All posts in “pests”

Doors and bugs

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Doors and bugs

Doors and how bug get in? Have you ever noticed the abundance of flying bugs near your front porch door, it’s the light? Its not just the flying insects but spiders love to hang out near the abundant food source. So if you switch to a yellow light the bugs will reduce in numbers. This is actually a IPM or Integrated Pest Management solution to reducing pesticide in and around your home. You will notice I said reducing the amount of pesticide because you may still have to use it judicially on key areas of pest concern.

 

Doors

Fake News

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Fake News

Boy oh boy, nobody can win these days especially with all that FAKE NEWS out there. So I wanted to clear the air about pest control or termite control.

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! Pest Control

Let’s start with Pest Control. Do you know what my biggest liability is, its not the pesticide its driving to the appointment. Everyone is complaining about the low wages, so what did we do? We raised the minimum wage to $10.50 – Let’s think about this for a minute – that means that the business must make more than that per hour to make money. The business must also take into account all those things that they must pay for (insurance, workman’s comp, vehicle if needed and then auto insurance, chemical, additional employees like schedulers etc and according to a NPMA survey that is about 32.8%) I recently saw a poster on a pole out in Surprise for pest control for $25 – NOBODY MAKES MONEY ON THIS!

How long do you think a person can spend at this account? How long will they be in business. Are they even using chemical/pesticide? Are they insured, (liability, workman’s comp and auto insurance) probably not? If you hire an unlicensed person and they mess up, who will pay for their mistake?

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! Termite Control

Termite control – I recently saw an advertisement for $275 – I also remember an article from Florida that suggested termite treatments should be the range of $1000 to $1500 based on the cost in 1930 something. What do you really get for $275?

Termidor HE Label – “Structural termite protection is achieved by establishing a continuous treated zone along the exterior foundation of the structure.” When I read this and interpret it, to me it says there must be a complete barrier around the structure. So either the garage must be drilled or across the garage door must be drilled  and what about patio’s?  In my book either the patio is drilled or the outside of the patio is trenched. Now to achieve the label how can you sell it for $275? YOU CAN’T! Again you get what you pay for….

So why is this FAKE NEWS – because I don’t think you are getting the right deal for what you pay. Someone isn’t giving you the right pesticide, all the pesticide you are supposed to get and all the areas the label requires. Now I used the Termidor HE label, but check out the offer and see what they are supposed to give you and then compare the options.

Trivia fact – Termites have been reclassified into the same order as cockroaches, they are more closely to roaches than ants. Did you know that?

Fake News

Fire-wood next to house is a No-No

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Fire-wood should never be against the house

I’m sure we have talked about fire-wood and the problems associated with it. But lets discuss the potential for all kinds of pests.

  1. The photo below allows termites access by visually impairing the ability to see mud tubes.
  2. When you bring the wood in, only bring in what you will use immediately.
  3. Inspect the wood before hauling it in, pests like wood borers, rodents and wasp can over winter in it.
  4. If you must store wood over the year, place it away from the house on a stackable device.

There are always options for storing wood, just use common sense.

fire-wood

 

Funky Caterpillar

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Funky Caterpillar artwork

Funky Caterpillar and metal artwork is the new normal for outside decorations, I love some of the new stuff including this Caterpillar. Nice planter and decorative at the same time. Adds a little color to the home and you don’t have to have any real bugs. You know you can always call ProBest Pest Management 602-249-7378 if you see any critters within your home?

I don’t mind these decorations but no sense in living with the bugs. I have seen decorative rock, wire ants and even birds and flowers. What kind of artwork is at your home?

Funky Caterpillar

It’s all about the you being the Handyman of your HOME

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Are you the Handyman? How do the bugs get in?

Who is the handyman? Your home is your castle. The premise of todays pest control or management is to prevent the bugs from getting in. IPM is the Gold Standard of that service and we have talked about it a lot. Seal them out, no its not going to keep everything out but it will help. Exclude those holes, seal the jtrim, check the screens, repair the windows and employ a reputable consistent Pest Company like ProBest Pest Management 602-249-7378.

Homes and businesses require constant upkeep, doors needs flashing, garage doors have trim that may need repair. That roof might need checking from time to time. The pool may need a check by a pool service, you don’t need mosquitoes biting your toes. Termites can be sneaky, so get an inspection at least every few years depending on your

 

Handyman

Beep beep – Roadrunner

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Beep beep where is the Coyote?

So we all know as kids that the Roadrunner would always outwit the Coyote. I often just once hoped that the Coyote would catch the Roadrunner. I also still think Acme tools are the perfect tool for catching those unwanted pests/animals. Have you ever tried an anvil on an pest/animal? You know who would be on my case, right? My favorite was the train, where he painted the hole in the side of a mountain.

We also knew that all this was just a show, we figured out fast that the poor coyote would be back. I still felt sorry for the poor guy. How about you?

Beep beep

Cat pee

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Cat pee

Cat pee and smells got you down? Do you own a home with a crawlspace, have you ever allowed or had cats invade the space? What about a shed? Or garage? Well we have the answer – Bio Invade. Odor elimination that consumes organic material. What does it do? It cleans the way Mother Nature intended without harsh chemicals or fumes. It uses microbes and bacteria to attack the source of the smell, breaking down the organic matter and eliminating the odor for good.

** We used it under my Mother’s mobile home, it took a few days but the smell is gone and I recommend it. It really worked, the home smells new again. That cat urine smell is powerful and noxious, so its a blessing to not have to smell that any longer. Valerie **

Call ProBest Pest Management to get rid of those smells 602-249-7378

cat pee

Feces
Sewage
Urine
Vomit
Smoke
Mold & mildew
Athletic smells
Skunk
Stinky drains
Garbage

Pet odors
Dead animals
Food odors
Even skunk odors

 

Pest Pro

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Why you need a Pest Pro?

Pest Pro = Quality Expert, Right? Someone that understands bugs and can deal with them. Some who is QualityPro “The mark of excellence in pest management”.

Did you know that there is a license here in Arizona for those of us that do pest control? They enforce certain laws and rules in pest control. They require certain amounts of insurance and require certain item be in every pest vehicle. For example we hold a license in pest, termite and weeds.

So in a nutshell, hire a Pest Professional. We’ll get the job done right!

Pest Pro

Cupcake ants

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Cupcake ants

Ohhhhh nnoooooo Cupcake Ants! OK so these are edible cupcake ants, but have you ever made something and found ants on it. You may notice them on or near the kitchen sink or maybe even the bathroom. Some ants are attracted to sugar or protein, I’ve seen them on bars of soap (don’t get me started on Tide Pods) and they will eat just about anything. I wonder why they don’t blow small little bubbles?

No one likes bugs in the house?

So it’s no surprise that we get calls all the time on ants, usually indoor Pharaoh ants or as we use to all them Sugar or Piss ants. The ideal method of control is to bait them with either sugar or protein. Then wait for them to carry it home to the Queen. When she dies they all die. Many folks just grab a can of XYZ and spray away, this only kills the ants present and does little to no good on terminating the root of all evil – The Queen. Until she is dead, she will continue to lay eggs and march on.

Cupcake ants

Fleas

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No fleas in Arizona – usually…

Usually I would suspect it is a lack of humidity that makes it less likely to have fleas in Arizona. Occasionally we have someone come in from another state and we have a case but not to often. We do have ticks and they can be a real problem with our pets. So what can you do to prevent them?

  1. Mow your grass.
  2. Be careful going to dog parks.
  3. If you and your dog walks, check them on the return.
  4. If your hiking, wear long pants and tuck them in.
  5. Put on some Deet oh and sunscreen or a hat.
  6. Be safe out there.

Fleas

 

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