pests Archives - Page 29 of 53 - Arizona Pest Control - Pest Management Services

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Geese and their migration to Arizona.

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If you are out and about driving you will see Geese in in v formation, why you ask? First lets discuss why geese migrate – usually they fly south for the winter, I would oh wait I did. Geese like to take advantage of circumstances, warmer weather generally means more food and optimal environments for their off spring. The reason they fly in that v formation is that this affords them the opportunity to waste less work on flying it actually breaks the wall of air that they fly into. The swirling air also helps push the birds behind the other and it allows them to watch and communicate with each other.

Geese are great looking birds but if they become to numerous they can be a hazard, they will attack if you get to close and they will defecate anywhere. This defecating on cement or parking lots areas is really, really slippery so please be careful walking. This morning on the way into work along the 101 they were in a field eating and there were probably over 100.

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.

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.

Border Agents stop another bug from entering USA

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I don’t know how these agents do there jobs, can you imagine stiffing through tons and tons of stuff entering the USA daily. Each and every day these agents sort through trailers, box cars and of course just regular folks entering our borders. KTVU.com did an excellent “Feds find dangerous pest in basil shipment at San Francisco International airport“.

The east coast of the U.S. has encountered a similar stink bug and it is causing some real issues, damaging gardens and getting into homes. So it is very important to continue to stop these pests before they become a real big issue.

So again my hat’s off to the dedicated agents U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Stations across the USA.

The Puzzle of Pest Management.

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I love those shows on TV about crime, I always try to solve it before the end. Probably why I enjoy Pest Management – “the attention is in the detail”, right?

How did those termites gain access into the ceiling?

There is a mouse in the house and how did it get in?

There are moths flying in the pantry, did we bring them home?

Did we pick up our fruit or did we encourage rodents into our yard?

So become a detective and stop those pests from getting into your home, home-sealing is a must plus it will help save money on heating/cooling. Put the puzzle together and solve the buggy issues.

Photo by PPMA

How tough is it to control House Dust Mites?

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First off let me address this from the very start, House Dust Mites are not a pest control issue. We deal with them in connection with Bed Bugs from time to time and really only as a matter of mattress or box spring encasements. I wanted to address this bug in that manner, encasements are the way to go with this bug.

Our homes are their homes, they love human and pet dander or skin flakes. This debris will fall everywhere, carpets, bedding, furniture and furniture. This dust or debris will become airborne and vacuuming is essential in keeping things in check. Along with cockroach skins and dust mites excrement may cause asthma or breathing issues.

A gram of dust vacuumed from carpeting may contain 100-400 and 1 gram of dust vacuumed from furniture may contain 3500 mites.

Encasements are a great way to protect your mattress or box spring investment and keep the dust mites out. Control is possible but it is a ongoing management concern.

Do you remember my #1 pest tool, how about #2?

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My all time most useful tool is the compact Bellows Hand Duster, I still believe I could solve most issues with this handy tool. The next best tool in my opinion could be the Insider (see below).

Not everyone within the Pest Industry has any idea of these but I keep them on hand for those hard to reach jobs or places where I like to dust from time to time.

Remember it’s not just killing the bugs, who have to use tools which work the best for the customer.

What kind of service is right for you?

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What kind of service is right for you?

I often think about service and what is really necessay to control the pests in and around our homes. Every home is different and with that in mind every treatment is or could be different. So what is right for you Monthly, Every other Month or Quarterly? So here are a few questions with this in mind:

What is the pest pressure?
What time of year does the pressure increase?
What kind of pests are you encountering, scorpions?
Do you water by drip irrigation or flood irrigation?
Scorpion activity is different from cricket activity, why does that matter?

We try to customize each visit with those questions in mind, sometimes it is essential to change pesticide formulations and or change frequency but we will always discuss options with you.

SERVICE MATTERS!

Do you understand mice/rats/rodents?

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You have heard me say this many times, I don’t work on my vehicle brakes because I don’t know anything about brakes but I know pests.

You must understand rodents; you must know their biology and their quirks. Do you know how far mice or rats travel from their home that is might be important in control?

How will you attack the situation, are you using traps or repeat devices or outside stations?

Have you purchased enough and what are you using?

Have you thought about consequences in using this equipment, is anybody at risk?

So before you decide to tackle this by yourself, maybe it might be inportant to call a Pro.

Rodent loved the bait so mush he never left.

Commercial Restaurants or Dairy Farms need this item – EndZone!

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Flies are one of my personal pest peeves, most restaurants don’t think about flies and I regard them in the same category as roaches. Roaches may be a scourge but at least they don’t fly and could be on excrement one minute and then fly into the shop and land on your food. Yuuuuuuuuck!

This is on of the newest products available to help the fly problems, call ProBest Pest Management today – we can discuss your options for your restaurant, dairy farm or even your home. These stickers are indiscreet and can last 7 months inside or 4 months outside. Call today! 602-249-7378