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A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control

Professional | Long Beach, CA
Services: Pest & Wildlife Control
14 Followers 42Likes 1135 Shares
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Portfolio

Experienced Technicians
Pest & Termite Control

Company Overview

We offer a full range of Pest & Termite Control services for Residential, Commercial & Industrial customers throughout Southern California. With over 30 years of trusted & proven experience, our customers past & present recognize our stability as a small business with a corporate attitude. We bring value & commitment to our customers, specializing in what we can do for them. Our friendly, experienced staff & technicians will work with our customers to develop a customized service plan to ... See More keep their home or business pest free. In addition, we use (IPM) Integrated Pest Management to approach Pest Control in a way that minimizes health and environmental risk. So, wether the problem is big or small, you can count on us for all your Pest & Termite Control needs!

Services

Pest & Wildlife Control

Areas of Expertise

Pest /Rodent /Termite Control

Service Area

LA / Orange / San Bernardino Counties

Contact Info

1319 W. Willow Street

(562) 595-5105

http://www.pestcontrol-socal.co...

In Business Since

1989


Recent Activity


Aquascape Inc. KMS Woodworks Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com Steve G Douglas Hunt Joe Julie + 14 more
  • A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
    Followed 21 people on Dec 26, 2012
  • Striped Skunk

Striped Skunk

Striped Skunks are easily recognized by their unique color & pattern; black fur with a white stripe that begins as a triangular shape on the top of the head and splits into two stripes that travel down the sides of the back and come together again near the base of the tail. They also have a white stripe running from their nose between their eyes and ending on their forehead. Striped Skunks are about the size of a house cat, with a small head, small ears, short legs and a long, fluffy ...»
tail. They can be found throughout much of North America, Canada and Mexico and prefer open areas with a mixture of habitats such as woods, grasslands, farms and suburban areas that are near water sources. They usually nest in burrows constructed by other animals, but can also live in hollow logs, under fences/walls, in drainage pipes, ditches, under mobile homes, crawl spaces, porches or even vacant buildings. When the weather is warm, they choose resting areas above ground and during he coldest parts of winter, they prefer underground areas, where they will spend most of their time. Striped Skunks breed from late-February to mid-March and the females will give birth 59-77 days afterward. Skunk litters average 6, helpless baby kits. Theses babies are blind, deaf and hairless when they are born and very noisy, uttering a twittering sound. They don't open their eyes or ears until they are 24-35 days old, however they are capable of spraying skunk musk as early as 8 days old (although they have little ability to aim). Striped Skunks are omnivorous and nocturnal, whith excellent hearing, but terrible eyesight. They hunt at night and eat mostly insects (a wide variety of them), many of which are pests to humans. They also eat plant material, grains, fruits, nuts, bird & turtle eggs, reptiles, small mammals, mice, garbage and even fish. They eat more heavily during the fall to increase their stored body fat for winter survival. Striped Skunks have perhaps the most widely known defense system of any mammal, the scent-spraying mechanism; a hard-to-remove, horrible smelling spray.They usually do not spray unless their life is in danger, then they will bend into a U-shape with both head and rear facing the enemy and squirt out two streams of fluid from their rear end that can travel up to 10 feet. The spray often causes nausea and burns the eyes and nasal cavities of the unfortunate target (If you do get sprayed, natural tears will quickly remove the chemiclas from the eyes or you can flush eyes with cold water to ease the discomfort. You can use Carbolic soap for the skin. For clothes, combine 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap). Because of their offensive odor, Skunks are rarely preyed on by mammalian predators, instead they are eaten primarily by large birds, such as great-horned owls and red-tailed hawks. Striped Skunks are usually very docile, gentle, non agressive animals, but are also primary carriers of Rabies. Those affected will bite or attack humans or other animals. These Skunks show signs of abnormal behaviors such as paralysis, unprovoked aggression, moving in circles, self-mutilation and should immediately be reported to your local animal control center. Some measures can be taken to discourage Skunks from sticking around, which include: removing garbage, putting away pet food at night and eliminating convenient denning sites such as wood and rock piles, elevated sheds and openings under concrete slabs / porches / crawl spaces.

A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
A-1 Watkins Pest & Termit... Long Beach, CA
3 Comments | Post Comment | 586 Views
  • A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
    Commented on Dec 03, 2012
    Your very welcome
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  • Opossum & her babies
  • "Playing Opossum"

Opossum

The Opossum is the only marsupial (pouched animal) native to the United States. It has a white face with 50 pointy teeth, grayish-white loose fur and a scaly long tail (used as a fifth ...»
limb). Adults measure about 2.5 feet in length and 1 foot in height. They look like big Rats, but are not related to them in any way, but are closely related to the Kangaroo & Koala. Females can give birth up to twice a year (typically 5-8 in a litter). These babies are very tiny, about the size of honeybees. They will immediately crawl into the mother's pouch after birth, where they continue to develop (usually about 4 months of age when they are ready to leave the pouch). Opossums are scavengers and eat almost anything, including fruits & vegetables, snails/slugs, snakes, a wide variety of insects, garbage and dead animals of all types. They also catch and eat rats & mice, in some way they help maintain a clean & healthy environment and have a naturally high level of immunity to most diseases, including rabies, but can carry fleas ,as do most domestic animals. Opossums are nocturnal and typically go about their quiet task late at night. They are also excellent tree climbers but cannot jump and sometimes get trapped in trash cans and other containers. Opossums do not dig holes/destroy properties and are non-territorial. They are always on the move and adapt to any environment where food, water & shelter exist. They live in hollow logs, attics, crawl spaces, pipes and ready made burrows. Opossums may drool, growl and show their 50 teeth when frightened, but in reality are non-aggressive and prefer to avoid confrontation, however, never try to grab one, they can bite. During cases of extreme fear of being harmed or attacked (unable to flee), the Opossum will collapse and "play dead", they become stiff, eys closed or half closed, their mouths will gape open (teeth bared), tongue extended and foul-smelling fluid is secreted from the anal glands; mimicking the appearance and smell of a sick or dead animal. This physiological response is involuntary (like fainting), rather than a conscious act. This condition will last 40 minutes to 4 hours and most preadtors will abandon their attack, once the Opossum is thought to be dead. In the case of baby Opossums, however, their brain does not always react this way at the appropriate moment, and therfore they often fail to "play dead" when threatened. If you do see an Opossum, just leave it alone, it will go away or you can always call your local rescue group or a professional Pest Control Company for help if you don't want them around or if they are trapped (they will catch & release them) ;Trying to scare it will just make it "play dead". Some other tips to avoid having Opossums around your house include: Keeping lids on garbage cans, picking up fallen fruit, putting away pet food at night and close potential entrance points into your home.

A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
A-1 Watkins Pest & Termit... Long Beach, CA
44 Comments | Post Comment | 7776 Views
  • A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
    Commented on Nov 30, 2012
    Joan - You are right about trying to control the grubs. Moles primary source of food are ...»
    earthworms. Trapping is the most effective & practical method for Mole control, especailly during the Spring & Fall seasons and especially after rain.

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  • I <3 DIY
  • Fire Ant
  • Fire Ant Bites

Fire Ants

Native from South America, now found in the Southern United States, Fire Ants are on the move, but limited by dry climates & freezing weather. They range in size from 1/16 to 1/5 inches ...»
in length with a dark reddish brown color. Fire Ants will build their nest in mounds of outdoor soil, landscape areas, open pastures, vegetable gardens or near a building's foundation (occasionally entering through holes or cracks in walls & foundation) and in some instances, they do not build mounds but nest in rotten logs, walls of buildings or under sidewalks. Their mounds are typically dome-shaped (resembling gopher mounds) and can be more than 15 inches high, 15 inches wide and five feet deep (which can cause damage to plant roots and lead to loss of crops). They also have been known to invade air conditioners and traffic lights because of their attraction to electrical current. Fire Ants are omnivores, feeding on vegetation: plants, tree sap, fruit, grass, other insects and small animals that nest on the ground. Fire Ants are more agressive than other ant species and are named for their fiery, burning sting. If disturbed (especially around their mound), they will attack and repeatedly sting the intruder (animals & humans), latching on with their barbed jaws, resulting in painful, raised red welts that become blisters, usually leaving battle scars. If biten, over the counter topical cream, antihistamines and aloe vera will all alleviate symptoms, however, persons allergic to insect bites will react more severely and should seek medical attention. If you suspect a Fire Ant mound nest, avoid it and contact a professional Pest Control Company. In addition, some prevention steps include: Keeping tree branches and other plants cut back from your home, seal cracks & openings around your home and do not store firewood or building materials next to your home. - Interesting Fact: Fire Ants hate water. That's why after a heavy rain, mounds seem to appear overnight. These mounds are raised to keep the eggs and larvae out of the water zone.

A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
A-1 Watkins Pest & Termit... Long Beach, CA on Nov 27, 2012
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  • German Cockroach

German Cockroach

Small, about 1/2 to 5/8 inches in length, oval, brown to dark brown in color, 6 legs, antenna and wings (poor flyers, wings are only used to glide). The German Cockroach is a very common household pest. They infest more homes & businesses and in greater numbers than any other species of cockroach. They are nocturnal and primarily infest areas close to food, moisture and warmth, like kitchens & bathrooms (but can survive in cold climates as well). It is common to find them beneath ...»
appliances, cupboards and in cracks & crevices. They are most active at night, however, if you see them during the day, this could indicate a large cockroach population.The German Cockroach is omnivorous and a scavenger. They particularly like starch, sugary foods, grease and meats. In certain situations where there is a shortage of food supply, they may eat household items such as soap, glue, toothpaste, cloth, palstic and paper or they may even turn cannibalistic, often chewing on the wings and legs of each other. Females can produce one egg capsule every 20-25 days. Each capsule contains from 30-40 eggs and newborns become adults in as little as 30 days. This rapid reproduction and growth period can mean a severe infestation in a short period of time. In addition, they crawl through dirty areas and then walk around your home, tracking in lots of bacteria (including salmonella) and germs. They can contaminate food by shedding their skins. Their cast off skin and waste-products can also trigger allergic reactions, asthma and other illnesses, especially in children. Controlling & treating infestations can be very hard because of their rapid reproduction rate, their ability to hide in very small places, due to their size and that they have few natural predators inside a human habitat. Most infestations require professional treatment from a Pest Control Company, which chemical spraying or gel will be used. These types of methods must kill 95% of the overall population to be effective. Some prevention tips you can take include: 1) Keep cooking, eating and food storage areas clean & dry. 2) Seal up cracks & crevices inside & ouside your home. 3) Repair water drips & leaks inside & outside your home. 4) Seal all human & pet foods in hard plastic/metal containers. - Other interesting facts...German Cockroaches can live almost a month without food, 2 weeks without water and one week without it's head!

A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
A-1 Watkins Pest & Termit... Long Beach, CA
4 Comments | Post Comment | 286 Views
  • A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
    Commented on Nov 27, 2012
    Thank you very much.
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  • Balck Widow Spider

Black Widow Spider

Glossy black with red "hourglass" on abdomen. About 3/4-1.5 inches in length & 3/8 inch in diameter. Found in all 50 states, they live in dark corners & crevices, around wood piles and cluttered areas. Male Black Widows & juveniles of both sexes do not bite, so they are not dangerous, however the female Black Widow is a different case. Her venom is 15 times more potent than the Rattlesnake. If biten, seek medical treatment immediately, especially if the victim is a young child or an ...»
elderly person. Tips to prevent a bite include: 1) Keep your home, garage, shed & any outdoor workplace free of clutter. 2) If you see the Black Widow on her web, do not disturb her, as she may become provoked and bite. if you see a web without a spider,approach with caution, esecially in the daytime, she might be hiding. 3) Wear heavy gloves when moving items that have been stored for long periods of time, inside or outside. 4) Place shoes in boxes or shake out prior to wearing.

A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
A-1 Watkins Pest & Termit... Long Beach, CA
12 Comments | Post Comment | 813 Views
  • A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
    Commented on Nov 27, 2012
    That's horrible. Be very careful!
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  • Killer Bee

Africanized Honey Bee (Killer Bee)

Africanized Honey Bees are about 1/2 inch in length, oval in shape, golden-yellow with dark brown bands and fuzzy. These Africanized Bees are the result of a scientific experiment, when European Honeybees and African Bees (which are accustomed to hot temperatures) were brought to Brazil in the 1950's to breed with each other in an effort to create a honeybee that would produce honey in hot, tropical climates. The experiment was not as successful as they hoped because unlike the ...»
mild-mannered European Honeybee, the new Africanized Honeybee had a very aggresive nature, earning them the nickname "Killer Bee". The sting of an Africanized Honeybee is no more potent than another variety of Honeybee and can only sting once, however, what makes them more dangerous is that they are easily provoked, quick to swarm, attack in greater numbers and will pursue victims for greater distances, increasing your chances of a severe allergic reaction which can be life-threatening, especially to people allergic to stings or with limited capacity to escape (the young, the old and handicapped, confined livestock and pets. If stung, seek shelter in a house or car. Do not jump in the water, they will just wait around until you come up for air. Once safe, remove stingers from your skin to reduce the amount of venom they inject and seek medical attention. Even though Bees are potentially dangerous, we need them. They are responsible for the life of our trees, flowers and the food we eat. That being said, avoid Bee hives and if you do see one, report to a local Beekeeper or Pest Control Company for safe handling. Also, look before disturbing vegetation areas and be cautious around old tires, crates, boxes, empty cars, meter boxes, overturned flower pots and crack & holes in walls, Africanized Honeybees nest in these types of areas and will attack very quickly. This is why it is important to clean up debris & seal/caulk holes around your home that might provide nesting sites for these Bees.

A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
A-1 Watkins Pest & Termit... Long Beach, CA
11 Comments | Post Comment | 436 Views
  • A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
    Commented on Nov 23, 2012
    Just reading your story made me get goose bumps. Being a mother myself, I can image how scared ...»
    you were at the time.

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  • Head Lice

Head Lice

A very common problem, especially for school-aged children ages 3-12 years old (girls more often than boys). Head Lice are tiny, wingless parasitic insects that live among human hairs and feed on extremely small amounts of blood drawn from the scalp. Their bites cause extreme itching of the scalp, leading to skin irritation and even infection in some cases. Although they don't spread disease, Lice are very contagious and and just downright annoying. They can quickly spread from person ...»
to person, especially in group settings (schools, childcare centers, slumber parties, etc.), through head-to-head contact, sharing clothes, bed linens, combs, brushes and hats (FYI: Lice are not spread through pets). Lice can't jump or fly, they have specially adapted claws that allow them to crawl and cling firmly to hair. They lay eggs (nits) on hair shafts close to the scalp, where the temperature is perfect for keeping them warm until they hatch in 1-2 weeks. Early treatment is extremely important to prevent further spreading. Over-the-counter medications or prescription medications are available to kill Lice. These medications are insecticides and it is crutial to follow the directions as indicated on the product label to ensure a successful treatment and to avoid the risk of causing harm. After treatment, you must comb out the eggs (nits) using a fine-tooth comb (usually comes with the product, but can be bought seperatly at a drug store). Seperate hairs into sections and comb one section at a time (works best on wet hair). Repeat complete treatment in 7-10 days to kill any new hatched nits. If your child is under 2 years of age, you should not use medicated treatments. You will need to remove nits and lice by hand, be patient, this can be very time-consuming. Purchase the fine-tooth comb, wet and condition hair, seperate into sections, comb one section at a time. Repeat every 2-3 days for 2 weeks. In addition, wash all bed linens and clothing that has recently been used by anyone in your home who's infested, in very hot water and dry on high for at least 20 minutes (Anything that can't be washed should be dry cleaned). Vacuum carpets & upholstered furniture in your home & car (Medicated spray is available, but use with caution, especially around small children). Soak hair-care items (comb, brush, hair ties, band, etc... in medicated shampoo or very hot water for at least 30 minutes or just throw them away & purchase new ones. Since Lice are easily passed from person-to-person in the same house, it is highly recommended to treat all family members to prevent re-infestation (Call your doctor is problems persist after treatment). It is also important to talk to your kids about Lice & how they are spread (School nurses can provide information as well). Emphasize that although having Lice can certainly be very embarrassing for them, anyone can get them and that they are not a sign of uncleanliness or poor hygiene. Kids need to understand that they have not done anything wrong and reassure them that as aggravating as getting rid of these annoying insects can be, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
A-1 Watkins Pest & Termit... Long Beach, CA
3 Comments | Post Comment | 535 Views
  • A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
    Commented on Nov 20, 2012
    I'm sure your glad to be over that stage. It is really frustrating to deal with and yes, the ...»
    school nurse will check all children prior to admitting back into the classroom, but just like you said, they can still catch them again afterwards.

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  • Cricket

House Crickets

Nocturnal; Measuring 3/4 to 7/8 inches long as adults, yellowish-brown with three dark bands that cross their head from eye to eye. Their legs resemble those of a grasshoper in that they use them to propel themselves. They are fully winged and can't fly but mostly crawl and hop. Crickets are outdoor pests, but they can invade your home and become a problem if you don't enjoy the male's mating song "Chirp, Chirp, Chirp" (keeping you awake at night or prevent you from returning back to ...»
sleep). Once approached, the male will stop chirping, but as soon as you leave, the cycle starts all over again. Females can lay approximately 700 eggs outdoors & 100 eggs indoors. Eggs will hatch in the late summer and by the time fall arrives, adult Crickets start to wander into structures seeking mositure but also looking for a nice, warm palce to pass the winter. Crickets eat just about anything including: Fabrics, other insects, paper, wallpaper, glue and anything that we would eat. Tips to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract House Crickets include: 1) Remove leaf clutter near structure. 2) Direct sprinklers away from structure. 3) Reduce mulch to 2 inches or less. 4) Seal gaps around doors & windows. 5) Repair foundation cracks. 6) Seal around HVAC sysytems. 7) Move compost piles away from structures. 8) Clean all pet food dishes and remove spilled pet food outside. 9) Repair all leaks in structure. 10) Contact a professional Pest Control company for assistance with a treatment/prevention plan.

A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
A-1 Watkins Pest & Termit... Long Beach, CA on Nov 16, 2012
2 Comments | Post Comment | 306 Views
  • Kristi @ Addicted 2 Decorating
    Kristi @ Addicted 2 Decor... on Nov 17, 2012
    Almost every year in my city, we have what can only be described as a cricket plague. Some ...»
    years it's so bad that you can go to a shopping center, and the crickets will cover almost the entire sidewalk as well as the bottom three or so feet of the building. Interestingly, our cricket plague came very early this year, at the beginning of the summer. During our annual plague, it's not unusual to find 20 (or more) crickets per day in my home. They are disgusting little creatures, and even worse when they try to fly but have so little control that they slam into the side of your head or something, but I'd rather deal with crickets than roaches or fleas any day. Although, I could certainly do without the "plague" conditions that we get here. A few aren't so bad, but enough that they're covering sidewalks and buildings...that's way too much!!

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  • Yellow Jacket

Yellow Jacket

Black and yellow, thin waist, elongated wings, measuring between 1/2 to 1 inch in length. Yellow Jackets are often mistaken for bees, although their bodies lack the hair and rounded abdomen of the bee. Most Yellow Jackets are ground-nesters. Their colonies can be found at the base of trees/low-hanging bracnches, under porches/steps, corners of buildings and cracks in foundation. Their diet consists of caterpillars and other insects, nectar, fruit and tree sap (They love sweet ...»
substances), garbage and other human foods. Known the be agressive defenders of their colonies, Yellow Jackets will attack if they feel threatened. Be careful if you see numerous amounts of them flying in and out of a single area. This will usually indicate where a colony might be located, which may contain thousands of Yellow Jackets. Do not disturb them and stay away from nests once you know where they are. The sting of a Yellow Jacket is painful and each are capable of delivering multiple stings, which can induce severe allergic reactions in some individuals. Because of the danger associated with disturbing them & their nests, never attempt to rid Yellow Jackets by yourself. Call a professioanl Pest Control company for help.

A-1 Watkins Pest & Termite Control
A-1 Watkins Pest & Termit... Long Beach, CA on Nov 15, 2012
1 Comment | Post Comment | 147 Views
  • Acorn Landscaping
    Acorn Landscaping on Nov 16, 2012
    These guys are pretty quick. I believe it was a Yellow Jacket that did this to me earlier this ...»
    year https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1015...

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