By: Teresa Bond-Mason | Category: Lawn & Garden | Issue: March 2020
Shelia Jean, vice president.
Spring is right around the corner, and with it comes critters we’d just as soon not have to think about. But whether you need said critters gone or you can’t stand the thought of having any in your house, now is the time to set up your free inspection.
The family-owned business, now on its third generation, started with a couple of trucks and technicians and has grown to one of the biggest exterminators in the state.
So, what should you be looking for? “Spring is the prime time for termites,” states Shelia Disler, vice president of Mother Nature. “Things start to warm up, and with Oklahoma’s humidity, it’s the perfect breeding ground.” Mother Nature has long been at the forefront of using Sentricon to eliminate termites effectively. Stations are set up throughout the property, and each one is filled with bait the worker termites take back to their queen. When she eats the bait, the colony dies. If you only use chemicals to kill the known termites, it kills the workers, but not the queen. The reason that’s not effective? Queens typically lay one egg per second.
Prevention is key. While you may not have termites, your neighbor can have them and eventually make their way to you. “With the Sentricon system, it 100% eliminates the chance of an infestation,” boasts Shelia. After all, many of the nation’s greatest treasures are safeguarded by Sentricon, including the Statue of Liberty and the White House.
Taylor Reed, manager.
There are also termites called swarmers. They are easily identified by a straight body and big wings. Swarmers are future kings and queens ready to start a colony. “You see a lot of these in bathrooms, where there tends to be more moisture. A lot of times, if you don’t see the actual termites, you’ll see their discarded wings,” explains Taylor Reed, who manages Mother Nature. “One thing about termites you can always count on is that they’re random and continuous, so prevention is the best treatment.”
“Many people already have the stations installed and never continued their service because no termite activity was found. We can reactivate those and get you on a yearly schedule with no additional cost other than the yearly fee,” says Shelia.
Summer brings with it a rise in bedbugs. These pesky rodents are usually first noticed once they have bitten their host. Bedbugs are about the size and color of an apple seed. They are very good at hiding in cracks and crevices. They are also excellent travelers themselves. “Bedbugs are like little hitchhikers, they can attach themselves to anything and go where you go,” says Shelia. Things to think about: never put your purse or luggage down. Lift up your mattress and look for them with a flashlight. You never know when you stay at an Air B&B, hotel, or dorm who has been there before you. These little demons can live up to a year and a half without feasting on human blood.
The biggest misconception about bedbugs is that you must have a dirty house in order to get them. Not true. You can pick them up anywhere. And once you have them, only a professional can assure they’re gone. Afterward, there are quarterly treatments available to make sure they never show their faces again.
Besides termites and bedbugs, Mother Nature helps with gophers and moles, mosquitoes, roaches, ants, spiders, mice, rats, and grub and armyworms. They also offer a lawn fertilization service, which includes weed treatment and lawn aeration. Attic insulation (which is pre-treated with boric acid to discourage pests in your attic) is yet another service they provide.
You go to the doctor once a year for a physical, so why wouldn’t you do the same for your home. With free inspections, there is no reason to put your home at risk.
Bundle pricing, senior citizen discounts, and payment plans are all available options to help you protect your home.
“Taking care of our customers is our No. 1 priority,” stresses Shelia, adding that her grandparents, who founded the company, take great pride in building relationships with their clientele.
You can find Mother Nature at the next Home and Garden Show March 12-15 or call them at 918-362-2000. For more about what they offer, see their website at www.mothernaturesinc.com or visit their Facebook page.
Teresa Bond-Mason is an Oklahoma native and a graduate from the University of Tulsa with a degree in communication. Teresa has written a wide range of articles from insurance journals to book reviews and of course her latest work for Value News! In her spare time, Teresa enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading and scrapbooking.
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