Lowe's Companies, Inc. : Warm Winter Gives Insects an Early Wake-up Call

Tell creepy crawly creatures to bug off with Lowe's pest and insect control

They flit and flop and buzz and hop. They zig and zag and dig and nag. They bite and cling and fly and sting.

With no invitation, buzzing, badgering busybodies welcome themselves into our world, often in places we prefer bugs not venture. They've crashed more picnics, pestered more pets and grubbed in more gardens than the stars in an animated movie. And swat, slap and stomp as we might, our best efforts to ease these troublemakers' torment are usually useless.

Adding to the agony, this year the bug world's wake-up calls came early, according to most entomological experts, because of a warmer-than-normal winter and below-average precipitation in most parts of the country. Experts say above-average temperatures rouse insects from hibernation weeks earlier than usual.

When pesky pests start poking around on your property, Lowe's can help you take proactive measures to protect your home, lawn or garden against these creepy crawly creatures.

If you live in the South, you know about termites - those wood-chomping menaces that cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage to homes and businesses each year - but you may not know if they're enjoying a buffet below your feet.

That's where Spectracide 15-Pack Terminate Termite Detection and Killing Stakes (Item #316909) come in handy. Stake your claim to your property with these spikes, which alert you with a pop-up indicator if termites are roaming beneath the surface. Although these stakes have killing properties, they're best used with a barrier treatment such as BAYER ADVANCED Gallon Carpenter Ant and Termite Killer Plus Concentrate (Item #216551).

Ever caught a whiff of a stink bug? These appropriately named plant juice suckers live up to their name because, when you squash them, the pests' glands release a rancid fluid that makes you think twice before squashing another. You'll be more successful with the RESCUE! Reusable Stink Bug Trap (Item#129205), which catches these bugs outdoors with an odor-free attractant and indoors with a light attachment. You can easily dispose of these stinkers, found mostly in Mid-Atlantic states, with these non-toxic bags.

Notice any volcano-looking dunes in your yard? Then get ready for all-out warfare because you've likely been invaded by fire ants. They may tread lightly, but these ants carry a big sting, which is why it's important to be on the offensive if you see these anthills popping up in your yard. Lowe's offers two types of control - bunker-busting or broadcast. Scott's ORTHO 12-Oz. Fire Ant Killer (Item #99584) kills the entire colony because the lunch-pail ants help themselves to these granular treats and share them with their queen. Used in conjunction with ORTHO Fire Ant Killer Broadcast Granules (Item #13717), you can make the warm months in your yard, well, ant-iclamactic.

Is Fido or Fluffy scratching? Chances are the flea market has opened shop. Take action against such vermin - and those nasty ticks - with Adams' Central Life Sciences 16 Oz. Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs or Adams' Central Life Sciences 3-Pack 1.44 Oz. Flea and Tick Liquid for Cats (Item #319236). Provide ongoing protection with treatment such as Frontline Plus for Dogs or Frontline Plus for Cats (item numbers vary by size), along with an Adams' Central Life Sciences 7-Month Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs (Item #282523) or Adams' Flea & Tick Topical Treatment for Cats (Item #380544), which offers a new Smart Shield applicator for safe, correct, non-mess skin application.

Before you surrender and join the swat team, be on the offensive, stop by your local Lowe's store or visit lowes.com to learn the difference between good bugs and bad bugs and for help choosing the right pesticide. Then, tell these nuisances to bug off!

About Lowe's

With fiscal year 2011 sales of $50.2 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE^® 50 company that serves approximately 15 million customers a week at more than 1,745 home improvement stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit lowes.com.

Lowe?s Companies, Inc.
Karen Cobb, 704-758-3504
karen.s.cobb@lowes.com

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