The Bug Man Celebrates 10 Years; Prepares to Move to New Location

The Bug Man in Central TN

It’s our 10 year anniversary! To celebrate and commemorate, we wrote up a press release. We’d like to share it with you…It’s our 10 year anniversary! To celebrate and commemorate, we wrote up a press release. We’d like to share it with you…

MURFREESBORO, TN — A lot can happen in a decade. Dan and Vicky Cassidy, owners and operators of The Bug Man Pest Control, know firsthand.

Since starting the business in a room next to their bedroom in the fall of 2001 with only one man and a truck, the Cassidy family business has come a long way.

“I guess you could say that our start was a result of the economic impact caused by 9/11,” Vicky shares. “Dan had recently been laid off and—after 9/11–jobs evaporated overnight. Starting our own pest control business was our way of providing for our family. And now we’re proud to help others provide for their families.”

Six trucks and seven employees later, The Bug Man is bigger than Dan and Vicky originally planned. “We attribute our success to the hard work and dedication of our employees–who we consider to be our extended family–and also our customers. It’s about people,” Vicky says, with a smile. “For us, it’s always been about people.”

After acquiring Advantage Pest Control in Lebanon, The Bug Man is now serving Rutherford and Wilson County, as well as numerous other cities within the Middle Tennessee area.

The Bug Man is a three-time (and hopefully four-time) Ruthies award winner. Since the Daily News Journal created the Favorite Pest Control Company category, The Bug Man has won first place every time.

This year, The Bug Man was also voted Best Bug Zapper in the Murfreesboro Post’s Besties awards.

As if adding a new set of customers and widening their service area wasn’t enough, The Bug Man is soon moving into a permanent office location in downtown Murfreesboro on Church Street. They hope to be up and running in the new space by the end of this year at 606 S Church Street.

Going Paperless: The Bug Man Offers Online Bill Pay and Email Service Notifications

The Bug Man Offers Online Bill Pay and Email Service Notifications

Hear ye! Hear ye! We’re going paperless! Read our latest blog for more on this exciting news!If you’ve received mail from The Bug Man recently, you’ve probably noticed a sticker or an insert talking about our online bill pay feature. If you don’t usually get mail from us, then consider this your announcement: Hey, Middle Tennessee, we’re going paperless!

We cherish the opportunity to provide our customers with the convenience that comes from the Internet. Whether it’s paying your bill online or receiving a service notification reminder in your inbox, we like meeting you where you are. And a lot of you are online. Even right now. 🙂

We also added a new widget to the sidebar of The Bug Man’s website that makes it super easy for you to sign up for paperless billing or email service reminders.

We’re going green. And you’re saving green on stamps. #winning 😉

Please call our office at 615-217-7284, send us an email, or post a comment if you need assistance.

Unwanted Pests: Putting an End to Roach Encroachment

Putting an End to Roach Encroachment

Roaches are a tough pest to beat. They are not a do-it-yourself kind of bug. Call The Bug Man and we’ll come to the rescue!

en·croach

1. to advance beyond proper, established, or usual limits; make gradual inroads: A dictatorship of the majority is encroaching
on the rights of the individual.
2. to trespass upon the property, domain, or rights of another, especially
stealthily or by gradual advances.

Roaches do encroach! Perhaps the word encroach is a dictionary tribute to the cockroach. The world may never know. However, what we do know about roaches, we can share with you.

Here are some factual snippets, with a few notes of humorous commentary weaved in just to make it fun:

Once there is a cockroach infestation, it can be very hard to get rid of them. Cockroaches multiply very quickly, and they also adapt quickly, too. If only we could train them to be in the military. We could call it the Roach Regiment. They would be immune to nuclear war and we would always win. Unless, of course, the Roach Regiment was battling The Bug Man. Then the roaches would lose.

Seriously though, it is important to contact a pest control agency (a.k.a. The Bug Man) quickly if you see them in your home or business. Those monsters don’t mess around. You want to get to them quickly before they take over.

There are over 4,000 different varieties of cockroaches, but only about 30 of them can comfortably live with humans. This number can be further reduced to include only four varieties; the main species that cause problems in homes and businesses in America.

The four main species are the American, German, Asian, and Oriental cockroaches. These vary in size from about 1/2″ (German), up to 2″ (American). In America, the species that is most common in homes would most likely be the German variety. When you call The Bug Man, we will tell them auf wiedersehen and get them to sayanara out of your home or business stat!

Once cockroaches infest a home, they are rarely seen because they are nocturnal and can live up to a month with little or no food. They can also survive by eating book bindings, furniture, glue, soap, dead insects, shoe linings, and more. There’s a new student excuse: “My cockroach ate my homework. It also ate the bed I sleep on. I’m barefoot because they ate my shoes, and I didn’t finish my science project because they ate my glue. Can I get an A for effort?”

The presence of cockroaches can lead to a definite impression of uncleanness–especially if your guests see them. Contrary to popular belief, a cockroach infestation is not necessarily an indication of poor hygiene. However, an untidy environment will make it all the more difficult to get rid of them. The presence of cockroaches can also lead to health problems, including asthma in children. If you spot a cockroach at home or work, there are likely more of them concealed nearby. Contact a pest professional to avoid letting an infestation get out of hand…or foot…or ear…just call The Bug Man. 😉

Voting for the 2011 #Ruthies is Coming to an End

The Bug Man in Central TN

The voting for the #ruthies is coming to a close on August 28. Thanks to all who have voted. With less than a week to go, let’s keep on voting! Throughout August, we’ve been rounding up our friends, family and fans for support as we go after our fourth Ruthie award for Favorite Pest Control Company.

We are so honored that so many people show their support via kind words, notes, comments, and visits to the office. We’ve been voted as number one three years in a row and we’re hoping that we come out with a fourth Ruthie win.

Here’s how to vote:
Voting is coming to a close–the last day to cast a daily vote is August 28th. To vote for The Bug Man in the Favorite Pest Control Company category go to RuthiesAwards.com, click on Retail and Professional Services, and then Favorite Pest Control Company. You’ll find The Bug Man at the top of the page under Bug Man.

Thank you so much, everybody! No amount of words can express our profound appreciation for you!

UPDATE: We won the Ruthie! Woohoo! Read our announcement for more information.

Rewarding Awards: The Bug Man Wins a Bestie and Tries for a Fourth Ruthie

The Bug Man in Central TN

We love our customers! If there was a Facebook “Like” button for our customers, it wouldn’t be enough. We’d use a “Love” button. 🙂

We’re excited to announce that we won a Bestie award for being the Best Pest Control in the Boro! Thank you for voting us as the best Bug Zapper in Murfreesboro!

To celebrate, The Bug Man family headed to Lanes, Trains and Automobiles in Murfreesboro for some bowling and laser tag.  You can check out the photos from our night out on our Facebook page. We’d love to connect with you over there.

Now it’s voting time again for the Ruthie awards. We’ve won a Ruthie for being the Best Pest Control Company for three years in a row. Now we’re going for a fourth. Please vote for us daily at this link: Vote for The Bug Man in the Ruthies.

Thank you!

Things to Consider: Termite Protection for Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs

Termite Protection for Swimming Pools

If you or someone you know has a swimming pool, consider termite protection, because termites are attracted to water. We recently received a call at The Bug Man office from a customer who discovered termite damage in the vinyl lining of their swimming pool.

“But termites eat wood,” you reply. “They don’t eat plastic. Why would they eat the liner?”

Termites are able to sense when there is water on the other side of a pool liner. So, if they are desperate enough, they will eat through the liner to get to the water.
The damage caused by termites to pool liners is often gradual. People may not suddenly notice it. However, they may see that their water gets a little low sometimes, yet think nothing of it. Eventually, they may also find tiny little holes in the pool liners. The tiny holes likely came from termites eating the lining to get to the water.

Pools that don’t use liners are not immune to termite damage. Due to a number of factors, and the GIANT source of water, many pools are at risk.

Closely related items in this conversation are hot tubs. They too are a source of water and are often covered with wood.

In case you’re not that familiar with the lifestyle of a termite, their colonies are forever on the hunt for food and water. Many pools and spas are built with wooden framing at the bottom or underneath the vinyl. Lots of pools and spas have a wooden decks surrounding them. The combination of wood touching the ground and a huge source of water inside is quite dangerous.

So what should you do if you had no idea that you needed to protect your pool and hot tub from a termite attack? Well, we recommend inspecting your pool and/or spa to check for damage.

However, we cannot do a termite treatment or an inspection on a pool if it is full of water. We can only do an inspection and a treatment during the construction stage, or if the liner is being replaced. If you’re in the Rutherford and Wilson county areas of Middle Tennessee, we can come out for a free termite inspection. We would be happy to provide you with a free quote and a treatment plan.

Your pool and hot tub are for your enjoyment. They are not meant to be a termite buffet.

If you know somebody who has a pool or spa, please inform them that they may need termite protection. Lots of people are unaware that termites target pools and spas. It’s easy to share this article on Facebook, send out a quick tweet or email it to a friend or family member.

For a free quote, reach out today!

Termite Tips: Simple Fixes Make a Great Defense

Termite Tips

Like a helpful friend, we want to share these tips with you for termite protection. A few simple fixes could save you thousands of dollars.”Hey, Jess!” she said with glee. Tori hadn’t seen her best friend in a week. She was excited to catch up. “Thanks for coming over. Ready to go for a walk? Or do you need any water or anything?”

“Nah, I’m good,” Jess replied.  “Already got a water bottle. Let’s jet.”

“Ok,” Tori said with a smile. “Let’s go out the back door. The street behind my house is less busy than the one in front. You know me. I can’t even walk in a straight line. Don’t want to run into any cars.”

Tori dug for the house key in her pocket. Jess–in the market for new lawn furniture and always imagining ways to upgrade her own back yard–scoped out Tori’s brand new in-ground pool and fire pit. As she was gazing around the yard, she noticed a pile of firewood.

“Hey, Tor. You shouldn’t store that firewood on your back porch.”

“Why not?” Tori replied, still fumbling around with her house key.

“Termites.”

“Huh? What?”

“Storing firewood near your home is an open invitation to termites,” Jess explained. “So are those leaves in your leaky gutters.”

“I never knew that!” Tori exclaimed. “I wish someone would’ve told me.”

As your helpful friends–who happen to know more than a little about termites–we’re here to tell you a few things that you may not know about termite prevention. Please look at these tips on how to set up a line of defense. Special thanks to Termidor for the list.

  • Don’t attach wooden trellises to exterior walls
  • Keep wood debris, scrap lumber, sawdust and firewood away from your home
  • Don’t bury wood near your home
  • Remove infested trees and stumps
  • Repair leaking faucets and water lines, both inside and outside
  • Fix leaky roofs and gutters
  • Don’t allow leaves to accumulate in gutters or drains
  • Grade soil (meaning, make a natural downhill path) so that water–including condensation from your air conditioner–runs away from the foundation of your home
  • Cover at least 90% of the soil in crawl spaces with plastic sheeting
  • Keep wood siding, stucco, and form board at least six inches away from the ground or mulch landscaping

Subterranean termites are particularly evil. They are evil to the tune of $5 billion dollars of damage every year, actually. Many homeowners think their homes are safe because they don’t see any termite damage. However, for peace of mind and for protection, it’s best to call a professional to get an inspection. The Bug Man offers a free termite inspection and a customized termite treatment plan.

For more homeowner tips, read our blog on pest prevention for your home.

Using Technology to Feel Like a Superhero

Using Technology to Feel Like a Superhero

Hello. My name’s Lindsay. I do social media stuff for The Bug Man. Nice to meet you. This morning, as I was shuffling around and getting ready for work in my suburban apartment, I discovered a ravenous villain in my bathtub. An evil menace had set out to disrupt my pest-free* pleasantness. Although I work for a pest control company, I don’t have every bug memorized…yet. I’ve learned a lot while working at The Bug Man. I like to call myself an aspiring bug expert, but I’ve got a long ways to go. Some bugs look like other bugs. A few bugs have similar names and traits (i.e. centipede and millipede). Some bugs are different in Tennessee than where I grew up in Nebraska.

So what’s a girl to do when there’s a nasty, unidentified bug in her shower?

She supposed to pick up her smart phone. *nods matter of factly*

Wait! Pick up a smart phone?! You can’t kill a bug with a smartphone! Well, you could, I guess, but it’d be really messy and would gunk up your phone. But you can educate yourself. And you can envision heroic scenarios where someone else (The Bug Man) sweeps in to kill the bug so you don’t have to.

I grabbed my iPhone and opened up the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) app so I could figure out what bug was staring at me from my bathtub.

Through reading descriptions of common household invaders and looking at pictures, I discovered that a centipede had trekked up through the drainpipe to greet me. Now that I knew what bug it was, I somehow felt better. I felt empowered. I was also relieved to remember that the app also has this nifty feature that helps me find a pest professional.

Don’t get me wrong. I know where The Bug Man is located and I know my own office’s phone number. But it was comforting to find us in the list of pest professionals in the area.

I’ve got to admit that I’m a tech geek. And a superhero fan. And I have an active imagination. So I imagined that the NPMA app worked like the perfect weapon to combat the evil centipede. Because I had to kill the bug in order to take a shower, I thought of myself as The Bug Woman, using my new-found knowledge to muster up the guts to bag the bug.

And then, I jumped into The Bug Mobile. I mean…my car.  And I drove to work to continue the fight against the injustice of the bugs in the world.

If you have a smart phone, I highly recommend that you download the NPMA app. It’s pretty nifty. And if you’ve got bug issues, call your local superhero: The Bug Man. 🙂

Like a Moth to a Flame: Illuminating How Outdoor Lighting Affects Pests in Your Home

How Outdoor Lighting Affects Pests in Your Home

Learn about how the lighting scheme outside your house is related to pest control with these helpful tips. You’ve probably heard the cliche, “Like a moth to a flame,” before. But have you ever really thought about that sentence? Have you ever wondered why moths (and other flying things) are attracted to light sources? A lot of people are in the dark about outdoor lighting.

Well, here’s some illumination for you.

The lighting scheme outside your home affects how susceptible your home is to a pest invasion. Not only will flying bugs be attracted to lights, but spiders, scorpions, and bats may become attracted to the bugs that became attracted to your home because of your outdoor lighting.

On a balmy summer night, it’s normal to see bugs swarming around a light. It’s not unusual for a moth to fly inside a house after hanging out at the door waiting for such an opportunity. These two common pest problems–and many others–can be prevented.

Here are a few Bug Basics when it comes to outdoor lighting:

* Many pests are attracted to fluorescent bulbs. That kind of lighting may strain our eyes. Alternatively, it makes bug eyes happy.

* Some insects are picky about their lighting. They may only be attracted to your home on an idle Thursday evening at 11:14 p.m. in June when it’s 67 degrees. Seriously. Others may like your lighting all night, every night.

* Male insects may love the way you’ve lit up your house and be attracted to it. While some female insects couldn’t care less. Isn’t that funny?

* Some insects only like your lights if they produce a lot of heat. What do they think it is, a tanning bulb, or something?

Knowing what you know now, here’s how you can adjust your outdoor lighting setup.

* Though they aren’t as bright or as attractive to humans, tinted lights attract fewer bugs. Install lights with a yellow, pink or orange hue. If it helps, pretend it’s like Christmas in July with all of your colored lights.

* If you have accidentally set up a pest tanning bulb boutique outside your backdoor, replace high-heat-halogen and incandescent bulbs with bulbs that produce less heat.

* Consider indirect lighting. Meaning, install lights that aren’t right above your doorway. Set up lights 15 to 20 feet away from your doorway that shine on your door.

* Use curtains on the windows of the rooms you hang out in at night. Even interior lighting is attractive to pests.

* Avoid shining bright lights on white walls, especially near water. Light + White Walls + Water = No Good

* To avoid the bugs that only come out at dusk (i.e. midges) set up your lights to come on two hours after the sun goes down. Pull out that trusty Christmas tree light timer and set it up with your hue lights that we wrote about earlier.

While you’re spending more time outside in the evenings, observe the pest activity near the lights outside your house. If you notice an abundance of pests hovering around one of your light sources, give us a call. We can talk through solutions to your lighting scheme.

Fruit Flies: Cause, Elimination and Education

Fruit Flies

Learn about the causes and elimination of pesky fruit flies.Tiny black minions. Foul flying fools. Little looney losers.

Fruit flies.

So you went to the store and bought some fresh fruit. You’re making a push to eat healthier. You’re going to the gym. You’re taking the stairs. You’re determined to learn how to make great smoothies with your collection of bananas, strawberries, grapes, and protein powder. You’re ready.

You’re set.

You’re UPSET!

Because you found fruit flies!

Now you wonder where the fruit flies came from. Instead of hitting the gym, you’re hitting the countertop, the table, the air, and your hands together, in an effort to smash the small, sickening sleuths.

Sad story. Sad story, indeed.

Back to Their Roots
Fruit flies hail from organic matter. Translation: Fruit flies can breed in decaying fruit, drains, and house plants. Rotting fruit is a perfect spot for a flourishing fruit fly family. Bananas are especially responsible because fruit flies lay their eggs in the stems of bananas. Drains in the kitchen, bathroom, and utility room are also popular places. And, the oft-forgotten common house plant is another huge hang out for fruit flies.

Uprooting the Rebels
Eliminating fruit flies can be tricky at times. Upon scouring the internet for you so you don’t have to, we discovered several fruit fly removal formulas. Anything from homemade funnels in sports drink bottles to Drano© to strategically placed wine glasses was suggested.

Here at The Bug Man, we have a few recommendations.

  1. Store the fruit in the fridge or dispose of whatever rotting fruit is attracting the flies. And, make a note to check your fruit at the store before you buy it to make sure no flies are nearby.
  2. After you’ve disposed of the rotting fruit, take out the trash. And while you’re doing that…
  3. Scope out the bottom of your trash or recycle bin. Is it dirty? If so, clean it.
  4. Wipe down your counters, tables, and floor. Sticky, leftover residue may be attracting flies.
  5. If you have a house plant, try re-potting it. How long has that soil been in there? Was it re-potted after you bought it?
  6. Clean your drains. We recommend pouring a diluted bleach solution down your drains. Let’s pause 15 seconds for emphasis.

1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…9…10…11…12…13…14…15…

A diluted solution. Please don’t douse your drain with a container of bleach in an attempt to be overly thorough in your cleaning quest. Use one capful of bleach per gallon of water. Little bleach. Lot water.

If you’re still seeing fruit flies after taking the steps listed above, there are several other things you can try. There are numerous variations of a vinegar/soap concoction. Opinions vary as to which one works the best. If you need a customized recommendation of what to do, please leave us a comment here. We’ll do our best to help you out.

You may now return to your pursuit of healthy living, fruit-eating, and workouts at the gym.