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QualityPro – 10th year Anniversary

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Leading the Industry

QualityPro is administered by the Foundation for Professional Pest Management, an independent organization that develops good business practices and standards. Designed specifically for pest management companies in the US and Canada, this certification is offered voluntarily to companies that are currently members of the National Pest Management Association. Created in 2004, we are proud to represent over 450 of the best companies in the pest management industry.

ProBest Pest Management has been a proud member since 2005, that was when ProBest was purchased and we decided from the start that we wanted to be a part of leading the industry and setting the standards.

ProBest Pest Management has the following QualityPro advanced certifications: GreenPro, QualityPro Food Protection and QualityPro Schools.

Recognized by EPA’s Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program, GreenPro, is a stringent yet practical, sustainable, and eco-effective solution that has been tailored for today’s environmentally conscious consumer.

Why worry about the pests?

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Throughout history we humans have done some terrible stuff to each other, wars only to mention one. But did you know that compared to all the wars ever fought the bugs have killed more of us.

Yes number one the list is Mosquitoes, they have killed lots of humans and animals. Malaria, Dengue Fever and Yellow Fever are among the biggest threats to us still to this day.
Fleas probably rank as number 2 and may have contributed to killing 1/3 of the people in Europe during 1340’s known as Bubonic Plague, still with us today.
My number 3 may not have killed as many as above but worldwide cause more damage to food, foodstuffs including grains and other type products. Rodents including mice and rats may spoil 1/3 of all grains worldwide and may directly lead to food shortages or starvation than any other insect or wildlife.

So yes I worry that as we progress as a society that we consider the wise use of pesticides. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is very useful within the confines of general pest management but there are reasons why pesticide use must continue. This article “Kissing Bug disease prompts growing concern in U.S.” shows that the concerns are justified. Here is Arizona we deal with Bark Scorpions and there is no magic bullet to stop them. The only method is home sealing and proper use of pesticides, so until that day arrives where we can target this critter I see no alternative than to spray them before they make it into our homes.

Do you have pet peeves, I do?

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As a business owner I’m reminded frequently of customer service and the opportunity to lose or gain a customer. So here are a few questions I ask myself daily about service.

Does your technician have a clean uniform?

Is the vehicle clean?

If there was an appointment was he/she on time? Many times we perform outside only services this helps you to free up your time.

Does your technician ring the doorbell to let you know they are there? Do they ask if you’ve had any issues? Do they let you know they are done?

My favorite quote on customer service – If you don’t take of your customer someone else will. Do you have any horror stories about service companies?

Do you own a reptile?

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I enjoy a few different hobby type things, like our little Bug Zoo at our office. Did you know this about reptiles and amphibians?

Are there any restrictions about owning amphibians or reptiles?

Since 1975, it has been illegal in the United States to sell or distribute turtles with shells that measure less than 4 inches in length. This size was chosen because small children are more likely to treat smaller turtles as toys and put them in their mouths. This ban prohibiting the sale of small turtles likely remains the most effective public health action to prevent turtle-associated salmonellosis.

Despite this ban, such turtles are still found in some pet stores, flea markets, with street vendors, or sold over the Internet. In addition, children still catch wild turtles and lizards and bring them home to keep as pets. Whether purchased or caught in a backyard, a reptile or amphibian can carry Salmonella and might not be the best choice of a pet for your family, especially if there are young children or persons with weakened immune systems in the household.

Just thought I would share this information because many of my friends have snakes or reptiles as pets. So please take care and follow the guidelines from the CDC.

It’s not always about the Scorpions, how about visiting Arizona? Tonto Natural Bridge

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Located near Payson, Arizona it is a beauty of natural rock formation and to be honest almost killed me about 8 years ago. How you ask, the trek down wasn’t so bad but the trek up was harder than I thought. Thought I was going to die, bring water. It is the largest travertine bridge in the world and is a really cool day trip. I did an home seal way back in March 2012 “Even the Bees get respect in Arizona“.

Does your Pest Company report on conducive conditions at your home?

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Part of doing pest control involves me walking around your property and doing a cursory check of the things I see.

So when I see a condition that could cause further issues I want to bring it to the attention of the homeowner. The issue above could cause further problems down the road by leaking into the home or by causing the roof to really leak especially with the monsoons we are experiencing these days. So the question is really an easy one – “Why keep a company that doesn’t care about you or your family?” Call ProBest Pest Management we will inform you on conditions that can cause potential issues – call us today at 602-249-7378 or 623-414-0176 and thanks.

Genealogy & Pest Control

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Pest Management Professional Magazine recently did an article in their “After Hours” section called “Connecting genealogy and pest management” by Dan Jacobs and I wanted to say thanks. I also want to share with you one of my hobbies, which I enjoy when I have time that is. I also love to hike but not in the heat or in the summer here in Arizona. Sometimes it is just great to get out into a wooden area and see what is happening. This hobby is related to my Scouting career. A few of my FaceBook friends enjoy camping, hiking and vacationing and I really enjoy their posting of their activities. The 2 pictures below are 2 of my (25) Eagle Scouts when I was in Florida. Scouting builds character!

Within the last few months:

Ann & Joe went camping in Michigan

Jason hiked part of the AT Trail (Appalachian Trail) which he does almost every summer with friends. I have hiked sections of the AT a few times with my Scouts. Jason is the one in the back.

Jason2014AT

Jason M. participated as a Counselor at a summer camp

Frank & Shelly went to the beach

and this one was beyond belief – Chris ran 100 miles through the Sahara Desert – Marathon Des Sables.

The most common pests and how to eradicate them from your home

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Household pests are tricky to deal with. If you don’t know what to look out for they could go unnoticed and cause serious damage to your property, belongings and general health. The trick is to catch them early and eradicate them before they get the chance to breed and establish their residence.
This list of common household pests has been provided by the expert team who provide pest control in North London, their experts have provided advice on how to get rid of various pests from your home.
Mice
The bane of the kitchen, mice are active all year round and usually nest in areas that are warm and quiet. They often chew up furniture and find their way into food packaging. In addition, they can spread disease. If you’re suffering from a mouse infestation, cleanliness is key. Make sure your kitchen floors and work surfaces are spotless; place packaged food into containers; and put some mouse traps in the most common problem areas.
Moths
Moths are certainly one of the most annoying pests; however, it’s their larvae that does most of the damage. When they lay their sticky eggs on clothing and upholstery it can be very destructive. If you have a moth infestation, clean all of your clothes and ensure your closet is dry and ventilated. In extreme cases, store your clothes in plastic boxes until the problem goes away. Make your own moth traps by hanging up flypaper and putting a little fish oil on it to attract them.

Cockroaches
Cockroaches usually live in warm houses and come out during the night. They often hide in cracks and crevices in the kitchen and will feed on virtually anything. Getting rid of cockroaches requires poisonous bait; however, this can also be harmful to humans, so it must be used with caution.

Bed Bugs
While commonly found in bedding – hence the name – bed bugs can also live in small cracks and crevices. Controlling them can be very difficult as they spread quickly, so if you ever have bed bugs acting fast is the key to success. Wash all of your bedding on a high temperature, and then take apart your bed frame and disinfect it. Vacuum your entire room and give it a thorough clean for safe measure. If the problem re-occurs call an exterminator straight away.

Rats
Of all the pest, rats are without a doubt the most dangerous. Typical signs include droppings, smear marks and teeth marks on cables and furniture. Rats have been known to start electrical fires and can also spread diseases, so dealing with them straight away is paramount. Sometimes traditional pest control products won’t work and you’ll have no choice but to call the professionals. Qualified pest controllers can not only eradicate pests, but could pest-proof your home and this is certainly recommended if you have a recurring problem.

Guest post by Aaron Higgins North London Pest Control

Are there more issues with termites in crawlspace homes?

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There are probably no more issues than with a monolithic or floating slabs and some would say crawlspaces are easier to see.

I would venture to say that in my opinion Post Tension is probably better, the ability to pull concrete together helps to avoid the pitfalls of cracks developing. Crawlspaces can be tricky because I have seen some that were impossible to crawl, less than 18 inches high or so many obstacles in the way. But with the right height and limited obstacles crawlspaces can easily inspected. I would suggest a yearly inspection and that inspector can also mention things like:

water pipes leaking
air conditioning vents on ground
sometimes under mobile homes they leave the wheels in place, these need to be inspected as well
pillars (block or metal) checked
insulation falling or loose
crawlspace access points not sealed or in place, loose or non existent metal
dirt falling in

Anyway you get the point, yearly inspections

Don’t drill here.

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We have mentioned before about these post tension slabs, but I wanted to show a different picture than the one posted awhile back.

So before doing any major work at your home, investigate and use caution. I think it is important to know your property, monthly checks are crucial to understanding and preventing any big problems.