All posts in “pests”

Blister Beetles

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Blister Beetles

Blister beetles and other assorted nasty bugs. They come in varied colors including black and multiple colors. Many people do not realize how dangerous they can be? People have been known to swat one away and they propel that liquid and it burns. Nasty stuff so please stay away. They get their name from their defensive secretion of a blistering agent, cantharidin. Sometimes they will point their butt up toward the aggressor and then spray. Sometimes animals eat them by mistake and the insect then burns their mouth. Again, nasty….

In the bug world the brighter the color the more dangerous they are. Its a warning to predators not to mess or eat me. So please use extreme caution when spotting a character like this. There are a lot of dangerous bugs in Arizona, so take care out there. Scorpions, Africanized Honeybees, Black Widow spiders and a few reptiles like snakes and Gila Monsters. All venomous all dangerous.

Dinosaurs

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Dinosaurs and cockroaches – did you know?

Dinosaurs – Nobody pays attention to the little guys, right? But when there is BIG stuff there has got to be little stuff. Somebody has to break down leaves into compost so the trees can produce leaves which those non-meat eaters are going to munch on.

Actually cockroaches have been around for 250 million years or more. The early cave dwellers probably encountered them often They probably co-existed with bats and other animals in caves. More of a symbiotic relationship, maybe just maybe that is the first time a person told another to get the bugs out of the cave. Da da Pest professional is born.

Ants

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Ants inside or outside

Ants can be a real pain in the tush, they seem to show up at the weirdest or most wacky of times. Most of the time when inside, they can be eliminated by using a bait such as TerroPco. Did you know that the Maricopa Havester ant sting is considered the most venomous of all insects. I think they don’t get a lot of publicity because they seldom sting. You may notice them by their large area that is void of debris or vegetation.

The key to keeping them out of your house is cleanliness. If they come inside use a bait to get to the Queen ant.

Vines and the world of pests

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Vines and the pests they may bring in

The art of pest management is what can be seen but also knowing what isn’t there, when looking at potential issues. Hiring a professional isn’t just about spraying, it is the knowledge that the Pro has to offer. Book knowledge is great but actually having real world experience is even better. In a perfect world everyone would ask my opinion before planting or just in general building a house. Opening can be a real problem but vines can cause further damage to pre-existing holes or openings. Damage can occur from trees pushing up on roofs just like you can see damage from tree roots pushing concrete sidewalks up.

Vines allow pests to hide and prevent you from noticing damage or possible entry points. Box Elder bugs can squeeze through very small opening, rodents can also get in and damage pipes and wires. Wildlife like rabbits and birds may nest in these areas. Knowing your property is a great plus in keeping damage and issues to zero.

Valentine Day

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Don’t spend your Valentine Day with the bugs!

Valentine or bust – As many might be aware of, we had some sightings recently in Phoenix, Arizona. Spotted in several weird places, shopping carts and movie theaters. I often worry that my techs or myself might bring them home after an inspection or treatment. So what can you do to protect yourself?

Stay informed, if you hear about it – ask management.
If something is biting at the place, ask or inform management.
If you suspect bedbugs please check clothing or carry on stuff like purses etc.
Remove clothing in garage and immediately put in washer/dryer for at least 40 minutes on high heat.
If you suspect them in your house quarantine the room in question, don’t be moving things around and call a Professional.

Strange fruit

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Strange fruit – I’ve never seen this

This strange fruit is a grapefruit tree at a clients home, I noticed it while doing a pest treatment. I spent a lot of time in Florida and now here in Arizona and I don’t recall anything this obscure and just plain weird. I see some pretty unique things along my path daily but this one was just different.

This just struck me as odd, but little limb is doing its best to live its dream. Maybe we should all do what the little tree to doing. But you will notice there is no fallen fruit for rodents to be eating. One of the ways to discourage animals and wildlife is to keep your yard clean, no clutter and keep an eye on the property each month. No surprises!

Silverfish / Firebrats

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Silverfish / Firebrats

Silverfish / Firebrats can infest various and obscure places, this one was is in an outside rodent station. Usually found within structures and notorious for eating books, book bindings, papers and old documents. The quickest and easiest way of transporting them into your home is by way of old storage boxes or materials which they love to infest. Silverfish are usually uniformly silver, while Firebrats are mottled gray-brown color. They are usually associated with damp areas, active at night and hide during the day. Mainly nuisance pests, usually causing little damage. They do not cause disease and they don’t come up drains. The best method is reduce the dampness and they will usually disappear.

I think if you have a crawlspace and/or attic, this would be the first place to check. Those areas are noted for undisturbed and dampness, depending as well on geological areas of the country. I would then check areas of bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchen and basements and don’t forget to check stockpiles of books or magazines. I also think baits work best on getting rid of the little pests.

So here are a few tips:

Fix any leaks.
Caulk any opening in wall and any areas where they could slip in.
If you see 1, take action. If your system doesn’t get rid of them – Call a Pest Management Professional such as ProBest. 602-249-7378

Pandemic – How close are we?

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Pandemic

Just what exactly is a Pandemic, according to Wikipedia – an epidemic of infectious disease that has spread through human populations across a large region; for instance multiple continents, or even worldwide. One of the most devastating pandemics was the Black Death, killing over 75 million people in 1350 caused by fleas carried by rats or gerbils (new information). Mosquitoes continue to kill over 1 million people each year and have killed more people than anything else.

pandemic

I don’t want to be the doomsayer, but the World is a scary place these days. Maybe more scary than the days of duck and cover which I don’t think I ever did in school. We did have Fallout Shelters in our school and I recall them being stocked with food and water. I also need to stop watching those shows on TV like “How the World will End”. What scares me the most is the ability of some to get their hands on weapons, like the IED in Manchester? Is it possible to acquire something and infect mosquitoes and to then transmit it to humans. As Rodney King said “Can’t we all get along”? I’m trying hard to not get political and in this day when people don’t just have ideas but are willing to fight in an instant instead of debating the virtues of their opinion.

Are we the smartest?

We are the smartest on this planet and yet often times the most opinionated and less likely to concede that our thoughts could be wrong. How will it end? I don’t know but anything could spark that moment – a trigger on the bomb, someone with a pandemic and the ability to spread it or as

Abraham Lincoln said “…At what point, then, is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”

The Doomsday Clock is set to – two and a half minutes to midnight, the Clock is ticking, global danger looms.

Dogs cats pets ticks

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dogs cats pets ticks

Dogs cats pets versus ticks ohhhh my. So here in Arizona we are somewhat lucky not to be plagued by fleas very often. Our humidity isn’t favorable to their life-cycle. But don’t worry we have a host of other vicious little critters that enjoy bothering our pets and us. In general, ticks are to be found wherever their host species occur. Migrating birds carry ticks with them on their journeys; a study of migratory birds passing throughout the country. Ticks are widely distributed around the world, especially in warm, humid climates, yep that’s us.

That picture above is a fully engorged tick, after feeding on something she will be ready to lay her large mass of eggs -somewhere between 2,000 and 18,000. Ticks can fast for long periods but eventually die if unable to find a host. This behavior evolved approximately 120 million years ago through adaptation to blood-feeding and a female can increase her body size to 600%

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBtPTlrxDbs[/embedyt]

dogs cats pets ticks

World Pest Awareness Day

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World Pest Awareness Day

World Pest Awareness Day – June 6th, 2017. The goal is to create awareness with citizens all over the world. Pest managers provide protection for food, home, family, the environment in which they live, against public health risks. In agreement with the National Pest Management Association of the U.S.. NPMA joins the Federation of Asian & Oceania Pest Managements Association (FAOPMA), Chinese Pest Control Association and the Confederation of European Pest Management Associations (CEPA) in support of this event.

The video below brings home the need for public health pest control by comparing some fascinating statistics. In the opening sequence the audience is asked what do you think is the world’s deadliest creature? Sharks we are told kill 12 people a year, grizzly bears 90 people, crocodiles 800, hippos 29,000 people, snakes 90,000 people. But that tiny mosquito kills 2 million people. Mosquitoes are linked to water because that is where their young develop and that is also the best place to exterminate them. Mosquitoes are the vector (carrier) of several BAD diseases. They include Malaria, Yellow Fever, Encephalitis including West Nile virus and other equine, Zika virus, Dengue Fever, Chikungunya and dog heartworm.

Diseases

Don’t forget that any blood feeder may spread disease, such as fleas and ticks. Bed bugs at this moment are not known to spread any diseases but more research is needed to verify. So please take precautions if traveling or hiking in areas where these pests can attack. Remember to also inspect your home for possible sightings and for possible entry points. Just a simple fix to a screen or doorway (IPM) might prevent pests from getting in and possibly hurting our family or colleagues. As always if you need help or assistance please give ProBest Pest Management a call at 602-249-7378.

https://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dvbd/pdf/dvbd_factsheet.pdf

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr06dMFlRa4[/embedyt]