All posts in “ProBest Pest Management”

Update – Update – Chikungunya virus.

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One of my friends sent me an update on my recent Blog Post – “Those darn mosquitoes are at it again – Chikungunya virus.” Dawn is my go-to-person on anything IPM and a wealth of great bug information.

Dawn Gouge, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Associate Specialist – Entomology
University of Arizona -MAC
37860 W. Smith-Enke Road, Maricopa, AZ 85138 USA

 

July US cases: http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/geo/united-states.html

Resources for healthcare providers: http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/hc/resources.html 

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Thanks to Dawn for putting this PowerPoint presentation together.

 

Happy 4th of July!!!

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So whether you are planning a picnic or just some time on your back porch to celebrate the “Day of Freedom” – we wish you a pleasant and Happy 4th of July.

 

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July 4th  – the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress. Happy 4th all and let us all remember Freedom is not Free is is paid by the loyalty and blood of our military and those that served. God Bless America….

Somedays you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you?

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I’m sure you’ve heard this old adage, but why is it that people don’t believe me when I tell them bug facts? Well I’m being a bit facetious but sometimes I get frustrated. I was talking to a property manager about 2 years ago and she said she gets tired of people dumping furniture in dumpsters because the Bed Bugs are jumping out of them. I tried to convince her that that wasn’t possible. It was in July and the temperature within that dumpster must have been over 150, the only way they were getting out was if someone jumped in a brought them out. Recently someone said their friend told them that ticks can drop on you from trees. The only way that happens is at about the height of an animal, not from the pine cones or higher.

 

It’s not always about the Scorpions, how about visiting Arizona? Sedona and Oak Creek canyon

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One of my favorite places to visit is just a little over an hour north of Phoenix and that is Sedona and just outside of Sedona is Oak Creek Canyon. An eclectic and unique hideaway from the heat and pace of Phoenix. (Just for the record I’m the one on the left in the picture above). My personal recommendation for lunch or dinner is the Taos Cantina  and the greatest waiter is Manny. Tell him I sent you…

It is just fun to walk around and enjoy yourself. No comments on those white legs.

Will people ever learn?

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I have to tell you, sometimes I worry about people. Why you ask? Because of stories like this “Feeding Alligators: dangerous unlawful.”  I guess it doesn’t really surprise me, that is why those shows on TV are so riveting. You know someone is going to walk up to that Buffalo like he knows what he is doing and then POW…. I guess that is why all those warning labels are on things, to stop that one person who was thinking – should I really do that or not. Selection of the fitness!

So what kind of tips can I give if you own a house and want to keep those critters out:

  1. Don’t encourage them to live with you, don’t stack stuff around the outside of your home.
  2. Check weep holes and secure them – no open holes.
  3. Don’t create harborages, don’t set your shed on the ground. This is a possible site for all types of animals.
  4. Don’t leave doors or windows opened, things can crawl in. That is how I captured the snake below, someone left a door opened. She was about a foot long and is currently over 6 foot.

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Right at my doorstep, 1st the VA in Phoenix now an Assisted Living facility.

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I won’t rant and rave on how we got to this stage of problems “Arizona: State finds filth, Bed Bugs, and the Assisted Living Home exposed on ABC15”

If I had parents in a nursing home I would say I would have to really think about some issues. Here is my list: I remember my Great Grandmother on a bed at my Grandparents home, back in those days people took care of their families. I will say that times are different, they lived on a farm and I really don’t recall any nursing homes available back then.

  1. Is the facility clean?
  2. How does staff seem to respond to issues.
  3. I would drop by various rooms just to check on cleanliness and hygiene.
  4. Ask other parties within the facility, people living there and visiting.
  5. Since I’m a bug guy I would look for signs and evidence.

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Again with the spiders…

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It is bad enough that I really hate spiders but “Scientists find a fish-eating spiders around the world“. (Thanks to Todd for sharing the article). Its actually somewhat cool when you think about it, some spiders make diving bells with air and many live on the water surface just waiting to catch small prey. So why not eat what you can catch?

The bug world is a complex little mini version of ours and inhabited by some unique OK maybe strange critters. I’m sure you have seen pictures of the scary ones but did you ever notice the colorful and intense characteristics of a few of them. How about the art involved in making a web? So don’t just panic the next time you spot one outside ponder for a minute the beauty and don’t stomp it to death – they eat other bugs.  Another critter out for my business….

 

Orb Weaver spider by PPMA

Orb Weaver spider by PPMA

We grow some big lizards out here in Arizona.

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One of the highlights of my day is spotting a lizard and hoping that they won’t have an upset stomach from eating any bugs I may hit with a little pesticide. They help me by keeping pests infestations down by making dinner of crickets and the like. We have some pretty big ones, not in comparison to Komoto Dragons of course but hey big is big – depending on who is saying what. I know some people don’t like lizards but I think they are helpful in keeping down insects that might make it into your homes. So please don’t harm them, they are trying to help.

Just couldn’t do it, no tree trimming for me…

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Sorry this is just a job I couldn’t even think about doing. Would scare me to death, I’m better on the ground. I’m not even thrilled to be on a  one-story roof. So if you need my expertise (pests, pest control  and their damage) it had better be on the ground level. Just saying!

It’s not always about the scorpions or tarantulas, how about visiting Arizona? Zoos

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We have two award winning Zoo’s in Phoenix in my opinion.

 

PhxZoo   The Phoenix Zoo 455 North Galvin Parkway Phoenix, AZ 85008 602-273-1341. This is an awesome zoo and they continue to become better and better, They do have a notice on their webpage about sunscreen and I’m telling you in the summer that is a great idea actually all year long is good. Wear a hat and glasses as well, but they do have several exhibits inside which will help you cool off.

 

 

WildlifeWorldZoo  The World Wildlife Zoo & Aquarium 623-935-WILD (9453) | 16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park, AZ 85340.  It is great to have an additional zoo in the Phoenix area, since I love the concept of promoting animals and wildlife. They recently opened their 4th aquarium building which include turtles and otter habitats.

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