Well coming soon to a store near you, well at least coming to ProBest Pest Management & Contract U.S. Post Office – energy bars.

For centuries, human civilizations have rightly considered insects an excellent, plentiful and resource-efficient source of protein. Even today, 80% of the world’s people regularly munch edible insects as part of their normal diets – chapulines in Mexico, stir-fried red tree ants in Cambodia, inago (grasshoppers) and hachinoko (bee larvae) in Japan and casu marzu in Italy. And with good reason…eating insects provides an incredibly rich source of protein, iron and omega-3 acids and are very low in cholesterols and fat.

 

Today, even as the average American consumes roughly twice as much protein as nutritionists recommend, we have limited our diets to a narrow range of relatively unhealthy and inefficient sources. As a result, we use huge amounts of land and water to feed cattle, pigs and chickens, and suffer the consequences; experts estimate that 92% of all freshwater consumed is absorbed by agriculture, the average hamburger patty has the same greenhouse gas impact as driving a Toyota Corolla for 10 miles, and our waterways are laced with antibiotics, hormones and pesticides. Soy and whey protein, popular alternatives to meat, still rely on resource-intensive agriculture, expose us to unhealthy levels of phytoestrogens and trigger dairy allergies.

 

At the same time, the global population continues to grow…from 6 billion in 2000 to 7 billion today and probably 9-10 billion within our lifetimes. With billions of mouths to feed, the pressure on our land and (especially) water resources is intensifying.

 

At Chapul, we think its time to learn from our ancestors and live smarter. Time to embrace a more efficient source of protein. Time for a revolution.

Great video by Raising Arizona Kids Magazine

Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222

You have to check out the following article from North Carolina on what they are calling “Swarmageddon“, its been in the making for 17 years. They are finding Cicada’s everywhere, from blades of grass to trees and everywhere in between.  Check out all the neat photos of Cicadas’s and their molted skins, they are estimating billions of these critters will be making their comeback this spring.

Have you ever heard their singing chorus, OK you are probably thinking chorus yea right? I’ll bet the birds and other animals that eat cicada’s are going to have plenty of food for a few weeks. So what do you do when an invasion like this sets in? Really not much you can do, set back and grin and hope they don’t make it in the house. They don’t bite but can be a nuisance.

We occasionally have bugs explosions here in Arizona, from grasshoppers to mosquitoes. depending on weather conditions and the amount of rain.

The  Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and the National Pest Management Association have teamed up to promote public awareness of allergies and asthma with a Public Service Annonucement or PSA.

Did you know that cockroaches and rodents may be a factor in asthma cases across the U.S.

http://aafa.org/pdfs/QRChome.pdf

National Pest Management Association

Researchers have devised a synthetic antidote to a Loxosceles (Brown Recluse species) bite. It promises fewer side effects than existing treatments and reduces the suffering of the animals required to produce it. Synthetic spider venom makes a kinder, safer antidote by Andy Coghlan gives new insight into current research.

I’m constantly amazed at the research being done and the advances in science and applaud the work done by researchers across the world.

A team led by Carlos Chávez-Olórtegui of the Federal University of Mias Gerais in Brazil has developed an alternative. On a side note this is great news as the Brazilian Wandering Spider is from Brazil and is considered one of the deadliest spiders in the world. Arizona Brown or Brown Recluse Spider blog article by ProBest Pest Management.

(Photo Courtesy of Univar?)

Lots of us own pets, from cats to snakes and because of this we can also from time to time get uninvited pests including ticks and other vermin. In Arizona we don’t get fleas very often but we do encounter ticks on a regular basis. So what can you do to stop those infestations from happening to your home.

1. Don’t leave food out for feral cats, this may bring in other unwanted pests.
2. If you see holes in the yard check for Pocket gophers, they can damage plants and bring in pests.
3. Even birds like pigeons can bring in pests, don’t allow them them to live on your roof.
4. Bats can make your attic a home, seal and block all access into your attic. Bat Bugs can take up residence within your attic and if you get rid of the bats, the Bat Bugs may come into your home space.
5. Check your pets frequently for signs of fleas or ticks. You can use over the counter medicines but if you do please mention this to your Pest Management Professional – some of those products may contain a similar products and cause an overdose to the pet.
6. Keep grass or vegetation trimmed around the home.
7. Don’t become a hoarder, keep debris away from the home and discourage rodent activity.
8. Never place firewood next to your home, don’t invite rodents or pests near the home. If you use firewood only bring in what you plan on using right away.
9. If you have rodents, it may lead to snakes. Snakes have to eat so don’t encourage them to come to your house.
10. Don’t allow water to stand, mosquitoes can bite and transit diseases and parasites to your pets.

Subterranean termites – in Arizona and most other places in the U.S. they build mud tunnels.

Crickets are notorious at getting into the stucco or crack and crevices and living within that space. They fecal material just falls out of those spaces and we have been getting a lot of calls thinking that they have termites.

Close up view, notice the insect leg.

Just to throw you off, the picture below is Drywood Termites – notice the grooves.

 Storm Shield®

DEMAND ACTION!

Weatherseals, hardware and Accessories for the Garage Door Industry.

Garage Door Threshold
Storm Shield is also available in a consumer friendly retail kit for your showroom display.

Keeps out rodents, snakes and small pests including scorpions and spiders. Resistant to oil, gas, antifreeze, and other commonly used chemical substances Saves money by reducing energy loss. Reduces rust and moisture damage to tools and machinery Endures temperatures extremes - won’t crack, move or shatter. Comes with two – year residential warranty. Made in the U.S.A. Meets California Fire Marshal and CPAI- requirements for flame resistance.

Call ProBest Pest Management for installation guidelines and costs 480-831-9328 or 623-414-0176

Well by now most have seen the reality shows on TV “Strange Addication“or “Obsessed“and this story is no different. A guy in Rhode Island is addicted to eating bugs “Man addicated to the taste of bugs reveals he has eaten over 5000 insect species.”

I must admit that I probably would eat some bugs but just haven’t had the opportunity to try a lot of them yet.

So have you eaten any bugs yet, grasshoppers, crickets  tell me about your experience?

Video from Youtube:

As always if you encounter these pesky little bugs, call ProBest right away – don’t use bug bombs and don’t spread Diatomaceous Earth like its snowing within the home.