Horizon Pest Control

07/10/2023

Horizon Is Hiring -

We have a few positions that need to be filled -

Applicants will need to have a clean driving record and be able to pass a drug screen.

Part time - 2 days a week, 4 half days a week, or this position can even be full time - Minor duties, PR, and errands. Not necessarily pest or w**d control tasks but could be. Mostly working outside most of the year.

Technician positions - Pest and / or w**d control

Call for specifics of positions, pay scale of positions, or for an interview. 575-725-9331

02/10/2021

Aphids In Mid Winter On Evergreens

If you have any long needle pines and evergreens in your yard, you may have noticed that the needles are really shiny. And if you look a little closer, you can see the aphid poo falling like rain around the trees. Most of the long needle evergreens in and around Carlsbad are covered with aphids. And it’s mid-Winter.

At first I thought that maybe I just have’t paid that close attention. However, honestly, I this isn’t a common thing that happens every year.

2020 was an unusual year for aphids. Along with the typical infestations on Pecan trees, the Oaks and Crepe Myrtles were covered with them more than usual. We got quite a few calls regarding them. The best we could figure is that it has something to do with the drought we’ve been experiencing.

It appears that after all the leaves fell off of the Pecan trees, Oaks, and Crepe Myrtles, the Aphids had nowhere else to go but to the evergreens which still have something for them to eat. And with no serious extended freeze they have survived into the Winter.

Now, hopefully, with the freeze that is coming this weekend, we may see them die back some if not completely. Either way, I think we can expect to see an unusually large amount of Aphids and other insects this coming Spring and Summer.

So, if you’ve noticed that your evergreens are shiny and the ground underneath them is sticky, you probably have Aphids.

This is something we can take care quite easily and inexpensively. Give us a call at 575-725-9331 and we’ll come out and give you a free evaluation and estimate to treat your Pines and evergreens for Aphids.

01/21/2021

Never Never Never………….

O.K., I know, We’ve talked about this before. And I know this is a bit extreme. However, I just wanted to use this fine mattress to illustrate a point.

Some folks do take stuff like this home. I understand the need. Still, it could make a bad situation worse.

There have been times that we’ll set a bed bug infested mattress outside before we dispose of it. We actually write bed bugs on it. And still there are folks that will stop by and load it up before we know it. We’ll probably be hearing from them.

Again, never take used furniture home and just place it in your house. It’s best to avoid it altogether. However, if it’s something you just have to have, treat it for bed bugs outside before you take it in the house. Even better, give us a call and we’ll come treat it for bed bugs and other insects.

Even if it’s from a good trusted party, a trusted thrift shop, or wherever, be very careful taking any used furniture, appliance, clothes, or anything like that home.

It’s a sure way to end up with a bed bug infestation.

11/17/2020

More pigeon control netting.

When I was a kid - This is a true story - I remember walking down the middle corridor of New Mexico Military institute with my uncle while he shot pigeons off the roof with a shotgun. He was an officer at the Police Department. Not sure what he had in the gun but it worked. And it was cool that we were right in the middle of town.

While it appeared effective (and a lot of fun), they didn’t teach us (unfortunately) at our pest control classes, this method of pigeon control. I checked my license. It didn’t say either way. Still, we figured we probably shouldn’t. Might mess some stuff up, make some folks mad, …….

It seems we’ve been doing more and more bird control lately. If you haven’t noticed, Carlsbad New Mexico has a lot of feral pigeons. These are some really nasty birds. Nothing more than flying rats. They make a mess out of everything.

In this photo, we’re getting this 1900 sq ft piece of net ready to go up on a roof here in downtown Carlsbad. Not quite as big as the last one we put up but still a good size piece of bird control netting.

While this netting, along with 800 feet of bird spikes we’re installing, is good for the business we’re contracted to do it for, there’s still a problem with it. This doesn’t get rid of the feral pigeon problem in Carlsbad. Bird deterrent simply makes them go somewhere else. And it usually isn’t very far.

So we’ll do what we can (and are allowed to). Along with netting, bird spikes, and other deterrent methods, there are other methods of pigeon control. I promise we won’t come with any shotguns. Give us a call today at 575-725-9331 to discuss any pigeon control or bird control issues.

10/22/2020

There’s A Bee Hive Where? Up There???

So, I have a confession. I’m not real good with heights. However, after addressing 3 hives in the last 2 months on oilfield locations just like these, I am getting better.

I know it doesn’t look like much in this photo. But it is 65 feet up to the platform on this oilfield tank. And then the hives are in the metering tube that extends into the tank. So I have to go up another 6 feet onto a small catwalk over the interior of the tank. Kinda spooky.

While this isn’t your typical pest control service like ants, cockroaches, bed bugs, or termites, it’s one of those jobs that keep things interesting around here. There’s not much we won’t do around here. So as I always say as far as w**ds, bugs, and other critters, if it’s where it ain’t suppose to be, we kill, move, or remove it.

So before you think it’s something we won’t do, give us a call. You never know. We might.

10/20/2020

How To Keep From Getting Termites

Do IT Yourself Termite Prevention And Protection For Your Home -

I know we just posted this recently. However, in light of the fact that we’ve done 8 termite treatments in the last 3 weeks, it appears that there’s more of a need than ever that you take some steps to protect your home from termites. So, we’re posting it again. Read it and share it.

While this isn’t a 100% guarantee that you won’t ever get termites, you should still do all you can to keep from getting them. Read it, apply it, and share it.

How to protect your home from termites. Minimize your chances of getting a termite infestation. What you can do yourself to prevent a termite invasion.

10/16/2020

Bed bug heat treatment system for small spaces.

Our newest bed bug heating system is made to treat small spaces up to 600 square feet. This system is perfect for single room infestations, hotels, man camps, RV’s, and other areas that don’t require or can’t use a larger portable system.

Adding this smaller heating system to our arsenal of bed bug removal and pest control tools has been one of the best and most needed investments we’ve made at Horizon. It seems we added it at the perfect time as bed bug infestations are still on the rise. It stays busy and in use a lot of the time.

One of the best things about using a heating system like this as opposed to chemical control is the little work that is required from you. When we use to use chemicals as our main method of bed bug control, it required a lot of work and preparation from the client. While there is a little work and preparation in using a heating system, it’s nothing compared to the chemical method.

As well, and for those who don’t like using a lot of chemicals in their home, this and these type of systems are perfect as a green alternative to chemical control and removal.

At Horizon, we can now treat small to large area bed bug infestations with little intrusion and at a lower cost.

10/04/2020

You Might Have A German Cockroach Infestation if…….

Ya. That’s a lot of cockroaches trapped over one week period. And if we caught this many, there are still hundreds more that need to be caught or killed.

Along with insecticides and a few other tricks we have up our sleeves, sticky traps and glue boards make great monitors as well as to help reduce the population of roaches. With this trap as a monitor, we know that this area is a hot spot for roaches and needs more attention on the next treatment.

Sticky traps are a great tool for any pest control program as they’re effective for stopping most other insects like centipedes, camel crickets, child of the earth and even bed bugs and ant control.

09/30/2020

What You Can Do To Prevent Termites In Your Home

Want to avoid having to hire us? Then read our latest article!!! Folks, for lack of better words, there appears to be a termite invasion going on. https://horizonpestcontrol.net/b/termite-prevention-protect-your-home-from-termites/

While it’s no 100% guarantee that you will never get termites, there’s still a lot you can do yourself to minimize your chances of getting a termite infestation. Keeping moisture and food sources (wood) away from your home are the two main main goals of prevention. This article will help you understand some of the overlooked ways we can actually invite termites into our homes. And simple do it yourself ways to prevent them.

How to protect your home from termites. Minimize your chances of getting a termite infestation. What you can do yourself to prevent a termite invasion.

09/23/2020

2,500 sq. ft. of bird netting. We don’t do a lot of bird control. At least not on this scale. Bird spikes and some pigeon trapping has been about the extent of it. However, in this situation, spikes were out of the question. As you can see, there is just too much surface to cover effectively with spikes.

From a pest control standpoint, birds can become quite a problem. If the shelter is good, the population of birds will continue to grow. And it compounds as these types of birds tend to stay at and return to where they were hatched. And as the population grows, so does the mess and chances of other pests and diseases such as bird mites.

Again, while we don’t do a lot of bird control, we’re knowledgable and skilled at it from small and as you can see, larger projects. So, along with the majority of our work with w**d control and insects such as termites, roaches, ants, and bed bugs, we offer solutions for bird control.

09/19/2020

Trapping a skunk is easy. Humanely transporting it and releasing it is a little trickier. However, as you'll see in this video, it can be done without incident. We trapped, transported, and released this shunk without even a single spray. Skunks usually won't spray when they're confined so this one never sprayed in the trap. The black plasitic is necessary to hide our human figure as well as protect us from any spray if it happened. This skunk was destroying this lawn digging for grub worms and needed to be caught. The trapping part was the same as we do for Raccoons. We simply used marshmallows for bait in a live catch trap.

09/16/2020

Got Spurge?

The Summer Spurge w**d is out of control. Most of the new lawns we’re looking at have at least a little while the majority have a lot. Even some of the lawns we sprayed with pre emergent in the spring have some breakthrough.

While most lawns, even those treated with pre emergent in the Spring, will get some breakthrough of Spurge toward the end of Summer, this year has shown more w**d pressure than previous years. This is probably due to the extreme heat we’ve had here in Carlsbad causing the pre-emergents to break down faster than normal. That along with the duration and no rain, has created an opportunity for this opportunistic w**d to take hold and thrive.

The best defense to keep Spurge and other w**ds from becoming a problem at the end of the Summer is to focus on creating a thick lawn that will choke w**ds out and keep them to a minimum. This means the right type of turf, plenty of water, and the right amount of fertilizer.

Until the lawn is thickened up, along with that, even though it will be more costly, is to have a pre-emergent spray treatment in July as well as a Spring w**d control application, and a Fall spray.

Most of the herbicides used by the local w**d control companies are generally good. How well they’re applied, we can’t say. Regardless, no matter how good the herbicide is, most just can’t stand up to the heat of Southeast New Mexico and the duration of our growing season.

So if you’re having an issue with Spurge and other w**ds and need help getting your lawn in order, give us a call today at 575-725-9331 or message us here on Facebook.