Summit City Pest Control

Ground nesting yellow jackets can be especially nasty this time of year. They are extremely defensive of their colony, especially in late summer when their populations are often at their highest.

One of the biggest dangers is that the entrance hole can be very difficult to see. You can mow right over a nest without ever knowing it is there until yellow jackets start pouring out of the ground.

Unlike honey bees, yellow jackets can sting multiple times. When their nest is disturbed, they release alarm pheromones, basically a chemical warning signal that alerts other yellow jackets to a threat. This can quickly turn one or two defensive yellow jackets into multiple yellow jackets attacking and stinging repeatedly.

This can also become a serious medical emergency. Someone who does not know the nest is there may suddenly receive multiple stings, and a person with a severe venom allergy can experience anaphylaxis. In rare cases, a severe allergic reaction can be fatal. Even someone without a known allergy can become seriously ill after receiving a large number of stings.

That is why I tell people not to underestimate ground nesting yellow jackets. An unseen nest and a lawn mower can turn into a dangerous situation very quickly.

Misty Mueller Adam Mueller

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Due to a power transformer failure on the power pole at our office, our office lines and internet connectivity are currently inaccessible. We are able to receive calls and texts via our business mobile line, 260-442-2904. We have been informed by AEP that power should be restored by early to mid-afternoon.

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Summit City Pest Control is growing, and we’re excited to find a talented new team member to join Fort Wayne’s premier pest management company since 2012. If you're ready for an exciting career opportunity or know someone who is, don’t hesitate send your resume today to [email protected]! This position is especially perfect for veterans, firefighters, and police officers with days off, offering a chance to earn extra income during your M-F off days.

Qualifications: Must be 18 or older, possess a current, clean driver’s license, have no criminal record, and be comfortable working with insects and rodents.

Benefits include vacation time, holiday pay, and medical coverage.

Termites and New Construction Risk

Building a New Home or Commercial Facility on Former Farmland? Read This.

Did you know newly constructed homes or facilities built on recently developed agricultural land can face increased termite pressure?

Here in Northeast Indiana, much of our building growth occurs on former corn and soybean fields. When land is developed, large amounts of cellulose material remain in the soil:

• Corn stalk residue
• Root systems
• Organic matter from decades of crop cycles
• Buried wood debris from clearing and grading

The
Eastern Subterranean Termite
feeds exclusively on cellulose, the primary structural component of plant material.

When soil is disturbed during excavation, grading, and foundation installation, it can:

• Expose existing subterranean termite colonies
• Redistribute cellulose food sources
• Increase foraging activity near newly poured foundations

Termites do not disappear simply because a new building is built. In fact, construction can stimulate colony exploration in the surrounding soil.

Why Pretreat During Construction?

A professional pre-construction termite treatment establishes a treated soil zone beneath and around the foundation before concrete is poured and final grading is completed.

Benefits include:

• Protection beneath slabs where future access is limited
• Long-term structural defense from day one
• Reduced risk of concealed entry points
• Easier compliance with lending and WDI requirements
• Lower cost compared to post-construction corrective treatments

Once concrete, patios, garages, and finished landscaping are installed, treatment options become more invasive and more expensive.

Prevention during construction is strategic and cost-effective.

Your new Investment may be brand new, but the soil beneath it is not.

📞 If you are building in Fort Wayne or anywhere in Northeast Indiana, contact Summit City Pest Control at 260-451-0097 or Adam directly @ 260-467-3394 to discuss professional termite pretreatment options before your slab is poured.

Protect your number one investment before the first wall goes up.

Your Lake Home Is More Than Property. It Is Legacy.

For many families around Lake James, Jimmerson Lake, Snow Lake, and the greater Angola area, lake homes are not just structures. They are gathering places. Holiday traditions. Long summer evenings. A place grandchildren will one day inherit.

What many homeowners do not realize is that termite damage often begins quietly and invisibly. By the time it is discovered, structural damage can already be extensive.

Subterranean termites thrive in moisture rich environments. Homes near water, wooded lots, or former farmland can present increased conducive conditions.

They work behind walls, beneath floors, and under slabs. Silent. Hidden. Persistent.

Annual professional termite inspections:

• Detect early activity before structural damage occurs
• Preserve warranty eligibility
• Provide documented structural assessment
• Protect long term property value

A lake home is a significant financial asset. It deserves consistent monitoring and professional oversight.

Do not wait until damage becomes visible.

Call Summit City Pest Control at 260-451-0097 or text 260-467-3394 to schedule your termite inspection.

Regular inspection fee is $189. During Termite Awareness Week, March 1 through March 7, schedule your inspection and receive a one time $100 savings. Not valid for real estate transaction inspections.

At minimum, every lake home should be inspected annually for these silent destroyers.

“Damage Is Often Hidden, Inside-Out Destruction”

Did you know subterranean termites consume wood from the inside out?

They often leave a thin exterior surface intact, making damage difficult to detect until structural integrity is compromised.

By the time floors feel soft or trim appears distorted, damage may be advanced.

Homeowners' insurance policies generally do not cover termite damage, as it is seen as preventable through regular inspections and maintenance. If damage is discovered, repair costs can reach tens of thousands of dollars, not including hidden damage behind walls that requires further exploratory inspections to uncover the full extent. Regular annual inspections are crucial for protection.

📞 Call Summit City Pest Control at 260-451-0097 or text us at 260-467-3394 to schedule a professional termite inspection. Regular inspection fee $189. Call during Termite Awareness Week (March 1-7) to schedule an inspection and get a one-time $100 discount! (not to be used as a Real-Estate transaction inspection
At a minimum, your home should be inspected and monitored yearly for these silent destroyers.

Swarm Season Is Approaching

Did you know termite swarmers are often mistaken for flying ants?

In spring, mature colonies of
Eastern Subterranean Termite
produce winged reproductives known as alates.

If you see swarmers indoors, it may indicate an active colony inside or directly beneath your structure.

How to identify termites:

• Straight antennae
• Equal-length wings
• Thick waist

Discarded wings near windows or doors are a warning sign.

Swarmers are not the problem. They are the signal.

📞 Call Summit City Pest Control at 260-451-0097 or text us at 260-467-3394 to schedule a professional termite inspection. Regular inspection fee $189. Call during Termite Awareness Week (March 1-7) to schedule an inspection and get a one-time $100 discount! (not to be used as a Real-Estate transaction inspection
At minimum, your home should be inspected and monitored yearly for these silent destroyers.

Why Termites Need Soil

Moisture Drives Infestation

Did you know Eastern Subterranean Termites cannot survive without moisture?

Because they are soft-bodied insects, they must remain connected to soil or a consistent moisture source. That is why they construct mud tubes along foundations, block walls, and support piers.

Common local risk factors include but are not limited to:

• Wood-to-soil contact
• Poor drainage around the foundation
• Crawlspaces without v***r barriers
• Untreated structural wood

Professional inspections identify conducive conditions before termites identify your home.

Prevention is far less expensive than repair.

📞 Call Summit City Pest Control at 260-451-0097 or text us at 260-467-3394 to schedule a professional termite inspection. Regular inspection fee $189. Call during Termite Awareness Week (March 1-7) to schedule an inspection and get a one-time $100 discount! (not to be used as a Real-Estate transaction inspection
At minimum, your home should be inspected and monitored yearly for these silent destroyers.