All posts in “bugs”

Fantastic tree in Phoenix, Arizona

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tree

tree

I think this is a Orchid Tree, Bauhinia variegate. The honeybees were going crazy, it sounded like a whirling buzzing noise and the tree was covered with bees pollinating.

When the bees are out gathering nectar and pollen generally speaking they will not attack, if you bother them or swat at them they may defend and sting you but they are not in hive defense mode. A lot of people panic when they see a few bees on a tree or bush, the honeybees are just there to gather the fruit of their labor. The same goes with water areas, this could also be your pool or water fountain. Swarms occur and should be left alone, they will probably move on. Let them be and more than likely they will leave you be. We as humans can come into contact with bees daily so just take care and if you notice them coming and going from your home – just check them out and see exactly where they are coming from.

Bee safe

Hey its just a beetle or is it?

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PROBESTPESTMANAGEMENT20150212_093644

Looks can be deceiving because this little fellow looks harmless enough but some of these beetles can squirt a toxic spray at you. The one above is a Desert Skunk beetle and will point its little butt at you in a defensive posture. Some of these beetles use this as their defensive mechanism and can secrete a type of a blistering agent called cantharidin.

So you can look but don’t touch!

Did you have any idea? Cockroaches may have personalities…

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This article appears in the “Royal Society Publishing” “Group personality during collective decision-making: a multi-level approach.”

Group personality during collective decision-making: a multi-level approach | Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences

highlight that the individuals within groups exhibited consistent personality traits in their probability of sheltering and total time sheltered

Photo by PPMA

Photo by PPMA

A little fun at Valentine’s Day

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A zoo in San Francisco has a weird way to say I Love You to spurned ex-someone’s – “Zoo offers creepy way to get even with exes“

What about the feelings of the Hissing Cockroaches or Giant Scorpion?

OK so maybe they don’t have feelings, but if you get one (you can always send it to ProBest) send it my way.

I LOVE YOU, right….

Does it get cold enough to kill pest/bugs?

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Over the last few years it certainly hasn’t been cold enough in Arizona to freeze out the bugs. Some insects actually have a type of antifreeze or so called blood within their bodies. They crawl into a nook or hiding spot and if it is cold they just don’t come out. If it warms out they will come out and possible go in search of food.

  • If it rains and they get flooded they search for drier land, that might be your house.
  • If it is really hot, they might be more active and search for food.
  • If its cold for only a few days, that might not be enough to kill them, Especially scorpions or the hardier of the insects.

Filling in those cracks or holes around your home will help to keep them out and also keep the cool or warm in. Caulking is an excellent tool in keeping those bugs out – buy and use the clear caulk. It really works well.

Photo by NPMA

Photo by NPMA

 

Beware the venomous spiders, DANGER!

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Photo by PPMA

Photo by PPMA

I’m not a big fan of spiders, so when I’m doing work around the outside of my house I always wears gloves. I suggest anytime you do work around the yard, attic, outside or in the garage wear gloves. It’s been a long time that a death has occurred in Arizona but you really don’t need the aggravation or pain of a bite. What do you look for with Black Widow Spiders?

  1. Irregular webbing, sticky.
  2. A spider hanging upside down.
  3. A Black spider with a red hour mark on its belly, or we have the Brown Widow and it has spots sometimes.
  4. They like dark and quiet areas.

I can relate, I left something in a freezer once.

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OK we all have quirks that make us unique or so I’m told. If we all the same, the world would be a boring place. This news article brought up one of my past foibles to light.  “Women called cops over stick insects gift”

I was recently on a trip and encountered two dead insects – a Jerusalem Cricket and an Assassin Wheel Bug. I recovered both and put them in a medicine vial and placed them into the freezer, expecting to take them home. Yep, you guessed right, I forgot and guess who found them.

Surprise, thank goodness she knows me well enough not to go screaming from the place. A good laugh, I hope so I really like the cabin and would like to return for another visit. Thanks Michelle….

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