It's the dead of summer and mosquito's are in full force. Don't let mosquito's ruin the spending time outdoors in the evenings. Check out our Mosquito Control services or call us and let us explain your options to prevent mosquitoes from ruining your summer.

Just another day of Rat Killing... Man I love this Business!

And this racoon is so-o cute, EXCEPT when he's in your attic!

We take care of fleas too! Just ask Bandit.

It's spring time in Central Arkansas, and you've probably noticed more bugs crawling and flying around living spaces in and around your home. Bugs of all types have awakened from their Winter dormant phase to feed on new plant growth in your yard and to take advantage of the warmer temperatures.

Some things we are on the lookout for while spraying for bugs are wasps and bees in your siding and areas where your kids play. Wasps often make nests between your siding and walls around entrances and patios. Wasps are attracted to sweet odors of perfume, blooming flowers, and sweat on your children playing outdoors. If you are trying to enjoy the Spring temperatures on your porch, and are threatened by wasps flying around, we will put an end to their swarming reign of terror.

Spring is also a great time inspect areas around your home for water puddles where mosquito larvae may be present. We will do a thorough inspection for mosquito breeding grounds, and we will adjust the amount of bug spraying required based on your location and proximity to nearby woodlands and the amount of rainfall in your area.

Now is also a great time to install a Mosquito Misting system around the paremeter of your home or living area to eliminate the presence of mosquitos. We offer single bug spraying , monthly, and quarterly treatments options. Give us a call and tell us about the bug problems you are experiencing and we'll be happy to provide a solution.

I was very happy to get to share my family's story recently with Bill Lawson of the Maumelle Monitor. It was fun getting to sit down with Bill and talk about some of my life experiences and how I began my career as an entomologist.

You can read the full article here: Maumelle Monitor.

Getting bed bugs is no laughing matter. But, if you tuned in to a recent episode of 30 Rock on NBC, you may have gotten a few laughs watching Jack Donaghy, played by Alec Baldwin, suffer from a bed bug infestation.

In this episode, bed bugs destroyed Jack's lifestyle and made his daily life miserable. According to Pest World's Bed Bug Information page, bed bugs are on the rise and making the daily lives of more and more Americans miserable.

Bed bugs are an embrassing and unhealthy problem that should be treated immediatly. They can leave bloody welts on human skin that itch and turn into sores. If you are suffering from bed bugs and haven't had success erradicating them using over-the-counter treatments, give us an email or call and let us help you return you life back to normal.

This rat prank is too funny! I hope you laugh as hard as we did.

Ants typically aren't a nuisance when they are outdoors in their own habitat. Yet, when ants infiltrate your home foraging for food, they will not only become an annoyance, they can pose serious health risks and property damage. 

There are many proactive steps you can take to eliminate ants in your home and reduce the risk of infestation of your home.

The health risk depends on the species of ant and each ant species' ability to inflict damage. Since ants are primarily foraging for food, food contamination is common among odorous ants and pavement ants. Other ants such as fire ants can inflict painful stings, which can be especially painful on unsuspecting children and toddlers that often walk around barefoot. Carpenter ants can also cause property damage as they create nesting tunnels in wood and your home's foundation.

I don't mean to come off as making too much of this situation. I mean, they are just ants. But, ants are social insects, and what may seem like a small problem can quickly become a major pest problem.

So what is the solution to ant problems?

If you are tired of spending money on ant sprays that have a limited shelf life, let us help you by first identifying the species of ant that has infested your home, and then establish a strategy to eliminate the infestation based on the species of ant.

Some things you can do on your own to prevent ant infestation include:

• Eliminating standing water near your home (this also helps you reduce mosquitoes)
• Keep food in sealed containers and clean up thoroughly, this includes after cook outs.
• Dispose garbage often and keep it sealed in your outside trash can
• Keep pet food and water dishes clean and remove any spilled food. I know this can be tough on parents with toddlers roaming around, but do your best to make them eat in the kitchen and pick up fallen crumbs.
• Seal cracks and holes around your home to prevent ant infestation

I'm getting more and more questions about plants and shrubs that naturally repel mosquitoes from people looking for earth-friendly alternatives to pesticides. I want to take a few moments to shed some light on the pros and cons of relying on plants to fight off mosquitoes.

Mosquito repellent plants are an eco-friendly way to fight against these airborne pests without using pesticides. Many of them are blooming plants that not only have limited mosquito repellant properties, but are aesthetically appealing in your flowerbeds and border areas.

There are several plants and shrubs that are being sold in big chain home stores and nurseries that are advertised as "mosquito plants." Yet, relying solely on plants to ward off mosquitoes is not a full proof plan. In fact, you will have more success reducing mosquitoes by eliminating standing water around your home than from planting plants around your home.

For one thing, most of these plants have a very limited radius of protection. If you are serious about eradicating mosquitoes around your home, you must inundate your yard with these plants. Not only is this expensive, it doesn't totally solve your problem as the plants have a very limited area of resistance. Plus, you will find yourself replanting every year since many of these plants are annuals.

There are other all natural alternatives to unhealthy pesticides most pest control companies use. For instance, here at Optimal Pest Solutions, we only use EcoSmart's blend of botanical oils that target not just mosquitoes, but a broad array of other bugs in your yard as well.

I'm not going to say don't use mosquito repelling plants in your yard because every little thing you can do helps. I just don't think they live up to the advertising hype.

Pleaes leave a comment or contact our pest control company if you have questions about our EcoSmart products or additional information on this subject.

We found this video online and thought we would share with you the plight of a home owner dealing with a infestation. Pest control doesn't have to be this dramatic or extreme. If you've ever experienced an ordeal with pest in your home, give us a call and we can put an end to vermin that have infiltrated your home. Although we don't specialize in ninja control, we do provide professional pest control services that can erradicate and prevent common household pests such as ants, roaches, mice, termites, wasps, and mosqitoes.