Stinger

New data suggest that insect sting allergy is increasing.

 

So you’ve been lucky, never been attacked or stung by an insect. Is it luck or are you one of those who may die if stung and you just don’t know it yet? “The rise of deadly insect sing allergies: Is there a cure?” published by Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology article by Medical press.

“Insect sting allergy is increasing, affecting five percent of the population. But what much of the population may not understand is that there is something that can be done about it.”

I’m extremely fortunate that I’m not allergic, especially since I’m in the biz?  So here are a few tips:

  1. Just because you see a honeybee doesn’t mean its going to attack. They are out looking for food and probably could care less about you. Unless, unless yes I said that twice you encounter an Africanized Honeybee colony?
  2. Wear light colored clothes while hiking, honeybees are less likely to become aggressive.
  3. Always wear shoes outside, don’t set them by the backdoor. Scorpions and Black widow spiders may make it their new home.
  4. If you are stung, watch the symptoms – if you feel weird in any way call 911 right away.
  5. You can also check in with Poison Control 1-800-222-1222, this is also a number that should be taught to children
  6. Arizona has some special creepy little things like rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, Africanized Honeybees, tarantulas (usually harmless unless you provoke them), spiders and my favorite Assassin Bug.

Warning signs someone’s been stung by a scorpion MyFox News video and story.

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stinger of bark scorpion magnified

What’s eating your house?

 

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There are so many things that can cause you to have those sleepness nights, so worring about what’s eating your home shouldn’t have to be one of those things. So whose got your back? Well,  ProBest Pest Management if you have one of our warranties. The pictures above are just one more reason why wood shouldn’t touch the soil and you should be able to clearly see the foundation slab.

Subterranean termites (western) – live in underground colonies or in moist secluded areas aboveground that can contain up to 250,000 members. They build distinctive “mud tubes” to gain access to food sources and to protect themselves from open air.

Wood Rot – A wood-decay fungus is a variety of fungus that digests moist wood, causing it to rot. Some wood-decay fungi attack dead wood, such as brown rot -is a dry crumbly condition sometimes incorrectly referred to as dry rot in general. The term brown rot replaced the general use of the term dry rot, as wood must be damp to decay, although it may become dry later.

Powderpost Beetles – The term “powderpost” comes from the fact that the larvae of these beetles feed on wood and, given enough time, can reduce it to a mass of fine powder. Powderpost beetles spend months or years inside the wood in the larval stage. Items that can be infested by powderpost beetles include wooden artifacts, frames, furniture, tool handles, gun stocks, books, toys, bamboo, flooring, and structural timbers. If an item is brought into a home this beetle could reinfest the entire structure.

Drywood termites are social insects that live in colonies in sound, dry wood. Each colony consists of offspring from an original pair and cut across the grain while subterranean termites usually go with the grain.

 

 

What do you want to know by ProBest Pest Management!

DrBugKVBdidyouknow1

Antarctica is the only continent without any reptiles or snakes.

A pound of grasshoppers is three times as nutritious as a pound of beef.

Anteaters prefer termites to ants.

A bat is the only mammal that flies.

Out of every 1,000 Mosquitoes, one female carries a disease that could be fatal to humans.

 

It’s not always about the Scorpions, how about visiting Arizona? Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park

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Just for the record the trees are not standing up, they are petrified (you know who you are). Petrified Forest National Park is the only national park unit to protect a section of Historic Route 66! Animal life at Petrified Forest includes amphibians, birds, insects, spiders, mammals, and reptiles. Over sixteen varieties of lizards and snakes make Petrified Forest their home.

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What do you want to know by ProBest Pest Management!

DrBugKVBdidyouknow1

No two spider webs are the same.

Only three kinds of animals fight battles in formations: humans, crows and ants.

Ticks are second only to the mosquito as the most dangerous parasites to humans.

A group of Cockroaches are called a Intrusion, I’d say!!!!

I’m sure you know this but probably never thought about it – Animals that lay eggs don’t have belly buttons.

 

What do you want to know by ProBest Pest Management!

DrBugKVBdidyouknow1

The bite from a black widow spider is not automatically fatal, in fact, less than 1% of all people bitten by this spider run the risk of dying, and most of them are saved with the use of antivenin.

A house fly lives for only 14 days.

Tarantulas can live 30 years.

Scorpions can live for more than a year without eating.

Each year, insects eat 1/3 of the Earth’s food crop.

 

What are centipedes?

What are centipedes? Spiders or insects?

 

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This Arizona Centipede is actually an arthropod (arthropods are organisms that have segmented bodies, a jointed skeleton and paired jointed limbs. They include such creatures as spiders, centipedes and insects) that has an elongated body with one pair of legs per segment. So really neither spider or insect but a creature all it’s own. They range in size from less than an inch to several inches. The smaller, brown and tan, common desert centipede does bite, it can be painful but not deadly to humans.

The centipede is one of the oldest animals on Earth having evolved into the form it is today, millions of years ago. The centipede has been found in fossils dating over 400 million years old.

Remember, venom = active, poison = passive. Call 1-800-222-1222 Poison Control for additional information.

Bathrooms and Termites, why?

Bathrooms and Termites, why?

 

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After learning about termites in Florida (I spent 8 years in Central Florida) I know that they really are drawn to water sources much like any animal or insect. Food, water and a place to live, that’s what they need and that’s what we need. So especially in Florida – abundant with water and bathrooms were the place I had more serious issues.

Here is Arizona I think the one thing that’s helps termites beyond the normal water, food etc is the footprint of homes. This footprint allows heat reduction and some water which allows termites to live within the shadow of us. So keep an eye peeled for signs of termites and you will be one step ahead of the game if they ever invade your home. Here is a list of things to look for:

  • Tunnels or tubes inside or out, inside could be very small but dirt is always present with Subterranean termites.
  • Drop tubes coming from your ceiling.
  • Baseboard that looks eaten from inside out, they won’t eat paint so it looks wrinkled.
  • I suggest an inspection by a Pest Management Professional – here is a great place to find one http://www.pestworld.org or just give ProBest Pest Management a call at 480-831-9328 or 623-414-0176

Rodents are filthy, filthy animals.

Rodents are filthy, filthy animals.

 

Rodents are filthy animals that carry over 35 known diseases.

 

How do they get into homes?

  1. Garage
  2. Cracks and holes from pipes
  3. Cracks along the foundation
  4. Windows or doors (people often leave these open)
  5. Fireplace chimney
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