Go-Green Programs

KEEP YOUR LOVED ONES SAFE FROM INSECTS WITHOUT THE CONCERNS OF USING SYNTHETIC CHEMICALS AROUND YOUR HOME.

Why Organic Insecticides? The choice is clear

Now, with our organic insecticides, you can kill and control household pests fast and rest assured that these formulas are non-toxic to your family and pets — and leave no harmful pesticide residue behind! Effective, safe, and environmentally-friendly, there are several reasons why organic insecticides are the right choice. University research and field usage have proven organic botanical products stand up to conventional synthetic products on the market. Several organic products even provide residual protection to kill the bugs and keep them away!

Environmentally-Friendly

Unlike many synthetic chemicals, the plant oil blends used as active ingredients in organic products won‘t buildup in the environment. Eco–friendly and composed of natural ingredients, these compounds are biodegradable and help maintain a sustainable and healthy environment. Additionally, organic and natural pest services have no adverse impact on birds or fish and will not contaminate water sources. Organic Services are based on the natural defenses that plants and trees use for their self-protection against insects and pathogens

Kill insects and keep your family and pets safe & Effective, safe, and environmentally-friendly, there are several reasons why Eco friendly organic insecticides are the right choice. *Environmentally friendly, eco-friendly, and nature friendly are synonyms used to refer to goods and services considered to inflict minimal harm on the environment

Most Dangerous Insects

“Look, listen and run” may be the best advice for people in regions colonized by Africanized honeybees. Here are some other steps to ease the threat of stings and ailments transmitted by bees, fire ants, ticks and mosquitoes.

Africanized honeybees:

– Have an escape route in mind if attacked by swarms while hiking or working outdoors. Take shelter in a building or vehicle.

– Invite other pollinators into your yard by adding nectar-rich plants to the landscape. Areas foraged by managed European honeybees are less inviting to their grumpier African cousins.

– Do not try to remove suspect bee colonies yourself; call an exterminator.

– Opinions are divided about whether you should place pollinator attractors such as bee condominiums in your yard. Jerry Hayes, chief of the Florida Department of Agriculture’s Apiary Section, says mason bee houses aren’t a problem. But Michael O’Malley, program director of the University of Florida’s Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, says he would probably discourage the practice “because the wild population of honey bees, especially in South Florida, would be Africanized bees.”

– Power equipment such as lawn mowers, chain saws and string cutters disturb Africanized bees and may trigger an attack.

Imported fire ants:

– Watch your step. Learn to recognize probable nesting sites and steer clear.

– Wear protective clothing, particularly boots.

– Control fire ants when they appear in areas frequented by people, pets or livestock. Use bait products that the ants carry back to their nests.

Disease-carrying ticks:

– Early detection. Inspect your body and clothing frequently. Also inspect your children and pets. Wear light-coloured garments so you can see any ticks more easily. Tuck pants into socks to prevent ticks from gaining access to your body.

– Use pesticides and repellents judiciously. Spray them on boots and clothing.

West Nile virus-carrying mosquitoes:

Observe “the Five D’s”:

– Dusk until dawn. Limit your time outdoors when mosquitoes are most active.

– Drain any standing water where mosquitoes may lay eggs.

– Dress appropriately. Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts in mosquito and tick country.

– Doors and barriers. Repair or install screens on windows and doors to prevent biting insects from entering.

– DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). Apply insect repellent containing DEET if you plan to be outdoors for long.

Mosquito Refill Service

Our Mosquito Refills are $189.95 each Service
During each refill inspection, we will:

How often will I need to refill my system?

The frequency of refilling your system will depend on the number of spray nozzles installed, the number of sprays per 24 hours,
the severity of the insect problem and the length of each spray cycle.

What chemical is used to Refill my system?

Pyrethrum…

Pyrethrum is derived from the dried flowers of Chrysanthemum Cineraria folium. “Pyrethrums” are the active insecticide components of dried Chrysanthemum flowers, and have been used world-wide to control unwanted pests.

The Pyrethrum flower is nature’s answer to controlling insect predators because oils from the seeds of the flower provide a highly effective protection against many insects. The chemical structure of pyrethrum targets a wide range of insects, including mosquitoes, which are carriers of deadly diseases such as Malaria, Yellow Fever and West Nile virus. When mosquitoes come into contact with this compound, it attacks their nervous systems almost immediately, knocking them from the air and killing them. Pyrethrum also kills spiders, flies, gnats,
and other insects.

How it works:

Pyrethrum rapidly affects a wide range of biting insects, such as mosquitoes, spiders, gnats, flies, and fleas. The complex molecular structure of Pyrethrum ensures that insect resistance isn’t likely to develop – what else would you expect from nature?

Pyrethrum has a broad spectrum of activity because it consists of a group of related compounds, which give it a wider spectrum of activity against more insect species than many other single insecticides. It targets many insects found in your house or garden, such as mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, aphids and ants.

Because it is quickly degraded by the combination of sunlight and air, so pyrethrum doesn’t build up in soil or watersheds.

What it does do is flush out insects where they hide, in their favorite spots like under the bushes and in trees. When forced out of hiding, insects quickly succumb to the chemical.

Pyrethrum can be made synthetically, which reduces the overall cost of producing insecticides based on its natural components.

One man-made pyrethrum compound is called Pyrethrin, and another is Pyrethenoid, and both are used in residential and commercial pest control systems.

Pyrethrum and its man-made compounds are powerful insect repellents, and have become the insecticide of choice in many commercial and residential applications, such as food and grain storage protection, livestock protection, and personal protection against biting insects.

Go Green Eco-Friendly Product

We also offer Eco EXEMPT IC. This product is an organic pest control product that uses all-natural insecticides for people who prefer to use natural pest control methods.

Eco EXEMPT IC contains Rosemary Oil, Mineral Oil & Oil of Wintergreen and has a pleasant wintergreen scent. Eco Smart products are minimum risk and composed entirely of food grade materials, “generally regarded as safe (GRAS)” by the FDA, and are not required to be registered by the EPA.

Eco EXEMPT IC works against a very broad spectrum of the most common flying and crawling insect pests including but not limited to: ants, cockroaches, crickets, fleas, flies, moths, spiders, scorpions, carpet beetles, earwigs, termites, millipedes, centipedes, pill bugs, silverfish, mites, wasps, yellow jackets and other flying insects.

*some parts and labor will be an extra charge

Mosquito Misting Machines

Reduce the risk of West Nile Virus with our Automated Mosquito Control Products & Flying Insect Misting System. Great for yards, barns and horse stalls.

Even if you had another company install your Mosquito System, Call BugFree to maintain it. (281) 373-0086.

BugFree Termite & Pest offers Mosquito Refills for $189.95, with each refill service our Mosquito Inspectors -Technicians will inspect all lines and nozzles for any leaks or obstructions to make sure the system is working efficiently. Each Service will include us to clean and refill your solution tank using only the most supreme and premium products on the market. The insecticides and repellant’s being misted are not for amateurs guessing at what to use, how much to mix, where and when to spray, etc. For a professional application, a professional is needed- BugFree’s Licensed Mosquito & Pest Control Inspector- Technicians provide the knowledge and professionalism.As a licensed pest control company already knowledgeable in responsible pest management, each BugFree Inspector/Technician is best qualified to design the exact layout of each Mosquito system and to select the specific product, formulation and dosage to be used. Pyrethrum – from ancient discovery to advanced agriculture

The pyrethrum story is one of a simple daisy with a rare natural property. It is the story of an ancient discovery passed down through the ages which today is the basis of an advanced agricultural industry. It is the story of high-tech agricultural techniques and subsistence farming being mutually beneficial – of developed world technologies co-existing with African traditions. And it is a story of benefits to many. Above all, it is the story of clear, golden oil – natures own insecticide.The pyrethrum daisy or chrysanthemum flower Tan acetum cineraria folium, is a remarkable plant. Packed into microscopic oil bearing glands on the surface of the seed case in the flower’s head is complex plant oil – a combination of six organic esters – which the plant has evolved over millennia to keep insects away. Pyrethrum today is grown for this natural insecticidal oil in more than 10 countries, and the total world pyrethrum market is worth half a billion US dollars. Pyrethrum is used in insecticidal preparations from the simple mosquito coil to household aerosols to sophisticated ultra low volume foggers and sprays. The natural insecticide is remarkable in that it is fast acting against insect pests, yet breaks down quickly in UV light, leaving no residue in the environment. Because of this non-persistence, pyrethrum does not enter food chains, as has been the case with some synthetic insecticides and no real insect resistance occurs. Crucially, although pyrethrum acts as a nerve agent on insect pests, quickly knocking them down and killing them, it is relatively non-toxic to humans and warm-blooded animals.Pyrethrum’s story begins in China during the Chou Dynasty of the first century AD, when it was first noted to kill insects. Over centuries, pyrethrum was traded along the Silk Route into Europe and the dried flowers were used in powdered form to relieve the persistent insect itches of the ancient world. Pyrethrum was widely used to delouse armies from the time of Napoleon, and the flower was introduced into Kenya to produce insecticide for the allied armies around the time of WWII. The world’s major pyrethrum growing area since that time has remained the East African highlands: Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. Here, the perennial plant which produces flowers for harvest for up to five years thrives on fertile volcanic soils, high rainfall and ample sunshine.Pyrethrum in East Africa is grown mainly by subsistence farmers who supplement their food crops with a cash crop of the daisies. Seedlings are hand split, hand sown and the flowers hand picked for several months of the year. Flower heads are sold to a cooperative for refining and export, but profits do flow back to the farmers. In fact, pyrethrum cash cropping is thought to sustain around three million farming families in the East African growing region, often producing enough money for families to put their children through school, and to gain some degree of economic independence. But the East African growing area has historically been plagued by fluctuating production that caused periodic world shortages of pyrethrum, followed by years of surplus. This damaged confidence in the region’s ability to meet demand, and threatened the industry’s long term sustainability. Ironically, it was the entry of a new and technologically advanced competitor that restored faith in the crop.

The Australian island state of Tasmania entered the pyrethrum story just 25 years ago, and with an emphasis on research and development, started to be a viable second source of pyrethrum. Now supplying 30% of the world market (compared to some 70% supplied by East Africa) Tasmania and pyrethrum have gone high-tech. Run by the privately owned company Botanical Resources Australia (BRA) the Tasmanian pyrethrum industry is largely mechanized. Sowing, cutting, harvesting, extraction and refining are all performed by state-of-the-art equipment. Contract farmers, who also grow crops of beans, peas, potatoes, pharmaceutical poppies and prime beef, can learn at harvesting, with the help of GPS systems, exactly how to treat each square meter of their fields the following year for optimal yields. Extensive laboratory testing, electronic bar codes on each harvest load and a computer controlled, carbon-dioxide based refinery which can be operated online make Tasmanian pyrethrum a cutting edge, technology driven industry. Importantly, the entry of Tasmania onto the world market has stabilized supply and increased faith in pyrethrum, benefiting both major suppliers and the industry as a whole.Pyrethrum has been exciting substantial interest around the world as environmental awareness grows. Fast acting and broad spectrum, the insecticide is relatively safe to use everywhere from homes to broad-scale spraying operations. It is one of the few insecticides approved for use on organic farms in Europe, the US and Australia. And pyrethrum also benefits many – from the subsistence farmer in Africa growing pyrethrum as a cash crop, to families’ worldwide burning pyrethrum mosquito coils to avoid malaria, and the hobby gardener spraying his vegetables in rural England – determined that next time, the bugs won’t get his crop. Pyrethrum has been EPA registered for more than 3 decades and is the model from which scientists have derived numerous synthetic insecticides.

Pyrethrum protects your family, pets, and yard from mosquitoes and other annoying insects in four ways:

Avoidance – Even in the smallest amounts, Pyrethrum causes insects to flee the area

Pre-Construction Termite Treatment

Prevention is always wiser and less expensive no matter what pest you have to deal with, but this is especially true with termites. There is no absolute, 100% way to prevent termites from investing your home; however, pre-treating your property before the structure is built or before an addition is added can improve your chances of staying termite free.

With pre-treatment, the goal is to create a chemical barrier in the soil that will stop termites from surfacing and attacking the wood in your home. Pre-construction termite treatment is less expensive than treating an already existing home. Because the area is open, the treatment area is easier to access; and therefore, requires less labor and less termiticide (pesticide for termites) than what’s required for an existing structure treatment. With new construction, you should cover every inch of ground, creating a barrier that keeps termites from surfacing from the soil to your structure.
To properly pre-treat the soil for termite prevention, the treatment needs to be applied several times while your home is being constructed. This means that the person treating the foundation area has to work with the builder to accurately schedule the treatments.

Although a slab and crawl space are different, some of the same treatment methods are used. The following steps for pre-construction treatment can vary because building codes vary in different states, counties, and municipalities. Your soil type and home design are other factors that can lead to a different variation of how and when your chemical barrier is applied.

For a slab, the land is graded, batter boards are installed to form the foundation, and then footings are dug and poured. Once the footings are ready, a brick mason will build the foundation using brick or block over the footings. Then the foundation is backfilled with soil. A plumber lays the pipes, and then more backfill is added if needed. At this point the slab area is treated with the chemical barrier. Then a plastic vapor barrier is installed that keeps water from reaching the slab. Then your slab is poured.

Termites do not eat concrete nor do they bore through it; however, concrete slabs can crack exposing entry ways for termites. If you soil is left untreated, the cracks in the slab can become avenues for termites to enter your structure.

For a crawl space, footings and pillars are dug and the concrete is poured. Once the concrete is ready, trenches are dug around the footings and pillars. Then the treatment is applied to the soil as it is added back into the trench. Then the backfill is added to the interior of the foundation and that soil is treated. A plastic vapor barrier is added to your crawl space once your foundation is dried in.

After the final grading on the exterior of the slab or around the footings is complete, then this area is treated as well. Another treatment is recommended after your home is built and the final grading and landscaping is complete. For this treatment, you should apply a continuous spray around the structure to create a chemical barrier around the home. The barrier on the outside of the foundation should be at least 12 to 18 inches from the slab out into the yard.

After your home is built, you should continue to protect the barrier you have in place. You can do this by not disturbing the soil in the barrier area when adding or replacing landscaping plants around your home. Keep the soil intact in the 12 to 18 inch area surrounding your home.

If you build an addition to your home or add porches, decks, or any other structure to your home, the soil barrier should be extended beneath these areas and extended out into the yard 12 to 18 inches. If not, termites can surface and end up in the wood of your home through the new addition. You should also consider adding a soil barrier before building or placing a utility shed on your property as well.

Pre-treatment does require repeat visits to the building site; however, the method is still less expensive than treating an already existing structure. Once you have your chemical barrier in place, it will protect your home for years to come.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs get their name because they like to live and feed in beds.HabitsBed bugs like to travel and will hide in suitcases, boxes and shoes to be near a food supply. They are elusive, nocturnal creatures. They can hide behind baseboards, electrical switch plates, picture frames, even wall paper. They come out at night for a blood meal.HabitatBed Bugs like to hide in small cracks and crevices close to a human environment. They can be found behind baseboards, wallpaper, upholstery, and in furniture crevices.ThreatsAlthough bed bugs can dine on any warm-blooded animal, they primarily dine on humans. Bed bugs do not transmit diseases, but their bites can become red, itchy welts. Bring Home Memories – Not Bed Bugs! National Pest Management Association (NPMA) reminds all travelers of the risk of bringing home bed bugs from their spring sojourns, especially as the NPMA continues to note a 71% increase in reports of these pests since 2001. Bed bugs are elusive, nocturnal pests that thrive on blood. While these pests do not transmit diseases, bed bugs inject an anesthetic-like liquid that numbs the skin as they bite, leaving their victims undisturbed. It is only when people awake that they find unexplained, itchy red welts covering their bodies.One reason that bed bugs pose such a problem for travelers is their keen ability to “hitchhike.” Bed bugs can travel easily – from beds to sofa cushions, from room to room and even home via suitcases. Once an infestation develops, bed bugs are extremely difficult to remove and require the experience of a pest professional to eliminate an infestation. More, it is important for travelers to understand the prevalence of bed bugs. Although many associate bed bugs with sanitation levels, this is simply a myth, Vigilance is critical, especially as we know that a five star resort can be as susceptible to bed bugs as a hostel.Tips to prevent bed bugs from returning home with travelers:

  1. At hotels, pull back the sheets and inspect the mattress seams, particularly at the corners, for telltale stains or spots. If you see anything suspect, change rooms/establishments immediately.
  2. Thoroughly inspect the entire room before unpacking, including behind the headboard and in sofas/chairs. If any pests are spotted, change rooms/establishments immediately.
  3. After traveling, inspect your suitcases before bringing them into the house. Vacuum them thoroughly and wash all of your clothes in hot water.
  4. Vacuum suitcases after returning from a vacation.
  5. Check your bed sheets for tell-tale blood spots.
  6. Consider bringing a large plastic trash bag to keep your suitcase in during hotel stays.
  7. Carry a small flashlight to assist you with quick visual inspections.
  8. Bed bugs are elusive creatures, so it is imperative to seek professional pest control to address an infestation.
    During hotel stays, keep luggage off the floor and zipped
    Bedbugs feed while you sleep, with peak biting activity just before dawn.
    Bedbugs leave red, itchy bites on the skin, usually in rows.
    Scratching bites can lead to infection.
    Frontal view of an adult bedbug ingesting a meal from a human arm.
    Check for bedbugs along the seams of mattresses.
    Wash clothes and bedding in hot, soapy water to kill bedbugs and their larvae.

Know the Enemy

Bedbugs are small, flat, wingless insects with six legs that, like mosquitoes, feed on blood from animals or people. They range in color from almost white to brown, but they turn rusty red after feeding. The common bedbug doesn’t grow much longer than 0.2 inches (0.5 centimeters) and can be seen by the naked eye to the astute observer. Bedbugs get their name because they like to hide in bedding and mattresses. feeding HabitsThese nocturnal creatures can hide in beds, floors, furniture, wood, and paper trash during the day. We humans usually become their dinner during the night, with peak biting activity just before dawn.They can obtain their meal in as little as three minutes, after which they are engorged and drop off the host, then crawl into a hiding place to digest their meal. Bedbugs can live for 10 months, and can go weeks without feeding.

Signs and Symptoms of Bedbug Bites

Amazingly, these sneaky little bloodsuckers dine on you without waking you. You don’t feel their stealthy bite because they inject a numbing agent into your body, along with an anticoagulant to keep your blood flowing as they suck. The first sign of bedbugs may be itchy, red bites on the skin, usually on the arms or shoulders. Bedbugs tend to leave straight rows of bites.

Treating Bites

Bedbug bites do not usually require treatment. If a secondary infection occurs (usually from scratching), apply a local antiseptic lotion or antibiotic cream or ointment. Creams with corticosteroids and oral antihistamines may be advised in the presence of allergic reaction or larger skin reactions. In these more severe cases, you may need to see your doctor.

Do Bedbugs Transmit Diseases?

Bedbugs are more of a nuisance than a health hazard. They aren’t known to spread disease to humans, although they may be host to the organisms that cause hepatitis B and Chagas’ disease.

Bedbug or Imposter?

Don’t assume your bites are bedbugs. Bites can be hard to identify, even for doctors. Rule out mosquitoes, fleas, mites, and biting gnats by conducting a visual inspection. It’s best to collect and identify bedbugs to confirm bites. Look for the bugs themselves or their bloodstains, especially along the seams of mattresses. Further, look for dark spots of insect waste where bedbugs might crawl into hiding places on furniture, walls, and floors.

Bite Back Against Bedbugs

Get rid of infested mattresses and box springs or cover them with a plastic mattress bag to trap the bugs. Wash clothes and bedding in hot water, and dry on high heat. Clean furniture and vacuum cracks in wood floors and doors where bugs may hide. Shake out suitcases. Use an insecticide in the cracks of floors or bed frames, but read the label; do not apply to areas that come in direct contact with skin. If you still can’t get rid of them, call an exterminator.

Testimonials

Address:

Cypress, Tx

Phone:

281-373-0086