BLR Pest Control

05/04/2026

With Hantavirus back in the news, it is an important time to review how exposure occurs. While Hantavirus is a zoonotic disease tied to rodents, the risk is not simply "having mice." The primary danger comes from disturbing contaminated materials, specifically dried droppings, urine, nesting material, or carcasses.

How Exposure Happens

The most common exposure route is inhalation. When people sweep or vacuum contaminated areas, they aerosolize microscopic particles, which can then be inhaled.

Safe Cleanup Procedures

If you are dealing with rodent activity, your cleaning method is the most critical factor in staying safe.

• Ventilate: Open doors and windows to air out the space for at least 30 minutes before starting.
• Avoid Dry Cleaning: Never sweep or vacuum. This kicks the virus into the air.
• Use PPE: Wear rubber or latex gloves and, ideally, a proper respirator (such as an N95 or P100) to protect your lungs.
• Saturate: Fully soak droppings and affected areas with a disinfectant. A 1:9 bleach-to-water solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) is highly effective. Let the solution sit for at least 5 minutes.
• Damp Removal: Wipe up the material with disposable paper towels or rags while it is still wet.
• Disposal & Hygiene: Bag and seal all waste immediately. Disinfect the surrounding area, then wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after removing your gloves.

High-Risk Areas

Most cases result from improper cleanup in enclosed, dusty environments such as attics, crawlspaces, sheds, or garages. If you encounter heavy contamination or must work in a tight space, it is best to avoid shortcuts and prioritize respiratory protection.

02/17/2026

Spray foam crawlspace encapsulation is becoming more common in newer homes, but many homeowners don’t realize how it overlaps with termite inspections and long-term pest risk.

When spray foam is applied over structural components like sill plates, band boards, and foundation walls, it can create a significant obstruction to visual inspection for wood-destroying insects. Visual inspection is the primary method used across the pest management industry, and when those areas are covered, the underlying wood simply cannot be evaluated.

Eastern subterranean termites are capable of traveling behind or through foam, which means activity or damage can occur without visible evidence if inspection access is blocked. The foam itself is not a food source, but it can conceal conditions that would otherwise be detected early.

Another concern is when conducive conditions exist alongside encapsulation — such as wood-to-soil contact or buried wood debris — which can increase risk while still limiting visibility.

This isn’t about criticizing insulation contractors or saying spray foam shouldn’t be used. It’s about understanding that installation details matter, and inspection access should always be considered to allow proper evaluation over the life of the structure.

If you’re building, buying, or encapsulating a crawlspace, make sure inspection access is preserved and documentation of any termite treatment is retained. Annual inspections are still one of the most important steps in protecting a structure.

Awareness helps homeowners make informed decisions and avoid surprises down the road.

12/12/2025

❄️ Due to snow across Central Kentucky, services scheduled for today have been rescheduled. Schools and daycare are closed, so BLR will be spending the day at home with family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

📱 If you were scheduled for service today, you should have already received an SMS or email with updated information.

🚗 Please stay safe if you need to get out—and if you have the opportunity, enjoy the snow with your kids ☃️

11/04/2025

"While thinking about delicious baked items for fall and holiday meals, inspecting food items in the pantry and cabinet now will avoid delays and prevent the spread of a possible infestation of those products." Read more here: https://www.messenger-inquirer.com/features/lifestyle/be-aware-of-possible-insect-pests-in-the-pantry-and-holiday-decorations/article_568ae141-1cf6-525b-b60f-26996dd2e0ce.html

09/24/2025

West Nile Virus is confirmed in Kentucky again this season. Protection against mosquito bites is critical. Here’s what actually works:

🦟 Repellent + coverage = best defense. Yard sprays are helpful for reducing mosquito numbers, but they will never eliminate them. For bite prevention, you need repellent and clothing/netting.

✅ DEET remains the gold standard.
• Use 20–30% DEET on exposed skin and clothing (not under clothes).
• Wash off after you come indoors.
• Children: CDC and EPA recommend ≤30% DEET for children over 2 months old. Do not apply to hands, eyes, or mouth. Avoid use on infants under 2 months.

✅ Alternatives (safe and effective, but generally shorter protection):
• Picaridin (20%) — nearly as effective as DEET, less odor, less greasy.
• Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (30–40% PMD) — effective, but not for children under 3 years.
• IR3535 (20–35%) — works but typically requires more frequent reapplication.

⚠️ Natural oils (citronella, peppermint, cedar, etc.) are not reliable for West Nile protection. They may help for minutes, not hours.

🏡 Yard work matters:
• Dump standing water: gutters, saucers, toys, tarps, tires, birdbaths (a bottle cap’s worth can breed mosquitoes).
• Use mosquito dunks (Bti) in ponds, rain barrels, and birdbaths.
• Trim vegetation and improve airflow where people gather.

Bottom line: If you want guaranteed bite protection, use repellent plus clothing/netting. Yard treatments reduce numbers, but they don’t replace personal protection.

⸻

Sources:
• CDC: Prevent Mosquito Bites
• EPA: Repellent Use & Safety
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): Choosing an Insect Repellent for Your Child

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 770 cases of the virus have been reported nationwide as of early September.

06/17/2025

A new study suggests that bedbugs were the first urban pest, and their population thrived in that environment. For the bloodsucking insects, it’s been the perfect 13,000-year-long marriage.

06/05/2025

As a small, local owner-operated business, I take pride in providing honest, high-quality service to every customer. I also take safety seriously—both mine and yours.

Because of that, I want to make it clear that BLR Pest Control has a zero-tolerance policy for any aggressive or threatening behavior, including verbal abuse or posturing in a threatening way. If that happens, I will immediately cancel service and any remaining warranty—no exceptions.

I’m grateful for the support and trust of the many great customers I’ve worked with, and I will always show up with professionalism and respect. I simply ask for the same in return.

Thank you for understanding and for continuing to support small, local businesses.

– Benjamin Miles
Owner/Operator, BLR Pest Control

04/29/2025

Invasive species like Spongy Moth, Spotted Lanternfly, and Imported Fire Ant threaten our commonwealth! Help UK Entomology by finding and reporting invasive species in your neighborhood!

03/18/2025

Brood 14 cicadas to emerge and make a racket in Kentucky this spring...

A big batch of cicadas is expected to emerge from the ground and begin making a racket in central and eastern Kentucky this spring. Ric Bessin is an extension entomologist at the University of Kentucky who began working there in 1991 – when the grandparents of this generation came out.

“There's some things that come into play, such as soil moisture, soil temperatures. So we're always at the mercy of the weather, but we're looking at about the beginning of May, give or take a week, is when they should show up.”

Bessin said the bug-eyed insects will stay active through May and will be followed by annual cicadas that will show up in late June and early July.

Seventeen years ago, Brood 14 hatched in trees, fell to the ground, tunneled into the soil and began feeding on tree root sap. Bessin is an admitted cicada enthusiast, but acknowledges not everyone likes the noise they make while courting.

“At first, it's one of those cool things to listen to – that droning whine. But after about a week, that tolerance of that whine begins to decline.”

Bessin said in all his years of work, he’s seen one blue-eyed cicada.

weku.org

03/05/2025

📢 TONIGHT on "On Track": Ticks in Kentucky—What You Need to Know

With tick populations growing and cases of Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndrome on the rise, how can Kentuckians stay safe?

We’ll hear from Dr. Jonathan Larson, entomologist at the University of Kentucky, and Matthew Vanderpool (pictured here), an environmental health specialist with Louisville Metro Public Health. They're tracking Kentucky’s tick population and working on ways to reduce the risks.

📻 Tune in at 6 p.m. on 89.3 WFPL, stream at lpm.org, or listen on your favorite podcast app.