amount of other cellulose) may contribute to how long it takes the bait to work.

Pest Assassins will monitor your system on a scheduled cycle to ensure the current infestation is eliminated and and future threats are dealt with.

Unfortunately, there may be no or few warning signs but look for these:

• Termites “swarming” during the day or early evening and often after rainfall.
• Termite evidence in or around windows and doorframes.
• Shelter tubes appearing on or around the foundation.
• Baseboards and floors which may sound hollow.
• Dead termites or termite wings on window sills or along walls.

Mud tubes are tunnels made by termites to travel between their colony and food sources. They are typically found on walls, foundations, or in crawl spaces.

After mating, swarmers shed their wings. Finding these wings near windows or doors can indicate a nearby infestation.