All posts in “IPM”

Why is sanitation important to controlling pest and rodents?

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You’ve seen those hoarder shows and you know the reason why your home or business shouldn’t be cluttered. But why do people collect or let their homes become a cluttered mess? There are many factors in that equation but let’s just talk about those conducive conditions that let pest occupy or inhabit our homes or lives.

  • Holes or opening in walls – patch those holes
  • Picking up fruit from ground or better yet donate it a charity
  • Eliminate water sources
  • Don’t allow dog or pet food to set around
  • Clean trash can or dumpsters
  • Trim weeds
  • Don’t allow trees or bushes to touch the home or business
  • Install or make sure screens are in place
Photo by PPMA

Photo by PPMA

Do you know of any others?

 

Why is it important to keep out the bugs and rats?

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From almost the dawn of man, rodents and bugs have been trying to stay close to us. Why you ask, I think the main reason is that we tend to want to stay dry and we collect things like food. Animals, bugs and us want the same things:

  • Food
  • Water
  • Shelter

So when we moved into caves, they followed. When we moved into houses, they followed. So as we became smarter so did they. Bed Bugs probably were Bat Bugs to begin with, they moved into caves because we did. When we moved into houses they followed.

 

With that movement came pest control, OK a version of it somewhat. When early man found Bat Bugs they might have thought of moving or washing the antelope skin they were sleeping on. Da da pest control, we might never really know who was the first to step on a bug but Pest Control it is!

Photo by PPMA

Photo by PPMA

What is the BIG question for this time of year?

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I think the question I get asked the most at this time of year is “Why am I seeing more bugs in my house than any other time of year”?

 

So lets imagine that you are a bug and all of sudden it rains and I mean it rains hard. Your home becomes wet or flooded, you react by trying to go higher and that might be your home. You see the bug doesn’t know your house from a tree or a rock.

OR

It doesn’t rain and the bugs that you feed upon aren’t coming by your place, so you have to go out looking for food. That bug comes to your home and climbs and climbs just looking for food.

 

So if we can think like a bug, attack you where you live or hangout – then we stop you. If I was a bug this is where I would hangout and this is one area we treat.

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Why am I seeing mosquitoes in Arizona?

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I have noticed lately especially after the rains that we have had numerous calls about flying biting mosquitoes. With all the monsoon rains, a lot of the things that hold water have had the chance to really set things in motion for the issues with biting pests.

Water can accumulate in any container that can hold water, fountains that aren’t working and any indention in the ground. So again I will mention surveying your property monthly or at the very least when the rains occur.

Remember the 3 things that most living things need:

  • Food
  • Shelter
  • Water

Some mosquitoes are well suited for inhabiting local areas but some can travel up to mile just to feed. So tip over those devices that can hold water, don’t forget saucers for planters.

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Photo by PPMA

Stored product pest ideas

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Stored product pest

Stored product pest

Stored product pest include such pests as Beetle, Moths and Weevils. Another pests that deserves a distinction of menace also includes rodents like mice and rats. I really like the idea of using glass bottles to store products away from the pests that might try to get to them. You get the benefit of reducing pests and you can see what the product is. One additional idea is to take a grocery item and immediately freeze it and then store it in an see through container.

Just another great idea that incorporates IPM or Integrated Pest Management.

Hey somebody finally gets it, pesticides and the need to use them

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“EPA pesticide bans threaten you and the economy” by Alan Caruba.

Not killing pests, insects and rodents, is a great way to put everyone’s health in jeopardy. New York City announced a new war in May against rats and will spend $600,000 to hire new inspectors to deal with an increased population. Lyme disease and West Nile Fever are just two of the diseases that require serious insect pest control. A wide variety of insects spread many diseases from Salmonella to Hantavirus. Termites do billions in property damage every year.

I’m a big believer in IPM or Integrated Pest Management – the use of all things in your toolbox before you get or have to use pesticide. There are many things out there that can kill you and all I’m saying is that we have to use common sense in our actions. Everyone touts these GREEN oils and products and if they all worked as well as pesticides I would think we as an industry would use them more and more. But the facts are not conclusive yet that they hold up as long or kill as efficiently as pesticides do. We are using more and more inside versus pesticide because we promote outside first and inside only as the last option.

whatisipm

 

Do lizards eat bugs and scorpions?

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Why I’m glad you asked. Yes they do, there was a recent article in Arizona Highways  magazine on nature factoid about Western Banded Geckos. I can’t seem to link to the article that Kristin Kraklio wrote on “Western banded Geckos”.

Wow huge YellowJacket nest, it would scare me?

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If you follow this home seal you know how often I remind you that you need to check your property. I recommend monthly and if this homeowner had checked, someone should have noticed this massive hive.

“Massive wasp nest removed from Winter Haven home”

Estimated to contain 15,000 yellow-jackets and it is expected to take 48 hours to completely get rid of the nest and inhabitants.

Photo by PPMA

Photo by PPMA

Buggy snacks – for real, no thanks well you should reconsider?

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As Americans we often think of bugs and we scream or roll our eyes in disgust. I know people around the world have been eating bugs for years and our cave people probably had to eat them. A company in Denver, Colorado came up with an idea – to promote them in eye catching and funny packaging.

“Will Americans buy bug snacks? Maybe… If they’re funny and cute.” As we approach 7 billion people around the world I think we need to really consider some new and novel ideas for food.

 

Check out these sites for some great ideas on insect funny food: http://littleherds.org/, http://hotlix.com

“Free Food” After an initial bite, the review is in: “It tastes like coconut. Tastes like food, not like bugs.”

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Photo by PPMA – Maybe a few ant eggs for dessert?

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