Mickey Maxwell became the owner of Key Termite and Pest Control in 1977. Mickey started his pest control career in the Kern County Mosquito Abatement District in the early 1960's. His passion for insect pest identification and control lead him to a career with a local Central Valley pest control company. Mickey moved to their Visalia branch as a manager in the early 1970's. As with many Central Valley families, Mickey decided to move his family to the Central Coast in 1973. Mickey soon found work in the Pest Control industry working with Chris Key of Key Termite and Pest Control. After some time Mickey proved his worth and offered to purchase the business. Unknown to most, Mickey toyed with the idea of changing the business name so as to be the first listing in the Pacific Bell Yellow Pages. We we almost became "AAA Aardvark" Termite and Pest Control with this ant eater as it's logo! Mickey Maxwell decided to keep the name KEY as it was so well known on the Central Coast. Mickey carried on the KEY tradition of honesty and integrity and was highly respected in the Real Estate community. Mickey was the owner and qualifying operator for 13 years.
Ants are one of nature's little cleanup crew. When an insect or animal dies, the ant along with a host of other insects are there to consume it and recycle. Ants also herd "honeydew" producing insects such as aphids and scales on plants. Unfortunately, they can't tell the difference between the wild and your home. They often invade homes and businesses in search of food, water and sometimes searching for nesting sites. [click here for more information...]
Spiders
Spiders perform a wonderful job balancing insect populations. Some specialize in catching flying insects by building webs that act as a dragnet, other spiders are hunters that pursue and capture prey such as the Wolf Spider. However, spider infestations left uncontrolled can range from annoying to downright dangerous. [click here for more information...]
Termites
Termites are the most abundant form of life on earth. As a single "bio-mass" they outweigh all other forms of life on the planet! With an ecosystem designed around plant life, termites are an indispensable tool in turning plant fiber back into useful base nutrients the plants need to flourish. Termites are the only "animal" capable of digesting cellulose. Although the bulk of the work of converting cellulose to nutrients is actually performed by wood destroying fungi, termites are major partners in the process of recycling cellulose into useful soil elements.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are something that no one wants to have in their home. Not only are they a hazard, but they can also be very difficult to get rid of. Worst of all, you can pick up bed bugs from almost anywhere, including work, the gym, a hotel, from a neighbor, or even from a bus ride.
Fleas
Bed bugs are connected to the cleanliness of your home. Bed bugs travel from place to place similarly to fleas. Often, people who experience bed bug infestations have picked them up after they bring inside bedding or pieces of furniture, particularly used pieces because they are more likely to carry bed bugs. Once the bed bugs are in your home, they'll jump from place to place and spread further.
Cockroaches
If your home or property is overrun with pests, your first urge might be to kill as many of them as possible. It sure seems like a swift and effective way of dealing with the problem. There's also plenty of satisfaction to be felt when you see cockroaches or other pests that were terrorizing your home, suffering and dying in huge numbers.
Bees
People tend to confuse Yellowjackets with bees because of their yellow and black markings. However, the wasps have distinct features from honey bees. They have no hairy bodies, and their sting is not barbed, which is why they can sting repeatedly.
Wasps
Yellowjackets chew wood into a pulp that may vary in color depending on the source of the wood. Standing water, bright colors, and sweet-smelling fragrances can attract a swarm of these predatory wasps. They forage in summer through the fall, and some can survive early winter.
Ticks
Fleas and other parasites have absolutely no important environmental function other than making life miserable for you and your pets. Pests such as fleas, ticks, mosquitos and bedbugs exist only when suitable "hosts" are present and that host has no way to rid itself of or avoid the pest. Visit the [click here for more information...]
Earwigs
Earwigs are among the most readily recognized insect pests in home gardens. Although earwigs can devastate seedling vegetables or annual flowers and often seriously damage maturing soft fruit or corn silks, they also have a beneficial role in the landscape and have been shown to be important predators of aphids. [click here for more information...]
Mosquitoes
You also want to consider whether the pest control company offers specialized services that apply to your specific situation. There are different types of pest infestations. The most common type of pest infestations involve termites, ants, bees, cockroaches, and mosquitoes. Some pest control companies provide generalized services, meaning they can help you remove any one of the common pests. However, other pest control companies are more specialized, and you might want to consider their services if you're dealing with a severe infestation. The important thing is to make sure you hire a pest control company that can address the infestation once and for all.
Scorpions
Scorpions are similar to spiders in that they generally are hunters of primarily insects. They prey on insects and small animals or lizards and are usually only active at night. They only invade structures as they are searching for food. [click here for more information...]
Hornets
They are closely related to the hornets, although they are markedly different. Compared to hornets, Yellowjackets have a smaller head margin compared to their wasp cousins.
Yellow Jackets
Yellow Jackets, Hornets and Wasps make up a group of stinging pests most people have come to fear. Most have early childhood memories of being stung unexpectedly and have never forgotten it. The Yellow Jacket in particular is commonly found on the Central Coast near campgrounds, parks and lakes. Control is difficult unless the nest can be located. [click here for more information...]
Moles are a small insect-eating mammal. Contrary to a commonly held belief, it isn't part of the rodent family. Moles live almost entirely underground in a vast network of interconnecting tunnels. They frequently create shallow tunnels just below the surface where they capture worms, insects, and other invertebrates. An understanding of their behavior is KEY to controlling this pest. [click here for more information...]
Wildlife
If you are dealing with any of these pests, call Key Termite & Pest Control sooner rather than later to schedule an evaluation and estimate. Don't let your problems multiply. Very few infestations go away on their own without treatment, and the more of the pest you have, the longer it takes (and more it costs) to get your home and peace of mind back.
Woodpeckers are a protected bird under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. You are not legally allowed to trap, sell or destroy them. Once established, woodpeckers are persistent and are not easily driven from their territory or selected pecking site. Fines for such violations can be as high as $15,000.00. There are a few things you can do to prevent or deter their activity. Physical exclusion through use of netting will be the most effective deterrent. [click here for more information...]
Pigeons
Pigeons can become a nuisance when the decide your roof is a great place to nest. With the increase of solar panels on residential roofs, these panels are often provide a perfect location for pigeons to raise their young. The mess they leave behind can be extensive and costly to clean up. There are several exclusion methods that have been used effectively. Give us a call if you would like us to review an existing problem or if you would like to protect your home from an invasion. [click here for more information...]
No matter what is bugging you, we can find it and eliminate it. Our Central Coast pest management team has seen it all -- insects, spiders, rodents, nuisance birds, and more -- and has the experience and products to resolve and prevent almost any infestation.
Mice
Rats
Rats are very intelligent and cautious. Getting control of a rat infestation can be very challenging, but understanding their habits and behaviors will be necessary if you have rats around your home. They adapt well to the human environment, finding their way into your home for a warm place to nest and locating unprotected food sources such as dry dog food in the garage. [click here for more information...]
Squirrels
Ground Squirrel activity has been abundant in recent years. Nesting below sheds, undermining driveways and damaging plants in late summer, they have become quite a nuisance on properties with acreage. Call today and find out how we can effectively control these prolific varmints. [click here for more information...]
Gophers
Gophers are relentless burrowers and very territorial of their runs. Keeping gophers out of your lawn will prove to be an on going battle. Gophers don't hibernate and are active year-round, although you might not see any fresh mounding. New activity is often seen in the spring and summer when the soil is soft. To successfully control gophers, you must detect their presence early and take control measures immediately. [click here for more information...]