Noticing holes in your yard? Check out our video to discover which pests might be turning your yard into their habitat or digging the ground.

Join the Safeway Team! Send us your resume: safeway@safewaypest.net or visit: https://www.safewaypest.net/company-news-employment

This video showcases some of our services, but we provide much more, including local service with friendly and knowledgeable technicians. We're here to help 262-679-4422

Learn how to store your firewood to prevent bringing pests indoors. Happy Holidays!

We are honored to be highlighted by the Muskego Chamber of Commerce as one of the business spotlight members for the month of July. Check out our bio profile on the Muskego Chamber Business Spotlight here: https://www.muskego.org/business-spotlight Our business spotlight table can be visited at the Muskego City Hall. Stop in, help yourself to our limited time discount offer and free items! Business spotlight table Grab some freebies while they last! We thank the Muskego Chamber of Commerce for highlighting Safeway Pest Management, and for the support throughout the year!

Check out some of our latest "From the Field" finds:

Is it a bee? Is it a wasp? It can be super confusing to identify a specific type of stinging insect, so let’s take a quick tour of some types of stinging insects in Wisconsin and their distinguishing traits. To start, here’s some general stinging insect knowledge regarding bees and wasps. Bees: Have two pairs of wings, relatively hairy, long antennae Wasps: Have two pairs of wings, relatively hairless, long antennae, most have a thin “waist”, many have bright orange and yellow colors (stripes on legs, abdomen or thorax) Honey Bee: Nest: Human built or nests built within walls Identifying Markers: Yellow-Orange in color (color can be faint in some bees), ½” in size Other Distinguishing Traits: Hairy eyes, can only sting once and then die Bumble Bee: Nest: Under stoops, under concrete by patios and decks, lower to the ground nesting areas Identifying Markers: Very hairy bodies, legs and abdomen. Larger in size (1-1 ½”) , Yellow, orange or white hairs on both abdomen and thorax Other Distinguishing Traits: Defend their nest aggressively and can sting repeatedly Carpenter Bee: Nest: Wood areas, under eaves, decks Identifying Markers: Larger in size (1-1 ½”), Resemble the bumble bee, but have less color and upper abdomen is bare and shiny back Other Distinguishing Traits: Males (all black) do not sting, only females sting (tan in color), make burrows in wood for egg-laying Yellow Jacket: Nest: Upside down tear-drop shaped nest made of paper with a single hole in the bottom, nest in wall voids, rodent burrows, eaves, and other locations that are easily hidden from predators Identifying Markers: A brighter yellow in color, ½” in size Other Distinguishing Traits: Fly a side to side flight pattern before landing, they are scavengers and tend to invade BBQs and picnics. Sting repeatedly Polistes Wasp: Nest: nests are made of paper-like combs and found hanging under eaves, door frames, soffits, deck rails, roofs, porches, trees, shrubs Identifying Markers: Wasps have smooth bodies, usually dark brown with yellow markings. Their body can be up to three-fourths of an inch long with slender waist. When flying, can be recognized by two rear legs "hanging down". Other Distinguishing Traits: Very protective of their nest, can sting repeatedly Bald-faced Hornet: Nest: Build their nests entirely on the exterior and out in the open; they build football-shaped nests out of reach in high eaves, under decks and in trees and shrubs Identifying Markers: Yellow and black (or sometimes white and black), look similar to the yellow jacket, but longer and thinner, Up to 2’ in size Other Distinguishing Traits: Extremely aggressive, can sting repeatedly Seeing stinging insects? Give us a call 262-679-4422.

Whether you are taking out a brand-new VA Loan or refinancing, all VA lenders require a Wood Destroying Insect Report. This became a requirement in 2020 in several Wisconsin counties (Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Kenosha, Lafayette, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha). The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has released a new two-page form for existing residential real estate transactions called the NPMA-33. Anyone completing this form for you also has to be certified in wood destroying insect inspection and treatment. Most often lenders and realtors refer to these inspections as termite inspections. Our certified technicians at Safeway Pest Management are also inspecting for carpenter ants, carpenter bees and wood-boring beetles in addition to termites. They are looking for live activity, evidence of past pest activity, signs of previous termite treatments, areas conducive to subterranean termites, and moisture. Not all evidence of any of these pests is visible to the naked eye on the surface which is why our technicians use all resources available to ensure your home is free of these wood destroying insects. Our technicians inspect all surfaces of your interior and exterior walls, floors, and ceilings. Besides the main level of your home, the technician may need access to basements, crawl spaces, attic, garage, porches and any additions. If the technician cannot get access to one or more of these areas, he will note this on his report. If there are additional buildings or structures on your property, please mention them at the time of scheduling. This allows the technician to have enough scheduled time to inspect all structures and accurately, complete the inspection and the report. This is also important so you are given an accurate quote for the inspection ahead of the scheduled appointment. Additional structures may incur additional charges. Technicians want to ensure that you are purchasing a home that is pest free. Aside from time and their visual observations, there are plenty of tools our technicians use to inspect as thoroughly as possible. Some of these tools include a rubber mallet, probe, stethoscope, optic and digital camera. In addition, Safeway’s certified technicians also use a moisture meter which will target key hospitable areas for pests, where they can grow and thrive without human interaction.  As moisture-affected wood often hosts these pest species, it is important for home inspectors to identify all areas susceptible to infestations as well. As one of our expert’s states, “If an area of moisture is detected, I will tap the area with a mallet and probe the wood to ensure it is not being eaten. For example, if I tap on a wall with carpenter ants within the wall, I can hear them click their mandibles in protest.” He later explained how a stethoscope is also an excellent way to hear activity behind a surface before probing or tapping the surface. The inspection does not include concealed areas, mold, mildew or non-insect wood destroying organisms. VA lenders will often require an invoice that shows who paid for the termite inspection and a lien waiver. VA borrowers aren't allowed to pay for the inspection on a home purchase, which is important to note. It is technically the seller who is responsible for all costs associated with the inspection. The only exception to the requirement is a VA Interest Rate Reduction Loan (VA IRRRL). VA IRRRL’s do not require a termite report. While a Veteran is not allowed to pay for the inspection on a purchase, they can pay for the pest inspection on a VA refinance loan. The reason is that the Veteran already owns the house. VA loan rules for termite inspections are different for condo projects. According to the VA, "A wood destroying insect inspection is required in low-rise and high-rise units only when the fee appraiser observes a potential problem." There are some situations that allow the termite inspection to be waived in second-story or higher condo units. Before starting your house hunt, speak with your nearest VA Regional Loan Center to learn if your area requires termite inspections. With this requirement being new to our area, the buyer or the realtor doesn’t necessarily know about the requirement for this inspection report and we get a call at the last minute to schedule. We are hoping to spread the word to Veterans and Realty professionals that this requirement is now in place. We hope to help everyone become an expert on this topic and to give enough time in advance to get their inspection scheduled without a panicked rush on the day before closing. Once the inspection is completed, how long does it last? Many lenders state the termite inspection expires after 30 days, but check with your lender to confirm this time frame. To make this process as easy as possible for the Veteran, we hand them the report on site after the technician has completed the inspection. In addition, we scan this report the same day and email it to you to make it easy to forward it to the lender the same day. Keep in mind that each inspection report may be different. Therefore, requirements and remedies vary as well. Besides lender and Veteran’s Administration requirements, it is key that you, the Veteran and their representatives, are happy with the findings and corrections if necessary. Make sure that your inspection is completed by a certified technician who is completing the NPMA-33 form. Confirm your appointment is not more than 30 days from the closing but allow yourself and the pest company enough time to schedule your inspection. Don’t forget to have an invoice showing that it is paid, as the lender will be looking for that. Lastly, request a lien waiver, typically we see it requested by the lender more than half of the time. The loan process can be lengthy, and we at Safeway Pest Management want to help you make this part as easy as possible to allow you to enjoy the next chapter that's ahead. By: Shannon Maass Office Manager at Safeway Pest Management Sources: https://www.veteransunited.com/valoans/va-termite-pest-inspections/, https://www.benefits.va.gov/HOMELOANS/appraiser_cv_local_req.asp, https://www.valoans.com/articles/termite-inspections/, https://www.ovmfinancial.com/va-termite-inspection/.

Chocolate-Covered Bug Love Edible insects are a real thing and a simple search on the internet will lead you to various kinds of chocolate covered insects and insect-filled lollypops (purchase and try at your own risk!). A better idea may be to simply get your valentine some gummy worms and skip the whole eww factor. Take Your Valentine on a Virtual Date Take a free Virtual Tour of Smithsonian's Natural History Museum. Visit the butterfly pavilion, the insect zoo and more. Virtual Tour of Smithsonian's Natural History Museum-Current Exhibits Check out the Free Live Chrysalis Cam by Florida Museum of Natural History and see an assortment of butterfly pupae that arrive each week from butterfly farms around the world. If you watch closely, you may just see a colorful new adult butterfly emerge. Chrysalis Cam Give a Love Bug Valentine We found a couple of external links* to share, they lead to some cute, printable PDF bug valentines: Love Bugs Cut and Paste Isn't That Mice? Make your sweetie some Hershey kiss mice (YouTube Link*) Hershey Kiss Mice Not Feeling the Love? Maybe you aren’t feeling the love this year? If not, how about naming a cockroach after an ex? For $15 you can Name a Bronx Zoo Madagascar hissing cockroach for your loved one. The original name-a-roach gift, complete with a digital certificate. Name A Cockroach After An Ex *Warning: Links lead to external sources. Safeway is not responsible for external link websites.

We enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Cotton Exchange in Waterford for our company holiday party on December 2nd. Thank you to all who attended!

A great time was had at the Milwaukee Milkmen game on August 6th. Thanks to all who came!

We enjoyed dinner and lots of laughs at the Cotton Exchange in Waterford for our company holiday party on January 28th, 2023. Thank you to all who braved the snow storm and attended!