All posts in “bugs”

ProBest Pest Management wins a spot in “Top 50 Bug”

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bug-award-150x150You know even when you consider that there are probably 15,000 pest companies in the USA, I consider just a mention quite the big event. So to be named right up there with this group is a very high honor. The first 10 are home seals are from Entomologists and if you have a chance check them out, I probably get to each one on a monthly basis. http://myrmecos.net his pictures alone are fascinating and well worth a closer look. The rest of the 40 are from the Pest Control Industry and provide a wealth of great real facts versus what you might find on a search of the web. Some of my buddies are on the list “The Bug Doctor” from Florida and of course Invader Pest Management  – I’ve known Fred since I moved to Arizona in 1999.

Thanks to Organic Pest Control from NYC for giving ProBest Pest Management this award.

What does IPM Integrated Pest Management have to do with Bed Bugs

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IPM or “Integrated Pest Management is a process involving common sense and sound solutions for treating and controlling pests. These solutions incorporate three basic steps: 1) inspection, 2) identification and 3) treatment. Treatment options vary from sealing cracks and removing food and water sources to pesticide treatments when necessary.”

 

Bed Bugs and you – TIPS

  1. Encasements keep the bed bugs trapped inside the mattress or box springs until they die if missed during the initial treatment.
  2. Prevent bed bugs from hiding inside beds, making an infestation harder to find and treat.
  3. Offers a first line of defense to stop bed bugs, even before they have been detected by you.

Encasements are a valuable tool to homeowners and people who either travel or have guest stopping by often. Encasements will also help to make that mattress or box spring last a little longer.

Photo by PPMA

Photo by PPMA

 

So without the cold weather will we see more scorpions in Arizona?

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So as our Northern folks dig their way out of all the snow or battle those extremely cold and brutal temperatures, I think about the warm weather affecting scorpions. With little to no real cold spells here in Arizona I think it’s going to be a tough year on those that have scorpions near their homes. If the weather doesn’t get cold enough, scorpions won’t die. The weather also affects their food supply like crickets or roaches. So my prediction is that there will be plenty of scorpions to go around.

Just what you want to hear, right?

probestpestmanagementIMAG1154

Study on Bed Bugs, BBC News.

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“Catching the Mother of all Bed Bugs” by Sean Coughlan BBC news correspondent.

Genetic analysis has shown that a single pregnant bed bug that escapes detection can be responsible for an entire infestation, rapidly producing generations of offspring.

This may explain the ongoing issues with Bed Bugs, this story came from London. I’ve heard that the use of baits and not spraying may have lead to the rebound of those little biters. Maybe the widespread travel, they can be on one side of the world and tomorrow on our doorstep. So please take care and keep those critters out of your life.

A few tips:

  1. All Things Bed Bugs.
  2. 10 Tips (NPMA) to protect yourself.
  3. Bed Bug registry.
  4. ProBest Pest Management Bed Bug page.
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Bed Bug Nymphs photo by PPMA

 

What do you want to know by ProBest Pest Management!

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DrBugKVBdidyouknow1

What is an Occasional invader?

Occasional invaders are critters that enter structures because outside conditions become hostile to their survival maybe because its too wet or dry.

  • Earwigs
  • Boxelder bugs
  • Crickets
  • Millipedes
  • Mites
  • Pillbugs/Sowbugs
  • Springtails
  • Caterpillars
  • numerous others

Bugs are bugs, right?

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Arizona Vegetable IPM Update “Aphid Identification, lettuce dieback, wheat herbicide sensitivity“. By John Palumbo, UA Research Scientist and Extension Specialist. (Western Farm Press) He’s got a point and in the business of bugs a very important point –

This is where the accuracy part comes in. Just because you can find a few winged aphids on produce crops does not mean these species are important to leafy vegetable and cole crops.

Most people call and say I got bugs, and when we ask questions they are hesitant to answer. There is a big difference between American Roaches and German Roaches and really, really important in the treating scheme of things. Yes you can kills bugs with any pesticide generally but you may not solve the problem or you may make it worse. I’ve seen floors covered with Diatomaceous Earth (DE) and still have bed bugs and I’ve seen people use can sprays to kill ants and still have ants. So here are my keys for pest control and they are fairly simple:

  1. Identify the bug
  2. Understand their biology
  3. Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  4. Use the right pesticide if necessary

Self Storage pests issues

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“Why self-storage operators should use Professional Pest Management services“. Excellent article from the National Pest Management Association on the truth and myths of storage facilities. Here are few ideas that I had in regards to this topic:

  • I’ve actually used a few storage facilities over the years and I must say that the ones I have used have been extremely clean and well kept. But with that being said you never know what someone can or will bring in.
  • If the building is older – when was the termite work done. Termite treatments don’t last forever and something popping in and damaging someone’s personal possessions can account for some serious agony.
  • Each unit is maintained by the person storing the stuff and each person is different in how and what they see or don’t see. I’m sure you’ve seen the hoarders, so sometimes they may or may not see the problem until it spills out into another unit.

So my advice if you are using a storage unit, keep an eye out for possible pests and advise management if or when you see something strange. Maybe it won’t be anything and then on the other hand it may be something serious.

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Photo by PPMA

 

Roly Poly or Pillbugs, I’ll bet you didn’t know?

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As a kid I always heard of them called Roly Poly bugs, but did you know they are really crustaceans ? They are really not insects but are more closely related to shrimp or lobsters. They are considered by the pest industry to be occasional invaders, but sometimes their number just explode.  There are two varieties Pillbugs and Sowbugs and about the only difference from what I can see is that the Sowbug has two small appendages which stick out from the rear of the body and the Sowbug can’t roll into a ball. They both tend to be outside pests in gardens but occasionally get into homes, they have mouth parts to grind up decomposing matter. They also have gills, which I didn’t even know!

So if they get into your home, what do you do? They will probably die from lack of moisture and they don’t do any damage. They don’t bite or sting and are not considered harmful. I’ve seen them basements and others areas of home high in moisture, which should also get you to think about how that moisture is getting into your home. Moisture can be far more dangerous to wood and your health if it is allowed to grow into mold or mildew.

 

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